The following story is fictional and does
not depict any actual person or event.
Brothers and sisters, look at
the person sitting next to you.
Chances are,
they have a loved one
fighting in Southeast Asia.
Our boys are doing everything
to keep their souls intact
over there.
So ask yourself:
what are you doing over here?
When you look in the mirror,
does the reflection seek
material gain from the world?
Billy.
I wasn't finished.
Sorry, Dad. Sorry.
MAN:
He ain't bad.
MAN :
Kid can really play
"Son of a Preacher Man."
What does it profit a man
to gain the whole world...
...and lose his soul?
So, Archie, you said your pop
was William Sanders, right?
William Jeremiah Sanders.
What it says on my
birth certificate.
And my mom Beatrice
passed away six months ago.
Just always told me
he was a drunken bum.
So, why the sudden interest?
My kid came home
the other day
and asked me to
help him with this.
Reminded me of when I had the
same project back in school.
Now my son's asking
about my dad.
And you couldn't
tell him anything.
Just want to maybe find
out something about him.
You know, fill
in the blanks.
So your mom told you
he was m*rder*d?
No, no. Old <i]Philly</i]
<i]Tribune</i] had a blurb
about a Billy Sanders
k*lled in ,
eight months
before I was born.
Tracked this down
from the Ident Unit.
Looks like you.
Mug sh*t, huh?
Guess Ma was right.
What was he arrested for?
Disorderly conduct
outside a bar.
Just the one time.
Could happen to anybody.
Paper said he was k*lled down
on Wharton Street,
block.
Any idea what he was
doing down there?
See the calluses?
Perfectly manicured nails.
Your pop a musician?
Don't know.
Your mother ever
mention anyone else,
Dad's side of the family?
Nothing.
That's why I'm here, Detective.
When you find anything...
Sure. Um...
We'll let you know.
Well, the dad was a reverend.
Billy played the organ
at his church.
Only people interviewed
were, uh, friends, family
from the congregation.
What's a church boy doing
hanging down on Wharton Street
Friday night?
Think I know.
Ain't seen one of these
for years.
You got to get out more, Will.
Check out the bee in the middle.
VIP pass to The Hive.
After-hours jazz spot
back in the day, just a block
from where Billy was k*lled.
He would have been a regular.
Were you a card
carrying member, too?
(snorts) I wish.
You had a Jack of Clubs,
you weren't some drunken bum,
like Mom said.
???
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Let you out of
your cave, boss?
Anything to get out
of these COMPSTAT reports.
What you got?
Jazz musician,
years old.
Blunt-force trauma.
No wallet
on the body.
ID'd from a disorderly
conduct pinch in ' .
Wharton section of South Philly.
Heavy streetwalker traffic.
Well, assigned thought it could
have been the old flimflam.
A trick gets lured in.
Pimp cracks his skull,
takes his cash.
m*rder w*apon looks
like a bottle.
Found dark glass shattered
near the victim.
M.E. assessed it matched
the wound to his skull.
There's a state liquor store
a block over
from where he was k*lled.
So was The Hive,
an underground club
where Billy played.
Will was the after-hours
guru back in the day.
Could only go a couple times
before I got drafted.
Ran every Friday, same
night Billy was k*lled.
I heard of this place.
It was in the basement
of some house, right?
Yeah. Joint was hot,
smelly, crowded.
But the music... Man.
What I would have given
to have a Jack of Clubs.
Long sh*t, but let's
check out the bottle,
see if we can track where
it might have come from.
What about next of kin?
Reverend Thomas Sanders.
Never mentioned his son played
the clubs back in the day.
You remember any of the
musicians from that place, Will?
Not by name.
Owner was a tough broad,
the Queen Bee.
She'd sit at the end of the
bar, smoke like a chimney.
Maybe she's still
buzzing around,
can tell us if Billy
was there night he d*ed.
Talk to Dad, too.
