The Country Girl Page #7

pretty hard. You used it to the hilt.

- No, Bernie.

- I'm right, and you know it.

You're sure of yourself. You don't

know what it means to be afraid.

You're on top of the heap.

Everything's good for you, but wait

till you've had a couple of flops

and people stop talking about you.

You'll get afraid

and look for excuses.

I'm not blaming you. Just stop lying.

Sure, everybody thought

it was because of the accident.

That's what I wanted them to think,

because I was afraid.

Even when I was the biggest, I was

afraid. I've always been afraid.

I don't know why. It was good to find

a respectable excuse for failure.

I could drink a little more.

Nobody blamed me.

No, they blamed it on the accident.

After I'd milked every tear out of it,

I cut my wrists,

not deep enough to die,

just enough to bleed myself back

into the centre of attention.

Everybody felt sorry for me again.

They understood. Everybody

was talking about me and my tragedy.

That's the way I wanted it.

To keep it that way, I lied.

God, how I lied!

I even lied about Georgie!

You were so right, Bernie.

I keep thinking about it.

Not about the accident,

but how I used it.

- Get some rest.

- I'll keep on thinking about it.

You better not take a chance on me.

You better get rid of me.

- Bernie...

- Shh.

- He's got to sleep.

- I don't care if he hears me.

I talked to Ray Watson in California.

He can be here in the morning.

I said I'd call him back.

- Frank's going to play it.

- Wait a minute.

Don't protect this guy any longer!

I'm calling Ray Watson.

If you do, tell him to bring

a director along with him.

THE LAND AROUND US

All that valley needs is a few

friends to treat it kindly for once,

to loan it a plough, some seeds,

plenty of care.

It'll pay us back.

I know it, Joe, but the others

will take a lot of convincing.

- Western Union.

- Yes, come in.

- How's it going, Ralph?

- Fine, Mr Dodd.

Mr Frank's a big man.

Positive honour to work for him.

- Have you been out front?

- Yeah.

Opening night in New York.

The world's most useless man.

- How's Frank?

- OK. How's it been back here?

He was a little uneasy

with the curtain going up so late.

If the first few rows

had the balcony's manners,

what a wonderful world this would be.

It was sweet of you

to send these wires.

- Who told you?

- I guessed. How many did you send?

- Nine or ten. You?

- Five or six.

Where did you get the names?

The Lambs' Club.

Good, good.

Why don't you go out front?

Not me. I don't sit with the critics.

I hear very well right from here.

That's the advantage

of an on-stage dressing room.

Keep quiet!

That's the disadvantage.

Larry's right. From now on,

it's his show. I'm just a visitor.

- Depressed, aren't you?

- Depressed and mean.

It's been a long nine weeks.

A job is home to a homeless man.

Now the job is finished.

Where do I go from here?

Georgie, five weeks ago

I kissed a woman, a married woman.

Now I know I love her.

I don't know where to turn.

- Close to you like this...

- Bernie...

I waited.

- Are you going to leave him?

- Bernie...

You told me you prayed to see him on

his feet again so you could get out.

Let me show you something.

Looks to me like he's made it.

What about you?

- Are you leaving him?

- Don't you think that can wait?

No, it's been on my mind

since that morning in Boston.

If I could make you understand...

Not now, Bernie. Not now.

First-act curtain. I've got to make

the dressing room tour.

- I thought you were out front.

- Just came back.

You hit it tonight. It's good.

I can handle this. Go have a smoke.

You know something, that's work.

It sounded wonderful back here.

I messed up a couple of spots.

Nobody noticed.

- You'd better touch up the grey.

- Make me look two weeks younger.

- How do you feel?

- Good. How are they liking it?

I only know what I read

in the papers. They came in late.

- As long as they don't leave early.

- Frank...

A lot of things are said

in the heat of the day.

Accept my apologies.

Those things can happen. Naturally,

you include my wife in your apology.

Of course. That includes you, too.

Then start by taking your hat off.

You're not at a smoker, Mr Cook.

This is the first kind word you've

had for us. I think I know why.

You'd like me to sign a contract

before the papers come out

so you can get me

for half what I'm worth.

You'll just have to take my word.

I have been thinking

of contractual arrangements,

but that's not why I came back.

I'm having some people for supper,

and I just wanted to invite you.

And you, Mrs Elgin.

Thanks. I'll drop by

if I'm not too tired.

- Good. Hope to see you.

- Yeah.

Excuse me, Mrs Elgin.

We'll be looking for you.

Thank you.

- Fine performance.

- Thank you. They got you trapped!

- Don't learn the piano.

- Just Chopsticks.

- Great performance.

- Thank you.

- Have you seen Georgie anywhere?

- She was here a minute ago.

There you are, dear.

I only lost about half of it.

Now is as good a time as any

to say thanks to both of you.

For what?

If it hadn't been for you,

Ray Watson would be here now,

looking for a coffee spoon.

Frank, there are as many reasons

for drinking as there are drinkers.

There are only two reasons

why a drinker stops.

He dies or decides to quit

all by himself.

I'm not sure I have.

I faced a crisis up in Boston

and got away with it.

Just about anybody can face a crisis.

It's everyday living that's rough.

I'm not sure I can lick it,

but I think I got a chance.

The point is, Georgie, what about us?

Don't go, Bernie. You're involved.

There's only one thing more obvious

than two people gazing at each other,

and that's two people avoiding it.

Frank, I didn't want to bring up

any of this tonight.

But you did, so let's have

the whole truth.

I married you for happiness.

Yours and mine.

If necessary, I'll leave you

for the same reason.

I can't guarantee you that happiness.

The rest of the whole truth is that

it was as much my fault as yours.

Bernie accused me of wanting you

completely dependent,

of wanting to control your life.

I denied it, of course, but I think

there's an element of truth there.

I don't want to run that risk again.

No, you're right.

This is something

I've got to work out for myself,

with you or without you.

Whether the show is a hit

or a flop is beside the point.

I've got to find myself,

whether it's in one room or five.

I don't think there's any point in us

torturing each other any longer.

You two talk it over. I'll go home.

But, Georgie, don't dismiss

what we had together.

I gave you ten of the roughest years

anybody ever spent outside

of a concentration camp.

It could be more of the same.

That was quite a little speech.

I'm still giving a performance.

This time there's a difference.

At least I know it's a performance.

I know it's gratifying

to be wanted and needed,

but not for every minute

of every day.

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