Original subtitles

This is my shot man.

This is what I dreamt of all my life.

Cheese and everything.

I'm playing a dead body in a murder mystery.

Cut it out, Doris.

Yeah, there's something pretty special here And you can bet your life it's me.

Bruno, I won't forget my friends.

What about our rehearsal?

There's not a hard time with this thing coming up.

You're gonna have to find somebody else.

Good luck, Miss Diva.

I'm too short.

I don't have cheekbones.

And some people in this school are so damn perfect.

And I can't handle it.

I'm gonna live forever.

Baby, remember mine.

Remember, remember, remember, remember.

You got big dreams.

You want fame.

Well, fame costs.

And right here's where you start paying.

It's sweat.

Baby, I wanna live forever.

Baby, remember mine.

Remember, remember, remember, remember mine.

Thanks for watching.

All right, hold, hold.

That wasn't my fault.

Why wasn't it?

You were all sweaty.

I couldn't get a good grip.

And Belle, bless you, I need it back.

I owe you one.

All right, classes, Miss.

Hit the showers.

You'll get it.

Don't worry about it.

Easy for you to say.

Can you give me any tips?

Helpful hints?

All right, all right.

Don't be so easy on yourself, all right?

And when you have a direction, just go with it all the way.

Fair enough.

Anything else?

No, I got to be.

Bruno for phone call.

Truce.

Hi, Ms.

Hernandez, theatrical representative.

And I was wondering if you had any time this afternoon to see her.

Oh, well, I'm not so sure she'll re-fit the part.

I just assumed we'd want to see her.

Oh, of course I'm with the William Martin Agency.

I'm, uh, my name?

Rosalie, Marty Rosalie.

Oh, the reason you haven't heard of me is because I just transferred here from LA, and I'm semi-new to New York.

Hello?

Hello?

Guess we were cut off.

Oh, Bruno.

I am so right for that part that it hurts.

I totally understand, Angela.

I saw Kate walk six times, and each time Angela had her big scene, I cried.

Can I say, life isn't fair.

It's their loss.

Look, why didn't you come over to my house after school?

Um, Leroy and I are working on his showcase, and the sounds of cheer you are.

OK.

Only if it's OK with, uh, Marty Rosalie.

He's my agent, and William Morris.

No problem.

It's a lot.

OK.

Thank you.

See, Coco and Leroy, they make everything look so easy.

They got an unfair advantage.

They're dancers.

Coco's got an unfair advantage in everything.

You can't imitate Coco.

You got to do it your way.

Look at this.

She's in everything.

I'm playing a dead body in a murder mystery.

Cut it out, Doris.

So what if she got a few pauses?

Just a coincidence.

You're very sweet, and you're also very naive.

Coco's got what you call a halo effect.

You know what that is?

No, but I'm about to find out.

It's when you do something really well that it slops over into everything else that you do.

It's like having a halo around So I can't just be as good as Coco.

I've got to be better and that's what I intend to do She's had it easy long enough I Could play another two bars of the

other riff and then wait, I don't know Coco what do you think?

I don't know whatever I Get more enthusiasm from an 82 year old grandmother and she's been dead for two years What is

it?

You're still on the audition?

I just can't shake it Coco.

Could you at least try look?

This may just be a project to you, but this is my semester showcase It sounded very thirsty down here.

It's good timing, Poppy.

We're taking a break anyway.

Well, how's it going?

Ask Coco.

Thanks.

Personally, I don't think Cakewalk is going to make a good flick anyway.

How can you say that with Charles McKay directing?

I mean, he's a genius.

Yeah, but he puts some clothes in like that on screen.

It dies.

Well, I'm sure he's aware of the problems and he'll fix them.

The most important thing is that Cakewalk has got heart.

It's just what he said.

Who?

Charles McKay?

I gave him a ride the other day.

Real nice guy.

He said he puts a lot of stock into what regular people think about his movies.

Anyway, I told him I never saw Cakewalk, so he told me about it.

He said it had real heart.

How much stock?

How much stock does he take in regular people's opinions?

I mean, enough to take your idea about who to cast in the part of Angela?

Coco.

He gave the man a ride in his cab.

