Bullets Over Broadway Page #9

help me! Help me!

I was thinkin' about

when Sylvia's in the crazy house--

- Sanitarium.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- She gets the D.T.s,

and she sees things.

- She hallucinates.

- No, she sees things.

You know, like visions.

- Like what kind of visions?

- Like her dead husband,

and then they have that talk.

- The one in the third act?

That's right. She couldn't

face up to him when he was alive.

That's great. That's great.

That's great.

- It is great.

- Why didn't I think of that?

Joe,

gimme a beer.

That's great.

It's all great.

What's the matter?

Nothin'. I just gotta

take a break for a minute.

- You wanna take a break?

- Yeah.

- All right.

- Got a cramp.

[ Billiard Balls Clacking ]

Man.

[ Sighs ]

It's a nice-- nice spot.

- Come here a long time.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- You from around here?

You live around here?

- New York, born and raised.

West 45th Street.

- Mmm.

- Got a big family?

- No.

Got a sister who

lives in Jersey.

I had a brother,

but he got killed.

- I'm sorry.

- It's all right.

He welshed on some Shylocks.

They took him out to Canarsie,

shot him through the head.

Your brother?

How'd you get into

your line of work?

- My line of work?

- Yeah.

My father.

Was he tough.

You ever think about

doin' anything else?

- Like what?

- Like writing.

- Writing.

- Yeah.

- Come on, I've been collecting

for the Mob since I was 16.

- You have a huge gift.

- Yeah.

- No, I'm serious.

Really, it's-- it's uncanny.

- I mean, your instincts.

Dramatic instincts.

- Listen to me.

- Your play was very good.

Your play was very good.

- Really enviable.

You just didn't use your head.

Sometimes people don't think.

Well, sure, for you

it's simple, you know?

To someone who can draw, it all seems

logical, but for someone who can't--

I studied playwriting

with every teacher. I read every book.

Let me tell you about teachers.

I hate teachers.

Those blue-haired b*tches used to

whack us with rulers. Forget teachers.

- There was a boy I knew when I was

growing up, and he played accordion.

- Yeah?

I loved accordion. And I practiced

and practiced, and I got fluent.

Yet he would squeeze one single note,

and the sound of it would make you cry.

-I used to want to dance. You know that?

-Make you cry.

- I mean it.

You ever see George Raft dance?

- Oh, yeah.

- So--

- What?

Mr. Marx says that you, uh, actually

rubbed a few people out. Is that true?

- What is this, the third degree?

- Not at all.

- Then why you sayin' that for?

- I'm just really--

The truth is

I'm fascinated.

- I took care of a few guys.

- Why?

Why, why?

I don't know why.

They cheated Mr. V. They went back

on a debt. I'll tell you one thing.

I never rubbed out a guy

who didn't deserve it.

Uh, so what does it actually

feel like when you actually...

- What?

- k-kill a man?

- It feels okay.

- It feels okay?

- Yeah.

- Even the first time?

First time?

First time was a punk in prison.

He squealed on me, and I stuck

an ice pick in his back.

- An ice pick?

- An ice pick, yeah.

Had to do it over and over, 40 times.

It was a mess. Forget about it.

[ Narrating ] October 1.

Helen Sinclair gave a party.

It was like being in a dream.

Maxwell Anderson was there...

and George S. Kaufman

and Gertrude Lawrence.

[ Helen ] Darling, I want you to meet

my playwright, David Shayne.

[ Lord Chafee ] Oh, you have

quite a find here, darling.

Word's all over the streets.

Oh, well, Helen's made me out to be

quite a hero. You're too kind.

No, I'm not kind.

Helen will vouch for that.

But I read your play,

and it's nothing short of marvelous.

I let him read the rewrite,

not the eunuch version.

- My tongue is hanging out to

present it on the London stage.

- London?

Look at his face, Helen. You're

going to be the toast of Broadway.

Why not the West End, hmm?

-Well, I'm so glad you enjoyed the show.

-It was extraordinary.

What's this I hear

about Helen's latest? ls that true?

- Oh, yes. He's creating

a vehicle for Helen for next season.

- Really?

It's a little idea she's wanted to

do for years. She plays Jesus' mother.

- Oh!

- It's a whole Oedipal thing:

He loves her, wants to do in the father.

Well, you can see the complications.

- Of course.

- Of course, we're talking

to Ira Gershwin...

about a modern musical version

of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

- Quasimodo Jones.

- Helen has such a-a-a-- a new vitality.

- Even her face looks so smooth.

- I know. The monkey glands are working.

Can you leave

your purse here, or is it--

- Why did you close the door?

- I've wanted to be alone with you...

since this

boring party began.

This party, boring?

This party's magnificent! It's glorious!

Make love to me.

Here? Now?

- I see no reason to wait.

- Jerome Kern is on

the other side of the door.

Yes, he's a wonderful composer.

You'll have to meet him.

Now hang up your pants.

I feel good today. You know, I went

to 34th Street. I got this new dress.

- You like it?

- It's very nice.

- Isn't it? I think we

should go dancin' tonight.

- We're gonna go dancin'.

- I gotta take care of some business.

- Business now?

- Oh, come on.

- I'll take you dancin' in

a minute. Just stay there.

All right.

- Hey, I wanna talk to you.

- Hi, Cheech! What are you doing here?

Listen, usually I wouldn't give you

no warning, but you're a good actor.

You're doin' a good job, and it'll

be a big problem if you're not around.

But I'm tellin' you right now:

lf you go near Nick Valenti's

girl one more time...

I'm gonna stick my gun in your mouth

and blow a hole in the top of your head.

- All right?

- Cheech, it's so funny how you've

misconstrued the situation.

Listen to me. I said don't give me

no sh*t now, you hear?

- All right, all right.

- I know what's goin' on.

- I understand, Mr. Cheech.

- You understand?

- I do understand, yes.

- Next time I come back angry.

You hear what I said?

- Yes, I understand.

- And next time you go near

her, you're a dead man.

- Point taken. Thank you, thank you.

- Now get out of here.

Mmm! Waiter!

Waiter.

Could you bring me

some more potatoes, please?

And I'll have the pork loin now. Lovely.

Thank you.

Oh, and one more thing.

I'll have the cheese platter

now as well. Yes, and could you

save me the Nesselrode pie?

Lovely.

Thank you.

[ Narrating ] October 12.

We opened in Boston.

Ellen came up for it.

Mr. Valenti was there.

It went well, although my heart's

in my mouth every time Olive speaks.

Don't tell me you still think

the world revolves around--

- [ Whispering ] "You"!

- You.

I saw Max Gordon in the lobby.

He loved it!

- [ General Chatter ]

- David, did you know

that I have a train to catch?

- Hey, Dave, how was l?

- Wonderful. You finished

that whole speech this time.

- Yeah, I did, didn't l?

- And much improved.

You know, Olive was good.

She still needs work, but--

Hey, Charlie, how are ya?

[ David ] The first act seems

to be working well.

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