Lullaby of Broadway Page #3

come back here to dance with her?

You know, when-As l was going out,

l bumped into George-George Gubbins.

- You often hear me speak of him.

- Never.

And what has that got to do with it?

She's his daughter, you know.

Poor child.

Men don't seem to like her.

He asked me to talk to her about it.

- Men seem to like her now.

- Yes, l talked to her.

Three O'Clock Club.

Oh, hello, Lefty.

Who? Jessie?

No. No, they poured her out of here

around 2:
00 this morning.

- What's happened to her?

- The usual. Screaming meanies.

- She was breaking up the joint.

- I'll come down right away.

But she's not here.

They took her away.

Same place.

It's tough.

- Lefty, any news from her mother?

- She's not going to make it.

Why? What happened?

She's drinking again.

They've taken her to a hospital.

- L better go and see if she's all right.

- Go, l pay all the bills. Go.

- Thank you, boss.

- Go.

- Mr. Hubbell, what time is it, please?

- Time, who cares for time?

Mother was supposed

to be here at 9:
00-

Why doesn't everybody have fun?

Tom, sing another song.

Give the party a shot in the head.

Please, no more solos.

I'm tied up for the evening.

Well, do something together.

- What?

- Even better it will be.

- Well, what do you say?

- I'll just be in your way.

We'll have a wonderful time

falling all over each other.

Come on, you start it.

Will you play "You're Getting

to Be a Habit With Me"?

Gather around.

Have a little surprise for you.

Now you're gonna get some

real entertainment.

Melinda, still up?

What are you doing here?

Everybody goes home an hour ago.

- Oh, Mr. Hubbell, l'm worried.

- Your mother?

Think something happened

to the train?

L promise you, to the train

nothing happened.

Now, please, go to bed.

Lefty, where have you been?

Have you heard anything?

- L just talked to your mother on the phone.

- You did? Where is she?

L don't know how to tell you.

She's not coming home right away.

- She's not coming home? Why not?

- You know how it is. The show's a hit.

If they took her out of it, it'd kill

the business. She's the star, you know.

- Did you tell her l was here?

- Of course not.

- You wanted to surprise her.

- That's right.

Easy it is to understand.

Maybe you go back to England.

When her show finishes,

she will come to see you, no?

- I'll pack your bags in the morning.

- Lefty, l'm not going.

I'm gonna stay right here and wait

for her, even if it takes months.

Months? You know how long is months?

Oh, l know l was foolish

coming so unexpectedly.

But now that l'm here,

l can't go until l see her.

Months. Maybe better you

should go to a hotel and wait.

Oh, Mr. Hubbell, if you don't mind,

l'd much rather stay here.

You have so many empty rooms

in the house and everything.

Wouldn't it be kind of foolish

if l went to a hotel?

So foolish l don't know

why you even brought it up.

- Thank you, Mr. Hubbell.

- Yeah.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Adolph, who's downstairs?

No, no, no, nobody is downstairs.

Nobody.

Months.

Just look at these grocery bills. And most

of them are for food for the servants.

They have to eat.

That butler and maid eat enough

for three people.

No, it's only two. Two actors

is the same as three people.

They're out of the house

most of the time.

- They are trying to go back to the theater.

- Well, l hope they get back soon.

Anyway, the bills have got to come down,

or they go out. Tell them.

- You rang?

- You heard?

We can't cut down. You wouldn't want us

to deprive Melinda of anything.

Oh, no, no, no, but what can we do?

Well, we could cut down

on your dinners.

All right. Lf l get hungry,

l'll come down and eat with you.

Maybe l have been spending

too much money on food.

But it's just to keep

Melinda's spirits up.

She's in pretty bad shape.

Came all the way to this country.

Her mother won't see her. She's broke.

Had to pawn her coat today.

We have to take care of that.

And she cries all the time.

- When nobody's looking.

- Lt's terrible, terrible.

Mr. Hubbell, you've got a chance

to do something wonderful.

Cheer her up. Take her to dinner,

to a show.

It'll bring the sunshine to her lips...

and the rosebuds to her cheeks.

Gee, l should be on the dramatic stage

instead of vaudeville.

But how can l take her out?

I am married.

- Can you think of a better reason?

- No, l couldn't. My wife. No.

Ferndel was right.

- What you know about Ferndel?

- L heard what he told you.

You're old-fashioned.

You have no eye for beautiful women.

He shouldn't judge me by my wife.

But what would he think if he saw you

with Melinda tonight, alone...

having dinner?

Wouldn't you feel young again?

L wouldn't be old-fashioned then, huh?

Why, you may have found the leading lady

for his new show right under his nose.

Already l feel younger.

But, Melinda, you think she

would come to dinner with me?

Yes. She knows

you're trying to help her.

She's worried and alone.

Why, you'd be doing her a good turn.

Tonight l'll do my good deed.

Wasn't it nice of Mr. Hubbell

to ask me to dinner?

You remember one thing, dearie.

Don't let him get any ideas.

What? Why, he's like a father to me.

Take it from a girl who's been out with a lot

of fathers in her time, lead with your left.

Here you are, sir.

Every night he has to go

to his club for pinochle.

Mama, tonight l got a feeling

l'm going to hold the best hand in years.

- Good night, darling.

- Good night.

Don't wait up for me.

The game may go on for hours.

- Good night, Mr. Hubbell.

- Good night.

- Oh, good evening, Mr. Hubbell.

- Good evening, Mr. Mack.

Is she ready?

- All ready, Mr. Hubbell?

- Come on, then. We go stepping.

Oh, forgot my hat.

- Already l feel 20 years younger.

- Adolph?

L feel 20 years older.

What are you doing here? L thought

you were going to play pinochle.

- L...

- Mr. Hubbell just dropped in...

to give us a lecture

on our extravagance.

And he had a perfect right

to mention it to us.

- Our food bill has been much too high.

- Much high.

We'll cut down someplace.

L didn't think he'd speak

to you about it.

That's the reason l came downstairs.

Thank you. Have a good game.

L will, l will. Don't wait up for me.

Good night.

Good night.

- What's the matter with that door?

- Lt was stuck.

- Didn't l hear Mrs. Hubbell down here?

- Big as life.

- Oh, is she coming with us?

- No, a headache she has. Too bad.

Come.

- Well, have fun.

- Don't worry.

Sidney, the theater's dying.

The angels aren't happy just to lose their

money, they want to produce the flops too.

All of which means Hubbell

didn't stand still, huh?

He wanted to help with the casting.

And the old boy doesn't know

a pretty girl from a guernsey cow.

Hey, don't look now, but he just walked

in with the pride of the dairy.

- Two, Mr. Hubbell?

- You said it, kiddo.

Yes, sir.

That girl was at his party.

She's a pretty good performer.

Or she runs a little hat shop.

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