Torch Song

---

Hold the record.

- Sorry, Miss Stewart.

- I'm sorry too.

Four times we've done this routine

and four times you've loused it up.

Gene, you're the dance director.

Would you tell Mr. Ellis this is a rehearsal,

not a dancing school?

- I'm sorry, Jenny...

- We've had the sorry bit. What do we do?

Well, darling, it's just that he feels...

...that if you could get

your right leg in a bit, he...

And spoil that line?

Tell Mr. Ellis he's paid

to get around that leg.

And smile, or we get another boy.

- Joe.

- Yes, Jenny.

I'm going home.

Keep him here until he learns the routine.

If that ever happens, call me.

Practice makes perfect, Jenny.

For you, as well as for Ellis.

I don't recall that I was the one

who made the mistake.

- Charlie.

- Yeah?

Bring my new arrangement

to my dressing room.

All right, Jen, yeah.

Be right there, Jenny.

I'm coming.

- Got everything right here, dear, yeah.

Well, what about it?

Yeah, I'm working on it.

Did you fix the "Follow Me" number

the way I wanted it?

Uh...

- It just didn't work right, honey.

- What do you mean it didn't work?

Well, that is, at first it didn't.

- But I finally got it. Finally.

- How did it sound?

Sounded fine, of course. It sounded fine.

You see, Charlie, you're just

wasting your time fighting with me.

Charlie.

I was...

I was just trying to think of an answer.

That stuff will kill you someday.

Yeah, if I'm lucky.

- What?

- I said it's great. It's great, it just...

Make copies of the changes for me,

will you?

Well, I already have.

You know I'd do that, honey.

I'll leave it here on the couch.

I sure hope that you like it.

Well, if I don't,

you'll be the first to hear from me.

And stop worrying.

You've been doing my arrangements

long enough to know exactly what I want.

- Yeah, I sure have.

- What?

I said I sure have, yeah.

Oh, Charlie, before you go,

maybe I'll better look at those sheets.

You've been getting a little sloppy lately.

In fact, I'm thinking of replacing you

with a player piano.

One that doesn't smoke, drink,

mumble, or...

Leave me talking to myself.

- Jenny, I was just...

- Well.

You can always tell when

there's trouble in a show.

- It's the only time you see the producer.

- But Jenny...

oh, Phil, I know the line.

"Jenny, darling, we can iron this out. "

Give us a break, Jenny.

Give Ellis a break.

If you leave now,

there's no point in rehearsing at all.

If you'd hire competent people,

you wouldn't have grief.

But handing me more grief

isn't going to help any.

Oh, stop it. Phil, why aren't you here

when these problems come up?

If doctors performed operations

the way you produce shows...

...everybody in the country

would be dead.

Here she comes.

Go on, beat it...

They shall not.

Wait for me in the car.

- Hi, Merle, how are you? Hi, Margie.

- Hi, Miss Stewart.

Hi, Elsie. I thought you'd forgotten me.

I haven't seen you for a week.

Oh, no. My mother was sick

and I had to take care of her.

Oh, I'm sorry.

We should all take care of our mothers.

- Would you sign mine too?

- Sure. What's your name?

It's Cora.

You're gonna sign it personally?

Certainly. Ha-ha-ha.

"Cora, gratefully, Jenny Stewart. "

- Oh, thank you, Miss Stewart.

- You're welcome.

- Sure, I will. Sure, I will.

You can't leave, Miss Stewart.

I'll be back later, Miss Stewart.

Bye. Bye.

Now, let's get to that hoofer you hired

and the limping he calls dancing.

Darling, I pay Ellis a fantastic salary and

you wouldn't give him a minute's help.

Yet you'd spend an hour with those kids.

And what do they do?

- They're just the audience.

- They?

A hundred of those kids

couldn't scare up the price of one ticket.

Ten years from now,

they'll buy a thousand tickets.

None of us will be here

10 years from now.

The theater will.

What? You make a religion out of a job.

A job.

Your idea of art's

the fruit in a slot machine.

- Oh... All right, go home...

- That's just what I'm going to do.

- Carl?

- Yes, ma'am.

I won't need you tonight.

- I'm not going back to rehearsals.

Yes, ma'am.

What are you trying to do?

Put me in hospital?

I'm going to save you a lot of money

by not going back.

Unless somebody shocks that company,

this show will never open.

Six weeks in a rehearsal

that should've taken two.

The script needs jokes,

the music needs cutting.

And the staging... Ahh!

It stinks.

You don't think we've got a flop?

No show Jenny Stewart's in

is going to be a flop.

If I have to pull every trick in the book

to make it hang together.

Attababy.

Carl, after you drop me,

will you take Mr. Norton home?

Yes, ma'am.

What's your address, Mr. Norton?

Any dark bar.

- Rehearsal broke early, huh?

- For me.

- I've got all your fan mail caught up.

- Good.

- You need some pictures signed.

- Right.

Answer this and tell them

I'm sorry I can't be there.

All right.

- Mr. Cliff Willard called.

- To say what?

He's dining at El Morocco.

He thought you might like to join him.

And pick up the check.

- Who else called?

- Your mother.

Oh. Gee, I must call her.

Also, your sister.

Also, your mother again.

- How much this time?

- Two hundred dollars.

- Better make out the check.

- I already have.

I'm not going back to rehearsals tonight.

Trouble, huh?

Hmm.

How would you like

some lamb chops for dinner?

That will be fine, Anne.

- Feel better now?

- Mm-hm.

Scene starts at the bottom of the page.

- Who am I?

- George.

George.

- "Knock, knock, knock. "

- I'll get it.

Oh, George, you're late.

You know the Camdens, don't you?

- And this is...

- oh, yes...

That's a broken speech.

You'll have to come in quick.

- And this is...

- oh, yes, we've met.

How are you?

May I speak to you in the library, Chris?

Crosses to library.

Ooh.

That's a long one.

Better make a note.

I need a line to cover that cross.

In, closes door...

...leans against it.

Darling Chris, is there anything I can do?

Anything you need?

I don't need anything or anybody.

If you're worried about me, don't be.

I'm not afraid of being alone.

I'll never be lonely.

I'll... oh.

Oh, it's that long speech.

I never can remember it.

Anne, I'm sorry, it has to have more work.

I can't do any more tonight.

Okay. I'll type up the changes

and have it ready in the morning.

- It's a nice scene.

- Mm-hm. It will be when I learn it.

- Good night.

- Night.

Hmm.

What would I be thinking

on that long cross?

Hm.

George, you're late.

Library.

I know what you're gonna say.

Henry and I, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

And George says,

"Do you need anything?"

No, I don't need anything or anybody.

And George says, "But I'm worried. "

And I say,

if you're worried about me, don't be.

I'm not afraid of being alone.

I'll never be lonely.

I'm tough, George.

That's why I'll never be lonely.

Look who's talking.

I'll never...

Be lone...

Okay, kids, come on,

take your places, will you?

Now, you two girls go to the inside

and boys go to the outside during this step.

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