Nina

---

I would like my parents

to have their seats up front.

Dear, the whole town

has come to see you.

You're brilliant.

You don't wanna let them down.

Okay?

I'm not playing unless they do.

Miss Simone,

you really the first

ever to blend jazz,

classical, and blues, but

I believe

you call it black classical.

Who were your

musical influences?

Well, of course, I was trained

as a classical pianist

since I was three.

I started at Julliard

and that's where

I learned about Bach and Mozart

and Chopin, and

those are the artists

that I return to, you see?

Yes, and yet you

became a club singer.

After Julliard, I was

denied entrance

into the Curtis institute

because I was black.

I'd hope to continue studying,

playing classical music,

but I was not allowed to.

So I went to Atlanta

to try to make

to try to make some money,

so that I can apply again.

But they didn't

want a black woman

to play the piano, to

play classical music.

They wanted her to sing

because...

That's what we do, isn't it?

I know you've come

a long way to be here,

unfortunately,

whatever money miss Simone felt

was owed to her

simply isn't.

I wish it were different,

but we've reviewed as many of

your contracts as we could find

and it looks like

the royalties to your songs

were sold a long time ago.

He stole my money and I want it.

I sang those songs,

I lived that life,

that's my porgy money

and they're taking it from me.

Nina, this is a fight we've

been fighting for years.

It's over.

What are you

talking about, Henri?

Just what I said, darling.

Tell him to give

me my f***ing money.

Excuse us, sir, let's go.

Give me my money.

Jesus Christ, Nina!

You tell them to

give me my money,

tell him to give me my money!

Sorry about this.

Whoa whoa whoa!

You're not going anywhere!

All the way back, let's go!

- Hey!

- Stop resisting!

Let me go!

No, no!

She's a diagnosed alcoholic,

diagnosed manic depressive,

diagnosed mild paranoia,

severe dysfunction

when off medication,

moderate to good

function when medicated.

When she was brought in,

she had a money belt

with $8,000 in it.

She had to be restrained.

The police are placing

her on a 24 hour hold.

After that, it's up to

her how long she stays.

Who is she again?

Nina Simone.

Oh, I know that name.

Who is that?

Never heard of her.

Hello, miss Simone.

My name is Clifton.

Just gonna prep

you for your shot.

Wait wait wait, what is that?

Take your medication.

If you do, it'll take the flag

off your file,

you won't be restrained

for meal times, showers,

or recreation.

Where you from?

Chicago.

Well, welcome to California.

It's so nice here.

Miss Simone.

Go ahead,

I'm taking my meds,

I'm cooperating,

I'm a good patient.

There.

Would I sell you anything,

the way I look?

Honey, you're right,

you're absolutely right.

Clifton.

Where's my money?

The money they took

from me, where is it?

It's in the safe

with your other stuff.

Can you check on it for me?

Uh-huh.

Thanks.

You seem better.

Yeah?

Hey.

You know I'm famous.

What?

Do you know who I am?

Yeah.

Yeah?

I think my mother

used to listen to you.

Good.

I hope it's okay

for me to say this,

but nothing's really

keeping you here,

I mean you can leave.

You should leave.

Hi.

Took your advice.

I'm leaving.

- Wow.

- Mmhm.

Good for you.

I want you to come with me

to France as my assistant.

What?

I will pay you $2,000 a month,

plus room and board.

In return, you take

care of all my affairs.

You don't believe me, do you?

I can't take that.

I can't take this.

Plane leaves at 9 am.

It's France, baby!

France is better.

Better than this.

Will you get some champagne

and bring it upstairs?

This is all I could find.

Come on, let me see.

You want me to make the bed?

No, I'm too tired.

Clifton, I need a drink!

I was clean for 30 days

in that goddamn hospital.

I want a drink right now.

There you are,

and please do my bed.

You've been in it all day.

I know that, isn't

that what you do?

Okay.

Now, please get me

something to drink first.

There's nothing here.

Well, then go get something!

You need to eat something first.

Listen, motherf***er,

you work for me, okay?!

I pay you!

I'm not your patient, now please

go get me something to drink.

Then come upstairs

and do my bed!

Champagne!

Hi.

Good morning.

I brought you some

food and your medication.

I didn't ask for any of that.

Well, you need it,

you can't take

your meds on an empty stomach.

You shouldn't drink

on an empty stomach.

Since when?

What are you waiting for?

Nothing.

Hey, hey, hey, take it with you.

I told you

I don't want it, baby.

Motherf***er!

Stop watering down

my champagne!

You don't think I could

tell the difference?!

Expensive bottle of champagne,

motherf***er putting water

in it.

How do you manage

to balance these

two different things,

you have beautiful,

tender love songs

and very intense,

angry political songs.

When I first

started singing which,

as you know, I

didn't want to do,

but I had to so that

I can make money,

back then I only sang about love

because I didn't

have it as a child.

Of course I'm black, so I had

to sing about that too.

And then I had to sing

about them both.

That's the only explanation

I have for that.

- Hi.

- Hi.

What is that?

Lunch.

You don't give up, do you?

I don't want lunch!

I want a drink, not that.

All right, well I'll

just leave it here.

No, take it with you.

Pills.

Don't want them.

Make

sure you eat first!

I'll eat.

But I'm not gonna

take the drugs.

I don't like the way

they make me feel, baby.

They stabilize you.

I don't wanna be stabilized.

I wanna feel free, really free.

You can understand that.

Yeah I do, Nina.

I do.

All right.

All right.

Nina.

What?

You have a daughter, right?

From your first marriage?

Yes I do.

Where is she?

She's in New York.

She's grown now.

Test.

This song is inspired by

the most talented,

elegant playwright,

miss Lorraine "raisin

in the sun" Hansberry.

My muse, my

inspiration, my friend.

Baby, I wrote it for you.

No, you wrote it

because you had to.

Yes.

Come here.

Hello?

This is Henri Edwards,

I'm Nina's manager.

Oh, hey.

I got

an offer from a club

in Paris for next Friday.

It'll pay a lot of money,

so make sure she's ready.

She's not in any

condition yet to perform.

She's drinking, not

taking her medication.

Very volatile.

Know that,

that's what she is.

She's a f***ed up

alcoholic drug addict,

but people will still

pay money to see her.

I'll fax you the details, huh?

Make sure you get her there.

This f***ing manager

hands me a set list.

14 songs, I have to play

five, maybe six songs,

14 would take us

an hour and a half,

maybe even two, but it's

f***ing Nina Simone, man.

I'm not gonna show this to her

because she will

actually kill me.

You know what, you

show it to her.

Just f***ing do something, ,

I really do wish you good luck

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes