Yankee Doodle Dandy Page #3

The next 10 years rushed by

like a circus train.

Dad seemed content with the sticks,

but I was straining at the leash.

- Here's your mail, Mr. Cohan.

- Thanks.

Couple of tickets for the show.

We were playing stock in Buffalo.

And being versatile,

I was playing my mother's father.

- Oh, Daddy, he's left me.

- All is for the best, my daughter.

In life we trip, but right ourselves.

I was correct about man's love.

First, he considers his pleasure

or his honor or his purse.

Only secondly does he think

of the woman he says he loves.

Now I must go life's journey alone and

struggle on my weary way to find peace.

Courage, Emily, courage.

Living has taught your father

many things.

Among them,

to take the bitter with the better.

The road to happiness is paved

with heartaches and stones.

They're all yours, sweetheart.

Good luck, honey.

There's a young lady. One of those

stage-struck kids would like to talk to you.

Show her in.

All right, miss.

- Mr. Cohan will see you.

- Thank you.

He's all yours.

I'm 18. I sing and I dance,

and I'm going to New York.

Should I?

Oh, Mr. Cohan. You're so old,

and so experienced in the theater...

...so fatherly.

Do you think it's wise?

I mean, my being 18, singing

and dancing, and going to New York.

Well, that's very wise.

I mean, being 18 is very wise.

As for New York, The Four Cohans

open there this fall with their new show...

...with a new cyclorama

and two carloads of scenery.

- Really? When are you leaving here?

- Tomorrow night, right after the show.

Oh, I can't leave till Wednesday.

I graduate from high school Tuesday.

That's too bad.

Georgie... Excuse me. You haven't forgotten

we have a date tonight, have you?

Oh, no, no. Of course not.

We're going roller-skating.

Roller-skating on a night like this?

Why, there's a moon out.

I'll be ready in five minutes.

- Pipperino, isn't she?

- Yes. Is she your daughter?

- I'm not married.

- Your niece, perhaps?

She's just a kid with the show.

We've been dating.

Isn't she a little too young for you?

No. She's getting along in years.

She's 17.

Well, shall I sing for you?

I know I have talent,

even if I am from Buffalo.

We haven't got any piano handy.

Then I'll dance.

That's rather old, isn't it?

Everybody's done that.

You don't want to be just an imitator.

Oh, no.

Here's a step I made up myself.

But on the other hand, you don't want

to be too original, either, do you?

- No.

- I'll tell you what you do.

You sit right here,

and I will give you an idea of what I mean.

It may not be much. I'm not the dancer

I used to be, but then who is?

Now watch carefully, now.

Oh, no, no!

- Don't you like it?

- But your heart!

My heart is every bit as good

as it ever was.

Oh, so fast!

Such excitement at your age.

- Sit down and rest.

- Thanks.

Maybe I have overdone it a little.

Look at the perspiration on your brow.

Your wrinkles!

What happened to your wrinkles?

I do have to make up older

than I actually am.

How old are you?

Not yet 70.

You seem different from when I first came in.

Even your voice sounds younger.

It's a gift I have.

I'm always as young as the people I'm with.

And you've made me feel very young.

- Very young.

- I'm glad.

Now, let's make plans.

Which manager shall I take you to see first?

Erlanger? Good old Abe's a very nice fellow,

but maybe a little bit too soon.

Tony Pastor?

Well, that's better.

Albee, Coster, Beall and Proctor...

Wait a minute, little girl. Don't let an old

white beard and eyebrows frighten you.

In show business,

you'll see a lot of those.

I'm not sure I wanna go

into show business now.

A girl with your talent and ability? There

are very few who can sing, dance and act.

How do you know I can do those?

You've never seen me.

I don't have to see you.

I can tell a trouper a mile away.

I feel as though I've known you

for years. What's your name?

- Mary.

- That's a very pretty name.

Now, Mary, you calm down.

Let's go and have a bite to eat.

I always eat after the last show.

Are you hungry?

I've been sitting in the theater since 2:00

trying to get up courage to come backstage.

You must be hungry after seven shows.

We'll have a nice cold bottle and a bird.

What's a cold bottle?

That's what we in show business

call a piece of pie and a glass of milk.

Aren't you going roller-skating

with that pipperino?

I'm tired of picking her up.

What's the matter, darling?

Got it.

Pretty good.

There's a contract on my desk already

made out. Get it.

Hey!

If any of The Four Cohans ask how

you like their act, tell them it was fair.

Ladies and gentlemen,

my mother thanks you.

My father thanks you.

My sister thanks you.

And I thank you.

- Nice going.

- That's tearing them out of their chairs.

All set up for you. Go get them.

After the way we went tonight

we're ready for New York.

If we're a hit here,

it's a cinch in New York.

- Nice going, kid.

- Thanks.

Oh, Mr. Cohan, just a minute.

Pretty fair act you folks have got.

- They seemed to like it.

- That's a soft audience.

- Got any open time?

- From now on.

- I'll make an offer.

- We'd be glad to talk.

Fine. Fine. You know, they're always a

soft audience here on Wednesday. Pushover.

- Did you catch it?

- Oh, you were wonderful, George.

- But I don't know, I miss that beard.

- Did you get up on that number?

It's a lovely song, George.

I've learned it by heart.

Good. I rehearsed it with the orchestra.

You'll do it this show.

He knows your key.

You just follow him for tempo.

But there's a notice. You can't

change your act after the first show.

The manager expects me to sing

"The Wedding of the Lily and the Rose."

Who were they applauding,

the manager or me?

- Now go on out there and do it.

- Oh, George, I can't move.

I can't go out there,

not without rehearsal.

What are you worried about?

You're doing a George M. Cohan lyric

to a George M. Cohan melody.

- Yes, but it's my voice.

- A George M. Cohan discovery.

Nobody ever had a better start.

There's your introduction, go on.

Good luck, kid.

Ten consecutive weeks in New York.

That's the big time.

When you leave New York,

Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago...

- Just look at her.

- Excuse me.

What's going on here? Take your

makeup off. I'll be back in just a minute.

Bill, what is this? What's she singing?

Who told her to switch that number?

She's supposed to sing

"The Wedding of the Lily and the Rose."

- Who told her to switch that number?

- I don't know.

You don't know!

Bring down that curtain! When she finishes

the chorus pull out the houselights.

Wait a second. See how that song goes.

- The song is gone. Pull out the lights.

- Don't do it, Charlie.

Say, who does she think she is? Who

does she think is running this theater?

The only reason I put her on was

because the dog act got drunk.

- It'll be all right in the morning.

- She was your idea.

- And a very good idea too.

- Now I know who got the dog act drunk.

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