Original subtitles

Thank you.

So be it, Miss Lily Mars.

Have your old career. Go to New York City. Go on the stage.

All I gotta say is good luck and goodbye.

Good morning, Chuck. Good morning.

So...

I forgot my hat. Got any more bubble gum?

No.

Oh, Lily, Charlie's back.

Lily, Charlie's back already.

Oh, Lily, here's Charlie. Oh, no, I don't want to see her. I just want my

hat. Oh, it's not here.

Davey, have you seen my hat?

I don't collect hats.

I collect doorknobs.

Ain't she a beauty?

Oh, Lily!

Charlie's back!

I am not. I am not.

Oh, there he is.

Oh, excuse me.

Hello, Charlie. Look, Mama. Oh, you got it. It's lovely.

Davey, get me the top for this.

Well, goodbye, Mrs. Mars. Goodbye, Charlie.

I'll be sorry not to see you again, Mrs. Mars.

Oh, now, now, Charlie.

People shouldn't be mad at people.

Goodbye, Charlie.

Charles?

Hey, Charlie, wait for me.

Never again, you actress.

Poor Charles.

He's so young.

So very young.

And it hurts me to hurt him.

But what can I do?

Oh, go on, dear. I'm not laughing at you. I'd like to see you act.

Mother. Oh, no, I'm not mother. I'm mama. And here's the hat for Mrs.

Thornway. Davy, where's the top to this?

Here it is, mama.

Lily, can I go to Mrs. Thornway's house with you?

No, Davy, dear. Her doorknobs might tempt you.

Oh, they already have.

Lily, please take me.

No. Well, then, could you sort of maybe get one for me?

Of course not.

Oh, but they're such super dupers.

All right.

Here you are, dear.

Mama, I may not be back for quite some time, but when I do come back, I may

have a big surprise for you.

That's for luck. Good luck, dear. Thank you. Good luck, Lily. Thank you. Bye.

Goodbye.

Good morning, Miss Leather. Morning, Andrew.

I bought Mrs.

Thornway's hat. I'll take it, please.

Oh, well, I know how busy she must be this morning, but, Andrew, I simply must

see her.

Go right in.

She's in the doctor's office. Thank you.

Mr. Vail, I'll tell John just as soon as he gets here.

Come in, Lily.

Well, he should be here in a few minutes if his plane's on time.

Uh-huh.

Yes, Mr. Vail.

Yes, Mr. Vail, I understand.

You and Miss Riquet are motoring here. You'll arrive early this afternoon.

And you think it would be a good idea to shoot Irene in the first act.

Yes, I'll tell John.

Goodbye.

Mrs. Thornway, I brought your hat. It isn't exactly what you wanted, but...

Just a minute, darling.

And wants to shoot... Oh, bother.

He wants to shoot some girl, but what girl and in what act? Irene in the first

act. Thank you.

Mrs. Thornway, when you ask your son about a part for me, will you tell him

I'd rather not play Irene?

Oh, you wouldn't? Not if she gets killed in the first act.

Well, let's see the hat. Will you tell him about me? And if he says no, will

you try and make him give me a part?

Even a little one.

Maybe Irene?

Lily, dear, the last time I was able to make John Thornway do anything, he was

10. He wanted to join a circus. I persuaded him not to by locking him in

the cellar. Well, if I could just meet him and maybe act for him a little,

Lily, dear.

He's going to be frightfully busy. He always is.

Here today to close an old show.

Come tomorrow to open a new one.

That's John.

Never a minute for anything but show business.

Well, I'm show business.

My dear, but... My dear child.

Oh, my dear child.

Well, I just know you'll love it after you get used to it. The fashion magazine

said it's the latest thing.

Oh, well, I wouldn't cut the feather if I... That's John.

I know he's slammed. Mimi!

You better wait in here.

All right. And don't come out till I have John all nicely butted up. All

right.

John. Hello, Mimi.

Welcome home, dear.

Do you like it?

Well, it... Do you?

Yes. Well, then that's good enough for me.

Oh, Mimi, it's good to see you again.

Oh, you had a nice restful trip, dear.

Oh, I did. I worked on the script of the new play all the way from New York to

Indiana. Any telegrams come for me? Five so far, but the day is young yet.

They're on the desk.

John.

Oh, John, it's beautiful.

Oh, but John. Yes, I know, I know, I know. I should have done it.

I have a message for you from Owen Vale.

Oh, he phoned? Mm-hmm.

Asked me to tell you that Isabel is not coming by train with the company. She's

motoring here from Chicago with him.

Oh, that's fine.

And Isabel is... Well,

Isabel is Isabel.

Now, look, Mimi, I don't care what Isabel does off the stage. I love her as

an actress. I adore her as a leading lady. I'll do anything I can to keep her

happy in the theater.

But I definitely, flatly, I'm not going to humor Miss Riquet by becoming one of

her husbands.

Remember Henry Mars?

Used to come here often to tune the piano.

John, he died several years ago.

Oh, he did? I'm sorry to hear that. He left a wife and five children.

Nobody knows how they manage, but they do.

Everybody in Midhaven worries about the Marses, except the Marses.

The oldest child's name is Lily.

Lily, she's such a remarkable child and so talented.

She acts.

Yes. Experience?

Oh, loads of it. Peter Pan, Macbeth, the Follies. Oh, really?

Well, the Midhaven High School Follies.

John. John!

John!

Mimi, you ought to know by now there's only one thing in the world I will not

do for you, and that is that I have seen my last amateur. But Lily's unusual.

Unusual? Oh, Mother.

