This Time for Keeps Page #2

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been out of the Army?.

Oh, not very long.

-I thought so.

-Why?.

Well, you still have a touch

of that yoo-hoo technique.

-ls this your dressing room?.

-Yes.

FERDl:

Come in.

-Ferdi, this is mister....

-Dick Johnson.

-Wouldn`t mean anything to you.

-You said it.

Although I have met you before, sort of,

but you wouldn`t remember.

My memory`s pretty good. Try me.

Oh, now I remember.

Do you mind?.

Why, no, of course not.

-You are beautiful.

-Ow!

-You broke my nose.

-l`ll do more than that.

You don`t get out,

l`ll take that nose and misplace it.

Mr. Farro, Mr. Johnson.

-How do you do?.

-Howdy.

Ferdi, you`ll remember Mr. Johnson.

He sang for us

at that convalescent hospital.

-You`re the friend of the family, remember?.

-l`ve been promoted.

I`m now the family watchdog.

Sounds like it might be fun.

Not only does he growl, but he bites.

So unless you have a reason

for wanting to see me--

-Well--

-A good reason.

Well, l`m just out of the Army

and it`s kind of hard getting settled again.

Some of my old friends are gone.

And some of my friends are so changed,

they`re not even like friends anymore.

And others haven`t changed at all.

So there`s no job anyplace, is that it?.

Well--

[KNOCKlNG]

FERDl:

Come in.

Oh, there you are, Nora.

You were wonderful.

NORA:

Thank you, Gordon.

[WHlSPERS]

Her brother, I hope.

NORA:

I want you to meet Dick Johnson.

-Mr. Coome, Mr. Johnson.

-[lN NORMAL VOlCE] How do you do?.

-Glad to know you.

-Mr. Johnson is just out of the Army.

He`s looking for a job.

-Don`t put yourself--

-Couldn`t you place him in the show?.

-What can you do?.

-Not much of anything, really--

He sings, and beautifully. I heard you.

-You had water in your ears.

-I could hear it. I liked what I heard.

-Ask Ferdi.

-I didn`t hear him. I was playing the piano.

I`ll see what can be done.

I`ll think about it.

-ln about a half-hour, Nora?.

-Yes, l`ll be ready.

No wonder you haven`t landed a job.

-You acted as if you didn`t even want one.

-Well, I didn`t come down--

Why are you so backward

about pushing yourself?.

Maybe l`m the modest type.

You know, l`ve half a notion

to take you in hand.

DlCK:
You know,

I think that`d be pretty wonderful.

[SlNGlNG]

When I hear music

I dream of romance

That`s why I love to dance

I must seek romance on crowded floors

For that`s when my cheek

Is close to yours

When we`re alone

I don `t stand half a chance

That`s why I love to dance

Tell me, why can `t this music

Go on forever?

Must we stop

Just because all the others do?

I need the music with all its charms

To get you into my lonely arms

When we`re alone

You`re as distant as France

That`s why I love to dance

That`s why I love

To dance

[WHlSPERS]

Gordon always takes the check.

Whispering, that`s not etiquette.

[lN NORMAL VOlCE] Well, isn`t it nice

that we`re all here together?.

Now we can talk about that job.

Oh, yes, the job.

-Well, mister, uh--

DlCK:
Johnson.

Mr. Johnson, l`ve been wondering if--

-Do you think you can sing underwater?.

-Underwater?.

I guess Ferdi means,

could you swim and then sing?.

-Well, I sing when I take a shower.

-Now, this would be entirely different.

Why don`t you and Nora dance?.

That`s an alluring two-step.

A rumba, Ferdi, but alluring.

You order for us, Gordon, and we`ll talk

about the job when we get back.

Hey, what`s the idea, Ferdi?.

Gordon, you bewilder me daily,

Sundays and holidays included.

Huh?.

You`re gonna give that slick-looking guy

a job in the same show with Nora?.

-But Nora asked me to.

-So what?.

Do you have to do everything

Nora asks you to do?.

I guess I do.

Didn`t your father ever tell you

about life and women?.

-What do you mean?.

-Gordon...

...I`m afraid the world ain`t ready

for you yet.

Wait a minute.

Cugi. Cugi.

-Hello, Ferdi.

-I got the man of the year for you. Listen.

-All right to talk in front of her?.

-Sure.

I just discovered a baritone,

and he sings too.

-Are you sure she`s all right?.

-Sure. She works here.

Cugat, when this guy sings,

he gives a canary an inferiority complex.

He`s an ex-soldier, he`s a hero,

he`s handsome, he`s alluring...

...and women swoon at 1 0 paces.

You gotta give him a job.

-All of that and at liberty?.

-He just got out of the Army.

I`ve kept him undercover.

-Are you sure she`s all right?.

-Sure.

She looks like the type

that blabbers over back fences.

Anyway, take a look.

That`s him, dancing with Nora.

He`s good-looking,

but I already have a singer.

A mere woman.

Cugi, how about teaming them up?.

Just visualize the both of them

singing together in unison.

Why, they`d sound like a pair

of twittering lovebirds in season.

No, I need a Latin type.

Why, Cugat,

put a sombrero on his heed...

...a blanket over his shoulder,

a colored sash around his middle...

...and you`d swear he was born

south of Guatemala.

[PEOPLE APPLAUDlNG]

My boy, you`re in luck. Something

totally unexpected has transpired.

-Come with me.

-Where to?.

Don`t ask no questions, but you might have

to change your name from Dick to Jose.

-What`s going on, Gordon?.

-I don`t know.

-You promoted to bouncer too?.

-Gonna bounce you into the limelight.

Stop pushing me. Have you gone crazy?.

Don`t concern yourself

with petty problems.

Come on, l`m right behind you.

I have no idea, Nora.

You know I wouldn`t do anything

to upset you.

I know, Gordon,

but Ferdi is something else again.

[BAND PLAYlNG]

CUGAT:

Ladies and gentlemen...

...you are about to hear a song

by Mr. Richard Johnson...

...ex-soldier, ex-hero, exciting.

He will sing for you

""Why Don`t They Let Me Sing a Love Song.""

[SlNGlNG] To look at me

You`d think that everything was serene

But I`m as disillusioned as can be

He has a fine voice. He should go places.

I hope so.

-l`ll help him pack.

-I guess there`s no toujours l`amour

In me

Why don `t they let me sing a love song?

Why can `t I get myself a girl?

I`ve read Romeo and Juliet

From cover to cover

But still I`m far from a perfect lover

How long must I go on pretending?

My brain is always in a whirl

Laugh, clown, laugh

I know I fit the part

But even a clown

Can `t hide a broken heart

Why don `t they let me sing a love song?

Why can `t I get myself

A girl?

[CLOCK CHlMlNG]

[HUMMlNG]

[SlNGlNG ""GOD DAG,

I LYSERRQNNE TRAER""]

[DlCK SlNGlNG ""GOD DAG,

I LYSERRQNNE TRAER""]

[RlCHARD & DlCK SlNGlNG

""GOD DAG, I LYSERRQNNE TRAER""]

Hello, Dad.

It`s 2:
00.

Yeah, I know. Couldn`t you sleep?.

These American Legions meetings,

do they always go on till that late?.

I`m a big boy now, Papa.

We waited and waited for you

for a long time.

Oh, I forgot I promised

l`d be there, Dad. Honestly I did.

Frances was very disappointed.

Yeah, I suppose so.

Dad...

...would you be very disappointed

if I didn`t go through with...?.

-Well, I mean, if l--

-What is it, Dick?.

Do you mind if I look around

for another job?.

Oh, that again.

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