Idlewild

---

All the world's a stage,

and all the men and women

merely players.

They have their exits

and their entrances,

all with

a specific role to play.

Even at a funeral.

I was searching

for my role in life.

You get one shot.

Can't go back

and change anything.

Strange, all these people

showing up to see a dead guy.

Folks from small towns

are always up for a show.

Even at a funeral.

I know because I spent most

of my life in this very room.

Different faces, but always

the same characters.

Some full of regret,

feeling trapped,

in need of something

outside this small town.

That was the day

me and Rooster met.

It was the first time Rooster

had ever seen a real dead guy,

and the first time

I'd ever touched one.

Of course,

Rooster put me up to it.

It was

his Uncle Eddie's funeral.

He was like

a father to Rooster.

He was a classy gangster.

And so was his partner, Spats.

Son,

this was your uncle's.

Don't never lose it.

I won't.

How you doing? Are you ready?

We about to have a ball.

I'm your best friend.

They were

high rollers with fast cash...

Go on, take a whiff.

Don't be shy.

...and faster ladies.

Stinky.

And, man,

talk about the ladies.

Talk about the ladies.

Man, talk about the ladies.

See? Pink satin,

just like I told you.

You owe me five cents. Pay up.

Them some sexy drawers!

My father said

Rooster was trouble,

and didn't want me

playing with him

or anybody else,

for that matter.

I pretty much lived

my life inside,

except for the days

I visited my mother.

My Auntie Belle made me

keep up with my lessons.

Percival.

Pay attention, Percival.

It's right in front of you.

B flat.

Hey, baby.

Stop! Police! Freeze!

Come and get me, copper.

Piano was my thing.

Rooster preferred

singing and gambling.

Praise Jesus. Today is

my lucky day, fellows.

Y'all owe me some money.

Pay up.

Collect my money,

if you know what I mean.

But my Auntie Belle

didn't approve.

Let's get out of here!

That didn't matter

much to Rooster.

He never listened

to anybody anyway.

Eventually, my father started preparing

me to take over the family business.

Thing is, make the deceased

look like they're at peace.

Go on. Go on. Go.

Peaceful.

Not happy.

I learned my family business,

and Rooster learned his.

Seventy-five bottles

this month.

Bootlegging.

That's $48.

$46.50.

Seventy-five bottles

at 62 cents each is...

$46.50.

Boy's too smart

for his own britches.

Good looking out, man.

How the hell am I going to

make it to Biloxi by sundown?

I got an idea.

We can hide

the bottles in here.

Sh*t. Think he heard us?

I don't know.

Let's go check it out.

Come on.

He'll be awake by 8:00.

We were from two totally

different sides of the track,

with one common ground.

You got to get it

back by 8:
00.

I'll have it back. I promise.

Music.

Here.

God don't make no mistakes.

Ain't nothing slick

to a can of oil.

The records got old.

So did me and Rooster.

All right,

now that's perfect. Okay, now.

Give me a big smile.

One, two...

One more time. And cheese.

That's perfect.

Man, Rooster.

You got a big family now.

Come on, Rooster, you can

smile better than that.

Ain't y'all pretty?

Man, take the picture.

One, two...

Cheese.

Rooster had to

take care of his family,

and I had to

take care of mine.

10:
00 A.M. Damn shame.

One, two, three.

Ain't y'all finished yet?

By day, I helped my father

work in the mortuary.

Get that carnation right, now.

Yes, sir.

But by night,

Rooster got me a part-time gig

playing at a local juke joint

where he worked,

Church.

That's what we called the place,

but it was anything but that.

How y'all feeling tonight?

Depends on what you're doing.

I don't give a damn.

I'd be your bra right now!

She ain't nothing.

Mama

I've been away from home

To join the circus

Man, look at them

hams on that chippie!

Save me

one of them drinks, Taffy.

Papa

I'm going to the place

where the crowd gets down

Gets down

Sister

I know that there are lions,

tigers and bears

I'll be safe and sure to

call y'all when I get there

Yo, yo, fix me another drink.

Greatest show on earth

Ain't you had

enough to drink?

Shut up

while I'm singing.

Step right up, step right up.

Come one, come all.

What you want

What you need

What you need

Got some coke

Wanna drink?

Got some weed

All that sh*t

I've got it, yeah

I've got it

I got it

Rene, take your brother.

Well, hush.

I'm fed up

with this, Rooster.

And it's starting to take

a toll on me and the kids.

And we ain't just gonna sit at home while

you romp around every night in this...

Cover them ears.

Whorehouse.

Zora, for the last time, this

is a respectable business,

and I make good money. Now,

you know I got responsibilities.

Responsibilities?

That's bullshit.

When was the last time you

been to a real church, Rooster?

You can't even remember, huh?

It's been so long.

I got... You need the

Spirit in your life.

You need to start spending

some time with the kids.

Tell you what.

Why don't I take you shopping

in the morning?

You and the kids.

Would you like that?

I got $100 love over here.

I got $1,000 love.

Your name must be

Bob or David.

You got all that

f***ing grease in your hair.

Why don't you

go wash your hair?

Yes, yes!

Greatest show on earth

Get your damn hands

off my bottle.

Barbecue.

That is barbecue right there.

What the hell you looking at? I

wish you'd get that song right.

Always drunk.

I should set her ass on fire.

Girl, now what you mad at?

You did good.

That's Monk.

He works backstage,

but no one knows what he does

besides borrow money.

Taffy, you sho' nuff gorgeous.

Love the hair.

Loan me a nickel note, dime

note, two cents, whatever.

Go on, Monk. You still

owe me from last week.

You better pay me.

And that's Ace.

Ace owns Church.

He liked to be

called Sunshine Ace,

but most folks

just called him Ace.

Goddamn Rooster!

Unless they wanted something.

Sunshine Ace! Just the

man I'm looking for.

Listen to me,

you son of a big jackass,

you ain't gonna get nothing

from me but the what for.

The what for?

Yeah, when I put my foot in your ass,

you gonna say, "What for? What for?"

Now move. You're $85 in the

hole! Come on, Sawed-Off.

Rooster! Rooster!

Come on, man.

Man, I hope they don't

start throwing bottles again.

Holy moly!

Rooster's late again.

Y'all jackasses,

play something quick.

Like what?

He ain't even here yet, man.

I don't care what you play.

All I know is I got

a house full of angry people,

and ain't none of these n*ggers

getting their money back.

All right, Baby Blue,

you're on, man.

Jackass!

One, two, three, four.

Suddenly, I was

forced into the hot seat.

I hated the spotlight.

It always gave me the jitters.

Somebody

owe us something.

Now I done

paid my damn money!

I told you

to bring the good songs.

You better come

harder than that, sweetie!

This ain't no mortuary!

Keep your hand

on the keys, man.

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