There's a Lily Mars in every town, and they're all alike, so full of hope and

so hopeless.

Now, I'll tell you what you do, Mother. Let her down easy, but do it so she'll

stay down.

But she won't. She'll bounce right up again. You don't know Lily.

I don't know her, and I'm not going. Oh, dear, it won't hurt you just to meet

her. You can't just meet her. She'll start acting on me. Well, let her play a

scene for you. Not a scene, not a line, not a word, not a syllable.

All right, but you'll be sorry.

Lily, dear. It's all right.

You don't have to let me down easy. I heard.

I'm sorry.

He is pig-headed, isn't he? He is.

Mrs. Thornway, do you mind if I take the box? It's the only one we've got. Of

course. All right.

Lily. Hmm? You know, I'm getting used to the hand. It does rather grow on one,

doesn't it? Oh, yes.

Yes, I think it's beautiful.

I love it. It looks lovely on you. Thank you. Oh, well, goodbye.

Goodbye.

She, uh, sees Stefan.

She screams.

That's it. That's it.

Mother!

Mother!

Oh, where is that thing? Where is it? Mother!

Well, it's gone and I've got to find it. I've got to find it. It won't do you any

good repeating it. Well, I know I didn't leave it on the plane. I know I didn't

leave it on the car.

I'll search the house.

Hello.

Yes, this is John Thornway.

Oh, you found it. Where did you... In an ash can?

Want it? Of course I want it. Will you bring it right... Will you... Oh, you

can. Yes, yes, sure, I'll come. But wait a minute. What's your address?

Hey, are you John Thornway?

Yeah. The guy who produces all those shows? That's right.

How

do

you do?

Uh, how do you do? I'm, uh... I know who you are.

Do you know who I am?

No. Oh, come right in, please.

I'm in rather a hurry.

Yes, if you'll just come and sit down, please.

Oh, don't sit there.

Sit here, please.

Please.

Sarah Bernhardt, she really was a dilly.

But Sarah Bernhardt couldn't compare to the gal who's known as Lily.

You've heard of Eleanor Doozy.

Her drama knocked them a city.

But Doozy was an amateur compared to a gal like Lily.

Yet, here's a spot.

Out, damned spot, out, I say.

One, two.

Who would have thought that the old man had so much blood in him?

Fie, Macbeth, fie!

A soldier, and afraid?

What, will these hands never be clean?

But no more of that, my lord, no more of that.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

All the perfumes in Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.

Look not so pale, Macbeth.

Come, man.

Put on your nightgown and come to bed.

To bed.

To bed!

I'm knocking at the gate.

Come. Give me your hand.

What is done cannot be undone.

Come. To bed.

To bed!

To bed!

How was I, Mr. Thornway?

Awful. What did I do wrong?

Everything. And now, Miss Mars, will you please give me back my play?

But I did it exactly as I was told.

Do you mean somebody told you to do it that way? Yes.

Professor Eggleston in school.

Miss Mars, I'm going to talk to you for one minute.

Quietly.

But firmly. I shouldn't, but you're a friend of my mother's. You come from my

hometown. Then your father brought me into the world.

That is not one of the qualifications, Miss Mars, for success on the stage.

I am going to give you no encouragement whatsoever.

But what I want is a job.

Miss Mars, I give an actress a job for only one reason, and that is that she is

the best I can get for the part.

Miss Mars, I have neither the wish, the time, nor the patience to teach anybody

how to act.

Lady Macbeth is walking in her sleep.

She is talking to herself, not to a boyfriend in the gallery.

She is a strong woman.

She has murdered a king so she can become a queen.

but her conscience has crept into her dreams and is gnawing at her mind.

Gnawing like a relentless rat.

Gnawing. Gnawing.

And you play her as if she were a high school girl with a bellyache.

It is not.

Come, man.

Put on your nightgown and come to bed.

It's...

Put on your nightgown and come to bed.

There's a knocking at the gate.

Come.

Give me your hand.

What's done cannot be undone.

Miss Mars, where's my play? You've been sitting on it.

That's yours, too.

Mr. Thornway. No!

It's not about me. It's about my brother Davey. Does he act, too? No, he collects

doorknobs.

Doorknobs? Yeah, and that one's a super-duper.

Oh, well, thank you.

Lily, can I blow out the candle?

Thanks for the knob.

Lily, don't feel bad.

I don't feel bad.

I just feel mad.

Hopping mad.

Children,

children, children, what's all the fuss about?

We're being hopping mad, Mama, for Lily.

Oh. Well, go be hopping mad in the dining room. Go on.

He didn't like me at all.

Well, perhaps he doesn't like Shakespeare.

Maybe you should have done something more lowbrow, like ten nights in a bar

room or Why Girls Leave Home.

Or that sad scene from The Secret Bride.

Yes.

No coy little laugh. She just didn't go. Yeah, yeah.

Excuse her, Mr. Brown. There's a lady here. Shoot her.

I think she's an actress.

Isabel! Angel!

Angel, pest, pest, angel. Make up your mind, Johnny. Well, it's angel. I

thought you were somebody else.

A girl?

No, no, no, a pest. Well, yes, a girl, but a pest.

She's been hounding me.

Johnny, what have you done? Nothing, not a thing.

And you?

I mean, recently.

Nothing but think of you, Johnny.

Oh, the lonely weeks on the road in Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati,

Chicago. Pittsburgh.

Yes, Pittsburgh.

What was that big pig-eyed man doing?

Helping you think of me?

Oh, I had to have a little fun.

Innocent. That's all right. You have all the fun you like.

Just don't miss any more Saturday matinees.

In there, you have no heart.

You have a box office goodbye.

Now, now, where are you going?

Pittsburgh.

I don't have to work for you.

I can leave the stage immediately and marry a man with a million dollars worth

of pig iron.

Then why don't you?

I don't like pig iron, Johnny.

I like you.

Oh, not bad, John, not bad. But can't you put a little more oomph into it, a

little more crunch?

Oh, stop it, Owen.

Owen. Oh.

Oh. Look, Gill, you can't shoot Irene in the first act.

Second act? No, no. Now you've written a swell play. Let it alone.

When do we go into rehearsal?

Next week.

All right, now off with you. I'll see you back here tonight after the show.

Mimi's tossing a high-class brawl for the troupe. Right now I got things to

do. Oh, Johnny, I want to see your hometown.

And it wants to see you, darling, tonight at your best.

So I think it'd be a swell idea if you went on back to the hotel and took a

nice long nap.

Come on, you two, Owen.

Bye-bye.

Goodbye, Johnny.

Goodbye.

I'd say.

Irene enters down left.

Crosses. Left center.

Could

be

a racket, you know. It must be. That girl's lying.

That baby, she's the image of John.

She does holler like him.

Please, and stop hounding me.

But, Mr. Thornway... Go on, beat it, and take that grubby child with you.

But if you'd just give me a fair chance... Come here, come here.

Here are a couple of passes for the show tonight. Go down and see some acting,

but for heaven's sakes, don't do any more. Oh, thank you, Mr.

Thornway. Thank you, Mr. Thornway. Got any bubble gum?

She just loves...

Do you know what I'm going to do if I ever catch you anywhere near me again?

No, Mr. Thornway. No, Mr. Thornway.

Now listen carefully, young lady.

Yes, Mr. Thornway. Yes, Mr. Thornway.

I don't care where it is or how many other people are there.

I'm going to take you across my knee and spank the acting out of you.

Now go on, beat it.

Yes, Mr.

Thornway. Yes, Mr.

Thornway.

Not yet.

Then let's go someplace and have a hamburger.

Boost.

Boost. Come on, Charlie, boost.

Boost!

You must try coming in through the door sometime. It's so much simpler.

Yes, if you're invited.

You're Mr. Owen Vale, the man who writes such wonderful plays, aren't you?

Well, I'm Lily Mars, and you can do so much for me if you only will.

It's no good my talking to Mr. Thornway. He just won't listen to me. But he will

to you, and I thought if you spoke to him about me... Wait.

Wait, it's... it's the... You're the girl that... Oh.

What's the matter?

Tell me this.

Has John Thornway never done anything for you?

No, never.

Well, what reason does he give?

He doesn't like me.

He doesn't like... You wait right here.

But, Mr. Vale.

Mr. Vale.

Stay there.

You will speak to Mr. Thornway.

Don't you think it's almost time you called him John?

Has anyone seen Mr. Vale?

There you are, Mr. Vale. I was looking for you. A supper set. Come on.

Both of you.

There's only one of us.

I heard a girl's voice.

Oh, uh, no, that was me.

You? Yes, I often talk to myself.

Soprano? Uh, sometimes.

Oh, it's me, Lily, Mrs. Thornway.

Why, Lily, ma.

Come in, dear. Oh, no, I don't think I'd better. Nonsense. We'd love to have you.

Oh, I don't think your son would.

After all, I guess he must have told you about... About that?

Don't let that worry you anymore.

Things like that don't upset John for very long.

Come on. Come in, Mr. Vale.

Don't upset him.

Now make yourself perfectly at home, dear. Thank you. Good evening, Lily.

Good evening, Lily.

Excuse me. Good evening, Professor Eggleston. Ah, my dear Lily.

Delighted to see you.

Thank you.

How are the children?

Three of them... Three of them had the mumps, but they're fine now. Thank

goodness. Excuse me.

Did he say children?

Well, yes.

Wait right here.

Mr. Gay, I saw your show and your gypsy... Excuse me, excuse me.

Where's John? Where is John?

Well, that girl is here. Girl? What girl? What girl?

You mean, did she bring?

No. And it seems there's not just one. There are... Three?

At least, maybe... Four?

Can I play too?

Well, isn't this a new game? No, an old one.

John, you've simply got to do something about that girl.

What girl? What girl? Lily Mars.

Has she been working on you two or don't pay any attention to her?

You did?

Not a great deal. I simply told her what I tell all the others.

Others? Yes, there's at least one in every town.

But, darling, why are you interested in this one?

I've seen this one. And the child.

One of them. This afternoon.

Outside your window.

Well, you low-minded snoopers of all... You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

She's just another one of those stage-struck kids who thinks all she has

to do to be an actress is make a wish.

I told her if she ever bothered me again, I...

Excuse

me.

Oh, John, just a moment. Will you autograph my program?

Yes, I'd be glad to. Such beautiful music. For you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, thank you.

It was growing pop And it couldn't stop Now it's number one Thanks

to Tom the Piper's son Tom, Tom the Piper's son He stole

a tune and away he run And away run he With that melody

Tom was hot, the tune was sweet But he revamped it with a new

offbeat And the classic thing

a shot of swing.

Mr. Brahms cried, Och!

So did Mozart and Bach.

And to hear them rave, Paganini tumbled over in his grave.

And now that tune that no one played has stepped right up and hit the hit parade.

It was growing pop and it couldn't stop.

Now it's not broke, but thanks to Tom the Piper's song.

Once more, please, by special request.

It's all right with me, honey. Just keep singing.

Tom, Tom, the piper's son Stole a tune and away he run And away run he

That melody Tom was hot, the tune was sweet But he

danced it with a boogie beat And the classic thing Got a shot of swing

Beethoven turned gray So did, did, did Boozy and Bizet

It was such a stew.

Tchaikovsky said, I'm gonna sue.

And now that tune that no one played has stepped right up and hit the hit parade.

It was growing pop.

I hope Mr. Thornway will do something for Lily.

Oh, I think he will.

Good, good.

I guess you were kind of surprised to see me pop up here tonight, weren't you?

I was. Of course, I shouldn't have been, knowing what a talent you have for

popping up.

But I didn't see you come in.

I didn't exactly come in. You see, I came over the wall.

And just where did you, uh... Right over there.

That's right where you're going to... But when I was singing, you looked so

interested. I am not. So human.

I am not.

Now, Miss Mars, this way out.

Please. Mr. Thornway, please take me to New York with you tomorrow.

I can do so much for Mom and the kids.

You might start by washing that grubby little sister of yours. Poppy is not

grubby. She was made up for the part.

Miss Mars.

Very well.

If you really want me to go. I do, Miss Moss.

I do very much.

All right, over I go.

But you're going to have to boost me.

Come on, boost.

You're afraid of me.

I'm what?

You are.

Well, that's one thing I didn't know till now.

There are a lot of things you don't know about yourself.

One of them is why you're making me go back over that wall.

Well, that is one thing I do know, young lady. It's to teach you a lesson.

Just like a naughty little girl.

I know why you treat me as a child.

It's because you're afraid to think of me as a woman.

All right, boost.

One, two...

Children, children. No, no, no. It isn't as bad as all that, no matter how bad it

is. Why are you crying?

Because, Lily.

Lily, why are you crying?

Mr. Farnley wouldn't give me a job.

Well, Lily dear, that's nothing for you to cry about.

Were you mean to him?

Did you sneer at him?

Did you call him grubby?

Did you make him climb a wall?

Well, then, who should be ashamed?

Him. Right.

Who should be crying?

Him. And if you shouldn't be crying, what should you be doing?

I've been off to bed all of you. Come on, laugh yourselves to sleep.

Scoot!

Mama, when I grow up, can I be you?

I'll try and arrange it.

Now, scoot.

Lily, you're something that's very wonderful to be.

What, Mama?

Nineteen.

Nineteen at nowhere.

Some very successful people didn't get their start until well past 20.

Right now, it looks like I'm gonna be well past everything before I get my

chance to do what I've always dreamed of doing.

Being an actress.

And a good one, too.

Then I could give you and the kids all the things you want.

I've got what I want.

What you want's in New York, isn't it?

Mm-hmm. And you're in Indiana.

Well, if you want to get what you want, you've got to go where it is, don't you?

Well, then... Davy!

Davy! Yes, Mama?

Get George and bring him here to me.

Now, Mama... Now, you will, too. Let's have no more fiddle-de-dee about this.

Mama, I... I forgot what sounds funny.

Here's George, Mama.

Thank you, Davy. Now, run along.

Good night.

Good night, dear.

Now, you're going to take this and go to New York.

It's only $28.

But I just can't. Uh-uh-uh.

Who's mama around here?

Night, dear.

Davy. Davy.

I want you to put this money in George, but don't let Mama see you do it.

Can't you put the money in George?

I won't be here.

Oh, not now, dear.

You can do it tomorrow.

Excuse me, but... Excuse me, but where did you get that hat?

It's a copy. I made it myself.

98 cents.

Can I go in with you? Are you in the show?

No, not yet. I just got to New York today, but... Sorry, honey, but Thorny

has a strict rule against visitors.

Well, come on. Snap your shag tail.

Oh, well, it's perfectly all right. You see, I... I know Mr... I know Thorny.

Do you now?

His father brought me into the world.

Did he now?

Well, if you bother the son during rehearsal, he'll do just the opposite

for you.

Well, thank you anyway.

Young lady, if you want to see Mr.

Thornway, why don't you send your name unto him?

Because I want to see him.

I bet.

Lady, that does not make sense.

It does to me.

You see, we had kind of a misunderstanding.

He doesn't know I'm here.

So, why don't you let me go right on in and surprise him?

I'm sorry, lady. You can't surprise Mr. Thornway only by appointment.

Now, get off with you now.

That's right.

Darling, I want you to always wear that hat to rehearsal. Everything goes well

when you do.

Certainly. It's my lucky hat.

Excuse me, but could you tell me where Mr...

So,

you

wiggled in, did you?

Well, wiggle out now. Wiggle out now, all right? Who like?

Miss Riquet.

I thought you were, but you weren't, were you?

Excuse me, I apologize. I beg your pardon. I'm sorry.

I... What's the matter with Mike?

I'm afraid he's been drinking.

Shouldn't do that. That's such a bad example.

Come on, let's follow it.

Go on.

Coming with us? You know, for a drink? Yeah.

Mister... Come on, this is a rush number, girls. Move, move.

Say, wake up! Wake up!

What happened? Did you get locked in?

Yes, ma'am, but... I want it to be.

Oh, sorry, but there's no sleeping permitted in this theater.

But I haven't got any place to... Out. Out.

All right.

Find some other way to see Mr. Thorn, will you?

Well, bye.

Say, wait a minute.

Is it about a job?

Where you from?

Indiana. How old?

19. I'm from Nebraska. I was 16.

There's a boy back home who wants to marry you.

The one who wanted to marry me was a fine young fella.

The kind who was sure to get ahead.

Yeah.

That's Charlie.

That was Sam.

And he did all right, too.

Now he's the big man out that way.

Everybody said I was an awful fool not to stay home and marry Sam.

But there was something I wanted more than him, or anybody, or anything.

And that was to go on the stage.

Well, where am I?

Gee.

And you've been trying since you were 16?

Bless your heart, Charlotte. I didn't start with a broom.

First I carried a spear.

Then the third year I got a line to speak.

Madame, dinner is served.

Oh, la, la.

Oh, then there were a lot of years and a lot of shows and a husband or two.

And then there was a song that got to be my song.

That was all before your time.

What's your name?

Lily Mars.

Lily, know what you are?

Foolish.

You're me, the same eager, hopeful, stage-struck little hick I was half a

century ago, with the same question to answer.

What do you want?

I want to be an actress.

Know what I'd do if I were you?

Go home?

Lily, I think you are home.

I know I am, and I'd rather be here, even doing what I'm doing, than be

anywhere else on earth.

Because this is where I belong.

Every little movement has a meaning

of its own.

Every thought and feeling...

Pasture can be shown And every love But

that comes a stealing All your being

Must be revealing All its sweetness

Oh.

can be sure

Watch this, Jane.

Hit it, Carly.

What is this throbbing within me?

What is this rhythm so new?

What is this beating that keeps...

Come on, move!

There you are!

Hi.

You.

Come here.

Hello.

Mr. Thornway, I'm sorry.

Keep the change. Thank you, Mr. Thornway.

Thank you very much for the money. The lunch. It was the best I ever had. And

the biggest.

That long train ride gave you an appetite.

Train?

I don't suppose spending all night in the theater is very nourishing.

I guess not.

Aren't they... Miss Mars, let's get something settled once and for all.

I'm letting you stay in the show only because you knew my father.

You know my mother.

You come from my hometown.

You're in New York in need of a job.

Uh, well, I needed a few more girls in the show, anyway.

Oh, I wish there was some way I could show my appreciation.

There is. Just do your job. Oh, I will.

Now, um, some of the girls live in a boarding house that they've

affectionately dubbed the incubator. It's reasonable. It's respectable.

But, uh...

Where you live or what you do outside of the theater is strictly your own affair.

Miss Mars, you understand, don't you?

Absolutely. You want me to live in an incubator and not to bother you.

Yes, yeah, that's the gist of it.

So, starting right now, you're strictly on your own. I wash my hands of any

responsibility for you.

All right.

And, Miss Mars...

There's one thing that I must ask you not to do around the theater.

What's that?

Don't wear that hat.

Oh.

Well, Mr. Thornway, it's the only one I've got.

Yes, yes.

Well, here we are. This is it.

This is the incubator.

Not a fine young actress has come out of here.

Of course, they have to go in first.

Well, thanks again for the hat.

You know, it didn't have to be a boughten.

A boughten? What's a boughten?

Oh, that's what Poppy calls a store hat.

You know one you don't make yourself?

It's boughten. I always make my own.

Yes, I know.

Ah, good afternoon. Have you any rooms?

No, sir.

Not even a small one?

I'm sorry. We do not take, uh, mixed couples.

We take only ladies.

Well, uh, will you take this one?

That's fine. Well, Miss Mars, I have to be getting on back to the theater. All

right. Well, Mr. Thornway, do you want me to come with you? No, no, you'll be

at rehearsal tomorrow morning at 9. 9? Sure. Sure. Goodbye, Miss. Goodbye, and

thank you very much.

Oh, uh, Lily, for your brother.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Thorn... John?

Hiya, Mike.

Hello, Mr. Thornway. What do you want?

Rosebud? Yes, sir.

Is that Miss Fricade?

Yes, sir. She gave it to me.

Where is she?

She's in her dressing room, sir, waiting for you. I'll tell her you're here.

But, Isabel, it was written for you. I tell you, I will not play it as it is.

But, Isabel... He's here.

Rosebud, I told you to throw that hat away.

So you know more about writing plays than I do. Who doesn't? All right, all

right. Then why don't you write a play? Why don't you?

What goes on here? Our star has suddenly decided she doesn't like the third act.

I hate it. It doesn't march along. It dribbles.

Let's sit down and we'll talk about it.

Quietly. Are you sure you have the time?

Oh, I'm sorry I'm late, dear, but I had to have lunch.

What did you two eat? An elephant?

Yeah. And then after lunch I had things to do. Oh.

Business.

Hello?

John, for you.

A lady.

Me? Yes, you.

Well, it's nice to hear your voice. It's my mother's.

Yes, yes, she's here.

Well, no, I mean, she's not here. She's here in the incubator.

Incubator? Yeah, it's a sort of a club, a young folks' home.

John, will you give her a job?

Well, I've already given her one.

Hello. Tell your mom and the children, send love.

I'm Mama.

I know I don't need to worry, but of course I will.

Well, you needn't, Mrs. Mars.

I'll be just like a father to her.

Oh, yes, yes, yes. It's respectful. It's painfully respectful.

Hold on.

John, you will keep an eye on her.

Oh, yes, yes, yes. Now, look, dear, I have to say goodbye now because some

people are waiting.

Goodbye, dear.

Mm-hmm.

After all, my father did bring her into the world.

Now, about that third act, what seems to be wrong with it?

Everything. Brighter dialogue, stronger scenes. Such as?

Such as you are going to write.

Goodbye.

You got any ideas about the third act?

No. Have you?

No. I was thinking about women, too.

Now, what does Miss Mars get to do with this?

John, I wish I had as much money as you don't know about women.

Look, if you were sore at me, you'd punch me right in the nose, wouldn't

you? With pleasure.

Yeah, all right. If Isabel were squawking about just that one scene, I

might think she was sincere, but no, she doesn't like the whole third act. It

doesn't march along.

It dribbles.

Yeah, and if you keep on being so chummy with that... that babe from the woods...

I am not chummy with Miss Mars, Isabelle's imagining things. John, about

such things, women do not imagine, they know.

I don't know how they know, but they know.

Catch that, will you?

Hello? Miss Lily Mars is here to see Mr. Thornway. Shall I send her up?

Why, yes.

Yes, certainly, right away.

It's, uh, it's your laundry.

How could it be? I didn't send out any laundry.

Oh, you do your own?

Oh, come on now, come on. Let's, let's get to work.

Well, here's how it goes.

Stefan enters.

I'm Stefan.

Nadina is singing.

That's you. You're Nadina. Now, you can't go on with the gay song, so you

break. Oh, I'm a gypsy.

Come in, come in.

Who is she? Who is she?

Please believe me, there is no other woman, darling.

Just leave in the hall out there.

You mustn't cry.

Why are you here?

No, leave me alone.

No. What do you want?

First, I want to tell you that you're beautiful.

And then I want to take you in my arms.

Oh, Stefan.

All right, now, stop your kidding, Owen. Who's kidding?

Oh, Stefan.

Excuse me. Here's my laundry.

Good evening, Miss Mars.

Good evening.

And good night.

Well, I wanted to... I'm terribly sorry, but we're very busy, and anyway, it's

time all young actresses should be in bed. Well, I was in bed, but I couldn't

sleep. I just tossed and tossed.

Whenever I'm worried, I just toss and toss and toss. Well, that's very

interesting. Well, what's worrying you?

Our show.

Now, she doesn't like it. I like it. I love it. I think it's a wonderful play.

Really, I do.

But may I say something?

I know of no way of stopping you.

Well, I think we need a new finish.

Isabel doesn't like the third act, and Miss Mars doesn't like the finish. Tell

me, Miss Mars, what's wrong with it? Well, to me, it just fizzles out.

Fizzles? Just fizzles out. Stop fizzling!

Well, now, listen. Here's the way it goes.

Stefan says, and then I want to take you in my arms.

Nadina, I want you two dearest. I've been away from them for a million years

and I never want to leave them again. As Nadina and Stefan gaze tenderly into

each other's eyes, curtain.

It's not natural.

Now, if I were in love with somebody and all they did was gaze tenderly into my

eyes, I'd have another fight.

Oh, Miss Morris, what would you do?

Well, look, I'll show you.

Now, you're Stefan.

Go on, say your line.

Uh, and then I want to take you in my arms.

And I want you to, dearest.

I've been away from them for a million years.

And I never want to leave them again.

Curtain.

Now, here's where I think we really helped it.

You follow the chambermaid up the stairs.

You say good night. You go into your room.

She has her line.

Curtain.

I love it. Yeah, that's great, John.

That takes care of all my objects now. All right, that's fine. Now let's try

it, shall we?

From where? From where the two of you are looking at each other and the

chambermaid enters.

Oh, yes.

All right, chambermaid.

Your Excellencies, your rooms are ready now. May I show you to them?

Again tonight?

Oh, dear, dear, dear.

Hello?

I'm just leaving the apartment now. I'll be right over to pick you up.

Goodbye.

Goodbye!

Yeah.

She is.

Well, tell her I've gone. Tell her I've... She's already on her way up?

Oh, that's bad. All right, well, thanks. Thanks.

I was just taking a cold shower to wake me up. You mustn't touch me. You'll get

all wet.

I've got to work all night.

So you told me. But, John, take tonight off. Let's go out somewhere.

Oh, now, Angel, you mustn't tempt me. Work is work.

But you haven't taken me anywhere in two whole weeks. Yes, I know, but tonight is

not tonight.

I simply can't go out with you tonight. That's all.

Then I'll come in.

Isabel, you must be worn out from that rehearsal today, aren't you? Oh, no.

Just look at all this work I've got to do.

Poor boy.

Oh, don't touch anything. You'll get everything mixed up.

Remember the first time I sang for you? Yes, of course I did. That's one night

I'll always remember.

So shall I, John.

Look, Isabel, darling, I've just got to work. Wait, wait, wait.

Take a nice long rest.

I certainly wish I could.

If you won't change your mind, so I better go home.

Home.

Well, I'm sorry, but, you know, with the show opening in a week and everything,

I'm so busy that I... Well, you know how busy I am. Yes, I know.

You're so busy.

You take your shower with your... shirt coat and pants on

think

about a cowboy when you think of your peer think of english trumpets when you

think of having tears think of silver moonlight and how lovely it can be

When you think of lovin', baby, think of me.

Think of snow-capped mountains when you think you'd like to ski.

Think of Cuba Libras when you think you'd like a spree.

Think about the movies for a set of dishes free.

But when you think of lovin', baby, think of me.

Yes, my boy, thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, I see a celebrity among our cash customers.

It's the ace of the racetrack, the year's leading jockey, Dixie Bray.

Now, Dixie, what are you going to do to entertain the folks?

Ah, nothing. All I can do is ride.

Well, next time, I think you'd better bring your horse.

Here's a man who has presented many actors. So, for a change... I'm going to

present him, John Thornway.

How are you, Bob? Fine, John. Say, who's the lady I see you with?

Oh, I'm Lily Mars.

Yeah? What do you do?

I'm a chambermaid.

In what hotel?

Not in any hotel.

In John Thornway's new show, Let Me Dream.

Well, what do you do in the show, Miss Mars? Do you make beds for the audience?

Oh, I should say not.

They're not going to fall asleep during our show.

Well, what are you going to do to wake us up?

Well, I... I can sing a little. Well, come on, sister. You're on. Is it all

right? Go right on.

Excuse me. I telephoned John.

Maybe he'll come here and join us.

Well, darling, he's probably fast asleep.

He'd better be.

I hear lovely music.

Can it be my heart that sings?

Dizzy me, silly moon, crazy quilt of a sky.

John's a very sound sleeper. Look, darling, we're going to another club.

New place, just opened. Oh, no, I want to stay here.

But you won't like it here. You won't like it at all. You're not going to be a

chambermaid very long, Miss Myers. Let's try another one and swing it a bit, huh?

All right. And besides that, we can't get a table.

I can't get a table?

You hear?

Yes. Well, if they want me to sing for my soccer, come on.

What is this rhythm so new?

What is this beating that keeps on repeating? And what am I dreaming that I

wake up screaming?

Prusskia.

Cut.

Mr. K.

I'm sorry, but... but... but... But what?

I didn't know you were here.

Well, I wasn't. But as luck would have it, I happened to drop in just in time

to catch your act.

Clever, very clever.

Isn't she, John?

Well, there I was, and he said, do something.

I didn't know what to do, so you imitated me.

Well, Mr. K., any time you want to, you can imitate me.

How? Thank you. That's very kind of you, Miss Mars.

Well, I'll never sing your song again, I promise.

Honest. Neither shall I.

Honest.

Isabel, do you care for a drink or anything?

No, I don't care for a drink or anything.

I'm sorry to break up this party.

But I'm getting tired, John, very tired.

I think I'd better be taken home right now.

Come on, Owen.

Isabel, I've called a rehearsal for nine in the morning.

You come in whenever you like.

I do that, John.

Good night.

Oh, now look what I've done.

She's mad, John. Good mad.

Come on, let's dance.

It's exactly 5 o'clock p.m.

All right, so what's Heim's signal? All this waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting,

and for what?

For a woman to make up her mind!

From me, they get ten minutes. Taps!

Stop your worrying.

Riquet'll be back.

You know how she's always getting hurdy-turdy and flouncing out of shows.

Yeah, but this time she means it.

So it'll take a little high-powered coaxing and petting. John knows how to

handle that.

Let's hope he hasn't lost his touch.

All right, Scotty, you can tell them they can all go home.

Everybody, everybody, that's all for today.

What time tomorrow?

I'll let you know tomorrow, that's all.

Is there anything I can do, John?

Yeah, Scotty, you can go out and get drunk for me.

Anything I can do, John?

You can help Scotty. Anything I can do?

Yeah,

you help the two of them.

Now be offered.

John.

Hi there.

Hello.

I'm going home.

Back home.

Tonight.

No.

No, you're not.

But if I go away, everything will be all right with...

The show.

Everything.

I'm calling off the show.

Oh, no, you mustn't.

I'm not going to do it unless I can do it right.

John, I've been thinking that maybe I...

I know what you've been thinking.

I believe I could do it.

What do you think?

I think that... I'm in love with you.

Oh,

John,

I... Hey, you run along now and...

I'll let you know what I'm gonna do just as soon as I know myself.

I

hate

love.

Women, you can have them.

Thanks, I got some.

Good night, fellow comedians. I'm going home to my wife, the one in Brooklyn.

I shall walk all the way, and I hope, I hope it's ready.

And when I get home, if my supper isn't ready, I shall beat her. And if my

supper is ready, I shall not eat it.

There's a guy who gets drunk and has the DTs all at the same time.

Well?

The show opens as planned, one week from tonight.

With Riquet?

Without Riquet. Right. Now, here's what I'm gonna do. Don't do it, John. She's a

clever youngster, but she's not nearly ready to step into a big part. It'll

take a couple of years before she's ready to carry a Broadway show.

It's the same.

I'm gonna take a chance.

Wait a minute, boss. We're the ones that have been drinking.

Think it over, John. It's an awful big gamble.

What show business?

Oh.

Hello?

Yes, John.

Yes, John?

Oh, yes, John.

What's happened?

More champagne, Stefan.

More kisses.

No. No? No, Lily, no.

Look, darling, try to remember. You're a mature Russian princess.

Yes. On your honeymoon. Yes.

Not a village belle on a hayride.

Oh.

That's all right, darling. It's all right now. Come on, now. Let's try it

again. All right. Your entrance.

You're doing fine, honey. Keep it up. Keep it up. Don't get excited. Don't get

excited. All right.

All right.

Oh, Stefan, how could you do this to me? And on our honeymoon?

No, no, no, no, no. You're not suffering enough. She's wiggling enough. Go on, go

on, go on. Suffer. Suffer.

Oh, Stefan, how could you do this to me? Ouch!

on our honeymoon.

Now, darling, you know what I want now, don't you? Yes.

You're sure?

Yes. That's fine.

Okay, Beethoven, hit it.

I heard a tune in the moonlight From the distance

arising Troika bells

harmonizing A Russian...

Sure will, Sid. Sid, how'd it go?

Well, it's a good sign when the dress rehearsal smells.

How was the Mars kid?

It's a good sign when the dress rehearsal smells.

Oh, atta baby, baby.

I was all right, wasn't I? Oh, sure, sure you were. And you're gonna be all

righter, too.

