This is a transcript of the film, included for screen readers and the visually impaired.
Narrator: Two roads. Hanging over the Mississippi.
Gotta take you in and outta New Orleans.
Been there long. Since it was the old New Orleans.
Right there. That was our bitchin' ride.
Company car was part of my old man's perk package.
And that's me. Back when I didn't have a hairbrush.
And there's Isiah Sr., my daddy.
To a boy's eyes - a captain of industry.
Isiah Sr: Come on. No, take it.
Narrator: After work every night, father and son would hit the executive gym for a workout.
Isiah Sr: He's looking. He's looking at the basket! Throw it up there!
Narrator: And then it was a commute to the 'burbs.
Neighborhood included: 'round the clock security. On-site pharmacy.
Isiah Sr: Come on Isiah.
Narrator: And architectural homes built for the most discerning of customers.
And there's my father's father- Reginald Tividell Goodwin.
After my mother passed, he took over the kitchen. Whether my stomach liked it or not.
Isiah Jr: What day is it?
Reginald: Eh?
Isiah Jr: What day is it?
Just a Wednesday, like any other Wednesday.
Or maybe not. What have we here?
Happy Birthday, Is! Hehe.
Isiah Jr: What is it?!
It's a gift from God.
Hombre played every night at Preservation Hall.
Wow.
One day you're going to play at Carnegie Hall with it.
[strained notes]
[strained notes]
Remember, method on those higher notes.
Narrator: And that's how it was.
Day in.
Day out.
Drill- after drill.
After drill.
Two generations.
[trumpet playing]
Trying their damnedestÖ
just to hope thing may be a little different- for the third.
[basketball announcer calling game]
My old man- he called me a prodigy.
[trumpet playing]
His old man didn't disagree for once.
[jazz band playing]
Pass that salad.
Hey look man, this is the way it went. I grew up on a bridge between two far off islands.
Pass the salad.
Their only common ground seemed to be-
Your future.
That's what we care about at Baylor University.
Look, you're a great athlete. I know you're going to get a lot of other offers.
But we think Baylor is a special institution. And we think our athletic scholarship-
At Duke-
To be the most comprehensive in the country.
Our department is unlike any other program out there.
Completely different from the rest.
Now, I have to say, we take great pride in the fact that we are 100% unique.
I think you'll find we're the best, simply put.
Well let me spell it out for you, son: You're not going to find any other program out there like ours.
You don't say.
Do youÖ uhh. Do you have a music program?
A what?
Nevermind that.
Continue.
We're the Big Ten, son. The Boilmakers.
And I think you'd be asset to our team.
What do you say, gentlemen? Can we sign him up today?
[jazz music playing]
Is this what you want? My life- cleaning up after other people.
Is it Isiah?
All those scouts will be at States tomorrow to watch you play.
You.
Please son,
put this out of your head.
When your father was your age
he had a thing for Pam Grier.
[chuckle] He thought he was real clever
hiding her pin-up in a shoebox in his closet.
Well, he wasn't clever.
And he still isn't.
Announcer: The state championship where the Owls are taking on the undefeated Bullets.
We're just seconds away from tip-off and let me tell you-
Narrator: Look, I get there's a real smart choice to make.
Isiah! You in here?!
Announcer: Wait a minute, there's been a change in the Owls lineup.
I guess I also understand there's real dumb one, too.
Announcer: Where the heck is this kid?
Excuse me. Are you with the Music Conservatory?
Yes.
Hey, I'm Isiah Goodwin and I'm here for the auditions.
Are you referring to the auditions that took place 2 hours ago?
Please sir, let me audition. My team went to the state finals. A lot of stuff happened, but I'm here now-
Young man- if you can't even be on time for the auditionÖ
Please sir, please just allow me to audition.
Please! It will take one minute of your time.
[trumpet playing]
Film Details ///
Prodigy
A talented teen must decide between a future as a rich athlete or a happy musician.
March 23, 2009 Comments (175)
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175 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
March 31, 2009 by Christine G.
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May 24, 2009 by kayla ryland
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August 31, 2010 by Edith Parekh
The challenge of raising any human being is not giving into the temptation of directing them in the direction of the parent's dream but appreciating all of the talents of the child and ultimately letting them choose the path they wish to follow. Many a surgeon is also an artist and many a Secretary of State is also a concert pianist and a president a trumpet player.Why not both. Sports may be for a limited time but music can last a life time.
September 23, 2010 by jose
this is pretty deep man i liked this kind of movies
June 20, 2009 by Elizabeth Muriel Barter
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July 23, 2010 by marshalene smith
all your biblical mix w our so sad society i thank god and your ministry
April 30, 2010 by Samirah Nichols-Rashid
I agree with the first comment, that both the grandfather and the father need to look at the young man that they produced. He could of went another path, but did not because of his love for both men. This young man is gifted and can probably be a part of both worlds. Who said that he couldn't enjoy both talents. I think that we need more men to understand that when a young man has to make hard life decisions that the one that this young had, that the father and grandfather need to trust that he will make the best one for him through his heart. I always say that we need to follow our hearts it mostly gives us the most happiness. Also we need to see a full movie of this short subject, it was beautifully written.
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June 9, 2010 by M.
Excellent comment! I agree there should be a full-length film version of this short. When the credits showed up, I felt like this story should keep going. A very well done piece!
August 1, 2010 by Betty from Enigma,Ga
I believe all of us have gifts one was taught and the other was a gift he had to practice on both but the music was from his heart and from God, we all have gifts we just don't use them or don't know what they are this was a very good movie very inspirational
May 10, 2010 by Carl W.
Well said, Christine!
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April 21, 2011 by stacy's teacher
There should be an ending!!!! we want to know!!!!
March 31, 2009 by Cedric Campbell
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July 13, 2010 by HEATHER
Beautiful!!! This should be on the big screen. I want to see the rest of this movie but please lets stay positive with this young man's life. We have seen too much of so called reality.
I want to see this young man and many like him thrive, be successful, and develope into the leader He can be for others and himself. There is a reality of triumph.
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March 31, 2009 by nicole king
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April 1, 2009 by Herman Sales
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April 1, 2009 by Aline Fugate
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April 1, 2009 by Willie O.
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April 1, 2009 by Wayne & Connie Campbell
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April 3, 2009 by Ana K.
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April 5, 2009 by Starlene McDuffie
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April 5, 2009 by Carlos Castañeda
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May 11, 2009 by Dana R Casey
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August 22, 2009 by Ermengarde Tenderstone
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January 23, 2010 by Jim Dicken
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July 10, 2010 by Sandy
As a writer who worked my entire life as a bookkeeper because that's what my mother wanted, and has only been published twice, and am now seventy; my heart sang when the film ended. Nobody can serve two masters, so while it is a lovely idea that he could do both, he could not. It's great that he chose his own true love and not his father's. I feel sorry for that father, because he obviously didn't pursue his own dreams.
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April 6, 2009 by Jon B
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April 6, 2009 by Natalie J. Orange
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