Broadway Melody of 1940 Page #3

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I'll take it.

Hey, where you been?

To every agent and manager in town,

but I've got a perfect record.

Didn't see one of them.

You should have stuck with me.

You'd have seen Bert Matthews.

Yeah, I'll bet.

What did he do, drop in for tea?

No, he phoned,

and I went over there.

I met Clare Bennett.

- Quit kidding, will you?

- I'm not kidding, Johnny.

Honest. It's true.

True? Well, go on.

What happened?

- What happened?

- Well, we had a little business talk.

There's a chance we might

get a bit in the new show?

- Wait a minute...

- Do you...?

Don't interrupt me.

Will you let me finish?

- All right.

- They're looking for new personality.

They must have caught our act,

and like you said...

...you never know who's out there.

- We're in!

- Wait a minute.

- When do we start? What do we do?

- Johnny, please.

- "Please," he says!

I wish I could have been with you.

What did he say? Tell me.

- Johnny, will you not get too excited?

- All right, all right.

It's cold.

Cold? But you just said...

They want one guy

to dance with Clare Bennett.

I see. They want a leading man.

Wonder why they phoned us?

They didn't phone us.

- They phoned me.

- And then showed you the door.

You don't rate me very high, do you?

They offered me an audition.

To be Clare Bennett's leading man?

You?

Gee, that's great.

Why, that's terrific!

But what do you mean,

it's all cold?

What would you have said

if they offered you a job without me?

- Well, I'd...

- That's exactly what I said.

I said, "Look, Mr. Matthews, we're a

team, and that's the way we stay."

- You crazy...

- He gave me a lot of hot air about...

...what a great opportunity it was,

but I said, "Wait a minute.

We've been together five long years.

And five pretty tough years."

Tough, but a lot of laughs

when you think back.

You said it.

Why, you half-witted...

Turning down the chance of a lifetime

on account of me.

Well, it isn't only a question

of you, it's...

- It's a question of being on the level.

- What a guy. I know what I'd do.

- Yeah?

- I'd get on that phone...

...and tell him I'd take it.

But quick.

Well, I wouldn't be any good

without you anyhow.

You know you figure out

all the dance steps.

I'm not leaving town.

I'll be around.

You mean you're gonna

help me, Johnny?

I'll figure out a routine for you

that'll kill them.

What a guy. But this isn't

a sure job yet, Johnny.

It's only a tryout. They want me

to watch the show...

...and get up in that "Between You

and Me" number with Clare Bennett.

She's wonderful in it.

Have you seen it?

Yeah. She's attractive, huh?

Close to?

Attractive? She's the tops, Johnny.

You've never seen anything like her.

From the minute she met me, she acted

as though she'd known me all her life.

Imagine.

The biggest star on Broadway!

You wanna know something else?

I think she kind of took a shine to me.

I guess that'd be hard to take.

Hey, let's get going. Get on that

telephone and tell Matthews it's all set.

I don't have to do that.

You see, we left it like this:

If I change my mind,

I show up at the theater tonight.

And that's just where you'll be!

But that's not him!

That's not the Shaw I saw...

I mean, that's an imposter!

Casey? Casey!

- Well, I better...

- Casey!

- I'm sorry, Bert. I don't...

- Congratulations, Bob.

- That boy is a real find!

- You mean you like him?

- Like him? O'Grady!

- But...

- Take this down, Amy.

- He's not...

I'm gonna give King Shaw the lead

in the next show...

...and I want you

to get to work on him.

Build up a personality for him.

Change his address.

Take him to a first-class hotel

and a good tailor.

Let him be seen at the night spots.

Get him talked about!

Build him up until the customers

know the name "King Shaw."

But he's not...

Well, l...

- Where are you going?

- He's getting some air.

Yes!

Yes, yes, yes!

How was it, Johnny?

Miss Bennett,

this is Johnny Brett.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Is this your partner?

- Yeah.

- Good, wasn't he?

- First time too. Proud of him?

- Plenty.

- Okay, King, who's your agent?

- I haven't any.

- Don't need one. We'll sign a contract.

A contract?

You'll never regret it

as long as you live.

Change your dress. The three

of us are going out to celebrate.

- This is Mr. Brett. He's...

- How do you do?

How do you...?

Come up to the office,

and we'll fix everything.

I'm glad to have met you,

Miss Bennett.

Mr. Brett. Johnny!

Look. Come out with us tonight.

Thanks.

I'd rather not. Thanks.

Thanks a lot.

So long, Miss Bennett.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Good night.

Pardon me. I'd like to talk to you

for a minute, if you don't mind.

Now, look,

you'll be paid very soon.

Paid? Do you owe me something?

- You're not a collector?

- Collector?

I used to collect stamps, but I gave it

up when people stopped writing to me.

Don't you remember meeting me

four nights ago?

Distinctly.

You told me then

that your name was King Shaw.

That's when I thought

you were a bill collector.

- Bill collector, me?

- Yes. I'm awfully sorry.

I'm sorry too. For you.

Because that little mix-up lost you

the job as Clare Bennett's leading man.

What's that?

I thought your name was King Shaw,

so I sold King Shaw to my associates.

Oh, I see.

Yes, well, maybe we better

have a drink together, huh?

Yeah, let's.

I could use one.

I'm going to clear this whole thing up.

You're going to play that part!

No, I'm not. Now, look, Mr. Casey,

King's the man for you.

You need a personality.

Why, he's a natural.

Women go for him like a

bargain sale. Always have.

- Yes, but I saw you dance.

- Yes, and you saw him dance too.

Tonight with Clare Bennett.

They were wonderful together.

- Rabbit?

- No.

You're just like me. I'm always

pushing my partner ahead too.

But I'm gonna fix this.

Look. Matthews is satisfied,

I'm satisfied. Why shouldn't you be?

Well, maybe you're right.

- Squirrel?

- No.

I tell you what,

I'll discover you next year.

That'll make me a hero

all over again.

- I can hardly wait.

- Is it a deal?

- Sure.

- That's wonderful.

That's the first deal

I've been in on in years.

- Beaver?

- Certainly not!

- Let's drink to the deal.

- Don't you think you've had enough?

Just one more won't hurt.

- Herman!

- That's right. Ermine.

- Hi, Johnny.

- Hi.

- What are you doing?

- Getting a swelled head.

What?

Why, I even know this guy.

I live with him.

- Good publicity, huh?

- Yeah.

- Hey!

- Yeah?

- How'd the rehearsals go today? Good?

- A little off, but all right.

Say, King.

I had an idea this afternoon.

The step you do at the end

of the second chorus?

Suppose you try it this way.

- Say, that looks good.

- Try it.

- Yeah, that's it. How does it feel?

- Feels great.

I think we can brush up the number

in a couple of other places too.

Want to work tonight?

No, not tonight.

I'm dining out.

- With Clare?

- Who else?

Oh, boy, what a gal!

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