Disappearing Acts

‫(Brooklyn)‬ ‫Highway, stay to the right."‬

‫"278, stay to the right‬ ‫Flatbush Avenue, stay to the left"‬

‫How many times do I have to tell you, Frankie?‬ ‫That I want the work to be done, not to be perfected?‬‬‬

‫Let me finish this work.‬ ‫I have another job for you downstairs.‬

‫Yes?‬‬‬

‫"(Big Apple) Transportation and Storage"‬

‫Eat me!‬‬‬

‫- Did it hurt you?‬‬‬ ‫-Never mind‬

‫I'm sorry, it's my fault.‬

‫You must be‬ ‫Who will you live in the apartment (2b)‬

‫I'm sorry, but the floor hasn't dried yet‬ ‫You'll need another hour‬

‫Clock? But it was supposed to‬ ‫Be fully ready to move in today‬

‫Yes, you have to talk‬ ‫With the owner in this regard‬

‫He didn't pay me a cent as overtime‬ ‫On the weekend he didn't come to work‬

‫But I'll tell you.‬ ‫However...‬‬‬

‫You've got a great wooden floor.‬

‫I polished it myself‬ ‫And shined it and made the links‬

‫To stay in my apartment on time‬ ‫More important than any well-crafted wooden floor‬

‫-Hold on! I can't get it in right now‬ ‫- So, where do you want me to put it?‬‬‬

‫Can't you wait?‬ ‫For another half hour?‬‬‬

‫I'm sorry, miss, but for me.‬ ‫To be in Astoria at five o'clock.‬

‫You're kidding, aren't you?‬‬‬

‫You won't leave my stuff on the road‬ ‫After I paid you $300?‬‬‬

‫Read my lips?‬‬‬ ‫I'm going to ask for your expulsion from your job.‬

‫You can register‬ ‫Truck number, ma'am.‬

‫Listen to me... Would you mind helping me?‬‬‬

‫I don't work for free‬

‫Why do you pay this rent?‬ ‫To live here alone?‬‬‬

‫I sing, so the piano‬ ‫It will be in the small room‬

‫Add that compared to (Manhattan) rents‬ ‫Rents here are very cheap‬

‫- Are you singing?‬‬‬ ‫-Yes‬

‫- remind me of your name.‬ ‫- (Zora Banks)‬

‫(Zora)... I liked that name.‬ ‫Looks like (Zora Neal Hurston)‬

‫Do you know who you are?‬‬‬

‫- It's named after it‬ ‫-It's true?‬‬‬

‫It's nice... Sing something for me, Zorra?‬‬‬

‫First, I don't know you as much as I am in the mood‬ ‫I'm not allowed to sing right now‬

‫I (Franklin)‬ ‫(Franklin Swift)‬

‫But you can call me Frankie.‬

‫Why does the prestige of this name ruin‬ ‫By calling yourself Frankie?‬‬‬

‫You can call me Franklin.‬ ‫If desired‬

‫Need help?‬‬‬

‫I suppose you're going to call your man to help you.‬ ‫In packing your furniture, right?‬‬‬

‫It helps you install the bookshelf‬ ‫and stereo system and the like‬

‫No, no one's going to help me.‬

‫I say that because you‬ ‫If you need any help...‬‬‬

‫I mean, if you will allow me to do so,‬ ‫I will accomplish your request at lightning speed‬

‫Then I'll have to pay you.‬

‫Don't you know a woman like you?‬ ‫How does she motivate a man to help her?‬‬‬

‫- A woman like me?‬‬‬ ‫- Yes, I mean...‬‬‬

‫Black, beautiful and independent!‬‬‬

‫Well, I'll appreciate it for you.‬ ‫But I thought you weren't working for free.‬

