The Goodbye Girl

1

Here's our stop, come on.

This time next week... California!

You excited?

Me, too. I can't wait.

Were you ever there?

Once, for six weeks,

touring with some musical.

In the middle of December we went swimming.

- Which musical?

- What's the difference?

I'm tryin' to tell you

how beautiful it's gonna be.

We're gonna look for a little house

way up in the hills.

Near the movie studios?

Yes, your window will face Warner Bros.

You can watch them blow up

the world from your bed. All right?

Oh, God. Can you imagine

your very own orange tree? And lemons!

I think the musical was Fiddler on the Rool.

I stayed with Grandma. I was 4.

You were never 4. You were born 26!

Do you think I'll be in the same grade?

Of course you will! Everything's the same

out there, only it's three hours earlier.

You'll graduate younger.

A girl from California's in our class.

She went to school

with Helen Reddy's daughter.

What about you?

After this picture they'll be saying:

"There goes Tony DeForrest's little girl."

Yeah, but he's not a star,

he's just an actor.

Stars have to be actors first.

- And he's not really my father!

- You're such a stickler for details!

Can I show Tony all my things first?

Later. You have homework to do.

We're moving in four days.

Do I have to do homework?

Suppose between now and Friday

they teach brain surgery?

I wouldn't want you to miss it.

We had it last week in science.

- Are you serious?

- Dumb! You know you're dumb!

I thought maybe in frog dissection.

What do I know?

Can I just show him my new sweater and jeans?

All right!

But wash your face and brush your hair.

And no makeup!

Tony?

Sweetheart?

You in the bathroom?

We cleaned out Alexander's!

We bought everything on sale...

...so you'd better like it

'cause we can't exchange it.

I bought you a present. Babe?

Come out and see!

Babe?

Oh, my God!

What happened?

He's gone!

He left without us!

For California?

For Italy.

- Can I read it?

- Yeah.

"Dear Paula,

this isn't an easy letter to write."

Doesn't start off too good, does it?

"Where in the hell do I begin?

"You know, you and the kid mean a lot to me."

The kid?

"I turned down the job in L.A.

It was just a lousy TV picture anyway.

"On Monday, Stan Fields called.

"I got the Bertolu..."

Bertolucci.

"Bertolucci picture."

- Who's Bartolucci?

- An Italian director.

What'd he direct?

What are you asking questions

like that now for?

"It's six months shooting in Spain and Italy.

"It's a hell of a part, and I want it.

I broke my ass..."

- Give me that!

- "Ass!" I've heard the word before.

"I broke my ass for 12 years and things

are finally beginning to break for me.

"I told you when you first moved in here

that it was never going to be permanent.

"I'm not even divorced from Patti yet."

Who's Patti?

- I told you about her.

- No, you didn't.

I thought you would be upset if you knew

you were living with a married man.

I wasn't living with him, you were.

I was in the next room.

They were practically divorced.

"I left early today because I didn't think

a goodbye scene would do us any good."

This is one of the worst letters

I've ever read in my whole life.

Isn't it terrible?

"I wish I had something

to leave you and the kid."

He didn't leave us anything?

"I had to sell my watch and camera

to pay off the loan sharks."

He owed money to sharks?

I'll explain it some other time.

"But I know you'll be all right.

You can always go back to dancing."

Dancing? I'm 33. I can hardly walk anymore.

"You deserve more than I can give.

"I wish the both of us

all the luck in the world.

- "Love to the kid."

- Don't read anymore.

There's just one more word: "Tony."

Throw it away!

Does this mean we're not going to California?

Yes.

That means I have to do my homework, right?

I see you, Paula. You can't hide from me!

Down, up and over.

Once again!

What have you done to your body?

It died! Have a little respect.

Once again.

Come on, Paula, push.

Paula?

Donna. Donna Douglas.

I was the swing girl

when you were in Company.

Oh, yes! Hello, Donna.

Tough getting back into shape?

It's been two years. It's amazing

how flabby you get when you're happy.

Hi, Mrs. Crosby.

You leavin' tonight or in the mornin'?

I'm sorry, what was that?

Just checkin' on what time

you'll be vacatin'.

We're not going to California.

I forgot to tell you.

I'm not the only one you forgot to tell!

That apartment's been sublet.

Wait a minute!

What? What are you talking about?

We're paid up through June.

We have three more months.

You can't sublet that apartment!

I'm not! Your young man did, honey.

He sublet our apartment?

He notified me last night.

It's his name on the lease.

He can do what he wants.

Make sure you leave it like you found it.

I'm not leaving it!

I cleaned it and painted it and decorated it!

It's mine!

I don't care what he's done!

I'm not getting out! Do you understand?

That's none of my business, honey!

You can take that up with the sublettee.

I just don't want no trouble in my building.

That bastard! That no good bastard!

Who's that?

I don't know.

Maybe it's Tony! Maybe he changed

his mind and came back.

You're so young.

Stay there.

Who is it?

Elliot Garfield.

Who?

Elliot Garfield, from Chicago! Is Tony in?

There's nobody by that name here.

Wait a second.

3A, this is the right apartment.

I was here once about two years ago.

I don't care what apartment you've got,

there's no whatever-his-name-is here.

Could you open the door for a second?

Not at 12:
05.

You got a latch, you can keep it on.

I just want to talk to you for one second.

Make it fast. My husband's sleeping.

I think there's been a mistake.

I sublet this apartment

from a friend of mine, Tony DeForrest.

- He lives here.

- That'll be news to my husband, Charlie.

I have a receipt here in my pocket

for three months rent.

I was supposed to arrive tomorrow,

but I came a day early...

...because I'm starting work in the morning

and I figured I could spend the night here.

You look confused.

Can I talk to your husband?

He'll be at the 37th Precinct

at 9:
00 in the morning.

Charlie D'Agostino, Homicide. Good night.

Who was it?

Never mind.

Didn't sound like a "never mind" to me.

Tony rented the apartment to someone,

but I'm not giving it up. It's ours.

Go to sleep.

He rented the apartment.

You mean we have to leave?

Over my dead body.

What if they force us?

Let 'em try. Go to sleep.

He rented the apartment. What a shitheel!

- Hello?

- Hello. Is Tony there, please?

Who's calling?

You know who's calling. I was just there.

I recognize your voice, Mrs. D'Agostino!

Mrs. Who?

D'Agostino! How come your telephone

answers to Tony DeForrest's number?

And how come the key he sent me

Air Mail special delivery opens your door?

You want to answer those questions?

- No. Why don't you answer?

- I will.

I think the answer is

something fishy's going on up there!

I'm wet as a herring,

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