Low Down

---

I often thought

my father was born of music...

some wayward melody

that took the form of a man.

He heard music everywhere.

Squeaking bedsprings, buzzing flies,

dripping faucets were all

filled with rhythm to him.

That he was "a great jazz pianist"

was the opinion of Charlie

Parker, Lester Young,

and scores of others

who played with him.

I, too, was in awe of his talent.

But I loved him out of all proportion...

as only a daughter could.

One more time. Motherf***er.

Hey, Hobbs, maybe not the

fifth... that last note?

- Try sharp eleventh.

- Yeah.

- That's the Monk note, man.

- That's right.

Yeah, man.

- What'd you think of that?

- I loved that one.

The circular spherical midnight?

Mm-hmm.

I think it felt good.

- Yeah? Yeah.

Maybe something a little

bit more danceable?

Whoop.

Hey.

Push the button, mutton.

Ah. My lady.

Kind sir.

- Hey, where are you goin'?

- That thing's too slow.

You're fast on your feet, "Vargas. "

Dance lessons have paid off handsomely.

Grab those rabbit ears, too.

Why don't you, uh, put on some coffee?

You want a cup of coffee?

I'm good.

Joe Albany, we had an appointment

scheduled in my office three days ago.

Did you forget to mark

it down on your calendar?

I'm sincerely sorry about that.

You see, I took a job

down in Palm Springs...

very nice place, legit,

a lot of film people.

Mm, one of the terms of your

parole, Joe, is that you call me.

You inform me of any

work that you procure.

Do you have any record

of this employment?

Uh, it was a cash job.

Unfortunately, I don't have much left.

I owed a few people some money. I...

I got the TV out of

hock for my kid and so...

Mm. I don't like having

to leave my office, Joe.

I have a new air cooler

that I enjoy very much,

and I don't like this town.

So I don't care to travel

the streets of this town

and track down people who are not

considerate of my valuable time.

You must turn up on time.

No excuses will be accepted.

- Is that clear to you?

- Yes, perfectly.

Should it be necessary

for me to return here,

you will be returned

to the penitentiary.

Is that also clear to you, Joe?

- Yes, sir.

- Right.

Now please, roll up your sleeves.

Other arm.

Nothing fresh.

I've been clean.

And that will be $3.55.

Hey, champ. You got any money on you?

What? Is that a joke?

Okay, okay. I know you.

Pay later. Okay?

Are you sure? I...

I know you. Pay later.

See?

Our luck is changing.

You brought her back.

She'll live and I'll

get her another body.

Let me die.

Ugh!

Hey, listen to this one.

"Due to your melodic nature,

moonlight never misses an appointment. "

What? Let me see that.

Wow. That's poetry.

I'm gonna keep this one.

I can't take this any longer.

Oh, it's "Night of the Living Dead. "

Mm.

That's a good one.

You have to shoot him in the brain.

It's the only way to kill him.

Oh, good. Thanks for that info.

Who is it?

Hey, it's Lew.

Hey, Joe.

I was just walkin' along,

noticed you were home.

Thought I'd come up, say hi.

You think I'd be okay if I just came in

and rested for a few?

No. I'm here with my daughter.

Listen, here's the story.

- Keep it down.

- Shh.

- Keep your voice down.

- Okay, I'm sorry.

So here's the story.

I just copped

and...

I ain't feelin' so good out here.

F*** you showin' up here.

Aw, man, come on.

I'll just be in and right out.

No.

Got a little taste for you.

You think I give a sh*t?

There ain't nobody that followed me.

Just wait there.

The whole story becomes more

ghastly with each performance.

Difficult to imagine such

a thing actually happening...

He's just gonna use the

bathroom for a second.

Come on.

- Oh, thank you, man.

Hurry up. Go on.

You better not make a

f***in' mess in there.

Wake up, Jo. Time for school.

It's the weekend.

Yeah. It is, isn't it?

That's great news.

That's the best news.

We'll go do something fun later.

- ... to renovate the

- Hollywood sign,

and guess who's gotten into the act?

Well, Alice Cooper. The Hollywood sign

is a rebel, I mean, a nightmare.

And that's just like his lifestyle.

- Hey, Jo.

- I'm cleaning my lifestyle,

and I wanna clean the sign up. It

should be Hollywood, not "Hollyweird"...

I have a big surprise for you.

Oh, but you have to

remember one thing...

Ta-da!

Really are as skinny as a

little stray kitten, Amy-Jo.

You must eat.

"Amy-Jo. "

I never call her that.

You should.

I named you after my two favorite

sisters in "Little Women. "

Amy, pretty and self-possessed,

and Jo, the independent tomboy.

Yeah. I know that.

Well, you seem to have

the tomboy part down.

I think she's got the

pretty part down, too.

Guess what, Jo?

Your mom wants to start singing again.

We can try to work together

like in the days of old.

I thought you didn't

like working with singers.

I don't recall saying that.

Well, I for one will be honored

to have a collaborator as

brilliant as your father.

Think it calls for a toast, don't you?

"If music be the fruit of love,

play on. "

Beautiful.

Amy-Jo.

- Not here.

- Why?

We can go somewhere else.

It's a pity your dad has to work

in a glorified pizza parlor.

I think it's great.

Right on.

Thank you, Billy Strayhorn.

That was a tune he wrote,

called "Lush Life. "

I hope I did it justice.

We'll take a short break now.

Joe?

Joe. You were great. Come sit with me.

Joe, my man.

- One second, man.

Joe...

Nice work.

- We enjoyed it.

- How're you doin'?

Well, this has become a crashing bore.

I'm getting out of here.

Why don't you go over there

and sit with the boys' club?

Just... listen.

- Mom, it's okay.

- You're right.

I'm okay. Amy-Jo...!

Porter?

Porter? There any messages...

- Hey, hey.

- What're you doin'?

What hap... hey, Sheila.

Amy...

your mom...

ah, so you know.

"I wanna hold your claw. "

Ha. That's right.

It's Valentine's Day, isn't it?

Yep.

Let me make you breakfast.

We only have two eggs.

I'll run to the shop.

- Only one egg.

- Oh, well.

I'll be back in a flash with the hash.

Corned beef hash, that is.

"Today...

is named

after a saint...

who got his head chopped off...

for performing weddings.

Ouch. "

"Happy Valentine's Day, Dad. "

Hello, Joe!

- Hello?

- Gram?

Amy, is everything all right?

No.

What's going on?

Is your father there?

No.

Well, where is he?

Oh-hh.

I hear you wheezing. Your chest hurt?

Yeah.

- All right, now.

Okay, I want you to sit over there.

All right, you just sit down.

Sweetie, I'll get you some water.

- There you go.

- Thank you.

Too bad the chauffeur had a day off.

Oh.

There is a book...

that I have been

thinking you would enjoy.

Here it is.

Now, you've got to trust me on this.

I know you like it. It's Dylan Thomas.

I want you to read that.

Dylan Thomas was 15 years

old when he left school.

So you have two years to become a writer

as good as Dylan Thomas.

Yeah, there's plenty of room in here

for all your things.

Mm.

I'll see what I have

in the refrigerator.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes