Opening Night Page #6

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I can open the door.

Beat it.

[Myrtle] Okay, so I got

a few laughs tonight.

Listen, I've seen worse nights

than that, babies.

I've seen-seen drunks

in the audience...

heart attacks, lines screwed up...

nerves, dope,

theaters burning.

- What are we talking about here?

- All right, Myrtle, listen to me.

Half the audience loved the play.

The other half hated it.

- But you're still my favorite star.

- That's not what I was talking about.

You know that!

[Gus]

What are they, blind?

[Sarah]

What are we gonna do?

[Maurice]

Look, it's Myrtle's problem.

It's up to you, Myrtle,

if you wanna straighten yourself out.

She's the only one that can solve it.

Listen, you liar, you just shut up

and don't talk to me anymore.

- [Maurice] Hey, I'm on the stage with you.

- [Manny] What do you think is going wrong?

- Nothing.

- She doesn't think anything's going wrong.

- Is it the girl that was killed?

- [David] What girl?

- No.

- The autograph hound.

- [Maurice] The girl that was killed?

Have you, uh -

- Have you seen her since she died?

- [Manny] Oh, Sarah, please.

- No.

- Uh, now - [Stammers]

Sarah, I don't know

what the hell you're talking about.

The problem is here with us.

Let's not complicate it with never never land.

[Sarah] Look, the name of this play

is The Second Woman.

The girl dies,

and Myrtle can't cope with it.

[Gus]

Who is this girl?

Did you see her?

All right. Okay, I have seen her,

but not like you think.

I mean, I made her up.

She's mine. She's my fantasy.

I wanted to see

how it would feel like to be, uh -

To be young again.

Whatever.

If that makes you happy.

Was she on the stage

with you again tonight?

No!

Look, would I let anybody

go on stage for me? Are you crazy?

- [David] Do you know what's going on?

- No.

Can I take Myrtle

to my spiritualist?

- Oh! Wait a minute.

- [David] Spiritualist?

- [All Chattering, Murmuring]

- Wait a minute.

Myrtle, you were never in it tonight,

not for a moment.

Now, I don't know whether it's because

you don't want to, because you can't...

because you're nuts,

I don't know.

Or because, uh,

the play's about aging and, uh...

you're repulsed by it.

I don't know.

But I think it's an important play.

And, uh, if you don't

put yourself out -

I mean, if you don't feel the pain

of the losing of, uh...

passion and, uh -

[Manny Groans]

Look, if I put a call in to New York,

we'll be there in less than two hours.

I'll take her to my spiritualist, and we'll

be back in time for rehearsal tomorrow.

I don't want anybody

to misunderstand this lunacy.

It's made up.

I can control it.

It's- It's- I- I just let

my imagination go a little bit.

[Sarah] Are you sure

it's just your imagination?

I can make her appear

or disappear at will!

Please come and sit down.

Hello, Sarah.

How are you?

- Oh, and you must be Miss Gordon.

- Yes. How are you?

- Fine. Please sit down.

- Thank you.

Sarah.

- Is it okay if I join the sance?

- Please do.

Thanks.

Doris, get the candles.

Can't see in the pitch black,

you know.

And bring Frank in.

We need a fan. When we close the doors,

it gets stuffy in here, you know.

Now, Sarah...

from what you've told me

on the phone...

this could be

a misplaced phenomenon...

looking for a way to cause trouble.

Well, I believe that Nancy exists...

but, uh, only in my mind.

I'm an actress...

and the play

that we're doing right now...

is about the gradual lessening...

of my power as a woman...

as I... mature.

Uh...

at some time in life youth dies...

and the second woman in us

takes over.

I believe that Nancy is

the first woman in my own life.

Nancy. The girl who got killed?

- Yes.

- I see.

Actresses create characters.

I created Nancy

because I thought there were...

certain scenes in the play

where I was having trouble...

uh, visualizing my own life.

[Chuckles]

I'll do anything.

I drink, I--

I stay up all night, I--

- You're so right.

- [Myrtle Chuckling]

I'll do just about anything...

to make my character

more authentic.

I always have.

I see.

[Sighs]

Well...

let's turn up our hands, everyone,

and put them flat on the table.

I'd like to see your palms,

um, darling.

Doris, get a pan of water

and a wash rag, please.

Your hands were smudged.

Must have brushed against you.

This, uh, Nancy of yours,

Myrtle, is a bad girl.

She's very tough.

I feel she's very near to us now.

[Myrtle]

Well, what do you want me to do?

Lower the lights, and, Frank,

light the candles, please.

I'm sorry. I - It's, uh -

You want to protect this kid, honey?

I-I just don't know

how to explain it.

It's, uh - It's like

when you were a child...

and you had an imaginary friend.

You know, someone that you made up?

She doesn't exist.

Well, at least now you know.

At least I know what?

A lot of people think

the young girl in us is important.

Not too many years ago...

I went around

pretending I was 18.

But I wasn't.

I was 60.

Take a snooze, huh?

Night.

Well, uh, listen, thank you.

You know? That was -

Oh, that's all right.

Get some sleep, will ya.

- Go on. Sleep.

- You too.

Where are you?

[Sighs]

You know it's not your fault.

You're only 18.

It's not my fault either.

I'm an actress.

I have to...

I -

[Groans]

Ohh!

[Panting]

[Myrtle]

Hello!

Hello.

- Listen, you know who I am, don't you?

- Mm-hmm.

Well, the door to Miss Goode's suite

is locked.

- Mm-hmm?

- Well, I'm locked out.

Oh. You're from

up in the penthouse, aren't you?

I - I need to get in.

- Have you got the key?

- I have some keys.

I don't know if I have the key

to Miss Goode's room.

Would you try one, please?

I'm sure you can get me in.

I haven't seen you

in the movies in a while.

- I'm doing a play.

- Oh, I heard that.

Let's see if this one works.

No, that doesn't.

Let's try this one.

[Knocking]

- Thank you.

- That's too much.

That's really too much.

You're just great.

Thank you.

[Groaning]

[Banging Against Wall]

Oh, my God.

What are you doing?

Don't worry, Sarah.

I'm doing this to myself.

I'm a little shook.

Use your bathroom?

[Myrtle Sighs]

[Water Running]

[Myrtle Clears Throat]

I'm a little shook up.

Be all right with you

if I spent the night?

- Were you with her last night?

- Yes.

[Sarah]

Manny, she's crazy.

- Sarah, we've been waiting for two hours.

- I've never seen behavior like this.

- Two precious hours of rehearsal.

- She's got to be replaced.

Oh, you want me to replace her now?

One day before New York?

Thank you very much.

- Let's go.

- Yes, sir.

- Leo, tell everyone to take a break.

We'll be back in a half hour.

- Right.

[Engine Starts]

[Manny] I had an affair a couple of years ago.

You know about it.

Nineteen-year-old girl.

[Chuckles]

You don't think I was

making a fool of myself?

Think every time

I took my shirt off I didn't...

wanna be younger?

I had my nails done,

my face massaged.

Had a container of breath spray

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