INT.JACKSON FIVE HOTEL ROOM-NIGHT(1974)
....Hours pass in the hotel room in the MGM Grand.Diana has
left.Childlike sketches of Tito, Marlon, Jackie,Randy,
Mother and Latoya named "Moon Face" lay on the floor.
The TV blares loudly, Michael and Janet are transfix to the
TV screen-- their watching an old Mae West movie, "I'm No
Angel".
Mae West saunters into the room and utters that immortal
line--
MAE WEST
(on the TV)
Come up and see me sometime....
Michael roars loudly with laughter at Mae West's
performance. He loves the old classics: a stack of video
tapes sit on the floor next to them. Everything from Anchors
Aweigh, On the Town and Butterfield 8.
JANET JACKSON
(pointing to the TV)
What's she doin'?
MICHAEL JACKSON
(looking at Mae West)
She's workin it' ...man is she
funky...I like that..here like this
Janet--
Michael quickly gets to his feet and re-enacts Mae West's
part from the movie.Shaking his hips, Janet follows his
lead.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(moving like Mae West)
More like this Janet, shake it,
shake it...
Janet wiggles her little hips side to side like the famous
screen legend. Michael is her director, monitoring her every
move for perfection.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(laughing sweetly)
Yeah you got it.
STAGE
Michael goes on the stage to introduce the next act of their
family show.Standing in front of the crowd, Michael has
grown up. His white tuxedo glistens in the footlights of the
stage--
MICHAEL JACKSON
(walking with the microphone)
Now I would like to welcome a very
special guest,she's a small lil'
thing but she's a funky mama... my
sister Janet Jackson.
Janet switches down the steps in her ruffled pink Mae West
costume with hat and everything.Sauntering over to Michael,
he can't stop laughing at his sister's spot on imitation.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(clapping)
Janet Jackson, everyone.
The rest of the brothers join Michael on stage as they break
into "The Life of the Party".Michael resumes his role from
host to lead singer in a matter of seconds.
Randy, now apart of the act, plays the congas with
precision.Hitting the canvas with a smooth rhythmic beat
unlike anything this audience has ever seen.
DISSOLVE TO:
OVER BLACK, TITLE CARD: "1975"
The Jackson Five "I Am Love" plays
INT.HAYVENHURST-NIGHT(1975)
A Sunday night dinner at Hayvenhurst.The TV blares on in the
other room as the Jackson kids sit around the table.A huge
spread of soul food lines the table,the aroma of good home
cooking simmers over the various dishes.
Inseparable as always, Michael and Janet whisper among
themselves while Tito helps Dee Dee feed their son.Its a
typical night at the Jackson home.
Amongst the happy canter,Joe breaks the mood.
JOE JACKSON
(deep in thought)
Vegas...we had a good turn
out..better than what Motown
expected but...we're runnin' out of
options ever since that Abernathy
kat has taken over...I can't get
nothin' to Gordy.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(playing with his food)
Berry's workin' on another film
right now....
JOE JACKSON
Regardless...its time to look to
the future...the albums haven't
been good for awhile.
MARLON JACKSON
(passing a plate)
Concerts too...I mean were doin'
theater in rounds.
TITO JACKSON
(adamant)
We need to leave.
RANDY JACKSON
(upset)
In Milwaukee, it was only 2/3
full...
The boys look at Joseph--
JACKIE JACKSON
(talking in between bites)
So Joseph, what do you wanna do?
Joseph folds his hands--
JOE JACKSON
Its time to move on.
Michael looks up from his plate,Joe's words pierce him.
JOE JACKSON
For years, we've been thinkin' the
money is in the records....but its
publishing....publishing, writing
and producing that brings in the
big dollars. I got a vision for
this family...
MARLON JACKSON
What are you sayin?
JOE JACKSON
Jackie has been study the business
and I've been learning a thing or
two, its time we seek out a new
label...someone who sees the talent
we got here...someone who's gonna
let us write and produce...the
Jacksons as a sole music
company.Then we can get the
royalties and publishing like
Smokey and Stevie do.
Michael taps his fork against his plate,he doesn't like
Joseph's idea at all--
MICHAEL JACKSON
Berry taught us the business...
Motown is family....what are we
gonna do if we leave, if we ask
Berry mayb--
JOE JACKSON
I'm done askin' Gordy for
handouts...we'll do this on our
own.
TITO JACKSON
What about Jermaine...he's already
sided with Berry. He ain't gonna go
with this.
Time DISSOLVES since dinner,the girls and Katherine clear
the table.Heading into the kitchen with plates and glasses,
Joseph and the boys continue their discussion.
JOE JACKSON(O.S)
(pointing into the den)
Turn that off for a minute, this is
serious we need to finish...
Randy(14)gets up and turns off the record player.Its the
brother's latest single for Motown--
TITO JACKSON
We've been at Motown for almost 6
years now...we asked him about
writing our own music....he said
no...we're not happy, its time to
go some place where we are.
JACKIE JACKSON
We're not little kids anymore...and
the bubblegum sound is over...music
is changing... and Motown ain't
changing with it...so I agree..we
should leave.
MARLON JACKSON
I'm tired of singing the same ole
stuff...not to mention..they use
back up singers for our parts.They
don't need us...and we don't need
them...we can make the big bucks..
Michael is silent.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(unsure)
Look...leaving is a big step
....Motown taught us everything we
know...that's all I'm sayin'...I
feel the same way you do but I
don't want to just leave...Loyalty
that's whats important...we can
talk to Berry , like Stevie and
Marvin did....he'll listen..but we
got to try first instead of just
jumpin' the gun.
Joe looks at Michael--
JOE JACKSON
It doesn't matter Michael...your a
minor anyway.
Michael looks at Joseph, he doesn't understand--
MICHAEL JACKSON
What do you mean?
JOE JACKSON
I control your contract...not Berry
Gordy.
Michael looks at Joseph,a feeling of helplessness fills him.
Looking at Joe, Michael gets up from the table and leaves.
INT.MICHAEL AND RANDY'S BEDROOM-NIGHT(1975)
Michael sits on the side of his bed, he is still thinking
about last night.Michael shakes his head at the thought,
trying to make it go away.
MICHAEL
looking at his nightstand,Michael stares at the phone
sitting there.He has to make the call--he needs to speak to
Berry himself.
Michael gets to his feet.
Looking down at the rotary phone, he takes a deep breath
reaching for it.Michael's long fingers slip into the holes,
dialing around and around.He holds the phone to his ear,
waiting anxiously.
The phone rings...when finally there's an answer--
BERRY GORDY(ON THE PHONE)
Hello?
MICHAEL JACKSON(ON THE PHONE)
(confident,then--)
Mr Gordy...we need to talk
CUT TO:
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