De-Lovely Page #7

it could go somewhere.

Yeah, like out for a drink.

Have you heard from Linda?

No.

No. l've written, l've wired,

l've called. Nothing.

l'm sorry, Cole, l'm really sorry.

Maybe with time....

lt'll take more than time.

l'll be back before breakfast.

Just seemed so much

to ask children to bear.

How long will you stay?

No idea.

Let's go inside, it's getting cold.

You see how far l'll go to get you back?

l think you've gone too far this time...

but l ought to be used to it by now.

I'm afraid his right leg should be amputated.

Perhaps the left as well.

There's really no alternative.

lf you amputate his legs,

you will cut out his pride.

You'll break his spirit,

he would never work again.

He'll have nothing without his music,

it's the essence of him.

He'd have nothing to live for.

He would have his life, his friends, you.

Nothing. He would just be

living out his death.

You're asking a lot of him.

We are accustomed to asking

a lot of one another.

So what did the sawbones say?

You get to keep the old things.

And he expects you to walk, and so do l.

But only if l can walk to you.

As far as Williamstown?

Williamstown?

Massachusetts. l found a very pretty home.

It's on a hill, it has a work space.

Thinking of buying it.

A little bump.

-All right.

-Now?

A grand piano.

That is grand.

That's not quite right.

So shall l leave you to it?

Guess you'd better.

God, l can't work the pedal.

Can't work the pedals, dear.

God damn it!

l can't work the pedals!

And what did it take...

to finally work the pedals?

A few years.

A pharmacopoeia of pills.

A reservoir of Scotch

and 20 more operations.

Nonstop fun.

But over time, you got five shows

up and running.

Up? Yes. Running? Barely.

At least, according to the critics.

''Not up to Mr. Porter's usual standards''...

was the refrain.

So when Hollywood finally called again?

l was on the train before the second ring.

He is the same. One of Yale's sons

of whom we are all proud.

Cole Porter.

There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning

Burning inside of me

And its torment won't be through

Till you let me spend my life making love

to you

Day and night

Night and day

lf l can survive this movie,

l can survive anything.

And you shall, darling, beautifully,

like everything else.

Thank you.

The movie will do very well,

and you'll be encouraged.

l wonder, it seems like every time

they operate, l lose songs as well as blood.

Remind me to call the studio and tell them

how much we ''absolutely loved the movie.''

Naturally.

Sorry. l'm all right.

Why on earth does Linda come back

to Cole anyway?

Because he's Cary Grant.

And she misses the music, as do l.

l must say, going down in history

as Cary Grant is not too bad.

Not for a boy from lndiana.

We should be grateful to them,

they found us a happy ending.

Yes, happy endings.

You don't get many of those,

do you, in Hollywood?

So this promises what, surgery number 25?

Twenty-six.

Good God. And how long will l have

to wear the cast this time?

A few months, we'll see how you mend.

What's that?

lt's Linda.

lt's gotten that bad, then?

Even if she'd agree,

l don't think surgery would help.

The lungs are too damaged.

Dr. Moorhead, are you saying that

Linda is dying?

God, what a swell party this is.

Four weeks, you rehearse and rehearse

Three weeks, and it couldn't be worse

One week, will it ever be right?

Then out of the hat, it's that big first night

The overture is about to start

You cross your fingers and hold your heart

It's curtain time and off we go

Another opening of another show

Miss Morrison, the line is ''away we go,''

not ''off we go,'' dear.

You couldn't manage to make me

hear you before...

and now that l can hear you,

you've got it wrong.

So shall we do it again?

Let's pick it up, dust it off, and get it right.

The tempo was good.

All right, everyone, let's go.

One week, will it ever be right?

Then out of the hat, it's that big first night

The overture is about to start

You cross your fingers and hold your heart

It's curtain time and away we go

Another opening

Just another opening of another show

Very good. Thank you, all.

Carry on. And chorus...

keep those consonants crisp.

The audience shouldn't think you're saying,

''An annoying opening for an ugly show.''

Let them come to that conclusion

on their own.

Please stop that knocking.

-Mr. Porter.

-What?

Your wife sent me to fetch you.

Fetch me for what?

-For tea.

-l don't like tea.

lt's just a few steps. She's waiting.

Fine, come in. Fetch me, for Christ's sake.

-Who are you, anyway?

-Bill, Bill Wrather.

Bill rather? Rather what?

Bill Wrather. Yes, you're Linda's...

-decorating wizard. Yes.

-lt's a great pleasure for me, Mr. Porter.

The pleasure is mine.

-Can l?

-No.

-Are you sure?

-No. Lots of practice.

l will take an arm, actually. Thank you.

Well, l'll be making my way.

Linda, a pleasure as always.

lndeed.

l'll see you soon.

Cole, that tune you were playing

was just beautiful.

l can't wait to hear that in the show.

-Goodbye now.

-Safe drive.

-lsn't he delightful?

-Lovely.

We've become such fast friends.

l was hoping that you might as well.

He'd be a good companion for you.

Linda?

l don't want you to be lonely.

l'm worried about you.

You don't need to worry about me

or your show, it's all taken care of.

l'm in God's hands, the show is in yours.

l do wish it were

the other way round, though.

Give me that cigarette.

Strange, dear

But true, dear

When I'm close to you, dear

The stars fill the sky

This really needs a proper singer.

l really can't do it justice.

Wait till opening night, hear it sung well.

l think it sounds fine right now.

And l won't be there, dear.

What are you talking about?

Why wouldn't you be?

You know the doctors, honey,

they're so boring.

l don't think l would add very much to it.

l'm sure it will be a great occasion.

lt won't be any occasion if you're not there.

Darling, Bill will be with you.

He'll help you.

l wrote this for you. What's the point

of doing it if you're not gonna be there?

Well, that's why l want you to play it for me.

All the way through.

All right.

l won't do it justice, but l'll do it.

Strange, dear, but true, dear

When I'm close to you, dear

The stars fill the sky

So in love with you am I

Even without you

My arms fold about you

You know, darling, why

So in love with you am I

In love with the night mysterious

The night when you first were there

In love with my joy delirious

-Wait.

-Are you all right?

A few people may have been carried

out of my shows...

but no one's ever been carried in.

So taunt me and hurt me

Deceive me, desert me

I'm yours till I die

So in love

So in love

So in love with you, my love

Think of Linda a little and applaud a lot.

In love with the night mysterious

The night when you first were there

In love with my joy delirious

When I knew that you could care

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