Original subtitles

Thank you.

Tess, I'm sorry. I'm late. I thought if I took a taxi, it would put me in the

mood for this assignment.

But first we get stuck in the Holland Tunnel. Then I get caught in a traffic

jam. Rush hour. Here, have a pretzel. It'll put you in the mood for your

assignment.

Kind of chewy.

A little mustard.

I don't think so.

Just try, try, try.

You see, it's all that cappuccino that's messed up your taste buds.

A pretzel is a New York tradition.

Like cheesecake at Lindy's or hot dogs at Nathan's or dill pickles at

Carnegie Deli. Those were the days, Angel Girl.

Back when food was food. No, when Broadway was Broadway.

These marquees used to light up Times Square. And it's a shame to say so, but

there were some people who would have rather made it up there than made it up

there.

That's Lillian Bennett.

She came to this town about 30 years ago with a lot of hopes and dreams.

What happened?

Well, she thinks she ran out of luck.

Luck? There's no such thing as luck.

Well, try telling her that.

You see, Lillian's the kind of a person that puts her faith in signs and omens

and lucky pennies.

But there are a lot of people in the theater who are superstitious.

So Lillian is an actress?

Well, she used to be, but they're...

A broken heart for every light on Broadway.

One of them is Lillian.

I tell you, I'll walk with you.

Believe me, I'll walk with you.

Look, Robbie, you've got to find me something, anything.

I know you're my agent, not my street.

I'm sorry. It's just that they're going to shut off my phone. My rent is due.

Colin, I think it's the super.

I just have to put my feet up on a nice, soft packing crate.

Oh, Alison.

You told me that this was a nice little studio apartment with a view and a

terrace. There's a view.

Oh, I see. The terrace.

Oh, yeah. And don't tell me what this is. Let me guess. This is the room

divider. Mom, what are you doing?

Alison.

Honey, when you were 21 years old, I agreed that I would help you pay for

dance classes, your singing lessons, anything to help you make it on

But you agreed that if after 10 years you didn't make it, you'd cash it all in

and come home and teach high school drama. I know, just like you did.

But I don't want to give up.

Not yet.

31 years old.

What have you got to show for it?

Heartache.

Chin splints.

Covered full of tuna.

With the expiration date running out.

I can't just run out on this place. I've got a commitment.

Do you have the rent money?

Allie, baby, you gave it your best shot.

Now listen to me. It's not your fault.

Baby, it's just, it's the luck of the draw.

Maybe you're right. I know I'm right. I've been there.

Walking to class because I couldn't afford the subway.

Living on chewing gum and coffee.

Going from audition to audition. Don't call us. We'll call you. Just in the

insane hope that someday that telephone will ring. Right?

Right.

Hey, baby.

Baby, come on. It's going to be all right.

It's going to be all right. This is your lucky day. I promise.

We've got time to make the last train we could be home for dinner. But, Mom,

this is my lucky day. An audition for a Broadway show.

Oh, my God, the cattle. Yep.

I worked here once. I know.

Almost.

Thank you, dancers.

Eduardo, it looks great.

Okay, thing auditions are going to start in about five minutes. We need all the

sopranos to bring your pictures and your resume over here to this table.

Such a beautiful old theater.

I remember Freddy backstage.

We used to rub his head for luck.

Oh, hey, look.

An old prompter's box.

All right, now, you remember what I taught you?

Chin up, head high, and sing like an angel.

Remember, chin up, head high, and sing like an angel.

I can't sing like an angel, Tess. I can't sing at all, period.

Don't I know that.

And I can't dance.

You'll have what you need when you need it.

God bless you.

Oh, I think I'm getting a cold.

Can angels get cold? No, but their human bodies can.

And your body's about to come down with a doozy.

But the show has got to go on.

That's your assignment.

So just work with it.

Go ahead, baby, work with it.

I'm a comer. I simply gotta march my heart to trauma.

Nobody, no, nobody is gonna rain on my

parade.

Thank you. That was, um, that was great.

Thanks.

Okay, next up we have... Monica?

Are you sure you don't have to be here?

roses and whiskers on kittens.

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Silver white winters that melt

into spring.

These are a few of my favorite things.

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling bad.

I'm sorry.

No, no, no. That's fine.

Monica, that was, um...

That was unbelievable.

Well, I haven't finished. And that's fine, because I've heard enough to make

decision. Why don't you take a seat?

You were fine. That cold

did you some good. Don't worry. It was good. It was very good.

Hello, everyone.

Oh, my God.

It's so good to be back.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the star of our show, Miss Amanda Revere.

Oh, it is so wonderful to be back.

You know, Andrew, the Capitol Theater is where I got my start.

No, really. I mean, I remember everything. The footlights and that

prompter, the box on the velvet curtain, and the dust.

I think it's still the same dust.

You know, someone once said to me, I think it was Stephen Sondheim.

He said that every time you take a breath on the stage, you inhale a

Julius Caesar.

Actually, this felt more like Ethel Merman.

Where is that? Oh, I've got to take care of the old pipes.

Because they have to sing a lot of great songs right here on this magnificent

stage.

But I do smell a Tony.

Come on.

Allie, let's get out of here.

Okay, um... For the second female lead...

Monica.

And Monica's understudy will be Allison Blaine.

Could you just wait a second, please?

Honey, I don't mean to be raining on your parade, but I just don't want you

be disappointed.

Disappointed? Mom, I'm thrilled I'm in a Broadway show.

Baby, you're an understudy. Mom, my 10th birthday.

Right after Daddy died. Remember what you gave me?

Tap shoes.

You taught me to sing, to dance, to love the theater.

There are no small parts, only small dressing rooms.

The rehearsal starts in 10 minutes. Are you going to wish me luck? No.

Well, it's bad luck to wish good luck.

Here. I'll let you paint.

You and your superstition.

I love you. I gotta go. Love you. Bye.

Break a leg.

Don't whistle in the dressing room.

Don't look into the prompter's box.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Everybody signs in here. You don't sign in, I

don't get paid. I don't get paid, I get cranky. You don't want to say cranky

Freddy, do you?

Freddy?

I've heard about you. People rub your head for luck.

That's why I lost my hair.

My name's Allison Blaine. This is my first Broadway show.

Okay, give it a good rub and get going.

Thanks, Freddy.

Kids.

Ooh, hello.

Ah, what a hunk.

Whatever Lola wants.

Lola gets.

And little man.

Little Lola.

One, two... Hold it!

Somebody sneezed.

Who sneezed?

I distinctly heard a sneeze.

And you are?

Hello, I'm Monica. Miss Revere, we're going to do several numbers together,

I'm so delighted.

Oh, I'm delighted to meet you, too. Thank you.

Andrew, a petite powwow, por favor.

Yes, Amanda.

Andrew, if Monica gets sick, what happens?

Uh, well, she has an understudy. Right. And if I get sick, what happens?

Um, you're Amanda Revere. You don't have an understudy. Bingo.

Now, look, Andrew.

This is a very... delicate instrument, one little cold germ, one little

emotional upheaval, and this little larynx closes down quicker than a

the IRS.

Now, Andrew, you do understand that if I lose my voice, the show goes down.

Do you know what I'm getting at here?

I think so.

I think that until Monica is better, you would prefer to rehearse with her

understudy. Right.

Miss Revere, thank you so much. My name's Allison.

The undecided.

That's nice to meet you.

Now listen, don't you worry. You'll be better before you know it. Okay?

So I said, look here, David Merrick. I already have my Tony. Let Barbara do it.

You gave up funny girl for Barbara Streisand. Oh, Miss Revere.

Amanda. Amanda, thank you.

I can't believe I'm really sitting here with you. That you invited me to dinner.

Oh, honey, look at you.

You're so young, wide -eyed, innocent.

You remind me of someone.

I think it was me.

I will never forget my first time in a Broadway show.

Follow your dreams. Yes. You went to Tony for that?

Yes. I cut out the Hirschfeld drawing of you. I pasted it here in my scrapbook.

Oh, how sweet.

You know, for ten years I have been struggling here, and there were so many

times when I just didn't know how I was going to go on.

And then I'd put on the original cast recording of Follow Your Dreams and

to you sing.

I know I'm just the understudy.

Allison, today an understudy tomorrow.

A star.

Yeah, but how often does that happen?

Happened to me.

You were an understudy? Sure. I didn't know that.

