Limelight Page #7

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Calvero,|only he's under another name.

Why the devil didn't you tell me?

He didn't want it known.

Poor old Calvero. Well, that's|different, we'd better keep him.

After all,|the comedy isn't too important.

But I didn't see him|at the supper party on opening night.

He didn't show up.|That's why Thereza left so early.

What's he got to do with her?

Believe it or not,|she's going to marry him.

That old reprobate?

Bless my soul,|there's hope for me yet.

It's time for rehearsal.

Wait a minute.

I'll call Blackmore's and cancel|that fellow before he gets down here.

If you finish rehearsing early,|don't wait for me.

I've so many things to do,|but I'll be home by six.

- Calvero?|- Griffin!

I haven't seen you in ages!|Where are you working?

Nowhere. I'm looking for a job.

Blackmore sent me down|to see this new ballet.

The Harlequinade?

I understand the clown's|not very good

and I could get the part.|Wish me luck.

- Good luck, old man.|- Thanks.

Mrs. Alsop!

What is it?

What on earth is the matter?

Calvero, where is he?|Have you seen him?

- What do you mean?|- He's left me!

He's gone!

Would you like to contribute?

Captain,|would you like to contribute?

No, that's all right, put it in.

I've no false pride.

Sit down, have a drink.

Thank you, old man, not during|office hours. But I'll sit down.

May I?

How are you?

Never felt better in my life!

And how is the army treating you?

Not so bad.

I get up to London every other week.

Have you seen Terry?

How is she?

After you left she was quite ill.

But she's all right now?

She's been touring the continent.|Since she got back she's much better.

Good.

She never told me|what happened between you.

What could happen,|but the inevitable?

You see a great deal of her?

Good.

Somehow I knew|it would work out that way.

Time is the great author.

It always writes|the perfect ending.

Great Scott!

How do you do, Mr. Postant?

Just a moment.|You're just the man I want to see.

Would you like to contribute?

Are you with that outfit outside?

I am, sir.

Oh, thank you.

You oughtn't to be doing this!

Why not? All the world's a stage.

And this one is the most legitimate.

I must go, or my confreres will|think I've run off with the takings.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Don't you think|I should tell Terry I've seen you?

Knowing I'm doing this sort of thing|might upset her.

Although I don't mind it.

There's something|about working the streets I like.

It's the tramp in me, I suppose.

Wait a minute. Why don't you|come and see me at my office?

- What about?|- Business.

I never discuss business,|I leave that to my agent. Call him up.

However I'm booked up solid,|you know.

Au revoir, Gentlemen.

Driver, stop!|Please, turn around.

Keep the change.

Cyrano de Bergerac,|without the nose.

Let's sit down.

So they told you, huh?

I've been searching|all over London for you.

The same Terry.

Am I?

A little more grown up, that's all.

I don't want to grow up.

None of us do.

But I had to, after you left.

It's all for the best.|All for the best.

Perhaps.

I don't know.

But something's gone.

Gone forever.

Nothing's gone,

it only changes.

I still love you.

Of course you do.

You always will.

Calvero, come back.

You've got to come back!

I can't.|I must go forward.

That's progress.

Then let me go with you.

I'll do everything in the world|to make you happy.

That's what hurts.|I know you will.

Mr. Postant said|he'd give you a benefit.

I don't want his charity.

It isn't charity.

He says it'd be the greatest|event in theatrical history.

I'm not interested in events.

But I would like a chance just|to show them I'm not through yet.

Of course.

I've still got ideas, you know.

I've been working on,|working on... a comedy act,

for myself and my friend.

It's sort of a musical satire.

Wonderful!

You know he's a very good pianist,|and me with the violin...

A lot of very really|really very funny business.

Come in.

Sit down, my dear.|You look tired.

I've been working with the claque,|going over Calvero's jokes.

I gave them cue sheets so|they'll know exactly where to laugh.

Are the jokes as bad as all that?

I'm worried. If he fails tonight,|it'll kill him. I know it.

He won't fail. The audience|will be most sympathetic.

But he doesn't want sympathy.|He keeps saying that.

He wants to be a genuine success.

What does he expect?|You know he's not the man he was.

He mustn't be told that!

Tell me, my dear,

are you still going to marry him?

I'll do anything in the world|to make him happy.

He's a very lucky man.

He's a very, very lucky man.

I never thought we'd come to this.

Here we have the star dressing room|without a dresser.

Oh well, I guess we can put up|with it for one night.

Fred, the stage manager.

Come in, Fred.

Like old times,|seeing you in this room again.

What's on your mind?

You've got 10 minutes, because|there's 20 other acts to follow.

You're in a song first,|finishing up with a musical act.

I'll ring down|after you fall in the drum.

No, after I'm carried off|in the drum.

Right you are. Thank you, sir.

If anybody else says it's like old|times, I'll jump out the window!

First the doorman,|then the call boy,

now the stage manager.

It's me, Postant.

It's like old times seeing you here|again putting on your war paint.

I'll be down|watching the other acts.

Yes, like old times.|Only in those days you were drunk.

I'm supposed to be funnier|when I'm drunk.

Maybe, but you were killing yourself.

You know, anything for a laugh.|How's the house?

Packed. Every face card in Europe|is out there:

kings, queens, jacks...

- Is Neville out there?|- Yes. Came up specially.

And what a program!

Take a look at that. Every star|in the business is appearing.

It'll be something,|following all this talent.

Don't worry. Tonight you'll|make them look like amateurs.

That's all any of us are. Amateurs.

We don't live long enough|to be anything else.

Well, as one old amateur|to another...

- Good luck.|- Thank you, Mr. Postant.

Come in.

How do I look?

Funny.

I know what you're thinking,|my health and all that.

But I had to take a drink.

There's a creamy white light|turning off and on in my stomach.

And that's not so good,|if I'm to be a success tonight.

Is it really worth it?

Not that I care for success,|but I don't want another failure.

Whatever happens, there's always|that little home in the country.

This is my home. Here.

I thought you hated the theatre.

I do. I also hate the sight of blood|but it's in my veins.

Come in.

Mr. Calvero, on stage please!

Good luck, sir.|They're all waiting for you.

Thanks.

I don't like it.

Everyone's so kind to me.

Makes me feel isolated.

Even you make me feel isolated.

Why do you say that?

I don't know.

I really don't know.

- Oh, your change.|- No, no.

Of course!

All right, turn it off up there!

Your change is all ready.

Good luck, my darling.

- Aren't you going to watch?|- I can't.

But remember I love you.

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