- 1 week ago
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00She's coming.
00:05Uh, Mavis?
00:07Lunchtime, not now.
00:08No, Mavis, Mavis, you got a call while you were out.
00:10When I have this little brown bag in my hand,
00:12don't bother me with business.
00:13This isn't business.
00:15This is terrible news.
00:16All right, what's going on?
00:17Mavis, I'm very sorry to tell you.
00:19The woman you sang with years ago in your group,
00:22she has passed away.
00:27Yeah!
00:28She's gone!
00:30I can't believe it!
00:33See, you're working through your grief.
00:37Remember what Mother said.
00:38If you can't speak well of the departed...
00:40Oh, hold up now.
00:41Don't say departed,
00:42because that makes it sound like she might come back.
00:45I mean, uh-uh.
00:46Bye-bye, Florence, you dead.
00:48Ding-dong, Florence dead.
00:51Mavis.
00:52Ooh, I'm so happy she's gone.
00:53No, listen, no, no.
00:56Let her be.
00:57You know, in my country,
00:58we dance on the graves of our enemies.
01:01In fact, we dance on the graves of our friends.
01:04We just like to dance.
01:07Stop that!
01:08What?
01:09Mavis, it wasn't Florence who died.
01:11It was Lana.
01:12Lana?
01:13Oh, no, come on.
01:15I'm not believing you with that.
01:18Come on, Lana was the baby.
01:19What are you talking about?
01:20That's just...
01:20It's just messed up.
01:21Wasn't messed up a minute ago.
01:24Well, that's because I thought it was Florence who was dead.
01:26But I should have known better.
01:27You can't kill a woman like that.
01:28She's like a roach.
01:31The funeral's on Friday.
01:32All right, I'll be there.
01:36Why?
01:37Why, Lana?
01:39Florence will be there, too.
01:41Why can't you take two?
01:42This is Mavis' old, old singing group,
01:58the Ebony Blackbirds.
02:00So which one is Mavis?
02:02Chutmiga, she's there on the right.
02:10Back up.
02:11It's been 20 years, okay?
02:13Only 20?
02:16You know what, Chewbacca?
02:17Lunchtime is over.
02:19The toilet paper's not gonna steal itself.
02:24So, uh...
02:25So this is Florence Lamarck.
02:28Oh, Florence Lamarck, my behind.
02:30You know how her name's as fake as she is?
02:32Her real name's Lottie Walker, and she's from the Bronx.
02:35Her bosom seems to be falling out of her dress.
02:38Well, that's no accident.
02:40Soon as she saw the photographer,
02:41she did a double crisscross,
02:42pushed them puppies near the window.
02:47Well, she's not a friend of yours.
02:49She's definitely not a friend of mine.
02:50And of course, I'm very fond of puppies.
02:52We're almost out of scotch.
03:02Now we're out of scotch.
03:06You want to get that, please?
03:08Yeah, yeah.
03:08I'm coming.
03:12I'm checking in.
03:13I'm Florence Lamarck.
03:15Don't you mean Lottie Walker?
03:21I'm impressed.
03:22Not too many people know my real name.
03:25You must be a fan.
03:26I'm a huge fan of Mavis Ray.
03:29Why, so am I.
03:31That's why I'm staying here at her little hotel.
03:33Is she around?
03:34Well, I'm not sure if she...
03:37Oh, she's behind you.
03:41Mavis!
03:43Florent!
03:44Mavis!
03:45Florent!
03:46Oh, girl!
03:51Oh, girl, you look good!
03:55Oh, and you look exactly how I thought you would.
03:58Yes.
04:04Well, what brings you to my hotel?
04:05Well, you know, of course I had to come for Lana's funeral.
04:08Yes, girl, yes.
04:08And I thought, well, I might as well just stay with my old singing partner.
04:12Yes, well, I hope you have a reservation.
04:14Oh, do I need one?
04:15Oh, yes, girl.
04:16Oh.
04:18Very, very busy.
04:19Let me see now.
04:19Let me see this.
04:20Oh, excuse me.
04:21Oh, yes.
04:22Oh, you know, see, they just checked out, and the benefit wedding is off,
04:25so that we can give her room two-two-two.
04:27Non-smoking, right?
04:29Take out the ashtray.
04:31Oh, would you be a doll and take a photo of the two of us together, please?
04:34No, no, I don't want to take a picture.
04:35Come on.
04:35I don't have an old part of a souvenir.
04:37No, I said no.
04:38I said no.
04:39Honey, smile.
04:40Snap it.
04:44Yeah.
04:45Now, is there a handsome man who could show me to my room around here?
