Now, after years in the making,
Robert Altman brings to the big screen the long-awaited Nashville,
with 24... count 'em... 24 of your very favorite stars!
David Arkin, Barbara Baxley, Ned Beatty in Nashville!
And the fabulous performances of Karen Black, Ronee Blakely!
Timothy Brown in Nashville,
along with the spectacular Keith Carradine, Geraldine Chaplin!
With Robert Doqui in Nashville!
And the exciting appearances of Shelley Duvall, Allen Garfield!
Henry Gibson in Nashville!
And the fantastic Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum!
Barbara Harris in Nashville!
Not to mention the terrific David Hayward, Michael Murphy!
Allan Nicholls in Nashville!
And the all-time great Dave Peel!
Cristina Raines, Bert Remsen in Nashville!
Plus the incredible Lily Tomlin!
Gwen Welles and Keenan Wynn in Nashville!
Be the first on your block to marvel at the magnificent stars...
through the magic of stereophonic sound and living-color picture...
right before your very eyes without commercial interruption.
Fellow taxpayers and stockholders in America,
on the first Tuesday in November...
we have to make some vital decisions about our management.
Let me go directly to the point.
I'm for doing some replacing.
I've discussed the Replacement Party...
with people all over this country,
and I'm often confronted with the statement:
"I don't want to get mixed up in politics,"
or "I'm tired of politics," or "I'm not interested. "
Almost as often someone says, "I can't do anything about it anyway. "
Let me point out two things.
Number one: All of us are deeply involved with politics,
whether we know it or not and whether we like it or not.
And number two:
We can do something about it.
When you pay more for an automobile...
than it cost Columbus to make his first voyage to America,
that's politics.
My mother's people came by ship
And fought at Bunker Hill
My daddy lost a leg in France
I have his medals still
My brother served with Patton
I saw action in Algiers
Oh, we must be doin' somethin'right
To last
200 years
- I pray my sons won't go to war - Oooh
But if they must, they must
I share our country's motto
And in God I place my trust
We may have had our ups and downs
- Our times of trials and fears - Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
But we must be doin' somethin' right
To last
200 years
We must be doin' somethin' right
To last
200 years
I've lived through two depressions
And seven dust bowl droughts
Floods, locusts and tornadoes
But I don't have any doubts
We're all a part of history
Why, Old Glory waves to show
How far we've come along till now
How far we've got to go
It's been hard work
But every time we get into a fix
Let's think of what our children face
In 2-aught-7-6
It's up to us to pave the way
With our blood and sweat and tears
Oh, we must be doin' somethin' right
To last
200 years
We must be doin'somethin'right
To last 200 years
We must be doin' somethin' right
To last
Years
200 years
- That girl down there. - Hold it! Hold it, everybody.
Honey, you gotta get her out.
- Bob. - Yes, sir.
I want to talk to Buddy. Buddy!
Y- Yes, sir, Dad?
Buddy, who is that woman in there with the hat on?
- She a friend of yours? - I'm Opal. Mr. Hamilton, I'm Opal.
I'm from the BBC, and I'm doing a documentary on Nashville.
Buddy, you know I don't allow no people visitin' when I'm recordin'.
I want no recording equipment in that studio.
Escort the lady out.
If she wants a copy of this record, she can buy it when it's released.
I'm sorry. Just no strangers at all.
Mr. Hamilton, I'll be waiting outside for you.
We'll have a little interview.
I wanna do another one. Jimmy, you count off.
I wanna hear a little more Haven in this one.
There we are.
This is Studio B right here.
- I think they're doing some gospel. - Oh, how sweet!
A recording of some sort. Hey, Glenn. How are you?
- Mind if we sit in? - Come on in.
It's so little!
We'll be going down front so we'll get out of the way.
I've been through all the recording studios in London.
They're always enormous and very impersonal.
This is so cozy.
Keep down so they can see what's going on.
There we are.
Good Lord love a duck!
This is a choir... a black choir...
from, uh, part of... from Fisk University here in town.
Good Lord!
- The lady singing is... - Is she a missionary?
No, she's not. She's a gospel singer.
She's the wife of our attorney.
I was making a documentary in Kenya...
and there was this marvelous woman who was a missionary.
That's why I asked if she was a missionary. She was sensational.
She was converting Kukuyos by the dozens.
She was trying to convert Masais. Of course, they were hopeless.
They have their own sort of religion.
- Do you believe in Jesus - Yes, I do
Do you believe that Jesus knows what's in your soul
Do you thank the Lord every chance you get
For He sent His son to save all good men
Yes, I do
- O Lord - Yes, I do
Yes, I do Yes, I do
Look at that. That rhythm is fantastic.
- Do you believe in Jesus - Yes, I do
It's funny... You can tell it's come down in the genes...
through ages and ages and hundreds of years, but it's there.
I mean, take off those robes and one is in... in... in darkest Africa.
I can just see their naked, frenzied bodies...
dancing to the beat of...
Do they carry on like that in church?
Depends on which church you go to.
- Yes, I do - Yeah-eah-eah
- Yes, I do - Ohhh, Lord
- Yes, I do - Yeah-eah-eah
- Yes, I do, Yes, I do - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
- Ohhh-ohh-ohh - Yes, I do, Oh, Lord
I've lived through two depressions
And seven dust bowl droughts
Floods, locusts and tornadoes
But I don't have any doubts
We're all a part of history
Why, Old Glory waves to show
How far...
- Hold it. Hold it! - How far...
Hold it, everybody.
Damn it, Bob.
What's the name of the piano player, Bob?
- That's Frog. - That's Frog. He plays like a frog.
We'll try it again.
Jimmy, you count off.
- I believe in Jesus - Yes, I do
- Oh, yes, I do - Yes, I do
- Oh, yeah - Yes, I do
- Yeah, yeah - Yes, I do
- Yeah! Yeah! - Yes, I do, Yes, I do
- Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! - Yes, I do, Yes, I do, Yes, I do
- Oh, yeah, Oh, yeah - Yes, I do, Yes, I do
- Oh, yeah, Oh, yeah - Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!
Yes, I do Yes, I do, Yes, I do
But we must be doin' somethin' right
To last 200 years
Must be doin'somethin'right to last
200...
- Damn it to hell! - Hold it, everybody.
- Bob. - Yes, sir?
What did you say the piano player's name was?
- Frog. - Yeah.
When I ask for Pig, I want Pig.
Now, you get me Pig, and then we'll be ready to record this here tune.
Yes, sir.
You get your hair cut.
You don't belong in Nashville.
This is Bill Jenkins on special assignment for Channel Two News.
Here at Metro Airport we're awaiting the arrival of Barbara Jean,
who has been away for treatment at the Baltimore Burn Center.
Already, prior to her arrival,
around 3,000 Barbara Jean fans and supporters are here at the airport.
They are being held inside the terminal by security police.
Ma'am, excuse me. Am I late for Barbara Jean's plane?
- I don't think so. - Thank you, ma'am.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce and other fans are on the way.
Also, Haven Hamilton will make an appearance here at Metro Airport.
There is no question about being involved.
The question is, What to do?
It is the very nature of government...
to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.
As loyal citizens, we accept our take-home pay,
understand most of the deductions...
and even, to a degree, come to expect them.
However, when the government begins to force its citizens...
to swallow a camel,
it's time to pause and do some accounting.
Her plane has touched down and will be turning onto the ramp area...
directly here in front of us at Metro Airport.
Could you pass me the crackers, please?
- There you go. - Thank you.
- Miss, may I have... - Hi!
A... a caramel sundae, please?
Honey, we ain't got no caramel sundae.
- Butterscotch? - Ain't got no butterscotch sundae.
- Oh. - Got a strawberry.
- Strawberries are always in season. - Fine, fine.
- That's fine. Thank you. - Good for you too.
Thank you. Then I'll have a strawberry sundae, if I may.
- You got it. - Thank you.
- Sueleen, did you see what he did? - One strawberry sundae!
Sueleen, did you see what he just did?
He took the thing off the salt and threw it up in the air.
Why'd you do that?
What are you doin' in Nashville?
- Oh, I live here. - You do?
Hey, fellas, come here. I want you to see somethin'.
My wife and I...
My wife is sick, unfortunately.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
It's just one of those things that happens.
- Happens in the best of families. - Yeah.
I wrote me this real hot song. You wanna hear it?
It's called "I Never Get Enough. "
Okay, listen. All right?
I never get enough I never get enough
Of the love I'm hungry for
I never get enough I never get enough
I always want more and more
Even... If we stay together
Our whole lifetime through
I'll never get enough I'll never get enough
of you
At any moment Barbara Jean will be stepping out and will be greeted...
by the Chamber of Commerce, as well as Mr. Sperry.
Mr. Sperry making his way to the aircraft right now with a big wave.
Of course, he's the president of Barnett Enterprises.
- We'll be talking with Mr. Sperry... - Hey!
John Triplette?
- I'm John Triplette. - Oh!
- How are you? - Hey, John. How are you?
Those kids in those uniforms are terrific.
- Hello. - What's your name?
- Del Reese. I'm sorry. Forgive me. - Thanks for coming out.
- It's a great idea. - You mean the girls in the costumes.
Barbara Jean's still on the aircraft.
We'll be awaiting her.
Thousands of people have turned out to greet Barbara Jean...
after her arrival.
Now Haven Hamilton has just arrived, typically dressed in white.
His white Jeep being driven today by his son Bud.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce are going over to Haven Hamilton.
He's greeting some of his old friends, business acquaintances.
Autograph seekers are now making their way over.
Barbara Jean still is aboard the aircraft.
- Hello, Martha. - Hi.
- How are you, Martha? - I'm okay, but, uh...
- Pardon me? - Listen, uh, I changed my name.
- Oh? - It's L.A. Joan from now on.
Let me get some cigarettes.
Your Aunt Esther wants to see you.
- She's in the hospital. - Wait a minute.
This guy's a rock star.
Can I get your autograph? You're Tom, aren't ya?
Tom, Bill and Mary?
Jesus, you oughta stop that diet before you ruin yourself.
Do you believe this? They have our album here. Hey, how's it selling?
- What's that? - Bill, Mary and Tom.
A little slow, but we sell mostly country.
I'm the handsome one in the front.
I don't have my glasses on, but I...
Wait a minute! Hal Phillip Walker looks exactly like Connie White.
Now, Del, I like...
I like the idea of bands.
I want you to listen to those little kids, honey.
They practiced every day for two hours for a whole month...
just for this event.
- That's so nice. - Isn't that cute?
- I think they're adorable. - Pearl, shut up.
- Just like your mama, son! - Yes, yes, I'm sure he is.
Barbara Jean, tragically burned in an accident involving a fire baton.
She has now fully recovered, however required to take...
- Excuse me, Barnett... - I got no time right now!
Jesus!
I just think they're so cute, Buddy.
Testing... I wonder if this thing's on.
Hey... Hey, are you Tom of Bill, Mary and Tom?
- Yeah. What's your name? - Jamie.
You thought of voting for Walker for president?
- I don't vote for nobody. - Oh, come on.
Just read it. He's got a fantastic platform.
How you doin', Sarge? You kill anybody this week?
So beautiful.
Did you ever see such pretty girls in your life?
Someday you're gonna be big girls like your mommies,
and you're gonna be lookin'for a nice, young, handsome man...
Come on, Buddy, say hello.
My son Buddy, he just graduated from Harvard Law School...
and we're tryin' to give him all the breaks we never got.
- Buddy, say hello to the people. - Hi.
Thank you, Buddy.
And thank you again for comin'here and makin'us all feel so at home.
Here she comes!
Our Barbara Jean!
Get up here.
Get on the other side.
Here's our own Barbara Jean!
May I have a word, Barnett?
Not here. Come on. Come on.
Who do you think you are? Marlon Brando?
Barbara Jean, ladies and gentlemen!
- Hi! - Oh, look at that!
Is that a sight!
Hello, Haven darling.
Hi, Bill. Hi, Mary. Where's Tom?
- Can you take my bag? - Sure.
- The gate. - Then let's go meet at the gate.
- Norman, let's go to the limo. - The limo is just outside.
Barbara Jean, for you.
- Thank you, Haven. - Right here for the photographer.
Thank you, Tennessee Twirlers, for coming out today,
and thank you, Franklin High School Band.
I think you kids get better every year.
Twirlers, let's twirl!
Oh, little beauty!
Thank you so much!
Are you gonna ride into town with me or not?
Go on without me. I'm gonna wait, 'cause I think she's gonna sing.
Who, her? She ain't gonna sing.
She don't sing unless she gets paid.
I'd like to thank you for coming out to greet me today.
It's great to be home. It's as hot as a firecracker.
What's so funny about that?
Me and the boys are gonna be out at the Opry this week,
and like my grandaddy always used to say,
if you're down to the river I hope you'll drop in.
Ohh! Yes, that's sweet.
Who writes your material, darlin'?
Barnett, who are all those people inside there?
That's just airport security, 'cause of all the hijackers.
- Did they come to see me? - They can see you pretty good.
Then I'd like to go in and say hello.
Aww, that's so sweet!
Barnett, I'm sorry, darlin'.
This is a little bit unscheduled.
She's on her way to greet some of the fans that are inside there.
- Stepping on down with Barnett. - Watch out for the water.
That was real nice.
Right behind, Haven Hamilton and all the other friends, members and, uh...
She's fallen!
Harold, come on! She's fallen somewhere down there!
If we can get down there...
Don't know how far we can make it.
Who do you think is running Congress?
Farmers? Engineers? Teachers? Businessmen?
No, my friends, Congress is run by lawyers.
A lawyer is trained for two things and two things only:
To clarify... that's one...
and to confuse... that's the other thing.
He does whichever is to his client's advantage.
You ever ask a lawyer the time of day?
He told you how to make a watch, didn't he?
Ever ask a lawyer how to get to Mr. Jones'house in the country?
You got lost, didn't you?
Congress is composed of 535 individuals.
Two hundred and eighty-eight are lawyers.
And you wonder what's wrong in Congress.
No wonder we often know how to make a watch,
but we don't know the time of day.
No wonder it takes 6 or 7 years...
What the hell is the matter with you?
Yes, I'm talking about replacement...
replacing this lawyeristic, red-taped...
and blank-taped government...
with the yes-and-no language of farmers and teachers,
engineers and businessmen.
I'm not pessimistic about this country.
She finally collapsed here on the sidewalk. Sort of a faint.
That's all we've been able to determine at this moment.
We interviewed Mr. Sperry. He said the same thing.
Haven Hamilton said the same thing as well.
That's about it for the moment from Metro Airport.
For Channel Two News, this is Bill Jenkins reporting.
Let's consider our national anthem.
Nobody knows the words.
Nobody can sing it.
Nobody understands it.
I suppose all the lawyers supported it...
because a lawyer wrote the words and a judge wrote the tune.
Careful, Buddy.
- Read it through carefully. - Watch out for that truck.
And I say read it because I know you can't sing it.
Read all four verses and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
Yes, sir, I would support work and vote for replacement.
Change our national anthem...
- This is terrific, Norman. - To something people understand,
back to something that would make a light shine in their faces.
Hey, man, get off my car!
Don't lean on my car!
I just got this goddamn thing fixed, so don't lean on it now.
Oh, Jesus Christ. Oh, God.
Hey, man, get the hell off my car!
You almost made me fall!
Okay, thanks. You got one too?
Thanks a lot. Just keep those cards and letters comin' in, folks.
- I cannot. I feel faint. - I'm gonna get us a Popsicle.
- H-Hello! - Those mangled bodies.
Would you go to that Popsicle truck and get us a couple of sweet ices?
There must be 20 cars piled up, one on top of the other.
- Oh, now, come on. - I saw a leg sticking out.
This is gonna be a mess. I don't know how long it, uh...
Can you just pull on through where the ambulance went through?
You wanna come on in and try it?
- What's the matter, son? - I'm stalled.
- What did you want? Popsicle? - I wish my cameraman had been here.
He's never around. I need something like this for my documentary.
I need it. It's... It's America.
Those cars smashing into each other...
and all those mangled corpses...
Just a minute now. Just a minute.
Aren't there any rock stations?
Well, hard to really say.
You see, after they opened her up...
they figured they oughta do an exploratory.
You know, give her kind of an overhaul.
- Twenty dollars? - Twenty dollars.
- I'll give you five. - No, I'll take 15.
You'll take 15? I'll give you ten.
I can think of no sensible reason why New York...
must of necessity have 12,000 major crimes committed...
for every 1,000 committed in Tokyo.
- Yet these are the true victims. - Excuse me.
Some very funny notions have developed in American politics.
Let me see. Um, have you any children?
Yes, I have two children. I have a boy and a girl.
Oh, isn't that nice. How old are they?
Twelve and eleven.
Do they want to be singers like their mummy?
Uh, well, my children are deaf.
They're... They are deaf. They were born deaf.
Oh, my God, how awful.
- It's so depressing. - Now, just a minute. That's not so.
- I wish you could see my boy. - Oh, I couldn't.
He has the most incredible personality.
It's the sadness of it.
See, what happened is, he made a million dollars on a fly swatter,
because it had a red dot in the center.
- Fly swatter? - That's right. Just a red dot.
He was sittin' in the buffet, he was eatin', and he saw a woman...
and she was swattin' flies.
And, uh, she... Uh, he said,
"What makes the difference in fly swatters?"
'Cause it has to do with the industrial revolution.
The thing with these country people is,
they have a real grassroots appeal.
Oh, hell, they got fans.
And they're the people that elect the president.
We're gonna do everything we can.
You line up a lot of movie stars...
People here feel that movie stars are eccentric and crazy.
- Communists. - Well...
- A lot of'em are. - It's been said.
- I want to go to the Grand Ole Opry. - Forget that.
- 'Cause I have to have my record... - I don't like music.
- I'm gonna go see what's goin' on. - I have a gold record.
- It needs to be signed. - Get away from my truck!
- Goddamn it. Sons of bitches. - Shit.
I say, could I please speak to Mr. Tommy Brown?
I'm sorry. What?
Is it possible to have a few words with Mr. Tommy Brown?
I'm from the BBC. I'm doing a documentary on Nashville.
What is the BBC?
- British Broadcasting Company. - Oh, English.
It was called "Wanda, Wander. "
No, that song was called "Wonder, Wanda. "
- Wanda, wander's got me bad - I don't have a pen.
- No... Wonder, Wanda's got me bad - I keep travelin'
And I'm sad Buddy, Buddy, which was it?
- I don't really know. - Thank you, thank you.
- Goddamn it, it was "Wanda, Wander. " - It was "Wonder, Wanda. "
- "Wanda, Wander"! "Wanda, Wander"! - "Wonder, Wanda. "
What difference does it make? It was a hit!
There's no breathing space.
What we need, first and foremost,
is a common-sense approach.
Nothing complicated.
Is Mr. Brown going to... Will he be here soon?
Yeah, he's in the back changin'.
Whenever he's going to have an interview, he puts his makeup on...
and likes to get all prettied up.
That's nice.
He must be a marvelous person...
to have all you lovely people working for him.
I know the problems in the South. I mean, I've heard of them.
Well, yeah.
- He's a very liberal guy. - Oh, that's lovely.
By the way, I'd like for you to meet his wife. This is Joy.
- Mrs. Brown? - Yes.
You may say that I ain't free
But it don't worry me
No, it don't
Today in America,
with its unmatched resources,
it is exceedingly ridiculous,
a total absurdity...
that any citizen with any ailment, mental or physical,
should go medically unattended.
We're settin' up everything for you.
- We got pictures the right height. - Oh, yeah, the bird again.
Isn't that beautiful. I remember when you gave that to me.
I remember I almost threw it out.
Good afternoon, girls.
I'd like you to wait outside the room a while...
because I know Aunt Esther would like to fix herself up a little.
I want my dog. Where is my dog?
- I'm sorry. I've got a date. - You do?
- I just need one shot. - I'm sorry. Could you excuse us?
- Come right on in, sir. - How you doin', Howard?
I'm sorry. No press allowed.
- Put these pictures above your head. - Fine, Buddy.
- Delbert, I got no time. - I know, I know.
I just stopped by to see Barbara Jean.
How you doin'? How's lawyerin'?
Nobody pays me no mind. I'm just like another flunky.
- Would you mind crankin' me up? - More white carnations.
Bud, what are you doin'? This is a hospital!
This ain't no construction site!
- I am not the press. - Go build another chair!
Goddamn it.
I am not the press. I am from the BBC.
Damned if I don't keep my pledge.
- Look who's here. Mr. Brown. - Glad you're here, but cut it short.
How do you do? Nice to see you.
You look as beautiful as a big black butterfly.
I'm gettin' jealous. You better get outta here.
He's gettin'mighty jealous.
I gotta set myself up a bit. Hi.
- I need to talk to you. - You got it.
All right, everybody. Doctor's gotta talk turkey.
Barnett, there's somebody I want you to meet.
- John Triplette from California. - John Triple?
- Triplette. - Okay. All right.
- Okay. - He's a killer.
- Give us some good news. - Excuse us, please.
- Are you a relative? - No, no.
- Can you tell me how she is? - She's fine.
It's her husband I'm concerned about.
Now say somethin'good. You got two seconds.
- Can I have a light? - Excuse me?
- Can I have a light? - Yeah, sure.
The incident you described just now is very similar...
to what was diagnosed as some kind of intestinal disorder.
- What's your name? - Bud Hamilton's my name.
It's really hot here.
Esther's awake. She's dying to see you.
I'll be there in a minute. I'm talking to someone right now.
- I'm talking to someone. - I beg your pardon.
That's my uncle.
I've got a sick aunt down the hall.
I just got in from Los Angeles a few hours ago.
- I'm L.A. Joan. - L.A. Joan?
What do you do?
Well, I know it sounds arrogant,
but I'm on my way to town, if I ever make it,
to become a country-western singer or star.
Yeah? What are you gonna do if you don't?
If I don't? I don't kn... Oh, I could always go into sales.
- Like ladies' clothes? - No... I don't know.
Well, I know all about trucks, so I'd go into trucking, I guess.
- You're kidding me. - No, I'm not kiddin' you.
I'm in a truck enough. And I know how to fix motors and all that.
- Nobody'd buy trucks from a girl. - I been fixin' motors a long time.
They'd buy 'em from me 'cause I know all about motors.
Why do you say that?
See, what's happenin' is, if I can't sell trucks and I can't go...
- Nobody'd buy a truck from a girl. - I knew this was gonna happen.
Don't say you saw me.
Hey, you haven't seen my wife, have ya?
- She's sort of ordinary-lookin'. - Uh-uh.
Are you going into town?
You're not one of them country singers, are ya?
- No. Can you give me a ride? - All right, get in.
You look like a guy I was in the navy with.
He wouldn't bathe, so we had to pee in his bed to get him discharged.
Hi.
My name's Sueleen Gay.
I'm here to sing you all a couple of songs tonight that I wrote.
I sure hope you're gonna enjoy 'em, honey,
'cause I know I'm gonna enjoy singin' 'em to ya.
The first one I'm gonna sing tonight is called...
"Let Me Be The One. "
Let's go.
Oh, what about your... your aunt and uncle?
Oh, it's cool. I can see them anytime.
- What kind of car you got? - I have a little... Here.
Martha!
And, uh, that...
that being true,
I would suggest, on the basis of the first account...
Mississippi
River Keep on flowing
Push your muddy waters down to the sea
I'm so lonely
Rolling on this river
Old Man Mississippi River
Carry me home
I got a cute little gal waitin'home for me
Down in Memphis, Tennessee
Gonna see my girl She's a Cajun queen
Waitin'down in New Orleans
How come you're not wearing the blue dress?
Because I didn't want to wear it.
You're supposed to wear the blue dress when I wear this.
- I don't wanna dress like twins. - We're not twins. We're a trio.
Hi, young stud. Come in, sit down right over here.
Yeah! Whoo.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry to...
No, it's okay.
He looks like Howdy Doody.
Okay, this is, uh...
Right here at Deemen's Den.
- Hi, everybody! My name's Sheila. - And my name's Patti.
And we're the Smokey Mountain Laurel.
