03x01 - Aretha: Respect

[bunniefuu]

[SINGING] Chain, chain, chain

Chain, chain

Chain, chain, chain

Chain, chain, chain

Chain, chain, chain

Chain, chain, chain

Chain of fools

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

REPORTER 1: You've just been crowned
Queen of Soul.

-How does it feel?
-Like I'm in a fairy tale.

REPORTER 2: Are your children
in the audience tonight?

-It's way past their bedtime.
-But they're young kids.

Weren't you a mother at their age?

That is why they'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

You father, Reverend Franklin,
is he okay with you singing pop?

Well, he loves it.
He loves my voice,

and will always support me.

Oh, you treated me cruel

[WOMAN WHOOPING]

Chain, chain, chain

Chain, chain, chain

But does pop music mean you're
turning your back on the church?

My voice is a gift from God,
so how could I possibly do that?

Every chain

-WOMAN 1: Yes, girl!
-WOMAN 2: We love you!

Has got a weak link

I might be weak, yeah

Your sisters sing backup for you.
Do you plan on ever

-singing backup for them?
-We are family,

and we will always support each other.

Hoo, hoo

You 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

-Queen, where is your king tonight?
-What do you think about

what Dr. King is trying
to achieve for the n*gro?

With your father and your husband
by your side, who's calling the sh*ts?

I think you've all been reading
too many gossip columns.

When you sing Respect, tell us...

[REPORTERS CLAMORING INDISTINCTLY]

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

I know what you're doing

And I'll save you the trouble...

Six years at Columbia
and for all that Mr. Hammond did,

he couldn't get me on the charts 'cause...

Well, he didn't get me.

Jerry Wexler, he gets me.

He's getting me to come
all the way down here.

He say Fame Studios got the vibe.

You're gonna be good, right?

Yes, ma'am.

Mama said when I went out...

Good as gold.

And I'll protect you.

Daddy used to say that.

I'll bet he did.

I didn't listen then but now...

I'mma make a hit.

-Find my sound.
-[CHUCKLES]

That my dear old mama knew
what she was talkin' about...

We got to get there first.

We'll get there.

'Cause I don't think...

[SINGING] I will trust

In the Lord

I will trust in the Lord

WOMAN: [SINGING] How I got over

-How I got over
-How I got over

How I got over

Oh, my soul look back and wonder

How I got over

-Mmm, how I got over
-How I got over

-How I got over
-How I got over

Oh, my soul look back and wonder

How I got over

Well, just as soon as I can see Jesus

-Oh, yes
-The man that made me free

-Oh, yes
-The man that bled and suffered

-Oh, yes
-And d*ed for you and me

-Oh, yes
-I'm gonna thank him

-Because he brought me
-Oh, yes

I'm gonna thank him because...

There you go. That's right.
That's right.

-Oh, yes
-I'm gonna...

[TIRE BLOWS]

Oh, yes...

[TIRES SCREECHING]

[AIR HISSING]

[GRUNTING]

[SHOUTS] Damn it to hell.

Anything I could do to help?

Handkerchief.

Thank you. Thank you.

Ah, thank you.

[ENGINE TURNS OFF]

[DOOR CLOSES]

-[MAN WHISTLES]
-CLARENCE: Get in the car, Re.

MAN: Not from around here, huh?

CLARENCE: No, we're from Detroit.

-Michigan.
-She's about my woman's size.

ARETHA: I will trust...

She your wife?

That's my daughter.

-[SCREAMS]
-Get back!

-Get back!
-I will trust...

CLARENCE: Okay.
ARETHA: ...in the Lord.

[PANTING]

I will trust

In the Lord

Till I...

Re?

Y'all like my car?

Yeah.

[KEYS JINGLE]

You can have it.

-[TIRE IRON DROPS]
-Re?

Come on, Re.

Come on, baby.

[MEN CHUCKLING]

ARETHA: That was scary, Daddy.

CLARENCE: Yeah, it sure was.

Why'd you give them your car?

[LAUGHS] Just to see the look on his face.

I'm always gonna protect you.

You remember that.

Whoo! Look at that one, now.

Now, that's pretty.

That one is pretty.

Oh, lookee there.

That... Look at the pearl
handle thing there.

Ooh!

-Now, that's a beauty.
-Yeah, well,

-we got some used models in the back.
-Yeah...

-Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
-Nice, nice.

-Nice.
-The car's for sale, isn't it?

Oh...

Where'd you get this kind of money?

I'm a preacher.