See if any of this new
info sparks a memory.
Got a kid here, wants
to see Detective Rush.
I'm her partner.
I'll talk to him.
He asked for Detective Rush.
VERA:
Scotty.
Ooh. Something I ate.
The chili fries?
(groans)
Good, though.
Valens.
Hey, Ma.
Uh, just...
No reason.
Just checking in.
What, I can't check on my mom?
Yeah, fine.
Okay, yeah.
Talk later. Bye.
Ran the title.
Real estate files show
the Queen Bee was
Geraldine Watkins back in ' .
Still around?
Yeah. Runs a soul food joint
out of the same address today.
Somebody here to see me?
Oh, yeah. He's right over...
We played music for the Lord.
Billy played an organ
the angels envied.
VERA:
Is that Billy's brother?
Tom Jr. was going
to be a preacher
in the Sanders tradition.
My eldest was taken
by the jungle,
my youngest, by the streets.
Both jungles, just
different terrain.
I served over there, as well.
You got something
on my son's m*rder?
VERA:
We're looking into it.
Was there anyone at church
had a problem with Billy?
On the contrary.
When he d*ed,
they buried him like a king.
His casket, his headstone,
the flowers-- all courtesy
of the congregation.
Any chance we can get a list
of the congregation members
back then?
I'll check and see.
But why?
Tom, you familiar
with The Hive?
After-hours jazz club
back in the day?
Why would I be?
I don't associate
with those kinds of people.
Ever mention a girl
named Beatrice Sloan?
What are you implying
about my son, Detective?
Nothing.
Just trying to find out
what happened.
Well, when his brother d*ed,
it was rough on everyone.
Me and Billy
drifted apart a bit.
He in some kind of
trouble? dr*gs, money?
No, no.
Not that I knew of.
I just think he may have started
to question his faith.
Know anyone he was hanging
with outside the church
before he d*ed?
I'm sorry. I don't.
But may the weight
of the Lord
be on their soul.
Check out the "specials..."
Winning numbers
on the track today.
VALENS:
Street lottery.
Little numbers running
with your soul food?
Hey, sweeties.
Anywhere you'd like.
Creamed chicken
is to die for.
Looks like a winner.
Got to say, Queen Bee,
step up from The Hive.
Honey,
I'm an honest businesswoman.
Call Vice over,
they going to agree?
The Hive ain't been around
since the ' s.
Well, there's no statute
of limitation on homicide.
Homicide?
Billy Sanders.
Oh, Sanders. Yeah.
Sad, 'cause he was a nice kid.
Had this on him.
He here the night he d*ed?
Not that I remember.
We're going to
need the names of who might
have been here that night.
If any of them are still alive.
All those musician cats
wanted to be like Miles.
They came with
a nasty habit.
Any of those cats
have a beef with Billy?
No. Church boy?
Not at all.
Seems like a tight
fit for a jazz club.
They didn't mind.
I had to turn folks away.
Shucks.
Tons of musicians
used to roll through here,
but even I was shocked
the night Billy Sanders
appeared on my stage.
Whoo! Where did you learn
to b*at like that, kid?
Come on, now.
Time to get paid.
Uh-uh, gentlemen.
The Bank of Geraldine
doesn't give money away.
You drank more than you played.
No. Not tonight.
Don't work like that.
Hey, Miss Watkins.
Billy?
I'm gonna see you and your mom
at church on Sunday, right?
Now, b*at it.
Your father know
you're here, Billy?
No, and I'd appreciate
if we kept it that way.
Sorry to hear about
your brother, sweetie.
Oh, I didn't order
anything.
Be careful, young man.
Thanks for the drink... miss.
My mother's the only "miss"
in my family.
Can really play those drums.
Play a lot more than that.
Really?
Yeah, learn by ear.
If-if I hear it,
I can play it.
So you can hold a b*at, but
you can't hold your liquor?
Well, well, I'm a quick learner.
BARTENDER:
One more coming up.
Who was the girl?
Beatrice something.
Older, but wise to the fact
that drummers keep the rhythm.
Beatrice Sloan?
That's it.
Yeah, used to work
for Ronde Brooks.
Ronde Brooks?
Of Ronde Records?
One and the same.
But I always thought
that Beatrice was Ronde's girl.
Ronde know about her and Billy?
You gotta ask him.
Don't let the suit
fool you,
'cause Ronde came up
in the streets,
and you don't get to what he had
by getting chumped.
Can I get you guys
anything? Perrier?
I'm good.
I own every single one of these
on vinyl.
No kidding.
You know, I've got a
lifetime achievement
ceremony in my honor coming up.
I could put aside
a couple of tickets.
Thanks, but we're tied up with
Billy Sanders' m*rder.
Billy Sanders?
Yeah, I remember Billy Sanders.
Session guy.
You must've been pissed
when you heard he was steppin'
out with Beatrice,
knocked her up.
Guys, I don't--
I don't date my secretaries.
Yeah, nobody with money
does that.
Beatrice would go around
to the clubs
and let me know
which musicians
to look at.
Billy was one of them.
You and Billy get along?
Sure.
Yeah, we got along.
He had a very strict old man,
though.
You know, when Billy
wasn't churchin',
he was workin' for me.
But he asked me to pay him
under the table.
He wanted to keep it quiet.
So, why didn't you
come forward,
make a statement
after he was k*lled?
I didn't even hear about it
until a week later.
Kid quit coming around.
Why's that?
Why do most of 'em?
He fell to the bottle
or the needle.
The one thing
I will say
about Billy,
kid was all about the right
place, the right time.
hold it.
Yo, what's that?
You guys deaf?
Answer me.
I was playing behind the b*at.
Sounded kinda
fresh, you know.
Damn it, kid!
Ronde,
I-I'm sorry, man.
I told him to stay
on the b*at.
Stop, stop. What he's rollin'
with sounds good.
It's your drunk ass that's
always trippin' us up, punchy.
Hit the road. b*at it.
Go sleep it off.
You kiddin' me, man.
Looks like I'm kiddin'?
You,
jump in.
Somebody come
play bass.
Behind the b*at,
like him.
And with an ear like mine,
some things just
stick out to you.
So, who was the mess?
That would be Buster Large.
Soon after graduated
to train wreck.
You fire him?
Eventually had to.
After Billy leapfrogged him,
the fellas gave him hell.
He crawled
deep into the bottle, junk.
He blame Billy for his troubles?
Ain't that what most addicts do?
Excuse me,
detectives.
So, Buster follows Billy home
from The Hive,
bottle in hand.
Cracks him over the head,
takes him out.
Most expensive bottle of booze
Buster ever bought in his life.
Bet you wish all our
vics were musicians.
Freakin' kid in
a candy store.
No candy store I went to
had the O'Jays on vinyl.
Lot to choose from.
You, uh, got any Spinners?
Philly Soul's over there,
on wax.
Buster, right?
Session guy
over at Ronde Records back when.
Yeah.
There was
some other kid behind you on bass, Billy Sanders?
You guys cops?
Well, we're not here
to sell insurance.
You still hittin' the sauce,
Buster?
Been clean years.
It's all good,
but Billy was k*lled in .
I got along with Billy
just fine.
Really?
Was that before or after
he made you the laughingstock
of the Swamp-pit?
Billy wanted that gig,
he could have it.
Ronde was a sl*ve driver,
anyway.
Feel the same way when you were
poutin' outside the studio after
you got canned?
Looking for
your job back?
Look, hell, yeah, I got pissed.
But I realized that
Billy was just better than me.
It was in his soul.
And he knew what sounded good.
♪ It was the third
of September ♪
♪ That day I'll always
remember... ♪
Hey, why don't you ever
bring me no drink, Beatrice?
