The Jolson Story Page #7

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I'm going to California tomorrow.

- This last evening belongs to your friends.

- Wait. You mean in there?

Tell you a secret,

don't even know most of them.

How'd they get there?

It always seems to happen.

You see, I ask a few people up.

Then they ask some people

I never heard of...

and those strangers ask some

other strangers and before you know it...

- You're singing for them.

- Yeah, just for three or four hours.

You work till midnight and then you come

home and work three or four hours more?

I don't mind.

- You mean you love it.

- Yeah, I guess I do.

It's more than just singing.

I don't know how to tell you...

- You really don't have to, Mr. Jolson.

- Yes, I do.

I gotta tell you everything.

- AI, it's getting late and the gang wants...

- Go away, Steve, I'm busy.

Caught a cold. Can't sing a note. Go away.

You really ought to go in, Mr. Jolson.

No, I've got to tell you how I feel.

And it's gonna take me hours.

I shouldn't be rushing you like this.

You'll think I'm kidding.

But look, you see, I've been waiting

for something for a long time.

I didn't know what it was.

Steve was trying to tell me, it was about...

All about getting everything

and nothing out of life.

I didn't know what he was talking about,

and then I saw you.

Yes, sir, then I saw you.

Look, got a great idea.

Suppose you and I got married and went

to California together? How about it?

Of course, I'm rehearsing Show Girl,

and we open in two weeks.

Yeah, that's too bad.

If it just wasn't for that?

And a few other things.

Go ahead, tell me.

That's what I want to know. Like what?

That street down there.

Broadway? What a street.

You know something, baby?

It belongs to me.

You know something else?

If you want it, I'll give it to you.

That's the point. It's yours all right.

It's your whole life, too.

But I don't think it'll ever be mine.

Why, it's gonna say "Julie Benson"

down there in great big lights.

- Do you mean to say you don't want that?

- Yes, I want that.

- I'm just normal enough to want that.

- Sure. You're just a little scared now.

When you get some confidence

you'll begin to love it...

begin to feel it in your blood.

- That's the big difference.

- What's the big difference?

It was in your blood when you were born.

But I'm just a pretty good hoofer,

and I got a lucky break.

All I know is, I want a lot besides this.

Like what, Julie? Gotta know.

Well, in the first place, like a real home.

Sure, everybody wants a home.

- You won't care for the kind I'm thinking of.

- Why not? Why wouldn't I?

It would have to be far enough away.

Maybe way out in the country,

so that by the time you got there...

and closed the door, you'd have forgotten

all about show business.

It's funny, all of a sudden that's what

I've always wanted, to close a door.

I'll tell you something. I know the spot.

It's in Westchester.

Acres of pretty land, trees all around.

Go away, Steve.

Feeling worse all the time. Go away.

- Tell Ziggy I'll see Miss Benson home.

- It's getting pretty late, Mr. Jolson.

Late? But, baby, I'm going away tomorrow.

We're just getting places.

Come here, sit down.

Look, can you cut out that "Mr. Jolson"?

Why don't you just call me

by my southern name: Honey.

I know what's the trouble.

You don't believe me.

You don't believe I want anything different.

I'm trying to tell you, I was barging

through this big, beautiful world like a fool.

I do believe you, honey.

I always thought I'd like to fall in love

with the man I'll marry.

You're absolutely right,

and I'm not gonna rush you, baby.

In fact, we won't get married till I get back

from California. How's that?

Hello, darling. How are you?

How'd the dress rehearsal go?

Fine, Al. Yes, honest.

But opening tomorrow night

will be something else again.

I'm scared to death.

You got nothing to be scared about, honey.

You're gonna be wonderful.

Yeah, I'm still at the studio, working hard.

We shoot pretty soon.

It's gonna be all right, I think, when

I find out which end of the camera's which.

Get a good night's sleep and don't worry,

you hear? You're gonna knock them dead.

Yeah, I'll call you again tomorrow night.

Goodbye, angel.

- She all right?

- She says she's scared. She sounds it.

Steve, if I got a plane,

a special plane to fly right through...

I can be in New York

for that opening tomorrow night.

- What can you do in New York?

- I don't know.

I want to be there. Get on that phone.

Get the plane.

- You can't walk out on the studio.

- Be back soon and work twice as hard.

Phone Ziegfeld, tell him to hold me a seat

and not to tell Julie I'm coming.

... is rewarded when the world

will become aware

that Liza

is the fairest

of the fair

Liza, Liza, skies are gray

But if you'll smile on me

all the clouds will roll away

Liza, Liza

don't delay

Come, keep me company

and the clouds will roll away

I just made a date with Parson Brown

Liza, Liza

name the day

When you belong to me

all the clouds will roll away

Liza, Liza, skies are gray

But if you'll smile on me

all the clouds will roll away

Liza, Liza

don't delay

Come, keep me company

and the clouds will roll away

See the honey moon a-shinin' down

I just made a date with Parson Brown

Liza, Liza, name the day

When you belong to me

all the clouds will roll away

- Hello, baby.

- Hello, honey.

Hello? Who?

Al, how are you? Tell me, how'd it go?

What? I can't hear you.

Connecticut?

What are you doing in Connecticut?

You what?

- Meet Mrs. Jolson.

- Oh, my.

- Asa!

- I'm so happy, dear.

Mama, please. Please, give me a chance.

I don't understand. Married a few hours,

he runs to California...

It'll take me a couple of months to make

this picture, then I'll be home.

And that's where he's gonna stay.

Asa staying home. That will be a miracle.

Julie, there's only one thing

the matter with Asa.

He's got to sing. It's a wonderful thing.

Success is beautiful.

But Mama and I have worried...

because a home with love in it

is even better.

The way you say that is a little corny, Papa,

but you're right. Julie agrees with you.

What do you think we'll do?

We'll build a real home and settle down...

out in the country where it's nice

and quiet, with crickets and frogs.

I'll teach the frogs to sing Mammy,

so Al won't be lonely.

Thank you, honey.

- Asa, are you serious?

- Sure.

In fact, Julie doesn't know this yet.

I've got an architect at work.

I told him, "Build a house for Julie.

The sky's the limit."

- That I approve of.

- So do I.

Here. Here have some gefilte fish

with the horseradish, Julie.

Look out for the horseradish.

That stuff will curl your hair.

I think we'll have a barn, Mama,

and some cows.

- I'm gonna milk them myself.

- You?

- You, milk cows, Asa?

- You have to get up at 5:00 a.m.

We'll keep the cows up at night

so they'll sleep later in the morning.

Julie, you got too much.

There's a rainbow around my shoulder

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