Yankee Doodle Dandy Page #6

- Nope, it isn't.

How will everybody know I'm the Mary?

I want to make sure that everybody

knows it was written for me.

They'll know, all right.

When they look at you singing that song

and then look at me looking at you...

...they'll know.

- Oh, George.

- Take it up an octave.

- George.

- Better.

Excuse me for butting in,

I've been looking all over town for you.

Strange that I should find you here.

Hello, Mary.

George has just written me a new song

for the show. Think I'll be able to do it?

Of course.

You've got a nice little voice.

That is not a little voice.

You need an ear trumpet.

We've got to go. We've got to see

Fay Templeton before she goes on.

- What does she want to see us about?

- We want to see her.

You need a leading lady,

you've got your ingnue.

- George!

- Fay Templeton, not bad.

If she can do two years in the turkey

she's in, she can do four for us.

- Will she take it?

- I don't know.

- At least you can get her autograph.

- Or she can get mine.

- Bring her back to supper after the show.

- We will, if she's still speaking to us.

A flower, mister?

- Here you are.

- Would you like to buy it?

Thank you.

One thing in our favor

is Erlanger's on our side.

- He's got influence with Miss Templeton.

- You take Erlanger and I'll tackle Templeton.

You don't tackle a star like Miss Templeton,

you approach her and very tactfully.

Well, if it's tact that does it, it's done.

If you get me in to see Miss Templeton

I'll get you passes to my next show.

Look, Dietz.

Looks naked without Goff.

- Where's Miss Templeton's dressing room?

- Upstairs.

Tell you what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna see

that Miss Templeton gets your flowers.

My respects to Mrs. Dietz.

Now that was a very sweet gesture.

You've got to remember,

Fay, we're having a tough time...

...lining up a vehicle for you.

Now, you should listen to this man.

- He's just written a big hit.

- One hit.

He may be a flash in the pan,

for all we know.

And I heard about Little Johnny Jones.

And I read the critics.

Of all the loud, vulgar, flag-waving...

Well, it was a wow.

I haven't laughed so much in years.

That fellow's got the golden touch.

Maybe so, but not for me, Mr. Erlanger.

What I want is a quiet,

dignified musical play.

I want to perform in a theater,

not a boiler factory.

Come in.

- Hello, Harris. How are you, Cohan?

- Hello, Abe.

- Everything's all right. She'll see you.

- That's fine.

- Fay, may I present Mr. Harris?

- How do you do?

And Fay, this is Mr. Cohan.

George M. Cohan.

How do you do?

We were just talking about you.

Miss Templeton's never seen your work.

Been sick or in Europe?

No. I've been right here

on this stage for two years.

Oh, buried.

Don't misunderstand me,

Miss Templeton.

Well, I've never been

at a loss for words before...

...but right now, standing

in your presence, why, I hardly...

Well, I'd prefer to have

these flowers speak for me.

- Why, Mr. Cohan, how sweet of you.

- It was nothing at all. It's something...

Excuse me for breaking in on you,

Miss Templeton...

...but I would like to present

my own flowers, my own way.

Mr. Cohan, I thought...

- Drunk.

- Is he?

May I have the honor of supping with you

at Rex's tonight after the show...

...and drinking champagne out of your...

Pardon me, slipper?

Mr. Dietz, haven't you forgotten that

your junior partner does all the drinking?

Yes, but on special occasions I take over.

- May I put these in water for you?

- Well, really, l...

I never saw Dietz drunk before.

- Well, shall we get down to business?

- Lf you like, Abe.

George, how would you like to do a play

with one of the biggest stars in America?

What do you think I've been doing?

You see what I mean, Fay?

Isn't he a card?

Positively a riot.

Yes, well.

George, what's your new story like?

That is, I mean, can you write

a play without a flag?

Miss Templeton, I can write a play

without anything except a pencil.

- Laugh. Well, look...

- There's really no use discussing anything.

I'm afraid I would never please the people

who revel in your antics and fireworks.

You're being modest, Miss Templeton.

If you'd let yourself go, you'd be

just as entertaining as the rest of us.

You might even have fun yourself.

Abe, isn't it about time

for the curtain to go up?

If you haven't time now,

maybe you'll give us time after the show?

I'm sorry, after the show

I'm going home to New Rochelle.

It's only 45 minutes from here.

Thank heavens, it's like a thousand miles...

...from all the noisy,

neurotic people in our profession.

- Now, Miss Templeton, you can't...

- Fay, I wanted...

That tact of yours, that wonderful tact.

What are you thinking about?

- Well, have you thought it over, Fay?

- I'm not interested in Mr. Cohan or his plays.

Now, you're making a great mistake.

He's the most original thing on Broadway.

You know why? Because he's the whole

darn country squeezed into one pair of pants.

His writing, his songs,

why even his walk and his talk.

They all touch something

way down here in people.

Don't ask me why it is, but it happens

every time the curtain goes up.

- It's pure magic.

- I'm bored by magic.

I know his formula. A fresh young sprout

gets rich between 8:30 and 11:00 p.m.

Yes, that's just it, Fay.

George M. Cohan has

invented the success story...

...and every American loves it because

it happens to be his own private dream.

He's found the mainspring

in the antique clock.

Ambition, pride, patriotism.

That's why they call him

the Yankee Doodle Boy.

Now, if you'll take a tip from me

you'll do just what I'm doing.

You'll hitch your wagon

to his star right now.

Abe, I've got to change for the second act.

Fay, don't make up your mind too quickly.

Take a little time to think it over.

Who's locked my door?

- Who is it?

- What's going on here?

He'll be through in a minute.

Excuse me, Miss Templeton,

I didn't realize who you were. Come in.

- May I?

- Well, of course.

What does this mean?

Mind telling me why you're still here?

- It's ready and waiting and dedicated to you.

- What?

When you made that speech you said

you lived 45 minutes from Broadway.

That struck me as a perfect title

for a show and a song.

During the first act

you've written this new song?

- Strange surroundings, so it took longer.

- He's worked so hard. At least hear him.

- It'll only take a minute, won't it?

- Depends on the encores.

Well, you certainly are persistent.

All right, go ahead.

- Mind if I change?

- Thank you, Miss Templeton.

Thank you very, very much.

Go ahead, George, play it.

That's good. It's rather different.

You like it, Miss Templeton, do you?

Excuse me!

That's only a chorus number.

He's got one number called "Mary"

that's just perfect for you.

- She doesn't sing that.

- She is going to!

Shut up. Wait till you hear this,

it's the best thing he's ever done.

"Mary"?

This looks very interesting.

- You wouldn't like it.

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