I'll See You in My Dreams Page #8

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- Even Donaldson's coming West.

- Yeah?

I gave him an advance

on your new number.

Our new number?

Yeah, you know, the Italian-type song.

You said you were nuts about it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

The Italian-type song. Yeah.

- Bye.

- So long. Take care.

If you like Ukulele Lady

Ukulele Lady like a'you

I still don't like it.

Oh, Walter.

Surprised to see so much liquor

in your house. How come?

- Expecting to be bit by a snake?

- I have been.

Come here.

What's the Italian-type number?

- Oh, the Italian number.

- Yeah.

You weren't to know

until I got to Hollywood.

You took an advance from Fred

on a number I never agreed to.

If you needed money,

all you had to do was ask me.

Well, I didn't wanna be

beholden to you, chief.

You're getting to be such a big man now.

How do you know I'll like this tune?

My tunes were good enough

for you once.

Just put the words to it.

I never write up anything

I don't believe in.

Is that statement for me or for posterity?

You could at least have let me hear the tune

and decide if I like it.

Decide, Gus? Who decides,

you or Grace?

Since you've been with Isham Jones

and Dick Whiting...

...did she tell you to

get rid of little Walter?

I've taken an awful lot from you.

I've had to follow you around...

...waiting for you to get in the mood

to sit down at a piano.

Many a time, I had to prop you up

when I got you there.

Now, I'm not asking for gratitude,

but keep my wife out of this.

As a matter of fact, it's a very good idea

if we quit working together.

Well, thank you and good afternoon,

Mr. Grace Kahn.

Why don't you take a walk

and sober up?

Yeah, why don't you get a drink

and get her to give you back your pants?

Well, I see by the tracks

Papa Bear has come home.

Is she still here? Why do you think

I stayed out half the night?

- Why didn't you tell her?

- You don't get rid of me so easy.

I explained to her

we couldn't afford a maid.

Do you think anybody who could

afford a maid would hire me...

...an old party with lumbago?

Anna, you know how things have been.

I haven't even paid you for three months.

This isn't the kind of job you take

for money. It's like being in the Army.

You'll owe me.

All right, if you're gonna stay,

you're gonna stay. Where's my supper?

If you came home at a decent hour,

you'd have it with the family.

- I don't cook three times a night.

- What?

It's on the kitchen table, waiting.

Gus. Gus, why don't you call

Fred Townsend?

What for?

Maybe he could get you

something in Hollywood.

Honey, I don't go begging for favors.

If Fred wants me,

he knows where he can find me.

Well, I thought it over.

I'll do it. Ten dollars apiece.

I thought it over too. Three for 25.

- All right, in advance.

- Okay.

Here's for six.

Hey, you think you could write

a song for that tall dame?

I guess so.

Okay. Now, get out of here, genius.

People think I write this stuff myself.

Gus, I've been so worried about you.

- Did I awaken you?

- Where have you been?

I was downtown. I ran into a few guys

who really appreciate my work.

- What are you doing?

- Writing lyrics.

Nothing could be finer than to give

The guy a shiner in the first round

- What kind of a lyric is that?

- It's a parody.

But you're making fun

of your own songs.

Well, who has a better right?

And $ 10 a funny.

Oh, I got one I want you to hear.

This one I think is really cute.

Come here. Listen to this.

Two fellas go out on a blind date, see.

And this one guy gets a girl named Betty.

Sit down, sit down.

I planned the name Betty

because it's got a silly rhyme.

Anyhow, the minute he takes a look

at this girl, this is what he says:

It had to be me

That had to get you

I stand 5-foot- 10

A man among men

But you're 7'2"

I meet lots of girls

When I make the rounds

But none are like you

Seven-foot-two, 70 pounds

But you make me thrill

And you always will

I realize, Betty

You look like spaghetti

But what can I do?

It's your fingertips

That I adore

When you stand up

They touch the floor

It had to be you, wonderful you

Seven-foot-two

Don't you think that's funny?

You better get some sleep.

- Number, please.

- Long distance, please.

- Hello. Yes, ma'am.

- Hello?

Hello, I'd like to place

a person-to-person call...

...to Fred Townsend

in Hollywood, California.

Hello? Who? Oh, just a minute.

When the concert's over,

there's a phone call for you, long distance.

Long distance.

I wonder who that could be.

- Where's it from?

- Hollywood.

Maybe Rin Tin Tin

needs a new theme song.

- Hollywood? Hello?

- Hello, Gus, Fred Townsend.

- Hello, Fred.

- Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you too.

- Honey, it's Fred.

- Merry Christmas, Fred.

- Grace is fine?

- Yes, she's fine.

- How about the kids?

- We're all fine.

Good. I wonder if you'd be interested

in doing a picture.

Well, I don't know, Fred.

I'm kept pretty busy here.

They want me in Hollywood.

Fred's got a picture for me.

Oh, Gus.

Yeah. Yeah, well, as a favor to you,

Fred, I'd do it, sure, but...

- The money's very good.

- All right. All right. You got a deal.

- See you in a week.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- That's wonderful.

- Where are my cigars?

- Get him a cigar.

- Think the whole family could go out?

- I wouldn't go without you.

Did he say anything

about transportation?

- No.

- Well, who's gonna pay for the tickets?

- You should have asked him that.

- Oh, honey, I couldn't do that.

We have to put up a front.

We'll hit somebody for a loan.

Who? Everybody in Chicago's broke.

How about Bert? Bert Van Alstyne.

- He's in New York.

- Here.

- What's that?

- It's from not playing the stock market.

- Annie.

- Oh, no.

Go on, take it. Who else would

loan money to a songwriter?

And get me a lower berth.

- Anna...

- Hey, are we going somewhere?

Where are we going?

You missed it. Daddy was talking

to Uncle Fred all the way in Hollywood.

Daddy has a job out there.

You're so smart.

I heard Mama talking to him last night.

Didn't I?

Well, didn't I?

Yes, Donald.

- Can we swim in the ocean, Mommy?

- Yes, darling.

Gus, we have no secrets from Fred.

I simply told him the truth, that's all.

You needed this.

Do I have to be wet-nursed

through my whole life?

No, Gus. I just have a little less pride

than you have.

Yeah, sure, sure.

You have a little less pride.

A little more push too.

When I was on top, I never knew if I was

writing the hits or you were making them.

For years, everybody's been saying

the same thing.

What do you want me to do?

Stand on the sidelines

and watch your talent dry up?

I'm your wife, Gus.

I've got a right to help you.

Would it make you any happier

if I collected an agent's commission?

There's such a thing as too much help.

I didn't know I was in the way.

I've gotten to depend upon you so much,

I can't think for myself anymore.

Look what's happened to us.

Is the depression my fault too?

You pick my ties,

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