The Jazz Singer Page #12

256.CLOSE-UP JACK AND MARY

He stands looking at Mary in a surprised manner as she comes into scene

and greets him. Jack is still speechless except for the first "Mary

Dale!" Mary takes his hand. He looks at her, then blurts out:

TITLE 93:
"Why, what are you doing here?"

Mary laughs mischievously as she asks him if he has any objections to

her being there. Jack in an embarrassed manner says that he only said

that because he was so surprised to see her. He says:

TITLE 94:
"Then you're in this show, too?"

Mary nods and says with mock modesty:

TITLE 95:
"I'm merely the star, sir."

She looks up at him and says with a smile:

TITLE 96:
"And you're to be the other star."

Jack looks at her in a stunned manner. Gradually he solves the riddle:

it was Mary who was responsible for his summons to the big city -- the

great chance at last to shine on Broadway, every actor's ultimate goal.

He starts to blurt out his thanks. Mary stops him, then with a hurried

look around, she tells him to wait until later and they'll talk it all

over.

257. MED. SHOT SAME

Lee and Dillings come into the scene and Mary presents Jack to them.

Jack is somewhat embarrassed. He shakes hands perfunctorily with

Dillings but is rather more impressed by Lee. Dillings turns away after

the introduction, and Lee, trying to put Jack at his ease, asks him if

he will be ready for a rehearsal that evening. Jack nods.

258.CLOSE-UP JACK AND LEE

Lee takes a part book out of his pocket and hands it to Jack and tells

him he will give him the songs later. He says to Jack:

TITLE 97:
"You've been very highly recommended -- but

we've only got one person's word for it that

you can deliver."

Jack takes a step closer to Lee eagerly and tells him that he is sure

that he can make good. Lee nods rather ruefully and says:

TITLE 98:
"Well if you don't I'm sunk, because there is

only two weeks before the opening -- and

Dillings will be out a bunch of jack."

Back to scene. Jack again assures him eagerly.

259.MED. SHOT GROUP

Mary and Dillings rejoin Jack and Lee. Mary's attitude toward Jack is so

friendly that Dillings looks askance at her. Mary and Jack start talking

about the last time they saw each other in Chicago. Dillings breaks in

on the conversation. Lee looks at his watch and walks away toward the

center of the stage.

260.CLOSE SHOT THREE

Dillings turns to Mary and says that if she is ready he will take her to

dinner. Mary hesitates a moment, then after a quick look at Jack, she

turns to Dillings and says:

TITLE 99:
"I'm awfully sorry -- I just promised Mr. Robin

I'd have dinner with him -- I want to tell him

about the play."

Dillings looks from one to the other and, with an inarticulate grunt of

disgust, he raises his hat grudgingly and stalks out of the scene. Jack

stands looking at Mary dumbly. She turns and smiles at him.

LAP DISSOLVE INTO:

261.INT.CAFE CLOSE-UP

Jack and Mary are sitting in a corner of the cafe at a little table

facing each other. Mary is talking with animation. The waiter sets down

some dishes before them and exits. Mary finishes what she is saying and

Jack leans forward. He says:

TITLE 100:
"I can never -- if I live to be a million --

ever thank you, Mary, for what you have done

for me."

Mary holds up a hand in mock severity, much in the attitude of a traffic

cop halting an auto. She tells him to forget it. He says that he can't

and doesn't want to forget it. She is becoming embarrassed under his

earnestness. Finally he reaches over and takes her hand. Her eyes look

away from him. He leans over further and says half whisperingly:

TITLE 101:
"I suppose you think I'm out of my head, but

I--I'm crazy about you, Mary."

Mary looks up and says promptly:

TITLE 102:
"I'm crazy about you, too."

Jack looks at her then, a puzzled imploring look. He stammers out:

TITLE 103:
"You don't know what I mean."

Mary smiles and says, "What do you mean?" Jack takes a deep breath and

blurts out:

TITLE 104:
"I mean that I love you -- that I want to marry

you."

