The Commitments 2: Getting the Band Back Together

ROUGH IDEA

In the Northside of Dublin there are tough economic times again, with inflation and the cost of living stretching people's patience. Jimmy Rabbitte has had a long and turbulent career as a would be music manager without much success. But he's dug up some old friends and it is time to get the band back together. He finds Bernie McGloughlin, Natalie Murphy and Imelda Quirke, and persuades them to give the Commitments another run. They muck him and tell him not to be a fricking moron. But he persuades them and with Steven Clifford on Piano they start some rudimentary modern numbers. Dean Fay wanders in with his Saxophone, having got an email, and Outspan Foster on Guitar and Derek Scully on Bass show up together, being in a band together, but willing to give the old band another shot. While they are jamming one of the girls says 'But what about Deco'. Jimmy's eyes roll over. 'Not him,' says Dean Fay. 'His reputation is as bad as the IRAs,' says Steven Clifford. 'We need him,' says the girls. 'He gave us our grunt.' Jimmy gets an address and finds Deco in his apartment on the floor drunk and dissheveled. Jimmy puts black coffee into him and says 'He's getting the band back together.' Deco scoffs at the idea. He is 'Persuaded' to attend their next rehearsal, and when he walks in Imelda says 'The Devil has returned to Dublin.' Natalie says 'And he hasn't washed in ages. Pew he stinks.' Deco grins at them.


There are children involved with this sequel, the Kerry Girls actresses would be ideal. One of them falls in love with Jimmy then Dean and even fancies Deco. When the song 'Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps' is playing, at the end of the song when it goes 'Perhaps' she looks at Jimmy, on the second perhaps she looks at Dean and on the final perhaps she looks at Deco and sighs. The 3 kerry girls are Siobahn, Brione & Shonagh, each a daughter of the 3 singers. They are not in the band, but hand around as groupies for the band, and there are scenes were they are talking to people on the streets about the gigs for the band to strum up an audience.



The Movie starts with Jimmy again at the dole office.

'Still needing assistance, Mr Rabbitte,' says a dole officer.

'In and out of love,' replies Jimmy. 'You know how it is.'

'We know how it is,' replies the dole officer. 'We can do this online now you know.'

'Call me old fashioned,' says Jimmy, and walks off. He comes to his local, and orders a drink. The barmaid Stacey servers him and he chats with her.

'Life's passed me by, you know. Put I saw a rainbow the other day. Down by the river. It whispered to me in the wind and told me to move on with life. Better days are ahead.'

'God knows you need them,' replies Stacey. 'Jimmy Rabbite. The on again off again music manager of North Dublin who can never quite get his act together. Somehow it always falls apart when he's on the verge of success.'

'I've got a second chance. I feel it in the waters,' replies Jimmy.

'The only thing you feel in the waters is the piss from that lager you are drinking. 7 Euro thanks.'

'Jimmy passes his card, and sips on his beer. 'With prices like these I'll need another chance.'

'That's what it's like these days. Inflation out of control. If you do get your second wind I think a lot of people around here could use some cheering up. God knows these are tough times again for Dublin.'

'Aye,' replies Jimmy.


Jimmy Rabbitte is talking with his father.

'I want to move on. Soul was an era, and that era died a long time ago. But life goes on, and so does soul.'

'Rock and roll – is dead,' replies his father. 'Elvis, God rest his soul, died in 1977, and so did Rock and Roll. You can't beat the classics.'

'I don't know,' replies Jimmy. 'Sure, we do the classics. But I need to live and breathe something new in this system. I've made a lot of mistakes. Time to move on with a new idea.'

'Good luck. I think you'll need it,' replies his father.

Jimmy is talking with kids on the street.

'Do you remember the cure?'

'Who are the cure?' one kid asks him.

'You wouldn't really know, would you? What about Dire Straits?'

'I think grandpa listens to that band,' replies a kid.

'Cheeky bastard. Go on, get out of here,' replies Jimmy. 'Grandpa,' he says, shaking his head.

Jimmy is in the local.

'Face it. Your fighting a losing battle Jimmy Rabbite,' says a female bartender. 'But that's Jimmy Rabbites way, isn't it? Success has never really knocked at his door.'

'Its why I'm moving on. Getting with the times, like Brian McFadden.'

'His music career died out a decade ago also,' replies the bartender.

'At least he had one,' Jimmy says under his breath to himself. 'No, Stacey (Bartenders name). I'm going to give these ratbag kids a taste of new soul. Songs from here and there which show soul isn't dead. It's alive and well.'

'Keep on dreaming Jimmy Rabbitte,' says Stacey.

'I suppose I'll have to,' replies Jimmy.

Jimmy is lying on his bed, looking at the ceiling. 'I just need to soulify some of the new classics. No reason that can't be done, right?'

'Your living in a dream world,' says his father from the doorway.

'We'll see,' replies Jimmy.

Jimmy finds the 3 girls one at a time. They are having different lives in Dublin. All 3 are married, settled, mothers, living housewife lives. All 3 have tinkered with musical projects over the years, but mainly reduced to Karaoke nights at local pubs, where they relive former glories. Each of the girls is dubious about getting the band back together, but their husbands and daughters are supportive of the idea. Imelda says 'Make sure it doesn't go to pot like last time, Jimmy. We could have been something, but our loud mouthed lead singer stole the glory and squandered it all away.' Jimmy manages to obtain the same rehearsal place as last time, and the girls show up one evening. Jimmy offers them chips and gravy and says its all he could really afford. He starts playing a CD of backing music to 'Mustang Sally' and the girls try out getting their voices tuned again. Jimmy comments, 'Not too shabby, but it needs work.' 'No frikking kidding,' says Bernie. 'So what have you been doing forever, Jimmy Rabbite?' asks Imelda. 'Used to see your name in the papers in the entertainment section. Used to.' 'The Life of Jimmy Rabbite has been a philosophical one,' replies Jimmy. 'Sitting on his arse, eating chips, contemplating his navel,' says Imelda, and the girls laugh. 'Oh, hah hah hah,' replies Jimmy. 'Seriously, I've been tackling the big issues. Where does music go from here?' 'It's disposable pop, like Freddie Mercury says,' says Imelda. 'Every generation spits it out, uses it up, and thinks they are the bees knees. And they pass the torch and the next generation does exactly the same thing.' 'Yeh, but were is it going?' says Jimmy. 'There has got to be some sort of point to rock and roll.' 'To save our mortal souls,' replies Imelda. 'Yeh, that's it,' finishes Jimmy. 'But seriously, life has had its ups and downs,' says Jimmy. 'Mostly downs, gauging on the quality of these chips. They're shite.' says Bernie. 'Sorry, had to make them myself. Short of cash.' says Jimmy. 'And why aren't I surprised,' replies Bernie.

The soundtrack includes

Getting the Band Back Together – Cold Chisel (With some modified lyrics to fit the movie)

Gold on the Ceiling – Black Keys

Funky Tonight – John Butler Trio

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day – Morcheeba

I never liked you – Rogue Traders

Seven Nation Army – White Stripes (Soulified Version)

That's not my name – The Ting Tings (Soulified Version)

Hit That (Marching Band Version with Singing) – The Offspring



The idea is to update the soundtrack to more modern music usually.

A similar plot is followed to the first movie, and the legend they want is Harry Connick Junior, who actually does show up halfway through the final gig, at the same venue.