Limelight Page #4

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Well, what then?

Then for weeks I never saw him.

The charwoman told me he was ill.|Creditors had taken his piano.

looking very pale

of large orchestral sheets,

on the counter.

I knew it was his last.

If I only dared!

I wanted to tell him so.

But I was also shy.

I was determined to help.

and as he was about leave

I called him back:

You've forgotten your change.

There must be a mistake, he said.

Not at all, I answered.

here's sixpence change.

a ridiculous situation.

in came Mr. Sardou:

Can I be of any assistance?

It isn't necessary, I said quickly.

and forgot his change.

Mr. Sardou made him take it.

Mr. Sardou went through the till

became suspicious.

The discrepancy was discovered|and I was discharged.

What did you do then?

I tried to get back to dancing,|then I collapsed with rheumatic fever.

Did you ever see|this young composer again?

Yes, five months later.|After I came out of the hospital.

I saw him from the gallery|of the Albert Hall.

His symphony was played there.|It was a great success.

Of course you're in love with him.

I don't even know him.

You will.|Life is a local affair.

I can see it happening.

You'll be at the height|of your success and he'll call on you,

and tell you he met you|at some super party.

Won't I recognize him?

Oh no. He's grown a beard.|Musicians do.

He'll tell you|he's composed a ballet for you.

And you'll realize who he is,|you'll tell him who you are

and how you met,|and how you waited on him.

And gave him extra music sheets.

And that night you'll dine together

on a balcony|overlooking the Thames.

It'll be summer.

And you'll be wearing|pink mousseline.

And he'll be conscious|of its fragrance.

And all London|will be dreamy and beautiful.

And in the elegant melancholy|of twilight,

as the candles flutter|and make your eyes dance,

he will tell you he loves you.

And you will tell him|you have always loved him.

Where am I?

Yes, life can be wonderful|if you're not afraid of it.

All it needs is courage, imagination

and a little dough.

Now what's the matter?

I'll never dance again!|I'm a cripple.

- Pure hysteria! It's in your mind.|- It isn't true.

- Otherwise you'd fight!|- What is there to fight for?

Ah, you see? You admit it.

What is there to fight for?|Everything!

Life itself! Isn't that enough?

To be lived, suffered, enjoyed!|What is there to fight for?

Life is a beautiful,|magnificent thing.

Even to a jellyfish.

What is there to fight for?|You have your art, your dancing!

But I can't dance without legs!

I know a man without arms

who can play a scherzo on a violin|and does it all with his toes.

The trouble is you won't fight.|You've given in.

Continually dwelling|on sickness and death!

But,

there's something|just as inevitable as death

and that's life.|Life, life, life!

Think of the power|that's in the universe!

Moving the earth, growing the trees!

And that's the same power|within you.

If you'd only have courage|and the will to use it.

Good night!

Faster, faster.|Come on, dance!

Beautiful.

I fooled you that time.|Come on.

Take that away.|Come on!

What's the news?

Europe in a race for armaments.

Anything interesting?

A write-up about Mr. and|Mrs. Zanzig, the mind readers.

I played with them years ago.

They say they can transfer thoughts|to each other.

Nonsense!

Then how is it done?

Not transference. I was with him once|when he sent his wife a telegram.

More coffee?

Just a half cup.

I'm sorry, I didn't intend...

Oh no, it's good exercise.

Look at you,|hopping around like a two year-old.

I think there's an improvement.

Definitely.

- But I get so nervous doing nothing.|- Nothing?

I welcome every new hole|in your socks.

Housework and cooking,|what more do you want?

Keep fighting, that's all.

That reminds me,|Mrs. Alsop's on the warpath again.

She wants to know how long|I'm going to stay.

Tell her to mind her own business!|We pay our rent.

Oh no, there's a month owing.

Since they postponed the Middlesex|opening, it's upset everything.

Don't worry.|I can handle the old girl.

All she needs|is a little pinch and a pat.

Don't you think|I should go to a hospital?

I do not.

You'd have one problem|off your hands.

After the Middlesex,|our problems are over.

You know, preaching and moralizing|to you has really affected me.

I'm beginning to believe it myself.

I haven't taken a drink|since I've known you.

Wonderful.

And I'm not going to,|even on opening night.

You don't need it.

You're excruciatingly funny|without it.

Oh, yes.

- What's that?|- Maybe a letter from Redfern.

Just the man I want to see!

How thrilling!

This is no joke. When are you|getting rid of that girl upstairs?

- Don't be jealous.|- Jealous!

What have you done to your hair?

Where are your spit curls?

Never mind all that!|You owe me four weeks' rent.

- Have I denied the fact?|- You'd better not.

Sybil, you really want to hurt me,|don't you? You little minx.

Behave yourself!

I get so full of nonsense|when I'm around you.

You fool!

What about that girl upstairs?

Now, now. Be patient.

You'd better|get rid of her this week.

Bear with me. I know|it's been a trial for both of us.

Both of us!|Who are you kidding?

You!

You wonderful|little plum pudding, you!

But we must behave ourselves.

That takes care of the rent.

- Was there any post?|- No. That was for Mrs. Alsop.

That is the life for me

every morning

Under the deep blue sea

Oh what fun to be gay and all wet

That is the life for me

Funny thing,

I dreamt I was a sardine.

I dreamt it was lunchtime,|and I was, uh...

swimming along,|looking for a little bit of bait

and I found myself passing|a large bed of kelp.

And there on it, I mean in it,

was the prettiest little fin|you've ever seen.

That's what we call them|in the fish world: fins.

The way she maneuvered her tail,

with such finesse.

She seemed to be in trouble.

let's all go home.

Yeah, you're right. Good night.

I beg your pardon.

Blasted! These shoes are too tight.

Good night.

What are you doing up so late?

I just couldn't sleep.

Then I saw the partition doors open,|so I got up an hour ago.

Some hot soup?

No, thanks.

You look tired.

Do I?

I know you're worried,

but the Middlesex contract's signed,|it's just the delay.

There's no delay.

What do you mean?

It happened tonight.

The Middlesex?

Why didn't you let me know?

I didn't want you to go through|the suspense of it.

Then forget everything now,|and get a good night's rest.

They walked out on me.

They haven't done that|since I was a beginner.

The cycle's complete.

But you've changed your name!|They didn't know you.

No, I wasn't funny.|The trouble is, I was sober.

I should have been drunk|before going on.

I still insist|they didn't know you.

Just as well they didn't.

Naturally! You can't expect too much|the first performance.

You haven't worked in a long time.

But you'll see, tonight|when you go back it'll be different.

I'm not going back.

Why?

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