ADELE_KIPLING ANNOUNCER BOOBOO CADILLAC DIZZEE DJ DJ_2 ED_LIVINGSTON EXEC EXEC_2 EZEKIEL FAT_ANNIE FURRY FUZZY GUY JACKIE_MOREN JACKIE_MORENO LARRY LEADER LEON LOPEZ MAN MRS_CRUZ MYLENE PAPA_FUERTE RARA REGINA REPORTER ROY_ASHETON SHAOLIN_FANTASTIC STANLEY_KELLY WANDA WINSTON WOMAN YOLANDA


MYLENE
Why?! You call me a whore and.
ROY ASHETON
Yeah, it's been a good year for us, it's been a monster year for us. A record breaking, history making for us. But that don't mean it's been a satisfactory year for us. Little lower there, baby. Satisfaction, it's like gonorrhea. Can I get an “Amen”?
EXEC
Amen.
ROY ASHETON
How 'bout a mazel?
EXEC 2
Mazel. Absolutely, Roy.
JACKIE MORENO
Hey. Hey, fellas. Somebody order a pizza?
ROY ASHETON
Jackie Moreno!
JACKIE MORENO
I come bearing gifts.
EXEC 2
It's an honor to meet you, man.
EXEC
The Jack Moreno. Holy shit, I gotta shake your hand.
ROY ASHETON
No-no-no-no, stay. Stay. Learn something. Half the gold records on my wall, Jackie had a part in delivering.
JACKIE MORENO
Yeah, some of the platinum ones, too. But who's counting.
ROY ASHETON
So Jackie. What's new?
JACKIE MORENO
I found a girl singer, Roy. She's pure disco. Face like an angel. Body, boom-boom, boom. I have to record a demo immediately.
ROY ASHETON
A demo?
JACKIE MORENO 
This girl's gonna make somebody armored trucks full of cash. Considering our history, you know, I'm coming to you first.
ROY ASHETON
Okay. Do it!
JACKIE MOREN
For real?
ROY ASHETON
If you believe in her, why not? Right?
JACKIE MORENO
Thank you! Wow! But hey listen, I can't do it on the el cheapo. You know? She's a disco act. I gotta have musicians, I gotta have studio time, I need the right engineer. Seed money.
ROY ASHETON
Seed money?
JACKIE MORENO
At least five grand.
ROY ASHETON
hey, how 'bout this? How 'bout five cents.
JACKIE MORENO
I'm being serious, Roy.
ROY ASHETON
So am I. She this boys, this is what you never fucking wanna be. Yo jackie, go fuck yourself.
JACKIE MORENO
Come on, man, I- I did a lot for you.
ROY ASHETON
And I for you. Tell you what. You remorseless degenerate junkie gambling fuckhead thieving waste of space! Go find anybody in the record business who will work with you again, and then come back and talk to me!! but nobody will because you're dead, Jackie! You're a, you're a ghost! And you deserve it! Because you, you are the royal flush of pathetic loser, swindling, junkie fucks! Pure disco, forget it. Go die.
DJ
A lot of fingers crossed with the continued heat wave.
WANDA
I mean I hear you, but there's always options. You just gotta know where to look.
EZEKIEL
I am looking and I'm telling you, it ain't easy.
LEON
Ain't nothing in life easy. Ain't no peaches and cream.
WANDA
Ezekiel's looking for some work.
LEON
Hold up now, stop the damn presses. You mean to tell me that Mr. Phyllis Wheatley over here, that your poetry ain't making good money?
EZEKIEL
I'm trying to raise money for a turntable.
LEON
What the hell you need to buy a damn turntable for? How 'bout save up for some damn toothpaste?
WANDA
Leon. He's trying to find an honest job.
LEON
Okay. Well that I can support 110%.
WANDA
And I think you should bring him with you.
LEON
And to that I say hell no. The last thing I need is that boy mess up my money.
WANDA
I think it's a great way for him to learn about hard work.
EZEKIEL
And you did say you was gonna make a man out of me this summer.
LEON
Oh that's just a figure of speech.
WANDA
Yeah, you always say, a man need to take initiative. What do you think he's doing?
LEON
Damn it, I do say that don't I?
LEON
All right. But half your wages kick back to me. You dig? Now I gotta meet this man Li'l Wolf about some handyman gig down at the Les Inferno. That place just got shot the hell up. So-.
EZEKIEL
Wait Les Inferno?
LEON
Oh, oh wait, so what what now you reneging? Huh? Oh what-what handyman work ain't good enough for you?
EZEKIEL
No, no-no-no, I just didn't-
LEON
Yeah, huh yeah, sure enough, you're going down there with me whether you like it or not.
DJ
Treasury secretary Simon said today that the country is in a recession.
LEON
I gotta say, I never figure I'd see this. Come on, lemme see you put some elbow grease into it, cupcake. So you wanna be a handyman like me, huh?
EZEKIEL
I just need the money.
LEON
Don't we all.
CADILLAC
Hey yo, handyman. I know my cousin didn't hire you to be sittin here drinking like it's a day at the motherfucking beach. Get back to work.
LEON
Got here at 5:00 a.m. just taking a little break.
CADILLAC
Oh you got something to say?
LEON
No, sir. But we don't get paid by the hour anyway, it's a flat rate.
CADILLAC
Yeah? Well now it's a your fired rate.
EZEKIEL
What?
CADILLAC
The fuck outta here.
EZEKIEL
Is he serious?
LEON
Pack it up.