04:49I believe I fit the bill.
04:52My name is Nassim.
04:53Follow me.
04:53That's the nicest offer I've had all afternoon.
04:57Nassim.
04:58That's a Persian name, isn't it?
05:00Why, yes, it is.
05:01Not many people know that.
05:05Years ago, I did a concert in Tehran.
05:08What a beautiful country.
05:10And a wonderful people.
05:13Huh.
05:16We try.
05:19Florence is beautiful.
05:21Yeah, well, I could look like that, too, if I wanted to spend every weekend at the plastic
05:25surgeon.
05:26She spends more time on the table than Sunday dinner.
05:29Girl, I heard about your loss.
05:38Here.
05:40What's this?
05:41Oh, that's some mac and cheese for your sorrow, girl.
05:43Well, thank you, Rita.
05:48Mm, and it's good, too.
05:49I really put my foot in it.
05:52Well, maybe later on.
05:53Okay.
05:54Yeah.
05:54Yeah.
05:55Abel!
05:57You okay?
05:58I'm a death slave.
06:01Nassim, thank you so much for all of your help.
06:05Or should I say, Hayley Mamnoon?
06:08You're a linguist and a genius.
06:09Oh.
06:12Mavis, you know, I just love the retro feel to this place.
06:17Thank you, girl.
06:18It reminds me of when we were poor and had nothing.
06:22Well, I always say, why get something a facelift when people are just gonna sleep in it?
06:30Is that Courtney?
06:33Yes, it is, Courtney!
06:35Oh, it's been far too long.
06:41Yes, a significant period of time has elapsed.
06:44Well, we must catch up.
06:46Perhaps sometime later.
06:48I might be around.
06:49Sometime later.
06:51Well, ta, darlings.
06:57What is up with that?
07:01With what?
07:02I might be around.
07:04I don't know what you mean, Rita.
07:06Then why are you bugging?
07:07You know what, Rita?
07:08Just leave it alone, girl.
07:09Leave it alone.
07:10Boop!
07:11Leave a message.
07:15Oh, no, you didn't.
07:18I'd have been in my hotel.
07:21I'm gonna axe you again, Courtney.
07:23Yeah, me too.
07:24I'm gonna axe you again, Courtney.
07:26Mavis, help.
07:27You know what?
07:29Leave it alone.
07:29Don't say nothing.
07:30Just leave it alone.
07:31Do not play me, Courtney, because it would not be funny if I had to knock her out her shoes and slide her up to the wall.
07:37All right.
07:41Mm-mm, mm-mm.
07:42We had relations.
07:44Relations?
07:45What you mean, relations?
07:47We had sex.
07:48Oh, shut up!
07:51Lucky dog.
07:53It was a long time ago.
07:54It was Thanksgiving.
07:55Florence was our guest, and...
07:57Look, look, she claimed that she didn't have any place to go, and I, like a fool, said, come to the house, and that's how she thanked me.
08:01Oh, the matter of her.
08:02Well, you should have heard what she had to say at the end of the evening as she was leaving, and this is the kicker, y'all.
08:07She said, thanks for the stuffing.
08:10No!
08:12Courtney, how could you?
08:13Rita, it was long before I even met you.
08:15Yeah, you were still dodging spermicide, girl.
08:19You know what?
08:20I know why Florence is here.
08:22She's after you.
08:23She wants you back, but you can't see her because you're blinded by the booty.
08:28Rita!
08:28My God, this Florence sounds like she will sleep with anyone, which is highly offensive.
08:36Ooh, hello, handsome.
08:38Ooh.
08:39Ooh, tip my bags up to my room.
08:42Ooh.
08:43Ooh, I like Persia.
08:44Let me take off all my clothes.
08:47Ooh.
08:48Let me take off all your clothes, too.
08:50Ooh.
08:51I like some men with a hair back.
08:54Ooh.
08:56Ooh.
08:56I like some men.
09:03Hey, I don't pay y'all to sit around and watch TV.
09:07I'll pay y'all so I can do that.
09:09I'm watching Lana.
09:11Lana Sims was the youngest member of the Ebony Blackbirds.
09:15Their hit, Chocolate Lovin', sweetened the charts in the early 80s.
09:19Look at that girl.
09:21She was so sweet.
09:22When we return, we'll sit down with the only surviving member of the group.
09:27The only surviving member of the group?
09:30The beautiful Florence Lamarck.
09:34That Florence, this is so her.
09:36This is so her.
09:37She's always trying to undercut somebody, trying to make somebody feel bad.
09:41Who do you think got their own press agent so they could cut us out all the other press?