And I think we both can agree

that God is good.

ARETHA: I will trust

In the Lord

I will trust

In the Lord

Mmm-hmm, mmm

-[ENGINE TURNS OFF]
-[DOOR CLOSES]

Miss Franklin! Ted. Good trip?

ARETHA: Mr. Wexler.

Itty-bitty town.

You sure they know
what they're doing?

Oh, we are in
very good hands here.

Your motel's down the street.
It's integrated,

so you'll be okay.

Rick Hall pulled some strings.

Fame Studios is a big fish.

I am ready to sing.

Great. Let me get the door.

And your flight was okay?

It was fine.

Traveled safe enough.

Good to hear.

Rick Hall built this place
from the ground up.

He's a real salt-of-the-earth guy.

It's nice of him to show Ted around.

-Who's on the session?
-Oh, the best.

You're gonna love 'em.

I got this great new take on Respect.

-The Otis Redding song.
-Mmm-hmm.

It's gonna be a whole new vibe.
You know what I mean?

Sure, sure. You know,

-whatever we record...
-Mmm.

...if it sounds good today, great.

If it sounds good tomorrow,

well, that's when we
really got something.

And, Miss Franklin,

I do appreciate your trust.

Well, sh*t, if you can't trust
Jerry Wexler... [LAUGHS]

I love your work.

Especially with the Ray Bryant Combo.

Your Over the Rainbow was something else.

I'm looking for a funkier sound now.

Hmm. Yes, ma'am.

Just had the piano tuned.

[PLAYS ASCENDING NOTES]

-[PLAYS CHORD]
-Sounds great.

The control room's got
state-of-the-art equipment.

[OVER SPEAKER]
Welcome to Muscle Shoals.

-See? Yeah.
-You've got a lot of engineers.

-[RICK CHUCKLES]
-We're the rhythm section, ma'am.

And we're the horns.

Hey. Yeah.

You're surprised.

Yeah, and you're white.

Um, Miss Franklin, can I see you
in the control room a moment?

You said you wanted the guys
who played behind Wilson Pickett.

How was I supposed to know
they were white?

My wife's not just anybody.

I signed her, Ted. I know that.

She is deep soul.

And blues and church,
like you got a dime in your pocket

and you hit the numbers.
She's the jackpot.

Who the hell are they?

They? They're the best.

Just like you are, Miss Franklin.

Give me your word?

You've got my word.

You gonna be all right in there?

Yeah.

Sure.

[BAND PLAYING WARM-UP MUSIC]

[BAND CHATTERING SOFTLY]

-[ORGAN PLAYING]
-[DRUMS b*ating]

WEXLER: Okay, guys,
let's get ready to do one.

[DRUMROLL PLAYS]

Ted, what do you want to start off with?

Let's do Never Loved A Man.

She's got a good take on this one.

ARETHA: Thanks, baby.

RICK: We're rolling.

[PLAYING INTRO TO
I NEVER LOVED A MAN]

You're a no-good heartbreaker

You're a liar

And you're a cheat

Uh-uh.

[MUSIC STOPS]

ARETHA: Uh...

Uh, wh...

What do you think, guys?
Uh, more like a blues shuffle?

This what you're thinking, Miss Franklin?

[PLAYING BLUES SHUFFLE b*at]

Sounds good.

[PLAYS PIANO]

Nah.

[MUSIC STOPS]

Maybe we could speed it up.

Yeah, kind of like a dance tune.

You're a no-good heartbreaker

[EXHALES] No. Uh-uh.

[MUSIC STOPS]

We got the song, we got the talent.

-We just got to find the groove.
-You said these guys

-played with Pickett.
-They'll get there.

Before they find it,
they just got to get a little lost.

That's all.

[CLEARS THROAT]

We're rolling.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

JERRY: Miss Franklin,

can you go back to
the piano, please?

Let's keep you there.

She's a completely different performer

when she plays and sings.

I think that's gonna be the key.

RICK: We're rolling.

Rolling.

Rolling.

[MUSIC STOPS]

[BAND CHATTERING SOFTLY]

[MURMURING]

[SIGHS]

[MURMURING CONTINUES]

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

Okay, let-let's...
Let's try this, maybe.

Let Aretha be Aretha.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

-CLARENCE: Spiritual God...
-I will trust in the Lord.

...will call your wayward husband back,

-and teach him to treat the family right.
-[APPLAUDING]

The spiritual God.

I wish I had some praying people
in here today.

Y'all not hearing me tonight.

-Y'all not hearing me.
-[CONGREGATION CLAMORING]

Some people only want to trust
in theyselves.

[CHEERING]

Some people put all they trust

-in they bank account.
-[JEERING]

No, no.

Some folks trust in the government.

-Oh, no.
-[JEERING]

CLARENCE: But ultimately...

-[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
-I said, ultimately...

-I said, ultimately...
-[CHEERING]

...all those things will fail!

WOMAN: Yes, sir.
MAN: That's right.

That's right, Reverend.
That's right.

-MAN: You know you right.
-That's what I'm talking about.

-But I'm gonna put my trust...
-[ALL AGREEING]

-My trust...
-[CHEERING]

-Our trust...
-OTHERS: Yes!

...in the Lord.

Amen.

I will trust

Yes, sir, in the Lord

Come on, say, "I will"

I will trust

I will trust in the Lord

-I will trust
-I will trust

-Yes, I will
-In the Lord

Oh

Till I die

Till I die

I will trust

I'm gonna trust you, Jesus

-In the Lord
-I will

-[APPLAUDING]
-Oh, promise me, Lord...

CLARENCE: Thank you, Mama.
Thank you so much.

Reverend Franklin, you and your family

make every Sunday a blessing.

I'm serving the Lord.

And Mother Franklin,
all of your grandchildren

are wonderful singers,
just like dear Barbara was.

RACHEL: Well, we miss her every day,

but we stand on our faith
knowing she's with the Lord.

Yes.

And when are you
gonna solo in church, child?

You've got a remarkable voice.

-Thank you.
-Just adorable, she is.

Miss Melba, are you and Daddy
gonna get married soon?

I hope so.

Your father is a wonderful man.

It's like I used to say, ha

I'm gonna treat everybody

Right

I'm gonna treat everybody

Right

I'm gonna treat

Treat everybody, everybody right...

[HORN HONKS]

MAN: [SINGING] Baby

Hold everything, hold everything

Stop, time to make the joy bells ring

I'm not

I'm not like I used to be

Do you remember

When I was in my prime?

I was ready, almost anytime

But now I'm not like I used to be...

If I stumbled on Saturday night,

the world would hear about it
Sunday morning.

-[LAUGHS]
-You know what I'm talking about.

[LAUGHS]

-Right.
-Little over here, little over there.

Hey, baby... [WHISPERS]

Mmm. Yeah.

[MUSIC STOPS]

The King of the Piano,
and the Queen of the Blues.

-[LAUGHS]
-Mr. Art Tatum

and Miss Dinah Washington.

[PIANO PLAYING]

[SINGING] What a difference a day makes

Twenty-four little hours

Brought the sun and the flowers

Where there used to be rain

My yesterday

Was blue, dear...

CLARENCE: Come down here
and join the party.

Come on.

[LAUGHS]

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

The skies above

Can't be stormy...

And which one of C.L's daughters is you?

-I'm Aretha Louise.
-Well, nice to meet you, Aretha.

I'm Ted White.

It's heaven

When you

Find romance

On your menu

What a difference

The day makes

And the difference is you.

-Hey! Right on.
-[LAUGHING AND CHEERING]

Right on! Right on.

-TED: What I said, now?
-[CHUCKLES] Thank you.

-Mmm-hmm.
-I'mma record that one.

Yeah, you better.

My daughter Aretha.

Oh, C.L, don't make Re sing
if she doesn't want to.

Re listens to the radio.

She can hear any song
and sing it back note for note.

And tonight,

we got a bona fide radio star
in our house.

-Yeah.
-[ALL CLAMORING]

So, so how would
y'all like to hear

a little sing-along?

A little, uh, call-and-response?

-Eh?
-TED: What is that, like,

a little parlor trick,
something like that?

No. Little Re's good.

Huh.

[SINGING] Did you say
I've got a lot to learn?

Did you say I've got a lot to learn?

[ALL CHEERING]

Since this
is the perfect spot to learn

Teach me tonight

-[LAUGHING]
-[ALL APPLAUDING]

Did you see that?

Ooh, baby.

-You got something there.
-That's it.

Re's gonna be
the next great one.

Yes, she is. Yes, she is.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

What you want to do
when you grow up?

I want to be a singer.

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

DINAH: Do you want it,
or does your daddy want it?

-Both, I guess.
-Well.

You got what it takes,

but you got to promise
Dinah Washington

you'll be a good girl.

Don't grow up too fast
and don't go having babies

till you've found yourself
a nice, sweet husband.