‫But right now I want to change my clothes‬ ‫Stained by sweat‬

‫And to rest for a while‬

‫What do you think of tomorrow?‬ ‫Around six?‬‬‬

‫So we agree! Hands down‬

‫- At six o'clock if‬ ‫-Fair enough‬

‫"Wait!"‬‬‬

‫-Hello‬ ‫- What's new?‬‬‬

‫The plasterboards will arrive late‬ ‫I haven't had a chance to contact you‬

‫What do you think, then?‬‬‬

‫We will have great work‬ ‫Soon‬

‫Our Sandstone Building‬ ‫We have to restore it in Claremont.‬

‫But now I have to do without‬ ‫About your services for two weeks‬

‫By God, Vinny!‬‬‬ ‫I have invoices that need to be paid‬

‫Don't worry, Frank.‬ ‫Have I let you down once?‬‬‬

‫Yes, you're a business.‬ ‫Income Tax Department!‬‬‬

‫You're a funny guy!‬‬‬ ‫I'll call you as soon as I know anything new.‬

‫What a calamity!‬‬‬

‫Eat me!‬‬‬

‫Stop! Stop! What's going on here?‬‬‬

‫All of you don't focus today!‬‬‬ ‫Who should you turn your attention to?‬‬‬

‫- To you!‬‬‬ ‫-Thank you‬

‫I want more energy and more concentration from you and I want‬ ‫For the sound to come out of the diaphragm‬

‫You have to be in tune, do you understand?‬‬‬ ‫Let's get started, 5... 6. 7... 8!‬‬‬

‫"You made my heart beat‬ ‫And my soul is singing..."‬

‫"You made my life worth living‬ ‫With the joy you have given her"‬

‫"With the joy you have given her"‬

‫Better, better!‬‬‬

‫"You made my life worth living‬ ‫With the joy you have given her"‬

‫Okay, I want you to master‬ ‫This song is by Monday‬

‫Well done, my dear.‬

‫It's the lady's luck‬

‫Wherever you are‬

‫I know she wouldn't have given me‬ ‫Any love in the last few weeks‬

‫Have you been meeting her?‬‬‬

‫please my friend‬ ‫I lost my number a long time ago‬

‫I hate the racetrack.‬

‫I haven't had any luck this week.‬

‫I'll never bet anymore‬

‫- Do you have any...‬‬‬ ‫-No‬

‫- By God, man!‬‬‬ ‫-No!‬‬‬

‫- help me, brother.‬ ‫-No!‬‬‬

‫No!‬‬‬ ‫you, Jimmy!‬‬‬

‫Eat me!‬‬‬

‫- That's why you're my friend for life‬ ‫- Don't be too pleased‬

‫Is that the best thing you can do?‬‬‬

‫Yes‬

‫It's okay, right?‬‬‬

‫-Yes‬ ‫- I'll refund you, brother.‬

‫- Will you pay for this?‬‬‬ ‫-For sure‬

‫You're my friend as usual.‬

‫Thank you‬

‫Have you changed your mind?‬‬‬

‫I've been a little busy.‬

‫I also didn't know your fame.‬ ‫So I couldn't contact you...‬‬‬

‫Banks... (Zora Banks)‬‬‬

‫I never thought about this‬ ‫As such...‬‬‬

‫Listen to me, you are the one who offered‬ ‫I need to help, Franklin.‬

‫But it doesn't matter‬ ‫I can do it myself‬

‫Take care of yourself‬

‫Wait, why don't I come now?‬‬‬

‫If you've been disappointed‬ ‫Somehow I'm sorry.‬

‫I want to help you with that‬

‫"Just let me ask for something to eat...‬‬‬ ‫- Do you want me to wait for you?‬‬‬

‫Yes, because I can share your food with you.‬

‫I mean, you won't eat‬ ‫All that food alone, right?‬‬‬

‫yes, that sounds like...‬‬‬ ‫Do you see these eggs?‬‬‬

‫My name is engraved on it‬

‫It's written on it.‬ ‫"Owned by (Franklin Swift)"‬

‫-Who is this?‬‬‬ ‫- It's my mom‬

‫-She's beautiful‬ ‫-Yes‬

‫Also Is she a singer?‬‬‬

‫No, I died when I was six.‬

‫I'm sorry to hear this.‬

‫I'm a singer, but I don't make a living.‬ ‫From singing until now‬

‫Study Music and Sound‬ ‫On the IS70 at Chelsea.‬

‫-This is good‬ ‫- I moved to Brooklyn...‬‬‬

‫To save money to record my own song‬ ‫A friend of mine introduced me to a producer‬

‫Where is the piano I hear about the most?‬‬‬ ‫To hear your singing‬

‫- Pay for it in installments‬ ‫- in Brooklyn?‬‬‬

‫Yes, but I have the rest of the installments‬ ‫Only $200‬

‫Wow!‬‬‬

‫Thank you‬

‫- Won't you share the drink with me?‬‬‬ ‫- I don't drink‬

‫- I hear that blacks love Heineken.‬ ‫-That is right‬

‫You ask a lot of questions‬ ‫Because you are a person who is discreet about himself‬

‫What do you want to know?‬‬‬

‫Well, working for Vinny...‬‬‬ ‫Is that all you do?‬‬‬

‫I mean, it has to‬ ‫Have other goals‬

‫Yes, I have other goals‬

‫Would you like to share it with me?‬‬‬

‫Well, like Bedstwy.‬ ‫Harlem and Clinton Hills‬

‫It has all that sandstone in it‬ ‫Unused Tans‬

‫The city's municipality owns most of it‬

‫What I want to do is get‬ ‫On a contract for its restoration‬

‫And maybe invest this business in a contract‬ ‫Special as the restoration of sandstone buildings‬

‫Like this example‬ ‫Do you see how you painted this space?‬‬‬

‫But I assure you that it is underneath it‬ ‫There is first-class wood‬

‫That's what I'm going to do.‬ ‫Without going into details.‬

‫-Yes‬ ‫- This Looks Great‬

‫I'm sure you'll succeed.‬

‫But first I have to get‬ ‫On a contractor's leave first‬

‫- (West Toledo)!‬‬‬ ‫- No, no, you can't...‬‬‬

‫- What? What?‬‬‬ ‫- You can't browse‬

‫I think the reason is that your pictures are in it‬ ‫Is it because you were ugly?‬‬‬

‫Or were you wearing glasses?‬‬‬

‫(Ohio)!‬‬‬

‫Hello‬

‫I knew you were the first to call me!‬‬‬ ‫Can I contact you later?‬‬‬

‫Okay, okay, wait a minute.‬

‫He is my father... He wants to talk to me.‬

‫All right all right‬

‫When I settle...‬‬‬

‫I'll invite you to see what the apartment will look like‬ ‫In its final form, what do you think?‬‬‬

‫yes, yes.‬

‫And how will you do it?‬‬‬ ‫You don't even know my phone number.‬

‫Your name is in the phone directory‬ ‫Isn't it?‬‬‬

‫I'll try not to forget your fame.‬

‫This is a smart move by you...‬‬‬ ‫It really is‬

‫- How are you tonight?‬‬‬ ‫- Fine, thank you‬

‫Do I bring but anything for you to drink?‬‬‬

‫- Wine (Chardonnay)‬ ‫- And I am cranberry juice.‬

‫Okay, I'll be right back‬

‫Black-skinned bald‬ ‫That's your favorite kind, Zee.‬

‫Not half the quality of the lions that were‬ ‫Help me pack up my apartment yesterday‬

‫Which lions is that?‬‬‬

‫He worked in the building where he was staying.‬

‫Can't Franklin?‬ ‫To be an honest black?‬‬‬

‫Franklin!‬‬‬

‫That doesn't mean I'm planning‬ ‫To meet him again‬

‫But does it have to be a man?‬ ‫A millionaire to dedicate time to him?‬‬‬

‫Poor! He doesn't even have the money to buy a watch!‬‬‬

‫you! There is no shame in my universe‬ ‫I want a man to take care of me.‬

‫Yes, but to buy you jewelry‬ ‫And your rent pays you...‬‬‬

‫Not the only two methods‬ ‫To take care of the man‬

‫If you were a lawyer‬ ‫Married to a Banking Investor‬

‫I would have talked the same nonsense.‬ ‫What you're talking about, Claudette.‬

‫Whatever!‬‬‬

‫This phrase will not put‬ ‫Those earrings are in your ears, right?‬‬‬

‫But I think‬ ‫I'm the only honest one here.‬

‫All I know is that I spent my time with whom.‬ ‫They wear black suits and ties‬

‫Those who think they shouldn't‬ ‫Anything else because of their extravagance on me.‬

‫- Have you called Ridge?‬‬‬ ‫-The what?‬‬‬

‫- Zorra! Did you call him?‬‬‬ ‫-No!‬‬‬

‫No! But I will‬ ‫I'm trying to collect songs right now‬

‫You'd better hurry up.‬ ‫Because he will soon be famous‬

‫Do you know what I had to do?‬ ‫Can I get you his phone number?‬‬‬

‫No, but we can imagine it‬ ‫Order me the crab pie please‬

‫It made me angry to the last degree‬