The Chaperone (2018) Movie Script
[KNOCKING]
LOUISE, ARE YOU IN THERE?
CAN YOU OPEN THE DOOR?
IT'S NORMA CARLISLE.
I KNOW YOU NEVER DID
ANYTHING I SAID 20 YEARS AGO,
BUT I WISH YOU'D
OPEN THE DOOR.
[BAND PLAYING JAZZ]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
MY, MY. THEY'VE PU IN QUITE AN EFFORT.
THERE'S LOIS AND JACK.
HELLO, NORMA,
ALAN.
LOIS.
WHAT ARE WE
DOING HERE?
IT'S A GOOD CAUSE.
MY CORSET'S
KILLING ME.
WOMAN: WHERE'S LOUISE?
GETTING READY.
SHE'S FIRST ON.
I SHOULD GO.
WHEN DOES
SHE LEAVE
FOR NEW YORK?
TUESDAY IF SHE
GOES AT ALL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS
ALL SET.
SO DID I,
BUT LEONARD SAYS
SHE CAN'T GO
WITHOUT A CHAPERONE,
AND I SUPPOSE SHE CAN'T,
BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO FIND ANYONE.
WELL, WHY DON' YOU GO?
BECAUSE I'M
GIVING A TALK
IN TOWN NEXT WEEK
AND A CONCER AFTER THA IN KANSAS CITY.
HOW COULD I?
OH, IT'S A SHAME
FOR HER TO MISS
THE CHANCE
WHEN SHE'S SO GIFTED.
YOU MUST BE
VERY PROUD.
I'M PROUD OF HER,
AND SHE'S PROUD OF ME.
BOY: ZZZZZMMM!
UH-OH. LEONARD'S
GLARING AT ME.
MARTIN, COME ON.
CAN I WATCH
FROM HERE, MOM?
NO. YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.
DO I HAVE TO?YES, YOU HAVE TO.
"I'M PROUD OF HER,
AND SHE'S PROUD OF ME."
MARTIN: CAN I GO
HOME NOW?
MAN: L-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IN A MOMENT,
THE PROGRAM WILL BEGIN.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[BAND STOPS]
DID I TELL YOU JACK
AND I ARE JOINING
THE KLAN?
WHAT CLAN?
THE KU KLUX KLAN.
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.
JACK: HEH. WHY NOT?
YOU MUST HAVE NOTICED
WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON
SINCE THE WAR.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
LAWS, CUSTOMS, MORALS--
EVERYTHING'S FALLING APART.
A DECENT WOMAN
CAN HARDLY WALK
DOWN THE STREE IN BROAD DAYLIGH THESE DAYS.
BUT THE KLAN?
PERSECUTING NEGROES
WITH WIZARDS
AND BONFIRES
AND HOODS WITH SPOOKY
EYE HOLES?
AT LEAST THEY'RE
INTERESTED IN STANDING
UP FOR PURITY.
LET'S LEAVE I FOR NOW, HONEY.
MAN: HELLO, ALAN,
NORMA.
OH. HELLO, RAYMOND.
YOU REMEMBER
MS. BURTON?
OH, I REMEMBER MS. BURTON.
HELLO, MRS. CARLISLE.
IT'S GOOD OF YOU
TO SUPPORT THIS.
IT'S GOOD OF YOU.
MAN: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
TONIGHT WE HAVE
A SPECIAL TREAT.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD
OF MYRA BROOKS,
THE WELL-KNOWN
WICHITA PIANIST.
WELL, THIS EVENING,
WE HAVE A DOUBLE HELPING
OF TALENT AS SHE HAS
GENEROUSLY CONSENTED
TO ACCOMPANY
HER DAUGHTER LOUISE,
WHO HAS RECENTLY
BEEN ACCEPTED
TO STUDY DANCE
IN NEW YORK.
[APPLAUSE]
LIKE THOUSANDS
OF OTHERS.
[PLAYING FRANZ SCHUMANN'S
"KINDERSZENEN" OP. 15]
[APPLAUSE]
[BAND PLAYING JAZZ]
YOU READY?YES.
YES. GOOD TO
SEE YOU AGAIN.
YES, MRS. CARLISLE.
MYRA: I DID NO LOSE TIME.
LOUISE: YES, MOTHER.
WHATEVER YOU SAY.
JUST A MOMENT.
MOTHER, I DON' WANT TO DO THIS
RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
WELL DONE.
I THOUGHT YOUR PERFORMANCE
WAS VERY EXCITING.
MYRA: EXCITING?
I ASSUME YOU'RE NO FROM WICHITA.
OH. NO. I AM.
I AM.
A WOMAN FROM WICHITA
WHO BELIEVES
IN MODERN DANCE?
I MAY NEED A CHAIR,
MRS.--
CARLISLE.
THIS IS MY HUSBAND
MR. CARLISLE.
YES, HE WOULD BE.
I WAS JUST WONDERING
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING
EARLIER ABOUT LOOKING
FOR A CHAPERONE
TO ACCOMPANY
YOUR DAUGHTER
TO NEW YORK.
YES?
WELL, I'D LIKE TO
PROPOSE MYSELF.
ALAN: HONEY, DON' YOU THINK THAT--
I WOULD.
I'D LIKE TO GO.
ALAN: NORMA, DEAR--
MYRA: HERE'S MY CARD.
YOU COME AND SEE US
TOMORROW.
LOUISE: PLEASE COME.
[SIGHS]
THANK...GOD.
UGH.
[SIGHS]
DON'T YOU THINK
WE MIGHT HAVE TALKED
ABOUT IT FIRST?
WHY?
I WANT TO GO.
YOU REALLY WANT TO GO
TO NEW YORK CITY?
NO. THE OTHER
NEW YORK.
WELL, WHA ABOUT THE BOYS?
THEY'RE NOT USED
TO YOU GONE.
THEY WON'T MIND.
THEY'RE TOO BUSY
TO CARE WHAT WE DO.
I HOPE YOU WON'T GO
DIGGING AROUND
WHEN YOU GET THERE.
I'LL DO WHAT I LIKE.
THINK I HAVE
THE RIGHT, DON'T YOU?
BY THE WAY, WHAT WAS
MS. BURTON DOING
WITH RAYMOND WALKER?
HOW SHOULD I KNOW?
JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT,
THAT'S ALL.
[SIGHS]
NORMA: WE THOUGHT YOU
WERE AWFULLY GOOD YESTERDAY,
BOTH OF YOU.
THAT PIANO BELONGS
IN A SPEAKEASY.
I'M SORRY
ABOUT THE MESS.
OUR GIRL HASN'T COME
FOR SOME REASON,
AND I'VE BEEN UPSTAIRS
WRITING ALL DAY.
I EXPECT YOU'D HAVE
CLEANED UP YOURSELF.
I IMAGINE YOU'RE
PRETTY BUSY.
OH, I'M UP
TO MY EYES!
I'M GIVING A TALK
ON WAGNER NEXT WEEK.
HOW INTERESTING.
OH! OHH. CHILDREN LEAVE
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE.
[SIGHS]
SO YOU THINK YOU'D
LIKE TO GO TO NEW YORK
WITH LOUISE.
ONLY IF IT WOULD
SUIT YOU.
OH! IT WOULD SUIT ME.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
IN FACT, I'M COUNTING
ON YOU.
I HAD SUCH A STRUGGLE
GETTING LEONARD
TO AGREE TO HER
GOING AT ALL,
AND THEN WHEN WE COULDN' FIND ANYONE TO ACCOMPANY HER--
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
SUCH A WASTE.
I AGREE. SHE'S
A REAL ARTIST.
ANYONE CAN SEE THAT.
AND FOR DENISHAWN
TO TAKE HER ON
WHEN SHE'S ONLY 16,
THERE'S THE PROOF.
DENISHAWN?
IT WAS FOUNDED
BY RUTH ST. DENIS
AND TED SHAWN,
THE MOST INNOVATIVE
DANCERS OF OUR TIME.
YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM
WHEN THEY CAME
THROUGH HERE LAST JUNE?
NO.
YOU MISSED SOMETHING.
SHAWN AND MARTHA GRAHAM
WERE THE LEADS.
THEY WERE SENSATIONAL.
LOUISE: PUT THAT DOWN
RIGHT NOW! I TOLD YOU!
MOTHER!MARTIN: GIVE ME THAT!
OW!
OW!
SHOULDN'T WE
INVESTIGATE?
NO NEED.
SHE'LL COME TO US.
LOUISE: MOTHER!
MARTIN HIT ME!
IT LEFT A MARK.
I CANNOT TOLERATE
ANY MORE OF HIS INSOLENCE
AND HIS VIOLENCE!
YOUR BROTHER'S
INSOLENCE AND VIOLENCE
WON'T BE YOUR PROBLEM
MUCH LONGER.
HERE'S MRS. CARLISLE,
COME TO TALK ABOUT YOUR
TRIP TO NEW YORK.
OF COURSE.
HELLO, MRS. CARLISLE.
SORRY ABOUT YOUR ARM.
IT LOOKS SORE.
MYRA: SHE'S NEVER HEARD
OF DENISHAWN.
NEVER MIND THAT.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO
WHEN WE GET TO NEW YORK?
I DON'T KNOW.
I LIKE GOOD THEATER.
MYRA:
WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.
SO I GUESS IT'S SETTLED?
I GUESS IT IS.
WELL, THEN.
MAN: OF COURSE
I DON'T MIND.
WHY WOULD I MIND?
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
YOUR FATHER WAS WORRIED.
YOU DON'T WANT TO
LISTEN TO DAD.
THIS IS 1922.
HAVEN'T YOU HEARD?
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
WOMEN VOTE NOW.
THEY DO WHATEVER
THEY WANT.
INCLUDING TAKE A TRIP
TO NEW YORK.
HMM.
GIVE MY REGARDS
TO LUCY.
HOW IS SHE?
VERY WELL,
AND THAT IS ALL
I HAVE TO SAY
ON THE SUBJECT.
HA HA HA!
HOWARD, YOU NEVER TOLD
US WHAT DR. WINSLOW SAID
WHEN HE HEARD YOU GO INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL.
OH, HE WAS VERY
DECENT ABOUT IT.
I'M SURE HE
WAS THRILLED!
YOU KNOW, I WANTED
TO BE A NURSE
WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
HOWARD: NOT A DOCTOR?
NOT IN THOSE DAYS.
I WROTE AWAY
FOR ALL THESE COURSES.
BUT YOU DIDN'T GO
THROUGH WITH IT?
I WAS NEEDED
ON THE FARM.
THANK YOU, DELLA.
NOW I'M TRUSTING YOU
TO LOOK AFTER MY BOYS.
ALL 3 OF THEM.HA!
ALL 3 OF THEM.
WE OUGHT TO GET GOING.
DON'T WORRY, MOM.
WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
CONDUCTOR: ALL ABOARD!
BOLTON STEAM TO CHICAGO.
LAST CALL!
MYRA: JUST REMEMBER
YOU'RE A VERY LUCKY GIRL--
TALENTED
BUT LUCKY, TOO.
I KNOW.
I NEVER HAD A CHANCE
LIKE THIS.
SO YOU KEEP TELLING ME.
JUST IN CASE
YOU'RE WONDERING,
IF MRS. CARLISLE WANTS
TO COME HOME,
YOU WILL COME HOME
WITH HER.
OH, BUT, DADDY--
YOU ARE NOT STAYING
ON ALONE IN NEW YORK,
SO YOU CAN FORGET THA RIGHT NOW.
NORMA: I KNOW WE'LL
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
YOU HEAR THAT,
LOUISE?
YOU BETTER MAKE SURE
MRS. CARLISLE HAS A GOOD TIME,
OR YOU ARE COMING HOME.
ALAN: VERY GOOD.
APPRECIATE IT.THANK YOU.
I CHECKED BOTH TRUNKS.
THEY SHOULD BE DELIVERED
THE NIGHT YOU ARRIVE.
LET ME KNOW
IF THEY AREN'T.
YOU SHOULD VISI THE GALLERIES.
MAYBE.
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME
WITH THAT OTHER
STUFF, PLEASE.
I SHOULD GET ABOARD.
I LOVE YOU,
YOU KNOW.
I REALLY DO.
THAT'S NICE.
WOMAN: I'M GOING
TO CHICAGO!
HERE WE GO.
DON'T WANT TO LEARN
ANYTHING BAD FROM
MRS. CARLISLE, YOU HEAR?
LOUISE: I HEAR.
YOU WORK HARD.
WITH WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING,
YOU BETTER COME BACK
THE BEST DANCER
IN WICHITA.
DON'T BE STUPID.
I ALREADY AM.
LOUISE: GOOD-BYE, WICHITA.
I WISH I COULD SAY
I'LL MISS YOU,
BUT I DON'T THINK
I WILL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE
FROM WICHITA.
I READ THAT.
SO DID MOTHER.
YOU...DIDN' LIKE IT?
"THE HOUSE OF MIRTH"
WAS BETTER,
BUT HISTORICAL FICTION
BORES ME.
OH.
ALL THOSE RIDICULOUS
RULES AND MANNERS.
IT'S JUST SO TEDIOUS
AND FAKE.
IT WON
THE PULITZER PRIZE.
SHE WAS THE FIRS WOMAN NOVELIS TO GET IT.
SO? AND THA SO-CALLED HERO.
HE'S IN LOVE,
BUT JUST BECAUSE
SHE'S DIVORCED,
HE LEAVES HER
AND MARRIES
A TOTAL DUMMY.
OH. DID I SPOIL I FOR YOU?
HE'S HANDSOME--
MR. CARLISLE.
THANK YOU.
DO YOU EVER REGRE MARRYING HIM?
WHAT?!
MY MOTHER REGRETS
MARRYING MY DAD.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
SHE DID.
I'M SURE SHE DIDN' MEAN IT.
YES, SHE DID.
MAN: EXCUSE ME, MISS.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME
TO LOWER YOUR WINDOW?
I DON'T MIND.
NORMA: THANK YOU,
BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF
WE WANT OUR WINDOW LOWERED.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
HOW LONG BEFORE WE GE TO CHICAGO?
CONDUCTOR: NEXT STOP CHICAGO
UNION STATION.
FINISH THAT NOW, NORMA.
WE'RE NEARLY THERE.
ARE YOU READY, GIRLS?
THIS IS WHERE WE GET OFF.
COME ON, GIRLS.
MOVE ALONG.
NORMA, HURRY UP!
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
[CLANG]
LOUISE?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE
YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
I'M DOING WELL.
MA'AM, TABLE
FOR ONE?
NO, THANK YOU. UM--
LOUISE: NORMA,
OVER HERE!
WOULD YOU CARE
TO JOIN THEM?
I GUESS SO.
OOH!
OHH!
HA HA HA!
I'M TERRIBLY SORRY, MA'AM.
LET ME MOVE ALONG.
PLEASE SIT DOWN.THANK YOU.
HA HA HA!
YOU WERE SLEEPING,
AND I WAS FAMISHED.
I HAD TO EAT SOMETHING
BEFORE WE GET TO CHICAGO.
WAITER: MA'AM?
I'LL HAVE THE...
LAMB STEW, PLEASE,
AND A CUP OF COFFEE.
LAMB AND COFFEE.
HOW INTERESTING.
[SNICKERS]
WHEN I GOT HERE,
THE TABLES WERE ALL FULL,
AND THESE GENTLEMEN
WERE KIND ENOUGH TO
OFFER ME A SEAT.
WASN'T IT NICE
OF THEM?
VERY NICE.
THIS IS MR. ROSS.
THIS IS HIS NEPHEW,
WHO'S ALSO MR. ROSS.
SO ISN'T THAT EASY
TO REMEMBER?
CALL ME JOE.
AND I'M NORMAN.
I'M MRS. CARLISLE.
JOE: ARE YOU FROM WICHITA,
TOO, MRS. CARLISLE?
SINCE MY MARRIAGE.
AND BEFORE THAT?
I GREW UP ON A FARM
OUTSIDE McPHERSON.
OH, I THINK
YOU'LL FIND NEW YORK
A LITTLE DIFFEREN FROM KANSAS.
HEH. I'M FROM
NEW YORK ORIGINALLY.
OH! WELL, THEN YOU'LL
AGREE WITH ME
THAT, UH, THEY WON' PUT UP WITH PROHIBITION
FOR VERY LONG.
I THINK
THE TEMPERANCE PEOPLE
HAVE OVERREACHED
THEMSELVES.
PROHIBITION IS STUPID.
I COULDN'T AGREE
MORE.
NORMA: THAT'S BECAUSE
YOU'VE NEVER KNOWN
DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A MAN
DRINK UP HIS WAGES
AND FORGET HIS FAMILY
AND HIS CHILDREN.
JOE: SO HOW OLD WERE YOU
WHEN YOU LEFT NEW YORK
FOR KANSAS?
YOUNG. I WAS
QUITE YOUNG.
WELL, THEN YOU CAN' HAVE KNOWN MUCH
DIFFERENT EITHER.
KANSAS HAS BEEN DRY
SINCE 1881,
AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE
OVER 60.
HA HA HA!
HA HA HA!
LAMB STEW
FOR THE LADY.
MAYBE NOT,
BUT I'VE TALKED
TO WOMEN
WHO REMEMBER
THE BAD, OLD DAYS,
AND I THINK THERE
ARE PLENTY OF WIVES
IN NEW YORK
WHO'LL BE VERY GLAD
OF THE CHANGE
IN THE LAW.
UNLESS THEY NEED A DRINK.
JOE: HA HA HA!
HA HA HA!
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
CONDUCTOR:
KNICKERBOCKER EXPRESS,
ALL ABOARD!
WHY CAN'T YOU JUS GET ON A TRAIN IN WICHITA
AND GO STRAIGHT THROUGH?
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T.
[TRAIN ROLLING]
BUT WE DON' CHANGE TRAINS AGAIN
BEFORE NEW YORK,
SO WE CAN HAVE
A GOOD REST.
AS LONG AS YOU DON' HAVE SOME RULES THA MIGHT PREVENT IT.
LOUISE, I AM NO YOUR ENEMY.
I HAVE NOT COME
ALONG TO HARASS YOU.
I'M HERE TO
PROTECT YOU.
WHAT DID YOU THINK
BACK THEN WHEN WE
WERE HAVING DINNER,
THAT THEY WERE GONNA
HAVE THEIR WAY WITH ME
IN THE--IN THE DINING CAR
UNDER THE TABLE?
A GIRL YOUR AGE
DOES NOT DINE WITH MEN
SHE DOESN'T KNOW,
NOT WITHOU A CHAPERONE.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE I ISN'T DONE.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE OF THE APPEARANCE
OF IMPROPRIETY.
LET ME PUT I TO YOU PLAINLY. AHEM.
MEN DON'T LIKE CANDY
THAT'S BEEN UNWRAPPED.
WHAT?
WELL, MAYBE
FOR A LARK,
BUT NOT FOR MARRIAGE.
THE CANDY MAY
STILL BE CLEAN,
BUT IF IT'S UNWRAPPED,
THEY DON'T KNOW
WHERE IT'S BEEN.
REALLY? HA HA!
NORMA, YOU SOUND LIKE
SOME OLD LATIN MAMA.
WHO IN THE WORLD
TAUGHT YOU THAT?
I HAVE NOT SAID
ANYTHING FUNNY.
HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
WHAT WERE YOUR PARENTS
DOING IN NEW YORK?
YOU SAID THEY WERE
FARMERS.
THEY WERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW THEM
WHEN I WAS IN THE CITY.
I WAS AN ORPHAN,
AND THEY ADOPTED ME.
WHY DID THEY COME
TO NEW YORK?
WHY DIDN'T THEY JUS FIND A BABY IN KANSAS?
WELL...
IN THOSE DAYS,
THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
USED TO SEND THE ORPHANS
OUT ON TRAINS
ALL OVER AMERICA.
PEOPLE CAME
TO THE STATIONS
AND ADOPTED US.
YOU WERE JUS STANDING THERE
LIKE A SLAVE MARKET?
JESUS!
DON'T SWEAR.
AND IT WASN'T LIKE
A SLAVE MARKET.
THE KAUFMANNS WERE
WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
THEY GAVE ME
A GOOD HOME.
WE DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH MONEY.
WE ALL HAD TO WORK
ON THE FARM,
BUT THEY LOVED ME,
AND I LOVED THEM
VERY MUCH.
WHEN DID YOU LEAVE
THE FARM?
THEY DIED WHEN I WAS
QUITE YOUNG,
BUT SOON AFTER,
I MET MR. CARLISLE.
ARE YOU HAPPY?
WHAT?
WITH MR. CARLISLE?
ARE YOU HAPPY
WITH MR. CARLISLE?
OF COURSE I AM.
I'M VERY HAPPY.
YOU DIDN'T LOOK
SO HAPPY.
YOU WERE KIND OF
FUNNY WITH HIM.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU MEAN.
WELL, IF YOU DON' WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I'M VERY HAPPY.
SO YOU SAID.
I'M PUTTING
THE LIGHT OUT.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
[WOMAN SINGING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
[BABY CRYING]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWING]
I THINK I'M IN LOVE
WITH NEW YORK ALREADY.
LOUISE, REALLY.
IT'S EXACTLY
AS I'D IMAGINED IT.
I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE
THAT THIS IS WHERE
I'M MEANT TO BE.
SEEMS VERY LOUD TO ME.
LOUD AND VERY CROWDED.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW
WE WERE ON THE SAME PLANE AS WICHITA.
WE'RE NOT,
THANK GOD.
HELLO. I WANT TO GO
TO RIVERSIDE DRIVE, PLEASE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW, LADY.
I'LL PICK UP SOMETHING
MORE CENTRAL, HUH?
MY LAST RIDE
BEFORE I GO HOME.
PLEASE HELP US,
MR. DRIVER.
WE'RE NEW HERE IN TOWN,
AND WE WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL.
SURE. YEAH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.THANK YOU.
HEH.
NORMA: AHH.
HOW DID YOUR FATHER
FIND THIS PLACE?
LOUISE: I COULDN' TELL YOU.
AHH. IT'S NOT SO BAD.
I THINK IT'S NICE.
COMPARED TO WHAT?
DO YOU MIND
SHARING A ROOM?
BETTER THAN THE COUCH.
DO YOU WAN THE FIRST BATH?
YOU HAVE IT.
SHALL WE GO AND SEE
TIMES SQUARE?
WE COULD TAKE
THE SUBWAY.
I'M AFRAID I'M
A LITTLE TIRED.
OK. WELL, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE
ME TO GET YOU?
LOUISE, IT'S ALMOST DARK,
AND YOU HAVE A CLASS
IN THE MORNING.
NOT TILL 10:00.
I'LL BE FINE.
I'M SORRY,
BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING
OUT BY YOURSELF.
FINE. I'LL STAY IN.
YEAH.
THIS IS IT.
I FEEL KIND OF NERVOUS.
DON'T BE.
I'VE SEEN YOU DANCE.
YOU'VE GOT NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.
YOU'RE VERY GOOD
REALLY.
I KNOW, BUT VERY GOOD
ISN'T ENOUGH,
NOT FOR WHAT I WANT.
