Once Upon a Time

Taxi. Taxi.

Get your morning paper.

I don't mind the show being bad, but why so long?

Flynn gave me the tickets. I had to show up.

The next time, bring your wife.

We should have believed the critic.

I don't know about you, sugar, but I loved it.

Six dollar pass and three hours wasted.

So what? Tomorrow I'm a busboy.

Yeah, but where else does a poor guy get into a uniform?

Curtain.

Namward.

It's a good thing we have equity to guarantee our salaries.

Vivienne De Beer.

Ten performances! He said it'd run two years.

Eddie Park.

Three flops in a row and what flops.

Anne Freeman.

Hurry up, Moke, before Flynn comes to alibi this turkey.

I wish Flynn was a heel, then I wouldn't feel so bad.

What makes you think he isn't?

Well, he's been very nice to me!

What do you expect from the Moke? Somebody oughta paste him!

Well, everyone's been paid off and that, my friend, is that.

Story of my life, Moke.

Short story...

Flynn wins public,

Flynn loses public.

Look at those notices we got in 1934. Three smash hits

five road companies.

And I kept on winning right through '35 and '36.

That was the year I built this theater.

The Flynn Theater.

My personal monument.

May I bring you up to date?

How soon are we moving out of this personal monument?

Before somebody asks us out?

I accept your resignation.

Who resigned?

If you didn't, then you're fired.

Who needs the money?

Oh, look, Jerry, you're taking this all too serious.

Where is it a crime for a guy not to hit the jackpot every time?

So, you're only a part-time genius.

So, you're resting between miracles.

Okay, comes the dawn...

you're a genius again.

Even a champ gets knocked out sometimes.

Not that you're not that, you understand.

Ah, you're right, Moke.

The critics were right. I should have had my head examined.

A rank amateur would have known better than to put on a show like that.

Hello, Flynn.

I just caught your show.

Pretty bad, wasn't it?

Since when have bankers been critics?

I hope you won't mind,

I took the liberty of showing some people through your theater today.

They were crazy about your office.

Very much impressed with your taste.

They're thinking of buying it.

I'm not thinking of selling.

Your note for 100,000 dollars comes due at the end of the week.

There's a rumor around town that you won't meet it.

I didn't spend my life building this monument

so that someone like you could come and tell me when to get out.

I built it, I'm gonna keep it. You're gonna give me an extension of time.

No extension. One week.

What? You mean to stand there and tell me that

you're gonna deprive the public of a chance to see Jerry Flynn shows?

Like the one I just saw?

McKenzie.

I've won more Pulitzer Prizes and critics' awards than any other man in show business.

Stop living in the past.

You've had three flops in a row.

You asked for an extension after the first one and the second one

and now you're asking again.

Come on now, Flynn. You've been fooling this town long enough.

There isn't another banker in the city would lend you a quarter.

You're through, Flynn.

Do you hear that, Moke? He says I'm through.

Tell him the ideas I had. Tell him the show I'm putting on.

Tell him how it's going to make theatrical history. Go on, tell him.

Well, you see, in this production...

Never mind, I'll tell him myself. Look, McKenzie...

What does the public need in times like these?

Escape.

And escape through beauty.

Ah, beauty.

I'm the man that can give it to them.

When the curtain goes up, where are we? We're in Egypt!

Pyramids mirrored in the lake.

And off in the distance, the Sphynx. The riddle of the ages!

- Can't you see it, McKenzie? - Sphynx?

Yes! One great panorama. The mysticism of the East.

And through it all, the story of man's soul struggling up through the turmoil.

- Yeah! Pyramids! - That's right!

We'll break out the first four rows of seats.

- That'll cost money. - It'll give the stage greater depth.

We'll break down part of the proscenium arch if necessary.

Make a note of that, I'll do that tomorrow.

McKenzie...

I'll give them beauty such as they've never seen.

Beauty that'll make them escape from this crazy, upside-down world.

And they'll hear music!

200 voices...

blending in celestial harmony!

- Beautiful. - Yes. A song of triumph!

Yes, yes.

Yes! Yeah...

No.

No, that's the way you sold me the last time.

You're not gonna do that to me again.

McKenzie, wait! You haven't heard about the transformation.

Man regaining the paradise that was lost!

One week.

One week...

Say...

That Sphynx. That was great.

- Hmm? - What Sphynx?

Why, the one with the pyramids.

Oh, but Jerry.

Man's soul struggling up through the turmoil.

When are we going to rehearsal?

What, with this?

I know, but the mysticism of the East!

- Bah... - So what did you give McKenzie all of that for?

Well, you know me. I get lonely when I can't hear myself talk.

I'll put out the lights and meet you outside.

Good night, pop.

Good night, Mr. Flynn.

Hey, Pinky. Look what I found.

Maybe it belongs to that man over there.

What man?

You oughta give him a look for his nickel

if it's his.

Hey mister, did you lose something?

Just a theater.

Come on, Pinky. The nickel ain't his.

Wait a minute.

Did you lose a nickel?

I didn't lose it, son.

I threw it over my shoulder for luck.

See, I told you it's his.

So he's got a right to look.

Go on, fatso. Hold up the box.

He's the only customer we ever got.

Please, mister. Take a look so we can go home.

Alright, go on. Play.

- What is that? - We want you to look.

Look at what?

A trained caterpillar.

- A trained caterpillar? - Sure.

He dances.

Bend down real close and watch.

That's enough. He's got his nickel's worth.

Take it easy.

Now he stopped dancing.

He stopped when you did.

Sure. That's the way Pinky trained him.

Beat it, Pinky! The cops!

Was they bothering you, Mr. Flynn?

Hmm? Oh, no, no.

No, they just had a dancing caterpillar.

Oh... They had a what?

Caterpillar.

Most remarkable thing I've ever seen.

Stood right up and danced.

Mr. Flynn...

I've known you for years.

So maybe you've had a few flops, but you'll get over it.

And before you know it you'll...

The kid had it

in a box, I mean...

- A box... - Yeah, yeah. I know.

But if you was to go away to a nice quiet place

with mountains and trees and streams...

He danced!

Who danced?

The caterpillar.

Yeah, I know.

I know a little place upstate.

Me brother-in-law went to it.

I'm telling you he danced!

Yeah, yeah. I know.

But the green trees...

The streams, Mr. Flynn.

A dancing caterpillar. Doesn't that mean anything to you?

It means you've gotta go upstate for arrest.

Well, what do you say? Let's go and eat.

He danced!

Come on out, fellas. I wanna talk to you.

- Cop gone? - Sure. Don't be afraid. I told him we were friends.

Look...

Do you mind if I have another look?

I wanna be sure I've seen what I've seen.

Got another nickel?

Oh, let him have another look at Curly for free.

Thanks.

What are we giving, a benefit?