Oh, these troubled times
They been makin' me weary
All my toil and teardrops make me sa-a-a-ad
Oh, these troubled times They been makin'me weary
Still, the Lord is the best friend I have
So I'm goin' down to the river
Where I'm gonna kiss my sins away
I'm goin' down to the river
I'm a-gonna begin a brand-new day
Sweet Jesus He came in the morning
He didn't kiss no women at night
Come on, Becky, let's go. It's gettin' late.
I've gotta get up...
Sorry. Oh! Tom!
- Yeah? - Tom, hello.
Another one of his girlfriends.
I was looking for you. This chap told me you were in here.
- Who are you? - I'm Opal from the BBC. Hello.
Good evening, ladies.
You don't mind if I sit down for a little bit.
All right, I wanna hear it some more for my Misty Mountain Boys!
I got a couple announcements I wanna make.
We got some stars here tonight.
- It can't be us. - And one of'em is...
Tommy Brown's back in town!
Tommy Brown! Stand up and show it off!
Oh, ain't he beautiful!
Tommy Brown? Tommy Brown's the whitest nigger in town.
It's gettin' late. I'm very sorry. I'm very sorry.
He oughta drink some of that milk! It fits his personality!
This is not typical of Lady Pearl's parlors, you understand.
It's not typical of Nashville.
- I hope you'll tell the other ones. - Hey, the Oreo cookie's leavin'!
Calm down. You're drunk.
I know I'm drunk, but he's still the whitest nigger in town,
and I ain't gonna change my mind about that, I'll tell you right now.
Tommy Brown. Shit. Hey, where you goin', Tommy Brown?
Come on back in...
Hey, get your hands off...
Listen, boys! I got two guns here!
Jesus said it's gonna be all
Right
Well, how'd we do, Trout?
Not bad, girls. Go sit down. I'll talk to you in a minute.
Send over a couple of beers.
Hey, Bear, how about a couple beers for the ladies, huh?
- Okay, honey, what's your name? - Sueleen. Sueleen Gay.
Sueleen Gay, you're on next.
Come on, Bunkie.
One, two, three, four.
Un, doux, trois, quatre. Testing. Testing.
I gotta go to the bathroom. Wait for me here.
The kind of guys that go for this Hal Phillip Walker...
Longhairs that smoke cigarettes that look funny.
I heard this guy's an admitted homo.
Hi, y'all.
My name's Sueleen Gay...
and I'm here to sing you all a couple songs that I wrote.
First one I'm gonna do is called "Let Me Be The One. "
Let me be the one
To understand you
That's awful.
Let me be the one to lend a hand
And if you need some kind affection
- Won't you let me give you some - What is this?
Won't you let me
Be the one
Oh, won't you
Let me be the one
Won't you let me be the one
When your skies get dark and cloudy
- Won't you let me be the sun - I'm looking for Frog.
When you're feelin' kinda down
- And you wanna have some fun - Um, I'm making a demo.
- You want a beer? - No, thanks. This is business.
See, what I was wonderin'...
I'm makin' a demonstration album at a recordin' studio.
- And, uh... - Winifred!
- What? You... - Goddamn it, come back here!
- No! - Everybody
- Winifred! - Needs to give some too
When you get tired of pretending
- Deemen's Den. - Is Trout around there?
- Yeah, this is Trout. - Listen, this is, uh, Del Reese.
We're gonna have a fund-raiser,
And we need some help with some...
- Talent? - Yeah, talent. Right.
I tell you what I'm gonna do.
The fella I'm working with is here. I'm gonna put him on the phone.
He can tell you what it is we need. John Triplette's his name.
Uh, Trout. This fella's name's Trout.
- Trout. - Yeah.
- Hello, Trout? - Hey, John, how are you?
- I'm fine. How are you? - Fantastic.
Listen, as Del told you, we're putting a smoker together.
I think next Monday night, hopefully.
What we need is a young lady to entertain the troops.
Hey, babes.
And then...
What are you tellin'? Huh?
Mm-hmm.
Set the table, please.
I'm sorry you got stuck in that big traffic jam out there today.
I have got a saucy, saucy redhead...
- Saucy. - Who is dynamite.
Absolutely dynamite.
Everybody needs to give some too
Why, in fact her name is Suelynn Gay.
Well, if she's half as provocative as her name, we're home free.
I'm sorry I sprang this dinner on you.
I asked the man if he wanted to come to dinner, and he said yes.
One boy pushed me out.
- Were you out there by yourself? - Wasn't it hot?
Thought I was gonna burn up.
We got in the car and turned on the air.
Coach said, "Go in the water. " I said, "Okay. "
- What you tellin', Jimmy? - Talkin' 'bout swimming class.
- He's telling about swimming class. - Oh.
Did you swim today? Did you learn anything?
- Huh? - Hush! Let him tell it.
Then the coach said, "Ready?" I said, "Yeah. Oh, boy. "
Did it how I used to.
Then I went down to the diving board...
and went... Whoo! And touched bottom.
And I kept goin' through. Walked on the bottom.
And then I come out.
Then I get two cards: "Goldfish"and...
and "Passed the test. "
How about that?
They call you Gol... They call you Goldfish?
Goldfish. That's it.
Oh, dynamite! Dynamite!
Sueleen, I'm so proud of you, baby.
- Thank you. - You knocked 'em out up there.
Oh, excuse me. I'm sorry.
All the people were goin'crazy! Darlin', you're outta sight!
Oh, my goodness.
Oh, that's beautiful. Honey, it takes an attitude to be a star.
- What can I tell you? - Do I get thejob, then?
I got you a job while you were singin'.
You did? Ohh!
A friend of mine called. Very heavy.
There's a party Monday night.
The pay is not much because it's a low-budget thing... $ 10.
I don't care about the money.
This must be some sort of amateur night.
- You're gonna be a star. - I gotta make a phone call.
I'll be right back.
They are good, babe.
Mmm, I have to get that.
- That's all right. Go on. - Where you goin'?
Telephone.
Mmm. Hello.
- Hi. Linnea? - Mm-hmm.
- I'm here. - Who is it?
This is Tom.
Just a minute. I have something in my mouth.
- I was eatin' dinner. - You haven't changed a bit.
- Now, who is it? - This is Tom. Don't you remember?
No, I don't believe I do.
We met in the control room at the recording studio...
about two months ago.
- Oh, yes. How are you? - I'm fine. How are you?
I'm just fine. What are you doin' in Nashville?
I'm gonna do some recording. I'm here for a couple weeks.
- I'd really like to see you. - Come out to the house.
The children would love to meet you.
That's not exactly what I had in mind.
Look, I find you very attractive and I'd like to see you.
Well, I think it'd be fine if we had dinner some night here at the house.
- You've never met my husband Del. - I see. You can't talk now.
I'll call you later. I'm going home. I'll call you when I get there. Bye.
Wh... Uh, I'd like to...
Um...
All right. I'll talk to you later. Thank you for calling.
- He's done well in those primaries. - He sure has.
That's the key to it.
Who was it, babe?
Oh, down at the recording studio.
I left some, uh, music down there.
- What kind of a gun is it? - A.38 Smith and Wesson special.
Uh, this particular gun's a stainless steel gun.
Did you ever have to shoot it?
We had to shoot it to qualify on the range,
but I've never had to kill anyone with it.
'Course, there's been occasions where I have had to use it to...
See ya later, alligator.
Am I too late?
Well, Esther's asleep now.
She's looking forward to seeing you in the morning.
If the chairman of the board of your company...
had been running your business...
the way Washington has been running our business,
you'd be asking a lot of questions,
and you would find out what you already know...
we have some problems that money alone won't solve.
Now, I know something about money.
Anybody who grew up without it knows a lot about money.
I know more about money than some of the rich,
because I never had any until I was 27.
I know something of what money can do,
and more important, I know something of what it can't do.
Does it make sense to let petroleum giants increase prices at will,
- adding to a staggering profit... - Watch where you're going!
But tell the little filling station owner in his khakis...
- he can't charge one penny more? - What's wrong with you, you dope?
To tax the salaries of people on poverty-level income,
I don't need that shit, you stupid...
then give back in food stamps twice the amount of the tax.
Vote for Hal Phillip Walker!
If there's any cleaning up done,
we're going to have to do it.
The Lord is not going to do the replacing,
and the powers that be are certainly not going to replace themselves.
That old truth remains: There is no such thing as a free lunch.
- Hello. - If the books are to be balanced,
we're going to have to balance them.
- Yes, sir. - You've got a room for rent?
Yeah. I'm Mr. Green. That's me. I'm Mr. Green.
- I'd like to see it. - What's your name again?
- Kenny. Kenny Fraiser. - All right, sir, right this way.
Just go right through.
That's your room straight ahead there, Kenny.
My wife's been in the hospital, so the house is a little dusty,
but there's clean sheets on the bed.
It's fine. It's like my room at home.
And Kenny.
The toilet's down at the end of the hall.
- You a musician? - Yeah.
Well, now, my niece is interested in music.
Martha!
This here is Kenny. This is Martha.
- Hi! - Hi.
She's from California.
- Uh, $ 13.50? - That's right. $ 13.50 a week.
And you can have breakfast with me if you want.
Of course you'll have to help me wash the dishes.
Let me put this down and I'll pay you.
Gonna try whatever comes my way
Gonna do some heavy thinkin'
Good mornin'. Barbara Jean, time to get...
- I must have the wrong room. - I think you do.
Come on, Barbara Jean.
Time to get up. Come on.
- Hi. - Good morning, Louise.
- Did you have a nice rest? - Yeah. I was just having a dream.
Oh, I know the political physicians are laughing,
but not quite as loud today as they were yesterday.
Sing
Sing a... Del, are... Wait a minute.
You want me to fry you an egg?
No, honey, I'm gonna hard-boil me a couple eggs.
All right.
Sing, sing a song
The economy's depressed, not me
My spirit's high as it can be
And you may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
It don't worry me
Wake up.
It don't worry me
You may say that I ain't free
But it don't worry me
You say this train
- Don't give out rides - God.
- Well, it don't worry me - God, I thought I was in Israel.
- All the world is takin'sides - I don't know why.
- But it don't worry me - Certainly not the decor, was it?
Must have been dreaming.
In my empire life is sweet
I was there for about a year on a kibbutz.
I was feeling very romantic about that kind of socialism at the time.
I thought I'd like to have a bash at it.
- Hello. - Can I talk to Linnea, please?
- Del, I'm on the phone. - Okay.
How are you? Listen, I'm sorry I didn't call sooner, but...
- Who is this? - This is Tom.
Tom who?
Oh, come on.
- Who is this? Tom who? - This is Tom. Listen...
I don't know who you are, I don't know why you're calling,
and I want you to stop it.
- You know you want to see me. - I never said any such thing.
And I'm not foolin'. Don't you ever call here again!
What's goin' on... Hello? Linnea?
Hello?
Who was that, babe?
Just some crazy person been callin' here.
Next time he calls, you tell him you're gonna get the police on him.
Okay.
Come on. Sing
Sing a song
Make it simple to
Last your whole life long
Just sing
Sing a song
Yeah, he watched that.
How do you get outside, please?
- Dial "9." - Oh, hi, Mr. Green.
Look at those flowers. Did you grow those?
Esther and I did, yes.
My niece here picked 'em. She's from California.
Oh, that's good.
They're so healthy. Let me check and see if she's awake.
There's no reason why I can't use the phone.
May I see your credentials?
- I'll be happy to show them to you. - Hi.
- Holy dogshit! Look at that! - What is that?
That must be some friends of Buddy's.
Uh, Little Women.
Little Women!
Ever since that Easy Rider movie,
that's the kind of bike everybody's been drivin'...
long, low, laid back in front.
- They're so dangerous, aren't they? - They are.
Over here at Baptist Hospital there's a whole ward of young boys,
the cutest, best-lookin' boys you'd ever want to see,
paralyzed from the waist down.
Oh! Excuse me.
Thank you for the ride, darling.
Break a leg.
- Have you passed the bar yet? - Oh, yeah.
- Not that bar. - No, I know... Excuse me.
- Well, well, well. Young Hamilton. - How are you?
- Fine, fine.
Give us a kiss, love.
You're a shy young man, aren't you?
- Is your dad around? - Uh, yes, he is, but...
Do you think I could have a little chat with him?
He's kinda tied up right now, but maybe you could...
- Is your mom around? - No. My mom is in Paris.
- This is Bergman. - I like it.
