Tonight or Never Page #2

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[ Buzzer ]

Hello? .. yes Madame .. yes,

I am coming right away.

Darling, you are not ill?

Is there anything wrong Madame?

What do you wish, Madame?

Oh, questions! Go and get dressed.

I can't stand this climate.

We'll take the train

tonight for Budapest.

But we go to Budapest tomorrow.

We're going to Budapest tonight!

I guess we go to Budapest tonight.

His Excellency's berth is ready.

Excellency.

Hey, what?

Our berth is ready.

Oh, thanks.

My, but I'm sleepy.

You're always sleepy, Albert.

Darling, I'm like Napoleon, I can

sleep at any time and any place.

Goodnight dear.

Goodnight Napoleon.

Tell the waiter to bring me

some water and lots of ice.

Yes, your Excellency .. may I

make up your berth Madame?

Yes, if you like.

Oh Madame, oh Madame!

I am so excited!

He's on the train, he's on

the train .. the gentleman.

Excuse me.

I beg your pardon.

Marchesa San Giovanni.

Didn't I tell you? The Marchesa's

on the train too.

Excuse me .. goodnight, goodnight.

Goodnight Emma.

Goodnight Madame.

You used to say "don't ask questions

my love .. you may get an answer."

Yes, but I want an answer .. after all,

what have you against her?

You can't deny that she has a voice.

I tell you her voice is an organ

of the purest, most supreme ..

And that is just the trouble.

It is nothing .. but an organ.

It is as cold and as passionless as ..

One of these American ice-boxes.

Let me tell you a secret.

No woman can ever be a

great artist without love.

Without passion, without a great

inside flame in her heart.

If she were really an artist ..

She would sing with more than her voice.

She would sing with her heart, and

her soul, and her body .. I did.

Sweet old King Constantine.

He used to say to me: "Bianca darling".

"You are not singing with your voice,

you are singing with your uh ..

Well, never mind what he thought

it was I was singing with ..

I was ..

Oh .. you and your Kings ..

And that was the time

when Kings were .. men.

And that's what your Nella

needs. I don't mean a King.

You know, you're a very

wicked old woman.

And do you know that you're

a very sweet, dear boy.

You flatter me so ..

Come in.

Rudig .. why have I never had a lover?

What?

Answer me.

Don't all great artists have lovers?

My dear, all great artists are lovers.

Oh.

Men fall in love with me .. don't they?

But do you fall in love with men?

For an artist, it is more important

to love .. than to be loved.

To love ..

Rudig .. why do you think

such things, and not tell me?

I was afraid you might misunderstand.

You see .. I'm a man .. myself.

You?

Oh Rudig!

Who is it?

The waiter with the ice your Excellency.

Come in.

You had better not sing Tosca tomorrow.

Why? Why, why, why .. why?

You haven't been yourself since Venice.

No tone, no life.

Yesterday, you gave a

wretched performance.

You were off-pitch twice.

And I heard one very sour note.

You've never heard me sing

a sour note in your life.

You only want to devil me.

Why, you're angry because I haven't

asked you for the latest gossip.

I never gossip.

No?

Oh .. by the way.

Schmitt-Krupps, the German baritone

and Frieda Isambard, from Berlin ..

Have been engaged for the Metropolitan.

What?

With all they can choose, they pick that

hippopotamus Isambard for New York?

She's got the voice.

But she can't get her

hips into a taxi-cab.

Not that I mean to be unkind.

How did she get the engagement?

A young American manager signed her.

"Fletcher" is his name.

He's traveling about Europe, picking

up new stars for the Metropolitan.

He's in Berlin now.

Juanitza .. Schmitt-Krupps .. Isambard.

Anybody but Vago!

Oh well, what do I care?

Conrad.

Yes, Madame?

Would you like to hear me

sing? I'll sing just for you.

I .. I assure you Madame,

it is a very great honor.

But I have some trades-people

waiting for me in the pantry.

So under the circumstances Madame,

I feel sure you realize they're waiting.

Thank you, but they are waiting

Madame. Thank you.

Let's get to the first act.

Alright Rudig dear, you give me

my entrance. Get me in the mood.

Madame!

What is it now?

Oh Madame, he is passing in front again.

Well close the window, and

don't disturb me every minute.

Yes, Madame.

That's what I'd call

a persistent gigolo.

It must be your jewels .. oh by the way.

Do you know he's living at the

Hotel Regent with the Marchesa?

They occupy the same apartment.

And she's still supposed to be his aunt.

Ha ha.

Oh come on now, I have to sing tomorrow.

Alright.

But this time .. with

soul, with feeling.

Why, I can't, I can't.

Do you know what that scene means?

It means that my lover is

waiting for me. For me!

It means that we're going

to a villa .. we two all alone.

The moon is out, the stars are shining.

And the whole night smells of flowers.

And we're thrilled to our very souls.

Yes ..

It's an exquisite vision of love.

Yes .. but no-one ever

carries me off to a villa.

No-one ever makes love to me by moonlight

when the whole world smells of flowers.

I'm never in love with anyone. I don't

know of thrills, how can I convey them?

Nothing ever happens to me!

Why, I'm the only woman in the theater

to whom nothing ever happens!

I might just as well be dead as alive.

I think I'll get myself a gigolo ..

You have his Excellency to console you.

If you think ..

That Alfred Von Gronac is any

consolation, you are mistaken.

Do you really believe he's taught me the

depths of passion and the heights of love?

Well, of course I can hardly

be a judge of that.

But his Excellency is a man of the

world. He has seen everything.

That's just it! He's seen too much!

What dress shall I lay out, Madame?

Oh anything.

Something old, black and dreary.

Yes, Madame.

What's the matter?

Oh .. nothing.

What's in that newspaper? Give it to me.

Don't read it dear, don't read it.

Hmm Linden .. Linden goes to Berlin.

Yes, Maida Linden, now mezzo

soprano goes to Berlin.

But how? Why?

She will sing there, she says.

In the hope of being heard by Fletcher,

the American impresario I told you about.

So she can't wait for

Fletcher to come here.

She can't go to Berlin. She's

singing with us next week.

I believe she has been

granted a holiday.

A holiday? Linden? .. What for?

His Excellency .. as a personal favor.

Rudig .. you've tormented me

enough for one afternoon.

You with your silly old gossip.

And now you're going much too far.

Very well, very well, if

you don't want to know.

That Linden is having a

guest to dinner tonight.

One guest .. only one.

How do you know?

My housekeeper and Linden's

maid are cousins.

And hmm, hmm ..

Did your cousin tell you that

Albert was dining with Linden?

I don't want to gossip.

Did she?

Yes!

It's a lie. I'll be studying tonight.

Later, we'll go to the German Embassy.

His Excellency, Madame ..

Good afternoon, good afternoon.

Good afternoon, good afternoon.

And how is my little songbird today?

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