Broadway Melody of 1940 Page #4

---

And fun too.

I wish you could see something.

Everywhere we go, people start buzzing,

"There's King Shaw and Clare Bennett.

King Shaw and Clare Bennett. King

Shaw and Clare Bennett. Oh, oh, oh!"

Boy, you certainly are moving up fast.

"King Shaw and Clare Bennett."

Well, I think I get top billing with her.

You know, I never had a girl

hit me like this.

I always thought

I could take them or leave them.

Well, here's one that I'm not leaving.

And what's more,

I think she'd feel pretty bad if I did.

If it's Mr. Shaw,

I'll be right out, Angel.

- Shall I offer him a drink?

- Well, don't encourage him.

That boy don't need

no encouragement, honey.

- Hello, Clare.

- Hello, Bert. Anything wrong?

That's what I came to find out.

From you.

Look, Clare...

...you've never gone out like this

during the last days of rehearsals.

You've never wanted to

until King Shaw came along.

- Why the change?

- I'm having fun.

Just watching the kick he gets

out of going places and seeing things.

Things he's never seen before.

You got the same fun out of watching

me when you first took me out places.

- Not quite the same, I hope.

- I didn't mean that, Bert.

Is that the only reason

you're running around with him?

If there were any other,

I'd tell you.

Be sure that King understands

there isn't any other reason.

I will.

If he thinks you're falling for him,

he'll be bossing me around the theater!

You're not doing him any good.

All that lad wants to do is to play.

He should be home tonight resting

or rehearsing, and so should you.

What excuse can I give him

as late as this?

- Well, tell him the truth.

- That's an idea.

No, no, that wouldn't be feminine.

Give him the one you always give me:

the headache.

- Angel.

- Yes, ma'am?

- Get Mr. Shaw on the telephone.

- Yes, ma'am.

Well, good night. Have a good rest.

See you at rehearsal.

Good night, Bert.

I know we've got a tough day

tomorrow, but it's no tougher...

Besides, I've got a headache.

Oh, I see.

Well, if that's the way you feel

about it, it's okay with me.

Sure. I'll see you tomorrow.

Goodbye.

- What's the matter?

- Nothing!

- Aren't you going out with her?

- She's got a headache.

- And I sent her orchids!

- You should have sent her aspirin.

Very funny! It's a fine time

of night to break a date.

Just when I was all keyed up

to take her out!

It's just as well. Now

we can go through that number.

How do you expect me to concentrate,

when a girl plays a trick like that on me?

- Maybe she has got a headache.

- Yeah? Well, I'll show her!

- I'm going out on the town.

- That'll make two headaches.

Boy, are you full of jokes!

- Hello.

- Hello, King. This is Clare again.

I just called back to say

I'm sorry about tonight.

But...

That was a silly excuse I gave you

about having a headache...

...but we do have a tough day

tomorrow and...

But...

Don't argue with me, King.

Just say I'm forgiven.

Well, at least say something.

I love you, Clare.

What a stupid guy!

Y'all sure been mighty sweet

to poor little lonesome Emmy Lou.

All alone up North,

not knowing nobody.

Why, it's a pleasure.

- Hi, Emmy Lou.

- Hello, honey.

I thought you didn't know anybody

up North.

Why, he's an old friend of mine

from the South, sugar.

Y'all know what it means down South

when a gentleman gives a lady a cape?

She gives it back again.

Lordy, no, sugar! It means

he's got to give her a ring.

Hello, honey. It sure is!

Why, I declare, sugar,

this place is full of Southerners.

- Southerners?

- Makes me feel so safe.

It's getting powerful warm here.

I mean, for the North.

I declare, you're the strangest man.

Just like I heard you was.

- Did you hear about me?

- Lordy, yes, sugar.

The cutest little Southern girl

told me all about you.

- She did, huh? Well...

- She sure enough did.

- Her name was Pearl Delange.

- Delange!

- She told you all about me?

- Every single thing.

Well, I guess it's getting powerful late

for poor little me to be out.

Now, don't you bother.

I can get home by myself.

I know, but what about the...?

Down South,

the gentleman pays the check.

No, not the check.

I mean, what about the...?

King!

You can't leave now.

You've got to meet King Shaw.

He's the richest man in the North

and the South too.

Well, I might just stay long enough

to meet up with him.

King, my boy, I'm delighted

to see you. Delighted.

Meet Miss Emmy Lou Lee.

Mr. Shaw, Miss Lee.

Shaw, Mr. Lee. Sit down.

Hello, honey.

Why don't you ask Miss Delange...?

Emmy Lou to dance?

- Okay, Em. On your feet.

- I'd love to, sugar.

All right, everybody.

Let's get...

What is this? What is this?

Who are these people?

This is the greatest discovery

of Mr. Casey's life.

He wants them to audition for you

before rehearsal.

- That Casey's crazy! Where is he?

- He's not so crazy, he's still in bed.

All right, but make it snappy.

We got a rehearsal.

Okay.

Okay, boys.

How do you do?

How do you do?

How do you do?

Fancy seeing you here.

Thank you.

Can you hear me?

That's fine. Very fine.

Amy! Amy!

That's all, thanks.

We'll let you know.

Thank you.

Give them back to Casey.

He deserves them.

All right, clear the stage, please.

Ready for the Harlequin number.

Take it from King's entrance.

Give us the pickup, will you?

Stop it! Come on, Mr. Shaw,

that's you. What are you waiting for?

- Play it again.

- Mr. Matthews.

Mr. Shaw isn't here yet,

and I'm afraid it's all my fault.

- So you didn't take my advice last night?

- Yes, I did.

Mr. Shaw was here this morning,

but his tailor phoned...

...and I thought we weren't going to do

the number until this afternoon...

...so he went to the tailor's.

- He did, did he?

I'm afraid King is going to be

a little late this morning.

- He's late right now.

- That's what I came to explain.

Good morning.

King's been up all night

with a very bad toothache.

- Toothache?

- Yes. He's gone to the dentist.

You mean tailor's.

Yes. Dr. Taylor's.

You two ought to get together.

All right, ladies and gentlemen...

...we'll resume rehearsal when Mr. Shaw

returns from his remarkable adventure.

It seems he's gone to the tailor's

to have a tooth pulled.

Johnny.

I'd better go and see

if King is coming.

In all my theater experience,

I've never met anybody like him.

If he isn't interested

in the show's success...

...he might have

some consideration for us.

If he doesn't pay

more attention to his job...

...Matthews is going to stop barking

and start biting.

He'll be here any minute.

He was getting up when I left.

- He went out last night, didn't he?

- Yes, he did.

- Right after I phoned him the first time?

- Yes.

No! No. I mean...

I'll just go out and see if he's coming.

Yes.

No rush.

They've broken for lunch.

- Did you square me with Matthews?

- Not exactly.

Clare spoke to Mr. Matthews first.

We sort of got our wires crossed.

- She went to bat for me?

- Yeah.

What do you know!

In front of the whole company?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes