Original subtitles

[officer] Stand back. You can't do any good there.

If you try go in, you'll cook yourself.

We'll find your baby. Your baby will be taken care of by the fireman.

Stand back, everybody!

[crowd speaking indistinctly]

Back! Back, everybody!

The firemen will get your Morris. You stand back, lady.

[hopeful music playing]

[lilting music playing]

[poignant music playing]

[wistful music playing]

[lively music playing]

[poignant music playing]

[serene music playing]

[dramatic music playing]

[lilting music playing]

[inaudible dialogue]

[tender music playing]

[inaudible dialogue]

[lilting music playing]

[music stops]

Papa, dear, Morris did a very smart thing today.

So? Good for Morris.

You see, Papa, Goldfish is not such a good name

for a big antique man like Morris, so he changes it from Goldfish to Fish.

Fish?

Yes, that's it.

Don't you understand, Papa?

Fish is more high tone.

How do you like it?

I don't like it.

Goldfish has been good enough for me, it should be good enough for you.

Listen, Papa, you misunderstand.

I only did it for business reasons.

Just to make an extra couple of dollars,

you change the name that has been in the family for generations.

[Tilda] Papa, dear, please don't start something.

Goldfish is all right on the East Side,

but on Fifth Avenue, why they laugh at it.

- Hello, everybody. - Hello.

Sorry I was late.

What's the matter, Papa, don't you feel well?

Hey, what's the funeral about?

[Tilda] Birdie.

You know, Morris changed his name today and now he's Mr. Fish.

So that's the reason for the funeral.

Goldfish is dead, long live Mr. Fish.

Papa, you and I are just the tail of the Goldfish family now.

Birdie, I am in no mood for any of your wisecracks.

I didn't know that fish had moods.

Now you've crossed me long enough, you ungrateful little snip.

Who brought you that pretty gown you have on?

Who brought mama from the East Side?

And who took papa away from that dirty pushcart?

I did.

And if it wasn't for me, you'd still be rotting down on Delancey Street.

But I'm gonna make real people out of you, whether you like it or not.

So from now on, you keep your little mouth shut.

Do you hear me?

Now, I'll tell you something, you little tin god.

Who brought us up here from the East Side

because he was afraid we'd disgrace him if we stayed there.

- You did. [Tilda] Birdie!

- Pardon, Mama. - [Tilda] Birdie, stop!

I won't stop.

Who took papa away from his life and the friends he loves?

Who buried him in this cold Italian tomb, and made him look like an antique?

- You did. - Oh, shut up

I won't shut up.

You're killing papa, and you don't know it.

- Oh, but, Mama, it's true. - Would you please keep--?

Mr. Eddie Lesser to see Miss Birdie.

- Who asked him here? - I did. What of it?

How many times have I told you to keep that cheap songwriter away from my house.

[Tilda] Birdie! Morris!

Oy, gevalt! Papa, they're gonna kill each other. Come on, you'll see it.

Jerusalem.

Don't mind what he says, Eddie.

I see you haven't lost any of your nerve, Eddie Lesser.

And you haven't lost any of your swellhead, Morris Goldfish.

Fish is the name, Mr. Fish to you.

And furthermore, I don't care to entertain any East Side bums in my house.

- Get out. - Morris.

The day is coming, Morris, when you'll be glad to entertain anyone in your home.

[Birdie] Oh, Eddie.

Please, don't go. Don't pay any attention to Morris.

I told you I shouldn't have come up here in the first place.

I knew I'd be insulted by that brother of yours.

But, Eddie, you came up here to see me, don't--

Well, Mr. Fish.

If you'd changed your first name to "Poor," you'd be perfect.

[Morris chuckles]

Mama, some people never know when they're well off.

You got it right, Morris.

Papa, come and eat your dinner.

That poor fish.

[poignant, pensive music playing]

[ominous music playing]

[playing lively jazz melody]

[dramatic music playing]

[band playing "A Bird Flew Into My Heart"

[Eddie] J; 'Cause you flew away The skies are so gray ♪

♪ And I'm so blue ♪

♪ It's breaking my heart It's falling apart ♪

♪ 1 do miss you ♪

♪ I miss the kisses you gave The kisses I crave ♪

♪ Oh, come back to me I want you only ♪

♪ The skies are so gray 'Cause you flew away ♪

♪ With Birdie Paradise could be just for me ♪

♪ I miss those you kisses you gave The kisses I crave ♪

♪ So come back to me I want you only ♪

♪ The skies are so gray 'Cause you flew away ♪

♪ With Birdie Paradise could be just for me ♪

[song ends]

[poignant music playing]

[music stops]

You look so worried, Papa.

What's the matter?

[Julius sighs] This house...

It's so cold.

I haven't been warm since we left Delancey Street.

Wait, I'll get you something.

How can you be cold in such a nice house?

I'm never cold.

Here we are.

That's better, Papa, huh?

Mama, you know what's the nicest thing in this house?

What?

- You. - [laughs]

How can you say such a thing?

It's a beautiful house.

We got a bed from Louis XV.

We got a sideboard from Henry VIII.

We got a beautiful chair from Charles II.

And we owe it all to our Morris.

Don't be so sad, Papa.

[door opens]

That's Morris.

[Julius] Maybe it's Birdie.

Morris.

- Hello, Ma. - [Tilda] How are you?

I am so glad to see you.

Tell me, did you have a good time?

And how was the dinner at Kahn's?

And how was the cooking?

Not as good as mama can cook, huh, Morris?

And what did you hear? Tell me.

Mama, the dinner wasn't much of a hit.

Kahn's jewelry store was robbed today, and I'm terribly upset about it.

What's the matter?

Didn't they have any insurance?

[laughs]

Certainly, they had insurance, but they're terribly upset.

Why, they took everything out of the safe.

All the precious diamonds and everything.

Good evening, folks.

Wait a minute, Birdie.

I suppose you've been out with that cheap songwriter again?

And I suppose you think that's your affair?

How many times did he tell you to keep away from that Eddie?

Well, you won't have to tell me anymore.

Not so bad for a songwriter, eh, Morris?

What?

You should want to marry such a loafer?

What can he do for you?

And what do you see in him?

Can he give you a home like this,

with butlers, with chauffeurs, with maids?

With hardwood floors, and with Frigidaires?

Mama, you go inside with papa.

Oy vey iz mir...

Papa, did you hear what Birdie was saying?

She is gonna marry that good for nothing song peddiler.

After all I have done for you, Birdie,

you're heading right straight back to the East Side.

Oh, will you mind your own business?

Uh, aren't you glad, Papa?

[sobs]

How can I be glad to see my baby cry?

- Mr. Gold-- - Ahem.

Mr. Fish, a detective to see Miss Birdie.

[Morris] Yes.

- A detective? - A detective?

What for?

Send him in, please.

I can't understand.

Good evening.

I'm sorry to intrude, folks, but, uh...

Are you Miss Birdie Goldfish?

Yes.

Well, I'm hunting for, uh, Eddie Lesser.

Where's he hiding?

Hiding?

Why should Eddie be hiding?

He's wanted in connection with the Kahn jewelry store robbery.

Why, how ridiculous. You can't mean Eddie Lesser.

He wouldn't...

Wouldn't he?

He worked the niftiest little decoy you ever saw.

Played the piano.

Sang songs to attract the crowd

while the robbery was being pulled inside.

Why, you must be mistaken.

Why, Eddie couldn't do that.

He's no thief.

- [detective] Listen, let me tell you-- - Officer.

If you promise to keep my name out of this,

I'm certain I can help you find Eddie Lesser.

Oh, Morris, please don't.

Pay no attention to her, officer.

Now, you can find him...

Oh, Papa.

You know Eddie couldn't do a thing like that.

I mean, it can't be true.

[sobs] Oh, God.

Oh, Papa.

Well, now what do you think of your little boyfriend?

- But, Morris... - [Morris] Hm.

Oh!

Now I know where he got the ring.

He never got that writing songs.

- Hm. - [sobbing]

Birdie, don't cry.

Maybe it is a mistake.

Mama, I always told you Eddie would end up in jail.

You're right, Morris.

Papa, you don't believe it, do you?

Come in.

Hello, Mrs. Lesser.

Mr. Goldfish.

Come in.

What are you doing in Delancey Street?

Come in. Come right in.