Why don't you ever pass one up?
Hey, baby.
Hey, baby.
There's a girl here
in her Sunday best.
She says she's
from your church.
So, I was thinkin',
um, maybe I could come
by your place later.
that-that's probably
not a good idea.
Look, come on,
he catches
me here,
he'll skin my hide,
let alone bring you home.
Why's he so against
you bein' here?
Told you,
it's the way it is--
and it's not what my
brother would've done.
Hey.
Hey.
How do I look?
You look great.
Come on, don't
be nervous.
Relax.
Ronde, this here's Chandra,
the one I was telling you about.
Got those gospel pipes.
Not now.
Uh, but you said you'd
hear my friend sing...
Can't you see I'm busy?
Gotta get these
sounds right.
Yeah, well, you know, you ain't
never gonna get it right
if you keep
copying Motown.
What, what did you say?
Your vocalists got no soul, no pain.
Motown's got gospel.
Screw Motown, all right?
This is Philly.
Then let's actually tap
into the Philly sound.
Falsetto
from the street corners
we hear every day
-- let's show
that to the world.
What you know 'bout
makin' records, huh?
I know this mono stuff is junk.
We need somethin'
fresh-- a fuller sound
than Motown has ever imagined,
strings
and horns, all on
different tracks.
What are we, The Beatles?
Why not? They it stole from us,
let's steal it back.
Okay, how 'bout this, kid?
As soon as you can pay for it,
we'll do it.
Deal?
So then you'll listen
to my frnd?
You crazy?
She ain't a front girl.
She just a churchy
with a fat ol' ass.
Chandra.
That's the last I saw of him.
But the thing is, he called it.
Wasn't long before Gamble & Huff
took it to a whole new level.
Who was his friend?
Chandra somethin',
that's all I know.
Sit tight, Buster.
We may be back.
<i]And Philly Soul was</i]
<i]the next step</i] from Motown.
Takes me back, man.
Cruisin' in the drop-top,
Billy Paul on the eight track.
Never heard of him.
Come on, man, how
about The Intruders?
Delfonics?
Nope.
All right, you got to at
least know "Love Train."
Yeah, song from the beer
commercial.
You're an ass, man.
Needle in a haystack with this bottle label.
State liquor store had
nothing like it in stock.
So long ago,
bottle might not even
be manufactured anymore.
They didn't recognize it
from anything back then either.
Hit up the Liquor
Control Board,
see what I can find.
This Chandra girl--
Chandra Patterson.
On the list we got
from Billy's dad.
How come choir girl never came
forward after he was k*lled?
Lil, you know this
kid over here?
That's the same dude
from yesterday.
Uniforms
picked him up on a D&D,
asked for you.
Thanks.
Hey.
You asked for me?
Uh, I did?
What's your name?
Why'd you ask for me?
Downstairs, your name's
on that board thing.
Try again.
You came in yesterday.
Give me your I.D.
Sean Thomason.
Really?
That's a pretty good fake.
What do you, uh,
what do you do here?
Homicide.
Why?
You got info on a case?
Homicide?
Well, that's cool.
How long have you worked here?
What's with the personal
questions?
He's a D-K.
Put him dostairs,
let him sleep
it off.
Everything cool?
Kid stinks.
So, looks like Chandra's still
at it in the church.
Only now she's
the choir director.
Billy and Tommy were
like older brothers.
We'd sneak out
of church events, find Motown
or Stax on the radio.
Where were you the night
Billy was k*lled?
Home with my parents.
I didn't really go out
much on the weekends.
Only when you went with
Billy to Ronde's studio.
You never told the police
he worked at Ronde Records.
Billy's parents lost both sons
eight months apart.
I didn't want to add
insult to injury.
Well, might've helped solve
his m*rder.
Billy changed
from the boy I knew.
He was drinking a lot.
Started losing himself
in the studio scene.
But you wanted to be
in that scene.
