The Goodbye Girl

Whoo! Oh, this time next week, California.

Were you ever there?

Oh, sure. For 6 weeks.

I was touring with a musical.

Middle of December, I was swimming.

What part were you playing?

Oh, I was in the dancing chorus.

Did you have any songs?

No, I couldn't hit the notes.

I just moved my lips.

The other 18 girls did the singing.

What was the show you did?

Oklahoma, a revival.

You're always doing revivals. How come?

Well, somebody has to do it.

Ha ha.

We're gonna live out in the valley.

It is so beautiful there.

I heard it's very hot in the valley

with fake palm trees.

They're not fake.

You can reach out your window

and pick oranges and lemons.

I remember staying with grandma.

I was 4 1/2.

Oh, you were never 4 1/2. You were born 26.

What are the birds like out there?

Oh, they're just the same as here

except they're out there.

I hear they say oar-ange

instead of orange. So?

You think Tony will be a movie star?

No, not yet. He's just an actor.

Stars have to be actors first,

don't they?

Yeah, well, it helps.

But one day, kids in school might say

"Hey, is Tony Deforest your father?"

He isn't really my father, is he?

Well, maybe one day.

I've heard that before.

Oh, shut up!

Can I show Tony all my new clothes first?

Later. You have homework to do.

Homework? Why?

We're moving to California next week.

But they have homework there, too,

you know.

They do? I thought they just skateboarded all day.

Oh. Smart ass.

Can I just show him my blue sweater

and my new jeans? All right.

But brush your hair and wash your face.

And no makeup.

Tony! Hey, Tone, you home?

I got you a present.

Hon, you in the bathroom?

Oh. Bloomingdale's was on sale.

We cleaned 'em out.

But we can't exchange anything.

I bought you a present.

Tony, come take a look.

Tony?

Tony?

Tony?

Oh, my God!

What happened?

He's gone.

He left without us.

For California?

For Italy.

Huh?

Can I read it?

"Dear Paula,

this isn't an easy letter to write."

Doesn't start off too good, does it?

"Where the hell do I begin?

You know you and the kid mean a lot to me."

The kid?

"I turned down the job in L.A.

"It was just a lousy TV movie anyway.

"On Monday, Stan Fields called.

He got me a picture with Roberto Ben--Benigno."

Benigni.

Who's Roberto Benigni?

He's an Italian director.

What did he direct?

What do I know? What are you

asking me questions like that now for?

"It's a 6-month shoot in Spain and Italy.

"It's a hell of a part, Paula, and I want it.

I broke my ass--"

all right. That's enough.

Let me have that.

"Ass." I've heard the word before.

"I broke my ass for 12 years in this town,

"and things

"are finally beginning to break for me.

"I told you

"when you first moved in here with me

"that it was never going to be permanent.

Hell, I'm not even divorced from Patty yet."

Who's Patty?

I told you about her.

No, you didn't.

I thought you'd be upset

if you were living with a married man.

I wasn't living with him. You were.

I was in the next room.

I'm sorry!

"I left early today

"because I didn't think a good-bye scene

would do any of us any good."

This is one of the worst letters

I've ever read in my whole life.

Isn't it terrible?!

"I wish I had something to leave you and the kid."

He didn't leave us anything?

No.

"I had to sell my watch and my camera

to pay off the loan sharks."

He owed money to sharks?

I'll explain it to you later.

"But I know you'll be all right.

You can always go back to dancing."

Dancing?! I'm 36.

I can hardly walk anymore.

"You deserve more than I can give you."

Why? What'd he give us?

"I wish you everything. Love to the kid."

Don't read anymore.

It's just one more word.

"Tony."

Does this mean we're not going to California?

Then I bought the wrong clothes today.

Oh.

I can't sleep, either.

Oh. Come here. Come here.

Is this all we have in the bank?

Ok.

Let's sell the furniture.

It's not ours.

Some mother I am.

It's not you.

It's the guys you lived with.

Think I would have learned my lesson.

Next time you see me talking to an actor,

just kick me in the...

We'll be all right.

You still love me, hmm?

Maybe we could borrow money

from the sharks.

1, 2, 3, 4.

Arch your back, 7, 8.

And down--

I see you, Paula.

That's right. Arch your back.

Get that knee up. Thank you.

Paula, what have you done to your body?

It died. Have a little respect.

Nice. Get ready to turn.

1, 2, 3, 4.

Half a second. Beautiful.

Everybody happy? Let's go.

And...

Arch the back.

Paula.

I thought that was you.

Donna Douglas. I was in South Pacific with you.

Oh, the revival. Hi, Donna.

Tough gettin' back into shape, isn't it?

It's been 2 years.

It's amazing how flabby you get

when you think you're happy.

Hey, uh, you know I lived with Bobby.

Bobby who?

Bobby Kulig, your ex-husband.

Oh. I guess the marriage slipped my mind.

Hey, uh,

you still livin' with Tony Deforest?

I don't think so.

I didn't see him at breakfast.

Hi.

Sorry. Oh.

You leavin' tonight or tomorrow?

I'm sorry. What was that, Mrs. Crosby?

Just checkin' on what time you're vacatin'.

Oh, uh, we're not going to California.

I forgot to tell you.

Well, I'm not the only one you forgot to tell.

That apartment's been sublet.

What are you talking about?

We're paid up through June.

You can't sublet the apartment.

I'm not. Your man did, honey.

He sublet our apartment?

Yes. He notified me a few days ago.

It was his name on the lease.

So he could do what he wants.

You just be sure you leave it the way you found it.