Fame (1982–1987): Season 1, Episode 2 - Passing Grade - full transcript
Coco and Lydia vie for a part in a show. Danny wants to meet Johnny Carson and becomes a waiter.
We got a job. Listen to this.
"Auditions for musical. Open
roles for talented, ethnic actresses."
- Ethnic could mean Jewish.
- I'll convert.
♪ The show must go
on and on and on ♪
Robert, I'm having
second thoughts.
You are my choice for that role.
Look, you know
what an entourage is?
Sure. It's like a-a
ballet dance step.
I'd never say any performer doesn't have
a chance, not in an audition situation.
Even when one of the people
auditioning is dating the director?
♪♪ [Disco]
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪
♪ I'm gonna learn how to fly ♪
♪ High ♪
♪ I feel it comin' together ♪
♪ People will see me and cry ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna make it to heaven ♪
♪ Light up the
sky like a flame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪
♪ Baby, remember my name ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
You got big dreams.
You want fame.
Well, fame costs,
and right here is where
you start paying in sweat.
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪
♪ Baby, remember my name ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
♪ Fame ♪♪
♪♪ [Disco]
[Chattering, Shouting]
[Rhythmic Clapping]
♪♪ [Continues]
[Shouts, Indistinct]
Robert! Oh!
I don't believe it!
[Bell Ringing]
Oh, Robert. What
are you doin' here?
Well, uh... Look,
to tell you the truth,
I feel like I'm under a
microscope right now.
Oh, I think they've guessed.
Oh, yeah? Guessed what?
Honey, you're not
my long-lost brother.
- Don't tell me you actually
read that stuff.
- What do you read?
Cereal box tops, manhole covers.
- Anything I can get
my hands on.
- Wakka, wakka, wakka.
Didn't anyone ever tell you that reading
the trades is a sign of an amateur?
What are you talking about?
Every actress reads the trades.
That's how you find out what's going on.
You find out what's going on by meeting people.
It's not what you know, it's who you know.
Did you ever hear of
a thing called talent?
If all it took was talent, I'd be
on the Carson show tomorrow...
and Vegas the week after.
It's not what you know, it's
who you know. Right, Bruno?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
We're talking about
show business.
I'm not into show
business. I'm a musician.
Sorry I asked. I'm telling you,
you're wasting your time with this stuff.
- Aw, don't pay
any attention to him.
- Easier said than done.
I was just offerin' a
little friendly advice.
He says that reading
the trades has no value.
Sure, there's value in the
trades, if you're sellin' them.
Because then, people give you money for
them. But as far as information, nothing.
Oh, yeah? Shows
you what you know.
What?
Two minutes till
final bell, Doris.
I'll make it! Doris?
If you're late, it's
an extra book report.
Make it The Joy of Sex.
♪♪ [Disco]
You mean it's set? It's for
real? They can't back out?
We signed a
contract this morning.
So whether they like it or
not, they are stuck with moi.
Oh, this is great!
Ooh, my ex-boyfriend,
the director.
Did you have to put
that "ex" in there?
Bob, look, I got
a class to teach.
This really isn't the time
or the place. No, no, no.
That's fine. That's not
why I stopped by anyway.
I stopped by to tell you that there is a part
in this show that you would be right for,
and I think we
ought to talk about it.
You came by here to offer me a
part in your show? Wait a minute.
They just hired me to direct.
They didn't make me king.
You have to audition for it,
but, uh, don't worry about it,
because you are
perfect for the part.
Page 12, third
column, fourth ad down.
What?
Page 12, third
column, fourth ad.
I don't know. Look,
Lydia, all you...
We'll talk. We'll talk.
All right, class, off with
this music. Come to order.
♪♪ [Stops] Playtime is
over. Let's go to work now.
All right, let's start in
second position plié.
[Bell Ringing]
[Panting]
This is the second floor.
Miss Sherwood's
class is on the first floor.
When you're hot, you're hot.
[Students Chuckling]
♪♪ [Bongos]
Come on, extend. Extend.
More extension. Come
on, honey. Give it to me.
Come on.
Come on, Coco. Use your back.
Come on, honey.
Work! Work! Work!
Come on! Bigger!
That's it! Big!
Come on! Get down and
do it! You're doin' it too easy!
That's better.
And hold! Buh-dup, buh-da,
buh-dup, buh-da, buh-dup, buh-da.
Watch the form, Leroy.
Oh, I am.
I'm talking about your form.
My form is perfect.
Your form is perfect
when I say it is.
So what's your problem?
It sounds like a
terrific chance to me.
Yeah, but if I get it, I might
have to quit my job here.
Oh. Well, then you'd
better not audition.
Not audition?
Don't be ridiculous.
Lydia, you're not
making any sense. I know.
I know. You see,
when-when I'm in class and I'm
working with the kids, I'm a dancer...
and I'm working
with other dancers.
Maybe they're younger
than I am, less experienced,
but I'm still dealing with
them dancer to dancer.
Until Robert brought...
Robert's the ex-boyfriend?
Yeah. The cute
one in the hallway.
Yes. Mmm.
Until Robert brought up the
possibility of me being in a show,
I didn't realize how
much I missed it.
Performing?
Well, if you audition and get it,
that's a high-class problem to have.
If you audition
and don't get it,
we'll go out to dinner, split a
bottle of wine, pick up the pieces.
But if you decide
not to audition,
then you'll never know
what would've happened.
And you'll be one
unhappy lady, my friend.
I audition.
Bruno! You ever
hear of knocking?
I don't have time to knock,
man. This is business.
It's always business.
Oh, Martelli, we got a job.
Listen to this.
"Auditions for musical.
"Open roles for
talented, ethnic actresses.
Must sing, dance
and play 18-25."
- Ethnic could mean Jewish.
- I'll convert.
You don't look it.
I'll wear extra makeup. Listen.
"Must provide material
for vocal auditions."
Broadway, here we come, man!
No.
You don't have to create anything
original. Just play something we have.
Coco, watch my lips. No way.
- Are you sure about that?
- I've never been more sure
of anything in my life.
You sure she isn't using you? Are
you sure about it? She's not using me.
Well, it's her
audition, not yours.
Somebody gets a job, it's
gonna be her, not you, right?
Right. Well, then what
are you getting out of it?
Peace and quiet.
How you getting peace and quiet?
You know how dogs can
hear frequencies we can't hear?
How you can blow on a dog whistle and
not hear anything, but a dog will respond?
- Yeah.
- Well, that's the way
it is with Coco, kind of.
I mean, she's unable
to hear the word "no."
There's the corner she
said she'd meet us at.
Guess who? Hey!
Listen, I got the music, and I
think it's really gonna work out okay.
I'm so excited, Bruno. Hey,
look, you wanna get in the car?
Hi. Mr. Martelli, it is so
sweet of you to give us a ride.
That's no big deal,
honey. Where we goin'?
We're going to 121 Christopher
Street. That's just around the corner.
- I know.
- You could've met us there.
But it looks so much better to
pull up in a cab, don't you think so?
Dog whistle.
What?
It's a family joke.
[Horns Honking]
Don't sign anything without
checkin' with me first. Right, Pop.
