The Jolson Story Page #3

---

my posie sweet!

Did you hear that finish?

Come on, Tom. Get out there!

I don't know any more of Tom's songs.

Take a bow and collapse.

Get yourself off! Go on!

- What's the matter?

- He's sick.

- Let me help you.

- I'll take him back.

Jimmy, get the adagio team. Hurry up!

I'll murder you!

Give me that key to Baron's room.

He could get thrown out.

But the way I sang that finish.

Give me that key.

We gotta get Tom on his feet.

Get that make up off and you get yours on.

The stage manager

will be here to see if you died.

- I gotta go on!

- Get this through your head.

You've been on. You just came off.

- You got sick and quit after the first song.

- I did?

Don't you understand?

You weren't on at all. You couldn't make it.

- That idiot went on and sang for you.

- You were a big hit, Tom.

I'll talk to you later. Get that makeup off.

He's all right, Jonesy.

Nothing to worry about.

Mr. Hammerstein and Mr. Dockstader

are here to see him.

Hammerstein? Dockstader?

- What's the matter? Let me in!

- Just a minute!

Are you all right?

Did you hear what I told you?

- See, you were a big hit.

- Keep still.

Come in, gentlemen.

He's feeling much better.

Just a little indigestion.

Mr. Baron, gentlemen.

Mr. Dockstader, Mr. Hammerstein.

I'm glad to know you.

You were great out there tonight.

- Sorry you couldn't do more.

- Thank you, Mr. Hammerstein.

This is Steve Martin, gentlemen.

How are you? My partner, Al Jolson.

- How do you do?

- Martin and Jolson.

I have an idea you might do very well

at Hammerstein's Victoria...

if you'd consider opening in two weeks?

I don't know, Mr. Hammerstein.

That's wonderful. He gets an offer

to play on Broadway and he doesn't know.

That's a great break.

I don't carry a contract around with me,

but anything will do.

- I'd like to talk to you.

- Who me?

Outside.

I'm certain we won't have any trouble

about the terms.

Yes, sir, you're going to enjoy

playing my theater.

What did you say your name was?

Al Jolson.

- Did you ever sing in blackface?

- Him? Never.

You see, he just whistles, Mr. Dockstader.

Blacks up behind the ears to whistle.

I've seen Baron work before.

Hammerstein hasn't.

- I'll go and explain to Mr. Hammerstein.

- I wouldn't.

Hammerstein knows what he's doing.

I don't tell tales.

As for you, Jolson...

you can join Dockstader's Minstrels

in St. Louis next week.

You don't mean it.

- You hear that?

- That's from heaven!

St. Louis next week.

We'd have to leave the show on Saturday.

We can fix that, can't we?

Sure. There's a lot of new stuff

we're planning to put in the act.

- We'll have it ready Saturday.

- I can't use an act.

I only have a place for one man.

You mean you just want me?

What did you think?

What would I be doing with minstrels?

Steve and I have been together a long time

and we're working up a lot of new ideas.

Not me. You.

But this is what a guy like you prays for.

- Dockstader's Minstrels in one jump.

- Where you can sing your head off.

You mean the job calls for a singer?

What are you talking about?

What did you think?

Then I wouldn't be interested.

See, I like whistling.

Steve and I argue about that all the time.

He wants me to sing...

but at heart I'm a whistler.

It makes me happy.

- Martin and Jolson, five minutes.

- That's us.

Thanks a lot.

If you need a whistler, let me know.

Be with you in a minute, Steve.

When are you leaving town, Mr. Dockstader?

Tomorrow evening.

I might drop around to your hotel

in the morning.

I wonder what the porter did

with my bags. They're not here.

- Must be on the train somewhere.

- I'll see.

Hello, Jolson.

Hello, Mr. Dockstader.

I thought you were going to St. Louis.

I am. So are you.

- All aboard!

- Where's Steve?

He's not coming.

- Then I'm on the wrong train.

- No, you're not! This is the right train.

Steve wants you to go with me.

- I can't do it, Mr. Dockstader.

- But you're throwing away a great chance.

I want a girl

Just like the girl

That married dear old Dad

She was a pearl

And the only girl

That Daddy ever had

A good old-fashioned girl with heart so true

One who loves nobody else but you

And that's why I want a girl

Just like the girl

That married dear old Dad

Excuse me, Mr. Dockstader.

- It's been almost a year now...

- And you're doing fine.

You're making real progress

and I have some ideas for you.

I'm going to move you into a quartet.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Dockstader,

but you see, I had some ideas myself...

Steve Martin said

you break out with a rash now and then.

Ideas about what?

I wanted to talk to you

about the kind of song we're singing.

- Same one always in the same way...

- That's what they come to hear.

- It's tradition.

- But they might like something different.

My boy, minstrels have been doing fine

for 50 years.

We take pride in doing it

like it's always been done.

- I know that...

- But you've got a great point there.

We'll talk it over sometime.

She was a pearl and the only girl

That Daddy ever had

A good old-fashioned girl with heart so true

One who loves nobody else but you

Excuse me, Mr. Dockstader.

- I've been looking for a chance for weeks...

- I agree.

You've worked in that quartet long enough.

Time you moved up.

- I'm going to give you a chance in a duet.

- That'd be fine, Mr. Dockstader...

but the point is, if I do,

I'd like to try a different kind of song.

I mean something with a style

that's better for me...

faster tempo, more rhythm.

I'd like to look for something like that.

Sure. Talk to you about that again.

Must be some song around

you'd be happy with.

I want a girl, just like the girl

That married dear old Dad

She was a pearl and the only girl

That Daddy ever had

- Where you going to eat?

- I think I'll take a look at the town.

- I've never been in New Orleans before.

- Don't get lost. We've got a show tonight.

Mr. Dockstader,

Jolson hasn't showed up yet.

It's too late now anyway. Cut the duet.

I'm sorry I'm late...

It's intermission.

We had to skip your number.

I'm very sorry.

I just forgot.

I know that sounds crazy,

but I heard some music tonight...

something they call "jazz."

Some fellas just make it up

as they go along. They pick it out of the air.

They tell me they play it

for weddings, funerals...

Funerals?

Don't get the wrong idea.

You've never heard anything like this.

I sang with them. Nothing with words,

because the song doesn't have any.

In fact, it isn't even a song.

But you can make it one

and get words to fit.

It just needs to be worked on a little.

It's exciting.

It'll make the show a hundred times better.

I'm happy with the show as it is.

But you aren't, are you?

In fact, you never will be.

You'll always be chasing something

up ahead...

and keep forgetting your act

in a little thing like a minstrel show.

So, maybe, we ought to call it quits.

Don't you think so?

Yeah, I think you're right.

Good luck, Jolson.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes