Fame (1982–1987): Season 1, Episode 4 - Alone in a Crowd - full transcript
Bruno is afraid of performing in public and must learn to overcome his fears.
I don't owe anybody, anything!
I don't need you, Bruno!
We don't need you!
We had to give up the baby
because he was running for the Senate,
and that's the baby grown
up. You're my mother?
♪♪ [Disco]
I'd like to try it again, just
without all these people watching.
What am I, R2-D2?
You get to go to the benefit. You don't
get to dance, but you still get to go,
as, like, my helper. A helper?
♪♪ [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]
♪♪ [Continues]
"Seventh Annual
School of the Arts Benefit.
"Performers needed
from each class.
Students seeking audition time,
contact Montgomery MacNeil."
Contact Mr. Montgomery MacNeil.
Ah, you can't have
zits and be mister.
♪♪ [Continues]
Whoo!
It's only I've seen fighters do it and
I'm worried you might be doing it too.
I'm concerned, that's all. Pop,
it's not the same kind of thing.
Uh, they've even
got a phrase for it.
They all the time talk about a
fighter "leaving it in the gym."
I mean, that means that they spar
so much that... I know what it means.
They ain't got anything left when
the bell rings for the real fight.
You and your guys rehearse
way past Carson's monologue.
I mean, I'm afraid
you're gonna get stale.
Look, Pop, it's not
like being a fighter.
Okay, Mr. Wise Guy, you
know so much, what is it like?
It's kind of like making love. It's always
terrific, but it can always get better.
- Pop!
- [Horn Honking]
Workmen's comp don't cover that.
♪♪ [Continues] [Bell Rings]
Why you always got your head buried
in this thing? What's this all about?
Leroy, get it straight.
This is my bible, all right?
Bible?
This is the first bible I've ever seen
with ads for female mud wrestling in it.
Why don't you read the Daily
News like everybody else?
I'm looking for a place for
my band to play, all right?
Your band? [Chuckles]
Bruno says it's his band.
It's his music. My band,
our sound. Uh-huh.
Yeah, well, then, this is the
paper you need to be reading.
Bruno, I don't understand you.
Your Aunt Beatrice comes
by, you won't play for her.
Your Cousin Pauline stops
by, you won't play for her.
Bruno, how you gonna make a name
for yourself if you won't play for people?
Word of mouth. That's not
funny, Bruno. Not at these prices.
Bruno!
Hey, baby, what do you think
about this gig for the band, huh?
Hey, come on, Bruno. I mean, all the
money goes to the scholarship fund.
That's a good cause, right? I mean, and-and
we'll get... we'll get some exposure, man.
That's a better cause, don't you
think so? So, what do you say, Bruno?
What do you want me
to say? Say, "Let's do it."
The music's not ready. Oh, I... I
think that it is. And so do the guys.
Look, I'm sorry, but no.
I thought Italians were supposed
to take chances, be real gutsy.
Like-Like Julius Caesar. [Chuckles]
You saw what happened to him.
[Girl] Wait up!
[Sighs]
You know, it's not easy
being a short person.
I mean, suppose you're a
short guy dating Dolly Parton.
You'd catch a cold from
standing in the shade all the time!
[Chuckles] Thank you. Thank you.
Man! How do they do that?
It always looks so
easy when they do it.
And-And you know, it's not easy being
a short person in a tough neighborhood.
I was brought up in a
tough neighborhood.
My neighborhood was so tough
that if you wanted leaded fuel,
the attendant would
shoot you in the gas.
Oh, this stinks. It's not
even a joke. It's a pun.
Dick Cavett's the only one I
know who gets away with puns.
But what I really wanted to
talk to you about is inflation.
There is so much
inflation today.
Like yesterday, I went into
the store... [Pen Hitting Floor]
- Hi.
- How you doin'?
Oh, great. I was just, um... I'm
checkin' out how they hang the lights.
You know, it's good to know
backstage stuff as well as onstage stuff.
Well, then, uh, you'll probably
want to know about this.
What is it?
Read it and find out.
Hey, Danny?
Cavett isn't the only
one that does puns.
Groucho Marx used to
do 'em all the time too.
Yeah.
See, the thing you have
to avoid is specialization.
You want to be able to do
as many things as possible.
Sing, act, dance,
play an instrument.
But aren't you afraid that you're
gonna be halfway good at lots of things...
but not really good
at anything? No way.
I figure when my big chance comes along,
I'll have so much adrenaline pumping...
that my so-so
dancing will be Astaire,
and my so-so singing
will be Streisand,
and my so-so violin
will be Rubenstein.
He plays the piano.
You're kidding?
The first of the month Shorofsky told me
that I played the violin like Rubenstein.
That old smurf. I wouldn't
get on his case today.
You know, I heard his midterm
proficiency exams, that they're the worst.
[Doris] You have him
first hour, don't you?
Yeah. But, you know, I'm really glad,
because that way I get it over with.
I don't mind listening. It's just
getting up in front of everybody...
and doing it solo
that gives me a rash.
[Bell Rings]
Hey, you're wrong about those proficiency
tests. We do 'em alone for Shorofsky.
No, you're wrong. We used
to do them just for Shorofsky.
Why'd he change
that? I'm not really sure.
[Chuckles] Maybe to
test our stage presence.
What stage presence?
Curtain.
We did everything we could for
him, but I'm afraid it wasn't enough.
We lost him in the
recovery room. [Sobbing]
Was there... Was there any pain?
None. We saw that he was
comfortable until the end.
[Danny] Did he say anything?
[Doris] He asked for a sip of water.
I gave him some. And
then he just slipped away.
- Hold it. Doris, what are you doing?
- What do you mean?
You are telling these people that their
beloved husband and father has just died.
You're telling
it to them like...
G. Gordon Liddy telling the White House that
there is a teeny problem at the Watergate.
I mean, there's no warmth. There's
no consideration for their feelings.
- Well, I haven't slept
in 48 hours.
- I beg your pardon?
Not me. The doctor I'm
playing. Where does it say that?
Well, it doesn't. But, in
my offstage preparation...
I thought I'd give my
character a realistic backstory.
That kind of thing happens all the
time to doctors in big city hospitals.
It does. It does.
But it doesn't give your fellow
performers anything to respond to.
- Well, it just
seemed realistic.
- Oh, it is. It is.
But do you suppose you could find another
realistic backstory for your doctor?
One that allows for
a little more feeling?
Do you understand
what I'm saying?
Sure.
You're saying when I audition for
the benefit, maybe I'd better sing, huh?
It's worth a thought.
♪♪ [Lively]
[Shorofsky] Mr. Martelli.
We are waiting, Mr. Martelli.
♪♪ [Off-key]
♪♪ [Off-key]
♪♪ [Resumes]
♪♪ [Continues]
♪♪ [Fading]
And... uh!
It hurts.
It's supposed to hurt.
There's no gain without
strain. Come on, stay with it!
Five, four, three,
two, come back up!
One, hold, hold, hold!
And... done!
You are your instruments.
And unless that instrument
stays in Stradivarius shape,
all the things you're gonna
want to do aren't gonna get done.
I know it's drudgery
now, but... [Bell Rings]
but... [Chattering]
Sayonara!
I was awful. The
vote is unanimous.
I'd like to try it again, just
without all these people watching.
What am I, R2-D2?
Not you. Them.
Them? They're your friends. You've
played for them a hundred times.
But this is different.
This is like a courtroom with all these people
tryin' to decide whether I'm guilty or...
You know what I mean.
I also know there's another class
due here in about 45 seconds.
And every one of them is people.
Mr. Martelli.
The first man to discover music
eventually came out of the cave...
to let the rest of the tribe
hear what he had done.
But maybe there was a better musician
who stayed in the cave and never came out.
Just concentrated on
making the music better.
For whom,
Mr. Martelli? For whom?
Hey, baby! One more dance,
then we really have to go.
Go where? To the cafeteria, to
sign up for the benefit audition.
Look, I thought I told you... Come on,
Bruno, "the music's not ready" number.
I mean, it's all right for the image,
but come on. I'm not talking image.
I am. This is a mainline gig.
They advertise this
in the New York Times.
Look, I gotta go.
Martelli, you know what you are?
- You're a rat fink, man!
- One more time.
There are five guys in that cafeteria
waiting to strut their stuff, to play music,
your music, with you.
I mean, they've been practicing, hauling
their stuff to your basement every night.
- So?
- So you owe them. You owe me.
I don't owe anybody, anything!
That's fine, Bruno! That's
really fine, man, you know!
I don't need you, Bruno!
We don't need you!
That's really fine, Bruno!
The hell it is.
♪♪ [Playing Notes]
♪♪ [Accordion] [Man] ♪
I've had a million dreams ♪
♪ That never came true ♪
♪ Until that fateful day ♪
♪ When I discovered ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ And now I've ♪
♪ Gotta dance ♪
♪ Gotta dance ♪
♪ Gotta dance Gotta dance ♪
♪ Oh, I gotta dance ♪
♪ Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, gotta dance ♪
Yeah! Goin' to town, boys...
That's fine. That's enough.
I wasn't finished yet.
Yeah, I know, but there
are a lot of others waiting,
and we did hear enough of
your act to judge it... fairly.
Okay. Well, am I
in the show or not?
I'll have to talk to the other
members of my committee.
- Well, I have
another number to do.
- Then do it in the hallway.
- You saying I'm no good?
- No. I'm working very hard
not to say that.
You're not on this list,
so you have to sign in.
Listen, I'm not
here to audition, girl.
I want to get inside and talk to
Montgomery, okay? No, you can't.
Because he told me specifically
that no one's to go in there.
Well, excuse me!
I hope your stomach gets pleats.
Ah, forget about him.
Okay, what's your name?
My name? What are you talking
about? You know my name.
Doris, there are ways of
doing things in an audition.
And this is my first chance,
and I want to do it right.
Yesterday, a friend.
Today, she's David Merrick.
You heard me and
Bruno and the guys, right?
I thought that if you just listened to
the tape, it would save a lot of time.
Well, um,
technically, you're supposed
to audition in front of everybody.
Well, where does it say that?
That's the way it's always been.
Montgomery, welcome
to the 20th century.
Welcome to the
world of electronics.
Did that hurt any, huh? No.
Next! Thank you. Thank you.
Break a leg. [Chuckles]
Name, please?
Evita Perón.
[Leroy] Somewhere in this
favored land, the sun is shining...
Bright, shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere.
And somewhere
hearts are light, but...
You act like you never seen
nobody read or something.
Sure. Uh, you want a hint?
- What kind of hint?
- Well, the words rhyme.
I mean, if you're having
trouble remembering the line.
"And somewhere men are laughing
and somewhere children shout.
But there is no joy in Mudville,
Mighty Casey has struck out."
See, shout and out, they rhyme.
Why, that's shocking, Montgomery. You
know, I never would have seen this myself.
A poem with rhymes in it.
Wait till I tell everybody this.
Hey, I'm just tryin' to help. I'm
tryin' to keep you in a good mood.
Why you so worried about
keeping me in a good mood?
Mm, because, uh,
you're in the show.
Don't tell anybody
I told you, okay?
[Chuckles]
"But there is no joy in Mudville,
Mighty Casey has struck out!"
Ha! That turkey.
Why do you want to
know what I'm afraid of?
It just came up in class today.
You know, what people are afraid of
and how everyone's afraid of something.
Me, it's heights. Hate heights.
I get palpitations if I have to take
a fare over the Verrazano Bridge.
It's very funny that
I'm afraid, right?
Nah, it's-it's just that a kid
thinks his father can do anything.
Like the Dragonslayer.
- That's another thing
I was afraid of.
- Dragons?
No, the day you figured out that I was
just me, no big deal, nothing special.
A father wants to
be a hero to his kid.
Stick with being a
father. You'll do fine.
Hey, Bruno. Bruno,
don't put those on.
I wanna hear too.
Share, for Pete's sakes.
♪ What do you do ♪
♪ When you think the whole
world is laughing at you ♪
♪ Do you cry ♪
♪ Or take a walk
and wonder why ♪
♪ Did you ever ask ♪
♪ As the twilight
rush hour faces pass ♪
♪ Am I small ♪
♪ Or can I fly above
and conquer them all ♪
♪ City sounds ♪
♪ Form a music in my mind ♪
♪ And the melody
I pull from the air ♪
♪ Makes me stronger every time ♪
♪ Just bein' alone
in the crowd ♪
♪ With a song ♪
♪ Singing alone in the crowd ♪
♪ Nothin's wrong ♪
♪ City sounds ♪
♪ Form a music in my mind ♪
♪ And the melody
I pull from the air ♪
♪ Makes me stronger every time ♪
♪ Just bein' alone
in the crowd ♪
♪ With a song ♪
♪ Singing alone in the crowd ♪
♪ Nothin's wrong ♪
♪ Alone in the crowd ♪
♪ With a song ♪
♪ Singing alone in the crowd ♪
♪ Nothin's wrong ♪♪
Very nice, Mr. Martelli.
Why couldn't something similar
have happened in class the other day?
Good question. The problem
is, I don't have a good answer.
It'll come,
Mr. Martelli. It'll come.
Great. When?
Good answers aren't like trains.
They don't arrive on schedule.
Come to think of it,
they are like trains.
[Sherwood] Lydia, it's so monotonous
running round and round some track.
If jogging is so boring,
why not take a dance class?
Oh, until I lose 10 pounds, nobody's
getting me into a pair of tights.
Nobody. Sounds like you've
been talkin' to Leroy again.
No, I haven't, but
I'm gonna have to...
Ah, Montgomery,
the audition results.
Yeah. I'm gonna get these notices
up and maintain a very low profile.
I hate delivering bad news.
- Montgomery?
- Yeah?
I'm afraid you've got more bad
news to deliver than you know.
I made it! Ah! Congratulations.
I didn't, and that's
dumb. What's dumb?
That my act didn't make it, and that
her dumb act made it! That's dumb!
You want to know what's
dumb? I'll tell you what's dumb!
Hey, you know what's dumb?
Fighting about it, that's what's dumb.
Hey, maybe we can
get an act together?
Play a bit of cello,
have a few gags.
Come on, huh, Julie? She's
a dope. We don't need her.
I don't get it, man.
How come my English teacher gets
to say who dances and who doesn't?
It's just a rule they have, Leroy. If your
academic grades aren't up to a certain...
Ah, man, I got that Casey dude
down pat. What you talkin' about?
Leroy, I don't make up the
rules, okay? I hate this job.
I just want you to know that. That don't do
nothing for me! That don't do nothing for me!
I could use a helper. You know, like an assistant?
You get to go to the benefit, everything.
You don't get to dance, but you
still get to go as, like, my helper.
A helper? Man, you
must be crazy! A helper!
I look like a helper to you?
No, man, you keep that trash.
Helper!
I hate this job.
Hey, watch it. Don't get
all bent. It was a accident.
I didn't figure you
did it on purpose.
Look, I ain't in no
mood for socializin'.
- Next time,
just give me some room.
- What's the matter?
I got aced out on those
auditions. That's what's the matter.
- Hey, I'm sorry.
- Hey, man, what do you care?
You and your band made the list.
You ain't got nothin' to feel bad about.
Hey, wait. What do you
mean, my band made the list?
How could my band make
the list? I didn't even au...
I'll kill her.
Curtain.
[Sighs]
[Voice Quavering] We did
everything we could for him.
But I'm afraid it wasn't enough.
We lost him in
the recovery room.
[Danny] W-Was there
any pain? [Doris] None.
We saw that he was
comfortable until the end.
Did he say anything? He
asked for a sip of water,
and I gave him some.
And then he just slipped away.
Mother of mercy! Doris...
What are you doing?
Well, my backstory is,
is that the man who just died
and I had an affair 20 years ago...
when I was in medical
school, and I got pregnant.
We had to give up the baby
because he was running for the Senate,
and he convinced his
wife to adopt the baby.
And that's the baby, grown
up. You're my mother?
Yeah. Only you don't know it.
Oh, the family resemblance
would have given it away for sure.
Well... what do you think?
Coco, you know what your
band needs for the show?
S-Someone who knows
how to play the maracas. Look.
Danny.
[Sighs]
♪♪ [Synthesizer]
I-I spoke to Leroy, and he said that you
were sort of irritated about the audition.
Sort of irritated...
Is that what he said?
Well, he used a
more colorful phrase.
I told you how I felt,
and you just ignored me.
Bruno, you can't turn
your back on this, man.
William Morris is gonna have
agents there. This is big-time stuff.
I don't care about
William Morris.
I don't care about the benefit. I
don't... [Shorofsky Clearing Throat]
Don't let me stop you. Continue
whatever you were doing.
[Sighs] Forget it. I'll find
someplace else to work.
"I love you, honey,
more than words can say.
"Oh, I love you, my honey,
more and more every day.
"My love is hot like steamin'
fire but pure as driven snow.
That's how I love you, honey,
and I need for you to know."
Then it goes into the chorus.
That's all that do-wa-do-wa stuff.
- Of course.
- I got more.
More what? More
song lyrics memorized.
I figure you'd give me extra
credit for extra memorizing.
Let me be in the
benefit or somethin'.
Leroy, that assignment
wasn't about memorizing.
Then how come you asked us to memorize
it? That don't make much sense to me.
Well, the theory is that getting the book out of
your hands will help you understand the words,
the thoughts and the
rhyme schemes more readily.
I guess all that means is no extra
credit for memorizing words to a song.
No. I'm sorry, but no.
Okay. How about if
I write a poem then?
Leroy, when I said no to your being
in the benefit, I was going by the rules.
In a way, I gave my word. I can't go
back on that word now even if I want to.
Do you want to? It's tempting.
So, will you? Not on a bet.
Well, it don't make much
difference to me anyway. It doesn't?
No. 'Cause I got people
there that want to see me there.
They know it's not gonna
be the same unless I'm there.
Like Montgomery, for
instance. He's gettin' me in.
Doing what, if you
don't mind my asking?
Well, I'm sort of like his
chief helper, so to speak.
- I mean,
I got picked specially.
- Congratulations.
Thank you. I'm proud about it.
Real proud.
[Door Opens]
[Door Closes]
What you doin' in here? I'm only out
of the show. I'm not out of the school.
Neither am I.
She ain't got no right
to put me out anyway.
This is the School for the Arts,
not for some dumb poem. Right.
Anyway, I don't need no dumb
benefit. I do my thing anywhere.
I can't. When you dance,
all you need is music.
To tell jokes, you have
got to have an audience.
It's just not the
same as... as you.
You're right. It's a
lot tougher for me.
Tougher for you?
How do you figure that?
- Anybody can tell a joke.
- Okay. Tell one.
- Me?
- Hey, it's easy. You just said so.
So go ahead. I'm here.
Anytime you're ready.
There once was this white boy
who could dance really good.
Now that's really a joke.
[Chuckling] You're
right. It's real good.
♪♪ [Jazzy Blues]
It must be something like loving to
pilot a plane and being afraid to fly.
- Whatever that means.
- You.
Loving music and being too
terrified of people to perform.
I'd wager the rest of your band would love
the chance to play for the William Morrises...
and other such people.
Mr. Shorofsky, I'm not
like the rest of the band.
You're telling me?
Besides, concert halls
are a thing of the past.
Home entertainment, that's where it's at. If people
want to hear me, they can go and buy my tape.
And what do you buy
to hear the people?
The experience of music
is a dialogue, Mr. Martelli.
Dialogue. Two voices. The musician's
and the people who are listening.
It's a conversation between
you and your audience.
That hushed sound you
hear before the music begins...
That's an audience
saying, "Yes, I want to hear."
And the applause
at the conclusion,
that's the audience saying,
"Thank you for sharing with me."
You don't want that?
You don't need that?
The audience doesn't
always react with approval.
Not always.
I think I'll pass on that.
It's like a church.
This?
Places where the people are all facing
in the same direction, they're magic.
People just sort of
become one, they unify.
Cathedrals have
it, theaters, temples.
Toilets. [Lydia] Lookin'
good, Montgomery.
Thanks. Anybody
else waitin' outside?
Yes. Coco and her group
were in the elevator right after us.
Good evening.
Still mad? What do you think?
Leroy, it isn't the
end of the world.
You're not kicked out of
school. You're out of one show.
For all you know, it
might be a terrible show.
Oh, it's gonna be a terrible
show, all right. 'Cause I ain't in it.
[Chuckles]
No way! Forget it. Why?
Because I don't need you to
introduce me. Montgomery is the emcee.
Montgomery? He's good for the
other acts. You need someone special.
Meaning you. I
know it's immodest.
It's impossible. And besides,
it's not gonna happen.
Out, please. Excuse.
[Montgomery] Hey, Bruno!
Hey, baby, I thought
you would come.
Don't start with baby and
don't get the wrong idea.
I told the guys they
could use my stuff.
So as soon as my dad and the
freight elevator bring up the amps,
we're going to the Knicks game.
Good evening. Can I help you? Yes.
We're from the William Morris Agency.
I imagine we're on
the list. Uh, you bet.
This young lady will be happy
to show you to your table.
[Loud Whisper] Coco!
You're really an
agent? A real one? Yes.
Hi. Hi.
Is that the dress you're gonna
wear? Something wrong with it?
It's just that it's a real hot night, and
you're liable to sweat like anything in it.
That is the most incredibly gross
thing anyone has ever said to me!
You are just the El
Scuzzo of all time!
[Man] What happened?
It's just a brownout.
Danny, if it makes
you feel better, okay.
But I think you should know that
what you're squeezing is my purse.
All right, ladies and
gentlemen, all right.
We are privileged to
visit a more genteel time...
until the generators take over again
and bring us back to the 20th century...
with all its benefits
and its detriments.
Now there's no music at
all, with Bruno or without him.
Yeah, and with agents
here. Can you believe it?
Yeah, I'm sort of
new in New York.
Do these things last a long
time? The last one lasted 18 hours.
Well, at least it's romantic.
Spoken like an actress.
I study acting, but
actually, I'm a cellist.
So? Spoken like a cellist.
[Danny] There you go.
Two for the price of one.
That's really good.
Do you have to
sound so surprised?
Well, Danny, you don't exactly have
the reputation of being Einstein, you know.
And I don't have the
reputation of being stupid either.
I-I said I don't have the
reputation of being stupid either.
Did I ever tell you the joke...
Don't tell me any jokes, okay?
Are they that bad?
I'm scared. And when I'm
scared, I don't laugh at jokes.
If I don't laugh,
you'll get mad at me.
And I just don't think I could
handle that right now, okay?
Okay.
[Sighs]
So, uh, what do we talk about?
Well, we could talk about why you don't
like me and why you say cruel things to me.
I don't say cruel things.
I make jokes, that's all.
Yeah, and sometimes
they're cruel.
- Really?
- Yeah. Really.
Maybe it's because I wanted to
be in the show more than I realized.
How do you do? What?
- I'm Doris Schwartz. You come here often, Mr. uh...
- Danny Amatullo.
Pleased to meet
you, Mr. Amatullo.
Likewise, Ms. Schwartz.
You look very
attractive in that dress.
How long do you
think this could last?
Oh, a couple of hours
is usually about all.
[Sighs] William Morris agents don't
wait a couple of hours for anybody,
least of all, a bunch of kids.
Why? Are they
afraid of the dark?
This is such a
joke to you, isn't it?
Well, no show for you,
no basketball game for me.
I think we came out about even.
No, we didn't.
[Sighs] No, we didn't.
And when I tell
stories and stuff,
real stories about things
that really happened,
I-I'm afraid they
won't be as interesting.
So I... So I add stuff
and I make up stuff,
so everyone will
think it's funny.
But then the stories aren't
as true anymore either.
Sometimes, I think I shouldn't
worry about how much they laugh.
Maybe I don't need 10
phony laughs for each story.
Maybe one real laugh is enough.
What do you think?
I think you should
tell them about you.
About stuff that happens,
and it's funny and it's real.
You think so? I think so.
Like, uh, maybe, there were
these two kids stuck in an elevator.
Why don't you save that story
for when you introduce me?
Listen to how quiet.
God forgive us. We created a
generation that cannot make music...
without woofers and tweeters
and amps and preamps.
These children need
batteries to whistle. [Giggles]
What are you doing?
They want to go.
They have another
show to catch downtown.
If they're gonna make it, they have to
leave now. Why do they have to leave now?
Coco, they have 36
flights to walk down.
It's our fault, not theirs.
We allowed them to grow
up weak, without standards.
And when a generator a hundred
miles away goes kaput, they go kaput too.
Very sad.
They're on their way
out the door, man.
Look, Coco, I don't care about
people like that, agents and managers.
Besides, with the power out, it
won't sound as good as it should.
[Sighs] Bruno, any music we make
is gonna sound better than silence.
And if you can't care
about people like agents,
can you care about people
that you go to school with?
All right!
♪ I don't need nobody else ♪
- ♪ To tell me how to be ♪
- Ohh!
♪ I'm not gonna play no game ♪
♪ With me you get
just what you see ♪
- ♪ I got the power ♪
- ♪ Power's there for me ♪
♪ I got the power ♪
♪ Everything I can be ♪
♪ I got the power ♪
♪ It's gonna set you free ♪
♪ I got the power ♪
♪ I got what I need inside ♪
♪ For all I want to do ♪
♪ I don't need a place to hide ♪
♪ As long as I
can count on you ♪
- ♪ We got the power ♪
- ♪ Baby, can't you see ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Every time it's you and me ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Power, yes, we do ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Gonna set us free ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to
be Gonna set us free ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ The light inside
of you and me ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ We got the power ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to
be Gonna set us free ♪
♪ We got the... We
got the... We got the... ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ We got the power to be Right inside
of you and me ♪ ♪ We got the power ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ Ooh, power ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ Ohh, yeah ♪
♪ We got the power to be Right inside
of you and me ♪ ♪ Don't you know ♪
♪ We got the power to be
Gonna set us free ♪ ♪ Hey ♪
♪ We got the, we got the
We got the power to be ♪♪
[Cheering, Applause]
Boo! Boo! Boo! All right!
You've just been
booed, Mr. Martelli.
And the men of William Morris
were watching the pretty girls dance.
They didn't hear a note
of your music. Did you die?
Did the world come to an end?
Are you still young
and well and whole?
Yes, sir.
You don't get applause
unless you grow.
And you don't grow unless you
are courageous enough to be bad.
Though I don't think your
music will get booed very often.
Show business is my life.
[Cheering, Shouting]
Come on. Let's
go. It's showtime.
[Chattering]
We can't let this go to waste.
What are you talking about?
The time we had. I mean, we
were really honest with each other.
People in show business
never get those kind of times.
I mean, they're usually too shallow
or too tied up with their own egos.
But you and me,
we got past that,
and we just can't forget it.
I mean, there are more important
things than egos and putting on shows.
We just always have
to remember that.
We'll always remember.
[Montgomery] Hey,
everybody! It's showtime!
♪♪ [Disco]
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Fame ♪♪
[Roars]
I don't need you, Bruno!
We don't need you!
We had to give up the baby
because he was running for the Senate,
and that's the baby grown
up. You're my mother?
♪♪ [Disco]
I'd like to try it again, just
without all these people watching.
What am I, R2-D2?
You get to go to the benefit. You don't
get to dance, but you still get to go,
as, like, my helper. A helper?
♪♪ [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]
♪♪ [Continues]
"Seventh Annual
School of the Arts Benefit.
"Performers needed
from each class.
Students seeking audition time,
contact Montgomery MacNeil."
Contact Mr. Montgomery MacNeil.
Ah, you can't have
zits and be mister.
♪♪ [Continues]
Whoo!
It's only I've seen fighters do it and
I'm worried you might be doing it too.
I'm concerned, that's all. Pop,
it's not the same kind of thing.
Uh, they've even
got a phrase for it.
They all the time talk about a
fighter "leaving it in the gym."
I mean, that means that they spar
so much that... I know what it means.
They ain't got anything left when
the bell rings for the real fight.
You and your guys rehearse
way past Carson's monologue.
I mean, I'm afraid
you're gonna get stale.
Look, Pop, it's not
like being a fighter.
Okay, Mr. Wise Guy, you
know so much, what is it like?
It's kind of like making love. It's always
terrific, but it can always get better.
- Pop!
- [Horn Honking]
Workmen's comp don't cover that.
♪♪ [Continues] [Bell Rings]
Why you always got your head buried
in this thing? What's this all about?
Leroy, get it straight.
This is my bible, all right?
Bible?
This is the first bible I've ever seen
with ads for female mud wrestling in it.
Why don't you read the Daily
News like everybody else?
I'm looking for a place for
my band to play, all right?
Your band? [Chuckles]
Bruno says it's his band.
It's his music. My band,
our sound. Uh-huh.
Yeah, well, then, this is the
paper you need to be reading.
Bruno, I don't understand you.
Your Aunt Beatrice comes
by, you won't play for her.
Your Cousin Pauline stops
by, you won't play for her.
Bruno, how you gonna make a name
for yourself if you won't play for people?
Word of mouth. That's not
funny, Bruno. Not at these prices.
Bruno!
Hey, baby, what do you think
about this gig for the band, huh?
Hey, come on, Bruno. I mean, all the
money goes to the scholarship fund.
That's a good cause, right? I mean, and-and
we'll get... we'll get some exposure, man.
That's a better cause, don't you
think so? So, what do you say, Bruno?
What do you want me
to say? Say, "Let's do it."
The music's not ready. Oh, I... I
think that it is. And so do the guys.
Look, I'm sorry, but no.
I thought Italians were supposed
to take chances, be real gutsy.
Like-Like Julius Caesar. [Chuckles]
You saw what happened to him.
[Girl] Wait up!
[Sighs]
You know, it's not easy
being a short person.
I mean, suppose you're a
short guy dating Dolly Parton.
You'd catch a cold from
standing in the shade all the time!
[Chuckles] Thank you. Thank you.
Man! How do they do that?
It always looks so
easy when they do it.
And-And you know, it's not easy being
a short person in a tough neighborhood.
I was brought up in a
tough neighborhood.
My neighborhood was so tough
that if you wanted leaded fuel,
the attendant would
shoot you in the gas.
Oh, this stinks. It's not
even a joke. It's a pun.
Dick Cavett's the only one I
know who gets away with puns.
But what I really wanted to
talk to you about is inflation.
There is so much
inflation today.
Like yesterday, I went into
the store... [Pen Hitting Floor]
- Hi.
- How you doin'?
Oh, great. I was just, um... I'm
checkin' out how they hang the lights.
You know, it's good to know
backstage stuff as well as onstage stuff.
Well, then, uh, you'll probably
want to know about this.
What is it?
Read it and find out.
Hey, Danny?
Cavett isn't the only
one that does puns.
Groucho Marx used to
do 'em all the time too.
Yeah.
See, the thing you have
to avoid is specialization.
You want to be able to do
as many things as possible.
Sing, act, dance,
play an instrument.
But aren't you afraid that you're
gonna be halfway good at lots of things...
but not really good
at anything? No way.
I figure when my big chance comes along,
I'll have so much adrenaline pumping...
that my so-so
dancing will be Astaire,
and my so-so singing
will be Streisand,
and my so-so violin
will be Rubenstein.
He plays the piano.
You're kidding?
The first of the month Shorofsky told me
that I played the violin like Rubenstein.
That old smurf. I wouldn't
get on his case today.
You know, I heard his midterm
proficiency exams, that they're the worst.
[Doris] You have him
first hour, don't you?
Yeah. But, you know, I'm really glad,
because that way I get it over with.
I don't mind listening. It's just
getting up in front of everybody...
and doing it solo
that gives me a rash.
[Bell Rings]
Hey, you're wrong about those proficiency
tests. We do 'em alone for Shorofsky.
No, you're wrong. We used
to do them just for Shorofsky.
Why'd he change
that? I'm not really sure.
[Chuckles] Maybe to
test our stage presence.
What stage presence?
Curtain.
We did everything we could for
him, but I'm afraid it wasn't enough.
We lost him in the
recovery room. [Sobbing]
Was there... Was there any pain?
None. We saw that he was
comfortable until the end.
[Danny] Did he say anything?
[Doris] He asked for a sip of water.
I gave him some. And
then he just slipped away.
- Hold it. Doris, what are you doing?
- What do you mean?
You are telling these people that their
beloved husband and father has just died.
You're telling
it to them like...
G. Gordon Liddy telling the White House that
there is a teeny problem at the Watergate.
I mean, there's no warmth. There's
no consideration for their feelings.
- Well, I haven't slept
in 48 hours.
- I beg your pardon?
Not me. The doctor I'm
playing. Where does it say that?
Well, it doesn't. But, in
my offstage preparation...
I thought I'd give my
character a realistic backstory.
That kind of thing happens all the
time to doctors in big city hospitals.
It does. It does.
But it doesn't give your fellow
performers anything to respond to.
- Well, it just
seemed realistic.
- Oh, it is. It is.
But do you suppose you could find another
realistic backstory for your doctor?
One that allows for
a little more feeling?
Do you understand
what I'm saying?
Sure.
You're saying when I audition for
the benefit, maybe I'd better sing, huh?
It's worth a thought.
♪♪ [Lively]
[Shorofsky] Mr. Martelli.
We are waiting, Mr. Martelli.
♪♪ [Off-key]
♪♪ [Off-key]
♪♪ [Resumes]
♪♪ [Continues]
♪♪ [Fading]
And... uh!