♪ At one time I'd be with you ♪
♪ Tomorrow and today
beside you all the way ♪
May I help you? Yeah, I'm
looking for Mr. Summers.
Uh, vocal auditions
or dance chorus?
Uh, vocal. You're just
under the wire, Miss...
I'm Coco Hernandez, and this
is Mr. Martelli, my accompanist.
- Are you Mr. Summers?
- No.
Mr. Summers is the director,
and I'm the stage manager,
and the way it works is
you have to go through me.
So just sign in, and we'll get
you in there in a few minutes.
Okay.
Oh, Mr. Martelli prefers
to use a synthesizer.
Coco... Do you have
one that he could use?
Sure. We also have this
weird thing called a, uh, piano.
Can he handle one of those?
Mr. Martelli can handle anything.
Anything you have will be fine.
Thank you very much. Okay.
You see? We can't let them push
us around. We gotta stay in charge.
You know, I could've been at the
dentist instead of here helping you out.
Why would you wanna be at the
dentist? Huh? At least he gives Novocaine.
[Man] Thank you, miss.
You'd better take some armor
out there. Those people are tough.
[Man] Coco Hernandez, please.
Okay.
This is Miss Coco Hernandez.
Hi.
Um, I'd-I'd like to sing a song
by Mr. Bruno Martelli entitled...
[Summers] Miss Hernandez?
Can you just tell us a little
bit about yourself, please?
Like what?
Your training, your
past experiences,
where you've worked, who
you've worked with, like that.
- Sure.
- Excuse me.
I have another gig uptown, and
the traffic's gonna murder me...
if we don't get this
over with right away.
♪♪ [Soft Rock]
♪ It's no big deal
to call the coast ♪
♪ When you're in L.A. ♪
♪ Now you might
feel that it's the most ♪
♪ But it just ain't that way ♪
♪ Hollywood's no mystery ♪
♪ When it's just up the street ♪
♪ And meetin' stars
ain't no big deal ♪
♪ 'Cause stars
are all you meet ♪
♪ And the show must go on ♪
♪ And on and on ♪
♪ You've heard it all before ♪
♪ But here's a new one ♪
♪ And if it's hot
we'll take a shot ♪
♪ And make a deal ♪
♪ 'Cause the show must go on ♪
♪ And on and on ♪
♪ Touchin' fame
by droppin' names ♪
♪ Is the game you gotta play ♪
♪ I just wrote
the hook of life ♪
♪ It's a killer
tune you'll say ♪
♪ I spoke to Paul and Linda ♪
♪ But they might
not have heard ♪
♪ My full-page
spread in Billboard ♪
♪ Is scheduled August 3 ♪
♪ And the show must go on ♪
♪ And on and on ♪
♪ You've heard it all before ♪
♪ But here's a new one ♪
♪ If it's hot we'll
take a shot ♪
♪ And make a deal ♪
♪ Does anybody ever know ♪
♪ How anybody feels ♪
♪ And the show must go on ♪
♪ But no one cares ♪
♪ Unless you're number one ♪
♪ And the show must
go on and on and on ♪
♪ And the show
must go on and on ♪♪
♪♪ [Ends]
[Summers] Miss Hernandez,
do we have your phone number?
Yes. I wrote it on
the sign-in sheet.
Okay, we'll probably
be calling you back.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
Did you hear that? They said
they'll probably be calling us.
Not, "Don't call us. We'll call you."
That means they'll probably be calling.
Bruno, I think we
really got it, man. I...
Hi, Coco.
- Hi, Miss Grant.
- What are you doing here?
Um, I...
I just auditioned for the lead.
What are you doing
here, Miss Grant?
I'm auditioning
too... for the lead.
Excuse me.
Hi. How'd it go?
Don't ask. Ah!
It couldn't have been that bad.
So?
You won't believe it. Try me.
Well, I'm called back
for the dance auditions,
so I guess the vocal
auditions went okay.
That's wonderful! Wait.
I didn't get to
the good part yet.
The dance callback is on Friday.
Guess who one of
my competitors is.
Who?
Coco. You're kidding.
What was she doing there?
She knows the school rules.
She wasn't doing anything that half
the student body around here doesn't do.
Is this gonna be a problem
for you? I don't know.
We didn't get a
chance to talk much.
I know she thinks I'm gonna
blow the whistle on her. I know it.
Maybe you should. No.
Hey, you'd be doing her a favor.
You know as well as I do if she
gets that part, she can't take it...
unless she drops out of school.
She's a year
underage to do that.
Elizabeth, I think
you're missing the point.
The point is, how is it gonna
look if she gets the part,
and then you tell her
she has to turn it down?
The point you're missing is that
Coco isn't going to get the part.
I just meant...
Look, I don't know
the play or anything,
but all sorts of things can
enter into who gets a job.
Yeah. All sorts of
things. Talent is one.
Experience is another.
What about age?
How old is the character
supposed to be?
Coco is six or seven
years too young for the part.
I'm six or seven
years too old. Tie!
Look, there are enough
problems around this school...
without creating
ones that don't exist.
The fact is, Coco is
not going to get the part.
And the other fact is,
I don't know if I want it.
You auditioned.
It was impossible
not to audition.
There was no way I
could turn Robert down.
But you're not sure if
you want to perform?
There was a time when I
was sure that was all I wanted.
Then there was a time when I was
sure all I wanted to do was teach.
- And now...
- What?
Now, I'm not sure
about anything.
Oh, Elizabeth, I wanna dance.
I wanna dance!
I'd better get back to
work before I cool off.
Look, it's right in here. Johnny Carson
is gonna be in New York for a week,
and Gino's is one of
his favorite restaurants.
So? So I get into Gino's, I
get one of my jokes to Carson.
He uses it in his monologue.
That's how careers get started, man.
Look, you know what
an entourage is? Sure.
It's like a-a ballet dance step.
It's a bunch of people who
travel with the biggies, the stars.
Why? So that twerps
don't come up to the star...
in the middle of a meal and try
to make the guy listen to a joke.
Besides, I thought you didn't
believe in this kind of stuff.
I don't believe in the trades.
It's a gossip column. It's different.
Like I always say, it's not what
you know, it's who you know.
Okay, who do you know?
My old man is a member
of the Knights of St. Anthony.
You know who else is a member
of the Knights of St. Anthony?
No, I'm not exactly up on the Knights
of St. Anthony. Who else is a member?
The owner of Gino's Restaurant, Johnny
Carson's favorite restaurant in New York.
Montgomery, I'm tellin' ya, I got my
way to get my stuff to Johnny Carson.
♪♪ [Piano]
Must've been some audition
yesterday. What-What audition?
What audition. Your
audition for Mr. Nordic.
That's what audition. You
know what I'm talkin' about.
Coco and Miss Grant. How
did you find out about that?
Well, I saw your dad in
front after he dropped you off.
"Hey, Mr. Martelli, what's new?"
Doesn't take much, you know?
I love him, but
sometimes... Lighten up.
Trying to keep somethin' secret
around here just doesn't work.
It's like being a smuggler
in a nudist camp.
So tell me about it.
So you can tell everyone else?
We all have our roles to
play. What did Miss Grant say?
We didn't stick
around and talk to her.
Well, are you going
to? What's to say?
Well, what if she reports you
guys? I don't think she'd do that.
Well, I guess you can
afford to cross your fingers.
You weren't actually auditioning
yourself. You were just helping out.
If I was Coco, I'd wanna know
what was comin' up, wouldn't you?
How long you been
standing there?
Just a minute or two.
I wanted to talk to
you before class.
Coco, I'm not sure
what's on your mind,
but I can tell you that anything
that goes on outside the school...
stays outside the school
as far as I'm concerned.
You mean you won't report me?
- No.
- Even if I get the part?
Why don't we cross that
bridge when we come to it?
Okay. I just thought
we should talk.
I wanted you to know something.
No matter what
happens, no hard feelings.
No hard feelings.
All right.
Yeah, I've heard my dad talk so much
about you and how much he respects you...
and what you've done
with your restaurant...
that I thought I'd take a
chance and call you direct.
Yeah, my dad's always talkin' about how
the Knights of St. Anthony stick together,
and I was wondering if maybe there
was an opening in your establishment,
such as a busboy or something,
where I could get in and see
how your fine establishment is run.
Yeah, I... Okay, operator.
Okay. Hold on, Mr. Imperale.
Mr. Shorofsky, do you
have a dime? A quarter?
I swear, I'll pay you back.
I think maybe, somewhere.
Mr. Imperale, you still there?
He's still there.
[Coin Dropping]
Mr. Imperale? Yeah, I'm back.
Oh, don't worry about a salary.
I'll be a busboy for nothing.
Oh, that's fine with me.
Mr. Imperale, you're a
prince is what you are.
All right. I'll be
by after school.
Report to the kitchen? I got it?
Aw, thanks a lot! Knights
of St. Anthony forever, right?
I got the job! How about that?
You got a job that
doesn't pay anything.
Those jobs are not
too hard to get usually.
If you're worried about
your quarter, don't sweat it.
I'll pay you back out of the first
paycheck I get from The Tonight Show.
- From the what?
- The Tonight Show. You know, Johnny Carson.
You don't know who
Johnny Carson is?
I suppose he's a
television person, yes?
Yeah, you could say that.
I don't know television
persons. I don't own a set.
[Bell Ringing]
You'll be late for first
class if you don't hurry.
Wackos. We're being
taught by a bunch of wackos.
I just wanna know one
thing. What was it like?
It was an audition. You've
been to auditions before.
Yeah, sure, here. But never
in a real place, and you were.
Is it exactly the same? Is it a
little bit different? Tell me about it.
The place is bigger, but
the process is the same.
I bet Coco was scared to death.
Scared she wouldn't get it, or scared
about what might happen if she did get it?
- Probably both.
- Miss Grant too.
Turkey, she can't get in
trouble if she gets the part.
Turkey, she can't keep teaching if she's
got Wednesday matinees every week.
She'd leave school, you
think? [Montgomery] Have to.
- Wouldn't have any choice.
- Man!
Look, will you people stop
assuming that Miss Grant got the part?
I saw Coco's audition, and she
was very good. She was very good.
Yeah, but her boyfriend
wasn't directin' the thing.
- Her boy... What?
- Didn't you see the director
when Coco was auditioning?
No. It was pitch black.
All we heard was a voice.
The director... the guy Miss Grant was
climbing all over in the lobby the other day...
He's an old boyfriend of hers.
Coco's gonna be wasted
when she hears that.
She's gonna be absolutely
wiped out. Who's gonna tell her?
You just did.
[Door Opens]
I'm sorry, Coco.
Sorry I heard what was going
on, or sorry I was made a fool of?
It's not fair.
Not fair? It stinks!
I-I could just... Come on.
Go ahead. Say it. No, I don't...
Hey, no one can shoot
you for your feelings.
Repressed anger fantasies
engender guilt feelings.
Doris, I feel so
angry. I-I... Come on!
What? Run her over with a
bus? Hit her? Pull out her hair?
No, I...
I just wanna talk
to her, that's all.
Well, then I think you
should follow your instincts.
Hi. Hi. You okay?
Sure. Why wouldn't I be okay?
I don't know. You just seem like
you were in a bad place or something.
Oh. It's just that...
I got to thinking about Coco and Miss
Grant and what they're going through.
And then, I got this piece
from composition class,
and I guess it just put me into
what you said... a bad place.
It's silly, though.
Not silly. That's what music's
all about... changing moods.
Yeah, even when it's sad.
I don't know what they
call it in classical terms,
but in contemporary music,
it's just called the blues.
Go on. Do what you were doing.
You might get bummed out too.
Never, unless
there's a power failure.
♪♪ [Piano]
I see you got the
pension plan forms too.
And the sick leave forms,
and the dental care forms.
I hope some of these things
cover terminal writer's cramp,
because that's what I'm gonna have
by the time I finish filling them out.
It's not that bad.
It's worse. The wounds of the world
are being bound up with red tape.
I hope you feel
better than you look.
What a morale builder you are.
Sorry. You look
exhausted. Are you all right?
Aside from being
insane, I'm fine.
What makes you think you're
insane? I have my own reasons.
I'm just curious as to yours.
Well, I'm teaching
five classes a day,
I'm trying to get ready for my
first dance audition in two years,
and instead of going home
like a normal human being...
and sleeping till the
turn of the century,
I got a date tonight,
and I'm afraid to break it.
You get my vote. You're crazy.
Who's your date with?
Robert Summers. Ah!
Excuse me.
I didn't mean to interrupt. Miss
Grant, I really need to talk to you.
Coco, couldn't it wait until
tomorrow before class?
No. Miss Sherwood, it's
time for our promenade.
That's going to be some
teacher-student conference back in there.
I just hope it is a conference.
I'm afraid it's a war.
I hope this isn't
gonna take very long.
I'm really not up to too
much talk tonight, Coco.
You won't be late for
your date. Don't worry.
It's your dime.
Remember what you said about what goes on outside
of school is gonna stay outside of school?
Still applies. Why?
Let's just say I'm
one of the good guys.
Or maybe it's because you know
I don't have a chance at that part,
and after the dance audition,
it'll be all over anyway.
Coco, I'd never say any performer doesn't
have a chance, not in an audition situation.
Even when one of the people
auditioning is dating the director?
Coco, I am tired.
And I may not be in the best of
shape to respond to a question like that,
but it seems to me some
questions don't deserve a response...
when the question
itself is a damned insult!
That's all the answer
you're going to get.
[Softly] All right.
♪♪ [Piano]
Cheers. And how was your day?
Cheers, and the pits.
Well, look. Don't let it get to you,
because you got a big day tomorrow.
Remember?
Robert, I'm having
second thoughts.
About what? About
doing the show.
Oh. You didn't like the
script, huh? It's wonderful.
So what's the problem?
I don't know. There are a lot
of complications cropping up.
There's other things involved.
What do you mean, other things?
Other people,
the school, the kids, my job.
Do I wanna give that
up? And if I do want to,
do you really have
a job to offer me?
Look, there's only three
people up for that role.
There's you, a friend
of the choreographer,
and some kid by the name of
Fernandez, or somethin' like that.
Oh, yeah. Then
there's some chick...
who heads up the aerobic dance
class at the producer's health studio.
But that's it.
Hey, come on. Look.
Now, you listen to me.
I am the director, right?
You are my choice for
that role. It's that simple.
There's no reason to be sorry
about anything. No reason at all.
I guess you want
your bread and butter.
[Gulps] Hey, look.
Maybe a little food might
change the mood, huh?
Amatullo, table 18 needs
coffee refills. [Phone Ringing]
Where's table...
Good evening. Gino's.
Mr. Carson's party. Yes, sir.
Tomorrow night,
7:00, party of six.
We'll be expecting you.
Table 18 needs coffee
refills. Yes, sir. Right away.
[Doris] Hold up the
red. Hold up the other.
Look at the red. Just look at
the red for a second. I like the red.
Welcome to The Color is Right.
Tonight's contestants... red and aqua.
- Look at the red.
- No, hold up the aqua.
All right, all right. Let's be serious,
okay? I have to make a decision.
Well, the aqua looks too babyish, and
the red looks like you're trying too hard.
And if you need any more help, don't
hesitate to come to us. Go with the aqua.
Emotionally, it's a much
more comforting color.
Red can be so threatening.
Who told you that?
I read a book. Healthy
Colors for a Sick World.
- I'll wait for the movie.
- All right, I'm gonna go
with the aqua.
Hey! [Cheering]
I mean, Montgomery, you sound
like you know, so I'm gonna go with it.
When's the audition
anyway? Tonight.
- Are you scared?
- I'm too nervous to tell.
Oh, God, I wish I was Catholic so I could stop
off at St. Pat's and light a candle for you.
- Oh, I'll go anyway. They'll never know.
- You wanna bet?
Sleep.
- I'll go home and do something
in your honor, okay?
- That's fine.
So are you.
[Bell Ringing] You'll be great.
You will.
Miss Grant? Are you
goin' to that audition?
I sure am.
You gonna wish me luck? You don't
want me to be a hypocrite, do you?
- No.
- Then I can't wish you luck.
Why not?
I don't want you to get the job, 'cause
I don't want you to leave the school.
Maybe I'm selfish,
but I ain't no hypocrite.
Thank you very much. We'll
look forward to seeing you.
- Not too busy tonight, huh?
- Too early yet.
The before-theater crowd'll start
showing up in, uh, half an hour or so.
Any cancellations? Not so far.
Some of the Carson
party have arrived already.
They're in the back.
[Laughter]
Hi. Hi.
Hi. Hi.
Miss Douglas?
Good luck. Thanks.
- Yeah, good luck.
- Would you talk to our pianist
about the music you picked?
He's not quite certain what
you're after. Oh, glad to.
[Exhales Deeply]
Are you nervous?
Sure.
I would have thought after a lot
of auditioning, that goes away.
You'd better hope it
doesn't go away, child,
not if you want a
chance at gettin' the job.
Do you ever just wanna turn around
and leave and not go through with it?
[Chuckles] Almost every time.
That's just being
scared. And being scared,
that's as much a part of
auditioning as singing and dancing.
You learn to live with it.
Being scared makes people
say dumb things sometimes too.
I wouldn't know, honey. I
never say anything dumb myself.
We'd better warm up.
♪♪ [Piano]
[Squeals] ♪♪ [Ends]
Good luck yourself. Thanks.
[Man] Miss Grant?
Ready for you, please.
Miss Grant?
Robert, could I ask
you a question, please?
- Yeah, sure.
- Down here.
So, what's the question?
Am I about to get all hot and
sweaty and out of breath for nothing?
I don't know what
you're talkin' about.
The hell you don't. If you look me in
the eye and tell me the part isn't cast,
then I'll dance my feet
into bloody stumps to get it.
But you're gonna have to
look me in the eye and tell me.
This isn't an easy
racket, you know.
Yeah. I know.
This is my first directing job.
Know that too.
Lydia, I'm human.
Well, if I didn't know that before,
Robert, I surely know it now.
Don't I?
There's no need
for you to audition.
Jimmy, we're done here.
Let's go get a drink.
What, are they on a
break or somethin'? What?
[Sighs] Gee, that's
a pretty leotard.
You buy it for this audition?
Yeah. Well, come on. Let's
go put it in your locker at school.
I'll explain on the way.
♪♪ [Piano]
Amatullo, where you been?
They need butter over on
table 12 and ice water over at...
I-I'm sorry. I really am.
But he talked to me!
Who talked to you? Johnny
Carson actually talked to me.
You've been bothering Mr. Carson
at his table? Of course not.
What do you think I am,
some kind of jerk or somethin'?
I noticed that he wasn't at
the table for coffee refills,
so I-I checked in the men's room
to see if he'd listen to my material.
You gotta be kiddin'. He
was washing his hands.
He didn't have
anything else to do.
And then he had to wait for
the hot air machine to dry 'em off.
But he actually listened
and actually talked to me.
What did he say? He
said, "Buzz off, kid."
Table 12, butter.
Right... Right away.
It's not fair.
Right.
I know I could've
played that part. I know it.
No, you couldn't.
The understudy's part for sure,
but the lead... not yet.
Child, you still have
some stuff to learn.
I guess that's why there
are teachers then, huh?
I guess that's why.
♪♪ [Piano]
[Lydia] ♪ I thought
I had it this time ♪
♪ I thought the
dream would be mine ♪
♪ Hoping to fly, I fall ♪
♪ Oh, how I wish ♪
♪ I just didn't care at all ♪
♪ 'Cause when you don't care ♪
♪ You don't cry ♪
♪ It won't hurt ♪
♪ If you don't try ♪
♪ But I still believe ♪
♪ In all my dreams ♪
♪ And all that I can be ♪
♪ I'll learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Do all that it takes ♪
♪ To make it eventually ♪
♪ 'Cause I still believe ♪
♪ In me ♪
[Coco] ♪ I'll find an
unbreakable heart ♪
♪ To help me get
through this part ♪
♪ And I swear I'll never rest ♪
♪ Until I am standing up there ♪
♪ With the very best ♪
[Lydia] ♪ Oh, but
there's no heart ♪
♪ That won't break ♪
[Coco] ♪ And sometimes ♪
♪ It's a heartache ♪
♪ But I still believe ♪
♪ In all my dreams ♪
♪ And all that I can be ♪
♪ I'll learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Do all that it takes ♪
♪ To make it eventually ♪
♪ 'Cause I still believe ♪
[Lydia] ♪ I still believe ♪
♪ In me ♪ [Coco]
♪ I still believe ♪
♪ In all my dreams ♪
♪ And all that I can be ♪
♪ I'll learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Do all that it takes ♪
♪ All that it takes ♪
♪ To make it eventually ♪
♪ 'Cause I still believe ♪
[Lydia] ♪ I still believe ♪
[Harmonizing] ♪
Yes, I still believe ♪
♪ In me ♪♪
♪♪ [Disco]
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Fame ♪♪
[Roars]
"Auditions for musical. Open
roles for talented, ethnic actresses."
- Ethnic could mean Jewish.
- I'll convert.
♪ The show must go
on and on and on ♪
Robert, I'm having
second thoughts.
You are my choice for that role.
Look, you know
what an entourage is?
Sure. It's like a-a
ballet dance step.
I'd never say any performer doesn't have
a chance, not in an audition situation.
Even when one of the people
auditioning is dating the director?
♪♪ [Disco]
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪
♪ I'm gonna learn how to fly ♪
♪ High ♪
♪ I feel it comin' together ♪
♪ People will see me and cry ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna make it to heaven ♪
♪ Light up the
sky like a flame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪
♪ Baby, remember my name ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
You got big dreams.
You want fame.
Well, fame costs,
and right here is where
you start paying in sweat.
♪ Fame ♪
♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪
♪ Baby, remember my name ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember ♪
♪ Fame ♪♪
♪♪ [Disco]
[Chattering, Shouting]
[Rhythmic Clapping]
♪♪ [Continues]
[Shouts, Indistinct]
Robert! Oh!
I don't believe it!
[Bell Ringing]
Oh, Robert. What
are you doin' here?
Well, uh... Look,
to tell you the truth,
I feel like I'm under a
microscope right now.
Oh, I think they've guessed.
Oh, yeah? Guessed what?
Honey, you're not
my long-lost brother.
- Don't tell me you actually
read that stuff.
- What do you read?
Cereal box tops, manhole covers.
- Anything I can get
my hands on.
- Wakka, wakka, wakka.
Didn't anyone ever tell you that reading
the trades is a sign of an amateur?
What are you talking about?
Every actress reads the trades.
That's how you find out what's going on.
You find out what's going on by meeting people.
It's not what you know, it's who you know.
Did you ever hear of
a thing called talent?
If all it took was talent, I'd be
on the Carson show tomorrow...
and Vegas the week after.
It's not what you know, it's
who you know. Right, Bruno?
I don't know what
you're talking about.
We're talking about
show business.
I'm not into show
business. I'm a musician.
Sorry I asked. I'm telling you,
you're wasting your time with this stuff.
- Aw, don't pay
any attention to him.
- Easier said than done.
I was just offerin' a
little friendly advice.
He says that reading
the trades has no value.
Sure, there's value in the
trades, if you're sellin' them.
Because then, people give you money for
them. But as far as information, nothing.
Oh, yeah? Shows
you what you know.
What?
Two minutes till
final bell, Doris.
I'll make it! Doris?
If you're late, it's
an extra book report.
Make it The Joy of Sex.
♪♪ [Disco]
You mean it's set? It's for
real? They can't back out?
We signed a
contract this morning.
So whether they like it or
not, they are stuck with moi.
Oh, this is great!
Ooh, my ex-boyfriend,
the director.
Did you have to put
that "ex" in there?
Bob, look, I got
a class to teach.
This really isn't the time
or the place. No, no, no.
That's fine. That's not
why I stopped by anyway.
I stopped by to tell you that there is a part
in this show that you would be right for,
and I think we
ought to talk about it.
You came by here to offer me a
part in your show? Wait a minute.
They just hired me to direct.
They didn't make me king.
You have to audition for it,
but, uh, don't worry about it,
because you are
perfect for the part.
Page 12, third
column, fourth ad down.
What?
Page 12, third
column, fourth ad.
I don't know. Look,
Lydia, all you...
We'll talk. We'll talk.
All right, class, off with
this music. Come to order.
♪♪ [Stops] Playtime is
over. Let's go to work now.
All right, let's start in
second position plié.
[Bell Ringing]
[Panting]
This is the second floor.
Miss Sherwood's
class is on the first floor.
When you're hot, you're hot.
[Students Chuckling]
♪♪ [Bongos]
Come on, extend. Extend.
More extension. Come
on, honey. Give it to me.
Come on.
Come on, Coco. Use your back.
Come on, honey.
Work! Work! Work!
Come on! Bigger!
That's it! Big!
Come on! Get down and
do it! You're doin' it too easy!
That's better.
And hold! Buh-dup, buh-da,
buh-dup, buh-da, buh-dup, buh-da.
Watch the form, Leroy.
Oh, I am.
I'm talking about your form.
My form is perfect.
Your form is perfect
when I say it is.
So what's your problem?
It sounds like a
terrific chance to me.
Yeah, but if I get it, I might
have to quit my job here.
Oh. Well, then you'd
better not audition.
Not audition?
Don't be ridiculous.
Lydia, you're not
making any sense. I know.
I know. You see,
when-when I'm in class and I'm
working with the kids, I'm a dancer...
and I'm working
with other dancers.
Maybe they're younger
than I am, less experienced,
but I'm still dealing with
them dancer to dancer.
Until Robert brought...
Robert's the ex-boyfriend?
Yeah. The cute
one in the hallway.
Yes. Mmm.
Until Robert brought up the
possibility of me being in a show,
I didn't realize how
much I missed it.
Performing?
Well, if you audition and get it,
that's a high-class problem to have.
If you audition
and don't get it,
we'll go out to dinner, split a
bottle of wine, pick up the pieces.
But if you decide
not to audition,
then you'll never know
what would've happened.
And you'll be one
unhappy lady, my friend.
I audition.
Bruno! You ever
hear of knocking?
I don't have time to knock,
man. This is business.
It's always business.
Oh, Martelli, we got a job.
Listen to this.
"Auditions for musical.
"Open roles for
talented, ethnic actresses.
Must sing, dance
and play 18-25."
- Ethnic could mean Jewish.
- I'll convert.
You don't look it.
I'll wear extra makeup. Listen.
"Must provide material
for vocal auditions."
Broadway, here we come, man!
No.
You don't have to create anything
original. Just play something we have.
Coco, watch my lips. No way.
- Are you sure about that?
- I've never been more sure
of anything in my life.
You sure she isn't using you? Are
you sure about it? She's not using me.
Well, it's her
audition, not yours.
Somebody gets a job, it's
gonna be her, not you, right?
Right. Well, then what
are you getting out of it?
Peace and quiet.
How you getting peace and quiet?
You know how dogs can
hear frequencies we can't hear?
How you can blow on a dog whistle and
not hear anything, but a dog will respond?
- Yeah.
- Well, that's the way
it is with Coco, kind of.
I mean, she's unable
to hear the word "no."
There's the corner she
said she'd meet us at.
Guess who? Hey!
Listen, I got the music, and I
think it's really gonna work out okay.
I'm so excited, Bruno. Hey,
look, you wanna get in the car?
Hi. Mr. Martelli, it is so
sweet of you to give us a ride.
That's no big deal,
honey. Where we goin'?
We're going to 121 Christopher
Street. That's just around the corner.
- I know.
- You could've met us there.
But it looks so much better to
pull up in a cab, don't you think so?
Dog whistle.
What?
It's a family joke.
[Horns Honking]
Don't sign anything without
checkin' with me first. Right, Pop.
♪ At one time I'd be with you ♪
♪ Tomorrow and today
beside you all the way ♪
May I help you? Yeah, I'm
looking for Mr. Summers.
Uh, vocal auditions
or dance chorus?
Uh, vocal. You're just
under the wire, Miss...
I'm Coco Hernandez, and this
is Mr. Martelli, my accompanist.
- Are you Mr. Summers?
- No.
Mr. Summers is the director,
and I'm the stage manager,
and the way it works is
you have to go through me.
So just sign in, and we'll get
you in there in a few minutes.
Okay.
Oh, Mr. Martelli prefers
to use a synthesizer.
Coco... Do you have
one that he could use?
Sure. We also have this
weird thing called a, uh, piano.
Can he handle one of those?
Mr. Martelli can handle anything.
Anything you have will be fine.
Thank you very much. Okay.
You see? We can't let them push
us around. We gotta stay in charge.
You know, I could've been at the
dentist instead of here helping you out.
Why would you wanna be at the
dentist? Huh? At least he gives Novocaine.
[Man] Thank you, miss.
You'd better take some armor
out there. Those people are tough.
[Man] Coco Hernandez, please.
Okay.
This is Miss Coco Hernandez.
Hi.
Um, I'd-I'd like to sing a song
by Mr. Bruno Martelli entitled...
[Summers] Miss Hernandez?
Can you just tell us a little
bit about yourself, please?
Like what?
Your training, your
past experiences,
where you've worked, who
you've worked with, like that.
- Sure.
- Excuse me.
I have another gig uptown, and
the traffic's gonna murder me...
if we don't get this
over with right away.
♪♪ [Soft Rock]
♪ It's no big deal
to call the coast ♪
♪ When you're in L.A. ♪
♪ Now you might
feel that it's the most ♪
♪ But it just ain't that way ♪
♪ Hollywood's no mystery ♪
♪ When it's just up the street ♪
♪ And meetin' stars
ain't no big deal ♪
♪ 'Cause stars
are all you meet ♪
♪ And the show must go on ♪
♪ And on and on ♪
♪ You've heard it all before ♪
♪ But here's a new one ♪
♪ And if it's hot
we'll take a shot ♪
♪ And make a deal ♪
♪ 'Cause the show must go on ♪
♪ And on and on ♪
♪ Touchin' fame
by droppin' names ♪
♪ Is the game you gotta play ♪
♪ I just wrote
the hook of life ♪
♪ It's a killer
tune you'll say ♪
♪ I spoke to Paul and Linda ♪
♪ But they might
not have heard ♪
♪ My full-page
spread in Billboard ♪
♪ Is scheduled August 3 ♪
♪ And the show must go on ♪
♪ And on and on ♪
♪ You've heard it all before ♪
♪ But here's a new one ♪
♪ If it's hot we'll
take a shot ♪
♪ And make a deal ♪
♪ Does anybody ever know ♪
♪ How anybody feels ♪
♪ And the show must go on ♪
♪ But no one cares ♪
♪ Unless you're number one ♪
♪ And the show must
go on and on and on ♪
♪ And the show
must go on and on ♪♪
♪♪ [Ends]
[Summers] Miss Hernandez,
do we have your phone number?
Yes. I wrote it on
the sign-in sheet.
Okay, we'll probably
be calling you back.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you.
Did you hear that? They said
they'll probably be calling us.
Not, "Don't call us. We'll call you."
That means they'll probably be calling.
Bruno, I think we
really got it, man. I...
Hi, Coco.
- Hi, Miss Grant.
- What are you doing here?
Um, I...
I just auditioned for the lead.
What are you doing
here, Miss Grant?
I'm auditioning
too... for the lead.
Excuse me.
Hi. How'd it go?
Don't ask. Ah!
It couldn't have been that bad.
So?
You won't believe it. Try me.
Well, I'm called back
for the dance auditions,
so I guess the vocal
auditions went okay.
That's wonderful! Wait.
I didn't get to
the good part yet.
The dance callback is on Friday.
Guess who one of
my competitors is.
Who?
Coco. You're kidding.
What was she doing there?
She knows the school rules.
She wasn't doing anything that half
the student body around here doesn't do.
Is this gonna be a problem
for you? I don't know.
We didn't get a
chance to talk much.
I know she thinks I'm gonna
blow the whistle on her. I know it.
Maybe you should. No.
Hey, you'd be doing her a favor.
You know as well as I do if she
gets that part, she can't take it...
unless she drops out of school.
She's a year
underage to do that.
Elizabeth, I think
you're missing the point.
The point is, how is it gonna
look if she gets the part,
and then you tell her
she has to turn it down?
The point you're missing is that
Coco isn't going to get the part.
I just meant...
Look, I don't know
the play or anything,
but all sorts of things can
enter into who gets a job.
Yeah. All sorts of
things. Talent is one.
Experience is another.
What about age?
How old is the character
supposed to be?
Coco is six or seven
years too young for the part.
I'm six or seven
years too old. Tie!
Look, there are enough
problems around this school...
without creating
ones that don't exist.
The fact is, Coco is
not going to get the part.
And the other fact is,
I don't know if I want it.
You auditioned.
It was impossible
not to audition.
There was no way I
could turn Robert down.
But you're not sure if
you want to perform?
There was a time when I
was sure that was all I wanted.
Then there was a time when I was
sure all I wanted to do was teach.
- And now...
- What?
Now, I'm not sure
about anything.
Oh, Elizabeth, I wanna dance.
I wanna dance!
I'd better get back to
work before I cool off.
Look, it's right in here. Johnny Carson
is gonna be in New York for a week,
and Gino's is one of
his favorite restaurants.
So? So I get into Gino's, I
get one of my jokes to Carson.
He uses it in his monologue.
That's how careers get started, man.
Look, you know what
an entourage is? Sure.
It's like a-a ballet dance step.
It's a bunch of people who
travel with the biggies, the stars.
Why? So that twerps
don't come up to the star...
in the middle of a meal and try
to make the guy listen to a joke.
Besides, I thought you didn't
believe in this kind of stuff.
I don't believe in the trades.
It's a gossip column. It's different.
Like I always say, it's not what
you know, it's who you know.
Okay, who do you know?
My old man is a member
of the Knights of St. Anthony.
You know who else is a member
of the Knights of St. Anthony?
No, I'm not exactly up on the Knights
of St. Anthony. Who else is a member?
The owner of Gino's Restaurant, Johnny
Carson's favorite restaurant in New York.
Montgomery, I'm tellin' ya, I got my
way to get my stuff to Johnny Carson.
♪♪ [Piano]
Must've been some audition
yesterday. What-What audition?
What audition. Your
audition for Mr. Nordic.
That's what audition. You
know what I'm talkin' about.
Coco and Miss Grant. How
did you find out about that?
Well, I saw your dad in
front after he dropped you off.
"Hey, Mr. Martelli, what's new?"
Doesn't take much, you know?
I love him, but
sometimes... Lighten up.
Trying to keep somethin' secret
around here just doesn't work.
It's like being a smuggler
in a nudist camp.
So tell me about it.
So you can tell everyone else?
We all have our roles to
play. What did Miss Grant say?
