Original subtitles

She's trying to kill me.

-Come back here. -What is going on?

Stop her, Daddy. Stop her.

What is this?

I'm too young to go.

What?

What is it?

Stop it, I said.

I'm willing.

Talk to her.

Oh, Daddy.

Just wait. I'll kill him.

Terry, now, stop it.

What's going on here?

Well, I was in my room not bothering a soul,

trying to learn one of Portia's speeches

from "The Merchant Of Venice."

Learning "The Merchant of Venice"?

For the class play next week.

Oh.

And this little hyena barges in,

totally uninvited and starts laughing like an idiot.

Well, it was funny.

Shakespeare is funny?

Well, uh--

One of the greatest writers that ever

lived, and you laugh at him.

Well, it just sounded like a bunch of double talk to me.

What makes you think you're any judge?

Your idea of fine dialogue is "they went that-a way."

Now, sit down.

To understand Shakespeare you got to give

it your undivided attention.

Then and only then, will you appreciate

the full meaning of every line.

Laughing at Shakespeare.

Go ahead, dear.

Read a couple of passages.

Let's see what's going on here.

And one smile out of you, kid, and you'll be a sorry hyena.

"If to do were as easy as to what were good to do,

chapels had been churches and poor men's cottages

princes' palaces.

It is a good divine that follows his own instructions.

I can easier teach 20 what were good to be

done than be one of the 20 to follow mine own teaching.

The brain may devise laws for the blood,

but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree.

Such a hare is the madness the youth-- to skip o'er the meshes

of good counsel the cripple."

Now, they're both laughing.

I'm sorry, honey.

Oh, I just wish I was dead.

I've got to know this thing by next week,

and I can't learn it, because I can't even understand it.

You're not punctuating properly.

Oh, I need a good coach.

Good coach.

Where am I going to get you a Shakespearean coach

between now and next week?

You certainly need help though.

Oh.

I know I need help.

Well, baby, have you forgotten your father?

No.

But I need help.

I mean I will help you.

After all, I'm an actor.

Remember?

Maybe I'm not a Shakespearean actor,

but this is only dialogue.

And I've handled dialogue plenty of times.

"If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do."

No.

"If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do,

chapels had been churches and poor men's

cottages-- and poor men's cottages princes' palaces.

It is a good divine--" no. "It is a good divine."

Maybe it's supposed to be funny.

DANNY: Oh, cut that out.

Oh.

I'm just never going to get this.

Oh gosh.

I'm sorry, Terry.

Honest, I am.

Don't cry.

I wish there was some way I could help you.

Yeah.

There is, son.

You can help her just by leaving her alone.

Go play, huh.

Hey, you cut that out.

Here.

You know, dry your eyes.

Now, shame on you, baby.

I know it's a little complicated, but we'll get it.

Don't worry.

Now, I haven't been actor for 20 years for nothing.

We'll get it.

It just takes a little time.

That's all.

It's hard to understand at first.

"It is a good divine that follows his own instructions.

I can easier teach 20--" honey, doesn't the action of this play

take place in Italy?

Yes.

In Venice.

No wonder.

I got it.

I got the whole key.

It should be (ITALIAN ACCENT) "It's a good-a divine what-a

follows his own instructions."

"The brain may devise laws for the blood,

but a hot temper leaps--"

Well, you'll get laughs with it.

That's one thing.

Daddy, that's what I'm afraid of.

Honey, you don't have to overdo the gestures, you know.

A good counsel doesn't leap.

Good counsel leaps.

Just take your time. -"Good counsel leaps."

That's right.

-"O'er a cold." -Hi.

Absolutely. Hi.

And please, don't interrupt us.

We're rehearsing.

Yes.

Remember yesterday, daddy, you said

if you could find a good Shakespearean coach

to help Terry, you'd get one?

Yeah.

I found one in the park.

Derrick Campbell, sir.

At your service.

He's one of the greatest actors of Shakespeare in the country.

In the world maybe.

Well, how'd you find that out?

He told me.

Oh, he told you.

Is that a note of doubt I detect in your tone, sir?

A smidge of a smirk.

A soupcon of suspicion.

Well then, sir, disabuse your mind.

The boy speaks the truth.

Bend the knee.

Bow the head.

Before you stands Derrick Campbell, Shakespearean actor

without peer.

Daddy, he's like an answer to our prayers.

I told you I'd help you, Terry.

Yeah.

Well, that's certainly very nice of you

to offer your assistance, Mr. Campbell.

But I don't think it'll be necessary.

You see, uh, I'm helping my daughter.

You, sir?

Yeah.

You're an actor?

Yup.

And the name, sir?

Williams.

Danny Williams.

Daniel Williams.

Daniel-- oh, there was a Williams

who played Iago to Gilberts' Othello some years gone now.

Um.

Are you, perchance, that Williams, sir?

Who?

The "who" is a sufficient answer.

Where have you placed?

Lots of places.

Copacabana.

The Chez Paris in Chicago.

Copacabana?

Chez Paris, Chi-- what manner of theater are those?

Those aren't theaters.

They're nightclubs.

Then, you are not but a saloon buffoon.

What's wrong with that?

Wrong?

Wrong?

Nothing wrong, sir.

So long as you keep your place and confine yourself

to the amusement of inebriates.

In short, sir, uh, sing your little songs.

Tell your little jokes.

But spare this innocent child the outrage of first hearing

the magnificent words of the immortal Bard

from your churlish lips.

Yeah.

Well, let me tell you something, you fugitive from a wax museum.

I've been in this business for over 20 years.

I've been doing pretty good at it, churlish lips and all.

Is that merely your somewhat prejudiced opinion,

or is it more substantially supported?

How's that?

For instance, what has Atkinson had

to say about your performances?

Atkinson?

I don't get reviewed by drama critics.

Winchell liked me.

Yes.

Oh, Atkinson though.

He adored my MacBeth.

Incomparable, I believe, is the word he used.

Of course, that was dross compared to the way

my King Lear was received in Boston.

Oh, I remember that well.

April, it was.

April of 1934.

You played King Lear?

Played it, sir.

I can best answer by that by quoting Patterson

the renowned critic of The Boston Globe

who wrote, "those of us who are privileged to witness Mr.

Derrick Campbell's King Lear last night

may very well have seen the finest individual performance

ever given in any theater.

Inspired.

Brilliant.

A burst of pure white light.

That and more, much more."

He was, of course, quite right.

Isn't he wonderful?

Oh, I do pretty good in my business too, you know.

I didn't mean it that way, daddy.

I know you do.

I know what you meant.

I mean maybe I'm not a Shakespearean actor,

but Shakespeare or a nightclub, an actor is an actor.

True enough.

An actor is indeed an actor.

There are good actors and bad.

There are tall actors and short.

There are fat ones and thin ones.

There are actors who enable what is best in man

and those who pander to his basest.

In short, sir, there are many shapes and fashions in actors.

And at the top, amongst the stars,

is the Shakespearean actor.

And at the bottom in the mud-- my generosity

forbids me from going further in front of your children.

I see generosity doesn't forbid you to cop my cigar.

Well, I didn't want you to think me unfriendly.

Oh.

Oh hi.

Hello, dear.

Oh, I see we have company.

Yes.

Do we only have company.

Derrick Campbell, ma'am.

Yours to command.

How do you do?

Friend of Rusty's.

He found him in the street.

In the park.

I heard him saying Shakespeare to a lot of people.

Boy, did they like it.

I remembered what Daddy said yesterday, so--

OK. OK.

All right. All right.

All right.

Oh, you're going to help Terry.

No.

No.

He's not going to help Terry.

I'm helping Terry, and we're doing quite fine.

Aren't we, dear? -Sure we are.

Sure we are.

Thank you very much, Mr. Campbell.

And uh-- uh-- nice of you to drop by.

Well--

Does he have to go right now?

Well, my dear, Mr. Campbell seems to be a very busy man.

It is getting quite late.

Well, I am sorry, Mr. Williams.

Perhaps, I have underestimated you.

I beg you pardon me.

Not at all.

And as proof of your forgiveness, I wonder,

would you grant me one small boon?

Yeah.

I was wondering when that was coming.

OK.

Oh, no, sir.

No thank you.

Though your-- your generosity does you credit.

No, sir.

So that I may leave with a clear conscience,

knowing that this fair young maiden is in good hands.

Would you read for me just one Shakespearean speech?

Here, daddy.

Go ahead.

Wouldn't you rather have the money?

"If to do were as easy to know what were good to do,

chapels had been churches and poor men's

cottages-- poor men's cottages princes' palaces."

"It is a good divine that follows his own instructions.

I can easier teach 20 what were good to be

done than be one of the 20 to follow mine own teaching.

The brain may devise laws for the blood,

but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree.

Such a hare is madness the youth to skip o'er the meshes

of good counsel the cripple."

Oh.

So that's what it means.

Isn't he great, Kathy?

Mr. Campbell, you certainly know your Shakespeare.

All right.

Look.

I've got busy with my own affairs, you know.

I don't have to fool around with kids.

If you want him help you, let him help you.

I don't care.

Oh, thank you, sir.

We can begin right now and work up until-- what

time will we be dining, ma'am?

7 o'clock.

Splendid.

Splendid.

Then, perhaps, we can put in a few hours after dinner.

And tomorrow being Saturday, we can begin bright and early.

Immediately after breakfast.

Four days he's been here.

Four days and four nights.

You know how many meals that is? -Mhm.

12.

Not him.

He eats three meals a night too.

Kathy.

Mm.

Mr. Campbell wonders if perchance there might

be a cold bird in the icebox.

And a goblet of foaming cow nectar perchance.

Cow nectar?

Yes, that's a glass of milk.

He wouldn't like me to serve it in a butler's uniform.

Would he, perchance?

He didn't say, father.

And it isn't perchance.

It's perchance.

Now, look here, young fellow.

Honey, you run along.

I'll bring him in something.

OK, Kathy.

How do you like that?

Now, he's got my own son teaching me to speak English.

Oh, honey.

Rusty didn't mean anything by it.

Not much, he didn't.

The way he looks at that guy, and Terry too.

They look at him like, like-- well,

like they used to look at me.

And you're running them a close second.

Darling, you're not jealous of that poor man.

It's not that I'm jealous.

I just don't like the way he runs me down, especially

in front of the kids.

What kills me though is while he's

stuffing his mouth with my food, he's telling

my family what a bum I am.

And you all believe him too.

You're being silly.

You know how proud the children are of you.

Why, they-- they love to see you sing and entertain.

You know, yourself, when you rehearse here at home,

their your best audience.

They think you're the greatest.

And so do I.

Yeah.

They-- they do kind of like it when I rehearse

a number at home, don't they?

Mhm.

You know, I think l'll-- I'll rehearse

a little this afternoon.

So that's fine, Terry.

Fine.

But if you read that speech, that one speech,

with just a little authority.

You know here.

Oh, here, "Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

Shed there no blood, nor cut thou less nor more but just

a pound of flesh--" Yes?

What?

Yes?

I'm not allowed to walk into my own living room?

Well, of course, sir.

Well, thanks a lot.

We're rehearsing, daddy.

Yes, I know you are, dear.

And I have to do a little rehearsing myself too.

Oh, that nightclub stuff.

Let's not knock it, son.

That nightclub stuff pays the bills around here.

I was just thinking that I ought to put in a number I

used to do years ago.

I uh-- I ought to put this number back in the show,

because it's a good one.

It always-- it kind of warms up the audience.

I want to run it over once again.

-Well, then, perhaps, we-- -No.

No. You don't have to go.

I'd like for you to hear as a matter of fact.

See what you think of it.

Listen.

(SINGING) Come on along and listen

to the lullaby of Broadway.

The hip hooray, the ballyhoo.

The lullaby of Broadway.

The rattle of the subway trains.

The rattle the taxis.

The daffydils who entertain at Angelo's and Maxi's.

When the Broadway baby says good night

it's early in the morning.

Manhattan babies don't sleep tight until the dawn.

Oh, good night, baby.

Good night.

The milk man's on his way.

Sleep tight, baby.

Sleep tight.

Let's call it a day.

Listen to the lullaby of old Broadway.

Well, Mr. Williams.

That, uh, was quite pleasant.

Yes, daddy.

It was quite pleasant.

Yes, it was quite pleasant perchance.

One more perchance out of you, and you're going

to get perchanced the pants.

For Heaven's sakes, daddy.

Here you are, Mr. Campbell.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you kindly.

The creative endeavor does whet the artist's appetite.

Does it not?

I wouldn't know.

I'm a just a pleasant saloon buffoon perchance.

Oh, Rusty, will you get that?

Darling, are you through rehearsing?

Yeah.

I'm through.

Boy, am I only through.

RUSTY: Thank you.

Special delivery letter for you, daddy.

Oh.

Oh yes.

I've been waiting for this.

Who's it from?

It's from The Boston Globe.

Ahem.

KATHY: The Boston Globe?

Yes, dear.

From The Boston Globe.

Oh yes.

Oh, this is most interesting.

Just as I thought.

It was April of 1934 when you gave that performance

of "King Lear," wasn't it?

I'm not quite sure.

If memory serves it was January of 1936.

No.

No.

It says here April 16, 1934 in Boston.

That's right.

April the 16th, just as you say.

1934.

But in Philadelphia.

No. No.

It's Boston.

It's right here.

Well, back to work, young lady.