Don't roll those bloodshot eyes at me...

And watch out for them sumbitches,
you hear?

Yes, ma'am.

You've been out on a spree

It's plain that you're lying

When you say
that you've been crying

Don't roll those bloodshot eyes at me

-Settle down, girl.
-[LAUGHS]

-[LAUGHS]
-Ooh.

-See you later, C.L!
-DINAH: Ooh, bye, Pastor!

-Y'all be careful, now.
-[PIANO PLAYING]

[REPEATS MELODY]

Do you have any idea how good you are?

My mama played piano, too.

Ah, so you, you're a wunderkind.
A wonder child.

-Thank you, Mr. Tatum.
-[CHUCKLES]

[PLAYS MELODY]

[REPEATS MELODY]

[LAUGHS] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That's it. That's it, that's it.

Mmm-hmm.

SPOONER: That, Miss Franklin,

is an unknown chord,
it's a B-flat-7, sharp 11.

Uh, no, that would be more like...

Uh, sounds like a C 7th, sharp 9.

C 7, sharp 9 over G.

No, that would be more like this.

-[ALL LAUGHING]
-TOMMY: Whatever it is,

-it's funky.
-It's celestial.

It's both at the same time.

-[BAND LAUGHING]
-Uh...

How... How about this here?

Just keep it open.
Keep rolling.

[PIANO PLAYING]

That's it. That's it.

You're a no-good heartbreaker

You're a liar and you're a cheat

I don't know why

I let you do these things to me

My friends keep telling me

That you ain't no good

But, oh

They don't know

That I would leave you if I could

I 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.

-We already heard that one.
-But you haven't heard it

-the way I'm telling it.
-[ALL LAUGHING]

-Oh!
-All right. All right.

Okay, so, h-here he go,

-one-legged yardbird...
-[ALL LAUGHING]

Let's keep it on track, Re.

-No need to play the clown.
-Come on, baby. This'll make you laugh.

Why is this chicken trying
to get across the road?

Well, to find his other leg.

[ALL LAUGHING]

I said quit playing the fool.

Now he need to lay off the bottle.

-ALL: Ooh!
-What'd you say?

-What'd you say?
-Okay.

-Hmm?
-Enough, okay.

Uh, why don't we, uh...

Let's do another take,
Miss Franklin, uh,

just your vocals on the bridge.

[TRACK PLAYING]

I can't sleep at night

No, I can't even fight

I guess I'll never be free

Since you got your hooks

In me

Whoa, oh, oh...

Yeah! Yeah!

Well, this is what
I'm gonna do about it

Ain't never loved a man
that hurt me so bad

This is what
I'm gonna do about it

Hold on

[MUSIC STOPS]

[WHOOPING]

Do they hit it like that
at Columbia Records?

-No, they do not.
-Well, us Swampers,

we can play just as good
as them New York City cats.

So, you two grew up together, huh?

I met her at a party at her daddy's house.

I thought he was a preacher.

Well, he loves Sunday morning
and Saturday night.

-Ah.
-[LAUGHING]

SPENCER: We got it.
TOMMY: Oh, oh, oh.

-[WHOOPS]
-Oh!

ARETHA: So I should just trust my voice?

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.

My singing's always been
my guardian angel.

Keeps me safe.

Safe from what?

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
Not telling you all my secrets.

-You haven't even told me one.
-[LAUGHS]

Give me one. Make it juicy.

-KEN: Never been to New York.
-Mmm-hmm.

How about taking me back with you?

-I could curl up in your suitcase.
-[LAUGHING]

TED: Hey!

What the hell
did you say to my wife?

-It wasn't nothing, honey.
-Oh, you defending him now?

That's my wife you talking to.

Hey, he didn't mean any disrespect.

You in this conversation?

I didn't mean nothing by it, brother...

I ain't your brother.

WEXLER: Never Loved a Man
sounded great.

Let's stay on track.

Fire him. The trumpet player.

Fire him, Rick.

You're kidding.

Trumpet, you can leave.
Go now.

I wasn't saying nothing to her.

-I'm sorry, man.
-Man, this is some bullshit.

Want to take it from the top?

[SNARE PLAYING]

I don't tolerance no disrespect.

I don't like to be disrespected, either.

WEXLER: Okay, enough.

[SIGHS] All right, why don't
we call it a day, Miss Franklin?

Everybody can go and get some rest.

We'll meet here in the morning.

[SIGHS]

Mr. Wexler,
I think we should just keep going.

[DOOR CLOSES]

I think we found something.
Let's just keep going.

Let's let things cool down.

What happened
to "good as gold," Ted?

TED: You tell me.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

[SLAMS]

[DOOR OPENS]

TED: Wexler better find
another horn player as good

as that other guy.

Who knows who the hell we're
gonna get stuck with tomorrow

all because you had to act up.

What, you want me to stand there
while some white man

-disrespects you?
-We were just talking, Ted.

Oh, you were doing more
than talking.

So now you can't tell
the difference between talking

-and screwing? 'Cause I can.
-You know what?

You shouldn't have been staring
at me while you were singing

-that song.
-I was singing the g*dd*mn song, Ted!

-You like them white boys, don't you?
-Oh, okay.

You know what?
Tomorrow, I won't talk to 'em,

I won't look at 'em,
I'll just shut up and sing.

Huh?

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

[POUNDING ON DOOR]

Who the hell do you think you are,

-f*ring my musicians?
-Touch me again.

-Evening, Miss Franklin.
-Mmm-hmm.

Oh, okay. So I'm just a n*gg*r
to you, huh?

-I didn't call you that.
-Oh, but you were thinking it.

-ARETHA: Cut it out.
-So what if I did?

She's the talent, not you.

Oh, my God, this is bullshit.

-n*gg*r. Go on, say...
-This is bullshit.

-I want to hear you say it!
-No... [GRUNTS]

-RICK: Get off me!
-What you gonna say now, huh?

-TED: What you say now, huh?
-[OBJECTS CLATTERING]

YOUNG ARETHA: Miss Melba?
MELBA: Yes, baby?

What's a "sumbitch"?

Miss Washington told me
to watch out for them.

What are they?

-[CLATTERING CONTINUES IN DISTANCE]
-MELBA: They're men.

The kind that would
do a gal wrong.

TED: [IN DISTANCE] Get off of me!

YOUNG ARETHA:
What do they look like?

MELBA: You are way too young

to be worrying yourself about
any of that, you understand me?

-Yes, Miss Melba.
-And if I hear that word

come out of your mouth again,
I'll wash it out with soap.

ALL: Amen.

Joe Von Battle called.

When are you heading back
into the studio?

Can I go with you
to Mr. Von Battle's?

No, you can't.

CLARENCE: Actually, Re,

yes, you can.

I always ask
but you never let me.

-And I'm the oldest.
-I'm the youngest.

Erma, Cecil, Carolyn.

Now, you will all
get your chance.

But Re will get her chance first.

-Thank you, Daddy.
-Mmm-hmm.

CLARENCE: Let's eat.
I want to get my pie.

-And my vegetables.
-Mmm-hmm.

CLARENCE: 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.
God bless you.

-[CHUCKLES]
-[WHOOPS]

I-I'll press that new one
for you right away.

-All right, all right.
-How many you want to take on the road?

CHARLECE: Honey, you're like thunder,
lighting and dynamite

-all rolled into one.
-Ooh.

CLARENCE: I try to appeal
to people's minds

as well as their emotions.

I'm gonna to make a record, too.

-Can you sing?
-Oh, Little Re can sing.

But she ain't soloed in church yet,

and ain't no hurry, Re.

I tell you what, we go back out
on the road, I'mma take you with me

We'll go this, uh, this summer.

She ain't old enough
to travel on the gospel circuit.

She's cute. She'd be a hit,
and she'd make a joyful noise.

-She's a real talent.
-The road's a wild place, now.

I'll be with Daddy and the other singers.

"Let your light shine before men

"so that they can see your good works."

-Matthew 5:16.
-Ooh.

It's settled now.

[LAUGHS]

-BOTH: Mmm...
-[CLARENCE MUTTERS SOFTLY]

MELBA: In the grocery store,

some hussy tells me
she's your side piece.

Oh, who the hell would say that?

She had yellow hair all piled up.

-I don't know nobody like that.
-Quit lying!

You run around on me like a dog

and now your hussies
cut me in the street.

-Stop! Stop it!
-Honey, you're upsetting the children.

-Re. Let's go...
-It was just like this with your wife.

Poor Barbara. Rest her soul.

Keep my wife out your mouth.

MELBA: She left you and the children

because she got tired of your girlfriends.

You ain't clean enough
to be airing my dirty laundry.

What was I thinking, being with you?

You got tired of being trash.

Thinking it'd be nice
to be more respectable.

Respectable?

-Respectable?
-Oh, now...

-Years ago...
-Now hold up.

