I'll See You in My Dreams Page #10

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...and Isham Jones just airmailed

a melody from Chicago.

- Well, that's wonderful.

- You're a wonderful woman, Grace.

I should have married you

the day you walked into my office.

I'd probably be president now.

No, on second thought,

you'd probably be president.

Isn't it awful?

It's the simple tunes that drive you crazy.

I'm stuck right in the middle.

Play it for me.

Why have you got it so dark in here?

- Where'd you get that dress?

- It's an old one.

- I don't like it.

- You always did like it.

Play it. Play it, will you?

Grace, please, play the melody.

I'm digging for a line

and you're giving me arrangements.

- I'm sorry.

- Whoever told you you could play piano?

- You did.

- I was young then.

I'll try to do better.

- Where's my pencil?

- Behind your ear.

All right, play, play.

Still I feel the thrill of your charms...

- Pretty.

- What?

Your dress.

- How's my piano-playing?

- Next week, Carnegie Hall.

- What are the words, Gus?

- Take a look at them.

If you come out even, we've got a song.

"I'll See You in My Dreams."

Play it for me.

I'll see you in my dreams

Hold you in my dreams

Someone took you out of my arms

Still I feel

The thrill of your charms

Lips that once were mine

Tender eyes that shine

They will light

My way tonight

I'll see you in

My dreams

In the main ballroom,

we can seat 300 guests.

- The table for the guest of honor...

- Fine.

I don't want

any fruit salad or chicken la king.

These people are in the music business.

With them, eating's a ritual.

I don't know why

you're making these arrangements.

How am I going to get Gus to show up?

I don't know, I don't know. Say anything.

Tell him the dinner's for Jerome Kern.

What'll I do when Gus finds out the surprise

dinner is for him, that I tricked him?

Come on, Grace.

He must've gotten to like it by now.

Leave the bottle.

I'm throwing caution to the wind.

To the party.

- Good evening, sir.

- Good evening.

Good evening.

- I never can get this tie straight.

- Turn around. I'll fix it for you.

I could've gone to the ball game.

Instead, you dress me up like a headwaiter.

- Will you stand still?

- Grace.

- Hello, Walter.

- Who's your little boy?

The same one I've been

taking care of for years.

You're here on Jerome Kern night?

You never attend a testimonial

for anyone but yourself.

Well, it got to be a long time

between dinners.

- Gus.

- Hi, John.

Don't believe what anyone tells you.

You look lovely.

It took the family

to get him into that suit.

Why make a big thing about a dinner?

You'd think the guy needed the meal.

Everybody's here. George Gershwin,

Sigmund Romberg, Vincent Youmans...

Yeah, come on. Let's go, Grace.

They're waiting for the second team.

Don't look at me, it was Walter's idea.

I couldn't let you know

it was for you, darling.

You'd still be running.

It's customary for the guest of honor

to make a speech after dinner...

...but this kid is liable to skip

before the soup course.

Five years ago,

the doctors were counting him out...

...but he got up and walked away

before they got to 10.

May I present the man that we're paying

$ 15 a plate to honor, drinks extra...

...my friend, Gus Kahn.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I've had so much in my life

for which to be grateful.

And one of the most...

Well, let me put it this way.

You all know I was practically raised

on apple strudel.

But I have two extra-favorite Irish dishes.

Mulligan stew and Walter Donaldson.

Which brings up the question,

what am I doing up here by myself?

It's a room filled with men

I've had the privilege to work with...

...and this dinner is really for all of you.

But most of all, it's for Grace.

I don't know quite how to say it,

but without her, I...

You're not just gonna sit there

and watch me hang, are you?

Without this little girl, I'm just a mug.

I tried it once. Fell flat on my back.

She taught me something many years ago

that I'll never forget.

She said, "Young folks don't know

how to say 'I love you'...

...so you say it for them,

put it to 32 bars of music."

I guess I've written about a thousand

of those "I love you" songs...

...but never said it to my own girl.

- Except once, when she was under ether.

- Oh, Gus.

What's there to be ashamed of?

These are our friends.

Darling, if I never told it to you,

it wasn't that I didn't mean it.

It's just that I could never believe that a

face like this could say to a face like that...

..."I love you" and get away with it.

But I loved you the first day I saw you.

I love you now.

And God willing,

I'll love you as long as I live.

- Gus, how about singing a song, huh?

- Sing us the first one you ever wrote, huh?

You wouldn't believe it,

but I really don't even remember it.

Honestly, I wrote the song, but I'm sure

I don't remember all the words.

Will this help, Mr. Kahn?

Would you play it for me, Ms. LeBoy?

Gee, I wish that I had a girl

Like the other fellows had

Someone to make a fuss over me

To cheer me up when I feel sad

On Wednesday night, I'm all alone

When I ought to be up

At some sweetheart's home

And I'm lonesome, awful lonesome

Gee

I wish I had

A girl

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