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"Meet De Boys on the Battlefront"
Season 1, Episode 2
Meet-de-boys-on-the-battlefront-1024
Air date April 18, 2010
US viewers 0.78 million
Written by Eric Overmyer &
David Simon (story)
Eric Overmyer (teleplay)
Directed by Jim McKay
Episode chronology
← previous
"Do You Know What It Means"
next →
"Right Place, Wrong Time"

"Meet De Boys on the Battlefront" is the second episode of the first season. It is the second episode of the series overall. It was first broadcast on HBO on April 18, 2010 and drew 0.78 million viewers. The teleplay was written by Eric Overmyer from a story he co-wrote with David Simon. It was directed by Jim McKay.

Plot[]

Davis McAlary interviews Coco Robicheaux for his radio show on WWOZ. Robicheaux sacrifices a chicken live on air as part of a voodoo ritual. Davis is fired after the incident. Sonny and Annie busk on Royal Street and get the attention of a trio of tourists. The young people are in town from Wisconsin to help with clearing debris. Sonny is cynical about their understanding of New Orleans and extorts $20 from them for a rendition of "Oh When The Saints". Later the busking couple go drinking at the Spotted Cat where Sonny tells an acquaintance about his heroism during the flood. He claims that he remained during the evacuation and helped to rescue stranded residents using a rowing boat.

Davis goes home to his parents to ask for a loan but instead they find him a job as a receptionist at the Inn on Bourbon Hotel. When the Wisconsin tourists ask him for advice he sends them out of the French Quarter to the Bullet's nightclub in the Seventh Ward, against hotel policy.

Janette Desautel struggles to balance restarting her restaurant (Desautels) and working on her flood damaged house. She breaks down in tears alone at home. Later, she cooks a special meal for her parents before asking them to loan her more money for the restaurant. They can only manage six thousand of the 25 she needs. Afterwards, she desperately looks for more ways to cut costs with her sous chef Jacques Vaz.

Toni Bernette continues to investigate the disappearance of David Maurice "Daymo" Brooks on behalf of his sister LaDonna Batiste-Williams. She meets with her colleague Andrea Cazayoux who has been petitioning county jails for lists of prisoners they took on when the Orleans Parish Prison flooded. Toni discovers Daymo's name among the files and meets with LaDonna to give her the good news.

LaDonna is also struggling to re-establish her business after the storm. Her contractor Mr. Riley has failed to deliver on his promises to repair her roof, despite payment up front. She is furious. She returns to her family in Baton Rouge where her husband, Larry Williams, urges her to sell her bar.

Creighton Bernette reads through a memo citing the closure of several programs at the college where he teaches, his English department is unaffected but he is concerned that the institution is dropping practical skills needed to rebuild the city. He resolves to restart work on his novel about the 1928 flood in light of its increased relevance. He worries that he is cashing in but Toni reassures him. Their daughter Sofia Bernette is upset to learn that the city is taking over a high school for students from the richer areas without providing more facilities for its displaced students from the poorer areas.

Antoine Batiste faces inceasing nagging from his girlfriend Desiree. She wants him to get a regular job with a steady income so that they can work on moving back to the city from their temporary place. He is resistant, insisting that he has gigs. LaDonna visits Alcide at home to ask him to see his sons. She is surprised to meet Desiree and Antoine's new daughter Honore Antoinette and tells him that she will let his sons know they have another half sister. Desiree is outraged that Antoine has more children he has not told her about. Antoine takes a gig at a strip club on Bourbon Street, although he is dubious about playing there. He bumps into his contemporary Trombone Shorty on the street and pretends that he is just passing through. Antoine ends his evening watching Kermit Ruffins at Bullet's. He bumps into the Wisconsion tourists and flirts with them before being pulled up on stage.

Davis is fired from his hotel job when the Wisconsion tourists do not return that night. However, he bumps into them on the street and they thank him for pointing them towards such a good time.

Toni takes LaDonna and her mother, Mrs. Brooks, out to the county jail where Daymo is listed as a prisoner. When they arrive to visit him they are met with a complete stranger who is using his name.