We didn't stick
around and talk to her.
Well, are you going
to? What's to say?
Well, what if she reports you
guys? I don't think she'd do that.
Well, I guess you can
afford to cross your fingers.
You weren't actually auditioning
yourself. You were just helping out.
If I was Coco, I'd wanna know
what was comin' up, wouldn't you?
How long you been
standing there?
Just a minute or two.
I wanted to talk to
you before class.
Coco, I'm not sure
what's on your mind,
but I can tell you that anything
that goes on outside the school...
stays outside the school
as far as I'm concerned.
You mean you won't report me?
- No.
- Even if I get the part?
Why don't we cross that
bridge when we come to it?
Okay. I just thought
we should talk.
I wanted you to know something.
No matter what
happens, no hard feelings.
No hard feelings.
All right.
Yeah, I've heard my dad talk so much
about you and how much he respects you...
and what you've done
with your restaurant...
that I thought I'd take a
chance and call you direct.
Yeah, my dad's always talkin' about how
the Knights of St. Anthony stick together,
and I was wondering if maybe there
was an opening in your establishment,
such as a busboy or something,
where I could get in and see
how your fine establishment is run.
Yeah, I... Okay, operator.
Okay. Hold on, Mr. Imperale.
Mr. Shorofsky, do you
have a dime? A quarter?
I swear, I'll pay you back.
I think maybe, somewhere.
Mr. Imperale, you still there?
He's still there.
[Coin Dropping]
Mr. Imperale? Yeah, I'm back.
Oh, don't worry about a salary.
I'll be a busboy for nothing.
Oh, that's fine with me.
Mr. Imperale, you're a
prince is what you are.
All right. I'll be
by after school.
Report to the kitchen? I got it?
Aw, thanks a lot! Knights
of St. Anthony forever, right?
I got the job! How about that?
You got a job that
doesn't pay anything.
Those jobs are not
too hard to get usually.
If you're worried about
your quarter, don't sweat it.
I'll pay you back out of the first
paycheck I get from The Tonight Show.
- From the what?
- The Tonight Show. You know, Johnny Carson.
You don't know who
Johnny Carson is?
I suppose he's a
television person, yes?
Yeah, you could say that.
I don't know television
persons. I don't own a set.
[Bell Ringing]
You'll be late for first
class if you don't hurry.
Wackos. We're being
taught by a bunch of wackos.
I just wanna know one
thing. What was it like?
It was an audition. You've
been to auditions before.
Yeah, sure, here. But never
in a real place, and you were.
Is it exactly the same? Is it a
little bit different? Tell me about it.
The place is bigger, but
the process is the same.
I bet Coco was scared to death.
Scared she wouldn't get it, or scared
about what might happen if she did get it?
- Probably both.
- Miss Grant too.
Turkey, she can't get in
trouble if she gets the part.
Turkey, she can't keep teaching if she's
got Wednesday matinees every week.
She'd leave school, you
think? [Montgomery] Have to.
- Wouldn't have any choice.
- Man!
Look, will you people stop
assuming that Miss Grant got the part?
I saw Coco's audition, and she
was very good. She was very good.
Yeah, but her boyfriend
wasn't directin' the thing.
- Her boy... What?
- Didn't you see the director
when Coco was auditioning?
No. It was pitch black.
All we heard was a voice.
The director... the guy Miss Grant was
climbing all over in the lobby the other day...
He's an old boyfriend of hers.
Coco's gonna be wasted
when she hears that.
She's gonna be absolutely
wiped out. Who's gonna tell her?
You just did.
[Door Opens]
I'm sorry, Coco.
Sorry I heard what was going
on, or sorry I was made a fool of?
It's not fair.
Not fair? It stinks!
I-I could just... Come on.
Go ahead. Say it. No, I don't...
Hey, no one can shoot
you for your feelings.
Repressed anger fantasies
engender guilt feelings.
Doris, I feel so
angry. I-I... Come on!
What? Run her over with a
bus? Hit her? Pull out her hair?
No, I...
I just wanna talk
to her, that's all.
Well, then I think you
should follow your instincts.
Hi. Hi. You okay?
Sure. Why wouldn't I be okay?
I don't know. You just seem like
you were in a bad place or something.
Oh. It's just that...
I got to thinking about Coco and Miss
Grant and what they're going through.
And then, I got this piece
from composition class,
and I guess it just put me into
what you said... a bad place.
It's silly, though.
Not silly. That's what music's
all about... changing moods.
Yeah, even when it's sad.
I don't know what they
call it in classical terms,
but in contemporary music,
it's just called the blues.
Go on. Do what you were doing.
You might get bummed out too.
Never, unless
there's a power failure.
♪♪ [Piano]
I see you got the
pension plan forms too.
And the sick leave forms,
and the dental care forms.
I hope some of these things
cover terminal writer's cramp,
because that's what I'm gonna have
by the time I finish filling them out.
It's not that bad.
It's worse. The wounds of the world
are being bound up with red tape.
I hope you feel
better than you look.
What a morale builder you are.
Sorry. You look
exhausted. Are you all right?
Aside from being
insane, I'm fine.
What makes you think you're
insane? I have my own reasons.
I'm just curious as to yours.
Well, I'm teaching
five classes a day,
I'm trying to get ready for my
first dance audition in two years,
and instead of going home
like a normal human being...
and sleeping till the
turn of the century,
I got a date tonight,
and I'm afraid to break it.
You get my vote. You're crazy.
Who's your date with?
Robert Summers. Ah!
Excuse me.
I didn't mean to interrupt. Miss
Grant, I really need to talk to you.
Coco, couldn't it wait until
tomorrow before class?
No. Miss Sherwood, it's
time for our promenade.
That's going to be some
teacher-student conference back in there.
I just hope it is a conference.
I'm afraid it's a war.
I hope this isn't
gonna take very long.
I'm really not up to too
much talk tonight, Coco.
You won't be late for
your date. Don't worry.
It's your dime.
Remember what you said about what goes on outside
of school is gonna stay outside of school?
Still applies. Why?
Let's just say I'm
one of the good guys.
Or maybe it's because you know
I don't have a chance at that part,
and after the dance audition,
it'll be all over anyway.
Coco, I'd never say any performer doesn't
have a chance, not in an audition situation.
Even when one of the people
auditioning is dating the director?
Coco, I am tired.
And I may not be in the best of
shape to respond to a question like that,
but it seems to me some
questions don't deserve a response...
when the question
itself is a damned insult!
That's all the answer
you're going to get.
[Softly] All right.
♪♪ [Piano]
Cheers. And how was your day?
Cheers, and the pits.
Well, look. Don't let it get to you,
because you got a big day tomorrow.
Remember?
Robert, I'm having
second thoughts.
About what? About
doing the show.
Oh. You didn't like the
script, huh? It's wonderful.
So what's the problem?
I don't know. There are a lot
of complications cropping up.
There's other things involved.
What do you mean, other things?
Other people,
the school, the kids, my job.
Do I wanna give that
up? And if I do want to,
do you really have
a job to offer me?
Look, there's only three
people up for that role.
