The Jacksons: An American Dream

Joseph Jackson:
Black Beatles, that's what they call 'em! Black Beatles!

Michael Jackson:
Berry once told me a song has to tell a story. I've got a million stories in my head. I can't sleep just thinking about them, and I want to sing them. I'm filled up with music. I just want it to come out.

Katherine Jackson:
And it will, because there's no stopping it.

Marlon:
You know, I'm sick of this- promotional tours. When do we get to perform again?

Jackie:
Hey, man, ask Michael.

Marlon:
Yeah, sure. "Ask Michael." Who ever sees Michael?

Jackie:
You need an appointment to see your own little brother.

Michael Jackson:
We're embarking on this tour for many reasons, but mainly because of our mother. Our father, too, for the dream that they had... an American dream... that started a long, long time ago, when our ancestors came here... slaves... oppressed people... beaten down, beaten up... You know, we've come a long, long way from 2300 Jackson Street, when my brothers and I used to long for a color T.V. We weren't beaten down by poverty, and we're not going to be beaten down by fame, either. 'Cause this is what it's all about. This tour is a celebration. It's a victory.

Joseph Jackson:
You know, Berry Gordy's not gonna be satisfied until he has one of my boys calling him "Daddy".

Katherine Jackson:
She never should've given the microphone to Michael. She may never get it back!

Michael Jackson:
Tell them I liked riding in the ambulance. It was wild with the sirens wailing.

Jackie:
Hey, Jermaine, why don't you help out the brothers? Talk to Berry. He is your father-in-law.

Jermaine:
Look, father-in-law is one thing, group is another. Anyway. we got a winning combination. A seven-year run of hits.

Marlon:
Got no more hits.

Jermaine:
We'll get it back, man. I'm not running to my father-in-law every time someone's got a complaint. You wanna talk to him, talk to him.

Jackie:
I wanna talk to him, but he ain't gonna wanna listen.

Jermaine Jackson:
They ripped off my medallion!

Jackie:
Hey, I kind of like the whole thing.

Suzanne de Passe:
How about a giant chocolate candy bar? You can eat it on the plane.

Michael Jackson:
No.

Jermaine:
Michael! You never turn down candy.

Michael Jackson:
Please don't make me go on that plane. I'm scared. I don't want to go on anymore planes ever. Ever!

Katherine Jackson:
Joseph, stop it! You could wake the dead! No more beatings, you hear me? No more!

Joseph Jackson:
Michael! Marlon!

Katherine Jackson:
I'VE HAD ENOUGH, JOSEPH! All these years, I've had enough! You cannot do it anymore!

Joseph Jackson:
This is between me and the boys.

Katherine Jackson:
The boys are young men now. They have traveled all over the world. They have millions of fans. What are you going to do- ask them to go out, get a switch, and bring it back here so you can beat them with it? Go to bed, Joseph. Go to bed!

[repeated line]

Joseph Jackson:
Get a switch!

Suzanne de Passe:
When you get on stage, Michael, you like it.

Michael Jackson:
Sometimes I like it. Sometimes I don't.

Katherine Jackson:
You know, that Marlon's gonna be a dancer if it kills him.

Joseph Jackson:
He can't cut it, Katie. He doesn't have it. He sings out of tune, he misses steps. I'm dropping him from the group.

Katherine Jackson:
[shocked] What? Joseph Walter Jackson, there's lots of things that you do that I do different. I keep quiet, I don't say nothin' about it mostly. But on this, I gotta speak. I see him. Always trying to outrun Michael, always trying to beat him at some game. You do this to him and it'll break him. I'm not gonna let you do that. I can't let that happen. You too hard on him, you too hard on ALL of them. And I'm telling you what I know. It's gonna drive him away.

Joseph Jackson:
Well, what do you want, Katie? You want 'em workin' in some steel mill for the rest of their lives? Or you want 'em out on some street corner using dope, or them getting into trouble with some gang? Is that what you want?

Katherine Jackson:
You know I don't! But I don't want to see them get whooped either!

Joseph Jackson:
Yeah, well, that's the only way that I know how! That's how my father raised me. That's how every man in the street handles their kids! Kids gotta be strong, Katie. That's the world we live in. Aw, Katie, I got a vision! A vision, Katie, I'm gonna get my kids outta here! I'm gonna get 'em out of Gary, out of those steel mills! I'm gonna make that happen! I want them see the world, Katie. I want them to be able to see their dreams come true.

Katherine Jackson:
Their dreams, Joseph, or yours?

Katherine Jackson:
[crying and angry at Joseph] Joseph Jackson, you're a liar and you're a cheat and I don't want you. No, I don't want you. I don't want you. I don't want you. I don't want you. I don't want you no more. "Trust me, Katy. I won't hurt you. I would never do anything to hurt you." [throws framed wedding photo on the ground and smashes it]

[last lines]

Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, Randy Jackson:
[sung] We thank you/For the joy you have given us/We thank you.