Treme s02e08 Episode Script
Can I Change My Mind?
I hope that's good news.
It is.
You're still negative, Ladonna.
Oh thank you, Jesus.
I've been praying.
Lord, I've been praying.
I have to take more tests? You are done with all of that.
- And the medications? - Just finish the last course of antibiotics.
Oh my God.
- You're smoking more.
- You can tell? And your blood pressure is too high.
I'm gonna have the doctor write you a prescription - before you have a stroke.
- I aim to quit.
- Mm-hmm.
- Soon.
How are things with you and your husband? Not great.
He's a patient man, but I just Couldn't tell him, - you know? - He needs to know.
This will help, knowing that I'm not I won't have to explain.
- Protection? - Huh! We ain't even getting that far.
I think you need to talk to someone, you and Mr.
Williams.
I know some wonderful counselors.
Okay.
Let me think about that.
Deep breath.
Again.
hanging in the Treme watching people sashay past my steps by my porch in front of my door church bells are ringing choirs are singing while the preachers groan and the sisters moan in a blessed tone - mm-hmm - Yeah down in the Treme just me and my baby we're all going crazy while jamming and having fun trumpet bells ringing bass drum is swinging as the trombone groans and the big horn moans and there's a saxophone down in the Treme it's me and my baby we're all going crazy while jamming and having fun down in the Treme it's me and my baby we're all going crazy - while jamming and having fun.
- Whoo! - Music lovers, storm-tossed comrades - All right.
Yeah.
- Citizens of a tattered who dat nation.
- That's us.
It was Eldridge Cleaver-- Or Ward Cleaver, possibly June Cleaver, but definitely not the Beaver-- Who declared that if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
This is the world debut of DJ Davis and the brassy knoll.
And we are definitely part of the problem! The road home ain't no road home - I'm sorry, you need a form - But no, man, see - I'm sorry, you need a form - But no, man, see - I'm sorry, you need a form - No, man, see I been patient and waiting here a long time up in this long line, like I'm trying to use the John but I'm just trying to get my little nickel and dime but they can't bring back what I lost up in this city of mine, shit I ain't got no paperwork, Katrina came and left with it she took the house, the clothes and all of my fillies she probably would've took my life if I didn't take it with me but I ain't let her get me, no, I ain't let her get me - Sounds good.
- Don't they just? - You seem surprised.
- I had my doubts, I do confess.
- Oh yeah.
- Oh yeah, boy.
- Go, Davis! Go, Davis! - Funny how you calling it the road home you left my people in the street, now they all alone wrap 'em up in red tape and fuck with their head you might as well use duct tape and shoot 'em dead so yeah, there ain't really no road home - leaving people wherever you - Had 'em flown - man, ain't you happy all the - Colored folks gone? - oh shit, who you gonna get to - Mow your lawn? Oh no, I know where it's at.
Thanks.
I'll see you then.
- Here you go, ma.
- Who was that, babe? A miss baron From the d.
A.
'S.
- She's the one you've been talking to? - No, a new one, - just assigned.
- Lord, no wonder they can't get a conviction.
- What did she want? - I have to run down there day after tomorrow to meet her.
She said it wouldn't take long.
- You want me to come with you? - No.
- No, I can reschedule.
- No sense in both of us wasting our time.
Oh.
All right.
I'm hurtin' inside, you can't see, look at the hurt in my eyes I done lost everything I own, even the couple alive big ups to everyone that survived, and not one motherfucking word because you standing there lying about the state of the union on my tv last year we got 163 I guess you haters is all I heard, not - Whoo! Yeah! - One fucking word Fellow Americans, I would like to present to you the president of the United States, George w bush - Oh my God! - ln his annual state of the union.
Good to see you, New Orleans.
- Good to see you.
- Asshole! New Orleans, I had some mighty high times here.
Some mighty high times.
You got to love your town.
But any-- - Whoa! - Oh my God.
Hey, how'd you get past the secret service there, fella? Yeah! - Is he good? - Yeah! - Yeah! Yeah! - Whoo! Whoo whoo whoo! Who says I don't like black people? Kanye can't step to me like that.
The fool gonna wake up in Guantanamo.
Wrong for that.
He's wrong for that.
"To the great people of New Orleans" - Yeah, that's us.
- "And the Gulf coast, I say to you" Hand it out right here.
Not one fucking word.
How are you doing, dutchman? - Don.
- Stanley.
How you doing, captain? You all right? I'm sleeping in a trailer, pissing in a porta-potty, cutting my hands-- The hands I play music with-- To shreds.
- Picture that.
- What's not to like, man? Don't forget the mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes so big they can stand flat-footed and fuck turkeys.
And the no-see-ums.
- And tomorrow's payday, y'all.
- Yes sir.
- Tomorrow's back to civilization.
- Mmm.
- I'll buy you lunch.
- Damn straight you will.
Shit.
You and daddy can't cooperate over a damn pot of beans and rice.
No, see, this is gonna work.
I'm gonna write and arrange, produce the sessions.
He gonna front the songs and do his thing.
- His Indian thing? - Yeah.
See what I'm gonna tell him is-- And you and cheri gonna back me up on this-- Is that the label is gonna give us a decent advance and he gonna be cut in for some of that.
- An advance? - Yeah, you know we can't get him to take a dime from us to fix up the damn house.
- I know it.
- Right, and how long road home gonna take? But if he thinks he earned it-- When are you going down there? In a few days.
There's some stuff I gotta line up in New York first.
Boy, you better hope he doesn't find out you lying about that advance.
How's he gonna know? You've gotta treat your instruments like it's your treasure.
Take care of it, it'll take care of you.
- Would you agree, Mr.
batiste? - I say amen to that.
Where's your case, Mr.
batiste? - It's a long story.
- It got stolen, huh? - Something like that.
- Horns? Embouchure.
I'll sing concert b-flat on "la," you sing.
Very nice, strong voice.
Now buzz "la.
" Two, ready, buzz.
Buzz.
- Sing.
- La Thank you very much.
Let's add percussion, please.
Four quarter notes with the band buzz first then sing.
Two and ready.
Buzz.
- La - Good.
Thank you.
Mr.
batiste, would you go and assist the horn section, please? - Yup.
- Do it again, band.
But let's add the bass.
Good posture.
Chin up, flutes, parallel to the floor.
Ready, buzz.
- La - All right, tighten the corners of your mouth.
- Keep your chin flat.
- La Robert, that's good lip tension, - but blow out faster.
- La All right, blowing from your belly not your chest.
Your belly button out.
- Good.
Buzz.
- La Just tell her another 5%.
Uh-huh.
Another 5%.
And if she has a painter she can recommend? Thank you.
Mr.
king, sorry to keep you waiting.
- No problem.
- Umm - You were in the army? - Military police, - two tours of Iraq.
- Investigating or just locking up drunks? Investigating mostly.
Some of the other.
- Are you from here? - Algiers, born and raised.
Fischer before they tore it down.
And you're not interested in police work anymore? Not the best time to go that way, you know what I mean? Well, to be honest, I don't know if this case is going anywhere.
I gave it up once already and the law clinic came back to me with a similar case that might be related, so I told the Abreu family that I'd take it back - on a contingency basis.
- I can't work on contingency.
I gotta get paid whether it goes anywhere or not.
I understand.
Believe me, I have plenty of work.
I can afford to hire a first-rate, world-class investigator - such as yourself.
- I'm worth it.
Can you start tomorrow? I can start today.
Happy people everywhere make it hard to sing the blues until Mardi-- That's nice.
- You think? - Yeah.
Yeah yeah yeah.
G-minor.
- If I may-- - All that music in the air How many hundreds of times in a row Happy people everywhere Have y'all played that since yesterday? - Make it hard to sing the blues - Did I say hundreds? That would be a very very very conservative estimate.
Hey, you have to share this with the world.
Yoo-hoo! Test drive this in front of a crowd.
Harley, tell her! You're right.
We gotta play in public.
Okay.
Yeah, but only if you're not there.
If I see you, I'ma fuck up.
Well, then I'll just stand in the back.
No.
No.
- No.
No.
- Okay.
All that music in the air Happy people everywhere - make it hard to sing the blues - Hey.
- Hey.
- How you doing? - Not too bad.
- Hold on just a second.
- I'm gonna take this.
I gotta take this.
Yeah.
- Oh, by all means.
- I know I ain't got the time - No no, I'd love to help.
- To be sitting - Susan's working on it, but if you could just go see Jacques.
I appreciate it.
Bye.
Dude, I work in the best restaurant in New York City.
I am at the forefront of a new age of dining, the new paradigm.
Then I've got to cook on this electric piece of shit.
A little hyperbolic, but I don't necessarily disagree.
It's really that good-- Lucky peach? It's not just that it's good, it's-- It's different.
It's something totally new.
It-- It's fine dining, but it's not.
Right? Am I right? It has none of the pretention of, like, le Bernardin.
- No offense.
- Ooh.
None taken, but you loved it.
I did.
I did.
It's just-- It's fucking michelin-level food over a fucking counter.
We cook for other cooks.
I mean half our customers after 11:00 are other chefs.
Your chef and yours come to mine to eat our fucking food.
That is something totally new.
You'll see.
All right.
And voila.
- All right.
- Scrapple from the apple-- But with a twist.
- Scrapple, my favorite.
- Everything but the oink.
- The squeal.
- The oink.
A new take on an old standby.
Mmm.
What is that, ginger? Cilantro, yummy.
It'd be good with grits.
- Shit.
- What? What's wrong with it? Imagine if we worked on this at lucky peach, right? If we all worked on this idea together? Scrapple-- It'd be transcendent.
I'm telling you-- My chef, he's doing something special.
We are doing something special.
But this is shit.
- Whoa! - Dude, don't throw that away.
- We'll eat it.
- Really? Take it, you fucking jackals.
- You sicken me.
- Thank you.
The cops tell the Abreus that their son was found on Marais street, died during the storm, exact date unknown, 'cause of death undetermined.
Sorry.
That doesn't sit so well with them, so-- So they asked you to look into it.
It turns out Joey Abreu died inside Robideaux's, not on the street, with a gunshot wound to his head.
The investigating officer's report, along with several casings, has gone missing - and nobody knows where.
- Oh man.
So we poster Joey's face all around the area, find a young man who was in the store when the cops came in and started beating people.
He see Abreu in the store? No, and he says he didn't hear any gunshots either.
But he can't or won't I.
D.
The cops but I talked to two first district officers-- Holy shit.
They confirmed it? The ass-kicking, not the killing.
One of the officers took some rifle fire-- Shot up his squad car-- And then he came back to Robideaux's with a posse.
And that's when they cleared the store? And then some of them-- No names yet-- Chased a bunch of project knuckleheads back in over here including a career criminal by the name of Leon seals.
Tomorrow after we get out.
- Tonight.
- We've got school tomorrow.
- I've got an algebra test.
- It's a quiz.
You're such a wuss.
We can't get fucked up tonight.
Come here.
You sure? Is someone home? - Miss Beaulieu? - Yeah? I'm Toni Bernette.
This is Anthony king.
We're here to talk to you about Leon seals.
We'll come back tomorrow stars are tracking us all the way things are changing here every day I'm okay and the sky is still blue the way I see it, we make a choice take or leave it, just believe it tell me now what are you gonna do? I'm gonna believe it, won't you? hey, I've got to believe it, don't you? I want to believe it, don't you? This is a good place for a mob hit lf it's 1926 and vito corleone still looks like de Niro.
- Yeah.
- This town, man.
Would you rather be in some chain steakhouse out in the 'burbs? Oh, not at all, but once in a while new might be better.
I know one thing, new is definitely cheaper.
You guys are spending at least half a million a year too much on all your component cable.
- Maybe more than that.
- The cables we get are quality.
Oh come on, please.
The cables you're overpaying for are the very same cables I am offering for less.
They all come from the same taiwanese warehouse.
It's one thing to stiff-arm the chicano shitkicker from Dallas.
But my partner Derek here, he's brought rain for the mayor for a couple elections now and he's waited his turn.
Now he's coming at you with a better deal.
- That's right.
- You're gonna save 50¢ a unit on the I.
S.
D.
N.
Lines - Mmm.
Mmm.
- 40 on the firewire, even more on the component- to-component stuff.
I know that's what you told Oliver, but I have my doubts.
So here you sit, ready to piss off Derek here and Oliver and all their buddies in zulu and all their friends in-- What was it again? - Bold.
- Bold, right.
You're pissing off half the known world to stay with guys who are robbing the city blind.
They must Really be friends.
Tell y'all what-- I think it'd be possible if you raised your price by 50¢ per unit to sell us firewire and component cables.
You want me to raise my prices? I'm trying to save the city money here.
What about the I.
S.
D.
N.
Line? I'd leave that with the people who currently have the contract.
Let them set the prices on those.
- Everybody makes money, huh? - And everyone stays friends.
It's always nice to make new friends.
All right, thank y'all.
Whoo! Nice! Annie, harley, y'all wanna do your song? - I'm game.
- Yeah.
Yeah yeah yeah.
- Come on, it'll be good.
It's a friendly audience.
- They're very sweet.
I-- I don't think so.
I-- It's not ready.
Okay, so it's kinda like bread.
Okay.
All right, all right.
These things take time, y'all.
Next time, okay? All right, so we'll do this instead.
I feel like a kite without a string only my tail to guide me just paper and sticks and tattered sheets waiting on a friendly wind hold all our memories in one hand so tight that you won't let 'em go and in the other hand we pray that the wind and the panic and the rain will all turn to a soft and quiet snow I just feel like we lost something in modern jazz, you know? Somewhere along the way.
Something New Orleans music always held onto, probably 'cause we so damn backward.
But joy, life.
You know what I'm saying? - Yeah, I do.
- Anyway, so I've been going home for months and I didn't even know.
I'm listening to old stuff and then old old stuff.
Then I'm pulling out the library of congress damn recordings.
Pretty soon I'm walking around in my New York apartment singing along with field hollers and shit.
- You know, fife and drum bands.
- Fife and drum bands? Angola chain gang chants and shit, you know? I'm previous to previous to previous.
And I'm damn near driving myself crazy trying to get back to something that I don't even know.
All right.
So finally I end up on Mardi Gras morning with my father under the bridge and I'm hearing those rhythms and at the same time I'm hearing something else.
I'm hearing, you know, just some real jazz from a box-- From a boom box-- In one ear, and at the same time I got the drums and my daddy's calls in the other ear.
Shallow water, oh mama Right? And it fucking knocked me over, all that in my ear at once.
Wow, man.
That's incredible.
I'm feeling that.
I wonder why nobody ever thought to do that before.
Right? See, I knew you'd see it right away.
It's gotta be somebody who comes from the tradition but who could also live outside of it musically like you.
Man, d, I see everything you're saying, but the purists from both sides, how are they gonna take this, man? It's not straight jazz and it's not straight New Orleans.
- They're gonna rip this apart.
- Never mind what the old-time Indians are gonna say.
Well, you can't please them anyway.
Fuck it.
Let's do it.
- I'm down, ya heard.
- All right.
- What are you doing? - Driving you.
No.
No no no no.
You-- You've got patients.
- Nah, I've rescheduled 'em.
- No.
No no no no.
Come on, you've got to go to work, honey.
- Come on, you've got people depending on you.
- No no, you're depending on me.
- Baby.
- This is more important, Ladonna.
Get in the car.
Come on, baby.
Get in the car.
Seat belt.
I heard ya.
I'll be there.
On second thought, get there a half an hour early, show batiste you're not a fuck-up.
Nuh-uh.
You might make an oysterman yet.
Living the dream.
That's enough to get you to the gig tomorrow in one piece.
Come on, man.
I've got rent to pay.
Give me your landlord's number, I'll drop it off for you.
You get the rest at the gig.
Show up late, I'm gonna lay it out on the street and piss on it.
And you are taking me to lunch too.
I'ma hold you to it.
- I said I would.
- You're gonna chip in for the gas too.
Life is a near-death experience hell is right here on this great big earth and it could be a little taste of heaven if we only knew our worth all we got to do want it bad enough push ourself through Hi, we have an appointment with an assistant district attorney, brigitte baron.
And who is the rhythm section gonna be in this thing? Well, maybe Ron Carter, car.
Well, give a thought to maybe getting Uganda on percussion.
Yeah, that's a good idea.
We're gonna record this in New York so-- So you're gonna split this like a banana split? Half in New York, half in New Orleans? That's the point, Mac.
For keyboards, we need somebody who can go both ways, and that's you.
Well, if your ass wasn't a big chief and your pa wasn't a big chief, I would think we might all get a hatchet in the rear of our brain cells.
We good, we good.
My daddy, he gonna call on it.
He gonna do the chants.
You gonna go in the studio with your pa, right? He's gonna like be down with this whole project? - Will be.
- But you ain't asked him yet? Well, this is shakier than I thought it would be.
You and chief Lambreaux in the same room-- Y'all might torch the whole building down before it's over, you know? I mean, I don't wanna hang no overcoats, but-- - It ain't gonna be that bad.
- Just keep telling yourself that shit, you know? Mac, you down? You in, man? Desitively.
You better hurry up and know that.
I would not miss this maneuver for nothing on the planet.
I wanna be the one that lives to tell the tale of this.
It could be a myth.
- Thanks, Mac.
- You got it.
Everything is oaks and herbs, my nerbs.
Apologies for the short notice.
I just wanted to meet you and go over your statement one more time.
It's awkward meeting in court for the first time.
My husband doesn't have to be here, does he? - No, if he doesn't wanna be.
- No no, I'll stay.
- See, baby, you don't have to be-- - I'm here for you, baby.
Go ahead.
We've told their lawyers we intend to go to trial.
We want to convince them it's in their best interests to take a plea.
So I wouldn't have to testify? - Not if they plead.
- And if they don't? We may proceed with the other case first.
There's an additional corroborating witness.
Okay, and if you do that, what? Chances are good that yours will never even come to court.
Wait a minute-- Other case? There's another case? You didn't say anything about another case.
Same perps, same MO.
A woman further up Saint Bernard, convenience store-- Robbery, beating, gang rape.
This is an important case for this office.
We can get these assholes off the street.
God knows how many women-- Mrs.
Williams, do you need a minute? Please.
Take your time.
- Are we ready? - Already been.
Stopped on my way.
I figured she'd be more likely to talk to me on my own.
- Okay, did she? - Like she told the law clinic folks, she saw some cops chase Leon seals into an apartment, heard two shots.
Later on that evening, her brother crept in, found the body.
- The same day as Abreu? - The same day as the cops raided Robideaux's.
We don't know when Abreu was shot.
Could've been before, - could've been after.
- Whose side are you on? I'm just pointing out the holes in our case, like we got casings for one and not the other.
And we got witnesses that won't ID the cops in either.
Yeah, she ain't budging on that.
- So we don't have anything new.
- Yes, we do.
She told me where we could find her brother.
- I thought we were having lunch.
- We are.
I had to stop here and buy me some crabs for my crab boil this weekend.
This is a wholesale place.
What can I say? It's gonna be a big party.
How are you, Cornell? How's everything? I'm good.
This is a friend of mine-- Sonny.
- Sonny, this is Linh.
- Hi.
How are you? I'm good.
I'm good.
You're hopeless, that's what you are.
I need two boxes of your number ones, baby girl.
- Can you hook a brother up? - Ice? - Please.
- Crab boil, huh? - Mmm.
- Am I invited? Baby girl, you're the guest of honor.
You're tripping, son.
All right, all right, all right.
What's up, fellas? - Whoa, what's happening man? - Mario.
- Yo.
- Lance.
- Hey, man.
- What's going on, Cornell? - Tim.
Terrell coming? - Yeah, he said was, you know? - Yeah, I know.
- Who we got tonight, man? - Wanda? - Nah nah, she's doing a blues cruise.
- Mario.
What's up? - Cornell.
I'm good, brother.
Oh! Herman.
Where your wheels? I was counting on a ride home with you.
Man, my car got towed with my drums in it.
- Oh shit, Herm.
- Called everybody I knew to borrow a kit.
- Nobody called me back yet.
- How the fuck you gonna play a gig without drums? I got sticks.
I'll figure something out.
Oh shit.
Hey, straw boss, what's the fine for somebody coming to the gig without their instrument? - Hundred dollar.
- $100.
$100.
You pay my tow, I'll pay your fine.
Shit.
I'll kick your ass.
How about that? I love this fucking song.
- It's so retro.
- Y'all wanna go back and forth across the bridge one more time? - Yes.
Yes, I do.
- All right.
The river.
Oh fuck! Fuck.
Fuck put it out.
Put it out.
- Pull over.
- Oh shit.
Oh, she didn't bat an eye Sing it, baby.
Yeah yeah.
As I packed my bags to leave I thought that she would cry sit around in my room and grieve but, oh, that girl she fooled me this time she acted like I was the last thing on her mind and I just wanna start all over again baby, can I change my mind? I just wanna change my mind baby, can I change my mind? Two salmon, two fluke, one pounded tuna.
I need a concasse now.
Three fluke, three pounded tuna tastings.
- Oui, chef, three pounded tuna.
- On the board, two octopus, one langoustine, one caviar pasta.
- Behind.
- Two salmon.
Where's my scallop back? - Come on.
Let's go, let's go.
- Let's go! Requesting female officer to assist with a search, - The car's been reported stolen.
- It's my uncle's.
Should've told him you were taking it.
Might've given you the keys.
- You wouldn't have to Jack the ignition.
- Kerry.
- Woo.
- Whose shit is this? Nobody steps to it, we charge all y'all.
- It's mine.
- Come on.
Where were y'all headed when we stopped you? We just met them two.
We didn't know they had drugs.
We don't need to say anything.
- My mom's a lawyer.
- You want to play it that way? All right.
Ain't enough you're riding around in a stolen vehicle, you've got an open container of alcohol and you're smelling like a goddamn brewery.
- Who's this belong to? - It's mine.
I think you would agree we have probable cause.
- Do you know what I want? - Chef? Do you have a moment? Of course.
Yes, chef? What is it? You are not happy at le Bernardin.
Oh, chef, I am so grateful and happy to be here.
- You have no idea.
- Listen, it's not right for you.
I can see it.
It's difficult for someone who had his own kitchen - to start again at the bottom.
- Are you firing me? No no, I would never do that, but I'm glad to make some calls for you.
Is there something you are interested in? Something you are thinking about? Um, one of my housemates has been working for David Chang-- Nick.
You met him Mardi Gras night.
Um, anyway, he's excited about it.
I can call David for you.
No problem.
- Well, that's very generous of you.
- He may try you out.
You may like it and stay there.
If not, come back to le Bernardin.
- I don't know what to say.
- You need a place where you can find your own style.
Here, in this position for now, it's not about expressing yourself.
It's about craftmanship.
But with David, if he likes you, anything is possible.
Fire officials say the building was unsecured and it was easy for people to get inside.
- In fact, some may - If I find someone to talk to, - would you come too? - Tracking down the building's owners has been a lengthy process.
In August of last year, the property I wanted to tell you, okay? I wanted to tell you.
I didn't know how.
I should've known.
They way you've been acting, I can't believe I didn't guess.
I'm an idiot.
So when were you ever gonna tell me? I was hoping I wouldn't ever have to.
How many times did I ask you to get rid of that bar? How many times? T you didn't, did you? I didn't, all right? I didn't.
What difference does it make now? Larry? Hello.
Sweetie, what You what? I've been arrested.
God damn it, Sofia.
Where are you? What are you doing over there? What did they arrest you for? Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Don't say anything.
Do you understand me? Not a thing.
Never mind.
Just don't say anything and tell jocelyn that too.
I'll get you out as soon as I can.
I love you.
Hi, uh, judge, this is Toni Bernette.
I'm calling-- Sorry to call so late but my daughter has been arrested in west Jeff and they're taking her to Harvey juvenile detention.
If you get this call, could you give me a call back on this phone? My cell numb.
Thank you.
You were right-- Home cooking.
It's harder to say no when everybody from around the way.
Besides, you brought a better deal with you.
Oh, I'm not sure anyone in that shop is even interested in a better deal, if you catch my drift.
Saving the city money doesn't seem to be anybody's idea of a priority.
Anyway, you did all you could and I'm grateful.
It doesn't happen without you extending yourself.
Thanks.
Sof.
Family member or legal representation for the defendant in the courtroom? Here, your honor.
- You are? - Antoinette Bernette.
Her mother.
Mr.
George Cotrell? That's me.
A hard man to find.
I stopped by your house yesterday, left you a note.
Ah.
It says "call Anthony king.
" That's me.
Can I talk to you? Sure.
I'm working for an attorney.
She has a similar case of a client who may-- Just may have been shot by the cops the same day seals was.