Now.

You know, I-- I wrote to them and asked them to send

me this review of "King Lear."

Because it was so brilliant as you read it to us.

Any actor who gets such rave notices naturally--

Portia's speech.

--must be proud.

Well, couldn't we just wait a few minutes, Mr. Campbell?

My goodness.

I'd love to hear the wonderful things they said about you.

Yes.

I'd love to read them to her also.

I wonder couldn't this wait until after dinner, mayhaps.

No.

I'm afraid not.

I was afraid you'd be afraid not.

"The following is a copy of Mr. Patterson's review

of 'King Lear' as it appears on April 16,

1934, as per your request."

Mr. Williams.

Mr. Williams.

"Those of us--"

There is-- there is just one speech with which your daughter

seems to be having trouble.

I wonder if you'd let me read it for her before you go on.

If you please, sir.

Well, I-- I waited this long.

I guess I can wait a few more minutes.

Thank you, sir.

Now, the speech occurs during the famous trial scene.

And Shylock has just demanded the pound of flesh due him.

And Portia makes one last appeal to him.

She appeals not for justice, but for mercy.

And she says, "The quality of mercy is not strained.

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

upon the place beneath.

It is twice blest.

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.

Tis mightiest in the mightiest.

It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, the attribute

to awe and majesty wherein doth sit

the dread and fear of kings.

But mercy is above this sceptered sway.

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings.

It is an attribute to God himself.

An earthly power doth then show likest God's

when mercy seasons justice."

Oh.

Daddy, go ahead and read the review.

"To those of us who were privileged to see Mr.

Derrick Campbell's 'King Lear' last night may well have

seen the finest individual performance

ever given in any theatre.

Inspired.

Brilliant.

A burst of pure white light.

With last night's performance Mr. Derrick Campbell joined

the immortals of the theatre."

Thank you, sir.

Oh, no wonder you're so proud of it.

Well, I-- frankly I found it quite flattering.

I wonder if I might have a few words with Mr.

Williams in private now.

Well, aren't we going to rehearse anymore?

No, dear.

Why don't you go in the kitchen?

Help Kathy. You too.

-Come along, children. -Go ahead.

OK.

The question now, kind sir, is who is the buffoon

and who the artist, huh.

Skip it.

It's a remarkable review, is it not?

Yes.

Yes.

Would you like to have it?

Thank you.

It's true though, you know.

Quite true.

I was there the night John Barrymore

gave that performance.

Yes, I was there.

The third soldier in the crowd, carrying my inevitable spear.

Yes, I know.

And I thank you for not letting them know.

Yes, how perceptive of you to see that the respect

and admiration of your children had become

more than food and drink to me.

I know I've been eating at that lunch counter for years now.

You had it in your power to puncture

the frail balloon that is my ego, and yet you refrained.

Well, for that, I thank you heartily.

Well, just chalk it up to my being a cornball.

But a golden one.

At any rate, sir, thank you.

Farewell and good day.

The explanations and apologies to your gentle family I

entrust into your capable hands.

Look.

You, uh, really don't have to leave, you know.

Oh, a good actor knows when to make his exit, sir.

What I mean is the children are very fond of you,

and, well, I've got over my silly peeve.

So if you'd like to stay.

No.

Thank you, sir.

By unmasking me, you have regained the superior situation

in our relationship to which you are rightfully entitled.

And I am relegated to the inferior place, where I belong.

And such justice I find intolerable.

Wait.

Wait. Don't go.

Now, don't misunderstand this, but I think--

Oh no. No.

No.

The Bard tells us neither a borrower nor a lender be.

However, there is one thing if I may, Mr. Williams.

Oh.

One never knows when one will have

the good fortune to encounter another pigeon such as you.

DANNY: Hey, bravo. Bravo.

Hey, you were great, honey.

Great. -You were just wonderful.

Another Helen Hayes.

That's all.

Daddy, I wasn't that good.

Not that good.

A burst of pure white light.

Ah.

I just wish that Mr. Campbell could have been there.

Yeah. Me too.

What have you got there?

Oh, the flowers you sent me.

I didn't send you any flowers.

Well, Kathy. Did you?

No.

I didn't.

Well, I was so excited I didn't even

bother to look at the card.

I thought it was from you.

I just didn't check.

Bravo, Derrick Campbell.

Oh, wasn't that sweet of him?

Oh, they're just beautiful too.

Oh yes.

They must have cost a fortune.

Wonder where he got the money.

What are you laughing at?

In the language of the immortal bard, my dear,

me thinks our Derrick has found himself another pigeon.