My past ain't got nothing to do with you.

-You had relations...
-Shut-shut your mouth!

-Shut your mouth, I said!
-You got with...

[WHIMPERS]

YOUNG ARETHA: [CRYING] Don't go.

Don't go. [SNIFFLES]

You take care, Re.

You'll be all right, baby.

I'll tell Daddy to be nice to you.

You be a good girl, honey.
Don't get into trouble.

-MELBA: Be sweet, hear?
-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.

Oh, I love you so much, Re.

I love you, too.

But I have to go.

Please don't.

I have to go.

-I love you, Re.
-I love you, too.

Now, you sing
just like you do at home.

Okay? All right.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY]

WOMAN 1: Let Him use you, baby.
Let Him use you.

-WOMAN 2: You can do it.
-WOMAN 3: Y'all got this.

[PIANO BEGINS PLAYING]

-[SINGING] Jesus...
-WOMAN: Uh-huh.

Build a fence

All around me

Every day

Jesus, I need you to protect me

As I travel along the way...

-WOMAN: Sing it. Sing it!
-[APPLAUDING]

I know you can

And I know that you will

You'll fight my battles

If I stay, I will

Oh, build a fence

All around me

Every day

WOMAN: Sing it. Sing it.

-Jesus
-Jesus

Build a fence all around me

-All around me...
-Sing it, baby. Sing it!

-Jesus, I want you to protect me
-Jesus

As I travel

Oh

I know you can

Yeah, I know you will

You'll fight my battles

If I keep still

-Oh, Jesus, be a fence around me
-Oh, yeah

Every day

Every day

[CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

Great job.

MAN: Thank you, honey. Great work.

CLARENCE: Thank you, choir.

Yes. Yes, yes.

That was good. Yes, Lord.

[HORN HONKING IN DISTANCE]

You wrecked the room.

He started it. I settled the bill.

With my money.

Where the hell were you last night?

I can smell it on you.

Booze and b*tches.

I was gonna make a hit.
This was supposed to be my last chance,

my last chance, and you ruined it.

-Stop it!
-You said that you loved me!

You were supposed to be good as gold.

You sound crazy! Now stop it.

We are going back to New York.

We gonna get back in that studio
and we gonna start fresh.

I'm going home, to Detroit.

So much for finding your sound.

Oh, hello.

How's my grandbaby?

-Welcome home.
-Hey.

Mommy. Smile for the picture, Ma.

Tell me, Big Mama,
that my precious babies

have been behaving themselves.

RACHEL: Oh, they're no trouble, Re.

-We've been very good.
-ARETHA: Mmm-hmm?

-Did you bring us anything?
-Uh... Yeah, I brought myself.

[LAUGHING]

Yes, yes, I brought presents.

Y-You can open them in the living room

and I'll be in there directly.

-Don't open them till I get there.
-KIDS: Okay.

Welcome home, Re.

-Cecil. Hey.
-Come here.

You spoil them.

-Let me grab your coat.
-Lay off me, Erma.

[CHUCKLES] Where's Little Teddy?

He's in Chicago, with Ted's folks.

Mmm. You and Ted calling it quits?

I only said we had a fight.
Don't make it worse.

-Hey, Carolyn.
-CAROLYN: Hey, sis.

[SINGING] I'm just telling it like it is.

Which reminds me, you are not the only

talented one in this family.

I'm just as excited as you. [GASPS]

Oh, oh, a Black G.I. Joe?

CLARENCE: Re, get in here.

-You got company.
-ERMA: Daddy's got a new lady friend.

RACHEL: What do you have here?

-[LAUGHS]
-ARETHA: You're looking good, Daddy.

That's my girl. Look here.

This here is Marcia.

I'm so happy to meet you.

Pleasure.

[CHUCKLES] So I hear you had
another fight with Ted, did you?

I'm here to relax, Daddy.

If you need someone to take care
of Ted, just say the word.

That's okay, Cecil.
Don't you worry about it.

I thought you were
supposed to open these

-when I got here.
-[CLEARS THROAT]

-Ruth Bowen.
-[LAUGHS]

What a surprise.

Girl, I know Ted from back
when I managed Dinah.

She wouldn't marry him 'cause
he was a bull in a china shop.

Godzilla when he drank.

Uh, you here to give me
marriage advice?

No.

But I do want to sign you.

CLARENCE: Time you had a real manager

instead of that pimp of a husband.

Ted sounds downright unsavory.

-Thank you, Miss Marcia.
-I can get you better bookings

and help you build
on each success.

