Dirt Road To Lafayette (2018) Movie Script

[tires crunching]
[soft guitar music]
- [Tom] How come we've landed here?
I don't know.
I mean, it's Alabama we're going.
- [Driver] Better ask in the office.
[soft guitar music]
- Not very helpful?
- No.
- I didn't know we had to change buses.
- Neither did I.
So.
Just let me talk to these people
and will you watch the bag?
- Okay.
[soft guitar music]
- [Tom] It's their mistake, but I mean Mississippi?
I don't know anything about Mississippi.
- [Clerk] No, sir.
I don't either.
- [Tom] Oh, come on.
- [Clerk] I just kinda live here.
[train horn blaring]
- Just going outside.
[water splashing]
[upbeat music]
[energetic music]
- Dad.
- Jesus, Murdo.
That was the bus.
- Dad, I'm sorry.
- What happened, son?
- I just took the wrong door out the building.
I'm sorry.
- Just sit down.
Watch the luggage.
The Alabama bus.
The connection.
Just wondering when's the next one.
- [Clerk] Tomorrow's the next one.
- [Tom] Tomorrow?
- [Clerk] Afraid so.
- [Tom] It cannot be tomorrow.
- [Clerk] Sorry.
- Dad.
What's up?
- What's up?
There's no buses until tomorrow that's what's up, son.
I'm going to have to call Uncle John.
[pensive music]
You were snoring.
[pensive music]
- [Murdo] Just cheese and stuff.
- Yeah.
- [Murdo] Anything else?
- Whatever.
Bread.
- Imagine Mum if it was Sunday breakfast.
Tea and toast and bacon and eggs.
- How much you taking?
- [Murdo] I was thinking 30.
- 30?
$30?
- [Woman] Hi.
- [Murdo] Hello.
[upbeat accordion music]
- Hey, what are you doing here?
What, you spying on us?
- Nothing.
I just heard the music.
- Yeah, but around here.
What you doing 'round here?
This ain't your place.
- Sorry.
I didn't mean anything.
- [Joel] You shouldn't be here.
- [Queen] You like the music?
- Yeah.
I was just going to the store and I heard the waltz.
- He knew it was a waltz.
Maybe it wasn't too bad.
- I play, too.
- [Joel] He shouldn't be here.
- Joel, he's foreign.
Hear him talking.
He ain't American.
- Ain't American [speaks in foreign language].
- I play.
I would play.
- So let him play.
Hey Sarah, get him a box.
Get him the ebony.
What you play, boy?
Cajun?
You play Cajun?
- He don't know what you talkin' 'bout.
- Come on up here.
You play, boy?
- Yeah.
Not for awhile.
I've not played for awhile.
- Yeah, you said that.
- It ain't the Opry.
[upbeat accordion music]
Bravo.
- [Queen] You got another?
[bright accordion music]
[upbeat accordion music]
[neighbors clapping]
- You know how she gets about her accordion.
All the time where my accordion?
It's like, you make sure that I have my accordion.
That's all I want you to do
is make sure I have my accordion.
So we get there.
It's about an hour before showtime or whatever and stuff.
She in her dressing room.
Where my clothes?
[group laughing]
I'm like, "If you hold your accordion
"just right in front of you,
"maybe you can get away with this show, okay.
"It could be like burlesque."
- My dad's fine.
We just don't talk much since my mum died.
Then with my sister before that so.
- Oh God, Murdo.
Your sister?
- Yeah, it's been tough.
I suppose you'd say.
- Anybody would say.
12 years old and now your mother.
It's just so, so horrible.
Just so unfair.
- Nobody says that.
Unfair.
But it is.
I think so.
My sister and my mother.
So unfair.
I think of her like a pal.
Yeah, my sister a pal, too.
Like a pal that's died.
- Yeah.
- Sometimes it's...
It's like I still expect to see her.
You open the door and.
- Dad says I should go to New York City,
but Mom says it's too cold and Gran says the same.
They got creative writing programs all over
and it's like everything.
Features, politics, documentary.
Even a novel.
Imagine a novel.
Oh God.
You know, Gran lived on the west coast for years.
Her and the band.
They were based in LA.
- Your gran is just great.
What is she like? She's just,
wow.
- You are gonna have to come to the gig now, Murdo.
How you play gives us a richness.
You heard her say it.
Two accordions together like that.
Her not having a band.
You're gonna have to come.
[upbeat music] [singing in foreign language]
- Do you never think?
Not even sometimes- - Dad, I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Dad.
I need to say-
- You could've been knocked down.
You could've been killed.
Anything.
- Dad.
I just need to.
- Go on.
- I just wanted to say cheerio.
- Well now, you're learning, Murdo.
You're learning good.
- That was just the best.
- Sarah tell you something about a gig?
Lafayette.
- Yeah.
I'm gonna try and...
- She'll bring you something.
Don't go without it now, you hear?
- Food in five.
- He's my dad.
- Kind of guessed that, Murdo.
- Never cared much for daddies.
- We have some food if you wanna join us.
- No.
We gotta go.
We got a bus to catch and have to get back to the hotel.
Our luggage is just lying there.
- You talking about the Easy Stay.
They're friends. I'll give them a call.
What time's your bus, four o'clock?
Your son's been entertaining us.
We gotta feed him.
Joel can give you a ride up there right now.
Pick up your bags and everything and y'all can come on back.
- I'm sorry.
We have to be going on.
- Thank you, man.
- Murdo.
Murdo.
Oh Murdo.
[pensive music]
Gran said just listen.
You'll know what to do.
[pensive music]
- Third time.
- [Tom] Cops.
[siren blaring]
[horn beeping]
- Tommy.
Good to see ya.
- Good to see you.
- Murdo.
I was expecting a wee boy for God sake.
Look at the size of you.
You're near bigger than me.
Come here.
Dave, look at the size of him.
Honest to God, I thought I was gonna meet a kid.
17, aye.
Aye, I'm getting weepy.
This is Dave. He's unhonored.
He's got McDonald blood.
Dave's family have been here since forever.
Hey Dave.
- 300 years.
- Uncle John-
- Puts us all to shame.
Tommy, you're in front with me.
So how come you ended up in Allentown, Mississippi?
One for the story book, huh?
Things would be cold
[pensive music]
[shower water splashing] [pensive music]
[pensive music]
- Oh my Lord.
[pensive music]
Spitting image.
If you're not the spitting image.
- Who of?
- Everybody.
[pensive music]
- [John] Work hard, live good.
It's been like that since I came here.
How long, mother?
- [Maureen] 41 years.
We've been married 38.
- [John] Ooh, she's the brains in the family.
- [Maureen] People have two jobs.
Sometimes three.
- Three jobs?
- [John] Yeah sure, son.
If that's what it takes.
- [Tom] Absolutely.
- [Maureen] Me and the boys never saw one.
- [John] Yeah, I gotta say a couple days off
now would have been good.
- You tried.
- 20 years I been with them.
- Mystery you tried.
- It's okay, really.
I mean, just a break.
Sitting in the sun, read a book.
Eh, son?
- Definitely, yeah.
- Yeah, but trouble with this place, you gotta drive.
Should've brought your license, Tommy.
- [Tom] Yeah, I just didn't think.
- Well what would you do if you did?
You gon' rent a car?
They cost an arm and a leg.
He thinks you're made of money.
- So no buses you can go on?
- [Maureen] Buses?
- If there are son, nobody knows.
- So do people just walk?
- [John] Good question.
- They do that fast walking kind of thing here, Murdo.
That's what they do.
- The power walking.
- It ain't power walking, mister.
That's fast walking.
- Jogging?
- You got it.
Who needs buses?
- How come you never came out all them years ago?
It was him, your dad.
Your mother would've come if it was her decision.
She would've come.
I know she would've.
- I met your mama, son.
She was a lovely woman.
- His grandmother, Aunt Maureen.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
- My big sister, son.
Great woman.
- I remember.
- [John] Yeah?
- I do.
- She took us to her own local church.
- Yeah, she sure did.
- You were just a wee boy.
- I remember though, dad.
She made me laugh.
She was very funny.
- Now that's a beautiful thing to say.
If somebody ever says that about me, my lord.
- Course they will.
- Well I hope so.
She's in a better place now, son.
Just like your own sweet mother.
She's walking with Jesus.
- Tommy, she had everything done.
Forms filled in.
Accepted.
Everything, the lot.
It was a formality.
'Til then at the last minute, they backed out.
How come?
Your mother would've come.
No question about that.
[bird squeaking]
- Gretna.
Elgin.
Aberdeen.
It's all Scottish names.
- Remind of the old people of home, I guess.
- Rome?
- What?
Rome, Georgia, sure.
Athens, Texas.
Paris, Tennessee.
No we ain't the jet set
We're the old Chevrolet set
You know that song, son?
But ain't we got love
- Lafayette.
Aunt Maureen, Lafayette.
- What?
- [Murdo] Lafayette.
- Oh, I know it.
Ain't far from Chattanooga.
Name's Injun.
They got a song there.
- Aunt Maureen, can I take this atlas book downstairs?
- I don't want you asking that.
Makes it like you're not family and yes, you are family.
This is your home, Murdo.
You do what you want.
I'll call when the sun goes down
Wanna see them faces when they all gather 'round
Zydeco
Yes, zydeco
Down on the bayou act difficult
- [Maureen] Hey Murdo.
Oughta see you when you get on the phone
Wave the guitar
You movers gotta go, gotta go
Zydeco
- You boys okay now?
- Great.
Thanks. - Thanks.
- Thanks, Aunt Maureen.
[upbeat music]
Did Aunt Maureen give you that lifer?
- It was lying in the cupboard.
I found it.
- It was lying in the cupboard?
You must've went into the cupboard.
You just don't find things lying in cupboards.
Not without looking first.
You're here as a guest.
Be nice if you changed the music occasionally.
That psycho stuff.
- It's not psycho, Dad.
It's zydeco.
Zydeco.
Name of the music.
- Oh.
- I'm learning a couple of the songs.
- For that Lafayette music thing?
Well get this.
I thought you were just listening,
but at least you're listening and you're learning.
[upbeat music]
- What's wrong, Dad?
- Nothing wrong.
- Did I do something or?
- No.
Zydeco
Zydeco
Down at the bayou, at people door
Got a place and call fondue
Oughta see you when you get on the floor
Play the guitar and do the zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco
Zydeco
[upbeat music]
- Got a beer, Tom?
- Got something good.
Thank you, John.
Thanks.
- [John] Plenty of beer left.
- I'm gonna get you.
- [Man] Hey.
How's it going?
- Okay, yeah.
- Yeah?
- So, where do you work at?
- I'm still at school.
- School, huh?
- Yeah.
- You from some place?
- Scotland.
- Scotland, huh?
That's like a long trip?
- 12 hours from Amsterdam, then Memphis.
Had a stop over in Allentown.
- Right, Mississippi.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
Did you see a white face?
- A white face?
- I passed through Allentown one time
on my way into Yazoo City.
They all play the yazoo there,
so they gave them that name.
You got kids?
I know who you are.
You're the one that got that little girl that passed on.
Yeah, I heard it.
And your mother, too.
It was the saddest thing.
You're John's nephew, right?
- Yeah. - Yeah.
You're name's like-
- Murdo.
- Murdo, right.
Hey Murdo,
I wanna say to you that that is the way of the world.
What lies ahead we do not know.
No, change that.
We never know.
We walk this road and what do we see?
Nothing.
This road is heavy with blood and we are as blind men.
That's our trial.
You are with him, Murdo.
You're with him.
[soft guitar music] [people chattering]
- Are you hiding out, son?
Now you can't escape.
- Tie him down.
- I was just gonna eat.
- You can eat later.
Come on now. - Come on.
Come on, meet the girls.
Come on.
- So Tom is John's nephew,
which makes his grandmother John's sister Effie.
A beautiful, lovely person.
Murdo has some fond, fond memories of her.
When me and John were over there in Scotland,
they took us to church there
and it was a parish Presbyterian.
[upbeat guitar music] [people chattering]
[crowd clapping]
So Tom's little girl was Murdo here's own little sister.
Passed on same as her own dear mother.
- She's with Jesus.
- Didn't you say it was hereditary, Maureen?
- Through the female line.
- You'll have your memories.
- Hailey was my big sister.
She was 12 when she died and I was nine,
so she was older than me.
Hailey was my big sister.
- Oh.
What'd I say?
Did I say something?
- No, Aunt Maureen.
It's just if you thought she was my little sister.
Hailey was my big sister.
She was a great girl.
I don't like people talking about her when I'm there.
I don't mind when I'm not,
but when I am, it's like she disappears.
- Now you do not have to talk, son.
No, you don't.
- You got your memories now, son.
- I don't want the memories.
They're not Hailey.
