MAN: See you later, you dirty commies.
Morning.
Mom, there's a man in my swing set!
Oh, Cole, I was just coming to see you.
ELVIS: (SIGHS) I don't know what to do, Mama.
I talked to her daddy, he said it's all right.
GLADYS: It ain't her daddy whose heart
you're trying to win.
SAM: Screwing your second job's boss part of helping me?
Well, I suppose it's my fault
for setting a precedent.
FCC investigation, my ass!
Miss a flick of the on-air switch
and one damn cuss word shoots out.
Mr. Big Shot station manager gonna
rain on my parade.
Well, how 'bout I rain on his?
(UNZIPS)
-(TIRES SCREECHING) -(SIGHS)
(CAR DOORS SLAM)
DEWEY: Well, what have we here?
ERNIE: Whoo!
Let's go, Badger.
G'on now, Badger.
Give 'em what's what!
-(GUNSHOT) -Whoo!
Hate to break it to ya, fellas,
but chances of baggin' a buck up
on that there rooftop is mighty slim.
(ALL LAUGH)
Hey, now don't you worry,
we find the guy who runs this place,
we're gonna mount his head on my wall.
Yeah. I'll pose for a photo with it, boy.
Looks like I found kindred spirits.
Aye, what's your beef?
Eeh-jit station manager.
-(GUNSHOT) -Whoo!
You work here?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
good people! It's red, hot 'n blue
comin' at you from WHBQ.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute.
Is you Dewey Phillips?
(BLOWS RASPBERRY)
MERLE: You're white!
-Hell! -(GRUNTS)
Get over here.
(GRUNTS)
ERNIE: You get our daughters all frocked up
with that jungle music.
Come on, let's get out of here.
(DEWEY GASPING)
(COUGHING)
(ENGINE STARTS)
(COUGHING)
(THEME SONG PLAYING)
(GOSPEL SINGING)
WOMAN: Mmm!
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
Hey, Jimmy, heck of a day for it.
Peggy May,
I'm gonna need your help over here, honey.
How's the single life treatin' ya, cuz?
Fine, thank you.
You know what you need, Jimmy?
A sign from the Lord,
like you gettin' hit by a train?
Well, don't be such a sore loser, now.
You just need a gal a your own, that's all.
How 'bout I set you up,
we can double date?
You just take a gander at all these fine
available girls right here.
Like, uh, like Shaney Hollister?
I mean, now, I'll admit
she ain't gonna win no beauty contests,
but I hear she makes a heck of a sweet 'tater casserole,
you know what I'm saying?
-Jerry, go away. -You don't like her?
How about Mary Boon over there?
Now, I could picture the two a you in blissful union.
Course, you might wanna be on top in said union,
you know, get a chance to breathe.
That's it!
-No, I've had... -Jimmy!
-No! -Did I hit a nerve?
No...
I said shut up!
MAN: Jimmy, this is a peaceful event.
Stop it! You two acting like a couple of polecats in heat!
WOMAN: Are you sure you want to do this? It's not too late.
You don't have to do this.
(INDISTINCT ECHOES)
Sam, Sam, it's okay. You're okay.
You're in the hospital!
Hey! Leave us alone! Leave us alone!
Hey...
It's okay.
Come on, lay down. It's okay.
I wanna go.
I know.
Lay down.
Sam, lay back down.
The doctor says that you have to stay here to recover.
Come on, lay back down.
(GROANS)
(SIGHS)
This studio...
Sam,
I know how much you put into it, but it's what
ended you up in here.
Oh, Becky,
it's okay.
No, it's not, Sam.
-It's not. It's not okay. -It's okay.
It's killing you.
And we're not having any more of it.
I spoke to Cousin Jim
and he's got an opening
for the morning drive time
at his station.
I'm gonna be on the air?
Yeah, back on the air.
(SNIFFLES)
Oh, gosh.
I've got to pick Knox up from school.
I'll let Sam tell you the good news.
BECKY: Bye. MARION: Bye.
Next time you want to shock your brain,
I will hit you on the head with a lamp.
What's the good news?
Well, Becky's, uh...
...you know, cousin
is a program director and, uh...
You... You said yes?
Look, I'm...
Music's not a part of who you are.
It is who you are.
Playin' someone else's records ain't gonna cut it.
I found this.
Sun Records.
Your dream.
Our dream.
ELVIS: It begins here for me here on this road.
How the whole mess happened, I don't know.
But I know it couldn't happen again in a million years.
Maybe I coulda stopped it early.
But once the trouble was on its way,
-I was just goin' with it. -MAN: Hey!
Yeah, well, trouble is on its way, Elvis!
(CAR HORN HONKS)
MAN: Get out of the street, kids!
I knew we should've seen From Here to Eternity,
'stead of The Wild One.
Now, all I'm gonna be hearin' about is a bunch a hoodlums.
Oh, he wasn't no hoodlum.
Then what would you call it?
Just a kid tryin' to break free, I guess.
You're sure we're talkin' about Marlon Brando
or Elvis Presley?
You know, sometimes I just don't get you.
What is so bad about staying right here in Memphis?
Nothing.
I just think there might be somethin' more excitin'
than the Skyway ballroom atop the Peabody is all.
We're supposed to be gettin' your mama a birthday present.
How 'bout a record?
-She likes Hank Snow. -(SONG PLAYING IN SHOP)
So I figured this way you could start with
a little bit of Lawrence Welk,
move into some Andy Williams and
then from there we can... Oh, my God, who did this?
Can't say we were properly introduced.
This has gone too far, Dewey.
I'm not just talking about the FCC.
We're getting complaints from church groups, from parents...
But not the home office or they would've canned my ass.
Oh, they still just might.
Dewey, it's just music.
Just music?
Look here.
You see that?
Look close.
You see that?
Music's in my blood!
(LAUGHING)
Mornin'.
Feelin' any better?
Well, if better is like your head
is filled with sand instead of cement,
well, then, yeah, I guess.
Think about what it'd look like
with your first hit on it.
Launch a label.
Marion,
you have seen how hard it is
to find new acts, ones
no one's ever heard before.
Unique acts.
Honest. Original.
You know where I can find an act like that?
I might.
You might?
I might.
Why haven't you mentioned this act before?
Unique as they are, there are unique challenges.
Wanna take a look?
SAM: Hmm.
I might.
MARION: There it is.
SAM: The prison?
MARION: (CHUCKLES) I told you it was unique.
(PRISON GATE BUZZES)
(PRISONERS CHEER)
(PRISONERS WOLF-WHISTLING)
♪ Start releasin' that chicken or you'll get a lickin'
♪ That chick's too young to fry
♪ Hey, boy! * Hey, boy!
♪ Better take my word
♪ Here's the reason why...
Combined sentences on them is 800 years.
Everything from larceny to murder.
-The lead singer? -That's Johnny Bragg.
Six counts of rape,
six consecutive life sentences.
He'll die in here.
Well, y'all heard 'em.
Guard'll see you out.
♪ That chick's too young to fry. ♪
Thank you.
Let's record them.
Were you talkin' to a different warden than me?
The governor office seemed most enthusiastic.
His rehabilitation program...
I don't think the warden got the memo, Marion.
Do you like them?
Maybe, I think so. Hell, I don't know!
Could you do me a favor, Sam?
What?
Snap out of it.
Find out from Johnny Bragg what other songs they do
and I'll take care of the rest.
(DOOR BUZZES)
Now, I've been doing this a while,
listenin' to people sing
and knowin'
who they are from it.
And, well,
your kinda singin'
don't just come from practice.
Now, to me,
it just don't sound like...
Six counts of rape?
You ever had nothing but two choices, Mr. Phillips,
and none of 'em good?
You know, I knew no all-white jury
was ever gonna listen to anything I had to say, sir.
So I told them what they wanted to hear.
And just like the chick in the song,
I was too young to fry.
You know you're never gettin' out of here.
Except feet first.
And yet
you started this singing group anyway.
I was 16,
got into a fight.
Man left me for dead in a Clarksdale alley.
You know, most people, they say they hear angels.
You know what I heard?
Amazing Grace,
Mahalia Jackson singin' it.
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
I could be freest, richest man in the world,
I'd still be singin'.
Couldn't help but not.
That's who I am.
MARION: What if Sun Records wanted to
record The Prisonaires?
Well, unless Mr. Phillips gets himself convicted,
his time here is over.
I mean, record them at our studio in Memphis.
I read in The Commercial Appeal
they sing at government functions.
But that's just because we've got a commie
for a governor is why.
Well, it must take a lot of resources
to take them out to perform.
Uh, yes, ma'am, it does. It does.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got plenty...
Perhaps we could help defray some of those costs.
And in success, a contribution to the prison fund
for any discretionary expenses that might arise.
That's a beautiful lamp, Warden.
Too bad it's not gettin' the love it deserves.
Crowd was goin' wild for you.
There's no reason you couldn't be the next Gene Autry.
Yeah?
Television, Hollywood movies? I like that.
Now, Hollywood's a snake pit. You're gonna need protection.
Well, good thing I got me a weasel.
(CHUCKLES)
I think you're referrin' to a mongoose, but that's the idea.
Oh, you got my take?
Uh, the promoter's going to
settle up with us in the morning.
Okay, so I'll see you in the a.m.
You got it. Good night.
Clear the bones. Let's go.
Comin' out. Comin' out, pal.
That's what I'm talking about right there.
Yeah, right.
All right, let me have them dice. I'm gonna let it ride.
-Let it ride. All right. -Sure.
COLONEL PARKER: I'm not afraid. I am not afraid.
Here we go now. Make a decision.
Everybody's in, everybody's in. Here we go.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
Well, you can't be right every time.
Can't be right every time.
-Ready? -All right.
All right, okay, now.
Do something right this time. Come on, now.
MAN 1: Whoa! MAN 2: Put her down!
You still in?
I'm standin' here, ain't I? Come on, get to business.
DEALER: All right, all right.
Get to business. Come on now.
Smitty, I realize the debt is now $1,200,
and you will have another $50 tomorrow as promised.
And I will come after your sorry ass
for every dime you owe Hank!
Oh, hey!
What are we doing here, Colonel?
Well...
Hank, what do you see here?
-Records? -Well, that's not what I see.
Is this a trick question?
Money. I see money.
Money that's goin' into someone's pocket
and it ain't ours.
You know, most performers get a good five, six years
before they go cold. Now that's a fact.
What are you gettin' at?
Imagine,
a management company
with dozens of acts selling out the Ryman,
merchandise flying off the shelves,
gold records plastered everyplace.
A little piece of this, a little piece of that,
before you know it,
you got yourself an empire.
And I think you might just be the perfect partner.
How's that work, exactly?
We gotta keep our eye out for new talent.
We sign 'em, build a business, split the profits.
You heard of this Fats Domino?
Ooh, Jackie Brenston's Rocket 88?
It's jungle bop. I hate that stuff.
You're missing the point, boy.
It ain't about what we like.
It's about what we can sell.
How much is it gonna cost me?
Well, your cut from last night ought to cover it.
I've gotta make a call. Think about it.
I don't have to.
-No? -No. I'm in, partner.
(CHUCKLES) Partners.
-I'll see you later. -Okay.
(CHUCKLES)
(SINGING INDISTINCTLY)
♪ The moon was bright
♪ Oh, a night
♪ Really was some night
♪ But gone, gone, gone
♪ Now she's gone, gone, gone
♪ Came the dawn, dawn, dawn
♪ Now she's gone, gone, gone
♪ But before the dawn
♪ There before the dawn
♪ Such a night...
(SNIFFING)
Smells like heaven.
I never thought we'd get to eat barbecue again.
Mr. Sam goin' whole hog for you boys.
SAM: All right, boys.
Now, grub's on me,
but you can't hit them high notes on a full stomach.
(ALL GROANING)
SAM: Come on, let's get your magic on record.
♪ Just walkin' in the rain
♪ Gettin' soakin' wet
♪ Torturing my heart
♪ By tryin' to forget
♪ Just walkin' in the rain
♪ All alone and blue...
-Hey, Marion. -Hi.
I talked to Jim.
Erin's been lookin' at places for us.
She found a house right down the block.
Are those prison uniforms?
SAM: Mmm-hmm.
-Could be our future, Becky. -(SCOFFS)
Convicts?
Yeah.
This was all you, Marion.
He was ready to go.
I thought you were my friend.
-Becks... -No, Sam.
No, you don't get to do this to me.
I gave up a life in Nashville for your dream
and it turned out to be a nightmare!
Seein' you in that hospital, I almost came apart!
I can do this.
Becky, I feel it.
Sam, we have got an offer on the house.
We can be a normal family again.
This is what I do.
This is what I have to do!
Becky, I will die in Birmingham.
And I will die here.
-Becky... -No, Sam, no.
♪ Just walkin' in the rain
♪ Thinkin' how we may
♪ Knowin' things could change
♪ Somehow I can forget
♪ I can forget
Becky, dear!
Well, hold on, honey. Let me give you a hand.
Phew.
You sell the house already?
No. (PANTING)
We didn't sell it, 'cause we're not leaving.
Oh, hold on, let me help you.
All right, on three now.
One, two, three.
(BOTH GROAN)
(LAUGHING)
(BECKY CRYING)
Oh, honey,
what's wrong?
Everything was gonna be fine.
Sam makes me so mad.
Oh, honey, I know how that is.
Willie used to make me so mad, too.
And a day don't go by I don't wish he were still here
to tick me off.
(BOTH CHUCKLE)
Dewey sure is his own worst enemy.
Thank you.
Hear anything from the FCC?
No, I thought it would blow over, but
The Commercial Appeal ran a story.
It's not just what he said,
it's everything that he stands for.
(SCOFFS) He doesn't stand for anything
except spinning records.
He's blind to anything else.
That's his problem, he's color-blind,
which don't sit well with a lot a folks 'round here.
His job at risk?
I don't rightly know. I'm doing what I can.
Wouldn't admit it,
but he grows on you.
Hey, say, you hear anything about that
First Methodist picnic on Saturday?
Heard somethin' 'bout it.
Do tell.
Matter of fact, was even
thinkin' about contributin' one of my pies.
Well, perhaps you'd let me accompany you.
I do love a good pie.
Why, Earle, I'd be more than happy
to break out my peaches for you.
Miss Keisker,
you are shameless.
You have no idea.
Now, go on.
Call, and up it a nickel.
-That's 25 cents to you. -CARMINE: Don't have it.
You got a quarter right there!
-Not this one, no way, no how. -(SIGHS)
Picked it up off a street in Atlantic City
just as this Olds 88 crashes into the sidewalk
where I was standin' two seconds before.
Would've been dead if it wasn't for this coin.
Johnny, get over here.
Come on, possum breath, it's your turn.
How many times you gonna read that letter? Jeez.
Hey!
"The day started off fine.
"The bluebonnets were out just like they did...
"They were the day we sat in the park.
"Henry came to give me a ride."
-Henry? -"But we got a flat tire.
"Lucky Ernie came by."
-Give it. -(CARMINE LAUGHING)
Henry! Henry!
"Then I twisted my ankle down by Pine Creek.
"It's a good thing Dr. Walmer was there."
BOTH: (TOGETHER) Dr. Walmer?
Henry is a cousin, Ernie is her neighbor
since they were kids, and Dr. Walmer
is 30 years old!
It don't matter! All this letter's talkin' about is men.
-She's gettin' itchy. -Yeah, very itchy.
I've been meanin' to ask her to marry me.
I just can't find the words to put in a letter.
Well, you seem to find 'em pretty good
when you put 'em in a song.
-(PHONE RINGING) -Hello.
OPERATOR: Long distance calling.
Person to person for Miss Vivian Liberto.
This is Vivian Liberto.
♪ A moment more and heaven will be mine
♪ With this ring I thee wed
♪ As every dream inside me
♪ Comes true each time I hear the church bells chime...
(BEEPING)
OPERATOR: Please deposit $1.25.
I got nothin'.
-I ain't got it. -The table!
Go, go, go! Come on, Bull!
-Get it, get it, let's go! -Fast!
-Come on! -Faster, faster, faster!
All I got is four quarters.
There you go, there you go, put 'em in, put 'em in.
-Go, go, go! -* This little band of gold
♪ I hold will soon be on your finger...
OPERATOR: Please deposit 25 cents.
Please deposit 25 cents.
Better bring you luck.
Come on.
♪ A kiss, a vow A moment so divine
-* With this ring I thee wed -(GIGGLES)
♪ And now you're mine forever
♪ To have and hold Until the end of time ♪
(LINE DISCONNECTS)
Goodbye.
(SONG PLAYING)
Well, got some bad news for you good people.
Looks like old Dewey Phillips here got
some involuntary time off
because some prudish (BUZZ)
who done ratted me out to the FCC
for saying (BUZZ) on the air.
Which is good news for old Dewey
'cause he's gonna be all suntanned hot and blue
in Acapulco drinking margaritas with senoritas!
You know, before I go, here's what you can do
to stick it to those (BUZZ).
Tonight at midnight, you meet me right here
at our offices at Chisca Hotel.
Sam?
Our Prisonaires are going to be in Life magazine.
And they want to interview you.
Life magazine?
-As in... -Yeah. (LAUGHS)
This calls for a celebration!
-Whoo! -Ah!
Man, we gotta get them boys down here right quick.
Record us another hit.
How is ol' Warden Owens doin'?
(LAUGHS) Just fine since we sent those contributions
to his prison fund.
Oh, Marion.
To The Prisonaires.
To Sun Records.
To us.
♪ Just walkin' in the rain
♪ Thinking how we met
♪ Knowing things could change
♪ Somehow I can't forget
♪ I can't forget
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
-No, no, no. -Sam, it's a customer.
-Come on. -Marion! Marion!
Get yourself together.
-Marion... -Sorry. Just a minute!
-(KNOCKING CONTINUES) -Be right there.
Hi.
Well, spit it out, son. I ain't a mind reader.
Well, I...
I'm think I might wanna record a record for my mama.
$3.98.
Marion'll help you out.
Sam, it's for his mom.
Enjoy yourself.
Thank you, ma'am.
(GROANS)
♪ When the moon hits your eye...
Whoa!
Not yet, son.
Wait till I say, "Go."
Yes, sir.
♪ When a moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
♪ That's amore
♪ When the world seems to shine
♪ Like you've had too much wine
♪ That's amore
-(STOPS) -(SIGHS)
I lost myself. Sorry.
Now, don't rush it.
All right, take it slow, like molasses.
One more time.
♪ When a moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
Dean Martin?
♪ That's amore
♪ When the world seems to shine
♪ Like you've had too much wine... ♪
That's pretty good, son.
What'd you say your name is?
Uh, Elvis Presley.
Elvis. Huh.
Now, this is for your mama.
You got something with...
Little bit more personal?
Well, I... I got this Pied Pipers thing that I...
I kinda a made a bit on my own.
Well, let's hear it.
♪ Evening shadows make me blue
♪ When each weary day is through
♪ How I long to be with you
♪ My happiness
♪ Every day I reminisce
♪ Dreaming of your tender kiss
♪ Always thinking how I miss
♪ My happiness
SAM: That's a nice job, Elvis.
Thank you, sir.
She's gonna love it.
Now, let's lay one down for real.
♪ Maggie left this morning
♪ She had a change of heart
♪ It came without a warnin'
♪ Now it's tearin' me apart
♪ If Maggie hadn't changed her mind
♪ I'd still be a happy man
♪ Now I just sit here crying
♪ Holdin' my head between my hands ♪
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
We're going to take a short break.
MARION: Whoo!
Jeanie, a couple of Manhattans keep 'em comin'.
Hey, Mr. Phillips, Miss Marion.
Good to see you at my show.
Good to see you. What's shakin', B-man?
Oh, man, same old, same old. Mr. Bihari comin' to town.
I see your Prisonaires really takin' off.
Yes, they are, B.
Everything is takin' off!
Have a good show.
(STRUMS GUITAR)
♪ My main man Sam had a plan
♪ Get boys from jail
♪ Listen to them wail Have somethin' to sell,
♪ And tell Bye-Harry to go to hell ♪
(LAUGHS)
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(SAM SIGHS)
I'll tell you, Marion,
life is good.
(MARION CHUCKLES)
It could get better.
What do you mean?
Let me ask you somethin'.
Do you love Becky?
Of course.
She's a good woman,
she loves me.
If you love her, look out for her.
It's time for us to be together,
for real.
We love each other.
Tell Becky now, while she's young and pretty,
and can find a new husband.
It's not fair to her if you keep waiting.
You're right.
She ain't happy,
I ain't happy.
I'll tell her Saturday night.
(SIGHS)
She planned that special dinner with me,
Nadine and Father Dunavant.
Then I'll tell her afterward.
(APPLAUSE)
Come on.
Let's enjoy this show.
Don't keep flippin' 'em, boy.
They ain't circus acrobats.
Actually, my brother flips 'em each six times
each before they're done.
And what makes him such a expert?
He's got an award-winnin'...
Mr. Dean's brother owns Smokey Joe's
out on Highway Nine, Daddy.
Yeah, I never much cared too much for that place.
Is that so?
You know, the folks at The Commercial Appeal
might beg to differ.
Paper named it top barbecue six years running.
Now, you need to watch your lip, boy.
Elvis,
you might wanna give your mama her present now?
I do believe it is the perfect time.
Attention, y'all,
Elvis is going to sing us a song.
Ain't you gotta get your guitar?
Oh, there ain't no need to, Mama.
Happy birthday, Mama.
(RECORD STARTS PLAYING)
♪ Evening shadows make me blue
♪ When each weary day is through
♪ How I long to be with you
♪ My happiness...
You sound like a angel.
Don't he just sound like a famous singer on the radio?
I know how much it means to you, Gladys.
Too bad it's a pitiful waste of hard earned money.
Shh!
♪ My happiness
♪ A million years it seems
♪ Have gone by since we shared our dreams ♪
But it's got heartbreak, redemption
and music that people love!
It's just the kind of story Life magazine needs!
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh, yeah, I understand.
Life magazine canceled the interview.
Man!
That was Life magazine.
Would've given The Prisonaires
the national publicity we need.
Hate to pile on the bad news,
but another box of returns came in.
Can't win for losin' here.
MARION: Mr. Bihari!
Joe!
Didn't expect to see you here.
Yeah, well, you know, unlike my boy B.B. King,
whose records are selling like hotcakes,
I hear it's a little bit slow for your Prisonaires,
so I thought I'd drop off the last of what I owe you.
Thirty-seven cents.
Thirty-seven damned cents.
Better make it last, Sam.
You're two for two in the one-hit wonder business.
(PHONE RINGS)
Sun Records.
Becky. Yes, we're on our way.
BECKY: It's baked pork chops,
and green bean casserole.
I called his mama and got her special recipe.
Oh, Sam, the blessing.
SAM: Right. (CLEARS THROAT)
Um...
Thank you, Lord, for our bounty. Amen.
Well, ain't you Abe Lincoln giving his Gettysburg Address.
Sam's gift is in the recording of the words of others,
not necessarily his own.
God sure gave Mrs. McClusky that gift, didn't he, Father?
Knox...
Oh, it's okay, honey. (CHUCKLES)
Ain't you adorable?
Honestly, Becky, I don't know why
you don't have three more by now.
Well, you might say we're on our way.
What the heck, Bible says preach the good news, right?
Indeed it does.
Oh, no, I'm okay. Thank you. (CLEARS THROAT)
Well, I guess now's as good a time as any.
Sam and me are gonna have another baby.
Congratulations, hon.
(GIGGLES)
♪ Now and then there's a fool
-* Such as I am over you -(SOBBING)
♪ You taught me how to love
♪ And now you say that we are through
-* I'm a fool -(ALL PROTESTING)
♪ But I'll love you, dear
♪ Until the day I die
♪ Now and then there's a fool such as I ♪
Two.
-Two? -Four.
DEWEY: Next time on Sun Records...
You forgot this.
You were born to be a singer.
And right here, right now is when we figure that out.
Two quarters and I'm all yours, honey.
Old Elvis Presley!
Now you got the number one record in Memphis!
(COCKS GUN)
This land is mine.
Who you runnin' from? What kinda trouble are you in?
(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)