Only last night, you know, I said to Mrs. Feldman,

I wonder how the Goldfish's are on Fifth Avenue.

Sit down, sit down.

Oy vey, I'm so happy, I could cry.

What's the matter?

You're sick, maybe.

Wait, I'll get you something.

- [Julius coughing] - [Mrs. Lesser humming]

Wait till I tell Mrs. Feldman.

Now, I'm going to get you one.

Hal!

Only last night, I was telling Mrs. Feldman.

Excuse me, Mrs. Lesser,

do you know where my Birdie is?

Birdie? Only today I got a letter from them.

Wait. I get it. Wait, I get it.

Oh, it's right up here.

- [coughs] - Here it is.

Here it is, Mr. Goldfish, it'll do your heart good to read it.

Here, read.

Hm. I, too, can't read.

Wait. Mickey!

Mickey!

Mickey!

- [Mickey] What do you want, Mrs. Lesser? - Come here, boy.

Here, read this like a smart little boy and I give you a piece of cake, hm?

Wait a minute.

Now...

Now, Mickey, read it.

"Dear Mama, great news.

Birdie sold one of my songs for a thousand dollars."

You hear that?

Look, here is the song.

Maybe you would like I should sing it for you, huh?

♪ La, la--7

Later, Mrs. Lesser.

Go on.

You hear? Why do you keep Mr. Goldfish waiting?

"Next week, I get out, and Birdie has saved enough

to buy Kruger's music shop.

But, Mama, I've kept the best for the last.

The baby started to walk today."

You hear that? The baby can walk.

Baby?

What baby?

Birdie's baby.

Didn't you know you was a grandfather?

Eddie says it's a Goldfish all over.

Can you imagine?

I'm a grandfather!

[laughs softly]

Hm.

Hey, how about my cake?

Oy, I forgot all about Mickey.

Here. Here, boy.

Say, Mickey...

Come over here.

Here.

Go and buy yourself plenty of cake.

[laughs] I'm a grandfather.

Oh, boy! Thanks!

Abie! Abie! Abie!

And now, I sing you Eddie's song, huh?

♪ La-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la--

Mrs. Lesser...

A boy?

- Positively. A boy. - [laughs]

- A boy, yeah? Oh. [laughs] - A boy.

Wait, I'll give you a piece of cake. Here, cake. And give me some of this.

Now, we're gonna drink to the baby boy.

♪ Oy, oy, oy, oy, mazel tov ♪

♪ Oy, oy, oy, oy, mazel tov ♪

Mama, I've got a great surprise for you.

We're going to Europe.

And I want you to forget everything.

Ma, I've engaged the biggest suite on the Leviathan,

and we stop at the biggest hotel in Paris.

And you can buy all the pretty gowns you want

and all of the jewelry.

Come on, Mama.

Cheer up.

You can spend all the money you want.

Will you get ready? Come on, get ready.

We leave right away, Ma.

[Birdie] Mama, here's your old shawl you always like to wear.

[baby crying]

- Shh. - Baby darling.

Have one of these, Eddie.

Thanks, Morris.

Are you making any money these days, Eddie?

Oh, we're getting along.

Bought Birdie a new hat yesterday, bought the baby some new clothes.

That's fine.

Thanks.

Here comes Birdie now.

Where are you going, Mama?

I am going now to live with Birdie, Morris.

Goodbye, Morris.

Wait.

Why don't you and Birdie and Eddie and the baby stay here with me?

I've got plenty of room for all of you.

No, thanks, Morris.

Mama will be a lot happier down in Delancey Street.

We're going to take her to Coney Island on Sunday

and try and show her a good time.

Come and see us some time, Morris, when you get lonesome.

Here, Birdie, let me wrap the baby.

- No, Eddie, not like that. - It is like this, dear.

No, honey, I told you so many times.

- It's like this, Birdie-- - Wait, children, I'll show it to you.

I know how to wrap him up.

And if you got babies, you should learn.

[Birdie] Don't wake him up.

[Tilda] That's the way I used to wrap up Birdie.

Come on, children. Goodbye, Morris.

[Birdie] And we've got to stop for some milk. Goodbye, Morris.

[Eddie] Goodbye, Morris. I'll get the milk...

[poignant music playing]