Original subtitles

Good evening.

Seems to have been a bit of an uproar. rising here by a group that is long on

principles and short on mastership.

If you're disturbed by what they did to the wall, just imagine what they did to

my shirt and my tie.

It's completely ruined.

The leader of a firing squad used to do this at parties using a pair of

scissors. It is comforting to know he has not lost his sense of humor.

Tonight's narrative is called Final Performance.

Although whose performance, I shall let you discover for yourself.

It begins in one minute.

You going to Rollins?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'll get in.

Good. Oh, it's cool in here.

How come it's so cool?

Air conditioning.

Oh.

Look, I want to warn you, I'm having some trouble with my car.

I just hope I make it.

Where are you going, to Rollins?

No, I'm going to Los Angeles.

Hollywood.

You're going to Hollywood?

Hey, listen, that's where I'm going. Is it funny?

Hey, what's all this stuff? You moving or something?

Yeah, I'm moving to Hollywood.

Oh.

You in the movies or what?

No, I write for the movies.

Oh.

Hey, listen.

Would you mind driving me all the way?

I mean, that's where I really want to go, if you don't mind my company.

Well, it's still a good trip. I'll probably have to stop.

Oh, that's all right. I can sleep anywhere. What do you say?

About what?

About taking me to Hollywood.

Oh, you will, won't you?

Yeah.

Hey, what's your name?

Cliff.

Like, follow the clip.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, like follow the clip.

Oh, I'm Rosie.

Hi. Hi.

Hey, say, listen, um, if you do take me to Hollywood, maybe you can introduce me

to some of them big stars, huh?

Come on, get out of there.

Turn around and put your hands up on the car.

Hey, now look.

Don't give me no hard time.

Okay.

Let me see your license.

Now, look, Sheriff, I think you've made a mistake.

If you'll just be quiet a minute, I'll tell you about all you've done wrong.

Number one.

Come to our town back there, it's better than 30 miles an hour.

Speed limit's 15.

That's 15 miles an hour right there.

Number two, you come through trail enough loose smoke to contaminate the

state a while.

Number three, got to be real good.

Picking up that young girl there.

Right? Make off with her.

You know, not five minutes ago, she flagged me down. I just gave her a lift.

She begged me for a ride. I'm going to Hollywood. She begged me for a ride to

Hollywood. Ask her.

Go ahead, ask her.

Rosie, what you doing in there?

Well, uh... I was just out walking.

And, uh... That man... He, uh... He drove his car up and he got out.

And he made me get in.

He made me get in his car.

Hey, what's the matter with you? Why don't you tell him what happened? That's

enough.

Now, Rosie, you come on out of there and go up and get in my car, you hear?

Yes, sir.

You're in serious trouble.

Now, you just get in your car, follow me back to town.

Look, Sheriff, I didn't touch that girl, and I was not speeding.

That's number four, Mr. Allen.

That's what this directs.

I sure hope you carry lots of money on that.

I'll take Rosie home back where she belongs, and I'll send a tow truck after

you. Now, get into town and stop by my office.

Just look for the car.

You remember, young fella, I've got your driver's license.

I know you told me.

Stop around tomorrow.

I wonder if you could help me.

What do you want?

Well, who do I see about a room?

Me.

Saw a breakdown?

Yeah, how'd you know?

That's the only reason anybody stays here unless... Sheriff holds him up for

speeding.

Well, I just let the guy from the gas station win.

Yeah.

Yeah, he's doing me a big favor. He's towing my car in for $35.

$35 just for towing.

Uh -huh.

Well, can I have a room?

Sure.

Where are you going?

Los Angeles.

What's your name?

Cliff Allen.

Any relation to Fred?

Fred? Allen.

Fred Allen.

Oh. Allen's a pretty common name.

I knew Fred Allen. I was on the same field with him for five weeks in Philly.

Then again in Baltimore.

Oh. But you performed or what?

Rudolph the Great.

You ever hear of him?

Rudolph the Great.

No, I can't remember.

Well, you do look a little young.

You ever seen any vaudeville?

What else have you seen?

You must have seen. Sign here.

Uh -huh. You got cash for the room?

How much?

Three dollars with a sink.

You want a sink?

Yes, sir.

Rosie, how'd you like to show Mr.

Allen up to Al Jolson?

I got all the cabins named after the stars.

You're in the Al Jolson.

Would you rather be in the W .C. Field?

I don't care.

I got it all cleaned up. Clean sheets, towels.

There's a sink in there.

I dusted the other day.

Well, here.

Mr. Allen, Rosie will take you to the cabin.

Oh.

Thank you.

What are you doing?

I was doing everything inside.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what I did, but I had to.

Had to do what?

Why don't you just tell the sheriff the truth?

Maybe it's not the truth.

Oh, it is. I do want to go to Hollywood, but if the sheriff is dead, he'll tell

Rudolph and I'll never get out of here.

Rudolph?

He doesn't want me to go anywhere.

Oh, well, that's wonderful.

Boy, the sheriff tells him that lie of yours.

You can't stay here.

I wouldn't have done you.

I have no choice.

Well, hit your right in the wrong. Sleep in a field, anything.

What are you doing here anyway? If you work for him, why don't you just quit?

What are you, his daughter or something?

Well, it's... He looks after him.

But... Rosie, you don't give me any reasons. You just... Rosie!

Like I said, yeah.

Rosie!

Rosie!

You come on back here.

No. Come on back here now.

No, you're going to hit me.

I ain't going to hit you.

I ain't going to touch you.

What took you so long?

Hey, I ain't going to touch you.

Please don't hurt me. Oh, stop that. I ain't hurting you.

What were you doing up there? Talking to that man?

I don't care if he does. All you had to do was show him the cabin. Come right

back.

Oh, you had to. I ought to dust you. That's what I ought to do.

You want that young fella to have a quiet rest. Here, you keep away from

You and your truck drivers and your town kids.

You got your eye out for all of them.

Something to drink?

Something cold.

We got good root beer here. Fine.

Ah, you do look kind of young.

I thought you might remember Rudolph the Great.

Well, uh, I don't know, Rudolph.

Maybe I did see you.

Maybe I can refresh your memory.

Come with me.

Bring your drink along.

Come on.

What are you doing here?

Oh, that's a lot.

I come through here with a traveling fare about ten years ago. It closed

and here I was.

Me and Maggie and Rosie.

Maggie and Rosie?

Yeah, Maggie was my wife.

She was the other half of the act.

You see, Rosie's folks died in a heartless fire. You remember that?

And for a while, we all kind of killed Rosie.

And then County Fair closed down. I got a job here cooking.

And I took over.

Maggie died the first year.

That was the end of the team.

That Rosie and I stayed on.

She's a big girl now.

We're going to get bookings as an act.

You know, another team.

We got a lot of routines we're working on.

You ought to see them.

Well, they're not as good as my old act used to be yet, but they're gonna be.

You're a juggler.

No, no, no, that's just kid stuff.

Listen, I was next to closing 43 times.

That's some juggler's spot.

I had my specialty.

I'll show it to you.

But I can't show it to anybody, you understand?

Oh, sure.

Hey, did you see this one?

That's me and Will Rogers.

I got one in Closet, somewhere.

Maybe you saw me in the Follies. You'd remember me.

I don't think so. The last bar bill I saw was in New Jersey. New Jersey? I

played New Jersey. Clark and McCullough was on the field with me. Bobby Clark.

Got a good notice there.

Maybe you'd like to see it. Rudolph the Great.

Oh, no, you don't want to.

No, I'd like to. Well, maybe later.

Maybe later.

That's not New Jersey.

Well, come on.

Oh, you're going to Hollywood, huh?

I'll bet you're in the movie.

No, I just write. I write for television.

Television? Yeah?

What do you write?

Well, I write for a series. You know, it's on every week.

It's about the Navy.

The Navy?

Yeah.

I love to be a sailor. A sailor. A

sailor. You must know very well.

Hey, you know what?

We're going to have a great time here, you and me. You know that?

You're the first person to come through here in a long while that remembers the

old days.

I got a lot to show you.

You ever hear Tasty at the back? Rudolph?

Charlie wants to know how much milk we need.

Oh, all right, Rosie.

Hey, hey, come here. Come here.

There's Mr. Allen here.

He's a writer. Come here.

Yeah, he's very special. He's one of us.

Show business. We're all in the same big family, aren't we?

Hey, Mr. Allen, I want you to know my Rosie is very talented.

Well, that's nice.

Not only is she talented, she's pretty, too, isn't she?

Yes, she is. Yeah, Mr. Allen, I want to tell you something else.

I want you to treat Rosie very special.

Because a week from today, Rosie's going to be 18.

And the day after she's 18, we're going to be married.

Rosie gonna be my bride.

Could you come here a minute?

He's just the man I want to see.

I'd like to ask you some advice.

How do you like that?

Well, it's very pretty.

Maggie. It was Maggie's wedding dress.

And now it's going to be Rosie's.

Well, that's nice.

Do you think it's all right for a man to have his second wife married in his

first wife's wedding dress?

Well, I suppose it would be up to the bride.

Well, I think it's a good idea, especially since they knew each other so

They're a lot alike, anyways.

I think it's a good idea.

Don't you?

Your wedding?

Yeah.

Now, Mr. Allen, let me ask you something.

Suppose... Well, you were a married man.

Let's say, instead of being a writer, you worked in a store, see? And your

worked in there, too, wasn't she?

See? And every man that came into that store kept looking at your wife.

Would you have any objections to that?

I don't know. She was really attractive. I'd expect them to look at her.

Be flattered.

Oh, you would, would you?

Oh, well.

I suppose she starts going out with him.

I don't know.

It would depend on the circumstance.

I might forgive her.

Once.

It could be grounds for divorce.

Uh -huh.

Well, don't you think she deserves some kind of punishment?

I'm afraid I really don't know what you're talking about.

I'm talking about punishment.

Your wife couldn't keep from making eyes at these other men?

Look, what has this got to do with the wedding dress? It's got a lot to do with

the wedding dress, Mr. Allen, a lot.

When she wore this dress, Maggie promised her love, honor, and obey.

Right? Hmm?

Right? Yes, yes, right.

And that doesn't mean when the dress is changed that the vows are off, too, does

it?

Right? Right.

Right.

You're in show business.

Well, and you know what I'm talking about.

Opportunity comes at the strangest time. So you wait.

And you wait. And you practice.

And you're ready for it. You don't run around like a chicken with its head off

just to satisfy some anxious woman.

No.

You wait.

You work.

In a diner like this even if necessary.

And you get ready for it.

And if you can't wait.

If you can't sit still, you can't stop playing around with other men.

You don't deserve what you got, do you?

Well, do you?

Well, no.

No.

No, sir, Mr. Allen.

Because if you don't appreciate what you got, you don't deserve any of it. I

tried to tell that to Maggie.

I tried.

Oh,

let's go to Holland.

Get back on the circus.

We ain't got any contacts anymore anyway.

She just...

Couldn't wait until I was ready.

Ah, too bad for her.

But I got my Rosie now.

She's gonna wait.

She's gonna wear this dress.

She's gonna love on her and obey.

Isn't she, Mr. Allen?

I'm sure she is.

My Rosie's very pretty, isn't she?

Well, I didn't think she'd... Pretty, don't you? Yes, yes, I do. How pretty?

Well, it's a little hard to describe. I'd say she's very pretty. Pretty enough

for you?

Yes, yes, pretty.

And spoken for, too.

Well, it's always a way, isn't it, Mr. Allen?

I'm sure I wouldn't know.

Do you want any more advice?

I'm glad you like the dress.

Maybe you ought to see my specialty, eh?

I'd like to get some work done.

All right, all right. We'll put it off till you got time.

You gotta have a look at it. Well, you can say you saw Rudolph the Great.

You might want to tell your kids about it sometime.

I never had kids, son.

I guess so.

So am I.

Good afternoon.

How are you doing, honey?

It's a little tight.

Let me help you.

Don't I look a little funny on me?

Oh, no.

You look beautiful on you, honey.

Wait till all the boys see you in that. You're going to be a figure.

You think so?

Yeah. Rudolph, you think we're going to get to Hollywood so they can see me for

the movie?

I don't see why not.

You said you were going to take me to Hollywood.

And you said you were going to introduce me to them big stars.

Yeah, I will. I will. I promise.

