Florence Foster Jenkins Page #5

(snores)

(knocking at door)

(knocking at door)

(Florence) St Clair? Are you there?

(knocking at door)

St Clair! Wake up!

I've got something

I want to show you!

(knocking at door)

St Clair, are you in there?

Oh, golly.

Mr Bayfield, wake up. Mr...

Madam Florence is here.

- What?

- That's her at the door.

- (persistent knocking)

- (Florence) I can hear you in there.

Wake up, wake up, wake up. Wake up!

- What's the matter?

- It's Florence, she's here. Stall her.

- What?

- Stall her, stall her.

- Get out of bed. Out of bed. Up.

- What?

(knocking continues)

(knocking continues)

(Florence) St Clair, are you there?

Um, just a moment, Madam Florence.

- (Florence) Who is that?

- It's me, Mr McMoon. How are you?

(Florence) Mr McMoon?

What are you doing here?

Open the door at once!

(knocking at door)

Goodness me.

Oh!

Oh! Where... Where is Mr Bay... field?

Oh, my hat!

- St Clair!

- Madam Florence, please, please...

(knocks on door)

- Whitey?

- Bunny. How very, very nice.

I was just reading

a little early Austen. Quite fun.

May I offer you some tea?

What is going on? Why is Mr McMoon

here?

He lost his house key,

so I put him up for the night.

Oh. But what about the mess?

- There's a mess?

- Oh!

Good God.

When I said "help yourself

to a nightcap", I meant one.

Just look at the place!

Look what he's done, Bunny.

Aren't you going to chastise him?

Well, I... I am very disappointed

in you, Mr McMoon.

I do not approve of drinking.

What got into you?

I'm very sorry.

Never again, Mr McMoon. You understand?

- Reviews.

- What? Oh!

- What do they say?

- They're simply marvellous.

Come, come, come.

That's what I... I wanted to... Look.

Page seven. Here, here, down below.

Oh, da, da, da, da, da da...

"And the consensus was

that she'd never sung better."

"Her grace and brilliant personality

only added

to the remarkable quality of her voice."

"By the end of her performance,

the stage was a...

...bower of blooms and Madam Jenkins

retired to thunderous applause."

Bravo, Bunny. Bravo! Bravissima!

Oh, shh.

And I've had a simply darling idea

for the Christmas gift for the members.

- We're booked for eleven o'clock...

- Booked for?

- It's a surprise.

- Ooh.

So continue your ablutions, quickly.

Got a cab waiting downstairs.

And bring McMoon with you.

I've been looking for him all morning.

- I shall.

- Just hurry.

Yes, yes. There in a demisemiquaver.

She's gone.

- This is just ridiculous.

- I am very, very sorry.

I shouldn't have to hide in my own home.

It's humiliating. And there are rules.

- I think she was just overexcited.

- Well, you are to speak to her.

Yes, that's a very good idea.

I shall say, "Florence, although

you pay the rent on my apartment,

- would you mind not visiting?"

- Oh, shut up.

I won't go on living like this.

Do you understand?

What am I doing here?

I'm willing to share you, St Clair,

but... I need some dignity.

Of course, of course, of course.

I'm so sorry.

I'll make sure it doesn't happen again.

I don't know how.

Why don't we go away for a few days,

yes? Golf? Hamptons?

Good idea?

Yes.

(Cosm vomits)

There you go.

Oh, good Lord.

Here we are! Oh!

Here...

We're going to make a recording.

And give a copy to the members

for Christmas.

- I'm so excited!

- It's a wonderful idea, Bunny.

But Dr Hermann was

very, very specific about excitement.

- Oh, phooey.

- So I think it'd...

- Come along.

- Come on.

Come on, come on, come on.

Like a bird on the wing

Like a bird

(sings piercing coloratura)

Like a bird

(sings coloratura)

Like a bird

(sings coloratura)

(sings sustained high note /

feedback squeal)

Bravo! It was wonderful, Bunny.

(laughs)

Oh! Flipping hell!

(Bayfield) Kathleen, try this one.

I did suggest it earlier.

It's a little shorter

and a little easier.

- Yes, I like this one, darling.

- And slightly to the left.

And swing

as though it's through molasses.

- Oh, yes!

- (squeals)

Yes!

(gentle music plays)

You're listening to "The Firestone Hour"

with me, Richard Crooks,

on the NBC Radio Network.

We have a caller on line one,

Mrs Edna Hoffman of New Jersey.

Go ahead, Edna.

Mr Crooks,

would you play Brahms's "Lullaby"?

I'd love to. For anyone in particular?

My son Samuel. He's a flight navigator.

He's missing in action over Germany.

- Oh, my.

- Our hearts go out to you today, Edna.

And we'll all be thinking of Samuel.

( Brahms:
"Lullaby")

Jimmy, I'd like you to have this

hand-delivered for me.

- And I'm gonna grab one of these cabs.

- Sure.

( "Lullaby" continues)

(knocking at door)

(man) Hey, McMoon, you got a visitor!

Alright!

(Florence) Thank you very much. I hope

I'm not disturbing you, Mr McMoon.

Oh! Madam Florence.

I was out and about and I suddenly

realised I was in your neighbourhood.

- What a happy coincidence.

- Indeed.

- Is Mr Bayfield with you?

- No.

- May I come in?

- Sure.

I've brought you our recording.

Gee. Thank you, Madam Florence.

You're very welcome.

You haven't done your dishes, Mr McMoon.

Would you like me to do them for you?

No, you don't need to do that,

Madam Florence.

Well, they'll not wash themselves,

will they? I'll make you a deal.

I'll wash your dishes

if you play something for me.

How about that?

- Madam Florence, I can...

- Do we have a deal, Mr McMoon?

(Cosm) What shall I play?

Anything you like.

(plays tuneful melody)

That's such a pretty melody.

Is it yours?

- Yes.

- Oh.

(high-pitched humming)

(mumbles words)

You inspire me.

I shall write some lyrics for you.

Oh, wonderful.

There's a bird in the... in the trees

(hums)

Madam Florence, do you mind if I ask

how you met Mr Bayfield?

Oh, well...

I was performing in a musicale

at the Waldorf, 1919.

And I was wearing a violet velvet gown.

I looked out at the audience

and I saw a man

with the most beautiful smile

I'd ever seen.

He had an aristocratic bearing

and that was that.

Of course, his grandfather

was an earl, you know.

Doesn't that make him an earl too?

Well, he wasn't on the legitimate line.

Nothing for him in England.

So he came here and became an actor.

He wasn't always successful.

Had to hide the reviews occasionally.

- You play so beautifully, Mr McMoon.

- Ah!

You know, I played for the president,

when I was eight years old.

- Really?

- Yes, I played at the White House.

- Really?

- Little Miss Foster, they called me.

And I had very high hopes

of becoming a concert pianist mys...

But then when the nerves were damaged

in my left hand, that was not to be.

That's too bad.

What happened to your hand?

Oh, it was just a...

(gasps)

(screams)

I'm...

I'm s... I'm sorry.

- I'm a silly woman.

- No.

Would you like a glass of water?

When Mr Bayfield is away playing golf,

the days can seem awfully long.

I understand that he needs his... sport.

But I miss him. I...

(sobs quietly)

I miss him terribly.

- He'll be back soon.

- Hmm.

Madam Florence,... he's devoted to you.

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