Now relax, huh? All right.

Thank you.

Oh.

When John Thornway's new play, Let Me Dream, opens in New York Friday night,

the star will be none other than Lily Mars, daughter of Mrs. Flora Mars of

Midhaven. I can't believe it.

Oh, I'm in heaven.

Ouch! Oh, except my feet.

Frankie.

I wonder why John didn't come back to see me.

Well, he never does.

Once a show starts off in dress rehearsal, he just stares out front and

lets it roll.

I've made some mistakes, but not very big ones.

Oh, well, sure, everybody makes mistakes.

Now relax and save your strength.

You've got to go out there tomorrow night and murder a lot of people.

Let's relax.

Oh, hello, Mr. T.

Is she decent? Yeah, sure. Come on in.

Will you go and tell Scotty not to leave?

Yeah, sure.

Hello. Hi there.

How was I?

First... Lily, you've learned more in a few weeks than

most actresses learn in a lifetime.

With a little luck and a lot of hard work, you're gonna be a great actress.

Someday.

Now, I've called another dress rehearsal for tonight.

We'll start just as soon as the cast has had a little rest and had something to

eat.

All right, boss.

I'm ready.

No, Lily.

I hate worse than anything in the world to tell you, but...

No, you're not ready.

I should have had more sense than to let you tackle such a tough part, but I

wasn't being sensible, and now I've got to be.

And so have you.

Am I hopeless?

No, darling, no, you're not hopeless. It's just that you're green,

you're inexperienced.

Lily, it's a tremendous job for an actress to carry a whole show.

She has to have authority. She has to have range and ease and a thousand and

one tricks of the trade that you normally learn through experience.

She has to be a finished actress, a big actress.

And I'm only a little one.

You're a good little one.

But this part calls for a good big one.

And I've got her.

You made up with Isabel.

It wasn't a question of making up. It was business.

Show business between two professional show people.

Who understand that sometimes their jobs are more important than their personal

feelings.

Darling, you and...

Excuse me, but Miss Riquet wants me to put these... Just a minute, please.

She can move in now.

Lily, you take all the time you want to. She shouldn't have barged in here like

that.

Darling, I... I can't tell you how rotten I feel about that, but...

Hey, boss.

I'll be with you in just a minute, Scotty.

But here's how it's got to be.

Isabelle plays the princess and you play the... your old part.

Look, boss, Riquet just called. She wants this dressing room right away. And

if you don't give it to her, she's gonna take another powder on you.

Well, she'll just have to wait.

I don't want you to go, but you can if you want to.

You can go away, you can go back home, you can hate me for the rest of your

life.

There's something else you can do if you want to.

You can come back here tomorrow night and try to play that maid better than

any maid has ever been played in any theater.

When you walk out on that stage and say your few lines and give them everything

you've got to give, there'll be one less amateur in the world and one more

professional.

Now that's all up to you.

Super duper doorknobs. Oh, it's wonderful, Lily, and you're wonderful.

We just had to come.

So we came.

In a bus.

We sold the piano.

Oh, well, I'm certainly glad to see you. Oh, you're tired, dear. Come and sit

over here.

Right here in this big chair there. You look just the same.

Well, where's Poppy?

Poppy? Oh, Poppy.

Children, did we come away without Poppy?

No, Mama.

Did we leave her on the bus?

No, Mama.

Well, then, she must be here.

Yes, Mama.

Poppy! Poppy!

Poppy!

Congratulations,

Lily dear, upon the start of your career. We love you best of all...

That's nice, dear. She loved it.

I'm not a star.

I'm not even an actress.

I'm nothing at all.

Oh, there, there, dear.

Now, no matter how bad it is, it isn't as bad as all that.

Look at him.

He's got the biggest moneymaker he ever had in his life.

And what is he doing? Moving.

John, how about Lily? Is she here?

I don't know.

What about her pod?

Well, if she isn't here to play it, the other girl will.

Right after Isabelle's son.

Where?

Through the door, ma'am.

No more champagne, Stefan.

More kisses.

Your Excellencies, your room is ready. May I show you to it now?

Your Excellencies. Good night.

And may your dreams be beautiful.

Thank you.

So glad, dear.

Knew she'd come back. I'll see you later.

Isabel, darling, you were swell.

Thanks for coming back, and I'm very happy about everything.

You should be, John. I am, too.

Now run along and see Lily and tell her for me she's a real trooper. And you're

very lucky.

Swell, kid, you were swell.

You were swell. Oh, and you were swell.

Swell.

Hello.

Yeah, swell. You were swell.

Oh, Scotty, listen, thanks a million. It was swell.

Leo, costume, swell.

Swell. You were swell?

Oh, I beg your pardon. I thought he was in the... This show should be good for

two years. Yes, well, listen, where is Lily?

Lily's dress?

Oh, it's all right. Never mind. Never mind. You were swell, Scotty.

She just left. Oh, how was that? You were swell, Chrissie.

Thanks for coming back. I never enjoyed any actress's performance so much in my

life. Well, John, I was only on the stage for a minute.

Well, it was the happiest, it was the most thrilling moment I ever hoped to

have in the theater.

It made me sure that I was right about you.

John, we've got an audience.

Well, you just wait till you see the audiences you're going to have.

You've heard of Sarah Bernhardt.

She really was a dilly. But Sarah Bernhardt couldn't compare to the gal

that's known as Lily.

Where there's music, there'll be

singing.

Where there's singing, you'll find...

A simple little song.

It's got me. Everybody down.

Broadway rhythm.

It's got me. Everybody down.

It's the sweetest beat.