Don't Knock the Rock Page #3

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Well, so long, Miss MacLaine.

Wait a minute.

I didn't say that was my opinion.

I'd like to talk to you.

What about?

My mother's column appears in about 150 newspapers.

If she blasts you, man, you're blasted good.

I'd like to try and change her mind.

Hey, you on the level?

There's a principle involved.

Teenagers are almost adults.

They're entitled to their own opinions not what somebody dictates for them.

So you think your mother could make me or break me, huh?

Her column always manages to stir up something.

It's like living inside of a hurricane.

But I wouldn't want it to even try and hurt you.

Maybe we should both go to the beach.

It'll be nice and quiet there.

We can have a man-to-man talk.

Sure. Man to man.

I'll get a suit. Will you wait for me?

Go ahead. Sing it.

That was lovely.

I didn't know you could sing that kind of a song.

The people who buy my records like rock and roll.

The public always decides what kind of entertainment it's going to get.

It's a business, just like any other business.

Oh, that's for sure.

You know, I've come to the conclusion that

rock and roll is a symptom of the young people.

Asserting themselves for their right to do things as they think fit.

They resent the wrong kind of discipline by parents.

Parents would never understand that.

Sometimes people assert themselves in the wrong way.

How did you get so smart at your age, little girl?

Isn't that beside the point?

Pretty, too.

And you couldn't have spent your time in beauty parlors.

Thank you.

You know, for two years I've been wondering what all the shooting is about.

What people really see in the way I sing.

You just told me.

I did?

Sure. It isn't me at all.

Arnie Haines is just a name.

If it weren't Arnie Haines, it'd be somebody else.

Kids just pick somebody like me and wave me like a flag.

They wanna hold me in front of their parents' noses

like a pair of red britches in front of a bull.

Of course. That's it.

Miss MacLaine, you're all right.

Boy, I've been thinking for so long about...

Why did you kiss me?

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't even know I had...

You know, you shouldn't look like that if you don't want to be kissed.

Strictly a sex attraction, wasn't it?

Are you serious?

Mother's kept boys away from me as if they had rabies.

She once read where wolves get rabies like dogs.

I'm sure that must mean something.

I found it quite profound.

Kissing you, I mean.

You're right. It is profound.

Maybe we'd better just talk for a while.

Yeah, and keep talking.

Arnie, I think you should play your rock and roll music at a public function.

What for?

So that my mother can see for herself

that your music isn't detrimental to young people.

Oh, no deal. Bagley would run us out of town.

It doesn't have to be in Mellondale.

What if your mother doesn't like what she sees?

Why couldn't my mother have been the kind who just sits home and does knitting?

Seems to me, though, we have nothing to lose.

If we don't do it, she's gonna clobber us anyway.

I know we can change her mind.

And if we do, she won't stop working until she makes things right.

All right. I'll talk to the boys.

If they go along with it, we'll run the dance.

Probably in Friesville the next town.

I think rabies are just wonderful.

Give me the out-of-town papers.

Yes, sir.

Let me see my little....

Yeah, keeping one.

Look at this. "Rock and roll barred by Haines' home town."

Wow. "Rock and Roll Revolt."

Every one of them.

Coast-to-coast frame-up.

Right across the country.

We're dead.

Services will be held in five minutes.

Now what?

Hey, there's one I got to see in particular.

What is it?

Herald Tribune.

Yeah, here it is, right here.

On the back page, it always is.

Boy, she doesn't pull any punches.

Bad, huh?

Now what are we gonna do?

We're gonna turn the other cheek, and let her take a sock at that, too.

We're inviting the lady to a dance.

Come on, let's go to Friesville.

Here you are. Keep the change.

Thanks a lot.

Here, have a good look, Bill.

Arnie Haines has ruined us.

Every booking we had across the country's been canceled.

Well, how do you like that?

He wants a vacation, so he takes us all with him.

Thanks for bringing me the good news.

There it is.

The Mayor owns this place.

Gee, I hope it works out.

Come on, let's see if he's around.

All right.

We're looking for Mr. Everett.

Well, I'm Tom Everett. Something I can do for you?

My name is Freed, and this is Arnie Haines.

Arnie Haines!

Oh, the rock and roll fellow?

There's only one, Dad.

Meet my daughter, Sunny.

She likes to come down and sing and dance with the band once in a while.

How do you do, Miss Everett?

Hello.

I've been reading about you in the papers, Mr. Haines.

Well, that's why we came to talk to you, sir.

Oh?

We'd like to put on a special rock and roll show here some Saturday night.

Man, that'd be the coolest!

Arnie Haines, right here in Friesville!

Whoa, now, honey, not so fast.

You can make more money in one night than all summer long.

Well, Mellondale's five times bigger than we are

and Friesville depends on Mellondale for a lot of business.

If Mayor Bagley was to get mad...

Oh, Dad, you don't have to kowtow to old Bagley one bit.

Why, every kid in town thinks he's stupid for banning Arnie.

And we can promise that a lot of top rock and roll artists

will appear here with us that night.

Just... Why you fellows going to all this trouble?

Well, we have a point to prove, Mr. Everett.

We'd like to show the rest of the country that

rock and roll is a safe and sane dance for all young people.

It hasn't hurt me any, has it?

You'd like to have Mr. Haines here real bad, wouldn't you?

I can't think of any other man in the whole world I'd want more.

You know, I think she's got every record you ever made.

Well.

Okay, Mr. Haines, you tell me what Saturday night you want, and we'll set it up.

That's great. Thank you, sir, very much.

You can thank me.

After all, I was the one who sold my father.

Wasn't I?

You know, she's a pretty good saleslady when she gets started.

I'll walk Mr. Haines back to his car.

Why don't you two talk business?

Okay, Arnie, I'll handle it.

Mr. Everett, what's the first Saturday night you've got available?

Well, let's see. Next Saturday is booked.

You'd never think I'm not 18 yet, would you?

Is that a warning?

Everyone thinks I act much older.

You add me to the list, then.

How'd you manage to get like that, anyway?

Oh, I decided ages ago there wasn't much point in acting too young.

Just old enough, huh?

I like men.

Why shouldn't I be frank about it?

All women do.

They just don't come out and say so.

Where'd you learn that stuff?

Arnie, are there gonna be reporters and men taking pictures the night you're here?

They'll be invited.

I think my father would like it if I were your date that night.

How do you know he'd like it?

Oh, he'd like it if I told him.

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