Connecting Rooms

Wanda? It's Mickey.

Can I come in a moment, it's terribly important.

Hello, Princess.

Yes?

You have a room for rent?

Oh, yes, dear.

Come in, you come in.

Would you mind waiting here, dear,

while I go and get the keys?

Bless you, Wanda, love.

Play well tonight!

Oh, it's two flights up,

but there's a smashing view of the park.

- Oh, Mr. Hollister. - Mrs. Brent.

Don't forget to turn your lights out when you go out.

Yes, Ma'am.

That was Mickey Hollister,

he used to work in the shop till he met his Miss Fleming.

Now he's a composer, you know, pop music.

I don't know if he's any good or not.

Oh, Miss Fleming, Miss Fleming, Miss Fleming!

Can you hear me, dear?

I do wish you'd practice at the theater,

I'm not letting rehearsal rooms, you know.

Oh, did you hear that, she's so clever.

She's a great artist, not the ordinary sort you find in rooms.

You know, the shabby type who always eat sardines for tea.

Well, there it is, four pounds.

In advance.

I'll take it.

Oh, I'm so glad, dear.

And if you want anything, I'm in the basement.

Always in the basement.

Night and day.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Don't scrape the walls, dear.

She's gone to the theater.

What do you do, dear?

- I'm a schoolmaster. - Oh, really?

- In London? - No, in the country.

If you excuse me, I think I'd better go now...

In the country?

But school started weeks ago,

I know that by the kids next door.

Now listen, dear, you are working, aren't you?

Yes, I'm on an educational leave...

Research, the British Museum.

Oh, that's interesting.

Well, the bell doesn't work, and if you want me,

I'm in the basement.

Taxi!

Yes, Clifford Street, Mayfair, please.

- Evening. - At last.

- Good evening, Mr. Hollister. - Evening, Lou.

Lou been looking after you, then?

Yeah, sure he has.

- Brandy, please, Lou. - And?

And whatever Miss Hallam's having.

- Mr. Grayson's waiting. - Oh, yeah?

- Sorry darling, it's business. - Oh.

It won't take long.

- Evening, Dick. - Mickey.

Thank you for coming.

As you reminded me that I owe you,

I came along... What's on your mind?

- Claudia Fouchet, that's what. - Oh?

Well, you manage her, don't you?

- So? - So she has been so wrongly.

This... this is for her.

So you want Claudia to record your song?

- Yeah. - As a single, of course.

Why, yes.

Well, I must say it, you a certain nerve

to go along with all your other charms.

Now what about a track record?

You know how she feels about unknowns.

Come on, Dick, you're not telling me

that she was born in the charts?

Next you'll be telling me Bassey rode into town in a rolls.

- Why don't you try Bassey? - I don't know her manager.

And anyway, even if I did, we wouldn't be...

He doesn't owe me.

No, Mickey.

It's not on.

She arrives late and she's got a tough schedule.

Yes, I know, the full treatment,

- London airport. - Nine o'clock.

Oh, no you don't, stay away.

Oh sure, sure.

Anyway, no hard feelings, huh?

- Good, but lay off it. - Good, right.

- Hello, Johnny. - Hi.

- I need the car. - What, again?

- Listen, I sell cars... - Don't lend them, I know.

Why don't you buy it, I'd be happy at just 200 down,

- what do you say? - Somebody's arriving,

I've got to be there.

A bird, I suppose?

- French, canary. - Okay.

All right, but for Christ's sake,

don't pile it up on the motorway.

The owner might get mad.

Thank you.

Hey. Fisy

- oh. - Where are we going, then?

I'm sorry, we are not.

Business... But it won't take long,

and anyway, Johnny's a swinger.

Well, you got to admit it, the boy's got style.

Who else could borrow a car

and dump a girl all in one breath?

Well, looks like you're stuck with me.

- Where to, then? - Does it matter?

Stand by, she's here.

- Good evening, madam. - Good evening.

Miss Fouchet, can I say you're looking forward

- to the concert? - This one's for Edith,

- please, Miss Fouchet. - Thank you.

Hold it please, Miss Fouchet, just one more.

Very well, Madam, but it'll take a moment.

Jiladidad

do you come with the room?

Well, I don't come that easy, no,

but it could be arranged.

Could also very easily be arranged to have you thrown out.

Yes, it could, but why should you?

Except to please Dick Grayson.

- So you're Mickey? - Mmm.

Hmm.

- Richard told me about you. - Did he, now?

Look, he must have told you how I feel.

I don't know how you found me but I'm very tired,

so either you go or I'll call the desk.

No, don't bother.

Just let me leave you with something.

It's the least a man can do.

Just look it over.

Now say get out.

- Get out. - Right.

I'll be in touch, Miss Fouchet.

Be beautiful.

Don't you think you ought to help that thing?

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's this doorway.

Doesn't lock, never has.

- I'm Wanda Fleming. - How do you do?

- Wallraven. - Cracked it, maybe.

- But it relaxes me. - Oh, that's perfectly all right.

Is there anything you need?

- No, no thank you. - Tea, coffee?

- Perhaps another pillow? - No.

- Mrs. Brent's beds are shocking. - No, no, thank you.

Thank you very much, excuse me, goodnight.

Goodnight.

- Princess! - Mickey!

What's happening in the outside world?

You should ask!

Publishers, agents, I'm up to here with 'em.

Sometimes I wish I were back in the shop.

Then the only writing I had to do was in the cash book.

But this pop world's a jungle.

You can have it.

Well then, don't do it.

You're capable of being whatever you want to be,

Did you have a good performance tonight?

Oh, yes, people are very kind.

Oh, you're lucky... you're happy.

- You're not? - Oh, how can you ask?

No money, no background, living in a dump

on the wrong side of the park.

And me being so class conscious.

Just my luck, born in Ealing.

Well, I'm sure there are worse places.

Not where I come from, we're opposite a fish and chip shop.

Mm, if my friends knew,

they think I'm from a good school, wealthy parents.

So you're not, is that a drawback?

I want to be filthy rich.

Oodles of it!

Tell me, Mickey.

Is there anything more important to you than money?

Uh, some things are all right, I guess.

How could anything be just "all right"?

Have convictions.

Without convictions, life's just a banana.

Mr. Prescott used to say,

"life's like a coffee grinder, and we're the coffee beans."

Oh, I've a new neighbor in Mr. Prescott's room.

- He's very distinguished. - Yes, I saw him.

I mean, I am a burden...

Well, I try not to cost you, I've even started doing

my own laundry at the laundromat.

Just think, my fire goes out,

I need a shilling for the meter, I meet you.