Ray

1

Always remember

your promise to me.

Never let nobody or nothing

turn you into no cripple.

All right!

Rest stop, 45 minutes.

Come on, folks.

We gotta move.

We leave at 2:
45 p.m.

On the dot. Can't be late.

Hot meals

and bathrooms inside.

All right, uh, there's a

window out back

for y'all to buy sandwiches.

And I suggest you make

good use of them outhouses.

Ain't nothing but bushes

for you in the Carolinas.

Sir.

Can I help you, sir?

Yes, sir.

Seattle?

Who you riding with?

Nobody. Just me.

Boy, I can't take

responsibility

for some blind n*gger

traveling 3,500 miles alone.

I... I... I paid for this here

ticket, and it says

that you have to take me

to Seattle.

Don't you be smarting off

to me, boy.

With all due respect, sir,

I earned the right.

I may have left my eyes

on Omaha Beach,

but I ain't asking no charity

from Uncle Sam.

I got a job waiting

for me in Seattle.

You were in Normandy?

Shuttling troopers

to the beach.

We took a direct hit.

I'm sorry, son.

I'll keep an eye on you

myself.

Come on.

Take a seat in the back.

Anytime

You're feeling Ionely

Anytime

You're feeling blue

Anytime

You feel downhearted

That will prove

your love for me is true

Anytime

You're thinkin' about me

Til, what the hell

do you think you're doin'?

Billy, don't get

your feathers all ruffled now.

I met this ol' boy over

at the O.C. At Clarkfield,

and well, he plays

a mean jazz piano.

I don't care if he whistles

Dixie out his ass.

He ain't gonna

do it here.

Sir.

Boy, are you blind?

Yes, sir.

Since I was seven.

Well, let me help you

out then.

This is a country band.

We don't play

no boogie-woogie.

Uh, yes, I understand.

I love country music.

All right, go on.

Tell me.

What is it you love

about country music?

I... I love the stories.

Uh, you know,

about fallin' in love

and having love

knock you around

and then the pressures

of the world on you so tough.

It... It makes you

feel small.

You want to give

your soul to God.

You might as well.

Your ass belongs to Him.

Boy, are you sure

you blind?

Last time I checked.

Okay. Come on in.

Billy,

I think you're outvoted.

Til, one hint of trouble,

and your blind nigra's

out of here.

Damn!

Here.

I'm gonna have

to put some glasses

before he scares

somebody half to death.

Seattle, Washington, folks.

Change bus here

for all points north:

Bellingham, Mount Vernon.

Vancouver, Canada.

Uh, that's Diz. Emanon.

Yeah. But what's it

spell backwards?

Ah... ah... ah, come on, man.

Why don't you give me

something difficult?

"No Name."

Say, daddy-o,

what ax you play?

Uh, piano.

Just blew in

from Tampa, Florida.

Me and my partner,

Gossie McGee, came here,

you know, want to

fatten up our style.

Cop some licks from some more

experienced cats. You dig?

You know what?

Why don't you let me

take you inside?

You know,

show you around.

All right. Perfect gentleman. Yeah.

This is just

like my place.

So, what's your name?

Ray Robinson.

I'm Quincy Jones.

Quincy Jones.

Hey, Gerry!

This here's my man, Ray.

He's here to see his friend,

Gossie McGee.

So I figured

I'll show him inside...

Don't mess with me, Q.

He can come in, but not you.

Vice is on my ass for letting

you underage kids in.

Get out of here, Q.

Can't you see...

Get out of here, Q.

He's blind! I gotta

show him in. Get out.

Jive-ass.

What?

Hey, Ray Robinson, when am

I gonna hear you play, baby?

Uh, well,

that may cost you.

Welcome, all you cool cats

and fine felines.

You've come to the place where

the sophisti-cats and hipsters

hang their bebop hats.

So snuggle up

and come near

for tonight is Talent Night

at The Rocking Chair.

Let's hear it

for Dancin' Al!

Gossie's been cattin' around with one

of my waitresses since he got here.

He never told me that his

partner was a blind 'Bama boy.

Marlene,

Demurs just called.

Thurmond's sick.

What about Sassy?

Flat tire.

Okay, 'Bama. Why don't you get on

up there and show me what you got?

Well, I-I'm not prepared to do

my thing right now, tonight...

This is the only audition

you're going to get, puddin'.

So either get on up there, or you and

Gossie can haul your asses back down South.

Here. Smoke some of this.

This ain't no tobacco, man.

No, hold it in,

it'll calm you down.

All right, Oberon.

Get on up there

and introduce him.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, 'Bama. Let's go.

Yeah.

Now, I got something special

for all you satin dolls.

And I don't mean

Oberon's big thunder.

Now that's

for another show.

Now we got some

new blood for ya.

Yeah, straight off

the bus from Florida,

I give you Ray "Don't

Call Me Sugar" Robinson!

How y'all doing tonight?

Better than you!

Relax, Ray. Relax.

I got it.

Uh-uh, what do y'all

want to hear?

How about

a little Nat King Cole?

Y'all like Nat King Cole?

If you ever plan

to travel west

'Bama ain't bad.

Yeah, I'd say

he saved our asses.

What the hell is

Ray doin' up there?

Auditioning for you,

Gossie.

He ain't no good without me.

How'd you and the 'Bama like

to do a week here at the Chair?

I know a good bass player.

A nice jazz trio could score

big with the right manager.

Manager?

Come on now, Gossie,

don't be so small-minded.

You know

you've got to give to get.

Now what exactly do I

have to give?

25 percent.

But I'll be gettin' you

other gigs.

All right,

next question:
What do I get?

What do you need?

Double scale as leader,

plus 10 percent.

What about the 'Bama?

He's about as green

as a blade of grass.

I can handle him.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Yeah, he's green.

Kingman, Barstow

So, Gossie,

you don't need to worry

about a hotel room

for the 'Bama.

He can flop at my place.

Hey, y'all never change.

Get your kicks

on Route sixty-six

Ray, you coming back to bed?

I'm getting some water.

I can see that,

but mama ain't finished yet.

For the first time anywhere,

let's hear it

for The McSon Trio!

A buzzard took the monkey

for a ride in the air

The monkey thought that

everything was on the square

Ray, when you

coming out?

In a minute.

Mama's got some more blackberry

cobbler for you, baby.

Damn.

Straighten up

and fly right

Cool down, papa,

don't you blow your top

Marlene, if you're gonna

send us out on tour,

we're gonna need

more than $5 a day.

How come we can't get paid

after each gig?

Because you boys will spend

everything you make.

The club sends the checks

to me, so as I can bank them.

I just want to see

my own checks, that's all.

You don't see, Ray.

You're blind, baby.

Or did you forget?

Now, you want to go out on your

own and see how well you do?

Ray! Hey, Marlene,

where's Ray?

He's in the back bedroom.

And wipe your feet.

Ray, uh, six-nine, where

you at? Six-nine. Six-nine.

Lionel Hampton just asked me

to go on the road with him, man!

Lionel Hampton, man!

Sure he did.

Then why you still here?

And dig this:
His wife, she

kicked me off the tour bus.

Told me to come back when I

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