CADILLAC
Oh, shit. Romeo, right? Yeah, I know you. The fine little Spanish freak you was with the other night, what's her phone number? Come on, give up them digits.
EZEKIEL
She ain't got a phone.
CADILLAC
Who the fuck you eyeballing?
LEON
We worked five hours. Who I need to see about getting paid for that?
CADILLAC
Call the Better Business Bureau, nigga.
FAT ANNIE
Oh! get it baby, get it. Ah! Oh, I've missed you. Come here. Let me pet the lion. See if he can let out another mighty roar. Somebody taught you how to do that kind of championship fucking. I know what you want, but I can give you one step better.the opportunity to make real money. You wanna join my family? Are you ready to commit to Annie?
DJ
It is hot and humid. A daytime high of over 100. New York City is at a boiling point. The record-breaking heatwave continues today.
ADELE KIPLING
Okay, we got chicken and rice in the fridge, meatloaf, tuna casserole, hot dogs and bologna, two gallons of milk and one new bottle of Bosco.
YOLANDA
Mom, tell Boo-Boo to get off.
ADELE KIPLING
Boo-Boo stop messing with your sister. Winston, we're gonna miss our bus!
DIZZEE
Ma, how long you guys going out there?
ADELE KIPLING
Well the funeral's tomorrow in Niagara Falls so we'll be back on Saturday.
DIZZEE
Cool.
ADELE KIPLING
Mylene, have you talked to your father?
MYLENE
He kicked me out, Miss Kipling.
YOLANDA
For singing, Mom. Ain't that wack?
REGINA
That's wack, right, Mrs. K?
YOLANDA
Especially because she's about to be a full time disco star.
REGINA
Mm hm.
YOLANDA
Mylene, tell her about Jackie.
MYLENE
I got a producer producing me now.
YOLANDA
A famous producer.
ADELE KIPLING
Okay, well you can stay while we're gone but when we come back we gotta figure this out. I'm sure your mother wants you back home.
MYLENE
Thank you, Miss. Kipling.
ADELE KIPLING
Winston!
WINSTON
I'm here, my dear! all right, kids, you know the drill. Not fighting, mind your manners, no biting, no strangers, and no water balloons. Give some love!
BOOBOO
Why you me?
YOLANDA
I'll miss you, Dad.
WINSTON
Come on, babycakes. mm. I'll miss you too, baby. Love you .
ADELE KIPLING
Yolanda, you're in charge.
BOOBOO
What?
WINSTON
Yeah, girls . Girls on top, one love, one love!
RARA
All right, well. All right, y'all. Zeke's about to get back here form work. And he's gonna wanna know how much money we got. So Dizz, couch duty update. How much did you dig outta the cushions?
DIZZEE
So far, $1.12.
RARA
Leave no stone unturned. And turntables?
BOOBOO
I fixed the burned one. We get another turntable and a mixer, DJ Boo Nasty gonna be chilling like a villain. 
YOLANDA
Y'all are stupid. For real.
RARA
The money's gonna be for our new D.J gear. That's our thing now.
YOLANDA
Get a air conditioner with the money. Man, we melting in here.
EZEKIEL
Hey.
MYLENE
That's all, just hey? Ain't you happy to see me?
EZEKIEL
Uh, yeah. I'm happy to see you.
RARA
How's the new job?
EZEKIEL
It sucked.
MYLENE
Um, come here, for a sec. Come on.
BOOBOO
Ooh!
BOOBOO
Ezekiel.
EZEKIEL
Stop it, stop it.
BOOBOO
Yo, hope your ass brought some money.
EZEKIEL
Yeah, yeah. Um. This is my life savings right here. $31 dollars and 18 cents.
BOOBOO
Hey, you heard from Shao?
EZEKIEL
Let's just get the gear.
RARA
So, with Zeke's savings added up with mine, Dizz's and Boo's, that brings us up to. Precisely $51 dollars.
BOOBOO
But a system costs $600.
EZEKIEL
What's up?
MYLENE
Close your eyes.
EZEKIEL
Why?
MYLENE
Just close your eyes.
MYLENE
Open 'em. I didn't wrap it but it's yours. It's for your poems when your old book is done. And it's got your initials. I got it to say thank you for helping me with my song at the church. We were great, right?
EZEKIEL
Yeah. We was a'ight. Thanks.
MYLENE
Yeah.
PAPA FUERTE
Stanley, it's the hottest day of the fucking year, my AC shit the bed, and all I can hear from you is protocol, decorum, diplomacy, patience., delicacy.
STANLEY KELLY
Jefe.
PAPA FUERTE
Stan!
STANLEY KELLY
There are people to please.
PAPA FUERTE
I'm happy to meet the guy, but unless I'm meeting with the main guy, they come here to me! I don't go to them! As it happens, here's my next meeting. Stan, . My man! I'm dying to hear how this meeting went with this, uh, Asheton guy.
JACKIE MORENO
Well, he wants to cut a demo with Mylene immediately.
PAPA FUERTE
What? He don't wanna meet her, he don't wanna hear her sing?
JACKIE MORENO
No.
PAPA FUERTE
Hold up. This is great news, Jackie, but are you sure that's what he said? Hm? Because I did some looking into this Asheton guy and he's a serious dude. And this Marrakesh Star is a serious label.
JACKIE MORENO
Uh, look, Cisco, I, I, I know where you're going and, um, I'm not offended. 
PAPA FUERTE
 Jackie. I'm just saying. You don't have to be afraid to tell me the truth.
JACKIE MORENO
The truth? Okay, the truth is this, up here in the Bronx around the card table, yeah, everybody knows that I know people, that I make records. You know, I don't go around advertise myself like a jerk-off. You know? Once in a while maybe but you know, down in Manhattan, Cisco, on 6th Avenue, in the record business? People get in line to cut a demo on my say so.
PAPA FUERTE
That's good to hear.
JACKIE MORENO
It is what it is.
PAPA FUERTE
Okay, so when do I get to meet with Roy Asheton?
JACKIE MORENO
When do you get to meet Roy Asheton? Lemme tell you something about Mr. Roy Asheton. Fuck Roy Asheton.
PAPA FUERTE
 you just finished saying that-.
JACKIE MORENO
Yeah-yeah of course he wants to record Mylene, of course he wants to sign her.
PAPA FUERTE
So what's the problem?
JACKIE MORENO
The problem is you're my friend, the problem is, in all honesty, Mylene is a big time talent and she looks like a good, decent girl.
PAPA FUERTE
She is a good, decent girl. But I ain't following you.
JACKIE MORENO
Roy Asheton is the Grand Poobah of the record business because he makes a gazillion dollars a year screwing over every artist that he signs.
PAPA FUERTE
So, we get a, we hire a lawyer, we hire a music lawyer.
JACKIE MORENO
He owns the lawyers. They all do. Look, I would love to get my debt to you off my plate but I'm not gonna do it by fucking you over, you know, a-and the kid, Mylene, I can't do that, I can't do that.
PAPA FUERTE
Okay. Roy Asheton, we go to another label.
JACKIE MORENO
No, you don't get it, that's the- they're all the same. You know, the artists sign a standard contract to record a demo. The record company owns it. If it pans out, they sign the at to a lowball contract and fuck every hit they can get out of 'em and, you know, and discard them the m- the minute they drop out of the Top 40. It- it's-it- it's all set up. It's just like a rigged game. The only good thing about Roy is that he's got the juice to make stars. But what's the point if he owns it all? I'm only being honest with you, Cisco, 'cause out of respect for you. And, because your niece.
PAPA FUERTE
So how about, we record out own demo?
JACKIE MORENO
You think you're the first guy to have that idea?
PAPA FUERTE
No-no, li- listen. We record our own demo. You work your magic, you make Mylene great, and then we sell it to Asheton. And we negotiate Mylene's contract from a position of strength. We go to this Roy like- like players, not- not paupers.
JACKIE MORENO
This is expensive. There's no guarantees either.
PAPA FUERTE
How much?
JACKIE MORENO
To do it right, 30-40 grand.
PAPA FUERTE
You come back in an hour. Lopez is gonna have 40 large in a brown paper bag. But this demo? I own it. All of it. And her contract too if we get to sign. And like you say if this all pans out, well then of course, you get a taste. . My niece means everything to me. Don't fuck this up, Jackito.
DJ
For the first time since 1941, the nation's unemployment rate has gone above nine percent.
DJ 2
In New York City, the rate of unemployment is much higher than it is nationally. Higher than 
RARA
Look, we take our $51 dollars and we leverage it. Right? Convince Larry to put us on a payment plan, all right? At 10% down $51 dollars becomes $510 dollars. And what we gotta avoid, though, is predatory lending. 'Cause predatory lending-
EZEKIEL
I have no idea what you're saying, bro.
BOOBOO
No.
RARA
I'm saying, if we play our cards right, we walk outta here with mixers, turntables. Maybe even speakers.
DIZZEE
I'm a wait inside, y'all.
RARA
Inside, as in outside? Shit. In this heat?
DIZZEE
Yo, is it just me today or is it like, the Bronx is getting closer to the sun?
LARRY
How can I help you guys?
RARA
Ah. certainly. Uh, we'r after that Clubman 1-1 mixer right there in the window. 
BOOBOO
And the turntable.
RARA
Now my good man. About your payment plan.
LARRY
Now look, I gotta stop you right there, kids. For you guys, unfortunately, everything up in the front window is full sticker price or I can't help ya.
EZEKIEL
No, your sign says.
LARRY
Yeah it says easy credit. It doesn't say lemme bend over so you could easily fuck me, right?
BOOBOO
Excuse me?
LARRY
Look, you guys seem like nice kids but I got a business to run here. And for the last six months, boys who look like you've been coming in here, every day, saying Larry, Larry, hook me up with your payment plan, you know? And you know what they want? They want two turntables and a mixer. Which is weird, right? And they're crying all the time, saying, uh, you know, they need it, you know and th- and they all have this look in their eyes. Like they're on some kinda drug thing.
RARA
We are not gonna screw you, mister. Come on.
LARRY
You know what, the other day, some guy comes in here, all right. He's 10 weeks behind on his payments. He hands me a cassette tape, he says, look, it's worth $100. its rare, it's dangerous to own. Dangerous, it's a fucking cassette tape. So I listen to it, right? It's garbage. No one's singing, there's n-nothing there. It's boom boom scratching, boom boom scratching, scratching. Over and over and over.
RA-RA
Look, we'll, we'll pay you $10 dollars for it.
LARRY
Sold. There you go. You come in here, you want something, you show me the money, I sell it to ya. You know, just don't fuck me.
FAT ANNIE
Clarence. Have you located that boy Napoleon yet? Little Spic motherfucker knows our hitman.
CADILLAC
Ma, he's hiding out in Poughkeepsie, I got my people on it.
FAT ANNIE
Well don't keep me waiting.
