Get on Up Page #14

97

EXT. THE STREETS. 1965. 97

THE VARIOUS DEEJAYs -- riding around town on bikes, onskates, diving out of cars, pasting up posters everywhere.

JAMES (V.O.)

He know the guy in the barber shopknows the guy at the pool hall, theguy at the garage.

98 INSIDE JAMES PAYS FOR A LARGE PLATE OF FISH. 98 INSIDE JAMES PAYS FOR A LARGE PLATE OF FISH. 98

JAMES:

(to us)

That way we get our record playedoutside Payola, we get our showpromoted better, harder, cheaper,

and we keep the gate.

99 EXT. FISH HOUSE - CONTINUOUS 99

James exits the fish house and sits down at a rickety cardtable with Bart.

JAMES:

(to Bart)

And the best part is, you can putit all through the books. Item.

Promoter.

(He turns to Bart)

What’d you think Pop?

BART:

Its beautiful Jimmy. I can’t do it.

Bart picks up a piece of fish and eats it.

JAMES:

Why not?

BART:

Universal Attractions promotes many

acts. I can’t piss off the 60 or 70

promoters in this country to skim a

little extra on the James Brown

Show.

JAMES:

It’s not a little. If the show

sells, and it’s sellin’, we talking

thousands of dollars a night.

Difference per year between 2 and 3

million dollars.

BART:

And I’m out of a job. Think you’re

forgetting I don’t just work for

James Brown.

JAMES:

And there’s my next point Pop. Why

not?

(Bart stops)

(MORE)

81

JAMES (CONT'D)

I can do something for you, and youcan do something for me, and itain’t buy me no Cadillac. Did youbuy Wilson Pickett a Cadillac? Didyou buy Jackie Wilson a Cadillac?

You know which way this thing isgoing Pop. I got people around mewho don’t see it.

Bart looks at him for some time as a black 1965 limousine

pulls up to the fish house.

James looks straight back to us. Smiles. Ben Bart rises and

grabs a piece of fish.

BEN BART:

(to James)

I thank you for the fish. And I’m

gonna need some benefits, boss.

Bart crosses to the limo and leaves.

BLACKOUT. SCREAMS. HORNS VAMPING.

100 INT. THEATER. NIGHT. 1965 JAMES 32 100

The whole band on stage looking sharp. Knocking the sh*t outof MAN’S WORLD. James falls to his knees

James turns to backup singer, YVONNE and winks. She winks

back.

James scans the front row and sees a very beautiful black

woman, DEDE, dancing in the audience.

James and Dede lock eyes. The attraction immediate.

Man’s World continues over the next three scenes.

CUT TO:

101 INT. SECURE ROOM 101

Ben Bart counts bundles of cash. He shuts a case full of

money. Hands it to 300lb MINDER. An ASSISTANT tries tohandcuff it to his wrist. It won’t close.

BART:

Po-lice have the same problem.

Bart looks at the three hundred pound minder. Tacitly decidesit’s probably safe.

82

102 EXT. STREET IN CINCINNATI. 1965. DAY. 102

Two shiny cars pull up to the bank. The 300lb MINDER, and acouple of his fellas, head into the bank each carryingseveral suitcases full of money.

103 INT. BANK. DAY. 103

They form a queue as the good folk of Cincinnati stare agog.

The carriers hand over BUNDLES AND BUNDLES OF CASH.

BEHIND THE COUNTER The manager spots how many suitcases theyhave.

103A INT. THEATER. NIGHT. LATER THAT SAME NIGHT. 103A

James is concluding his show with Please, Please, Please. He

is at the tail end of his cape routine. The cape isbrilliant blue with rhinestones.

He glances at Dede one last time from under the cape.

104 INT. BACKSTAGE. POST SHOW. NIGHT. 1965 104

James walks down the corridor backstage. Stops. Sniffs. Opensan equipment room door. NEW BAND MEMBER is inside smokingreefer.

JAMES:

Who you play Sax with son?

NEW BAND MEMBER:

James Brown Orchestra, Mr. Brown.

JAMES:

What’s the rule?

NEW BAND MEMBER:

No hopheads. No reefer heads. Nojunkies.

JAMES:

Not on the bus. Not backstage. Youa talented horn player, son. Yougotta keep your game tight. Now youwanna smoke a little groove on yourown time, that’s yo’ business.

But we out here to work hard and we

gone do just that you dig? Fifty.

83

Puts out his hand. NEW BAND MEMBER counts off bills and walks

down the corridor.

James turns around to find a beautiful black woman staringback at him. She holds a notebook and pen.

JAMES (CONT’D)

Hello pretty thing. You want an

autograph?

She nods.

James approaches and tries to grab the notebook. She pullsit back from his grasp with a smile

JAMES (CONT’D)

You want to come with me? So I can

sign it somewhere private?

James flashes that million dollar smile. They walk awaytogether.

105 INT. JAMES BROWN’S HOME. BEDROOM. WALTON WAY. AUGUSTA. 105

James walks into the bedroom of his home. Dede is sitting at

the end of their bed looking beautiful in a sexy negligee.

JAMES:

I called you yesterday, you ain’thome.

DEDE:

I was home all day.

JAMES:

You were home all day. So why youdidn’t pick up the phone?

DEDE:

I don’t know. What time you call?

JAMES:

I call you at one and quarter pastone, then I call you at two. And Icall again at three.

DEDE:

You must’ve wanted to talk to me

pretty bad.

JAMES:

Where were you?

84

DEDE:

Yesterday. I don’t know..in thebath?

JAMES:

For two hours?

DEDE:

You want me to take shorter baths?

You don’t have a phone in thebathroom, James. What you gonna do?

Fine me?

He looks at her levelly as he walks past and grabs a phonefrom the bedside table.

He yanks it out of the wall. Dede turns, James races towards

her but passes and heads into the bathroom.

106 INT. BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS 106

James walks in with the phone. James throws the phone at abathroom mirror. It shatters.

BACK IN THE BEDROOM

Dede is still as stone. James looks to Dede and then beginsto smile.

JAMES:

I ain’t gone fine you, baby. You

fine enough already.

Dede smiles.

DEDE:

Then get over here, Mr. Dynamite.

James approaches Dede and begins taking off his clothes.

JAMES:

Got you a phone in the bathroom

now.

James and Dede begin making love.

MUSIC. MONEY WON’T CHANGE YOU. Over.

85

107 EXT. CADILLAC. 1965. DAY. 107

James, Dede and Bobby are standing outside James’ Cadillac.

Dede has her hands over Bobby’s eyes. Dede has a huge diamondring on her finger.

DEDE:

Keep your eyes closed Bobby. Keep

‘em closed.

BOBBY BYRD:

They’re closed, Dede.

JAMES:

You peekin’ brother? OK. OK.

(James stops the car.)

You ready. You ready? OK. Open ‘em.

(Bobby does. )

Check it Bobby. Is that something?

Bobby opens his eyes and sees a Lear Jet stands on a runway.

“James Brown” on the side.

JAMES (CONT’D)

That something Bobby? Is that

something?

BOBBY:

Yeah brother. That’s something.

Velma pulls up in another car. It’s full of James kids. Teddyplus four more. He picks them all up and hugs them. As hedoes, Bobby sheepishly greets Velma.

BOBBY (CONT’D)

Hey Velma.

VELMA:

Hey Bobby.

James and Dede come over. Bobby takes a step back.

VELMA (CONT’D)

Teddy got impetigo.

JAMES:

Impetigo?

DEDE:

It’s a skin infection.

86

VELMA:

All that mess round his mouth.

That’s impetigo. It’s highlyinfectious.

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