He's not going to cast a second lead in his movie based on my papa say so.

Wait, I know that.

But all I need is a chance to show him what I can do.

Mr.

Martelly, all you'd have to do is tell him that, you know, a very talented young actress who'd be perfect for the part,

and then just leave the rest up to me.

Oh, no, I feel kind of funny doing something like that.

Besides, the chances of me hooking up with him again are.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I didn't think about that.

Yeah.

You know Edelstein's deli?

Yeah.

Well, when I took McCain to his office, he stopped off there for some Danish and coffee.

He says he does it every morning.

Now, if you could happen to be there, say, 9 o'clock in the morning, maybe you could introduce yourself.

That's a fantastic idea.

Oh, Coco, where you going?

Man, we can practice this later.

I've got to figure this out.

Oh, thank you, Mr.

Martelly.

She all right?

You always like that?

Yes, unfortunately.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Oh, two coffees, please?

Two coffees.

Oh, I'm for them too.

I'm for them too.

All of them?

Uh-huh.

Oh, I'm on check.

There it is.

It's him.

Coco, you don't have to hide your face.

He doesn't even know you.

Fun that I'm doing?

Everybody step aside Make way for me,

give me room I think it's pretty clear You've got a winner here Can you see it on my face?

Does it show in the way I move?

You don't have to show me how Nothing's gonna stop me now Cause I'm number one on top of the charts Making it big,

laying it soft Yeah,

it's so pretty special here And you can bet your life it's me I can see my name in lights And the applause ringing in

my ears Almost feels like love tonight I'm sure my day is near So buy your tickets,

take your seats Settle back and plan to stay Hear the music,

see the lights I'm finally on my way Cause I'm number one on top of the charts I'm making it big,

laying it soft There's something pretty special here, and you can bet your life it's me.

I'm number one, top of the charts, I'm making it big and plain and smart.

Yeah, there's something pretty special here, and you can bet your life it's me.

I'm number...

Are you okay?

I'm sorry.

I just couldn't get into your audition, and this is the only way, and here's my resume.

I think I'd be perfect for the part of Angela.

Thank you.

Coco, you were right.

You should have hidden your face.

Fifteen coffees, an order of bacon, and scrambled.

Leave the link.

Thank you.

Doris.

Yo, Doris.

Doris, if I wanted to watch Godzilla in Tokyo, I'd go to the movies.

Do I laugh when you're doing a warm-up routine?

No, that's the problem.

Never mind.

I want you to focus.

I want you to tell me what you see.

Lady Macbeth, okay?

You ready?

Ready.

Come, thick knight, and pull thee in the dunnest of smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes,

nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark to cry, Hold!

Hold!

That Lady Macbeth had some mouth.

Yeah, but what did my body say?

Did you see Lady Macbeth, or just me?

Looked like Doris doing funny things with the body.

Why am I kidding myself?

I'm a round, soft-edged Jewish girl, not a murderous queen.

Even Coco looks more Scottish than I do.

Doris, you look fine.

I don't feel fine.

I feel like a walking, twinkie, family-size falafel.

How am I supposed to be graceful with thunder thighs?

Doris.

What are you doing now?

I am throwing out everything that's fattening.

That won't help.

Why not?

That was my lunch.

Is it really necessary to flaunt all that food?

We're not flaunting it.

We're eating it.

From this side of the table, it looks like flaunting.

I mean, three beef tacos, beans, and chocolate pudding for lunch.

Doris, you might be expecting too much.

You think food's gonna disappear?

What do you expect?

The whole school to go on a diet because of you?

Why not?

I go on fire drills with everyone else.

The least they could do is go on a diet with me.

It's too bad Celery doesn't have a thousand calories and chocolate cake none.

Hey, now this one comes with two desserts.

Give me a break.

You're like a rabbit.

I need the extra energy for dance class stars, darling.

Hey, I heard you guys really tore up a deli.

Where'd you hear that?

All over.

But every time I heard it, it got more and more fantastic.

What really happened?

Not that I said we act like a bunch of food.

Only some of us didn't have to act.

So now you're this?

This letter came for you.

Marked urgent, so I thought I'd better bring it to you.

There's no staff on it.

It was delivered by a nice young man.

Thank you, Miss Burke.

Oh, my pleasure.

Well, I'll be running along.

Enjoyed the show very much.

Not to mention the chutzpah.

Cuts, miss.

Cuts.

If you can act, too.

Come to my office on Friday and read something for me.

Sincerely, Charles McKay.

It worked.

It actually worked.

All right.

How do you feel?

I don't know.

Wonderful.

Are you nervous?

No.

This is my shot, man.

This is what I dreamt of all my life.

Admittedly, were you all wrong?

I wasn't wrong.

I said we acted like a bunch of fools.

How did I know that's what he was looking for?

I got my room.

Coco, what about my showcase rehearsal?

Next week.

It has to be ready by next week.

Coco!

Hey!

Coco!

Coco!

Coco, here!

You forgot your sandwich.

I can't eat now.

I'm too pumped up.

You can have it.

No, no, no.

Look, are you in a hurry?

I need 30 seconds.

Listen, can it wait?

What, are you a bakery?

I have to take a number?

No, it can't wait.

OK, 30 seconds.

All the rest of us, we screw up sometimes.

We think we want one thing, and then we think we want another thing.

But you never lose sight of it.

How do you do that?

I don't know.

I just do my thing.

Coco, we all do our thing, but you do everything right.

Call it a halo effect.

There you go.

I don't know.

Maybe a lot of good things are happening right now.

But don't you ever get lost?

Sometimes.

But I usually go to Bruno.

He manages to say something that puts me back in focus.

Bruno, lots of times he really helps.

Thank you for the 30 seconds.

Now go start the revolution.

Yeah.

Don't say it never did anything for you.

No potato chips?

I'm terribly sorry.

I've always been thoughtless like that.

I beg your pardon.

No big deal.

I hope I'm not bothering you.

Of course not.

I'm thrilled to death to see you.

I kind of need a favor from you.

And I know it'll mean using a lot of time after school, and I know that time is very important to you,

and I don't want to impose.

No imposition, Coco.

You stop by after school, and we'll see what we can work out.

Okay?

Thank you.

Dynamite, meet your battery park at four.

Where were we?

You're saying how difficult it is to relieve tension in our artistic life.

I said that.

I know no shame.

Break a leg!

Either you're in charge of your body, or your body's in charge of you.

Try telling that to the elephant man.

You've got to realign your priorities.

You have to redefine Doris Schwartz.

Frodo face facts.

I am never gonna be a skinny nun.

I have certain appetites.

You're not dealing with it.

You're feeling sorry for yourself again.

You may have noticed that I have not asked you for a single potato chip all day long.

Good for you.

Is it okay if I lick out the inside of the bag when you're done?

Joke.

Lie.

Do you know what imaging is?

Yeah, the P.

Isidore School of Drama.

Well, imagine your appetite, okay, as a terrible monster.

Then imagine your willpower as a battalion of knights on white horses.

Imagine what?

Your willpower.

Bruno, we're talking about my body, not San Juan Hill.

You're not helping.

Okay.

My hunger is a terrible, terrible monster.

And my willpower is a battalion of white knights.

Do they have horses?

Yes.

Now, imagine that battalion attacking that monster over and over again, right?

Relentless.

They never let up.

It's a terrible battle.

But they're winning.

They're driving the monster away.

Are you imaging that?

I'm trying.

It's not easy.

I'm not trying hard enough.

Bruno, it's skinny people who eat cheeseburgers for breakfast who say things like that.

I am trying.

And I'm telling you, it's not easy.

My battalion of white knights is about ready to go draft dodging.

No.

Oh.

No.

No, I swear to God.

I don't know.

Oh.

Doris, you've got to think of those knights, Doris.

They're fighting the monsters.

The monsters are losing.

The monster is faltering.

The monster is retreating.

The monster is not retreating.

The monster is going out for dinner.

Look back, and you'll turn into a pillar of salt.

As long as I have the salt, can I have the pretzels to go in?

Don't tell me I owe you people anything.

You owe me as much as I owe you, poor black girl from the ghetto.

I am touching upon something bigger and richer than the richest ladies living in the tallest penthouses in the shiniest

cities on earth.

I have my songs.

