We all
play,
throwing on both
on the right
blood pressure.
No,
no.
OK.
Never
bottom.
I have got such a wonderful show with the greatest dramas and jolly comedies.
Steven Baker,
the handsomest, leading man and beautiful Julie
Laverne
and
Body,
right?
Who cares if my boat goes upstream?
Or if the,
who bids me call
where the rivers flow?
I drift along with my fancy
sometimes. I thank my lucky star
my home.
Other times I wonder
where's the main?
Hello?
How do you do?
Are you an actress?
Oh, no. But,
but I'd give anything if I could be.
Why?
Well,
because you can make believe so many wonderful
things that never happen in real life.
Well, if you like to make believe one thing,
why can't we make believe we know each other,
the game
things we dream about don't have
this wall.
It's just
important
technicality.
You went out.
Bye
and
short.
We,
you
could
of your
father.
We
and
then I find some
42 or three.
Was what?
Yeah,
Magnolia.
Yes, mother,
goodbye.
I hope I see you again.
Life upon the wicked stage. Ain't ever what a
I po
stage door, Johnnies. Aren't raging over you with Jim.
And
when you
hold your hand, which means an extra beer or sand which
everybody whispers ain't her life a word.
So you're warned against a rue,
ruining your race.
A
when you played around the one night trade around the grave
na
and wild old men who give you jewels and s
only live in
Aesop's fables. Life upon the Wicked stage.
No,
we are.
Thank
you.
What?
And
I,
00, next
l
the wicked stage ain't not.
I,
I love my Mr May
and I came
tell you what,
there
ain't
for me to love
that May
must be something
at the a
angels done play.
He got so
boots got a fly.
I got along
to that
and
of loving that man
and
tell me I'm crazy.
Maybe I know
and
loving
man
of mine
when
he
a rainy day.
Hey,
well,
he can come.
Hey,
him
and
you
too.
That
oh
old
man
River
that
was
and river
must know something
but don't say nothing.
He just keep
way.
Um
We swear
and,
and
mhm
It'll run over a year. Well, I
what he said,
congratulations.
Have
a great,
that was a swell show, Mr Kin.
Well, thank you, Joe.
That too. The Waldorf, Mr Kane.
What was that, Joe?
That big shin they get thrown for you. It's down at the Waldorf
kind.
Yes.
But first I'd like to stop off at the house of an old friend. Yes.
Just for a moment.
Turn right at the next crossing.
It's not very far.
I'm looking for an old brownstone house.
It was the home of a very great and good friend
tonight during the show. I couldn't seem to get him off my mind.
Yes,
sir.
And I'd like to be alone for a few minutes. Joe. Before we,
we're down to the Waldorf. We'll face that.
Oh,
I get you. It's like, uh,
like a minute of silence. Something like that, huh?
Yeah. Still something like that.
Uh, here, stop here, Joe. Here at the corner.
We're in front of that radio shop.
Oh, there it is. See,
you mean that, that lodging house sandwiched in there?
Well, of course, it didn't have that room to that side of the window then
other than that, it hasn't changed very much
because the street has changed,
changed quite a bit since I first walked down it years ago,
Joe.
Uh, have you noticed this radio sharp?
Well, that was a bicycle shop the first time I ever saw it.
I remember the day very well.
It was spring
and
I might have been any American kid coming down that street.
I had a song under my arm. My hopes were high
and the world was wonderful.
I was ambitious and I was eager, but I needed a little help.
I've been told that the best man to give it to me was a man by the name of Hessler.
James Hessler.
Come in, come in.
You're an hour late already.
I suppose you'll realize that you can start on the upstairs bedroom immediately.
Mrs Muller Danny wants some more of those. Th
I'll be there in a second. Mr Hessler and see that you get to their nest young man.
Isn't that the moth killer?
I'm a songwriter, a songwriter. I see you entered under false pretenses.
Well, it won't, do you any good young man,
Mr Hessler isn't seeing songwriters anymore.
He's going in for better things.
She has Rose
be
very young.
Don't mention Rose
Bef in front of a songwriter.
No. So it is sort of
you feel like you fall
out,
don't you? Do you do you?
Well, you can come in for a while. I can't have people fainting in the house.
Not even songwriters.
Come in. Come in,
daddy. He's starving to dance. Mr Hesler.
Mr Max. Yes. Yes. I know.
I know Mr Max Dreyfus of the Harms Company sent you
a
written little tune.
He thinks it has possibilities if it's properly
arranged time to help you arrange it.
Look
how skinny his neck is daddy? Why he said that?
He told you that I was the greatest arranger in America.
I should give you a few lessons.
Well, my friend, he's right. There's only one catch
I've given up arranging.
I'm through dressing up silly little tunes for girl shows and beer halls.
I'm gonna write some real music. For a change.
Oh, here Mrs uh uh settle down here.
The trouble with you songwriters is all you ever think about is making money
here. Sit down, have some roast beef. Oh, well, no, thank you. Go ahead.
Sit down, sit down.
Uh You never think of doing anything big, anything worthwhile like Brahms or peach.
Oh, no. Uh
no, don't, don't sit down there, please,
Mrs Hess's place rested. So we always keep it set for. Oh, I'm sorry.
No.
All you fellows want to do is write sugary little tombs and make a lot of money.
Did you ever hear Beethoven's Eroica
or Mozart's Jupiter?
Didn't they do something to you?
Great. Ellens. Doesn't genius touch you fellas at all. Yeah, he's a genius.
Yes. Daddy's a genius
now, my friend
in three weeks, I'm going to England where I can work. I have some peace and quiet.
No mushy little melodies to be fancied up for public consumption.
I'm gonna write a symphony.
Daddy's gonna write an opera just for me.
Hey, go ahead. Go ahead. Eat up. Maybe we'll give you some gumption.
Well, I'm terribly sorry, Mr Hessler.
I had a big lunch with Mr Dreyfus just before I left.
It was roast beef too.
Yeah. Well, I know it's a matter just because you're not hungry. You don't have to go.
Do you have some brandy with me? Help me celebrate my liberation from mediocrity.
Mrs. Uh get a couple of liquor glasses Will you, Sally?
Will you show Mr the gentleman into the parlor?
I'm going upstairs and see if I can find a bottle of Napoleon.
Have you a song in there?
I'm taking piano lessons. Daddy wants me to be an opera singer when I grew up.
Why don't you write an opera?
Well, Sally, I'm afraid I only write the silly little tunes.
You know, the ones your father doesn't like. Let me see if I can play your song.
Do you mind? I wish it would. It's very easy.
Yeah.
KKK.
What's the name of the song? Ka?
That's a funny name. Sounds like candy. Like gun drops.
Well, it's the name of a very romantic beach in a way. Sally.
Uh, no, that's BB natural
here. Let me show you
now. I use the melody.
It should be played with clarinets.
Oh, no, no, no. Wait a minute.
No, that's not right. You've got to use clarinets to play the vamp.
Well, I was thinking of using brass there. Brass and boy, you finished.
Good heavens, man. You've always got to save the brass for the finish.
Oh,
well, what do you think? Think? I know this is a romantic song. Sit down.
It's sentimental.
You've got to start the melody off with your strings. Davis here.
I'll show you start that vamp again. Sally,
it's perfect for clarinet. See,
now, then the strings hit her the V,
don't you hear how wonderful that is.
Now, then add trombones,
you
trombones?
That's great. Can you just hear that,
Sally?
No, no, no, no. Wait a minute.
We got to add flutes there. Bright and easy
now, then add your breath,
your strength too.
Yeah. You see. Not easy.
It's a good song too. It's very good.
Is that yours? Yes,
that's, that's all right.
What's your name again?
Kern? Jerome Kern.
Well, I'm glad to meet you, Karen.
Make yourself at home
and I did.
My life became a pattern of notes and clips, tempos and modulations.
We worked hour after hour, day after day,
it was the beginning of a friendship.
It was the beginning of a lot of time.
And now not only did I have a best friend, I had a best girl.
Sally
to go.
Oh, those were never to be forgotten days. I hated to think of them ending,
but at last the time came when Jim had to leave for England.
Oh, here Jim, let me help.
Those, those Tiffany of yours, they're as heavy and bulky as lead.
They're not tinny like some tunes ever.
Oh, Sally.
All right. Here we go.
Fortissimo.
You carry a lot of weight. Sally,
that was
come along. Sally. At least we're not gonna miss the boat. Goodbye, Mr Kern.
Goodbye, Mrs,
goodbye. Sally Beau Voyage. What does that mean?
Happy journey
by Uncle Gary.
Be a good boy.
Now, this will be the end of it, boys.
You only
get to
my son. Daddy. No,
I'm good.
Means
Kahlua. All that is her song, Jim.
You know, if it hadn't have been for Sally, I wouldn't be here now.
Yeah, she's very fond of you, Jerry.
I'm going to miss her.
I'm going to miss all of you.
We,
we may not be gone so long. It
all depends on
you won't mind living here alone, will you? Oh, no. No, I'll get used to it.
Uh, Jim,
in case I don't get a chance to vote. I just wanted to tell you
I get it.
I, I
like arranging now that I'm through with it.
I'm glad to have been some help. No, it's more than that.
It's been your kindness and your,
oh,
Jerry,
I just want you to write some good music, some real music.
That's all the thanks I want.
Don't, don't waste your time fussing with those whas little tunes. Think big.
Try to be somebody.
I will, Jim, I'll try to be as big as I can.
Well,
we better be on our way.
Oh, good heavens, Sally, son.
You know, I'm so tickled that she remembered that.
Remember
it's your, so
you
couldn't do.
I stood there watching that boat pull out of the harbor
and I was lonelier than I'd ever been in my life.
I walked through the days that followed from office to office theater to theater.
Always getting the same discouraging answer.
The big hits were all English or European
and the uh
local talent just didn't seem to have a chance.
Broadway was closed to an American
from 23rd street to Times Square. They were all playing. Follow the,
and the leader was Charles from,
he's with Keller Cecil
Keller, the English composer.
Mr Froman is not interested in American songs at the moment.
He's leaving for England in a few weeks.
Good day.
Uh How do you do? My name is Kern Jerome Kern. Oh, yes. How do you do, sir?
I see you have the deeds with you. Mr Forman's very anxious to see them deeds.
You're the man from the real estate office, aren't you? No, I'm a songwriter.
These are some of my songs. Your name isn't Kernan?
No, Kern Jerome Kern.
I'm sorry, Mr Froman hasn't a minute to waste. I'm afraid I must say goodbye. Now.
Maybe if you've listened to one of my songs,
I have one that could be made very English.
Good day, sir.
Goodbye, Mr Froman.
Goodbye, Mr Keller. I'll see you in London soon.
I'll call you when I get there. Thank you. I'll be waiting for your call.
I made up my mind that I was going to try to write music with an English accent.
So I sailed for London,
I wish I could say with flags flying in my courage high,
but the sea and I and the boat uh
didn't get along too well together.
I was mighty glad to see land again.
Uh Excuse me. Could you tell me where Mr Hessler lives? K
Smith.
We have a wrist
and we have a Smith. No, Hessler. Mr Jim Hessler.
So,
oh, honey, it's so good to see you.
Well, I didn't know I was myself.
Say,
oh, Sally is getting prettier every,
well, the tables are turned
American songwriter invades England.
That's pretty good, Jerry.
That's daring. Very original. You're thinking big anyway,
it's a chance I'm taking Jim.
So you've gotten a little skinnier, haven't you?
I
haven't been getting enough roast beef lately. I guess,
Jerry.
I look at you sitting there and it's just hard for
me to believe you haven't been here all the time.
Thanks, Jim.
It's uh,
sort of like being home again.
How was the symphony coming along? All right.
Oh, well, yes, I'm, I'm still in the note making stages and of course,
I always believe in making plenty of notes.
It's, uh,
it's kind of like, uh planting seed one day they start to grow and then
before you know it lo and behold, your symphony is all written,
simple and easy.
Not as difficult as writing those silly little tunes.
Well, no, it's, it's the quiet here that does the journey.
The peace in this place is just so thick that you can float on it.
It's a, it's a
rustic pastoral.
I answer that telephone.
Oh,
the doorbell. Will you get the door, please?
Yeah.
No, there's a, there's a picturesque Pastor.
Hello.
Who? Oh,
Mr Edwards
on.
Hello, George
tomorrow. I'll be glad to
have
for dinner. Good.
All right, I'll be there. Bye bye
George Edwards,
the producer. Yes. He wants me to come up and sit in on a rehearsal of a new show.