CADILLAC
I'm on it. Shit's done. Why this faggot here, Ma?
FAT ANNIE
Shaolin here's joining the family. Put him to work. Let him prove himself! Make me proud. Both of you. You boys play nice.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
It's hot as hell this morning, huh?
CADILLAC
Step to me wrong once, I'll kill you. Tell a soul what you doing with my mom, I'll kill you. Breathe in my general direction, I'll kill you with pleasure. Understood?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Just trying to make some cash, man.
CADILLAC
Is that a fact? Make this car disappear today. Do it right and there's $100 dollars in it for you.then maybe we can talk family business. Motherfucker.
RARA
Yo, we got a bootleg Grandmaster Flash tape, dig? So what if we put a little party on?
BOOBOO
Yeah, I'll be DJ Boo Nasty. Pretend to play behind the wheels of steel.
EZEKIEL
Is doing all this safe?
MAN
That bootlegger did get stomped out at Flash's jam.
MAN
We ain't bootleg the tape, we just gonna play it for a minute.
MAN
Charge a cover at the door and make some serious coin. Trust me. Flash'll never find out.
DIZZEE
Oh, this could be the VIP area.
RARA
Exclusive. I like it.
EZEKIEL
Yeah, and we could serve Dizz's Kool-Aid punch and charge extra.
BOOBOO
We gonna be making major motherfucking duckets, boy!
DIZZEE
The thing about the punch is, um, I took my last tab of lysergic acid diethylamide this morning, so-.
EZEKIEL
Dizz, not the acid punch, the one you spike with Bacardi 151. 
DIZZEE
Oh, okay. The special punch.
EZEKIEL
First thing tomorrow morning, I wanna march into punk ass Larry's, put the money on the counter, make him count it. 
BOOBOO
Real slow, baby.
EZEKIEL
Walk out with one turntable and a mixer.
YOLANDA
Ra-Ra, Dizzee, Boo-Boo. What the hell is going on down here?! Wh the hell is all of Dad's stereo equipment and records in the salon? You come here.
BOOBOO
Ow! come on, yo! We're just having a little party. 
YOLANDA
Nah uh! Mom and Dad'll kill you and then me and then you again.
EZEKIEL
We was just taking about cutting you in.
RARA
Yeah. We're charging at the door.
YOLANDA
I want $20 dollars. Cash. Even if no one shows up. 
DIZZEE
The people will come. 
RARA
'Cause we got the secret weapon. We got the Doomsday Machine.
GUY
We're here for the full wash and trim.
WOMAN
Full wash and trim?
BOOBOO
Grandmaster Boo Nasty! Grandmaster Boo Nasty!
DIZZEE
When you walking in the sun, baby girl, instead of the shade, you're definitely gonna want some of Rumi's enlightened Kool-Aid.
REGINA
Calm down.
YOLANDA
mayhem.
REGINA
Oh!
YOLANDA
Damn, Mylene! You filling out Regina's dress better than she do.
REGINA
Shit, for real.
MYLENE
What are they doing to the song?
YOLANDA
Ruining it.
MYLENE
It sounds like a racket. Yo, what happened to the singing part?
YOLANDA
Boo's scratching the record.
MYLENE 
Look at them diving on the floor and shit. You can't even hustle to it.
REGINA 
They're doing the freak now.
MYLENE
It's just nasty. Nasty. Ew.
REGINA
That's right! Show 'em how you freak it, girl!
MYLENE
Hey. Hey, can I talk to you for a second?
EZEKIEL
Yeah, yeah. Uh, I'll be right back.
BOOBOO
Boo Nasty!
MYLENE
It's happening.
EZEKIEL
What?
MYLENE
I'm recording tonight. Come with me.it's Manhattan.
EZEKIEL
Uh. Y- um. You know, maybe depends on how it goes here.
MYLENE
No, fuck that, you're coming.
EZEKIEL
Why do you want me there?
MYLENE
Just so you could be there. You know? It's at a fancy studio and stuff. I'm nervous.
EZEKIEL
Cool, but like, sometimes you want me around, sometimes you don't and, if you wasn't nervous to be going there today, I mean, for real, would you even want me there at all?
MYLENE
I guess you're just gonna have to come with me if you wanna find out.
LEADER
What the fuck is he doing with this? Yo faking the funk little midget fugazi motherfucker. This don't fly. And when shit don't fly, the Caesars come party crashing. Now how y'all sound, pretending y'all Flash?
BOOBOO
Flash is our boy.
LEADER
Flash is your boy? And you do him like that? Take that cash. This is who we are. We get money from Flash for making sure niggas ain't doing this kinda stupid shit.
EZEKIEL
Yo, my man. Hey, we worked our asses off for that money. So, we can't be giving it up without a fair one.
LEADER
How 'bout I shoot him in the head, and then we fight a fair one?
RARA
Yo, yo, yo. Never mind.
EZEKIEL
Hey! Yo! Hy, that ain't necessary.
LEADER
And the next time we see you, I swear to god we're gonna take you to the top of that roof there, fuck you in your ass, stab you, mutilate you, make you eat dog shit, and then we gonna throw you off that fucking roof. And one more thing, and I guarantee. The Fantastic Four plus One are gonna be dead to the Grandmaster when he hear about this. Forever.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Yo.
CADILLAC
I'm working!
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
You found Napoleon?
CADILLAC
What the fuck are you still doing here? You got but one thing to do today! Dump the-!
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Hard at work, right?
CADILLAC
big fuck.
JACKIE MORENO
Clarence, you ever heard of a fan? It's 80,000 degrees in here.
CADILLAC
This ain't eight grand.
JACKIE MORENO
It's 15. debts cleared. I want two ounces, all right? None a that gutter glitter. I want the sugar, I want the pure Kris Kringle studio fuel.
CADILLAC
Try that.
JACKIE MORENO
All right.
CADILLAC
Get in there, go to work. Whoo. Yo, man, how come into all this cheddar?
JACKIE MORENO
I got the, the next disco diva.
CADILLAC
shit.
JACKIE MORENO
And I'm recording her first single tonight.
CADILLAC
Jack the Mutt's doing disco.
JACKIE MORENO
What's this?
CADILLAC
It's Atari. 
JACKIE MORENO
Between you and me, I don't know nothing about writing no disco songs. Man, per- personally, I don't like the music, it doesn't, it's got no fucking feeling.
CADILLAC
Hey, disco's all fucking feeling. There's tragic passion sung by the unloved that hypnotizes over chugging funk style grooves that just. 
JACKIE MORENO
Some trippy shit, you know?
CADILLAC
Uh, you know, I got a, an associate that dabbled in a little bit of songwriting. 
JACKIE MORENO
Uh huh.
CADILLAC
A cat over there at High Voltage. You know, the label I finance.
JACKIE MORENO
Yeah. I know High Voltage.
CADILLAC
He got something the big discos'll lick right off your candy ass.
JACKIE MORENO
Yo, Clarence, this is the big time, all right, this is the real deal. This ain't-
CADILLAC
Come on, man, I'm the- the motherfucking king of disco.
JACKIE MORENO
All right, yo, you want me to check something out, I'll check it out, man. You know. I- I'll look at it, man, I'll look for you. For you, all right? And I'll tell you what I think.
CADILLAC
Yeah, check the shit out, man. Check it out. It's a party anthem in a 4/4 beat.
JACKIE MORENO
And it's called “Boogie Oogie Disco Biscuit”?
CADILLAC
I know he, uh, he'd appreciate the feedback. So what you think?
JACKIE MORENO
Well, you know what, it's a lot to take in, man, it's a lot to digest.
YOLANDA
And Mom and Dad put me in charge! Look at it in here! How we gonna fix all this in time?!
MYLENE
Yo, their parents are gonna bug the fuck out for real.
EZEKIEL
Yeah.
BOOBOO
Oh shit, that Shaolin. You think he knows what happened with Flash?
RARA
I don't know, just be cool.
BOOBOO
Shaolin Fantastic back! Whoo!
RARA
Dang, home boy! That's some serious Shaft shit right here.
REGINA
Who that hunk? Take me to church now.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
It was formerly owned by a DJ named Malibu. But she's ours now, so hop in, fellas.
BOOBOO
Come on, y'all, hop in. Ah!
EZEKIEL
What you doing here?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
I was passing by. Decided to stop in, see if y'all wanted to hit the Jamaican joint. Get some new records. Spin the whip.
MYLENE
He's busy. 
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
This your girl?
MAN
Didn't think so. 
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
That's the one that was at Las Inferno that night, right?
MYLENE
And who are you?
EZEKIEL
Uh, he's a friend, Mylene. I told you about him.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
I'm Shaolin Fantastic. But you can call me Shao.
MYLENE
Well, nice to meet you, Shao. But me and Zeke gotta get going now.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Mylene, right? Do you mind if I have a word with my Wordsmith before y'all jet? Just talk about some business. Music business.
MYLENE
Sure but, you know, I got music business, too.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
The wack part.
MYLENE
Excuse me?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
That's what you do, you sing, right?
MYLENE
Yeah.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
That's what we call the wack part, that wackness, that bullshit. Right, Books?
MYLENE
The wack?
EZEKIEL
Mm. 
MYLENE
Books?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Yeah. That's his street name 'cause he's smart as hell.
EZEKIEL
Hold up, hold up! Mylene, give us a minute, all right?
MYLENE
Smart as hell.
BOOBOO
Yo, are we gonna tell Shao what happened with the Flash tape?
RARA
No, let's play it cool.
EZEKIEL
What are you doing?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Look, I'm sorry for my absence, man.
EZEKIEL
What happened to if you ever see me again cross the street?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
That fire had me shook up. Brought back some, um, some memories, bad ones.
EZEKIEL
I could understand that.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
It's all good, though. I'm back at it now. And I-I got some cash coming in. enough to get a new system. Maybe even before the end of the day. We'll be back in business before you know it. Rocking the rhymes, clocking the beat. 
MYLENE
Yo, Ezekiel! I gotta go, I'm gonna be late!
EZEKIEL
What's with Malibu's car?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
All right, look. Cadillac's paying me to dump it.
EZEKIEL
Cadillac, fuck that motherfucker!
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC 
I know., I know, I know, I know. But it's good money. We dump it come nightfall. We get paid. Meantime, we got a whip to joyride, records to buy and some dope ass weed to smoke. My treat.
MYLENE
Ezekiel.
RARA
Yo, what is it we waiting for?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
I don't wanna come between you and your-.
MYLENE
Look, Zeke, I'm leaving. Okay?
EZEKIEL
nah.
MYLENE
You could stay here with your friends.
EZEKIEL
I'll go with you if you want.
MYLENE
No, it's fine. I'm fine on my own, okay?
EZEKIEL
Wait.
MYLENE
What?
EZEKIEL
Good luck.
MYLENE
Whatever.
BOOBOO
Let's go, man. Come on, let's take this baby for a ride. 
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Women, huh? Fuck 'em. Let's boogie!
YOLANDA
Y'all gonna leave me here to clean all this up?! Ra-Ra! Boo!

RARA
Yes!
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC 
Yo, she gonna play you, man. You're asking her to play you.
EZEKIEL
Nah.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Nah what?
EZEKIEL
Well I know how to play the game.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
See, that's your problem. That's your problem. Players always get played at the end. Whereas Shaolin Fantastic, he is the game. You dig me!
EZEKIEL
Ah.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
He is the game.
EZEKIEL
Yeah, I dig, I dig.
EZEKIEL
It was the perfect day. Me and my man got some real words to say. We getting our minds right with some herbs, I'm thinking the time's right to tell him about Flash but my nerves betray me. You see, up in the Bronx, that which is wrong can seem right, and right seem wrong.
ANNOUNCER
Severe thunderstorm warning in effect for all of Westchester County in New York. Now these storms can produce wind gusts 50 miles an hour or more, lightening, so be advised, whatever precautions seem advisable.
JACKIE MORENO
So, this is a professional recording studio. The guy back in the booth there the-e fat guy, that's Furry Cooperstein, our engineer. And the, you ready, you ready, you ready to do one?
MYLENE
Yeah. Okay.
JACKIE MORENO
Okay, we'll uh. There's the tune. W-.
MYLENE
“Oogie Boogie Disco Biscuit”.
JACKIE MORENO
It's a party anthem. You know, in a 4/4 beat but with subtext. I wrote it.
MYLENE
Mm.
JACKIE MORENO
All the big discos, they're eating this shit up.
MYLENE
I won't let you down, Mr. Moreno.
JACKIE MORENO 
All right. We're ready to go. You're gonna be great.
JACKIE MORENO 
It's gonna be great.
PAPA FUERTE
I warned you last month, with all of the plans we have in play, Hijos de Boricuas has to run like a squeaky clean operation!
LOPEZ
Pero, Pero-
PAPA FUERTE 
Pero Pero, !! Fix it, Pero!! You get rid of it or I'm gonna get rid of you. Lydia. Oh, I'm sorry you had to even see all of that. 
MRS CRUZ
I'm not. Only reminds me who you are. I don't drink.
PAPA FUERTE
I know. It's ginger ale.hey, come on, it's hot out there tonight., huh. Here. . You changed your hair. I don't know, something. It looks nice.
MRS CRUZ
My home is destroyed. My daughter's gone. The church is scandalized, her baby sister weeps. My husband, your brother, speaks of taking his own life and I'm ready to join him!
PAPA FUERTE
Okay okay. take it easy, let's take it easy. Have a seat. Sit down.
JACKIE MORENO
H-hold it, hold it, hold it. h- hold for a second. Hold.
JACKIE MORENO 
Mylene, dear, hold means stop singing. Listen, um. Let's do another take, Furry.
FURRY
Yeah, two questions, Jackie. How high are you and where's my fucking money?
JACKIE MORENO
Whoa, excuse me? W-w?
MYLENE
Mr. Moreno? Mr. Moreno?
JACKIE MORENO
Yes, dear?
MYLENE
This isn't working.
JACKIE MORENO
It's working great.
MYLENE 
No, this this isn't my type of song.
JACKIE MORENO
It- because you're not singing it right, it's t- Furry, tell her.
FURRY
The song fucking sucks, dude.
JACKIE MORENO
M- Mylene, do you know what a disco biscuit is?
MYLENE
Mm, like a cookie?
JACKIE MORENO
No, i-. no, it's a quaalude. It's a, it's a popular drug, i- it make the user feel mellow and horny. Like, just, you know what horny means? You know- you know what horny is?
MYLENE
Um. Yeah. Bit this song don't make me feel like that.
JACKIE MORENO
W- well ho- well how does it make you feel?
MYLENE
M-makes me feel stupid. Like, a comedy but not funny. You know, like, like wack. Like a joke. Like “Disco Duck”.
EZEKIEL
Man, I can't wait to see the look on Larry's face when we roll in for that Clubman 1-1.
RARA
We gotta push the shit over here first, come on.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Go, go, go.
BOOBOO
Ah, hold up, stop.
RARA
Huh?
BOOBOO
We almost forgot the Pinewood speakers.
DIZZEE
What?
BOOBOO
Pop the trunk.
EZEKIEL
Oh.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC 
Who was supposed to be checking that?
BOOBOO
shit
EZEKIEL
Oh!
RARA
Holy shit!
EZEKIEL
Oh my god.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Motherfucker.
RARA
What the fuck?!
BOOBOO
That's the little hard rock motherfucker from the block.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Motherfucker . Fucking Cadillac.
RARA
That's messed up. Yo, Shao, why you put us in this shit?! 'Cause I didn't do nothing!
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
I don't know nothing about this shit.
BOOBOO
That nigga dead.
RARA
Come on, let's go. Boo-Boo, Dizz, Zeke, come on, let's go!
EZEKIEL
No.
RARA
No?! what you mean no?!
EZEKIEL
No. just no, no. ain't nobody going. Shao didn't know, right?
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Swear to god I didn't.
EZEKIEL
Close that shit. That body turns up anywhere but on the inside of that trunk, Cadillac gonna make sure we all gonna be the next ones stuffed in there. The cops find it? They'll lock us up regardless whether we did shit or not. Everybody make sure you got everything, that you didn't leave your bus pass with your name on it, some stupid shit. Go.