And I'm not just singing for the black people anymore.

I'm singing for all the races, and I don't just sing my songs.

They sing me.

That's it.

Applause, applause, applause.

I liked it.

It was good.

You really thought it was good?

Yes, I really thought it was good.

I felt like you rushed some of the moments at the top, but I put that down to nerves more than anything else.

Yeah, that makes sense.

You know, if this is just some kind of a classroom exercise, I don't know what the nerves are all about anyway.

Oh, I'm not nervous.

Uh-uh.

Go, go.

Well, maybe a little, but that's just because me and Leroy were not really talking.

How come?

Well, I was supposed to help him out on this project, and I've been concentrating a lot on this,

and I think he's a bit envious.

Of a classroom exercise?

Leroy?

Well, it doesn't take that much to get him mad.

And sometimes, being the new guy around here, I have to tread a little carefully myself.

You see, I know how the school feels about you kids going out for professional auditions.

Teachers read casting call notices, too.

Thank you for your help, Mr.

Regan.

I'm touching upon something bigger and richer than the richest ladies living in the tallest penthouses in the shiniest

cities on earth.

All right, Coco.

Stop there.

Can't sit down.

Thank you.

How do you get to be so good and still not have an agent or any credit?

Well, I go to the school of the arts and that takes up a lot of my time.

Well, we've seen a lot of actresses, singers, dancers, some more talented than you, some less.

Does that mean that I got a shot?

Yes.

I'd say you definitely have a shot.

When will you be making your decision?

I can come...

Well, I wish it was strictly up to me, but I'm first not that simple.

You all, uh, have to do a screen test.

Have to?

I'd love to.

Now, this isn't a tryout for one of your school plays, nor one of your movie fantasies.

There are five girls set for this screen test.

If you want a chance, you're gonna have to knock their socks off.

Do you understand?

I understand, and I'll be ready.

Well, keep the script, and, uh, leave a number, and we'll let you know when it's all set.

Okay.

Thank you.

Hope it happens for you.

If it does, it'll mean big changes in your life, like putting a school, moving out to the coast.

You are aware that you'll have to quit school?

I knew that.

Yes.

Leroy, knock it off.

Would you stay with Doris?

Man, she's making me look bad.

She ain't dragging on me with low gear.

Well, you hush.

Doris, honey, what is the problem?

You do seem a little down today.

I'm just having a low-energy day, Miss Grant.

It's okay if Leroy wants a new partner.

Well, it's not okay with me.

You two are partners, and that's that.

Understand, Leroy?

Yeah.

Good.

Now, sweetheart, why don't you go get some fruit juice or something?

What for?

So you can at least work up a sweat.

That's what for now, Scoot.

No.

What do you mean no?

I'm just trying to help you get some quick energy.

I didn't realize that nutritional advice was part of this class.

Now who's going to be my partner?

I am.

So zip up your lip and dance.

6, 7, and 1.

How's it going, skinny?

Wonderful.

I just made a fool of myself in Miss Grant's class.

Do I care?

No.

Because I finally lost some weight.

Dust, don't you think you're going a little overboard with this diet stuff?

The diet.

That's when you eat non-fatting foods.

I've been fasting for three days and taking these.

You mean you haven't eaten anything?

Look, I'm fine.

Just feeling a little lightheaded, that's all.

The important thing is that I lost four pounds.

Count them, four.

Come on, you should at least eat an apple or something.

I got one in my lock.

I'm gonna go get it for you.

No, no.

I have a plan, and I'm gonna stick to it.

I'll start working my way back to food in about two or three days.

I just got to steer clear on Miss Grant's class till then.

I'll be OK.

I'll be fine.

Here's the scene.

Yeah, it would help if the rest of the play was attached.

This is a screenplay for Cakewalk.

How'd you get a hold of this?

Well, I have a friend on the crew that.

Why don't you save the tap dance and level with me, Coco?

If it'll be too much trouble, I can go.

All I want is the truth, which you are not giving me.

All right.

But if I would have come in here in the beginning.

Is this why you've been letting your other commitments go?

Do you understand how important this is to me?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do, which is probably why.

I'm going to help.

Why don't you come by after school, and we'll see what we can accomplish.

