The Five Pennies Page #9

Tony, how come the table

is set for four?

Are you expecting the Andrews Sisters?

As for you,

you don't even like movie stars.

I do.

All right, Loring. It's a plot.

I read that Tony was in town,

so I called him.

Of course, I can't start you right off

at Carnegie Hall, you know?

But listen, there's a little club

on Ventura Boulevard. It's a beginning.

Not for me. Let's get out of here, baby.

Red, what's the matter?

It's another guy

you're talking about, Tony. Just forget it.

- Red?

- Red.

Hey, Red. Hey, man,

where have you been?

- Hi, Jimmy. Hello, Glenn. How are you?

- It's good to see you.

- And Bobbie. Is that Dorothy?

- It is.

What're you doing with Tony?

I thought you were out

of the music business for good.

Oh, no, we're just passing through

on my way to Hawaii.

- That's great. Retired, huh?

- Yeah. Yeah, I'm retired...

just sit at home,

clipping coupons all the time.

I never knew any member of the Union

ever made it.

- Well, you're looking at one, Jimmy.

- Oh, yeah.

Well, I'd like to hang around, boys,

but I've gotta go and see my broker.

How about some food?

- No, thanks.

- No, we're not hungry.

- Mr. Dorsey.

- Yeah.

- Well, I got it.

- Well, let me have it!

No, I can handle it, fellows.

Jimmy, the next time...

some lush asks you to play

Melancholy Baby just one more time...

and you're out there

breaking your backs...

on those one-nighters out in the sticks...

just remember

the one fellow who made it, huh?

The old redhead, remember him?

- Sure enough.

- So long, slaves.

- Good to see you. Take care.

- Good luck, Red.

It's a great future

you and Tony figured out for me.

Hotlips Nichols, at my age.

How may I help you fix this sandwich?

You've got everything in it but the dog.

Blowing my brains out

in some nightclub.

You build any good ships lately?

No. Well, now, honey,

you know the music business.

It's a lot different now.

People don't want

my kind of music anymore.

That wouldn't have stopped you before.

I've been sitting around here for years...

waiting for you

to punish yourself enough...

so you could go back

to the only thing that makes you happy...

but you've been punishing yourself

so long...

- you're beginning to like it.

- Bobbie.

Well, what happened

to the wonderful lunatic I married?

- That was ages ago.

- I don't know if it'll be good, bad...

or terrible,

and I don't think that really matters.

I just wanna get you out of that shipyard

before we lose the war.

I'm beginning to think I've lost mine.

You can sleep in that sandwich, tonight.

Pull the rye bread over you.

I'm not gonna start all over again

like I was 18.

That's not for me.

None of us are as young

as we used to be, you know.

Except your mother, of course.

She's about four and a half.

Dad, why did you

quit the music business?

I forget.

I guess I never even said thank you.

I can remember so many things now.

So can I, baby.

The ice age and the big flood...

and Noah waving me aboard.

Daddy?

Would it be too tough for you...

to try and pick up where you left off?

You wanna know the truth?

Yes, it would be too tough.

My lip's gone, honey.

I've laid off too long...

and when that happens

to a horn player...

it just never comes back. It...

Well, in my case anyway, it would be...

just impossible. That's all.

I remember, when I talked like that...

and you threw a hot blanket on me,

right on this table.

There's a lot of your mother in you,

isn't there?

You don't seem to understand

any better than she does.

All these fellows I started

in the band business...

are all big-time bandleaders now.

Benny, Glenn, Jimmy...

They'd be laughing up their sleeves

at me.

"There was one kid on our block,

Meyer the crier."

Good night, Meyer.

Some of the kids still laugh at me.

- Good night.

- Good night, dear.

Hey, Tony, feast your eyes

on this mammoth opening.

My name outside

certainly pulled them in, didn't it?

- Could shoot a cannon out there.

- It's still pretty early, yet.

It's awful late.

At least, I thought a couple

of fellow dinosaurs would show up...

only to see

how long it took me to crack my lip.

I guess fans forget

pretty good, don't they?

Hey, paisan...

you got two fans out there...

that I'd give all the willing waitresses

in Hoboken for.

What do you care if nobody shows up?

Go out there and play for them.

Yeah. I would ask them if they got some

cotton with witch hazel on it...

Now, wait a minute. Listen to me,

will you? I never told you this before...

but all the time on the road, you know?

I was having all that fun...

and you were tied down

with your companion and baby?

Well, I thought you were

the luckiest guy in the world...

and I still think so.

Look at me.

$150 suits, shoes from England...

closets full of everything,

including dames.

I mean, what am I trying to prove?

Tell me.

Next time I go east,

maybe I'll stop off in Brooklyn, huh?

Who knows?

I guess I'll go out

and keep the kids company.

Yeah.

He's been practicing two solid months.

Won't you come home, Bill Bailey

Won't you come home?

I'm feeling all alone

Now, I know I'm to blame

Ain't that a shame

Bill Bailey,

won't you please come home

Joseph Haydn,

why didn't you come out sooner?

Bobbie, why don't you come up here?

I'd like to have the whole band.

Go on, Bobbie. Go on.

You come, too.

Ladies and gentlemen, our society

chanteuse, Miss Bobbie Meredith.

- Aren't they wonderful?

- Yeah.

- Someday, they'll all be working for me.

- Come on, Bobbie. Belt it out.

I don't think I can.

I'm a little misty-eyed tonight.

I've got a surprise for you, too.

You... You couldn't be.

- Show me the rabbit.

- Now, you turn around.

All right.

May I have this dance?

This little penny is to wish on

And make your wishes come true

This little penny is to dream on

Dream of all you can do

This little penny is a dancing penny

See how it glitters and it glows

As bright as a whistle

Light as a thistle

Quick

This little penny is to laugh on

To see that tears never fall

This little penny

Is the last little penny

And most important of all

For this penny is to love on

And where love is, heaven is there

So with just five pennies

if they're these five pennies

That's enough, baby.

You'll be a millionaire

Put me down.

I can stand on my own two feet now.

So can I, my darling.

- Alakazam kazam kazam.

- Alakazam kazam kazam.

Give me my horn, Tony.

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