The Sapphires Page #6

J " Where I belong. J".

He's taking me out!

Taking you out?

Is that what you flash ones call it?

You have no shame!

She has no shame?

Honestly, Gail.

Don't stress

about what you're gonna wear.

You're not gonna be wearing it long.

Going out with a black fella's

not gonna make you any blacker, Kay.

Well. You never know.

You think you can walk away

from your mob?

Live in the city for 10 years

making out you're a gubba

and then get up on stage and say

you're a black fella and that's alright?

Nah. It's not alright, not with me.

Don't start me, Gail.

I'm not going to do this now.

This poor little mission gin

is making the coconut shame?

What did you call me?

Coconut?

Sorry. Have I offended ya?

Don't go telling me what I am

and what I'm not.

I didn't get a say

in how things worked out for me.

So you're black now, or you're

white?

You're black

now you think there's money in it.

I know what I am.

Yeah, but does Robby?

Gail?

Gail?

What was that about?

Kay's mum.

It's her birthday.

So we're doing a show for her...

and we're on top of a truck.

Two black cars pull in.

Government fellas.

Run!

Go, go!

- Come on! Now!

- Get the kids away!

Mum and Dad screaming at us.

"Kids, get across the river!"

I don't get it. What did they want?

The children.

It's my responsibility, Dave,

to look after the little ones

because I'm the oldest.

Hurry UP!

I'm not to let them out of my sight,

especially not Kay.

Why Kay'?

If you're fair like Kay,

them fellas reckon

she could pass for white.

- Get out of the way!

- Leave them kids alone!

Take her from her family,

put her in an institution,

teach her white ways.

Pretty soon, there'll be no

blackfellas left to worry about.

Kay.

And then, um, Kay got sick.

I mean real sick.

We're scared it's pneumonia

so we take her to town, to hospital...

and... and that's when we find out

them government fellas have been back.

Where's Kay?

They've taken Kay from the hospital bed.

You've got to speak to me!

Say something to me!

Where's my baby little girl?

Where's Kay gone? Kay!

Where are you, baby girl?

- Speak to me!

- "Kay."

Say something to me!

"Where are you, Kay?"

No, I won't stop!

"Where's my girl?"

Where's Kay gone?!

You know, we didn't see Kay

till her mum died.

They let her come home for the

funeral.

And all she could say

in all that time...

If you people worked

as much as you fished,

you'd be really rich, you know?

And I've never been able to forgive

her, or myself.

We should dance.

What?

It's a good time to dance.

Nuh.

Come on.

I'll show you how to

shake your moom.

Yeah-no, I've seen you shake your

moom. It's not pretty.

I'm gonna teach you

the Lovelace Lanky Leg Shuffle.

No.

If I start dancing like you,

the brothers there

might think I'm a gubba.

I see. You're saying because

I'm white, I can't dance. Is that it?

- Yep.

- Well, that's just racist.

You're a racist.

You should know better.

Come on.

Just watch and learn.

Don't be afraid.

It's all about the shoulders.

They don't belong to me,

they belong to the music in my head.

- Nuh.

- Deadly.

When we use that word, 'deadly',

it usually means something's good.

Ooh.

You know, Gail,

there's a funny thing about you.

Everybody thinks

that you're just this...

this mouth on legs...

this defensive,

argumentative old witch.

Stick with me.

There's a reason

that you're this... terrible mouth,

and it's very simple.

You're mama bear...

and they're your little baby cubs.

You been drinking?

No.

Come on, then,

you silver-tongued wannabe.

I'll dance with ya.

Let me lead.

For once.

J' These arms of mine.

J" They are lonely.

J" Lonely and feeling blue.

J' These arms of mine.

J" They are yearning.

J' Yearning from wanting you... J".

You know,

anyone can walk into a door.

Just as long as you ain't on the run

or anything.

Haven't broken the law, have you?

Maybe.

I ain't gonna tell nobody.

I'm pleased.

Man, I like you a whole lot, Kay.

Just so we're clear, Robby, I'm

black.

I'm just... pale black.

Me too.

Know how I feel?

I feel good.

You OK?

No, it hurts.

Do it again, just on this side.

J' Mmm.

J" I know a place, mmm.

J" Ain't nobody cryin'

J" Ain't nobody worried.

J'

J' Ain't no smilin' faces.

J'

J" Lyin' to the races.

J' Help me.

J' Come on.

J" Come on, somebody, help me now.

J' Help me, y'all.

J" I'll take you there.

J' Mmm.

J' Help me now.

J" I'll take you there.

J'

J" I'll take you there.

J' Mercy... J'

Come on, sweet tits. We gotta move.

So, this is goodbye.

Huh?

Me and the guys

will be leaving you folks today.

I just have to say

it's been a real pleasure.

What? You're leaving us here?

On our own?

- Not if I had my way, ma'am.

- How do we get to our next gig?

I...

Sorry, ma'am. I thought you knew.

The military's approved the use

of a vehicle for you.

In that?

What about the band?

Ma'am, I understand your band

is being pulled out also.

Dave?

Myron, hi. Listen, it's Dave.

What's happening, bro'?

They've taken away our military

escort and our backing band.

I can't accept that.

Dave, we've already talked about this.

Wait. When?

Last week on the phone.

Don't screw this up on me!

Do you hear me'?

Now, a colleague of mine,

Lou McGary,

is touring from the States.

Some big names.

He wants to hear Julie sing.

Man, I think we got us a star

in the making here.

- What's so special about Julie?

- Shh!

You need to get yourselves

to Nha Trang.

I'm gonna get Lou on a military

flight.

We got to get Julie

in front of this guy.

Myron, explain to me how we're gonna

gig without Hendo and the band.

- Where's Hendo and the band?

- Shh!

Man, forget about them, man.

They're out of the picture.

We got a 10-piece in Nha Trang

that's nothing but class, baby.

No, wait, wait... Myron, wait.

If you want the breaks,

you gotta make 'em, man.

And then you gotta take 'em, baby!

Julie could put us on the map,

stateside.

You dig what I'm saying?

Now, you want to stand

in the way of success?

Then you go right ahead.

No, Myron...

Myron?

My...?

- You don't remember, do ya?

- I do. I...

Um...

It's coming back to me.

He said...

something about,

you know, Nha Trang and, um...

What?

How smashed were you

when you let Myron talk you into this?

I'm sorry.

Yeah. Sure.

Sir, you might find a use for this.

You'd better give that to me.

Bye, ladies.

Good luck!

Truly, Cyn.

I can't see how he's a great loss.

All Hendo did was feed you booze

and drugs and take advantage of ya.

Gail, there isn't a soldier

in Vietnam

who isn't stoned out of his brain all the time.

Yeah, well, don't forget he had a wife.

- How do you know'?

- Cyn, there's always a wife.

Not always.

Dave, you're not married, are you?

What?

- Are you married?

- What?

"What?" Are you married?

No.

Yes.

Holy mother of God.

- Sh*t.

- Alright.

They want us to get out.

- Do you want the gun?

- Sh*t, no. No.

OK, nice and easy.

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