Rhapsody in Blue Page #7

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He didn't expect

such a large party.

Come in,

Mrs. Gilbert.

Thank you.

Any friend of George

is most welcome here.

Surprised, George?

I? Ira,

why didn't you tell me?

They threatened me.

The Gershwin

trademark!

I see you've learned

to play with both hands.

I took the liberty of

recording our Rhapsody.

Yeah, I heard it, and I

still like my recording.

Tell me something,

George.

Good evening, Mrs.

Gilbert. My name's Levant.

Tell me something. If you

had it to do all over again,

Would you still fall

in love with yourself?

Wonderful!

Play do, do, do.

No. Fascinating Rhythm.

Clap yo' Hands.

Lady Be Good.

Oscar, do it again.

I can't do it again.

I haven't eaten.

Bidin' My Time,

George.

Yeah. Bidin' My Time.

I'm bidin' my time

'cause that's the kind...

Well, an evening with

Gershwin is a Gershwin evening.

Whenever he sees a piano,

he'll leave any girl flat.

You mustn't

take offense.

I keep busy...

On the contrary...

I quite understand.

You see, George is

never quite so happy

As when he's playing his

own music for his friends.

Yes, I know.

How about a drink?

Thank you.

Tell me, how did

George do in Paris?

Did he learn a lot

there?

Yes, I think

he did.

Did he finish

his concerto?

That's what

he went there for.

Concerto? Concerto?

George is going to

do another musical.

Are you in show business,

too, Mr. Dreyfus?

You have been in Europe a long time,

Haven't you,

Mrs. Gilbert?

The rents

are cheaper there.

Have a drink?

Please.

Ice?

No. Just water.

I've been trying to protect

George from highbrows-

That is to say, from

symphonies and concertos.

George will go

his own way.

After all, there's no

reason why he shouldn't write

Popular songs one day

and symphonies the next.

Those long

compositions

Take up a lot of valuable time.

You don't drink,

do you?

Thank you.

Time seems to be

scarce over here.

Not mine.

Mr. Levant, you're not

so ferocious as you sound.

Don't let that

get around.

You know, George has

often spoken about you.

I understand

you compose, too.

If it wasn't

for Gershwin,

I could have been a pretty

good mediocre composer.

But, Julie, don't

let it upset you.

I'm sure it doesn't

mean a thing.

Just one of those shipboard roman...

acquaintances.

I begin

to understand now

Why George

didn't write to me.

All the work on his concerto over there.

Concerto?

Fiddlesticks.

You haven't heard

the news.

He's writing a new show, for you, Julie.

Ira is doing the lyrics.

What a combination.

Play Embraceable You.

Let's get Julie

to sing it.

Where is she?

Julie!

Max, my head is splitting.

Please get me out of here.

But I can't leave

my guests.

Come now,

keep your chin up.

Go through

with this, Julie.

Julie.

Julie, where have you

been? We've missed you.

Everybody has been asking for you.

You must sing for us

now. But, George, I can't.

I've just been

telling Julie

About

the new show.

Ira is going to write

the lyrics. Mr. Words.

Mr. Music.

Julie, we'll make this the

best part you've ever had.

Just like old times,

only better.

We'll all be

together again.

Now, how about

Embraceable You?

Can you lend me

cab fare to go home?

Embrace me

My sweet

embraceable you

Embrace me

You irreplaceable you

Just one look at you

My heart

grew tipsy in me

You and you alone...

What a wonderful

welcome for George.

Mr. Host,

the season

Has now officially started.

Thank you, Mr. Words.

I love all

the many charms

About you

Above all...

Nice.

It's exciting

to have George back.

I want

my arms about you

Don't be

a naughty baby

Come to Mama

Come to Mama, do

My... sweet...

Pardon me.

Christine.

Do you like it?

So much that

it makes me furious.

You could do much better, dear,

if you'd only get started again.

Go on with

your work, George.

I'll browse around

the other masters.

Please do.

I, uh, I feel sort of guilty, Christine.

You don't paint

anymore.

You're not happy

in New York.

You're happy.

When you're around,

I am.

No. You don't need

anyone or anything.

Whatever you touch

turns to gold.

You're busy every hour.

You have hundreds of friends

who like what you like.

I'm not good for you,

George.

You would be if you'd

only make up your mind.

Then I'd be sure

of you.

Let's not put it off

any longer, darling.

George, you're

the perfect bachelor.

It wouldn't do.

Don't you love me

enough?

Maybe I love you

too much.

That's just what

I didn't want to happen.

I want you

to marry me.

It'll never work, George.

We both want too much

out of life.

We'll have

what we want.

Tomorrow we'll

get a license

And look

for a place.

How about

a penthouse?

A penthouse

built for two.

You sound like

your songs, George,

And you expect life

to be like your music,

But it isn't.

You can make up songs,

but you can't make up life.

Please go on

with your painting.

All right.

You must

finish it soon.

You'll wait?

You've made such a fine start, George.

You mustn't

waste a minute.

The light won't hold... much longer.

Chris-

Chris-

Chris!

George, why did you

come here?

What's happened,

George?

I had to see you, Julie.

You haven't felt the

need for quite a while.

But, Julie

- It's all right, George.

I knew I shouldn't have taken this show.

To have me around would just bother you.

You know how I've always

felt about you, Julie.

I have to talk to someone.

Could it be that Mrs.

Gilbert isn't available?

She's gone...

To Mexico.

Read it, Julie.

You have the wrong idea

about me, George.

You think I can be

put away in lavender

And then be taken out

as a last resort.

I don't want

to read your letters.

I don't want you

to cry on my shoulder.

I don't want

anything at all.

I've been all

mixed up, Julie.

Please try

to understand.

I do understand...

Too well.

Everything I say

is wrong.

Please go.

Ready, Julie?

Come in, Max.

What's wrong?

"George, dear, by the time this reaches

you, I'll be on my way to Mexico."

"Perhaps I can get back

to work down there.

"Anyhow, I must try.

"Your destiny moves straight

ahead in fast 2-4 time.

"Mine simply goes

around in a circle.

"I meant it when I said

you were the ideal bachelor.

"You think

of yourself first,

"And that's

as it should be

"Because you give so much

pleasure to the world.

"I was tempted for a while

to spoil it all for you.

"Now I know better.

Christine."

I've done her

a great injustice.

The woman has good sense-

I mean, as far

as she is concerned.

Don't spare

my feelings, Max.

I know she's right, as

far as anyone is concerned.

George has to go

his way alone.

He must be free.

Yes, but, Julie, with you,

it would be different.

No, Max. I'll never

be a handicap.

The day

this show closes,

I'm leaving town...

for good.

18 minutes exactly.

Mmm! Such a mechanism.

Yes, yes.

Poppa, I'm seeing things

in you I never saw before.

Yeah?

That's all,

Mr. Gershwin.

You may

get dressed now.

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