The dialogue for Charlie Lightening’s Directors Cut of Louis combined singles bears revisiting today. The first frame of the film shows Louis credit over Joe/Louis’ “unsurvivable” jump off the cliff into the sea.
WMI: (Time stamp 0.22)
From Louis’ proxy, Joe: I always said that I’d stop eventually. The longer you go, the bigger the chance of messing it all up. The more you forget yourself. It’s time. The walls are closing in fast.
DLIBYH: (6.44)
From Simon’s proxy, Boss (to Joe/Louis): Can I ‘ave a word? What’s up? Joe/Louis: What d’you mean, what’s up? Boss/Simon: You’ve not been the same, son. Something’s on your mind. Why don’t you tell me?
Joe/Louis: I’m fine
Boss/Simon: Don’t lie to me Joe.
Joe/Louis: I was thinking after all this is done, I’ll have a little breather. Boss/Simon: Ha. So, are you asking me this, or you telling me? Joe/Louis: I’m telling’ ya.
Boss/Simon:(moving in close to intimidate) I decide what you do, when you do it, understand? (Condescending cheek pat) Good boy. (fake smile) Go on, on your way….
DLIBYH: (8.54)
Simon/Boss:(to Assassin Heavy, after Joe/Louis has escaped, jumping off the cliff) Listen to me, Cyril. I want you to go and find him. And I want you to hurt him. Do whatever you’ve gotta do to make him talk. And get my money back. And once you’ve done that…you take him for a nice little walk (fake smile that quickly disappears)
KMM: 13.12
Boss/Simon(on the phone to Assassin Heavy) Talk to me
Assassin Heavy: He’s gone.
Boss/Simon: Shut up. What? With my money? Assassin Heavy: He jumped. There’s no way he could have survived that.
The film cuts to the final images, revealing the ending to the story, over the souring sound of Walls. Joe/Louis swims to the surface, and emerges, torso naked (reborn) from the water to rejoin his lover, walking hand-in-hand along the shore as the sun sets. He has, indeed, survived the jump. And he collects the Boss/Simon’s money from a locker.
Smiley logo appears.
The credits roll over audio of ONLY THE BRAVE
Pour mercy, mercy on me Set fire to history…….
Given today’s news of Louis split from Syco, and the industry’s reaction to it, this hits even harder now.
Ten years and one day after Louis stepped onto The X Factor lot and signed papers at the audition that was the first step to his international stardom, he has announced that he’s left Syco. He tweeted, “Hope everyone is doing ok! Just wanted to let you know that Syco Music and I have agreed to part ways. I’m really excited for the future and to be back in the studio writing the next album. Can’t wait to finally see you all on tour!! Stay safe and see you soon, Louis x”
Everything about this is momentous!!! Industry friends and fans fell over themselves to congratulate him, not on signing a new contract but simply for leaving Syco. “Done. Good riddance” said Mike Adam, “You deserve it” said Josh Devine, Helene Horlyk added “this is exciting I’m happy for you” and channels a mood with her “how my going to sleep now?” (Helene have you heard of Calm? Harry saw this problem coming and has you covered.) But seriously: imagine being so excited you can’t sleep cause your friend lost their record label, if nothing was wrong. Imagine telling them it’s what they deserve. Imagine that making sense! Everyone knows. Raise a glass to our boy fucking WINNING, it was worth the while, it is time to start winning now, he did roll and roll til he changed his luck, the high walls did not break his soul, and hemade it!
Louis’ tweet broke the news to the world, leaving Syco mouthpiece The Sun (and everyone else, and make no mistake I do mean everyone, this is big news) scrambling to catch up. Louis stayed online to watch the chaos for hours, answering just a few initial questions (no, tour isn’t cancelled, and he said he signed the tweet because it “just felt a bit more official”) and tossing in another post and a few likes here and there just to let us know he was still there, one about the DMAs album while all eyes were on him and another thanking everyone for the support much later: “Your support is incredible as always! Loads of love x.” I guess that means he enjoyed the thousands of tweets flipping off Simon, dancing on Syco’s ashes, popping champagne corks, and the five jubilant worldwide trending slots (six if you count #BillieJean and yeah that was about him so it counts), which eventually coalesced into a single mood: #ProudofLouis
Unverified rumors flew: in fact Louis did not unfollow Simon Jones or anyone else, we don’t know anything (as usual) about management and whether there have been changes there. We don’t know his new label, the Columbia Records listing is from 1D stuff, and Syco did not file for bankruptcy, yet, but hopes and prayers!
Louis was the only member of the band still signed to Syco and the widespread belief that it was not his choice would seem to be confirmed by the timing of his departure (which sure looks to be at the earliest possible opportunity.) And if this is indeed evidence of what fans have thought all along, that there were multiple contacts that might expire around this time… I mean let’s not get ahead of ourselves but the implications are staggering. Who knows what comes next but it seems that even 2020 hasn’t yet managed to kill my capacity for reckless hope: like many of you I am on the edge of my fucking seat. Today was a GOOD GOOD DAY and here’s to more days like this to come!
The thing is that we are not even aware of all the actual implications of what happened yet. We don’t fully know all the in’s and out’s and how things are going to change going forward but, my god, I can’t wait to find out