And Dinah did say
that you were the best.

I still am.

CLARENCE: At the rate you going,

Muscle Shoals could be
the end of the line.

I've contained bigger disasters than that.

[SIGHS]

They all keep talking about
how my thing ain't gonna happen.

But it has to happen.
sh*t, it just has to.

Oh, my God.

[EXHALES]

[SINGING] Save me

Somebody's got to save me

Yeah.

Mmm, save me

Mmm-hmm, mmm.

Somebody's got to save me

-Go ahead.
-It's almost sounding like something.

-Save me
-Save me

-Save me
-Yeah.

ALL: Somebody's got to save me

Save me

Somebody's got to save me

And verse!

Promised myself after
your first dalliance

That I wouldn't give you
no kind of second chance

"Dalliance"?

-[LAUGHS]
-What?

I mean, can we find a better word?

I mean, 'cause, you know,
you don't want it

to go over Ted's head. [LAUGHING]

Now, see, that's not fair.

You know that phrase, uh,
the kids are saying it

-in the street, uh, uh...
-What?

"Sock it to me."

-What?
-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
-[LAUGHING]

CLARENCE:
You know it's good that, uh,

you ain't inviting Ted into
the studio next time around.

'Cause he's always hanging
on somebody's coattail.

-First Dinah Washington, now you.
-It isn't like that.

Okay, I stand corrected.

He's a no-count that's derailing
a 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.

Ted wants me to be more than
Reverend Franklin's daughter.

I want you to more than
Ted White's meal ticket.

Ted is my husband.

And I am the only person
in this house

that gets to have a say in my marriage.

Mmm-hmm.

-CAROLYN: You need help with him?
-Ted or Daddy?

[CHUCKLES] Okay, save her!

[LAUGHING]

Save me

Go on out the right, come on, come on!

Keep it running, keep it running,
keep it running,

Come on, turn around this way.

Hey, Ma. Hey, hey, Ma,
you're burning.

Get Miss Ruth, get Miss Ruth!

All right, boys, come on, come on,

come on, come on, come on, come on.

Been here almost a week.

Starting to feel like home.

Welcome to the family.
You sure you want to stay?

[LAUGHS]

Look, I'm gonna come clean.

I did not know you had children.

-Such lovely boys. Is Ted their father?
-No.

We do have a son, Little Teddy.

And the father of the older boy?

Every family's got their secrets.
We don't air our dirty laundry.

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.

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 fairy tale.

I can take that to the bank.

Well, some people would think twice
about going to work

and leaving their kids.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

If it's Ted,
tell him I ain't home.

It's Mr. Wexler.

Okay.

Hello, Mr. Wexler.

Uh-huh.

Let's get you back in the studio.

I-I need to be home right now.

Okay, all right.

Oh, and I did something,
hear me out.

Uh, with Never Loved a Man,
I had a dozen sides pressed.

What do you think we should
use for the B-side?

We don't need one.
Just send it out.

I already did.

Yeah, deejays love it, and now
we need an album to go with it.

Uh...

I want to record in New York.

Great, how soon
can you and Ted get here?

I'm not inviting Ted.

Just get the rhythm section guys up.

And I... And I'll be down in a week.

Better hurry.

'Cause you got a monster hit.

[LAUGHS]

I got a hit.

We got a hit!

[LAUGHING AND CLAMORING]

[WHOOPING AND LAUGHING]

[ALL CHEERING]

[ALL LAUGHING]

ARETHA: So I need y'all to follow me,
otherwise we gonna get lost.

-King, give me something?
-Well, what you got in mind?

Uh, in the break, I want you to
hit it like I'm b*ating

someone's chest
or slapping someone's face.

[ALL LAUGHING]

-Like, uh...
-[TAPPING RHYTHMICALLY]

You said that you love me

You said that you love me

-That's the rhythm?
-Mmm-hmm.

-I got just the thing.
-Uh-huh.

And, Jimmy, can you,
uh, can you give me

a blues, like a, like a groove,

like, um... [INHALES SHARPLY]

I was out all night

-That'll be the intro.
-Can do.

-All right.
-We'll have a tasty pocket for you.

King Curtis,

you are my kind of man.

[LAUGHING]

After two for nothing,
I'll join in with everybody else.

What, you only got three chords?

I will make them sound
like a million bucks.

[ALL LAUGHING]

All right.

Uh, now, Mr. Oldham,

I need you to punch it for real,

'cause our groove is urgent.

