Stormy Weather

Uncle Bill.

Uncle Bill. Uncle Bill.

Here's your picture.

- That's it, Uncle Bill.

Well, what do you know?

- Read us about it, Uncle Bill.

Well, look at this.

- Read it, Uncle Bill.

What does it say, Uncle Bill?

Jim Europe would have been proud of you.'

Signed, 'Ex-Drum Major,

Noble Sissle.'

Whos Jim Europe, Uncle Bill?

Jim Europe? Why he had

the greatest band in the world...

Attached to the 15th Regiment.

Didn't I never tell you that?

No, Uncle Bill.

Why, we was under fre

for 191 days straight.

Yes, sir. And our regiment was decorated

with the Croix de Guerre.

You don't say, Uncle Bill.

Why, children, I remember when

we come back from France in 1918...

...the fags was flying,

people were cheering.

Boy, I'm looking out for us.

- What you got there?

Book of telephone numbers I won from Joe.

Boy, I'm gonna promote us

a couple of gals...

...for the ball tonight.

- How do you spell 'us'?

'U.S.'

- You leave off the 'S'and worry about you.

Every time you start to promoting,

that spells trouble.

Here we go again.

Did you go to the ball that night?

- We sure did.

And did Gabe promote

you a girl, Uncle Bill?

No, he didn't...

...but he promoted everything else...

...a girl for himself,

a big limousine and a chauffeur.

We sure went there in style.

This must be General Pershing coming.

Can't be, because

General Pershing's a blond.

Well, boy, here we are,

and I'm gonna Lindy Hop down.

Boy, I'm gonna carry on. Come on, honey.

Come back at 12:
00, my man.

Come on, honey.

Yes, you.

Cousin Jake,

what you want this time?

What you keep on calling me for?

I'm sorry, Gabe.

I can't come back and get you.

Why?

- The boss wants to use the car at 7:00.

But, Cousin Jake,

how we gonna get home?

How'd you get uptown

from the ship this morning?

Walked.

- Right there's your answer.

I'm going to the powder room.

- All right.

Daddy, can I have a dollar for the maid?

- Huh? Oh, sure.

Sure, sure, honey.

Here you are. Here you are.

Right here.

Go ahead.

Man, you gonna brag yourself

into the poor house yet.

Well, I ain't got far to go.

That just leaves $4.30 twixt me and it.

I should have called one of them

numbers in Joe's book for you.

You see, the trouble with you is...

What I mean is...

...when it comes to women,

you just don't know, or else...

Man, you're ramblin'.

What hit you?

Look at that gal standing over there.

There's nothing like that

in that book you was talking about.

Better not be.

Lieutenant Europe?

Well, well. Selina Rogers.

Hello, Jim.

It's nice to see you back.

I'm mighty happy to see you, honey.

And how you've grown up.

Say, Jim, I'm looking for Clem's buddy,

Bill Williamson.

Can you point him out to me?

- I'm sure I can.

He's bound to be around here somewhere.

Come on. We'll find him.

Okay.

- I hear that you're a big star now.

Yes, I'm doing nicely, thank you.

I used to tell you you'd

get there someday. Remember?

You taught me my first song.

I'm still singing it too.

There's Bill Williamson now.

Private Williamson.

Attention.

- Who, me?

My ears hear something,

but my feet don't believe it.

Bill, this is Selina Rogers...

Clem's little sister.

- Who's sister?

Clem's.

- You don't mean Clem Rogers?

Yes.

- My.

I didn't expect Clem's

little sister to be so big.

You two get together.

I've got to get on back to work.

Okay, Jim.

- I'll see you kids later.

I'm glad to meet you, Bill.

Clem wrote me a lot about you.

He told me a lot about you too.

You know,

I was gonna look you up.

Here's something

that he wanted you to have.

It's the Croix de Guerre for bravery.

Here I am, Daddy.

My, what a big cigar.

Yes, and a big man

is smoking it too, honey.

Honey, I does everything in a big way.

It must have cost you

a lot of money to keep...

...that car and chauffeur

while you were at war.

Chicken feed, honey,

just chicken feed.

You must be powerful rich.

- Oh, I got a little. I got a little.

Gardenias. Twenty-five cents.

- Yes, indeed.

Nothing too good for the little lady.

Yes. My daddy does

everything in a big way.

Give me all of them.

- All of them?

I sure go for a guy

that's free with his money.

Do you, honey?

That'll be $3.00.

- Huh?

It was very nice of you

to tell me all this about Clem.

Oh, that's all right.

You want to dance, Selina?

- I'd love to, soldier.

Ooh, I never expected to have

so many flowers till I was dead.

Let's dance, Daddy.

No, come on, let's sit down.

Waiter, table for two.

I've been marching all day.

Anyway, there ain't no point in dancing.

What are you gonna drink?

- What you got?

Just ginger ale and root beer.

- What?

You positive you ain't got nothing

but ginger ale and root beer?

That's all we got.

- This is gonna spoil my whole evening...

'cause back in Paris, I didn't

drink nothin' but champagne...

...the best of champagne.

Well, now, maybe I'd be able

to fix you up with a bottle of that.

I got a friend on the outside.

But it'll cost you plenty of money.

- Oh, that's all right.

Money's no object to us. Is it, Daddy?

- Well, no.

I'll see what I can do.

- Yeah, here, boy. Come here. Come here.

Don't knock yourself out.

It ain't that important.

Oh, he don't mind.

I always wanted to taste that stuff.

Well, honey, if you never tasted it,

it might make you dizzy.

That's what it's for, ain't it?

- I'll do my best.

But...

I sure hope I'll be able to walk

out of here without any trouble.

Me too.

Aw, that was swell.

- I want you to meet Gabe.

Who's Gabe?

- Why, he was Clem's other buddy.

There he is, right there.

Come on over.

You know, they called us

the Three Musketeers of the A.E.F.

Meet Selina Rogers, Clem's sister.

I'm mighty proud.

This is Miss Cynthenetta Webb.

Say, this buddy of yours is a sharp dancer.

He ought to be on the stage.

Ought to be on the stage?

Oh, by the way, Bill. I had the booking

office on the phone this afternoon.

Looks like you gonna play the Palace

week after next, boy.

Then you are on the stage.

- Why...

Yes, and he's his manager.

He's gonna put me on the stage too.

Really?

Well, I don't usually bother with amateurs...

...but in this case...

- Oh, Gabe, why don't you come up for air?

Now listen to him, the most

modest man in the whole world.

Oh, let him go on, Bill.

I'd like to hear more about you.

You only got to ask

anybody in show business.

Take Bud Williams...

He's crazy about Bill and me.

Then you must know Chick Bailey.

Chick Bailey.

Do we know Chick Bailey?

Why, we put him in show business.

We're just like brothers,

ain't we, Bill?

Sure.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Presenting Miss Selina Rogers...

...one of our newest stars.

Well, here's where we break

in the new song, Selina.

Okay.

Miss Webb, Bill Williamson...

...this is my partner, Chick Bailey.

- How do you do?

You know Gabe, of course.

- Gabe?

Come on.

- Who'd she say?

He heard her... Chick Bailey.

The guy he put in show business...

his brother.

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