You know what?

Jack Benny and me are old buddies.

All I have to do is call him on the phone.

He can do a lot for you.

Let's call him now.

Oh, honey, now you know I can't call him from here.

But I'll do better than that. When we get to Hollywood, I'll take you right

to the studio to meet him.

And George Burns, too.

Yeah, he's an old pal.

You'll get your television.

Well, uh... You... You said last year we were gonna go, and then... And then

this summer... Oh, Rosie, honey.

You're so pretty in that new costume.

Yeah, you know, that's just for your big number.

Well... We... We... We ain't left here once.

We don't even get to go to Rome.

I'm gonna make you a big star. I know just the people that do it.

I'd like to see you moving, Mom.

Oh, Rosie, you're such a pretty thing, you know that?

And next week you're gonna be my bride.

You'll be prettier than you are now.

All the guys will look at you just like you were on a stage.

I'm gonna say, look at that girl.

Ain't that Rudolph a lucky guy?

He sure got himself some girl.

Oh, no.

What? I think he was.

Oh, no.

talk to you.

I wanted to explain about everything and I wanted to apologize.

What's the matter?

I thought I heard something.

What's up?

Rosie, what do you want?

Well, I... I just want you to help me, that's all. You can see how it is, how

Rudolph wants to marry me.

That's why I want to go to Hollywood. And when the sheriff came, I had to tell

that lie so he wouldn't tell on me.

You are going to Hollywood, really, aren't you? Mm -hmm.

If I ever get out of this town.

Well, you just got to take me with you.

Rosie, I'm very sorry, but I really think this is none of my business. I've

gotten myself into enough trouble for one day.

It's against the law for me to take you anywhere.

The law? The law? What is the law anyway?

The law says that if Rudolph promises to take me to Hollywood, he's supposed to

take me.

And Rudolph isn't going to go anyplace.

And the law says that if I get married, then I'm never going to get out of here.

Cliff, am I pretty?

I mean, forgetting what I got on.

Yes, yes, I'd say you were pretty.

Would you like to marry me?

Rosie, I...

Well, if you was like Rudolph, and if you'd known me a longer time, then, uh,

would you love me?

If I knew you, and I liked you, I loved what I

knew, yes, I might like to marry you.

Well, uh,

uh... Yes?

Well, if you took me to Hollywood...

How could you get to know me? Rosie.

Well, you said I was true. Rosie.

Come here.

Now, look, I don't want to apologize.

I do.

Maybe it was my fault in the first place for stopping you.

And maybe because of that, I have some kind of an obligation.

I just can't do any more.

You'd better understand that.

Is that something you're working on for Hollywood?

Mm -hmm.

Where are you going?

I can take your bow.

All right, all right.

You're getting it.

Yeah, you're getting it.

You're going to be fine.

Oh, never mind about that.

But one thing, honey.

Don't be always looking at me.

Give him that big smile.

Well, hello there, Mr. Allen.

Welcome to our theater.

We've got our own little organ here, haven't we?

Yes, it's very nice.

Don't let me bother you.

No, you're just in time.

We're going to do our comedy pattern.

I thought maybe I'd get to see your specialty act.

Well, maybe, maybe.

Maybe I could do a little... No!

I don't want to do it when I'm so out of practice.

But I'll work on it for you.

I promise.

You'll see it.

But now you watch Rudolph the Great and Rosie.

We've been working on this.

You ready?

Rudolph the Great and Rosie.

Take it away.

Hey there, Rosie. What you got there?

I've got a case.

Yeah? Where you going?

I'm taking my case to court.

Hey now there,

Rosie. Where you going with that thing?

I'm taking my case to higher court.

Then we do a little... And a wow.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We've got some more, but right now we're going to take a little break.

I, uh, just looking around.

Yeah, Mr. Allen, I built this all myself.

We give... We give shows to the town people in here. People come from miles

around.

You like our little number?

Yeah, yeah. It's fun.

Now, Mr. Allen, if I was you, I'd, uh... I'm watching

myself. What do you mean?

What do I mean?

The sheriff was talking to me earlier tonight.

Yeah, told me a lot of interesting things about you.

About picking Rosie up on the highway and all that.