And can we do that tomorrow morning, too?

Tomorrow morning?

Yeah, before school.

I mean, I can get it by 6.30.

6.30, Coco.

My heart doesn't even start beating until 7.

Why don't we take it one step at a time, OK?

Now, you've got two minutes before your class starts.

Go, get.

OK, OK, OK.

Well, you got to get to it.

Geometry took off.

No way.

I'll see you after school.

I can't.

I have no rehearsal to read it.

Well, what about our rehearsal?

Oh, I totally forgot.

You forgot?

Coco, I have to be ready in three days.

Listen, I don't have time with this thing coming up.

You're going to have to find somebody else.

Somebody else?

Now?

OK.

My mistake.

Good luck, Miss Diva.

On the whole, you did pretty well this time.

Although some of you might look up the word plagiarism for future reference.

Why don't you just tell us what it means?

It means, in general, I prefer to read what you think about your subject than what Woody Allen thinks.

How come I got a B plus and a D minus?

The top grade is for grammar and spelling.

The lower grade is for content.

I know, but what's wrong with the content of my cousin getting married?

All you talked about was the food.

I felt like I was reading an Italian restaurant review.

I wanted to know what happened at the wedding.

My cousin got married.

That's what always happens at weddings.

I mean, how did the people feel?

How did they act?

Not how the manicotti tasted, or how the lasagna smelled, or how moist the rum cake was.

Doris, what do you think you're doing?

I just have to get a sip of water.

Doris, are you all right?

No.

I'm too short.

I don't have cheekbones.

I dance like a rock.

And some people in this school are so damn perfect.

And I can't handle it.

I just can't handle it anymore.

Somebody get the school nurse.

Hurry.

Move it.

Doris.

Doris.

She's been on this crash diet.

Oh, baby.

You'll do anything to get out of a snap quiz, won't you?

Hey, you'll either drink it or wear it.

How long?

Tired in about a week.

Fasting three days.

You know, you and I've had some go-rounds in class when I thought you were being stubborn, argumentative, arrogant,

hmm?

This is the first time I've ever known you to do anything boneheaded dumb.

Dumb.

Very.

It's always people like you say things like that.

What do you mean, people like me?

You mean teachers?

Yeah.

Then who?

People like me.

People who are complete.

Thank you.

When you see you in the mornings when you come to school, when you're so great-looking, stylish, put together,

you've got a handle on everything.

You know what you're doing.

There isn't anything about you that's unfinished.

Just together.

You know all about life, and I know we'll never be like that.

I'll never be a lady like you.

I'm a shlump.

Doris.

The truth.

A shlump.

Your mother is coming to get you.

You're supposed to stay here until she arrives.

You know the difference between an adult and a kid?

When you come up against something that knocks you for a loop, you think maybe it hurts so bad you'll never get up.

But we're older.

We've been knocked down enough by life to know that we almost always can't get up.

And when we do, we're stronger than we were before.

And this supposedly sophisticated and together lady would give her right arm to be just have as magical and talented as

you are.

Shlump.

Dear.

Thanks for watching!

I heard about Doris, is she okay?

Oh yeah, they sent her home with her mother.

Where have you been all day?

We're gonna have to look on the song some other time, okay?

After the screen test.

Yeah.

Okay, how do you feel?

Tired.

And scared.

The tingly inside?

Yeah.

And I'm ready to blow them away from her.

We're all rooting for you.

Really?

Sure.

Is this something else?

If you get this thing, you'll have to move on and leave us behind.

Who said so?

Coco, you'll be a professional.

You won't have time for us anymore.

You'll have to cut the ties to survive.

Bruno, I won't forget my friends.

What could it do me to make it and not have anyone to share it with?

I don't know.

Maybe you should ask Leroy.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

You been on the phone upstairs?

No, why?

Coco had her screen test this afternoon and I thought she might call.

I guess I thought wrong.

My mother took me to see Dr.

Zolin.

I ain't going to see Dr.

Zolin.

He's known me since I was a baby.

He still calls me Dodo.

How can you talk like that to a modern woman?

What did he say?

Well, he gave me a lecture on the five, four, five baby.

and then he gave me a diet that's just dripping with health.

And then he told me that I was anemic.

How can a person be pudgy and anemic?

Doris, you just have to be more sensible.

I mean, you can't go jump off the deep end because of some crazy fad diet.

Dr.

Zolan told you to say that, didn't he?

No, Dr.

Zolan didn't tell me to say anything.

It's like you not telling me, what are we looking for in this junk?

Something that'll fit me.

I sent all my fat clothes off to my aunt in Seattle by freighter.

Ech.

Don't be lucky if I get anything back by Christmas.

Not that Christmas is the highlight of the year around our place.

Hey, you guys, Coco's back.

She's over in the danceroom telling everybody about her screen test.

Sounds like it really went super.

Let's go see what happened.

Right behind you.

The hardest thing is what they call hitting your mark, and if you're off with just a little bit,

you have to do the whole thing over again so it's right for the camera.

Why don't they move the camera?

I mean, the actor is more important than the camera, right?

Well, I'm not gonna tell them how to do their job.

I mean, not yet, anyway.

Not next week.

Yeah, that's right.

Next week.

It did go well, though, didn't it?

Yeah.

I mean, it'll be a while before I hear anything, but whatever happens, happens.

I mean, I think I did okay.

Yeah, I know.

Coco, tell us what happened.

We can't wait until lunch.

Well, I'll tell you after reading this class.

We're gonna hold you to that.

Coco?

What?

I think you know what.

I'll be late for reading this class.

You'll be right.

I can help you with your showcase now.

Oh, Marguerite's helped me out now.

Doing a good job, too.

Good.

I'm glad.

Out damn spot.

How'd I say?

One.

Two.

Why, then, it is time to do it.

Hell is murky.

Fire, my lord, fire.

A soldier and a feared.

But need we fear, who knows it?

When no one can call power on our account.

Who taught the old man to have so much blood in him?

It was good.

It was very good.

More importantly, it was a heck of a lot better than the last time.

Why don't you tell me what you changed?

Well, last time you said it lacked substance.

You all really talk like that?

Yeah, well, I started thinking about how guilty Lady Macbeth must have felt.

And then I started thinking about things that make me feel guilty.

I just used those feelings.

What sort of things, if it's not too personal?

The specifics aren't all that important.

No, no, no.

The specifics are important.

Because they're about me and Coco.

You see, I can only look at things from inside me.

And sometimes from inside, the world doesn't seem all that fair.

Like everything comes so easily together for Coco.

The dancing, the singing, and I have to work at it.

I have to work at it all the time.

And I guess when that screen test thing came along, that was the final thing.

I really envied her.

And then I started to feel guilty about all the bad things I was thinking about her.

Then I just took the guilt apart.

I stunk up the joint.

Everything I told you about the screen test was a lie.

I was terrible, and it was my fault.

I got up there and choked.

And the harder I tried, the worse it got.

So as I said, I stunk up the joint.

So much for the halo effect.

Why didn't you tell us?

Because that screen test meant a lot to me.

And I know I have this image of being this perfect person, that all these good things are going to come my way.

But I'm not magic all the time.

I'm just me.

And I don't know why I screwed up or why I lied.

But I was afraid that if, afraid that you weren't everything that everybody thought you were supposed to be.

I'll make you a deal.

You be you, and I'll be me.

And with any luck, we'll get back to being us.

Manhattan, you deserve a patent.

Some say you should be flattened.

Oh Manhattan, it's you or me.

You really needn't be combatting While living in Manhattan Where else could this have happened Said Manhattan,

it's you or me I love the potholes in the streets I love to hear your cars go beep beep beep In New York you can lose

your thumbs Turn around and be missing your thumbs Take a walk through the park Just after dark And come out in the

morning on a stretcher I love the potholes in the streets I love to hear your cars go beep beep beep beep beep beep

beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep Manhattan,

you really ought to know you're charming And it's not so alarming that you're charming me Manhattan,

you deserve a patent Some say you should be flattened Or Manhattan, it's you or me I love the potholes in the streets.

I love to hear your cars go beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.

Manhattan, oh Manhattan, you really ought to know you're charming, you're so charming, and it's not so alarming,

you're charming me.

Oh Manhattan, it's you or me.