09:48Florence.
09:49And who do you think was trying to stab us in the back every chance she could?
09:53Florence.
09:53And who do you think, when we finally got on Soul Train, was in the back doing the nasty with the director so she could get all the close-ups?
10:01Florence.
10:02No, that was me.
10:03But it didn't work.
10:07Hey, she's back on Teleduct, isn't it?
10:09So, when did Mavis Ray die?
10:14Oh, you misunderstood me.
10:16I didn't say she was dead.
10:18I said she's no longer singing.
10:20But she's doing great.
10:22Really hanging in there.
10:26Oh, and by the way, I brought a picture of the two of us together.
10:30Huh?
10:30Oh, hell no.
10:38Uh-uh.
10:39You know what this is all about.
10:40She's only doing this to try to show me up at Lana's funeral.
10:43I'm not gonna let it happen because she's so tacky.
10:46She's such a tacky girl.
10:47You know what I mean with she tacky?
10:49I got myself together because I know what I'm gonna do.
10:51I'm gonna get myself all pulled and fly, and then I'm gonna go to that funeral?
10:55Because this funeral's not gonna be about Florence Lamarck.
10:57Oh, no, child.
10:58Atlanta's funeral's gonna be all about me.
11:04Hey.
11:05I saw your ex-partner.
11:09Listen, I'm no...
11:10But even I wouldn't mind being the marshmallow in that hot cocoa.
11:18You are not helping here.
11:20You know, I gotta lose 60 pounds in two days.
11:24So what are you gonna do about it?
11:27It started like an exercise thing.
11:29Do you still have that thing she exercised your thighs with?
11:32Nah.
11:32He moved to Cleveland.
11:33Courtney.
11:34Courtney.
11:35Courtney.
11:36You know that Florence woman?
11:38Yes.
11:39You know she called me handsome?
11:39I'm very happy for you.
11:41This woman, she has such a dangerous effect on men.
11:45I don't need to tell you.
11:46Well, you can tell me.
11:48Please.
11:49Tell me.
11:50Tell me.
11:51Tell me.
11:52You know that Florence woman?
11:53Yeah.
11:54You know, she called me handsome.
11:58I'm very happy for you.
12:00This woman, she has such a dangerous effect on men.
12:03I don't need to tell you.
12:06You can tell me.
12:08Please.
12:10Tell me.
12:12I am not going to talk about it.
12:13I'm simply curious.
12:15I need to be wary, you know.
12:16I have to counteract the effects of my natural musk.
12:23We were alone in a room.
12:24It was just the two of us.
12:27Oh, God.
12:30I was helpless.
12:31Hello, Courtney.
12:33Florence.
12:34Nassim, would you be a dear and take these up to my room, please?
12:37Yes, yes, you'd like that, wouldn't you?
12:39Let's get one thing straight.
12:40These sexual advances, they have to stop, okay?
12:43You got that?
12:45Now, I am Mavis Ray's employee.
12:47More than that, I am her friend.
12:49So curb your lust, woman.
12:52Okay.
12:53Look, I'm going to take these up to your room, but my clothes stay on.
12:56You got that?
12:57All right.
12:57I'm glad we got that straight.
13:00Courtney.
13:01Yes?
13:02Why do I get the feeling you're avoiding me?
13:04Avoiding you?
13:05Hmm.
13:05Of course not.
13:07That's ludicrous.
13:07Well, you know, I was looking forward to seeing you.
13:10And it's been nice seeing you again.
13:12Now I have to be going.
13:14I think I'm wanted somewhere else.
13:16Look at little Courtney Ray.
13:19All grown up and looking fine.
13:22Oh, it's all right, Courtney.
13:27It's all right.
13:29Get out my man's grill.
13:37I'm sorry.
13:38Have we met?
13:38Florence, this is my girlfriend, Rita.
13:43Yeah, you see this?
13:45You see all this?
13:48That's mine's.
13:52I was merely saying hello to an old friend.
13:55Oh, please, Miss Thing.
13:57You've been running games since you got here.
13:59But now it's a wrap.
14:00So bounce.
14:01Get in your hoopty and roll.
14:12Courtney?
14:13I'll talk with you later, darling.
14:16Later?
14:16Oh, hell no.
14:17There ain't gonna be no later, girlfriend.
14:19Let me just tell you.
14:20Rina, I know you're emotional.
14:21Quiet, quiet, quiet.
14:22Listen.
14:23Tell me, dear.
14:29Ain't nobody here, baby.
14:33Sounds like baby Mavis.
14:39Mavis, what happened?
14:41I've fallen and I can't get up.
14:45Don't touch me!
14:46Don't touch me!
14:48Let's get my pills.
14:50Where?
14:50Pills?
14:51In the cabinet over there.
14:53Which one?
14:57There's my honey.
14:59There's my honey.
14:59Okay.
15:06Oh, my God.
15:07These expired in 1991.
15:09Oh, God.
15:11You know what?
15:11That's good looking now.
15:12Better double up.
15:25Come on.
15:25Come on.
15:26Come on.
15:29I think you took too many pills, Mavis.
15:33No, no, I'm cold.
15:34I left one.
15:35Today we gather to honor the life of Lana Sims.
15:42What kind of funeral is this?
15:44When do we carry the body over our heads and dance in the streets?
15:46After the fried chicken and the Kool-Aid?
15:50To begin, I'd like to invite those dear to her to come forward and share a memory with us.
15:57Oh, my God, she looks fantastic.
16:02When I think of Lana, I think of one night on a bus just outside of Mobile.
16:12Lana took ill and couldn't sing.
16:15And I said, Lana, I'm not going on without you.
16:18So I drove her to the hospital, and I didn't leave her side for seven days.
16:25She was trying to bang the doctor.
16:30Lana had no one else.
16:34There was Mavis, but, well, to tell you the truth, she was battling demons of her own.
16:38But I like to think that that weekend, I learned the real meaning of the word sacrifice.
16:47Oh, what a crock.
16:52I will cut each of you and your parents.
16:56Is there anyone else with a remembrance?
16:59I got one.
17:00Mavis.
17:01I'm sorry.
17:04I'm cool.
17:05Perhaps just a brief address.
17:14I remember that night in Alabama, too.
17:21Florence Lamarck left us standing out in the freezing rain while she was on the bus doing the nasty with the bus driver.
17:31Mavis, you're tired.
17:35Why don't you sit down?
17:35No, you're tired.
17:36You sit down.
17:38You know what, Lord?
17:40I want you to strike her.
17:43Now, I know that you probably don't know it's her because you ain't never seen her up on her feet.
17:48Oh, Mavis.
17:50Because you used to seeing her on her back, like everybody else.
17:53Hey, Lana.
17:58Hey, girl.
18:00How you doing?
18:02Oh, hell no.
18:06Who did her hair?
18:09Uh-uh, somebody got the cop to this because, you know, she looked frightening.
18:13You know what?
18:14I know what to do with this.
18:15And that's the way she was going to go.
18:22Oh, my God.
18:26There you go.
18:29Yeah.
18:31Because Lana would have never looked like this.
18:33She always said, keep it real.
18:36And what are we doing?
18:38I'm not keeping it real.
18:39Look at me.
18:40I'm just dressed like this because I thought I was going to compete with Florence.
18:45I'm feeling sorry for myself.
18:47But you know what?
18:48I don't need to be you.
18:50Because I'm me, baby.
18:52I smoke.
18:53I drink.
18:53I cuss like a sailor.
18:55And I got me a big, big, big, big black behind.
18:59And I'm broke.
19:02Flat broke.
19:03What?
19:05Careers in the toilet, got no prospects, and I'm wearing this month's rent.
19:09I spent all this time wishing you was dead.
19:16But I never wished for you to be broke.
19:22No, girl.
19:24Oh, Mavis.
19:26That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.
19:31You're all right.
19:33Come on, now.
19:34We've got to celebrate our girl's life.
19:36Come here, girl.
19:37We're friends.
19:40We're friends.
19:41Come on.
19:41We're family.
19:42Look.
19:44Come on, girl.
19:45Let's get a group up.
19:46Come on.
19:49Oh, happy day.
19:51Oh, happy day.
19:53Oh, happy day.
19:54Oh, happy day.
19:59Morning.
20:00I've been thinking.
20:01If I go first...
20:02If you smoke, you drink, you have a complete and reckless disregard for your health.
20:07Well, I'm sure that stick up your butt must be poking into your heart by now.
20:12Look, if I go first, I want to be cremated.
20:16Really?
20:17Why?
20:18One last smoke.
20:22And what would you like me to do with your remains?
20:24Sprinkle them in only the finest ashtrays all over New York.
20:31She picked the girls up, moved them over toward the windows, said...
20:34Yes, you'd like that, wouldn't you?
20:38I drink, I curse, I smoke like a sailor.
20:48And I'm gay.
20:49No, I'm not.
20:51Lord, you have busted her door open.
20:55Whoop, whoop, whoop.
20:56Whoop-ahead.
20:59We're checking it out.
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