Oh, Miss Revere, I have been praying so long for a chance like this.

But you see, that's your problem.

Praying is a waste of time.

You can only count on one person.

You.

You'll be twelve.

You'll be great.

Gonna have the whole world on a plate.

Starting here, starting...

You make your lasagna.

Didn't I?

Oh,

Mom, I'm sorry. I already had dinner with Amanda.

Oh, well, that's nice.

It's my big chance. You understand.

Sure, I understand.

You want to be a big star.

Like Amanda.

This is such an exciting time.

Amanda says I've got to be ready.

If Monica doesn't get well, this could be my lucky break.

Yeah, I heard that.

Good enough.

Light those lights. We've got nothing to hit but the hype.

We'll be swell.

We'll be great. I can tell just you wait.

That lucky star we've talked about.

On a scale of one to ten, what?

Eleven. Oh!

Total honesty. I love it.

Now listen, Al.

You better get my good side this time.

Or else. Does everybody here know who this man is, Mr. Al Hirschfeld? He does

the most magnificent caricatures.

And you know you've made it on Broadway.

If Al Hirschfeld has his way with you.

Amanda, do you think you're ready to try that duet with Monica? Because I think

that Monica is feeling better today. Right, Monica?

Allison, I'm going to take it from the top.

Come on in, Amanda.

Number 30 in a series of 30. One for each day of rehearsal.

Oh, come on. Tell me who he is.

I don't know, really.

I wish I did because he sure brings me luck.

Maybe he'll finally show up opening night.

My fingers are crossed.

Oh, did Freddy warn you about the prompter's box?

No. What about it? Oh, something about it being haunted. You look into it and

you're jinxed.

Just another old superstition to add to your collection.

That Amanda sure is something, isn't she?

Yeah.

You want a pretzel?

No, thanks.

You're Monica's manager, aren't you?

Well, something like that.

My name is Tess.

Hi, I'm Lillian. I'm Allison's mother.

You sure you don't want a pretzel? No, thank you.

I'm hoping to have lunch with my daughter. I made her her favorite soup.

Chicken with dard.

There's nothing in the world better than soup made by your own mama.

But that's not going to do that child a bit of good out here.

May I help you there, ma 'am?

Freddie.

Lillian Bennett.

What has it been, my gosh, 30 years? It's so good to see you.

Amanda, look who's here.

Lillian?

Hello,

Amanda.

Together again after all these years. Well, it's fate.

Destiny.

Kismet.

You were in a show with Amanda.

How come you never told me?

Oh, it was such a long time ago.

Besides, Amanda's a living legend. Well, it's true.

You make magic.

I, on the other hand, make chicken soup, which apparently is going to waste.

Wait, Allison.

Take that to the maitre d' and tell them to send it to the theater. God knows

Monica needs some chicken soup.

Okay.

Amanda, I don't want Allison to know about what happened.

You didn't tell her?

No.

I want her to be ashamed.

Ashamed? Oh, well, if she only knew how good you were.

So, this play you guys were in together, would you tell me about it?

Oh, miss.

Excuse me.

Could I have one of those, please?

A yellow one.

Keep the change.

For you.

For me? What for?

Well, yellow is luck.

Jumpin' Jehoshaphat, look at...

It's so nice to have you back where you belong.

Where have you been all these years?

Well, raising a daughter.

Carol, I'd like you to meet Allison.

Allison, this is Miss Channing. Hello, Miss Channing. It's such an honor. I was

watching the Tonys the night you won the Lifetime Achievement. Oh, speak of

Lifetime Achievement. She's divine.

I knew your mother when she was your age.

Really? Yes.

Her dressing room was filled with...

Yellow roses, like that.

A dozen every night from a secret admirer.

A secret? You had a secret admirer?

Uh -huh.

And she wouldn't tell us his name.

Well, sometimes a secret is a girl's best friend.

Bye -bye.

Andrew! Andrew, come over here.

I want you to meet a dear old friend, Lillian Bennett, Allison's mother. Oh,

It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to our humble stage.

Thank you.

I need to speak with you for a second.

Excuse me.

Perhaps you'd like to try some of this delicious soup. It's amazing.

I just had one cup and I'm really feeling completely better.

Allison, why don't you take Mom to my dressing room and make her comfy?

Okay. Andrew, is my number up next?

Um... You know, Allison, it looks like Monica has made a complete recovery and

we do open on Friday and she needs to know the part as well as you do

Because she is the one who's going on.

Why don't you sit down over there?

Honey, don't worry about me.

Sit down, Mom.

I'm okay now.

Yeah, so is Monica.

Baby, I'm sorry.

I tried to warn you. You're all full of warnings.

Superstitions, lucky pennies.

What about the truth, Mom?

I told you the truth, Allie. Broadway is nothing but heartache. Yeah, what about

the rest of it, huh?

What about you and Amanda? What about your secret admirer? What about the

Broadway show you were in?

What happened, Mom?

What really happened?

This used to be my dressing room.

This is the star's dressing room.

Opening night, I was a nervous wreck.

I knew every step, I knew every line, I knew every note.

There was only one problem.

My lucky roses didn't arrive.

Oh, did Freddy warn you about the prompter's box?

Oh, something about it being haunted. You look into it and you're jinxed.

The lucky roses hadn't come.

I looked smack into the prompter's box.

And I froze.

I was a flop.

A failure.

A fiasco.

And a man dump.

Amanda went on in my place.

You could have been a star.

Here.

I'm not going to need this anymore.

From now on, I'm not going to let luck stand in my way.

Monica, we open Friday.

As in the day after tomorrow?

I know, Andrew, but I've rehearsed, I've practiced all the steps.

Shuffle, bowl, change, shuffle, bowl, change, step, kick, bowl, change, bowl,

change. Oh, come on, Andrew. Let's give it a shot.

Okay.

You're right, okay.

Eduardo, dancers, let's do Lullaby of Broadway.

Let's take it from the bar 22, okay?

The rumble of the subway train.

The rattle of the taxi.

Stafford Hills to entertain.

As Angelo's and Maxie's when a Broadway baby says goodnight.

Excuse me, Mr. Deer. I believe that goodnight is your key.

No, dear.

I believe it's yours.

Goodnight.

Good luck.

Andrew. Well, I mean, your voice isn't what it used to be.

You got over your cold and you got your old voice back.

Don't you worry.

In God's eyes, you're a star.

We all are.

There's a few people around here who need to do some shuffle ball changing.

You did your best.

Mom! Mom, guess what happened?

Monica got fired.

I'm in, Mom. I'm in.

Congratulations.

What are you doing?

Packing. I'm going home.

Mom, don't be ridiculous. Tomorrow's opening night.

Amanda wants you to come to the party at Sardi's.

Amanda, Amanda, Amanda. I am sick of hearing about Amanda.

Come on, Mom.

Amanda gave me my big break.

Because of her, I'm going to be a star.

Oh, well, who taught you to sing, huh? Who taught you to dance?

You know, it would be so nice if instead of being jealous of Amanda, you could

just be happy for me.

Oh, Lillian, why aren't you in your seat yet?

Well, something came up. I can't stay, but would you do me a favor?

Would you give these to my baby and tell her I love her?

Yellow roses, gosh, that brings back a lot of memories.

Just like the ones Amanda always used to give you.

Amanda never gave me roses. I had a secret admirer. Secret admirer? You're

kidding.

Amanda used to get these wholesale down there on Canal Street.

Pretty.

Lillian, what on earth are you doing here?

I came to say break a leg, Amanda.

Well, aren't you sweet?

No, I mean it.

And I also think you should have these.

Yellow roses.

And they're not from a secret admirer.

What's wrong, Lillian?

It was you all along who sent me those flowers.

You're my best friend.

And you knew what it would do to me when they didn't show up opening night. You

knew I would freeze, didn't you, Amanda?

Oh, come on, please.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Now, I have a show to do. Would you kindly leave the dressing room? Oh, I'm

getting out.

But I'm also warning you.

I love my daughter more than anything in the world. And if you do anything to

hurt her the way you hurt me, You won't have one regard left to give to

Broadway. You get out!

I'll give you my Tony.

I'll give you my Emmy. I'll give you my Grammy.

God doesn't want your awards, Amanda.

Monica, what are you doing here?

I'm an angel.

You invested in the show?

No, not that kind.

I'm an angel sent by God to tell you that he loves you, whether or not you

good reviews.

