The Barkleys of Broadway Page #6

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cooing over the breakfast table.

Shut up! He's been after you, hasn't he?

I wouldn't be surprised

if he asked you to play Sarah Bernhardt.

- Could we get the picture, please?

- By all means.

Pick up the coffee cup.

You know, like you're having breakfast?

Yes. I'm terribly...

Now, smile, kiddies, smile. That's it.

He's a pretty smooth article.

Knew just how to work on you.

What're you talking about?

You don't think he'd let you

play Sarah Bernhardt, do you?

- Even you couldn't be that dumb.

- Well, now...

Would you feed him a strawberry?

A strawberry. Certainly.

He says he won't even do the show

unless I play the part.

Hold it.

- He thinks I'm a great actress.

- Don't make me laugh.

That's fine.

Now can we go in the living room?

Yes. Please go ahead and help yourself,

and we'll be right in...

in just a moment.

He believes in me.

He gives me confidence in myself.

All you've ever done is tear me down,

make me feel like a nobody.

Your little sidekick.

Can't even walk across the stage

without you.

- Can't even make a gesture.

- Correct.

- Big fat Svengali.

- You're darn tooting.

Well, I've had enough!

That goes double.

I'm sick and tired of your lies,

your deceits, your tricks.

You're nothing

but an inconsiderate, selfish...

What are you doing here?

We were waiting to rehearse,

so I brought Shirlene along.

Shirlene, there's a girl with talent.

She knows your part

better than you do right now.

I could put her on tonight

and she'd be a sensation.

- Gee, thanks.

- Shut up!

Simmer down, take it easy.

That's all right. Happens all the time.

All calmed down, Dinah?

Now, why don't we get...

Why don't you take a picture of me

walking out of the house for good?

Dinah! Josh, do something. Stop her.

- This time I think she means it.

- So do I.

As for Shirlene, you have

my permission to put her on tonight...

because I won't be there.

What am I going to do?

We've got this picture spread

set up for Look magazine.

What am I going to tell them?

Tell them you can fill in with eight pages

of an appendix operation in color.

When I've got shoes with wings on

The winter's gone, the spring's on

When I've got shoes with wings on

The town's full of rhythm

and the world's in rhyme

The neon city glows up

My pretty, pretty shows up

We'll dance until they close up

I've got my guardian angel

working overtime

I give Aladdin the lamp, Midas the gold

Who needs a wizard or magician

In the old tradition?

That's not competition

I've got 'em beat a thousand fold

Why?

'Cause I've got shoes with wings on

And living has no strings on

I put those magic things on

And I go flying with 'em

And the town is full of rhythm

And the world in rhyme

We'll do the entire scene again.

Better take it from your entrance, Dinah.

From my entrance.

- Dinah, darling.

- Yes?

I should think that after two weeks, you

would try to do this without the script.

Well, I know it.

It's just that I like to hold on to it.

You mustn't get to rely on it.

You won't have it with you opening night.

All right. Here we go.

Excuse me a minute, Jacques.

What do you mean

by snooping around here?

Hiya, Dinah.

If you're here for news of the enemy camp,

I'd like to say that I'm happy.

I love the play, and I think that...

You may tell Josh in particular...

I think Jacques is the best director

I have ever worked with.

That's a beautiful suit...

If you're here to play Cupid,

you can put away your arrows.

It won't do you any good.

Listen, you and I never had a fight,

remember?

I'm sorry. You can't barge in,

in the middle of a rehearsal.

I'm trying to concentrate and...

All right. What is it?

I came to ask you about doing

that big benefit at Symphony Hall.

You know, the one we do every year

for the hospital.

No, not this year.

If you think you can get Josh and me

on the stage together, you're crazy.

- Dinah!

- I'll be right there in a second.

I'd like to see one of the Barkleys

represented. Josh won't be there.

He turned it down. He said he's too busy.

He has a big party that night.

Isn't that just like him?

Too busy to do a benefit.

Has to go to a party.

- You can count on me, Ezra, I'll be there.

- Dinah!

Bye. Yes, Jacques, I'm terribly sorry.

You're not superstitious

about one on a match, are you?

If you think you can get Dinah and me

to perform at that benefit together...

you're just crazy.

I'd like one of the Barkleys there.

Dinah can't make it.

Why not?

She's got a rehearsal that night.

Now, isn't that just like her?

All wrapped up in that big dramatic career.

Can't take a half hour off to do

one number for a worthy cause.

You can count on me, Ez, I'll be there.

Good. I'll see you at dinner.

- Wait a minute.

- Yeah, what's the matter?

You saw her today?

Yep, I saw her.

- Where?

- At her rehearsal.

How is the great tragic actress

getting along?

Okay. She appeared a little nervous.

Seemed to flounder around,

unsure of herself.

You know something?

She's going to take a header

right on her face.

And you know something else?

I'm going to let her lie there.

That's the spirit.

Who says the age of chivalry is dead?

Joshie, I'm all ready, honey.

Shirlene, you better run along.

I've got some business

before the show tonight.

I'm sorry.

- Well, I'll see you back here then?

- Yeah.

I'll be awful lonely.

You'll get over it.

You know,

I find that girl completely resistible.

All right, we'll take it again

from the same spot. Places, please.

All right, go.

Mother, I...

No, Dinah. I'm afraid you're forgetting

all the action we've set for this.

You come in, pause for three counts

in the doorway...

look at your mother,

look at the Duke de Morny...

look at your aunt, walk to the window...

say the first half of your line,

turn and finish it.

You've got it written down.

You must remember.

I do remember it.

It's the scene I worked on last night.

Mother, I've made up my...

No, darling, you just look at your mother.

That's right. I'm sorry.

- Mother, I've made up my mind...

- No. Well, all right.

Just say your first line, and we'll

work on it in more detail tomorrow.

- From here?

- From there.

Mother, I've made up my mind.

I'm not going to the conservatory...

But, darling, your mother is right here.

She's not in the second balcony.

Speak to her in a more natural tone.

This is not a musical comedy.

It's a legitimate play.

Mother, I've made up my mind.

I'm not going to go to...

I can't hear you at all now, Dinah,

so speak louder, please.

Mother, I've made up my mind. I'm not...

That's too loud, isn't it?

I'm sorry.

I don't know what's the matter with me.

I'm behaving

as if I've never been in a theater before.

You mustn't be panicky, dear.

It's a new field. You'll get over it.

Well, of course I'll get it.

Well, that's all for today, anyway.

Thank you.

Wait for your calls, everyone.

10:
00 tomorrow for Miss Elston,

Miss Gage, Miss Wilder, Mr. Henderson.

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