Sparkle Page #4

and that suitcase.

You don't understand, Mama.

Like, there's education

like there never was before.

Mama, we don't have to be slaves

to the white establishment anymore.

We don't have to live off

what the white man throws our way.

Thanking him for his chicken-sh*t pay

and chicken-sh*t jobs.

We don't have to run around

shining his shoes and driving his cars...

...and cleaning his floors

and being his...

Go on, now, say it.

Being their maid.

Yeah, Mama.

Being their maid.

Mama...

...I seen you, ever since I was a little kid,

getting up in the middle of the night...

...to take the subway

to ride for two hours...

...to go to their house

to do their cooking...

...and to do their ironing

and do their cleaning...

...and wash the sh*t out of their toilet.

And for what, Mama? For what?

Bye.

Then he says to Benny Palmieri,

"I only got two left."

Funny story.

Funny story, Moe.

But you should have left Benny

in Vegas.

I'd do it. But seriously, friends...

...let's have a toast

to our gracious host and hostess.

Moe and Lee...

...you're the tops.

Hey, and while we're toasting,

let's not forget why we're here tonight.

I'm sure Moe and Lee will join with me

in toasting the Lorenzo brothers...

...and our new business venture.

To the success of America's enterprises.

Hey, Effie, more champagne.

- Just one week, Mr. Daniels.

- Stix, I have to put another act in.

Well, just put someone in temporary.

Look, I know we can get it together

in a week.

Okay. One week.

I can't be no singer.

Tune Ann,

you're the best singer in church.

But that's church. That ain't

being on-stage before all them people.

Why, I'd sh*t in my pants.

Come in.

She's not here yet?

Did you call the house?

The phone was disconnected.

She'll be here.

She always has been before.

I would like to pay you

for tonight anyway, Stix.

I'm awfully sorry.

You are welcome here anytime.

Good night.

Thank you, Mr. Daniels.

Good night.

Stix.

Wait, Stix.

- Wait, Stix, wait.

- I'm finished.

- Please don't. Come on.

- I worked my goddamn ass off.

And nobody gives a damn.

Dolores goes off, don't tell me nothing.

And Sister... What did I ever do

but try to make her something special?

- Stix, we could start again.

- Yeah, I'm going upstate.

What do you mean "upstate"?

A friend working up there

in construction...

...been making 5 or 10 dollars an hour,

he tell me.

What about us?

Well, you come with me.

I can't leave, Stix.

What's Mama gonna do now?

Dolores is gone.

Stix, what about Sister?

What about her?

I'm the only one

who cares about her anymore.

Then you stay.

What do you mean?

What do you mean?

Look, I gotta go.

Now, you're free to come with me

or stay.

Please, please don't make me choose

between you and my sister, Stix.

I ain't making you do nothing.

Stix...

Stix, please, please,

please don't leave me.

I gotta go.

If I stay around here,

I'm gonna kill somebody.

Stix!

Stix!

Thank you, honey.

You sure are a comfort to Effie

in her time of trouble.

You're a nice girl...

...but I think you better

stay away from that cake.

- Hey, Stix.

- Hey, how you doing? How you doing?

- Okay.

- Is...

Everybody in the kitchen.

Hi, everybody.

Would you like some coffee?

No, thanks.

I was wondering...

- Well, I was hoping...

- Sparkle is in the bedroom.

Thanks.

What do you want?

I'm looking for a girl singer.

Didn't you know?

This family is fresh out.

- Sparkle...

- When did you get back?

A few days ago.

- My granny's been real sick...

- A few days ago.

Must have been out when you called.

Sparkle.

- Look, I know how you feel.

- I know you do.

It's funny.

One brain in this room thinking

for two people.

Since when do you know

how anybody feels about anything...

...except yourself, Mr. Stix Warren?

Look, Sparkle,

we got a lot to talk about.

But unless you talk about it, you know?

Just give me a chance.

Give you a chance.

Wanna hear something funny?

When you first left...

...I wasn't sure if I would

be able to live without you.

Yeah, I used to sit in this room and wonder,

will I get through another second?

Can you imagine a person so unhappy...

...they don't know if they'll

live through another second?

I got through the seconds, Stix...

...the minutes, days, months, weeks.

I'm doing fine without you.

Just fine.

Sparkle, no matter

what you think of me...

...I came back

because I want you to sing.

Why you think I've been

so busy since I been back?

Got me a job at the record company.

Lined up all my old contacts...

You who were always so good

at business, Stix.

- Business. Business.

- Baby, it was for you too, and it is now.

- I want you to sing, Sparkle.

- What have I got to sing about?

Stix, what have I got to sing about?

I loved Sister too.

What happened to Sister

happened to Sister, not to you.

You got your whole life. I mean...

I want you to sing.

Don't bury yourself with your sister.

Get out of here.

Get out!

Nobody ever understood

Sister except me.

- Don't you ever, ever use her name again.

- Sparkle.

- Sparkle, listen.

- Get out of here.

Get out.

I heard Stix put his grandmother

in a fine home...

...where she'll be taken care of

real good.

That's nice.

Some folks think he's a fine boy.

I'm one of them.

Mama, do we have to talk

about this again?

Well, honey...

...it ain't like you being so...

So unfair.

I told you a long time ago.

I said:

"Spark, a man's got to do

what he's got to do."

Now, I know he run off and left you,

but he came back, didn't he?

Just to make records.

Stix is right to want you to sing, honey.

Why, I hear you in church singing

for Sister...

...and it like did break my heart,

the glory of what God gave you.

I don't feel like singing, Mama.

But just go see him,

so you give yourself a chance.

Do you feel like running it again?

I'm tired.

Well, how does your voice feel?

Okay.

You know, I think you're ready

to make a record.

A demo?

No, the real thing.

Finished product.

Background singers.

Big orchestra, everything.

- It makes me nervous.

- You nervous?

You know how much

I gotta come up with?

How much?

Ten thousand dollars or more.

There's only one man I know

got that kind of money.

Mr. Gerber.

Sit down, sit down.

- You want some soup?

- No, thanks.

You ever had matzo ball soup?

- No, I don't think I have.

- I knew you never had it...

...because if you've ever had it,

you could never say no.

Hymie.

Another bowl of soup.

- I heard a lot about you from Sparkle.

- And I heard a lot about you from Effie.

Now that that's out of the way,

how much money you want?

Ten thousand dollars.

If she's good, why not let a record company

finance the record? That's their business.

It's also their business to sign her up for life.

This way, we make it, it belongs to us.

What are you putting up as collateral?

My word that I'll pay you back

with any interest you name.

Thank you.

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