- It's kinda nice. - Pure, unadulterated Bergman.
It's beautiful. You live here?
Yeah, we do. We've been here for quite a while.
Lucky you! It's so gorgeous. I've never seen...
Of course, the people are all wrong for Bergman, aren't they?
Well, I suppose you're interested in horses.
Uh, yeah. I like horses. Sure.
Honey, you should arrange for him to visit one of our horse shows.
Haven breeds those famous Tennessee Walkers you've heard about.
- Oh, really? - Oh, he knows all about Walkers.
That is not the kind of walker I had in mind.
- That's very fast. - We have to be.
Well, she had this most horrible accident.
- Hi, Marie. How are you? - How are you?
She got a lick on the head gettin' into one of those tiny cars.
Her daughter's car.
This happened almost a year ago.
No one had any idea this was gonna develop into such a horrible thing.
Mr., uh, Triplette,
I'm sorry ol' Delbert told you Haven would appear at the political rally.
He knows better than that.
We'd never let Haven Hamilton take sides politically.
Uh, you understand we give contributions to everybody.
And they are not puny contributions.
Only time I ever went hog-wild around the bend...
was for the Kennedy boys.
But they were different.
Oh, yes, ma'am, they were.
That's a fact.
Excuse me a minute.
Thank you, Brenda.
Is this party somebody's birthday, or...
No, this is, uh... I'm sure you've seen Haven Hamilton.
No, I never heard of him. Do we get out here?
Let me, uh...
Let me get that door.
Listen, I wanted to ask...
Would it be all right if I asked Mr. Gould a question?
You wanna ask me something?
We're gonna be riding back with you. Could we wait until then?
I just wanted to know what you were doing in Nashville.
I'm just coming to a party. What are you doing in Nashville?
- Well, I'm stuck here. - Yeah?
We'll see you in a bit.
Haven is singing tonight at the Grand Ole Opry,
and this is just a previous sort of party for his friends.
Right. He's got a lot of photographers here, huh?
What are you doing here, anyway?
I came on a date, and now I'm goin' to the Grand Ole Opry.
How you gon' go to the Grand Ole Opry?
You came with a date. Is he gonna take you?
Huh? No, he...
They left.
No, I'm promoting a movie, but I'm not making one.
Are you a personal friend of Mr. Hamilton's?
Yeah, we're good friends.
Um, no, I'm not a singer. I'm a businessman.
I take care of all Dad's business.
- You're a businessman? - Yeah.
With that face?
You can't be a businessman.
Yeah, I... I work with, uh, Dad's company.
I take care of his records.
Anything that comes in comes though me.
- Do you like it? - Yeah, it's great. It really is.
Dad's wanted me to do that all his life.
I'd be the last guy in the world to try and change your mind...
about something you don't want to do,
but I'd like to explain a couple things...
about what we're trying to do in this campaign...
before you discount it altogether.
And somehow the blood began to drain into behind her eyeball,
and the pressure caused her eye just to bulge out.
It was just awful-lookin'. Everybody thought she was gonna lose her eye.
We still don't know how it's gon' come out.
I don't know how you're gonna feel about this, but...
Walker thinks that you'd make a fine governor in this state.
He thinks the time's right.
He thinks the people of Tennessee love you. He knows they do.
He knows how you feel about them.
And he wants you to know that,
should the time come you want to run,
he'll be there with his organization to back you all the way.
Elliot Gould, Delbert and Linnea Reese.
- Mrs. Reese. - And Mrs. Dorster. Elliot Gould.
You gonna be at Opryland tonight?
Well, I... I hadn't thought I would be.
Well, I'm gonna be at Opryland tonight.
Well, sure, I'll be there.
Yes, I guess you will.
And that's when I'll give you my decision.
Well, thank you so much for thinking about it. Terrific.
- Is Haven around? - He's right around the corner.
Would you check and see if it's all right if we come?
I see him with other people. Thank you, Del.
- Do you want to be a singer? - Oh, I...
- Look at me. - I think everybody...
Dad wouldn't hear of it.
But you want to be a singer.
- I know him. That's Elliot Gould. - This guy?
- He's a well-known actor. - Oh, yes, with the curly hair.
Yeah. He was married to Barbra Streisand.
- He's grossin' real big. - You gotta be kiddin' me.
No. That girl that sang "People. "
I just shook the man's hand like he was somebody off the street.
Oh, Delbert. Bring him on over.
- Yes, sir, I'll... - Oh, Delbert!
We all walk on the street, Delbert.
Oh, Delbert, Delbert.
Listen, you all come over. Haven wants to meet you right away.
I didn't realize who you were when we first were introduced here.
You wrote a song?
Yeah, I wrote one song in my life.
- I'd love to hear it. - You sure?
- Mm-hmm. - Okay.
The sound of her hello
Soft and tenderly
The way she lights my morning
With her smile
And when she says I need you
Oh, I really need you
It makes my life so worthwhile
'Cause it comes from the heart
Of a gentle woman
It comes from the soul
Of an angel from above
And I'll stay in the heart
- Of a gentle... - That's Elliot Gould!
Ha! It's Elliot Gould!
Well, let me meet the movie star!
- Lady Pearl, Elliot Gould. - Howdy!
- Haven Hamilton. - Well, how do you do, Mr. Gould?
It's so nice to meet you. Welcome to Nashville and to my lovely home.
- Elliot! Elliot Gould! - What brings you here?
- Oh, hello. Well, I'm just, uh... - Hello!
- You look marvelous. - Who is this?
- Another of your unexpected guests? - I'm Opal from the BBC.
Remember the Cannes Film Festival? No, of course you wouldn't.
- Is she connected with Mr. Gould? - No, she's not.
What are you doing... What am I doing in Nashville?
- Excuse me... - I'm doing this documentary...
Excuse me, but Mr. Gould does not give interviews.
I don't know who you are or what you're doing here,
but I will not tolerate rudeness in the presence of a star... two stars.
- We met at the Cannes... - Just take her, Delbert. Good-bye.
Mr. Hamilton!
- It's gonna be all right. Listen... - Who are you?
- Well, that's the price of success. - It certainly is.
Go get a Goo Goo, friends, and settle back...
for 30 of the goodest minutes in radio...
the Goo Goo Grand Ole Opry!
It's sent your way by the makers of Goo Goo,
the goodest candy bar in the world,
and King Leo pure stick candy, the candy that roars with flavor.
Now a big welcome, if you please,
for the Goo Goo man of the hour, Tommy Brown!
I've been goin' down that long lonesome road, babe
And I've been doin' it for a while, yeah
I've been goin' down that long lonesome road, babe
Lookin' for a special smile
Now, I worked the bars
New York to Frisco
But I could never make it pay
You know how money goes
It slips right through your fingers
One more dollar One more day
The bluebird He has no money
The bluebird He has no kin
The bluebird He wears no time clock
He answers to the wind
That's as far as I can take you.
- Okay, this is it, all right. - Yeah, all right.
- It's the new one! - Yeah, I know.
- It's the new one, all right. - Have you got the time?
Uh, yeah, it's, uh...
I shoved a hundred million quarters in that jukebox
I've served a barrelful of beer
Now I've listened to
Some troubles in my lifetime
I've seen a lot of grown men cry
You know that old tune called "Over the Rainbow"
Well, if the bluebird flies then why can't I
I'm Del Reese, and I'm goin' back to Haven Hamilton's group.
- Remember me? - This young lady's with me here.
I'm being interviewed by her.
And I really gotta go to the bathroom.
Time clock
He answers to the wind
He answers
To
The wind
Oh, yeah! Thank you!
Thank you, Tommy. Beautiful job, as always.
Say, Harold Weakly, have you been on vacation yet?
No, I've been busier than a puppy in a room full of rubber balls.
If you're like me, all that hustling and bustling makes you want...
to let the world go by while you enjoy a Goo Goo candy cluster.
Hey, Steve. She's with me.
- Excuse me. Can I help you? - Oh, I'm with these people here.
- Do you have a backstage pass? - They didn't need a pass.
You need a pass to get backstage.
- I never get enough - Goo Goo's the perfect cluster...
- I always want more and more - when you need quick energy.
- Even if we stay together - Any time is Goo Goo time.
- Our whole lifetime through - Pack Goo Goo in your lunch box.
I'll never get enough I'll never get enough
of you
Go get a Goo Goo,
the South's favorite piece of candy for 62 years.
- You ready to do the song? - Right.
Go get a Goo Goo
It's good
I don't know about killin' 'em. They're already dead.
They're lucky to be alive.
Haven Hamilton!
Thank you. Thank you.
Now, now.
Well, I want to thank you for that wonderful, warm welcome.
I'm sure you meant to share it with Bud Hamilton, my son, who's here.
Stand up, Bud!
Isn't he somethin'else?
Yes, indeed. Yes, indeed.
God bless you, and thank you so much for that warm welcome.
- How tall is that guy? - Who?
- Haven. - I'd like to do a treat for you.
- A brand-new song. - Don't ever ask him that, John.
Unpack your bags
And try not to cry
I can't leave my wife
There's three reasons why
There's Jimmy
And Kathy
And sweet Lorelei
For the sake of the children
We must say good-bye
For the sake of the children
We must say good-bye
'Cause Jimmy's been wishin'
That I'd take him fishin'
His Little League pitchin'
Is somethin' to see
And Kathy's 13 now
She's my little queen now
And I've gotta see
Who her beau's gonna be
So unpack your bags
And try not to cry
- I can't leave my wife - That's funny, because...
Oh, look! Connie White! Connie White.
How are you, honey?
You remember you signed my album?
Well, thank you for coming to the show.
I have a song I wrote. I'll give you a call tomorrow.
We'll just chat, you know, and...
You remember what I wrote on the program? Will you remember?
- "I'm your friend. Connie White. " - I like your dress.
I'm gonna get one too. But I like the gold one with the be...
You know, when you... when you have no waist.
Lori's just walkin'
She just started talkin'
And "Daddy"'s the first word
That she ever said
So unpack your bags
And try not to cry
I can't leave my wife
There's three reasons why
There's Jimmy
And Kathy
And sweet Lorelei
For the sake of the children
We must say good-bye
For the sake of the children
We must say good-bye
For the sake of the children
We must say good-bye
Thank you. Thank you.
He's got the entire galaxy on the back of his shirt.
And now I'd like to do a special old favorite,
the song that got me started in this business that's been so kind to me,
a song you've loved through the years...
and one I'm sure you're gonna love tonight.
"Keep A-Goin"'!
Thank you.
Well, if you strike a thorn on a rose
Keep a-goin'
And if it hails or if it snows
Keep a-goin'
Ain't no use to sit and whine
'Cause a fish ain't on your line
Bait your hook and keep a-tryin'
Keep a-goin'
When the weather kills your crop
Keep a-goin'
Why, it takes work to reach the top
Keep a-goin'
Well, now, Wilton's goin'!
Come on, Wilton! Let's hear it for Wilton!
I think Joe's gonna be goin'soon.
You gettin'ready, Joe?
Yeah, Joe's goin'.
Now everybody's goin'!
And if the doctor says you're through
Keep a-goin'
Why, he's a human just like you
Keep a-goin'
Ain't no law says you must die
Wipe them tears from off your eye
Give ol' life another try
Keep a-goin'
Ain't no law says you must die
Wipe them tears from off your eye
Trust the Good Lord up on high
He'll help
Keep a-goin'
Yes, sir!
Well, thank you. Thank you and God love you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
We want to send very special wishes and greetings to Barbara Jean.
I know most of you read...
that she collapsed out at the airport.
She's in the hospital. She's in Vanderbilt Hospital recuperating.
Barnett tells me that she really cried real tears...
because she couldn't be here with you tonight.
But I hope you'll send some letters and best wishes and prayers to her.
That's Vanderbilt Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee, 27322.
And you tell her Haven told you to write.
Now, as a special stand-in for her,
we have her dear friend Connie White,
who got out of the dentist's chair this morning...
where she was having some root canal work...
and came all the way out here to sing for you.
Miss Connie White, who's a friend not only of Barbara Jean's...
but a friend of yours and mine.
A wonderful singer in her own way...
Miss Connie White!
Come on out, Connie!
- Hi, Del. How are you? - I want you to meet John Triplette.
You look so good. Wonderful!