Holy. Holy is right.

God doesn't want the things you care about, Amanda.

Money, fame, fortune.

And he already has his name up in lights.

Oh, please.

Please, help me.

I'm trying to.

God is trying to.

All I want is my voice back.

What you want is not what you need.

Now, look.

I don't know what it's like up in heaven, but this is show business.

And you just have to prove yourself over and over. I still have what it takes.

God knows that.

He gave it to you.

He also knows who you really are.

Elaine Kagan from Kansas City.

You've worked very hard, Amanda, but you traded away everything God has given

you.

Love, marriage, children.

Even friendship.

I bring joy to millions of people.

But not to yourself.

Joy is something you've lost, too. The joy of being a human being.

The joy of loving and receiving love.

You've spent your whole life using other people to get to the top.

Well, this is your chance, Amanda.

Not to play a character, but to demonstrate character.

By helping one of the people that you've hurt.

Lillian.

She's felt like a failure all her life and that's how her daughter sees her

But God gave her the talent to sing and to dance.

She's hidden her light under a bushel.

God wants you to help her finally shine.

My goodness.

Come in.

Amanda. Hi.

Before the curtain goes up, I just wanted to say thank you. Allison, dear.

What happened to your voice?

It doesn't matter.

Listen to me.

These yellow roses.

Oh, boy.

I sent them to your mother.

Every night.

Except opening night.

She didn't have a secret admirer?

I made it up.

Along with all that stupid nonsense about the prompter's box.

Why?

Your mother put her face in luck and I put mine in me.

You were her best friend.

I was.

But I was also her understudy.

I just...

had to go on no matter what.

You understand, don't you, Allison?

You should be in an orchestra seat instead of a train seat.

Tess, what are you doing here?

That's what I like about the theater. You're always running into people you

know. I don't know you.

Not really.

People in the theater, they pretend that they're your friends.

Or they stab you in the back the first chance they get, and that's God's honest

truth.

The way I look at it, I'm lucky to get out of this town in one piece.

Darn lucky.

I want to ask you a question.

Why would anyone rely on luck when they have the God's honest truth?

The truth that he loves them.

Look at that penny.

Does it say in luck we trust?

Don't you know what's been missing out of your life all these years?

Do you think God would let a penny or a four -leaf clover or some yellow roses

get in the way of all the gifts he's given you?

Who are you?

I'm an angel sent by God to tell you that he loves you.

And he's waiting for you at the Capitol Theater.

You've always been afraid to look in that prompter's box. But I'm here to

you that you could use some prompting.

Now you get back to that theater. Because God has given you the most

gift of all. A daughter.

And she needs you as much as you need her.

Hi, baby.

Mom, I'm so glad you're here.

What is it? What's wrong?

A disaster, Mom.

Lillian.

Oh, Lillian.

Please forgive me.

What's happened to your voice?

Listen, what I did to you was terrible.

And I wouldn't blame you if you... spent the rest of your life angry with me.

But you see, I just had to be a star, and it didn't matter who I stepped on.

And unfortunately, I stepped on the best.

Your mama was so great on stage.

I wish I could have seen you back then.

Yeah, me too.

You were the best.

Sorry about this. I wish you could feel better. Well, if you really mean it, you

know what to do.

Go ahead, baby. Give us some of that chicken and stars.

What? I don't need it. I'm okay. Just drink the soup.

Ladies and gentlemen, due to illness,

Amanda Revere will be unable to perform tonight.

But if I could finish... If I could finish, please?

Thank you.

Now, because Miss Revere does not have an understudy... Is... Amazing!

Oh, my God!

I don't believe it!

Oh.

Uh, correction!

The show's going to go on.

Well, Mike, sir.

Will, you never did get to sing this song on opening night.

Now's your chance.

What are you doing?

You'll be terrific.

God gave you a great voice. It's time to share it with the world. Come on. Get

out there. Good luck. Out.

Good times and bum times.

I've seen them all and my dear.

I'm still here.

Plush velvet.

But I'm here.

Sable one day, next day it goes into hock.

But I'm here.

Top billing Monday, Tuesday you're touring in stock.

But I'm here.

I've run the gamut A to Z.

Three cheers and damn it. Hey, lovey.

I got through all of last year.