Your sister's saying she saw three or four cops chase seals into an apartment in the Iberville then heard two shots, sees the cops come out but not seals.
She says she told you about it and later on you snuck in there, found him shot dead.
I didn't sneak over there.
I waited till it got dark, went over there and he was dead.
- Why didn't you report it? - Whoa whoa.
Were you here? You have any idea of what it was like here? - Hmm? - No sir.
My family was.
I was in Iraq.
It's okay, chief.
We were evacuated to Oklahoma the next day.
Soon as I got to a phone, I called it in about the body.
Your sister said she couldn't I.
D.
The officers, but they were first district most likely.
What are you saying? She mention any names? Talk to me, God damn it.
What were you doing in a stolen car? - Riding around.
- Who are these two boys? Just two guys we met at a bar.
A bar? What-- What the hell are you doing getting into a car with two older boys you don't even know?! I want an answer! What, you think that's smart? - No! - How long have you been smoking marijuana? Get-- Get-- Get-- Sofia! - Let go! - Where are you going? - Where? - Why did he do it? Do you know? Can you tell me? I can't.
I-I-- I don't-- I-- I'm sorry, baby.
You can't blame yourself.
You know that.
I know, that's what everyone says.
But it's kind of hard not to.
- He loved you so much.
- If he loved me so much, then why did he leave me? Why did he do it? That's the question, isn't it? Wh-- How-- How could he do this? To us? To-- To you? I think about it all the time.
What-- What did I do? What could I have done differently? Why didn't I see it coming? I-- I've asked myself a million times, sof, and I just don't know.
I just-- I don't fucking know! Mom.
I'm not crying.
I'm too fucking mad to cry.
Mama, come on.
It's okay, mama.
- Hey, Mr.
batiste.
- Hey, Robert.
Your embouchure's getting better.
- Do you feel it? - Yeah.
- From the belly, right? - Push in my belly button.
Yeah.
Right.
"Twinkle twinkle.
" - Nice tone.
- Yeah? Yeah, but you gotta keep shedding.
Damn, boy, what happened up there? Huh.
My brother hit me on my head with a coconut.
Duck next time.
So tell me about your knife skills.
They're good.
Not great, but solid good, I think.
I don't know what to say other than my chef thought I should talk to you, that I'd be right for this place.
He said I might be happy here.
Well, Eric's awesome, but happy? I'm not fucking happy.
Who's happy? I don't even know what that is.
Is that a yes or a no? Umm, I guess why don't you trail over there with bizcocho and millhouse and we'll take a look at your mise en place and knife skills and shit.
Just 'cause we're a casual restaurant doesn't mean we don't hold ourselves to fine dining standards.
We try to do things the right way.
That usually means doing things the long, hard, stupid way.
All right, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow at 8:00.
Thank you, chef.
Happy? Jesus.
- She asleep? - Finally.
I think she got a touch of something.
If I had a cold, sore throat, couldn't sleep, my daddy would give me a spoonful of whiskey and honey.
Wasn't but five years old.
- Explains a lot.
- Huh? - How was your day? - Fine.
- Okay, what's wrong? - Another Mardi Gras, Antoine - Yeah? - Come and gone, we still here.
I know.
- We gotta do something about that.
- We got money coming in.
You find a place, we'll sign a lease.
- The ball's in your court.
- Waiting to see if your job's gonna pan out.
O ye of little faith.
- Seriously? - Yeah, I'm-- I'm into it, baby.
I'm making progress with these kids.
I'm feeling it.
So you're really gonna stick it out? They really dug the bands in zulu.
I'm telling you, it made a deep impression-- I mean them and me.
Man, I looked at them kids and I looked at my boys I fucked up, desiree.
- What d'you mean? - They don't play.
I mean my daddy played.
His daddy played.
I play.
- They don't play.
- Their mama didn't want them to.
I should've insisted.
They're Batistes, one of the first families in New Orleans music.
Alcide and Randall I failed 'em, desiree.
I failed them.
- You're in a good mood.
- Listen to the music, coz.
How can you not be? It's got that Latin tinge to it.
Delmond Lambreaux, ladies and gentlemen.
Leroy Jones and the palm court jazz band.
May I have more applause? Thank you.
- Yeah! - We'll beight back.
Leroy Jones, thank you, brother.
Thank you.
Always a pleasure.
Sit in on the second set? You ain't kicking me out? A'ight then.
I just closed a deal with the city worth 300 grand a year.
Maybe more next year when I Jack the price.
- Sweet.
- All you gotta do is come to the party with a few friends.
And all they ask for in return is? Coz, they don't ask.
They never ask.
They don't have to.
They expect you, when all is sa and done, to do the right fucking thing.
And I always do the right fucking thing.
- Abita all right? - Oh, fine, thank you.
Cheers.
- Your daughter? - Mmm.
- Sofia.
- She doesn't look so happy.
Right now she's grounded until Mardi Gras 2011.
And then only the day parades.
I, uh, talked to Cotrell.
He gave me a name.
His sister said she recognized one of the cops, a black cop named Billy Wilson.
The others were white, she didn't know 'em.
It's a start.
- How you holding up? - It's hard to sleep.
- The food sucks.
- Yeah, I imagine so.
And please thank janette for the cash.
Now at least I can buy candy bars at the commissary.
That sucks.
Sorry.
Wish I could bring you a roast chicken, some rosemary potatoes, a nice shiraz to go with it.
That would be nice.
What does janette say about an immigration lawyer? They're working on it.
The good ones are expensive and busy these days, so Hey, maybe we'll throw you a benefit.
Like a rent party-- A bail party.
My band.
I could write a song for you.
"Free Jacques Jhoni.
" Take this administration to task for their repressive immigration policies, huh? - What do you think? - I don't know.
Sounds good, Davis, but Maybe you shouldn't mention my name.
Donald is perfect.
He knows the tradition, obviously.
He's at the forefront of contemporary jazz.
Mac on the keys.
I could play bass on this.
No, we already asked Ron Carter.
Well, he all right, I guess.
- Ron Carter? - Mmm.
Come on now.
- Carl Allen on the drums.
- Can he drum second line? Carl Allen can drum anything he wants.
A lot of great drummers get lost when it comes to doing how we do down here.
Daddy, I got the band Just need you to front the thing, do the calls and chants.
The record label really wants this.
They've been on me about a New Orleans album ever since the storm.
There's gonna be a real advance.
Money for me, money for you to start here, get an electrician in, or seal up the roof.
Yeah, you know, it could work if I did it.
Huh.
You know, too bad you ain't Indian.
Say what now? What d'you mean? I mean you ain't masked since you was 15.
Oh, for the love of God.
You think I'ma let you do this with the tradition and you ain't part of the tradition? It's one thing for y'all to try out something like this if you're part of us, if you're like me or like Donald.
You know, Mac been around it for years, - but you-- - Fine fine.
I promise I'll start sewing right now, God damn it.
Okay? I'll start sewing tonight.
You mask next year, then we'll see.
Daddy.
Daddy, the record label wants this record now, not next year.
If you don't do it, then-- I'll just get somebody else to do it.
Another big chief.
Little Walter, hmm? - Monk Boudreaux.
- Monk, huh? You got a problem with monk? No, monk is great.
So is Walter.
- I'm just saying-- - What you saying? They uptown.
Now you want this to sound like the guardians of the flame or do you want it to sound like creole wild west or golden eagles? - The guardians.
- Well then.
Most folks won't know the difference, but we will.
- Well, if you don't do it-- - I ain't say I'm not gonna do it.
You didn't say you were gonna do it neither.
I got to know it's right first.
Gentilly to the vux carre lower nine, central city, uptown singing jocomo fee-na-nay this city won't ever drown doesn't matter, 'cause there ain't no way I'm ever gonna leave this town this city won't wash away this city won't ever drown.
Thank you.
Well You ready? Oh God.
Come on, it's now or never.
A-one, two, you know what to do.
See my shadow on the wall it don't look like me at all it hung down intension melting on the ground saddest girl I ever saw there's so much I need to do 'fore I'm over losing you but I can't bother with it all - until - After Mardi Gras 'cause all that music in the air happy people everywhere make it hard to sing the blues until Mardi Gras is through.
I blothrough here and the music goes down and around And it comes out here press the first valve down and the music goes down and around And it comes out here press the middle valve down and the music goes down and around below.
listen to the jazz come out
It is.
You're still negative, Ladonna.
Oh thank you, Jesus.
I've been praying.
Lord, I've been praying.
I have to take more tests? You are done with all of that.
- And the medications? - Just finish the last course of antibiotics.
Oh my God.
- You're smoking more.
- You can tell? And your blood pressure is too high.
I'm gonna have the doctor write you a prescription - before you have a stroke.
- I aim to quit.
- Mm-hmm.
- Soon.
How are things with you and your husband? Not great.
He's a patient man, but I just Couldn't tell him, - you know? - He needs to know.
This will help, knowing that I'm not I won't have to explain.
- Protection? - Huh! We ain't even getting that far.
I think you need to talk to someone, you and Mr.
Williams.
I know some wonderful counselors.
Okay.
Let me think about that.
Deep breath.
Again.
hanging in the Treme watching people sashay past my steps by my porch in front of my door church bells are ringing choirs are singing while the preachers groan and the sisters moan in a blessed tone - mm-hmm - Yeah down in the Treme just me and my baby we're all going crazy while jamming and having fun trumpet bells ringing bass drum is swinging as the trombone groans and the big horn moans and there's a saxophone down in the Treme it's me and my baby we're all going crazy while jamming and having fun down in the Treme it's me and my baby we're all going crazy - while jamming and having fun.
- Whoo! - Music lovers, storm-tossed comrades - All right.
Yeah.
- Citizens of a tattered who dat nation.
- That's us.
It was Eldridge Cleaver-- Or Ward Cleaver, possibly June Cleaver, but definitely not the Beaver-- Who declared that if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
This is the world debut of DJ Davis and the brassy knoll.
And we are definitely part of the problem! The road home ain't no road home - I'm sorry, you need a form - But no, man, see - I'm sorry, you need a form - But no, man, see - I'm sorry, you need a form - No, man, see I been patient and waiting here a long time up in this long line, like I'm trying to use the John but I'm just trying to get my little nickel and dime but they can't bring back what I lost up in this city of mine, shit I ain't got no paperwork, Katrina came and left with it she took the house, the clothes and all of my fillies she probably would've took my life if I didn't take it with me but I ain't let her get me, no, I ain't let her get me - Sounds good.
- Don't they just? - You seem surprised.
- I had my doubts, I do confess.
- Oh yeah.
- Oh yeah, boy.
- Go, Davis! Go, Davis! - Funny how you calling it the road home you left my people in the street, now they all alone wrap 'em up in red tape and fuck with their head you might as well use duct tape and shoot 'em dead so yeah, there ain't really no road home - leaving people wherever you - Had 'em flown - man, ain't you happy all the - Colored folks gone? - oh shit, who you gonna get to - Mow your lawn? Oh no, I know where it's at.
Thanks.
I'll see you then.
- Here you go, ma.
- Who was that, babe? A miss baron From the d.
A.
'S.
- She's the one you've been talking to? - No, a new one, - just assigned.
- Lord, no wonder they can't get a conviction.
- What did she want? - I have to run down there day after tomorrow to meet her.
She said it wouldn't take long.
- You want me to come with you? - No.
- No, I can reschedule.
- No sense in both of us wasting our time.
Oh.
All right.
I'm hurtin' inside, you can't see, look at the hurt in my eyes I done lost everything I own, even the couple alive big ups to everyone that survived, and not one motherfucking word because you standing there lying about the state of the union on my tv last year we got 163 I guess you haters is all I heard, not - Whoo! Yeah! - One fucking word Fellow Americans, I would like to present to you the president of the United States, George w bush - Oh my God! - ln his annual state of the union.
Good to see you, New Orleans.
- Good to see you.
- Asshole! New Orleans, I had some mighty high times here.
Some mighty high times.
You got to love your town.
But any-- - Whoa! - Oh my God.
Hey, how'd you get past the secret service there, fella? Yeah! - Is he good? - Yeah! - Yeah! Yeah! - Whoo! Whoo whoo whoo! Who says I don't like black people? Kanye can't step to me like that.
The fool gonna wake up in Guantanamo.
Wrong for that.
He's wrong for that.
"To the great people of New Orleans" - Yeah, that's us.
- "And the Gulf coast, I say to you" Hand it out right here.
Not one fucking word.
How are you doing, dutchman? - Don.
- Stanley.
How you doing, captain? You all right? I'm sleeping in a trailer, pissing in a porta-potty, cutting my hands-- The hands I play music with-- To shreds.
- Picture that.
- What's not to like, man? Don't forget the mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes so big they can stand flat-footed and fuck turkeys.
And the no-see-ums.
- And tomorrow's payday, y'all.
- Yes sir.
- Tomorrow's back to civilization.
- Mmm.
- I'll buy you lunch.
- Damn straight you will.
Shit.
You and daddy can't cooperate over a damn pot of beans and rice.
No, see, this is gonna work.
I'm gonna write and arrange, produce the sessions.
He gonna front the songs and do his thing.
- His Indian thing? - Yeah.
See what I'm gonna tell him is-- And you and cheri gonna back me up on this-- Is that the label is gonna give us a decent advance and he gonna be cut in for some of that.
- An advance? - Yeah, you know we can't get him to take a dime from us to fix up the damn house.
- I know it.
- Right, and how long road home gonna take? But if he thinks he earned it-- When are you going down there? In a few days.
There's some stuff I gotta line up in New York first.
Boy, you better hope he doesn't find out you lying about that advance.
How's he gonna know? You've gotta treat your instruments like it's your treasure.
Take care of it, it'll take care of you.
- Would you agree, Mr.
batiste? - I say amen to that.
Where's your case, Mr.
batiste? - It's a long story.
- It got stolen, huh? - Something like that.
- Horns? Embouchure.
I'll sing concert b-flat on "la," you sing.
Very nice, strong voice.
Now buzz "la.
" Two, ready, buzz.
Buzz.
- Sing.
- La Thank you very much.
Let's add percussion, please.
Four quarter notes with the band buzz first then sing.
Two and ready.
Buzz.
- La - Good.
Thank you.
Mr.
batiste, would you go and assist the horn section, please? - Yup.
- Do it again, band.
But let's add the bass.
Good posture.
Chin up, flutes, parallel to the floor.
Ready, buzz.
- La - All right, tighten the corners of your mouth.
- Keep your chin flat.
- La Robert, that's good lip tension, - but blow out faster.
- La All right, blowing from your belly not your chest.
Your belly button out.
- Good.
Buzz.
- La Just tell her another 5%.
Uh-huh.
Another 5%.
And if she has a painter she can recommend? Thank you.
Mr.
king, sorry to keep you waiting.
- No problem.
- Umm - You were in the army? - Military police, - two tours of Iraq.
- Investigating or just locking up drunks? Investigating mostly.
Some of the other.
- Are you from here? - Algiers, born and raised.
Fischer before they tore it down.
And you're not interested in police work anymore? Not the best time to go that way, you know what I mean? Well, to be honest, I don't know if this case is going anywhere.
I gave it up once already and the law clinic came back to me with a similar case that might be related, so I told the Abreu family that I'd take it back - on a contingency basis.
- I can't work on contingency.
I gotta get paid whether it goes anywhere or not.
I understand.
Believe me, I have plenty of work.
I can afford to hire a first-rate, world-class investigator - such as yourself.
- I'm worth it.
Can you start tomorrow? I can start today.
Happy people everywhere make it hard to sing the blues until Mardi-- That's nice.
- You think? - Yeah.
Yeah yeah yeah.
G-minor.
- If I may-- - All that music in the air How many hundreds of times in a row Happy people everywhere Have y'all played that since yesterday? - Make it hard to sing the blues - Did I say hundreds? That would be a very very very conservative estimate.
Hey, you have to share this with the world.
Yoo-hoo! Test drive this in front of a crowd.
Harley, tell her! You're right.
We gotta play in public.
Okay.
Yeah, but only if you're not there.
If I see you, I'ma fuck up.
Well, then I'll just stand in the back.
No.
No.
- No.
No.
- Okay.
All that music in the air Happy people everywhere - make it hard to sing the blues - Hey.
- Hey.
- How you doing? - Not too bad.
- Hold on just a second.
- I'm gonna take this.
I gotta take this.
Yeah.
- Oh, by all means.
- I know I ain't got the time - No no, I'd love to help.
- To be sitting - Susan's working on it, but if you could just go see Jacques.
I appreciate it.
Bye.
Dude, I work in the best restaurant in New York City.
I am at the forefront of a new age of dining, the new paradigm.
Then I've got to cook on this electric piece of shit.
A little hyperbolic, but I don't necessarily disagree.
It's really that good-- Lucky peach? It's not just that it's good, it's-- It's different.
It's something totally new.
It-- It's fine dining, but it's not.
Right? Am I right? It has none of the pretention of, like, le Bernardin.
- No offense.
- Ooh.
None taken, but you loved it.
I did.
I did.
It's just-- It's fucking michelin-level food over a fucking counter.
We cook for other cooks.
I mean half our customers after 11:00 are other chefs.
Your chef and yours come to mine to eat our fucking food.
That is something totally new.
You'll see.
All right.
And voila.
- All right.
- Scrapple from the apple-- But with a twist.
- Scrapple, my favorite.
- Everything but the oink.
- The squeal.
- The oink.
A new take on an old standby.
Mmm.
What is that, ginger? Cilantro, yummy.
It'd be good with grits.
- Shit.
- What? What's wrong with it? Imagine if we worked on this at lucky peach, right? If we all worked on this idea together? Scrapple-- It'd be transcendent.
I'm telling you-- My chef, he's doing something special.
We are doing something special.
But this is shit.
- Whoa! - Dude, don't throw that away.
- We'll eat it.
- Really? Take it, you fucking jackals.
- You sicken me.
- Thank you.
The cops tell the Abreus that their son was found on Marais street, died during the storm, exact date unknown, 'cause of death undetermined.
Sorry.
That doesn't sit so well with them, so-- So they asked you to look into it.
It turns out Joey Abreu died inside Robideaux's, not on the street, with a gunshot wound to his head.
The investigating officer's report, along with several casings, has gone missing - and nobody knows where.
- Oh man.
So we poster Joey's face all around the area, find a young man who was in the store when the cops came in and started beating people.
He see Abreu in the store? No, and he says he didn't hear any gunshots either.
But he can't or won't I.
D.
The cops but I talked to two first district officers-- Holy shit.
They confirmed it? The ass-kicking, not the killing.
One of the officers took some rifle fire-- Shot up his squad car-- And then he came back to Robideaux's with a posse.
And that's when they cleared the store? And then some of them-- No names yet-- Chased a bunch of project knuckleheads back in over here including a career criminal by the name of Leon seals.
Tomorrow after we get out.
- Tonight.
- We've got school tomorrow.
- I've got an algebra test.
- It's a quiz.
You're such a wuss.
We can't get fucked up tonight.
Come here.
You sure? Is someone home? - Miss Beaulieu? - Yeah? I'm Toni Bernette.
This is Anthony king.
We're here to talk to you about Leon seals.
We'll come back tomorrow stars are tracking us all the way things are changing here every day I'm okay and the sky is still blue the way I see it, we make a choice take or leave it, just believe it tell me now what are you gonna do? I'm gonna believe it, won't you? hey, I've got to believe it, don't you? I want to believe it, don't you? This is a good place for a mob hit lf it's 1926 and vito corleone still looks like de Niro.
- Yeah.
- This town, man.
Would you rather be in some chain steakhouse out in the 'burbs? Oh, not at all, but once in a while new might be better.
I know one thing, new is definitely cheaper.
You guys are spending at least half a million a year too much on all your component cable.
- Maybe more than that.
- The cables we get are quality.
Oh come on, please.
The cables you're overpaying for are the very same cables I am offering for less.
They all come from the same taiwanese warehouse.
It's one thing to stiff-arm the chicano shitkicker from Dallas.
But my partner Derek here, he's brought rain for the mayor for a couple elections now and he's waited his turn.
Now he's coming at you with a better deal.
- That's right.
- You're gonna save 50¢ a unit on the I.
S.
D.
N.
Lines - Mmm.
Mmm.
- 40 on the firewire, even more on the component- to-component stuff.
I know that's what you told Oliver, but I have my doubts.
So here you sit, ready to piss off Derek here and Oliver and all their buddies in zulu and all their friends in-- What was it again? - Bold.
- Bold, right.
You're pissing off half the known world to stay with guys who are robbing the city blind.
They must Really be friends.
Tell y'all what-- I think it'd be possible if you raised your price by 50¢ per unit to sell us firewire and component cables.
You want me to raise my prices? I'm trying to save the city money here.
What about the I.
S.
D.
N.
Line? I'd leave that with the people who currently have the contract.
Let them set the prices on those.
- Everybody makes money, huh? - And everyone stays friends.
It's always nice to make new friends.
All right, thank y'all.
Whoo! Nice! Annie, harley, y'all wanna do your song? - I'm game.
- Yeah.
Yeah yeah yeah.
- Come on, it'll be good.
It's a friendly audience.
- They're very sweet.
I-- I don't think so.
I-- It's not ready.
Okay, so it's kinda like bread.
Okay.
All right, all right.
These things take time, y'all.
Next time, okay? All right, so we'll do this instead.
I feel like a kite without a string only my tail to guide me just paper and sticks and tattered sheets waiting on a friendly wind hold all our memories in one hand so tight that you won't let 'em go and in the other hand we pray that the wind and the panic and the rain will all turn to a soft and quiet snow I just feel like we lost something in modern jazz, you know? Somewhere along the way.
Something New Orleans music always held onto, probably 'cause we so damn backward.
But joy, life.
You know what I'm saying? - Yeah, I do.
- Anyway, so I've been going home for months and I didn't even know.
I'm listening to old stuff and then old old stuff.
Then I'm pulling out the library of congress damn recordings.
Pretty soon I'm walking around in my New York apartment singing along with field hollers and shit.
- You know, fife and drum bands.
- Fife and drum bands? Angola chain gang chants and shit, you know? I'm previous to previous to previous.
And I'm damn near driving myself crazy trying to get back to something that I don't even know.
All right.
So finally I end up on Mardi Gras morning with my father under the bridge and I'm hearing those rhythms and at the same time I'm hearing something else.
I'm hearing, you know, just some real jazz from a box-- From a boom box-- In one ear, and at the same time I got the drums and my daddy's calls in the other ear.
Shallow water, oh mama Right? And it fucking knocked me over, all that in my ear at once.
Wow, man.
That's incredible.
I'm feeling that.
I wonder why nobody ever thought to do that before.
Right? See, I knew you'd see it right away.
It's gotta be somebody who comes from the tradition but who could also live outside of it musically like you.
Man, d, I see everything you're saying, but the purists from both sides, how are they gonna take this, man? It's not straight jazz and it's not straight New Orleans.
- They're gonna rip this apart.
- Never mind what the old-time Indians are gonna say.
Well, you can't please them anyway.
Fuck it.
Let's do it.
- I'm down, ya heard.
- All right.
- What are you doing? - Driving you.
No.
No no no no.
You-- You've got patients.
- Nah, I've rescheduled 'em.
- No.
No no no no.
Come on, you've got to go to work, honey.
- Come on, you've got people depending on you.
- No no, you're depending on me.
- Baby.
- This is more important, Ladonna.
Get in the car.
Come on, baby.
Get in the car.
Seat belt.
I heard ya.
I'll be there.
On second thought, get there a half an hour early, show batiste you're not a fuck-up.
Nuh-uh.
You might make an oysterman yet.
Living the dream.
That's enough to get you to the gig tomorrow in one piece.
Come on, man.
I've got rent to pay.
Give me your landlord's number, I'll drop it off for you.
You get the rest at the gig.
Show up late, I'm gonna lay it out on the street and piss on it.
And you are taking me to lunch too.
I'ma hold you to it.
- I said I would.
- You're gonna chip in for the gas too.
Life is a near-death experience hell is right here on this great big earth and it could be a little taste of heaven if we only knew our worth all we got to do want it bad enough push ourself through Hi, we have an appointment with an assistant district attorney, brigitte baron.
And who is the rhythm section gonna be in this thing? Well, maybe Ron Carter, car.
Well, give a thought to maybe getting Uganda on percussion.
Yeah, that's a good idea.
We're gonna record this in New York so-- So you're gonna split this like a banana split? Half in New York, half in New Orleans? That's the point, Mac.
For keyboards, we need somebody who can go both ways, and that's you.
Well, if your ass wasn't a big chief and your pa wasn't a big chief, I would think we might all get a hatchet in the rear of our brain cells.
We good, we good.
My daddy, he gonna call on it.
He gonna do the chants.
You gonna go in the studio with your pa, right? He's gonna like be down with this whole project? - Will be.
- But you ain't asked him yet? Well, this is shakier than I thought it would be.
You and chief Lambreaux in the same room-- Y'all might torch the whole building down before it's over, you know? I mean, I don't wanna hang no overcoats, but-- - It ain't gonna be that bad.
- Just keep telling yourself that shit, you know? Mac, you down? You in, man? Desitively.
You better hurry up and know that.
I would not miss this maneuver for nothing on the planet.
I wanna be the one that lives to tell the tale of this.
It could be a myth.
- Thanks, Mac.
- You got it.
Everything is oaks and herbs, my nerbs.
Apologies for the short notice.
I just wanted to meet you and go over your statement one more time.
It's awkward meeting in court for the first time.
My husband doesn't have to be here, does he? - No, if he doesn't wanna be.
- No no, I'll stay.
- See, baby, you don't have to be-- - I'm here for you, baby.
Go ahead.
We've told their lawyers we intend to go to trial.
We want to convince them it's in their best interests to take a plea.
So I wouldn't have to testify? - Not if they plead.
- And if they don't? We may proceed with the other case first.
There's an additional corroborating witness.
Okay, and if you do that, what? Chances are good that yours will never even come to court.
Wait a minute-- Other case? There's another case? You didn't say anything about another case.
Same perps, same MO.
A woman further up Saint Bernard, convenience store-- Robbery, beating, gang rape.
This is an important case for this office.
We can get these assholes off the street.
God knows how many women-- Mrs.
Williams, do you need a minute? Please.
Take your time.
- Are we ready? - Already been.
Stopped on my way.
I figured she'd be more likely to talk to me on my own.
- Okay, did she? - Like she told the law clinic folks, she saw some cops chase Leon seals into an apartment, heard two shots.
Later on that evening, her brother crept in, found the body.
- The same day as Abreu? - The same day as the cops raided Robideaux's.
We don't know when Abreu was shot.
Could've been before, - could've been after.
- Whose side are you on? I'm just pointing out the holes in our case, like we got casings for one and not the other.
And we got witnesses that won't ID the cops in either.
Yeah, she ain't budging on that.
- So we don't have anything new.
- Yes, we do.
She told me where we could find her brother.
- I thought we were having lunch.
- We are.
I had to stop here and buy me some crabs for my crab boil this weekend.
This is a wholesale place.
What can I say? It's gonna be a big party.
How are you, Cornell? How's everything? I'm good.
This is a friend of mine-- Sonny.
- Sonny, this is Linh.
- Hi.
How are you? I'm good.
I'm good.
You're hopeless, that's what you are.
I need two boxes of your number ones, baby girl.
- Can you hook a brother up? - Ice? - Please.
- Crab boil, huh? - Mmm.
- Am I invited? Baby girl, you're the guest of honor.
You're tripping, son.
All right, all right, all right.
What's up, fellas? - Whoa, what's happening man? - Mario.
- Yo.
- Lance.
- Hey, man.
- What's going on, Cornell? - Tim.
Terrell coming? - Yeah, he said was, you know? - Yeah, I know.
- Who we got tonight, man? - Wanda? - Nah nah, she's doing a blues cruise.
- Mario.
What's up? - Cornell.
I'm good, brother.
Oh! Herman.
Where your wheels? I was counting on a ride home with you.
Man, my car got towed with my drums in it.
- Oh shit, Herm.
- Called everybody I knew to borrow a kit.
- Nobody called me back yet.
- How the fuck you gonna play a gig without drums? I got sticks.
I'll figure something out.
Oh shit.
Hey, straw boss, what's the fine for somebody coming to the gig without their instrument? - Hundred dollar.
- $100.
$100.
You pay my tow, I'll pay your fine.
Shit.
I'll kick your ass.
How about that? I love this fucking song.
- It's so retro.
- Y'all wanna go back and forth across the bridge one more time? - Yes.
Yes, I do.
- All right.
The river.
Oh fuck! Fuck.
Fuck put it out.
Put it out.
- Pull over.
- Oh shit.
Oh, she didn't bat an eye Sing it, baby.
Yeah yeah.
As I packed my bags to leave I thought that she would cry sit around in my room and grieve but, oh, that girl she fooled me this time she acted like I was the last thing on her mind and I just wanna start all over again baby, can I change my mind? I just wanna change my mind baby, can I change my mind? Two salmon, two fluke, one pounded tuna.
I need a concasse now.
Three fluke, three pounded tuna tastings.
- Oui, chef, three pounded tuna.
- On the board, two octopus, one langoustine, one caviar pasta.
- Behind.
- Two salmon.
Where's my scallop back? - Come on.
Let's go, let's go.
- Let's go! Requesting female officer to assist with a search, - The car's been reported stolen.
- It's my uncle's.
Should've told him you were taking it.
Might've given you the keys.
- You wouldn't have to Jack the ignition.
- Kerry.
- Woo.
- Whose shit is this? Nobody steps to it, we charge all y'all.
- It's mine.
- Come on.
Where were y'all headed when we stopped you? We just met them two.
We didn't know they had drugs.
We don't need to say anything.
- My mom's a lawyer.
- You want to play it that way? All right.
Ain't enough you're riding around in a stolen vehicle, you've got an open container of alcohol and you're smelling like a goddamn brewery.
- Who's this belong to? - It's mine.
I think you would agree we have probable cause.
- Do you know what I want? - Chef? Do you have a moment? Of course.
Yes, chef? What is it? You are not happy at le Bernardin.
Oh, chef, I am so grateful and happy to be here.
- You have no idea.
- Listen, it's not right for you.
I can see it.
It's difficult for someone who had his own kitchen - to start again at the bottom.
- Are you firing me? No no, I would never do that, but I'm glad to make some calls for you.
Is there something you are interested in? Something you are thinking about? Um, one of my housemates has been working for David Chang-- Nick.
You met him Mardi Gras night.
Um, anyway, he's excited about it.
I can call David for you.
No problem.
- Well, that's very generous of you.
- He may try you out.
You may like it and stay there.
If not, come back to le Bernardin.
- I don't know what to say.
- You need a place where you can find your own style.
Here, in this position for now, it's not about expressing yourself.
It's about craftmanship.
But with David, if he likes you, anything is possible.
Fire officials say the building was unsecured and it was easy for people to get inside.
- In fact, some may - If I find someone to talk to, - would you come too? - Tracking down the building's owners has been a lengthy process.
In August of last year, the property I wanted to tell you, okay? I wanted to tell you.
I didn't know how.
I should've known.
They way you've been acting, I can't believe I didn't guess.
I'm an idiot.
So when were you ever gonna tell me? I was hoping I wouldn't ever have to.
How many times did I ask you to get rid of that bar? How many times? T you didn't, did you? I didn't, all right? I didn't.
What difference does it make now? Larry? Hello.
Sweetie, what You what? I've been arrested.
God damn it, Sofia.
Where are you? What are you doing over there? What did they arrest you for? Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Don't say anything.
Do you understand me? Not a thing.
Never mind.
Just don't say anything and tell jocelyn that too.
I'll get you out as soon as I can.
I love you.
Hi, uh, judge, this is Toni Bernette.
I'm calling-- Sorry to call so late but my daughter has been arrested in west Jeff and they're taking her to Harvey juvenile detention.
If you get this call, could you give me a call back on this phone? My cell numb.
Thank you.
You were right-- Home cooking.
It's harder to say no when everybody from around the way.
Besides, you brought a better deal with you.
Oh, I'm not sure anyone in that shop is even interested in a better deal, if you catch my drift.
Saving the city money doesn't seem to be anybody's idea of a priority.
Anyway, you did all you could and I'm grateful.
It doesn't happen without you extending yourself.
Thanks.
Sof.
Family member or legal representation for the defendant in the courtroom? Here, your honor.
- You are? - Antoinette Bernette.
Her mother.
Mr.
George Cotrell? That's me.
A hard man to find.
I stopped by your house yesterday, left you a note.
Ah.
It says "call Anthony king.
" That's me.
Can I talk to you? Sure.
I'm working for an attorney.
She has a similar case of a client who may-- Just may have been shot by the cops the same day seals was.