Uncle Jerry's here. You've got to talk to your daughter.
I can't do a thing with her anymore.
Well, this is Uncle Jerry's first day here and I shouldn't be made to take lessons.
Should I
should? I, Uncle Jerry?
Well, I, I think you should have one day off. Maybe
that's the end of her. There was some hope for her until her Uncle Jerry arrived.
Now she's spoiled for good and all come. We give ourselves a cup of tea.
You know, Sally, I'm inclined to agree with you.
I think Uncle Jerry's arrival has called for a celebration. Now,
will it be
London or the fair?
Oh, the fair, daddy,
please. The fair.
The fair. It is.
Oh, it could be wonderful. Could be wonderful.
Oh, no, no, Jerry. I don't want Sally to go up in the swings.
Not till she's a little older.
The whole stage full of swings and a boy and girl in each swing and all of them singing.
Oh, you, you mean for a production?
Yeah.
Well, that's not a bad idea.
They could swing from the stage right out over the audience and back.
Make a good product.
What, uh, what song would you use with it.
Spoon with me would be perfect.
Spoon with me. That sounds fine. Suppose I take that up to George Edwards for the
g
I'm gonna have dinner with him tomorrow night. Oh,
Jim.
I don't know why. I am so very sure
I always was.
I never,
who wants it.
No,
in all my life
never kissed the man. I never went my arm
but now we last
time is going to break the.
So how would you like to try
Pouch? I like
to.
All right.
You like
to?
Well, Rob
John,
I
for
I to
the IW
of course
and
no
like to.
How can
I
and shining
call me
what?
Bye
on.
Yeah.
How would you like that?
Would you
like?
How would
you like that? How
would you
like?
How would you like this?
Oh no.
Pardon me? For intruding?
You've been pointed out to me as the composer
of that delightful number with the swings in.
My name is from Charles Roman.
I
want to congratulate Roman.
I'm sorry, sir. It isn't my number. My name is,
there's
Mr
that gentleman there,
but he can't be the composer. It's him, sir.
Sipping sherry and a very nice gentleman. He is too, sir. For a
musician.
Mr Proven I have something here which I know you'd like.
It's a beautiful number with parasols with all sorts of parasols.
Well, Mr Froman, how do you do? I'm very glad to know you Mr Kern.
I want to tell you, I think your swing number is delighting.
It has such beautiful English charm to it. Really delighted.
Oh, by Jove Mr from. And that's, that's rather nice of you.
It's a pleasure to know you Mr Kern.
You know, you fellows over here have a style all your own
as English as the scent of the may blossoms. Would you join me in a glass of sherry?
Right. Oh,
Miss,
maybe I'd give that one up if I, were you
one song at the
G I think you can afford to take a rest
or if I could finish it. I know I could interest Roman in it.
You ought to know by now that Charles Froman
is only interested in English music and English composers.
I only had a piano. I know I could work this out right now.
Flat.
Well, it looks like you do have a little work to do
that town we passed. Wasn't very far back, was it? No, not very. Well.
Let me take your bike and I'll go back and see if I can buy a repair kit.
No, I think I'd better go. I can talk with the natives better than you can.
Well, let me do it. I can use my accent on them. That's just what I was afraid of.
No, you wait here and whistle yourself a little tune till I come back.
Make sure you can find this place again. I'll find it
I say, is anyone there?
How do you do?
Did Mr Tamkin send you?
Well, I was passing by on my bike and I got a flat tire
and
then you don't work for Mr TIMS. No,
no, I happened to notice your piano through the window.
So I thought I'd come in and try out a little tune. I see. For a minute.
I thought you were the piano tuner. No.
Well, I'd better go before the owners.
What do you do here? Gardening
a little? Oh,
well, I don't know whether anybody's told you, but for a working girl,
you're very pretty.
Thank you. You're an American, aren't you? Yes. Yes. I'm a songwriter.
As a matter of fact, that song I was playing as you came in was mine. Did you like it?
Oh, what you wrote it yourself? Sure. Oh, I write lots of songs.
Uh, maybe, uh,
maybe you've heard this one.
Why? That's from the gaieties? Everybody's singing it.
Uh huh.
Now, this is the one I was working on
that. I'm gonna try to place for the gaiety too. Of course, I would if I were you,
don't you believe I wrote these songs?
Tell me when you compose,
do you always break into people's houses to borrow their pianos?
All right. I'll tell you what I'll do.
If I place this with a gaiety,
I'll send you tickets and you can come and see for yourself.
Will you? I'll tell you when I get the tickets.
I beg your pardon, Miss. But uh your mother would like to speak to you.
She's in the upstairs sitting room. Thank you, Katie. I'll be right up.
Well, I'm terribly sorry,
but I still wrote those songs and I'll still be waiting for the tickets.
Will you?
Wonderful.
II, I won't forget.
And you were the lad who wasn't going to fall in love with anybody for a long,
long time.
Well, this girl is different.
You
know, I don't joke about it. It's serious,
don't you believe me?
Yes, of course.
She really is different.
I know. I know her hair is like spun gold shining in the sunlight.
I don't know about her hair. She had a kerchief on but her eyes,
her eyes were, were like pools in the Starlight,
even with her working clothes on. She's the prettiest girl I've ever seen.
I'm sure.
Seriously, Jim, don't you believe me?
Yes. Yes, Jerry,
I believe you.
It's spring, isn't it?
And tomorrow morning I think I'm gonna give you
a great big dose of sulfur and molasses.
Good night.
The
you ready
are in
class?
You
the
that one
could see.
I'm going to turn
that
I
and
mm
that from
mm
Move to
Jerry. Isn't it lovely?
Oh, well, I hadn't noticed
when I look at you. I can't seem to see anything else.
Oh, writing songs again. Perhaps we'd better stop and have lunch. All right.
You can move in, under those trees there,
isn't it a beautiful day?
Beautiful.
Now, let's see,
you've seen Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London
and you've seen Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court.
Maybe there's something I can tell you about this place.
Eva, let's drop the history course for a while. Do you mind?
Not that it isn't interesting. But, uh,
well, there are a few things I'd like to know about you too.
Well, all right. What would you like to know about me?
Oh, just the ordinary things, things you like and things you don't like and
where you went to school and who was your first bow
and
what you want out of life? That's a tall order. Where shall I start?
Uh, the things you like?
Oh, I, I guess I like what everyone likes.
I like books and, and picnics and dancing and music.
What about musicians? Oh, certainly musicians. And what do you want out of life?
Oh, I guess again what? Everyone wants
happiness.
Have you ever given any thought to getting married?
Why? Of course, doesn't everyone?
Are you set on any particular type of man?
I have been at different times when I was 16.
I desperately wanted to marry the star cricket player at rugby.
And now,
now,
oh, well, now I don't really know,
except that he must have a sense of humor and he must be kind
and he must be intelligent and good company
and of course he must love me very much.
Well, I, um,
I know somebody with at least one of those characteristics
someday. I'll tell you all about it.
Oh, good afternoon. Good afternoon. Good afternoon.
And how have you been this afternoon? Well, I'll tell you how I have
been looking.
Never mind. You feel wonderful. You feel great.
How could you be otherwise, after such a beautiful day?
Tell me my friend, how is your knowledge of English history? English history?
Did you know that London happens to be the largest city in the world? Yes, I know that.
Did you know that within the county of London,
there are 14 road bridges across the Thames.
Now, there's the waterloo,
there's the
lase
sounds dull. Huh?
Well, it's far from dull.
My friend when your history teacher is as beautiful
as all the sirens of history put together.
Did you know that all the swans on the Thames belong to the King of England?
No fancy that. And the male swan is called a cab.
Well, what does that get?
And did you know that when you walk into Hampton court?
You're walking right straight into history.
Oh, my dear friend. You have so many things to learn about England.
Have you ever heard of a man named Charles Froman? Froman Froman?
Well, that's a familiar name. The face escapes me.
How can you talk about Froman when I'm talking about love?
Oh, so that's been the theme of this little dissertation
Well, I'm glad you informed
because the next time from's office calls,
I'll tell him that you're too busy to be bothered.
Yes. You tell him that
I,
did. You say the next time Forman's office calls? That's what I said.
They've been calling you all day.
But why should I bore you with such trivial
detail? Well, what do they want? No,
no dear friend. You return to your archives.
Why think of the future when the past is so glory? Oh, come on,
cl what happened? Nothing. Nothing
Perlman just wants you to write four songs for his new show.
If of course, you can spare the time. Well, why didn't you tell me about it?
Why didn't I tell you about it? Well, come on, let's get going. There's no time.
We've got to do that on the ship.
On the what? On the ship? We're sailing with Charles Froman tomorrow.
We have to start rehearsal in six weeks in New York.
Oh,
Tim, I, I
uh
I
remember
not Jerry.
This is the chance you've been waiting for.
You certainly are full of surprises. I thought you'd be up in the clouds.
I feel like I've just been yanked out of the clothes,
Jerry. Aren't you coming down for lunch?
Oh, no,
no, Jim, I'm not very hungry.
Now. Look, you've got to snap out of this. It isn't the end of the world.
It's the beginning
here. You are on your way back home. With a Charles Foman contract in your pocket.
Well, you ought to feel wonderful.
I know it.
That's what I keep telling myself. You go back to England.
If I just could have seen her once more, Jerry was all we could do to catch the boat.
You couldn't help that. You talked to her on the phone, on the phone.
What can you say on the phone? Hello? It was nice seeing you take care of yourself.
Oh, Jim. There were so many things that I wanted to say to her.
Now, look, Jerry, you've got to think about your career.
Things are just starting for you. Yeah,
you can say that over and over again and you know what happens?
Nothing,
Jim. You know, for the first time in my life, I'm lonely
here. I am on a ship full of people. Will you?
And I might as well be on a test. Is
it all by myself?
Did you ever feel this way?
Yes. Once,
what did you do about it?
I married the girl.
Oh, hello, Mr
Fen.
Hello.
There.
Been looking for you too. You weren't down to breakfast.
No, I have the first day out is always a little rough.
I
know. Good Englishman should have his sea legs by now.
Come and have lunch with me, Mr Froman. There's something I must tell you.
I'm not an Englishman, Ken.
There's something I must tell you.
I never thought that you were at least not after the 1st 15 minutes. A
matter of fact, I am very proud to be able to present a New American composure to
thank you.
I have a lot of faith in your journey.
Just received a wireless from Julius Anderson.
She's accepted the part of the girl from Utah. Wonderful.
Now I've got to have a great song for her.
If it's a love song.
He's got one.
I,
when I told,
how
did
Eye is your
are in a,
you are
I to,
I am sir
to
you.
No.
And from
the
be
you've chose.
Yeah,
I've got the clouds number. Work out pretty well now. Huh?
I never realized that writing a complete scar was such a job before.
Well, one good all night session like this says, wonders
we could use another week.
We went three weeks late already.
I
hope he likes it. Tim
Ronan. He'd be crazy about it. If
he hadn't gone out and bought himself another show while he'd been waiting.
Good morning,
Sally. What are you doing up?
I'm gonna have my breakfast. Right?
It is in morning already. No, it can't be
dad.
You'll be
late
for school.
I'm
coming.
Say Jim,
don't you think I better call Forman secretary and get
an appointment or you better call him at home?
It's a little early.
Good morning,
Brian. 2446, please.
Uh, do you think it's in good enough condition for him to hear? Oh, yeah, sure.
It's in good shape for a first draft. Hello, this is Kern Jerry. Kern
Mr Forman was expecting me to call today about an appointment.
He's leaving for England.
Well, but he promised that he was going to listen to my show. Oh boy, for his next
say today.
Oh,
all right, thanks.
Well, that's it. You going over to buy himself another English show?
Well, he can't.
No, no, he can't. We worked like dogs on this score, Jim
and I had all my plans made too after he bought it.
I was gonna jump the next boat for England.
I'd forgotten about that young lady.
Wait a minute,
I've got
a,
my passport is still good. Why don't I take the same boat he's taking today?
Wonderful. Get him on board ship. But he can't get away from you. That's right.
Then I can tell him the show. Wonderful.
And then I can go and see Eva.
Sure.
Sure you can get married.
Well, you probably have to ask her first. Well, that's an idea.
I'll go and phone the steamship company. Right?
You think you'd make it all right.
If we get a break in traffic and the old engine holds out.
Now we
charms from,
it's like watching an era
crumble in front of him.
Theater's going to miss him.
You were very lucky to miss that boat.
