All language subtitles for Merrily.We.Roll.Along.2025.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC5.1-LAMA.eng

Yesterday is done

See the pretty countryside

Merrily we roll along
Roll along

Bursting with dreams

Traveling's the fun

Flashing by the countryside

Everybody merrily

Merrily

Catching at dreams

Rolling along

Dreams don't die

So keep an eye on your dream

And before you know
where you are, there you are

Time goes by
and hopes go dry

But you still can try for your dream

Tend your dream

How does it happen?

Dreams take time

Once it was all so clear

Time goes by

How can you get
So far off the track?

Why don't you turn around and go back?

Bend your dream

How does it happen?

- Where is the moment?
- With the road

How can you miss it?
Isn't it clear?

How can you let it slip out of gear?

How did you ever
get there from here?

You roll
How does it happen?

- How does it happen?
- You just roll

Once it was all so clear

Everybody roll

How does it start to go?

Does it slip away slow

So you never even notice
It's happening?

How did you get to be here?

What was the moment?

How did you get to be here?

Pick yourself a road

Get to know the countryside

Soon enough, you're merrily

Merrily practicing dreams

Dreams that will explode

Waking up the countryside

Making you feel merrily, merrily

What can go wrong?

- Rolling along
- Some roads are soft

And some are bumpy

Some roads you really fly

Some rides are rough
And leave you jumpy

Why make it tough by getting grumpy?

Plenty of roads to try

- Some roads are soft
- One trip

And some are bumpy
All you get

- Some roads you really fly
- Is one quick ride

Look around a bit

Some rides are rough
One quick ride

And leave you jumpy

- Why make it tough
- Through the countryside

By getting grumpy?
Stay on the track

Plenty of roads to try

- Never look back
- Some roads you really fly

Never look back
Never look back

Never look back, never look

How did you get to be here?

What was the moment?

How did you get to be here?

Bending with the road

Gliding through the countryside

Merrily we roll along, roll along

Catching at dreams

Dreams that will explode

Waking up the countryside

Everybody merrily, merrily

Sing 'em your song

Rolling along

- Rolling along
- Rolling a...

Hey.

I said, "Frank, this picture
Is a watershed"

Hey, let me tell you about my new...

I said, "Frank, one day
You'll run my studio"

I said, "Frank, will you
Listen to that response?"

I said, "Frank really knows
What the public wants"

I said, "Frank, this picture
Is a watershed"

- Know what I'm having?
- What?

Not much fun.

- Party!
- Oh, my God, look at him.

That Frank

That guy is too much

Hey, the party's outside.

That Frank

Do you like the picture?

The platinum touch

How about more champagne?

- He has taste, he has talent
- Is he the best?

Plus, a fine head for business

- The man is blessed
- That Frank

I wrote the screenplay for Frank's movie.

Your secret's safe with me.

Frank.

Oh! Tyler, I want you to meet Meg,

the star of my movie.

My old friend Tyler here
is the man who invented

the telephone answering machine.

And people are living in fear
I'll invent something else.

That Frank

So, what do you do?

He's full of advice

I drink.

That Frank

No, what do you really do?

And, God, is he nice

I really drink.

- What a friend, what a host
- And his work is great

- Has a wife who is gorgeous
- A son who's straight

He's a type
You can easily learn to hate

That Frank

Who says, "Lonely at the top"?

I say, "Let it never stop"

It's our time coming through

All our dreams coming true

Working hard, getting rich

Being happy

- There's a switch
- That smile

Don't you miss writing music?

He's hot, but he's cool

That was the old Frank Shepard.

What style

This guy's the American dream.

And what a great pool

If you had no idea
What "charisma" meant

And you just can't be jealous
He's such a gent

He's the kind of a man

- That you can't resist
- That Frank

- Franklin.
- Meg, this is Mary Flynn.

Mary is my deepest, closest,
best friend in all the world.

Congratulations on the movie.

Your performance will stay with me
for a long time.

We go way back.

But seldom forward.

Actually, Franklin gave me
the novel you wrote,

and I read it over and over.

Well, didn't you get it the first time?

Hey, gang, we've got dancing outside!

Come on!

I said,
"Frank, you're coming down to Mexico"

Honestly...

I think Frank is moving
Back to Paramount

What?

These are the movers
These are the shapers

These are the people

- Who fill the papers
- Mexico

These are the friends of Frank

- Moving back to Paramount
- Each one a perfect blank

When you see a movie that's successful

What can you say?

- Congratulations!
- Thank you.

These are the movers
These are the shapers

These are the people
Who give you vapors

20 years ago, who'd have guessed?

Who'd have guessed
We'd be standing here?

God, we would have been so impressed

- Now we're here with the most
- Mexico

Brilliant minds on the coast

- Moving back to Paramount
- And notice who is their host

- Mexico
- Beautiful, Frank

Acapulco, Mexico

Beautiful, Frank

When you've made a movie
That's successful

Where do you go?

Paramount!

No!

Here's to us.

Who's like us?

- Damn few.
- Damn few.

Thanks, pal, for flying out.

Thanks, pal, for the ticket.

I got a letter from Frankie.

Well, at least my son writes to you.

Yeah, to thank me
for coming to his graduation.

- He didn't invite me.
- He didn't invite me either.

How is he anyway?

I mean, he asked the same thing about you.

- Frank, look, why don't the two of you...
- Frank!

- ...finally get on...
- I am beginning my broadcast.

Where Franklin Shepard goes, I go,

because that is where the A-list goes.

I just figured out
what the "A" stands for.

Now, I heard a reliable rumor
that you're selling the Malibu house.

You don't want it.
The place doesn't even have a pool.

No pool?

In my rat's hole in New York,
the john is terminally busted,

and the kitchen
should be condemned.

But no pool?

Trash it!

Let's have some coffee, Mary.

Poor Frank

I never drink coffee.

He handled that well

Caffeine isn't good for you.

That Frank

Look, I'm aware
this was just a formula movie.

He's loyal as hell

But my next picture, you wait.

I gave up waiting.

He's polite and considerate
Rain or shine

It began when I tasted Communion wine

That Frank

Who says, "Mustn't go too far"?

I say, "Look at where we are"

It's our time coming through

I say, "Good, me and you"

I say, "Roll," I say, "Ride"

I say, "Hey, there's food outside"

That Frank

Frank's movie was fun.

You'd think he'd relax

Frank knows what the public wants.

Not Frank

And Frank made a star!

He's laying new tracks

I love a movie movie!

If you had no idea
What "charisma" meant

And you just can't be jealous
He's such a gent

He's the kind of a man
Who could be president

That Frank

That Frank

That Frank

Frank.

Tonight I saw a falling star.

I was running across the lawn,

and then right there
in front of me, I see...

And what do we see in front of us?

- A rising star.
- Oh.

Because no matter what the critics say

about this picture,
they are certain to love you.

They're certain to,
no matter what they say about the picture.

The plot thins.

Meg, you know my wife Gussie.

Everybody who's been to a Broadway show
knows Gussie Carnegie.

The hem of your garment.

I say, by tomorrow,

all of that will be at your feet.

Oh.

Scotty, that's the Valley.

Have you been outside all this time?

It's customary when you give a party
to attend it.

Did you sing?

No one asked.

Franklin.
Later.

You're ignoring me.

Yes, I am.

- I've got feelings.
- And I've got a wife.

I love you so much.

And I love you, too.

Anyway, I'm off.
Tomorrow I fly to New York.

While you're there,

do not miss the new Charles Kringas play.

That is the only show in years

that actually deserves
its Pulitzer Prize.

I say, in every generation,
there's one playwright.

Oh, my God, what did I say?

Don't you know that in this joint,

you must never, ever mention
the name Charles Kringas?

- Mary, for God's sake.
- Yeah, see,

Charley, Frank and I were once

these devoted, inseparable friends.

Would anyone
care to come outside?

Up until that famous television interview

where Charley,
in front of the whole nation...

- Mary, enough!
- Mary, I've warned you.

Hey, the house numbers are in
from the East Coast.

And it went through the roof.

"The surprise of Darkness Before Dawn

"is Meg Kincaid, a starry-eyed find."

To Franklin Shepard,

who I've known ever since
we started out together

back in a crummy little
Greenwich Village saloon.

To Frank Shepard,

congratulations to the client
every lawyer dreams of:

Forty years old, a hit in New York,

now a hit in Hollywood...

- ...married to this Broadway legend...
- Oh, stop.

...surrounded by the people
who work for him, by his money...

Are we making speeches?

To Franklin Shepard...

...the producer,

the man who has everything.

And...

fat, drunk and finished...

I would rather be me any day.

Well, look at the time.
I've got to go to bed.

He'll wait. Hoo-hoo-hoo, call him.

- Get out of here, drunk.
- Gussie.

Get that fat sot out of here.

Mary, may I take your glass?

No, you may not take my glass.

- Frank.
- Oh, my God.

Frank!

Well...

now I won't be invited back.

Well, please don't all feel you have
to leave just because I'm leaving.

First, attention.

I said "attention"!

Are you all listening?
Because I have something I must say.

You are all junk.

And you...

You deserve them.

Damn sad.

Isn't she somebody?
No, she's a critic.

She wrote a bestseller once.

I would never have believed it.
She's finally out of Frank's life.

Yeah, and the loss is unbearable.

Ow.
What happened?

Ooh, she cut her hand
on a piece of glass.

Oh, no, no. It's nothing. Please, no.

No, Meg's cut her hand rather badly.

- No, honestly, it's nothing.
- Ru, go get something.

- Get some iodine.
- Oh, see.

When you're young and the star,

how the slightest thing
and you're everybody's focus.

Bitch.

It's stopping.
I'm just going to let it air out.

You two sure know
how to bring down a curtain.

I've got the iodine. Where's the patient?

Down at the foot of the lawn.

- Doing her fawn imitation.
- Mr. Shepard.

Frank.

Before I go, I just want to know:

How do I get to be you?

The worst vice in the world is advice,

so I don't give any.

Hey.

Don't just write what you know.

Write what you know.

Now get out of here.

"The worst vice is advice"?

Did you get that off a T-shirt, Frank?

I'm sorry. What's wrong?

You and that little punchboard
are what's wrong.

Please, please don't do this.

We've got a party going on out there.

You may have betrayed me,
but you are not going to humiliate me.

Gussie, when are you gonna let it go?

I never said you were too old
for the part.

The studio said
you were too old for the part.

To think I divorced a husband
who worshipped the ground I walked on

to marry a pitiful excuse
for a man like you.

I've made only one mistake in my life,

but I've made it over and over and over.

That was saying yes when I meant no.

- Forgive me.
- Don't you dare...

All right, you want to know if it's true?
It's true.

But what you would never
understand is she's sensitive.

She cares. She's an inspiration.

She's the raft
that keeps me from drowning.

Pathetic.

After all these years,

I finally have to hand it
to Charley Kringas.

