The Eddy Duchin Story Page #6

Thanks for asking us.

- Good.

- Eddy, can I see you a minute?

Yeah, sure.

Excuse me.

We're opening the Waldorf in a week,

and we've got to make some replacements.

These are the men available.

I like your father.

I seen his picture in the paper.

I've seen it a dozen times.

Take the lead, Peter.

That was a wonderful session, Peter.

- Thanks.

- That was solid, as they said.

- Say, I got another one.

- Now, I regret to add...

we have a dental appointment.

I wish I didn't have to go.

Do I have to go?

Why don't you ask your father?

I'm asking you.

This would be

our third cancellation.

I think you'd better go.

There'll be other times.

Miss Wynn is right.

Very well.

Good-bye, fellas.

I gotta go to the dentist.

All right, let's go, boys.

Clock's running. Let's go.

We haven't got all day.

We open in a week.

Let's go, boys.

Come on. Eddy's waiting.

All right, fellas,

I want to take the theme now.

Chiquita, I think I'd like to dance.

- Congratulations, Eddy.

- Welcome home, Eddy.

Thank you.

It's good to be here.

Enjoying yourself, son?

Nat, take over for me, will you?

Eddy, the band never sounded better.

- Take it from Cugat. He know.

- Thank you.

- What's the matter with your arm?

- Nothing, nothing.

It's just hot in there.

I'll go back in a minute.

Eddy, what's the matter

with your hand?

Nothing.

Nothing that a good massage

won't remedy.

- That room's no icebox, you know.

- I know.

I've booked you for 20 years, and we've

always given them a two-handed player.

Lou, will you leave me alone!

I just got a little tired.

That's all.

- Let me call the house doctor.

- No, no, no. Really.

It's all right. There's nothing wrong.

See? It's okay.

Good. You know, Eddy,

on the rainy side of 40...

a man ought to have a medical checkup

at least twice a year.

Medical checkup twice a year.

We'll get one next week.

Dad?

Mr. Duchin?

Dad!

I'm afraid.

Can I stay with you?

Of course, son.

Hop in.

Dad?

Yes?

Daddy, I love you!

I was thinking. Why is this holiday

next week called Labor Day?

Why?

Because nobody works.

I'm starved!

- Great kid, isn't he, Lou?

- Yes, he is.

Reminds me of you when you flew into

the casino first time I met you.

I don't have to have my tonsils out,

if you care to know.

I'm hungry.

I want something to eat.

Hey, Hopalong.

Get upstairs and wash.

Cook isn't feeling well,

so I'll rustle you up some grub.

Okay!

America's still

full of wild Indians.

Did the doctor look at his throat?

Yes, of course.

Both of us. Nothing's wrong.

Edith and Sherm

are certainly burning up Europe.

I'll get Peter something to eat.

Will you stay, Lou?

Oh, no, thanks, Chiquita.

That's the kind of woman for you.

- Was, you mean.

- There are other doctors.

Dr. Richter's a specialist, Lou.

Where are you going?

Back to the hotel

to think about my sins.

- Maybe I'll see you later.

- Yeah.

Life can be heartless,

huh, Lou?

Hungry too?

No, I- Just in the mood

to beat a teakettle.

May I?

- Beat a what?

- Teakettle.

What does that mean?

It's an old expression.

" Beat a teakettle. "

It means jabber jabber.

Jabber away.

Well, where's the jabber?

You say something.

That bird is brilliant.

Do you hear it out in the garden?

That's topic one. Next.

Next?

Not only packaged bread,

but packaged, sliced bread.

This is an American luxury

that passes all understanding.

Eddy, if I-

if I may begin again...

it makes me very happy that

Peter and you are together and...

Peter really has a father.

I'll miss him.

Miss him?

Where are you going?

Home to England.

What's in England?

England's home to me.

What is home?

Is it perhaps the place

where your husband is?

I suppose it is,

if you have the husband.

Did it ever occur to you that

I might ask to be your husband?

Well, frankly, no.

I've always known how

you felt about Peter's mother.

Chiquita, I'd like

to tell you about that.

I loved Marjorie

more deeply than my own life.

I'd never deny that.

We were gay friends, tender lovers,

a pair of kids together.

How often can you be kids together?

Only once, Chiquita.

And no one, but no one...

gets the big jackpots of life

more than once.

Young love is once.

The first time you have a child.

Or watching your parents grow old.

That's another "once. "

I didn't know that

when Marjorie went.

I tried to live

in a charmed circle...

that was gone forever.

I want you to know, Chiquita...

I'd give anything for you

not to leave Peter and me.

What did you say?

Excuse me.

I didn't have the right to say it.

In all my life,

I've never admired a woman more.

Do you understand?

Eddy, I really don't understand

what you're talking about.

- Eddy, I-

- Please,just go away.

I don't understand.

Are you angry with me?

- Of course not.

- Then what's wrong?

Chiquita, will you-

I love you.

I love you.

- You know that, don't you?

- No, I don't.

I don't understand all this, Eddy.

Well, it's nothing

you'd like to understand.

All right.

I'm gonna die.

Maybe you understand that.

It's that plain and simple.

The doctor used

a fine 20-dollar phrase-

"unfortunate prognosis. "

That's polite for "hopeless. "

Eddy, wait a minute.

What's hopeless?

- The doctor said-

- He said I have a year to live.

It's called hematocytosis.

Perfectly harmless to your neighbors...

only you get gobbled up

and disappear.

I can't believe it.

That's what I told the good doctor.

He turned away and shook his head.

- Then we'll go to another doctor.

- Chiquita, stop it.

I've been to three,

and their opinions don't differ.

Eddy, they-

So much for love...

or whatever future

we might have-

Does anyone know?

Only Lou.

Does Peter know?

Not yet.

Look.

Look at the speed of the river.

It's strange how unreal

the real can be.

Have to call my folks in Boston...

say hello.

Eddy, I would be so proud

to be your wife.

I don't want pity.

It has nothing to do with pity.

No, I couldn't do that.

Eddy, I love you so much.

You love me?

For such a long, long time.

I want to be your wife.

You know...

if this weren't

Edith's wedding present...

out the window it would go.

Oh, sure.

$20 worth of Renoir?

D- seventh.

You like it there?

You know, this place

is getting a little crowded.

Well, not with pictures.

With pianos.

You know, I knew I was marrying

for better or worse.

But two pianos?

Doesn't everyone have two pianos?

Say, that's Uncle Lou.

You see? He didn't forget.

Lou promised to take him to a movie.

- The albums?

- Yeah.

- Daddy, your albums are here.

- Fine. Thank you, Lou.

- Don't mention it.

- Hello, Lou.

- Can I borrow him for a couple hours?

- If you promise to bring him back.

I will.

Let's take Lou with us when

we go to Bermuda next spring.

- Aren't we going to Bermuda?

- Sure.

And next summer,

Italy and France too?

I'm gonna row a gondola.

- I'm ready. Good-bye, Daddy.

- Good-bye, Peter.

- Good-bye, Chiquita.

- Have a good time at the movies.

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