Drumline (2002)
Nick Cannon: Devon Miles
Photos
Quotes
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Dr. Lee : What was that? Why do we rehearse? Why... do we rehearse? You're out there showboating for five minutes. If I wasn't able to signal a drum major to back you up, you'd still be out there beating your damn drum!
Sean : Dr. Lee, sir, maybe there's an explanation. Devon...
Dr. Lee : Do I look like I need you to explain anything right now?
Sean : No, sir.
Dr. Lee : I don't know what the beef is, but you better grill it up and eat it. Because it is my a** that is on the line.
President Wagner : Now that is a new beginning. That's exactly what I'm talking about.
[shakes Devon's hand]
President Wagner : Great job, son. You are something. You are something special.
Devon : Thank you, sir.
President Wagner : Great job, all of you. Now let's see Morris Brown top that!
[band cheers]
President Wagner : Some alumni wanna speak with you. There they are. Don't keep them waiting. New beginning! NEW BEGINNING!
Dr. Lee : Sean, I want you to polish the drums tonight. And I'd better be able to see myself in the surface.
Sean : Yes sir.
Devon : I left the polisher on the bottom shelf.
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Dr. Lee : Good morning.
The Band : Good morning.
Dr. Lee : Good morning to music. Good morning and welcome to Atlanta A&T University marching band training. The next two weeks will be your introduction and possibly induction into a great marching band legacy. If you are here, it's because you believe in musicianship. If you are here it's because you believe in Coltrane, Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder, and the elements known as Earth, Wind, and Fire. If you are here, it's because you have a fervent, unequivocal belief in teamwork.
[Several students just arrive at the A&T field]
Dr. Lee : And if you wish to remain here, you better start believing in being on time.
[looks at Ernest]
Dr. Lee : You...
[points to him]
Dr. Lee : who's your roommate?
Ernest : Uh, Devon... Miles, sir.
Dr. Lee : [looks at Devon, walks off the platform, and approaches him] Eyes front!
Devon : Hey, what's up, Dr. Lee?
Dr. Lee : It's all good, Mr. Miles, glad to have you here.
Devon : Thank you, sir.
Dr. Lee : Why was he late?
Devon : I, um... guess he overslept.
Dr. Lee : Well, why didn't you wake him?
Devon : I'm not his mother, sir.
Dr. Lee : I asked Mr. Miles why his roommate was late, he says he guesses he overslept. I asked, "Why didn't you wake him?" and he says he is not his mother. Section leaders, what is our concept?
Sean , Tuba Section Leader , Sax Section Leader , Trumpet Section Leader : One band, one sound!
Dr. Lee : One band, one sound. When one of us is late, we are all late. When one of us looks or sounds bad, we all look and sound bad. So what's the concept?
The Band : One band, one sound.
Dr. Lee : Now I want ten laps from those who are not their roommates' mama.
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Dr. Lee : You lied in your application, you lied at the audition where you play the required piece, and you lied to me.
Devon : I didn't think it was that big a deal.
Dr. Lee : [hands some sheet music to Devon] Play that.
[sits down]
Dr. Lee : That's the music for next week's game and you can't read it. And as far as I'm concerned, that's a very big deal.
[compiles some paper and puts it back in his drawer]
Dr. Lee : I'm enrolling you in an applied percussion course.
Devon : But that gives me five classes!
Dr. Lee : Damn right it gives you five classes, it oughta be ten. Especially if you plan on getting back on the line anytime soon.
Devon : What do you mean, "get back on the line"?
Dr. Lee : I mean now, you're a P4. If you cannot read music, you cannot be on my field.
Devon : But you can't take me off the line, I'm the best drummer you've got! And can't no class teach me how to do me?
Dr. Lee : Excuse me?
Devon : Doing me is what got me down here in the first place.
Dr. Lee : No, lying... is what got you down here. And if you don't have the honor and discipline to learn your craft, then quite frankly Devon, you don't deserve to be here.
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Dr. Lee : Mr. Miles, I guess you didn't like the required piece as written.
Devon : Naw, I just thought I'd add a little somethin' somethin' on the end.
[leaves]
Sean : He can play. We all know that, but his attitude is messed up. Now I put three years into building this line. In chemistry's grading, I don't wanna jeopardize that.
Dr. Lee : [a car horn makes one long blast to indicate that Devon is a P1] Your line seems to think otherwise.
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Devon : Oh snap! Now you can see me?
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Devon : They don't tell you about all this when they recruit you.
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Buck Wild : If you're up for marching band training, gather 'round. Take a good look at this man. This black Adonis is known as God's gift, A.K.A. Double G. You will know him and call him such from this day forward. I'm Buck Wild. We are your drum majors. Starting tomorrow, white T-shirts at all times. It'll help us identify you as a crab who knows absolutely nothing. Maybe you'll one day have the honor and privilege to wear the school colors. But for now, you're as blank as the white T-shirts you'll be wearing. Understand?
The Band : Yes sir.
Buck Wild : UNDERSTAND?
The Band : YES SIR!
Buck Wild : Get up to your dorms. Get well-acquainted with the rule book. Dinner is at 6 o' clock in the cafeteria. And after that is night-night. You're dismissed!
Devon : Man, I ain't trying to have no curfew. But I know this spot where the girls are supposed to be banging. Y'all dance?
Ernest : Yeah!
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Dr. Lee : Mr. Taylor, finished with those halftime cadences?
Sean : Just finished 'em.
Dr. Lee : Good, let's hear it.
Sean : [looks at Devon] Actually, Dr. Lee, why don't we let Devon run it?
Devon : [after being pointed at by Dr. Lee] Oh no, you the big dog, you do your thing.
Sean : No, I think it would help if somebody else played it.
Devon : It would do me no justice.
Dr. Lee : What are you two, Beavis and Blackhead? It doesn't have to be perfect, Devon. I just wanna hear it.
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Charles : Man, it won't be the same without you.
Devon : It's all about the tubas now.
Charles : What do you mean? It's *always* been about the tubas, shorty.
Jason : Well, you know how Dr. Lee is about time.
Devon : Yeah.
[in Dr. Lee's voice]
Devon : "You're on time if you're five minutes early; you're late if you're on time."
Charles : Look, Friday night, in my living room, be there, alright?
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Sean : Dr. Lee, got a sec?
Dr. Lee : Sure.
Devon : Hey, what's up, Dr. Lee?
Dr. Lee : Mr. Miles.
Devon : Well, I was wondering - actually *we* were wondering - if you needed any entrance cadences for the Classic. Not that I'm trying to get back on the line or anything, I just want you to check 'em out.
Dr. Lee : Oh... let me see.
Sean : Alright... the concept was all Devon's.
Devon : Yeah, but my man Sean here had the structure on lock.
Sean : But the snare part, all the sticking... that's the kid.
Dr. Lee : What, you two a couple now?
Devon : You got an old-school feel to it, but sometimes you're gonna have to take it back.
Dr. Lee : It's not a bad idea... not a bad idea at all.
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Trumpet Section Leader : Trumpets are the voice of the band. We are the melody. We are the clarity.
Tuba Section Leader : Tubas are the most important section of this band, boy! Tubas are the boom!
Sax Section Leader : Saxophones are the truth, the funk, and the hook. See, once they see us, they recognize...
[percussion section claps to a beat]
Sean : We are the heart... and the soul. Without the percussion section, the band doesn't move, doesn't come alive.
[places a hand on Devon's shoulder as he and his co-percussionists clap faster]
Sean : We are the pulse. Without a pulse, you're dead.
[signals a stop to the clapping]
Sean : That's why we're the most important section in this band.
[percussion section splits up at the call for a ten-minute break]
Sean : Whoa... where the hell are you going?
Devon : He said, "take a break."
Sean : Did I say, "take a break"?
Devon : No.
Sean : No.
Devon : No, big dog, I mean, sir.
Sean : We do not rest with the band at performance, and we do not rest with the band at practice. Give me 30 push-ups.
Devon : [gets down on the ground with the rest of his section] Oh.
Sean : You got a problem?
Devon : No man, you want 30 push-ups, you got 30 push-ups.
Sean : Make it 32.
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Devon : I don't have a whole bunch of kids runnin' around.