They've got nothing to do with her 'cause she's never away.
She's always there so how can she be a memory?
I've got a big sister and she's there.
It doesn't matter about God or angels or she's with Jesus.
It's me.
She's with me.
Hailey's my big sister and just a real person.
And sometimes when I open that door, you know, she's there.
- Her mother was a good Appalachian girl.
A fearsome people.
Come over from Scotland sometime.
Got chased out.
Would've got lynched if they hadn't.
It's what the next song's about.
The guy in it robbed the rich to feed the poor.
Now they caught him and he's gonna hang.
Yeah, Robin Hood.
Now was Robin Hood Spanish?
No, sir.
Wouldn't wear no green uniform if he was.
That's a Scotch joke.
Protestants blue and Catholic's green.
I'll sing it for you.
It's a nice song.
An old Scotch song.
Hey Chess, you wanna give me a fiddle on this?
Help me out this one time.
- [Chess] Sure, son.
- "MacPherson's Farewell".
- Thank you, son.
Farewell ye dark and lonely hills
Far way beneath the sky
MacPherson's time will not be long
On yonder gallows high
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He's played a tune and he danced a-roon
Below the gallows tree
Little did my mother think
When first she cradled me
That I would turn a roving boy
Below the gallows tree
Sae rantonly, sae wantonly
Sae dauntingly played he
He's played a tune and he's danced a-roon
Below the gallows tree
[crowd clapping]
Here you go.
- Goddamn following apart on the retreating end.
[upbeat music]
- Hey.
Look at him play.
- Has Tom seen him?
[upbeat music]
[crowd clapping]
- Yeah, I messed up a wee bit.
- You did, too, but you caught it.
You caught it.
- Hey Chess, there was a real, old Scottish feel to that.
- Oh yeah.
Well done, son.
Declan?
- [Declan] The boy.
- Clara.
- I'm a sing on this one son.
It's called "When I Die".
You know it? - No.
- You'll get it.
It's in D chord.
Because I believe and I found salvation when I die
When I die, I'll live again
That I may take part in the jubilation
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
Hallelujah
I'll live again
Because I'm forgiven
My soul will find heaven
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
The fear of the grave is removed forever
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
My soul will rejoice by the Crystal River
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
Hallelujah, I'll live again
Because I'm forgiven
My soul will find heaven
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
Because of the Lord I have made confession
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
From now in my soul, there is no transgression
When I die
When I die, I'll live again
[crowd clapping]
[bright music]
- Hey man, I ain't gon' fight you.
That's for certain.
[bright music]
Your boy there.
He's a real player.
Oh yeah.
[bright music]
I heard about your troubles.
Your wife and your daughter.
[bright music]
You take care.
[bright music]
[crowd clapping]
Well, that was all right, mate.
That was all right.
[upbeat music]
Gotta call my name
Keep your part
- Hi, Dad.
- Yeah, no, son.
There was something I wanted to ask
just because it's Sunday.
I don't know if sunbathing.
I'm not sure.
Just thinking of auntie Maureen, you know.
Not so much Uncle John, just Aunt Maureen.
Both of them coming back from church, you know?
Just the one time
we weren't allowed to play football on a Sunday.
You couldn't cut your nails, nothing.
On a Sunday.
- Is it sunbathing?
Do you not want me to sunbathe?
- It's not me, son.
It's they're old fashioned here with the church.
You know, like Stornaway, those places.
It's a bit like that.
They just don't like you doing stuff.
- Yeah, but lying in the sun.
- Yeah, you kind of have me there but.
Did Auntie Maureen ask you to go with her?
- I think so.
- At least that would've got you out of the house.
- Did she ask you?
- Yeah.
- Do you wish you'd gone?
I was thinking that.
Not for church.
Just Aunt Maureen or Uncle John.
Just them.
Just going with them.
- Hey, Murdo.
Next Friday I meant to tell you,
we're going to the Tennessee Valley.
Uncle John got the day off.
It's right up your street.
Fishing, swimming, boats.
All sorts.
Hunting treks.
It may run into the Saturday,
so we might stay over for the night.
We'll just see how it goes.
It'll be great.
Mountains and rivers.
It's beautiful country.
Wildlife.
- Sounds good.
- Hope the good Lord has put Mother fast asleep.
Just why you don't wanna come back home
Yeah
[hand knocking]
'Cause you don't think you done left me, baby
Everything in my life done gone wrong
Yeah
You know it's true
[upbeat music]
- I'm not happy about this.
