SYNOPSIS:

The protagonist in this story is Jack Watts. He is a celebrity basketball player with the Harlem Globetrotters. His celebrity name is Jumpin' Jack Flash. The story begins with Jack explaining his bleak beginnings (JUMPIN' JACK FLASH) whilst walking through the poor suburb in the city of Raleigh located in North Carolina. It is an area prone to hurricanes. His life reflects a "rags to riches" story because he has climbed out of his underprivileged life to one of wealth and glamour. He trains with the team (HARLEM SHUFFLE) in New York, which is where he is now living. He travels the world, drives a fast car, owns a penthouseon the 99th floor and has numerous, adoring female fans. On first appearances, Jack seems to have it all. Unfortunately jack, after a few years of leading the high life is not happy (I CAN'T GET NO SATISFACTION). Jacl's career is seen to be spiralling downwards as he sabotages everything that he has worked for (TUMBLING DICE). Jack is constantly being given a hard time by Coach Richards, his fellow team members and the tabloid newspapers. Jack feels victimised and stubbornly continues to proceed with his notorious vices (GET OFF OF MY CLOUD). He is subsequently suspended from the team. During this period of contemplation, Jack regrets leaving the love of his life Angie (ANGIE), to pursue his dream of being a professional basketballer. Angie and Jack first met as high school teenagers. She was new to the school and Jack was immediately drawn to her beauty and elusiveness. Initially, she would never tell him her name or where she came from (RUBY TUESDAY) and rejected his repeated attempts to go on a date with him. Her life was in fact a tragedy. Angie and her brother lost their parents in a fire at a cotton plantation in New Orleans. They sailed from New Orleans to North Carolina to stay with their Uncle Keith and his wife, who are managers of an old, established cotton plantation owned by Old Man Charlie Woods. Old Man Charlie is an aspiring candidate for the Senate. He is powerful and wealthy, but has a dark secret. He has a penchant for young, girls and boys (BROWN SUGAR). Upon Angie and her brother's arrival, they are emplyed to do chores around the mansion after school. Old Man Charlie grooms them for his own devious, sexual pleasures. This is an aspect of Angie's life which is unknown to Jack and is the biggest reason why Angie initially rejects Jack's advances. Following graduation from high school, Jack obtains a basketball scholarship with Chapel University, North Carolina and Angie works full-time on Old Man Charlie's cotton plantation. By this time, Old Man Charlie is the Senator of North Carolina, travelling extensively and allowing Angie free time to go out on a couple of dates with the ever persistent Jack. They inevitably fall in love (LETS SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER) and Jack convinces Angie to move in with him. They are extremely happy and in love although they live in a squalid apartment and are poor. Sometime later, Jack is offered an audition fro the Harlem Globetrotters (HOT STUFF). He is successful and breaks up with Angie to pursue his dream in New York. He suggests that she returns to live and work for Old Man Charlie. He still does not know realise the situation that she is going back to. At the point when Jack's life is in tatters, he realises that he must try to win Angie back into his life (MISS YOU) in order to fulfil his dreams. He convinces her to come to see him in New York. She is understandably reticent to trust Jack's love and is scared of the consequences of leaving the manipulating clutches of Old Man Charlie. She agrees to Jack's invitation on the proviso that she is just his friend (WAITING ON A FRIEND). Of course once Angie is in Jack's sights, he sets about to lure her back into his life (EMOTIONAL RESCUE). Angie is suddenly summoned back to North Carolina by Old Man Charlie who has found out that Angie has gone to New York. By this time, Angie has opened up to Jack about the extent of her relationship with Old Man Charlie. Jack is stunned. He is then determined to ruin Old Man Charlie's parliamentary career with the assistance of the paparazzi, whom he knows so well. Angie goes hot and cold on her decision to stay with Jack in New York, but she finally succumbs (MIXED EMOTIONS). Jack and Angie marry and his career as a successful Harlem Globetrotter takes off again with Angie by his side. Angie and Jack are pillars of society and are active philanthropists addressing the plight of underprivileged children. They return to the poor suburb of Raleigh where they went to school to assess the situation of the children living there. At night, they witness a familiar car prowling the streets. It is driven by Old Man Charlie. Jack surreptitiously calls the tabloid reporters to capture Old Man Charlie's devious intentions. He has to drag his extremely agitated wife away from the situation back to the warmth of their hotel room (BEAST OF BURDEN). At the end of the story, Jack and Angie are at the Whitehouse responding to an invitation from the President acknowledging their good work (RESPECTABLE). They are flanked by politicians, including Old Man Charlie. Angie is perturbed by his presence. This is short-lived because the FBI present themselves to Old Man Charlie and arrest him for soliciting young children. Jack and Angie are seen back at their apartment in the comfort of each other's arms. The peaceful and loving atmosphere is interrupted by Jack, likening himself to a fast car, ending the story with his version of (START ME UP). They live happily ever after.