Isn't she lovely, folks? Isn't she beautiful?
He's gonna do some things.
We'll talk about it later. Nice seein' you.
Well, who do we have here?
- What is your name, honey? - Paul Harris.
Paul Harris. He's 13, he says.
And what's your name, honey?
Last time I saw a dress like that, I was headin' to the junior prom.
You boys havin'a good time tonight?
Girl fell out of the car.
I want you to study real hard,
because remember, any one of you can grow up to be the president.
Well, I'd like to go to Memphis
But I don't know the way
And I'd like to tell you how I feel
But I don't know what to say
And I'd love to go to heaven
But I forgot how to pray
So just help me keep from
Slidin' down some more
When I tried to get back to him
I got lost on the way
I'd like to start again tomorrow
But I, I don't know what day it is
And I'd sure like to love you
If you'd show me the way
And just help me keep from
Slidin' down some more
Well, I don't know what it's like out there
But in here it's gettin'darker
I got a lot of things to share
But it sure is gettin' late
Well, I'd like to give you all I got
But I don't know what that is
And I'd like to take you with me
But I don't know where that is
And I know there must be somethin' someplace
And some way to live
So just help me keep from
Slidin' down some more
Just help me keep from
Slidin' down some more
Some more
I know you love me
When I'm happy
And I know you love me when I shine
But will you love me
In the mornin'
When the baby makes you get up
One more time Thank you!
I know you love me when I feel good
Love me every time I make you laugh
Turn that off.
Okay. One more minute, darlin'.
- Right now. - She'll be through in a moment.
I want you to turn it off right now!
It bothers me.
It bothers me too, but I gotta listen.
Why?
I gotta go to the King of the Road and thank her for you.
- Thank her? - I gotta know what songs she sang.
You can ask anybody.
You can call. You can send flowers. You can send a message.
Come on. Don't get upset now.
You're makin' me ruin my nail polish job.
Do I tell you how to sing, darlin'? Hmm?
Have I ever told you how to sing a song?
That ain't the point. I know why you're goin' over there.
Don't tell me how to run your life.
- I been doin' pretty good with it. - You go... Wh...
Let's just calm down. We're both gettin' on each other's nerves.
You're goin' to the King of the Road so you can hobnob with everybody.
- So I can do what? "Hobnob"? - I ain't got no friends.
I gotta sit here in this goddamn hospital.
They're all gonna talk about how I'm a nut.
I ain't doin' no hobnobbin'.
Now whoa, whoa, whoa.
"Barbara Jean had another collapse. "
You know what?
While you're at it, why don't you take her some of my flowers?
Are you through?
No, I ain't. Take her this nice black one. That'll cheer her up.
- Why don't you try these. - Are you through?
- And these. - I said, are you through?
And why don't you try these!
Are you through, I said? Are you throu...
Are you goin' nutsy on me? 'Cause I won't stand for that, Barbara Jean.
Huh? You havin' one of them nervous breakdowns again?
- Huh? - No.
You coulda fooled me, 'cause it looks like you're ready for it.
Now, you just settle down and shape up. You understand?
The only reason I'm goin' over there is 'cause I love you.
I don't love to go over there and hobnob with them phonies.
Why do you make me raise my voice to you?
Why do you put us both through this?
You all right?
Come on, now. Let's have a little smile for Barnett.
- I'm tired of this place. - Come on, now.
Now get up.
You help me, I help you. All right? Come on, now.
Come on.
Now, where's Barnett goin'?
Where am I goin'? Hmm?
- King of the Road. - Why am I goin' there?
To see Connie.
And why am I doin' that?
To thank her for singin' at the Opry.
- Now, who am I doin' that for? - You're doin' it for me.
That's right.
Now, I'm walkin' out now.
What do you say as I walk out? You say "bye-bye. "
Bye.
- Bye-bye. - Bye.
Barnett?
- Hello, Ben. - Hi.
Aren't they wonderful? So marvelous.
I'm really upset.
Wh... What are you upset about?
She's really late.
- Well, she's not that late. - No, she's late.
- Thank you. - He's right over there.
I thought you were very, very good tonight.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
She sounded beautiful. She looked beautiful.
Well, Sue, I didn't expect to see you.
- I want you to meet Julie Christie. - Well, excuse my back.
- Welcome to Nashville. - Doctor Zhivago.
- She the one who got off the train? - Will you be here a while?
- No, just passing through. - Oh, please sit down.
- Have a drink with us. - We're not staying.
You're English, aren't you? I could tell.
- This is Connie White. - Hi.
- This is such a coincidence. - I'm Del Reese.
I was talkin' about the Christy Minstrels just this mornin',
and now we have Julie Christie here.
- I met you with Peter Finch. - Oh, yeah?
- You won't sit down and stay? - No, thank you.
- Julie has a friend at the Exit Inn. - I hope your stay is very nice.
I hope you'll remember what film facilities we have in Nashville.
- Yeah, sure. - Thank you. Good to see you.
- Have a lovely evening. Good-bye. - Bye-bye.
Nice to see you. Well, isn't that an honor.
- What a surprise. Julie Christie. - Who's Julie Christie?
"Who's Julie Christie?" She's a star. She's won an Academy Award.
- Oh! - No, I'm not kiddin'.
For one of those pictures. I don't know which one.
- She's done so many. - Isn't he a gem?
- He's got the worst sense of humor. - No, she's lovely.
Oh, come on. She can't even comb her hair.
Oh, you've got a Hal Phillip Walker button.
No, it's Kennedy. Isn't that rather ancient?
Strange. I thought that everybody in the South didn't go for Kennedy.
It's John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
Well, he...
he took the whole South,
except for Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky.
And there's a reason he didn't take Tennessee.
But he got 481,453 votes,
and the asshole got 556,577 votes.
I just can tell. It's somethin'.
It's the way she looks at me.
It's that feeling you get that you know there's somethin' going on.
And if I do a performance when I'm too tired, it doesn't have...
- Hey, you all. How are you, Connie? - Hi, Barnett.
Now, the problem we got here...
is anti-Catholicism.
These dumbheads around here, they're all...
Baptists and whatever, I don't know.
Even to teach 'em to make change over the bar...
you gotta crack their skulls,
let alone teach 'em to vote for the Catholic...
just because he happens to be the better man.
Here, this is just somethin'...
somethin' that Barbara Jean told me to pick up for you.
- You shouldn't have done that. - I know, but she told me.
- I told her I shouldn't have. - Did you get the flowers we sent?
Thank you.
Appreciate it.
Thank you very much.
As most of you might have noticed,
we have a celebrity with us tonight.
If we get our hands together, we might could get a song.
- Miss Connie White. - From the goodness of her heart.
What do you want, a few bucks?
You holdin' out for somethin' better?
You're a real sweetie pie.
Thank you very much.
That's what I love about this place. Can you see me?
I can't see you.
- That was a nice gesture. - I'm gonna sing something you know.
- What was a nice gesture? - Join me on the choruses.
Don't seem to be appreciated, do it?
"Rolling Stone. "
Thank you.
You walked me, sweet Joshua
Down the country lane
You brought me, sweet Joshua
Where the roses grow so tall
You lay me down, Joshua
And you promised me your name
And after that
That was all
Everybody!
Rolling stone, Rolling stone
- Gathers no moss - Who wrote that song, a kid?
And all I remember the next few days was...
I was just lookin' at that TV set and seein' it all,
seein' that great fat-bellied sheriff...
sayin', "Ruby, you son of a bitch. "
And Oswald...
and her in her little pink suit.
But neither
Does it gather
Any love
Here's the best. Here's Vassar.
And then comes Bobby.
Oh, I worked for him.
- Don't you think we... - I worked all over the country.
I worked out in California, out in Stockton.
Bobby came here and spoke, he went down to Memphis,
and then he even went out to Stockton, California...
and spoke off the Santa Fe train at the old Santa Fe depot.
Oh, he was...
a beautiful man.
He was not much like,
uh, John, you know.
He was more puny-like.
But all the time I was workin' for him...
I was just so scared.
Inside, you know? Just scared.
Haven, do you think we could get Connie out to the rally?
Connie White and Barbara Jean never appear on the same stage together.
Connie can replace Barbara Jean, but that's it.
As for Haven Hamilton, well,
I'll appear wherever Barbara Jean appears.
I got a good mind to take you outside.
With my wife in the hospital, you puttin' that shit on me?
- Calm down, enjoy the show. - Barnett's angry.
Okay.
Walk with me, Joshua
- And I will say that I am lame - I think she's, uh...
I think she's having an affair here. I really do.
The child that we have made
- But I'll never let him mention - Oh, God.
- Your name - Are you off. You're way off.
You are way, way off.
Are you kidding?
Some people take
And never give
- I love you. - But all men die
And so must live
For a while
And life is short
- I love you. - A precious gift
This thing we have
- Please don't let it drift away - I love you.
Honey, won't you let me be your friend
I love you.
Honey, won't you let me try again
Honey, won't you let me be your friend
For another day
When we've been there
Ten thousand years
Bright, shining
As the sun
We've no less days
To sing God's praise
Than when
We'd first
Begun
And on the profession of your faith,
I baptize you, my sister,
in the name of the Father and of the Son...
and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
I'm newborn again
Been a long time talkin'
'Bout my trials here below
Free grace Free grace
Free grace, sinner
Free grace Free grace
I'm newborn again
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other
Has ever
Known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet
The birds hush their singing
And the melody
That He gave to me
Within my heart
Is ringin'
You know, my wife Esther is on the same floor with Barbara Jean.
- And He walks with me - Oh, and Esther and I had a son...
- And He talks with me - in the service too.
- Yes, sir. - Oh, not the army. It was the navy.
And He tells me I am His own
We lost him in the South Pacific. We don't know how.
- And thejoy we share - I'm sorry.
- World War II. - Yes, sir.
As we tarry there
None other
Has ever
Known
I'm wandering in a graveyard.
The dead here have no crosses,
nor tombstones, nor wreaths to sing of their past glory,
but lie in rotting, decaying, rusty heaps,
their innards ripped out by greedy, vulturous hands.
Their vast, vacant skeletons...
sadly sighing to the sky.
The rust on their bodies...
is the color of dried blood.
Dried blood.
I'm reminded of...
of an elephant's secret burial ground.
Yes.
Cette aire de mystère. Cette essence de I'irréel.
These cars are trying to communicate.
O cars, are you trying to tell me something?
Are you trying to convey to me some secret...
What... Excuse me?
Oh, excuse me.
I thought I was completely alone. How embarrassing.
Oh, you're a musician!
The economy's depressed, not me
You may say that I ain't free
But it don't
Worry
Me
Let's have some applause for Miss Maisie Hoy.
Miss Albuquerque?
Hi, Frog.
This is with gestures.
Miss Jill Brown on the track in number 78.
The youngsters will be eligible...
to apply for a gas-powered mini-bike and a helmet.
You wanna talk about yesterday?
Get up, goddamn it!
Fucker.
You wanna talk about yesterday?
Do you wanna talk about yesterday or not? What, are you...
Shit. Come out of there!
You leave me alone!
Come out of there! Come on!
Look, I know what's... Come on!
For Christ's sake, what... Now, you...
What are you doing? Do you wanna talk about yesterday or not?
Oh, that's terrific. Hey, that's great. Hey, terrific.
Oh, thanks. My turtle. Thanks a lot.
Look, just relax!
Look, I know what's goin' on.
Great. House detective.
Bill, hi. I'm John Triplette.
Am I early? I called you this morning.
Oh, yeah. The guy from TV. Come on in.
Sure.
Just... We're just cleanin' up here.
You know the...
- Sunday morning blues. - Would you hold this?
- Sure. - Thanks.
Let me just move this over here.
- Is this your new album? - Yeah. That's our only album.
It's a very good one, though. I've heard it. It's terrific.
- I'm really sorry about the mess. - Oh, that's all right.
You oughta see my room.
We had a little party last night. Had a pretty good time too.
Uh, I wanted to, um,
tell you a couple things about what we're trying to do with this show.
- Can I get you a drink? - No, no, I'm fine.
I don't wanna take up much of your time.
I just wanna tell you a little bit about what we're trying to do.
I know you're astute politically,
and I'm certainly not here to sell you a bill of goods.
- Don't care about politics. - No politics? Okay, great.