- I'm just not feeling well.
If I was, I'd come.
- You're letting me down.
- You'll wish you'd come.
- I know. I just-
- You go in front, Tom.
You gotta reheat the bowls now.
That's all.
- Okay.
- We'll be home around midnight, son.
Hey, don't burn the house down.
- Have a good time.
[horn beeping]
[upbeat music]
- Goddamn buses don't move, man.
You want them to move, they don't move.
People blame me.
It ain't my fault, man.
It ain't me, man.
It ain't me.
[train horn blaring]
Hey.
I went to the bathroom.
I can't go to the bathroom?
- I'm sorry.
I didn't know you were coming back.
- Someone reserves a seat here.
- I just paid the ticket.
- Oh yeah?
What the fuck you think I don't?
We all paid a fucking ticket, man.
She's telling him write, write.
Yeah, that's what she's saying.
Write, write.
He won't write.
He'll phone is what he'll do, but six months down the line.
You know what I'm saying?
Hey conchita,
I so sorry, man.
I so sorry.
Yeah.
I been there.
Been there.
- Thank you.
[bus engine rumbling]
- There was an accordion.
- Oh yeah.
- In the window.
- That most beautiful accordion.
It surely was.
- I was very impressed.
- Hm.
If we still got it.
I got it.
Selling for $75 only now.
Can you believe it?
Such a beautiful, beautiful thing.
That is a sale.
Was a 125 but we reduced that price
to sell to you this very day.
- Can I try it?
Can I try it?
- Oh my dear, surely you can try it.
Of course you can try it.
It belonged to a proper musician.
He was just a real proper musician.
[upbeat accordion music]
- Is it far to Lafayette?
- Lafayette?
Louisiana?
- Yeah.
- 55 South.
Take a right through Baton Rouge, the I10.
Which way you facing now?
I mean your car.
You got a car?
- No.
I was thinking 'bout hitching.
- Hitching a ride?
My dear, you take a bus.
Don't you go hitching.
You play something for me?
Something nice.
[bright accordion music]
Oh my dear.
That is God's gift.
That is just God's gift.
[bright accordion music]
- Hey, hey.
Hey, mister.
Stop.
Can you just?
[soft guitar music]
- So what did you have a row about?
- It wasn't so much a row.
- You can give him a row anyway, you're his dad.
- Now, John.
- Well you can, you're a parent.
You've got to.
- Now don't take it too far.
There aint a ounce of bad in that boy.
So much been happening in his life.
- He hadn't played music in ages.
It was that family I told you about.
That black family.
It was them that got him going.
He hadn't played music since his mom died.
- Oh my Lord.
- And I heard him.
I think I'd forgotten he even played.
- God has his purpose, Tom.
We don't know it but he has.
- [John] That's true.
- Yeah, well, by taking the money?
- Oh now he took money?
How much did he take?
- $200.
- What?
Lord.
- He said it was a loan, mother,
so he could buy an accordion.
[siren blaring]
- Where you headed?
Where you headed?
- Headed, sorry.
Louisiana.
Lafayette in Louisiana.
- Straight run from here.
- I was wondering if I could ask you something.
Just like hitching a lift.
Would you ever hitch a lift?
Do people here ever-
- What'd you say?
You making a joke?
You making a joke at me?
Don't you dare.
- No, it's only if you don't have money would you-
- I got money.
- What you think I'm trying to steal your money? - No!
- I ain't trying to take no goddamn money.
Not your money, not nobody else's money.
I ain't no thief.
- No, I just.
I never meant that.
[siren blaring]
[upbeat music]
- Going to Galveston.
You know Galveston?
- No.
- Job down there.
Nephew's doing the hiring and the firing.
Brother's boy.
- Oh.
- Brother don't like me none.
[upbeat music]
But that song.
You know that song Galveston?
Galveston.
Galveston.
[upbeat music]
[singing in foreign language] [upbeat music]
[train horn blaring]
[gentle music] [singing in foreign language]
- Aunt Maureen.
Yeah, no, yeah.
No, I'm fine.
No, really.
What did you say?
Dad.
And Declan.
No, look, look.
Aunt Maureen, no, I've got to go.
I'm sorry.
Of course, yeah.
No, sorry.
Bye.
[lively music]
[singing in foreign language] [lively music]
[lively music]
[singing in foreign language] [lively music]
[lively music]
[crowd cheering]
- [Lancey] Oh yeah.
Queen Monzee-ay, y'all.
Give it up.
[crowd cheering]
A legend.
- Merci.
Merci, Monsieur Lancey.
Full of beans as usual.
[crowd clapping]
I ask Sarah, my petite fee.
Come, play along.
[crowd cheering]
What a beautiful girl.
You all know Diego.
Diego Narcisco.
[crowd cheering]
Now, one by our brother Clifton Chenier.
[upbeat music]
[singing in foreign language] [upbeat music]
No salt in the beans
No salt in the beans
- [Murdo] Hey.
- Good to see you.
- How are you?
I'm okay.
- This is Diego.
- I'm Murdo.
- So you play the accordion?
- Yeah.
[speaking in foreign language]
[upbeat music]
- It's on ticket.
- Hm?
- Diego's gig.
Our gig.
We all play.
[crowd cheering]
- Oh yeah.
Y'all give it up for Sarah [speaks in foreign language].
Queen Monzee-ay [speaks in foreign language].
The one and only.
- Aunt Edna, I've got to go.
- You gotta go?
But- - I'll be there.
I'll be there tonight, I mean.
Tell Queen Monzee-ay just.
I'll definitely be there.
- Okay.
[upbeat music]
[lively music]
- Come on, man. Let's have one.
[lively music]
Take it easy, man.
We know the gig.
He'll be there.
It's Queen Monzee-ay.
Know what I'm saying?
- Musicians everywhere.
- Jesus Christ.
A word in your ear, Tom.
Queen Monzee-ay ain't musicians everywhere.
She's letting your boy play with her, man.
That's an honor.
So he'll be there.
- I know what you're saying.
- No, you don't.
You don't, man.
Your boy's a player and you still ain't getting it.
You saw Clara.
Remember Clara? Clara Hopkins?
You heard her sing, man.
Clara don't sing.
Not nowadays, except for when she's in church.
You heard her.
I mean, you think Clara sings for everybody?
She don't.
It was your boy helped that along.
It's him got Chess.
Your boy got Chess.
Chess got Clara.
That's how that worked.
You been honored, man.
Queen Monzee-ay.
She's royalty, man.
- Everything I say is wrong.
- Chess trusted your boy.
Queen Monzee-ay trust him, too.
It's you don't.
You don't trust him.
- I do trust him.
- Tom.
What are you scared of?
[bright music]
- Hey.
You ain't 25.
ID.
ID.
- I've not got any.
I'm playing with Queen Monzee-ay.
- You play with Queen Monzee-ay?
- Yeah.
- I'll know if you ain't.
Stay put and you don't do nothing, you hear?
Nothing.
No beer, no nothing.
- Okay.
- Don't leave off that stage, okay.
That's what I'm saying.
We don't take no prisoners 'round here, boy.
That old bartender see you doing something, he shoot you.
[lively music] [patrons chattering]
- [Queen] Hey now, Mr. Murdo.
You gonna play with me?
- [Murdo] That would be great.
- Didn't stop say hello today.
Why was that?
Edna said you were there.
Sarah went looking.
You just disappeared.
Let me see that thing.
Ugh.
I got the ebony one for you.
You like that one?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, got a history.
Hey, Murdo.
Sarah said you would come and Edna.
She knew.
Edna knew.
Yeah, she did.
You laughing?
What you laughing at?
I know about your sister, Murdo, yeah.
I know about your mother.
How hard its been.
I know it, son.
What Sarah tells me.
Sarah is my girl.
She's my most close friend next to Edna.
You're laughing again.
Edna makes you laugh.
People quake with Edna.
I'm talking men.
Rough, tough men.
Oh, they walk in fear, boy.
You know what fear is.
You know.
Call me Miss Monzee-ay.
Say that.
- Miss Monzee-ay.
- No secret there.
Just my own family name.
Gotta make your own space here, Murdo.
People don't give you that.
Gotta take it.
How long you in this country?
- Two weeks.
- Two weeks and you got it already, huh?
Walked in that door and here you are.
It's the most amazing thing
that could ever happen in a person's life.
They walked in the door.
Here in this space, our space.
Becoming a home, Murdo.
A family.
Yeah, you done that.
It makes me happy.
I don't know why, but it just does.
