For the Boys Page #8

Now what?

- I don't know. I thought we could talk.

- I don't wanna talk. I wanna get ready.

Yeah, but I wanna talk.

About what?

How about sleep? Old people

are always talking about sleep.

- How you been sleeping lately, Eddie?

- Me? Like a baby. How about yourself?

Not so good.

I dream a lot. Then I wake up.

- You should try some warm milk.

- No. I like the dreams.

They're very enlightening.

Do you believe

in the unconscious, Eddie?

Personally, I prefer the conscious.

They pay more attention.

You still got your touch, Eddie. Even though

you do look like a goddamn turtle.

- Thank you. You look good yourself.

- Thanks. Mind if I smoke?

- I don't care if you burn.

- What a prince.

I had a doosey of a dream last night.

You were in it. You wanna hear it?

- No.

- It was fantastic.

I dreamed I died and went to heaven.

And the angels... the angels told me

I could ask God one question.

So I said... I was very excited...

I said "God, first you took Michael."

"I sort of understand that. He was wild.

He was reckless. Fantastic in bed."

"OK, so Michael."

"But then Danny too.

Why'd you take 'em both? I gotta know."

And you know what God said?

He said "It's the price."

I said "What for?"

He said "It's the price for the good times,

for the fun, for the laughs,

for the applause, for the career,

for you and Eddie."

"Think there's a free lunch, girlie?"

He talked like he was from the William Morris

office. In fact, that's who I think he is.

Yeah. So now you're through?

No.

We did it.

We put a uniform on him.

- Don't do this.

- He loved us and we put him in the ground.

All right.

It's 25 years. I can't go on like this.

I need you. I can't do it alone.

You listen to me, you crazy b*tch!

I never killed nobody!

I never started the wars.

I'm not a f***ing general!

I'm a song-and-dance man.

We went out there and we made 'em forget

for a couple of hours.

- It's not that simple.

- I'm proud of what we done, Dixie.

I'm proud of every minute.

I'm proud of every show. It was an honour.

- A sacred honour.

- Dixie and Eddie, places,

Dixie...

I know he died.

Him and a million others.

Why don't you mourn for them?

- I do.

- Well, so do I.

So do I! But you pick yourself up. You don't

waste your life and chew on this thing!

I didn't waste my life.

I made something of my life.

I gave birth to him.

I nursed him. I sang him to sleep.

And they massacred him.

For what? For honour!

F*** honour! I want my son back!

I don't need this.

I don't need you.

I don't need anybody.

Go on, you old fraud.

Get your medal.

I hope it was worth it.

..and, certainly,

none more distinctly American

than the two people

we honour here tonight.

On behalf of the president,

it is my great pleasure

to present the National Medal of the Arts

to Eddie Sparks and Dixie Leonard.

Where is she?

Anybody have any idea where she is?

Take one and cover it. We're on one.

Three, swing round

and get some audience.

Bravo!

I should do this well at my funeral!

Seriously...

This is a great honour.

A great, great honour.

And Dixie, she couldn't be

with us tonight.

She's a little under the weather.

But I know she's watching.

So hang in there, honey. We love you.

We both want you to know

that we share this honour

with all the young Americans

who laid down their lives

for the greatest country

in all the world.

On the beaches of Normandy...

the Philippines...

Korea...

Vietnam...

Come on. Eddie, what? Let's go.

Stand by with a commercial.

Vietnam...

Vietnam...

A small... A small fire base on...

Christmas Day, 1969.

They...

They just came at us out of the sun.

And we lost our boy.

To tell you the truth, I...

I haven't been sleeping so good,

Not so good,

Because I loved him

like he was my own son.

I loved him very, very much,

Danny... I...

Here she is. I need the spots on her.

Oh, how great!

Pipe down, pipe down, will you?

You know, when I...

When I first met him, he was nothing.

Doing it single.

Bad suit.

Impersonations, song parodies.

Terrible.

But I saw some potential there

and I took him under my wing,

and I taught him the business.

I taught him the moves,

the songs, the timing.

I even taught him

how to impersonate a human being.

Thank you.

You're very welcome.

You know...

for an old broad,

you're still pretty sexy.

How would you know?

Well, I think I'm getting excited.

Let me know when you're sure.

Hey, Dixie, they gave me

a big suite upstairs.

- Really?

- Yeah.

And I got a big king-size bed.

- You wanna lie down, Eddie?

- Is that an offer?

It's a recommendation.

Look at this. I'm 91 years old.

50 years I've been waiting for this chance.

- Dixie, please let's go upstairs.

- What, to your room?

- Yeah.

- Ohh!

- And then we get undressed?

- Yeah.

- And then we get into bed?

- Yeah.

And then what?

Maybe we'd better dance.

Thank goodness she showed up.

There is a Santa Claus!

Wonderful. Stand by, music.

I'm coming, sweetheart. Are you ready?

- Wait. I gotta find my feet.

- They're there. Trust me.

- You ready now?

- Don't hurt yourself.

Don't worry. And five, six...

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