Seen Max around. Oh, hello, Jim Victor.
No, I think he went over to come stock and Elliott what a terrible tragedy. Yes. Yes.
It's unbelievable. Jerry. And I were just talking, oh, Jerry.
You know, Victor Herbert, don't you? This is Jerry Kern.
Victor. How do you do, Jerry? It's a great honor to meet you, Mr
Herbert. John Forman spoke of you quite often.
They had great hopes for you.
Well, he was very kind.
He liked you,
but more important, he respected you.
And it's easy to see why
you've got a song to sing.
Thank you, Mr.
Look down at that city, Jerry.
It's made up of millions of people.
The music has played a part in all their lives.
Lullabies,
love songs,
hymns,
anthems
must be pretty wonderful, Mr Herbert to
realize that people you don't even know and never will know are singing your songs
and all of them asking for more of the Victor Herbert music.
It makes me feel grateful Jerry
and very humble.
One of these days. You'll find out yourself how it feels.
What is it? My publishers call me
the Dean of American music.
Well, I think you're going to be the next dean.
One thing I must admit you've got a better figure for it.
Keep writing, boy,
don't let anything stop you.
Good night.
Hi, Victor.
Good night, Jim.
Good evening, Mr Hermit.
It's a deal, gentlemen.
Congratulations, Comstock and Elliott are going to produce all boy,
Max just sent me over with a check.
What's the matter? Aren't you fellows? Happy.
Turn out those lights again, will you?
Well, there it is in lights.
Does it feel?
Well,
it feels pretty good if I could just get
rid of some of these butterflies in my stomach?
How do you feel?
Well, I've got a little butterfly trouble myself,
I suppose. You think we're standing in front of a theater on 39th and Brussels? No.
What do you take me for? This isn't 39th and Broadway. This is the top of the world.
Pretty nice. World.
Great.
It's wonderful. What a different, see your name in life can make it.
Come on. We better go in and miss the show
comes a,
the
to be safe in bad
to remain and sh
so why
paid for a clearer sky?
I
said, Jerry,
oh boy. Listen to that applause. It's for you
don't wake me.
Won't anybody
about how you gonna spend your money yet?
Well, for one thing, I think I'll buy an interest in harms for another.
You might take a little ocean voyage.
Well, good luck. I don't see how she can possibly say. No, no. That's
what I'm worried about. I'm afraid she is going to say,
you know, I can't get her out of my money.
Well, she's,
I've been through this.
She's everything you've ever dreamed of.
She's everything I've ever dreamed of in heaven.
Stop here, shall we? All right,
Gerry.
You know, you didn't write very often.
Well, my letters weren't very interesting. E so I tore them up.
As a matter of fact, you didn't write very often yourself.
A lady doesn't correspond with the gentleman unless
it's a reason other than a personal 10,
well, now, doesn't that sound a little silly to, you know, it,
it sounds altogether fitting and proper.
You want to fight a lady doesn't fight? Well, what does a lady do?
Oh, you're impossible. Well, you're right.
If I were you, I'd have nothing to do with me.
In fact, if I were you, when I asked you to marry me, I'd say no,
just on the grounds that a lady never says.
Yes. Now, see, here,
are you going to ask me to marry? You
might with a little encouragement. A lady didn't in my country.
If a lady wants to be asked, she has to be encouraged in my country. In your country.
What in your country?
Well, there are, there are proper ways to go about such things in every country.
Well, then let me put it this way.
From the very first moment I saw you when you walked in from the garden.
I knew that out of all the women in the world. I'd finally found the right one.
The only
I wanted to tell you. Then
I wanted to say hello, funny face.
I don't know your name or anything about you,
but I've loved you all my life.
You were my first school teacher. My first date, the first girl.
I ever kissed and everything in the world to me.
You see, I recognized you immediately. You thought all that? That's right.
I stood there thinking that wondering what you'd do if I kissed you,
what would you have done?
What would you do now?
Will you marry me?
I'd love to. Hello, Mr Ker. Hello, my darling.
You're coming up with.
Welcome home,
Jim.
What you old Fox? You really did it this time. Nothing. My boy,
I think just a little gesture, Jim.
This is,
hello, Eva. Hello.
Well, you've married the nicest guy in this world,
but the craziest. Oh, now, wait a minute, I was keeping that from her.
Isn't she sensational, Jim?
Honey, turn around and let him look at you. Oh, Jerry, look at that hair in those eyes.
Have you ever seen a woman like that in your life before? Only once?
No, I, I hope that both of you have all the happiness in this world.
I think we have already getting me and the music.
Oh, Sally. Yes, I'm sorry, dear. I,
Sally,
on behalf of my father, Jim Hessler and myself,
I wish to congratulate you on the start of your void into the great sea of life. Oh, so
well, on behalf of my wife and myself, I thank you very much.
Hello, Mrs
Mr K.
It's so wonderful to see you.
You have grown up, haven't you,
Sally? This is your auntie Van
on behalf of my side too. Sally, we're going to be real good friends, aren't we?
As
we are. Well, what do you say? Let's all go in and have something to eat. Joey. Oh, Jim.
It's so good to be home again.
Yes, it was good to be home.
I felt I had everything in the world, happiness, success
and the wife I had dreamed about it.
I wanted to put it all into music.
Eva's smile
and her eyes
and what it meant to be with her.
And at last it seemed to me that the clouds had rolled by.
First there was leave to change.
I don't know why you should make plan for you.
I always, I do do everything I can for you. No problem.
You can wish on her, gives her a strain
that there is not a.in it
soon. Get you out of there.
Start worrying kindly.
Well, Jane, why don't you tell us how you do it?
But it's really very simple. I just study up on the famous women of history.
You mean like Lucretia b?
Well, no, not exactly. Listen
in days of all. Besides
Emma's queen
work, you
style her f
slim and spell
every man that wanders.
She pulled the feet of bar
and everyone observed with awe that her work was swift but never
be likely.
Or if I could have my
each man she met, she went and kissed and she does
English
I wish that I had lived there beside the peril
gamble
dance. You dances
sort that make you
each time she did them, scores of men got injured,
stand there gaping in a line and watch her agitate her.
It's simply
own flat
when she went like this
and then like that
dancing, we all
was always on the spot.
G
those four Egyptian gained something else to watch besides the
Canton. He admitted
that what first made him scared was the wily wobbly wily Dance by
Leo Pattern.