Yeah. Straighten all that out.

I was just trying to help her. Now, that's all right.

I understand.

Rosie's a mighty pretty girl.

I figure a young fella like you thinks an old trooper like me can't handle it

right. I understand.

Now, Mr. Allen, you and I ought to be pretty good friends.

We folks got show business in our blood.

And you're gonna get your car fixed.

Get right on out of here to Hollywood.

Aren't you?

I hope so.

Now, Mr. Allen, Rosie and I appreciate you being here.

We'd like you to feel right at home. So anytime you feel like talking, you come

around to me. We'll talk.

Anytime.

There's just one thing, Mr. Allen.

You keep away from Rosie.

You hear?

Television has many ingenious devices to keep time from passing too quickly and

presently. One of these is the station brick, after which, on with our story.

sitting there?

I've been waiting for the parts to arrive from Roland.

You better get yourself fixed up at Rudolph's and come back in about two

Two days?

Monday, if you're lucky. I cannot sit around this town for two days.

Well, there's plenty to keep you busy here.

Will Bullerton's going to show his home movies over at the schoolhouse.

How about Rudolph?

I'm sure he can entertain you.

Mr. Davidson, you know Rudolph pretty well, don't you?

Oh, sure.

Everybody knows him.

Did anything unusual ever happen up at his place?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Well, I'm not too sure I do either.

Why are you talking about it then? I was just wondering about Rudolph. He's a

very interesting character. I wondered how well you knew him.

I never heard a man talking around in circles the way you do.

Is that the way they talk in New York?

Have a cup of coffee? Sure.

I've been meaning to ask you something.

What's that?

Well, you've got to stay out here a couple of days more.

I was thinking maybe you'd do me a favor.

Huh?

Well, you write the television and all that.

I thought maybe you could write something for me and Rosie.

A new pattern to work into the routine, you know.

I'm not really a comedy writer.

Well, I'm not really a comedy performer, but you've got to be versatile.

Why don't you do your specialty?

Oh, I will. I will.

And I'll show it to you like I promised.

But I've got to have some new material to roll me in.

Well, you could write something, couldn't you?

I don't think so. I just don't write comedy.

I'll pay for it. I'll pay you well.

No, I'm sorry.

Try with some young star out in Hollywood.

Look, that is... You could do it. But you think maybe I wouldn't be able to

that kind of stuff across.

Listen, if it wasn't for my versatility, I'd be dead.

My best friend, Louie Boynton, he's got this one routine, this one exact same

routine. He does it on the circuit for 15 years. 15 years he does this routine.

He makes a good living out of it.

He even goes on television and does the same routine on that wall.

But that is it.

That is the end of the routine that is curtains for Louie.

Everybody's seen his act. No more job.

Where are you going to find a routine like that every day?

Times have changed.

What does that mean, times have changed?

Does that mean you're too good for me?

You young kids are too good for us.

We taught you.

We taught you everything you know about show business.

Now your kids get behind a television camera and times have changed.

Instead of building up a routine for years and years, you gotta have a

bright young kids turning out stuff for another hundred bright young kids to

say. You gotta have a man that stands up with a sign that says laugh or applaud,

cheer, whatever you want. Now let me tell you.

I still got what I had when I played the circuit, and it worked.

It still worked.

I got my Rosie. I got my pretty little Rosie.

And I got my specialty act.

And that's what made Rudolph great.

So you go ahead and sell your stuff to some young fool off in Holland.

Rudolph. Go ahead.

Rudolph. Go ahead!

Rosie, what are you doing here?

Rudolph said you're leaving.

Oh, what am I going to do?

I'm going to be married next week and you're going to be in Hollywood.

You've got to keep me with you. Rosie, I told you.

Look, you shouldn't come here.

It makes Rudolph mad. He just doesn't understand.

He likes you very much. He doesn't understand it when you talk to other

Well, if he doesn't understand me and if you do, well, why can't I be with you?

Oh, it is. It is that simple, Cliff. It is. It's that simple.

I'm afraid every time I'm near him.

Don't you understand?

I suppose so.

Please, help me.

Rosie!

Rosie!

Rosie!

Time for rehearsal.

are you today, Sheriff?

What will it be?

Uh, something cold.

Soda? A little beer.

A little beer, fine.

Mr. Davis, I was wondering when I could get my car.

You want it tonight?

Yes. Got the cash?

Well, I phoned the studio. They should be wiring me some money.

When it comes, you'll bring it to me.

I ain't going no place.

I'd like to have it by tonight.

You would, huh?

You got the money for the traffic ticket?

Oh, yeah.

How much was that?

Thirty -five dollars.

Ten, twenty, thirteen, one, two, three, five.

Okay. There's your license.

Thank you.

Uh, do I get a receipt?

I don't give no receipts.

Rudolph, if that's any piece of that peach pie there, will you?

I give receipts.

Got any more of that stuff?

Nothing else.

Well, Carl will be ready tonight, even if you ain't.

Wants to take his root bear out of there, too, really.

Rosie's not working today?

I heard you rehearsing last night.

Yeah?

Rosie don't feel too good.

She's been working too hard.

Working on that routine.

She's sick.

In bed.

Rosie?

What's the matter?

Rosie, are you all right?

Why don't you answer me?

I thought you were Rudolph. What are you doing with this dress?

I'm going to get married.

Rudolph gave it to me.

He told me to put it on and leave it on.

Rosie.

Rosie, I'm going to take you with me.

You are?

Oh, Cleo.

All right.

Now, now listen.

I want you to listen to me. I want you to listen carefully.

I'm going to get my car. It's going to be tricky, but I think I can do it.

Now, can you leave me some room?

I'll meet you any time. I'll go right now. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Yes, I'll pick up my car and I'll meet you... I'll meet you at 8 o 'clock,

here. All right?

I won't bring very much. I'll just bring a couple of pretty dresses. All right.

All right.

All right, now.

Get out of the dress.

And stay in the diner.

I'll see you tonight.

Way to go. Way to go.

Rosie. Looking for someone?

Uh, I was just looking for Rosie.

Yeah, well, I wanted to say goodbye to her before I left.

Mr. Allen, if I know about your meeting, Rosie told me.

She told you?

She also told me to tell you she's awful sorry, but she ain't meeting you

tonight.

Why, what's the matter?

Where is she?

Down at the bar in rehearsal.

She told me to say goodbye to you for her.

Well, I said it.

Didn't I?

Rudolph.

I don't know what's going on here, but I'd like to see Rosie before I leave.

like her to tell me all of this.

I told you. I know what you told me.

I'm not so sure I believe you. I think you'd better go.

I think I'd better see Rosie.

All right. If you insist, follow me.

I'm awful sorry about all this, Mr. Allen.

You know, Rosie gets this way sometimes.

She reads all her movie magazines.

Gets all those foolish notions in her head.

She starts telling silly things to people.

Some young fella like you comes along and believes them.

That's a shame.

It's embarrassing.

Sometimes, you know.

Rosie, someone here to talk to you. Rosie, I'll speak.

You wait here.

Now, Rosie, you've done a terrible thing.

I want you to tell Mr.

Allen... I want the real truth, Rosie.

You don't have to be afraid.

I'm not afraid.

Cliff, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I lied to you.

Rosie, I've come to take you away.

Now.

Because Rudolph's here, you don't have to retreat.

Come on, it's all right.

I can't. I love Rudolph. I really do.

You've hypnotized him.

No, mister, you're wrong.

Rosie, tell Mr. Allen how wrong he is.

I'm telling the truth.

I love Rudolph.

You couldn't have told me all that.

Babe.

Rosie, what are you?

I'm asking you for the last time. I'm leaving. Now, if you meant what you

if you want me to help you, come with me.

I'll protect you.

Cliff, I don't want to come.

Really. I belong here.

You do understand.

I don't understand.

Goodbye.

You did it, honey.

I did it for you.

You know that.

I know.

You've given me so much, and I want to give to you and love you and be a good

wife. I will be.

Won't I, Rudolph?

Yes, my love.

Is that my goodnight kiss, Rudolph?

Yes, my love.

The prism was of no avail to Rudolph when he faced a judge several months

He is now talking to himself in one of our larger prisms.

I've run out of time, although there seems to be some left for others.

One of these is the sponsor who is about to give his final performance for

this week.