Thought I was gonna
be the next Aretha,
but Ronde could care less
about gospel vocals.
Well, the way we heard it,
Ronde stopped you at the gate.
No. I got
my chance to shine,
and it was all because of Billy.
Where the heck is Billy?
I'm here. I'm here.
I couldn't split
organ practice early.
Dad stayed the whole time.
All right, we're gonna
need separate mics.
Fresh from up here, fellas.
Fresh from up here.
And ladies.
There you go. There you go.
Fresh from up here, fellas.
Follow my lead.
Billy, what the hell?
Don't worry, you can pay me
when it's a hit.
Start us off.
Tempo up.
Just a bit.
Rhythm section.
Guitar.
Strings. Horns.
Choir, come on now.
♪ <i]What they do?</i] ♪
<i]♪ Smile in your face ♪</i]
♪ All the time,
they want to take your place ♪
♪ B-Backstabbers ♪
<i]♪ Backstabbers ♪</i]
<i]♪ They smile in your face ♪</i]
♪ All the time they want to take
your place, b-backstabbers ♪
<i]♪ Backstabbers ♪</i]
♪ All you fellas
who have someone ♪
♪ And you really care, yeah ♪
♪ Then it's all of you fellas
who better beware ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Somebody's out
to get your lady ♪
♪ A few of your buddies,
they sure look shady ♪
♪ Blades alone
clenched tight in their fist ♪
♪ Aiming straight at your back,
and I don't think they'll miss ♪
♪ <i]What they do?</i] ♪
The Lord is good to all,
and his tender mercies
are on all his works.
And boy, was the
Lord good to Billy.
I know that song.
It was a pretty
big hit, huh?
Sound that launched the label.
He was Philly Soul.
I still have
the sheet music.
You know, Billy footed the
bill for all those musicians.
Where did he get that money?
Well, not from
what Ronde paid him.
I'll tell you that.
I don't remember a woman's
voice on the track.
When they recorded it,
they swapped me out
for three men who sang falsetto and could dance.
Ronde's call.
That's just the way it was.
<i]Oh, Billy didn't get</i]
from the old man;
he'd never approve.
Unless Billy was dipping
into the donations basket.
Pass the hot sauce.
Well, the father could tell us
who handled the church finances.
If they're still alive.
What's up, Will?
Liner notes.
See something
off, guys?
Huh. Music, lyrics,
and arrangements.
Ronde's a one-man show.
Chandra said Billy
wrote that song.
So, why is Ronde
getting sole credit
for the track that launched the label?
Steal a little,
you're a thief.
You steal a lot,
you're a king.
Get up, Finn Cooper.
Unless you want me to
give this to your dad.
You mean, our dad?
Must have really
wanted to meet me.
Yeah, I guess.
???
So, what do you
want to know?
Just wanted to see
what you look like, okay?
Did you call my dad?
Not my place.
You could have saw
me two days ago.
Yeah, but there were all these
cops and people around.
It's kind of how
it is around here.
I don't know.
What was I gonna say?
So, you get your
load on, jammed up.
There's easier ways.
You always drink like this?
No.
You know...
It's just like,
things are one way.
Then it's, like,
there's this other sister.
They say you might be coming by?
Yeah. I mean, well,
I don't know about that.
Yeah. It's, like,
weir right?
So, uh...
So, what happened
with you and Dad?
What do you mean?
It's like he's got this
whole other life before.
But I've never even seen
a picture of the guy
before he was like, , so...
I guess there's some things
he didn't want you to know.
Like what?
Well, you have to ask him.
Yeah, right.
You need an officer
to drive you home?
I can go?
Don't make a habit of it, okay?
Uh, yeah.
No, I'll take the bus.
Thanks.
You know,
you don't need
to get locked up every
time you want to see me.
The great Ronde Brooks.
I'm staring at those
gold records, thinking,
"Damn, if I had a
tenth of that talent."
