Twentieth Century

"But, Daddy, you all know Michael loves me and I love him."

"You can't call that a sin, his feelings for me."

That's where my brother breaks in, Mr. Jacobs.

All right, where is Mr. Johnson?

- He's outside taking a smoke. - Joe, go get him, will you?

Everybody be on your toes. Mr. Jaffe's taking rehearsal today.

All right, skip that part, Miss Plotka.

Go to the place where you hear your father has just killed Michael.

Come on, make your entrance.

"Mary Jo, where are you all, Mary Jo?"

"What is it, Emmy Lou?"

"Your father just met Michael. He's out there on the lawn."

"Emmy Lou, what are we going to do?"

- You hear a shot. - Two shots, isn't it, Mr. Jacobs?

Yes.

"Oh, Lordy, Miss Mary Jo. Your daddy just killed Mr. Michael."

That's where I scream.

There's going to be a lot of screaming around here, young lady...

and it isn't going to be by you, either.

But you said we were just walking through.

- I know we were walking through... - Max.

All right, go ahead, everybody. Go through it again.

"Daddy..."

Now that Hoboken Cinderella isn't going to do.

That kind of acting is for pins in a basement.

You're telling me.

She's hopeless, and the worst of it is that Jaffe's going to blame me...

for the fact that a lingerie model hasn't turned out to be a Bernhardt.

The more you direct her, the worse she gets.

Max, which one of these foul guinea hens is named Lily Garland?

Not so loud, Owen. We're discussing something.

Listen, you foul Corsican, these are orders from on high.

I just encountered Mr. Jaffe in the lobby, all of a twitter.

- Is he here? - Yes, he's here...

and he wants her pulsing life story trumpeted through the press...

by tomorrow morning. Where is the little baggage?

Who are you talking about?

Lily Garland, you business giant.

There's nobody of that name connected with the organization.

And please, don't come around here when you've been drinking.

- It doesn't make for discipline. - Isn't that too bad.

Call the roll. Lily Garland, front and center.

Come on now, fess up. Which one of you pretty witches is named Lily Garland?

Say, what is this wall of silence, a conspiracy?

Maybe you got the name wrong.

Where's the phone? I can still hear, can't I?

No, the master spoke with his usual clarity.

Hello, Myrtle, put the wizard on the wire. He's in the sanctum.

I'll tell him you wish to speak to him.

I don't wish to be interrupted now, Miss Schultz.

Mr. O'Malley.

I don't want to talk to you now, Owen. I gave you your orders. Carry them out.

Yes, Lily Garland. She's on the stage.

She is, is she?

Send me down your ouija board and I'll try and get in touch with her.

Can't you carry out your orders?

Say, listen, sire, there's only one blonde roosting on this foul stage.

You, with the legs, what's your name?

Mildred Plotka.

She claims her name is Mildred Plotka.

That's her.

I forgot to tell you with all the other things on my mind.

Her old name didn't seem suitable. I changed it to Lily Garland.

Tell Mr. Jacobs he has exactly three minutes to get everyone assembled.

I'm coming right down.

Yes, sire.

- What is it? What's the matter? - Hold your bonnets.

The all-highest is on his way down amid a shower of meteors.

Thank you, child.

- Good morning, Mr. Jaffe. - Good morning.

Well, O.J., welcome to our midst.

I don't like anyone chewing gum on the stage, Oliver. Spit it out, please.

- Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. - Good morning, sir.

Sit down, please.

I have been looking forward to this little occasion for some time.

There's no thrill in the world like launching a play.

Watching it come to life little by little.

Seeing the living characters emerge like genii from the bottle.

Now, before we begin...

I want you all to remember one thing.

No matter what I may say...

no matter what I may do on this stage during our work...

I love you all.

The people who have been through my battles with me...

will bear me out in testifying...

that above everything in the world...

I love the theater...

and the charming people in it.

All right, Oliver, call the rehearsal.

They're all ready.

Thank you, Max, for carrying the ball thus far.

How does it feel to you?

I'd like to talk to you for a minute.

Indeed.

What appears to be on your mind?

I'm afraid Miss Plotka, she isn't going to do.

Miss Plotka? Who is she?

Mary Jo, the lead, your latest discovery.

You mean Lily Garland? What about her?

Let me explain, O.J. I took a little liberty last night.

I think it was an inspiration.

Another one of your inspirations? Well, out with it.

I happened to run into Francine Anderson...

and we got to chinning about the show and I told her the truth.

It slipped out.

What slipped out?

About Plotka, Garland, being such a disappointment...

such a washout. And to make a long story short...

I talked Francine into stepping into the part.

You did?

No, don't. Wait a minute, O.J.

So that's what you've been doing behind my back. Undermining me again.

- Listen, O.J. - Francine Anderson.

That piece of human tripe. In my play.

Now, wait a minute.

What do you know about talent?

What do you know about the theater? What do you know about genius?

What do you know about anything, you bookkeeper?

You try to force that palooka down the public's throat...

and you'll find out what I know.

I've had enough of your treachery. Get out!

From now on, I close the iron door on you.

Okay. I'll take that job with the Schuberts.

- Leave my theatre, you gray rat! - I'm...

And don't have that fat wife of yours come around again, pleading for you!

Let the rehearsal begin.

- Places. Act 1. - No.

We will start with Miss Garland's entrance.

That's you all, Mary Jo. Where'll we send the body?

Come on.

I'm at the tiller now, Mr. Jacobs.

Now, don't be nervous, child.

You're not Lily Garland anymore.

You're little Mary Jo Calhoun.

The scent of jasmine...

is floating through the open window of a summer evening.

You've just kissed your lover goodnight.

You're full of vibrations.

The scene is pure purple...

as you come drifting into this old Southern mansion.

All right.

The door is opened by the old family retainer, Uncle Remus.

- Yes, sir. - All ready.

Just a moment.

That is the way an iceman would enter the house. Not Mary Jo.

Shyly, please.

Try it again.

"Daddy."

Just wait, dear.

You're in America now.

Don't you know the Old South does not yodel?

Once more, please.

"Daddy."

"Hello, Daddy."

Come on, dear child. Are you nailed to the floor?

"You all were talking to somebody on the lawn. Who was it?"

"It was Michael, wasn't it?"

Frightened, acting frightened.

- "It was Michael, Daddy." - "I thought so.

- "Stanley." - "Where are you all going, Daddy?"

Where's the brother?

Come on, Brother. Downstairs. Throw yourself into the room.

"What's all the matter, Daddy?"

Take out your pistol, Father.

"Take your sister to her room, son."

"Yes, sir."

"No, Daddy. You all don't..."

Just a minute. Where are you going? This is like a scrimmage.

Get me some chalk, Mr. Jacobs.

- Mr. Jaffe, I'm right, this is the... - I'm sorry.

All right, Brother.

I'm terribly sorry.

It's all right, Mary Jo. Where's the chalk?

Get to your respective places.

Now, Mary Jo, I'm going to lay down tracks for you. Here's the door.

Now, when you come on, you stop here and say, "Daddy."

Then over to here.

I'll mark it "two."

Then when you hear your brother coming downstairs...

you come over to here, three...

then quickly back to here, four.

Then, when your father rushes out...

you won't be knocked down like a ninepin.

Come, we'll start afresh. Entrance.

You're off the track.

Let's get her a trolley.

Quiet, please. It's very distracting, that muttering.

Now, Mary Jo, remember what I told you.

- Mr. Jaffe. - Who's that?

- Excuse me, Mr. Jaffe. - What?

This is the combination of the safe. It's the only copy.

Why do you bother me with details like that? What do I hire you for?

But you...

You hothead.

Go over there, sit somewhere and sit down. Keep out of my way.

Now, come on, Mary Jo, remember...

shy but vital. Give it essence.

Give me the chalk, please.

Brother's all right.

Did you get some more chalk?