Sparkle Page #5

Nobody is gonna give you

any money with that collateral.

Hey, listen, Mr. Gerber, Sparkle's got

more talent than anybody that I know.

She's gonna make it big.

And I'll find somebody someplace...

...who'll give me the money.

- Sit down, sit down.

All I said was that you ain't gonna

get the money from anybody.

I'm going to get the money if I like her.

- Like her? You'll love her. She's fantastic.

- lf I like her...

...this will be the deal: I'll borrow

the money from associates...

...and you will pay me very handsomely

for the use of that money.

- Do you understand?

- Yes, sir.

Eat your soup.

Okay, one more time.

Let's try to cut one again.

And Sparkle, just relax, baby,

and let it flow.

Hold it. Hey, hold it.

I just don't think I can do this.

Sure you can.

Hey, look, you did just fine

yesterday in rehearsal.

Okay, everybody, just... Just relax.

Let me hear it one more time

over the speakers.

Let's cut it, y'all.

We made it.

We made the charts, look.

Number 37 and climbing fast.

Oh, Mama.

The next stop, Carnegie Hall.

There it is.

All back plus 16 percent interest.

Now, how's that for a businessman?

You should feel real proud of yourself,

Stix.

I am.

And I'm real proud of you too

for taking a chance on us.

I'd like to talk over something with you,

kind of what I'd call a sticky situation.

Well, my turn to help you.

I'm real glad you feel that way about it.

You see, the business associates

I borrowed the money from...

...they're quick to recognize a good

business investment when they see one.

And you're doing very well.

- They want more interest on their money?

- No, it's not like that.

- They would like you to keep their money.

- Keep their money?

Keep their money and consider it

an investment in the future.

- The future of what?

- Sparkle.

Her having a hit record right off

and being young, they feel...

...with the record business

growing the way it is, you know...

...Vegas, TV...

- Now, wait a minute.

You mean, for a measly $ 10,000, they

wanna take profits from me and Sparkle?

Now, don't get excited.

Look, a deal is a deal...

I made a deal with you.

And I paid you back every cent,

plus 16 percent interest that you asked for.

You know, our business is finished.

It's not as simple as that, Stix.

A deal is a deal.

Listen, you weren't born yesterday.

I didn't just walk up to some nice banker

and ask for $ 10,000.

You been around.

You know what we're dealing with here.

Look, you a nice man, Mr. Gerber,

and I really like doing business with you.

But who you do business with

is your business.

Wait a minute, Stix.

My associates, if they let you off the hook,

then they look weak...

...and they consider it

very bad business to look weak.

Wait a minute. Stix.

Stix. Stix!

Stix.

Effie.

What a surprise.

What you doing here so early?

- Can we talk?

- Yeah. What about?

Well, Lee Gerber

came to see me last night.

She found out about Mr. Gerber's business

affairs and the people he's mixed up with.

Stix...

...she asked me to come here and

talk to you because she's afraid.

She said they're out to get you

unless you do what they want.

Don't you think Stix can

take care of himself?

Don't you know they messing with

a boy from Harlem?

What you worrying your pretty little head

over nonsense for anyway?

What you should be worrying about...

...is what you gonna be wearing

to the concert tonight.

Besides, Mrs. Gerber don't

know everything.

I got it all under control.

Look, go ahead and

get yourself together, okay?

Evening with Ray...

Where could Stix be?

Oh, you know Stix.

He's out there telling

the orchestra how to play.

Or he's showing people to their seats.

Or he may be selling tickets

at the box office.

That's one thing he ain't doing,

because it's all sold-out.

Yeah.

Hey, how's your pants, Tune Ann?

Ask me in an hour.

Oh, I better see if

the other girls are ready.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen...

...and welcome to Ray Charles

at Carnegie Hall.

And to start the program off,

a great favorite of Ray's.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Sparkle Williams and the Soul Ladies.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. You're all making us feel

real good up here.

My friends and I wanna sing this next song

that goes back with me a long time.

I'd like to sing it for my sister.

No, I'd like to sing it for all my sisters.

And especially for my man, Stix.

He's out there somewhere.

I hope they can all hear me. Thank you.

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