Once again, Broadway belonged to him
to George M Cohan,
Irving,
George Gershwin
Vincent
buddy to. So
I
was working in Mighty Gra
and in one of my own shows, Sally,
I was fortunate enough to have the reigning queen of the year.
The wistful
unforgettable, Marilyn,
frustrated.
All right, Larry, thank you
so
much.
We're
going to have to hurry
out
nervous.
You
see me
more flowers. Mr
Dd
says the first act was a dream sign flow.
She said the second act. Don't worry about the second act.
Hey, you hazel. Is everything ready for the quick change.
Everything's ready in the stage. Guess
gotta be.
Yes, everything's here now.
Just go.
Good luck, Miss Miller. Thank you,
Miss Miller. Everything is ready.
Here. You are a
mother.
I got a nice one.
Put it right here.
You
got every hair on
was
I'll be following a plan
till I see the brighten.
Um
I am sure this point of
I
in
and
them
and so,
and
so away
and trial
so
way.
And
I,
I never thought I'd ever keep a scrapbook,
but it was nice to know that people were singing my songs and asking for more
night boat.
Good morning, Dearie. The Ziegfeld Follies
curtains went up, the curtains came down
and I think we got to look a little more like a musician.
Yeah.
With every passing year
our life was rich and full
and very satisfying.
And Jim and I,
well, we grew a little grayer.
Perhaps
he was still working on his symphony.
Uh, so he said,
but on the whole, the years didn't change as much,
however, they certainly did change. Sally,
she was quite a young lady now,
she'd been away at school.
In fact, many schools.
Well, Sally, hello,
darling.
Well, Sally, I thought you were at school.
Well, I was,
oh,
what happened this time?
I just can't stand that school anymore. Uncle Jerry, I've left and,
and I'm not going back.
What does your father say about that?
Well, he, he hasn't said anything yet. He, he doesn't exactly know.
You see, I just left there this morning and I came right out here to talk to you.
Oh, Uncle Jerry, I had to leave. I hated it so much.
I couldn't eat or sleep or anything.
This is the third school you've left and I wasn't selling.
Yes. Well, now it seems to me that you ought to be able to make a go of one of them.
Oh,
I just don't seem to fit in very well. The kids all seem so.
Oh, I don't know. All they're interested in are parties and clothes.
They seem to think that's all there is to life.
Oh, Uncle Jerry. I wish you'd talk to dad for me. He'll listen to you.
Well, Sally, you know, your father isn't.
Well, then I ought to be home where I can take care of him.
You ought to be at school, completing your education.
You want to make something of your life, don't you?
Oh, I've had an education and now I want to get down to something serious.
Oh, Uncle Jerry, you
did promise you'd help me get a start in the theater. Uh, uh,
uh,
I said I'd help you when you were ready.
Your father, I want you to complete your schooling first. Sally. And he's the boy.
Dad's forgotten what it's like to be young and feel like this. But you have,
you haven't forgotten what it's like to
look up at the light
some day. I'll see my name.
You remember that feeling, don't you? Uncle Jerry?
Yes. I've got to admit that I do.
Well, then that's more important than school or,
or anything else in the world,
isn't it? Uncle Jerry?
It's the third time. Deary.
Yes. I know.
Maybe we shouldn't have made a go back this way
after all. If she hates it so much, Jerry.
You can't keep on running away from things all your life
time. Sally found
welcome.
You can't live another person's life for them either. Jim. That isn't fair.
Sally's grown up now and I think she ought to be allowed to do what she wants to do.
I want her to finish her education.
I didn't get a chance to finish mine.
I, I always said that any kid of mine was going to,
to get the right start in life.
Well, what's right for one person isn't always right for another gym unit.
Jerry.
The trouble with that girl is she's just plain stage struck.
She comes by that honestly enough, doesn't she
remember how we used to pound the sidewalks and knock on doors? Nobody could stop us.
Goodness, only knows enough people trying to
remember how thrilled we were when we finally realized we were in.
So, what right have you or I to interfere with salad?
Yeah.
Well, what, what are we gonna do, Jerry?
I give her a pond and sunny.
So cast.
Father Gwen hasn't been cast yet.
When, what?
Only one line?
When is going to have a song?
The doctor's here, Mr Hes.
00, fine
doctor. I'll be with you upstairs in just a minute. Good evening, Mr
Kerr. Hello, doctor.
You know, when you,
you get to be my age, you
start collecting pills.
Come
out,
Jerry. I hope that works out
stone.
No way.
Makes me dream all day dreams. I
can never
seems as though.
Hello, Mr Hammerstein. How are you? Very well, MS Miller. And you?
Hello, Oscar Jerry.
This is a charming number.
I was just telling Jerry how much I liked it and what a fine lyric you've written.
Oh, thanks.
Um
Jerry, I have just been talking to Mr Dillingham
and he thinks that who should be a big production number instead of a solo.
And that, of course,
may a lot of singing.
Well, then, of course we'll have to do it.
It puts me in rather a tough position though. Oscar.
After all,
I did write it for Sally. I know you did Jerry, but
we'll give Sally something else.
Oh, she's gonna be awfully disappointed.
It's a wonderful song and I'd love to sing it, but
I hate to take it away from her. Well, it's for the good of the show.
I think you're right, Oscar.
Have you thought though how you're gonna tell Sally
it's not gonna be easy? Oh, I thought you should tell her jury.
Oh, I was afraid you would.
Well, after all, you know her so well, it shouldn't be too difficult.
Well, it would be a lot easier if I didn't know her so well,
Scotland.
Would you like me to tell her?
I'm sure she'll understand. Would you do that, Marilyn?
Certainly ask her to meet me in my dressing room and don't worry. Thank you, darling.
But uncle Jerry wrote that song for me. I know
and
I know how disappointed you must be too.
But Sally,
disappointments are part of the theater and you've got to be able to take them.
But the very same thing happened to me in my first show,
I had to give up my song with a star.
I think I felt pretty much as your feeling right now
that I think it's a pretty low miserable trick for you to pull on someone else.
Sally,
listen to me a minute.
This is your first show.
You're just starting
and there are gonna be a good many songs and a good many shows for you.
It may be difficult for you to understand now.
But one day you'll realize you've got to give and take
whether you like it or not,
I'll never take a song away from anyone else,
especially if it's their first real Chaz.
Sally. Please don't put this on a personal basis.
I don't want to take the song away from you then. Why are you doing it?
Mr Dillingham thinks it's best for the show
and what's best for the show is more important than what
I want or you want or any personal feelings involved.
Don't you see that song? Yes, I see it. All right.
You're trying to take my song away from me and you aren't going to get away with it.
Uncle Jerry wrote that song for me and I'm going to sing it.
I don't care whether you are the star, you're not gonna take it away from it.
You can't have my song, Uncle Jerry. Don't let her talk you into it.
I don't care what happens. You can't have my song.
I'm sorry, Jerry.
What is it, Sally?
Am I still on the show? Uncle Jerry?
If you want to be,
you won't have a song.
I took my song away from me. The song you wrote for me.
Sally,
there's a little thing called The Good
Show.
Apparently the show didn't seem very important to you. This,
pardon me?
You didn't care what happened to the show. Just so long as you got your way,
the theater doesn't work that way. Sally,
nothing works that way.
I learned something today.
I suddenly realize that you're not ready for the city.
I'm ready.
Hello?
All you have to offer is a small town, a
great deal of conceit
in return for which you've won success.
Sally,
I've known you and loved you. Ever since you were a little girl,
I couldn't love you anymore. If you were my own child,
I must send it
to.
You're not going to get anywhere in this life by using people
and until you realize that
you're not going to add the respect of anyone.
Sally. I
Yeah.
A low riding back into
they make one
this,
yeah,
there
wild
makes me dream.
I know. Can never.
No.
Yeah.
No one but
Hello?
Yes, it was Mala
that you send for the dark time.
Is Charley there?
Well, you be sure he stays in bed. M Mallone. I'll be right home
the dark to get here. He's upstairs in Mr. He's
room.
It's his heart.
I wouldn't stay very long. Mr Hessler could use a little rest.
Well, good evening.
Oh, Jerry.
We missed you at the theater tonight.
How are you?
Sally's gone, Jerry.
Yes, I know Mr Muller
didn't come down for dinner,
coming up to a room,
dear daddy. I'm going out on my own. Don't worry about me someday.
You'll be proud of me.
I'll always love you.
P
tell Uncle Jerry, I still love.
It's all my fault, Jim. I shouldn't have suggested that she'd be in the show.
Sally is Sally. It's time both of us faced.
I know, but I think I heard her
Jerry. She's young. She's, she's way too young to be happy.
Well, now, look, Jim, don't you worry about this. I'll bring her back.
I wish she'd do that. I promise you. I'll try.
Yeah, just as soon as you.
Good night, Jim.
Um,
why don't you get back into bed and get some rest?
I left. No stone unturned trying to find Sally
personal ads.
Private detectives.
But the answer was always the same.
No one had seen her.
It was a feudal hunt.
I
tried to keep Jim's hopes alive, but
I think he knew.
And then
one night,
please don't mention that. I tell,
I think Mr Kerry, you'd better go up right away. He's been asking for you,
Jim.
I, um,
I was just driving by, I thought I'd drop in and say hello.
Yeah.
You forget I've known you a long time.
Feeling better, aren't you?
Yeah,
that's good. All you need now is a little.
It is. But
things will be popping again just as soon as Sally comes back.
Have you heard from a jury?
No, no, not directly.
But I've got a couple of very good leads. I've got a hunch. It won't be very long.
Then. I'm going to see the one thing, Mr Hasler,
you're gonna finish that symphony. I've kept you from that too long.
I forgot about that, sir.
Got it
about your notes.
I never meet
to.
I was just
falling as usual.
You know, I used to,
I used to go around hollering
being a genius. You are a genius, Jim.
You were here.
What is it?
You were out in the room?
Folk music.
Thanks Jerry for letting me can.
No, wait a minute. Let's get something straight, Jim.
I didn't let you
w
if it hadn't been for you and your faith in me, I would have quit half a dozen times,
you know,
and
if we're gonna start handing out bouquets,
I
just want you to know that. I don't know where to begin to say
you're a great man, Jim.
It's been a privilege.
Getting in on that music.
Fun.
Now, let's not talk that way, Jim.
In a couple of weeks, you'll be back at that piano
screaming for more and more brass
as
this looks like time for Strength
Jerry. If
I,
I want you to look after. So
Jim, you're gonna be all right. And so is Sam
in a couple of weeks where we'll be laughing about it.
Perhaps if I made some coffee,
Mr Kern had hardly closed the door when he,
I was
completely lost,
completely
helpless.
Jim was gone.
I had failed. Him,
was still failed.
I
lost a world with
Jim's passing and everywhere I walked, I walked with ghosts
reliving last hours
pacing a world of memories.
I couldn't even think in terms of music.
I began to feel that I
might never write again.
How long has this been going on
for weeks? Oscar?
Ever since Jim died?
He's a score to write.
Has he done one?
But that certainly doesn't sound like Jerry.
He seems to have completely lost heart.
Have you had any word of Sally? No, but he
has every friend he ever had in show business.
Well, don't worry about it.
He'll turn up.
It's Jerry. I'm worried most of,
you know, Oscar,
I believe he's beginning to think he can't write music anymore.
It's heartbreaking to watch him.
Well, I, uh
I have a book here. I'd like him to take a look at.
I've been commissioned to adapt it and write the lyrics and
I think Jerry's the man to do the music.
I don't think you'll do.
Well, that's hard to believe.
There's never been a time,
as long as I've known Jerry when you couldn't excite him with a good story.
There's never been a time in his life like
to,
but you can try and
I'll tell him you're here.
How's it going, dear? Oh, fine, darling. Fine.
I was just tinkering a little bit with the melody, but it's gonna be all right.
Of course, it is a, it
is raining, isn't it?
Jerry Oscar Hammerstein's here. Oscar
home. Apparently. Wes into town.
Oscar. Come in.
Oh, you're a,
this is good to see you want, don't you sit down?
Thanks, Jerry.
Well, what's, um, what's new? I'll tell you what brought me out here, Erine.
I came across a novel that I think is going to make a great show.
Now, if you do the music,
I'd like to do the book Oscar. I, uh, I'd love to. I really would. But, um,
I have so many commitments right now that I don't think
I wouldn't be fair to you or anyone concerned.