-Yes, ma'am.
-And, Mr. Hawkins?

This is not a "Shave and a Haircut."

This is more like a "four on the floor."

You got it.

All right.

[KNOCKING]

It's Valentine's Day, right?

You thought I forget.

Excuse me, brother.

Oh, you got to be kidding me.

-Yeah.
-Thank you.

"With love, from your husband."

Okay, let's go.

All right.

Give me that soul, Ms. Franklin.

She writes our parts
and she can't even write music.

Just like Charles Mingus.

Ted, Ted?

Nice touch.

The flowers.

You think you can manage her
better than me?

We can both manage her, Ted.

She's going places.

-The song is a cry for help, right?
-Uh-huh.

So you're calling all the superheroes.

Like Batman, Superman,
Black Panther, Green Hornet.

I'm gonna call on all of them.

And their sidekicks, too.

You know why?
I need help, y'all.

[ALL LAUGHING]

♪

Save me

Somebody save me

Save me

Somebody save me

Save me, save me

Promised myself
after the first romance

I wouldn't give you
no second chance

They 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, yeah, yeah
-Save me, save me

Those who love always give the most

We're crying together
from coast to coast

Love leaves us cold and hurt inside

These tears of ours, unjustified

Begging you to save me, yeah

I need somebody to save me, yeah

Here come the horns.

[CROWD CHEERING]

Mmm-mmm, yeah

Mmm-mmm

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 begging you to, oh

Save me
Get somebody to save me

Save me, save me

Call in the Caped Crusader

Green Hornet, Kato, too

I'm in so much trouble
I don't know what to do

If you think anything about me

Save me

Oh, yeah

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

-Save me, save me
-Save me

Save me

Anybody save me

-Save me
-Oh, save me

The first set was great.

Second set's gonna be better.

My parents are here.

Front row seats
and it's standing room only out there.

Our hard work is finally paying off.

Our hard work?

I don't want to be married
to you anymore, Ted.

[LAUGHS]

What, you get yourself a couple hits,

you think you're through
with me?

You're getting a little big
for your britches.

You couldn't even
keep up with me if you tried.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY
IN DISTANCE]

How's your storybook life gonna look
without your happy husband?

I'm getting a divorce, Ted.

Why?

'Cause C.L. 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 gonna look at me
when I'm talking to you.

ARETHA: I want you to know
that it is hard to get respect.

I said look at me
when I'm talking to you!

ARETHA: But if you don't get it...

Well, I've got my pocketbook
right here on stage with me.

I make sure I get paid
before I sing a note.

-[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
-That's respect.

Well, I've had a wonderful time
and I hope you all

have enjoyed yourselves tonight.

I thank you for coming.

Good night, thank you so much.
Thank you.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

ANNOUNCER: We got a surprise
for Mrs. Franklin!

Introducing your favorite local
disc jockeys Rodney Jones

and Pervis Spann!

Wait one second.

In recognition of all you've done.

For all kinds of music
and for all kinds of people.

But especially for soul music

and soul people.

The people of Chicago
and the people of the world

-hereby crown you Queen of Soul.
-Queen of Soul!

[AUDIENCE CHEERING LOUDLY]

We love you, Queen!

I love you, Aretha!

-[REPORTERS CLAMORING]
-Hey, Re. Hold, hold,

hold on, hold on a minute, I got it.

Just hold on a second, thank you.

Re, 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.

I'm trying to talk to you,
it don't look like you're...

Re!

-[DOOR HANDLE JIGGLES]
-[KNOCKING]

Re, open the door, baby.

[KNOCKING]

Open up the door.

Re.

[KNOCKING]

Re, let me in.

[KNOCKING]

There's a lot of press folks
out here want to talk to you.

[KNOCKING]

You gonna do me like this?

Baby, I just want to talk
to you, okay?

We'll just sit and talk.

Just you and me, okay?

-Come on, baby.
-[KNOCKING]

Baby, just open the door, okay?

Open the door, we gonna talk.
I ain't gonna do you wrong.

I'm gonna do you just right, okay?

I'm gonna be as 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 g*dd*mn door, Re!

Open the damn door!

You can't do this without me!

-I made you!
-[THUMPING ON DOOR]

Who's gonna be there for you?

When them peckerwoods
come talking to you?

When they try and tell you
who you are,

who's gonna be there for you,
who's gonna 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

Whoa

I may be waiting

Just anticipating

All of the things

I may never possess

Mmm, but while I'm waiting

Try a little

Try a little tenderness