The Entertainer Page #6

- Every night's a party night.

And do you know why? Look at her.

Look at that poor, pathetic old thing there.

She's very drunk.

And her untrained mind is racing because

her blood's full of alcohol we can't afford.

- What's he talking about?

- She's tired and she's getting old.

She's tired of me. Nobody ever

gave her very much except me.

And my God, she's tired of that.

Aren't you, my old darling?

I tried to make something of myself.

I really did try.

I was nothing much to look at.

I was a plain kid.

No, I wasn't. I wasn't even plain.

I was the ugliest bloody kid

you ever saw in your life.

But I made something of myself.

I made him want me.

- It was a long time ago.

- Have a row, but can it be a quiet row?

Stop yelling, I can't hear myself shout.

Sing us a song, there's a good boy.

- Where's the old man?

- In the kitchen.

Billy, come out of there.

You know you're only reading.

What's he doing messing in there?

He knows I don't like him being in there.

Leaves everything in such a mess.

- You've been at that cake.

- What?

- You've been at my cake.

- I was hungry.

But that cake was for Mick.

It wasn't for you.

- I'm sorry.

- I bought it for when he comes home.

- Why couldn't you leave it alone?

- I just fancied it.

Couldn't you leave it alone?

It wasn't for you.

What's the matter with you?

I feed you, don't I?

Don't think you give me

all that much money every week.

- Forget it.

- I won't.

- We'll buy another.

- You'll buy another!

You're so rich.

You're such a great big success!

What's a little cake?

We'll order a dozen of them.

Well, I bought that cake.

And it cost me 30 shillings.

It was for Mick.

Because I wanted to give him something.

Something that I know he'll like

after going through what he has.

And now that bloody greedy old pig.

That old pig!

As if he hasn't had enough of everything

already, he's got to get his fingers in it!

(wails in despair)

Excuse me, Jean.

Well, I suppose he's had more out of life

than any of us and he's enjoyed it.

Good luck to him.

All the same, you needn't have done that.

I'm so sorry, Archie.

Please try and forgive me.

Come on, love! Pull yourself together.

We should have all done that years ago.

Let's all pull ourselves together,

together, together

Let's pull ourselves together

and the happier we'll be

That's right. Remember we're British.

Don't worry, Jean. You won't

have to endure this much longer.

Phoebe, let's see you do your dance.

Jean, play something. She dances well.

I wonder if she'll make me cry tonight.

We'll see. Frank, sing us a song.

When there isn't a girl about

you feel so Ionely

When there isn't a girl about...

Wait a minute.

I'm just trying to remember...

The girl I love is up in the lavatory...

Archie, no. Not like that. It's rude.

- You sing it, Phoebe.

- No, I can't sing.

All right, then.

The boy I love, he's up in the gallery

The boy I love, he's smiling now at me

Where is he? Can't you see?

Waving his handkerchief

As merry as a robin that sings on a tree

- Jolly good, old girl.

- No, it sounded bloody awful.

- This letter's from Claire.

- May I have another cup of tea?

Just a minute. I want to read it.

I want you to listen too.

Claire's my niece, the one in Canada.

John's daughter.

They're all there now,

my brother John as well.

They started off in the restaurant business

with $500. There's their little girl.

Now they have a hotel in Toronto.

And they're opening another.

You don't have to look interested.

She's not interested in that.

- Of course she's interested.

- Frank, would you get me another tea?

I'm only trying to explain to her.

They've got this one hotel in Toronto.

Now they're opening one in Ottawa.

John manages the hotel

in Toronto for them

and now they want us to go out there and

for Archie to manage the hotel in Ottawa.

- What do I know about hotels?

- He gets cross if I mention it.

Don't say that once more.

You've mentioned it and I'm not cross.

I just think it's a bloody pointless idea.

Anyway, you can't get

draught Bass in Canada.

- I'm going to the theatre.

- Do you want dinner?

I don't think so.

I'll grab a bite somewhere.

Jean, why don't you bring some

fish and chips to the old dump?

Remember, when you were a kid?

I'll bring the champagne.

I don't often see my little daughter. Ta-ta.

Bye.

He doesn't like me talking about it.

But we needn't decide for a month or two.

- What about the boys?

- They can come too if they want.

I don't know about Mick,

but Frank likes the idea.

- Do you, Frank?

- Well, take a look around you.

Can you think of any good reason for

staying in this cosy corner of Europe?

Who are you? You're nobody.

You're nobody, you've no money

and you're young.

And when you're not,

you'll still have no money,

you'll still be nobody

and the only difference is you'll be old.

Sometimes I think you're the only

sensible one of any of us.

Here we are. Champagne.

Remember when I picked you up

at the bottom here?

You'd been very naughty on the toboggan.

(laughs)

- Phoebe seems very keen on Canada.

- Yeah.

- I went to Canada during the war.

- I remember.

Couldn't get draught Bass,

not even in Toronto.

Seemed to think that was pretty English.

Didn't seem very English to me.

That Trafalgar Square thing.

Did you really believe in all that?

I thought I did at the time.

Like me and draught Bass

and women, eh?

- Are you meeting someone?

- No.

Just a man about some scenery.

Got half an hour.

Phoebe seems to have set her heart on it.

Your mother...

Your mother caught me

in bed with Phoebe.

I didn't know.

I don't know what I really expected,

but I expected you to say more than that.

You'd...

You'd just been born.

And your mother caught

poor old Phoebe and me together.

Poor old Phoebe.

She's never even enjoyed it very much.

Anyway, your mother walked out.

She walked out just like that.

She was what you'd call a person of...

a person of principle.

You mean, you didn't love my mother?

Yes. I loved her.

I was in love with her.

Whatever that may mean.

Anyway, a few months later

she was dead. That was that.

Tell me something. Will you?

I want you to tell me something.

Well, what would you say

to a man of my age

marrying a girl of...

about... your age?

Oh, Dad!

You're not serious.

You couldn't.

You couldn't do

a thing like that to Phoebe.

You've been away from

your old man a bit too long.

- My scenery man. Got to go.

- Where are you meeting him?

- At the Rockcliffe.

- I'll walk down with you.

Don't bother. I'm in a bit of a rush.

Why don't you take old Phoebe

to the pictures?

Here you are, love. Thanks.

- What's the matter, Jean?

- It's Archie.

- What is it now?

- A girl.

- That's nothing new.

- He's thinking of marrying this one.

- I don't believe it.

- It's true.

- What about Phoebe?

- Exactly.

- Who is it?

- She was in the beauty competition.

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