Opening Night

---

That's the way she wants it.

She likes to be wet. Right, Miss Gordon?

Bobby, I want you to fix these packages.

They sound like sandpaper rubbing together.

Want me to wet 'em down?

Okay.

- You have enough water on your hair?

- [Crowd Applauding]

- Perfect.

Would you like a little drink while

you're preparing, a little bourbon?

- I'd love that.

- [Applause Continues]

- What are you thinking about?

- Oh, you're home?

Am I home?

- Oh, God. I'm -

- What do you mean am I home?

Soaking.

It's raining out there.

My feet are chunks of ice.

You know, a funny thing, in Los Angeles

almost everybody has cold feet.

- Oh. No jokes, please.

- No jokes? Really?

How about gentle humor?

Like to hear an anecdote?

How about an anecdote?

Did you see my kid?

- Isn't she beautiful?

- Oh, that's nice, Marty.

Yeah, I'm giving up older people.

Can't photograph them

without their clothes on.

[Audience Laughs Softly]

- I love you.

- Where were you?

Oh, I was out -

I don't know.

You know, shopping and -

Then I stopped for a drink.

Went into a bar.

Shouldn't have done that.

Ah. A lot of people? Men?

Yeah, but they were all talking about

their children, so I figured it was okay.

I don't trust people that -

that talk about their children.

- Oh?

- They're perverted.

[Audience Laughs]

But I tell you,

I do love older people.

Look at this dame.

- You know why I love older people?

- Why?

'Cause they know everything.

But they don't show

that they know everything.

I can stand here, I can look

at this woman, this old lady...

and I can count

every wrinkle on her face.

And for every wrinkle,

there's a pain.

And for every pain,

there's a year.

And for every year,

there's a person, there's a death...

there's a history,

and there's a kindness.

Now, you look at this kid over here.

She's not kind, see?

What am I holding you up for?

Go on, get upstairs. Get warm.

I love you.

- Virginia?

- What?

- Can you hear me?

- What?

- Thank you.

- For what?

For coming home.

[Rainfall]

[Applause]

[Applause Subsides]

[Woman] They want to be loved.

They have to be loved.

[Audience Laughing]

The whole world.

- [Laughter]

- Everybody wants to be loved.

When I was 17,

I- I could do anything.

It was so easy. My emotions

were so close to the surface.

I'm finding it...

harder and harder

to stay in touch.

[Man]

Think about it, will you?

- I'm not mad at you.

- [Woman Sobs]

You could hit me.

I'm not mad at you.

Think about it.

You can hit me.

- [Sighs]

- [Applause]

- How you feel?

- Fine.

- Had a good night tonight.

- Yep.

- Give me your hat.

- Kelly, get me a bottle. I need a drink.

- A little one or a big one?

- A big one.

- It's nice to be loved.

- I'm entitled.

Bobby, you got a bottle?

[Indistinct]

[Kelly]

Come on, let's put the towel on.

[Bobby] Does she need

a little bit more water on the hair?

You can do it on the way in. You've got

plenty of time. Hurry up and wait.

- Okay, let's do it.

- You got everything?

[All Clamoring]

[Man]

Come on. One autograph?

- No.

- Sign the damned thing.

- Who belongs to this?

- Thank you.

I'm gonna get a cab.

I'll meet you at the restaurant.

[All Chattering, Indistinct]

Miss Sarah Goode? I've seen every one

of your plays here in New Haven.

Would you please?

I think they're wonderful.

How interesting. You've seen

every one of my plays in New Haven.

He's seen every one

of my plays in New Haven.

Well, that's remarkable.

Thank you very much.

- May I have your autograph?

- I'm just the producer.

Sign it, David.

- Thank you. How did you like my show?

- I loved the show.

Yeah, thank you.

[Chattering, Clamoring]

[All Clamoring]

- I'm not the star of the show.

- I know about them.

Myrtle is the star of the show.

Myrtle Gordon.

[Chattering Continues]

Miss Gordon!

[Shrieking]

- I love you! I love you!

- [Man] Come on, cool it.

Back up. Everybody

will get their moment.

Just back up.

Hold it a second.

- I love you.

- Sweetheart.

Sweetheart.

Off your knees, darling.

- What's your name?

- Miss Gordon, would you please sign -

- What's your name?

- Nancy.

Nancy? How old are you?

Seventeen.

- Oh, my God.

- All right, thank you.

Thank you. Let's go.

Please, people, let us through, huh?

[Sobbing]

I'm - I'm sorry.

- I love you. I love you!

- [Thunder Rumbling]

Darling, let go of her, please!

Come on. Let's go.

- All right.

- Get in the car. Get in.

- You all right?

- Yeah, fine.

Manny, roll the window down, will ya?

There's something wrong with that kid.

Get out of the rain, will ya?

You're gonna get pneumonia.

Come see me tomorrow, okay?

[Horn Honking]

[Maurice]

Oh, my God.

- [Myrtle] I think it's that kid.

- [Horn Honking]

I think it's that kid.

It's that -

I think she's -

Stop the car!

What are we doing?

Bring the umbrella!

Get an ambulance! Get an ambulance!

Hurry up! Hurry up!

- Open the door, Manny. I've gotta get out.

- Let me handle it, will ya?

- Hello? Hello?

- Can I help you?

Listen, there's been an accident

in front of the theater.

I want you to call the police

and be sure that they know it.

- We've gotta eat.

- The Orpheum Theater.

- We gotta eat.

- What?

The last restaurant's gonna close.

- You're gonna be hungry later.

- [Sighs]

Maurice, will you come up with me, please?

I feel a little shaky.

[Maurice]

Thanks.

- I'm not staying.

- Have one drink.

Come in.

Oh, God.

Don't be so distant, Maurice.

Come on, have a drink.

I'm hungry.

There are people waiting

downstairs in the car.

[Sighs]

What's the matter with us?

We lose sight of everything.

There was a girl killed tonight.

All we can think about is dinner.

I gotta go.

You're not a woman

to me anymore.

You're a professional.

You don't care

about anything, do you?

You don't care

about personal relationships...

love, sex, affection.

- Okay.

- I have a small part.

It's unsympathetic.

The audience doesn't like me.

I can't afford to be

in love with you.

Good night.

Yeah, good night.

[Thunder Rumbling]

- She coming?

- She doesn't wanna eat.

She'll beat herself into the ground.

Let's go. My wife is

waiting at the restaurant.

I don't want any more trouble.

Let's go.

I need your help, Dorothy.

I'm not talking to you as your husband.

I don't count.

But I'm gonna go crazy

if you don't tell me what it's like...

to be alone as a woman.

What do you do?

Okay, that's it.

Will you make me another drink,

please? I am gonna get drunk.

- Ah -

- If you want to get hostile, go ahead.

My goddamn life depends on this play.

And you should go to all the rehearsals.

You should watch everything.

You should sit with Myrtle, fill her in

on yourself and be part of it.

Do I get paid for this?

If you understudy, I'll pay you.

- Hmm.

- [Laughing]

That's right.

'Cause I tell you, my life is getting

boring. I'm getting somber.

- My own tricks bore me.

- Do you want ice?

Yeah.

There's no humor anymore,

and all the glamour's dead.

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