Your sister's saying she saw three or four cops chase seals into an apartment in the Iberville then heard two shots, sees the cops come out but not seals.
She says she told you about it and later on you snuck in there, found him shot dead.
I didn't sneak over there.
I waited till it got dark, went over there and he was dead.
- Why didn't you report it? - Whoa whoa.
Were you here? You have any idea of what it was like here? - Hmm? - No sir.
My family was.
I was in Iraq.
It's okay, chief.
We were evacuated to Oklahoma the next day.
Soon as I got to a phone, I called it in about the body.
Your sister said she couldn't I.
D.
The officers, but they were first district most likely.
What are you saying? She mention any names? Talk to me, God damn it.
What were you doing in a stolen car? - Riding around.
- Who are these two boys? Just two guys we met at a bar.
A bar? What-- What the hell are you doing getting into a car with two older boys you don't even know?! I want an answer! What, you think that's smart? - No! - How long have you been smoking marijuana? Get-- Get-- Get-- Sofia! - Let go! - Where are you going? - Where? - Why did he do it? Do you know? Can you tell me? I can't.
I-I-- I don't-- I-- I'm sorry, baby.
You can't blame yourself.
You know that.
I know, that's what everyone says.
But it's kind of hard not to.
- He loved you so much.
- If he loved me so much, then why did he leave me? Why did he do it? That's the question, isn't it? Wh-- How-- How could he do this? To us? To-- To you? I think about it all the time.
What-- What did I do? What could I have done differently? Why didn't I see it coming? I-- I've asked myself a million times, sof, and I just don't know.
I just-- I don't fucking know! Mom.
I'm not crying.
I'm too fucking mad to cry.
Mama, come on.
It's okay, mama.
- Hey, Mr.
batiste.
- Hey, Robert.
Your embouchure's getting better.
- Do you feel it? - Yeah.
- From the belly, right? - Push in my belly button.
Yeah.
Right.
"Twinkle twinkle.
" - Nice tone.
- Yeah? Yeah, but you gotta keep shedding.
Damn, boy, what happened up there? Huh.
My brother hit me on my head with a coconut.
Duck next time.
So tell me about your knife skills.
They're good.
Not great, but solid good, I think.
I don't know what to say other than my chef thought I should talk to you, that I'd be right for this place.
He said I might be happy here.
Well, Eric's awesome, but happy? I'm not fucking happy.
Who's happy? I don't even know what that is.
Is that a yes or a no? Umm, I guess why don't you trail over there with bizcocho and millhouse and we'll take a look at your mise en place and knife skills and shit.
Just 'cause we're a casual restaurant doesn't mean we don't hold ourselves to fine dining standards.
We try to do things the right way.
That usually means doing things the long, hard, stupid way.
All right, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow at 8:00.
Thank you, chef.
Happy? Jesus.
- She asleep? - Finally.
I think she got a touch of something.
If I had a cold, sore throat, couldn't sleep, my daddy would give me a spoonful of whiskey and honey.
Wasn't but five years old.
- Explains a lot.
- Huh? - How was your day? - Fine.
- Okay, what's wrong? - Another Mardi Gras, Antoine - Yeah? - Come and gone, we still here.
I know.
- We gotta do something about that.
- We got money coming in.
You find a place, we'll sign a lease.
- The ball's in your court.
- Waiting to see if your job's gonna pan out.
O ye of little faith.
- Seriously? - Yeah, I'm-- I'm into it, baby.
I'm making progress with these kids.
I'm feeling it.
So you're really gonna stick it out? They really dug the bands in zulu.
I'm telling you, it made a deep impression-- I mean them and me.
Man, I looked at them kids and I looked at my boys I fucked up, desiree.
- What d'you mean? - They don't play.
I mean my daddy played.
His daddy played.
I play.
- They don't play.
- Their mama didn't want them to.
I should've insisted.
They're Batistes, one of the first families in New Orleans music.
Alcide and Randall I failed 'em, desiree.
I failed them.
- You're in a good mood.
- Listen to the music, coz.
How can you not be? It's got that Latin tinge to it.
Delmond Lambreaux, ladies and gentlemen.
Leroy Jones and the palm court jazz band.
May I have more applause? Thank you.
- Yeah! - We'll beight back.
Leroy Jones, thank you, brother.
Thank you.
Always a pleasure.
Sit in on the second set? You ain't kicking me out? A'ight then.
I just closed a deal with the city worth 300 grand a year.
Maybe more next year when I Jack the price.
- Sweet.
- All you gotta do is come to the party with a few friends.
And all they ask for in return is? Coz, they don't ask.
They never ask.
They don't have to.
They expect you, when all is sa and done, to do the right fucking thing.
And I always do the right fucking thing.
- Abita all right? - Oh, fine, thank you.
Cheers.
- Your daughter? - Mmm.
- Sofia.
- She doesn't look so happy.
Right now she's grounded until Mardi Gras 2011.
And then only the day parades.
I, uh, talked to Cotrell.
He gave me a name.
His sister said she recognized one of the cops, a black cop named Billy Wilson.
The others were white, she didn't know 'em.
It's a start.
- How you holding up? - It's hard to sleep.
- The food sucks.
- Yeah, I imagine so.
And please thank janette for the cash.
Now at least I can buy candy bars at the commissary.
That sucks.
Sorry.
Wish I could bring you a roast chicken, some rosemary potatoes, a nice shiraz to go with it.
That would be nice.
What does janette say about an immigration lawyer? They're working on it.
The good ones are expensive and busy these days, so Hey, maybe we'll throw you a benefit.
Like a rent party-- A bail party.
My band.
I could write a song for you.
"Free Jacques Jhoni.
" Take this administration to task for their repressive immigration policies, huh? - What do you think? - I don't know.
Sounds good, Davis, but Maybe you shouldn't mention my name.
Donald is perfect.
He knows the tradition, obviously.
He's at the forefront of contemporary jazz.
Mac on the keys.
I could play bass on this.
No, we already asked Ron Carter.
Well, he all right, I guess.
- Ron Carter? - Mmm.
Come on now.
- Carl Allen on the drums.
- Can he drum second line? Carl Allen can drum anything he wants.
A lot of great drummers get lost when it comes to doing how we do down here.
Daddy, I got the band Just need you to front the thing, do the calls and chants.
The record label really wants this.
They've been on me about a New Orleans album ever since the storm.
There's gonna be a real advance.
Money for me, money for you to start here, get an electrician in, or seal up the roof.
Yeah, you know, it could work if I did it.
Huh.
You know, too bad you ain't Indian.
Say what now? What d'you mean? I mean you ain't masked since you was 15.
Oh, for the love of God.
You think I'ma let you do this with the tradition and you ain't part of the tradition? It's one thing for y'all to try out something like this if you're part of us, if you're like me or like Donald.
You know, Mac been around it for years, - but you-- - Fine fine.
I promise I'll start sewing right now, God damn it.
Okay? I'll start sewing tonight.
You mask next year, then we'll see.
Daddy.
Daddy, the record label wants this record now, not next year.
If you don't do it, then-- I'll just get somebody else to do it.
Another big chief.
Little Walter, hmm? - Monk Boudreaux.
- Monk, huh? You got a problem with monk? No, monk is great.
So is Walter.
- I'm just saying-- - What you saying? They uptown.
Now you want this to sound like the guardians of the flame or do you want it to sound like creole wild west or golden eagles? - The guardians.
- Well then.
Most folks won't know the difference, but we will.
- Well, if you don't do it-- - I ain't say I'm not gonna do it.
You didn't say you were gonna do it neither.
I got to know it's right first.
Gentilly to the vux carre lower nine, central city, uptown singing jocomo fee-na-nay this city won't ever drown doesn't matter, 'cause there ain't no way I'm ever gonna leave this town this city won't wash away this city won't ever drown.
Thank you.
Well You ready? Oh God.
Come on, it's now or never.
A-one, two, you know what to do.
See my shadow on the wall it don't look like me at all it hung down intension melting on the ground saddest girl I ever saw there's so much I need to do 'fore I'm over losing you but I can't bother with it all - until - After Mardi Gras 'cause all that music in the air happy people everywhere make it hard to sing the blues until Mardi Gras is through.
I blothrough here and the music goes down and around And it comes out here press the first valve down and the music goes down and around And it comes out here press the middle valve down and the music goes down and around below.
listen to the jazz come out