But it was Billy's talent.
The real innovator.
Excuse me?
Billy wrote this.
Yet I can't find
his name anywhere.
That's some cold jealousy.
What happened
when Billy learned
you cuffed his song?
Cuffed his song?
You know how many people steal
my stuff and call it their own?
See, that's what
lawyers are for,
and I think I'd like mine.
Now.
Sure.
Course, takes some
time to process.
Lifetime achievement award.
Might have to miss the ceremony.
Uh... hey...
All right.
So, Billy should have
gotten credit.
And one thing I know,
when a guy's in trouble,
he tends
to make hasty decisions.
Baltimore?
You're drinking
all the time now.
BILLY: Suddenly, you
care about that?
Things are
different now, Billy.
You owe cash to some
really dangerous people.
That was to make the record.
You think Ronde cares?
You think he's ever
going to pay you?
You used to believe in me.
I do.
Baby, I believe you can
do anything yowant to.
But you're
under Ronde's thumb.
You know, and your
dad controls every...
You don't know
anything about that.
Well, I know you won't even
introduce me to your family.
Because I'm not...
I'm not from the church.
♪ Between right and wrong ♪
Damn it, Billy.
Once I make it big,
that'll all change.
No, it won't.
Look at you.
I mean, what do you want?
You want to fill
your brother's shoes?
Do you want to be
your own person?
For us.
<i]♪ You will never,</i]
<i]never, never know me ♪</i]
♪ You'll never, never, know me ♪
♪ Oh, oh, hey ♪
I see.
♪ If you don't ♪
When you're ready to be
a father, you let me know.
♪ No, you won't ♪
♪ Hey ♪
♪ We all got... ♪
Whoa, whoa! You break
it, you pay for it!
You owe me money, Ronde.
You need to get some
things in order.
Give you enough so she
can go take care of it.
I don't want
to take care of it!
Ronde, this is my song
on the radio. My song!
When it's picked up
nationally, it'll be huge.
ososare my lyrics.
And my arrangements
and my music.
I did not authorize
those extra musicians.
You'll get paid
when I get paid.
You still work for me, son.
Not anymore.
Hey.
Want out of
your contract?
Pay you for the credit.
Keep your mouth shut.
Never have to see me again.
Ten grand.
Five. Not a penny more.
Fine.
I got plenty more hits in me.
The kid help?
Yeah, sure. Sure, he helped.
But he couldn't handle
his own business.
Hell, I've had gold records
since he d*ed.
I'm a master at what I do.
You know who loaned him the
money for the orchestra?
There's only one bank in Philly
a black musician
would have went to for that kinda cash.
The Bank of Geraldine.
The Liquor Control Board
couldn't ID our label,
but I got a list
of local distributors
that would have shipped
the dark bottles back in .
Well, they can I.D. it,
maybe they know where
the bottle was shipped.
I already sent
them the label.
Had an interesting chat
with my buddy in Vice.
Geraldine was more
than a numbers runner.
You don't say.
Yeah, investigated her a few
years back for loan sharking.
Not enough to charge her,
I take it.
No, but one sap they picked up
begged to stay in lockdown.
Scared her g*ons would break
his legs over bucks.
Billy owed
a lot more than that.
That's why he needed
money from Ronde.
Maybe heading to pay her
back when he got jumped.
Hey, come on, Serpico.
It's your lucky day.
Time for some
real detective work.
Nice to see you
again, Queen Bee.
Don't see numbers
running on the menu.
I told you
everything I know about Billy.
Left out you were pretty heavy
in the loan sharking game.
Not afraid to pop
some kneecaps.
Billy owed you
some major coin.
Okay, you got a warrant?
Oh, you want a warrant?
That's cool.
Yeah, it'll just take,
say, a few weeks.
In the meantime, your
friendly neighborhood officer
will stand post,
make sure
business is on the up and up.
Okay, all right, listen.
