Jack, you bastard.
Fucking bowling alley.
Jesus god.
Bad Blake, welcome to Pueblo.
I'm proud to meet you, sir. - Hi there.
I've listened to you for a long time.
Good trip? - Long, but good.
Played Clovis, New Mexico last night.
Pretty country. Glad to be here.
There's the bandstand.
I'll speak to you later. Good to have you.
Makes my day. There's no smoking in the alley...
but you can sure finish that one.
I'll take a McClure's up, with a beer back, darlin'.
$ 4.75. - It's on the tab.
No tab.
I'm Bad Blake darlin'. I'm the band.
Jimmy? Tab?
Mr. Blake.
We have a nice room for you at the Starlight Inn ...
and of course your meals are covered...
but I'm afraid you can't run a bar tab.
It's in the contract.
Mr. Greene, of Greene and Gold...
put that in himself. -Did he.
Yes, sir.
If you and Jack have an agreement, we're gonna have to stick to it.
Don't worry about it. How much?
$ 4.75.
Mr Blake, let me offer you all the free bowling you want.
Hold that, would you?
Hey Ben, Jack here.
Listen, I didn't want to tell you 'til you finished the swing...
but the label cut "So sweet so bad".
But that fucker's still selling.
It was slowing down a lot.
The chains don't want it any more. Plus Tommy Sweet's got 9 albums out.
What about his new album?
I finish in two weeks. I can get right to it.
Tommy wants to know if you have new material.
New material? You know I don't.
Nothing wrong with the old stuff.
Tommy thinks he's leaning too heavy on the old stuff.
He doesn't want people thinking he's riding the gravy train.
That son of a bitch...
has a lifetime pass on the gravy train.
Hey Bad, who's asking who for a record?
Jack, you jerkoff, when you get your ass to Clovis, New Mexico...
and play in a bar or a fucking bowling alley...
get up at 5am and drive 300 miles with hemorrhoids so bad...
its feels like you got fire ants up your ass...
THEN you can tell me about the gravy train!
You and Mr. famous Tommy Sweet.
Both of you try that some time!
Why don't you sit down and write some songs?
Keep talking, keep talking. Jesus God.
What's the matter, can't do it anymore?
I'm tired of listening to your griping and everything.
Jack.
You go out every night drinking...
Hey, hey, listen to me.
I'm 57 years old ...
and I'm broke.
I got $10 in my pocket.
I sent you money when you were in Texas.
So spend it wisely, my friend.
Yeah, fuck you. Goodbye.
Thanks a lot.
Mr. Blake?
I'll be god-damned, it really is you!
I can't believe it.
Bad Blake in my store.
I'm Bill Wilson, I'm a big fan.
Here's your McClure's.
I try to keep track of what the stars drink.
Hey, you know what, my wife, Beverly ...
is one of your big fans.
She'd die if she knew you were here.
We're going to the show tonight ...
and if you could sing "I Don't Know" for Beverly ...
You got it. - It'd mean the world to her.
"I Don't Know" for Beverly. You can count on it.
Come here.
I wanna be able to tell everyone I bought Bad Blake a drink.
You're kidding. - No.
Thank you.
"I Don't Know" for Beverly and Bill. - Yes.
Ok. Hold on.
Hi Mr. Blake, I'm Tony.
"Tony and the Renegades", your band for tonight.
Yes, of course.
We're setting up in the bowling alley ...
and were wondering what time to start rehearsing.
As soon and as often as you can. That's the secret.
Mr. Blake?
Sorry to bother you ...
but what time are you coming over?
I got some sheets here if you can read music.
Chord charts if you can't.
Here. This CD's for you.
The whole kit. The playlist's in there.
Watch your hand.
I'll meet you there. You guys go on
Mr. Blake, it would mean a lot to us if you'd come over a little early ...
and go over some leads. - Leads?
They're paying you more than me.
Maybe you could show us some of the old stuff Bad Boys used to play.
You taught Tommy Sweet to play, right?
Listen to CD. Listen good, and uh...
go over those sheets. I'll be there in about an hour ...
gonna grab some supper - Thank you, Mr. Blake.
I didn't think you'd show.
Boy, I've played sick, drunk, divorced and on the run...
Bad Blake hasn't missed a show in his fucking life.
And now I'm playing a fucking bowling alley, backed by a bunch of hippies.
You sure they ain't paying you more than me?
Come on, showtime.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to The Spare Room ...
The wrangler of Love, Mr. Bad Blake.
Go to C.
Now F.
Hey Mr. Blake ...
all right man?
Yeah, I'm good. - We're back on.
It's great to be here in Pueblo with you all tonight...
If I've learned anything, it's to give you people what you want ...
otherwise you won't want it ever again.
Here's a song I hope some of you will want.
It goes out especially to my dear friends Bill and Beverly.
God bless you.
Here we go.
Thank you Pueblo, thank you.
Drive safely. God willing we'll get together soon.
Ladies and gentlemen, the star of the show ...
the legendary Bad Blake.
Good night.
That's very good.
Very good.
Been a long time since I played with a good piano player.
Thanks, Mr. Blake, that means the world to me.
I'm Wesley Barnes. - Mighty fine, Wesley.
Worked before? - When I was a kid.
I just do this for fun...
and a coupla extra dollars.
I finally found someone on the road who really is good. It'll be a pleasure.
Can I ask a favor Mr. Blake?
Bad, buddy, Bad. What can I do for you?
I hate to impose, especially since we just met ...
but I have a niece who's a writer...
Trying to be. She writes local, here in Santa Fe.
It's not the New York Times or anything...
but she writes about music ...
and you would love to interview you.
I haven't done one for years, but yeah...
you send her around. I'll be glad to help her out.
Great!
Shall we play a little? - Yeah, we can play some.
Mr. Blake?
Who the hell are you?
I'm Jean Craddock Sun Scene...
I'm Wesley Barnes' niece.
I'm here for the interview.
I just had a shower, and I'm having dinner.
Sorry, I'll come back. When's a good time?
No, just wait outside. Let me get my clothes on.
All right.
Jesus God.
Be right there! - All right.
Come on in. - Sorry, I should've called.
No pictures.
You want some steak, or...
potatoes? - Maybe later.
Which? - Pictures. Maybe on stage?
Oh, that'd all right. - All right.
You don't want a roll or nothing? Sit on down. - No, thank you.
All right.
Do you mind if I eat? - No.
Tape recorder okay?
Go ahead.
You always dress for dinner?
So...
how did you learn music?
My daddy. He had this old...
Washburn steel string. He couldn't play it.
So I picked it up and started fooling with it. Guess that's how.
Right, and what were you listening to?
A bunch of people you've probably never heard of...
Lou Lubella, Scottie, Emmet Miller ...
the Georgia Wildcats. Ever heard of them?
No, I've never heard the Georgia Wildcats.
No, I didn't figure you had.
How about Hank Williams, Gene Autrey, Waylon and them boys?
Right, Lefty Frizzel.
Want a drink? - No, thank you.
So you said ...
you feel like your music is influenced by the Blues?
Sam Howes, Big Bill Broonzy... - We all owe our existence to them Delta boys.
Ever want to do something else?
I played baseball. I was pretty good, too...
but for a while there I couldn't hit the curve ball.
I decided to stick with the guitar.
And stayed where I was supposed to.
How about you?
You always wanted to be a writer?
I didn't know what I wanted for a long time.
But now you do?
Now I know what I don't want to do again.
Yeah, amen.
Are you married? - I was.
One of those things you don't want to do again?
Not unless it's right. - How the hell do you know?
You tell me. You've been married five times.
Jesus Christ! Four times! Come on!
You gonna make another album with Tommy Sweet?
Two things I don't wanna talk about: multiple marriages and Tommy.
All right. What's your real name?
I'm Bad Blake.
I was born bad.
When I die, my tombstone will have my real name on it.
Until then I'm just gonna stay Bad.
That's a long time for people to have to wait to find out.
Maybe, maybe not.
Are you a daddy? Got any kids?
Sweetie, I'm going to have to get going here.
All right.
Can you give another half an hour after the show?
Let's see how it goes.
I appreciate you having to do your work. I understand that, but let's see how it goes.
Okay, thanks.
So Wesley's your cousin? - He's my uncle.
That boy sure can play the piano. - All right, thank you.
Wesley!
You were wonderful.
You haven't lost anything. - Why thank you.
I think you're better than you were.
I'm Ann.
Hi Ann. - Hello.
I have loved country music my whole life.
Really? - Yup.
I even know the B-sides of your albums.
Thet's better than me.
I was thinking if you aren't doing anything after the show ...
we could get a late dinner...
or a cup of coffee.
I would, but I promised a reporter an interview.
That's allright.
I know you're in town for another night.
Another time would be fine.
Gotta get back to work.
Could you play "Get a hold on you" for me?
I'd love to. Right now.
Thank you Santa Fe ...
We'll be here one more night.
This is for Ann.
So how did you..?
You played a Gospel song in a bar. - I did.
How did you get away with that? How did you know?
If you'd been doing this as long as me you'd know those things. Here you go.
All right. - Cheers.
What else do you wanna know? - Records.
What's your favorite?
I would say "Falling and Flying". It made me a lot of money.
It turned my life around.
You get tired of playing it?
I have to play it twice, three times a night, but you know...
It's been too good to me. I can't turn my back on it.
So in today's world ...
of artificial country music ...
Who's real country?
What?
Is that a stupid question?
Is Tommy Sweet real country?
He tries covering it up, but I taught him country.
He won't admit it. He's gotta compete what comes from Nashville ...
but yeah, he's real country.
How'd you meet him?
I don't wanna talk about Tommy. - All right.
What do you wanna talk about?
I want to talk about how bad you make this room look.
Never noticed what a dump it was until you came in.
I haven't seen someone blush in a long time.
I can't help it, my capillaries are close to the skin.
Where are you from?
I'm from Enid, Oklahoma.
Of course you are.
What's the most important thing about you?
I have a son.
Buddy.
He's four.
He's with the babysitter. I'm gonna go get him.
Thank you for talking to me.
Did you get what you need?
I can always use more.
Well, come to the show tomorrow.
We'll continue where we left off. - All right.
Okay, then. Nightie night.
Hey Bad, I have great news.
Now I'm bustin' my ass on this..
so write it down.
Cancel Benson, Arizona on your itinerary.
You're into Phoenix, Arizona. Sun Pavillion. 8 o'clock sharp.
How's that?
The Pavillion.
Hey, I called to tell you you're out of the Red Bison lounge...
and opening a major show in Phoenix.
Opening? Shit, I don't know...
Bad, cut the shit.
Where else are you gonna play in front of twelve thousand people?
Opening for who?
You open for Tommy.
No, no. No god-damn way.
I haven't convinced them to do the record yet...
but at least I got them to do this.
No, no. I'm not doing it, Jack.
I'm not opening for Tommy, I'll open for someone else.
Who else are you gonna open for, Madonna?
Want me to call her?
The dream of every sideman is that some day the front man ...
whose ass he's been staring at for years will open for him.
I don't owe Tommy Sweet a fucking thing.
We both know. Tommy owes you big.
But we also both know how much this is worth.
I'll call you back this afternoon.
There is no time Bad. Yes or no?
I need time to think about this. Come on!
No time. Yes or no?
Yes, goddamn it! Yes, yes, yes, fuck yes!
All right. Okay.
Jesus Christ, it's like pulling it out of you.
Now don't fuck it up.
Let me ask you something.
Can I actually go backstage and meet Tommy and everything?
That's very funny, but I don't have time for this shit. Goodbye.
See you later, you fucking asshole.
Okay boys, let's wing this thing and put on the style.
I'll give you what you want.
Where does that damn wind go?
Thank you Santa Fe!
Good night and God love you all!
God, I'm sorry.
I was waiting on the sitter for my son.
You know hard it is to find a sitter at one o'clock in the morning.
I get off work at one o'clock. I know how hard it is...
to find everything. I'm just glad you found me.
Who's watching your boy?
A friend. She just got there.
Wanna drink? - All right.
Follow me. - Okay.
Do you still have questions?
Just a couple. So...
where do all those songs come from?
Life, unfortunately.
Is this really what you wanna talk about?
No, I guess not.
For some reason I can't explain...
I keep feeling obliged to apologise for this ugly room.
and for being less than you probably imagined me to be.
Is this that famous Country charm?
I was never famous for charm.
It's not too late to start.
Do you want something else for your article?
Let me get my recorder.
Come here.
I'm opening for Tommy in Phoenix tomorrow.
Bad Blake's hit the big time. - That's great, right?
That's what my agent says.
Will you come with me?
You're kidding.
I'm serious. Come on.
I can't.
How about...
I come over this morning and fix you and your boy...
some of my famous Bad Blake biscuits? What do you say?
All right.
Now you just hold that right there.
Let me see your other finger. Hold it like that.
Can you do that?
Are you right- or left-handed? That one?
Ok. Put that there like that...
and cock this finger. Here's your trigger finger, not like that.
Wait. Now here's the most important part.
Take a bite of that biscuit. Yeah, that's it.
Do you feel that flour and butter coursing through your body...
giving you a power you never thought you had?
Is your shirt getting all tight with muscle?
The whole world has been tamed by men who ate biscuits.
Shoot.
He scores! - Did you score?
That's how to get it done in Texas! - Yup!
Give me five!
He's a real nice boy you got there. - Thanks.
He's not around men much. I worry about that sometimes.
What about his daddy?
I've made many mistakes. I just try not to make them twice.
Good boy, good mom.
Good biscuits.
Bye. - Okay.
I'll see you after a while.
You take care, now. - So long.
Come on, Betsy.
Jack, you cocksucker.
Thank you.
Glad to meet you Mr. Blake. I'm Ralphie, Tommy's road manager.
A big fan. We have a big show tonight.
Bear, this is Bad Blake.
Hey, how you doing man?
What's your equipment? - A Fender Tremolux.
That's it? - That's it, pal.
Do you have a preference? Marshall? Peavey?
I like my Fender. - Okay, no sweat.
We'll mike it right into the PA.
Where's your stuff? - '78 Suburban, out back.
All right, I'll take care of it.
You go on at 7:30. You get 45 minutes.
Stay on that. You can't go more than...
three minutes over. Tommy's on at 9 and off at 11.
These are the Bum Steers, your backup.
This is the big time, boys.
How are you doing? Bad. Looking forward to playing.
Let's drink some of this booze. - Do it, baby.
Two bars of D, then we hit the top of the bridge. Count 'em off, Johnny.
No, no. Bear, Bear.
I need kick and snare. Turn down the damn guitar, you're drowning out my lyrics.
The mix is good, man. You can't hear what I hear.
You'd be surprised, Set it the way I tell you...
and leave it.
The mix is just fine.
Trust me.
Bear, I'm an old man. I can get grumpy. Humour me.
Damn sound man.
Fucking up the opening act makes the headliner sound better.
That's his fucking job. - You have half an hour, cowboy.
We're gonna be on this stage 'til we get the mix the way I want it.
Set the mix the way I want it or we'll rehearse right through Tommy's set.
Let's take it from the top of the bridge, see how Bear does.
Now the guitars are sounding right.
Thank you Bear, much better.
Well, well. Heard you might be here.
You son of a bitch. Sit down.
You always knew the right thing to say
How the hell are you, Bad?
I'm worse. - That's about right, I reckon.
You gave up on the Southern Comfort?
I still drink it on stage. It's good for the throat.
So they tell me. Too sweet for me.
I never liked it either.
But when you're one of Bad's boys...
you gotta be able to put away the whiskey.
Sorry to interrupt.
Can I get an autograph, Tommy? - Sure.
You're my favourite, I've got all your records.
Thanks, but his is the autograph you need.
He's Bad Blake ...
Taught me everything I know. - Cool.
Thank you.
I'll be at your show tonight, maybe even San Diego.
I appreciate your support.
I was thinking, Bad, about our tours together.
We had some good times.
I'm glad you agreed to do this, Bad.
Oh, God, you kidding?
I need the money.
If not for this, I'd be playing some saloon in Benson, Arizona.
Remember the time we ...
broke down in the desert in West Texas?
Sat all day waiting for that goddamn wrecker?
You and me, case of warm beer. Those were the days.
Yeah, ain't remembering wonderful?
How's the tour?
Tiring.
50 dates, two months.
How about yours? - I'm out for a month. Six states.
Pick-up bands? - Yep.
That's a ball buster.
We shoulda gotten together earlier - done the whole tour.
We tried that.
It was just too much going on, Bad.
Damn movie shoot down in Mexico.
Jill was on my ass the whole time.
Would have been a hell of a tour. - Yeah, a HELL of a tour.
Shit. I'm sorry it didn't work out.
I was trying to save my marriage.
Don't hold that against me. - I got a career too...
and a marriage or two I wanted to hold together.
I know. I know.
You gave me my start, Bad.
Don't think I don't remember that.
But I got a life too. - Yeah, well.
Those are the ugliest boots I've ever seen in my life.
Did the salesman threaten to shoot your dog?
Why aren't we doing another album? Why won't you do it?
Hold up now, I never said I wouldn't.
The MZ doesn't think it's the right thing to do, that's all.
I think it is. - You may be right.
They want some solos first. Then we do a duet.
You get first shot. I already told them.
I need money now.
I'm 57 years old.
My career's going nowhere.
I need something to get it jump-started.
They won't give me a damn solo album.
I need this, goddammit, I really do.
I swear, Bad, I can't get them to budge.
But there's a way to make some money if you want to.
Enlighten me.
Songs.
I have no new material.
Everything I hear is crap.
Write me five new songs. I ship two million albums every time I release one.
I haven't written a song in three years.
There are too many goddam songs.
You write some the best material out there. I want some.
'Wrote'. Not 'write'.
Glad to see you still got old Betsy.
She runs like a top.
Do it, Bad, You have a couple of months.
See you tonight.
Mr. Greene has sent five boxes of product for you to sell at the show.
Sell? - What are you talking about?
