(applause).
(crowd cheering).
(bulbs popping).
♪ Chain, chain, chain ♪
♪ Chain of fools ♪♪
(overlapping chatter).
REPORTER: You've just been crowned Queen of Soul;
how does it feel?
ARETHA: Like I'm in a fairytale.
REPORTER 2: Are your children in the audience tonight?
ARETHA: It is way past their bedtime.
REPORTER 2: But they're young kids,
weren't you a mother at their age?
ARETHA: That is why tey're at home in bed.
♪ I'm just a link in your chain ♪
♪ Oh ♪
♪ You got me where you want me ♪
♪ I ain't nothing but your fool ♪♪
REPORTER 2: Your father, Reverend Franklin,
is he okay with you singing pop?
ARETHA: Well, he loves me.
He loves my voice and will always support me.
♪ Oh‐oh‐oh you treated me cruel ♪
♪ Chain, chain, chain ♪
♪ Chain, chain, chain ♪♪
REPORTER 2: Doesn't pop music mean you're turning your back
on the church?
ARETHA: Well, my voice is a gift from God,
so how could I possibly do that?
♪ Every chain ♪
♪ Has got a weak link ♪
♪ Ah, I might be weak, child ♪♪
REPORTER: Queen, your sisters sing backup for you,
do you plan on ever singing backup for them?
ARETHA: We are family and we will always
support each other.
♪ They told me to leave you alone ♪
♪ My father said, "Come on home." ♪
♪ My doctor said, "Take it easy." ♪
♪ Oh, but your loving is much too strong ♪♪
REPORTER: Queen, where's your king tonight?
What do you think about what Dr. King is trying to achieve
for the negro?
REPORTER 2: With your father and your husband by your side,
I mean who's calling the shots.
ARETHA: I think you all have been reading a few too many
gossip columns.
(reporters overlap then fade).
(theme music plays).
♪ ♪
♪ I know what you're doing and I'll ♪
♪ save you the trouble. ♪♪
ARETHA: Six years at Columbia and for all that Mr. Hamlin did,
he couldn't get me on the charts because, well,
he didn't get me.
Jerry Wexler, he gets me.
He's getting me to come all the way down here.
TED: Well, he said Fame Studios got the vibe.
ARETHA: It's going to be good, right?
TED: Yes, ma'am. Good as gold.
And I'll protect you.
ARETHA: Daddy used to say that.
TED: I'll be he did.
ARETHA: I'm going to make a hit for myself.
(Ted laughing).
TED: You gotta get there first.
ARETHA: We'll get there.
♪ I will trust in the Lord ♪
♪ How I got over ♪
♪ Oh, my soul looks back in wonder ♪
♪ How I got over ♪
♪ Mmm, how I got over ♪
♪ How I got over ♪
♪ Yeah, my soul looks back in wonder ♪
♪ How I got over ♪
♪ Well, just as soon as I can meet Jesus ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ The man that made me free ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ The man that bled and suffered ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ And died for you and me ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ I want to thank him because he walks ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ I want to thank him because he talks ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪
CL: That's right, that's right, that's right.
(tire blowout).
(tires screeching).
(crash).
(grunting and groaning).
Damn it to hell.
ARETHA: Anything I can do to help?
CL: Handkerchief, thank you.
Thank you.
Ah, thank you.
♪ ♪
(man whistles).
CL: Get in the car, Re.
MAN: Not from around here, huh?
CL: No, we from Detroit, Michigan.
MAN: She's about my woman's size.
Your wife?
CL: That's my daughter.
(Aretha screams).
CL: Stop, get back. Get back.
♪ I will trust ♪♪
MAN: Okay.
♪ I will trust in the Lord till I ♪
CL: Re?
Ya'll like my car?
MAN: Yeah.
CL: You can have it.
Re?
Come on, Re.
Come on, baby.
ARETHA: That was scary, Daddy.
CL: Yeah, it sure was.
ARETHA: Why did you give them your car?
CL: Just to see the look on his face.
I'm always going to protect you, you remember that.
CL: Woo, look at that one now.
Now, that's pretty, that one is pretty.
Oh, look at it.
Eh, look at the pearl handle thing there.
Woo, now that's a beauty.
SALESMAN: Yeah, well we got some used models in the back.
CL: Yeah.
SALESMAN: But hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
CL: Nice, nice, nice.
ARETHA: The cars for sale, isn't it?
SALESMAN: Where'd you get this kind of money?
CL: I'm a Preacher.
And I think we both can agree that God is good.
♪ I will trust in the Lord ♪
♪ Mmm‐hmm ♪
JERRY: Mrs. Franklin, Ted, good trip?
ARETHA: Mr. Wexler.
Itty bitty town, you sure they know what they're doing?
JERRY: Oh, we are in very good hands here.
Your motel is down the street,
it's integrated so you'll be okay.
Rick Hall pulled some strings.
Fame Studios is big fish.
ARETHA: I am ready to sing.
JERRY: Great, let me get the door.
And your flight was okay?
ARETHA: It was fine.
Drive was safe enough.
JERRY: Good to hear.
You know, Rick Hall built this place from the ground up.
He's a real salt of the earth guy.
ARETHA: Well, it was nice for him to show Ted around.
Who's on my session?
JERRY: Oh, the best. You're going to love them.
ARETHA: Well, I got this great new take on "Respect".
JERRY: The Otis Redding song?
ARETHA: Mmhmm, it's going to be a whole new vibe,
you know what I mean?
JERRY: Sure, sure.
You know, whatever we record,
if it sounds good today, great,
if it sounds good tomorrow, well,
that's when we really got something.
And Mrs. Franklin, I do appreciate your trust.
ARETHA: Well, shit, if you can't trust Jerry Wexler.
RICK: I love your work, especially with the
Ray Bryant Combo.
Your "Over the Rainbow" was something else.
ARETHA: Well, I'm looking for a funkier sound now.
RICK: Mm, yes ma'am, just had the piano tuned.
(piano)
ARETHA: Sounds great.
RICK: And the control room's got state of the art equipment.
MAN (over speaker): Welcome to Muscle Shoals.
ARETHA: You've got a lot of engineers.
SPOONER: We're the rhythm section, ma'am.
LAXTON: And we're the horns.
ROGER: You're surprised.
ARETHA: Yeah, and you're white.
JERRY: Um, Ms. Franklin,
can I see you in the control room a moment?
You said you wanted the guys who played behind Wilson Pickett.
ARETHA: How was I supposed to know they were white?
TED: My wife's not just anybody.
JERRY: I signed her, Ted, I know that.
TED: She is deep soul, and blues, and church.
Like you've got a dime in your pocket and you hit the number,
she's the jackpot.
Who the hell are they?
TED: They, they're the best just like you are, Ms. Franklin.
ARETHA: Give me your word?
JERRY: You've got my word.
TED: You going to be all right in there?
ARETHA: Yeah, sure.
(musicians warming up).
JERRY (over speaker): Okay, guys, let's get ready to do one.
Ted, what do you want to start off with?
TED: Let's do "Never Loved a Man".
She's got a good take on this one.
ARETHA: Thanks, baby.
JERRY (over speaker): We're rolling.
♪ ♪
♪ You're a no‐good ♪
♪ Heartbreaker ♪
♪ You're... ♪ ♪
Unh‐unh.
(music stops)
Uh...
What do you think, guys, more like a blues shuffle?
ROGER: This what you're thinking, Mrs. Franklin?
♪ ♪
ARETHA: Sounds good.
♪ ♪
(music stops)
DAVID: Maybe we could speed it up?
JIMMY: Yeah, kind of like a dance tune.
♪ You're a no‐good ♪
♪ Heartbreaker ♪♪
ARETHA: No, uh‐uh.
JERRY: We got the song, we got the talent,
we just gotta find the groove.
TED: You said these guys played with Pickett.
JERRY: They'll get there.
Before they find it, they just got to get a little lost.
That's all.
MAN: We're rolling.
♪ ♪
JERRY (over speaker): Ms. Franklin,
JERRY: Can you go back to the piano, please?
JERRY (over speaker): Let's keep you there.
She's a completely different performer when she
plays and sings.
I think that's going to be the key.
MAN: We're rolling.
♪ ♪
Rolling.
♪ ♪
Rolling.
♪ ♪
(music stops)
(muffled chatter)
(sighs)
JERRY: Okay, let's, let's, let's try this maybe.
Let Aretha be Aretha.
ARETHA: I will trust in the Lord.
CL (over PA): Spiritual God wil call your wayward husband back
and teach him to treat the family right, the spiritual God
I wish I had some praying people in here today.
CL (over PA): You're not hearing me tonight;
you're not hearing me.
Some people only want to trust in they selves.
Some people put all they trust in they bank account.
WOMAN: Oh, no, no, no.
CL (over PA): Some folks trust in the government.
(crowd scoffs)
But ultimately, I said ultimately,
I said ultimately all those things will fail.
CONGREGATION: That's right. That's right. That's right.
You know you're right.
CL (over PA): But I'm going to put my trust, my trust,
our trust in the Lord.
WOMAN: Amen.
♪ I will trust in the Lord ♪♪
CL (over PA): Come on, sing it.
♪ I will ♪
♪ I will trust ♪
♪ I will trust in the Lord ♪
♪ I will trust, yes, I will ♪
♪ In the lord ♪
♪ Oh, till I die ♪
♪ Until I die ♪
♪ I will trust ♪
♪ I'm willing to trust in the Lord ♪
♪ I promise the Lord ♪♪
Thank you, Momma, thank you so much.
WOMAN: Reverend Franklin, you and your family make
every Sunday a blessing.
CL: I'm serving the Lord.
WOMAN: And Mother Franklin, all of your grandchildren are
wonderful singers just like dear Barbra was.
MOTHER: Oh, we miss her every day,
but we stand on our faith knowing she's with the Lord.
MAN: And when are you going to solo in church, child?
