Original subtitles

I will be directing a production of a new musical here at the School of Arts,

and we will be holding auditions in a few days.

I've got to get the lead, Doris. Will you relax your shoe? I'll do anything

it. I heard you were one of the greatest talents that ever came out of this

school.

Let's see some of that old magic.

I don't know you very well, but I'm falling, yes, I'm falling.

Fired, Miss Fernandez.

Fired.

We just don't.

Coco Hernandez.

Ain't she something else?

She certainly knows how to make an entrance.

Yep, that is one thing she definitely knows how to do.

So when the show closed, I found that I had a lot of time on my hands, so I

thought I'd come back and get my high school diploma.

Well, that's a good idea. You can always use one of those.

Yeah. They'll let you start on Broadway with that one, but you try and get a job

typing in an office?

You typing in an office? Is this the Coco Hernandez I know and love?

You are Coco.

Mrs. Berg.

Just sign this final re -enrollment slip and you're a student again.

May I be the first to officially say welcome back?

There you go.

Things have been so quiet since you left. I'm looking for you to shake

around here.

Oh, I'll do my best, Mrs. Berg.

Anybody can do what you can.

Honey, you're hotter than ever.

Thank you.

I will be directing a production of a new musical here at the School of Arts.

And we will be holding auditions in a few days.

You all look kind of nervous now. I don't want you. I do not want you kids

nervous just because I'm a legend in my own mind.

What I am trying to say is try not to be intimidated, please.

I'm only God.

You gonna audition?

Yeah, I'm auditioning. What about you? Yeah, I'm trying out for the lead.

Only one thing could bring Mr. Adler out of retirement.

The opportunity to work with Jesse Velasquez, a legend directing a legend.

Jesse is so crazy.

Uh -oh. Wrong room.

I've got to get the lead, Doris. Will you relax? You're a shoo -in. I'll do

anything for it. People who do anything often get leads.

Well, it's just that I'm tired of being the understudy. Hey, Shirley MacLaine

was an understudy. You know the story.

Star got sick, she went on, she became an overnight sensation. Right. You want

to know why everybody knows that story? Because it's the only time it ever

happened.

You know, I really think it's terrific for a celebrity like you to be coming

back to school.

I'm a fellow celebrity.

Hey, a couple of Broadway shows.

And I was in the chorus. A lead in a movie.

Supporting role. Featured part in a television show. Look, I was a walk -on.

got jobs, didn't you?

All we need to know, around here, if you've got jobs, you're a celebrity.

You played Chicago, you played Seattle, and in L .A., you had your name up on a

marquee in lights.

The only place you're going to see my name these days is on an unemployment

check.

You know, you are so modest from being a star.

I'm not a star, okay?

I heard you were one of the greatest talents that ever came out of this

Let's see some of that old magic.

How great to be.

YO!

I know that I'm not right to believe, but there's a girl named Nicole Chapman

who is, and she was a shoe until about 15 seconds ago.

Doris, I'm a student. I have a right.

Oh, please.

You're just passing through.

You're here to skim the cream off the top.

Look, Doris, when I was on that bandstand today, and I felt that magic,

it's still there.

Well, why shouldn't it be?

Sometimes it isn't, that's all.

One more day before auditions, and it's looking great.

Look again.

You're auditioning?

Unless you don't think I should.

But why wouldn't I think that you should?

Well, I just came back.

I've been working outside professionally. Maybe you think I'm just

the cream.

Tell me if you don't think I should.

Well, tell her.

Go on and tell her.

I'll see you at the audition.

Oh, God. Good

luck.

That was very lovely, Miss... Hewitt.

Hewitt, yes.

And may I ask you... What have you done?

What have I done?

Yes. Let's see.

Well, I was in time out for Ginger.

And where was that?

Where?

Yes, where was it? Dinner theater, stop, road company, where?

Well, no, that was here. I did it here at the school.

At the school.

How am I going to direct these people? They've got no professional experience.

The students here are not allowed to work professionally.

What does that mean?

It's a rule.

But aren't they being trained to work professionally someday?

Yes, uh -huh.

I think it's a pretty dumb rule, don't you?

I didn't make it.

Mr. Adler, did I get the part or anything?

That's all for now. Thank you very much. We'll let you know.

When are you going to let me know?

Sweetheart, that was lovely. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Would you like to hear something else? I got a couple of other songs I could...

Miss Hewitt, do we have to get the hook?

All you had to do was say so.

Congratulations.

God,

I'm nervous.

You're nervous?

Yeah, I'm always nervous upon addition.

Feel my hands.

God, they're freezing.

Hello. My name is Coco Hernandez.

I sing, I dance, and I act. I do it all.

Would somebody please give Mr. Adler my resume, please?

That's nervous.

That's Coco.

I thought you said there are no professionals in this school.

She's an exception. She dropped out to pursue her career and just returned as a

student.

Excellent credits.

Frankly, I'm surprised she's auditioning so soon.

So am I. I thought she might at least settle in a little.

Well, if this girl can do what she says she can, I think I've found my leading

lady.

Okay, Miss Hernandez, show me what you can do.

Well, I hope you're not too tired of New York, New York.

You want me to be truthful?

I am.

But if you can hit the high notes, go ahead.

It's a piece of cake.

in today.

I want to be a part of it. New York, New York.

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere.

It's up to you. New York, New York.

Might have been with Dayton coming back to me.

Maybe I've outgrown it.

Honey, hold it, hold it.

Tell me, Miss Fernandez, what are you doing? Tell me, what are you doing?

I'm acting.

Don't you think it might be nice if you shared it with us?

I mean, I could hardly hear you. I'm sitting right there in the front row and

couldn't hear a word.

Project, please.

Mr. Adler.

What? The way I work is that first I try and make it real for myself.

And then I try... Just hold it.

Just talk loud.

Just talk loud.

What good is it if I talk loud if I'm not feeling anything?

The audience isn't paying for you to feel something.

They want to feel something.

Now, once again, please.

And with a little more projection this time. Will you do that for me? Please.

Sometimes I feel it might have been a mistake me coming back to the small

All right. Maybe I should have... All right.

You've made your point.

Now could we see some real acting?

Would you know it if you saw it, Mr. Adler?

I'd know it if I heard it.

It's going to be a bumpy night.

Uh -huh.

Ben, I've been out there, and I know you don't blindly do what somebody tells

you. You think everyone nurtures your talent like Miss Grant?

No, he's not a director. He's a traffic cop.

I thought you said he was the best there was.

Ben, you are the talent, and you are the judge.

And if somebody's making you look like a fool, you've got to stop it no matter

what. Look, I'm only going to need one of these pillows. You want the extra one

here.

Leroy. Baby, whose side are you on?

Baby, I'm on your side.

Look, if you don't know that by now, you don't know nothing.

I know that.

Look, could we just get a little sleep?

Leroy?

Huh?

I don't think it's such a good idea for you to be sleeping on that cold floor.

I'm all right.

I think you're going to get pneumonia.

Come on. There's room in here.

Coco, I have a reputation to protect.

I'm not going to ruin your virtue.

Now, come on. Get in here.

Get in here.

Now tell me, is this better?

No, I'm not going to tell you that. Go to sleep.

Be right.

Robin, go to sleep.

Be right.

You're something else, you know that?

Why do you say that?

Because when I needed the price of a bus ticket, you gave it to me.

When I needed a place to stay, you put me up.

When I needed a bed, you gave me yours.

Coco, I'm glad you're back.

I really missed you.

I'm so glad you're my friend.

I love you, Eli.

Good night.

I love you too.

That was the end of the first act.

Yeah.

It's still kind of rough, but... Oh, it looked good to me.

This is my lucky piece.

The actress I replaced in the first show I ever did, she gave it to me.

Really? Yeah.

I was her understudy, too.

Never look back.

Good advice, huh? Yeah.

I'll let you get back.

Coco.

What's it really like out there?

It's different things for different people.

Is that good or bad?

It's good and bad.

You make it sound so tough.

It is tough.

And it's terrific.

You know, sometimes it's lonely on the road, but you got a show to do every

night. And no matter how down you are, that show always picks you up.

You're going to love it, Paul.

You will.

Sometimes I worry I'm not going to get the chance.

You will.

You will.

You will.

Look, I don't know the beginning of this number, and I probably will never get

to do it, but will you help me with it?

Sure. Come on. That would be great.

Yeah, all right. All right, so we're going to start with our right foot,

Don't let anything stand in your way.

You're getting close to reaching your dreams.

You never know it might be the day you feel it.

Tension burns like a fire.

to answer the phone. She doesn't want to talk to anybody.

I mean, she just wouldn't simply answer the phone.

Now look, if you do not answer the phone, you cannot find out that your

boyfriend is missing and therefore the rest of the play cannot go on.

Well, I could answer the phone.

Then how would Miss Hernandez know about a boyfriend?

I could tell her.

Miss Hernandez, take it from the phone ring.

Mr. Adler, I would be more than glad to if you could just tell me why.

All right, Miss Sanatis.

You win.

You do not have to answer the phone.

I don't. In spite of what I might say about actors, I have the deepest respect

for them.

And I would never ask someone to violate their artistic integrity.

Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that.

Oh, and by the way, you're fired.

Get the costume.

Fired, Miss Fernandez.

Fired.

Did he say mm -mm?

Mm -mm.

Didn't that mean... Yeah.

Right.

What are you doing?

The dishes.

You definitely ain't supposed to do the dishes.

Well, Emily Post says that every guest should help out.

Well, I hate to burst your bubble, sister, but Emily Post ain't never been

110th Street.

Hey, Coco, what's the matter?

What's the matter, baby?

Just everything.

Just everything.

You're not the first actress where we got fired.

It's for sure.

What do you mean? You've been fired before?

Before I came here.

I had a really big part, a really big show.

And I blew it.

Because I got scared.

It's okay.

It ain't no big thing.

It's no big thing.

But Leroy, don't you see?

I'm doing it again.

I'm scared to fail. I'm scared to fail. You won't fail.

Look at me.

You won't fail.

Baby, you won't fail.

You're one of the best things out there.

What, are you getting hung up on me?

No.

What if I was? What would you say?

I would say that would be nice.

But a mistake.

Lucky for me, I'm nothing, huh?

It was wonderful.

For once, Mozart is not turning over in his grave.

You were so good that I'm going to excuse you all a little early.

Something on your mind, Miss Hernandez?

Your friend, Mr. Adler.

Sit down.

Well, this is like old times.

It's been quite a while since I've had you in my classroom.

I missed you.

He's so difficult.

You know, you can be difficult yourself.

Me? Oh, I seem to remember once you refused to sing for me because Mercury

in retrograde and Jupiter was ascending.

Maybe I go off the deep end sometimes, but that's just because things have to

right for me to do my best.

And they're not.

And they're not.

Which brings us back to my old friend.

Mr. Sharofsky, I've got to get that part back.

It's so important, and I need it. I need it for a lot of reasons.

Ms. Hernandez, you've been out there.

You've worked professionally. You got paid for performing. Why is this

production so important to you?

Because maybe I need to prove something to myself.

What? That Coco Hernandez is still as good as she ever was.

Is she?

I don't know that yet.

And that's why I lose heart.

So why did you talk to him?

Maybe this just isn't a good idea. Hey, Coco.

I'll see what I can do.

Thank you.

One more thing.

Be very careful crossing the street.

The moon is in Leo.

Thank you.

How are your houses going?

Like they always go the first week.

Oh, Miss Grant, you want to sit in with us? We'd be happy to take your money.

Oh, no, thanks, Mrs. Bird.

I had a long day today. I'm just going to have a little yogurt and then split.

And Coco? How's it going with Coco?

Coco? She's impossible.

I fired her.

She's a very talented girl, you know.

I know. Why do you think I cast her?

How many cards, Gertrude?

Five.

Five?

Oh, all right.

Make it two.

She knows this game as well as I do.

There you are.

Coco just needs to work a certain way.

That's right.

My way.

Pardon? Shoot. Mr. Adler, don't you think that sometimes you need to give an

actor a certain amount of leeway in order for their creativity to flow?

No.

Look, what's all this mishegas over Coco Hernandez?

I've directed a lot of difficult actresses in my day, and I got the best

them. And I'll get the best out of Coco.

But I thought you fired her.

I fired Bankhead, too. But I rehired her in the morning.

Benjamin, after all these years of playing poker with me, don't you know

I'm bluffing?

I'm out.

A pair of juices.

Much second candy from the baby.

I had a pair of jacks. You're breaking my heart. I had a pair of ladies.

He bluffed us again.

Thinking of sitting in, Miss Grant?

No.

Actually, I was thinking of Nicole Chapman.

She's going to be devastated.

Well, thank God.

I thought you said you wanted the part.

Well, I do. I did.

But, you know, that was in the beginning when we had plenty of time to rehearse,

and we've only got two days before the show.

And my costumes don't fit, and I don't think I'd be ready.

It'd be like a kamikaze mission or something, you know?

Who are you trying to convince, me or you?

That was good, Miss Hernandez.

Really very good.

You could have projected a little more, but outside of that, you were wonderful.

I felt something.

How was it for you?

Fine. I sense you don't really believe that.

Mr. Adler, I'm really trying.

Yes, I know you are.

So, uh, I'll try a little too, huh?

Let's see it your way.

Thank you.

On the phone ring, pick it up in there.

God no.

I think I'm having a heart attack.

You're projecting.

Dr. Carroll?

Surgery, please. Dr.

Carroll?

Dr. Hanson?

Dr. Hanson, report to obstetrics, please.

Mr. Shroff?

For a man who's just had his third heart attack, he's all right. In fact, he's

already yelling at his doctors.

Oh, thank God.

You on the other end look a little flungent. Maybe you'd feel better if you

inside and sat alone.

No, he doesn't want to see me.

He doesn't even like me.

I told him you were here waiting.

Look, when you came to me for help, did I turn my back on you?

I love this man in there. The way I see it, you owe me.

He wants to see you.

Get the hell out of here.

Not you.

Her. How?

Mr. Adler. Say this. This is a tranquilizer.

You mustn't go upsetting yourself.

I'm not upsetting myself.

You're upsetting myself.

How is she like a needle the size of Detroit in your tuckers?

Just don't stand there. Come in. I'm sorry, miss. This is a coronary care

Only relatives are allowed to visit.

This girl happens to be my daughter.

Just say one word and I'll report you to the Civil Liberties Union.

Please don't stay too long.

Nurse, if you run into my doctor, the Marquis de Sade, ask him when I can come

home. Would you do that for me, please?

Mr. Adler.

I'm sorry I gave you a heart attack.

Listen, Endless.

Let's get one thing straight between us.

I give myself my own heart attacks. Is that clear?

Don't shout. The machine is beeping.

Thank God. If it stops, I'm dead.

Out. Out.

Mr. Shrofsky said you wanted to talk to me.

Yes, I do.

Why aren't you out in the real world?

I mean, if you have to drive direct as crazy, at least do it on the

stage.

I was out in the real world.

I didn't like it.

I got fired.

Yeah?

And?

And that's it.

Oh.

You lost your confidence, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, kind of.

Well, you're not going to get it back hiding in some high school.

And neither am I.

You?

That's right.

Me.

I thought I had gotten too old that I lost my fastball.

So I retired like an idiot.

And what happens?

My heart starts attacking me.

It has more brains than I do.

and shifting through offers as we speak.

That's great, Mr. Adler.

It's great for the theater.

And the theater has you to thank.

Me?

You.

You know, fighting with you has been the most fun I've had in years.

You showed me that I've still got what it takes.

I don't know if I still got what it takes.

I don't think I can stand being fired again.

You don't, huh?

No. Well, you're fired.

What? You heard me. I'm still the director.

You're not in the play.

I'll go out there and become a star.

Do you really think I can?

You already

You just don't know it yet.

Thanks, Mr. Adler.

Stop, stop, please.

You're making my machine beep again.

You're going to be big.

That goes over there.

This is just great.

Look, Doris, I thought you'd be glad that I'd be dropping out of the show.

yeah, I'm thrilled.

I mean, any stage manager would jump at the chance to have to replace your star

32 minutes before a curtain.

Look, Doris, you were right, okay? I was passing through.

But I took Nicole's shot.

Now you want to give it back?

Yeah.

I have to tell an understudy that she was going on 31 minutes before a

You know the story about Shirley MacLaine, right? Yeah, yeah. Would you

house lights on?

I'll miss you.

Why?

Well, you know, we never really got along that well.

I thought we were close sometimes.

Yeah, well.

I'll be around.

Yeah. What do you want me to tell Nicole?

Don't tell her anything.

Just give her this.

While we're standing wondering why, and if it's wrong or right,

the moment rushes by, fades into the

night. And the longer that we wait, the more we

hesitate, the more the chance we're losing. We've been given this time

to let you use it.

Trusting where the feeling's going.

Right here and now.

So that matters anyway.

If tomorrow never comes.

At least we've had today.

We've got no guarantee this love is gonna make it, but

we've been...

Tomorrow never comes.

Yet tomorrow never comes.

I bleed.

You wouldn't just leave the family like that.

How's the show going?

Oh, real good. Nicole is great.

Yeah, I knew she would be.

So, you're really leaving, huh?

Yeah.

I'm going to miss you, Leroy.

Hope so.

Hey, maybe after I graduate, I can come out to the coach. You know, we can take

some classes together, go on a couple of auditions. Oh, I'd like that a lot.

That's my music cue.

Don't delay for your entrance.

Don't forget me now.

I can't forget you.

You're unforgettable.