Florence Foster Jenkins Page #8

I...

God darn it, Mr Bayfield,

Cosm McMoon from San Antonio, Texas,

played Carnegie Hall.

And he was brilliant.

Utterly, utterly brilliant.

(clears throat)

- We did it.

- Yes, I think we did.

(both laugh)

Mud in your eye.

- Thank you, Mr Bayfield.

- Hmm?

Thank you for everything.

Oh, no, don't thank me.

No, I... I had the night of my life.

Down in one. Go!

Kitty. Would you mind

bringing a blanket?

- Mr McMoon is staying the night.

- Of course.

Madam Florence is already asleep.

Oh.

- Oh, good, good. I'll get on, then.

- Goodnight, Mr Bayfield.

Kitty said you were asleep.

(Florence) No.

You will buy the papers

in the morning, won't you?

Yes, of course, of course.

Stay the night.

(both chuckle)

I love you so, St Clair.

I love you, my bunny rabbit.

- Hey, Georgie boy, catch!

- Wahey!

Wake up. Wake up.

Cosm.

The Post, please. Thank you.

Oh, God.

She must never see this. I'd like every

copy of the Post that you have, please.

- But I got regular customers.

- I'm sure they'll manage.

I think so too.

I'd also like the Bugle, the News

and the Correspondent.

- Thank you, sir.

- Thank you.

"Madam Jenkins's performance

conquers Carnegie Hall."

Oh, my hat!

"Only the night before at Carnegie Hall,

Sinatra entertained

3,000 of his bobbysox followers."

The piece was spiteful,

vicious and wholly inaccurate

and it has caused a great deal of upset.

Do I need to remind you

that Madam Florence

is a very close personal friend

of Arturo Toscanini's?

It would be such a pity if the Post

were excluded from Carnegie Hall.

Thank you for your understanding,

Mr Thackrey. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

I bought up every copy of the Post

within two blocks.

Well done, and I very much doubt

that the piece will be

in the afternoon edition, so...

a few more hours

and we're in the clear.

(Florence) St Clair!

(Kitty) "Madam Jenkins wore

a series of extraordinary costumes

of great elegance and beauty."

Whitey, Whitey. Read the thing

about the simultaneous something.

- "Even their simultaneous reflexes...

- Sinatra fans.

...were as nothing compared

to the applause and community spirit

afforded Madam Jenkins."

- Oh, bravo, Bunny.

- And all the reviews are just terrific.

But no Post?

I don't think they covered the concert.

Oh, the Post

always covers Carnegie Hall.

Well, then, I shall find a copy.

Now, are you sure you should be

getting up? You must be so tired.

The baroness and some of the others

are gathering for lunch downstairs.

I'm going to join them.

Now, Florence,

that's really not a good idea.

What on earth

is the matter with you today?

Well, after the first half,

I was pooped.

- Oh!

- Well...

Your voice was as fresh as the morning

dew till the very last, Florence.

Hear, hear.

(woman) I don't remember

such a wonderful night.

And, you know, people were fighting

for tickets outside.

- Why, I was offered $20 for mine.

- What?

- That's a great deal of money.

- I know the reason why.

Excuse me.

What was the high point of the evening

for you, Mr Bayfield?

I'm sorry, Baroness, what did you say?

What was the high point of the evening

for you?

Well, there were so many.

No, it was your

Queen of the Night aria, Florence.

- Oh, yes.

- Yes.

It's an emergency.

My boss has no paper this morning.

- I'm sorry, this one's mine.

- But...

No, you can't have it.

Excuse me, ladies.

- Mr McMoon, has he got a sweetheart?

- (Florence) I really don't know.

I realise this is absurd,

but is there any way we could persuade

you to part with your newspaper?

Well, no, you couldn't.

This one's mine.

How much?

What is going on?

I'm not taking your money.

50 bucks?

- (sighs) Well, if you insist.

- Thank you so very much.

It's very, very nice of you.

Get rid of it.

(woman) Anyway,

she's old enough to be his aunt.

I don't know. I really don't know.

- Where's Florence?

- She's gone to powder her nose.

A-ha. Thank you.

She's gone to powder her nose,

Mr Bayfield.

Oh, quite. Quite.

- Silly of me.

- My great niece isn't married.

- You mean the podiatrist?

- What, with the lovely hands?

- Madam Florence? It's you!

- Oh!

We saw your show at Carnegie Hall

last night.

- It was wonderful.

- Thank you. Thank you very much.

- We've never laughed so hard.

- My ribs are still aching.

You have an enormous comic talent,

Mrs Foster Jenkins.

It was so funny.

Oh, thank you very much.

Um... Um...

I must be on... Good afternoon to you.

And don't pay any attention

to that review.

That hack knows absolutely nothing.

Well, my second cousin twice removed

has been married twice before

and both times

it was a complete disaster.

But you're not putting her forward.

Is everything alright, Mr Bayfield?

I think I just need a little air.

Excuse me, ladies.

- The Post, please.

- Oh, sorry, lady, all sold out.

- Already? How come?

- You won't believe it.

This guy comes by this morning,

takes all the copies I got.

An Englishman.

What did he look like?

Oh, tall. You know, your gentleman type.

- Why did he buy all of them?

- I don't know.

20 bucks he gives me.

Then he dumps them in the trash.

708, please.

(horn blares)

(horn blares)

(horns blare)

Watch where you're going!

(woman) Oh. Sir! Sir!

Madam, are you alright?

Bunny. Bunny.

Bunny, it's me, it's Whitey.

Get a doctor. Quickly. Quickly.

My darling, it's me. It's me.

It's me, my precious.

I'm going to turn you over.

Speak to me, Bunny. Please.

Please, my darling.

(man) Where's the doctor?

( Saint-Sans:
"The Swan")

Bunny.

Bunny.

It's me.

(whispers) Bunny.

I'm here. Can you hear me?

(piano music continues)

(struggles to speak)

- No, no.

- (gasps)

No, shh, shh. Shh, shh.

Shush, my love. Shh, shh.

Shh, shh. Shh, shh.

Rest, my beautiful. Rest.

Was everyone laughing at me

the whole time?

I was never laughing at you.

Yours is the truest voice

I have ever heard.

(chuckles quietly)

( "When I Have Sung My Songs")

- When I have sung my songs

- Listen...

(sings tunefully) To you

I'll sing no more...

Listen.

'Twould be a sacrilege to sing

At another door

We've worked so hard

To hold our dreams...

I love you, my bunny.

Just you and I

(applause)

I could not share them all again

I'd rather die

With just the thought

That I had loved so well...

The audience, they were applauding.

And cheering.

That I could never sing again

No, I could never

Never sing again

Except

To you

(sighs)

People may say I couldn't sing,

but no one can say I didn't sing.

(chuckles)

(Bayfield) Bravo, my love.

Bravo.

(applause)

(cheering)

(Florence) Like a bird

(sings coloratura)

Like a bird

(sings coloratura)

(sings sustained note)

- Do you wanna try another take?

- Well, I don't see why.

That seemed perfect to me.

Faint melodies bring back old days

Faintly the old music box plays

(sings coloratura)

Lords and ladies to and fro

By candlelight in stately dance

Now turn with coy and smiling glance

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