Mary leans over. The smile leaves her face. She strokes his hand as she

says quietly:

TITLE 105:
"That is what I thought you meant."

They lean over closely, looking into each other's eyes.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

262.CLOSE-UP DILLINGS

The camera is behind him and takes in part of his shoulder and hand

holding newspaper, without disclosing his identity.

DISSOLVE INTO:

Vignetted column section which reads as follows:

INSERT NEWSPAPER

"April Follies," which will be the next musical

revue on Broadway, opens tomorrow night at the

Fulton with several newcomers making their bow

in New York. Heading the list will be Jack

Robin, recruited from vaudeville, who is

expected to prove a sensation, and Mary Dale,

the clever danseuse, a vaudeville headliner

early this season. Robin is said to have been

discovered by Miss Dale while singing in a

resort in San Francisco.

DISSOLVE INTO:

263.CLOSE-UP DILLINGS FROM FRONT

He is seated in a very luxuriously equipped office. He shows much

annoyance at what he has read. He crumples up the paper and throws it on

the floor. Then he hurls his cigar into a corner of the room. He pauses

a moment as though considering what to do and finally jumps to his feet.

264.FULL SHOT OFFICE

Dillings goes quickly over to a hat tree, takes his coat and hat, and

exits hastily.

265.INT. THEATER

With camera in fly gallery, unique shot may be had of chorus in action

on stage in the midst of a rehearsal. Mary Dale is doing her dance with

the chorus.

266.CLOSE-UP MARY

She is seen as from the front in her dance.

267. FULL SHOT STAGE FROM WINGS

The chorus closes in behind Mary in some evolution of the dance, as Jack

and another player, both in costume, come into the foreground. As the

dance ends, they applaud heartily, and Lee, who has taken charge of the

last few rehearsals, motions from the side, dismissing them. The girls

troop off on the other side and Mary comes over to Jack.

268.CLOSE-UP JACK AND MARY

Jack is still applauding Mary as she, slightly out of breath from her

exertions, joins him. He takes her hands and tells her what a wonderful

dancer she is. Mary smiles in a deprecating manner and says:

TITLE 106:
"But it's you who will be famous tomorrow

night, Jack. It looks very much as though it

were your show. They're giving you everything."

Jack makes a nervous, self-disparaging gesture. Then he comes closer to

her and says:

TITLE 107:
"If I'm the success all of you think I will be,

I will only have you to thank."

Mary smiles and, without saying anything further, she presses his hand

and starts out of the scene toward her dressing room.

269.FULL SHOT STAGE

As Mary leaves him, Jack turns around to look after her. He hesitates,

however, as he sees Lee and Randolph Dillings, a few steps away, follow

the girl with their eyes, then turn and look at him. Jack starts toward

them, then, seeing that they start talking earnestly together, he turns

the other way as though to go over on the other side of the stage. He

goes to the piano downstage.

270.CLOSE-UP LEE AND DILLINGS

Dillings has finished saying something to him as Lee's jaw drops. He

looks at him in surprise and blurts out:

TITLE 108:
"You don't mean you'd take your money out of

the show the last minute?"

Back to scene. Dillings nods firmly. Lee demands to know the reason for

this sudden determination. Dillings points in the direction of Mary's

room and then to Jack. He says:

TITLE 109:
"Just the idea of Mary's interest in this jazz

singer of yours."

Back to scene. Lee starts to argue with Dillings, telling him that it is

nothing serious. Dillings, however, has guessed the true state of

affairs. He adds:

TITLE 110:
"I have no further interest in her career. Just

mail me a check today."

He starts to leave.

271.FULL SHOT STAGE

As Dillings leaves, Lee follows him, still eagerly trying to explain

that there is nothing between the two principals of the show. Just as he

is about to exit, Mary comes from her dressing room and almost collides

with him. Lee rushes up to them and takes Dillings's arm. Jack, who is

at the piano, sees Mary and starts across stage toward the group.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes