Bonanza (1959–1973): Season 4, Episode 22 - The Actress - full transcript

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Whoa!

Howdy, ma'am. Can I help you?

Is your name Cartwright,
by any chance?

Yes, ma'am, it sure is.

Hey!

Ma, you could hurt him,
knocking him down like that.

No more than he hurt us.

You, sir, are a
thoughtless, despicable cur!

We came all the
way from Carson City



because of this advertisement.

Go ahead, read
it, Mr. Cartwright.

You just read it.

Hmm.

"Wanted... Elementary
schoolteacher.

"Apply Virginia City.

Ben Cartwright,
School Chairman."

Not one word about
male or female, is there?

Hmm? No. Oh, no,
ma'am, there isn't.

Oh, you think it's funny,

coming all this way
just to have some man

down at the school
building tell me

that no women need apply.

Why, my little boy and I
sacrificed every penny,



suffered great
hardship and danger,

just in order to get here.

Well, I'm-I'm sure my pa
will make it up to you, ma'am.

Your pa?

Hmm? Oh, yeah, that, uh...

You see, that's
the Ben Cartwright,

the School Commissioner.

- That's...
- No, that's-that's Pa.

That's Ben.

I'm Joe. I'm just
one of the sons.

Well, very well
then. You may, uh...

You may bring your
father here to me!

Oh, I wish I could
bring him here, ma'am,

but, uh, he's in town right
now with my two brothers.

But he'll be back.
Why don't you, uh...?

Why don't you go inside and
wait and have dinner with us?

No, no, thank you very much.

I'm afraid we can't
spare the time.

We must, uh, get back to town.

It's an awful long
ride back to town.

Besides, the boy here looks
like he's got a hole in his stomach.

I do. I'm hungry.

Tommy, how can you say that?

Maybe it's 'cause it's true.

Now, look, why don't
you stay for dinner?

I'm sure if you talk to my pa,
he'll straighten everything out.

Sure, we'd love to.

Well... all right.

Oh.

Tommy, you take
care of your mother.

I'll put your horse away.

- Okay. Come on.
- Mm-hmm.

Hmm.

See? You didn't have to do it.

It was just a waste of time.

Oh, no, Tommy.

I don't think I wasted
my time, not at all.

Hmm.

Well, surrounded by
such handsome men

and such hospitality...

How could a lady not
forgive you, Mr. Cartwright?

Well, I'll try not to
take advantage of that

when we discuss some
suitable arrangement

for that terrible oversight
in the advertisement.

Why, thank you, sir!

Well.

I'm afraid I'm a little
bit bigger than he is.

- Yes.
- You got him cleaned all over.

What magic do you have?

No magic. It was easy.

- Just scrubbed him.
- Ha!

Well, I don't want
to take all the credit.

Hop Sing held him.

And Hop Sing just
take a bath yesterday.

Here, some cookie for you

because you eat
your dinner so good.

Man, I'll take two
baths tomorrow!

Oh, now, Tommy dear,

please don't start
making any plans.

We're leaving in the morning.

All right, Ma.

Oh, why so soon?

Well, I'm afraid I couldn't
convince your father

that I should get that job.

Well, Mrs. Grant,
uh, truth is the...

the school board's decision that
they wanted a-a male teacher.

I think Mrs. Grant
understands that, Pa.

It's just that it's...

Well, it's kind of a long
trip back to Carson City.

Might be a good idea
if you just stay here

for a while just for rest.

Oh, no. Why... Why,
that would be imposing.

I... I-I couldn't think of that.

Oh, you didn't think of it.

I did.

Well, of course, you're more
than welcome, Mrs. Grant.

Well, I, uh... I have
made other plans.

Well, why can't you
change your plans?

Well, just for a little while.

I think Tommy's counting on it.

Well... all right then.

For two days.

Good. Tomorrow morning
I'll take you for a ride,

and you'll see some of the most
beautiful country in the world.

Oh, I'd like that...

if it won't take you
away from your work.

Ah, but you see,
that is his work.

While the rest of
us ride the range

and tend the stock
on the Ponderosa,

he is in charge of the scenery.

It's not that I'm biased,

uh, Mrs. Grant...
Which, of course, I am...

