Imitation Of Life Page #5

not loud,

goggle-eyed takes.

I'm sorry, Mr. Edwards.

But I'm an actress,

and a good one.

But I couldn't play

this part for high comedy.

Nobody could.

Nobody.

I think that's all,

Miss Meredith.

And if you'll forgive me

for saying it,

you're too good a writer

to have such a scene

in your play.

Okay, sister,

this way out.

I might as well confess...

She's not really my client.

Tell her to wait a minute.

Lora!

Lora, wait a minute.

I think we've still

got a chance.

No, I don't...

Miss Meredith.

It's been a long time

since anyone told me off.

Tell me, what would you do

with that scene?

I'd cut it out.

Drop it entirely.

That's not a bad idea.

Let me think.

Yes, but the scene

has a couple of lines

that are important.

Give them to Amy.

Yes, it would work.

Ha!

Think you could play Amy?

Amy?

Of course we'll have to

work very hard together.

I'd love it.

So would I. Tom?

Yes, Mr. Edwards.

Call off auditions

for the day. I'm busy.

You know, I always

believed in that girl.

- Lora Meredith!

- Lora Meredith!

Lora Meredith!

Lora Meredith!

Thank you, David.

They applauded me.

Did you hear them?

Why not? You were great!

Author! Author!

Your turn, Mr. Edwards.

Tom, may I borrow

a dime?

Sure.

I'll pay you back.

Don't rush. You'll be

around a long time.

I'll be right back.

Yes?

Oh, Miss Lora!

- And they liked me too.

- They did? Ohh!

Now, isn't that wonderful?

Do you want Susie?

Yes, please.

Congratulations,

mommy.

Congratulations, Mommy.

Did you remember your lines?

Yes, I remembered

all my lines.

Did they clap for you?

Yes, they did.

I'll be home very soon.

I'll only stay

a little while.

Then I'll come

right home.

Here's a kiss,

mommy.

Ohh.

And here's one

for you too. Mmm!

Let's go. The paper's

will be out soon,

and the party's waiting.

"This should be

a Pulitzer prize play

for David Edwards,

"for tonight we saw

the ranking comedy

of the season,

marvelously performed

by Geraldine Moore

and Preston Mitchell."

Listen

to the Times.

Atkinson says,

"A new star was born.

"Lora Meredith, an actress

who heretofore has been

hiding her light...

"somewhere

in the hinterlands,

gave a great performance

in a small part last night."

Congratulations,

baby.

Thank you, Allen.

Congratulations.

That was really...

Lora, this is

a great night for us.

For us?

Oh. Oh!

Well, I for one can't keep

my beady eyes open anymore.

I'm going home.

Well, good night, David.

Good night,

all you lucky people.

Good night.

Good night, dear.

Good night.

Good night, David.

Good night, Gerry.

Good night, David.

See you tomorrow.

Good night,

David!

Good night, all!

Good night.

Congratulations again, baby.

We did it, all right.

I'll see you first thing

in the morning,

in my office.

Agents.

By morning it'll be all over

town that he wrote your part,

directed you personally...

and was your lover

before you met me.

Well, lady,

there's your new empire.

Not big, just stretches

from 42nd to 52nd street.

But it's

the heart of the world.

You happy?

Oh, yes.

Yes.

I can't thank you...

I can't begin to

thank you for,

for giving me the chance.

No thanks.

It's something

we did together.

Yes.

We'll have more evenings

like this.

More plays.

I promise that.

Please.

And with you,

David.

Always with you.

You are good for me.

You mean that?

Well, you must be,

because I...

I've never felt

this way before.

Never so...

So complete...

and so happy.

I don't think

I could be happier

with anyone else either.

I'm in love

with you, Lora.

Though I must hasten to add,

I always fall in love

with my leading ladies.

Maybe that's all it is.

But I don't care,

because

I'm loving you now.

You and tonight.

Thank you.

Marvelous performance,

darling.

Just as fresh as it was

seven months ago.

Hmm.

Now hurry up

and get ready.

David.

Can't I beg off tonight?

I am so...

Beg off?

Impossible, darling.

Some nice, untouched money

out there from Cincinnati.

Hardware. They want to

meet you to invest in your

success and my next play.

She oughta go to bed now.

Annie, you're much too pretty

to be a watchdog.

And I can bite

sometimes.

Five minutes.

But darling...

While I keep Cincinnati

and the money happy.

Doesn't he ever stop?

He can't, Annie.

If he did

he'd be sure to find out

how sad he really is.

And I know that feeling.

Funny, isn't it?

After all this time,

the struggling and heartache,

and you make it.

Then you find out

it doesn't seem worth it.

Something is missing.

Now David

wants to marry me.

I don't know.

Do you love him?

No.

But he's good for me

in many ways.

At least I'm trying to

make myself think he is.

And of course it...

It would be better

for Susie.

This ain't no time

to make decisions.

You're tired, and you don't

know what you want.

Maybe I don't want

so much anymore.

But what would you do

if you gave it all up?

Well, I could spend

more time with Susie.

And you could stay home

with Sarah Jane.

Do you know,

I haven't been up to see

my baby at school in weeks.

Susie knows you love her.

And you need show business

as much as it needs you.

Oh, Annie, what would

I do without you?

Well. Beautiful.

Do you really

like it?

You're more beautiful

than I could ever

possibly remember.

And we're late.

Good night, Annie.

You see she gets home

at a decent hour.

Annie, I think

we'll try these,

uh, over here.

Miss Lora, we been

spending an awful lot

of money up here.

Do you think we can really

afford to have this place?

We can't afford not to.

Ma'am? Ma'am?

Oh, um...

Would you put it

over there, please?

In front of the window.

Oh, that's fine.

Would you

sign this, ma'am?

Mm-hmm.

Thank you very much.

Come on, let's go, Joe.

Did you see the bills

from Susie's new school?

Mm-hmm.

And it doesn't matter.

But Miss Lora...

No matter what it costs,

Susie's going to have

everything that I missed.

From her letters

she misses you more than

she'd ever miss Latin.

She just wrote

and told me...

Annie.

You still haven't told me what

the doctor said about those

spells you've been getting.

What do doctors always say

when they can't find nothin'

wrong? "Take it easy."

Well, do.

And I mean it.

Oh, Miss Lora...

You can have anyone

you want in here

to help you.

Be more work gettin' 'em

out of my way.

I'll get it.

Hello, Mr. Edwards.

Hello, Sarah Jane.

How are you?

Fine, thanks.

I'm going to The Village.

I'll be back by 3:00.

Annie,

that daughter of yours

gets prettier every day.

And so

sophisticated.

Darling.

Hello, dear.

Oh. Nice.

Yes. It's new.

Didn't you get

my messages yesterday?

Or have you given up

telephones?

Uh, well, we've been so busy

getting the house in order.

Come sit down.

Would you like a drink?

A long one. It's quite

a trek from Manhattan.

Your usual?

Uh-huh.

I'll get it.

All right,

enough chitchat.

Have you read

my new play?

Great, isn't it?

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