The Great Ziegfeld Page #13

your stocks any longer.

Mr. Billings, we've had

to sell you out too.

Well, that takes me back

to my second childhood consistently.

I was a poor kid when I started.

- Mr. Ziegfeld's on number six for you.

- Excuse me, Mr. Billings.

Hello? Oh, yes, Mr. Ziegfeld.

Yes, we had to sell you out

about half an hour ago.

Yes.

I know it is, and I'm terribly sorry.

- I didn't know Ziegfeld was in the market.

- Yes, very heavy.

- He'll lose everything.

- Everything?

Everything.

Well, this is one time

he can't get it from me.

Yes, madam. Yes, madam, it is.

The doctor left

about 10 minutes ago, madam.

He seemed very happy

about Mr. Ziegfeld.

Said he might stay up for a while longer.

Oh, he did so enjoy sitting up to dinner

with you and Miss Patricia.

- No, madam.

- But don't let him stay up too long.

Yes, I know, but the more he rests,

the sooner he'll be well again.

And tell him I'll be home

immediately after the performance.

- It's time for your entrance, Miss Burke.

- Yes, yes.

Sidney, be sure to call me

right after the second act.

Yes, about 10:
05.

Yes, madam.

Madam was very happy about you, sir.

Oh, my poor Billie.

I wish she weren't working.

But it does help some, Sidney.

- Get those wires off as quickly as you can.

- Yes, sir.

Were you able to reach

Eddie Cantor by phone?

The Los Angeles operator's

been trying for some time, sir.

Tell her to keep on trying.

- Sidney?

- Yes, sir?

When you get him...

...tell him that I want him

for a new show.

Tell him I'll start rehearsals the instant

he can get away from those pictures.

Tell him I need him.

- I haven't had a real show in two years.

- Yes, sir.

- Wasn't that the bell, Sidney?

- Yes, sir.

Well, why don't you answer it.

Yes, sir.

- Mr. Billings.

- Hello, Sidney.

How's Mr. Ziegfeld?

Well, he's much improved, sir,

but he's very nervous.

He will be glad to see you, sir.

If we could get him

started on a new show, sir.

- Yeah.

- I mean to say, if he had the money, sir.

Yes, well, we'll see that he gets it.

My valet isn't as efficient

as you used to be, Sidney.

He lets me neglect things.

All right for me to see him?

- Yes, sir. I wouldn't stay too long.

- No, no, no.

Well, hello, Ziggy.

How are you feeling?

Hello, Jack.

I'm feeling much better.

- Thank you. Sit down, won't you?

- Yes.

Let me look at you.

I don't think you've been sick. Just playing

possum so your creditors can't find you.

No.

No creditors.

No. No creditors.

- When are you gonna be up and around?

- Well...

...pretty soon now, I hope.

- Hurry up.

I'm expecting you

to go to Europe with me.

Oh. Well, when are you sailing?

In a couple of weeks.

We'll stop off at Monte Carlo.

You can break the bank again.

And then we'll go to London. Maybe

we can find some new talent together.

Does it interest you?

Yes. Yes, I'd like to go to London.

Yeah? Why?

- You got someone in mind?

- No.

- Why, have you?

- No.

But I wouldn't tell you if I had, not if

you were 10 times as sick as you are.

Oh, those were great old days, Jack.

Yeah.

Remember the fair?

Do I. Little Egypt.

- Sandow.

- Yeah, and then Anna Held.

Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry, Ziggy.

Why is it, Jack, that in a world so old...

...life must be so short?

Short? I feel as if

I'd been here 1000 years.

And I'm gonna stay 1000 more.

And you'd feel the same way if you'd

snap out of it and get a new show started.

Yes.

Yes, I'd like to do another Follies.

Why don't you do it.

Don't you think it's about time

that you and I split 50-50 in something?

I'd love to, Jack.

But it'll take a lot of money.

I've never refused you before, have I?

No, but...

...that was all in the dark ages.

Before the Depression, I mean.

- I heard that the market got you.

- Me? Why, I... Don't be silly.

I'm too smart for any stock market.

Oh, I lost a couple of thousand or so,

but I got out in time.

- Really?

- Yeah.

How about you? Did it get you?

Oh, no. No, I...

I never played the market.

Oh, I may have dropped

a few hundred, maybe...

...but nothing to speak of.

Well, how much money

do you suppose it'll take, Ziggy?

- A couple of hundred thousand.

- A couple of hundred thousand?

Well, okay, it's a deal.

Pull yourself together, get well,

and I'll give you money.

Isn't that wonderful, Mr. Ziegfeld?

Doesn't that make you feel better, sir?

Yes, that makes me feel much better.

Jack...

...you're a real person.

Yeah, well, you're...

You're not a bad sort yourself, Ziggy.

Well, I'll drop in tomorrow.

Yes. Do that.

And, Ziggy, if you just put your mind to it,

I think you'll be up and around in a week.

Don't let me rush you, because

while you're here convalescing...

...I'll be picking out the gals

for the new show.

- Well, he looks all right to me, Sidney.

- Undoubtedly he will be, sir.

Thanks to you.

I hope so.

Take good care of him, Sidney.

Because if anything happened

to Ziggy, I...

Well, take good care of him.

Mr. Ziegfeld.

Mr. Ziegfeld.

I wouldn't tax my strength

if I were you, sir.

Sidney...

...I've got things to do.

I must get Cantor, Bill Rogers,

Bill Fields.

They must come back to me!

I'll have all my old stars

together in one great show.

I must do the biggest Follies

of my whole life!

I...

Oh, Sidney, I'm so terribly broke.

But Mr. Billings, sir,

isn't he going to help you?

Sidney, he hasn't a nickel.

He was lying to me just

to make me feel better.

We're both broke.

I wouldn't worry about that, sir.

You've been broke before, sir.

Yes, I know.

I've always laughed about it.

But I can't laugh anymore, Sidney...

...because I've been wrong.

I've got nothing.

Nothing to leave anyone.

Nothing, sir?

You leave them the memories...

...of the finest things ever done

on the stage, sir.

You'll leave them a name that they

can be proud of all their lives.

You'll soon feel better...

...and then you can do more beautiful

things than ever before, sir.

It's nice of you, Sidney, to say that.

I must call madam again now, sir.

It's after 10.

The memories...

...of the finest things ever done

on the stage.

Chicory 5161.

Hello? Get me Miss Burke's

dressing room, please.

Yes.

Oh, Miss Burke. He seems

to be resting comfortably.

Yes, I thought you'd like to know.

Yes, Miss Burke.

Yes, I'll deliver your message.

Mr. Ziegfeld.

Mr. Z...

Hello. Is Dr. Hassel

still in the building, please?

Would you ask him to come up

to Mr. Ziegfeld's apartment at once?

Yes. Hurry, please.

I've got to have more steps.

I need more steps.

I've got to get higher.

Higher.

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