WOMAN: You've got a remarkable voice.
ARETHA: Thank you.
WOMAN: Just adorable, she is.
ARETHA: Mrs. Melba, are you and daddy going
to get married soon?
MRS. MELBA: I hope so.
Your father is a wonderful man.
CL (over PA): Just looking at you and say...
♪ I am going to treat everybody right ♪
♪ I'm going to treat everybody right ♪
♪ I'm going to treat ♪
♪ Treat everybody, everybody right ♪♪
(music echos from house)
♪ Baby, hold everything ♪
♪ Hold that thing ♪
♪ Stop ♪
♪ Try to make your doorbells ring ♪
♪ Getting low, like I used to be ♪
♪ Do you remember? ♪
♪ When I was in my prime? ♪
♪ Almost every time ♪
♪ But now I'm not like I used to be ♪
CL: If I stumble on Saturday night,
the world by Sunday morning.
You know what I'm talking about.
(overlapping chatter)
♪ ♪
Hey baby, turn the record player off.
Thank you.
(music stops)
The king of the piano and the queen of the blues,
Mr. Art Tatum and Ms. Dinah Washington.
(piano solo intro)
♪ What a difference a day made ♪
♪ 24 little hours ♪
♪ Brought the sun and the flowers ♪
♪ Where there used to be rain ♪
♪ My yesterday was blue dear ♪♪
CL: Come on down here and join the party.
Come on.
That's my girl.
♪ My lonely nights are through dear ♪
♪ Since you said you were mine ♪
♪ Lord, what a difference a day makes ♪
♪ There's a rainbow before me ♪
♪ Sky's above can't be stormy ♪
TED: And which one of CL's daughter's is here?
ARETHA: I'm Aretha Louise.
TED: Well, nice to meet you Aretha.
I'm Ted White.
♪ It's heaven when you ♪
♪ Find romance on your menu ♪
♪ What a difference a day made ♪
♪ And the difference is you ♪♪
CL: Hey!
(cheering and applause).
DINAH: Thank you.
I'm going to record that one.
TED: Yeah, you better.
CL: My daughter, Aretha.
MRS. MELBA: Oh, C. L., don't make Re sing if
she doesn't want to.
CL: Re listens to the radio.
She can hear any song and sing it back note for note.
And tonight, we've got a Bonafide radio star
in our house.
(cheering).
CL: So, so how would you all like to hear a
little sing along, a little call and response?
Hey?
TED: What is it like a little parlor trick,
something like that?
MRS. MELBA: No, no Re's good.
♪ Did you say I've got a lot to learn? ♪
♪ Did you say I've got a lot to learn? ♪♪
(crowd exclaims)
♪ Since this is the perfect spot to learn ♪
♪ Teach me tonight ♪♪
TED: Ha‐ha, did you see that?
(cheering).
TED: You've got something there.
CL: That's it.
DINAH: Re's going to be the next great one.
CL: Yes, she is, yes, she is.
♪ ♪
DINAH: What do you want to do when you grow up?
ARETHA: I want to be a singer.
♪ Now just because you're pretty ♪♪
DINAH: Do you want it or does your daddy want it?
ARETHA: Both, I guess.
DINAH: Well, you've got what it takes but you've got
to promise Dinah Washington you be a good girl.
Don't grow up too fast and don't go having babies until
you find yourself a nice, sweet husband.
♪ Don't roll those bloodshot eyes at me ♪♪
DINAH: And watch out for them son of a bitches, you hear?
ARETHA: Yes, ma'am.
♪ You've been out on a spree ♪
♪ It's plain that you're lyin' ♪
♪ When you say that you've been cryin' ♪
♪ Don't roll those bloodshot eyes at me ♪♪
(song ends)
TED: Settle down.
(laughing)
See you later, CL.
DINAH: Bye, Pastor. CL: Ya'll be careful now.
(plays phrase)
(repeats phrase)
ART: You have any idea how good you are?
ARETHA: My momma played piano, too.
ART: Ah, so you're a wonder kin, a wonder child.
ARETHA: Thank you, Mr. Tatum.
(plays phrase)
(repeats phrase)
ART: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's it, that's it. That's it.
♪ ♪
TED: Mmm‐hmm.
♪ ♪
SPOONER: That, Mrs. Franklin, is an unknown cord.
It's a B flat 7, sharp 11?
ARETHA: Uh, no, that would be more like.
(plays note)
JIMMY: It sounds like a C7, sharp 9, C7 sharp 9 over G.
ARETHA: No. That would be more like this.
(plays note)
(laughter)
DAVID: Whatever it is, it's funky.
EDDIE: It's celestial.
ARETHA: It's both at the same time.
How, how about this here?
JERRY: Just keep it open, keep it going.
♪ ♪
JIMMY: That's it, that's it.
♪ You're a no‐good heart breaker ♪
♪ You're a liar and you're a cheat ♪
♪ I don't know why I let you do those things to me ♪
♪ My friends keep telling me that you ain't no good ♪
♪ Oh‐oh‐oh‐oh ♪
♪ They don't know and I would leave you if I could ♪
♪ Guess I'm uptight ♪
♪ That I'm stuck like glue ♪
♪ Cause I ain't never ♪
♪ I ain't never ♪
♪ I ain't never, no, no ♪
♪ Loved a man the way that I, ♪
♪ I love you ♪♪
So, there was this chicken and he only had one leg.
SPOONER: We already heard that one.
ARETHA: But you haven't heard it the way I'm telling it.
(laughing).
SPOONER: All right, all right.
ARETHA: Okay.
So, here you go, one legged yard bird.
(laughter)
TED: Let's keep it on track, Re.
TED (over speaker): No need to play the clown.
ARETHA: Come on, baby, this'll make you laugh.
Why is this chicken trying to get across the road?
Well...
To find his other leg.
(laughter)
TED (over speaker): I said, quit playing a fool.
ARETHA: You know, he needs to lay off the bottle.
TED (over speaker): What'd you say?
JERRY: Okay. Enough, okay. Why don't we...
JERRY (over speaker): Let's do another take, Ms. Franklin,
just your vocals on the bridge.
(reels whirring)
♪ ♪
♪ I can't sleep at night ♪
♪ No I can't eat a bite ♪
♪ I guess I'll never be free ♪
♪ Since you got your hooks in me ♪
♪ Oh‐oh‐oh, yeah ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ And this is what I'm gonna do about it ♪
♪ I never loved a man that hurt me so ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ This is what I'm gonna do about it ♪
♪ Hold on ♪
(exhales).
GROUP: Whoah.
SPOONER: Did they didn't hit it like that at Columbia Records?
ARETHA: No, they did not.
ROGER: Well, us swampers we can play just as good as them
New York City cats.
JERRY: So, you two grew up together, huh?
TED: Met her at a party at her daddy's house.
RICK: I thought he was a preacher?
TED: Well, he loved Sunday morning and Saturday night.
(laughter)
MAN: We got it. Uh, uh, uh...
(horseshoes clang).
Oh!
ARETHA: So, I should just trust my voice?
JERRY: Everybody's floored by your voice.
I want to know what's underneath.
And then when we get the right material,
you'll carry the day.
ARETHA: My singings always been my guardian angel,
keeps me safe.
JERRY: Safe from what?
ARETHA: I'm not telling you all my secrets.
JERRY: You haven't even told me one.
Give me one, make it juicy!
(laughing).
KEN: I ain't never been to New York.
How about taking me back with you,
I could curl up in your suitcase.
TED: Hey, what the hell did you say to my wife?
ARETHA: It wasn't nothing, honey.
TED: Oh, you defending him now?
That's my wife you're talking to.
SPOONER: Hey, he didn't mean any disrespect.
TED: You in this conversation?
KEN: I didn't mean nothing by it, brother.
TED: I ain't your brother.
JERRY (over speaker): "Never Loved a Man" sounded great.
Let's stay on track.
TED: Fire him, trumpet player.
JERRY: Fire him, Rick.
RICK: You're kidding.
TED (over speaker): Trumpet, you can leave.
Go now.
KEN: I wasn't saying nothing to her.
ARETHA: I'm sorry, man. KEN: Man, this some bullshit.
ARETHA: Want to take it from the top?
(snare rattles)
♪ ♪
TED: Don't tolerate no disrespect.
RICK: I don't like to be disrespected either.
TED: Who you jumping up on? JERRY: Okay, enough.
All right, why don't we call it a day, Ms. Franklin?
JERRY (over speaker): Everybody can go home, get some rest.
We'll meet here in the morning.
ARETHA: Mr. Wexler, I think we should keep going.
I think we found something, let's just keep going.
SPOONER: Let's let things cool down.
ARETHA: What happened to as "Good as gold," Ted?
TED: You tell me.
(door slams)
(piano cover slams)
TED: Wexler better find another horn player as good
as that other guy.
ARETHA: Who knows who the hell we're going to get stuck
with tomorrow all because you had to act out.
TED: What, You want me to just stand there while
some white man disrespects you?
ARETHA: We were just talking, Ted.
TED: Oh, you were doing more than talking.
ARETHA: Oh, so now you can't tell the difference
between talking and screwing because I can.
TED: Okay, you know what?
You shouldn't have been staring at me while you were
singing that song.
ARETHA: I was singing the Goddamn song, Ted.
TED: You got, you like them white boys,
don't you, huh, huh?
ARETHA: Okay, okay. You know what?
Tomorrow I won't talk to them, I won't look at him.
I'll just shut up and sing.
Huh?
(knock)
(louder knock)
RICK: Who the hell do you think you are firing my musicians?
TED: Touch me again.
RICK: Evening, Mrs. Franklin. ARETHA: Mm‐hmm. TED: Oh, okay.
So, I'm just a nigger to you, huh?
RICK: I didn't call you that.
TED: Oh, but you were thinking it.
ARETHA: Come on, cut it out.
RICK: So, what if I did? She's the talent, not you.
ARETHA: Oh my God, this is bullshit.
TED: Go on, nigger, say the shit.
I want to hear you say it.
RICK: I will not. Get off me.
You think you're some big tough man?
TED: You think you some big tough man,
you a big strong man?
ARETHA: Mrs. Melba?
MRS. MELBA: Yes, baby.
ARETHA: What's a sombitch?
Mrs. Washington told me to watch out for them.
What are they?
MRS. MELBA: They're men, the kind that
would do a girl wrong.
ARETHA: What do they look like?
MRS. MELBA: Now, you are way too young to be worrying
yourself about any of that.
You understand me?
ARETHA: Yes, Mrs. Melba.
MRS. MELBA: And if I hear that word come out of
your mouth again, I'll wash it out with soap.
GROUP: Amen.
MRS. MELBA: Joe Bombattle called,
when are you heading back into the studio?
ARETHA: Can I go with you to Mr. Bombattle's?
ERMA: No, you can't.
CL: Actually, Re, yes, you can.
CECIL: I always ask but you never let me.
ERMA: And I'm the oldest.
CECIL: I'm the youngest.
GRANDMOTHER: Erma, Cecil, Carolyn.
MRS. MELBA: Now, you will all get your chance.
CL: But Re will get her chance first.
ARETHA: Thank you, Daddy.
CL: Mm‐hmm, now let's eat.
I want to get my pie and my vegetables, mmhmm.
CL: (over speakers): Brothers and sisters,
black power is an answer, a reply, a rejoinder,
a response if you will, to white power.
It has sprung up, emerged, materialized, arisen,
and will rise and rise again from the failure
of white power.
Yeah, and I hope you people out there will want to pray
with me again tonight.
God bless you, God bless you, Gold bless you.
Woo.
MAN: I, I pressed that new one for you right away.
CL: All right, all right.
MAN: How many you want to take on the role with you?
WOMAN: Oh, honey, you're like thunder, lightning,
and dynamite all rolled into one.
CL: Oh, I try to appeal to people's minds as well
as they emotions.
ARETHA: I'm going to make a record, too.
WOMAN: Can you sing?
CL: Oh, little Re can sing.
MAN: But she ain't soloed in church yet and
ain't no hurry, Re.
CL: I'll tell you what.
We go back out on the road; I'm going to take you with me.
We'll go out this, this summer.
MAN: Well, she ain't old enough to travel on
the Gospel circuit.
WOMAN: But she's cute, she'd be a hit and she'd make
a joyful noise.
CL: She's a real talent.
MAN: Now, that road's a wild place now.
ARETHA: I'll be with Daddy and the other singers.
WOMAN: Let your light shine before men so that they can
see your good works,
Matthew 5:16.
CL: Oh, you said it now.
MRS. MELBA: In the grocery store,
some hussy tells me she's your hide piece.
CL: Oh, who the hell would say that?
MRS. MELBA: She had yellow hair all piled up.
CL: Oh, now I don't know nobody like that.
MRS. MELBA: Quit lying.
You run around on me like a dog and now your hussies cut
me in the street.
ARETHA: Stop, stop it.
CL: Melba, honey, you upsetting the children.
GRANDMOTHER: Let's go, come on.
MRS. MELBA: It was just like this with your wife.
Poor Barbara, bless her soul.
CL: Keep my wife out your mouth.
MRS. MELBA: She left you and the children because she got
tired of your girlfriends.
CL: You ain't clean enough to be airing my dirty laundry.
MRS. MELBA: What was I thinking being with you?
CL: You got tired of being trash thinking it'd be nice to
be more respectable.
MRS. MELBA: Respectable, respectable.
CL: Oh, now.
MRS. MELBA: Years ago.
CL: Now hold up, my, my past ain't got nothing to do with you.
MRS. MELBA: You had relations... CL: Shut, shut your mouth.
MRS. MELBA: With a... CL: Shut your mouth, I'm saying. MRS. MELBA: You got with...
(smack)
Oh!
ARETHA: Don't go. Don't go.
MRS. MELBA: Take care, Re. You'll be all right, baby.
ARETHA: I'll tell daddy to be nice to you.
MRS. MELBA: You be a good girl. Honey, don't get into trouble.
Be sweet, you hear?
ARETHA: I'll tell daddy to be nice to you,
I'll tell him not to hit you.
I'll tell him to treat you right.
MRS. MELBA: Oh, I love you so much, Re.
ARETHA: I love you too.
MRS. MELBA: But I have to go.
ARETHA: Please don't.
MRS. MELBA: I have to go. I love you, baby.
ARETHA: I love you, too.
♪ ♪
CL: Now, you sing just like you do at home.
Okay? All right.
WOMAN: Come on, come on.
CONGREGANT: It's all right now.
CONGREGANT 2: Let him use you baby, let him use you.
CONGREGANT 3: You can do it.
CONGREGANT 4: The Lord guides you.
CONGREGANT 5: God is good, God is good.
(music begins).
