Get on Up Page #10

VELMA:

We out of greens. You want me to gopick some up?

Velma, a cute nineteen year old girl is fixing dinner.

JAMES:

No baby.

A car horn outside. He looks out the window.

JAMES (CONT’D)

Baby. I gotta go.

VELMA:

But I got your supper.

He hands her the baby, kisses her passionately. She melts.

VELMA (CONT’D)

Wake me up.

James pretends to look shocked, covers Teddy’s ears.

55

77 EXT. JAMES AND VELMA’S KITCHENETTE 77

James bounds off the porch towards the station wagon.

Velma steps onto the porch with the baby. She suddenly looks

very young.

James turns to his family and pats his hand over his heart.

JAMES:

(shouts out)

I got you right in here, Teddy

Brown.

Velma raises Teddy’s hand and waves it at James.

James begins to serenade “Lost Someone” to his family...

78 EXT. CRAPPY STATION WAGON. RURAL ROAD - SUNSET. 1955 78

CLOSE ON:

James continues to sing. Only now he’s humming as if workingout a new way into “Lost Someone”.

We widen to see The Flames, Baby Roy, Nafloyd, Bobby andJames pushing an old crappy Chevy station wagon down theroad. Nafloyd has the easy job of keeping the steering wheelstraight.

Nafloyd is clearly annoyed by James’ humming.

JAMES BROWN:

Nafloyd, you know in “Let’s Make

It” when it goes (he hums). If you

go up there and hold it, like.

(hums). It’s gone be sweet. Make it

like you got a harmonica stuck in

your throat.

Nafloyd looks back at Bobby Byrd.

NAFLOYD SCOTT:

You know what? Why don’t you sing

it, James?

JAMES BROWN:

What? I can’t sing it. It’s your

song man.

NAFLOYD SCOTT:

But I ain’t singing it right James.

I just ain’t.

(MORE)

NAFLOYD SCOTT (CONT'D)

I ain’t got a harmonica in mythroat. But you do. We all know

you do.

I ain’t got a harmonica in mythroat. But you do. We all know

you do.

James continues with his humming. Nafloyd stops pushing andwalks alongside with a finger on the wheel.

NAFLOYD SCOTT (CONT’D)

You know how it be done. You got itall worked out. Don’t you?

BOBBY BYRD:

James ain’t saying that ‘floyd.

He’s just hearing something.

Get back to pushing the car.

NAYFLOYD:

Let’s all take a break for a

minute.

Everyone stops pushing. Bobby turns to Nafloyd. Fuming.

BOBBY BYRD:

What I say in Peterstown? Huh?

NAFLOYD SCOTT:

I know what you said.

BOBBY BYRD:

What I say?

NAFLOYD SCOTT:

You said ‘Fill her up Floyd.

BABY ROY:

That’s right. That’s what he said.

NAFLOYD SCOTT:

I know you he said fill her up,

Baby Roy! Problem is we don’t gotthe dough to fill it.

(to Bobby)

We don’t got the dough becauseBobby here let James spend all ourmoney on some fake record which isright now sittin’ in trash cansoutside King, outside RCA, outsideChess.

(to James)

You took all our money, James.

Where my money at?

They are about to throw down.

57

BABY ROY:

Cool it Floyd!

NAFLOYD SCOTT:

Where my money, James?!

JAMES:

I’m taking you to the money,

Nafloyd.

(James tap his head)

Right now.

This lands hard on Bobby’s ears. He smiles

BOBBY BYRD:

So, push the Wagon, Nafloyd.

Nafloyd resumes pushing the wagon.

79 INT. PEACHES DINER. 1955. EARLY MORNING. 79

James stands in the rear of an African American diner talkingon a pay phone. He’s a sweaty mess having walked through thenight.

His face drops. It registers sudden concern.

JAMES:

Are you sure, Baby?

80 INT. PEACHES DINER. MOMENTS LATER 80

James joins Bobby at a booth of the diner. Bobby is also asweaty mess.

BOBBY:

The Tuxedo Room already cancelledtonight’s show. Said if we couldn’tshow up last night then why wegonna show up tonight.

James shrugs.

BOBBY (CONT’D)

Now we got twenty four hours to getto Prestonville. Hundred and fortymiles West. We got no gas. Nobread. No show. I miss anything?

JAMES:

Velma’s pregnant again.

Bobby looks at him. Deadpan.

BOBBY:

Congratulations.

James nods.

BOBBY (CONT’D)

So now, we gotta make us a businessdecision.

He reaches in his pocket. Puts a few coins on the table.

BOBBY (CONT’D)

Thirty cents. The question is, do Icall the Two Spot, find out we gotany messages. Or do I get me acoffee. Or do I skip the coffee,

and get me a donut.

James considers this. Reaches in his pocket. Puts some coinson the table.

JAMES:

Knock yourself out.

A black waitress comes over. Bobby acts as if he’s a highroller. Living the life. Perusing the menu.

BOBBY:

Hey honey. Can I get me a coffee...

Looks at James. Now for the ultimate luxury.

BOBBY (CONT’D)

..and...let’s see...a donut?

WAITRESS:

You boys from outta town?

JAMES:

We’re Musicians. We the Famous

Flames.

WAITRESS:

Flames?

(noting their disheveled look)

More like a flicker.

James reaches over and grabs the waitress’ hand.

59

JAMES:

All we need is a spark, baby. So wecan turn the lamp down low tillthis sun rise up on us in themorning.

The waitress pulls her hand back.

WAITRESS:

Y’all’s broke ass is splittin’ thatdonut, ain’t you?

Bobby starts to laugh.

WAITRESS (CONT’D)

I’ll bring it with a knife.

James winks before the waitress walks away.

BOBBY:

I gone call the Two Spot.

James expression instantly changes.

JAMES:

Oh no.

BOBBY:

What?

Over at the door, A white guy. Obviously a cop. He waves ourwaitress over.

WHITE GUY:

Excuse me ma’am, I just came from aplace called the Tuxedo Room. I’mlooking for the boys who weresupposed to be playing theretonight?

JAMES:

(whispering)

I ain't supposed to leave BibbCounty without telling my paroleofficer.

BOBBY:

Sh*t James! What we do?

Bobby looks around and James has disappeared under the table.

Bobby drops like a stone under the table as well.

Bobby peers around the booth for a peek.

60

BOBBY (CONT’D)

He’s coming this way. Oh sh*t.

JAMES:

I can't go back to prison Bobby.

The waitress sits the man down at a nearby table.

WHITE GUY:

I’ve been driving across over twostates looking for these boys. Theyhave to be here in Macon. Tell yawhat, I’ll make it worth your whileif you can tell me where they are.

The man hands the waitress ten bucks and a business card.

The woman shrugs as she reads the card.

WAITRESS:

King Records? What did they do?

WHITE GUY:

Everything right.

Bobby and James look at each other.

JAMES BROWN:

(pole-axed)

King records?

Bobby crawls out from under the table suddenly all business.

BOBBY:

Evening, Sir. I’m Bobby Byrd thisis my associate James Brown.

James crawls out and stands before RALPH BASS.

JAMES:

Hi.

BOBBY:

I understand you’re looking for theFamous Flames.

LATER AT THE DINER -Bobby and James sit with Ralph Bass. Thebreakfast crowd has cleared out.

RALPH BASS:

I’m Ralph Bass from Federal recordsin Cincinnati. An imprint of KingRecords. I heard your acetate. Iwant you to come to Cincinnati. Iwant you to make a record for King.

61

Bobby looks back at him. Nods.

BOBBY:

King records. As in King Records.

The King records.

The waitress arrives with a donut and a plate of steak and

eggs. She places the steak and eggs in front of James andwinks.

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