Twentieth Century Page #7

- O.J., stop chasing rainbows.

- Make it out in legal form.

She's going to sign a contract with me

before she leaves this train.

Listen, O.J., if you'll allow me to presume.

- What now?

- Now I know this may cost me my job...

but if you ask me,

we're not getting anywhere.

- What?

- What we need is a play...

something she can read, see herself

walking up and down the stage in.

- I'll find a play.

- Where? You can't pull one out of a hat.

I was born under the sign of Sagittarius.

That' s the archer.

You draw up that contract.

Wait a minute.

That may be Lily now.

Come in.

Excuse us, please.

That' s him.

Maestro.

- What is this?

- Now run along, we're busy.

Stop that, Oliver.

You know I always see people.

What is it you wish, gentlemen?

Maestro, this is a great honor.

Spit it out.

Maestro, I want to say...

Maestro, perhaps...

you have seen us sometime.

Actors?

We are belonging to the Passion Play.

- The Oberammergau players.

- Ja.

I should have recognized you.

The Oberammergau Players

are the purest branch of the theater.

Oliver, stand up.

Hello, boys.

They are the only true actors we have left.

Not like our cheap Broadway hams.

They are devoted to their art from infancy.

Yeah, I see.

- I am the Judas.

- He's the Judas and I am...

Yes. Now, how do you boys

like the United States?

We don't like it so good.

We have had lots of troubles.

Our manager has run away

with all our money.

- And now you want to borrow some.

- Thank you. Yeah.

You see, we got nothing to eat

till we get on the boat.

- Moochers?

- Ja.

I thought so.

Sit down, gentlemen.

Oliver, it' s an inspiration...

at the eleventh hour,

with my back against the wall.

- How much money do you need, gentlemen?

- $54.

- Give it to them, Oliver.

- What? We don't even know these people.

While you were chatting over here,

my mind was active.

The Passion Play:

the greatest drama of the ages.

At last I've found something

that is worthy of me.

O.J., can I speak to you a moment?

Come on, boys. Get out.

- O.J., I've got to speak to you alone.

- What?

- Are you crazy?

- Never mind who's crazy.

Go on, boys, I'll attend to you later.

I thought you were going to sign them up.

Of course I'm going to sign them up.

- Wait a minute, O.J.

- Call them back.

Now, O.J., I'm going to undertake

a terrible responsibility.

Now, I know you won't believe me...

but I'm more than just an employee.

I'm the best friend you've got on earth.

Now, go easy, Oliver. Remember your heart.

I'm not going to let you do it.

You've done enough.

I'm not going to let you get mixed up

with any phony art.

Now the trouble with you is...

you don't know whas happened

to the public in the last three years.

I'll tell you. I know.

I've had my ear to the ground like an Indian.

This is what they want

and I'm going to give it to them.

At least we won't have to worry about

any goose chase with Lily Garland.

Of course I want it for her.

Why else do you suppose I got it?

- The Passion Play?

- It fits her like a glove.

What a Magdalene she'll make.

Is a perfect piece of casting.

Wait till I tell her.

Oliver, our troubles are over.

Oh, are they?

Where are you going to get $250,000

to produce a spectacle like that?

By waving your magic wand?

Don't talk about money matters now, Oliver.

Do you mind?

I don't care if it kills me.

- Is it all right for you to be out here?

- Yes, thank you, porter. I'm quite all right.

Yes, but the boys are having an awful time

getting those things down.

Porter, have you got any

bicarbonate of soda?

- Yes, sir.

- Get me some in a hurry.

- lf you are in distress, I have just the thing.

- No, thank you.

You're in the theatrical business,

aren't you?

I've often thought I'd like to devote myself

to the theater.

Would you think there might be

a place for me?

Oh, yes.

- Probably fill a long-felt want.

- That' s what I thought.

It might solve my financial difficulties, too.

You know, when one has

so much cash lying around...

it becomes a problem how to invest it,

don't you think?

I have terrible headaches just thinking of it.

That' s too bad.

Why, you haven't taken your tablet yet.

- They're really very good.

- Thank you.

I manufacture them myself.

That' s our ad in the Saturday Evening Post.

- This is your ad?

- Yes.

We're one of their biggest advertisers.

Well.

- And your name is...

- Clark. Mathew J. Clark.

You see, Mr. Clark...

in the theatrical business,

there are no headaches.

- No?

- Oh, no.

Is that so?

George, why haven't you ever asked me

to marry you?

What? I'd no idea that you'd be interested.

George, let' s elope.

Why elope? There's no one stopping us.

- Hurry, Owen.

- I'm coming.

- Come on.

- I'm coming.

What is it, sire?

We're before Waterloo

with Sheridan 20 miles away...

but we can't wait for that now.

- Stand by, Owen.

- What' s the program, Richelieu?

- Where's Oliver?

- He's probably hiding. Who can blame him?

Here. Help me out with this. Hurry up.

- Tie it back of me.

- What for?

This is a little bit of strategy...

in case that young ruffian in there

gets violent.

Hold yourself in readiness.

What are you going to do?

I have got to break a human heart.

How little you know

the real Lily Garland, George.

I've died so often,

made love so much on the stage...

that I've lost track of what' s real.

What is real?

A house,

a home with a little attic and a cookie jar...

and a doorstep,

and little feet, pattering up and down.

I thought it was your voice, Lily.

I just came to say hello.

I don't want to talk to you, Oscar. Please go.

I've nothing to say to you. I don't want

to hear anything you've to say.

I'm warning you

about bothering Miss Garland, and I mean it.

No violence, George. He'll go.

- Let me attend to this.

- No. Sit down.

- He's got to get out.

- A public fight would finish me.

He'd love to splash our names

on the front pages.

Let him throw me out, Lily.

It would be the final irony.

I came here out of a gallant mood...

to congratulate you.

And you can get right out again.

You've no right here.

No right? Doesn't he know about us?

I thought everybody knew.

It was one of the great romances

of our time.

- You...

- I broke it in Chicago.

All right, Oscar.

You've done your usual slimy trick.

You could never stand to see anything

sweet or decent in my life.

You couldn't wait to come in here

and blab everything.

Blab? I'm proud of every hour

that we've spent together.

So should you be. What' s happened to you?

- Are you trying to hoodwink this child?

- I gave you your chance.

Stop! Don't start hammering at me.

I can't stand it.

Comfort her, sir. Is your privilege.

Lying to me.

Every minute with every breath, lying to me.

Yes. I tried to save you pain.

I lied, yes, only to save you.

- That' s from Sappho.

- Get out!

I hate him! I say it right to his face.

I loathe and despise him.

I hate the ground he walks on.

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