Well, then, I've got a problem that could work to your advantage.
As you know, this redneck music is very popular right now.
I've got an awful lot of these local yokels on the bill singing...
- Your basic country folk. - Country crapola. Right.
So I think, uh...
What I'm going for is a broader appeal.
Which is where we fit in.
I want to give it more than just this Southern thing.
And I think that a really hip group like yours...
could walk off with the evening.
Yeah. Probably the only rock group on the...
- Absolutely. - Sounds good.
- Sounds inviting. - Yeah.
And you do get a big audience from these country guys.
Is this just network, or...
It's better than network. It's syndicated.
They'll be showing it for a year and a half.
- Your glasses, sweetheart. - Oh, thanks.
This is my wife Mary. This is John Triplette.
Nice to meet you.
Go ahead.
He's, uh, he's the fella from the television show...
that they're doing for Hal Phillip Walker.
That political thing going on. He's offered us a spot.
You're doing some great promotion. All those buttons and...
- Oh, yeah, thank you. I'm trying. - Bumper stickers.
Anyway, we got a great time spot on this gala,
and we're gonna walk away with the show, John says.
We can't vote for him. We're registered Democrats.
Besides, he's a little crazy, isn't he?
Well, they're all a little crazy, Mary.
- I'll drink to that. - That's the name of the game.
But I think the thing that you should consider is your future.
It would give you a great shot.
But it doesn't make any difference. We're registered Democrats.
Well, I'm a registered Democrat.
The only reason we're registered Democrats...
is because your father's a registered Democrat...
and his father's a registered Democrat.
Well, Tom's a registered Democrat, and he wouldn't do it.
It's not my way
To take your hand if I'm...
- Hi, Tom. - Hi, Norman. How you doin'?
Good. I'm sure glad you called. Is there anything I can...
- Sit down. - Okay.
Whew.
- You have any speckled birds? - What?
You know, L.A. Turnarounds. Uppers.
Uh, no, no, I, uh...
But I know where to get some grass.
- No, thanks. I don't need any grass. - Okay.
- Uh, can I ask you a question? - Mm-hmm.
Is there something... Are you angry at Bill?
- No. - Oh.
'Cause I, I, uh... You know, I, uh...
Bill and Mary and you and, uh...
Well, Bill, uh... I mean, Bill seems to be, um...
Uh...
- I'm just confused. - Mmm.
- Uh... - Here.
- Why don't you write yourself a hit. - Okay.
- Hello. - Can I talk to Cherry, please?
She's in bed with R.Y. You wanna talk to R.Y.?
- I'd rather talk to her, if I could. - Who is this?
This is Frank, one of the cooks at the restaurant.
Are you a Jehovah's Witness?
Does it make sense that the churches...
should remain untaxed on their vast holdings of land...
and corporate investments?
Does it make sense that a multimillion-dollar income...
should go untaxed year after year?
No, all will not be easy,
but we will bask in the satisfaction...
of having done what we should have done.
And if we don't get it done today,
we may run out of tomorrows.
The buses!
The buses are empty...
and look almost menacing, threatening,
as so many yellow dragons watching me...
with their hollow, vacant eyes.
I wonder how many little black and white children...
have yellow nightmares,
their own special brand of fear for the yellow peril...
I can't have... I can't start...
Damn it, it's got to be more...
positive.
No, more negative. Start again.
Yellow is the color of caution.
No.
Yellow is the color of cowardice.
Yellow is the color of sunshine.
And yet I see very little sunshine...
in the lives of all the little black and white children.
I see their lives, rather, as a study in grayness,
a mixture of black and...
Oh, Christ, no. That's fascist.
Yellow! Yellow, yellow, yellow. Yellow fever.
We'll be able to talk about it. They're checkin' out now.
- Get with him before he leaves. - What about the place?
- It's not bad at all. - Think it'll work out?
It's got this bizarre stage that drops out of the ceiling.
They're gettin' out this mornin'.
- The place is very confused. - Bye-bye!
- Is the place out there okay? - Bye-bye, bye-bye.
Wait a minute. Here we go.
Uh, Barnett! Phone's for you.
- Is it important, or what? - Bye, girls.
- Hello. - Hello, Barnett. John Triplette.
- Who? - Hello! Are you going home?
Mr. Green, how are you? I'm goin' home.
- I'm glad to hear that. - Thank you. How is Mrs. Green?
She's fine, and she's gonna be thrilled to hear I saw you again.
Give her my very best. And is she takin' her vitamin E?
- Got 'em right here. - All right. Good for you.
You take care, darlin'. Bye-bye.
All right, come on. Let's get her on there.
- Lucky for you. Whoo! - As long as I'm done
- Gonna buy me a pistol - All right, get in.
We gotta go with those white horseshoes, huh?
We're gonna live with those for infamy.
Take that cortege on the other elevator.
- Didn't the doctor get ahold of you? - No more calls, Delbert.
I'm really sorry I have to tell you this.
Mrs. Green expired this morning.
What?
Mrs. Green died this morning.
Wait right here. Let me go get the doctor.
Mr. Green?
Mr. Green, you know, my mama saved her life.
They used to live next door to each other. My mama put out the flames.
She always loved Barbara Jean more than anything.
She's still keepin' a scrapbook on her.
The only thing she said to me when I joined up was,
"When you're doin' your travels, I want you to see Barbara Jean.
Don't say nothin' about me. Just see Barbara Jean. "
So that's what I been doin'.
Now I'm gonna go over to Opryland and hear her sing.
Give my best to your wife, now.
Wait a minute. Don't laugh.
Let me just... I have a theory about political assassination.
You see, I believe people like Madame Pearl...
and all these people here in this country who carry guns...
are the real assassins.
Because, you see, they stimulate other people...
who are perhaps innocent...
and who eventually are the ones who pull the trigger.
- Ma? - Kenny? Where are you, Kenny?
- I'm in Nashville. How are you? - I was so worried.
- There's no reason to worry. - Well, I haven't been able to sleep.
I had to take some of that Ny Quil so I could go to sleep.
- Puts you right out. - Did it help?
Yes, it did. Where are you staying in Nashville?
- I'm staying at a rooming house. - Who you talkin' to?
- It's my mother. - Who are you talking to, Kenny?
A girl that lives in the rooming house.
Who owns that rooming house?
- Her uncle. - A man owns the rooming house?
Well, it can't be very clean.
- Don't be silly. - I bet the sheets aren't clean.
In the South you can pick up this parasite...
- Joan, put that down, please! - Kenny, listen...
- Just a minute. - I wanted to look at your fiddle.
Kenny! You can get this parasite fungus in the South.
It's very difficult to get rid of. When are you coming home?
I don't know. A couple of weeks.
You left your blue suit hanging in the closet.
I don't need my suit.
I would really like you to get home as soon as you can.
Mother, just listen to me.
Kenny, don't you talk to me in that tone of voice.
I love you too, Mama.
I really do. I'll see you soon.
Bye-bye.
Let's find Barnett, hope he's not in a bad mood.
Hi. How are you?
- Hey, Barnett! - I'm obliged to give them...
- Hey, Barnett. - What do you want now?
This guy wants me to do four shows. What do you want?
Don't let her do too much. How you hangin'?
- You feelin' better now? - Yeah, I feel swell.
We gotta talk to you. We're gonna do a show.
Okay, now, John's doing this show.
Haven's gonna do it. We want Barbara Jean to headline it.
- Unbelievable. - Now wait a second, man.
I wish they wouldn't rush us. Get a shot.
It's national TVfor this candidate Hal Phillip Walker.
We don't want her to make any political statement.
What do you think her bein' there's gonna be?
- Ain't that a political statement? - People haven't seen her.
No, fellas. Don't take it personal.
No politics, no government, no nothin'.
- All right? Okay? - All right.
- I heard you all out. - Hello, boys. How's it goin'?
I believe I met you before in the hospital.
Look at that. Didn't Jewel show you how to do her hair?
- Come on, darlin'. - How do you do, honey?
- No pictures. - I'm all excited.
- How do you feel? - I feel great.
I told the band you'd start off with the cowboy song.
- Forget it. - No, John, just leave it to me.
He can take a flying leap.
I'm gonna stay after him like a rodent, man.
He's got a tape deck in his tractor
And he listens to the local news
He finds out where the bass are bitin'
While he's plowin' to the country blues
He was a cowboy and he knew I loved him well
A cowboy's secrets you never tell
No, there's nothin' like the lovin'
Of a hard-drivin'cowboy man
He's got a tape deck in his tractor
While he's plowing up his daddy's land
He's got more horse sense
Than I ever seen in any man
He was a cowboy and he knew I loved him well
A cowboy's secrets you never tell
No, there's nothin' like the lovin'
Of a hard-drivin' cowboy man
On Saturday nights we go dancin' in town
And all the boys'll order up another round
In the summertime
We look forward to the rodeo
On Saturday nights we go to town
And all the boys'll order up another round
When he rides saddle bronc
I wait to hear that whistle blow
He's got a tape deck in his tractor
I can hear him when he's comin' home
Then he holds me in the rocking chair
And sings me the love song
He was a cowboy and he knew I loved him well
A cowboy's secrets you never tell
No, there's nothin' like the lovin'
Of a hard-drivin' cowboy man
No, there's nothin' like the muscles
Of a hard-drivin' cowboy man
Thank you. Thank you.
It's that careless
Disrespect
I can't take no more, baby
It's the way
That you don't love me
When you say you do, baby
It hurts so bad
It gets me down, down, down
I want to walk away
From this battleground
This hurtin' match
It ain't no good
I'd give a lot to love you
The way I used to do
Wish I could
Mm-hmm-hmmm
Well, you got
Your own private world
I wouldn't have it
No other way
But lately you been
Hidin'your blues
Pretendin' what you say
It hurts so bad
It gets me down, down, down
I wanna walk away from this battleground
This hurtin' match
It ain't no good
I'd give a lot to love you
The way I used to do
Wish I could
Mmm-mmm-mmmm-mmm
Have you been in Vietnam?
- Huh? - Writin'it down
Kind of makes me feel better
Yes, you have. I can tell by your face.
It keeps me away from them blues
I wanna be nice to you
Treat you right
But how long can I pay
These dues
It hurts so bad
It gets me down, down, down
I wanna walk away from this battleground
This hurtin' match
It ain't no good, no
I'd give a lot to love you
The way I used to do
Wish I could
Mmm-mmm-mmmm-mmm
Was it awful?
- Ooh-oooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh - It was kinda hot and wet.
Ooooh
Oooh Oooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-oooh
Ooooh
I
Wish I could
Mmm-mm-mmm Mmm-mm-mmm
Thank you.
I wanna tell you all a little secret which you might not know,
and that is that last night I thanked my lucky stars...
that I could be here at all to sing for ya.
I heard on the radio...
This little boy... 9 years old.
Sometimes a deejay'll play a tune...
and ask everybody to phone in and say how they like it.
I was listenin', and this little nine-year-old called in.
The song had voices in the background,
like the way they use backup voices these days,
soundin' like little munchkins.
He called up, the deejay said, "How old are you, son?"
The boy said, "I'm nine, and I think it's gonna be a hit. "
The deejay said, "Why?" "Because it had those chipmunks in it. "
And I thought that was so cute,
because, well, I can sing like a munchkin myself.
I'm real fond of The Wizard of Oz.
Plus, I live out, you know, just a ways off of Interstate 24...
on the road to Chattanooga.
So you can see why I kinda related to that.
I think me and the boys are gonna strike up another tune for you now.
Let's go, boys.
I think there's a storm...
seems like it's a-brewin'.
That's what my grandaddy used to say before he lost his hearin'.
Once he got deaf,
he never talked much no more.
'Cept sometimes he'd say "Oh, gosh" or "Durn it" or "My word!"
My granny'd go around clickin' her teeth to the radio all day.
Boy, was she a lot of fun, and cooked my favorite, roast beef.
She was a sweetheart.
She raised chickens too. She, um...
Did you ever hear a chicken sound? You know how chickens go?
Here, chick, chick, chick. Here, chick, chick, chick.
Anyway, I guess we'd better strike up this tune before it's too late.
Okay, boys.
The first job I ever really got...
Grandma... She's the one who clacked her false teeth to the radio.
She taught my mama how to sing, and my mama taught me.
One time she took me, 'cause we was gonna get a new Frigidaire.
She took me to the Frigidaire store where the man was advertisin'.
This record was goin' 'round, and Mama told him I knew how to sing.
He said, "If she learns this tune, I'll give y'all a quarter. "
So Mama and I went home...
And then what happened? Let's see, I think... Uh, yeah.
We went home and I learned both sides of the record in half an hour.
We went back and told him that I'd learned 'em, and he said,
"Let me hear," so I sang both sides of the record instead of just one.
So he gave us 50 cents, and we went across the street and had us a soda.
Ever since then I been workin'. I don't...
I think ever since then I been workin' and doin' my...
- Come on, come on. - Supportin'myself.
- Anyway... - Hey, hey. Hey, hey.
- Am I all right? Am I all right? - Oh, you're fine, darlin'.
- It's the microphone. - I ain't done.
- I know, I know. - I ain't done.
Get us a glass of water. Boys, help her off, all right?
- You'll come back. Okay, darlin'? - Thank you!
All right. Watch the wire.
All right, now! Okay!
Aw, come on, now. Have a heart.
Thank you!
Come on, now. It's just too soon, now.
All of you must know... Aw, come on. You didn't mean that, did you?
She just come out of the hospital...
Oh, no. Hold it down, boys.
You know that little girl just come out of the hospital.
That little girl's in there cryin' her eyes out...
'cause she didn't want to disappoint you.
Get outta here!
Y'all show up at Centennial Park tomorrow at the Parthenon.
You'll see her for free as our guests. How's that?
All right?
Okay, let's hear a get-well welcome for Barbara Jean.
Let's hear it. Come on!
Ingrates is all they are.
A bunch of no-talent...
I got trapped out there, and you guys know it.
- I want some ground rules right now. - You name it.
She's gonna sing first and be off before that man even shows.
Fine. Whatever you want.
- Never shoulda brought her here. - Any way you want it.
No paraphernalia, no literature being circulated. You understand?
And never, at any time, is she to be associated with Hal Phillip Walker.
- Hello? - Hey.
Guess who.
- Linnea? - Yes, it's me.
Hi. This is Tom.
I'm playing a gig tonight downtown. You wanna come and meet me?
It's at a place called the, uh, No Exit, or the Exit.
Exit Out, or somethin'.
Anyhow, it's right across the street from Friday's, on Church Street.
You know where that is, don't you?
Anyhow, I'll be there at 8:00, and, uh...
Why don't you meet me there?
- Okay? - Um...
Well, it's sad but true
The pilot light of our love
Has flickered out
- Mary... - Driver, may I have more champagne?
- That's Norman. - Oh.
Norman, yes. Norman. Of course.
He doesn't like to be known as a driver.
Thank you so much, Norman.
What used to come from the warmest heart
I have to get from a cold can
Since my baby's cookin'in
Another man's pan
Have you ever been to the ladies' restroom here?
No.
I'm stuck here at the Exit Inn with no place left to go.
Well, if makin'love
Were margarine
Then she is the high-priced spread
- I'll have a cider. - Apple cider?
- Yes. Thank you. - Put it on my bill.
- Oh, no... - Yeah.
Uh, all right. And would you put it in a wine glass, please?
Put it in a wine glass and put it on my bill.
Traveling in cozy, close quarters,
I mean, you sort of have to camp in one room.
- Well, Mary and I camp in one room. - Obviously!
- Yes, I... - Tom camps in a lot of rooms.
My name's Wade Coolidge. What's yours?
Um, Linnea is my name.
Well, shall I say that Tom and I, um...
Oh, la-dee-dee!
So you sang together.
No, I mean, we sort of got to know each other, um,
in the biblical sense, shall we say.
- You went to church? - I'm sorry.
No, I'm sorry. This is dreadful.
But he is so attractive, I was wondering...
I shouldn't be asking you, I should really be asking Mary.
You went to bed with him, right?
Oh, yeah. I thought you understood that.
Well, I shouldn't...
Where'd you go to bed with him?
Listen, uh, we got a special treat tonight.
A friend of mine is in town cuttin' an album.
- Tom Frank is in the audience. - That's you.
Tom? Speak of the devil.
He's agreed to come up and do a couple of numbers.
Let's make him feel at home. Tom Frank!
Come on!
Goddamn it!
I haven't seen him for more than two minutes in three days.
Thank you.
- I used to be part of a trio. - Used to be?
I been hidin' from 'em all week, but it seems they found me here tonight,
so we might as well have them up here to sing too... Bill and Mary.
Lovely!
Yes, you must!
I've been watching it all week.
You may say I ain't free
But it don't worry me
- It don't worry me - My favorite song.
- It don't worry me - We don't need to sing at all.
- You guys can do it for us. - You may say I ain't free
- Good choice. - But it don't worry me
Since you've gone
My heart is broken
Another time
Oh, railroad train
Has taken him
From me
All my luxury
Has turned to misery
He's all I ever wanted
Why did he run from me
Since you've gone
My heart is broken
Another time
Since you've gone
My heart is broken
Another time
I didn't know
That you were leavin'
- Till you were out the door - Out the door
I didn't know
The love you gave
Was a real love
I didn't know
A lot of things then
Lord, I know them now
Since you've gone my heart is broken
- Another time - Another time
Mmm.
Since you've gone
My heart is broken
Another time
Since you've gone
My heart is broken
Another time
When this is all over, I'm gonna be taking them back to someplace.
What I could do is, I could show you a little bit of Nashville.
I can tell you things that'd send you around the corner.
I'm not kidding. I know... Well, I know, for instance...
- What is your name? L... - Norman.
Norman. Please, Norman, I...
I make a point never to gossip with servants.
Thank you.
Okay, fellas, I think you know...
you've got a good man to get behind.
I don't wanna take a lot of your time,
'cause we do have a little entertainment for ya.
You got pledge cards on the table. You can pledge anything you want to.
I'll make sure... I'll make you pay, whatever you put down there.
If you got a check, don't be afraid to write it out.
I'll get that to the bank quick, before you can stop it.
Any cash, anything at all, don't anybody be humble or shy.
And while you're writin', so you don't get bored or anything,
there's somethin' comin' to keep you occupied.
Just keep your eyes up, 'cause good things come from above.
Hi, y'all.
- Hi! - Hi!
My name's Sueleen Gay,
and I'm here to sing you a song about a girl that never gets enough.
I never get enough I never get enough
Of the love I'm hungry for
I never get enough I never get enough
I always want more and more
Even if we stay together
Our whole lifetime through
I'll never get enough I'll never get enough
I'll never get enough of you
She's the worst singer I ever heard.
I ain't greedy for that mansion on the hill
She cannot sing a lick, can she?
I never was that kind
Don't need my pockets stuffed
With hundred-dollar bills
Hey, you forgot your jacket.
Excuse me. I gotta go to the bathroom.
All right, if you want more it's gonna have to be me alone,
'cause it seems I'vejust been deserted.
I'm gonna play somethin'that, uh,
I wrotejust recently...
- and came here to record. - All right!
I'm gonna dedicate this to someone special who might be here tonight.
This is a song called "I'm Easy. "
It's not my way to love you just when no one's lookin'
It's not my way
To take your hand if I'm not sure
It's not my way to let you see
What's goin' on inside of me
When it's a love you won't be needing
If you're not free
Please stop pullin' at my sleeve
If you're just playin'
If you won't take the things you make me wanna give
I never cared too much for games
And this one's drivin' me insane
You're not half as free to wander
As you claim
But I'm easy
Yeah, I'm easy
Give the word I'll play your game
As though that's how it oughta be
Because I'm easy
Don't lead me on if there's nowhere
For you to take me
If lovin'you would have to be
A sometime thing
I can't put bars on my insides
My love is somethin' I can't hide
It still hurts
When I recall the times I've tried
But I'm easy
Yeah, I'm easy
Take my hand and pull me down
I won't put up any fight
Because I'm easy
Don't do me favors
Let me watch you from a distance
'Cause when you're near
I find it hard to keep my head
And when your eyes throw light at mine
It's enough to change my mind
Make me leave my cautious words and ways behind
That's why I'm easy
Yeah, I'm easy
Say you want me I'll come runnin'
Without takin'time to think
Because I'm easy
Yeah, I'm easy
Take my hand and pull me down
I won't put up any fight
Because I'm easy
Yeah, I'm easy
Give the word I'll play your game
As though that's how it oughta be
Because I'm easy
Do it to it.
- Hi. - Hi!
I'm gonna sing you all a song Barbara Jean wrote.
Just wanna get comfortable.
It's called, uh, "One, I Love You. "
Oh, you got that right, babe!
When I feel my life perishing
I call you on the phone
You always fix me up
When I get broken
'Cause every time that I got hurt
And went out of control
You knew the fears I felt
Before I spoke 'em
Boo! Come on, now!
- What is this, some Walker rip-off? - One, I love you
Two I'm thinkin'of you
Three I'll never let you go
Boo! Come on! Take it off!
And four, I miss you
Five, I wanna kiss you
Six
I won't leave you no more
- Did you tell Trout what you wanted? - Did I? It was your job.
- I know. - I assumed he knew what...
Well, I didn't think it was gonna be any problem.
Four, I miss you
- Five, I wanna kiss you - Take your clothes off!
Six
I won't leave you no more
Let's see some tit!
Come on! What is this?
Come on back here, baby!
- What's the matter, hon? - I don't understand what's goin' on.
Didn't Trout tell you you're supposed to strip?
I'm a singer!
Listen. Listen, listen, listen.
Go finish the show like you told Trout you'd do,
and I'll set it up so you can sing at the Parthenon.
You can sing in the Parthenon with Barbara Jean.
- Go finish the show... - I get to sing with Barbara Jean?
Yes, you are... Yes, you will.
I'll take care of it. Go finish the show like you told Trout you'd do.
Okay?
These fellas really like you.
I'm gonna be as big a star as Barbara Jean is one day.
- I know you are. You can't miss. - Go on, now.
Come on, let's do it! Start the show!
Whoo! Hey! All right! All right!
You're my mama!
All right!
Whoo! Hey, hey, hey!
But I'm easy
Yeah, I'm easy
Take my hand and pull me down
I won't put up any fight
Because I'm easy
Want to learn how to say something in sign language?
Yeah. How do you say "I love you"?
Well, you could say... Shorthand for it is...
This is shorthand.
Or you could say, "I," you could say, "love you. "
- "I love you"? - Mm-hmm.
Or you could just say, "I'm happy I met you. "
- I'm happy I met you. - Right.
Say you want me I'll come runnin'
- Without takin'time to think - Phew.
- How can you smoke those things? - 'Cause I'm easy
- It's easy. - Yeah, I'm easy
Let me have a drag.
- Do you smoke? - No.
Well, what do you want to do that for?
Yeah, I'm easy
Give the word I'll play your game
- Doesn't look good. - No?
- Mm-mmm. - So what?
Because I'm easy
- Tom, I have to go. - Oh.
Can't you just call him, tell him you're hung up?
No, I can't.
- Couldn't you stay another hour? - No.
I just can't.
This is the long-distance operator.
- You want this charged to your room? - Yeah, please.
- And your room number, please? - 112.
- Hello. - Hey.
- How you doin'? - Oh, wow.
Listen, I'm real sorry I left the way I did.
Oh, wow.
It's really nice to talk to you. It's okay.
It's nice to talk to you too.
- What are you doing? - I'm thinkin'about you.
You are? Well...
Listen, can you come down here?
- When? - Tonight.
- Oh, Tom, I can't do that. - Why not?
We have an opening at the museum tomorrow. I can't leave my job.
Why don't you quit? I'm makin'bread here.
We tried that before. It doesn't work. I need to be busy.
I'll wait for you here. When are you coming back?
About a week.
Okay, well, just... just come on back.
Move back in. It's fine.
I miss you.
I really do.
New York's really been nice. It's missed you too.
The weather's been terrific.
I went sailing.
- Yeah. - What's that?
That's just room service.
There's 50 cents on the desk there. Just pick it up.
- Big tipper. - Yeah, well, times are hard.
Right, all that money. You couldn't afford to bring me down there.
- Yeah. Well, see you in a week. - I love you, Tom.
This it, honey?