PAPA FUERTE
How can I help?
MRS CRUZ
Please, I beg of you. Get out of our lives.
PAPA FUERTE
Lydia.
MRS CRUZ
No. You don't need us, you cling to us because you have no one for yourself. You're no spring chicken, Franny. It's time for you to make your own family. Stop with the girlfriends. Find yourself a real woman.
PAPA FUERTE
I got a real woman. I'm waiting on her. Pero, she's stubborn. But me, hey, I'm loyal. Es la verdad.
MRS CRUZ
I need Mylene to come back home. Bring my daughter home before there's no home left for her to come back to.
PAPA FUERTE
Whoa, I- I think you overestimate my powers. Mylene she's her own person, and all she wants to do is sing.
MRS CRUZ
Because of you! Yeah, Mylene came to see you for all of this. Her hair smelled como a tus ciggarros sucios. And that awful dress. That was you. And the man in the church, that record producer!
PAPA FUERTE
She wants to sing! And you, you suffocating her. She's my niece and I love her. And my brother is, he's crazy. And you- you, you've become like a- a slave. And between the two of you, you're, your killing Mylene's soul. You're killing her-. Hey.
MRS CRUZ
Let go. Let go.
PAPA FUERTE
Come on, come on, come on Lydia please. Come on. Come on.
FUZZY
She's right, Jackie, the song, it's beneath you and her.
JACKIE MORENO
Oh, the song's beneath me? It's beneath me?
FUZZY
Yeah, yeah.
JACKIE MORENO
The song in benea – it's beneath me, huh? It's beneath me.
FUZZY
Hey, man. Could you take it easy.
JACKIE MORENO
Take it easy! Take it easy, what do you mean take it easy? You know I got- I owe fi- I owe five shylocks, I owe wise guys, uh, street gangs. I- I got whiplash in my head from- from from- s- spinning my head all day, thinking I'm gonna get wacked! Take it easy! How 'bout some civility? What do I gotta do to be met with- with some civility!? What do I gotta do, huh?! Huh?! What do I have to do, to meet with some civility!!? Fucking pisses me off!!
FUZZY
Oh.
JACKIE MORENO
So how 'bout that, huh, civility! Civility!! Civility!!
EZEKIEL
Come on. Come on.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Ah.
EZEKIEL
Push, come on. Go.
SHAOLIN FANTASTIC
Let go. Let go.
MAN
The Fantastic Four plus One is done. We starting over.
EZEKIEL
From now on, whatever goes down, we go down together. that's how it gonna go down in the get down, that's how it gotta be. If one man fall we all fall.like how they say you gotta stand for something or you'll fall for anything. We brothers now. We're the Get Down Brothers. We gonna get ours, do or die. First chance we get, Cadillac's going down.
JACKIE MORENO
You know what that means, you know what civility means? This is what it means. Civility civil-! All right, what happened? Where's the coke?
MAN
Oh shit.
BOOBOO
Where'd Manhattan go?
DJ
A major power blackout has hit New York City. Ed Livingston of Con Ed Power is standing by. Ed, what caused this?
ED LIVINGSTON 
Well had, uh, sever lightening storms and, uh, they hit the power lines leading to the main generator. Due to the already very high demand, due to the, uh, heat. 
REPORTER
Where were you when the lights went out?
WOMAN
When the lights went out, I was in the movies and it suddenly blacked out.
ED LIVINGSTON
At about 9:34 p.m. we lost the entire system
DJ
Are you able to determine at this time when power will be restored?
ED LIVINGSTON
It'll be, um, I can't really tell you how many hours. We don't have a fix just yet.
REPORTER
Where were you when the lights went out?
MYLENE
It is 'cause I messed up the song? Why you went all crazy like a maniac?
JACKIE MORENO
Nah, not at all.
MYLENE
Okay but, you do think I'm talented, right, Mr. Moreno?
JACKIE MORENO
You're very talented.
MYLENE
Yeah but do you think I'm talented enough to be a star like for real?
JACKIE MORENO
How 'bout you tell me. Do you think you're talented?
MYLENE
Mm. I don't know.
JACKIE MORENO
I don't know is for amateurs. You either know or you don't.
MYLENE
Okay, but what's your opinion?
JACKIE MORENO
That's my opinion.
MYLENE
What's your professional opinion?
JACKIE MORENO
My professional opinion, well. Oh, Mylene. It's time you know what everybody below 59th Street knows, which is this. Nobody gives a fuck about my professional opinion n- you know, and even if they did, in order for me to have a professional opinion, I'd have to have a fucking profession which I don't.
MYLENE
But you're Jackie Moreno, right?
JACKIE MORENO
I was, I was. Not anymore. I don't work for Marrakesh Star. I haven't had a hit in years, you know? I'm- I'm fucking dead in th- in this business, Mylene, okay? You know, I'm like, w- like, a- a fugazi at this point, which means I'm a fucking fake. That's who I am.
MYLENE
I'm sorry for your problems. I am. And I'm not gonna tell my uncle about none a this.
JACKIE MORENO
I appreciate that.
MYLENE
But, will you then please help me find a real record producer and songwriter. You know, someone amazing, someone great.
JACKIE MORENO
Someone great? I, I never said I wasn't great.
MYLENE
I didn't mean it like that.
JACKIE MORENO
Lemme tell you something, a few years ago, not too long ago, I was driving a Rolls Royce. I had a Porsche. You heard of the Grammys?
MYLENE
Yeah.
JACKIE MORENO
I- I got three of those. Now I don't go nothing.
MYLENE
You got me, right?
JACKIE MORENO
You I got you. I got, uh, y-you don't even know if you're talented or not.
MYLENE 
Look, Mr. Moreno. I don't care if I'm talented. I just wanna sing. And I wanna get out of the Bronx.
JACKIE MORENO 
Mylene, this business isn't here to hold your hand. Listen to me, what we do here it's fucking essential. It's like oxygen. When a- when a- when a true artist sings, they- they don't hold back nothing. And it's when you sing like that it r-, it raises the dead. The world's dying of a thousand heart attacks. We heal them up three minutes at a time. That's w-w. It's a god damn public service what we do. 
JACKIE MORENO 
It's not- and it's- that- that's the only reason to make music. And if you, you can't make music like that w- with doubts, i- it-it won't work. You gotta know.
MYLENE
I know.
JACKIE MORENO
All right, then you know, all right, so, fine. I'll ask around, I'll help you get another producer. 
MYLENE 
No, I don't want another producer. I want you.
JACKIE MORENO
I worked on this song with Vinnie DiMirco.
MRS CRUZ
I should get back to Ramon and the church now.
PAPA FUERTE
No, it's too dangerous out there.
MRS CRUZ
Si. Still, I should go.
PAPA FUERTE
I'll take you there.
MRS CRUZ
I- no. I'll find my way. I'll take the flashlight, okay?
PAPA FUERTE
Lydia. You say I don't love my brother. I've sacrificed my life for him. I've sacrificed the only things that are dear to me. You know that. Don't make me lose my Mylene. Please. You see me as a bad man. Mm. Maybe I am. But where it counts most, I've been a man of my word. Haven't I? Lydia, haven't I?
MRS CRUZ
You have, Franny. You have.
PAPA FUERTE
Girls in the club. I like to have a nice girl on my arm. I like to have a dance every now and then, that's true. But I sleep alone, Lydia. Every night. Since 1960. make no mistake.
MRS CRUZ
I know.
PAPA FUERTE
That is for, uh, Ramon. He, he won't accept it from me. Maybe you can, uh, slide it into the collection basket, uh, a little bit at a time. Okay?
MRS CRUZ
Thank you.
PAPA FUERTE
I will make sure you never lose your daughter. I will make sure my brother is looked after. And that his familia stays intact. I promise you that. And I will close my eyes when my heart is crying. 
DJ
Less than an hour after the lights went out, fires have broken out all over the outer boroughs.
EZEKIEL
We're going to Les Inferno. Take what's ours.
RARA
I understand that, all right. We all shook. This is crazy, but Zeke, come on! I'm not sure retaliation is our style, man!
EZEKIEL
Why, Ra, 'cause we special? 'Cause we above all this, how are we above all this? It ain't retaliation anyways, it's a chance. We miss our chance, the world's gonna play us for fools.
JACKIE MORENO
Mylene Cruz, you're the real deal, don't let anybody ever tell you different.
MYLENE
Thanks. So a song like that.
JACKIE MORENO
Mm hm.
MYLENE
Except with the 4,
JACKIE MORENO
4/4 beat.
MYLENE
The 4/4 beat. Let's do that.
JACKIE MORENO
You know what, Mylene? I'm gonna write you a song. It's gonna be a masterpiece.
MYLENE
You for real?
JACKIE MORENO
Everybody I ever knew I fucked over.
MYLENE
People change. I believe that.
MYLENE
Let's take it from the top.
JACKIE MORENO
okay let's d- let's take it up a notch.
MYLENE
Okay.
DJ
city, a night of mindless violence, lit up the sky as the blackout divided the town into societies separate and unequal. In the Bronx, Harlem, Brooklyn, many of the have-nots have whatever respect kept them in check. Tens of thousands of looters.
MYLENE
Hey.
EZEKIEL
Hey.
MYLENE
You okay?
EZEKIEL
Uh huh.
MYLENE
You don't look okay.
EZEKIEL
Yeah, well, it's dark.
MYLENE
So what'd y'all do tonight?
EZEKIEL
Nothing. Chilled.
MYLENE
Why won't you look at me?
EZEKIEL
Look at you for what?
MYLENE
Look at me. Zeke I know you and you've got those mad eyes on to hide your sad eyes.
EZEKIEL
I'm not sad or mad.
MYLENE
Fine.
EZEKIEL
Fine.
MYLENE
Aren't you gonna ask me how it went at the studio?
EZEKIEL
How'd it go?
MYLENE
Amazing.
EZEKIEL
You sang good?
MYLENE
Zeke, I sang better than I ever sang. We didn't get to record but Jackie's gonna write me a song. A for real song.
EZEKIEL
Cool.
MYLENE
I tell you my secrets all the time/ and you always listen. It's my turn to listen now.
EZEKIEL
Listen to what?
MYLENE
Zeke.
EZEKIEL
Something bad happened tonight.
MYLENE
But you're okay?
EZEKIEL
Yeah. Nah. I mean I.
MYLENE
Come with me.
EZEKIEL
And it's like that car, just sank into darkness. Like a deep dark hole. 'Till I met Shao. He showed me this music thing. Yo, that's like the first time I felt fully alive.
EZEKIEL
And with the world burning to hell. I mean a lot.
DJ
It was a night of terror. What happened in this blinded city? 3,176 arrests. 132 police . 1,576 businesses looted or set on fire. 1,000 major fires. Nothing is gonna be the same. Nothing is ever gonna be the same.