Billy did owe me money.
And he paid me back.
Only his timing
couldn't have been worse.
Oh, hey.
Hey. What you
doing here, sweetie?
Um, hey, Geraldine.
I got your money. $ , .
It's all there.
You can count it.
No, th-that's fine. Um, thanks.
Thanks. Thanks, sweetie.
I've never seen Tom so shook up.
I mean, he had
a reputation to protect.
That's a pretty big scandal,
you hitting it
with the Reverend.
Not my proudest moment.
But being with him made me feel
better about myself.
Tom know Billy saw
the cufflinks?
I ed, said he hadn't,
and Tom didn't believe me.
So, he went
after him?
I don't know for certain.
I mean, considering
what happened...
I sure hope not.
Hey, Billy didn't take from
the church, but get this.
Clerk said she got
an anonymous donation
right after Billy d*ed with
orders for his headstone.
$ , bucks.
That's the exact amount
Billy had on him.
Found where our label came from.
Philadelphia Winery.
Communal wine.
Explains why our label
wasn't in a state store.
Oh, it was shipped
to church supply shops,
including one down the street
from Tom's church.
Father catches son
on the street,
and they get into an argument.
Dad gets the last word.
Well, it looks like
that anonymous donation was made
with blood money.
Told us you didn't
know anything about a place
called The Hive, Tom.
That's true.
So you don't know anything
about Geraldine Watkins, either?
Miss Watkins is a part
of the congregation.
Has been for years.
On Sunday, sure.
But you were tending flock
with a separate congregation on the side.
Believe me, I've been making amends over that
for years.
Recognize this?
Bottle of wine
from our church.
Same kind of bottle
that k*lled Billy.
Must have hurt when he found out
you were a liar and a cheat.
Not to mention a
hypocrite, Tom.
I know I was flawed
as a husband and as a preacher,
but I loved my son.
Did you go after
Billy that night, Tom?
I did.
Searched all over.
I only wish it would have gone
differently when I found him.
I was at the house.
Mother said you
packed some things.
Everything okay, son?
Something on your mind?
I'm leaving home, Dad.
I'm gonna start my life away
from your church.
You'll do no such thing.
The music I do--
it's not some sin.
It's me.
You'd know that
if you'd just listen to it.
What does it profit a man
to gain the whole world...
The whole world
...and lose his soul?
I can quote scripture, too.
I just see things different.
What I do-- it's like
my own sermon, you know?
How dare
you disgrace me like this.
How am I disgracing you?
Hanging with that element.
Going around town,
borrowing money.
How do you know about that, huh?
From Geraldine?
You've got no right
to question me, boy.
I'm your father.
Then act like it for once.
Your brother's looking down
on you now.
I'm not Tommy!
Don't you get it?
He told me he was glad
that he got drafted.
Don't you talk
about your brother.
So he could get away from you.
They took the wrong son.
You judge me,
but your preaching is
as empty as your soul.
The sins of the father do visit
the son.
What did you do
after Billy left, Tom?
Went home... to my wife.
Couldn't even look her
in the eye.
VERA: One thing
keeps troubling us.
A stranger makes a donation
for Billy's headstone, and
you're cool with it?
That headstone was gorgeous.
It was inscribed with Psalm .
"The Lord is good to all,
and his tender mercies..."
"...are on all his works."
Whoever did that knew my son
better than me.
All he wanted was my acceptance.
And I couldn't give it to him.
JEFFRIES:
Billy has a son who wants to meet you.
Maybe now you got
a second chance.
Who else had access
to the wine, Tom?
RUSH:
<i]We heard it was</i]
the choir director.
StStilis.
VALENS:
We got this
at the church.
Who is that listed
as the choir director from ' to ' ?
Delia Patterson.
You don't recognize
your own mother, Chandra?
What does any of this have
to do with Billy?
It was exciting being at
the studio with Billy, huh?
The one time, yeah,
but...
It wasn't for you.
(sighs)
I always just felt better
in the church.
But we got the contracts
from Ronde's office.
You didn't leave your backup
gig, like you told us.
You were fired about a
week after Billy d*ed.
That's why you dedicated
your talents to the church.
You might have had the talent,
but you didn't have the look.
VALENS:
You were only there
in the first place
'cause of Billy.
Without him, you were nothing.
RUSH:
In fact,
you were always overlooked.
By Ronde, then by Billy.
Billy never overlooked me.
Lot of pressure on Billy--
the church, the studio.
I'm sure trying
to help you added to it.
Good thing he had support
from someone like Beatrice.
What?! Why?
Well, she loved him.
Love?! Please.
She didn't even know him.
Paid for his headstone
after he d*ed.
She didn't pay for it. I...
VALENS:
Kept hearing about
this headstone.
Wanted to see it
for ourselves.
RUSH:
"The Lord is good to all, and
his tender mercies
are on all his works."
Psalm .
An ode to Billy.
Your atonement.
Now, how'd you pay
for it, Chandra?
With the exact amount
Billy had on him when
he was k*lled?
The groundskeeper
at the cemetery
says you're there
at least once a month.
I loved Billy.
Ever since I was little,
he was there for me.
RUSH:
And when Billy
needed you, you were there
for him, weren't you?
He called,
said he needed a ride
to the bus station.
You don't understand.
I couldn't lose him.
He was the only one
who believed in me.
Ooh! Thought I'd have
to walk the whole way.
Owe you tons.
Oh, it's not a problem.
Why you jumping to get to
the bus station anyway?
Got to get to Baltimore.
Finally stood up
to my old man, Chandra.
I'm gonna move out
on my own.
Really?
And look.
I told Ronde
to kiss my ass,
and he actually paid me.
Shove it, Ronde.
But you're still gonna work
for him, though, right?
What?!
(scoffs)
No.
I'm going to do my <i]own</i] thing.
But you're the only one
promoting me there.
You said we were gonna make
a record together.
I believed you, Billy.
And we can someday.
Someday?
When?
Without you around,
I'm just a ghost.
You can't just leave.
I have to.
I'm gonna go get Beatrice
and bring her back here,
so we can start
a label.
Beatrice?
You know, it's because of her
that I'm...
I have the guts to do all this.
Because of her?
Some a-assistant wants to leech off of you 'cause
she knows you'll be something?!
No, it's not
like that at all.
She believes in me.
<i]I</i] believe in you.
She's pregnant.
(gasps)
And I want
to be with her.
This is something that
I need to do.
(tires screeching)
No.
We make... We make magic,
Billy.
You know...
You know what I can do.
You're the only one.
Chandra, calm down.
You said... You said
we were gonna make it...
Calm down.
...together.
It'll be okay.
You're great.
We'll make a record someday.
This is not about the record.
I'm sorry.
♪ This is our fork in the road ♪
♪ Love's last episode ♪
♪ There's nowhere to go ♪
♪ Oh, no ♪
♪ You made your choice ♪
♪ Now it's up to me ♪
♪ To bow out gracefully ♪
♪ Though you hold the key ♪
♪ But, baby ♪
♪ Whenever you call me ♪
♪ I'll be there ♪
♪ Whenever you want me ♪
♪ I'll be there ♪
♪ Whenever you need me ♪
♪ I'll be there ♪
♪ I'll be around ♪
♪ I knew just what to say ♪
♪ Now I found out today ♪
♪ Oh, the words
had slipped away ♪
♪ But I know
there's always a chance ♪
♪ A tiny spark
will remain, yeah ♪
♪ And sparks turn into flames ♪
♪ And love can burn once again ♪
♪ But I know you know ♪
♪ Whenever you call me,
I'll be there ♪
♪ Whenever
you want me, I'll be there ♪
♪ I'll be around ♪