There's you, a friend
of the choreographer,
and some kid by the name of
Fernandez, or somethin' like that.
Oh, yeah. Then
there's some chick...
who heads up the aerobic dance
class at the producer's health studio.
But that's it.
Hey, come on. Look.
Now, you listen to me.
I am the director, right?
You are my choice for
that role. It's that simple.
There's no reason to be sorry
about anything. No reason at all.
I guess you want
your bread and butter.
[Gulps] Hey, look.
Maybe a little food might
change the mood, huh?
Amatullo, table 18 needs
coffee refills. [Phone Ringing]
Where's table...
Good evening. Gino's.
Mr. Carson's party. Yes, sir.
Tomorrow night,
7:00, party of six.
We'll be expecting you.
Table 18 needs coffee
refills. Yes, sir. Right away.
[Doris] Hold up the
red. Hold up the other.
Look at the red. Just look at
the red for a second. I like the red.
Welcome to The Color is Right.
Tonight's contestants... red and aqua.
- Look at the red.
- No, hold up the aqua.
All right, all right. Let's be serious,
okay? I have to make a decision.
Well, the aqua looks too babyish, and
the red looks like you're trying too hard.
And if you need any more help, don't
hesitate to come to us. Go with the aqua.
Emotionally, it's a much
more comforting color.
Red can be so threatening.
Who told you that?
I read a book. Healthy
Colors for a Sick World.
- I'll wait for the movie.
- All right, I'm gonna go
with the aqua.
Hey! [Cheering]
I mean, Montgomery, you sound
like you know, so I'm gonna go with it.
When's the audition
anyway? Tonight.
- Are you scared?
- I'm too nervous to tell.
Oh, God, I wish I was Catholic so I could stop
off at St. Pat's and light a candle for you.
- Oh, I'll go anyway. They'll never know.
- You wanna bet?
Sleep.
- I'll go home and do something
in your honor, okay?
- That's fine.
So are you.
[Bell Ringing] You'll be great.
You will.
Miss Grant? Are you
goin' to that audition?
I sure am.
You gonna wish me luck? You don't
want me to be a hypocrite, do you?
- No.
- Then I can't wish you luck.
Why not?
I don't want you to get the job, 'cause
I don't want you to leave the school.
Maybe I'm selfish,
but I ain't no hypocrite.
Thank you very much. We'll
look forward to seeing you.
- Not too busy tonight, huh?
- Too early yet.
The before-theater crowd'll start
showing up in, uh, half an hour or so.
Any cancellations? Not so far.
Some of the Carson
party have arrived already.
They're in the back.
[Laughter]
Hi. Hi.
Hi. Hi.
Miss Douglas?
Good luck. Thanks.
- Yeah, good luck.
- Would you talk to our pianist
about the music you picked?
He's not quite certain what
you're after. Oh, glad to.
[Exhales Deeply]
Are you nervous?
Sure.
I would have thought after a lot
of auditioning, that goes away.
You'd better hope it
doesn't go away, child,
not if you want a
chance at gettin' the job.
Do you ever just wanna turn around
and leave and not go through with it?
[Chuckles] Almost every time.
That's just being
scared. And being scared,
that's as much a part of
auditioning as singing and dancing.
You learn to live with it.
Being scared makes people
say dumb things sometimes too.
I wouldn't know, honey. I
never say anything dumb myself.
We'd better warm up.
♪♪ [Piano]
[Squeals] ♪♪ [Ends]
Good luck yourself. Thanks.
[Man] Miss Grant?
Ready for you, please.
Miss Grant?
Robert, could I ask
you a question, please?
- Yeah, sure.
- Down here.
So, what's the question?
Am I about to get all hot and
sweaty and out of breath for nothing?
I don't know what
you're talkin' about.
The hell you don't. If you look me in
the eye and tell me the part isn't cast,
then I'll dance my feet
into bloody stumps to get it.
But you're gonna have to
look me in the eye and tell me.
This isn't an easy
racket, you know.
Yeah. I know.
This is my first directing job.
Know that too.
Lydia, I'm human.
Well, if I didn't know that before,
Robert, I surely know it now.
Don't I?
There's no need
for you to audition.
Jimmy, we're done here.
Let's go get a drink.
What, are they on a
break or somethin'? What?
[Sighs] Gee, that's
a pretty leotard.
You buy it for this audition?
Yeah. Well, come on. Let's
go put it in your locker at school.
I'll explain on the way.
♪♪ [Piano]
Amatullo, where you been?
They need butter over on
table 12 and ice water over at...
I-I'm sorry. I really am.
But he talked to me!
Who talked to you? Johnny
Carson actually talked to me.
You've been bothering Mr. Carson
at his table? Of course not.
What do you think I am,
some kind of jerk or somethin'?
I noticed that he wasn't at
the table for coffee refills,
so I-I checked in the men's room
to see if he'd listen to my material.
You gotta be kiddin'. He
was washing his hands.
He didn't have
anything else to do.
And then he had to wait for
the hot air machine to dry 'em off.
But he actually listened
and actually talked to me.
What did he say? He
said, "Buzz off, kid."
Table 12, butter.
Right... Right away.
It's not fair.
Right.
I know I could've
played that part. I know it.
No, you couldn't.
The understudy's part for sure,
but the lead... not yet.
Child, you still have
some stuff to learn.
I guess that's why there
are teachers then, huh?
I guess that's why.
♪♪ [Piano]
[Lydia] ♪ I thought
I had it this time ♪
♪ I thought the
dream would be mine ♪
♪ Hoping to fly, I fall ♪
♪ Oh, how I wish ♪
♪ I just didn't care at all ♪
♪ 'Cause when you don't care ♪
♪ You don't cry ♪
♪ It won't hurt ♪
♪ If you don't try ♪
♪ But I still believe ♪
♪ In all my dreams ♪
♪ And all that I can be ♪
♪ I'll learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Do all that it takes ♪
♪ To make it eventually ♪
♪ 'Cause I still believe ♪
♪ In me ♪
[Coco] ♪ I'll find an
unbreakable heart ♪
♪ To help me get
through this part ♪
♪ And I swear I'll never rest ♪
♪ Until I am standing up there ♪
♪ With the very best ♪
[Lydia] ♪ Oh, but
there's no heart ♪
♪ That won't break ♪
[Coco] ♪ And sometimes ♪
♪ It's a heartache ♪
♪ But I still believe ♪
♪ In all my dreams ♪
♪ And all that I can be ♪
♪ I'll learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Do all that it takes ♪
♪ To make it eventually ♪
♪ 'Cause I still believe ♪
[Lydia] ♪ I still believe ♪
♪ In me ♪ [Coco]
♪ I still believe ♪
♪ In all my dreams ♪
♪ And all that I can be ♪
♪ I'll learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Learn from mistakes ♪
♪ Do all that it takes ♪
♪ All that it takes ♪
♪ To make it eventually ♪
♪ 'Cause I still believe ♪
[Lydia] ♪ I still believe ♪
[Harmonizing] ♪
Yes, I still believe ♪
♪ In me ♪♪
♪♪ [Disco]
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Fame ♪♪
[Roars]