Be careful gettin' out.
Hey.
Hey! Hey, wait just a minute. Just hold it, will ya.
Now...
I know you don't do that all the time, I...
I wanna tell you that I just... I mean...
Me personally, boy, I...
You know, I'd just like to kiss you all over, every place.
You know what I'm telling you?
- I think you... - Sueleen?
You okay?
Shit, man.
Didn't your mama teach you no manners?
Who was that?
What's the matter with you? Ain't you gonna talk to me?
Did it go all right?
- Oh, Wade. - What?
I had to do me a striptease tonight in front of all those men...
in order to get to sing at the Parthenon with Barbara Jean.
Oh, shit, Sueleen, I...
That's dreadful! That's terrible, girl!
I mean...
I don't know how to tell you this, but I been meanin' to...
you can't sing.
You may as well face the fact you cannot sing.
You ain't never gon' be no star. I wish you'd give it up.
They gon' kill ya. They gon' tear your heart out if you keep on.
They gon' walk on your soul, girl.
- What are you talkin' about? - You can't sing.
- Do you understand that? - Yeah? You wanna make a bet?
You wanna come to the Parthenon and watch me sing with Barbara Jean?
- I am leavin' for Detroit Wednesday. - You just come and watch, Wade.
I'm leavin' for Detroit, and if you wanna go you just come on.
- They gonna kill you in this town. - Well, you come and see.
- They gon' use you. You know that. - Bye, Wade.
Dumb bitch. I don't know why I stick around.
She just makes me so goddamn mad I could spit.
Little more than a year ago,
a man named Hal Phillip Walker...
excited a group of college students with some questions:
Have you stood on a high and windy hill...
and heard the acorns drop and roll?
Have you walked in the valley beside the brook,
walked alone and remembered?
Does Christmas smell like oranges to you?
In a commencement speech such questions were fitting, perhaps,
but hardly the material with which to launch a presidential campaign.
Even those who pay close attention to politics...
probably saw Hal Phillip Walker and his Replacement Party...
as a bit of frost on the hillside...
summer, if not late spring, would surely do away with all that.
Well, now that summer,
along with presidential primaries, is heavy upon us...
and the frost is still there,
perhaps we should take a closer look.
Hal Phillip Walker is, in a way, a mystery man.
Out of nowhere, with a handful of students and scarcely any pros,
he's managed to win three presidential primaries...
and is given a fighting chance to take a fourth... Tennessee.
A win in that state would take on added significance,
for only once in the last 50 years has Tennessee failed to vote...
for the winning presidential candidate.
No doubt many Americans, especially party liners,
wish that Hal Phillip Walker would go away,
disappear like the natural frost...
and come again at some more convenient season.
But wherever he may be going,
it seems sure Hal Phillip Walker is not going away,
for there is genuine appeal...
and it must be related to the raw courage of this man...
running for president, willing to battle vast oil companies,
eliminate subsidies to farmers,
tax churches, abolish the electoral college,
change the national anthem...
and remove lawyers from government, especially from Congress.
At this point it'd be wise to say most of us don't know the answer...
to Hal Phillip Walker,
but to answer one of his questions,
as a matter of fact, Christmas has always smelled like oranges to me.
Our country cries
For peace today
There's trouble in
The U.S.A.
Watergate
Is the sound that rings
Wonder what
This year will bring
- You're going the wrong way! - Wonder what
This year will bring
- All y'all goin' the wrong way! - Will there be sadness
Tears or pain
Or will the sun
Refuse to shine
Wonder what
This year will bring
Down in Nashville
I heard today
A shortage of food
Is on its way
While up in Denver
Gas shortage rings
Lord, I wonder what
- This year will bring - You may have to sit out here.
That's all right, John.
- Give me time to work on my speech. - Okay, thank you.
Hi. How are you? Good to see you.
Or will the sun
Refuse to shine
- Delbert, how's it going? - Hi, John. How are you?
- Can I say hello? - He's working on his speech.
- We'll do that later. - Right.
- He's gonna wait there? - He'll sit out there for a minute.
- Anybody here yet? - Yeah, some of the people.
- Barnett? - He oughta be here quick.
This building was originally here...
It was made out of lumber and plaster of Paris.
- Oh, yeah? - This whole big building...
See, they built it for a centennial celebration,
and people liked this, they didn't want it torn down.
Nashville got to be called the Athens of the South.
- They sorta took to that. - Because of this building?
- Yeah, right. - Oh, that's good.
Then they had to rebuild it. This was built right before I was born.
Whoo! Gonna be a scorcher.
The park police control all this.
What's all these chairs? We don't need all these chairs.
- This ain't no band here, right? - What's the matter, man?
I don't... I don't believe it!
What's the matter?
Are you guys jerkin' me around? Do you see what I see, or am I...
What the hell is that sign doin' up there, Triple?
We had some ground rules.
No political signs, no advertisements, no noth...
What the hell are you doin', huh? Go about your business.
I have abided by all the ground rules you laid down, Barnett.
I have Walker sitting out behind this place like an idiot!
Well, he can sit out in the sun and parch for all I care!
My wife ain't well! I brought her out of a hospital bed to be here!
You gave me some truth! You're full of it, just like your man!
- I have abided by every ground rule. - Except what?
She ain't gonna appear here with that sign up there!
- I have busted my ass for you! - I'm gonna bust your ass too!
I am through with it! Take your wife and take a walk!
I'll tell these people she's not going to appear again!
- Well, go on and do it! - Okay, take a walk, and I'll do it.
You'd do that, huh? You'd put a knife in my wife's back like that?
You're putting the knife in her back, buster. You're doing it.
I have not got time to take the sign down and put it back up again!
What are you hollerin' about? You tryin' to embarrass me?
I'm tryin' to be heard.
Well, get these chairs off and we'll talk about it.
- I'll take care of it. - Delbert... Where is that rat?
What are you hiding for, you little rat?
And grant us so to serve thee by day...
that we may find eternal fellowship with them...
through Him who died and rose again for us all,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Mr. Green, it's not over.
- I'm going to find Martha. - What for?
She owes some respect to Esther.
Ladies and gentlemen, Barbara Jean and Haven Hamilton.
When I feel my life perishing
I call you on the phone
I always fix you up
When you get broken
'Cause every time that I got hurt
And went out of control
I knew the fears you felt
Before you spoke them
You tell me
One, I love you
Two I'm thinkin' of you
Three I'll never let you go
And four, I miss you
Five, I wanna kiss you
Six I won't leave you no more
When I feel my life vanishin'
Like waves upon the sand
With nothin'to replace it
But invention
So I make my rhymes and I sing my songs
Still they don't understand
You can't find her here.
I'll find her.
- I'd sing ya - One, I love you
Two I'm thinkin'of you
Three I'll never let you go
And four, I miss you
Five, I wanna kiss you
Six, I won't leave you no more
One, I love you
Two I'm thinkin'of you
Three I'll never let you go
And four, I miss you
Five, I wanna kiss you
Six I won't leave you no more
Six I won't leave you
No more
Six I won't leave you
No mo-o-ore
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
Mama and Daddy
Raised me with lovin' care
They sacrificed
So I could have a better share
They fed me and nursed me
And sent me to school
Mama taught me how to sing
Daddy lived the Golden Rule
When I think of the children alone and afraid
Abandoned and wild like a fatherless child
I think of my mama
And how she could sing
Harmony with my daddy
Our laughter would ring
Down the highways
On the beaches
Just as far as memory reaches
I still hear Daddy singin'his old army songs
We'd laugh and count horses
As we drove along
We were young then We were together
We could bear floods and fire
And bad weather
And now that I'm older
Grown up, on my own
I still love Mama and Daddy best
And my Idaho home
Mama grew up
On the prairies of Kansas
She was tender and sweet
The dust and tornadoes blew 'round her
But they left her straight up on her feet
My daddy grew up on his own more or less
His mama died when he was just 11
He had seven sisters to raise him
But he dreamed of his mama in heaven
His daddy drank whiskey and had a sharp eye
He sold chicken medicine farmers would buy
Together they hunted the fields and the farms
When his daddy died my daddy rest in my mama's arms
Down the highways
On the beaches
Just as far as memory reaches
I still hear Daddy singin' his old army songs
We'd laugh and count horses
As we drove along
We were young then
We were together
We could bear floods and fire
And bad weather
And now that I'm older
Grown up, on my own
I still love Mama and Daddy best
And my Idaho home
And now that I'm older
Grown up, on my own
I still love my Mama and Daddy best
And my Idaho home
For Mama and Daddy.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen.
- Thank you. - Wonderful! Wonderful!
Let's hear it for Barbara Jean! Wonderful!
Get that gun!
I'm all right. You get her. You get her.
- Dad? - Bud, help her off. I'm all right.
- Get Walker out of here! - Get Walker outta here!
Get off your asses!
Watch her head!
Y'all take it easy now. This isn't Dallas, it's Nashville.
This is Nashville. You show 'em what we're made of.
They can't do this to us here in Nashville.
Okay, everybody, sing!
Come on, somebody, sing!
No, I'm fine. You sing. You stay here and play.
- Somebody sing. Somebody sing. - You've been hurt.
- I'm gonna get somebody to help you. - Somebody sing.
Sing!
I think you've been hurt.
Watch your step there. Watch your step there.
Come on, easy, easy.
- I can't stop that blood, man! - You got a car or somethin'?
They say this train
Don't give out rides
It don't worry me
Martha! Martha!
And all the world is takin' sides
- It don't worry me - What happened?
Can you please tell me what happened?
'Cause in my empire life is sweet
Just ask any bum you meet
- Life may be a one-way street - Is there anybody who can help us?
But it don't worry me
Come on, everybody sing.
It don't worry me
You may say I ain't free
It don't worry me
Come on! It don't worry me
You may say I ain't free
- But it don't worry me - It's not gon' worry me
The price of bread may worry some
It don't worry me
Tax relief may never come
It don't worry me
- Economy's depressed, not me - I need you. Come on.
- My spirit's high as it can be - Come on down here.
You may say I ain't free
It don't worry me
No, it don't worry me
It don't worry me
You may say I ain't free
It don't worry me
Ohhhh, it don't
Worry me
It don't worry me
You may say I ain't free
It don't worry me
You may say I ain't free
- But it don't worry me - It don't worry me
It don't worry me, no
It don't worry me
You might say that I ain't free
- But it don't worry me - It's not gonna worry me
- It don't worry me - Now, if we don't live peaceful,
- It don't worry me - there's gonna be nothin'left...
except Clorox bottles and plastic fly swatters...
But it don't worry me
- It don't worry me - Why not?
It don't worry me
You may say I ain't free
Well, it don't worry me
Come on, everybody!
- It don't worry me - That's right.
It don't worry me
You might say I ain't free
It don't worry me
You may say that I ain't free
- But it don't worry me - It's not gon' worry us
It don't worry me
You may say that I ain't free
- But it don't worry me - It's not gonna worry me
Ain't gonna be nothin' left in our graves...
except fly swatters with red dots on 'em.
- That's right! - You may say
That I ain't free
- But it don't worry me - It don't worry me
It don't worry me
You may say that I ain't free
But it don't worry me
It don't worry me
You may say that I ain't...
The price of bread
May worry some
But it don't worry me
And tax relief
May never come
But it don't worry me
Economy's depressed, not me
Spirit's high
As it can be
And you may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
They say this train
Don't give out rides
But it don't worry me
And all the world
Is takin'sides
But it don't worry me
'Cause in my empire
Life is sweet
Just ask any 'bo that you might meet
Life may be
A one-way street
But it don't worry me
It don't worry me
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
It don't worry me
I ain't gonna be worried.
It don't worry me
No, not me
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
I got a smile on my face
It don't worry me
I'm gonna walk with my head held high
It don't worry me
You know why
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
Let me hear you sing it
It don't worry me
No
It don't worry me
I'll be smilin', smilin'
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
Hey, hey, hey, yeah
It don't worry me
Oh, no
It don't worry me
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
Sing along, singin'
It don't worry me
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
It don't worry me
I'm gonna walk with my head held high
It don't worry me
Ohhh-ohh-ohh
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't worry me
Nice and easy
It don't worry me
I'm smilin'
It don't worry me
No more cryin'
You may say
That I ain't free
But it don't
Worry
Me