♪ Jesus ♪
♪ Be a fence all around me ♪
♪ Everyday ♪
♪ Jesus, I need you to protect me ♪
♪ As I travel along the way ♪
♪ I know you can and I know that you will ♪
♪ You'll fight my battles if I stay on will ♪
♪ Oh, Lord be a fence all around me ♪
♪ Everyday ♪♪
CONGREGANT: Sing it baby, sing it.
♪ Jesus be a fence all around me ♪
CONGREGANT: Sing it baby, sing it.
♪ Jesus, I want you to protect me ♪
♪ As I travel on the way ♪
♪ I know you can, I know you will ♪
♪ You'll fight my battles if you keep still ♪
CONGREGANT: Praise him, girl. Praise him!
♪ Amen. ♪
♪ Yeah. ♪♪
(applause).
CL: Thank you.
Yes, Lord.
Thank you, choir.
Yes, yes, yes.
Yes, Lord.
ARETHA: You wrecked the room.
TED: He started it. I settled the bill.
ARETHA: With my money.
Where the hell were you last night?
I can smell it on you.
Booze and bitches.
I was going to make a hit.
This was supposed to be my last chance, my last chance,
and you ruined it.
TED: Stop it.
ARETHA: You said that you loved me.
You were supposed to be good as gold.
TED: You sound crazy, now stop it.
We are going back to New York,
we're going to get back in that studio,
and we're going to start fresh.
ARETHA: I'm going home to Detroit.
TED: So much for finding your sound.
♪ ♪
GRANDMOTHER: Oh, hello.
How's my grand‐baby?
Welcome home.
SON: Mommy, smile for the picture, mom.
ARETHA: Tell me, Big Momma, that my precious babies have
been behaving themselves.
BIG MOMMA: Oh, they're no trouble, Re.
ARETHA: Good.
SON: We've been very good.
SON 2: Did you bring us anything?
ARETHA: Yeah, I brought myself.
Yes, yes, I brought presents.
You can open them in the living room,
and I'll be in there directly.
Don't open them until I get there.
BOTH: Okay, okay.
CECIL: Welcome home, Re. Come here.
ARETHA: Cecil, hey.
ERMA: You spoil them.
CECIL: Let me grab your coat.
ARETHA: Lay off me, Erma.
ERMA: Where's little Teddy?
ARETHA: He's in Chicago with Ted's folks.
ERMA: You and Ted calling it quits?
ARETHA: I only said we had a fight, Erma, don't make it worse.
Hey, Carolyn.
CAROLYN: Hey, sis.
♪ I'm just telling it is like it is ♪♪
which reminds me you are not the only talented
one in this family.
GRANDMOTHER: I'm just as excited as you.
Oh, oh, a black GI Joe.
CL: Re, get in here.
You've got company.
CAROLYN: Oh, Daddy's got a new lady friend.
CL: Hey, hey, hey.
ARETHA: You look good, Daddy. CL: How's my girl?
Look here, this here is Marcia.
ARETHA: I'm so happy to meet you.
MARCIA: Pleasure.
CL: So, I hear you had another fight with Ted, did you?
ARETHA: I'm here to relax, Daddy.
CECIL: Look, if you need someone to take care of Ted,
just say the word, sis.
ARETHA: That's okay, Cecil. Don't you worry about it.
Now, I thought you were supposed to open these
when I got here.
Ruth Bowen, what a surprise.
RUTH: Girl, I know Ted from back when I managed Dinah.
She wouldn't marry him because he was a
bull in a china shop, Godzilla when he drank.
ARETHA: Are you here to give me marriage advice?
RUTH: No. But I do want to sign you.
CL: Time you had a real manager instead of that pimp
of a husband.
MARCIA: Ted sounds downright unsavory.
ARETHA: Thank you, Ms. Marcia.
RUTH: I can get you better bookings and help you build
on each success.
ARETHA: And Dinah did say that you were the best.
RUTH: I still am.
CL: At the rate you're going,
Muscle Shoals could be the end of the line.
RUTH: I've contained bigger disasters than that.
ARETHA: All keep talking about my thing
ain't going to happen, but it has to happen.
Shit just has to.
Oh my God.
♪ Save me! ♪
♪ Somebody's got to save me ♪
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Somebody's got to save me ♪
CAROLYN: Go ahead, it's almost sounding like something, Ya'll.
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Somebody's got to save me ♪
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Somebody's got to save me ♪
CAROLYN: And verse...
♪ Promise myself after your first dalliance ♪
♪ That I wouldn't give you no kind of second chance ♪♪
ARETHA: Dalliance?
(chuckling)
CAROLYN: What?
ARETHA: Don't mean we couldn't find a better word.
ERMA: I mean, yeah, cause you don't, you know,
you don't want it to go over Ted's head.
ARETHA: Now, see that's not fair.
That's not.
CAROLYN: You know, that phrase the kids are saying in the street?
ERMA: What? CAROLYN: "Sock it to me". ERMA: What?
CAROLYN: Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me.
♪ Sock it to me, hey, sock it to me, sock it to me ♪♪
♪ Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me ♪
♪ Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me ♪♪
CL: You know it's good that you ain't inviting Ted into the
studio next time around.