WELL, YOU WON' GET ANY BETTER
STANDING HERE.
GOOD LUCK.
YOU'LL BE GREAT.
SIGN IN A THIS TABLE, PLEASE,
AND THEN FIND
A PLACE FOR YOURSELF
ON THE FLOOR,
AND DON'T DAWDLE.
[JAZZ PLAYING ON RADIO]
WOULD IT BE ALL RIGH IF I HAD SOMETHING TO EAT?
AS OPPOSED TO WHAT?
HAVE I SEEN YOU
IN HERE BEFORE?
NO, BUT I MAY BE
A REGULAR
FOR A WHILE ANYWAY.
GONNA BE IN THE CITY
FOR A FEW WEEKS,
AND WE'RE STAYING
NEARBY.
OH. WHERE YOU FROM?
WICHITA, KANSAS.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
NEW YORK.
WELL, WESTCHESTER,
BUT I'M STUDYING LAW
AT COLUMBIA,
SO I'M STAYING UP
IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS
AT LEAS UNTIL I GRADUATE.
I GUESS WE ARE BOTH
STRANGERS
IN THIS PAR OF THE CITY ANYWAY.
I FEEL LESS
OF A STRANGER ALREADY.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
PEOPLE LIKE US,
WE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER.
I'M FLOYD SMITHERS.
NORMA CARLISLE.
HEH. HA HA!
WHAT? WHY YOU SMILING?
YOU REMIND ME
OF MY SONS--
STILL WITH EVERYTHING
TO PLAY FOR. HA HA HA!
YOU THINK I COULD
LOOK AT A MENU?
OH, SURE. SORRY.
HEH HEH HEH.
RIGHT.
AND I WONDER
COULD YOU TELL
ME HOW TO GE TO THIS ADDRESS?
WHAT DO YOU NEED
DOWN ON 15th STREET?
WHY? IS I A BAD AREA?
WELL, IF I WERE YOU,
I WOULD TAKE A CAB
AND HOLD ON
TO YOUR PURSE.
OH, AND TAKE OFF
YOUR JEWELRY.
WOMAN: WELCOME, ALL OF YOU,
TO DENISHAWN.
I AM RUTH ST. DENIS.
PLEASE CALL ME MISS RUTH,
AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND
AND PARTNER, TED SHAWN.
BY CONTRAST,
YOU MAY CALL ME
PAPA SHAWN.
[LAUGHTER]
RUTH: FROM THIS MOMENT,
YOU ARE AMBASSADORS
FOR DENISHAWN,
AND JUST IN CASE
THERE IS ANY CONFUSION,
JUST BECAUSE WE ARE STUDYING
MODERN DANCE,
THERE WILL BE NO LAPSE
OF STANDARDS.
YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE
DENISHAWN STUDENTS
WEAR HATS AND GLOVES
AND NEVER ROLL
DOWN THEIR STOCKINGS.
OBVIOUSLY, NO DRINKING
OR SMOKING WILL BE TOLERATED
ON OR OFF THE PREMISES.
LOUISE: OBVIOUSLY.
DANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
DANCE IS A VISUALIZATION
OF DIVINITY,
A WAY FOR YOU TO REALIZE
YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR BODIES.
YOUR BODIES ARE INSIDE YOU.
NOW WHO IS FAMILIAR
WITH DEBUSSY?
ME. I AM.
MY MOTHER PLAYS
HIM ALL THE TIME.
LUCKY YOU.
ALL OF YOU, TAKE ONE
OF THESE SQUARES...
AND FORM A RING.
NOW...TURN.
THAT'S IT. THE SCARF
IS THE EXTENSION OF YOUR BREATH.
[PIANO PLAYING DEBUSSY'S
"ARABESQUE" NO. 1]
TED: IT RISES,
AND IT FALLS.
DEDANS AND TURN.
AND AGAIN.
AND AGAIN.
WHO THOUGHT THAT ONE UP?
MAY I HELP YOU?
OH. YES. MAY I SPEAK
TO SOMEONE?
I USED TO LIVE HERE
AS A CHILD.
I'M AFRAID WE HAVE
MASS NOW.
YOU CAN COME BACK
IN AN HOUR.
COULDN'T I WAIT INSIDE?
I'VE COME SUCH
A LONG WAY.
VERY WELL.
GIRLS' CHOIR:
DEEP IN THE SWEET ABYSS
OF HOLY CHARITY
JUST WAIT HERE.
THAT WAS ME ONCE.
CHOIR: O GOD OF LOVELINESS
O LORD OF HEAVEN ABOVE
HOW WORTHY TO POSSESS
MY HEART'S DEVOTED LOVE
SO SWEET THY COUNTENANCE
SO GRACIOUS TO BEHOLD
MAN: ARE YOU OK?
OH, DEAR.
I'M FINE.
THANK YOU. I WAS
BEING A LITTLE NOSY.
COME AND WAIT IN HERE.
LET ME FETCH YOU A CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
BLISS UNTOLD
PLEASE.
YOU'RE VERY KIND.
THIS ROOM IS SO MUCH SMALLER
THAN I REMEMBER.
ALL THE CHAIRS ARE
SO MUCH SMALLER.
YOU WERE ONE
OF THE ORPHANS?
YES, YES.
I SUPPOSE I WAS.
NUN: WAS YOUR
PLACEMENT GOOD?
IT WAS, SISTER.
THEY WERE LOVELY PEOPLE.
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.
PRAISE GOD.
THAT'S NICE TO HEAR.
ARE YOU STILL
WITH THE CHURCH?
NO, SISTER.
I'M AFRAID THEY
WEREN'T CATHOLICS,
THE PEOPLE WHO
TOOK ME.
WHAT CHURCH DO YOU
ATTEND NOW?
PRESBYTERIAN.
WE GOT WISE TO WHA THEY WERE UP TO.
NOW WE SEND OU OUR OWN TRAINS.
CHILDREN STILL GO OU ON TRAINS?
WHY? WOULD YOU STOP
ANYONE SHARING
THE ADVANTAGES
THAT YOU HAD?
NO, OF COURSE NOT.
RIGHT. NOW WHAT CAN
I DO FOR YOU?
I WANT TO LEARN
ABOUT MY BIRTH
PARENTS, SISTER,
WHO AND WHERE
I CAME FROM.
I'M AFRAID I CAN' HELP YOU WITH THAT.
I KNOW YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED,
AND I'M VERY SORRY.
WHY CAN'T I LOOK
AT THE RECORDS?
BECAUSE THEY'RE
CONFIDENTIAL.
WHY?
BECAUSE NO GOOD
CAN COME OF IT,
AND ANYWAY, THE LIKELIHOOD
IS YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD.
HOW WOULD IT HELP
IF YOU KNEW THEIR NAMES?
SISTER DELORES,
I WANT TO FIND OU WHO I AM.
YOU'RE A CHILD OF GOD.
YOU'RE YOU.
IF THEY'RE DEAD,
HOW WOULD IT HELP,
AND IF THEY'RE NOT,
IT COULD CAUSE
A BIGGER PROBLEM.
BESIDES, THEY WON' WANT TO BE FOUND.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH HERE
A LOT OF THE TIME?
DRUNKS, BROKEN HOMES,
ADULTERY, ASSAULT.
LET IT GO.
WHEN I WAS BROUGHT HERE,
I WASN'T A BABY.
I WAS WALKING
AND HEALTHY.
MY MOTHER MUST HAVE
KNOWN ME,
AND I'D BEEN CARED FOR.
I REMEMBER A WOMAN
HOLDING ME
AND SINGING TO ME
IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
THEN KEEP THAT MEMORY
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
I WANT TO KNOW
WHO I AM.
IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE
TO WANT TO KNOW
WHO YOU ARE.
YOU'RE MARRIED,
MRS. KAUFMANN?
YES.
YOU LOOK PROSPEROUS
AS IF YOUR HUSBAND
HAS GIVEN YOU
A COMFORTABLE
AND PRIVILEGED
WAY OF LIFE.
YES, I SUPPOSE HE HAS.
NORMA, VOICE-OVER:
YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE IT.
APPARENTLY, IT'S
NEXT SATURDAY, NOT TODAY.
ALSO, I KNOCKED
ON THE DOOR, AND--
ALAN: NORMA!
I THINK I MIGH CUT MY HAIR.
MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
HMM.
SHOULD WE ASK
YOUR MOTHER?
SHE WOULDN'T CARE.
CAN YOU SEE
WHY I LOVE NEW YORK?
HMM. MAYBE IN A WAY.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
IS IT NOT WHA YOU EXPECTED?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I EXPECTED.
[PIANO PLAYING CHOPIN'S
"NOCTURNES" OP. 9 NO. 1
IN B FLAT MINOR]
TED: OPEN YOUR ARMS
LIKE A PEACOCK'S TAIL.
SMELL THE INCENSE.
NO, NO. PEGGY, DROP OUT.
LOUISE.
TAKE HER PLACE.
RUTH: WAS THA A LITTLE UNKIND?
YOU TELL ME TO SEARCH
FOR THE BEST.
SHE'S THE BEST.
AS LONG AS
YOU'RE SURE.
THE GIRL'S
A STAR.
LOOK AT HER.
LOUISE: HA HA HA!FLOYD: THAT'S IT.
THAT'S BETTER.
HOW ABOUT SOME
WHIPPED CREAM
TO GO WITH THAT?
IF YOU'RE OFFERING.ABSOLUTELY.
NORMA: HI, FLOYD.
OH, HELLO. I JUS GOT TO GET...
I WAS ON MY WAY
TO FETCH YOU.
THEY LET US GO
EARLY.
SO I WOULD HAVE JUS GOT THERE AND FOUND
THE PLACE EMPTY?
I CAME BACK
THE USUAL WAY.
I'D HAVE SEEN YOU.
WANT SOME?
BETTER NOT.
MY CORSET'S
TIGHT ENOUGH AS IT IS.
WHY DO YOU WEAR ONE?
I DON'T.
YOU WILL
WHEN YOU'RE OLDER.
NO, I WON'T.
SHOULDN'T BE HERE
WITHOUT ASKING ME.
HERE YOU ARE.
MMM.
HOW IS THAT?
HOW'S IT GOING?
SUMMER JOB?IS THAT ENOUGH?
YES, THANK YOU.
HEH HEH.
WE SHOULD GO.
HOW MUCH WILL IT BE?
DON'T BE SILLY.
SHE'S RIGHT. NO CHARGE.
AND DO YOUR EMPLOYERS
KNOW YOU GIVE FREE FOOD
TO PRETTY GIRLS?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T WORRY
ABOUT ANYTHING.
LET'S GO.
FLOYD: BYE-BYE NOW.
NORMA: DO YOU OFTEN
DO THAT,
GET PEOPLE TO GIVE YOU
ICE CREAM FOR NOTHING?
BUT IT'S NO FOR NOTHING, IS IT?
I GET THE ICE CREAM,
AND THEY GET THE PLEASURE
OF MY COMPANY.
WELL, I'M NOT SURE
I SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOU.
DO YOU MEAN I'M
GETTING FAT?
NO.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THEY'LL ONLY PICK
A FEW OF US TO JOIN
THE COMPANY,
AND THEY WON'T CHOOSE
ME IF I'M FAT.
DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW
YOU WANT TO JOIN THE COMPANY?
BECAUSE SHE NEVER
MENTIONED IT TO ME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUS A COURSE TO LEARN
TO DANCE.
MYRA SAID YOU
WOULDN'T LIKE IT,
TO BE ESCORTING
A PROFESSIONAL
HOOCHIE-COOCHIE GIRL.
YOU SHOULD
HAVE MORE FAITH
IN YOURSELF, NORMA.
THERE ARE PLENTY
OF MEN OUT THERE
WHO'D BE DELIGHTED
TO GIVE YOU SOME
FREE ICE CREAM.
YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK.
DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
CHOIR: IMMACULATE MARY
YOUR PRAISES WE SING
YOU REIGN NOW IN HEAVEN
WITH JESUS OUR KING
AVE, AVE
AVE, MARIA
I'M SORRY. THE NUNS
HAVE MASS EVERY DAY
AT THIS TIME.
MAY I WAIT INSIDE
LIKE LAST TIME?
SURE.
THANK YOU.
IN FACT, I MEAN TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING SO THOUGHTFUL
WHEN I WAS LAST HERE
AND TODAY, TOO, OF COURSE,
OFFERING ME A CHAIR AGAIN.
SORRY ABOUT THE MESS.
YOUR MESS LOOKS
SO INTERESTING.
WHAT IS IT?
WELL, IT WAS
A WIRELESS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHO KNOWS?
SOMEONE PROBABLY
DROPPED IT,
AND THEY
THREW IT AWAY,
SO I THOUGHT I WOULD
TRY TO MEND I FOR THE GIRLS.
HOW NICE OF YOU.
SO GENEROUS.
SO WHY HAVE YOU
COME BACK?
OH. WELL, HERE'S
THE THING.
I'VE COME A LONG WAY
FROM KANSAS
TO FIND MY RECORDS
ONLY TO BE TOLD
THAT I COULDN'T SEE THEM,
AND I STARTED WONDERING
IF YOU POSSIBLY
MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME.
ARE YOU TRYING
TO BE SEDUCTIVE?
CERTAINLY NOT. NO.
IF YOU WANT A FAVOR,
YOU DON'T NEED TO
THROW YOURSELF AT ME.
YOU'VE MISUNDERSTOOD.
I WAS BEING NICE.
I WAS JUST ASKING NICELY
FOR SOMETHING I NEED,
THAT'S ALL.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
COME WITH ME.
WHAT?
COME. I'M TAKING YOU
FOR A DRINK.
OH, NOT A REAL DRINK.
JUST A CUP OF TEA.
WHY SHOULD I
COME WITH YOU?
BECAUSE YOU'RE UPSET.
BESIDES, IT'S
A NICE PLACE.
I'M JOSEPH SCHMIDT.
I'M NORMA.
I WAS NORMA KAUFMANN
WHEN I WAS HERE.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS IS A NICE PLACE.
I WOULD BUY YOU
A PROPER DRINK
IF I COULD.
YOU LOOK AS IF
YOU NEED ONE.
NO, THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE IN PROHIBITION.
OH. YOU'RE
IN THAT CAMP?
I AM.
I USED TO HAVE
A BEER GARDEN
IN QUEENS.
IT WAS
A GOOD PLACE.
PEOPLE WOULD COME
WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
ANYWAY, THIS IS
NOT WHAT I WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT.
I WANTED YOU
TO UNDERSTAND
WHY I CAN'T HELP.
WHAT DOES IT MATTER
IF I UNDERSTAND OR NOT?
IT MATTERS TO ME.
I DON'T HATE THE NUNS,
YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE KIND
IN THEIR WAY.
THERE ARE WORSE PLACES
ON EARTH
THAN THE HOME
FOR FRIENDLESS GIRLS.
I HOPE SO.
MY DAUGHTER IS THERE.
YOUR DAUGHTER?
I WAS INTERNED
DURING THE WAR
AS A GERMAN
DOWN IN GEORGIA.
BY THE TIME I GOT OUT,
MY WIFE WAS DEAD
FROM INFLUENZA,
AND MY DAUGHTER
HAD BEEN TAKEN
INTO CARE.
BY THE NUNS.BY THE NUNS, YES,
BUT I DIDN'T FIND
HER FOR MONTHS.
WHEN I DID,
I HAD NO MONEY,
MY BUSINESS WAS GONE,
SO THEY LET ME STAY ON
TO FIX THINGS.
IT'S NOT SO BAD,
AND AT LEAST I KNOW
GRETA IS SAFE.
SO YOU WON'T HELP ME
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RISK
LOSING YOUR JOB.
GRETA LOST HER MOTHER,
AND THE NUNS GAVE HER
THE ONLY SECURITY
SHE HAS EVER KNOWN.
WHY DON'T YOU
TRY WRITING?
I HAVE. THEY ALWAYS
TURN ME DOWN.
PLEASE. IT WON' TAKE LONG.
I FIND THE FILE,
I LOOK INSIDE,
AND THAT'S IT.
I'M GONE. YOU WON' EVER HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.
I'LL LEAVE BEFORE THEY
COME OUT OF MASS.
JOSEPH: YOU MUST BE OU OF HERE IN 20 MINUTES.
I WILL LOCK THE DOOR,
AND YOU MUST KNOCK
WHEN YOU ARE DONE.
I UNDERSTAND.
IF THEY COME UP,
YOU WILL BE THERE
TILL THEY GO TO BED.
IT'S BETTER IF YOU GO
IN 20 MINUTES.
[DOOR SHUTS AND LOCKS]
[RATTLING]
JOSEPH: IS IT LOCKED?
I CAN GET THE KEY
IF IT'S WHERE
I THINK IT IS.
WOMAN: NEVER MIND.
I'LL COME BACK LATER.
NORMA, VOICE-OVER:
"MY NAME IS MARY O'DELL.
"I'M A FRIEND
OF THE BIRTH MOTHER
"OF THE GIRL NAMED NORMA,
WHO WAS BROUGHT HERE.
"NO INTENTION
OF TROUBLING NORMA,
"BUT ANY INFORMATION
WOULD BRING HER...
"I ENCLOSE
A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE
"IN CASE YOU'RE ABLE
TO PASS ON ANY NEWS.
WITH GRATITUDE,
MRS. MARY O'DELL."
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
NORMA: I GOT IT.
HA HA HA!
YOU FOUND
WHAT YOU WANTED?
I HAVE AN ADDRESS.
I HAVE AN ACTUAL NAME
AND AN ADDRESS
IN MASSACHUSETTS.
YOU SHOULD GO OUTSIDE.
NORMA: HA HA!
YOU GAVE ME
A BAD MOMEN BACK THERE.
I GAVE YOU
A BAD MOMENT?
HA HA HA!
I'M SO EXCITED,
AND IT'S ALL
BECAUSE OF YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN SO KIND
TO ME,
AND YOU HAD
NO REASON.
YOU TOOK SUCH A RISK.
PLEASE. CAN I PAY YOU
FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE?
NO.
OH, PLEASE. I DON' MEAN TO BE RUDE.
I JUST WANT TO DO
SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU
HOW GRATEFUL I AM.
I DON'T NEED ANYTHING.
HOW CAN YOU LIVE HERE
WITH THE NUNS?
IS THAT ALLOWED?
I DON'T,
NOT EXACTLY.
I HAVE A ROOM UP THERE.
SO THERE'S REALLY
NOTHING I CAN
DO FOR YOU?
YOU CAN TELL ME
WHO YOU ARE.
YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
NO, I DON'T.
YOU MAY BE NORMA,
BUT WE BOTH KNOW
YOU ARE NOT CALLED
KAUFMANN NOW.
YOU DON'T TELL ME
WHERE YOU LIVE.
ALL YOU TRUST ME WITH
IS KANSAS.
YOU DON'T MISS
MUCH, DO YOU?
I WAS CALLED KAUFMANN
BEFORE I WAS MARRIED.
THAT'S TRUE.
I USED IT BECAUSE
I'VE WRITTEN SO MANY
TIMES BEFORE
IN MY OTHER NAME,
I THOUGHT THEY
WOULDN'T SEE ME.
SO WHAT WILL YOU DO
WITH THE LETTER?
I'LL WRITE
TO THE ADDRESS,
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WHO KNOWS?
PEOPLE CAN SURPRISE YOU.
THEY CERTAINLY CAN.
YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE IT.
APPARENTLY, IT'S NEXT SATURDAY,
NOT TODAY AT ALL,
SO I KNOCKED ON THE--
OH, GOD.
[JAZZ PLAYING ON RADIO]
LOUISE: YOU'RE LOOKING
AWFULLY CHIPPER.
HA HA. DID YOU HAVE
A GOOD DAY?
YES, I DID.
VERY GOOD, AS IT HAPPENS.
I THOUGHT SO.
WHO ARE YOU WRITING TO--
MR. CARLISLE?
NO. I'M WRITING
TO AN OLD FRIEND
WHOM I'D LIKE
TO SEE AGAIN,
WHO JUST MIGHT BE ABLE
TO COME TO NEW YORK.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
WAS YOUR DAY GOOD?
PAPA SHAWN THINKS
I COULD BE A STAR.
I HEARD HIM TELL
MISS RUTH.
AND DID SHE AGREE?
SHE AGREES
WITH WHATEVER HE SAYS.
HMM.
TED: HOLD, RIGHT, LEFT,
RIGHT, HOLD.
WE'RE GONNA ADD AN ARM.
2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8.
NOW THE HEAD ON 4.
STRUGGLE
WITH THE FEET.
OK. YOU, LOUISE, SHOW THEM.
[PIANO PLAYING CHOPIN'S
"REVOLUTIONARY ETUDE"]
[DANCERS APPLAUDING]
TRY IT AGAIN LIKE THAT.
WE GOT LUCKY
WITH THAT ONE.
DON'T GE TOO LUCKY, TED.
WE SHOULD GE A MOVE ON.
WE'LL BE LATE.
BY THE WAY,
I FOUND A CHURCH
FOR SUNDAY.
WHY WOULD I WANT TO
GO TO CHURCH?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
RELIGIOUS.
SOMEONE TOLD ME
YOU ALWAYS LIKED TO GO
TO ED VINCENT'S CLASS.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
I JUST HEARD IT.
YOU HEARD IT?
FROM WHOM?
FROM WHOM DID YOU HEAR
THIS TIDBIT, NORMA?
AREN'T YOU GOING TO
TELL ME?
FROM ED'S WIFE,
I THINK.
EFFIE AND I
ARE FRIENDS.
OH? WHAT ELSE DID
LITTLE EFFIE VINCEN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT?
NOTHING. THAT YOU
ENJOYED SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THAT'S NOT GOSSIP,
LOUISE.
THAT'S A NICE THING
FOR PEOPLE TO SAY.
WHY ARE YOU UPSET?
I'M NOT UPSET.
WE HAVE TO GO,
OR WE'LL BE LATE.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MUSICIANS WARMING UP]
EXCUSE ME.
NORMA, THEY NEED TO
GET TO THEIR SEATS.
OH. I'M SO SORRY.
WOMAN: HMM. EXCUSE ME.
EXCUSE ME.
I DON'T WANT ANY TROUBLE,
BUT AREN'T COLORED FOLKS
SUPPOSED TO
SIT IN THE GALLERY?
ISN'T THAT THE LAW?
HONESTLY, NORMA.
THIS IS NEW YORK,
NOT WICHITA.
I SAID I DON'T WAN TO MAKE TROUBLE,
BUT I DON'T WANT THEM
TO GET INTO TROUBLE,
EITHER.
THEY WON'T.
WISH I KNEW WHAT KIND
OF SHOW THIS IS.
WELL, YOU'RE ABOU TO FIND OUT.
[LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING]
WOMAN: OH, I'M JUST WILD
ABOUT HARRY
AND HARRY'S WILD ABOUT ME
THE HEAVENLY BLISSES
OF HIS KISSES
FILL ME WITH ECSTASY
HE'S SWEET JUST LIKE
CHOCOLATE CANDY
AND JUST LIKE HONEY
FROM A BEE
I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY
AND HE'S JUST WILD ABOUT
CANNOT LIVE WITHOU HARRY'S WILD ABOUT ME
[SONG ENDS]
NORMA: YOU'RE RIGHT.