It hurts.
It's supposed to hurt.
There's no gain without
strain. Come on, stay with it!
Five, four, three,
two, come back up!
One, hold, hold, hold!
And... done!
You are your instruments.
And unless that instrument
stays in Stradivarius shape,
all the things you're gonna
want to do aren't gonna get done.
I know it's drudgery
now, but... [Bell Rings]
but... [Chattering]
Sayonara!
I was awful. The
vote is unanimous.
I'd like to try it again, just
without all these people watching.
What am I, R2-D2?
Not you. Them.
Them? They're your friends. You've
played for them a hundred times.
But this is different.
This is like a courtroom with all these people
tryin' to decide whether I'm guilty or...
You know what I mean.
I also know there's another class
due here in about 45 seconds.
And every one of them is people.
Mr. Martelli.
The first man to discover music
eventually came out of the cave...
to let the rest of the tribe
hear what he had done.
But maybe there was a better musician
who stayed in the cave and never came out.
Just concentrated on
making the music better.
For whom,
Mr. Martelli? For whom?
Hey, baby! One more dance,
then we really have to go.
Go where? To the cafeteria, to
sign up for the benefit audition.
Look, I thought I told you... Come on,
Bruno, "the music's not ready" number.
I mean, it's all right for the image,
but come on. I'm not talking image.
I am. This is a mainline gig.
They advertise this
in the New York Times.
Look, I gotta go.
Martelli, you know what you are?
- You're a rat fink, man!
- One more time.
There are five guys in that cafeteria
waiting to strut their stuff, to play music,
your music, with you.
I mean, they've been practicing, hauling
their stuff to your basement every night.
- So?
- So you owe them. You owe me.
I don't owe anybody, anything!
That's fine, Bruno! That's
really fine, man, you know!
I don't need you, Bruno!
We don't need you!
That's really fine, Bruno!
The hell it is.
♪♪ [Playing Notes]
♪♪ [Accordion] [Man] ♪
I've had a million dreams ♪
♪ That never came true ♪
♪ Until that fateful day ♪
♪ When I discovered ♪
♪ You ♪
♪ And now I've ♪
♪ Gotta dance ♪
♪ Gotta dance ♪
♪ Gotta dance Gotta dance ♪
♪ Oh, I gotta dance ♪
♪ Gotta, gotta, gotta, gotta
Gotta, gotta, gotta dance ♪
Yeah! Goin' to town, boys...
That's fine. That's enough.
I wasn't finished yet.
Yeah, I know, but there
are a lot of others waiting,
and we did hear enough of
your act to judge it... fairly.
Okay. Well, am I
in the show or not?
I'll have to talk to the other
members of my committee.
- Well, I have
another number to do.
- Then do it in the hallway.
- You saying I'm no good?
- No. I'm working very hard
not to say that.
You're not on this list,
so you have to sign in.
Listen, I'm not
here to audition, girl.
I want to get inside and talk to
Montgomery, okay? No, you can't.
Because he told me specifically
that no one's to go in there.
Well, excuse me!
I hope your stomach gets pleats.
Ah, forget about him.
Okay, what's your name?
My name? What are you talking
about? You know my name.
Doris, there are ways of
doing things in an audition.
And this is my first chance,
and I want to do it right.
Yesterday, a friend.
Today, she's David Merrick.
You heard me and
Bruno and the guys, right?
I thought that if you just listened to
the tape, it would save a lot of time.
Well, um,
technically, you're supposed
to audition in front of everybody.
Well, where does it say that?
That's the way it's always been.
Montgomery, welcome
to the 20th century.
Welcome to the
world of electronics.
Did that hurt any, huh? No.
Next! Thank you. Thank you.
Break a leg. [Chuckles]
Name, please?
Evita Perón.
[Leroy] Somewhere in this
favored land, the sun is shining...
Bright, shining bright.
The band is playing somewhere.
And somewhere
hearts are light, but...
You act like you never seen
nobody read or something.
Sure. Uh, you want a hint?
- What kind of hint?
- Well, the words rhyme.
I mean, if you're having
trouble remembering the line.
"And somewhere men are laughing
and somewhere children shout.
But there is no joy in Mudville,
Mighty Casey has struck out."
See, shout and out, they rhyme.
Why, that's shocking, Montgomery. You
know, I never would have seen this myself.
A poem with rhymes in it.
Wait till I tell everybody this.
Hey, I'm just tryin' to help. I'm
tryin' to keep you in a good mood.
Why you so worried about
keeping me in a good mood?
Mm, because, uh,
you're in the show.
Don't tell anybody
I told you, okay?
[Chuckles]
"But there is no joy in Mudville,
Mighty Casey has struck out!"
Ha! That turkey.
Why do you want to
know what I'm afraid of?
It just came up in class today.
You know, what people are afraid of
and how everyone's afraid of something.
Me, it's heights. Hate heights.
I get palpitations if I have to take
a fare over the Verrazano Bridge.
It's very funny that
I'm afraid, right?
Nah, it's-it's just that a kid
thinks his father can do anything.
Like the Dragonslayer.
- That's another thing
I was afraid of.
- Dragons?
No, the day you figured out that I was
just me, no big deal, nothing special.
A father wants to
be a hero to his kid.
Stick with being a
father. You'll do fine.
Hey, Bruno. Bruno,
don't put those on.
I wanna hear too.
Share, for Pete's sakes.