But I do think that a trip
around the Ponderosa

will be much more pleasant

than teaching
school in Virginia City.

Oh, I'm positive of
that, Mr. Cartwright.

Um, not that teaching
children isn't pleasant, too.

Oh, really? The
other teachers seem

to regard it as a kind of war.

You know, the kids fighting
to go fishing and hunting,

and the teachers fighting

to keep their minds
on Mr. McGuffey.

Well, he is important,
you know, but...

Well, there's no
beauty in it, no culture.

Not like in the classics.

Did you say... the classics?

Precisely, Mr. Cartwright.

Marlowe, Johnson,

and of course, the
immortal bard himself,

Mr. William Shakespeare.

Well, very inspiring, of course,

although I don't know

if the children would
understand, reading Shakespeare.

Reading? No, Mr. Cartwright.

No, you see, I speak
it to them, enact it.

The spoken word is far more
exciting than the printed one.

She's an actress.

Oh, you, uh, are
an actress, too?

Well, you see, we...
we of the theatre...

Well, there's an off-season,

and sometimes we find it
necessary to take other jobs.

Of course, back East, people
understand and accept this.

But out here, well,

people are a bit
ignorant of the theatre,

and they seem to think

that an actress
is a saloon girl.

Yeah, well, I don't think
everybody feels that way.

Uh, what he means is that,

uh, Virginia City boasts one
of the greatest opera houses

this side of Chicago.
As a matter of fact, the

touring companies play
to capacity crowds here.

Oh, how wonderful to hear that!

Well, we who tour
back East didn't realize

how civilized it was
beginning to get out here.

Yes, it's a common
mistake, Mrs. Grant.

Well, I'll see what I
can do to change it.

A few letters from me

to such illustrious artists

as Madame Siddons
and Fanny Kemble

might bring them out here, too.

Oh, you've played with
Madame Siddons and Kemble?

Oh, yes.

The Wayward Girl,
Now and Spring.

Magnificent productions.

Didn't Edwin
Booth tour in those?

Oh, Edwin Booth...
Such a great actor.

Yes, and a great man.

Oh, uh, you've-you've met him?

Yes, I've known him
since college, uh...

Ma, I'd like to go to bed now.

Oh, of course, my love.

You must be sleepy.

Look, you go on up to bed,

and I'll be up to
kiss you very soon.

- Okay.
- Come on, Tommy.

- I'll carry you up, all right?
- Okay.

There you go.

Now this is going to be a ride
on a real bucking bronc. Ready?

Here we go. Hold on.

Ma!

Don't talk too long.

Good night.

Here we go. Hold on.

Oh... Hmm.

Tommy's really taken with Joe.

Ah, I suppose that's because...

Joe is not much more
than a youngster himself.

Youngster?

Well, he's just turned 22.

Oh, yes, well, that
is young, isn't it?

Mm-hmm.

Pa, I was just out
checking Mrs. Grant's horse.

He's no... He's gonna need

to be shod all the way around.

Well, there's no
hurry about that.

Mrs. Grant is going to be
staying on for a few days.

Hey, that young son of yours

is gonna be mighty
happy about that.

- Dinner ready pretty soon.
- Good.

Got to go wash up.
See you in a minute.

Hey, get up there on the bed.

There you go. Let's
get under these covers.

Get nice and warm.

She don't mean no
harm, Joe, honest.

Uh, no harm about what, Tom?

About saying she's an actress.

Oh.

Before Pa died, he used
to take care of us real good.

Your ma's real serious about
being an actress, isn't she?

I don't know.

But she don't know all
those people like she says.

She just talks that way.

Don't be mad at her.

Well, Tommy,

the last thing I'd ever
be is mad at your ma.

Listen, does your
ma take care of you,

just on what she
makes teaching school?

A school teacher?

Oh, no.

I'm never supposed to tell
how she earns her money.

Oh. Well, in that
case, you'd better not.

But I want to!

She... She sings in a saloon.

Ma says it ain't cultured,

ain't something
actresses should do.

Well, I don't know.

It sure is nothing
to be ashamed of.

There's nothing wrong
with singing in saloons.

You know, Ma
sings real good, Joe.

Honest.

Yeah, I bet she does, Tommy.

And you better get
some good sleep,

or you'll be too tired
for that picnic tomorrow.

All right.

- Good night.
- Good night.

♪ Early this morning ♪

♪ Just as the sun was rising ♪

♪ You might have
heard me singing ♪

♪ In the valley below ♪

♪ Oh, don't deceive me ♪

♪ Oh, never leave me ♪

♪ How could you use
a poor maiden so? ♪

♪ Remember the flowers
that you brought to me daily ♪

♪ Remember the vows
that you made to be true ♪

♪ Oh, don't deceive me ♪

♪ Oh, never leave me ♪

♪ How could you use
a poor maiden so? ♪

♪ Oh, promise ♪

♪ You'll cherish me ♪

♪ And cling to me ♪

♪ Dearly ♪

♪ Promise you'll marry me ♪

♪ And save me ♪

♪ From the grave ♪

♪ Oh, don't deceive me ♪

♪ Oh, never leave me ♪

♪ How could you ♪

♪ Use a poor maiden ♪

♪ So. ♪

♪♪

Julia?

I, uh... I've got to
clean up this mess.

Come on, what's the matter?

Would you please get Tommy?

We've got to go back
to the house and pack.

I mean, we're leaving for
San Francisco in the morning.

I'm not gonna go anywhere
till you tell me what's the matter.

You're frightened, aren't you?

Frightened? Now, what
would I be frightened of?

Of what just happened.

Oh, that. Joe... well,
you're just a boy.

Oh.

Oh, so that's it.

Yeah, well, how old
are you, Grandma?

I am 27, and you
have just turned 22.

Hm! Well, that meant a lot
when you were five and I was one,

but it doesn't mean
much now, does it?

Oh, let's forget it, Joe.

Look, the age difference
isn't important, although...

- no woman wants to...
- No woman wants to what?

Fall in love with a man
that's younger than herself?

Look, it's not that.

It's just that there's
something that I've got to do.

Tell me what it is.

Well, it's a very
long story, I'm afraid.

I'm a good listener. Try me.

All right.

I don't know where
to begin. Uh...

Well, I guess it all started...

when Frank died...
That was my husband.

I had to earn a living, and...

well, jobs weren't easy
to come by for women.

But there was this...

this actress named Millicent
Hubbard I remember.

She was playing with her
traveling troupe in Omaha,

and I got a job as a...
company seamstress,

personal maid to Miss
Hubbard and bit player,

all for $12 a week.

That wasn't very much,
but it was enough for us

to keep from starving.

But more important
than that, it...

I don't know, there was this...

this feeling.

When I went out on that stage,

even with that
tiny little part, I...

just knowing that all of those

hundreds of people out
there in the darkness...

watching me...

hanging on every word I'd say,

watching every move.

It was like... You're
gonna laugh, but...

I felt I was the most
important human being

in the whole world.

I expected you to laugh.

I wouldn't laugh at
anything you said.

Besides, I think
it's... it's good,

I think it's important that
somebody has something like that

that they believe
so strongly about.

It makes life worthwhile.

You know, Joe, I...

I didn't really want
that teaching job.

I don't want to teach.

I don't want to do
anything except act.

And, boy, I'd do
anything for that.

I just wanted to make
your father feel guilty

so that he'd be forced
to pay me a few dollars

and we'd maybe get a
few free meals besides.

You see, that's the way I am.

I'll lie, I'll cheat, I'll...

maybe even steal, I don't know.

But I do know that I
don't want to hurt you.

And I might if I stay here.

If you leave, you'll
hurt me more.

I'll go get Tommy.

♪♪

Hey, little buddy, you
can't have seconds

until you eat your firsts.

I just ain't hungry, I guess.

Seeing as how we're
leaving early tomorrow,

I better go to bed.

Taking me up, Joe?

No, darling, Joe isn't
finished with his dinner yet.

I'll, uh, I'll put you
to bed. Come on.

Hey, Tommy, I'll
be up in a minute

to tuck you in, all right?

Good night.

Mrs. Grant?

Um...

Oh, you go on up,
dear; I'll be right there.

I've been thinking about
that advertisement I placed,

and the long trip you
made, and all for nothing.

Well, I was wondering if
perhaps a month's salary

wouldn't be a fair settlement.

Oh, no, Mr. Cartwright,
you don't owe me anything.

Why, that was all
a-a silly mistake.

Well, it... it would
make me feel better,

and, well, with the
prices being so sky-high

in San Francisco, I...

I think every little bit
would help, don't you?

Oh, please, please don't worry.

Why, the impresarios are casting
all their touring companies now.

Why, I bet that
with inside a week

I'll have a big part in
an important production.

Well, if she's going to depend

on her acting ability to
feed herself and that boy,

I see two hungry people.

Why don't you keep
your opinions to yourself!

I don't know why you
think you're a critic.

I'm sorry, Joe. No offense.

But, you know, you could
be doing a very nice thing

if you would... talk
her out of trying

to make a career for
herself as an actress.

You go right to sleep, Tommy.

We've got a big day
ahead of us tomorrow.

Oh, you're gonna
love San Francisco.

So many things to do
and... and places to see!

With no money?

Well, now...

you mustn't worry
about that, darling.

Mommy'll get a big part
this time, I just know it.

And-and you've got
to believe that, too.

Mm-hmm.

You know, it's different
in San Francisco.

It's not as crowded.

They need actresses.

Sure, Ma.

I'm kind of sleepy.

Of course you are, darling.

Good night.

- Good night, sweetheart.
- Good night.

♪♪

Julia?

Julia, it's important;
let me in, huh?

Come in, Joe.

Listening to you sing
today gave me an idea.

How'd you like to earn a few
hundred dollars before you left?

What do you mean?

Well, you know I
don't want you to leave,

and you can use the
money, so I figured out a way

- to help both of us.
- Oh? And what way is that?

I have a friend named Jim
Larkin who's always in the market

- for a good singer.
- Singer? For what? Where?

Just the finest
club in Virginia City.

Oh. You mean a saloon.

How dare you
suggest such a thing!

Julia, no saloon pays
a singer $50 a week.

Fifty dollars?

$50. I told you
it was no saloon.

Well... that would
make it, uh, easier.

I mean, in-in case rehearsals
don't start right away

in San Francisco.

'Course it would.
Now you're talking.

Oh... there I go again.

Joe, I...

I've sung in
saloons lots of times.

Oh, you have?

Well, this'll make it
all the easier, then.

Besides, I'll bring my
whole family opening night.

♪♪

♪♪

Well, Joe, as you see,
I've spread the word.

If she's as good tonight
as she was at those tryouts,

this place'll be packed
like this every night.

Well, don't you worry about it,
Jim, you won't be disappointed.

I'll try not to.

Here's your brothers.

- Hoss. Adam.
- Jim, hi.

Sit down. Take a chair;
I'll get a waiter for you.

- How you doing?
- How's it going, Joe?

- Uh, three beers.
- Three beers?

Hey, where's Pa?

Aw, Tommy wrangled him
in to a game of checkers,

and guess what? He's
already beat Pa three out of five!

You're kidding!

Hey, looks like we're gonna have

- some fun here tonight.
- Yeah.

Friends! Friends!

When you got a beautiful
girl who can sing like a bird,

well, like the man
says, you talk about it,

you just, uh, you bring her on.

I'd like to have you
meet Miss Julia Grant!

I, uh, I'd like to sing a
lullaby my mother taught me.