That driven little runt was always
the one smart enough to read your label.

And I envy Charley Kringas
every day of my life.

Hilarious.

This coming from a man
whose work isn't remembered

by the time audiences
reach the parking lot!

I swear, if I could go back
to the beginning,

if I could somehow
be starting over with Charley,

writing shows, trying to change the world,

I would give all this up like that.

Oh, you've lied to yourself
so long, you probably believe that.

Do you really not see
that I'm ashamed of all this?

That I'm as sick of myself as you are?

I'm just acting like it all matters

so people can't see
how much I hate my life

and how much I wish
the whole goddamn thing was over.

I found her running
along the lawn, singing.

- Ah, sorry. Here.
- Now, stand still

- and let me put some iodine on that hand.
- Okay.

My significant other and I
want to say good night.

Meg!

My husband was just telling me

that you're the starry-eyed slut

- that keeps him from drowning.
- Gussie, stop it!

Oh, absolutely, Frank.
I will stop it.

But maybe she won't be so starry-eyed now.

He was sleeping with her, Dory!

You said we were finished, Frank!

Well, now we're finished!

You and her and me
and every goddamn thing

is finished!

How did you get to be here?

What was the moment?

How did you get to be here?

Dreams don't die
So keep an eye on your dream

Or before you know
Where you are, there you are

Roads may wind

And you may find
What you've left behind

- Is your dream
- Dream

- Tend your dream
- How does it happen?

- Dreams take time
- Once it was all so clear

Time goes by

How can you get so far off the track?

Why don't you turn around and go back?

- Bend your dream
- How does it happen?

- Where is the moment?
- With the road

When did the road behind disappear?

Where did you let things
Slip out of gear?

How did you
ever get to be here?

- 1975
- 1974

1973

And that is Frank Sinatra
singing Good Thing Going

from the Broadway and film hit
Musical Husbands.

The composers of that show,

Franklin Shepard and Charles Kringas,

are in our studio tonight,

and we will be meeting
and talking with them.

But first, the news.

Hal?

The lead-in story from tonight's edition

of "News from New York."

Today our nation is at long last

celebrating a ceasefire in Vietnam,

the tragic death toll there
now having cost

nearly 46,000 American lives.

Judy?

On the local front, Mayor Abe Beame...

Well, Mr. Kringas,
what do you think?

I think my worst nightmare has come true.

- I look like Richard Nixon.
- Charley.

- Oh, Charley!
- No, Mary.

- No, do not speak to me.
- Oh!

This whole goddamn thing is your fault.

I don't know why, in Christ's name,
I let you talk me into this humiliation.

Here is the drink you ordered, Miss Flynn.

- Ooh.
- Oh, Mary, how thoughtful.

Oh, come on, Charley. I need a drink.

Yeah, one drink. What would you like?

A bottle of vodka and a straw.

- Where's Frank?
- Frank?

Probably off signing
to score another movie

or closing a record deal.

I can only tell you where Frank never is,

and that is with me, working on our show.

All right, well, when I called KT
to set up this interview,

I made it very clear

that the only thing you two
were here to talk about...

was your next show
and how long you both been working on it.

Oh, Mary, since Frank married Gussie,

the only working he knows
is working the room.

And just where did
he learn that, Charley?

Off on that goddamn yacht is where.

And, wait, who was it who sent him off
on that goddamn yacht?

- I say to hell with Frank.
- Ugh.

Look, I have started a play all on my own.

And if Frank doesn't show up
in the next 30 seconds,

me, I am walking right out that door.

Look, Charley, I know Frank.

If you connect with him again,

if you commit the guy today, publicly,

I swear, by tomorrow, you two are gonna be

back together working again.

You got to help save him, Charley.

Hey, old friend

What do you say, old friend?

Make it okay, old friend

Give the old friendship a break

Why so grim?

We're going on forever

You, me, him

Too many lives are at stake

Friends this long

Has to mean something strong

So, if our old friend's wrong

Shouldn't an old friend come through?

It's us, old friend

What's to discuss

Old... ...friend?

Here's to us

Who's like us?

Damn few

Charley

Why can't it be like it was?

I liked it the way that it was

Charley, you and me

We were nicer then

We were nice

Kids and cities and trees were nice

Everything

I don't know who we are any more

And I'm starting not to care

Look at us, Charley

Nothing's the way that it was

I want it the way that it was

Help me stop remembering then

Don't you remember?

It was good

It was really good

Help me out, Charley

Make it like it was

Come on. Ugh.

Look, we both know it was better, Charley,
the three of us.

And you, come on.
Mary, we are not the three of us anymore.

Now we are one and one and one.

Charley

Nothing's the way that it was

I want it the way that it was

God knows, things were easier then

Trouble is, Charley

That's what everyone does

Blames the way it is

On the way it was

On the way it never

Ever

Was

Jesus, Mary.

After all these years,
you're still in love with the guy?

You got to help save me, then, Charley.

Charley, Frank,
we are on the commercial break,

and then it's us. Follow me.

- Frank isn't here.
- He isn't here?

Where the hell is Frank?

Frank is here, and Frank is sorry.

But ever since Gussie and I got married,

life is this series of meetings,
meetings, meetings.

- Hey, pal!
- Hey, pal. Long time no see.

- Oh, and I missed you, buddy.
- Mm.

And, Mary...

Oh, God, Mary,
you look wonderful.

Lost a little weight?

A hundred and eighty pounds.

He still calls, though.

Please, Frank.

Frank, in the chair.
Charley, you come with me.

KT, I think...

I think I saw my ex-husband
hovering around outside.

Could you see to it
that nobody's allowed in?

He's become the eternal sponge.

- Got it. Charley, move, please.
- Thank you.

- We got to go!
- Excuse me.

Mrs. Shepard,
I know this is inappropriate,

but I wrote a film script,
Darkness Before Dawn,

that is so perfect for you.

It is inappropriate.

Give it to me.

I have accepted
that if I don't want people

handing me scripts,
then I can never go out.

Frank, did you tell Mary
about closing the three-picture deal?

Uh, no.

But please let me be the one
to tell Charley.

I am waiting to choose the exact moment.

Oh, God.

I've explained to Frank:

You compose a Broadway show,
you're something in New York,

but you produce a movie,

you're something all over the world.

Frank, we're up! We got to move.

Oh.

Gussie.

Hiya, Gus.

- Oh, Joe.
- You look great.

You've caught me
in the middle, Joe.

Yeah, I was hoping,
I was, I was...

I was hoping...

I was hoping maybe
you could spare me 100 or so.

Joe. Joe, I...

God.

You can't keep doing this to me, Joe.

Now, this...

this is the last time.

I'm lining up backers for my next play.

Oh.

Excuse me, Joe.

- They're waiting for me.
- Yep.

I'm sorry.

And now our evening's top news story.

Today the Supreme Court
made its final ruling

legalizing abortion.

The court stated
abortion should be a decision

between a woman and her physician.

A longtime controversy now ended.

Judy?

For those who have tuned in late,

we are hearing Frank Sinatra
singing the hit song

by Franklin Shepard and Charles Kringas,

our next guests live from New York.

Oh, and, Frank, I cannot thank
you enough for this favor.

"Favor"? After what you did
for me during my divorce?

That's why we're here.

- Oh, and how's your son?
- Want to see a picture?

No, but do that on air,
and I'll coo, and I'll tear,

and I'll carry on like a mad thing.

People love cheap sentiment.

And I understand
congratulations are in order.

I hear you just signed
a three-picture deal

to produce movies.

- Where'd you hear that?
- Now, don't worry.

I understand I'm not supposed
to bring it up on the air.

I think you weren't supposed
to bring it up in front of me.

Oh? Oh.

Charley, I was waiting
for the exact moment to tell you.

But, see, it doesn't change our plan.

It's only two or three months at a time.

Frank, it is always
two or three months at a time.

I haven't even signed the contract yet.

Do you know how long I have sat
and waited for you to finish this project?

Hold it for one second, guys, will you?
We're just about on.

Charley, I have a son to support.

I have an ex-wife draining me.

What happens if we finish
this show, we get it on,

and they say it's no good?

Frank, I have four kids to support.

I don't give a rat's ass what they say.

If I say it's good,
if you say it's good...

Okay, fellas, we're just about to start.

He only knows it's good
if it makes a fucking fortune.

Hi! We're back.

And welcome to "Today in New York's
Celebrity Spot."

Here next to me, we have two
brilliantly talented people.

The gentleman on my right is...

Oh, uh, Franklin Shepard.

- I almost forgot.
- And?

And he is. Why would he lie?

And I have no idea who I am.

This is my great friend
and even greater collaborator,

Charley Kringas.

They are the songwriters
for Musical Husbands,

both the show and the movie.

They also wrote Sweet Sorrow.

And their newest collaboration
will be called Take a Left.

But more about that later.

Apparently much later.

And you recently married
the star of those shows,

Gussie Carnegie.

- Did you not?
- Yes, that's correct.

And I'm married to Evelyn.

Now, all of Broadway says

that you two are the next
Rodgers and Hammerstein,

Lerner and Loewe.

Irving and Berlin.

Let's start at the beginning.

You're both from Chicago.

You both went to the same school
and the same college?

Uh, nope. Me, Columbia. Him, Juilliard.

So, your entire lives
you've been very, very close friends.

Until today.

Like all partners,

we have had fights and other commitments,

but the magic is only there
when it's me and Charley.

Charley and me.

I love it.

Now, how do you two work together?

Oh. May I answer that?

Please.

How do we work together?

Sure.

Well, he goes...

And I go...

And soon we're

Humming along

Hmm-mm-hmm

And that's called writing a song

Hmm-mm-hmm

Then he goes

And I go

And the phone goes, "Drrrrring!"

And he goes,
Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter

"Yes, Jerome," mutter, "No, Jerome"

Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter

That's his lawyer, Jerome

Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter
"Do it, Jerome"

Click, "Sorry, Charley"

So I go

And he goes

And I go

And soon we're tapping away

Hmm-mm-hmm

"Bzz!" "Sorry, Charley" "Bzz!"

It's the secretary, "Bzz!"
On the intercom, "Yes, Ms. Bzz"

"It's a messenger"

"Thanks, Ms. Bzz
Will you tell him to wait?

"Will you order the car?
Will you call up the bank?

"Will you wire the coast?
Will you..."'Drrrrring!'"

"Sorry, Charley"
Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter

"Sell the stock," mutter
"Buy the rights"

Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter

"Bzz!" "Let me put you on hold"

"Bzz!" "Yes, Ms. Bzz"

"It's the interview"

"Thanks, Ms. Bzz
Will you tell him to wait?

"Will you wire the car?
Will you order the coast?

"Will you send up the bank?"

And the telephones blink
And the stocks get sold

And the rest of us he keeps on hold

And he's into making movies

And he's now a corporation, right

So I play at home
With my wife and kids

And I wait to hear the movie bids

And I've got a little sailboat

And I'm into meditation, right

He flies off to California

I discuss him with my shrink

That's the story of the way we work

Me and Franklin Shepard, Inc.

I am beginning to enjoy this.

I promise to be honest if you
promise to handle the lawsuit.

Now, Frank, when you do work together,

I have always been curious,

which generally comes first,
the words or the music?

- Generally, the contract.
- Oh.

That sounds like you think making money
is a bad thing for an artist.

Sorry, money?

Did I say "money"?

No, I like

Money a lot, hmm-mm-hmm

I mean, it's better than not

Hmm-mm-hmm

But when it's

Money. Money.

When you're into...

Money...

And you should be...

Listen.

Frank does the money thing very well.

But you know what?
Other people do it better.

Yeah, and Frank does
the music thing very well.

And you know what?

No one does it better.

Still, the telephones blink
And the buzzers buzz

And I really don't know what he does

But he makes a ton of money
And a lot of it for me

Right, so I think, "Okay"
And I start a play

But he somehow knows,
'Cause right away

It's, "Drrrrring!" "Hiya, buddy

"Want to write a show?
I got a great idea

"We'll own all the rights
With a two-week out

"And a turnaround on the guarantee

"Plus a gross percent
of the billing clause"

And there I am in California

Talking deals and turning pink

Back in business, and I mean just that

Back with Franklin Shepard, Inc.

Very sneaky how it happens

Much more sneaky than you think

You start with nothing but a song to sing

And next, you're Franklin Shepard...

Wait a second, wait one second.
I am getting in too deep here.

Franklin, let me ask you...

You see, Frank and I
are not that kind of close.

- Not like we used to be.
- Now, Frank...

And friendship is like a garden.

You have to water it
and tend it and care about it.

And you know what? I miss it.

And I want it back.

Look.

Nothing permanent has happened

It's just a temporary kink

Friendship's something
You don't really lose

Ladies and gentlemen, don't let me lose

the greatest composer
any lyricist has ever had.

Phone him. Write him.

Stop him on the street.
You will recognize him.

He's the one going through his checkbook.

And tell that man
to get back to his piano.

Very sneaky how it happens

Every day, you're on the brink

First the prizes, then the interviews

Oh, my God

I think it's happened

Stop me quick before I sink

One more triumph that I can't refuse

In case you didn't notice,

this is my first time on TV
and my last! No!

Here's the point, whatever happens

Then we'll all go have a drink

That's the guy I love

The fella who's inside

Mutter, mutter, mutter, mutter

"Quick, Jerome, get the president

"There's a crazy man on my TV screen"

Inside

"Bzz, bzz!" "Drrrrring!"

Inside Franklin Shepard

Just write him, care of Any Bank, USA.

Inc.

Now let's take a commercial break.

Oh, thanks, guys.

Jesus Christ!

That was a real slaughter,
Charley. Congratulations.

- Frank, I...
- I think you said enough.

I know for years you've been attacking me

and constantly putting me in the position

of having to defend myself, but that...

See, I don't know why anyone
would want to so humiliate

and betray the guy who is
his oldest friend in the world like that,

but I do know you're never gonna have
the opportunity to do it again.

You're goddamn out of my life, Charley.

No, Frank, I'm sorry. I...

You're sorry after you publicly mock

and ridicule and belittle me,

when, man, I swear I would
lay down my life for you.

- I know. If you let me...
- Shut up!

Charley, all these years, I've loved you

no matter what you did,
but I guess because

I don't live my life like you
or the way you'd like me to,

you had to shoot me down
and watch me bleed.

Well, I like my life, Charley.

So you can just get the hell out of it!

Hey, guys, now, what do you say
the three of us, we just...

we go for a humongous drink
and we talk, okay?

- I mean, we need to talk.
- Oh, Frank.

- Frank, are you all right?
- Frank, can we go talk?

You know, in some cultures,
when someone does something cruel

or evil or betrays them,
they never see him again.

They simply never see him.

They never talk to him or look at him

or acknowledge him in any way.
For them, he is dead,

absolutely and irrevocably dead.

- Can I just explain...
- Frank!

...what all that came out of?

Some roads are soft and some are bumpy

Some roads you really fly

Some rides are rough
And leave you jumpy

Why make it tough by getting grumpy?

Plenty of roads to try

- 1972
- 1971

- Some roads are soft
- One trip

- And some are bumpy
- All you get

- Some roads you really fly
- Is one quick ride

Look around a bit

- Some rides are rough
- One quick ride

And leave you jumpy

- Through the countryside
- Why make it tough

- By getting grumpy?
- Stay on the track

Plenty of roads to try

1970

Some roads you really fly

1969

How does it start to go?

Does it slip away slow

So you never even notice
It's happening?

1968

What? You say she's not there?

Well, do you know
when she's expected back?

It's open!

Sorry. You don't expect
her back until when?

Until after the theater?

No, no message.

Wait, yes, actually.
Will you tell her that Franklin...

Ta-da!

Frankie!

Oh, my God, Frankie!
I don't believe my eyes!

Oh, did your daddy miss you!

And look how big you got, huh!

Daddy, we saw your boat,
but we didn't see you.

- No?
- Ta-da!

Wha...?

You know, what is really amazing
is we're not all still waiting

at that dock to surprise you.

God, was our face red.

Well, first class
doesn't get off at the dock!

We have this big ramp at the prow

and a captain who leads you
right into your limousine.

Oh, right, of course. Silly us.

Mary, you should have known that.

He got Beth to send Frankie from Houston.

Daddy, I have 32 postcards
all over my wall.

My favorite are the alligator
and the Panama Canal.

Wow, look at that.

He brought Frankie
an alligator back with him.

What a nice little...

Oh, God, Frankie!
Frankie, you have to help me!

Oh, God!

Thanks, Uncle Charley.

That's bound to give
someone here real nice dreams.

All right, start with the trip,
and then I want a Sherpa guide

to show me this gargantuan apartment.

Well, I owe it all to you guys
for making me go.

I didn't do anything that wasn't rich.

Rich living, rich food, rich people.

Well, poor Evelyn,
my poor wife, who never comes in

from our poor house in the poor country,
poor thing,

is dropping off our four poor
children with her poor mother.

Got it, Charley.

Where they are expecting Frankie.

And then Evelyn is meeting
the three of us at...

Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Where? Where?

- You're never gonna guess where.
- Downtown Club.

- The Downtown Club.
- Charley.

Now, let me think.

A smoky, dingy Greenwich Village dive

or the homecoming party
at the Colony Club?

Hmm, what a choice.

Oh, Frank, I'm so sorry.

You must give us a list
of what's in and what's out.

You know how important
all of that is to me.

Ah! Wait.

Wait, wait, wait.

Presents.

I forgot... presents.

This is for Aunt Mary.

Ooh, thank you.

And this is for Uncle Charley.

Well...

Son, about 40 of yours
are right now up in the air

between Gibraltar and Texas,

but trust me,
they are absolutely worth the wait.

It's my book in Spanish.

I bought it in Valparaiso, Chile,

where there it was
in all these store windows.

Oh, Mary, tell Frank the story
of how success has affected you.

Okay, I'll start.

Mary has joined the enemy.

- Charley.
- Frankie, tell Aunt Mary,

how many kids in your class say,

"When I grow up,
I want to be a drama critic"?

Oh, Charley, just shut your mouth
and open your present.

I did.

What is it?

- What is it?
- It's an option agreement.

We have been offered a small fortune

to do a movie version
of Musical Husbands!

Oh, my God!

- That is unbelievable!
- Frankie. Frankie, come here.

So, take this over to Daddy
and say very clearly,

"There isn't enough money
in the universe."

You're welcome, Charley.
I appreciate the gratitude.

Thanks very much.

There isn't enough money in the universe.

Oh, boy.

Frankie, um, what do you say
the two of us go,

and we'll explore this monster apartment?

I'm tired.

Well, of course you are, tiger.
It's been a long day.

Yeah, you know, we can have
a lie-down upstairs.

- Good night, Daddy.
- Good night.

Aw. All right, come on.

Let's see what we can find you up there.

What do you think they have?

Charley, I'm 31 years old.

Beth wiped me out with the divorce.

I have a son to consider.

So forgive me, Charley,
if I happen to need money.

So let's us do the work,
and the money will come.

Frank, we cannot keep making our stuff

- the other thing we do.
- Shh. Guys, not now.

Why do I have to be poor to write music?

Because once you're rich, you never will.

Charley, I am telling you,

we can make a statement with this movie.

Nurse, doctor, guard, attendant, matron,

- anybody else.
- Trust me.

- You trust me.
- Charley, listen!

Frank, you listen. You listening?

No. No, no, never, ever. No.

Hey!

Here's to us

Who's like us?

Damn few

Hey, old friend

Are you okay, old friend?

What do you say, old friend?

Are we or are we unique?

Time goes by

Everything else keeps changing

You and I

We get continued next week

Most friends fade

Or they don't make the grade

New ones are quickly made

And in a pinch, sure, they'll do

But us, old friend

What's to discuss, old friend?

Here's to us

Who's like us?

Damn few

So, old friend

Fill me in slow, old friend

Start from hello, old friend

I want the when, where and how

Old friends

Do tend to become old habit

Never knew

How much I missed you till now

Most friends fade
Or they don't make the grade

New ones are quickly made

Some of them worth something, too

But us, old friends

What's to discuss, old friends?

- Tell you something
- Huh.

Good friends point out your lies

Whereas old friends live and let live

Good friends like and advise

Whereas old friends love and forgive

And old friends

Let you go your own way

Help you find your own way

Let you off when you're wrong

- If you're wrong
- When you're wrong

Right or wrong,
The point is, old friends

Shouldn't care if you're wrong

Should but not for too long

- What's too long?
- If you're wrong

- When you're wrong
- The thing is, old friends

Do leave their brands on you

But old friends shouldn't compete

Old friends don't make demands on you

Should make demands on you

Well, don't make demands
You can't meet

Well, what's the point
Of demands you can meet?

Well, there's a time
For demands whether you...

- No, you are never wrong!
- If you were right,

I would be the first one to admit it!

There is only your way and the wrong way!

Hey, old friends

How do we stay old friends?

Who is to say, old friends

How an old friendship survives?

One day chums having a laugh a minute

One day comes
And they're a part of your lives

New friends pour
Through the revolving door

Maybe there's one that's more

Stop.

If you find one that'll do

But us, old friends

What's to discuss, old friends?

Here's to us

Who's like us?

Two old friends

Fewer won't do, old friends

Got to have two old friends

Helping you balance along

One upbraids you
For your faults and fancies

One persuades you

That the other one's wrong

Most friends fade

Or they don't make

Shit.

The grade
New ones are quickly made

Perfect as long as they're new

But us, old friends

What's to discuss, old friends?

Here's to us

Who's like us?

Ah, okay.

Whoo!

Damn few

Ah!

Oh, anguish!

I hate it when I've missed everything.

The wife here, she misses nothing.

Well, I had no idea
the gang would be dropping in.

My understudy's been going on
for the last few weeks,

and Joe insisted,
as a courtesy, I must see her.

But first, I insisted Joe
must see Frank's new apartment.

Have you ever seen
that disaster he was living in?

I decorated it.

I am calling the surgeon general tomorrow
to have him cut out my tongue!

Oh, ho, promises, promises.

Look, Joe, it's Charles.

Now we can call
the night a success.

Hey, Gussie.

Um, I didn't hear a doorbell.

Oh, I bet that's because
I didn't ring one.

I never do

when I have keys.

I'm decorating this pad.

The price was right.

Free.

Here, I picture
all of the furniture in here,

the hues of anemones,

a chair...

a chair, a footstool...

and a sofa.

Oh, I should have a brain transplant.

I forgot we bought this teeny,
tiny housewarming nothing,

some awesomely expensive champagne.

I'll open it.

"Do." All right, I will.

Ugh, I'm gonna go check outside.

Always good to see you, Joe.

And your wife.

Joe, precious,
there are glasses in the kitchen,

and it's Frank's house,
so he can do the honors.

- Oh. Mushi-mushi, darling.
- I... I... I...

- We have a curtain to make.
- Oh.

Home one day, and already
she's ordering me around.

St--

How nice to see the old gang.

Can they see us?

Yes.

I didn't even unpack.

I've made up my mind. I'm leaving Joe.

- He'll be destroyed.
- Or I will be.

I'll call you when I arrive
at the theater.

- I'm supposed to go out.
- Please.

Please, you've got to wait for my call.

- Gussie.
- I'm desperate.

I'll wait for your call.

Consider yourself kissed.

You got this guy everything

anybody could ever want in
a kitchen except for glasses.

Here, I'll get them.
They're still packed.

Ugh, eek, look at me.
Oh, that means don't.

I'm going to
the little boys' room to repair.

That's real first-class champagne.

Oh, I don't drink.

What? Never?

Mmm, hardly ever.

No, I'm a very excessive personality.

You know, it's too much caffeine,

too much cigarettes, too much food.

Too much Frank.

Is Frank the only person in the world
who doesn't know you're in love with him?

And how many people know
about those two? Oh.

Uh, I mean, I'm sure
there must be one or two...

...who don't.

I have decided not to know.

She is now Broadway's hottest star.

And the guy, he's hot, too, obviously,

in more than one sense.

I say, let them
get it out of their systems.

As long as, please, God,
she don't leave me.

Well, uh...

I think Frank's being on a boat

for the last eight months
has put an end to it.

Gussie flew over and joined
the cruise, you know.

- What?
- Yeah.

We had no idea
Gussie was on the cruise.

Mm-hmm.

It will never cease
to amaze me how everyone in this town

knows everything I do.

It was only for the last two weeks.

Okay.

Pretend these are champagne glasses.

You've got yours.

Now, Charles...

- Oh, just one, Joe.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Mary.

No.

- Thank you.
- Oh.

Oh, that's right. You never do.

Well, more for us.

To our genius.

Thank you. Thank you.

- It's always nice to be appreciated.
- Yes.

Okay, Gus, curtain, curtain!
We got a curtain.

Oh, pooh.

But one minute late, God, every column.

And Frank,
we will see you after.

Oh, uh, Frank's coming with us.

- Oh?
- Actually, what I should do

is stay here and look after Frankie.

- Frankie's here.
- You're kidding, aren't you?

Oh, now, Mary,

let's all let Franklin
get himself settled in.

Good night, Mr. All-Work-And-No-Play.

And everybody's favorite, Charley.

Hmm.

Don't you guys stay strangers now.

Good night, Joe.
Bye.

Yep.

- So you're really not coming?
- I can't leave.

Not right now, Mary.

- Frank...
- Just accept that, will you?

Please.

- Here's to us.
- Mary.

[VOICE BREAKING] Come on, Charley.

Let's go have ourselves
one hell of a time.

I'll be down in a minute.

Get rid of Gussie, Frank.

- Gussie's none of your business, Charley.
- But you are.

Get rid of this whole pathetic life.

Charley, I love success, okay?

I love having two out of two shows hit,

moving up in the world.

Sorry, I need some time to think.

Okay, well,
begin by thinking about

joining Mary and me tonight.

Frank, there is something going on
with Mary right now, okay?

She hasn't written a word
since her book took off.

She needs us. Frank, she needs both of us.

I made a promise
I would wait for a phone call.

I have to. I promised.

Wait for her call and get out of it,
once and for all.

Drop Frankie at ours
and meet us at the Downtown Club.

I'll be there. Come here.

You know I love you.

I love you.

I missed you.

I missed you.

And I just want us to get back
working together.

Look, get out of here before
the both of us start wailing.

Bum, bum, bum, bum

Thanks, old friends

Keep reminding me

Frank's old friends

Always seem to come through

Frank will, too

So, old friends

Now it's time to start growing up

Taking charge

Seeing things as they are

Facing facts

Not escaping them

Still with dreams, just reshaping them

Growing up

Charley is a hothead

Charley won't budge

Charley is a friend

Charley is a screamer

Charley won't bend

Charley's in your corner

Mary is a dreamer, Mary's a friend

Mary is a nudge

Mary is a purist

Charley's a judge

Charley is a dropout

Everything's a cop-out

Why is it old friends
Don't want old friends

To change?

Every road has a turning

That's the way you keep learning

So, old friends

Don't you see we can have it all?

Moving on

Getting out of the past

Solving dreams

Not just trusting them

Taking dreams, readjusting them

Growing up

Growing up

Trying things

Being flexible

Bending with the road

Adding dreams

When the others don't last

Growing up

Understanding that growing never ends

Like old dreams

Some old dreams

Like old friends

Don't stop.

I thought you were going to call.

I said I had a headache
and had the car bring me back here.

I have plans, Gussie.

I'm going to meet Mary and Charley.

And there's something
I have to say to you.

- I think that it's...
- Frank!

I did it.

I had the driver
take my things to a hotel.

Gussie, don't. No, you can't do that.

We've already destroyed one marriage.

I could never live
with you leaving Joe for me.

- I'm leaving him for me.
- But why?

Why suddenly? Why tonight?

I saw tonight I could lose you.

My friends are waiting.

Your friends will be there
for you tomorrow.

I need you tonight.

Life is knowing

What you want

Darling

That's the only thing

To know

As I told you moons ago

Darling

Nothing wrong with wanting

Nothing wrong with wanting me

Darling

Also, nothing wrong with

Not

Though it's only fair

That you should be aware

That I want you a lot

Growing up

Means admitting
The things you want the most

Can't pursue

Every possible line

Letting go

Making choices

Ignoring all other voices

Including mine

You're divine

You decide on what you want

Darling

Not on what you think

You should

Not on what you want to want

Darling

Not from force of habit

Once it's clearly understood

Darling

Better go and grab it

Things can slip away for good

Darling

What is it you really

Hmm?

- Yesterday is done
- Yesterday is done

- See the pretty countryside
- See the pretty countryside

Merrily we roll along, roll along

Gathering dreams

Traveling's the fun
Traveling's the fun

Flashing by the countryside

Everybody merrily, merrily

Following dreams

Rolling along

Rolling a...

In the case
of Shepard v. Shepard,

after serious consideration,

I have made a decision
to close this courtroom

to both the press and the public.

After a one-hour recess,
we will reconvene behind closed doors

with the next subpoenaed witness.

This court is now adjourned.

Hey!

You missed the star going in.

Stay close.
We'll try to grab her coming out.

I left as soon as the peace march broke.

- What do you got?
- Composer's wife,

who wants every last cent, plus the kid.

This cat's gonna be lucky
if they let him keep his clothes.

I thought you got something hot.

After the judge reads the deposition
from the star witness

and suddenly closes
the courtroom to the public,

trust me, I got something hot.

You're a big star. You got to know better.

It's an innocent little friendship

that's been blown
totally out of proportion.

Hold it. Miss Carnegie,
why were you subpoenaed?

Financial records, percentage chazerei.

Miss Carnegie, how are you two
involved in this scandal?

- We are not involved.
- And it is not a scandal.

We have no comment.

Can you tell us why you were
subpoenaed to testify today?

The wife and me?

We are Mr. Shepard's
best friends, I guess, is why.

Do you not understand
that we have no comment?

Excuse me. I'm sorry.

I'm very sorry.

And the public knows "no comment"
means guilty as hell.

Do you have any statement
for the press, Counselor?

I have no statement. Stay with me.

I understand that Gussie Carnegie
is scheduled to testify this afternoon

- in a closed courtroom.
- That's what we understand.

- Why?
- We have no idea.

Maybe Mr. Shepard can explain.
Isn't Mr. Shepard coming out?

Mr. Shepard just left by a side exit.

I know that exit! Come on!

Go get him, Charley.

Frank, Frank,
this has gone on long enough.

Yeah, we all think you should just
get out of this any way you can.

- Give Beth whatever she wants.
- Charley, she wants everything.

I warned you
in the beginning, Frank.

Settle for whatever, but settle.

A woman charging abandonment
of a wife and child, come on!

Beth wants to move
back to Houston with my son,

and I will never allow that, never.

You know what they're planning
to do today, Frank.

With Beth sitting there,
with your kid on her lap.

Just stop it now, Frank. Walk away.

- Take a trip.
- Save yourself all this pain.

- I cannot just lose my family.
- Frank, I've taken that yacht.

Come on the cruise.
Get away. Get some rest.

Yeah, and when you come back,
you can stay with me.

Just go, Frank.
We all want you out of this.

- Just get away.
- I can't live without my son.

Beth.

- Beth!
- Daddy!

I am not gonna give up, Jerome.

- Daddy, wait for me.
- Don't be a fool, Elizabeth.

I said wait.

Honey, Mommy will be right back, okay?

You go with Grandpa.

- Your mother would turn over in her grave.
- Daddy! Daddy!

Daddy! I want to see my daddy!

- I want you to give up, Frank.
- Never.

You're not gonna like
what you hear this afternoon.

It's not life without my son.

I am not out to hurt you, Frank,

but I will hurt you if I have to.

How is Frankie?

How do you think he is, Frank?

I keep thinking,
"I could have stopped it."

I was warned about Gussie.

I could have stopped it.

Do you still love me?

Did you sleep with her, Frank?

Do you still love me?

Not a day goes by

Not a single day

But you're somewhere a part of my life

And it looks like you'll stay

As the days go by

I keep thinking

When does it end?

Where's the day
I'll have started forgetting?

But I just go on thinking and sweating

And cursing and crying

And turning and reaching

And waking and dying

And, no

Not a day goes by

Not a blessed day

But you're still somehow
Part of my life

And you won't go away

So there's hell to pay

And until I die

I'll die day after day
After day after day

After day after day after day

Till the days go by

Did you sleep with Gussie?

I love you, Beth.

Did you want that life so much
that you went with her?

I will always love you.

But did you?

Yes.

- Frank, I want us to...
- Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!

Frankie, you're to stay with Grandpa.

He's my child, too. Get out of here!

Franklin, I can't!
I can't live like this, Frank!

- I can't!
- For God's sakes, wait!

Are you satisfied?

It's my job, man.

- Then go find a decent one, man!
- Careful!

- Whoa, whoa!
- Come on, Frank!

Break it up, Frank!
Stop it!

Stop this. Stop.

I'll kill these photos, genius,
but you owe me one.

Right?

Frank,
we want you to just get away.

Hold me, Mary.

All I want to do is get back
to work! I have to work!

No, you're in no shape to write, pal.

- Look, just go off with Tyler for a while.
- I don't want to go away!

I am your agent, and I'm telling you,

- now is not the time to work.
- I love you, Frank.

And Charley loves you, all right?

You just listen to us.

Living well is the best revenge.

So you made a mistake
So you're singing the blues

So you'll take some time
Go visit some places

You gotta be somewhere

Where there's nothing to remind you

Right?

What you need is a break
I'll arrange a nice cruise

You'll relax a bit
And see some new faces

You gotta do something
Only never look behind you

Right?

Best thing that ever
Could have happened

Right.

So you'll sit in the sun
You'll come back with a tan

Then we'll do that show
You've always been talking

The side is retired
So we start another inning

Right?

- On a boat is such fun
- You'll come back a changed man

I've had lots of guests
And no one's squawking

Feels like an ending
But it's really a beginning

Right?

Best thing
That ever could have happened

Best thing that ever
Could have happened

I say, best thing...

It was all getting much too complicated

Right!

All right.

Now you know life is crummy

Well, now you know

I mean, big surprise

People love you and tell you lies

Bricks can tumble
From clear blue skies

Put your dimple down, now you know

Okay, there you go
That's the sum of it

Now you know

It's called flowers wilt
It's called apples rot

It's called thieves get rich
And saints get shot

It's called God don't
Answer prayers a lot

Okay, now you know

Now forget it
Don't fall apart at the seams

It's called letting go your illusions

And don't confuse them with dreams

If the going's slow

Don't regret it
And don't let's go to extremes

It's called what's your choice

It's called count to ten

It's called burn your bridges
Start again

You should burn them
Every now and then

Or you'll never grow

Because now you grow
That's the killer

Is now you grow

You're right, nothing's fair

And it's all a plot

And tomorrow doesn't look too hot

Right?

You better look at what you got

Over here

Hello?

Okay, now you know

Right?

So you find a new gal
So you write a new play

In a month or two
You're going to thank us

You may have missed one road

But there's plenty more to follow

Right?

We'll go through the canal

Up the coast to L.A.

You'll come see the place
I'm building at Trancas

Hang around here, pal
And you're only gonna wallow

Right?

Best thing that ever could have

I mean, you'll come back
I mean, what's the fuss?

I mean, sea and sun and comfort plus

Happened

I mean, after all, you still got us

Best thing
That ever could have happened

It was all getting
Much too complicated

Best thing that ever
Could have happened

Right, you gotta let go
Gotta do it from scratch

Take a long, deep breath
Go back to your sources

A little vacation
Which is all about forgetting

- Right? Right!
- Right.

Then we'll do a new show
No, we'll do a whole batch

Maybe one that's all about divorces

I mean, a divorce court

What a fascinating setting, right?

Right.
Right.

Best thing that ever
Could have happened

Yesterday is done

Best thing that
Ever could have happened

See the pretty countryside

So you'll sit in the sun
You'll come back with a tan

Soon enough you're merrily,
merrily

- Rolling along
- It's your time, your time

Rolling along
It's your time

What's your choice?
It's called count to ten

It's called burn your bridges
Start again

You should burn them
Every now and then

Or you'll never grow

Because now you grow, life's a killer

So now you grow

You're right
Nothing's fair and it's all a plot

And tomorrow doesn't look too hot

Right.

You better look at what you got

Over here, hello?

Hello?
Hello?

Over here, hello
Now you know it

It's here, hello, hello
Now you know it

- Right!
- Right!

- Write!
- Right!

- Right! Right! Right! Right!
- Right! Right! Right! Right!

I love you, Frank!

Now you know!

He's only a boy

Why do I think he loves me?

Maybe he loves what I can do for him

Maybe he thinks that
I'll come through for him

Maybe the moon is cheese

And yet maybe

Maybe

Something real is happening here

But, baby

You're a baby

And the man I'm married to

Needs me near

Ha!

Okay

The moon is cheese

And I love the guy I shouldn't

And I don't the one I should

Ah, but love is blind

And I go for the kind
That I finally find

Is no good

- Ah
- Is no good

And as we're going along

You take for granted
Some love will wear away

We took for granted a lot

But still I say

We could have kept on growing

Growing, bop

Instead of just kept on

Kept on growing

On

- We had a good thing going
- Ba, ba-da, ba-da

Going

- Going
- Gone

Gone

Going

Gone

Just in time,
but we got to go fast.

We're gonna make it
just in time for the ending!

- Shh!
- Shush!

You got an opening night inside,
or did you forget?

We're sorry, we're very sorry,
but something amazing happened.

Ah, I'll say amazing.

When, suddenly,
right before the 11:00 number,

the whole pack of you
jumps right out of your seats,

turns and runs straight up
the center aisle, like a bunch of...

- like a bunch of meshuggeners.
- Yes.

It... It was Evelyn.

Suddenly, just like that,
she went into labor.

And being Evelyn, she didn't tell us

until her pains were
only five minutes apart.

We just a second ago got her into a cab.

What in the hell are you doing here?

No, my wife would not let me into the cab.

Evelyn refused to let Charley miss
our first opening night.

She even brought a tape recorder
to record the applause.

From your mouth to God's ear.

At the very second the applause is over,
Charley, I have that cab waiting.

We are gonna fly to
the hospital in record time.

- I promise.
- Shh.

They're quiet.

Very quiet.

When an audience is quiet like that,

it means that they are
really concentrating.

"Shut up, Mary."

We should go back in for the closing.

I didn't mean "the closing."

Okay, Mama, now, the cab there
with the meter running is for Charley,

so you and Daddy take
the one right behind it.

And I will see you very soon,
little bit, and I'll tell you

every single thing that happened.

Oh, I wanted him to be here opening night.

Oh, Frank, he's been here opening night.

Mwah! We love you very much.

And we thank you very much.

I don't understand

why in hell any human being
in his right mind would...

- Ever, ever live in New York City.
- Ever, ever live in New York City.

Charley, let's do another show.

Yes.
Yes, and then another,

and then another, and then another.

Yeah, and, and...

I'll produce it.

Wait a minute, Joe.

You'll produce "Take a Left"?

First I say, get yourselves
a couple of hits.

Show 'em you can make money.

Then, then you can do that political flop

and show 'em you got...
...integrity.

Me, I got such an idea
for you guys, so commercial.

First you'll hate it, then you'll love it.

Frank, you know I never say anything,
but I'm gonna say this.

For me, for me, just do one more for Joe,
and then you can go and do "Take a Left."

I know the kind of music I want to write.

I also know that
it's very hard on you right now,

but Beth, I am asking you to trust me.

And I am asking you to trust me.

Beth, guys, right now is the time.
You got to do your own stuff.

Mary, you don't have a child

and you just had yourself a bestseller,

so that's very easy for you to say.

Yeah, Beth, trust me,
success ain't all it's cracked up to be.

I think Charley and I
will handle success very well.

Look how well we've handled failure.

Listen to that

Will you listen to that

Do you know what that means?

Let me tell you what that means

Wait, no, anyone who even thinks it

Don't say it, you'll jinx it

Listen to that

Did you listen to that?

Does that make you feel proud?

Well, feel more than just proud

Okay, wait, I'll tempt fate

And I'll state it out loud

That's the sound

Of a

Hit

It's a hit

Gang, I think this is it

No more writing clever little shows

For those basement saloons

No more proclamations from the pros

That you can't hum the tune

No more sneaking in at intermission

To the plays you wish you could afford

Or producers having you audition

Whenever they're bored

And who say right away
As you play the first chord

"Boys, boys, it's very...

"What is the word? Interesting.

"And if I had the slightest belief

"any audiences would come,
I would do it in a minute.

"Next!"

We're a hit, we're a hit

Standing up, the whole bit

No more coaching those sopranos

With voices like bees

No more secondhand pianos
With six broken keys

No more agents giving you opinions

As they turn you over to their minions

As for these guarantees

We should please thank the Lord

It's a hit, it's a hit

Will my folks have a fit

After all of that baloney
They made me go through

All that, "Honey, not that he's a phony

"But what does he do?"

Will their faces be stony
When they see on their Sony

Someone handing the phony a Tony Award

I would like to begin by thanking

all the hundreds of people
who have turned down

every show I have ever written

so that I could win tonight for this one.

Thank you.

Listen to that
Will you listen to that

Tell me, is that a noise
Or is that a noise?

That is a noise we've been waiting

The whole of our lives to hear

Listen to that
Listen to that

- Will you listen to that
- To that

- Honey, is that a noise
- I can't stand it

Or is that a noise?
That is the loveliest noise

For a breadwinning wife to hear

Listen to that, that's obscene

- Listen to that
- Listen to that

That is a noise, that is really a

That's the noise I've been waiting

My life to hear

Listen to that, listen to that

Will you listen to that
Will you listen to that

That's the sound of
An audience losing its mind

It's the Pope on his balcony
Blessing mankind

Folks, it's Funny Girl, Fiddler

And Dolly combine...

...d

It's a hit, it's a palpable hit

If it only even runs a minute

At least it's a wedge

It's the theater
And we're really in it

Not just on the edge

If your spirits ever need improving

You can drop in any night for free

But the thing that's positively moving

You could have fooled me

Is we're still old friends

Nothing can kill old friends

FRANK, CHARLEY AND MARY:
Where there's a will, old friends

Don't need success to survive

And us, old friends

What's to discuss, old friends?

We've got a surefire
Genuine, walkaway

Blockbuster, lines down to Broadway

Boffola, sensational

Box office, lollapalooza

Gargantuan

Hit

It's a hit, it's a hit, it's a hit

It's a hit!

This is what everybody lives for!

Now we go back in and fake being modest.

No, no, no, I'm having a baby!

- We're coming!
- God! Wait, wait, wait!

What about the opening party?

You two, go to the party.

Frank, I will do one more
for Joe Josephson,

- but just one more.
- One more.

- And then it's our time.
- One more. Okay, come on.

Frank, I was there for Evelyn's last baby,

and I don't want to miss
this one, but you,

you go to the party without me.

No, honey. Absolutely not. No, no, no.

Yes, yes, yes. I am so proud of you.

Okay, if I don't see you at the hospital,

I'll see you at home later.

I love you so much!

Wait, Beth. Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Now, look, with,
with Gussie there, I urge you,

you go with Frank.

Sometimes you just have to trust, Mary.

Well, and sometimes you don't.

I would never want a man I couldn't trust.

Hey! Hey, hey.

Big man.

You got a ride to this
fancy-schmancy party?

I can only stay one or two minutes.

Oh!

Was that not why we do all this?

Was that not just heaven?

I got to go make nice with the backers.

You two, take our car.

I won't be able to afford
this big man now.

You watch.

What a blessing it has been
to find another pure artist.

So often I have just wanted to thank you.

But Franklin Shepard, I think
that there's been a conspiracy

to keep you from me.

Miss Carnegie, I owe you so much.

Didn't I tell you a few years ago...

it's fate that brought us together?

Now you, all you've done these past months

is work, work, work!

Tonight, let me show you how
divine it is to be number one.

Everyone is waiting to meet
the man of the hour.

Dreams don't die

So keep an eye on your dream

'Cause before you know
where you are

There you are

Time goes by and dreams go dry

But you can't give up on your dream

Tend your dream

Some roads are easy

Dreams take time

Some roads are all uphill

All uphill
Time goes by

Some roads you plod along with a will

Some roads you travel
Just for the thrill

- Bend your dreams
- Some roads are breezy

- Some roads are breezy
- With the road

Some roads are full
Of jiggles and bumps

Can't let it get you down in the dumps

Don't let it get you down in the dumps

1964

1963

1962

- Have you seen?
- How was it?

- You're not serious
- Do you mean?

- That does it
- You're not serious

- Have you seen?
- Darling

How was it?

- You're not serious
- We bought the most

- Darling
- That does it

- You're not serious
- We had the best

How was it?

- Darling
- Did you ever

- You're not serious
- It's the best

It's the first, it's the finest

It's the latest, it's the least

It's the worst,
It's the absolutely lowest

It's the greatest, it's the single

It's the only, it's the perfect

It's the... Hi! Dreadful

Fabulous

Oh, Frank, Frank.

- That's the mayor.
- I know. I know.

She's my favorite actress.

I see, I see.
Oh, do you see who she's with?

Beth, I'm not looking
for celebrities.

- I'm looking for Charley.
- Oh, Frank, you can do both.

I've never seen so many famous people.

What? Who? Where?

Oh.

So, what did he say?

I haven't talked to him yet,
but it's obvious

he didn't invite us here
because we fit in so well.

I am more sure than ever that
he wants to option our show.

I'm sure, too, but let's not be too sure.

I just have the pastry concession.

You are the one who's supposed
to be handling the business.

I am handling it. Charley, you watch.

All this time we put into our writing,
it is gonna pay off.

Well, I don't care what he asks.

You just say yes.

All I want is for us to be rich
as long as we've been poor.

There are a lot
of sophisticated people here.

Oh, God.

If I had known that,
I would have worn earrings.

- Oh, gosh.
- Oh, what's going on?

- Those people over there.
- Uh-huh?

They're smoking marijuana.

I've smelled it before.

In the Village.

I thought it was autumn.

What?

Darling, we saw the new

Darling, we had the most
Bad, it was good

- It's the biggest
- He's a genius

Well, he can't, but he used to

It's the dumbest, she's a genius
It's the...

Hi, hi, hi.

I don't know if you remember me.

I'm Franklin Shepard,
and this is Charley Kringas,

- who writes my lyrics.
- Remember you?

You're the reason we're giving this bash,

according to our accountant, anyway.

Oh, God.

Sorry.

And this is Beth, my wife Beth.

- Do you write songs, too?
- Oh, no.

Right now, I'm the family breadwinner.

You don't mind if I kidnap him, do you?

I have invited the richest
and the most influential people

in this town tonight.

Not one of whom is as rich or influential

as you're going to be.

I call them "the Blob."

They absorb everything.

Meet the Blob

The bodies you read about

The ones who know everyone

That everyone knows

Hi! Dreadful!

- Fabulous!
- Meet the Blob

- Not many and yet
- Oh, right

- You never see one
- What? No

- They come as a set
- Who, him?

And we're in their debt
But what do you think?

'Cause, honeybunch,
They write the books

And put on the shows
And run the saloons

And design the clothes

They keep us natives on our toes

Albee, Warhol, Kurosawa

They read the books
And go to the shows

And swamp the saloons
Wearing all the clothes

What you might call a glut

But they're the most important people

In the most important city
In the most important country

In the you-know-what

Heavy! Miltown!

Gestalt

Beth, darling.

You don't have any hooch.

Oh, oh! Oh!

Oh, I'm going to open my veins.

Oh, no, no, no, no. That's okay.

It better be, 'cause now I own it.

Joe, Joe, come quick.

We have a gigantic catastrophe.
Oh, this is scandalous.

Joe? Joe?

Come and take this gorgeous person
up to my closet,

and she is gonna choose some rag of mine.

Move! Joe, please.

I am paralyzed with shame.

Oh, did you talk to my wife?

We have something in mind
maybe for Broadway.

Joe, if you don't hurry,

I'm going to throw myself
down the garbage disposal.

Now move!

Your new songs are just beautiful.

I've got some newer ones.

You're wonderful.

I just admire people like you so much.

You seem to know everyone
and do everything.

Yes, I do.

One day, I just made myself up.

And now I never change.

Instead, I change the people around me.

Scotty,

precious,

this is your new client, Franklin Shepard.

Well, I'll holler on you tomorrow.

Or you can yell on me. I'm in the book.

So am I.

See how much you two have in common?

I just found you an agent.

Joe gave me this greenhouse
as a wedding present.

He has a tendency to worship me.

It's great.

If you like it, take it home.

I married Joe because he liked me

and I liked this life.

I married the one before him
because, well,

I believed him
when he said he could write.

And the first one...

I don't really think first ones count.

Do you?

This greenhouse seems as out
of place in New York as I do.

Only at first, darling.

Now I find it to be
the best thing about this dump.

- How old are you?
- Twenty-five.

Which doesn't bother me,

and then I think I'm a quarter
of a century, and I panic.

There's so much I want to do,
and I can't get started.

I can't even... What?

Here's something I like to do

when I want to get to know
someone very well, very fast.

It's a game.

I tell you something honest about me,

and you answer me right away
with something honest about you.

I call it "Trading Hostages."

I'm not very happy.

Go on.

- I'm not very happy.
- I'm very happy.

Huh.

I am inches away from the top.

I am miles away from the top.

Make that hundreds
of thousands of miles away.

- Performing is my life.
- Composing is my life.

Success is not happening fast enough.

Success is not happening at all.

I have been in five Broadway shows.

I have seen the second act of every one.

Someone's cheating.

I've done five Broadway shows.

Me, I can't get started. I can't even...

- My first love is singing.
- My first love is music.

- My second love is acting.
- My second love is music.

I think it's fate
that brought us together!

I...

Anyhoo.

I did all those Broadway shows.

Most of which didn't last
as long as this conversation.

And Joe...

Joe has just optioned a vehicle
that could change my life.

And yours.

We both want you and
your partner to do the score!

Do I see disappointment
on that sweet face?

We were hoping that
he wanted to do Take a Left,

the show that Charley and I
auditioned for him.

Oh, no, darling, not at all.

It's just we've been
working on it for three years.

Well, you can do this one much faster.

But he wants me
to make sure you understand,

we want it fast, loud and funny.

I need a hit. What do you say?

Life is knowing what you want

Darling

That's the thing you have to

Know

You'll get everything you want

Darling

Have a little patience

Climbing mountains can be slow

Darling

Take it easy as you

Climb

I'd say you're a winner

Also a beginner

One step at a time

Growing up

It's what they call growing up

It's when we're all starting out

And starting to sway

Growing up

You hate the delay

But after today

You'll be on your way

So what do you say?

Hmm?

Okay.

Now... Now, this is not a show
about subtle.

It's not big on depth.

It's flash, bam, curtain. It's fun!

It's opulent!

It's Broadway.

God.

Okay.

Oh, what was that?

- A second thought.
- Oh, no, no.

That's something I do when
I want to hold on to a moment.

I close my eyes very tight and I swallow,
like I take a picture that I can treasure.

You're a treasure.

Now, I want everyone who hasn't drunk,
smoke or gorged themselves too much

to hurry over here. Chop-chop!

Ah, Frank, look at this!

Oh, honey, it's beautiful!

Mary, where have you been?

I had to borrow a dress
from the guy upstairs.

Oh, darling!

It looks wonderful on you. Keep it.

I'm too fat for it anyway.

Oh, uh, Gussie,
this is our friend, Mary Flynn.

Mary's a copy editor, but she's gonna have
her own book published very soon.

Sorry I'm late.

So glad you didn't wait.

Mary, Charley and Frank
are these totally inseparable friends.

Well, I have to separate for a minute.

- I got to go find Charley.
- Oh, no.

I've got plans for you.

Mary Flynn,

would you be as sweet as you look
and go get Charley?

Oh, thank you this much.

Come, come, come.

Your husband is the most talented composer
I've ever heard.

Oh.

I hope it's all right
that I am just crazy about him.

I hope it's all right, too.

All right.

All right! Quiet now!

Listen now, please, because...

one day,

you are all going to be able to say,

"I was there when."

Oh, my God.

I have next to me

the most exciting composer ever,
ever, ever.

And he is going to play
a song he's written.

And when he finishes,

you are all going to want
to swallow poison,

because there will be nothing more
to live for.

So, so, find a place to park it.

Fermez all those bouches.

And I am now honored to present

Franklin Shepard and Charles...

Some funny little name.

Anyway, this song is from a little show
that they want to do

that we hope will be
in a big show that we want to do!

Wait. What, Frank? A big show?

- What is she talking about?
- Later.

Sing.

It started out like a song

We started quiet and slow

With no surprise

And then one morning I woke

To realize

We had a good thing going

Psst!

- Take off the...
- It's not that

Nothing went wrong

Some angry moments, of course

But just a few

And only moments, no more

Because we knew

We had this good thing going

And if I wanted too much

Was that such a mistake

At the time?

You never wanted enough

All right, tough

I don't make that a crime

And while it's going along

You take for granted
Some love will wear away

We took for granted a lot

And still I say

It could have kept on growing

Instead of just kept on

We had a good thing going

Going

Gone

Just wait. Wait, wait, wait.
One time?

We want to hear it again.

Tell them, wouldn't you all just like
to live your entire lives to that music?

- Yes.
- Down.

Everybody, down, down, down.

They're going to do it again.

One more time!

No. Frank, say no.

- Yeah, Charley's right.
- They loved it.

They thought we were great.

And do you know what true greatness is?
It's knowing when to get off.

I'll sing with you. Come on.

It started out like a song

Song

We started quiet and slow

With no surprise

And then one morning

I woke to realize

I said, "Joe, this show

- "Will be a watershed"
- We had a good thing going

Can you pass me the wine?

It's not that nothing went wrong

- Some angry moments...
- Did you hear

- No kidding
- You're not serious

And only moments no more...

It's a clear case
of Tammany politics

We were stuck in the tunnel
till half past six

It's a show that'll
murder 'em in the sticks

Did you read?

It'll never, they just don't mix

What we need
Did you ever

Till half past six

It's a clear case of Tammany politics

Did you read, it'll never
They just don't mix

What we need, did you ever, till half...

Wanted enough

All right, tough

I don't make that a crime

Darling
We saw the new

Darling
We had the most

Did you read, it'll never

They just don't mix
What we need, did you ever

Till half past six

It's a show that'll murder 'em

In the sticks

It's a clear case of Tammany politics

It's the greatest, it's the single

It's the only, it's the perfect
It's the one

It's the real, it's the true
It's the final, it's the...

Traveling's the fun

Flashing by the countryside

Merrily we roll along, roll along

Catching at dreams

Yesterday is done

See the pretty countryside

Everybody merrily, merrily

1961

Some roads are easy

Some roads are breezy

Some roads,
the ride gets out of control

Grinds to a halt and ends in a hole

Some roads you stall
Before you can roll

1960

It's 1960

And, gosh, what a swell year it's been

CHARLEY, FRANK AND BETH: So many blessings

Such wonders it has brought

You hardly know where to begin

There's Xerox and lasers

The twist and the pill

A city in Brazil

That no one wants to fill

Khrushchev stopped screaming

And Librium came in

And Nixon didn't win

Goodbye, then, to Ike and the brass

To years that were cozy but crass

It's true, Ike was icky

But better him than Dicky

Now meet the first
First Family with class

En masse

- Ow!
- Sorry.

- There's Bobby
- And Jackie

And Jack

And myriads more in the back

There's Ethel and Teddy and Pat alone

Plus Eunice
And Peter

- And Jean
- And Joan

- And what's-his-name
- Stephen

And hold the phone
The one in the Army

- One in the Army?
- Captain? Major?

- Sargent
- That's it

So many cards in the pack

You want to know how to keep track

Well, one is good-looking
and young and rich

While one is good-looking
and young and rich

The rest are good-looking

And young and rich

There isn't a lot that they lack

Not Bobby and Jackie and Jack

And Ethel and Ted and Eunice and Pat

And Joan and Steve
and Peter and Jean and Sarge

There's probably dozens of others
At large

God knows

And Joe and Rose

29, 32, 54! Hut, hut, hut!

Bobby, go long!

Hey. Hi. Nice to have you there.

We're bringing back style
to the White House

I'm painting it beige for a start

We're making it into
A cultural lighthouse

- For glamour
- And beauty

And art

Evenings of the Budapest
Playing Vivaldi

And Munch doing bits of Ravel

I'll get Leontyne Price to sing her

Medley from "Meistersinger"

And Margot Fonteyn to dance "Giselle"

Together?

Won't it be perfectly swell?

We'll have Bernstein play next on
The Bechstein piano

And Auden read poems and stuff

This is for you.

And Galina Vishnevskaya

Gesundheit.

The Russian soprano

Just pronouncing her name

Is refreshing enough

We're bringing back style
To the White House

With casual culture the rule

Let's have Tebaldi

She makes a guy feel good

And Oleg Cassini

Well, I think he's real good

And how about Heifetz

- And Callas
- And Gielgud

And later, when everything's cool

We'll push them all into the pool

Last one. So sorry, sir. Thank you.

Oh!

Okay, Bobby,
I'll make you attorney general.

Just get off my back.

- With Bobby
- And Jackie

And Jack

The White House is under attack

Eight years is the limit
But eight will do

- By then, there'll be Bobby
- And Teddy, too

Or Peter or Stephen

Or even you

Oh.

And then there's the Colonel

- Colonel?
- Major?

- Major?
- You know

- Sargent
- Yes

Dozens to pick up the slack

If anything goes out of whack

And someday elections will be unknown

'Cause each of our kids
Will ascend the throne

And their kids have more kids
with kids of their own

It's sort of a family knack

Till most of the nation's
made up of relations

Of Bobby and Jackie and Jack

And Ethel and Ted
and Eunice and Pat and Joan

And Steve and Peter and Jean

And Sarge and Joe and Rose
and rows and rows

And rows and rows and rows and rows

The decade is starting anew

And maybe the country is, too

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

The entire cast of our revue,
Frankly Frank,

now in its fifth successful,
not quite record-breaking month,

would like to thank you all
for coming to the Downtown Club,

where we do two shows here every night

with the exception of tonight.

Cut that out.

Anyway, please come back
and bring a friend,

or come back and make a friend,

or just come back and be a friend.
Thank you.

Excuse me. Um, hey.

Excuse me, but I got really excited

when I saw your name
on the reservation list, Mr. Josephson.

Uh, me, I'm just a waiter here.

Well, actually, I'm holding down
three different jobs at the moment,

but only until
I can get my invention launched.

Uh, you see, I have invented
a brand-new machine

that can answer your telephone
when you're not at home.

Or even if you are.

But I just somehow cannot

- get all the investors...
- Yeah. Hey, kid, kid!

They have answering services
with operators already

that, guess what, do exactly for people

what you want this verkakte machine here
to do.

Mr. Josephson, for only $4,000,
I will right now sign a contract

giving you 50% of the return.

Whoa, whoa.

I live in a penthouse, kid,
not in an asylum.

Now, I will, however, I will invest

my last red cent if you can come up
with a sound idea,

something like this new
Smell-O-Vision movie process.

I... I...

When the hell am I gonna meet a waiter
who's just a waiter?

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer, hi.
I... I'm Mary Flynn.

Frank and Beth will be out in
less than a minute.

So, uh, I bet you two are excited
about the wedding.

"Excited" is not the word.

You cannot imagine how important
Frank is gonna be someday.

No, we can't.

Are you in the show business, too?

Oh, no. I'm just a fan.

But I have never heard music like Frank's.

Us neither.

I work for Look magazine...

See, now there is a steady, secure job.

I hate it.

Well, maybe that's why
they call it "work."

Excuse me, Mr. Josephson.

Frank Shepard. Do you remember me?

Our entire cast is overwhelmed,
is what they are,

that an important man like you

would actually come down
to see our little revue.

Aw. And you recall Shirley Akinola here?

Now Gussie Carnegie.

She fixed the nose. She fixed the clothes.

She fixed the name.

And take a look
at what was underneath all that.

Oh, you.

I used to work part-time as his secretary
to pay for class.

We've all seen and admired you onstage
so much.

- Oh, thank you.
- A big talent wasted in little shows,

up until me.

But you boys, you boys must be
doing something right,

because the, uh... fiancée here
is going through one hell of a divorce,

and you boys made her laugh.

Joe, Joe, Joe.

I thought it was just peaches.

Oh, see, us,
we're usually light-years better,

but everybody was just, God, so nervous
that the two of you were here.

And it's a pretty nervous night
for me anyway.

I'm getting married.

- Is it the girl in the show?
- Beth.

Ah... you're awfully young.

Marry in haste, repent in Reno.

I'm 23. The guy who does the lyrics,
he's my age, he's got a baby already.

Oh, excuse me, Mr. Josephson.

You remember Charley Kringas from the time
we auditioned for you, my collaborator.

Uh, yes, I collabor him
and he collabors me.

Sorry.

Mazel tov.

Your stuff is getting more commercial,
which is good, because, trust me,

if you're gonna get married,
you're gonna need bucks.

But I say,

unless the girl is pregnant,
get out of it.

Oh.

Have a good wedding.

Um, Frank, look, you know...

unless you really want to,
you don't have to.

- I want to, Charley.
- Okay, great.

Frank, if there's any truth at all
in "we turn out like our parents,"

you are in big trouble.

Mary, do you think
I'm making a wrong decision?

Well...

I mean, if you really want to know
what I think, Frank...

Frank, don't faint, but my parents
want to speak to us before the ceremony.

Frank...

- I'm not pregnant.
- What?

Do you still want us to get married?

Do you?

Before, my reason was the baby.

But now my reason is you.

And my reason is you.

- I am pregnant.
- Beth!

I just wanted to be sure.

Elizabeth!

Oh, God. Mama.

- How do I look?
- Elizabeth, your father and I

have one thing we want to say.

Mama, you've said it all for two days.

Elizabeth, the man doesn't even have
a job.

My daughter is going back to being
a legal secretary just to support you.

Mama, I told you that in private.

Mrs. Spencer, what I want to do
with my life isn't to play in this club.

I want to write music.

And to be able to do that, I play here.
I accompany singers at auditions.

I play for dance classes.
I do arrangements.

I do anything that I can
just so I can keep on writing music.

Boy...

we are prepared to give you $2,000
right here, right now.

- Daddy.
- Just call

this sorry excuse for a wedding off!

Mr. Spencer, Beth and I
are getting married.

We hope that it's with your blessing,
but we are getting married.

Um, the minister just got here.

- Where's Evelyn?
- Who's Evelyn?

Oh, the minister, I suppose!

Uh, no, Evelyn is my wife,

and she is way at the back of the room.

See, they often have to stop weddings
right in the middle

because of her sobbing.

Which I try not to take personally.

Let's get started.

Elizabeth.

Here's Grandma's ring.

Thank you, Mama.

Daddy?

Elizabeth.

Come here, baby.

Oh, honey, it could be worse.

At least she's not pregnant.

My dear friends, good evening.

Before the marriage vows,
Frank and Beth have each asked to speak.

Frank?

Beth...

I'm so happy to be marrying you
in the very place

where I met you and grew to love you.

Actually, I'm just happy
to be marrying you, period.

And I very much would like to thank
our dear close friends

for being with us on this,

the most important moment
in both of our lives.

Beth?

Not a day goes by

Not a single day

But you're somewhere
a part of my life

And it looks like you'll stay

As the days go by

I keep thinking

"When does it end?"

That it can't get much better
Much longer

But it only gets better and stronger

And deeper and nearer

And simpler and freer

And richer and clearer

And no

Not a day goes by

Not a blessed day

But you somewhere come into my life

And you don't go away

And I have to say

If you do, I'll die

I want day after day
After day after day after

I'll die

Day after day after day
After day after day

Till the days go by

Till the days go by

Till the days go by

How does it happen?

Once it was all so clear

How did you get so far off the track?

Why don't you turn around and go back?

How does it happen?

Where is the moment?

When did the road behind disappear?

Where did you let things
Slip out of gear?

How did you ever get to be here?

1959

1958

- How's it going?
- Good. You?

- Fair.
- Yeah, tell me.

Russian Tea Room.

- Hi.
- Mary.

Say hello.

I think I got a job.

- Where?
- True Romances.

- Posing?
- Thank you. Writing captions.

- What about the book?
- What about the book?

- Nothing. Are you working on the book?
- Yes.

- Good.
- No.

- Mary.
- Right. I know. Yes, me and Balzac.

Ugh.

I finished the one-act

- I got an audition
- I started the story

- Rehearsal pianist
- So where are we eating?

- I'm moving to Playboy
- The publisher called me

- I'm doing a rewrite
- My parents are coming

- I saw My Fair Lady
- I rewrote the rewrite

- I sort of enjoyed it
- I threw out the story

I'm meeting an agent

We'll all get together on Sunday

We're opening doors

Singing, "Here we are"

We're filling up days

On a dime

That faraway shore's
Looking not too far

We're following every star

There's not enough time

- I called a producer
- I sent off the one-act

- I started the story
- He said to come see him

- I dropped out of college
- I met this musician

- I'm playing a nightclub
- They're doing my one-act

- I'm working for Redbook
- I rewrote the ballad

- I finished the story
- We started rehearsal

I threw out the story
And then the musician

I'm moving to Popular Science

We're opening doors

Singing, "Look who's here"

Beginning to sail on a dime

That faraway shore's getting very near

We haven't a thing to fear

We haven't got time

Bum-bum-bu-bum-bum bum-bum

La-da-da-da-da da-dum

- How's it coming?
- Good. You?

Done!

One minute.

Hamburg Heaven.

- Hi.
- Mary.

- Say hello.
- I got another job.

- Where?
- Chic.

- What's that?
- A brand-new concept,

pop-up pictures.

- What about the book?
- What about the book?

Did you give the publisher the book?

- Yes. No.
- Good. Mary.

- Look, I never...
- Finished!

- Let me call you back.
- Right.

- This is just a draft. Probably it stinks.
- Right. Right.

Haven't had the time to do a polish.

- Will you sing?
- Right.

Who wants to live in New York?

Who wants the worry, the noise
The dirt, the heat?

Who wants the garbage cans
Clanging in the street?

Suddenly I do

They're always popping their cork

I'll fix that line

The cops, the cabbies
The salesgirls up at Saks

You gotta have a real taste
For maniacs

Suddenly I do

That's great, that's swell

The other stuff as well

It isn't every day
You hear a score this strong

But, fellas, if I may
There's only one thing wrong

It's not a tune you can hum

It's not a tune you go
Bum-bum-bum-di-dum

You need a tune you go
Bum-bum-bum-di-dum

Give me a melody

Why can't you throw 'em a crumb?

What's wrong with letting 'em
Tap their toes a bit?

I'll let you know
When Stravinsky has a hit

Give me a melody

Oh, sure, I know

It's not that kind of show

But can't you have a score
That's sort of in-between?

Look, play a little more
I'll show you what I mean

Who wants to live in New York?

I always hated the dirt
The heat, the noise

But ever since I met you, I...

Listen, boys, maybe it's me

But that's just not a

Hum-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mable melody!

Write more, work hard
Leave your name with the girl

Less avant-garde

Leave your name with the girl

Just write a plain old
Melodee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee

A-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee

They're stopping rehearsal
They ran out of money

We lasted one issue
My book was rejected

The nightclub was raided
I had to start coaching

- My parents are coming
- I screwed up the laundry

- My wallet was stolen
- I saw the musician

- We're being evicted
- I'm having a breakdown

We'll all get together on Sunday
They're slamming the doors

Singing, "Go away"

It's less of a sail than a climb

That faraway shore's farther every day

We're learning to ricochet

We still have a lot to say

You know what we'll do?

What?

We'll do a revue

- What?
- What?

We'll do a revue of our own

- What?
- Where?

- Why?
- When?

Not just songs but stories, scenes,

- piano pieces, mime!
- Yeah.

"Frankly Frank!"

A showcase of our own

- Where?
- The club's reopening.

- We'll write a lot of new stuff.
- Rewrite old stuff.

- What about the girl?
- What about the girl?

Only that we're gonna need a girl.

- Well, Mary.
- Thanks.

I don't perform except at dinner.

Who wants
to live in New York?

Who wants the worry, the noise
The dirt, the heat?

Who wants the garbage cans clanging?

- Next!
- I can sing higher!

Who wants to live in New York?

Who wants to live in New York?

Who wants to live...

Thank you for coming!

They're always popping their cork

Up a tone.

The cops, the cabbies
The salesgirls up at Saks

Up a tone.

You gotta have a real taste
For maniacs

Thank you! You're hired!

- I'm Beth
- I'm Frank

I really thought I stank

- I'm Mary
- Charley

By the way, I'm told we open Saturday

- What? You're not serious
- Nobody's ready

Apparently, somebody canceled
A booking

- The songs aren't finished
- And what about costumes?

And how do I learn all these numbers?

I'll bring you the copies of everything

- Later this evening
- Not to mention I still haven't finished

Okay, but I'll have to
Have all of the music

We'll worry about it on Sunday

We're opening doors

Singing, "Here we are"

We're filling up days on a dime

That faraway shore's looking not too far

We're following every star

There's not enough time

We're banging on doors

Shouting, "Here again"

We're risking it all on a dime

That faraway shore's looking near again

The only thing left is when

We know we should count to ten

We haven't got time

Bending with the road

Gliding through the countryside

Merrily we roll along, roll along

Catching at dreams

Dreams that will explode

Waking up the countryside

Everybody merrily, merrily

Sing 'em your song

Rolling along

Rolling along

Rolling along

Rolling along

Oh, hey. Hey, what are you doing
up on the roof?

I don't know. I just came up here.

Well, you could have told a person.

- You were asleep.
- Yeah, the alarm just went off.

- You see anything?
- Mmm-mmm.

- Is something wrong?
- No.

- What are you doing up here so early?
- I couldn't sleep.

Charley... I read your two plays
last night.

They were so wonderful, I couldn't sleep.

I thought you were mad.

I have to tell everyone who stays over

to always wake me
whenever you think I'm wonderful.

I tossed and turned.

I kept thinking about wasting
these last two years in the Army,

then to come back and read your plays...

"Wasting"?

What about that music you played for me?

- Talk about wonderful.
- What?

Really?

Yes.

Yeah, Frank, you...
you don't just write what you know.

You write what you know.

Okay.

This play, Pretty Politics,
about the Senate pages.

What do you think about
making it into a musical?

- Go on.
- I've got a better title.

Take a Left.

That's a better title?

I think it's important.

Musicals are popular.

They're a great way
to state important ideas,

ideas that could really make a difference.

Charley, we can change the world.

Something
is stirring, shifting ground

It's just begun

Edges are blurring all around

And yesterday is done

Feel the flow

Hear what's happening

We're what's happening

Don't you know?

We're the movers and we're the shapers

We're the names in tomorrow's papers

Up to us, man, to show 'em

It's our time

Breathe it in

Worlds to change and worlds to win

Our turn coming through

Me and you, man

Me and you

- Uh, uh.
- Hi.

Uh, we just wanted to see,
my roommate and... I.

Excuse me.

She's probably from Barnard.

Barnard girls are dippy.

- Do you have the time?
- Uh, yep.

Uh, quarter to 6:00.

Do you ever think about getting married?

No.

Me neither.

But when I'm a lot older, maybe.

Feel how it quivers on the brink

What?

Everything

Gives you the shivers

Makes you think

There's so much stuff to sing

And you and me

We'll be singing it like the birds

Me with music

And you the words

Tell 'em things they don't know

Up to us, pal, to show 'em

Our time, breathe it in

Worlds to change and worlds to win

Our turn, we're what's new

Me and you, pal, me and you

- Feel the flow
- Feel the flow

Hear what's happening

We're what's happening

Long ago

All we had was that funny feeling

Saying someday we'd send 'em reeling

Now it looks like we can

Someday just began

It's our heads on the block

Give us room and start the clock

Our time coming through

Me and you, pal, me and you

Me and you

I didn't mean to be so overdressed before.

- Am I too late?
- No, I think it's just about now.

Oh, my roommate's coming up, too.

Oh, I'm Charley Kringas.
This is Frank Shepard.

- Mary Flynn. Hi.
- Hi.

- Hi.
- Um, we just took the apartment on five.

Oh, I'm not officially moved in

until I'm discharged from the Army
next week.

Frank just got a weekend pass
to help us move in.

Um, a lot to move in.

A typewriter, two mattresses and a piano.

Are you the one playing the piano
the last two days?

- We're evicted.
- Oh, no.

You are wonderful.

I mean, sincerely wonderful.

I'm sincerely grateful.

Yeah, I even came up on the roof
so I could hear you better.

I tell everything,

then go home and suffer.

So,
are you sincerely wonderful, too?

- I write.
- He is.

Aw.

Me, Columbia. Him, Juilliard.

Well, that's what I want to do, write.

But how does anyone compose music, though?

I mean, to me, that is the gift of gifts.

I just met the girl I ought to marry.

Did anybody ever tell you
you say all the right things?

Never.

Well, but I... I really want to know.

Well, writing music is not about words.

It's about sounds and feelings.

And, to me,
music is about everything.

Well, anyway, it's so creative.

If I didn't have music, I'd die.

Someday, Frank is gonna be
a very important composer.

He is?

I think you already are.

Mary? Are you up here?

Oh.

You're with guys.

Oh, no!

Evelyn.

Evelyn.

That was Evelyn.

Oh!

We should probably look now.
It's supposed to be right now.

- See anything?
- God, I hope we didn't miss it.

It should come right over.

- Oh, yeah, there. There it is.
- Yeah, I see it.

- Where?
- There it is. There.

It's just phenomenal.

It's phenomenal.

Do you call it Sputnik or "Spootnik"?

Mmm. Call it a miracle.

God.

We got to be the luckiest people
who ever lived.

After this moment,

this moment that the three of us
are sharing here together,

nothing is ever gonna be
the way that it was, not ever again!

Do you guys realize that now we're gonna
be able to do anything?

I mean, anything we ever dreamed of.

What a time to be starting out.

What a time to be alive.

Something
is stirring, shifting ground

It's just begun

Edges are blurring all around

And yesterday is done

Feel the flow, hear what's happening

We're what's happening

Don't you know?

We're the movers and we're the shapers

We're the names in tomorrow's papers

Up to us now to show 'em

It's our time, breathe it in

Worlds to change and worlds to win

Our turn coming through

Me and you, pal, me and you

Years from now, we'll remember

And we'll come back

Buy the rooftop and hang a plaque

"This is where we began

"Being what we can"

It's our heads on the block

Give us room and start the clock

Our dreams coming true

Me and you, pal, me and you

Me and you, me and you

Me and you

Me and you, me and you

Me and

You