Torch Singer

$1.60, lady.

Well?

I've only got $1.55.

Oh, yeah?

All right, lady, give me

the $1 and keep the change.

But...

Listen, lady,

don't ever argue with a taxi

driver. Some of us is hard eggs.

I've had a couple

of kids me-self.

I know what it's like

to be a mother.

Thanks.

Good luck!

St. Anne's Hospital.

Room 46? Yes, hold the line.

Dr. Koenig sent me.

St. Anne's Hospital.

Mrs. O'Connor?

Yes. An 11-pound baby boy.

This way, please.

St. Anne's Hospital.

Be seated. Mother Angelica will

see you in just a few minutes.

Your name is Dora Nichols?

Yes.

And your address is

1014 Brooks Avenue, Bronx?

Yes.

And your husband,

Mrs. Nichols?

My husband was

killed two months ago.

I'm so sorry, my poor child.

And now, if you'll wait

outside a few minutes.

Scared?

Stiff.

You and me both.

Ain't women darned fools?

Will you come in, please?

Yes.

Your name is Sally Trent?

Yes.

Your address is

816 East 97th Street?

Yes.

And your husband?

I haven't any husband.

You'll have to give me the

name of the baby's father.

No, I'd rather not.

I'm afraid I must insist.

I'm sorry, I'll have

to go somewhere else.

Sit down, my child.

Good.

And how are you

feeling this morning?

Swell!

Think you'll care

for a little breakfast?

What have you got?

What would you like?

Have you got

any cantaloupe?

I think so.

Some cantaloupe,

ham and eggs,

and some toast that

should be buttered.

And some gooseberry jam.

We must have plenty to eat.

I hope the Trent girl pulls

through. It's such a nice baby.

Don't leave me, Mike!

Don't leave me, Mike!

Don't go!

Isn't there anything more

you can do for her, Doctor?

Mike!

What she needs is a new body

with some strength to it and Mike.

Come closer.

Mike.

Mike.

Mike.

It isn't a Mike.

It's a Sally.

Why couldn't you

have been a boy?

This world's such a tough

place for a girl to come to.

Good morning, everybody!

Good morning.

Hello.

Hello, Dora.

And how are all the little

mothers this morning?

Just fine.

That's good!

And where is my son?

I'll get him for you.

Well, we are all set, kid.

Did you find an apartment?

Did I? Wait till you

see it! It isn't so big,

but it's a lovely

neighborhood for the children,

and the view as far

as your eyes can see.

The river?

No, garbage cans.

Dora, I hate to

sponge off you like this.

Don't be dumb.

I got a job to go back to.

Well, I'll have one

before long.

There'll be a lot of

shows opening soon.

Sure there will.

Besides, honey, you know

nothing about babies,

and I know

nothing about babies,

so we got to stick together!

He's all ready, Dora.

Oh, no, he isn't!

Not again!

He's wonderful that way.

What's the bow-wow doing?

Sally's not going to cry.

No, Sally's a big girl now.

She loves

to take her bath. Yes.

There, it'll be

all over in a minute.

Yes, and it'll feel so good.

There.

Where's my soap?

Bobby, where's my soap?

Where's... Here it is!

There's the soap. Yes, there.

Did you see

Bobby steal the soap?

Did you see

that naughty boy?

There, there!

Now, it's all over.

It's all over.

It's all over, honey.

Up we go.

Come on. There!

It's all over. Look.

You're not gonna cry.

Look what

a good boy Bobby is.

He didn't cry one bit.

When Mommy comes home, I'm going

to tell her how good you've been.

Yes.

Look, and Sally's

such a big girl.

You lay off my daughter,

you little flirt!

Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

Oh, dear!

Don't be a crybaby

But the boogeyman will get you

If you let him catch you

Starting to sing the blues

Don't be a crybaby

Hello, Dora.

What's eating you?

The big stiff!

Who?

My boss,

the dirty old coconut!

What did he do?

He has been creeping up on me

for the past week.

Well, today, just when I

was getting ready to leave,

he makes a pass at me. I says,

"Take your hands off of me!"

He says,

"Don't act like that.

"How would you like to

come and see me tonight

"and play hide and seek?"

I says, "Listen, you,

you snake in the bush,

"if you and I

was Adam and Eve,

"I wouldn't go hide

and go seek you!"

Then I wallop him!

Oh, Dora!

When he open

his eyes, he says,

"How you like

me to fire you?"

I say, "You won't get a chance,

you big bozo, for I'm leaving. "

So I slammed the door

right in his nose.

What day is this?

Friday.

Good. I got fish.

Bobby!

Here, let me.

Oh, my goodness.

Now listen, boy, you'd

better hurry and grow up.

You might have to

support the whole family.

Hey, wait for me.

Come on!

I never heard

anything so preposterous!

You don't know

what you're asking.

Yes, I do.

I'm asking you to take care of

Michael's baby, his and mine.

I've tried to

do it myself.

I've tried

like the devil.

Don't mind me,

Miss Alden.

I'm liable to say much worse

before I'm through.

There's only one thing

I care about now,

to give my baby a chance.

Is that asking too much?

If my nephew is involved,

as you say he is,

why didn't you settle this matter

with him before he left for China?

I don't know.

Maybe I had

some pride then.

How do I know, Miss...

Trent, Trent.

Sally Trent.

How do I know, Miss Trent, that

your claims are to be believed?

Because...

Because I'm telling you.

Very true, Miss Trent, but a

woman I've never seen before

or even heard of!

And you'll never see or

hear of me again, I swear it!

I'll give up all claim

to my little girl.

I'll sign any kind

of a paper you like.

I'll even promise

never to see her again.

How do you like that,

Miss Alden?

How would you like never

to see your baby again?

There's some mistake,

Miss Trent.

I've never had a baby.

That's too bad.

It might do you some good!

It might soften you a bit!

Oh, no, no!

No, no, I'm sorry! I'm...

That's not what I

meant to say at all.

Please forgive me! Please!

And say you will take her.

I'm sorry, Miss Trent,

but I'm not interested.

Have you exhausted

every possibility?

Yeah, I even did that.

Well?

She wasn't interested.

Baby.

What became of Dora?

Baby.

Dora was swell to me,

but she lost her job,

and she decided to marry

a boy from out West.

Dora's the kind of girl that

some guy always wants to marry.

I get a lot of

proposals, too,

but marriage

isn't one of them.

I'm sorry.

Well, kid,

I'll be a seeing you.

Baby.

Sally, you understand

that if you give up your baby

it will be

completely and forever.

Sure I do!

Let's get it over with!

I'll go and get the papers

ready for you to sign.

I haven't been much

good to you, have I?

Maybe you...

Maybe you'll take a mother's

advice before she goes.

You might as well.

That's all she's

got to give you.

Don't ever let any man

make a sucker out of you.

Make them know

what you're worth.

Anything they get for nothing

is always cheap.

There's just

one thing, Mother.

Would you fix it so her name

will always be Sally?

It's sort of... It's sort of silly not

to know your own kid's name, isn't it?

Of course, my dear.

I promise.

Is that all?

That's all.

Baby. Baby.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes