The Barkleys of Broadway Page #5

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in the middle of the floor.

Pamela must have left it.

She was a trifle upset.

Yes, I noticed something was wrong.

Is she going to be in it?

- What part is she going to play?

- Sarah.

- Sarah?

- I know just what you're going to tell me.

She's a dreadful choice for the part.

It's unanimous.

I just finished telling her myself.

- Well, then why is she going to be in it?

- I promised it to her, unfortunately.

I can't understand

an author like you doing such a thing.

Here you take what might be

a great piece of theater and deliberately...

ruin it by giving it to someone

you know isn't right for the part at all.

I know it's none of my business,

and I'm very sorry for...

Oh, no, please.

I'm very upset about all this.

I'd like to discuss it more with you.

I'd love to.

And maybe I could, sometime,

but I've got to go meet my husband...

They won't be at the ninth green

for at least a half hour.

Please come and sit down.

Go ahead, Ez.

I don't know why playing caddy

is the best part.

I never get to hit the ball.

Stop complaining. Neither do I.

- Nice try.

- All right. That's good.

Well, I'm sorry, putt it out.

Putt it out?

Why not? It's the philosophy of the game.

It's a kick away. You're not going to make

me putt that?

What's the matter? Jangled nerves?

Let's see you do it. It's simple.

I'm giving this fellow

three strokes a hole handicap...

and he's making me putt one-inch putts.

Look out, will you? Step back.

Oh, well.

Nice try. You better stick to your dancing.

- Putt it out.

- Oh, now look...

- Come on.

- All right.

Let's go back to the house.

No, Dinah's going to meet us.

She'll be here any minute.

That is the end of Act Two.

Oh, it's thrilling. Perfectly thrilling.

I'm convinced that you must wait until

you have the right actress for the part.

Yes. But who?

Well, I don't know offhand.

Certainly, you must have

someone in mind.

Yes.

Who?

You.

That's the most wonderful thing

that anyone has ever said to me.

To think...

Look at the rain on the fields.

Every living thing is lifting its thirsty face.

She said she'd meet me here.

Be reasonable, Josh. Love will find a way.

I'm soaking wet. It's raining.

Nonsense. Just a few million

scattered drops that got together.

Wait till I get my hands on her!

- Why wait? Let's go now.

- Let's go.

Well, it's about time.

- Okay.

- Come on.

Last one in is a rotten egg!

Dinah, I am not going to do the play

with anyone else but you.

You're mad.

But haven't you ever felt the need

to prove yourself...

to lift yourself to heights no one

ever dreamed you were capable of?

It's out of the question.

I'm perfectly contented.

And besides, I love my husband

and I love working with him...

and a step like this would mean

the breaking up of our career together.

Of course. The whole idea was stupid.

We won't speak of it again. Ever.

Do you think

I really could play Sarah Bernhardt?

I knew it.

- You do want to do this.

- Oh, no!

Dinah, I'll wait a year,

until your show closes.

Just say you'll do it.

No. I'm fine for musical comedy.

That's what I'm suited for...

but no one would believe me

in a serious part.

Of course they would.

I think you're going to have

a quick chance to prove it. Look.

That's my husband!

- And it's raining! What'll I do?

- Act.

Act? No. I'll hide!

That's what I'll do. How's this?

- That's much too obvious.

- What'll I do?

- Improvise.

- Improvise? I'm terribly faint.

I feel sick.

Oh, I feel terribly sick.

You look terribly healthy.

I do? That's no good.

I'll take my makeup off.

You'd better hurry, whatever you do.

They're coming.

Oh, no! Say, now you've got to hide.

Well, good luck, Camille.

Dinah?

Don't you wave at me. What's the idea

of standing me up in a hurricane?

Josh. I thought you'd never get here.

- Never get here? What...

- Take it easy, Josh.

- I think she might really be sick.

- Sick? What's the matter, darling?

Oh, it's nothing.

- It's just that I've been terribly faint.

- Ezra, get something.

- What?

- Get something. Brandy.

Darling, what happened?

I don't know.

I was coming down to meet you...

and suddenly I felt very strange.

Everything started to go round and round.

I came in here to rest for a minute...

and I must have fainted.

I'll never forgive myself

for thinking what I did.

Oh, Josh, you sound so far away.

I'm right here, darling. I'm right here.

I felt so cold and suddenly so hot...

and dizzy.

Josh, I've never felt like this ever before.

You've never felt like this before?

Sweet, honey, baby, you mean...

It's wonderful!

- What?

- Ez!

No, it's not that. Definitely.

It's just that I've had too much tennis

or too much sun or...

I want to go home.

- We will go home. Just...

- Here, take a sip of this.

- No, I'm too weak.

- It's cognac.

- It's brandy.

- I'm too weak.

Maybe we'd better get Shirlene ready

for tomorrow night.

Oh, no. I'll be all right.

- Help me, Josh.

- You're all right now.

We'll go home and everything will be fine.

All you have to do is just leave it to me.

"Sarah, flustered,

steals last look at her book and gets up.

"The judges:

'What will you recite, Mademoiselle? '

"Sarah, nervously:

'The potion scene from Romeo and Juliet. '

"She pauses. Judge: 'Very well, begin. "'

- Hello, honey.

- Hello, darling.

- Miss me?

- Well, of course.

You've almost been gone a half an hour.

What happened,

no rehearsal with Shirlene?

I called it off. We're having

pictures taken for Look magazine today.

Oh, my dear, I forgot all about it.

I must change.

That's just the way they want to see you.

The beautiful Mrs. Barkley at home.

Come on, a little service, please?

You're slipping.

I'm terribly sorry. I have the lighter

in my pocket, but I can't...

Well, all you have to do

is take this pillow off...

- Now, Josh, now...

- Hold it. Don't move. That's perfect!

What did I tell you? Is this going

to be a picture story or isn't it?

- Hello, Larry.

- This is Mr. Perkins...

Mr. Clarke, Mr. Leggett,

and Mr. Taylor of Look magazine.

Nice to see you.

Darling, he just wanted my opinion.

Perkins, it's your show. Take over.

We'd like to get the whole day.

You know, maybe...

Starting with breakfast.

We have it all set up on the terrace.

Just come along. Follow me.

Darling, come on.

I've got orange juice.

Good light, too, I think, don't you?

"Your dying scene in the country

equaled Bernhardt's in Camille.

"Read Act Three. I'll be waiting. "

- Darling, will you please come...

- "Dying scene in the country"?

Oh, I see.

Well, we have everything picked

for the pictures.

Well, my poor sick little bride.

Let me help you.

Looks like one of the best setups

we've had.

Well, that was a performance.

It had me fooled completely.

Josh, not now. Sit down, darling.

What's going on between you two?

Please hold on before we say

something we'll be sorry for later.

- All ready for the picture?

- Yes.

Lovely couple

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