Matthew Laurance: Sal Amato
Photos
Quotes
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Sal Amato : [listening to a mystery tape with Dave that sounds like Eddie singing] It's a pretty good imitation of Eddie. Who is it?
Dave Pagent : When we reacquired the Season in Hell album, we found another totally unrelated tape in the box... a mystery tape. This tape.
Sal Amato : [scoffs] And you think this is Eddie?
Dave Pagent : Don't you?
Sal Amato : It can't be. Eddie always played with me. I knew every song he knew. I knew everything...
Dave Pagent : [interrupting] No, this IS Eddie.
Sal Amato : What are you trying to pull here?
Dave Pagent : There aren't any tricks, Sal. I had the tape analyzed, and the experts agree that this is Eddie Wilson.
Sal Amato : Screw the experts. I was his best friend, and I would know if he was doing something.
Dave Pagent : [interrupts] No, his music was his best friend, Sal! Don't you understand? Eddie did not think you belonged in this session! He began playing with other musicians because he was leaving you behind, pal!
Sal Amato : That's a lie! You're a goddamned liar! Eddie wouldn't...
[storms off without finishing his sentence]
Sal Amato : Eddie Wilson was my best friend! That meant something back then! Maybe you don't understand that!
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Sal Amato : [with Eddie in an old abandoned church, where the mystery tapes were recorded] What's all this bullshit about the mystery tapes? You and Wendell coming here to play twenty years ago.
Eddie Wilson : It was just an experiment, Sal. Look, Wendell knew these guys that had a recording studio here. That's all. The funny thing is that there I was playing with the greatest. Bo Diddley, King Curtis. Thinking "This is great, this is what I want!"
[In a flashback, Eddie and Wendell Newton were playing in a jam session with a large group of black musicians, including Bo Diddley]
Eddie Wilson : And you know, to them, it was just another night of jamming. That's what got me thinking, wondering. I start thinking I wasn't good enough. Then Wendell died. I couldn't take it anymore. 'Cause it was my fault.
Sal Amato : Wendell OD'd. Why do you blame yourself for Wendell's death, huh?
Eddie Wilson : Because I could have saved him. I was pushing the band to get a sound, and I didn't care about anybody.
Sal Amato : You didn't kill Wendell, the monkey was on his back long before he ever met you. Wendell was just a player like all of them. Maybe that's why they treated that night like it was any other night. And that should tell you something: Don't worry about being good enough. Just go out there and play it, the best you could play it. That's all.
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Sal Amato : [sees Eddie, now clean-shaven and with short hair, approach him on the beach for the first time since his death] Son of a...
[Eddie faces him, contrite]
Sal Amato : Jesus Christ! You son of a bitch! You son of a...
[takes a swing at him and misses, losing his balance, Eddie catches him, Sal is hysterical]
Sal Amato : Son of a bitch! Jesus Christ! You've been dead for 20 years, goddammit!
Eddie Wilson : [restraining him] I gotta talk to you, Sal!
Sal Amato : Shut up! No, you're dead, goddammit! Don't talk to me!
Eddie Wilson : I gotta talk to you, Sal!
Sal Amato : No! Don't talk to me! Shut up! Get away from me!
Eddie Wilson : [Sal breaks free and faces Eddie, who tears up] I'm... I'm sorry.
Sal Amato : [close to tears] Who the hell do you think you are, huh? Huh? What kind of person does that to a friend? Shit... I was your best friend, goddammit! Why did you do it?
Eddie Wilson : I couldn't handle it.
Sal Amato : You couldn't handle it? I hate you, man!
[storms off, Eddie follows him]
Eddie Wilson : I came back 'cause I need you, Sal! I really need you, man!
Sal Amato : Yeah? What about all the times I needed you?
Eddie Wilson : I'm scared, I don't know what I'm gonna do! Sal... I need you to forgive me. Please! I'm sorry, man! I'm really sorry!
[both men break down in tears]
Eddie Wilson : Come here, you.
[embraces Sal]