I DO LIKE NEW YORK.
FIRST IT SEEMED SO LOUD
AND SO CROWDED, BUT NOW,
HONESTLY,
IT'LL BE KIND OF DULL
TO GO BACK TO WICHITA.
[CHUCKLING]
"KIND OF"?
[SIGHS]
I'M SORRY ABOUT HOW I WAS
EARLIER WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
I KNOW IT'S ABSURD.
I SUPPOSE IT WAS THE WAY
I WAS BROUGHT UP.
WELL, SHAKE IT OFF,
NORMA.
I DON'T INTEND
TO LIVE THE WAY
I WAS BROUGHT UP.
[CHUCKLES]
WHAT DO YOU WANT,
LOUISE?
TO BE THE BEST DANCER
IN THE WORLD.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
YOU THINK THAT'S
RIDICULOUS.
NOT AT ALL.
I LIKE
YOUR BIG DREAMS.
I THINK SOMETIMES
MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN
TOO SMALL.
DID YOU EVER THINK
OF COMING BACK
TO NEW YORK
TO GET A JOB
BEFORE YOU MARRIED?
OH, NO.
I WAS MUCH TOO YOUNG.
I WAS MARRIED
WHEN I WAS 16.
WOW.
HOW'D YOU MEET HIM?
WELL, MY PARENTS DIED
IN AN ACCIDENT,
AND I THOUGHT I WAS
GOING TO LOSE THE FARM.
I WAS STAYING WITH
A NEIGHBOR, AND SHE HIRED
A LAWYER FOR ME AND...
THAT'S HOW I ME MR. CARLISLE.
HE WAS THE LAWYER?
YOU'RE AN ORPHAN
FARM GIRL WHO'S 16,
A BIG LAWYER COMES,
TAKES ONE LOOK A YOU, AND PROPOSES?
[CHUCKLES]
I GUESS.
YOU MUST HAVE HAD
SOMETHING.
YES,
I HAD SOMETHING.
INNOCENCE.
I WAS
A COMPLETE INNOCENT.
I WISH I COULD SAY
THE SAME.
DO YOU, REALLY?
NO.
GOOD.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
YOU HAVE FIRST TURN
IN THE BATH.
[WATER RUNNING]
LOUISE: DO YOU THINK
YOU MARRIED TOO YOUNG?
WOULDN'T BE
WITHOUT MY SONS.
WHEN YOU'RE 16,
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK.
I WOULDN'T WAN A HUSBAND
TO TEACH ME.
I HAD ENOUGH
OF THAT FROM
MY DAD.
SURE KNOW WHAT TO THINK
ABOUT SOME THINGS.
I WONDERED
WHERE I PUT IT.
IT WAS FOR MY BROTHER.
I WROTE IT WHEN WE
FIRST ARRIVED.
I'M GOING TO BED.
THANKS, LOUISE.
YOU DON'T LIKE
TO ARGUE, DO YOU?
I RECKON, WHEN YOU SHOUT,
YOU HATE YOURSELF
FOR A WEEK AFTER.
I DON'T BELIEVE
IT ACHIEVES MUCH
TO ARGUE AND SHOUT.
YOU'RE DISGUSTING.
THAT WAS VILE
AND REVOLTING.
I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW
WHAT IT SAYS
IN THE BIBLE.
I DO.
AND IN OUR HOME.
HOW COULD YOU BRING
THAT HORRIBLE MAN
INTO OUR HOME?
I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT,
BUT HE ISN'T HORRIBLE.
WHAT?
RAYMOND IS NOT HORRIBLE.
I WAS, NORMA!
WHEN DID IT START?
AT LAW SCHOOL.
YOU MEAN...YOU WERE
DOING THAT WITH HIM
BEFORE WE EVEN MET?
I WANTED TO STOP.
I THOUGHT THAT I COULD.
YOU DO NOT KNOW
HOW I TRIED.
YOU USED ME,
ALL OF THESE YEARS!
YOU NEEDED A WIFE.
YOU THOUGH I WAS YOUNG ENOUGH
AND STUPID ENOUGH
AND GRATEFUL ENOUGH
NOT TO MAKE TROUBLE!
THIS IS WHY YOU
NEVER TOUCH ME!
WHAT DO YOU WAN TO DO, NORMA?
ME?
I'M NOT DOING
ANYTHING. I'M GOING
TO LOIS AND JACK'S.
WHEN I GET BACK,
I WANT YOU GONE--
LOCK, STOCK,
AND BARREL!
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
I DID NOT THINK I
WOULD SEE YOU AGAIN.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE YOU GOT WHAT YOU
CAME TO NEW YORK FOR.
DID THEY ANSWER
YOUR LETTER YET?
NOT YET.
WHAT HAPPENS
IF THEY DON'T?
I SUPPOSE I'LL GO
BACK TO WICHITA.
I HOPE THEY DO.
I HOPE IT ALL TURNS OU LIKE YOU WANT IT TO.
BUT YOU DON' EXPECT IT WILL.
HOW PRETTY.
WOULD YOU LIKE ONE?
DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY.I WANT TO.
HOW 'BOUT A POSEY
FOR YOUR WIFE, HUH?
THANK YOU.THANK YOU.
THAT'S VERY GENEROUS.
THANK YOU.
NONSENSE.
I HAVE SOMETHING
TO CELEBRATE.
WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
YOU TOLD ME YOU LIVE
IN WICHITA.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
NORMA.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I THOUGHT I WAS COMING
FOR YOU AT 10:00.
WE FINISHED EARLIER THAN
THEY SAID WE WOULD.
DON'T WORRY.
TWO OF THE BOYS
WALKED ME HOME.
I HOPE IT WAS TWO.
NORMA.
THEY CHOSE ME.
THEY ONLY CHOSE
ONE STUDEN TO JOIN THEM,
AND IT WAS ME.JOIN THEM? FOR WHAT?
TO GO TO PHILADELPHIA
FOR A PERFORMANCE.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU CAN COME TO
THE DRESS REHEARSAL
IF YOU WANT.
OF COURSE I WANT.
WE MUST TELEGRAM
YOUR MOTHER.
I ALMOST FORGOT.
THIS WAS IN THE BOX
DOWNSTAIRS.
IT MUST HAVE COME
IN THE LAST POST.
IT'S FROM HAVERHILL,
MASSACHUSETTS.
REALLY?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
MRS. O'DELL?
MARY O'DELL?
I CHOSE
THE SHAKESPEARE STATUE,
AS I FELT WE WOULDN' GET MIXED UP.
I WAS GOING TO SAY
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS,
BUT THEN I REALIZED
THERE'S ONE IN THE PARK
AND ANOTHER AT, UH,
COLUMBUS CIRCLE.
YOU'RE MY MOTHER,
AREN'T YOU?
YOU'RE NO A FRIEND OF HERS.
YOU'RE MY MOTHER.
[SIGHS]
THERE'S NO POIN IN DENYING IT,
IS THERE?
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
I DON'T KNOW WHERE
TO BEGIN.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU
BEEN MARRIED?
25 YEARS.
HE'S A LAWYER.
WE HAVE TWIN SONS.
OH!
HOWARD AND EARL.
THEY LOOK LIKE
FINE YOUNG MEN.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHA A COMFORT IT IS
TO SEE HOW WELL
YOU'VE TURNED OUT.
I WORRIED
AND WORRIED.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
IF YOU HAD SURVIVED.
WELL, I DID. HEH!
AND WHAT WERE THEY LIKE,
THE KANSAS FARMERS
WHO TOOK YOU IN?
KIND. THEY GAVE ME
A HAPPY HOME.
[SIGHS]
THANK YOU FOR
TELLING ME THAT.
BUT...I WAN TO HEAR ABOUT YOU.
YOU'RE MARRIED.
I GUESS IT'S NO TO MY FATHER.
NO. I WAS MARRIED
AT 21,
HAD YOU AT 18.
AND...MY FATHER?
OH!
A BOY I ME AT A DANCE.
GOD, I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING,
NOTHING.
FIRST TIME I BLED, I
THOUGHT I WAS DYING.
AND HE TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF THAT?
OH, DID HE? NO.
HE WAS JUST AS YOUNG
AND SCARED AS I WAS.
THE MINUTE HE HEARD
I WAS PREGNANT,
HE TOOK OFF.
WHAT WAS HIS NAME?
JACK MURPHY.
[SCOFFS]
BUT IF YOU WAN TO SEARCH
THE GREAT WES FOR A JACK MURPHY
WHO CAME FROM IRELAND
BY WAY OF BOSTON,
YOU GOT A LO OF INTERVIEWING TO DO.
WHERE WAS I BORN?
THE ST. ANTOINETTE
MISSION IN NEW YORK.
IT'S GONE NOW.
AND WHEN DID YOU
LEAVE ME?
OH, YOU WERE
6 MONTHS OLD.
THEY TOLD ME
TO NURSE YOU THAT LONG.
BUT I THOUGHT I WAS
WITH YOU UNTIL I WAS 3.
THAT'S WHEN I WAS TAKEN
TO THE ORPHANAGE.
OH. THEY MUST HAVE
KEPT YOU AT THE MISSION.
BUT I REMEMBER
A WOMAN HOLDING ME
AND SINGING TO ME
IN SOME OTHER LANGUAGE.
THERE WERE A LO OF FOREIGNERS.
HMM. SOME OF THEM
WERE BARREN
BECAUSE
OF WHAT THEY PU THEMSELVES THROUGH.
THEY ALL WANTED
TO HOLD YOU.
AND YOU LEFT ME WITH THEM
JUST AS SOON AS YOU COULD.
OH.
I DON'T EXPECT YOU
CAN STAY LONG.
NO, NOT LONG.
I HAVE TO GET BACK.
WHAT HAPPENED NEX TO YOU?
I WENT ON WITH MY LIFE,
WENT BACK TO BOSTON.
I TOLD THEM THAT I LEF THE JOB IN NEW YORK.
SO NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT ME?
NO.
I TOLD NO ONE, SO I
COULD LEAVE YOU BEHIND.
NOT EVEN YOUR HUSBAND?
NO. OH, NO.
BUT WE'VE BEEN HAPPY.
OUR TWO SONS ARE
POLITICIANS,
AND OUR DAUGHTER
JUST MARRIED INTO
A VERY GOOD FAMILY.
SO I HAVE BROTHERS
AND A SISTER?
HALF.
HALF-BROTHERS
AND A HALF-SISTER.
THEY DON'T KNOW
ABOUT YOU.
NOBODY DOES.
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO TELL THEM?
NO.
DON'T WORRY.
I WON'T TROUBLE YOU.
I WOULDN'T HAVE COME
TO HAVERHILL UNLESS
I WAS INVITED,
AND IT SEEMS
I'M NOT INVITED.
IT'S "HAY-VUR-ILL,"
JUST SO YOU KNOW.
THEY DON'T, UH,
SAY THE SECOND "H."
WELL, NOW--
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
I DID NOT KNOW
THAT HAVERHILL IS
PRONOUNCED "HAY-VUR-ILL"
BECAUSE UNTIL I FOUND
YOUR LETTER,
I HAD NO IDEA THAT SUCH
A TOWN--THIS TOWN WHERE
MY MOTHER AND MY
HALF-BROTHERS AND MY
HALF-SISTER LIVE--
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SUCH
A TOWN EVEN EXISTED.
I LOOKED UP THE STATUE.
IT WAS PAID FOR BY
A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE
OF "JULIUS CAESAR,"
STARRING EDWIN BOOTH
AND HIS BROTHER,
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
HOW INTERESTING.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR,
JOHN WILKES BOOTH
SHOT LINCOLN.
I WISH THINGS
COULD BE DIFFERENT.
AND I HAVE TO GO.
YOU DON'T WAN MY ADDRESS, DO YOU?
[VOICE BREAKING]
YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW HOW
TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME.
YOU DON'T WAN TO MEET YOUR GRANDSONS.
I'M VERY PLEASED
TO HAVE SEEN YOU.
WOMAN: OH, NOW.
THE SLEEPER. OH.[BABY SQUEALS]
WOMAN: OH. SHH.
YOU FORGOT YOUR
LOVELY FLOWERS.
KEEP THEM.
I WANT YOU TO.
[CLASSICAL PIANO PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
[MUSIC ENDS]
[GIGGLES]
MAN: WONDERFUL.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
THAT WAS SO WONDERFUL.
MRS. CARLISLE, MAY I
HAVE A WORD WITH YOU?
THERE'S NO NEED
TO WORRY.
LOUISE WILL ONLY BE
AWAY FOR ONE NIGHT,
AND I'LL BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR HER.
THAT'S VERY KIND.
BUT WHAT I WANTED
TO SAY IS THAT--THA IF LOUISE DOES WELL,
WE MAY INVITE HER
TO JOIN THE TROUPE.
MY HUSBAND BELIEVES SHE
SHOWS GREAT PROMISE.
HE IS VERY MUCH
HER CHAMPION.
BUT WHERE
WOULD SHE LIVE?
WE HAVE A BOARDINGHOUSE
FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OCCUPY
SEPARATE FLOORS.
AND THERE'S
A CHAPERONE,
NATURALLY.
LOUISE: SO YOU CAN PROBABLY
GO HOME. YOU COULD LEAVE
TOMORROW, IF YOU LIKE.
I THINK I SHOULD WAI FOR MS. ST. DENIS
TO MAKE HER DECISION.
CERTAINLY.
YOU SHOULD.
WE WILL NEED TIME
TO CONSIDER,
AND THERE'S
NO DECISION YET.
[DISTANT LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]
OF COURSE, SHE
WILL NEED TO PROVE
THAT SHE CAN ADHERE
TO THE MORAL, AS WELL
AS THE AESTHETIC CODE
OF DENISHAWN.
ART IS NOT TINSEL;
ART IS GOLD,
AND IT MUST BE HANDLED AND
DELIVERED BY THE WORTHY.
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE
IN LOUISE.
WELL, IN THE WORDS
OF THE PROPHET,
WE SHALL SEE.
FLOYD: SO HOW LONG
YOU GOING TO BE
IN PHILADELPHIA?
JUST ONE NIGHT.
THINK THEY'RE
TRYING TO GE YOUR ATTENTION.
MAN: EXCUSE ME.I'M SORRY, SIR.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?CAN WE PLEASE GET A...
I SHOULD PACK
YOUR OVERNIGHT BAG
WHEN WE GET HOME.
YOU'LL BE TOO FLUSTERED
IN THE MORNING.
I WON'T BE FLUSTERED.
NO, YOU PROBABLY
WON'T.
I WOULD BE,
BUT YOU WON'T.
I KEEP TELLING YOU,
YOU SHOULD BE MORE
SURE OF YOURSELF.
I AGREE.
ARE YOU OK?
YOU SEEM KIND OF DOWN.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
IF YOU SAY SO.
I'M GOING TO GO GE SOME MORE CREAM.
LET HIM BRING IT--
I'LL GO.
[LIGHT JAZZ PLAYING]
[BELL OVER DOOR JINGLES]
MAN: WELL, I HAD
A LOVELY TIME A THE BOARDWALK
THE LAST TIME
WE WERE THERE.
LOUISE: THAT CLUB,
IT'S ON 17th STREET.
THE VELVET CAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I HEARD THAT PLACE
WAS KIND OF ROUGH.
LOUISE, STOP
BOTHERING FLOYD.
OH, NO,
SHE'S NO BOTHER,
MRS. CARLISLE.
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?NOTHING.
DIDN'T SOUND
LIKE NOTHING.
WHEN YOU FINISH THAT,
WE'LL GO.
YOU GO. I'LL BE UP
IN A MINUTE.
YOU WILL COME
WITH ME NOW.
WHY?
BECAUSE ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH, LOUISE.
REALLY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
OK.
[DISTANT DOG BARKING]
LOUISE?
LOUISE?
WHERE ARE YOU?
[PEBBLE CLATTERS]
[DOOR OPENS]WHAT'S HAPPENED?
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF
A CLUB ON 17th STREET?
I THINK IT'S CALLED
THE VELVET CAT.
YES.
[LIVELY JAZZ PLAYING WITHIN]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
DO YOU SEE HER?
[LOUISE LAUGHING]THERE SHE IS.
OH! MRS. CARLISLE,
THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE.
WHAT IS GOING ON?
IF ANYTHING'S HAPPENED...
NO, NOTHING'S HAPPENED
TO HER. I JUST WAN TO GET HER HOME.
LOUISE: HA HA! OH, NO!
LOUISE.
OH, JESUS, NOT HER.
GET ME OUT OF HERE.
I CAN'T MANAGE HER,
NOT NOW.
JOSEPH: HOW ABOU A LITTLE POLITENESS?
SHE HAS COME
A LONG WAY TO FIND YOU.
[EXHALES]
DO YOU LIKE THAT,
NORMA?
IT'S GIN.
GIN IS WHAT IT IS.
YOU SHOULD TRY IT.
MAYBE YOU WOULDN' BE SUCH A WOUND-UP
PAIN IN THE ASS.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH.
WE ARE GOING HOME.
[SETS DOWN GLASS]
NOW!
NOT SO FAST,
YOU DIRTY KRAUT.
MAYBE THE YOUNG LADY
DOESN'T WAN TO LEAVE--OH!
EASY!
MAN: ALL RIGHT.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE.
LET'S GO.
OH!
SO VIRILE. HA!
JOSEPH: I'M GOING
TO TAKE YOU BOTH HOME.
FLOYD: BE CAREFUL.
SHE'S HAD A BIT.
NORMA: FLOYD,
SHE CAN HARDLY STAND.
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
A GIRL DRINK
THAT MUCH.
I COULDN'T GET HER
TO COME AWAY.
[RETCHING]
[COUGHS, SPITS]
[SNIFFS, SIGHS]
THAT'S AMAZING.
I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
[FLUSHES TOILET,
CLOSES LID]
BUT, LOUISE, I HAVE
TO ASK YOU SOMETHING
AND YOU MUS ANSWER ME HONESTLY.
DID FLOYD TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF YOU?
NO.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHA I'M SAYING?
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN...
COMPROMISED?
HE DID NOT COMPROMISE ME.
OH, LOUISE.
OH, NORMA.
[SIGHS]
PLEASE DON'T WORRY
ABOUT ME LOSING
MY VIRGINITY.
I DIDN'T BRING I TO LOSE; IT'S BACK
IN KANSAS SOMEWHERE.
WHAT?
I TOLD YOU I WASN' AN INNOCENT.
BUT I NEVER
FOR ONE MOMENT--
I GUESS YOU LADIES
OF WICHITA DON' KNOW EVERYTHING
ABOUT MY RIDES
WITH EDDIE VINCENT.
MR. VINCENT,
YOUR TEACHER,
WHO DROVE YOU
TO SUNDAY SCHOOL?
AND SO MUCH MORE.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
HE TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS
OF ME AFTERWARDS.
LOUISE...
IF THIS IS TRUE,
IF THIS HORRIBLE
THING IS TRUE,
THEN HE MUST BE
REPORTED.
REALLY? WHY?
OH...
I HAVE TO TELL
YOUR MOTHER.
I THINK SHE KNOWS.
SHE THOUGHT I MIGH BE ABLE TO USE
THE PICTURES.
YOUR MOTHER?
THEY'RE NOT ALL LIKE MARMEE
IN "LITTLE WOMEN," YOU KNOW.
I KNOW.
DO YOU?
I WONDER.
BEING AN ORPHAN IS SUCH
A BIG THING FOR YOU...
BUT IF YOU ASK ME,
I THINK IT GETS YOU OU OF A WHOLE LOT OF TROUBLE.
[EXHALES]
ANYWAY, LET'S NO STIR THINGS UP.
YOU'RE ALWAYS SAYING
THAT NO ONE WANTS A GIRL
WHEN HER CANDY'S UNWRAPPED.
OH, PLEASE FORGE ABOUT THE CANDY.
I WON'T FORGE ANYTHING.
YOU POOR CHILD.
ALL THE TIME I'VE
BEEN LECTURING YOU,
NEVER KNOWING YOU
WERE THE VICTIM
OF WICKED ABUSE.
BUT THAT'S
THE POINT.
I DON'T WAN TO BE A VICTIM;
NOT NOW, NOT EVER!
I MUST BRUSH MY TEETH
AND I NEED TO TINKLE.
CAN I HAVE
SOME PRIVACY, PLEASE?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[LIQUID POURING]
[SETS DOWN KETTLE]
I HAVE BREAKFAST FOR YOU
IN THE OTHER ROOM.
[SIGHS]
WHY'D YOU WAKE ME?
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE
LATE TODAY,
MISS RUTH WON'T LET YOU
GO TO PHILADELPHIA,
AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE
TO JOIN THE TROUPE.
TELL HER I'M SICK.
IT'S TRUE.
SHE WON'T CARE,
AND PAPA TED WON' BE ABLE TO PROTECT YOU.
MMM. OK.
SO GET UP.
YOU MUSTN'T PU EVERYTHING
YOU WANT AT RISK.
[SIGHS]
I'M NOT PACKED.
I'LL PACK.
LOUISE...
I CAN'T HELP
WORRYING
ABOUT WHA YOU TOLD ME
LAST NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW WHA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
MR. VINCENT.
I CAN'T OVERLOOK IT.
ONE WORD, AND I'LL
DENY EVERYTHING;
SO WILL MOTHER.
YOU'LL JUST MAKE
YOURSELF LOOK CRAZY.
ARE YOU PLANNING
TO SAY ANYTHING
TO MISS RUTH?
OF COURSE NOT. WHY WOULD I?
I DON'T WANT TO
RUIN YOUR CAREER.
I DON'T HAVE A CAREER.
MAYBE NOT YET,
BUT YOU CAN HAVE ONE.
YOU'RE GOOD. LOUISE,
YOU'RE VERY GOOD.
NO ONE CAN TAKE THA AWAY FROM YOU.
REALLY?
YES, REALLY.
I KNOW YOU'RE PRETTY
AND THE BOYS LIKE YOU,
BUT YOU GOT MORE
THAN THAT.
YOU GOT TALENT.
TALENT GIVES YOU POWER.
PEOPLE CAN TRY TO STOP
YOU, BUT THEY CAN' TAKE AWAY YOUR TALENT.
NOBODY CAN DO THAT.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
BETTER GET IN THERE.
WISH ME LUCK.
GOOD LUCK.
FLOYD:
MRS. CARLISLE?
FLOYD.
PLEASE, MRS. CARLISLE,
I KNOW YOU'RE SORE,
BUT I'M TRULY SORRY,
HONEST.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE
HAD HER SNEAK OU LIKE THAT.
FLOYD...
YOU'RE A NICE
YOUNG MAN, AND I
THINK YOU'LL GO FAR.
YOU'RE LIKE ME; WE'RE
BOTH KIND OF NORMAL.
WHAT WE WANT FROM LIFE
IS ACHIEVABLE.
I'M NOT SURE LOUISE
IS LIKE THAT.
I THINK ABOUT HER ALL
THE TIME, MRS. CARLISLE,
ALL THE TIME.
SHE'S THE PRETTIEST GIRL
I'VE EVER SEEN, BY FAR.
AND SHE'S KIND OF...
FASCINATING,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
I CERTAINLY DO,
BUT IF I WERE YOU,
I SHOULD LET HER BE
A WONDERFUL MEMORY;
YOU'LL BE A LO HAPPIER THAT WAY,
BELIEVE ME.
I BET YOU'RE GLAD
YOU'RE TOO OLD TO MESS
WITH THIS STUFF...RIGHT?
[DOOR OPENS]
SURE YOU WOULDN' LIKE SOME COFFEE,
MRS. CARLISLE?
NO, THANK YOU, BETTY.
YOU'RE VERY KIND, BUT I
WON'T BE STAYING LONG.
THANK YOU, BETTY.[DOOR CLOSES]
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY
LONG ENOUGH
TO HAVE A GROWN-UP
CONVERSATION.
IS THAT WHY WE'RE HERE,
SO I WON'T SHOU AND THROW A GLASS VASE?
I LIKE TO THINK SO.
YOU KNOW, THERE ISN' A JUDGE IN THE COUNTY
THAT WON'T GIVE ME
A DIVORCE.
AND WHEN HE DOES,
I'LL NOT ONLY BE RUINED,
I'LL PROBABLY BE DEAD.
THERE ARE PEOPLE
IN THIS TOWN
WHO WOULD HAVE ME
KILLED IF THEY KNEW.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
THOUGHT OF THA A LITTLE EARLIER.
AND HOW WILL YOU AND
THE BOYS LIVE WHEN
I'VE BEEN MURDERED?
THEN I'LL CITE
YOUR INFIDELITY
AND...
YOU CAN SUPPORT US.
IS IT WHAT YOU WANT?
"THERE'S NORMA CARLISLE.
SHE'S DIVORCED, YOU KNOW."
WHAT'S RAYMOND
PLANNING TO DO?
HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT SETTLING UP,
MOVING ON.
BUT YOU DON' WANT HIM TO.
NO, I DON'T.
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[CRYING]
YOU WISH I HAD DIED
WHEN THE TWINS
WERE BORN.
THEN YOU COULD HAVE
PLAYED THE SAD WIDOWER
WITH NO ONE TO GE IN YOUR WAY.
I VALUE OUR FAMILY,
NORMA.
YOU KNOW THAT.
[PEBBLE CLATTERS]
[DOOR UNLOCKS]
WHERE IS SHE THIS TIME?
NO, SHE'S FINE.
I THINK SHE'S FINE.
SHE'S IN PHILADELPHIA.
ONLY I WAS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
[DOOR CLOSES]
CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?
I DON'T THINK SO.
NO, THANK YOU.
SO WHAT CAN I DO
FOR YOU?
WELL...
I HOPE YOU WON' REGRET THIS.
I CANNOT THINK
OF ANYTHING
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE
I WOULD REGRET LESS
THAN WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT TO DO.
YOU HONOR ME.
YOU ARE TOO GOOD FOR ME.I'M NOT TOO GOOD FOR YOU.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE I'M
GOOD ENOUGH...
BUT KISS ME.
NORMA: ALAN'S NO A BAD PERSON. HE'S KIND.
JOSEPH: BUT HE'S NO A HUSBAND TO YOU.
I HAD A COUSIN
LIKE THAT IN GERMANY.
HE WAS A GOOD MAN,
BUT ONE DAY HE WAS
BEATEN HALF TO DEATH.
YOUR ALAN IS RIGH TO KEEP HIS SECRET.
I'M AFRAID SO.
SO HOW LONG WILL YOU
STAY WITH HIM?
OH, I DON'T WAN A DIVORCE.
WHY NOT?
I DID AT FIRST, BUT NOT NOW.
HOW WOULD I EXPLAIN IT?
WHAT WOULD I SAY
TO THE BOYS?
THEY ARE NOT BOYS
ANYMORE.
THEY'RE MEN.
TELL THEM YOU WAN TO BE HAPPY.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
NO?
NO.
MORE THAN ANYTHING,
I WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY.
THEY ARE HAPPY.
DON'T WAN TO SPOIL THAT.
WHAT A WASTE.
THESE MARKS ARE
FROM WHAT YOU WEAR?
FROM MY CORSET, YES.
WHY WEAR IT?
MUST BE SO TIGHT.
YOU GET USED TO IT.
BUT WHY GET USED
TO IT?
SO...WAS I WORTH IT?
IT WAS FUN, BUT IT'S
GREAT TO BE HOME.
I MEAN, PHILADELPHIA'S FINE,
AND GOD KNOWS IT'S AN
IMPROVEMENT ON WICHITA,
BUT I JUST WANTED
TO BE IN NEW YORK.
ISN'T THAT SOMETHING,
TO BE SO ATTACHED
TO A PLACE THAT'S
STILL SO NEW TO ME?
MAYBE IT'S THE RIGH PLACE FOR YOU.
THERE'S NO MAYBE
ABOUT IT.
WHEN DO YOU HEAR
ABOUT THE TROUPE?
I GOT IT.
THEY'VE OFFERED IT.
WHEN WERE YOU GOING
TO TELL ME?
[GIGGLES]
I'M SO GLAD.
I WAS AFRAID YOU'D
BE DISAPPOINTED.
MISS RUTH DIDN' SEEM TOO CONVINCED.
NO, BUT PAPA SHAWN WAS,
AND I KNEW HE'D
GET HIS WAY.
I'M NOT SO SURE.
MY GUESS IS THAT WHEN
THE CHIPS ARE DOWN,
MISS RUTH ST. DENIS
RUNS THAT COMPANY.
SHE CAN'T REFUSE HIM
ANYTHING.
TO QUOTE MISS RUTH,
WE'LL SEE.
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I DON'T KNOW, EXACTLY.
YOU JUST SEEM DIFFERENT,
AS IF SOMETHING'S
CHANGED.
WHEN DO YOU MOVE IN?
THEY'LL HAVE A ROOM
FOR ME ON FRIDAY.
THAT SOON?
WHY WAIT WHEN IT'S
DECIDED?
NORMA: GO AND MAKE
YOUR PEACE WITH HIM.
I SUPPOSE HE HATES ME.
NO, HE DOESN'T,
AND I THINK
HE DESERVES
A PROPER APOLOGY.
ALONE?
ALONE...BUT COME
STRAIGHT BACK TO
THE APARTMENT.
[VIOLIN PLAYING ON RADIO]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[SIGHS]
WE REALLY OUGH TO CABLE YOUR
MOTHER TONIGHT.
YOU SHOULD NEVER
HAVE SHOWN ME WHERE
YOUR FLAT IS.
[WHISPERS]
Come in, come in.
I LEFT THE HOME.
WE WERE SEEN.
I NEEDED
TO TELL YOU.
I WAS WORRIED YOU
WOULD GO BACK THERE.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE A FRIEND
IN BROOKLYN.
HE'S AT WORK NOW,
BUT WE CAN GO
TO HIS PLACE LATER.
COME ON, GRETA.
SAY HI.
HELLO, GRETA.
SHE'S NOT USUALLY SO SHY.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?
WE GOT TOAST AND JAM.
DO YOU LIKE STRAWBERRY JAM?
AND ORANGES?YOU'LL LIKE IT.
[CHUCKLES]
GOOD.
THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.
JOSEPH: SHE'LL EA IT ALL, IN CASE
YOU COME
TO TAKE IT AWAY.
OH, GOD, I REMEMBER
THAT FEELING.
WHO TOLD?
SISTER DELORES SAW US
WALKING OUT OF
THE GATE THIS MORNING.
SHE FIRED ME AS SOON
AS I GOT BACK.
BUT GRETA HADN' DONE ANYTHING.
THEY OFFERED
TO KEEP HER,
BUT I SAID NO.
YOU WERE RIGHT,
OR SHE'D HAVE BEEN
ON THAT TRAIN.
HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY WITH
THIS FRIEND IN BROOKLYN?
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
I'LL FIND SOMETHING.
I'VE RUINED YOUR LIFE.
I PUSHED INTO YOUR LIFE
AND I RUINED IT.
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
NORMA, YOU'VE GIVEN ME
MY ONLY MEMORY
WORTH KEEPING
SINCE BEFORE THE WAR.
IF I FOUND SOMETHING
FOR YOU TO DO,
A PLACE WHERE YOU
COULD LIVE,
WOULD YOU LET ME
HELP YOU?
I HAVE A YOUNG DAUGHTER.
I NEED ALL
THE HELP I CAN GET.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH,
DOOR OPENS]
LOUISE.
[DOOR CLOSES]LOUISE: WHO'S THE LITTLE GIRL?
LOUISE: YOU AGAIN.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING
TO CARRY ME OFF TO
THIS TIME?
I DON'T THINK
YOU MET PROPERLY
THE OTHER NIGHT.
THIS IS
MY BROTHER JOSEPH.
YOUR BROTHER?
JOSEPH SCHMIDT,
LOUISE BROOKS.
IT'S A PLEASURE
TO MEET YOU.
AND GRETA IS
MY NIECE.
LOUISE:
YES, SHE WOULD BE.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
JOSEPH:
WE SHOULD BE GOING.
MY FRIEND IS
GOING TO BE HOME BY
THE TIME WE GET THERE.
FINE. WE'LL MEE ON SATURDAY.
AHEM.
AT GRAND CENTRAL STATION
AT THE TICKET OFFICE
AT 10:00.
GRAND CENTRAL ON SATURDAY.
AT 10:00.
AND YOU BETTER BRING
EVERYTHING WITH YOU.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW
LONG YOU'RE GOING
TO BE STAYING
IN WICHITA.
NO, I GUESS WE DON'T.
WELL, BYE,
MR. BROTHER.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL
MEET AGAIN.
NOT IN KANSAS?
LEAST OF ALL IN KANSAS.
THEN GOOD-BYE, MISS BROOKS.
WELL, YOU KEPT THA PRETTY QUIET.
THIS BROTHER ALL TIED UP
WITH THAT LETTER YOU WERE
EXPECTING FROM HAVERHILL?
EXACTLY.
DO TELL.
I'D WRITTEN TO A FRIEND
OF MY MOTHER'S.
I CAME ACROSS
A LETTER FROM HER,
SO I WROTE TO HER.
AND?
AND WE MET,
AND SHE TOLD ME
HOW MY MOTHER DIED
WHEN I WAS BORN.
IT SEEMS MY FATHER
WENT HOME TO GERMANY
WITH JOSEPH,
BUT I WAS STILL A BABY,
SO I WAS LEFT WITH A COUSIN
IN NEW YORK, THEN SHE DIED,
AND THAT'S HOW I WOUND UP
IN THE ORPHANAGE.
WHY DIDN'T THE FRIEND
PREVENT THAT,
OR AT LEAST WRITE
TO YOUR FATHER?
SHE HAD CHILDREN
OF HER OWN, AND SHE
LOST CONTACT WITH HIM.
THEN JOSEPH REAPPEARED?
HE CONTACTED HER
A WHILE AGO
WHEN HE RETURNED
TO AMERICA.
HE WAS TRYING
TO TRACE ME,
SO NATURALLY,
THEY WERE PLEASED
WHEN I WROTE.
WOW.
THAT'S QUITE A STORY.
HMM. OH,
AND BY THE WAY,
IT'S "HAY-VUR-ILL,"
NOT "HAVE-UR-HILL."
YOU DON'T PRONOUNCE
THE SECOND "H."
WELL,
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
[SIGHS]
WOW. THOUGHT YOU WERE
MOVING DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S TOO HOT.
IT'S HARD TO WEAR ANYTHING
TIGHT IN THE HOT WEATHER.
WELL, I'M GLAD OUR TRIP
HAS PRODUCED RESULTS.
I DON'T ENVY YOU GOING
BACK TO THAT TOWN,
GOD KNOWS...
BUT I HOPE THINGS
WORK OUT FOR YOU,
NORMA. I MEAN THAT.
ME, TOO.
I HOPE YOU GE EVERYTHING YOU WANT,
LOUISE. YOU DESERVE IT.
BY THE WAY...
YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID
HE WAS YOUR BROTHER
IN THE SPEAKEASY.
ALWAYS SAY IT STRAIGHTAWAY
BEFORE ANYONE CAN
ASK A QUESTION.
HORSE FEATHERS.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
[TRAIN CHUGGING]
GRETA: PAPA?
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WE'RE GOING TO
MY HOME IN KANSAS,
WHICH I HOPE WILL BE
YOUR HOME, TOO.
AND YOU'LL MEE YOUR UNCLE ALAN
AND YOUR COUSINS,
HOWARD AND EARL.
WHEN WILL YOU TELL HIM
THE TRUTH...
ABOUT US?
AS SOON AS WE'RE
ALONE, I GUESS.
WHAT ABOUT THE BOYS?
I WON'T TELL
THE BOYS,
AND YOU WON' TELL GRETA, EVER.
IT FEELS SO DISHONEST.
OF COURSE IT'S
DISHONEST.
IN A BETTER WORLD, WE
WOULD SHOUT WHO WE ARE
FROM THE ROOFTOPS,
BUT I CAN'T WAIT FOR
A BETTER WORLD, JOSEPH.
I'M LIVING NOW,
AND I WANT TO BE HAPPY.
AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK?
IF IT DOESN'T WORK...
MY DEAR BROTHER WILL
FIND A JOB ELSEWHERE
AND LEAVE TOWN AND TAKE
HIS DAUGHTER WITH HIM.
BUT I THINK I WILL WORK...
'CAUSE I THINK WE
WANT IT TO WORK.
SUPPOSE THEY REPEAL
PROHIBITION.
CAN I HAVE A BEER?
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
ALL RIGHTY.
HAVE A BEER.
[CHUCKLES]
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
NORMA: HE SAYS NO TO WORRY ABOUT HIM.
AT LEAST HIS UNI IS NOWHERE NEAR
THE FRONT.
WHAT ELSE DOES HE SAY?
WHAT CAN HE SAY?
HE'S WELL.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
THAT WON'T TELL US ANYTHING.
THE CENSOR INKS IT OUT.
READ IT FOR YOURSELF.
LET GRETA SEE IT.
THINK HE IS WELL?
THINK HE'LL
COME HOME SAFE?
I HOPE HE WILL.
WHY'D HE HAVE TO GO
WHEN HIS BROTHER'S
ALREADY FIGHTING?
I DON' UNDERSTAND IT.
HE'S A DOCTOR.
THEY SHOULD BE
PROTECTED.
GRETA: I DON'T THINK HE
WANTED TO BE PROTECTED.
MAYBE NOT, BUT HE HAS
A WIFE AND CHILDREN
TO THINK ABOUT.
LOTS OF THEM HAVE WIVES.
LOTS OF THEM HAVE CHILDREN.
I GUESS.
LOOK, MOMMY.
HE'LL BE
ALL RIGHT,
YOU KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW,
AND NOR DO YOU.
GRETA: TELL HER, PAPA.
SHE'LL BELIEVE YOU.
WELL, I CAN'T SAY WHA IS GOING TO HAPPEN,
BUT BOTH OF YOUR SONS
ARE VERY FINE MEN.
YOU SHOULD BE
PROUD OF THEM.
THAT'S FOR SURE.BY THE WAY,
I HEARD SOMETHING
THIS MORNING
ABOUT YOUR OLD PAL.
I MEANT TO
TELL YOU EARLIER.
WHICH OLD PAL?
LOUISE BROOKS.
SHE'S BACK IN WICHITA.
I RAN INTO HER MOTHER
ON MY WAY HERE.
WHAT?
WHEN DID SHE
GET HERE, RAYMOND?
A WHILE AGO,
APPARENTLY.
WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD
ABOUT THIS?
MAYBE BECAUSE
YOU HAD ENOUGH
ON YOUR PLATE,
LOOKING AFTER
ALL OF US.
ALAN: RAY, WHAT TIME
ARE YOU COMING
FOR ME TOMORROW?
RAYMOND:
I'LL PICK YOU UP
AROUND 3:00.
GRETA:
AREN'T YOU STAYING
FOR DINNER TONIGHT?
I WILL
IF YOU'LL HAVE ME.
NORMA: I'VE ONLY
JUST BEEN TOLD SHE'S
BACK IN TOWN.
I'D HAVE COME EARLIER
IF I'D KNOWN.
SHE'S BEEN HERE
FOR 6 MONTHS.
WICHITA'S A BIGGER TOWN
THAN IT USED TO BE.
YES, WICHITA IS
BIGGER,
AND LOUISE BROOKS
IS SMALLER.
DID YOU HEAR ABOU HOW RUTH ST. DENIS
GOT RID OF HER
AS SOON AS SHE
COULD?
PARAMOUNT DID
THE SAME.
EVERYTHING SHE
TOUCHES FLOPS.
SHE'S UP THERE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO KNOCK,
BUT I DOUBT YOU'LL GE MUCH OUT OF HER.
THANK YOU.
LOUISE, ARE YOU
IN THERE?
CAN YOU OPEN
THE DOOR?
IT'S NORMA CARLISLE.
I KNOW YOU NEVER DID
ANYTHING I SAID
20 YEARS AGO,
BUT I WISH YOU'D
OPEN THE DOOR.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I WANT TO SEE YOU.
I ONLY JUST HEARD YOU
WERE HERE. I DIDN' KNOW IT BEFORE TODAY.
HOW'S YOUR GERMAN,
NORMA?
YOU MEAN MY BROTHER?
OH, HE'S DONE SO WELL.
NO, GERMAN.
THE LANGUAGE.
I WONDERED IF YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM
"SCHADENFREUDE,"
PLEASURE IN THE MISERY
OF OTHERS?
WE DON'T HAVE
AN EQUIVALENT,
BUT IT'S A USEFUL WORD,
ESPECIALLY IN WICHITA.
I HAVE NOT COME HERE
TO GLOAT.
YOU KNOW ME BETTER
THAN THAT.
DO I?
MAYBE I DO.
SAW YOUR MOTHER
DOWNSTAIRS.
SHE HAS SUCH A
WONDERFUL COLLECTION
OF YOUR POSTERS.
OH, YES.
MOTHER WAS A BIG FAN
OF LOUISE BROOKS,
THE MOVIE STAR.
SHE'S LESS OF A FAN
OF LOUISE BROOKS,
NOT THE MOVIE STAR.
YOU WERE SO MAGICAL.
I WAS VERY PROUD
TO HAVE KNOWN YOU.
LOVED IT WHEN
YOUR MOVIES CAME HERE.
MOST OF THEM WERE
TERRIBLE.
OH, NO, I LOVED THEM.
"AMERICAN VENUS,"
"SOCIAL CELEBRITY,"
"A GIRL IN
EVERY PORT"--SO MANY.
AS FOR THE GERMAN FILMS,
"PANDORA'S BOX"
HAUNTED ME FOR WEEKS.
DID IT?
DON'T MAKE THEM
NOTHING.
DON'T YOU REMEMBER,
EVERY SHOP GIRL,
EVERY OFFICE WORKER,
THEY ALL COPIED YOU.
THEY COPIED YOUR LOOK.
THEY COPIED YOUR HAIR.
DO YOU KNOW WHY?
YOU MADE THEM FEEL FREE.
YOU CHANGED THINGS,
LOUISE. YOU DID.
IF YOU SAY SO.
WHY'D YOU STOP
MAKING FILMS?
I STOPPED MAKING
FILMS BECAUSE I
HATED HOLLYWOOD,
AND HOLLYWOOD
HATED ME.
THAT'S ALL.
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
WHY HAVE YOU COME BACK?
BECAUSE I'VE REACHED
THE END OF THE ROAD.
I KNEW IT.
[PUNCHES CHAIR]
I KNEW IT THE MOMEN I HEARD YOU WERE BACK
IN WICHITA.
I KNEW YOU'D GIVEN UP.
THAT'S WHY I'VE COME.
NORMA, LOOK AT ME.
I'M 35 YEARS OLD.
I'M BROKE. I HAVE
NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
HORSE FEATHERS!
[LAUGHS]
"HORSE FEATHERS."
WHATEVER YOU
WANT TO CALL IT,
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
YOU DON'T LIKE
YOUR PARENTS,
AND WHY SHOULD YOU?
YOU DON'T LIKE THIS HOUSE.
YOU DON'T LIKE THIS TOWN.
WHY COME BACK?
ARE YOU A HOMING PIGEON
FOR MISERY? JUST GET ON
A TRAIN AND GO.
I'M TOO OLD.
I AM.
I AM ALL USED UP, NORMA.
I'M NOT EVEN ME ANYMORE.
LOUISE.
YOU TAUGHT ME
SOMETHING ONCE.
I TAUGHT YOU?
I JUST REMEMBER
GETTING DRUNK
AND THROWING UP.
WELL, THAT WAS PAR OF IT...
BUT I KNOW YOU, LOUISE,
OR I KNEW YOU THEN,
AND I AM CERTAIN YOU
ARE NOT USED UP.
I AM CERTAIN THERE'S STILL
QUITE A BIT OF YOU LEFT.
NOW, I'M GOING
TO GIVE YOU...
A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
NO, NO, YOU DON' OWE ME ANYTHING.
PLEASE--
YOU'RE WRONG.
[SIGHS]
I OWE YOU A LOT MORE
THAN A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
PACK YOUR BAGS TODAY.
GO DOWN TO
THE TRAIN STATION
AND BUY A TICKE FOR NEW YORK.
NORMA?
WHEN YOU TOOK OFF
YOUR CORSE THAT DAY,
DID YOU EVER
PUT IT ON AGAIN?
NO, I NEVER DID.
GOOD-BYE, LOUISE.
GOOD LUCK.
DON'T COME BACK.
JOSEPH: HOW WAS IT?
NORMA:
ALL RIGHT, I THINK.
YOU'RE NOT SORRY
YOU WENT?
ABSOLUTELY NOT,
BUT YOU KNOW LOUISE.
SHE HAS TO DO I HER OWN WAY.
LET'S GO HOME.
WAS GRETA RIGHT?
DO YOU THINK YOU HAD
TOO MUCH ON YOUR PLATE,
LOOKING AFTER US ALL?
NO.
I HAD ENOUGH
ON MY PLATE,
BUT NO TOO MUCH.
DO WE NEED ANYTHING
FOR DINNER?
I DON'T THINK SO.
OH, MAYBE WE SHOULD
PICK UP SOME BUTTER
IF MR. TAYLOR
IS STILL OPEN.
LOUISE, ARE YOU IN THERE?
CAN YOU OPEN THE DOOR?
IT'S NORMA CARLISLE.
I KNOW YOU NEVER DID
ANYTHING I SAID 20 YEARS AGO,
BUT I WISH YOU'D
OPEN THE DOOR.
[BAND PLAYING JAZZ]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
MY, MY. THEY'VE PU IN QUITE AN EFFORT.
THERE'S LOIS AND JACK.
HELLO, NORMA,
ALAN.
LOIS.
WHAT ARE WE
DOING HERE?
IT'S A GOOD CAUSE.
MY CORSET'S
KILLING ME.
WOMAN: WHERE'S LOUISE?
GETTING READY.
SHE'S FIRST ON.
I SHOULD GO.
WHEN DOES
SHE LEAVE
FOR NEW YORK?
TUESDAY IF SHE
GOES AT ALL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS
ALL SET.
SO DID I,
BUT LEONARD SAYS
SHE CAN'T GO
WITHOUT A CHAPERONE,
AND I SUPPOSE SHE CAN'T,
BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO FIND ANYONE.
WELL, WHY DON' YOU GO?
BECAUSE I'M
GIVING A TALK
IN TOWN NEXT WEEK
AND A CONCER AFTER THA IN KANSAS CITY.
HOW COULD I?
OH, IT'S A SHAME
FOR HER TO MISS
THE CHANCE
WHEN SHE'S SO GIFTED.
YOU MUST BE
VERY PROUD.
I'M PROUD OF HER,
AND SHE'S PROUD OF ME.
BOY: ZZZZZMMM!
UH-OH. LEONARD'S
GLARING AT ME.
MARTIN, COME ON.
CAN I WATCH
FROM HERE, MOM?
NO. YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.
DO I HAVE TO?YES, YOU HAVE TO.
"I'M PROUD OF HER,
AND SHE'S PROUD OF ME."
MARTIN: CAN I GO
HOME NOW?
MAN: L-LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IN A MOMENT,
THE PROGRAM WILL BEGIN.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR SEAT.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[BAND STOPS]
DID I TELL YOU JACK
AND I ARE JOINING
THE KLAN?
WHAT CLAN?
THE KU KLUX KLAN.
YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.
JACK: HEH. WHY NOT?
YOU MUST HAVE NOTICED
WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON
SINCE THE WAR.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
LAWS, CUSTOMS, MORALS--
EVERYTHING'S FALLING APART.
A DECENT WOMAN
CAN HARDLY WALK
DOWN THE STREE IN BROAD DAYLIGH THESE DAYS.
BUT THE KLAN?
PERSECUTING NEGROES
WITH WIZARDS
AND BONFIRES
AND HOODS WITH SPOOKY
EYE HOLES?
AT LEAST THEY'RE
INTERESTED IN STANDING
UP FOR PURITY.
LET'S LEAVE I FOR NOW, HONEY.
MAN: HELLO, ALAN,
NORMA.
OH. HELLO, RAYMOND.
YOU REMEMBER
MS. BURTON?
OH, I REMEMBER MS. BURTON.
HELLO, MRS. CARLISLE.
IT'S GOOD OF YOU
TO SUPPORT THIS.
IT'S GOOD OF YOU.
MAN: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
TONIGHT WE HAVE
A SPECIAL TREAT.
YOU'VE ALL HEARD
OF MYRA BROOKS,
THE WELL-KNOWN
WICHITA PIANIST.
WELL, THIS EVENING,
WE HAVE A DOUBLE HELPING
OF TALENT AS SHE HAS
GENEROUSLY CONSENTED
TO ACCOMPANY
HER DAUGHTER LOUISE,
WHO HAS RECENTLY
BEEN ACCEPTED
TO STUDY DANCE
IN NEW YORK.
[APPLAUSE]
LIKE THOUSANDS
OF OTHERS.
[PLAYING FRANZ SCHUMANN'S
"KINDERSZENEN" OP. 15]
[APPLAUSE]
[BAND PLAYING JAZZ]
YOU READY?YES.
YES. GOOD TO
SEE YOU AGAIN.
YES, MRS. CARLISLE.
MYRA: I DID NO LOSE TIME.
LOUISE: YES, MOTHER.
WHATEVER YOU SAY.
JUST A MOMENT.
MOTHER, I DON' WANT TO DO THIS
RIGHT NOW.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY
WELL DONE.
I THOUGHT YOUR PERFORMANCE
WAS VERY EXCITING.
MYRA: EXCITING?
I ASSUME YOU'RE NO FROM WICHITA.
OH. NO. I AM.
I AM.
A WOMAN FROM WICHITA
WHO BELIEVES
IN MODERN DANCE?
I MAY NEED A CHAIR,
MRS.--
CARLISLE.
THIS IS MY HUSBAND
MR. CARLISLE.
YES, HE WOULD BE.
I WAS JUST WONDERING
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING
EARLIER ABOUT LOOKING
FOR A CHAPERONE
TO ACCOMPANY
YOUR DAUGHTER
TO NEW YORK.
YES?
WELL, I'D LIKE TO
PROPOSE MYSELF.
ALAN: HONEY, DON' YOU THINK THAT--
I WOULD.
I'D LIKE TO GO.
ALAN: NORMA, DEAR--
MYRA: HERE'S MY CARD.
YOU COME AND SEE US
TOMORROW.
LOUISE: PLEASE COME.
[SIGHS]
THANK...GOD.
UGH.
[SIGHS]
DON'T YOU THINK
WE MIGHT HAVE TALKED
ABOUT IT FIRST?
WHY?
I WANT TO GO.
YOU REALLY WANT TO GO
TO NEW YORK CITY?
NO. THE OTHER
NEW YORK.
WELL, WHA ABOUT THE BOYS?
THEY'RE NOT USED
TO YOU GONE.
THEY WON'T MIND.
THEY'RE TOO BUSY
TO CARE WHAT WE DO.
I HOPE YOU WON'T GO
DIGGING AROUND
WHEN YOU GET THERE.
I'LL DO WHAT I LIKE.
THINK I HAVE
THE RIGHT, DON'T YOU?
BY THE WAY, WHAT WAS
MS. BURTON DOING
WITH RAYMOND WALKER?
HOW SHOULD I KNOW?
JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT,
THAT'S ALL.
[SIGHS]
NORMA: WE THOUGHT YOU
WERE AWFULLY GOOD YESTERDAY,
BOTH OF YOU.
THAT PIANO BELONGS
IN A SPEAKEASY.
I'M SORRY
ABOUT THE MESS.
OUR GIRL HASN'T COME
FOR SOME REASON,
AND I'VE BEEN UPSTAIRS
WRITING ALL DAY.
I EXPECT YOU'D HAVE
CLEANED UP YOURSELF.
I IMAGINE YOU'RE
PRETTY BUSY.
OH, I'M UP
TO MY EYES!
I'M GIVING A TALK
ON WAGNER NEXT WEEK.
HOW INTERESTING.
OH! OHH. CHILDREN LEAVE
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE.
[SIGHS]
SO YOU THINK YOU'D
LIKE TO GO TO NEW YORK
WITH LOUISE.
ONLY IF IT WOULD
SUIT YOU.
OH! IT WOULD SUIT ME.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
IN FACT, I'M COUNTING
ON YOU.
I HAD SUCH A STRUGGLE
GETTING LEONARD
TO AGREE TO HER
GOING AT ALL,
AND THEN WHEN WE COULDN' FIND ANYONE TO ACCOMPANY HER--
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
SUCH A WASTE.
I AGREE. SHE'S
A REAL ARTIST.
ANYONE CAN SEE THAT.
AND FOR DENISHAWN
TO TAKE HER ON
WHEN SHE'S ONLY 16,
THERE'S THE PROOF.
DENISHAWN?
IT WAS FOUNDED
BY RUTH ST. DENIS
AND TED SHAWN,
THE MOST INNOVATIVE
DANCERS OF OUR TIME.
YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM
WHEN THEY CAME
THROUGH HERE LAST JUNE?
NO.
YOU MISSED SOMETHING.
SHAWN AND MARTHA GRAHAM
WERE THE LEADS.
THEY WERE SENSATIONAL.
LOUISE: PUT THAT DOWN
RIGHT NOW! I TOLD YOU!
MOTHER!MARTIN: GIVE ME THAT!
OW!
OW!
SHOULDN'T WE
INVESTIGATE?
NO NEED.
SHE'LL COME TO US.
LOUISE: MOTHER!
MARTIN HIT ME!
IT LEFT A MARK.
I CANNOT TOLERATE
ANY MORE OF HIS INSOLENCE
AND HIS VIOLENCE!
YOUR BROTHER'S
INSOLENCE AND VIOLENCE
WON'T BE YOUR PROBLEM
MUCH LONGER.
HERE'S MRS. CARLISLE,
COME TO TALK ABOUT YOUR
TRIP TO NEW YORK.
OF COURSE.
HELLO, MRS. CARLISLE.
SORRY ABOUT YOUR ARM.
IT LOOKS SORE.
MYRA: SHE'S NEVER HEARD
OF DENISHAWN.
NEVER MIND THAT.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO
WHEN WE GET TO NEW YORK?
I DON'T KNOW.
I LIKE GOOD THEATER.
MYRA:
WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME.
SO I GUESS IT'S SETTLED?
I GUESS IT IS.
WELL, THEN.
MAN: OF COURSE
I DON'T MIND.
WHY WOULD I MIND?
I THINK IT'S GREAT.
YOUR FATHER WAS WORRIED.
YOU DON'T WANT TO
LISTEN TO DAD.
THIS IS 1922.
HAVEN'T YOU HEARD?
THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
WOMEN VOTE NOW.
THEY DO WHATEVER
THEY WANT.
INCLUDING TAKE A TRIP
TO NEW YORK.
HMM.
GIVE MY REGARDS
TO LUCY.
HOW IS SHE?
VERY WELL,
AND THAT IS ALL
I HAVE TO SAY
ON THE SUBJECT.
HA HA HA!
HOWARD, YOU NEVER TOLD
US WHAT DR. WINSLOW SAID
WHEN HE HEARD YOU GO INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL.
OH, HE WAS VERY
DECENT ABOUT IT.
I'M SURE HE
WAS THRILLED!
YOU KNOW, I WANTED
TO BE A NURSE
WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
HOWARD: NOT A DOCTOR?
NOT IN THOSE DAYS.
I WROTE AWAY
FOR ALL THESE COURSES.
BUT YOU DIDN'T GO
THROUGH WITH IT?
I WAS NEEDED
ON THE FARM.
THANK YOU, DELLA.
NOW I'M TRUSTING YOU
TO LOOK AFTER MY BOYS.
ALL 3 OF THEM.HA!
ALL 3 OF THEM.
WE OUGHT TO GET GOING.
DON'T WORRY, MOM.
WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
CONDUCTOR: ALL ABOARD!
BOLTON STEAM TO CHICAGO.
LAST CALL!
MYRA: JUST REMEMBER
YOU'RE A VERY LUCKY GIRL--
TALENTED
BUT LUCKY, TOO.
I KNOW.
I NEVER HAD A CHANCE
LIKE THIS.
SO YOU KEEP TELLING ME.
JUST IN CASE
YOU'RE WONDERING,
IF MRS. CARLISLE WANTS
TO COME HOME,
YOU WILL COME HOME
WITH HER.
OH, BUT, DADDY--
YOU ARE NOT STAYING
ON ALONE IN NEW YORK,
SO YOU CAN FORGET THA RIGHT NOW.
NORMA: I KNOW WE'LL
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
YOU HEAR THAT,
LOUISE?
YOU BETTER MAKE SURE
MRS. CARLISLE HAS A GOOD TIME,
OR YOU ARE COMING HOME.
ALAN: VERY GOOD.
APPRECIATE IT.THANK YOU.
I CHECKED BOTH TRUNKS.
THEY SHOULD BE DELIVERED
THE NIGHT YOU ARRIVE.
LET ME KNOW
IF THEY AREN'T.
YOU SHOULD VISI THE GALLERIES.
MAYBE.
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME
WITH THAT OTHER
STUFF, PLEASE.
I SHOULD GET ABOARD.
I LOVE YOU,
YOU KNOW.
I REALLY DO.
THAT'S NICE.
WOMAN: I'M GOING
TO CHICAGO!
HERE WE GO.
DON'T WANT TO LEARN
ANYTHING BAD FROM
MRS. CARLISLE, YOU HEAR?
LOUISE: I HEAR.
YOU WORK HARD.
WITH WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING,
YOU BETTER COME BACK
THE BEST DANCER
IN WICHITA.
DON'T BE STUPID.
I ALREADY AM.
LOUISE: GOOD-BYE, WICHITA.
I WISH I COULD SAY
I'LL MISS YOU,
BUT I DON'T THINK
I WILL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE
FROM WICHITA.
I READ THAT.
SO DID MOTHER.
YOU...DIDN' LIKE IT?
"THE HOUSE OF MIRTH"
WAS BETTER,
BUT HISTORICAL FICTION
BORES ME.
OH.
ALL THOSE RIDICULOUS
RULES AND MANNERS.
IT'S JUST SO TEDIOUS
AND FAKE.
IT WON
THE PULITZER PRIZE.
SHE WAS THE FIRS WOMAN NOVELIS TO GET IT.
SO? AND THA SO-CALLED HERO.
HE'S IN LOVE,
BUT JUST BECAUSE
SHE'S DIVORCED,
HE LEAVES HER
AND MARRIES
A TOTAL DUMMY.
OH. DID I SPOIL I FOR YOU?
HE'S HANDSOME--
MR. CARLISLE.
THANK YOU.
DO YOU EVER REGRE MARRYING HIM?
WHAT?!
MY MOTHER REGRETS
MARRYING MY DAD.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
SHE DID.
I'M SURE SHE DIDN' MEAN IT.
YES, SHE DID.
MAN: EXCUSE ME, MISS.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME
TO LOWER YOUR WINDOW?
I DON'T MIND.
NORMA: THANK YOU,
BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF
WE WANT OUR WINDOW LOWERED.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
HOW LONG BEFORE WE GE TO CHICAGO?
CONDUCTOR: NEXT STOP CHICAGO
UNION STATION.
FINISH THAT NOW, NORMA.
WE'RE NEARLY THERE.
ARE YOU READY, GIRLS?
THIS IS WHERE WE GET OFF.
COME ON, GIRLS.
MOVE ALONG.
NORMA, HURRY UP!
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
[CLANG]
LOUISE?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE
YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU.
I'M DOING WELL.
MA'AM, TABLE
FOR ONE?
NO, THANK YOU. UM--
LOUISE: NORMA,
OVER HERE!
WOULD YOU CARE
TO JOIN THEM?
I GUESS SO.
OOH!
OHH!
HA HA HA!
I'M TERRIBLY SORRY, MA'AM.
LET ME MOVE ALONG.
PLEASE SIT DOWN.THANK YOU.
HA HA HA!
YOU WERE SLEEPING,
AND I WAS FAMISHED.
I HAD TO EAT SOMETHING
BEFORE WE GET TO CHICAGO.
WAITER: MA'AM?
I'LL HAVE THE...
LAMB STEW, PLEASE,
AND A CUP OF COFFEE.
LAMB AND COFFEE.
HOW INTERESTING.
[SNICKERS]
WHEN I GOT HERE,
THE TABLES WERE ALL FULL,
AND THESE GENTLEMEN
WERE KIND ENOUGH TO
OFFER ME A SEAT.
WASN'T IT NICE
OF THEM?
VERY NICE.
THIS IS MR. ROSS.
THIS IS HIS NEPHEW,
WHO'S ALSO MR. ROSS.
SO ISN'T THAT EASY
TO REMEMBER?
CALL ME JOE.
AND I'M NORMAN.
I'M MRS. CARLISLE.
JOE: ARE YOU FROM WICHITA,
TOO, MRS. CARLISLE?
SINCE MY MARRIAGE.
AND BEFORE THAT?
I GREW UP ON A FARM
OUTSIDE McPHERSON.
OH, I THINK
YOU'LL FIND NEW YORK
A LITTLE DIFFEREN FROM KANSAS.
HEH. I'M FROM
NEW YORK ORIGINALLY.
OH! WELL, THEN YOU'LL
AGREE WITH ME
THAT, UH, THEY WON' PUT UP WITH PROHIBITION
FOR VERY LONG.
I THINK
THE TEMPERANCE PEOPLE
HAVE OVERREACHED
THEMSELVES.
PROHIBITION IS STUPID.
I COULDN'T AGREE
MORE.
NORMA: THAT'S BECAUSE
YOU'VE NEVER KNOWN
DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A MAN
DRINK UP HIS WAGES
AND FORGET HIS FAMILY
AND HIS CHILDREN.
JOE: SO HOW OLD WERE YOU
WHEN YOU LEFT NEW YORK
FOR KANSAS?
YOUNG. I WAS
QUITE YOUNG.
WELL, THEN YOU CAN' HAVE KNOWN MUCH
DIFFERENT EITHER.
KANSAS HAS BEEN DRY
SINCE 1881,
AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE
OVER 60.
HA HA HA!
HA HA HA!
LAMB STEW
FOR THE LADY.
MAYBE NOT,
BUT I'VE TALKED
TO WOMEN
WHO REMEMBER
THE BAD, OLD DAYS,
AND I THINK THERE
ARE PLENTY OF WIVES
IN NEW YORK
WHO'LL BE VERY GLAD
OF THE CHANGE
IN THE LAW.
UNLESS THEY NEED A DRINK.
JOE: HA HA HA!
HA HA HA!
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
CONDUCTOR:
KNICKERBOCKER EXPRESS,
ALL ABOARD!
WHY CAN'T YOU JUS GET ON A TRAIN IN WICHITA
AND GO STRAIGHT THROUGH?
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T.
[TRAIN ROLLING]
BUT WE DON' CHANGE TRAINS AGAIN
BEFORE NEW YORK,
SO WE CAN HAVE
A GOOD REST.
AS LONG AS YOU DON' HAVE SOME RULES THA MIGHT PREVENT IT.
LOUISE, I AM NO YOUR ENEMY.
I HAVE NOT COME
ALONG TO HARASS YOU.
I'M HERE TO
PROTECT YOU.
WHAT DID YOU THINK
BACK THEN WHEN WE
WERE HAVING DINNER,
THAT THEY WERE GONNA
HAVE THEIR WAY WITH ME
IN THE--IN THE DINING CAR
UNDER THE TABLE?
A GIRL YOUR AGE
DOES NOT DINE WITH MEN
SHE DOESN'T KNOW,
NOT WITHOU A CHAPERONE.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE I ISN'T DONE.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE OF THE APPEARANCE
OF IMPROPRIETY.
LET ME PUT I TO YOU PLAINLY. AHEM.
MEN DON'T LIKE CANDY
THAT'S BEEN UNWRAPPED.
WHAT?
WELL, MAYBE
FOR A LARK,
BUT NOT FOR MARRIAGE.
THE CANDY MAY
STILL BE CLEAN,
BUT IF IT'S UNWRAPPED,
THEY DON'T KNOW
WHERE IT'S BEEN.
REALLY? HA HA!
NORMA, YOU SOUND LIKE
SOME OLD LATIN MAMA.
WHO IN THE WORLD
TAUGHT YOU THAT?
I HAVE NOT SAID
ANYTHING FUNNY.
HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
WHAT WERE YOUR PARENTS
DOING IN NEW YORK?
YOU SAID THEY WERE
FARMERS.
THEY WERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW THEM
WHEN I WAS IN THE CITY.
I WAS AN ORPHAN,
AND THEY ADOPTED ME.
WHY DID THEY COME
TO NEW YORK?
WHY DIDN'T THEY JUS FIND A BABY IN KANSAS?
WELL...
IN THOSE DAYS,
THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
USED TO SEND THE ORPHANS
OUT ON TRAINS
ALL OVER AMERICA.
PEOPLE CAME
TO THE STATIONS
AND ADOPTED US.
YOU WERE JUS STANDING THERE
LIKE A SLAVE MARKET?
JESUS!
DON'T SWEAR.
AND IT WASN'T LIKE
A SLAVE MARKET.
THE KAUFMANNS WERE
WONDERFUL PEOPLE.
THEY GAVE ME
A GOOD HOME.
WE DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH MONEY.
WE ALL HAD TO WORK
ON THE FARM,
BUT THEY LOVED ME,
AND I LOVED THEM
VERY MUCH.
WHEN DID YOU LEAVE
THE FARM?
THEY DIED WHEN I WAS
QUITE YOUNG,
BUT SOON AFTER,
I MET MR. CARLISLE.
ARE YOU HAPPY?
WHAT?
WITH MR. CARLISLE?
ARE YOU HAPPY
WITH MR. CARLISLE?
OF COURSE I AM.
I'M VERY HAPPY.
YOU DIDN'T LOOK
SO HAPPY.
YOU WERE KIND OF
FUNNY WITH HIM.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU MEAN.
WELL, IF YOU DON' WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
I'M VERY HAPPY.
SO YOU SAID.
I'M PUTTING
THE LIGHT OUT.
GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.
[WOMAN SINGING
IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
[BABY CRYING]
[TRAIN HORN BLOWING]
I THINK I'M IN LOVE
WITH NEW YORK ALREADY.
LOUISE, REALLY.
IT'S EXACTLY
AS I'D IMAGINED IT.
I'VE KNOWN ALL MY LIFE
THAT THIS IS WHERE
I'M MEANT TO BE.
SEEMS VERY LOUD TO ME.
LOUD AND VERY CROWDED.
YOU WOULDN'T KNOW
WE WERE ON THE SAME PLANE AS WICHITA.
WE'RE NOT,
THANK GOD.
HELLO. I WANT TO GO
TO RIVERSIDE DRIVE, PLEASE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW, LADY.
I'LL PICK UP SOMETHING
MORE CENTRAL, HUH?
MY LAST RIDE
BEFORE I GO HOME.
PLEASE HELP US,
MR. DRIVER.
WE'RE NEW HERE IN TOWN,
AND WE WOULD BE SO GRATEFUL.
SURE. YEAH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.THANK YOU.
HEH.
NORMA: AHH.
HOW DID YOUR FATHER
FIND THIS PLACE?
LOUISE: I COULDN' TELL YOU.
AHH. IT'S NOT SO BAD.
I THINK IT'S NICE.
COMPARED TO WHAT?
DO YOU MIND
SHARING A ROOM?
BETTER THAN THE COUCH.
DO YOU WAN THE FIRST BATH?
YOU HAVE IT.
SHALL WE GO AND SEE
TIMES SQUARE?
WE COULD TAKE
THE SUBWAY.
I'M AFRAID I'M
A LITTLE TIRED.
OK. WELL, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE
ME TO GET YOU?
LOUISE, IT'S ALMOST DARK,
AND YOU HAVE A CLASS
IN THE MORNING.
NOT TILL 10:00.
I'LL BE FINE.
I'M SORRY,
BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING
OUT BY YOURSELF.
FINE. I'LL STAY IN.
YEAH.
THIS IS IT.
I FEEL KIND OF NERVOUS.
DON'T BE.
I'VE SEEN YOU DANCE.
YOU'VE GOT NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT.
YOU'RE VERY GOOD
REALLY.
I KNOW, BUT VERY GOOD
ISN'T ENOUGH,
NOT FOR WHAT I WANT.
WELL, YOU WON' GET ANY BETTER
STANDING HERE.
GOOD LUCK.
YOU'LL BE GREAT.
SIGN IN A THIS TABLE, PLEASE,
AND THEN FIND
A PLACE FOR YOURSELF
ON THE FLOOR,
AND DON'T DAWDLE.
[JAZZ PLAYING ON RADIO]
WOULD IT BE ALL RIGH IF I HAD SOMETHING TO EAT?
AS OPPOSED TO WHAT?
HAVE I SEEN YOU
IN HERE BEFORE?
NO, BUT I MAY BE
A REGULAR
FOR A WHILE ANYWAY.
GONNA BE IN THE CITY
FOR A FEW WEEKS,
AND WE'RE STAYING
NEARBY.
OH. WHERE YOU FROM?
WICHITA, KANSAS.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
NEW YORK.
WELL, WESTCHESTER,
BUT I'M STUDYING LAW
AT COLUMBIA,
SO I'M STAYING UP
IN MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS
AT LEAS UNTIL I GRADUATE.
I GUESS WE ARE BOTH
STRANGERS
IN THIS PAR OF THE CITY ANYWAY.
I FEEL LESS
OF A STRANGER ALREADY.
OH, THAT'S GOOD.
PEOPLE LIKE US,
WE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER.
I'M FLOYD SMITHERS.
NORMA CARLISLE.
HEH. HA HA!
WHAT? WHY YOU SMILING?
YOU REMIND ME
OF MY SONS--
STILL WITH EVERYTHING
TO PLAY FOR. HA HA HA!
YOU THINK I COULD
LOOK AT A MENU?
OH, SURE. SORRY.
HEH HEH HEH.
RIGHT.
AND I WONDER
COULD YOU TELL
ME HOW TO GE TO THIS ADDRESS?
WHAT DO YOU NEED
DOWN ON 15th STREET?
WHY? IS I A BAD AREA?
WELL, IF I WERE YOU,
I WOULD TAKE A CAB
AND HOLD ON
TO YOUR PURSE.
OH, AND TAKE OFF
YOUR JEWELRY.
WOMAN: WELCOME, ALL OF YOU,
TO DENISHAWN.
I AM RUTH ST. DENIS.
PLEASE CALL ME MISS RUTH,
AND THIS IS MY HUSBAND
AND PARTNER, TED SHAWN.
BY CONTRAST,
YOU MAY CALL ME
PAPA SHAWN.
[LAUGHTER]
RUTH: FROM THIS MOMENT,
YOU ARE AMBASSADORS
FOR DENISHAWN,
AND JUST IN CASE
THERE IS ANY CONFUSION,
JUST BECAUSE WE ARE STUDYING
MODERN DANCE,
THERE WILL BE NO LAPSE
OF STANDARDS.
YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE
DENISHAWN STUDENTS
WEAR HATS AND GLOVES
AND NEVER ROLL
DOWN THEIR STOCKINGS.
OBVIOUSLY, NO DRINKING
OR SMOKING WILL BE TOLERATED
ON OR OFF THE PREMISES.
LOUISE: OBVIOUSLY.
DANCE IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
DANCE IS A VISUALIZATION
OF DIVINITY,
A WAY FOR YOU TO REALIZE
YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR BODIES.
YOUR BODIES ARE INSIDE YOU.
NOW WHO IS FAMILIAR
WITH DEBUSSY?
ME. I AM.
MY MOTHER PLAYS
HIM ALL THE TIME.
LUCKY YOU.
ALL OF YOU, TAKE ONE
OF THESE SQUARES...
AND FORM A RING.
NOW...TURN.
THAT'S IT. THE SCARF
IS THE EXTENSION OF YOUR BREATH.
[PIANO PLAYING DEBUSSY'S
"ARABESQUE" NO. 1]
TED: IT RISES,
AND IT FALLS.
DEDANS AND TURN.
AND AGAIN.
AND AGAIN.
WHO THOUGHT THAT ONE UP?
MAY I HELP YOU?
OH. YES. MAY I SPEAK
TO SOMEONE?
I USED TO LIVE HERE
AS A CHILD.
I'M AFRAID WE HAVE
MASS NOW.
YOU CAN COME BACK
IN AN HOUR.
COULDN'T I WAIT INSIDE?
I'VE COME SUCH
A LONG WAY.
VERY WELL.
GIRLS' CHOIR:
DEEP IN THE SWEET ABYSS
OF HOLY CHARITY
JUST WAIT HERE.
THAT WAS ME ONCE.
CHOIR: O GOD OF LOVELINESS
O LORD OF HEAVEN ABOVE
HOW WORTHY TO POSSESS
MY HEART'S DEVOTED LOVE
SO SWEET THY COUNTENANCE
SO GRACIOUS TO BEHOLD
MAN: ARE YOU OK?
OH, DEAR.
I'M FINE.
THANK YOU. I WAS
BEING A LITTLE NOSY.
COME AND WAIT IN HERE.
LET ME FETCH YOU A CHAIR.
THANK YOU.
BLISS UNTOLD
PLEASE.
YOU'RE VERY KIND.
THIS ROOM IS SO MUCH SMALLER
THAN I REMEMBER.
ALL THE CHAIRS ARE
SO MUCH SMALLER.
YOU WERE ONE
OF THE ORPHANS?
YES, YES.
I SUPPOSE I WAS.
NUN: WAS YOUR
PLACEMENT GOOD?
IT WAS, SISTER.
THEY WERE LOVELY PEOPLE.
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.
PRAISE GOD.
THAT'S NICE TO HEAR.
ARE YOU STILL
WITH THE CHURCH?
NO, SISTER.
I'M AFRAID THEY
WEREN'T CATHOLICS,
THE PEOPLE WHO
TOOK ME.
WHAT CHURCH DO YOU
ATTEND NOW?
PRESBYTERIAN.
WE GOT WISE TO WHA THEY WERE UP TO.
NOW WE SEND OU OUR OWN TRAINS.
CHILDREN STILL GO OU ON TRAINS?
WHY? WOULD YOU STOP
ANYONE SHARING
THE ADVANTAGES
THAT YOU HAD?
NO, OF COURSE NOT.
RIGHT. NOW WHAT CAN
I DO FOR YOU?
I WANT TO LEARN
ABOUT MY BIRTH
PARENTS, SISTER,
WHO AND WHERE
I CAME FROM.
I'M AFRAID I CAN' HELP YOU WITH THAT.
I KNOW YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED,
AND I'M VERY SORRY.
WHY CAN'T I LOOK
AT THE RECORDS?
BECAUSE THEY'RE
CONFIDENTIAL.
WHY?
BECAUSE NO GOOD
CAN COME OF IT,
AND ANYWAY, THE LIKELIHOOD
IS YOUR PARENTS ARE DEAD.
HOW WOULD IT HELP
IF YOU KNEW THEIR NAMES?
SISTER DELORES,
I WANT TO FIND OU WHO I AM.
YOU'RE A CHILD OF GOD.
YOU'RE YOU.
IF THEY'RE DEAD,
HOW WOULD IT HELP,
AND IF THEY'RE NOT,
IT COULD CAUSE
A BIGGER PROBLEM.
BESIDES, THEY WON' WANT TO BE FOUND.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH HERE
A LOT OF THE TIME?
DRUNKS, BROKEN HOMES,
ADULTERY, ASSAULT.
LET IT GO.
WHEN I WAS BROUGHT HERE,
I WASN'T A BABY.
I WAS WALKING
AND HEALTHY.
MY MOTHER MUST HAVE
KNOWN ME,
AND I'D BEEN CARED FOR.
I REMEMBER A WOMAN
HOLDING ME
AND SINGING TO ME
IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
THEN KEEP THAT MEMORY
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
I WANT TO KNOW
WHO I AM.
IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE
TO WANT TO KNOW
WHO YOU ARE.
YOU'RE MARRIED,
MRS. KAUFMANN?
YES.
YOU LOOK PROSPEROUS
AS IF YOUR HUSBAND
HAS GIVEN YOU
A COMFORTABLE
AND PRIVILEGED
WAY OF LIFE.
YES, I SUPPOSE HE HAS.
NORMA, VOICE-OVER:
YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE IT.
APPARENTLY, IT'S
NEXT SATURDAY, NOT TODAY.
ALSO, I KNOCKED
ON THE DOOR, AND--
ALAN: NORMA!
I THINK I MIGH CUT MY HAIR.
MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
HMM.
SHOULD WE ASK
YOUR MOTHER?
SHE WOULDN'T CARE.
CAN YOU SEE
WHY I LOVE NEW YORK?
HMM. MAYBE IN A WAY.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
IS IT NOT WHA YOU EXPECTED?
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I EXPECTED.
[PIANO PLAYING CHOPIN'S
"NOCTURNES" OP. 9 NO. 1
IN B FLAT MINOR]
TED: OPEN YOUR ARMS
LIKE A PEACOCK'S TAIL.
SMELL THE INCENSE.
NO, NO. PEGGY, DROP OUT.
LOUISE.
TAKE HER PLACE.
RUTH: WAS THA A LITTLE UNKIND?
YOU TELL ME TO SEARCH
FOR THE BEST.
SHE'S THE BEST.
AS LONG AS
YOU'RE SURE.
THE GIRL'S
A STAR.
LOOK AT HER.
LOUISE: HA HA HA!FLOYD: THAT'S IT.
THAT'S BETTER.
HOW ABOUT SOME
WHIPPED CREAM
TO GO WITH THAT?
IF YOU'RE OFFERING.ABSOLUTELY.
NORMA: HI, FLOYD.
OH, HELLO. I JUS GOT TO GET...
I WAS ON MY WAY
TO FETCH YOU.
THEY LET US GO
EARLY.
SO I WOULD HAVE JUS GOT THERE AND FOUND
THE PLACE EMPTY?
I CAME BACK
THE USUAL WAY.
I'D HAVE SEEN YOU.
WANT SOME?
BETTER NOT.
MY CORSET'S
TIGHT ENOUGH AS IT IS.
WHY DO YOU WEAR ONE?
I DON'T.
YOU WILL
WHEN YOU'RE OLDER.
NO, I WON'T.
SHOULDN'T BE HERE
WITHOUT ASKING ME.
HERE YOU ARE.
MMM.
HOW IS THAT?
HOW'S IT GOING?
SUMMER JOB?IS THAT ENOUGH?
YES, THANK YOU.
HEH HEH.
WE SHOULD GO.
HOW MUCH WILL IT BE?
DON'T BE SILLY.
SHE'S RIGHT. NO CHARGE.
AND DO YOUR EMPLOYERS
KNOW YOU GIVE FREE FOOD
TO PRETTY GIRLS?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT.
I DON'T WORRY
ABOUT ANYTHING.
LET'S GO.
FLOYD: BYE-BYE NOW.
NORMA: DO YOU OFTEN
DO THAT,
GET PEOPLE TO GIVE YOU
ICE CREAM FOR NOTHING?
BUT IT'S NO FOR NOTHING, IS IT?
I GET THE ICE CREAM,
AND THEY GET THE PLEASURE
OF MY COMPANY.
WELL, I'M NOT SURE
I SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOU.
DO YOU MEAN I'M
GETTING FAT?
NO.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THEY'LL ONLY PICK
A FEW OF US TO JOIN
THE COMPANY,
AND THEY WON'T CHOOSE
ME IF I'M FAT.
DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW
YOU WANT TO JOIN THE COMPANY?
BECAUSE SHE NEVER
MENTIONED IT TO ME.
I THOUGHT IT WAS JUS A COURSE TO LEARN
TO DANCE.
MYRA SAID YOU
WOULDN'T LIKE IT,
TO BE ESCORTING
A PROFESSIONAL
HOOCHIE-COOCHIE GIRL.
YOU SHOULD
HAVE MORE FAITH
IN YOURSELF, NORMA.
THERE ARE PLENTY
OF MEN OUT THERE
WHO'D BE DELIGHTED
TO GIVE YOU SOME
FREE ICE CREAM.
YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK.
DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
CHOIR: IMMACULATE MARY
YOUR PRAISES WE SING
YOU REIGN NOW IN HEAVEN
WITH JESUS OUR KING
AVE, AVE
AVE, MARIA
I'M SORRY. THE NUNS
HAVE MASS EVERY DAY
AT THIS TIME.
MAY I WAIT INSIDE
LIKE LAST TIME?
SURE.
THANK YOU.
IN FACT, I MEAN TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING SO THOUGHTFUL
WHEN I WAS LAST HERE
AND TODAY, TOO, OF COURSE,
OFFERING ME A CHAIR AGAIN.
SORRY ABOUT THE MESS.
YOUR MESS LOOKS
SO INTERESTING.
WHAT IS IT?
WELL, IT WAS
A WIRELESS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHO KNOWS?
SOMEONE PROBABLY
DROPPED IT,
AND THEY
THREW IT AWAY,
SO I THOUGHT I WOULD
TRY TO MEND I FOR THE GIRLS.
HOW NICE OF YOU.
SO GENEROUS.
SO WHY HAVE YOU
COME BACK?
OH. WELL, HERE'S
THE THING.
I'VE COME A LONG WAY
FROM KANSAS
TO FIND MY RECORDS
ONLY TO BE TOLD
THAT I COULDN'T SEE THEM,
AND I STARTED WONDERING
IF YOU POSSIBLY
MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME.
ARE YOU TRYING
TO BE SEDUCTIVE?
CERTAINLY NOT. NO.
IF YOU WANT A FAVOR,
YOU DON'T NEED TO
THROW YOURSELF AT ME.
YOU'VE MISUNDERSTOOD.
I WAS BEING NICE.
I WAS JUST ASKING NICELY
FOR SOMETHING I NEED,
THAT'S ALL.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
COME WITH ME.
WHAT?
COME. I'M TAKING YOU
FOR A DRINK.
OH, NOT A REAL DRINK.
JUST A CUP OF TEA.
WHY SHOULD I
COME WITH YOU?
BECAUSE YOU'RE UPSET.
BESIDES, IT'S
A NICE PLACE.
I'M JOSEPH SCHMIDT.
I'M NORMA.
I WAS NORMA KAUFMANN
WHEN I WAS HERE.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS IS A NICE PLACE.
I WOULD BUY YOU
A PROPER DRINK
IF I COULD.
YOU LOOK AS IF
YOU NEED ONE.
NO, THANK YOU.
I BELIEVE IN PROHIBITION.
OH. YOU'RE
IN THAT CAMP?
I AM.
I USED TO HAVE
A BEER GARDEN
IN QUEENS.
IT WAS
A GOOD PLACE.
PEOPLE WOULD COME
WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
ANYWAY, THIS IS
NOT WHAT I WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT.
I WANTED YOU
TO UNDERSTAND
WHY I CAN'T HELP.
WHAT DOES IT MATTER
IF I UNDERSTAND OR NOT?
IT MATTERS TO ME.
I DON'T HATE THE NUNS,
YOU KNOW?
THEY'RE KIND
IN THEIR WAY.
THERE ARE WORSE PLACES
ON EARTH
THAN THE HOME
FOR FRIENDLESS GIRLS.
I HOPE SO.
MY DAUGHTER IS THERE.
YOUR DAUGHTER?
I WAS INTERNED
DURING THE WAR
AS A GERMAN
DOWN IN GEORGIA.
BY THE TIME I GOT OUT,
MY WIFE WAS DEAD
FROM INFLUENZA,
AND MY DAUGHTER
HAD BEEN TAKEN
INTO CARE.
BY THE NUNS.BY THE NUNS, YES,
BUT I DIDN'T FIND
HER FOR MONTHS.
WHEN I DID,
I HAD NO MONEY,
MY BUSINESS WAS GONE,
SO THEY LET ME STAY ON
TO FIX THINGS.
IT'S NOT SO BAD,
AND AT LEAST I KNOW
GRETA IS SAFE.
SO YOU WON'T HELP ME
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T RISK
LOSING YOUR JOB.
GRETA LOST HER MOTHER,
AND THE NUNS GAVE HER
THE ONLY SECURITY
SHE HAS EVER KNOWN.
WHY DON'T YOU
TRY WRITING?
I HAVE. THEY ALWAYS
TURN ME DOWN.
PLEASE. IT WON' TAKE LONG.
I FIND THE FILE,
I LOOK INSIDE,
AND THAT'S IT.
I'M GONE. YOU WON' EVER HEAR FROM ME AGAIN.
I'LL LEAVE BEFORE THEY
COME OUT OF MASS.
JOSEPH: YOU MUST BE OU OF HERE IN 20 MINUTES.
I WILL LOCK THE DOOR,
AND YOU MUST KNOCK
WHEN YOU ARE DONE.
I UNDERSTAND.
IF THEY COME UP,
YOU WILL BE THERE
TILL THEY GO TO BED.
IT'S BETTER IF YOU GO
IN 20 MINUTES.
[DOOR SHUTS AND LOCKS]
[RATTLING]
JOSEPH: IS IT LOCKED?
I CAN GET THE KEY
IF IT'S WHERE
I THINK IT IS.
WOMAN: NEVER MIND.
I'LL COME BACK LATER.
NORMA, VOICE-OVER:
"MY NAME IS MARY O'DELL.
"I'M A FRIEND
OF THE BIRTH MOTHER
"OF THE GIRL NAMED NORMA,
WHO WAS BROUGHT HERE.
"NO INTENTION
OF TROUBLING NORMA,
"BUT ANY INFORMATION
WOULD BRING HER...
"I ENCLOSE
A SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE
"IN CASE YOU'RE ABLE
TO PASS ON ANY NEWS.
WITH GRATITUDE,
MRS. MARY O'DELL."
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
NORMA: I GOT IT.
HA HA HA!
YOU FOUND
WHAT YOU WANTED?
I HAVE AN ADDRESS.
I HAVE AN ACTUAL NAME
AND AN ADDRESS
IN MASSACHUSETTS.
YOU SHOULD GO OUTSIDE.
NORMA: HA HA!
YOU GAVE ME
A BAD MOMEN BACK THERE.
I GAVE YOU
A BAD MOMENT?
HA HA HA!
I'M SO EXCITED,
AND IT'S ALL
BECAUSE OF YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN SO KIND
TO ME,
AND YOU HAD
NO REASON.
YOU TOOK SUCH A RISK.
PLEASE. CAN I PAY YOU
FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE?
NO.
OH, PLEASE. I DON' MEAN TO BE RUDE.
I JUST WANT TO DO
SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU
HOW GRATEFUL I AM.
I DON'T NEED ANYTHING.
HOW CAN YOU LIVE HERE
WITH THE NUNS?
IS THAT ALLOWED?
I DON'T,
NOT EXACTLY.
I HAVE A ROOM UP THERE.
SO THERE'S REALLY
NOTHING I CAN
DO FOR YOU?
YOU CAN TELL ME
WHO YOU ARE.
YOU KNOW WHO I AM.
NO, I DON'T.
YOU MAY BE NORMA,
BUT WE BOTH KNOW
YOU ARE NOT CALLED
KAUFMANN NOW.
YOU DON'T TELL ME
WHERE YOU LIVE.
ALL YOU TRUST ME WITH
IS KANSAS.
YOU DON'T MISS
MUCH, DO YOU?
I WAS CALLED KAUFMANN
BEFORE I WAS MARRIED.
THAT'S TRUE.
I USED IT BECAUSE
I'VE WRITTEN SO MANY
TIMES BEFORE
IN MY OTHER NAME,
I THOUGHT THEY
WOULDN'T SEE ME.
SO WHAT WILL YOU DO
WITH THE LETTER?
I'LL WRITE
TO THE ADDRESS,
SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
WHO KNOWS?
PEOPLE CAN SURPRISE YOU.
THEY CERTAINLY CAN.
YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE IT.
APPARENTLY, IT'S NEXT SATURDAY,
NOT TODAY AT ALL,
SO I KNOCKED ON THE--
OH, GOD.
[JAZZ PLAYING ON RADIO]
LOUISE: YOU'RE LOOKING
AWFULLY CHIPPER.
HA HA. DID YOU HAVE
A GOOD DAY?
YES, I DID.
VERY GOOD, AS IT HAPPENS.
I THOUGHT SO.
WHO ARE YOU WRITING TO--
MR. CARLISLE?
NO. I'M WRITING
TO AN OLD FRIEND
WHOM I'D LIKE
TO SEE AGAIN,
WHO JUST MIGHT BE ABLE
TO COME TO NEW YORK.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
WAS YOUR DAY GOOD?
PAPA SHAWN THINKS
I COULD BE A STAR.
I HEARD HIM TELL
MISS RUTH.
AND DID SHE AGREE?
SHE AGREES
WITH WHATEVER HE SAYS.
HMM.
TED: HOLD, RIGHT, LEFT,
RIGHT, HOLD.
WE'RE GONNA ADD AN ARM.
2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8.
NOW THE HEAD ON 4.
STRUGGLE
WITH THE FEET.
OK. YOU, LOUISE, SHOW THEM.
[PIANO PLAYING CHOPIN'S
"REVOLUTIONARY ETUDE"]
[DANCERS APPLAUDING]
TRY IT AGAIN LIKE THAT.
WE GOT LUCKY
WITH THAT ONE.
DON'T GE TOO LUCKY, TED.
WE SHOULD GE A MOVE ON.
WE'LL BE LATE.
BY THE WAY,
I FOUND A CHURCH
FOR SUNDAY.
WHY WOULD I WANT TO
GO TO CHURCH?
I THOUGHT YOU WERE
RELIGIOUS.
SOMEONE TOLD ME
YOU ALWAYS LIKED TO GO
TO ED VINCENT'S CLASS.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
I JUST HEARD IT.
YOU HEARD IT?
FROM WHOM?
FROM WHOM DID YOU HEAR
THIS TIDBIT, NORMA?
AREN'T YOU GOING TO
TELL ME?
FROM ED'S WIFE,
I THINK.
EFFIE AND I
ARE FRIENDS.
OH? WHAT ELSE DID
LITTLE EFFIE VINCEN HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT?
NOTHING. THAT YOU
ENJOYED SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THAT'S NOT GOSSIP,
LOUISE.
THAT'S A NICE THING
FOR PEOPLE TO SAY.
WHY ARE YOU UPSET?
I'M NOT UPSET.
WE HAVE TO GO,
OR WE'LL BE LATE.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[MUSICIANS WARMING UP]
EXCUSE ME.
NORMA, THEY NEED TO
GET TO THEIR SEATS.
OH. I'M SO SORRY.
WOMAN: HMM. EXCUSE ME.
EXCUSE ME.
I DON'T WANT ANY TROUBLE,
BUT AREN'T COLORED FOLKS
SUPPOSED TO
SIT IN THE GALLERY?
ISN'T THAT THE LAW?
HONESTLY, NORMA.
THIS IS NEW YORK,
NOT WICHITA.
I SAID I DON'T WAN TO MAKE TROUBLE,
BUT I DON'T WANT THEM
TO GET INTO TROUBLE,
EITHER.
THEY WON'T.
WISH I KNEW WHAT KIND
OF SHOW THIS IS.
WELL, YOU'RE ABOU TO FIND OUT.
[LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING]
WOMAN: OH, I'M JUST WILD
ABOUT HARRY
AND HARRY'S WILD ABOUT ME
THE HEAVENLY BLISSES
OF HIS KISSES
FILL ME WITH ECSTASY
HE'S SWEET JUST LIKE
CHOCOLATE CANDY
AND JUST LIKE HONEY
FROM A BEE
I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY
AND HE'S JUST WILD ABOUT
CANNOT LIVE WITHOU HARRY'S WILD ABOUT ME
[SONG ENDS]
NORMA: YOU'RE RIGHT.
I DO LIKE NEW YORK.
FIRST IT SEEMED SO LOUD
AND SO CROWDED, BUT NOW,
HONESTLY,
IT'LL BE KIND OF DULL
TO GO BACK TO WICHITA.
[CHUCKLING]
"KIND OF"?
[SIGHS]
I'M SORRY ABOUT HOW I WAS
EARLIER WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
I KNOW IT'S ABSURD.
I SUPPOSE IT WAS THE WAY
I WAS BROUGHT UP.
WELL, SHAKE IT OFF,
NORMA.
I DON'T INTEND
TO LIVE THE WAY
I WAS BROUGHT UP.
[CHUCKLES]
WHAT DO YOU WANT,
LOUISE?
TO BE THE BEST DANCER
IN THE WORLD.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
YOU THINK THAT'S
RIDICULOUS.
NOT AT ALL.
I LIKE
YOUR BIG DREAMS.
I THINK SOMETIMES
MY DREAMS HAVE BEEN
TOO SMALL.
DID YOU EVER THINK
OF COMING BACK
TO NEW YORK
TO GET A JOB
BEFORE YOU MARRIED?
OH, NO.
I WAS MUCH TOO YOUNG.
I WAS MARRIED
WHEN I WAS 16.
WOW.
HOW'D YOU MEET HIM?
WELL, MY PARENTS DIED
IN AN ACCIDENT,
AND I THOUGHT I WAS
GOING TO LOSE THE FARM.
I WAS STAYING WITH
A NEIGHBOR, AND SHE HIRED
A LAWYER FOR ME AND...
THAT'S HOW I ME MR. CARLISLE.
HE WAS THE LAWYER?
YOU'RE AN ORPHAN
FARM GIRL WHO'S 16,
A BIG LAWYER COMES,
TAKES ONE LOOK A YOU, AND PROPOSES?
[CHUCKLES]
I GUESS.
YOU MUST HAVE HAD
SOMETHING.
YES,
I HAD SOMETHING.
INNOCENCE.
I WAS
A COMPLETE INNOCENT.
I WISH I COULD SAY
THE SAME.
DO YOU, REALLY?
NO.
GOOD.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
YOU HAVE FIRST TURN
IN THE BATH.
[WATER RUNNING]
LOUISE: DO YOU THINK
YOU MARRIED TOO YOUNG?
WOULDN'T BE
WITHOUT MY SONS.
WHEN YOU'RE 16,
YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU THINK.
I WOULDN'T WAN A HUSBAND
TO TEACH ME.
I HAD ENOUGH
OF THAT FROM
MY DAD.
SURE KNOW WHAT TO THINK
ABOUT SOME THINGS.
I WONDERED
WHERE I PUT IT.
IT WAS FOR MY BROTHER.
I WROTE IT WHEN WE
FIRST ARRIVED.
I'M GOING TO BED.
THANKS, LOUISE.
YOU DON'T LIKE
TO ARGUE, DO YOU?
I RECKON, WHEN YOU SHOUT,
YOU HATE YOURSELF
FOR A WEEK AFTER.
I DON'T BELIEVE
IT ACHIEVES MUCH
TO ARGUE AND SHOUT.
YOU'RE DISGUSTING.
THAT WAS VILE
AND REVOLTING.
I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW
WHAT IT SAYS
IN THE BIBLE.
I DO.
AND IN OUR HOME.
HOW COULD YOU BRING
THAT HORRIBLE MAN
INTO OUR HOME?
I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT,
BUT HE ISN'T HORRIBLE.
WHAT?
RAYMOND IS NOT HORRIBLE.
I WAS, NORMA!
WHEN DID IT START?
AT LAW SCHOOL.
YOU MEAN...YOU WERE
DOING THAT WITH HIM
BEFORE WE EVEN MET?
I WANTED TO STOP.
I THOUGHT THAT I COULD.
YOU DO NOT KNOW
HOW I TRIED.
YOU USED ME,
ALL OF THESE YEARS!
YOU NEEDED A WIFE.
YOU THOUGH I WAS YOUNG ENOUGH
AND STUPID ENOUGH
AND GRATEFUL ENOUGH
NOT TO MAKE TROUBLE!
THIS IS WHY YOU
NEVER TOUCH ME!
WHAT DO YOU WAN TO DO, NORMA?
ME?
I'M NOT DOING
ANYTHING. I'M GOING
TO LOIS AND JACK'S.
WHEN I GET BACK,
I WANT YOU GONE--
LOCK, STOCK,
AND BARREL!
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
I DID NOT THINK I
WOULD SEE YOU AGAIN.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE YOU GOT WHAT YOU
CAME TO NEW YORK FOR.
DID THEY ANSWER
YOUR LETTER YET?
NOT YET.
WHAT HAPPENS
IF THEY DON'T?
I SUPPOSE I'LL GO
BACK TO WICHITA.
I HOPE THEY DO.
I HOPE IT ALL TURNS OU LIKE YOU WANT IT TO.
BUT YOU DON' EXPECT IT WILL.
HOW PRETTY.
WOULD YOU LIKE ONE?
DON'T SPEND YOUR MONEY.I WANT TO.
HOW 'BOUT A POSEY
FOR YOUR WIFE, HUH?
THANK YOU.THANK YOU.
THAT'S VERY GENEROUS.
THANK YOU.
NONSENSE.
I HAVE SOMETHING
TO CELEBRATE.
WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
YOU TOLD ME YOU LIVE
IN WICHITA.
[DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
NORMA.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I THOUGHT I WAS COMING
FOR YOU AT 10:00.
WE FINISHED EARLIER THAN
THEY SAID WE WOULD.
DON'T WORRY.
TWO OF THE BOYS
WALKED ME HOME.
I HOPE IT WAS TWO.
NORMA.
THEY CHOSE ME.
THEY ONLY CHOSE
ONE STUDEN TO JOIN THEM,
AND IT WAS ME.JOIN THEM? FOR WHAT?
TO GO TO PHILADELPHIA
FOR A PERFORMANCE.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU CAN COME TO
THE DRESS REHEARSAL
IF YOU WANT.
OF COURSE I WANT.
WE MUST TELEGRAM
YOUR MOTHER.
I ALMOST FORGOT.
THIS WAS IN THE BOX
DOWNSTAIRS.
IT MUST HAVE COME
IN THE LAST POST.
IT'S FROM HAVERHILL,
MASSACHUSETTS.
REALLY?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
MRS. O'DELL?
MARY O'DELL?
I CHOSE
THE SHAKESPEARE STATUE,
AS I FELT WE WOULDN' GET MIXED UP.
I WAS GOING TO SAY
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS,
BUT THEN I REALIZED
THERE'S ONE IN THE PARK
AND ANOTHER AT, UH,
COLUMBUS CIRCLE.
YOU'RE MY MOTHER,
AREN'T YOU?
YOU'RE NO A FRIEND OF HERS.
YOU'RE MY MOTHER.
[SIGHS]
THERE'S NO POIN IN DENYING IT,
IS THERE?
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
I DON'T KNOW WHERE
TO BEGIN.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU
BEEN MARRIED?
25 YEARS.
HE'S A LAWYER.
WE HAVE TWIN SONS.
OH!
HOWARD AND EARL.
THEY LOOK LIKE
FINE YOUNG MEN.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHA A COMFORT IT IS
TO SEE HOW WELL
YOU'VE TURNED OUT.
I WORRIED
AND WORRIED.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
IF YOU HAD SURVIVED.
WELL, I DID. HEH!
AND WHAT WERE THEY LIKE,
THE KANSAS FARMERS
WHO TOOK YOU IN?
KIND. THEY GAVE ME
A HAPPY HOME.
[SIGHS]
THANK YOU FOR
TELLING ME THAT.
BUT...I WAN TO HEAR ABOUT YOU.
YOU'RE MARRIED.
I GUESS IT'S NO TO MY FATHER.
NO. I WAS MARRIED
AT 21,
HAD YOU AT 18.
AND...MY FATHER?
OH!
A BOY I ME AT A DANCE.
GOD, I DIDN'T KNOW
ANYTHING,
NOTHING.
FIRST TIME I BLED, I
THOUGHT I WAS DYING.
AND HE TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF THAT?
OH, DID HE? NO.
HE WAS JUST AS YOUNG
AND SCARED AS I WAS.
THE MINUTE HE HEARD
I WAS PREGNANT,
HE TOOK OFF.
WHAT WAS HIS NAME?
JACK MURPHY.
[SCOFFS]
BUT IF YOU WAN TO SEARCH
THE GREAT WES FOR A JACK MURPHY
WHO CAME FROM IRELAND
BY WAY OF BOSTON,
YOU GOT A LO OF INTERVIEWING TO DO.
WHERE WAS I BORN?
THE ST. ANTOINETTE
MISSION IN NEW YORK.
IT'S GONE NOW.
AND WHEN DID YOU
LEAVE ME?
OH, YOU WERE
6 MONTHS OLD.
THEY TOLD ME
TO NURSE YOU THAT LONG.
BUT I THOUGHT I WAS
WITH YOU UNTIL I WAS 3.
THAT'S WHEN I WAS TAKEN
TO THE ORPHANAGE.
OH. THEY MUST HAVE
KEPT YOU AT THE MISSION.
BUT I REMEMBER
A WOMAN HOLDING ME
AND SINGING TO ME
IN SOME OTHER LANGUAGE.
THERE WERE A LO OF FOREIGNERS.
HMM. SOME OF THEM
WERE BARREN
BECAUSE
OF WHAT THEY PU THEMSELVES THROUGH.
THEY ALL WANTED
TO HOLD YOU.
AND YOU LEFT ME WITH THEM
JUST AS SOON AS YOU COULD.
OH.
I DON'T EXPECT YOU
CAN STAY LONG.
NO, NOT LONG.
I HAVE TO GET BACK.
WHAT HAPPENED NEX TO YOU?
I WENT ON WITH MY LIFE,
WENT BACK TO BOSTON.
I TOLD THEM THAT I LEF THE JOB IN NEW YORK.
SO NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT ME?
NO.
I TOLD NO ONE, SO I
COULD LEAVE YOU BEHIND.
NOT EVEN YOUR HUSBAND?
NO. OH, NO.
BUT WE'VE BEEN HAPPY.
OUR TWO SONS ARE
POLITICIANS,
AND OUR DAUGHTER
JUST MARRIED INTO
A VERY GOOD FAMILY.
SO I HAVE BROTHERS
AND A SISTER?
HALF.
HALF-BROTHERS
AND A HALF-SISTER.
THEY DON'T KNOW
ABOUT YOU.
NOBODY DOES.
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO TELL THEM?
NO.
DON'T WORRY.
I WON'T TROUBLE YOU.
I WOULDN'T HAVE COME
TO HAVERHILL UNLESS
I WAS INVITED,
AND IT SEEMS
I'M NOT INVITED.
IT'S "HAY-VUR-ILL,"
JUST SO YOU KNOW.
THEY DON'T, UH,
SAY THE SECOND "H."
WELL, NOW--
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
I DID NOT KNOW
THAT HAVERHILL IS
PRONOUNCED "HAY-VUR-ILL"
BECAUSE UNTIL I FOUND
YOUR LETTER,
I HAD NO IDEA THAT SUCH
A TOWN--THIS TOWN WHERE
MY MOTHER AND MY
HALF-BROTHERS AND MY
HALF-SISTER LIVE--
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SUCH
A TOWN EVEN EXISTED.
I LOOKED UP THE STATUE.
IT WAS PAID FOR BY
A BENEFIT PERFORMANCE
OF "JULIUS CAESAR,"
STARRING EDWIN BOOTH
AND HIS BROTHER,
JOHN WILKES BOOTH.
HOW INTERESTING.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR,
JOHN WILKES BOOTH
SHOT LINCOLN.
I WISH THINGS
COULD BE DIFFERENT.
AND I HAVE TO GO.
YOU DON'T WAN MY ADDRESS, DO YOU?
[VOICE BREAKING]
YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW HOW
TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME.
YOU DON'T WAN TO MEET YOUR GRANDSONS.
I'M VERY PLEASED
TO HAVE SEEN YOU.
WOMAN: OH, NOW.
THE SLEEPER. OH.[BABY SQUEALS]
WOMAN: OH. SHH.
YOU FORGOT YOUR
LOVELY FLOWERS.
KEEP THEM.
I WANT YOU TO.
[CLASSICAL PIANO PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
[MUSIC ENDS]
[GIGGLES]
MAN: WONDERFUL.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
THAT WAS SO WONDERFUL.
MRS. CARLISLE, MAY I
HAVE A WORD WITH YOU?
THERE'S NO NEED
TO WORRY.
LOUISE WILL ONLY BE
AWAY FOR ONE NIGHT,
AND I'LL BE RESPONSIBLE
FOR HER.
THAT'S VERY KIND.
BUT WHAT I WANTED
TO SAY IS THAT--THA IF LOUISE DOES WELL,
WE MAY INVITE HER
TO JOIN THE TROUPE.
MY HUSBAND BELIEVES SHE
SHOWS GREAT PROMISE.
HE IS VERY MUCH
HER CHAMPION.
BUT WHERE
WOULD SHE LIVE?
WE HAVE A BOARDINGHOUSE
FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OCCUPY
SEPARATE FLOORS.
AND THERE'S
A CHAPERONE,
NATURALLY.
LOUISE: SO YOU CAN PROBABLY
GO HOME. YOU COULD LEAVE
TOMORROW, IF YOU LIKE.
I THINK I SHOULD WAI FOR MS. ST. DENIS
TO MAKE HER DECISION.
CERTAINLY.
YOU SHOULD.
WE WILL NEED TIME
TO CONSIDER,
AND THERE'S
NO DECISION YET.
[DISTANT LAUGHTER AND CHATTER]
OF COURSE, SHE
WILL NEED TO PROVE
THAT SHE CAN ADHERE
TO THE MORAL, AS WELL
AS THE AESTHETIC CODE
OF DENISHAWN.
ART IS NOT TINSEL;
ART IS GOLD,
AND IT MUST BE HANDLED AND
DELIVERED BY THE WORTHY.
I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE
IN LOUISE.
WELL, IN THE WORDS
OF THE PROPHET,
WE SHALL SEE.
FLOYD: SO HOW LONG
YOU GOING TO BE
IN PHILADELPHIA?
JUST ONE NIGHT.
THINK THEY'RE
TRYING TO GE YOUR ATTENTION.
MAN: EXCUSE ME.I'M SORRY, SIR.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?CAN WE PLEASE GET A...
I SHOULD PACK
YOUR OVERNIGHT BAG
WHEN WE GET HOME.
YOU'LL BE TOO FLUSTERED
IN THE MORNING.
I WON'T BE FLUSTERED.
NO, YOU PROBABLY
WON'T.
I WOULD BE,
BUT YOU WON'T.
I KEEP TELLING YOU,
YOU SHOULD BE MORE
SURE OF YOURSELF.
I AGREE.
ARE YOU OK?
YOU SEEM KIND OF DOWN.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
IF YOU SAY SO.
I'M GOING TO GO GE SOME MORE CREAM.
LET HIM BRING IT--
I'LL GO.
[LIGHT JAZZ PLAYING]
[BELL OVER DOOR JINGLES]
MAN: WELL, I HAD
A LOVELY TIME A THE BOARDWALK
THE LAST TIME
WE WERE THERE.
LOUISE: THAT CLUB,
IT'S ON 17th STREET.
THE VELVET CAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
I HEARD THAT PLACE
WAS KIND OF ROUGH.
LOUISE, STOP
BOTHERING FLOYD.
OH, NO,
SHE'S NO BOTHER,
MRS. CARLISLE.
WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?NOTHING.
DIDN'T SOUND
LIKE NOTHING.
WHEN YOU FINISH THAT,
WE'LL GO.
YOU GO. I'LL BE UP
IN A MINUTE.
YOU WILL COME
WITH ME NOW.
WHY?
BECAUSE ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH, LOUISE.
REALLY, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
OK.
[DISTANT DOG BARKING]
LOUISE?
LOUISE?
WHERE ARE YOU?
[PEBBLE CLATTERS]
[DOOR OPENS]WHAT'S HAPPENED?
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF
A CLUB ON 17th STREET?
I THINK IT'S CALLED
THE VELVET CAT.
YES.
[LIVELY JAZZ PLAYING WITHIN]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
DO YOU SEE HER?
[LOUISE LAUGHING]THERE SHE IS.
OH! MRS. CARLISLE,
THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE.
WHAT IS GOING ON?
IF ANYTHING'S HAPPENED...
NO, NOTHING'S HAPPENED
TO HER. I JUST WAN TO GET HER HOME.
LOUISE: HA HA! OH, NO!
LOUISE.
OH, JESUS, NOT HER.
GET ME OUT OF HERE.
I CAN'T MANAGE HER,
NOT NOW.
JOSEPH: HOW ABOU A LITTLE POLITENESS?
SHE HAS COME
A LONG WAY TO FIND YOU.
[EXHALES]
DO YOU LIKE THAT,
NORMA?
IT'S GIN.
GIN IS WHAT IT IS.
YOU SHOULD TRY IT.
MAYBE YOU WOULDN' BE SUCH A WOUND-UP
PAIN IN THE ASS.
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH.
WE ARE GOING HOME.
[SETS DOWN GLASS]
NOW!
NOT SO FAST,
YOU DIRTY KRAUT.
MAYBE THE YOUNG LADY
DOESN'T WAN TO LEAVE--OH!
EASY!
MAN: ALL RIGHT.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE.
LET'S GO.
OH!
SO VIRILE. HA!
JOSEPH: I'M GOING
TO TAKE YOU BOTH HOME.
FLOYD: BE CAREFUL.
SHE'S HAD A BIT.
NORMA: FLOYD,
SHE CAN HARDLY STAND.
I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
A GIRL DRINK
THAT MUCH.
I COULDN'T GET HER
TO COME AWAY.
[RETCHING]
[COUGHS, SPITS]
[SNIFFS, SIGHS]
THAT'S AMAZING.
I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
[FLUSHES TOILET,
CLOSES LID]
BUT, LOUISE, I HAVE
TO ASK YOU SOMETHING
AND YOU MUS ANSWER ME HONESTLY.
DID FLOYD TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF YOU?
NO.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHA I'M SAYING?
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN...
COMPROMISED?
HE DID NOT COMPROMISE ME.
OH, LOUISE.
OH, NORMA.
[SIGHS]
PLEASE DON'T WORRY
ABOUT ME LOSING
MY VIRGINITY.
I DIDN'T BRING I TO LOSE; IT'S BACK
IN KANSAS SOMEWHERE.
WHAT?
I TOLD YOU I WASN' AN INNOCENT.
BUT I NEVER
FOR ONE MOMENT--
I GUESS YOU LADIES
OF WICHITA DON' KNOW EVERYTHING
ABOUT MY RIDES
WITH EDDIE VINCENT.
MR. VINCENT,
YOUR TEACHER,
WHO DROVE YOU
TO SUNDAY SCHOOL?
AND SO MUCH MORE.
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
HE TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS
OF ME AFTERWARDS.
LOUISE...
IF THIS IS TRUE,
IF THIS HORRIBLE
THING IS TRUE,
THEN HE MUST BE
REPORTED.
REALLY? WHY?
OH...
I HAVE TO TELL
YOUR MOTHER.
I THINK SHE KNOWS.
SHE THOUGHT I MIGH BE ABLE TO USE
THE PICTURES.
YOUR MOTHER?
THEY'RE NOT ALL LIKE MARMEE
IN "LITTLE WOMEN," YOU KNOW.
I KNOW.
DO YOU?
I WONDER.
BEING AN ORPHAN IS SUCH
A BIG THING FOR YOU...
BUT IF YOU ASK ME,
I THINK IT GETS YOU OU OF A WHOLE LOT OF TROUBLE.
[EXHALES]
ANYWAY, LET'S NO STIR THINGS UP.
YOU'RE ALWAYS SAYING
THAT NO ONE WANTS A GIRL
WHEN HER CANDY'S UNWRAPPED.
OH, PLEASE FORGE ABOUT THE CANDY.
I WON'T FORGE ANYTHING.
YOU POOR CHILD.
ALL THE TIME I'VE
BEEN LECTURING YOU,
NEVER KNOWING YOU
WERE THE VICTIM
OF WICKED ABUSE.
BUT THAT'S
THE POINT.
I DON'T WAN TO BE A VICTIM;
NOT NOW, NOT EVER!
I MUST BRUSH MY TEETH
AND I NEED TO TINKLE.
CAN I HAVE
SOME PRIVACY, PLEASE?
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
[LIQUID POURING]
[SETS DOWN KETTLE]
I HAVE BREAKFAST FOR YOU
IN THE OTHER ROOM.
[SIGHS]
WHY'D YOU WAKE ME?
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE
LATE TODAY,
MISS RUTH WON'T LET YOU
GO TO PHILADELPHIA,
AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE
TO JOIN THE TROUPE.
TELL HER I'M SICK.
IT'S TRUE.
SHE WON'T CARE,
AND PAPA TED WON' BE ABLE TO PROTECT YOU.
MMM. OK.
SO GET UP.
YOU MUSTN'T PU EVERYTHING
YOU WANT AT RISK.
[SIGHS]
I'M NOT PACKED.
I'LL PACK.
LOUISE...
I CAN'T HELP
WORRYING
ABOUT WHA YOU TOLD ME
LAST NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW WHA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
MR. VINCENT.
I CAN'T OVERLOOK IT.
ONE WORD, AND I'LL
DENY EVERYTHING;
SO WILL MOTHER.
YOU'LL JUST MAKE
YOURSELF LOOK CRAZY.
ARE YOU PLANNING
TO SAY ANYTHING
TO MISS RUTH?
OF COURSE NOT. WHY WOULD I?
I DON'T WANT TO
RUIN YOUR CAREER.
I DON'T HAVE A CAREER.
MAYBE NOT YET,
BUT YOU CAN HAVE ONE.
YOU'RE GOOD. LOUISE,
YOU'RE VERY GOOD.
NO ONE CAN TAKE THA AWAY FROM YOU.
REALLY?
YES, REALLY.
I KNOW YOU'RE PRETTY
AND THE BOYS LIKE YOU,
BUT YOU GOT MORE
THAN THAT.
YOU GOT TALENT.
TALENT GIVES YOU POWER.
PEOPLE CAN TRY TO STOP
YOU, BUT THEY CAN' TAKE AWAY YOUR TALENT.
NOBODY CAN DO THAT.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.
BETTER GET IN THERE.
WISH ME LUCK.
GOOD LUCK.
FLOYD:
MRS. CARLISLE?
FLOYD.
PLEASE, MRS. CARLISLE,
I KNOW YOU'RE SORE,
BUT I'M TRULY SORRY,
HONEST.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE
HAD HER SNEAK OU LIKE THAT.
FLOYD...
YOU'RE A NICE
YOUNG MAN, AND I
THINK YOU'LL GO FAR.
YOU'RE LIKE ME; WE'RE
BOTH KIND OF NORMAL.
WHAT WE WANT FROM LIFE
IS ACHIEVABLE.
I'M NOT SURE LOUISE
IS LIKE THAT.
I THINK ABOUT HER ALL
THE TIME, MRS. CARLISLE,
ALL THE TIME.
SHE'S THE PRETTIEST GIRL
I'VE EVER SEEN, BY FAR.
AND SHE'S KIND OF...
FASCINATING,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
I CERTAINLY DO,
BUT IF I WERE YOU,
I SHOULD LET HER BE
A WONDERFUL MEMORY;
YOU'LL BE A LO HAPPIER THAT WAY,
BELIEVE ME.
I BET YOU'RE GLAD
YOU'RE TOO OLD TO MESS
WITH THIS STUFF...RIGHT?
[DOOR OPENS]
SURE YOU WOULDN' LIKE SOME COFFEE,
MRS. CARLISLE?
NO, THANK YOU, BETTY.
YOU'RE VERY KIND, BUT I
WON'T BE STAYING LONG.
THANK YOU, BETTY.[DOOR CLOSES]
I HOPE YOU'LL STAY
LONG ENOUGH
TO HAVE A GROWN-UP
CONVERSATION.
IS THAT WHY WE'RE HERE,
SO I WON'T SHOU AND THROW A GLASS VASE?
I LIKE TO THINK SO.
YOU KNOW, THERE ISN' A JUDGE IN THE COUNTY
THAT WON'T GIVE ME
A DIVORCE.
AND WHEN HE DOES,
I'LL NOT ONLY BE RUINED,
I'LL PROBABLY BE DEAD.
THERE ARE PEOPLE
IN THIS TOWN
WHO WOULD HAVE ME
KILLED IF THEY KNEW.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
THOUGHT OF THA A LITTLE EARLIER.
AND HOW WILL YOU AND
THE BOYS LIVE WHEN
I'VE BEEN MURDERED?
THEN I'LL CITE
YOUR INFIDELITY
AND...
YOU CAN SUPPORT US.
IS IT WHAT YOU WANT?
"THERE'S NORMA CARLISLE.
SHE'S DIVORCED, YOU KNOW."
WHAT'S RAYMOND
PLANNING TO DO?
HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT SETTLING UP,
MOVING ON.
BUT YOU DON' WANT HIM TO.
NO, I DON'T.
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[CRYING]
YOU WISH I HAD DIED
WHEN THE TWINS
WERE BORN.
THEN YOU COULD HAVE
PLAYED THE SAD WIDOWER
WITH NO ONE TO GE IN YOUR WAY.
I VALUE OUR FAMILY,
NORMA.
YOU KNOW THAT.
[PEBBLE CLATTERS]
[DOOR UNLOCKS]
WHERE IS SHE THIS TIME?
NO, SHE'S FINE.
I THINK SHE'S FINE.
SHE'S IN PHILADELPHIA.
ONLY I WAS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
[DOOR CLOSES]
CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?
I DON'T THINK SO.
NO, THANK YOU.
SO WHAT CAN I DO
FOR YOU?
WELL...
I HOPE YOU WON' REGRET THIS.
I CANNOT THINK
OF ANYTHING
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE
I WOULD REGRET LESS
THAN WHAT WE ARE
ABOUT TO DO.
YOU HONOR ME.
YOU ARE TOO GOOD FOR ME.I'M NOT TOO GOOD FOR YOU.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE I'M
GOOD ENOUGH...
BUT KISS ME.
NORMA: ALAN'S NO A BAD PERSON. HE'S KIND.
JOSEPH: BUT HE'S NO A HUSBAND TO YOU.
I HAD A COUSIN
LIKE THAT IN GERMANY.
HE WAS A GOOD MAN,
BUT ONE DAY HE WAS
BEATEN HALF TO DEATH.
YOUR ALAN IS RIGH TO KEEP HIS SECRET.
I'M AFRAID SO.
SO HOW LONG WILL YOU
STAY WITH HIM?
OH, I DON'T WAN A DIVORCE.
WHY NOT?
I DID AT FIRST, BUT NOT NOW.
HOW WOULD I EXPLAIN IT?
WHAT WOULD I SAY
TO THE BOYS?
THEY ARE NOT BOYS
ANYMORE.
THEY'RE MEN.
TELL THEM YOU WAN TO BE HAPPY.
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
NO?
NO.
MORE THAN ANYTHING,
I WANT THEM TO BE HAPPY.
THEY ARE HAPPY.
DON'T WAN TO SPOIL THAT.
WHAT A WASTE.
THESE MARKS ARE
FROM WHAT YOU WEAR?
FROM MY CORSET, YES.
WHY WEAR IT?
MUST BE SO TIGHT.
YOU GET USED TO IT.
BUT WHY GET USED
TO IT?
SO...WAS I WORTH IT?
IT WAS FUN, BUT IT'S
GREAT TO BE HOME.
I MEAN, PHILADELPHIA'S FINE,
AND GOD KNOWS IT'S AN
IMPROVEMENT ON WICHITA,
BUT I JUST WANTED
TO BE IN NEW YORK.
ISN'T THAT SOMETHING,
TO BE SO ATTACHED
TO A PLACE THAT'S
STILL SO NEW TO ME?
MAYBE IT'S THE RIGH PLACE FOR YOU.
THERE'S NO MAYBE
ABOUT IT.
WHEN DO YOU HEAR
ABOUT THE TROUPE?
I GOT IT.
THEY'VE OFFERED IT.
WHEN WERE YOU GOING
TO TELL ME?
[GIGGLES]
I'M SO GLAD.
I WAS AFRAID YOU'D
BE DISAPPOINTED.
MISS RUTH DIDN' SEEM TOO CONVINCED.
NO, BUT PAPA SHAWN WAS,
AND I KNEW HE'D
GET HIS WAY.
I'M NOT SO SURE.
MY GUESS IS THAT WHEN
THE CHIPS ARE DOWN,
MISS RUTH ST. DENIS
RUNS THAT COMPANY.
SHE CAN'T REFUSE HIM
ANYTHING.
TO QUOTE MISS RUTH,
WE'LL SEE.
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I DON'T KNOW, EXACTLY.
YOU JUST SEEM DIFFERENT,
AS IF SOMETHING'S
CHANGED.
WHEN DO YOU MOVE IN?
THEY'LL HAVE A ROOM
FOR ME ON FRIDAY.
THAT SOON?
WHY WAIT WHEN IT'S
DECIDED?
NORMA: GO AND MAKE
YOUR PEACE WITH HIM.
I SUPPOSE HE HATES ME.
NO, HE DOESN'T,
AND I THINK
HE DESERVES
A PROPER APOLOGY.
ALONE?
ALONE...BUT COME
STRAIGHT BACK TO
THE APARTMENT.
[VIOLIN PLAYING ON RADIO]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
[SIGHS]
WE REALLY OUGH TO CABLE YOUR
MOTHER TONIGHT.
YOU SHOULD NEVER
HAVE SHOWN ME WHERE
YOUR FLAT IS.
[WHISPERS]
Come in, come in.
I LEFT THE HOME.
WE WERE SEEN.
I NEEDED
TO TELL YOU.
I WAS WORRIED YOU
WOULD GO BACK THERE.
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE A FRIEND
IN BROOKLYN.
HE'S AT WORK NOW,
BUT WE CAN GO
TO HIS PLACE LATER.
COME ON, GRETA.
SAY HI.
HELLO, GRETA.
SHE'S NOT USUALLY SO SHY.
WHAT CAN I GET YOU?
WE GOT TOAST AND JAM.
DO YOU LIKE STRAWBERRY JAM?
AND ORANGES?YOU'LL LIKE IT.
[CHUCKLES]
GOOD.
THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.
JOSEPH: SHE'LL EA IT ALL, IN CASE
YOU COME
TO TAKE IT AWAY.
OH, GOD, I REMEMBER
THAT FEELING.
WHO TOLD?
SISTER DELORES SAW US
WALKING OUT OF
THE GATE THIS MORNING.
SHE FIRED ME AS SOON
AS I GOT BACK.
BUT GRETA HADN' DONE ANYTHING.
THEY OFFERED
TO KEEP HER,
BUT I SAID NO.
YOU WERE RIGHT,
OR SHE'D HAVE BEEN
ON THAT TRAIN.
HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY WITH
THIS FRIEND IN BROOKLYN?
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
I'LL FIND SOMETHING.
I'VE RUINED YOUR LIFE.
I PUSHED INTO YOUR LIFE
AND I RUINED IT.
WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
NORMA, YOU'VE GIVEN ME
MY ONLY MEMORY
WORTH KEEPING
SINCE BEFORE THE WAR.
IF I FOUND SOMETHING
FOR YOU TO DO,
A PLACE WHERE YOU
COULD LIVE,
WOULD YOU LET ME
HELP YOU?
I HAVE A YOUNG DAUGHTER.
I NEED ALL
THE HELP I CAN GET.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH,
DOOR OPENS]
LOUISE.
[DOOR CLOSES]LOUISE: WHO'S THE LITTLE GIRL?
LOUISE: YOU AGAIN.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING
TO CARRY ME OFF TO
THIS TIME?
I DON'T THINK
YOU MET PROPERLY
THE OTHER NIGHT.
THIS IS
MY BROTHER JOSEPH.
YOUR BROTHER?
JOSEPH SCHMIDT,
LOUISE BROOKS.
IT'S A PLEASURE
TO MEET YOU.
AND GRETA IS
MY NIECE.
LOUISE:
YES, SHE WOULD BE.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
JOSEPH:
WE SHOULD BE GOING.
MY FRIEND IS
GOING TO BE HOME BY
THE TIME WE GET THERE.
FINE. WE'LL MEE ON SATURDAY.
AHEM.
AT GRAND CENTRAL STATION
AT THE TICKET OFFICE
AT 10:00.
GRAND CENTRAL ON SATURDAY.
AT 10:00.
AND YOU BETTER BRING
EVERYTHING WITH YOU.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW
LONG YOU'RE GOING
TO BE STAYING
IN WICHITA.
NO, I GUESS WE DON'T.
WELL, BYE,
MR. BROTHER.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL
MEET AGAIN.
NOT IN KANSAS?
LEAST OF ALL IN KANSAS.
THEN GOOD-BYE, MISS BROOKS.
WELL, YOU KEPT THA PRETTY QUIET.
THIS BROTHER ALL TIED UP
WITH THAT LETTER YOU WERE
EXPECTING FROM HAVERHILL?
EXACTLY.
DO TELL.
I'D WRITTEN TO A FRIEND
OF MY MOTHER'S.
I CAME ACROSS
A LETTER FROM HER,
SO I WROTE TO HER.
AND?
AND WE MET,
AND SHE TOLD ME
HOW MY MOTHER DIED
WHEN I WAS BORN.
IT SEEMS MY FATHER
WENT HOME TO GERMANY
WITH JOSEPH,
BUT I WAS STILL A BABY,
SO I WAS LEFT WITH A COUSIN
IN NEW YORK, THEN SHE DIED,
AND THAT'S HOW I WOUND UP
IN THE ORPHANAGE.
WHY DIDN'T THE FRIEND
PREVENT THAT,
OR AT LEAST WRITE
TO YOUR FATHER?
SHE HAD CHILDREN
OF HER OWN, AND SHE
LOST CONTACT WITH HIM.
THEN JOSEPH REAPPEARED?
HE CONTACTED HER
A WHILE AGO
WHEN HE RETURNED
TO AMERICA.
HE WAS TRYING
TO TRACE ME,
SO NATURALLY,
THEY WERE PLEASED
WHEN I WROTE.
WOW.
THAT'S QUITE A STORY.
HMM. OH,
AND BY THE WAY,
IT'S "HAY-VUR-ILL,"
NOT "HAVE-UR-HILL."
YOU DON'T PRONOUNCE
THE SECOND "H."
WELL,
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
[SIGHS]
WOW. THOUGHT YOU WERE
MOVING DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S TOO HOT.
IT'S HARD TO WEAR ANYTHING
TIGHT IN THE HOT WEATHER.
WELL, I'M GLAD OUR TRIP
HAS PRODUCED RESULTS.
I DON'T ENVY YOU GOING
BACK TO THAT TOWN,
GOD KNOWS...
BUT I HOPE THINGS
WORK OUT FOR YOU,
NORMA. I MEAN THAT.
ME, TOO.
I HOPE YOU GE EVERYTHING YOU WANT,
LOUISE. YOU DESERVE IT.
BY THE WAY...
YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID
HE WAS YOUR BROTHER
IN THE SPEAKEASY.
ALWAYS SAY IT STRAIGHTAWAY
BEFORE ANYONE CAN
ASK A QUESTION.
HORSE FEATHERS.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
[TRAIN CHUGGING]
GRETA: PAPA?
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WE'RE GOING TO
MY HOME IN KANSAS,
WHICH I HOPE WILL BE
YOUR HOME, TOO.
AND YOU'LL MEE YOUR UNCLE ALAN
AND YOUR COUSINS,
HOWARD AND EARL.
WHEN WILL YOU TELL HIM
THE TRUTH...
ABOUT US?
AS SOON AS WE'RE
ALONE, I GUESS.
WHAT ABOUT THE BOYS?
I WON'T TELL
THE BOYS,
AND YOU WON' TELL GRETA, EVER.
IT FEELS SO DISHONEST.
OF COURSE IT'S
DISHONEST.
IN A BETTER WORLD, WE
WOULD SHOUT WHO WE ARE
FROM THE ROOFTOPS,
BUT I CAN'T WAIT FOR
A BETTER WORLD, JOSEPH.
I'M LIVING NOW,
AND I WANT TO BE HAPPY.
AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK?
IF IT DOESN'T WORK...
MY DEAR BROTHER WILL
FIND A JOB ELSEWHERE
AND LEAVE TOWN AND TAKE
HIS DAUGHTER WITH HIM.
BUT I THINK I WILL WORK...
'CAUSE I THINK WE
WANT IT TO WORK.
SUPPOSE THEY REPEAL
PROHIBITION.
CAN I HAVE A BEER?
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
ALL RIGHTY.
HAVE A BEER.
[CHUCKLES]
[WHISTLE BLOWS]
[BIRDS CHIRPING]
NORMA: HE SAYS NO TO WORRY ABOUT HIM.
AT LEAST HIS UNI IS NOWHERE NEAR
THE FRONT.
WHAT ELSE DOES HE SAY?
WHAT CAN HE SAY?
HE'S WELL.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
THAT WON'T TELL US ANYTHING.
THE CENSOR INKS IT OUT.
READ IT FOR YOURSELF.
LET GRETA SEE IT.
THINK HE IS WELL?
THINK HE'LL
COME HOME SAFE?
I HOPE HE WILL.
WHY'D HE HAVE TO GO
WHEN HIS BROTHER'S
ALREADY FIGHTING?
I DON' UNDERSTAND IT.
HE'S A DOCTOR.
THEY SHOULD BE
PROTECTED.
GRETA: I DON'T THINK HE
WANTED TO BE PROTECTED.
MAYBE NOT, BUT HE HAS
A WIFE AND CHILDREN
TO THINK ABOUT.
LOTS OF THEM HAVE WIVES.
LOTS OF THEM HAVE CHILDREN.
I GUESS.
LOOK, MOMMY.
HE'LL BE
ALL RIGHT,
YOU KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW,
AND NOR DO YOU.
GRETA: TELL HER, PAPA.
SHE'LL BELIEVE YOU.
WELL, I CAN'T SAY WHA IS GOING TO HAPPEN,
BUT BOTH OF YOUR SONS
ARE VERY FINE MEN.
YOU SHOULD BE
PROUD OF THEM.
THAT'S FOR SURE.BY THE WAY,
I HEARD SOMETHING
THIS MORNING
ABOUT YOUR OLD PAL.
I MEANT TO
TELL YOU EARLIER.
WHICH OLD PAL?
LOUISE BROOKS.
SHE'S BACK IN WICHITA.
I RAN INTO HER MOTHER
ON MY WAY HERE.
WHAT?
WHEN DID SHE
GET HERE, RAYMOND?
A WHILE AGO,
APPARENTLY.
WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD
ABOUT THIS?
MAYBE BECAUSE
YOU HAD ENOUGH
ON YOUR PLATE,
LOOKING AFTER
ALL OF US.
ALAN: RAY, WHAT TIME
ARE YOU COMING
FOR ME TOMORROW?
RAYMOND:
I'LL PICK YOU UP
AROUND 3:00.
GRETA:
AREN'T YOU STAYING
FOR DINNER TONIGHT?
I WILL
IF YOU'LL HAVE ME.
NORMA: I'VE ONLY
JUST BEEN TOLD SHE'S
BACK IN TOWN.
I'D HAVE COME EARLIER
IF I'D KNOWN.
SHE'S BEEN HERE
FOR 6 MONTHS.
WICHITA'S A BIGGER TOWN
THAN IT USED TO BE.
YES, WICHITA IS
BIGGER,
AND LOUISE BROOKS
IS SMALLER.
DID YOU HEAR ABOU HOW RUTH ST. DENIS
GOT RID OF HER
AS SOON AS SHE
COULD?
PARAMOUNT DID
THE SAME.
EVERYTHING SHE
TOUCHES FLOPS.
SHE'S UP THERE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO KNOCK,
BUT I DOUBT YOU'LL GE MUCH OUT OF HER.
THANK YOU.
LOUISE, ARE YOU
IN THERE?
CAN YOU OPEN
THE DOOR?
IT'S NORMA CARLISLE.
I KNOW YOU NEVER DID
ANYTHING I SAID
20 YEARS AGO,
BUT I WISH YOU'D
OPEN THE DOOR.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I WANT TO SEE YOU.
I ONLY JUST HEARD YOU
WERE HERE. I DIDN' KNOW IT BEFORE TODAY.
HOW'S YOUR GERMAN,
NORMA?
YOU MEAN MY BROTHER?
OH, HE'S DONE SO WELL.
NO, GERMAN.
THE LANGUAGE.
I WONDERED IF YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM
"SCHADENFREUDE,"
PLEASURE IN THE MISERY
OF OTHERS?
WE DON'T HAVE
AN EQUIVALENT,
BUT IT'S A USEFUL WORD,
ESPECIALLY IN WICHITA.
I HAVE NOT COME HERE
TO GLOAT.
YOU KNOW ME BETTER
THAN THAT.
DO I?
MAYBE I DO.
SAW YOUR MOTHER
DOWNSTAIRS.
SHE HAS SUCH A
WONDERFUL COLLECTION
OF YOUR POSTERS.
OH, YES.
MOTHER WAS A BIG FAN
OF LOUISE BROOKS,
THE MOVIE STAR.
SHE'S LESS OF A FAN
OF LOUISE BROOKS,
NOT THE MOVIE STAR.
YOU WERE SO MAGICAL.
I WAS VERY PROUD
TO HAVE KNOWN YOU.
LOVED IT WHEN
YOUR MOVIES CAME HERE.
MOST OF THEM WERE
TERRIBLE.
OH, NO, I LOVED THEM.
"AMERICAN VENUS,"
"SOCIAL CELEBRITY,"
"A GIRL IN
EVERY PORT"--SO MANY.
AS FOR THE GERMAN FILMS,
"PANDORA'S BOX"
HAUNTED ME FOR WEEKS.
DID IT?
DON'T MAKE THEM
NOTHING.
DON'T YOU REMEMBER,
EVERY SHOP GIRL,
EVERY OFFICE WORKER,
THEY ALL COPIED YOU.
THEY COPIED YOUR LOOK.
THEY COPIED YOUR HAIR.
DO YOU KNOW WHY?
YOU MADE THEM FEEL FREE.
YOU CHANGED THINGS,
LOUISE. YOU DID.
IF YOU SAY SO.
WHY'D YOU STOP
MAKING FILMS?
I STOPPED MAKING
FILMS BECAUSE I
HATED HOLLYWOOD,
AND HOLLYWOOD
HATED ME.
THAT'S ALL.
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
WHY HAVE YOU COME BACK?
BECAUSE I'VE REACHED
THE END OF THE ROAD.
I KNEW IT.
[PUNCHES CHAIR]
I KNEW IT THE MOMEN I HEARD YOU WERE BACK
IN WICHITA.
I KNEW YOU'D GIVEN UP.
THAT'S WHY I'VE COME.
NORMA, LOOK AT ME.
I'M 35 YEARS OLD.
I'M BROKE. I HAVE
NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.
HORSE FEATHERS!
[LAUGHS]
"HORSE FEATHERS."
WHATEVER YOU
WANT TO CALL IT,
THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
YOU DON'T LIKE
YOUR PARENTS,
AND WHY SHOULD YOU?
YOU DON'T LIKE THIS HOUSE.
YOU DON'T LIKE THIS TOWN.
WHY COME BACK?
ARE YOU A HOMING PIGEON
FOR MISERY? JUST GET ON
A TRAIN AND GO.
I'M TOO OLD.
I AM.
I AM ALL USED UP, NORMA.
I'M NOT EVEN ME ANYMORE.
LOUISE.
YOU TAUGHT ME
SOMETHING ONCE.
I TAUGHT YOU?
I JUST REMEMBER
GETTING DRUNK
AND THROWING UP.
WELL, THAT WAS PAR OF IT...
BUT I KNOW YOU, LOUISE,
OR I KNEW YOU THEN,
AND I AM CERTAIN YOU
ARE NOT USED UP.
I AM CERTAIN THERE'S STILL
QUITE A BIT OF YOU LEFT.
NOW, I'M GOING
TO GIVE YOU...
A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
NO, NO, YOU DON' OWE ME ANYTHING.
PLEASE--
YOU'RE WRONG.
[SIGHS]
I OWE YOU A LOT MORE
THAN A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
PACK YOUR BAGS TODAY.
GO DOWN TO
THE TRAIN STATION
AND BUY A TICKE FOR NEW YORK.
NORMA?
WHEN YOU TOOK OFF
YOUR CORSE THAT DAY,
DID YOU EVER
PUT IT ON AGAIN?
NO, I NEVER DID.
GOOD-BYE, LOUISE.
GOOD LUCK.
DON'T COME BACK.
JOSEPH: HOW WAS IT?
NORMA:
ALL RIGHT, I THINK.
YOU'RE NOT SORRY
YOU WENT?
ABSOLUTELY NOT,
BUT YOU KNOW LOUISE.
SHE HAS TO DO I HER OWN WAY.
LET'S GO HOME.
WAS GRETA RIGHT?
DO YOU THINK YOU HAD
TOO MUCH ON YOUR PLATE,
LOOKING AFTER US ALL?
NO.
I HAD ENOUGH
ON MY PLATE,
BUT NO TOO MUCH.
DO WE NEED ANYTHING
FOR DINNER?
I DON'T THINK SO.
OH, MAYBE WE SHOULD
PICK UP SOME BUTTER
IF MR. TAYLOR
IS STILL OPEN.