Too Late Blues Page #7

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I don't think he's happy

with the price, Milt.

Benny and I worked it out. We agree.

Did you work it out for me?

Okay, you got your deal

and it's not changing.

Well that's not enough, right?

What do you mean 'not enough'?

You guys are dependent on Goldstar.

You got one chance, and one chance

only. And it's right here with me now.

Not tomorrow, not playing

in some back rooms.

Come on. Think about

it, let's be honest.

Ghost, look, uh... we got a

chance to record here and uh...

the blues tune you know is great and everything

and, and you're not compromising anything.

Come on Ghost, let's cut it.

There's a reason we came here for.

Hey, Mr. Friedlobe. He's

not interested in the money.

You know how Mr. Friedlobe

says:
'let's be honest' huh?

Well, let's be honest guys.

What do you know...

You don't know nothing

about playing my music, man.

None of ya'.

I own that tune.

You understand me?

I own it cause I wrote it. Cause I

scored it. Cause I know how to play it.

I sweat with it, I laugh with it, I cry...

It's like part of me, you understand?

Hey man, look. You're not the

only one in the group, man.

Look, look, Ghost. We're willing to string along

with you, playing charities, clown around...

What is so important about

money all of a sudden?

Are you kidding man?

Tell me where you guys were gigging

when I picked you up? Tell me that.

I'll tell you:
Nowhere.

That's where.

- Nowhere.

- You wait a minute.

I'm gonna tell you something.

You guys are nothing...

Nothing but phonies, man.

Phonies, you dig me?

Phonies! You know why?

Cause you talking about fame all the time,

and you talking about making it big and...

being something, am I right? You

tell that to me Charlie, didn't you?

Well go find your own music, man.

Go write it if you can.

I am tired of carrying this group boy.

- Come on, Ghost...

- Get your hands off of me, man.

Shelley, Pete!

Don't fight me baby. Don't touch him.

Let him drop dead.

Come on Shel.

Let's go Benny.

You mean, I'm still in?

- You're my agent, ain't you?

- You sure?

Yeah, I'm sure.

- Let's go.

- Hey Ghost, listen...

Benny...

Listen man, I'm not sorry.

You don't need this.

You're the leader...

If you need a sax, I'm around.

These cats don't

understand tough scenes.

Later baby.

Benny are you through with me?

Yeah, thanks honey. Your check will

be at the union and no fee, okay?

We're still friends?

Friends? NO. Personally, I can't stand your guts. But

you're talented and my job is to service talented people.

So what do you want me to do?

I don't care.

Well I care. I got no time for failures.

Okay... make me a success.

Alright... I know a fairly attractive woman

who spends fortunes sponsoring the careers...

of talented young jazz musicians.

What do I have to do?

Nothing complicated. Just the usual.

Good deal.

I'll make the call right now.

- Vodka and tonic?

- Scotch.

- Straight?

- On the rocks.

If I'd said on the rocks,

you'd have wanted it straight.

Forget it, I'll make my own drink.

How'd it go tonight?

Like usual.

What a bunch of creeps.

Could be me out there and Harry

the Butcher, it's all the same...

You put a label on something and

call it Jazz and they all swallow it.

Glasses tinkering... whispering.

Waiters comping that stupid feet.

Who needs it?

You do.

You kidding me, it could be Art Tatum out there.

They wouldn't about anything but the check.

If you were Art Tatum...

But then, you're not.

If you were talented...

but you're not that either.

Great. All of a sudden

you became a critic.

I've been with a few

good musicians in my day.

I know all about your sex life.

You could get some response if you take

a chance, and some decent accompaniment.

Will you get me my robe.

I'm getting tired of

being pushed around.

I think that's funny.

If I were you by now, why...

I'd uh... I'd be used to it.

I mean I'm getting bored with it.

You're what?

Go ahead, hit me.

- Tired of being pushed?

- That's right.

You're bored with me?

- No.

- Well that's what you said.

I mean I'm bored with pretending that

you're a success, that you're a hero.

You're as insecure as I am.

You're as dissilusioned, and...

Cheap... as I am.

And I'm bored pretending

that it's any other way.

Okay now take a good look in

there and see the one difference.

I don't pay for you, do I?

You like to be here, don't you?

You want to subsidize my music?

Subsidize your what?

My music.

Darling, not since I've known you.

I don't know what it is you're

looking for, but it is not music.

And it's not me either.

Because what you're looking for isn't around,

it's being unscrewed up that you're looking for.

Hurray, for whatever

that's supposed to mean.

That means you're stupid.

That means I want out from you.

You want what?

OUT!

What do you want, huh?

I'm gonna tell you what you want.

And it ain't out.

Hello, Idealist. How are you?

- Ghost Wakefield, Billy Gray.

- Hello.

Hello Countess.

I'm shocked... I'm honestly and

truly honored and deeply shocked.

- Billy, is that right?

- Billy Grey.

Well how are you? How

are you, Billy Grey?

Do you know that the man you're with is my

agent, and I haven't seen him in a whole year.

I thought you were dead.

Excuse me, Ghost.

I'm showing her the dressing room,

she moves in here on the thirteenth.

A bad luck day.

Well now, luck's what

you make it, right artist?

- If I can have attend to it.

- Alrighty.

Fine.

Hey Benny, I hear there's a new

club pening in Frisco, is that right?

Yeah, the Blue Room. But it's too

rich for your blood. Right, Countess?

How much?

Well, you haven't got enough. They only

take names. You know, no exceptions.

Benny, I'd like to have a new shower

What do you mean by names, man?

What do I look like, chopped liver?

- Course I'd rather have a tub, right?

- This is the top spot and I get the best...

The best money in Los

Angeles, man you know that.

What more do they want?

No way your credits.

Listen, would you like

a white rug in here...

I'm talking to you, man!

What is it?

That's better.

- Now where do I go after this?

- I don't know right now.

When do you suppose you're

gonna make up your mind?

Well you see I'm not the one who makes the

decision. The owner of the club's do that...

Now it's why it's complicated. Now you

have the Countess call me tomorrow, alright?

Like I say, right now I'm

real state, I'm a rental agent.

- Well, what do you think, honey?

- It's fine.

I wanna talk to you now, and I

want to talk to you alone, Benny.

Well listen, you picked a very bad time. I'm

busy uh... You have the Countess call me tomorrow.

No, I don't wanna have no...

It won't take you out long, why don't

you all let me wait for you outisde.

You're a nice girl... she's a nice

girl, you know how these things are.

They just get busy for a second, you

know? Haven't seen him in a long time.

I gotta talk business, thanks. Thanks.

Look, I said have the

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