♪ When you look
around, young gal ♪

♪ And there's no
one left to marry ♪

♪ And you wish you
hadn't wasted time ♪

♪ On Tom and Dick and Harry ♪

♪ Oh, don't lose hope ♪

♪ The country's full ♪

♪ Of men who'll end your fears ♪

♪ The kind who love ♪

♪ To stay out nights ♪

♪ And watch a herd of steers ♪

♪ They're waiting
there for you ♪

♪ Out where the skies are blue ♪

♪ Go West, young gal ♪

♪ Go West ♪

♪ You'll find you're
bound to fall ♪

♪ For their mating call ♪

♪ Go West, young gal ♪

♪ Go West ♪

♪ They will seem so harmless ♪

♪ And so very tame ♪

♪ But when they're fired up ♪

♪ Well, it's the same ♪

♪ For those guys
with their size ♪

♪ And their lies
take the prize ♪

♪ In love's old ♪

♪ Old game ♪

♪ They're waiting
there for you ♪

♪ Out where the skies are blue ♪

♪ Go West, young gal ♪

♪ Go West ♪

♪ You'll find you want to fall ♪

♪ For their mating call ♪

♪ Go West, young gal ♪

♪ Go West ♪

♪ They will seem so harmless ♪

♪ And so very tame ♪

♪ But keep your guard up ♪

♪ Little dame ♪

♪ For those guys
with their size ♪

♪ And their lies tantalize ♪

♪ And you lose love's ♪

♪ Dangerous ♪

♪ Game. ♪

She's doing good, huh?

That was wonderful,
baby, absolutely wonderful.

How about letting us
buy you a little drink?

Oh, no, thank you,
I'm afraid I couldn't.

Aw, come on, the boys are all
hankering to meet up with you.

No, no, I...

Why, you're the
prettiest thing that's hit

this town in a coon's age.

- Well, I...
- You heard what the lady said.

- Joe.
- What's that?

Just keep your hands off her.

Joe, I'm just trying to
buy her a little drink.

Well, you're not
going to buy her a drink

and neither is anybody else.

Oh, come on, Joe.

Got you outnumbered.

Joe!

Oh!

Joe!

Now wait, now wait a
minute, wait a minute!

You're gonna wreck this joint.

Get up.

It would seem as though
the family honor is at stake.

Joe!

Well...

Hey, I ain't never been
in a fight without my hat.

Morning.

Morning, Pa.

What's that?

Huh?

How'd that happen?

Oh.

I didn't have my hat on.

Were you in a fight last night?

It wasn't no quilting bee, Pa.

What kind of a brawl
were you three in?

It was the, uh, opening
performance of his friend.

It was that Chuck Miller,
though, Pa, it wasn't us.

He got out of line and
all we tried to do was...

Oh.

You ought to be
ashamed of yourselves,

all three of you,
particularly you, Joe.

Did they tell you what they
did last night, Mr. Cartwright?

Well, so far they've just
sent up some smoke signals.

I've never been so
humiliated in my life.

Oh, there you are.

Well, my place is a shambles.

I've been up... excuse
me... Been up all night

trying to glue it
back together again.

Do you know how much damage

you did in there last
night, Little Joe, huh?

$150 worth at least, and
you're going to pay for it.

You're going to pay
every red cent of it.

Well, why doesn't
Chuck Miller pay part of it?

Well, why should he?

All he did was offer to
buy the young lady a drink.

If she's going to
work in saloons,

she's got to get used to that.

Soon as I find out exactly
how much the damage was,

I'm going to send you a bill.

Just because you
pay the woman's salary

doesn't mean you can
come in and wreck my place.

Morning, Ben.

What did he mean, pay my salary?

Oh, look, it doesn't, it
doesn't amount to anything.

Well, wait a minute,
all it amounts to

is that you are
paying my salary.

Isn't that it?

- No, that is not it at all, I...
- Oh...

Julia, will you
please believe me?

- The only reason I did...
- What's the matter, Ma?

Get upstairs and pack your bags.

- We are getting out of here immediately!
- What, again?

Julia, will you
please listen to me?

I thought we were
going to stay for a while.

You heard me... Get
up and pack your bags.

I'm humiliated!

I've never been so
humiliated in my life.

Well, I thought I was
doing the right thing.

I guess it's no use
pretending anymore.

You know how I feel about her.

Why don't you go
up and talk to her?

Oh, yeah, what
am I going to say?

We'll all talk to her.

Ah, it's not gonna do any
good, Pa, now is not the time.

That's what I need... some time.

If I just had a few days
so I could talk to her,

explain to her why I did those
things, how I feel about her.

Well, I know how
to keep her here

if you're really interested.

Yeah, how's that?

Edwin Booth.

He's going to be in
town in a couple of days.

Talk to him and
see if I can't set up

a private reading for her.

I'm sure she'll be glad
to stick around for that.

Yes, I believe she would.

Yeah, well, you know,
I know she would...

and that'd give me the few
days... that's what I need.

Go tell her.

Go ahead.

Thanks, Adam.

You know what's going to
happen at that reading, don't you?

Well, if she isn't any
good, he'll say so.

Booth's that kind of a man.

If she ain't meant
to be on the stage,

she's got to find
out sooner or later.

A little rough on her.

Adam, why, all my life

I've been hoping for
something like this.

Are you sure you can arrange it?

Yes, I think so, uh...

uh, Mr. Booth and his manager
Mr. Forrester are going to be

in Virginia City in the
next couple of days,

and, uh, well, I think we
can work out something

if you're really interested.

If I'm really interested...

Why, just to get the chance...

A private audition with
Mr. Booth and Mr. Forrester...

W-why, that could
mean the difference

between years of
waiting and success.

That's true.

I think you'll find they're
both very fair people.

Oh, Adam, I don't
know how to thank you.

Your staying is thanks enough.

Oh.

That's for you and for
all your wonderful sons.

Hey, Ma, I'm all packed.

Well, you can just unpack it.

We're staying.

Oh, boy.

That's the way to
do it, little buddy.

Hey, man.

That's real good, Tom.

Hoss... what's an audition?

Well, I don't rightly
know, Tommy.

I reckon it's something
pretty important, though,

because your mama sure
puts a lot of store in it, don't she?

Indeed, a wonderful effort,
young woman, a wonderful effort.

Very interesting, very.

Oh, thank you.

You don't know how much I
appreciate this opportunity.

It's been our pleasure, Julia.

You see, we, uh, we don't
know what plays we're going to do

until we reach San
Francisco, so I, uh...

We can't promise
anything at the moment.

Oh, I understand
that, Mr. Forrester.

Oh, Joe.

Oh, I, I feel like
wide open space,

like, like conquering the world.

Would you take me
for a drive, please?

I'd love to take
you for a drive.

I'll freshen up a bit.

Oh, gentlemen,
please forgive me.

Won't you have a brandy?

- Oh, thank you, Mr. Cartwright.
- Thank you, how pleasant.

There we are.

Well, Edwin, I never
thought I could be so wrong.

You're not wrong, Adam.

Oh, what do you mean?

Adam, you've known
me for a long time

and you know that the one
thing I cannot be dishonest about

is my regard for
professional standards.

But the way you looked,
the way you talked,

I-I thought you liked her.

Your brother Adam asked us to
be kind no matter what the verdict.

Well, what is the verdict,
gentlemen, in so many words?

To be frank, Mr. Cartwright,

Julia has more than
her share of beauty,

but as a dramatic actress,

she is distressingly bad.

I hadn't thought about how
much this would hurt her.

It's not gonna be
easy to tell her.

In a week or two
I, I'll write to her

and I, I'll let
her down lightly.

Thank you, sir.

I think we'd better
get back to town.

Thank you very
much for coming out.

Thank you.

- Good-bye, Mr. Cartwright.
- Mr. Forrester.

Who is it?

It's Joe.

Come in, Joe.

You heard, didn't you?

Yes, I heard.

Well, you know
what's bothering them?

Professional jealousy.

Oh, that Booth...

He's afraid to see anybody
else come along with talent.

Look, I know how you must feel.

If, if there's any
way I can help you,

- if there's anything I can do...
- No.

But I'll show them.

Oh, boy, I'm going
to show all of you.

Well, then, you're going to
go ahead with your plans.

You're going to go
to San Francisco.

You bet I am, and I'm
going to be a big success.

You can tell your
Mr. Edwin Booth that.

Well, all right, then, may...

Well, maybe there's
some way I can help you.

If you need any
money or something...

Oh, no, no, thank you very much.

I am perfectly able to take
care of myself and Tommy.

Yes, even to the point
of paying you back

that salary you gave Mr. Larkin.

I'm going to go to work
for him at regular pay.

Oh, he'll hire me.

He knows a good
attraction when he sees one.

Well, at least
you'll be in town.

I'll get to see you
once in a while.

Oh, you can see me
any time, starting tonight.

Why, you just come down
to Mr. Larkin's fancy saloon

and pay for a table.

Hi, Pa.

Oh, well, we've
been waiting for you.

Where have you been?

Just stopped off at the hotel,
make sure Tommy was all right.

Oh, well, what-what's he doing?

Well, he's in there playing
checkers with the desk clerk.

How's he making out?

Beating the pants off him.

Figures.

Joe, Miss Grant
will see you now.

Right, I'll see you later, Pa.

Julia, it's Joe.

Come in, Joe.

Hi.

Joe, I just wanted
to say I'm sorry.

Oh, sorry for what?

You had every right
to be angry at all of us.

Dear Joe,

you know I sounded
like a fool yesterday.

You could never
sound like a fool to me.

You know, it's a funny thing,
but I guess I've always known

that what Mr. Booth and
Mr. Forrester said was true,

but the more I
failed, the more I tried

and the more determined I got

till I built myself
such a life of lies,

I, I couldn't let go.

Oh, how do you
know? You never tried.

You know, it's
really not so bad.

There are lots of things in
this life besides the stage.

Lots of things.

Oh, Joe, I've
wanted to love you,

from the first moment I saw you,

but I-I was afraid

it might interfere with my
dream world of the theatre.

Can you honestly see yourself
waiting outside of stage doors

in-in Sacramento,
Brownsville, Omaha?

First-night stands halfway
across the country, keep...

Oh, why talk about something
that's not gonna happen?

Something that's
all in the past?

I guess it is in the past.

Mr. Booth finally
made me accept that.

Oh, Joe, if you
really want me...

I want you.

I want you more than
anything else in the world.

Julia, time for
your next number.

Everybody's waitin'.

She heard you, Jim.

Yeah?

Well, he's got great timing.

See you after your song.

Oh, I love you.

Sing good.

Well, you look very happy.

Yeah, I am.

Any particular reason?

I'm gonna ask Julia
to marry me tonight.

Oh.

Don't worry, everything
worked out fine, too.

She's through with acting.

Congratulations.

Thanks.

Congratulations, little brother!

Thanks, Hoss.

Friends, here she is again,

the pride of Virginia
City: Julia Grant.

Well, here comes the
attraction of the evening.

A very beautiful
attraction indeed.

♪ I'm a girl who's
got an ailment ♪

♪ To recover,
there's no chance ♪

♪ My dear old family doctor ♪

♪ Found there's
nothing he can lance ♪

♪ The poor man
tried all sorts of pills ♪

♪ And drugs
distilled from plants ♪

♪ What lays me low, ♪

♪ I can't say no ♪

♪ To anything in pants ♪

♪ It's because of my buckles ♪

♪ My shiny silver buckles ♪

♪ On the toes of my
purty purple shoes ♪

♪ It's because of my buckles ♪

♪ My shiny silver buckles ♪

♪ On the toes of my
purty purple shoes ♪

♪ Oh, my little silver buckles ♪

♪ Seem to give
the boys a thrill ♪

♪ They stand and
stare, I do declare ♪

♪ I get the darnedest chill ♪

♪ If I choose one
lad to shine them ♪

♪ Why, the rest
are fit to kill ♪

♪ What can I do? ♪

♪ What would you do? ♪

♪ I give them all their fill ♪

♪ A-polishin' my buckles ♪

♪ My shiny silver buckles ♪

♪ On the toes of my
purty purple shoes ♪

♪ A-polishin' my buckles ♪

♪ My shiny silver buckles ♪

♪ On the toes of my
purty purple shoes ♪

♪ Now, Tim Rooney
was most ill-advised ♪

♪ We buried him today ♪

♪ A sweeter boy
you'd never meet ♪

♪ But selfish all the way ♪

♪ 'They're mine, '
he cried, 'All mine' ♪

♪ 'And I will fight
till Judgment Day' ♪

♪ 'For my sole right' ♪

♪ 'Both day and night' ♪

♪ 'To save them from decay' ♪

♪ 'I'll defend with
me knuckles' ♪

♪ 'The right to
shine them buckles' ♪

♪ 'On the toes of them
purty purple shoes' ♪

♪ 'Yes, I'll defend
with me knuckles' ♪

♪ 'The right to
shine them buckles' ♪

♪ 'On the toes of them
purty purple shoes' ♪

♪ So, hey there,
young and handsome ♪

♪ If you're looking for a ball ♪

♪ Just stroll around
most any night ♪

♪ And pay a friendly call ♪

♪ You may get to
shine my buckles ♪

♪ As the moon
beams on them all ♪

♪ For I can't say
no to friend or foe ♪

♪ If he's handsome,
dark and tall ♪

♪ You can polish up my buckles ♪

♪ My shiny silver buckles ♪

♪ On the toes of my
purty purple shoes ♪

♪ You can polish up my buckles ♪

♪ My shiny silver buckles ♪

♪ On the toes of my
purty purple shoes. ♪

Booth, I think we've
found the leading lady

for the "Bohemian Girl!"

Exactly!

She'd be perfect, Forrester!

Perfect!

I thought you said
she was so terrible.

As a dramatic
actress, young man,

but this gay, warm,
exciting personality?

This is what she's really like.

Well, gentlemen, I'm
afraid you're too late.

That young lady is
giving up the stage.

And I have you to
thank for that, Mr. Booth.

I think I ought to
warn you, Joseph,

there's a saying in the theatre:
"The stage gives you up.

You never give up the stage."

In this case, I hope for
your sake, that that's not true.

Magnificent! Look at them.

She's got them all on a string.

Joe, listen to it! Listen!

Oh, it's so good to
hear that applause.

Yeah, it's great.

Why don't we go inside?

I have something I
want to talk to you about.

Oh, Joe!

I am the happiest
girl in the world.

Oh, it's so good just to have
your arms around me like this.

Hold me tight.

- Are you really happy?

I really am, yes.

Would you be happier,

would you be happier if you knew

you were gonna be the
leading lady in "Bohemian Girl?"

The what?

What made you ask a
silly question like that?

Just, just suppose it happened.

What then?

I am through with
supposing, remember?

From now on, it's reality.

From now on, I'm on the
other side of the footlights,

as Mrs. Joseph
Cartwright, I hope.

It is reality.

Booth and Forrester want you

for the, for the leading
lady in "Bohemian Girl."

Probably want you to leave

for San Francisco
tomorrow morning.

Oh, you're making it up.

No, I'm not.

No, I watched 'em out there.

They-they loved you.

They thought you were the
greatest thing in the world.

It happened!

They really happen!

A leading lady
with J.B. Forrester!

Why, to be in the same
company with Edwin Booth!

Do you know what
that means, Joe?

That means I'll be famous!

Why, there'll be pictures
of me all over the country!

Everybody'll want to know me!

I-I'll be entertained by
royalty all over the wor...

Joe, I didn't mean...
Oh, yes, you did.

- No.
- Oh, sure you did.

You're happier than
I've ever seen you before.

Oh, look, I don't blame you.

I'm the guy that knows all
about that dream, remember?

Now it's come true.

Well, we could go to
San Francisco together.

- No.

No San Francisco and
Omaha and Cheyenne,

entertained by royalty
all over the world.

Well, that's your life.

I can't share you
with the whole world.

God knows I wish I could,
but I'm just not that kind of guy.

Well, then I'll
pass it up, Joe. I...

We'll be married and
I'll be a good wife. I will...

Oh, please don't try
to convince yourself.

Please.

Now look, I-I know you'd try,

but your heart'd just
be somewhere else.

See, I have to
have all your heart.

I love you too much to
have it any other way.

Hey. Hey, look at me.

C'mon, where's that smile?

I want you to have a smile
when you go out there.

I want you to be beautiful

when you go out
there to see Mr. Booth.

You are so beautiful.

Go on.

Come on.

Well, I'm glad Tommy insisted on
coming out here to say good-bye.

I don't think I'd have
had the courage.

Um... Joe?

I still don't know
how to say it.

Yeah, well, don't
say anything then.

I'll tell you,
Tommy, little buddy,

old Hop Sing fixed up
such a good lunch here,

I've a good mind
just to go with you.

Thank you.

Come on, Tommy.

Mrs. Grant?

I just want to wish
you a lot of luck.

Thank you, Mr. Cartwright.

Good-bye, Hoss.

Bye, ma'am.

- Bye, Hoss.
- Bye, little buddy.

Bye.

This has been a
color presentation

of the NBC Television Network.