Tonight or Never

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1

That's quite a voice. I tell

you it's crystal, pure crystal.

Only Conrad, where is the feeling?

She will never be a great Prima Donna.

Oh it's the greatest thrill I've

had in the theater for years.

Her technique is alright,

but no heart and no feeling.

Oh darling don't be absurd.

Of course there was feeling.

Excuse me gentlemen, Madame Vago

will be here in a moment.

Thank you so much.

Allow me to congratulate

you my dear, Splendid.

Silence gentlemen! Silence!

Please Madame, come right over

here. It won't take a second.

Signora and Signori.

You have just been listening to the

broadcast of the opera "La Tosca".

We are now in the dressing

room of our guest star.

The lovely Nella Vago.

From the Royal Opera House in Budapest.

Perhaps she will say a few words to you.

If you would be so kind, Madame.

Good evening everyone. I want to thank

you for my reception in Venice.

It's been lovely. You've made

me so very happy here.

Tomorrow, when I return to Budapest.

I shall carry with me the memory

of this night, and of you.

And your beautiful

city of song and magic.

And eternal romance.

Au revoir.

Thank you Madame.

Bravo, bravo Madame. Just one

moment friends, just one moment.

We also have with us tonight, his

Excellency Count Albert Von Gronac.

One of the directors of

The Royal Opera in Budapest.

And the fiance of the

beautiful Nella Vago.

He will say a few words to you.

Please, your Excellency.

Ladies and gentlemen .. four years ago.

I was seated one beautiful

day in Budapest .. in my office.

And in came a little .. unknown .. girl.

Whose name was Nella Vago.

Of course, it takes a genius to

recognize an uncut diamond.

Thank you your Excellency.

In closing, remember this broadcast

comes to you through the courtesy ..

Compania Assosiasone, Generale

Frazellini and Frantenini.

Whose motto is "My Spaghetti

Is Longer Than My Name".

Thank you, goodnight.

Goodnight gentlemen.

Good evening Madame .. Good

evening Your Excellency.

Good evening Conrad.

Good evening Professor.

Calm her down.

Calm her down.

Yes.

Calm her down.

Calm her down.

Calm her down.

Calm her down.

Calm her down! Calm me down.

Well, I see Albert .. he asks

me to calm you down.

What's wrong? Am I raving?

Am I in hysterics?

No, you're not even nervous.

Of course I'm not. Why should I be?

By the way, you might congratulate

me .. on my success.

Oh, so sorry. Congratulations.

Was .. anything wrong with my singing?

No.

Malicious little beast! That's what

you are. Always nagging.

I'm your teacher.

Teachers are never satisfied.

Well anyway, I had a success.

Yes.

You are a success in Venice and

Budapest. That's something of course.

But, when will you sing in America?

When will I sing in America?

When will I sing in America?

That's all I hear from you,

day in and day out.

You must have some pupils there.

Until you are asked to sing at the

Metropolitan Opera House in New York ..

You are not the big success

you think you are.

Your supper Madame.

A chicken sandwich on dried toast.

Oh Conrad.

Yes Madame?

How did you like my singing tonight?

I'm sorry Madame .. but I had to pack.

So I was unable to go to the opera.

There you are! Conrad, your own butler,

who has been with you for years ..

Who pays your bills, watches your

diet, won't even go to hear you sing.

On the day that Conrad

applauds you in the opera ..

I shall take off my hat to Nella Vago.

All alone, Excellency?

Yes.

I stole away from Madame

Vago for a moment.

Well, come and have a drink with us.

Thanks very much, but I can't stay long.

Women resent it, you know.

Now where would I be today,

if it weren't for Albert?

He's been very kind and generous, quite

aside from putting me in Grand Opera.

I'm very grateful .. to him.

I like him.

I love him .. yes .. I love him.

Oh Madame! Oh Madame .. he's

passing on the terrace again.

Yes, the handsome young gentleman,

he's walking by the window again.

The third time today.

The third time. Then he's

doing it on purpose.

Oh be careful Emma,

don't let him see you.

He's good-looking, isn't he?

I'll tell you in a minute.

Oh .. he's very attractive.

There he walks .. but oh so slowly.

He just has to pass the window.

Childish!

I wonder he doesn't run cartwheels

or something to attract your attention.

I think it's delightful.

It's romantic.

Oh, pooh.

Yes Madame Vago. It makes my heart beat.

Now he's at the bridge. Oh look,

he wants to turn back.

Oh he's gone .. Oh he

didn't have a carriage.

Maybe I can see him from

the bedroom window?

Come away .. you act like a schoolgirl,

not like a great Prima-Donna.

Oh .. so now I am a great Prima-Donna.

Forgot yourself, didn't you.

I wonder who he is.

I know who he is.

Yes, you would.

Tell me then .. tell me then

about this .. male streetwalker.

I will .. but you won't be pleased.

Oh yes I will.

I sat next to that young man at

the hotel restaurant, yesterday.

He was with a .. a ..

A woman?

Oh .. that's not a crime.

Was she pretty?

The most famous beauty of Europe.

What?

And a very notorious one.

In her day.

Well then, that's different.

The Marchesa St Giovanni,

once a great Prima-Donna.

And the intimate friend of every

crowned head on the continent.

The old girl's enormously rich.

Oh, don't tell me about her.

Tell me about him.

I'm coming to that.

My dear .. according to the doorman ..

The head waiter and the hotel clerk ..

He is her .. she is his ..

Something or other .. I forget what.

I think it was "aunt".

Aunt?

At any rate, for the time being.

I don't believe it.

Why not?

No doubt, he's had dozens of aunts.

So, that good-looking creature

is nothing in the world but a ..

Gigolo ..

And the old Marchesa supports him.

Why do you repeat such gossip to me?

Because you want to hear it.

I don't.

You do. I don't.

You do. I don't.

You do!

I don't!

Don't.

He's only a simple gondolier.

No training in his voice.

But what a heart!

You just listen.

This gondolier can tell

you more about success ..

Than all the .. teachers in the world.

Goodnight my dear.

Anything else, Madame?

No thank you Emma.

Goodnight.

Goodnight Madame.

"Oh darling, I'm so happy."

"You're beautiful .. you're adorable."

"To think that we're in love at last."

"Kiss me."

Hello? Hello.

Hello. Matre d'htel?

This is Miss Vago speaking.

Do you know any reason why I

should be kept awake at this hour?

No, it's in the next room.

Well, of course it's annoying.

I can't sleep.

Huh .. what?

What?

Oh ..

On their honeymoon?

Never mind.

Don't bother them.

"Isn't it wonderful?"

"Wonderful."

"Why it's marvelous."

"I've never been so

happy in all my life."

"Neither have I."

"To think this love will

go on and on forever."

"I didn't think love

could be like this."

"Oh darling, more, more .."

[ Buzzer ]

Hello? .. Yes? .. My dear, calm

yourself .. you'll hurt your voice.

Eh? .. oh .. oh ..

[ Buzzer ]

Hello?

Yes, Madame ..

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