CECIL: Cause he always hanging on somebody's coat‐tail.
First Dinah Washington, now you.
ARETHA: It isn't like that.
CECIL: Okay, I stand corrected.
CL: He's a no count, just derailing the career
that you and me worked so hard to build.
You think he's a better manager than me but he ain't
doing nothing but dragging you down.
ARETHA: Ted wants me to be more than
Reverend Franklin's daughter.
CL: Well, I want you to be more than
Ted White's meal ticket.
ARETHA: Ted is my husband, and I am the only person
in this house that gets to have a say in my marriage.
Mm‐hmm.
CAROLYN: You need help with him?
ARETHA: Ted or Daddy?
ERMA: Okay, save her.
♪ Save me ♪♪
CECIL: Come on, come on, get your brother,
get your brother.
Get your brother, come on, come on.
Say, hey, Mom, hey, hey, Mom.
Get Mrs. Ruth, get Mrs. Ruth.
All right, boys, come on, come on.
Come on, come on, come on.
RUTH: Been here almost a week,
starting to feel like home.
ARETHA: Welcome to the family, you sure you want to stay?
RUTH: Look, I'm going to come clean.
I did not know you had children, such lovely boys.
Is Ted their father?
ARETHA: No.
We do have a son, little Teddy.
RUTH: And the father of the older boy?
ARETHA: Every family's got their secrets.
We don't air our dirty laundry.
RUTH: Understood.
As your booking agent and publicist,
I'll make sure the world only sees the Aretha Franklin
you want them to.
Look, you have all the talent in the world.
No need for you to chase the charts,
they should be chasing you.
ARETHA: For the record,
Ted and I have a wonderful marriage.
We are raising three lovely boys.
I come from a remarkable family.
I am a princess in a fairytale.
RUTH: I can take that to the bank.
ERMA: Well, some people would think twice about going to work
and leaving their kids.
(phone ringing)
CAROLYN: Hello?
ARETHA: If it's Ted, tell him I ain't home.
CAROLYN: It's Mr. Wexler.
ARETHA: Hello, Mr. Wexler.
Uh‐huh.
JERRY: Let's get you back in the studio.
ARETHA: I, I need to be home right now.
JERRY: Okay, all right.
Oh, and I did something, hear me out,
with "Never Loved a Man".
I had a dozen sides pressed;
what do you think we should use for the B side?
ARETHA: We don't need one, just send it out.
JERRY: I already did.
Yeah, DJs love it and now we need "Mountain" to go with it.
ARETHA: Uh, I want to record in New York.
JERRY: Great, how soon can you and Ted get here?
ARETHA: I'm not inviting Ted.
Just get the rhythm section guys up and I'll be
down in a week.
JERRY: Better hurry because you've got a monster hit.
ARETHA: I got a hit.
We got a hit.
(laughing).
(overlapping chatter).
ARETHA: I need ya'll to follow me otherwise we're
going to get lost, okay.
Can you give me something?
KING CURTIS: Well, what you got in mind?
ARETHA: In the break I want you to hit it like I'm beating
someone's chest or slapping someone's face.
Like a,
♪ You said that you loved me ♪
♪ You‐said‐that you‐loved‐me ♪♪
KING CURTIS: That's the rhythm? ARETHA: Mm‐hmm.
KING CURTIS: I got just the thing.
ARETHA: Uh‐huh.
And Jimmy, can you, can you give me a blues like a,
like a groove like I was out all night.
That'll be the intro.
JIMMY: Can do. ARETHA: All right.
KING CURTIS: We'll have a tasty pocket for you.
ARETHA: King Curtis, you are my kind of man.
ARETHA (over speaker): I'm joining with everybody else.
JERRY (over speaker): Well, you've only got three chords?
ARETHA (over speaker): I will make them sound like a million bucks.
JERRY: All right.
ARETHA: All right.
Now, Mr. Oldham, I need you to punch it for real because
our grove is urgent.
ODEM: Yes, ma'am.
ARETHA: And Mr. Hawkins, this is not a shave and a haircut,
this is more like a four on the floor.
HAWKINS: You got it. ARETHA: All right.
(knock)
TED: It's Valentine's Day, right?
You thought I forgot?
Excuse me, brother.
JERRY: Oh, you've got to be kidding me, yeah.
RUTH: Thank you.
ARETHA: With love from your husband.
JERRY: Okay, let's go.
All right.
Give me that soul, Ms. Franklin.
DAVID: She writes our parts, and she can't even write music.
KING CURTIS: Just like Charles Mingus.
JERRY: Ted, Ted.
RUTH: Nice touch.
Flowers.
TED: You think you can manger her better than me?
RUTH: We can both manager her, Ted.
She's going places.
CAROLYN: The song is a cry for help, right,
so you're calling all the superheroes like
Batman, Superman, Black Panther, Green Hornet.
ARETHA: I'm going to call on all of them and
they sidekicks too.
You know why?
I need help, ya'll.
(laughter)
♪ ♪
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Somebody save me ♪
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Somebody save me ♪
♪ Save me, save me ♪
♪ Promised myself after the first romance ♪
♪ I wouldn't give ya no second chance ♪
♪ Say if you seek, you're sure to find, ♪
♪ But the closer I get to you, baby, ♪
♪ You drive me stone outta my mind ♪
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Save me, save me ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Those who love always give the most ♪
♪ We're cryin' together from coast to coast ♪
♪ Love leaves us cold and hurt inside ♪
♪ These tears of ours, unjustified ♪
♪ Beggin' you to save me! ♪
♪ Yeah, need somebody here ♪
♪ Save me, yeah ♪
JERRY: Here come the horns.
(horn groove).
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Woo ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Mmm‐hmm ♪
♪ You lied and said you needed me! ♪
♪ You abused my love, set me free ♪
♪ You didn't need, you didn't want me ♪
♪ Somebody help me, this man wants to taunt me! ♪
♪ I'm beggin' you to, oh, save me ♪
♪ Need somebody to save me ♪
♪ Save me, save me ♪
♪ Callin' the Cape Crusader, Green Hornet, Kado too ♪
♪ I'm in so much trouble, I don't know what to do ♪
♪ If you think anything about me, save me! ♪
♪ Oh yeah ♪
(camera shutter).
♪ Save me, save me ♪
♪ Understand! ♪
♪ Save me! ♪
♪ Anybody! ♪
♪ Save me! ♪
♪ Save me ♪
♪ Whoo! Oh, oh, oh, save me! ♪♪
TED: The first set was great.
ARETHA: Second sets going to be better.
TED: My parents are here, front row seats,
and there's standing room only out there.
Our hard work is finally paying off.
ARETHA: Our hard work?
I don't want to be married to you anymore, Ted.
TED: What you get yourself a couple hits,
you think you're through with me?
You're getting a little big for your britches.
ARETHA: You couldn't' even keep up with me if you tried.
TED: How's your story book life going to look with
your happy husband?
ARETHA: I'm getting a divorce, Ted.
TED: Why?
Because CL Franklin told you to do it?
Cause the Franklin family thinks they're too good for
a regular man, a pimp like myself.
You're going to look at me when I'm talking to you.
ARETHA (over PA): I want you to know that it is
hard to get respect.
TED: I said look at me when I'm talking to you.
(two smacks)
ARETHA (over PA): But if you don't get it,
well I got my pocketbook right here on stage with me.
I make sure I get paid before I sing.
That's respect.
Well, I have had a wonderful time and I hope you all have
enjoyed yourselves tonight.
I thank you for coming.
Goodnight, thank you so much.
ANNOUNCER (over PA): And now, with a surprise for Mrs. Franklin.
Introducing your favorite local disc jockey,
Rocket Jones.
ROCKET (over PA): Wait one second.
In recognition of all you've done.
ANNOUNCER (over PA): For all kinds of music and for
all kinds of people.
ROCKET (over PA): But especiall for soul music and soul people.
ANNOUNCER (over PA): The people of Chicago and the
people of the world, hereby crown you "Queen of Soul".
(applause).
WOMAN: I love you, Queen!
(flash bulbs popping)
(audience applause)
MAN: I love you, Aretha!
(flash bulbs popping)
(audience applause)
REPORTER 2: Re, Re, Re...
TED: Hold, hold, hold.
Just hold on a second. Thank you.
Re, do you want to talk to me for a second?
Baby, look, it seems like you're not listening
to me right now.
I need you to listen to me for just a second right now.
I'm trying to talk to you, it don't look like you're trying.
(door slams)
TED: Re.
(knocks)
Re, open the door baby.
(knocks)
Open up the door.
Re?
(knocks)
Re, let me in.
(knocks)
There's a lot of press folks out here who want to talk to you.
(knocks)
You going to do me like this?
Baby, I just want to talk to you, okay?
We'll just sit and talk, just you and me, okay?
(Aretha whimpering)
Come on, baby.
Baby, just open the door, okay?
(pounding)
Open the door, we're going to talk,
I ain't going to do you wrong.
Okay, I'm going to do you just right, okay,
I'm going to be good as gold, baby.
Just let me in the door.
I'm so sorry, baby.
Baby, I'm so sorry.
I, I don't know what got into me.
Let me in the goddamn door, Re!
Open the damn door!
You can't do this without me.
I made you.
Who's going to be there for you when them peckerwoods come
talking to you, when they try to tell you who you are,
who's going to be there for you?
Who's going to help you out?
Who the hell do you think you are?
♪ I may get weary ♪
♪ Women do get weary ♪
♪ Wearing the same shabby dress ♪
♪ But to one who's weary ♪
♪ Try a little ♪
♪ Try a little tenderness ♪
♪ Oh‐ho‐ho ♪
♪ I may be waiting ♪
♪ Just anticipating ♪
♪ All of the things I may never possess ♪
♪ Mmm, but while I'm waiting ♪
♪ Try a little... ♪♪
Captioned by Cotter Media Group.