Nina Page #3

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in the last five years?

F***ing nothing.

You're not gonna be her

manager, you're her nurse.

She's in bad shape physically,

financially, and mentally.

I understand that.

But here's my problem.

Locally, I just can't

get anyone to book her.

That's no surprise.

Look, I love her,

and she knows it.

But she's just not

a good investment.

Look, there's no

question a lot of people

wanna see Nina

Simone perform, me included.

I had a thought.

I was thinking about her going

back home to the states

and doing a free concert

in central park.

Bring the people back to her.

What do you think?

Central park?

Who do you think she

is, Barbra Streisand?

Why not?

Are you sleeping with her?

No.

All right.

Look, I'm not gonna help you,

there's nothing in it for me.

She's mean, crazy, drinks,

smokes, out of shape.

I understand.

Even her

voice isn't what it was.

All I need from

you is some advice.

She has to deliver truth again.

If she does, she can

do whatever she wants.

She's Nina Simone.

That's my advice, clean her up.

Hey.

Hey, did you bring my ice cream?

Rum raisin?

No. How you feeling?

I'm fine. No ice cream?

Wanna go to the gym?

No!

Come on.

Like this, it's good

for your diaphragm.

Where are we going?

Nowhere. We're just walking.

That's stupid.

It's good for your heart.

Like that's gonna fix it.

I need a cigarette.

It's too sunny, I'm leaving.

Nina!

That's it, all the

way back, here we go.

You got it.

Where are you going?!

I'm exercising.

On my own.

Miss Laroche?

Hello, Mr. Henderson.

Hi, Clifton.

Come in.

Miss Simone,

it's great to meet you.

It truly is.

So how do we get started?

Well, Mr. Henderson said

you just want

to get your voice in shape

and increase its

endurance and...

Who's paying you?

You are.

No, I'm not.

Stop this crap.

I told you get me a stage,

I will do the rest.

Bonjour, this

is Clifton Henderson,

I represent Nina Simone.

Is she sober?

Of course she's sober.

No I'm not.

Because what I've heard is

she's still impossible

and sounds like sh*t.

No, no,

she sounds great.

Yeah right, listen, I'm gonna

tell you something important.

Lose my f***ing number

and never call here again!

Hi, I represent

Nina Simone, I'm...

Oh, we love her!

- Nina Simone!

- Yeah.

Will you please

hold a moment?

Yeah, I'll hold.

I will get our calendar.

Nina!

Nina, we gotta go.

Get in the water with me.

Come swim with me.

Nope, gotta go.

I don't wanna go,

you're such an old man.

Come on!

This is helping my headache.

We gotta go.

I worked really

hard to get this, Nina,

come on, out of the pool.

Okay.

We have to go.

Ladies and

gentlemen, Nina Simone.

When you sing,

I've never seen

anything like it.

Never felt anything

like it, I mean...

You're different.

You're just different.

I'm not different.

Yes you are.

I'm not different!

You think I'm different?

Do I look different to you?

I am me!

And the only time

anybody can ever deal with me

is when my power

is channeled through my music!

That's too motherfucking bad.

I know who I am,

I'm a black woman!

That's who I am.

I'm not different, motherf***er.

You're different.

You're pretty.

I'm sorry.

Many of your songs

are about freedom,

and I wonder, what

is freedom to you?

I'll tell you what

freedom means to me.

No fear.

I mean really,

no fear.

If I could have that half

of my life, no fear...

What are you

afraid of?

Hello?

How are you, lover?

Nina,

can you imagine?

First I've lit my sh*t

up with this crack pipe.

Now, this ms sh*t

is f***ing me up.

Something's gotta get us, baby.

Yeah, but

this sh*t is crazy.

Man, I miss being on stage

even though I was so scared

all the time, remember?

Yeah, I remember.

Village gate is proud

to present a very

talented lineup tonight

of music and soul!

But first, our young comedian

out of Illinois,

Mr. Richard Pryor!

When you see a woman

standing across the hallway

and she's got a cigarette,

and you wanna light it,

but you forgot

where you put your matches,

and you're...

- Right?

I miss that sh*t,

I love it, man.

But enough about me.

What's new with you, baby?

I met a boy.

I have a boy with me.

You got the boys,

you got the girls.

He's different.

He doesn't drink.

He'll never hit me.

That means he's not f***ing you.

You're right, he's not.

He takes care of me.

I keep pushing him away though.

Nina, you're

scared of something.

I am.

Clifton!

Yeah!

Where are you?

Right here.

Get me a studio.

I want to record some music.

Yeah.

Yup.

Hey guys.

Hey.

Hi, Nina.

- Yeah.

- At the chart, yeah?

- Okay.

- It's good to see you.

It's good to see you too.

- I hope it good to be seen.

- Thank you for coming.

Yes, yes, wanna start?

Miss Simone.

Need anything?

- No, I'm good.

- All right.

Keep your eyes on me.

Just watch me when we start

and you're gonna be all right.

From the top.

So, we'll take it from the top.

Nothing too big.

...over here.

Okay boys, how's the

sound in the booth?

Sounds great, Nina.

Oh.

Baby, it's okay.

You're used to me already?

Think that would be impossible.

You were great tonight.

It was fun.

So much fun.

Dance with me.

What?

You wouldn't swim

with me, dance with me.

...What, here?

Why not?

Okay.

Okay.

There's no music.

We heard music all day.

Thank you for the dance.

Hello?

Hello,

I'm looking for Nina Simone.

Who's this?

This is doctor Cousier.

Is she there?

She's here, but she's busy.

Can she call you back?

Well, she was supposed

to call me back and did not.

It's important.

Well, I take care

of all of Nina's affairs.

You can talk to me.

Okay, well then

there's certain things

you should know.

I felt so

good after recording.

Why didn't you tell me?

Tell you what?

That was your doctor

on the phone.

A doctor I didn't know you had.

You were supposed

to come back in

to start your f***ing treatment?

It's my life, Clifton.

It always has been.

If 30 years of alcohol, drugs,

and mental illness

have not killed me, this won't.

What?

I don't get it.

I have seen you go ballistic

over your pasta

not being al dente.

Would it make you

feel better if I did?

I'm tired, Clifton.

My pasta means more to me

than this f***ing bullshit.

But I do like your

central park idea.

- How are you?

- Good.

So...

Can I travel?

Where, and for how long?

America for a week?

A month?

Nina, the situation is critical.

You waited a long time

to come in, too long.

You need surgery, Nina,

and you need it soon.

Do you understand?

Does it matter?

Really?

It matters to me.

And it matters to the people

who love you.

Scalpel.

Around here is

a slight infection

started from the iv,

I just wanna watch it.

No, it's okay.

We'll watch it.

Yeah, but it is infected.

How do you know this?

I'm a nurse.

We'll

get through this.

You're the strongest

woman I know.

You

are a strong voice

in the fight against

racial inequality.

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