A Star Is Born Page #9

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Maybe things are looking up.

Vicki Lester live here?

I got a package for her.

I'll sign for it.

Who are you?

I'm her husband.

Sign right there, Mr. Lester.

Thank you.

Package for you.

By the way, they want you...

...for the Motion Picture Relief Fund benefit

at the Shrine Auditorium.

It's in April sometime.

I told them I'd ask you.

No, let me finish before I forget.

The Academy Award secretary called...

...and wanted to know how many

there'd be in your party.

And Art Carver called and wanted me

to use my influence with you...

...to get him an interview.

I told him I'd try.

That's all.

Now that the supper show is over,

let's have some supper, shall we?

I think I shall mix myself a drink.

I'm not very hungry.

No.

My young son asked me if these Oscars

were made of real gold.

I had to be truthful and tell him,

"No, they weren't."

He was very disappointed.

And then the pride of the household said:

"Daddy, why is it called an Oscar?"

"Shut up," I explained.

And then my dear wife entered

the argument...

... with a little lecture on child psychology.

And it's rather lucky

that I'm here at all tonight.

Do you think anything's happened to him?

You know what the traffic's like.

He's been held up, that's all.

I wish I could have made him

understand that...

... many of us feel that to win one of them

is ample reward for an entire career.

I know I do.

Thank you.

To present this year's award

for the best actress...

Stop worrying. Think how nice the

statuette will look on your mantelpiece.

... last year's Academy Award winner:

Mr. Nigel Peters.

Those nominated for the best performance

by an actress are:

"Jane Brandon," Those Who Seek.

"Vicki Lester," A World For Two.

"Alice Tenny," The Great Chance.

"Shirley Vander," Don't Cry My Love.

The winner is Miss Vicki Lester.

I wish Norman were here.

When something like this happens to you...

... I won't lie to you and tell you

I didn't keep hoping it would happen...

... all the speeches that you've made up

in your bedroom or in the bathtub...

... go out of your mind completely.

And you find that out of all the words

in the world...

... just two stick in your mind:

Thank you.

And all I can do is to say them to you

from my heart and...

Congratulations, my dear.

Made it just in time, didn't I?

May I borrow the end of your speech

to make a speech of my own?

My method for gaining your attention

may seem a little unconventional, but...

...hard times call for harsh measures.

My, I had my speech all prepared, but I...

It's gone right out of my head.

Let me see.

Well, it's silly to be so formal, isn't it?

I know most of you sitting out there

by your first names, don't I?

I made a lot of money for you, gentlemen...

...in my time through the years, haven't I?

Well, I need a job now.

Yeah, that's it, that's the speech.

That's the...

I need a job.

That's what I wanted to say.

I need a job!

It's as simple as that.

I need a job, that's all.

My talents, I might say,

they're not confined to dramatic parts.

I can play comedy, too.

Well, play something, somebody.

Norman, darling.

Darling.

Let's sit down.

Get me a drink, somebody.

Good morning, Vicki.

Hi, Frank.

- How are you?

- Fine.

- Ready to go?

- Yeah, anytime.

Hit the lights. Up high. Six and eight.

Give us a senior.

Come over to 103, will ya?

Now, drop that door down on main.

Roll them.

Speed.

Playback!

One, two.

"lf, as, and when you've got a long face

"Rearrange it

"Don't be contented with the wrong face

"There's a way to change it

"Does the day look painful?

"The future glum?

"Does the sky look rainful?

"Hey, there! Say, there!

"Are you in a vacuum?

"All the stuff and nonsense

"You can overcome

"A long face gets you nowhere

"You lose that month of May

"Like Peter Pan, the sweeter pan

"Wins the day!

"Go lose that long face, that long face

"Go along and get that long face lost

"The blues black out when they can see

"A smile that says, 'Move on, no vacancy'

"This panacea idea

"I'm handing you without any cost

"There isn't any tax on it

"So just relax on it

"If you want trouble double-crossed

"Don't give in to a frown

"Turn that frown upside down

"And get yourself that long face lost!

"This panacea idea

"I'm handing you without any cost

"There isn't any tax on it

"So just relax on it

"If you want trouble double-crossed

"Don't give in to a frown

"Turn that frown upside down

"And go and get your long face

"Get your long face

"Go, go, go and get your long face lost!"

Cut!

Cut! That's it.

Very good, everybody. Very good.

Fine, Vicki, fine.

You take it easy for a bit.

We've got to move in for the closer angle.

All right, kids, take five.

Come in.

Oliver.

Esther.

Hello. It's good to see you again.

Three months is a long time.

- How was your trip?

- Not exactly the pleasure trip it used to be.

They want your pictures.

That's all I kept hearing

way across the country.

Thanks.

Look, would you mind stopping that

for just a minute?

Tough day?

No tougher than usual.

Maybe you should get away after this one.

New York or Europe.

Just get completely away.

What about that?

How's Norman?

Is he all right?

Yes, he's fine. Want some coffee?

Thanks.

- Sit down, Oliver.

- Tell me, is he...

He's in a sanitarium.

He really wants to stop drinking, Oliver.

He's trying very hard. I know he is.

What is it?

What is it that makes him

want to destroy himself?

You've known him longer than anyone else.

Tell me what it is.

Please. I don't care but just tell me.

Don't you think I've tried through the years

to know why?

To help him.

I don't know, Esther.

I don't know what the answer is.

I've got to find the answer.

You don't know what it's like

to watch somebody you love...

...just crumble away bit by bit...

...and day by day in front of your eyes.

And stand there helpless.

Love isn't enough.

I thought it was.

I thought I was the answer for Norman...

...but love isn't enough for him.

And I'm afraid of what's beginning

to happen...

...within me...

...because...

...sometimes I hate him.

I hate his promises to stop...

...and then the watching and waiting

to see it begin again.

I hate to go home to him at night.

And listen to his lies.

My heart goes out to him because he tries.

He does try.

But I hate him for failing.

I hate me, too.

I hate me...

...'cause I've failed, too.

I have.

I don't know what's going to happen

to us, Oliver.

No matter...

...how much you love somebody...

...how do you live out the days?

How?

Would it help any if he went back to work?

Could you do that?

I'll try.

Yeah, all right. I'll be there in a minute.

Yes, okay.

You will be careful when you talk to him,

won't you?

All he's got left is his pride.

Quiet.

Playback.

"...isn't any tax on it

"So just relax on it

"If you want trouble double-crossed

"Don't give in to a frown

"Turn that frown upside down

"And go and get your long face

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