Lullaby of Broadway Page #5

taking me to the Beaux Arts Benefit.

My best evening gown is at the cleaners.

Go get it.

- L got something to tell Mr. Hubbell.

- Tell him later. Go to the cleaners.

L need that dress.

Wait. I'm in a hurry.

Where's that mink?

L couldn't get it back in the box

with what was in it.

- What are you got up for?

- Thank you.

It's a little small, but your heart

was in the right place.

The jacket! Where you got it? How?

I'm sorry to spoil your surprise,

but l found it on the table downstairs.

Downstairs? How far downstairs?

Downstairs. You did buy it for me,

didn't you?

No. L mean yes, yes.

Oh, and l loved the note

you pinned on it.

What note?

Inviting me to the Broadway Theatre

tonight.

- You did invite me, didn't you?

- No. Yes, yes.

What's the matter?

Don't you want to take me?

No, l-Sure, l-

Why shouldn't l want-?

My darling, l just forget to buy you

the corsage.

Thank you. You've been thoughtful enough

as it is. I'll wait for you downstairs.

Tonight everything happens so quick.

Your wife was like a retriever

the way she went after that fur.

L left it for one second in the hall...

and the next second

she's rooting it out of the box.

Worse yet. Melinda waits for me

at the Broadway Theatre...

to take her to the benefit.

You have to go down and

tell her l don't show up.

Say l am sick. And it is no lie.

It's our night off.

Gloria and me are going bowling.

It won't take you a minute to stop.

Just so everything in the end

straighten itself out.

But the coat. How do l get

the mink coat back from my wife?

No. Lt would ruin the coat.

Mink coat, mink coat.

- Oh, there she is.

- Hi, Melinda.

What are you doing?

L thought you were going bowling.

- We are, but we got a message for you.

- Mr. Hubbell can't meet you. He's sick.

Sick? Oh, that's too bad.

We'll make it up to you

and take you with us.

- Well, hello, everybody.

- Hi, Tom.

Is this private,

or can anybody get in?

Barge right in. We're going bowling.

A foursome?

Thanks very much, Lefty,

but l'm on the bill tonight.

Aren't you overdressed for bowling?

L was going to the theater

with Mr. Hubbell...

and Gloria told me he's sick

and can't come.

- Hubbell?

- L guess he wanted me to see your act.

You can see it.

I'll take you backstage.

- Oh, good. Do you mind?

- Not a bit.

You can come too, Gloria.

- No, you don't.

- All right, Lefty, l understand.

But why didn't you let me go?

What, are you crazy or something?

Who's gonna set up my pins? Come on.

Ladies and gentlemen,

recently on my trip abroad...

l visited a famous toy maker

in the beautiful city of Florence.

L discovered he had perfected

life-size mechanical dancing figures...

of which his toys are replicas.

L induced him to bring

his dancing dolls to America.

So tonight for the first time

in this country...

the De Mattiazzis present

their dancing mechanical dolls.

Music, maestro, please.

- What are you looking at?

- There's Mr. Hubbell.

Well, he certainly made

a quick recovery, didn't he?

- Tom. Tom, look. Lsn't that sweet?

- Lsn't what sweet?

Mr. Hubbell gave the mink jacket

to his wife.

Isn't it customary for a husband

to give his wife furs?

Certainly, but in this case

he didn't originally buy it for her.

I'll say he didn't.

Looks a little small, doesn't it?

L guess he forgot we don't wear

the same size.

We? What is this, a sister act?

- You're on next, Tom.

- Right, Eddie.

Go on with me. We're doing

"l Love the Way You Say Goodnight."

We've rehearsed it enough.

Now we can show it to the boss.

- Are you serious?

- Of course.

L can't dance in this.

- With or without the kiss?

- L don't know.

- Your big romance is out front.

- Oh, silly.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

a surprise.

From the forthcoming show,

Lullaby of Broadway...

a preview of one of the new numbers.

L hope you like it. Music, professor.

Put her there, partner. L think we're in.

- Melinda.

- Yeah?

L want to get something straight.

Did he buy that mink coat for you?

He wanted to, but, naturally,

l gave it back to him.

- He's been nice enough already.

- Have you been seeing him?

Of course, we're very good friends.

- And you've been going out with him?

- Naturally.

- Why do you ask?

- How much comes naturally with you?

L better take you home.

- You live here?

- Yes.

- But this is Hubbell's house.

- Well, naturally.

- Will you stop using that word?

- He was nice enough to let me stay here.

That's awfully white of him.

Well, it's better than paying

for a hotel room.

What?

It's a shame we had to leave so early.

We could've gone out together.

That would have been cozy.

He was with his wife.

Oh, what difference does that make?

- It wouldn't have bothered you?

- Well, of course not.

It would've given me a chance to tell her

how wonderful Mr. Hubbell's been to me.

You mean, you'd have told her?

Well, why not?

Look, Melinda, l've got to go home

while l still know where l live.

- Hey, aren't you gonna kiss me good night?

- Does everybody?

- Did you have a good time?

- L should've slapped his face.

You had a good time.

- She'll be right along.

- Confidentially, how is she?

She'll be all right

as long as she stays this way.

So long. Don't think

it hasn't been charming.

Don't play another

return engagement, dearie.

- I'm gonna take you right to the house.

- What for?

We've held the curtain long enough.

Time to make an appearance.

In this condition?

Not a chance, big boy.

L want her to remember me the way

l looked the last time she saw me.

L was young and pretty.

- L was Broadway's darling.

- Jessica, listen.

L was a headliner, a star.

Next to closing, my name in lights.

Nothing was too good

for Jessica Howard.

Now nothing's too bad.

Old, ugly, has-been, once-was.

A voice that even the drunks

won't listen to.

Jessica Howard, the beer singer

of Washington Square.

Why go back to the club?

Just take it easy.

Take it easy? I've got to earn a living.

I've got a kid to support.

I'm dying to see her, Lefty...

but she's just got to wait

until l straighten myself out.

Come on.

Hello? We should be very happy

to exchange the jacket for a larger size.

But l here can find no record of any coat

for Mrs. Adolph Hubbell...

of 485 Beekman Place.

Oh, wait a minute, madam.

Yes, there was a call to pick up a jacket.

Yesterday.

From a Miss Melinda Howard

of the same address.

A Miss Melinda Howard, eh?

- Are you sure it wasn't a Miss Gubbins?

- Yes, l'm quite sure.

Thank you, you don't know

what a help you've been.

Adolph.

- Yes, my darling.

- Where are you going?

- To play some pinochle.

- At this hour?

We are having a matine.

- How can you play so much pinochle?

- L force myself.

Lefty.

Gloria.

Oh, l forget, they are at rehearsal.

Melinda. Melinda, l take you to rehearsal.

Melinda, it's me. Adolph.

Would you care to play pinochle with me?

Mama!

Here's your paper, Mr. Farnham.

Thanks, Elmer.

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