[patrons chattering]
[crowd cheering]
Listen to my story.
Come from Louisiana.
Play my music on an old accordion.
Ooh la la
[singing in foreign language]
Hotel maroon
I seen 'em all before
My baby bloom is the dance hall floor
Ooh la la
[singing in foreign language]
That's the way I am
It's everything I know
Playing with the band and singing zydeco
Ooh la la
[singing in foreign language]
There was a time
I had myself a man
He didn't realize
He didn't understand
Ooh la la
[singing in foreign language]
[lively music]
[singing in foreign language]
[crowd cheering]
[upbeat music]
[singing in foreign language] [upbeat music]
[crowd cheering]
- Y'all know this cowboy?
[crowd cheering]
You do one for us.
- Diego Narcisco, man.
Everybody wants to hear him.
[crowd cheering]
- Are you ready for some Tex Mex guacamole?
[crowd cheering]
Let's shake some booty.
[lively music]
[singing in foreign language] [lively music]
[crowd cheering]
- Check this out.
Cowboy man.
This here is my band.
[crowd cheering]
I taught them everything they know.
Okay, okay.
I have some young friends with me here tonight.
Young Gene.
Guitar maestro all the way from Vicksburg, Mississippi.
[crowd cheering]
Mr. Murdo here come all the way from.
Somewhere.
Where you come from, boy?
- The bus station.
[crowd laughing]
- Murdo is my boy.
[crowd cheering]
Also from Allentown, Mississippi,
my own sweet granddaughter.
Daughter of my daughter.
Come forward.
[crowd cheering]
She got her own fan club.
[crowd cheering]
[upbeat music]
[singing in foreign language] [upbeat music]
[upbeat music]
[crowd cheering]
[gentle music]
I'm gonna wonder
Baby, who's been loving you
I'm gonna wonder
Who's been loving you
'Cause I love ya
I love ya
Ooh, I'll tell the whole world
I do
Yeah
I do
[gentle music continues]
[gentle music continues]
[crowd cheering]
- So Tuesday we're in the studio, man.
We need you.
- Yes, sir.
- Just speak to your father.
[speaking in foreign language]
- Ah, nice going, man.
Oh yeah.
- Thanks.
[pensive music]
Hi Dad.
- I enjoyed it.
- Did you?
- Yeah.
- Stop it.
Stop it.
- You're going with Diego's boys?
- Gonna set Texas on fire, huh?
- It's the young guys.
They're wanting me to play with them.
Not Diego.
I mean, the young guys.
- You boys got some gigs lined up?
- Si, senor.
We got [speaks in foreign language].
El Paso to Cali.
- The border, huh?
Like canuto circuit.
- Si, senor.
So you know.
It's up to Murdo.
We want him to come play with us.
- He is solid.
Solid.
- I know it sounds daft, but if I just stay here,
play with them, and then come home after.
- It's not possible, son.
- But Dad, say if I did the gigs.
[speaking in foreign language]
- Your passport, son.
He hasn't even got his passport.
- Passport?
- He don't need no passport.
Not for Texas he don't.
- [Murdo] Dad, say if I just do the gigs
and then come home after.
- [Tom] Son, it's not possible.
- Why not?
- Because you need a visa.
You need permission.
You need all that stuff.
[speaking in foreign language]
- Yes, yes.
[speaking in foreign language]
Texas.
[speaking in foreign language]
- It's so wonderful that you came.
Oh, Murdo.
- Here.
My address, my phone number, my email.
Any time you just come.
Houston's real close.
- That's great.
- Where you're going, people dong worry so much.
Like official them.
It's good down there.
Good music, good food, good people.
- I'm quite proud of you.
You know?
- Dad.
- Not since your mom died you've been great.
You've been great.
- Dad.
- It's Uncle John's number.
Make sure you phone him tonight.
- Dad, it's okay.
- Don't lose that, okay.
- Hey, Murdo.
Get those bags.
Hi [speaks in foreign language].
[speaking in foreign language]
- Hang on here.
- No, Declan.
Honest, I don't need it.
- Hey, man.
Just pay me back some time.
- Definitely.
Okay, Dad?
- Okay.
[upbeat music] [speaking in foreign language]
[singing in foreign language] [upbeat music]
[speaking in foreign language] [upbeat music]
[bright music]
[bright music continues]
[upbeat music]
[upbeat music continues]