Albert Lambreaux is working to repair a minimally damaged home while his own place remains uninhabitable. He is using his lunch breaks to look for the members of his Mardi Gras Indian tribe, the Guardians of the Flame. He ensures that his client will be at home so that it is safe to leave his tools in the house. Albert makes some progress looking for George Cotrell; Cotrell's neighbor has a cousin who has been in touch with him. The cousin is squatting in the Calliope Projects. Albert finds that the projects are still closed since the storm and cannot locate the cousin. He returns to the job site to find his tools missing and his client out. He angrily waits for him to return and then tells him that he has been robbed. Albert tells his contractor friend Robinette about the theft and asks him to look out for the tools.

Delmond Lambreaux is still staying with Albert at Poke's Tavern and has found some work in town; he is recording with Allen Toussaint and Elvis Costello. After a studio session he goes to a Galactic gig at D.B.A. with Big Sam Williams. They both join the band on stage and then get high with them outside afterwards. Sergeant Alonzo Wilson spots Delmond smoking from a passing patrol car and arrests him for possession of marijuana. Albert picks Delmond up from the jail when he is released and drives him to the airport to ensure that he does not miss his flight out.

Albert recovers his tools from a fellow builder who has bought them. The man tells him the thief's name (Skinny) and where Albert can find him. Albert tracks Skinny down and then beats him bloody for his crime.

Albert plays his Double Bass alone when the time he set for first practice comes around. He is thrilled when George turns up unexpectedly.

Appearances[]

Main:Meet De Boys on the Battlefront/Appearances

First appearances[]

The following named, recurring characters are introduced in this episode:

  1. Sonny - busker
  2. Annie - busker
  3. Coco Robicheaux - Music legend and voodoo practitioner
  4. Andrea Cazayoux - Toni's friend and colleague.
  5. Larry Williams - LaDonna's husband.
  6. Alcide Batiste - Antoine and LaDonna's eldest son.
  7. Allen Toussaint - Music legend recording with Elvis Costello
  8. George Cotrell - Guardians of the Flame member
  9. Melba - Davis' parents maid.
  10. Mrs. McAlary - Davis' mother.
  11. Roger McAlary - Davis' father.
  12. Trombone Shorty - Musician and Antoine's friend.
  13. Mr. Desautel - Janette's father.
  14. Mrs. Desautel - Janette's mother.
  15. Mrs. Brooks - LaDonna's mother.

Credits[]

Cast[]

Starring

  1. Khandi Alexander as LaDonna Batiste-Williams
  2. Rob Brown as Delmond Lambreaux
  3. Kim Dickens as Janette Desautel
  4. Michiel Huisman as Sonny
  5. Melissa Leo as Antoinette Bernette
  6. Lucia Micarelli as Annie
  7. Clarke Peters as Albert Lambreux
  8. Wendell Pierce as Antoine Batiste
  9. Steve Zahn as Davis McAlary

Guest starring

  1. John Goodman as Creighton Bernette
  2. Elvis Costello as Himself
  3. Allen Toussaint as Himself
  4. India Ennenga as Sofia Bernette
  5. Venida Evans as Mrs. Brooks
  6. Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Jacques Vaz
  7. Davi Jay as Robinette
  8. Anwan Glover as David Brooks
  9. Phyllis Montana-LeBlanc as Desiree
  10. Anthony Michael Frederick as Sergeant Alonzo Wilson
  11. Otto DeJean as George Cotrell
  12. Troy Andrews as himself
  13. Kermit Ruffins as himself
  14. Coco Robicheaux as himself
  15. Joe Braun as himself
  16. Matt Perrine as himself
  17. Stanton Moore as himself
  18. Big Sam Williams as himself
  19. Deacon John Moore as Danny Nelson
  20. Renwick Scott as Alcide Batiste
  21. John McConnell as DJ Jeffy Jeff
  22. Lance E. Nichols as Larry Williams
  23. Sean-Michael Bruno as Randall Batiste
  24. Je'Rhonda 'Baby J' Williams as Herself
  25. Tim Bellow as Riley
  26. David Jensen as Andy's colleague
  27. Jennifer Kober as Andrea Cazayoux
  28. James Yeargain as Creighton's TA
  29. Lawrence Turner as a Homeowner
  30. Gary Grubbs as Richard Desautel
  31. Ann McKenzie as Ramona McAlary
  32. Susan Parker as Mrs. Desautel
  33. Carol Sutton as Melba
  34. Marco St. John as Dr. Roger McAlary
  35. Ian Hoch as Matt
  36. James Herbert as Crew Cut
  37. Roger J. Timber as Benny
  38. Casey McMurray as Evelyn
  39. Stephanie Honore as Sonia
  40. Paul Beaulieu as George's neighbor
  41. Harold Gervais as the Hotel manager
  42. Demorian Lizana as the Calliope Security Chief
  43. Austin Purnell as Skinny
  44. Candace Weber as Concierge
  45. Calvin Bickham as Gigi's bartender
  46. Gregory Bright as Man in Hotel
  47. Azelia Davila as Woman in Hotel
  48. Jason Kirkpatrick as the Cowboy tourist
  49. Escalante Lundy as a Prison Guard

Uncredited

  1. Unknown as Antoine's booker
  2. Unknown as Honore Antoinette Batiste
  3. Unknown as Gigi's regular
  4. Unknown as Flirtatious Man

Crew[]

Opening credits

  1. Alexa L. Fogel - Casting
  2. Chester Kaczenski - Production Designer
  3. Naomi Geraghty - Editor
  4. Ivan Strasburg, A.S.C. - Director of Photography
  5. Anthony Hemingway - Producer
  6. David Mills - Co-Executive Producer
  7. Carolyn Strauss - Executive Producer
  8. Eric Overmyer - Executive Producer
  9. Nina Kostroff Noble - Executive Producer
  10. David Simon &
  11. Eric Overmyer - Creators
  12. Eric Overmyer - Teleplay
  13. David Simon &
  14. Eric Overmyer - Story
  15. Jim McKay - Director

Closing credits

  1. David Simon - Executive Producer

Music[]

  1. Coco Robicheaux: "Walking With The Spirit" - WWOZ
  2. John Boutte: "The Treme Song" - Main Titles
  3. Anders Osborne: "Meet The Boys on the Battlefront" - Janette Desautel's house / Toni Bernette's office
  4. Lucia Micarelli (Annie) & Michiel Huisman (Sonny): "Careless Love" - Royal Street
  5. Lucia Micarelli (Annie) & Michiel Huisman (Sonny): "When the Saints Go Marching In" - Royal Street
  6. Dr. John: "When the Saints Go Marching In" - WWOZ
  7. Cologne Chamber Orchestra (Naxos 8554608): "Brandenburg Concerto #5 -III" - Davis' parents antique store
  8. Tony Green: "Waltz for Pud" - The Spotted Cat
  9. New Orleans Jazz Vipers: "I Hope You're Comin' Back to New Orleans" - The Spotted Cat
  10. The Radiators: "Long Hard Journey Home" - Old Point Bar
  11. Lee Dorsey: "Ya-Ya" - Antoine Batiste's home
  12. Allen Toussaint / Elvis Costello / Crescent City Horns: "Tears, Tears & More Tears" - Piety Street Recording Studio
  13. Allen Toussaint: "Dolores' Boyfriend" - Piety Street Recording Studio
  14. JT Ka-Nection Band: "Up for the Down Stroke" - Bourbon Street strip joint
  15. Galactic: "Blackbird Special" - d.b.a. Nightclub
  16. The Meters: "Little Old Money Maker" - Bullet's
  17. Kermit Ruffins & Baby J: "Treme Mardi Gras" - Bullet's
  18. Galactic: "Go Go" - Outside d.b.a Nightclub
  19. Joe Krown: "Moore Women Shuffle" - Desautels
  20. The Boswell Sisters: "St Louis Blues" - Bernette's home
  21. Clarke Peters (Albert Lambreaux) & Otto Dejean (George Cotrell): "Shallow Water" - Poke's Tavern
  22. Willy DeVille: "New Orleans" - End Titles

External links[]

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