Suppose I leave the book with you and you glance through it when you have time.
Oh, it's no use Oscar.
Well, I'll leave it anyhow.
See you next week. Won't you stay for dinner?
I'd certainly like to, but I have to get back to town. Bye eve. I'll see you to the door.
Bye bye.
Hello.
This is Mrs Curry.
Just a moment. Mr Kelly Jerry. It's Arth Kelly. He's got news of Sally.
Hello,
Ozzie.
Yeah.
So are you in Memphis?
What was the name of that club again?
Club lead all this week?
Well, I'll get right on it.
Thank you very much.
Sally is singing at the club. He laid in Memphis all this week. Oh, that's wonderful.
Shall I pack a bag for you?
Do
you do that now? Call me
that you
more nights.
Will
one more fly?
Will you dance with me?
Oh, no, thank you. No, no, I hadn't danced with me.
You dance with me?
I sure will. Baby. What's this,
of what you're losing by constantly refusing to dance?
You'd be the idol of France
and yet you stand there and shake your
dramatically
while I wait
or ecstatically
you.
And so
yeah,
I won't dance.
Don't ask me. I won't,
don't ask me. I won't dance mad. I'm with you.
My heart won't let my feet do things they should do.
You know what?
Oh, lovely.
I'm like an ocean wave that's bumped on the ship.
I
feel so.
And you did.
But this feeling isn't purely me
for heaven. Rest,
I'm not as best.
I won't dance. Why should I? I won't?
But
I,
I know that music leads the way to romance
with by
come in.
Sally, Uncle Jerry.
Oh,
Uncle
Jerry. I'm so glad to see you.
What are you doing here? Well, I, uh, I was out front watching the show.
Did you see what we did to your number? Yeah.
You like the,
not at all. As a matter of fact, I liked it.
I wish that some of the people who think my music is highbrow could have seen it.
Oh, I, I'm so excited. I don't know what to do.
You look wonderful. Uncle Jerry. More handsome than ever.
How's Aunt Eva? Oh, she's fine. But of course she misses you.
I miss her too.
I miss you both.
Is she with you? You haven't told me yet what you're doing here?
No, your auntie was in New York
and I'm here because somebody told me I could find you here.
I've been looking for you for a long time. Now.
You, you shouldn't have bothered. I'm all right. I'm sure you are. But
I promised your father, I'd look
Sally. I want you to come back to New York with me.
Oh, I can't. Uncle Jerry,
I'd like to but I can't.
And I,
when I heard about my father, I,
I never realized he was so bad.
Uncle
Jerry. You know, I never would have.
That's
when I
at the bottom. It was as though
when it forced me to look into the mirror for the first time
I loved him very much. And I knew I,
I was spoiled and selfish and
I knew that I
could never have any respect for myself again. Unless I
did what I said I was going to do,
I can't go back right now.
I'm making my own way now and
I'm pretty good at it too.
Well, the seite,
I just don't like the idea of your being here.
This is just a stepping stone from where I've been to
where I hope I'm going.
I'm making $50 a week now because
management thinks I'm worth it.
If I'm worth tomorrow, I'll get,
I'll have to find it out.
And Uncle Jerry,
I'm not using.
Thank you, Jimmy.
Well, Sally,
you know, darling, I'd give anything in the world if you'd let me help you.
But I must say that I've never been quite so proud of anyone in my life as I am
would like to
gradually, I felt the old heartache misting away and I was at peace.
The promise I had made, Jim had been fulfilled.
Sally
was going to be all right.
I walked along the river that night
where the river wind in my face and the taste of it on my lips.
And I
stood there
listening
a sudden excitement, thrilling through
song
that makes its way right through the heart of America.
And the voice of that river was the last
and the tears
and the joys and the sorrows
all.
Well, Joe, that's my story.
It's too bad. Mr Hessler couldn't have been there tonight, Mr Kane.
Well, he was there
he'll always be a part of any music I have
whatever happened to Miss Sally.
Well, I don't know exactly.
She's on her own now.
Maybe I'm just kidding.
But ever since Jim's been,
I feel like everything is sort of ending.
Maybe my music is ending too. Joe
ending
after that show tonight.
Hey, I gotta get you back to the Waldorf.
You got some bows to take.
No,
sir, Mr Kane.
Your music ain't ending for you,
in my opinion.
It's just the beginning,
ok?
She
didn't
in,
he was,
I wasn't even sure that she,
so what did she do? I leave it to
you
just watch
and
I
all
in.
So
our trees were dressed.
Um,
what the,
I do the same old tax
but all
and
no.
Oh, they
remember
do sit down Mr Curry. Are you sure we won't be in the way? Certainly not. Not at all.
Well, I can't get over this Mr
Arib.
We certainly don't grow stages like this on Broadway,
darling. Look at the size of that orchestra.
Well, you have everything in the world to work with here. That's right, Mr
Ken. We've tried to give you the best of everything as that's
all.
Uh,
what was the number you were going to do today?
Well,
we found an old song of yours that you did
first in 1917 called The Land Where Good songs?
Go.
Oh, I'd almost forgotten about that one.
We're using it as a frame for some of the other songs.
What star is going to sing this?
Well,
well, Mr Kern, as a matter of fact, we're trying out a newcomer.
Oh, a newcomer. This girl did a test for us in New York and it impressed us.
So we flew her out here.
She hasn't done much yet, but we have great hopes for her.
Are you ready?
Ready for a take? All right, let's try one.
Ok, Charlie. Hit the lights.
Ok. Roam
action.
It's a land of
pro
with broad
like her mr
like it.
I love her.
I'd rather hear her sing one of my songs than anyone else in the world.
So
I
one
dream is
fine. Romance. My friend.
Five
with no,
I'm
well play Bridge with my old mate.
I haven't got a chance
is a fire.
The promise
spring time.
That makes the only way
breathless.
That's right
on the brink.
Who
is
so I know.
Oh,
am I happy?
Me?
And
no,
that moment?
Oh.
Oh,
I want.
Where am I?
I,
what am I
want?
I will.
I
never
secure.
Oh my,
that old man
river.
He must know something
but he don't say
he just.
Mhm.
We
plan
honey. Dawn plant cotton.
And then
what plan
on.
But all
and river
and a lot
was
you? We sweat and
he's all
back.
Go that bar
you'll get
all
in
and
sick of trying.
I to