One Good Turn Page #3

THIRD MAN:

Well, just the same, boys, don't forget

to be at that benefit Sunday night.

FOURTH MAN:

Don't worry, we'll be there with bells.

SECOND MAN:

Never mind the belles. That's what put

Farrell on the bum. Two diamonds.

FADE OUT:

INSERT (to a rousing FANFARE):

A page of the program for the Sunday night benefit:

MONSTER BENEFIT:

for EDDIE FARRELL

The following guest artists

will positively appear:

JOE FRISCO:

JIM BARTON:

TRIXIE FRIGANZA:

EDDIE FOY, JR.

WALTER WINCHELL:

ANN SEYMOUR:

MARK HELLINGER:

JOE PENNER:

HELEN BRODERICK:

ROBERT L. RIPLEY

WILLIE HOWARD:

SYLVIA HOWARD:

YORK & KING

and other well-known artists [sic]

at the

WINTER GARDEN:

Broadway and 51st Street

New York City

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. WINTER GARDEN THEATER - NIGHT

A full house. The orchestra leader conducts the rousing FANFARE.

The music stops as the show's tuxedoed MASTER OF CEREMONIES walks

onstage.

THE M.C.

Ladies and gentlemen. We have waited as

long as possible. I regret very much to

announce that all the stars to appear,

none have shown up. Your money will be

refunded at the box office. However,

before you go, I wish to state that we

have with us tonight a very unexpected

guest performer. A girl none of us can

forget. Eddie Farrell's old partner, Miss

Ruth Eton.

The audience APPLAUDS.

THE M.C.

Thank you.

The M.C. turns and beckons to Ruth offstage.

THE M.C.

Oh, Ruthie?

(to the audience)

Miss Eton.

MUSIC begins, lights go down, the M.C. retreats.

Ruth, dressed in ordinary street clothes, walks to center stage,

her head down, her purse and gloves in her hand. She pauses, looks

out at the audience sadly ... and sings the verse and one refrain

of the torch song "Don't Tell Him What Happened To Me" (by B.G.

De Sylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson) in one long glorious take:

RUTH:

(sings)

I loved him, I lost him

He craved a thrill

I can't forget him

I love him still

It's over, all over

And yet I find

That he's always on my mind

Tell me where he is, tell me where he goes

Tell me what he does, tell me who he knows

But don't tell him what happened to me

If he says his life now is like a song

Tell him he was right, tell him I was wrong

But don't tell him what happened to me

Let him remember me

As I used to be

When his love for me

Made me strong and free

Ask him if the new kisses are divine

Ask him if they thrill just as much as mine

But don't tell him what happened to me

CUT TO EDDIE watching from the wings. He clutches his laryngitic

throat and expresses guilt and remorse.

RESUME ON RUTH as she sings another half refrain of the song:

RUTH:

(sings, clutches her purse)

Let him remember me

As I used to be

When his love for me

Made me strong and free

I wonder if the new kisses are divine

I wonder if they thrill just as much as mine

Oh, don't tell him what happened to me

The MUSIC ends. Ruth, head bowed, walks off. The audience APPLAUDS

and rises -- whether to begin a standing ovation or to go home is

not entirely clear.

CUT TO:

INT. BACKSTAGE - NIGHT

It's dark. A single stage lamp provides all the illumination. An

IRISHMAN, in overalls, sweeps the floor with a broom as an

emotionally-drained Ruth walks past.

IRISHMAN:

(pleasantly)

Good night, ma'am.

RUTH:

(listlessly)

Good night.

The Irishman walks off as Eddie, hat in hand, emerges from some

curtains and steps in Ruth's path. She pauses, looks up, and

recognizes him.

RUTH:

Oh.

EDDIE:

Yes, it's me.

They stand alone in the darkened backstage with the one lamp

glowing between them.

RUTH:

Hello, Eddie.

EDDIE:

(genuinely)

Yes, I had to see you. As much as you must

hate me for the way I've treated you. But

I got what was coming to me. And I see

now that I deserved it. Those fair-weather

friends of mine certainly put the skids

under me plenty. Just think of it. Not one

of them showed up. Gee, Ruth, you were

great.

Ruth can't meet his eye.

EDDIE:

(lightly)

I used to play the piano pretty well in

your act. Didn't I? I mean, as piano

players go. Well, maybe ... maybe I could

come back.

Ruth looks straight at him.

EDDIE:

Farrell's the name.

He offers his hand. She takes it.

RUTH:

Come up tomorrow for an audition?

Relieved, Eddie holds her hand in both of his.

EDDIE:

Can I bring the ring?

RUTH:

What ring?

EDDIE:

We're two-thirds married now, aren't we?

RUTH:

What do you mean?

EDDIE:

Well, I'm willing, the preacher's willing ...

He doesn't need to finish. Ruth grins and puts her head to his

shoulder. Eddie embraces her. We hear a jaunty version of "If I

Could Be With You" as we

FADE OUT:

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