He sent 500 units of Memories for you to sell.
Shit. I sing, I play ...
I don't sell my goddamn records at my concerts.
Tell him to get here and pick up his goddamn CD.
I'm just delivering the message.
Jesus Christ.
Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome ...
the 'wrangler of Love', Mr. Bad Blake.
It's good to be with you tonight.
Although at my age it's good to be anywhere.
This is the guy who taught me how to sing that song...
and just about eveything else. Bad Blake!
I 'm going backstage to listen to the rest of the show. Thanks, Bad.
Tommy wants you to join him for "Please Release Me" and "Memories".
I'll cue you. - I got records to sell.
Directory assistance, what city and state?
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Bud. - Hello?
Hi there, Buddy boy.
It's your old biscuit maker, Bad. - Hi!
What are you up to?
Watching dinosaurs. - Yeah? What are they doing?
Uh, eating, mostly. (?) - Yeah?
Any of them eating biscuits? - Yeah.
Is your mother there?
Hello. - Hi there.
Bad.
Jean? - Hi.
How was Phoenix?
You know. How are you doing?
Where are you? - I don't know. How hot is it?
Why? I mean what are you doing?
Thinking about you.
Stop it. - Are you thinking about me?
I'm finishing my article actually.
That's not what I meant.
I know.
I have a few days off before I go to Houston ...
I thought about stopping by. What do you say?
Jean?
You're not making this easy on me...
you want me to stop by or not?
Ok.
All right. I'll be by in about three or four hours.
See you in a little bit.
Bye. - Bye now.
Hello Mr. Blake.
Just sit back. Relax.
Where am I? - You're in Santa Fe ...
you have a broken ankle and a concussion.
Just relax. - My guitar.
In the closet with your clothes.
I gotta get outta here.
That's up to the doctor. - Where is he?
I'll get the doctor for you. Sit back. Relax.
We'll get the doctor.
I'll be honest with you, okay?
The problem isn't the ankle, it'll heal clean.
The problem is your general condition...
or the extreme lack of it.
The kinds of stuff we're talking here, emphysema, heart failure, cancer ...
and an extremely good chance of a stroke.
They will kill you.
Are you gonna talk to me? - About what?
Let's not kid ourselves, you're an alcoholic.
I'll take care of your leg, you do something for your cholesterol ...
but you have to stop smoking and drinking ...
and lose 25 pounds.
Okay, Mr. Blake?
If I'm half as good about being laid up as I think I'm gonna be...
You need to hush now, seriously.
Why? Am I rambling? Must be those blue pills.
Think I can get more of those? - No.
You know that song?
Can't remember who did it. - That's how it is with the good ones.
You're sure you've heard them before.
You wrote that? - Yes, ma'am, just now.
This is so unfair. - What?
Some people'd give ten years of their life to be able to do that...
and it just pours out of you.
Are you mad at me? Want me to go to a motel?
No.
What?
I don't want you to go. - What then?
Well, you were writing a song in my bed.
So? - So?
Every time I lie down and hear that beautiful goddam song ...
you're gonna be out there running around, not even remembering this day.
I can't ever forget. - Hey, if I could walk I'd come to you. Come here.
Come here. Listen to me.
When I was at the hospital, I thought about who to call.
Who really gives a damn about me?
And then I thought about who I wanted to see.
You hear me?
I won't forget about you.
I won't forget about this day.
I promise you.
Look at you.
What are you doing in Santa Fe? You're not supposed to be there.
Visiting a friend.
Can you drive yet? - Pretty soon.
I want you to get back out as soon as possible.
Jesus Christ. If you're sister was turning $25 tricks you'd overbook her.
Very funny. Remind me to book you into some comedy club.
Just so you know, I have a contract here offering you $75,000.
It's an advance for an album to be recorded at a future date.
Wait, wait a minute. What offer?
Don't worry about who.
Plus another $20,000 for first refusal rights...
for all the songs you write or co-write...
in the next two years.
Holy shit. - This will be your best year in the last seven.
And you know who's responsible? Tommy Sweet.
So do me a favor. Ease up on him, will you pal?
Tommy? - Yes, Tommy.
All right, I'll talk to you in Houston. And don't marry your friend.
I'm not getting married.
Listen ... Full of shit. (?)
Wanna call him back and say I'm not about to marry you?
You might wanna wait until I ask before you turn me down.
I'll sleep on the fold-out. It'll be too confusing for Buddy.
No, I 'll do that. - No.
You need a bed. It's all right, I want to.
I'll go get him.
He wants to draw on your cast.
Will you do something for me? - You name it.
Don't drink in front of him.
No problem, here.