Phone Call from a Stranger Page #6

Yes. Who's this?

I was on that plane Friday night.

- What plane?

- The, uh-Well, that plane from Chicago.

Well, what about it?

Hello?

I'm sorry.

Just a minute. Hey, you!

You with that vacuum cleaner.

What's that rockhead's name?

- Hey, Henry. Knock that off.

- What's the matter with you?

Can't you see I'm talkin' on this phone?

What is it you want?

I think it's a matter I'd better

take up with Mr. Carr first.

When will he be in?

- You can try after dinner about 9:30.

- Thank-

What's the matter with you?

You blind?

No'm.

- Good evening, sir.

- Good evening.

I'd like to see

Mr. Michael Carr, please.

Mr. Carr's about to go on now, sir.

Would you like to wait at the bar?

Thank you.

# P art of everything I do #

#To cry as much

to laugh as much #

#And love me even

half as much #

#As I love you ##

- Uh, gin and tonic, please.

- Yes, sir.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me

great pleasure to introduce to you...

a young man who really needs

no introduction.

You all know him very well.

I know him even better.

I give you Mr. Michael-

Carr.!

- Michael what?

- Carr.

Ah! Of course!

How stupid of me.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Mr. Michael Carr!

Thank you, Mama.

Thank you what?

I'm terribly sorry. I forgot.

Thank you, Sister.

That's better.

Try not to forget again, Son.

Hmm.

As a matter of fact,

ladies and gentlemen...

this happens to be Miss Carr's birthday.

# Oh, the old gray mare

She ain't what she used to be #

# She ain't

what she used to be #

# She ain't what she used to be

The old gray mare #

# She ain't what she used to be

many long years ago ##

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

a favorite of mine...

and I'm sure one of yours.

- #Again #

- Give me a Coke.

- #This couldn't happen again #

- Miss Carr?

- Yes.

- My name is Trask. I spoke to you on the phone this afternoon.

Oh, yes, but you'll have to wait

till after the show now.

- That's all right. I'm enjoying it.

- # T his is the thrill #

# Divine #

#And what's more #

# T his never happened #

- # Before #

- Is it about Binky?

Why, yes.

What are you? The lawyer?

Well, I am a lawyer. Yes.

Well, if it's alimony she's after,

you're wasting your time.

He's not gonna give her a nickel.

Well, has she asked for any yet?

No, but that's what you're here for.

I know that dame.

What'd she do?

Phone you the minute she got the notice?

As a matter of fact, I'm only here

to get a line on the situation.

- Nothing's been really-

- You want a line on the situation?

I'll give you a line

on the situation.

I'll give you plenty line on it.

Come with me.

- Tell Karl I want to see him.

- Yes, ma'am.

#This doesn't happen #

If ever a dame asked for it,

it was that client of yours.

I pegged her the minute

I laid eyes on her.

Sit down.

She never cared a nickel for Mike.

All she was after was the name

and what she could get out of it.

- What do you mean the name?

- Carr!

My name.

You know who I am, don't you?

Very well indeed.

I'm an old vaudeville fan.

Well, she knew it so well

she wanted it for herself.

It don't hurt, you know,

to have a famous name in this business.

Come in.

- You know that boy Henry?

- Yes, madam.

- Give him his money and get him out of here.

- What did he do?

- Didn't I say no serving during the show?

- Yes.

Did you see what

he was doing just now?

Yes, but the party called him over.

They're a little drunk, and I told him to go.

They might have made a fuss of some kind.

Listen! I don't want to argue.

Just get him out of here like I tell you.

Yes, madam.

How well do you know this dame?

Not too well.

L- I met her only once.

Well, let me tell you

something about her.

If I had been that girl's own mother,

I couldn't have treated her any better-

like my own blood daughter.

I knew she was out for

what she could get, but...

when I saw that my son

thought he loved her...

I nearly broke my back

trying to make that marriage work.

- Oh, I see.

- But you wouldn't believe it...

the abuse I had to take

when he wasn't around.

And such vulgarity

you never heard in your life.

But do you think I let him know it?

I'd rather have cut off

my right arm.

Until last week.

And then, heaven help me,

I had to tell him.

Well, uh, why last week?

Because I couldn't stand to see him eating

his heart out any longer, not for that rip.

I let him have it, but good.

And it was then

that he decided to file suit?

What else could he do,

and her already gone a year?

Did she ever tell you

the way she left here?

- No.

- I'll bet she didn't.

Well, it was a Saturday afternoon...

about this same time last year.

She'd really had one of

her spells on that week.

You should have seen her, Mr. Trask.

You wish to see me, my child?

The jerk tells me you don't want me

to sing in the show.

I do want you, Binky dear...

but I just don't think it would be advisable

at this particular time.

And I say that for your own good.

Yellow, huh?

I'm afraid I do not comprehend

what it is that you mean by that.

Scared, you dope. Scared if they ever hear me

sing in this trap, they'll throw rocks at you.

You mortify me, Binky.

What do you think

I'm here for anyway?

Listen to that cornball show

every night?

Why do you think

I married that goon?

But I thought you loved me,

darling.

- Why don't you go and fly a kite?

- But, Binky, dear-

My son. My son.

I'm here to get mine, fat stuff,

and the sooner you know it, the better.

I'm sure you don't wish

to be unfair, child-

Do I sing or not?

That's all I want out of you.

- As I've tried to explain, Binky dear-

- Okay, I get it.

I got one more proposition for you.

Anything within

human reason, daughter.

You want me stay here, ducky?

Oh, you know I do, darling.

Then tell Mumsy you and I want 50%

interest in the joint.

- But, Binky, dear-

- You want me to stay or not, ducky?

Mumsy, darling.

Would you-

Could you see your way clear to-

Mike, my own, you know I'd rather

cut off my right arm...

than deny anything to you or Binky.

But after all,

you already have five percent.

And unless something good

turns up for me on Broadway...

this little joint is all I have to provide

for my few remaining years.

But, when I pass on...

remember, it will all be

yours and hers, 100%.

- How about that, Binky?

- Sorry. Too indefinite.

- How much you got in the till?

- Well, I don't know.

- Come on. Let me have it.

- You can't do that, Binky. That's larceny.

Shake it up.

I'm chiefing out of here tonight.

But if you take the money, Binky, we will have

no change for the customers.

Get out of my way.

Let her have it, Arthur.

Her need is greater than ours.

And that's the last

we've seen of her.

As Mike says, absolutely incredible.

And after all we'd done for her.

Beat it!

I thought you was in there.

My sympathies, of course,

are entirely with you...

but, after what you've said, I find myself

in rather an awkward position.

- I thought you would.

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