Rhapsody in Blue Page #4

---

Oh, excuse me.

But my doctor told me for my

rheumatism, I got to perspire.

Next week.

And come early.

Sweet, sweet,

sweetie

Hello? Hello, Saul.

No. Poppa gave up

the stationery store.

It's a Turkish bath now.

Oh, business is pretty good ever

since George brings his friends in.

Yeah, ok.

I'll tell Pop.

Hmm hmm hmm hmm

Oh, hello, Ira.

Hi, George. Mr. Dreyfus

and a friend of his

Are in

the steam room.

They should be

about cooked.

Say, what

are you doing?

Oh, just

sort of studying

The way words and music fit together.

You mean, you're

writing something.

Oh, just some jingles. I'll tell

you if they're ever any good.

You mean you

write lyrics!

Why, Ira,

that's swell.

That's what I'd like to do, sometime.

I'm awfully glad, Ira.

Oh, Mr. Dreyfus? Hello.

Where are you?

Here, up

in cloud 9.

I can't

see you.

Here.

George, meet George.

Hiya, George.

Hello, George.

His last name is white.

I like some of your songs.

That's what brought me here.

Otherwise, I never

take a bath.

They're far from

my best stuff yet.

You know, that's what I like

about Gershwin.

He's so modest.

What was I

saying?

You were saying that you're

good and getting better.

Well, I am.

Here's a chance to prove

how good you are.

Tell him, George.

I'm doing a new show. I'm

going to call it The Scandals.

I intend to do a new edition every year.

He wants you

to do the music.

Thanks, but... to be

perfectly frank, Mr. White,

Before I take the job, I want to

be sure the show's got a chance.

You see, I can't afford to

waste 6 months on another flop.

I haven't the time.

Time?

I mean, I've got to

get on with my career.

He's almost 21, and he hasn't

played Carnegie Hall yet.

This is going to be the

swellest show the town ever saw-

The most gorgeous scenery and the

most beautiful girls ever born.

It'll have the best

of everything.

You'll have a chance

to spread yourself,

Top anything

you've ever done.

George, here's

your opportunity.

The music's up to you.

Get your copies here!

Here you are, folks.

Hit of the show.

Somebody loves me,

Sung by Julie Adams

And Tom Patricola.

Get your copies here, folks.

Somebody loves me

I wonder who

I wonder who she can be

Somebody

loves me

I wish I knew

Who can she be?

Worries me

For every girl

who passes me

I shout

Maybe

Yeah, she

was meant to be

Your lovin' baby

Somebody loves me

I wonder who

Maybe it's you

Somebody loves me

I wonder who

Maybe it's you

41/2 minutes. A very

important piece.

I don't care what

anybody thinks.

I liked your songs,

George.

Everybody liked them,

didn't they, buddy?

When they sell a million copies,

then I'll know they like them.

What if they

only sell 900,000?

You sound like a big executive,

De Sylva.

Oh, Max.

Excuse me.

Max, I want to thank you. You

started the ball rolling for me.

You've hit your stride,

my boy. Now stick to it.

You can do a lot

for musical comedy.

And it can do

a lot for you, too.

I'll build a stairway

to paradise

With a new step every day

I'm going to get there

at any price

Stand aside,

I'm on my way

I'm just a lonesome

babe in the wood

So, lady, be good to me

What a girl.

Don't tell me that kiss is far

from your best work, Mr. Gershwin.

I've just had

a brand-new idea.

A blues song

for next year...

All right,

George. I'll tell them.

Sure, I agree with you.

Harlem. Dame

shoots a guy.

That's not

for The Scandals.

All right. Good-bye.

Well, boys, White says the number's out.

But why?

It's dramatic.

You don't go for that

stuff, do you, Paul?

You're still

in your right mind?

I don't know. I may be kind of batty,

but this looks mighty good to me.

Why, it's as blue

as blue Monday.

Hey, that's

a good title.

Not bad.

Blue Monday Blues.

Let's go down on the stage

and run it through.

I'm with you, boss.

Let's hear it

with the orchestra.

I must admit, although

I don't like Sunday

I have a fit when

I go through blue Monday

Monday's the one day

that my dice lose

They just refuse

That's when my cares

are always bigger

His cares

are always bigger

I've got those

blue Monday blues

Good evening, Vi.

Good evening, all.

Hi, Vi. Hi, Vi.

Has one of you

seen Joe, my Joe?

For I have a date

with him here

It couldn't be

that I have missed him

I am a little early

for him

Maybe

Has one of you

seen Joe?

My lovin' man

My Joe

That's when a gal

will pull a trigger

A gal will

pull a trigger

I've got those

blue Monday blues

I love but you,

my Joe, my Joe

I don't want a thing, dear, but you

But after all,

I'm only human

And I'm a mighty

jealous woman

Honey

Still, just as long

as you're true

I'll live

for no one

But you

"Hurry home, Joe.

Mother has died. Sis."

Gershwin must have

lost his mind.

It's great

stuff, George.

Don't worry

about it.

I'm gonna see

my mother

Mother mine

Lord, how I've

missed my mother

Mother mine

Maybe I'm a very

worthless fellow

But my weary heart

Will cease to pine

When in her arms,

I'll whisper

I am home again,

Mother mine

Mike, you can

let the boys know

If there's any change

in the rehearsal call.

Ok, Paul.

Good night.

Good night, boys.

Why can't we at least wait until you

hear what the critics have to say?

Gives me

the creeps.

George, it's great, but it doesn't

belong in this kind of a show.

The blues are out.

That's final.

Oh, Professor Franck.

How did you like

the blues number?

Well-

I'm so anxious to hear

what you have to say.

That one number

was worth more

Than all the rest of

the show put together.

Good.

It was crude, yes,

But it was original

and honest.

Well, if you liked it,

I'm satisfied.

But the audience didn't

entirely understand it.

Paul, I'm worried

about George.

This'll hit him

pretty hard.

The number was

really wonderful.

All we've got to do is get

the public blues-conscious.

He's sold on the blues. He

won't give them up for anybody.

He knows what

he wants, Paul.

He'll go on.

We'll go on.

The blues will go on.

Oh, George? George?

Not you, crapehanger.

I mean the music man.

Oh, paul, I want you

to meet my teacher.

Professor Franck,

Paul Whiteman.

You must be very proud

of your young pupil.

He's just crawling

with talent.

Yeah. Ha! Crawling.

Do you know what

I think I'll do?

What, Paul? Go back

to the Palais Royal?

No. I think I'm going to give a jazz

concert smack-dab in Aeolian Hall.

I'm going to make

a lady out of jazz.

The Blue Monday Blues

in Aeolian Hall?

Better than that. George, I want

you to write a serious concert piece

Based on the blues.

A serious piece

that's blue, too?

Blue themes

and jazz rhythms?

Of course.

You'll lose your shirt, Whiteman.

Those highbrows will laugh

you right out of Aeolian Hall.

A Rhapsody in Blue.

And you talk about not wasting

time. You're throwing it away.

Professor Franck, I'm giving a little

party for George and a few friends

Tonight at a speakeasy.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes