The Jazz Singer Page #7

The old man looks at the boy, suddenly awakened from his reverie. His

face sets and his lips compress as he says, very slowly:

TITLE 42:
"I haven't got any boy."

Back to scene. Moey looks up at him wonderingly. The old man looks away

and Moey, boylike, is persistent. He tries it again:

TITLE 43:
"But Mike Lefkowitz says your boy is a singer

in a theayter way out west -- in Pittsburgh or

Buffalo."

The cantor looks down at Moey as though he just faintly hears him. He

shakes his head, saying to himself, "I have no boy." Then he rises

quickly from the chair and says to the boy:

TITLE 44:
"That is all for today -- come back tomorrow."

142.MED. SHOT ROOM

The boy starts out of the room at this, and the cantor sits down again

and is deep in thought as Moey exits.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

143.RABINOWITZ LIVING ROOM

Mrs. Rabinowitz is seated in the rocking chair, just opposite and a

short distance from Yudelson. Both have aged considerably. Yudelson is

better dressed and has more of the air of a prosperous citizen. His

beard is neatly trimmed and he wears well-tailored clothes. Mrs.

Rabinowitz's hair is grayer and there are deeper lines in her face. She

is leaning over, listening to Yudelson who has a letter in his hand from

which he is reading.

144.CLOSE SHOT BOTH

Yudelson looks up from the letter as he says: "Y' understand what he

means?" He starts to explain. But Mrs. Rabinowitz stops him and says:

TITLE 45:
"What else does Jakie say in the letter?"

Yudelson starts to read again. Sara leans over closer so that she won't

miss a word.

145.CLOSE-UP YUDELSON

He is reading the letter with elaborate gesticulations.

INSERT LETTER:

Omaha, June 4th.

Dear Mama:

I thought you would like to know I am getting

along great in vaudeville, and maybe I will

soon be a headliner, and a wonderful girl

whose name is Mary Dale got me my big chance

out in 'Frisco. Maybe I will be in New York

soon.

Your loving son,

Jakie

P.S. You can write me care State-Lake theater,

Chicago. Remember the name is Jack Robin.

Back to scene. Yudelson looks up as he finishes reading.

146.CLOSE SHOT BOTH

Mrs. Rabinowitz asks Yudelson what Jakie means by headliner. Yudelson

explains, and the old lady is thoughtful a moment.

147.CLOSE-UP MOTHER

She hesitates a moment, then turns to Yudelson and says:

TITLE 46:
"Read it again, what he says about the girl."

148.CLOSE SHOT BOTH

Yudelson again reads the passage about Mary Dale. He looks at Mrs.

Rabinowitz as though realizing what she is thinking of. He says: "Nu,

anything else?" Mrs. Rabinowitz hesitates, then says:

TITLE 47:
"Maybe he is fallen in love -- and by her name

she is a shiksa."

Yudelson thinks a moment, then shrugs his shoulders. He says:

TITLE 48:
"Maybe not -- you know Jennie Levi on the

theayter is Genevieve Leeds."

The old lady is relieved at this solution of her problem. Yudelson hands

her back the letter. She thanks him and he starts to get up.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

149.LONG SHOT BACKSTAGE

It is the stage of the State-Lake theater in Chicago, and a matinee

performance is in progress. There is the usual activity among the

stagehands preparatory to changing the set. The act which is now on is a

dancing act, and there is only a fleeting glimpse of the dancers through

the aperture of a narrow entrance. (A novel effect may be had by

shooting through the first entrance so that [there is] a view of part of

the audience as well as some of the dancers who are downstage. The dance

music may be reproduced by the Vitaphone.)

150.MED. SHOT STAGE

Through entrance from another angle there is a more complete view of the

dancers. Mary Dale, the principal of the act, is seen doing a movement

of her dance. (This should be of such grace and technique that would

warrant headline position for Mary.) As the dance comes to a close, a

figure comes into the foreground, and a side view shows that it is Jack

Robin in blackface. He applauds from the wings as Mary finishes.

Apparently he is just ready to go on with his act, or has just finished

and is watching Mary before he takes the make-up off his face.

151.CLOSE-UP JACK

He is applauding vigorously.

TITLE 49:
Orchard Street would have had some difficulty

in recognizing Jakie Rabinowitz of Beth-El

choir under the burnt cork of Jack Robin.

Back. He takes a step forward as though to meet the receding dancer as

she bows repeatedly in making her exit.

152.MED. SHOT SAME

Mary almost backs into Jack as she comes off the stage, and he puts out

a hand to catch her arm. The supporting dancers have exited on the other

side. There is just time for an exclamation of surprise from Mary as she

goes on the stage again for another bow. She turns to Jack as she gets

to him and puts a hand on his arm, as he compliments her on her dancing.

153.CLOSE-UP JACK AND MARY

She says to Jack with a humorous gleam in her eye:

TITLE 50:
"I don't know what I'd do, Jack, if it wasn't

for the encouragement you give me."

She laughs as she says this and Jack, realizing that she is kidding him,

says, in a rather embarrassed manner:

TITLE 51:
"Well, you know I'm just crazy about -- your act."

It is evident that he loses his nerve as he is about to tell her that it

is she he is crazy about. Mary starts for her dressing room, but is

suddenly awakened to the fact that the audience is still applauding and

she turns quickly to the entrance.

154.MED. SHOT SAME

Mary is out on the stage bowing to the audience again. She bows several

times as she backs into the narrow space again where Jack awaits her.

155.FULL SHOT STAGE

As Jack and Mary walk toward the dressing rooms, several persons on the

stage observe them. Two of the girls in the dancing act who are standing

at a door on the balcony overlooking the stage look at them and turn to

each other.

156.CLOSE-UP GIRLS

One of them, indicating Jack and Mary, says to the other:

TITLE 52:
"He's surely goofy about her."

The other one nods and says:

TITLE 53:
"But he ain't got a chance -- no Mammy singer

for Mary."

Back to scene. One opens the door and they go into girls' dressing room,

through the door of which may be seen the girls in various stages of

dishabille.

157.MED. SHOT JACK AND MARY

They are standing in front of the door of the stage dressing room. Jack

starts to leave, but Mary halts him telling him that she has something

to show him. He looks at her wonderingly. She opens the door and darts

into the room, returning immediately with a telegram which she hands

him.

158.CLOSE-UP JACK AND MARY

Jack takes the telegram and looks at it. It reads:

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