Original subtitles

[music playing]

Wow.

I'm in New York City.

I mean, this place is up, I mean up.

You know, you wanna see a bird, you gotta look down.

Oh, this is some place to hang out.

I just wish I knew why we were here.

[knocking]

That just might be your answer.

Dry cleaning for Mr. Smith?

Yes.

Thank you very much. - Thanks.

You bet.

What's that stuff?

Dry cleaning.

We didn't send anything out.

I know that.

But Father Smith has to go to the theater tonight.

Just you?

Now, would I do that to you?

Oh, I get to go too?

Sure you do.

You gotta deliver these to Fred Fusco.

[chattering]

Look at me, weak, pallid, miserable.

I'm a desperate man.

Freddie, listen to me.

On behalf of my sister Snuffy and my nephew

Ed, of whom I'm the sole support,

allow me a shred of my reputation

so that I may work again.

Close the show.

Freddie, I have faith in this play.

It's about God.

You wouldn't bring down the curtain on God.

God is merciful.

He wouldn't inflict this lemon on his people.

Let me buy my way out of the contract.

Freddie, if we can keep the play running,

we will get word of mouth.

Word of mouth?

We've got word of mouth.

The word is, "don't go."

[knocking]

Hello, Uncle Fred.

Oh, am I interrupting something?

Hello, Mr. Milhaus, Mr. Corcoran.

- Hello, Ed. - Mhm.

What is it now, Ed?

Well, if you're busy, I--

I'm never too busy for you, Ed.

How much?

Well, it's to repair the car.

How much?

Well, I don't know.

I won't know until I pick up the car.

Why don't you just sign the check and I'll

fill in the figure later?

Thank you.

What would I do without you?

I'd love to find out.

You know what's wrong with the play?

It needs some laughs in the third act.

Fred, you die in the third act.

It's hard to make that funny.

Yeah, well, we'll have dinner after the show.

We'll talk about it.

I'll see you there.

FRED: Yeah.

Well, I guess it's time to get ready for the show.

Where's my dresser?

He quit.

Why?

Freddie, you pushed him.

What?

A little push.

Out of the room and down the stairs?

So sue me.

Freddie, he is suing you.

That's the fourth dresser that you've had in two weeks.

So I'm afraid that, this performance,

you're gonna have to dress yourself.

Oh, come on, Arnold.

It's easy to be a dresser.

All he has to do is hand me my clothes.

Anybody can do that.

[knocking]

Mr. Fusco, your clothes.

Just the man I'm looking for.

Third row, second seat, sir.

Thank you very much.

I can't seem to get the seat down.

It must be broken.

Take the one next to it.

JOHNATHAN: Thank you very much.

I know I--

I didn't always do the best, but I--

well, I know that.

But I tried.

I tried to do the best with whatever I had.

I didn't know that you cared.

You know, I used to talk to you, when I was very young,

in the dark, wish for things.

But whatever I wished for never came about.

So I figured you weren't listening.

So I stopped talking to you, stop wishing for things.

But I'm wishing now, God.

I'm wishing that you never leave me out alone in the dark.

Are you listening, Lord?

[heavenly music]

Right this way, gentlemen.

Oh, yeah?

I didn't know you were star-struck.

ROBERT: The fact is, I dream it, the whole play.

Total inspiration.

Bob Milhaus, the writer.

Oh, yeah?

Right.

Arnold Corcoran's in there?

Nobody's coming to this theater, but we are running.

He loves the play.

But Fusco doesn't.

He wants to turn it into a comedy,

get some laughs in the third act, quote, unquote.

BOB: Mr. Sensitive.

Mm.

Mr. Milhaus.

Gordon.

Well, small world.

Well, this is my pal, Jonathan Smith.

This is Bob Milhaus.

How are you?

Father.

Father.

Walter Cousins, the "Times."

A pleasure, Mr. Cousins.

I write your order?

Well, Fusco's late, but he'll go for shrimp.

Two shrimp, please.

Shrimp.

Shrimp.

Same.

Five shrimp dinner.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I'm late.

Bob.

Oh, Father.

Father--

Smith.

Father Smith.

I'm glad you're here, Father.

BOB: Fred, I've got a couple of notions for the third act.

Ah, forget it.

The play goes as it is.

[scoffs] Uh, Fred, the audience--

The audience doesn't understand.

It's a great play.

Great play.

[laughs] [scoffs]

I, uh--

I wonder what you would say--

I wonder what you would say if I told you I saw God tonight.

What?

God.

I saw him tonight.

BOB: All right, Fred.

What's the joke?

FRED: No joke.

I really mean that.

What?

I really do.

The, uh-- God revealed himself to Moses in the Bible.

Isn't that right, Father?

That's correct.

Well, I didn't read the book, but I saw the movie.

Charlton Heston saw him.

Well, he did appear in the desert.

Well, he did it again.

He was in the audience tonight.

In the third row, right next to you, Father.

Right next to you.

[cars honking]

We got a fridge.

Just going to fill it up.

Hey, have you seen the paper?

Fusco's ordered the seat not to be sold for any performance

during the run on the show.

You think the boss really was there?

Oh, come on.

I mean, he told me I was sitting in the seat next to the seat.

I'm in a seat next to God, and I'm an angel,

and I don't see him?

And this-- this actor Fusco says he saw him.

Sorry.

So what do you figure?

Hey, I figure he's in a play that's not doing very well.

And he feels a little publicity might help.

Well, he was right.

I was just by the theater.

Big rush at the box office.

I mean, that line is halfway up the block!

They got television cameras and reporters

there to interview him!

That should probably be on right now.

I mean, wouldn't that be something

if he really did see God?

Oh, come on. I just told you.

I didn't see him.

I've never seen him.

Hey, don't get testy.

GARY FOX (ON TV): What was he wearing?

FRED (ON TV): Uh, wear-- wearing?

I-- I didn't notice.

GARY FOX (ON TV): God was sitting in the third row.

You didn't notice what he was wearing?

FRED (ON TV): Well, I--

I-- I don't know.

I-- I don't know.

I-- a dark suit, I guess.

Nothing special.

GARY FOX (ON TV): God wasn't wearing anything special?

I would think God would be wearing something very special.

FRED (ON TV): You're making this sound ludicrous.

GARY FOX (ON TV): Well, look.

No offense, Fred.

I'm just having a little problem with the idea that the king

of the universe would take time out

from all that he has to do to stop in to see a performance

of a Broadway play.

FRED (ON TV): But it's true!

As God is my witness.

GARY FOX (ON TV): Well, this is where we came in, folks.

[outro music]

This is Gary Fox, saying you just

never know who you're going to bump into at the theater

these days.

ED: You must be crackers, Uncle Fred!

Why would you say a thing like that on the news?

Because it's true!

I'll tell you what's true.

What's true is Gary Fox made a famous actor look like a fool!

And what's unfortunate for all of us is that the actor is you.

I mean, what a thing to make up just to save a miserable play!

It's not a miserable play.

God thinks it's a good play.

So does the priest.

[doorbell ringing]

Ed, get the door.

Things like this happen in the Bible.

Really?

Yes.

Well, I'll go down to the lumber yard and get some wood.

It's supposed to rain tomorrow.

We'll get started on an Ark.

Oh, that's funny, Snuffy.

It happened in the Bible!

I'm Father Smith.

Fred Fusco telephoned me.

Why?

He's not even a Catholic.

How'd you get in here?

The gates locked.

Well, miracles never cease.

All right.

Come in.

Thank you.

Mother!

Uncle Fred's priest is here.

[sighs] Believe me, Father Smith.

Fred Fusco is a very fragile person,

mentally and physically.

I've gone through two nervous breakdowns with him.

Uncle Fred has always been a man of queer ideas.

Always.

Look, Father.

Fred had a severe heart attack, thought he was going to die.

Was terrified.

ED: Then this TV writer, this Milhaus

comes to him with this play about a man who

was going to die and sees God.

Well, you get the connection.

Yeah, but I really don't--

SNUFFY: Father, the man is not well!

If you want to help Fred Fusco, go out and back

and talk him out of this lunacy!

Uncle Fred is destroying his career!

Why, nobody goes out and hires crazy people.

I don't like to be crass.

But this house costs money!

And I'm going to college.

You're a student?

Ed, take Father Smith to your uncle.

Uh, no no.

That's-- that's perfectly all right.

I'll find my way.

But I, uh--

I wouldn't worry about Fred's career just yet.

The play's become very popular.

[phone dialing]

Hello.

Yes, I would like two orchestra tickets for tomorrow

night's performance.

Well, how about Thursday night?

Next Thursday night?

Thank you.

I see.

[phone disconnects]

The play's sold out three weeks solid.

Hello, Fred.

Oh.

Father.

Well, meet the family?

Oh, yes.

We, uh-- we had a nice little chat.

Pretty awful, aren't they?

Now, anybody else said it, I'd fight them to the death.

But I support them.

So I guess I have a right.

Well, there's no law that says you have to support them.

Well, who else would?

Completely helpless people, absolutely useless,

positively determined to stay that way.

17 years Ed's been going to college.

Snuffy says he hasn't found himself yet.

You can't find yourself if there's nobody there!

Come on, why don't we take a little walk?

You relax a little.

Hey, you're not doing him any favors, you know?

I mean, why should he change?

He's got a free ride.

I know.

If only I could get him to realize

there are people in this world who really need help.

It's only important that you realize it.

Oh, I do realize it.

You know what I'd like?

I'd like to give it all away, everything,

to people who need it.

Everybody says I'm lying.

I'm crazy.

What do you think?

I think you're a very unhappy man.

But am a crazy, unhappy man?

No, I don't think so.

[chatter]

Great tonight, Mr. Fusco.

Thanks, Mark.

Fred.

Oh, Bob, hi.

Thought they'd react to some of the lines tonight.

Yeah.

Fred, uh, people aren't coming to see an entertainment.

We're getting believers on a pilgrimage.

Kooks.

Did you see the flashbulbs going off?

They were all taking a picture of God's seat.

Now, I don't want to sound ungrateful, Freddy.

But, uh-- well, I'd--

I'd like you to back off a little from what you said.

Why?

Fred, this isn't a show anymore.

It's a circus.

We don't have a leading man.

We have a clown.

You think I'm a clown, Bob?

This play was a gift, Fred.

A gift to you from God?

Yes!

Yes, right out of sleep.

A gift from God!

I see.

So God can speak to you, but not to me.

Writers have a direct line.

Actors make it all up.

Oh.

Mark, show the man out, please.

You're a fraud.

[instrumental music]

I want to see the priest.

He knows I'm not a fraud.

[chatter]

[laughs] So God said you were terrific and that the play

would be a big success.

You saw him say that.

Oh, I-- I didn't see him speak.

I heard him.

But you-- but you did see him sitting there.

Oh, as plain as sitting here.

[laughs] I'll tell you, you're a-- you're a lucky man, Fred,

to, um, imagine you've seen God.

I'm a lot luckier than that.

I didn't imagine it.

You still don't believe me, do you?

I thought you at least would give

me the benefit of the doubt.

But Fred, I was sitting right there.

I was in the next seat.

And I didn't see him!

I've never seen God.

Well, I guess most priests have never seen God.

I mean, it's not a requirement for the job, is it?

Fred, what would you say if I told you I wasn't a priest?

You're not-- not a priest?

No.

What are you?

Are you with the "National Enquirer?"

Oh, no.

Nothing like that.

I'm, uh-- I'm an angel.

You're an angel?

Oh, I see.

JONATHAN: I know it sounds crazy.

Oh, just, uh--

just a trifle.

I wish you'd take my word for it.

Why?

Did you take my word?

I said I saw God.

I didn't say I was God.

You didn't say you saw an angel.

You said you are an angel.

And I am!

Now, doesn't it make sense to you?

I mean, if one of us was going to see God,

wouldn't it more than likely be me?

Hmm.

Well, I'll-- I'll tell him that next

time he drops by the theater.

[seagulls calling]

Are you listening, Lord?

[dramatic instrumental music]

[applause]

Great show today.

It's standing room only for a matinee!

Yeah.

Mark, am I crazy?

Let me help you out of your coat.

My family thinks I'm crazy.

Your friend Jonathan thinks I'm crazy.

What do you think, Mr. Dresser?

Freddy, excuse me.

I got a kid outside.

Oh, Arnold, please.

He wants to see the man who saw God.

Oh.

Let him buy a ticket.

Freddy, the kid's got tumors in his head.

What?

They got a society for these kids.

They-- they grant last wishes and stuff.

He wants to meet you.

All-- all right.

Hey, Paul.

Paul Garrett, this is Mr. Fusco.

Hello.

Did you really see God?

Yes, I did.

My father says you were only kidding.

Were you kidding?

What was he like?

He's very friendly.

He came to see the play, you know.

I read he liked it.

Yes.

He said he did.

That made me feel good.

I mean, really good.

I'm gonna see him soon, I think.

Why do you say that?

'Cause I'm going to die.

That's why I came to see you.

To make sure.

I understand.

I was a little afraid.

There's no need to be.

[sighs] Thanks.

Any time.

Goodbye, Mr. Fusco.

Goodbye.

[instrumental music]

Mr. Fusco?

I'll say hi to him for you.

MARK: What do you suppose Fred's sister wants?

JONATHAN: I don't know.

We'll find out when we got there.

MARK: Oh, I wish you'd have seen with that kid.

[chuckles] I'll tell you something.

I think he saw the boss in the third row.

SNUFFY: I didn't know who else to call.

I'm going to see his psychiatrist today.

He's gone crazy ever since this God business.

He's giving away our money now.

You've got to help us put a stop to this immediately.

Well, who is he giving the money to?

Bums!

What bums?

It was in the paper this morning.

You know, one of those ads.

You can buy a meal for $1.50.

Some soup kitchen!

And?

SNUFFY: And he bought 2000 meals this morning!

2000.

Look, Father.

I've nothing against God.

But-- [laughs]

Oh, I'm sure he'll be very, very happy to hear that.

Hiya, Fred.

Ah, the riot squad is here.

My sister sent in the troops.

You all right, Mr. Fusco?

I'm fine.

Fine.

She tell you about the soup kitchen?

Oh, yes.

FRED: [laughs] You know, I've got to tell you something.

All my life, I've been on the take.

Oh, adulation, money.

Hoarded it all out of fear.

Every show was surely my last.

I'd better store it away.

Well, that's over.

I saw that kid.

He's got problems.

I'd like to give him a call right now, as a matter of fact.

You know, he's the kind of kid that I should be helping,

instead of that, uh--

well, that bum nephew of mine.

I mean the stuff he calls these people at the mission-- bums.

They're not real bums.

My nephew is a real bum.

Hello!

Paul Garrett's room.

Yes.

What?

That's impossible.

Well, I was--

[dramatic instrumental music]

Yeah.

Thank you.

What's wrong?

He didn't wake up this morning.

[quietly sobs]

Fred, as your lawyer and your friend,

I must tell you I find this very extreme.

FRED: Now, after these stocks, it's the bank account,

house, the works.

It all goes to the endowment.

And it all goes in the name of Paul Garrett.

Right.

Do me a favor.

Get the paperwork done as quickly as possible

before Snuffy finds out.

LAWYER: All right.

Is tonight too late?

FRED: Oh, perfect.

LAWYER: Fine.

You can sign the papers at the theater.

All right.

I'll be there with my pen at the ready.

See you tonight.

Right.

Gentlemen, let's go to the theater.

[phone dialing]

Hello, Mrs. Davis?

This is Ed. I'm fine.

I'm fine.

No.

Is-- is my mother there?

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, Mother!

We have major trouble over here!

I don't care if you have 24 points in your hand!

I'm talking major trouble, Mother!

Uncle Fred wants to give away all our money!

Mother?

Mother?

Hello?

Hello?

[chatter]

Come on.

The curtain is about to go up, and now you discover

this machine isn't working?

Didn't you check it?

It was working fine.

Oh, that's great.

That-- how are we going to end this show?

If Fusco doesn't rise off the stage and go to meet his maker,

how do we end this show?

Beats me.

It's the finale!

It is the last thing!

We could pray.

No, no. Oh, no, no.

You're going to pray.

You're going to pray, because you've got one hour

and 57 minutes before you never work again!

So fix it!

Snuffy, your brother has threatened

to kill himself before.

But never at the theater!

It's a sacred place to him!

This time the man means it.

Uncle Fred is very depressed.

He claims nobody believes him.

But is he a danger to himself?

Is he really that far gone?

What kind of a psychiatrist are you?

A man who is trying to give away everything he owns,

who says God likes his show, and who

threatened to kill himself at the theater tonight.

How far gone do you have to be?

Do you want my brother's death on your hands?

I want him committed!

OK.

We'll go get him.

I'll call the ambulance.

[phone dialing]

Five minutes.

See my lawyer yet?

No.

Will you relax?

You don't sign the papers tonight,

you can sign them tomorrow.

Oh, tomorrow it will be too late.

Too late.

Here you go.

Jonathan, remember in the restaurant

you told me you're an angel?

Yeah, I remember.

I didn't believe you.

I'm sorry.

What made you change your mind?

He just told me.

I know that no one believes me, about God

coming to see the show.

I just wish I wouldn't die with everybody thinking I was crazy.

Come on, Fred.

Why do you keep talking about dying?

He said he'd catch the show again tonight.

[orchestra tuning]

[chatter]

One minute.

Places, everybody.

One minute.

[orchestra tuning]

Everything is looking good.

He's here.

Let me know as soon as the papers are here.

How's he doing?

He says the boss is out there.

[orchestra music]

STAGE MANAGER: Curtain.

[knocking]

Come in.

[applause]

FRED: You're telling me I'm going to die?

May I see your ticket, sir?

ACTOR: Everybody dies.

FRED: But soon?

You're in row 13.

13?

Yes.

I'm very sorry.

FRED: I'm a man of decision.

How soon?

ACTOR: [laughs] You looking at your watch?

I've got $10 million.

Look, I don't even know if you're here.

That man up there says you are.

FRED: Well, I'm talking money here.

ACTOR: I thought you were talking about--

And I don't even know if he's in his right mind.

And what--

Shh!

I'm sorry.

FRED: A very important life.

ACTOR: Every life is important.

FRED: Some lives aren't worth a nickel.

ACTOR: Who is counting?

Look, if you are here, you got to do something.

ACTOR: Not wives, not children.

He thinks he's going to die, like he knows.

FRED: No, they're swayed by emotion.

I mean, you-- you can't just let him die with

everybody thinking he's crazy.

If you let him see you, you must have had a reason.

It couldn't be just to have people laughing at him.

Please help him.

Do something.

Let the world know Fred Fusco isn't just a kook.

FRED: And wish for things.

If you are here, thanks for listening.

Why did I bother?

With what?

Living.

You have a nephew.

[laughs] That's what I bothered for?

ACTOR: Have you ever talk to your wife?

About dying?

Where have you been?

Hmm.

FRED: Of course not.

Talking to an empty seat.

[chuckles] Thought you said you didn't believe them.

[sighs] Never mind what I said.

She's not real.

Great.

You're here.

He's been asking for you.

He'll be off in about five minutes.

Come on, I'll take you to dressing room.

Snuffy, what are you doing here?

[sighs] Hello, Father.

That is Dr. Malisz.

I'm having Fred committed.

But why?

You know very well why.

Look, do-- don't do it here.

Not in front of everybody, please.

All right.

I'll take you to this dressing room.

Act ends in a minute.

[sighs]

This can't be right.

I don't remember his dressing room being down here!

Play changed it.

It's a lot cooler down here.

[scoffs]

Here you go!

The light switch is on the far wall.

Sorry.

[yelling]

SNUFFY: Hey!

Is somebody there?

Somebody open the door!

Ed!

Do something!

[door rattling]

I don't want to die.

I want to live!

[applause]

Never better, Fred.

They love you!

Yeah.

Have you got it fixed?

The whole rigging's come apart.

Great.

That's just great!

Ah, Beckwith.

Pen.

All right.

He's here.

Who's here?

God.

That's why it was so important to have these papers signed.

Freddy, forget your harness tonight.

The thing's gone haywire.

So we'll wait for your cue line at the end,

and then you look up.

And we'll pull the curtain.

Fine.

Everything's fine.

[whistling]

[banging on door]

[yelling]

Hey, who's in there?

ED: We are in here!

We are in here!

Relax!

I'll go get the keys.

[banging continues]

What's happening?

Everything is stopped.

Nothing stopped for them.

My heart's not beating.

No.

And they are between heartbeats.

That's me.

I'm dead.

Yes.

[banging on door]

Sorry it took so long.

But I couldn't find the maintenance man.

ED: Mother.

Mother.

Uh, which way am I going?

I don't know.

That's up to him.

It's a judgment call.

[sighs] Judgment.

I haven't always been the--

I haven't always been the best.

I know that.

But I tried.

I tried to be the best with everything I had.

I didn't know you cared.

I used to speak to you when I was very young in the dark

and wish for things.

But the things that I wish for never seem to come about.

So I figured you weren't listening.

And after a while, I stopped talking to you.

Stopped wishing.

But I'm wishing now.

God, I'm wishing that you don't leave me alone in the dark.

Are you listening, Lord?

OK, bring it in.

[click]

Get that curtain closed.

[clicking] - Come on, you heard him!

Bring it in.

Come on!

It's stuck!

STAGE MANAGER: Close it!

Come on.

[orchestra music]

[click]

[applause]

Send him down!

We didn't send him up.

[applause continues]

MAN: Bravo!

We're on our way.

I just wanted to say goodbye.

[sighs] Did you read the papers?

[laughs] Yeah, I read them.

Well, a man just doesn't disappear.

I'll tell you, this is no hoax.

I don't care what the papers say.

They weren't there.

Does it really matter what the papers say?

What matters is your play changed

that man's life and the lives of a lot of other people.

Yeah.

I'll hate to see it close.

Why would it close?

Corcoran's been on the phone all morning.

He can't get anyone to take Fusco's role.

They figure he's an impossible act to follow.

You'll find someone.

Play's gonna run a long time, and it's gonna be a big hit.

What makes you so sure?

Because God likes it.

Take care.

[instrumental music]

[end credit music]

[tinkling]