♪ What do you do ♪
♪ When you think the whole
world is laughing at you ♪
♪ Do you cry ♪
♪ Or take a walk
and wonder why ♪
♪ Did you ever ask ♪
♪ As the twilight
rush hour faces pass ♪
♪ Am I small ♪
♪ Or can I fly above
and conquer them all ♪
♪ City sounds ♪
♪ Form a music in my mind ♪
♪ And the melody
I pull from the air ♪
♪ Makes me stronger every time ♪
♪ Just bein' alone
in the crowd ♪
♪ With a song ♪
♪ Singing alone in the crowd ♪
♪ Nothin's wrong ♪
♪ City sounds ♪
♪ Form a music in my mind ♪
♪ And the melody
I pull from the air ♪
♪ Makes me stronger every time ♪
♪ Just bein' alone
in the crowd ♪
♪ With a song ♪
♪ Singing alone in the crowd ♪
♪ Nothin's wrong ♪
♪ Alone in the crowd ♪
♪ With a song ♪
♪ Singing alone in the crowd ♪
♪ Nothin's wrong ♪♪
Very nice, Mr. Martelli.
Why couldn't something similar
have happened in class the other day?
Good question. The problem
is, I don't have a good answer.
It'll come,
Mr. Martelli. It'll come.
Great. When?
Good answers aren't like trains.
They don't arrive on schedule.
Come to think of it,
they are like trains.
[Sherwood] Lydia, it's so monotonous
running round and round some track.
If jogging is so boring,
why not take a dance class?
Oh, until I lose 10 pounds, nobody's
getting me into a pair of tights.
Nobody. Sounds like you've
been talkin' to Leroy again.
No, I haven't, but
I'm gonna have to...
Ah, Montgomery,
the audition results.
Yeah. I'm gonna get these notices
up and maintain a very low profile.
I hate delivering bad news.
- Montgomery?
- Yeah?
I'm afraid you've got more bad
news to deliver than you know.
I made it! Ah! Congratulations.
I didn't, and that's
dumb. What's dumb?
That my act didn't make it, and that
her dumb act made it! That's dumb!
You want to know what's
dumb? I'll tell you what's dumb!
Hey, you know what's dumb?
Fighting about it, that's what's dumb.
Hey, maybe we can
get an act together?
Play a bit of cello,
have a few gags.
Come on, huh, Julie? She's
a dope. We don't need her.
I don't get it, man.
How come my English teacher gets
to say who dances and who doesn't?
It's just a rule they have, Leroy. If your
academic grades aren't up to a certain...
Ah, man, I got that Casey dude
down pat. What you talkin' about?
Leroy, I don't make up the
rules, okay? I hate this job.
I just want you to know that. That don't do
nothing for me! That don't do nothing for me!
I could use a helper. You know, like an assistant?
You get to go to the benefit, everything.
You don't get to dance, but you
still get to go as, like, my helper.
A helper? Man, you
must be crazy! A helper!
I look like a helper to you?
No, man, you keep that trash.
Helper!
I hate this job.
Hey, watch it. Don't get
all bent. It was a accident.
I didn't figure you
did it on purpose.
Look, I ain't in no
mood for socializin'.
- Next time,
just give me some room.
- What's the matter?
I got aced out on those
auditions. That's what's the matter.
- Hey, I'm sorry.
- Hey, man, what do you care?
You and your band made the list.
You ain't got nothin' to feel bad about.
Hey, wait. What do you
mean, my band made the list?
How could my band make
the list? I didn't even au...
I'll kill her.
Curtain.
[Sighs]
[Voice Quavering] We did
everything we could for him.
But I'm afraid it wasn't enough.
We lost him in
the recovery room.
[Danny] W-Was there
any pain? [Doris] None.
We saw that he was
comfortable until the end.
Did he say anything? He
asked for a sip of water,
and I gave him some.
And then he just slipped away.
Mother of mercy! Doris...
What are you doing?
Well, my backstory is,
is that the man who just died
and I had an affair 20 years ago...
when I was in medical
school, and I got pregnant.
We had to give up the baby
because he was running for the Senate,
and he convinced his
wife to adopt the baby.
And that's the baby, grown
up. You're my mother?
Yeah. Only you don't know it.
Oh, the family resemblance
would have given it away for sure.
Well... what do you think?
Coco, you know what your
band needs for the show?
S-Someone who knows
how to play the maracas. Look.
Danny.
[Sighs]
♪♪ [Synthesizer]
I-I spoke to Leroy, and he said that you
were sort of irritated about the audition.
Sort of irritated...
Is that what he said?
Well, he used a
more colorful phrase.
I told you how I felt,
and you just ignored me.
Bruno, you can't turn
your back on this, man.
William Morris is gonna have
agents there. This is big-time stuff.
I don't care about
William Morris.
I don't care about the benefit. I
don't... [Shorofsky Clearing Throat]
Don't let me stop you. Continue
whatever you were doing.
[Sighs] Forget it. I'll find
someplace else to work.
"I love you, honey,
more than words can say.
"Oh, I love you, my honey,
more and more every day.
"My love is hot like steamin'
fire but pure as driven snow.
That's how I love you, honey,
and I need for you to know."
Then it goes into the chorus.
That's all that do-wa-do-wa stuff.
- Of course.
- I got more.
More what? More
song lyrics memorized.
I figure you'd give me extra
credit for extra memorizing.
Let me be in the
benefit or somethin'.
Leroy, that assignment
wasn't about memorizing.
Then how come you asked us to memorize
it? That don't make much sense to me.
Well, the theory is that getting the book out of
your hands will help you understand the words,
the thoughts and the
rhyme schemes more readily.
I guess all that means is no extra
credit for memorizing words to a song.
No. I'm sorry, but no.
Okay. How about if
I write a poem then?
Leroy, when I said no to your being
in the benefit, I was going by the rules.
In a way, I gave my word. I can't go
back on that word now even if I want to.
Do you want to? It's tempting.
So, will you? Not on a bet.
Well, it don't make much
difference to me anyway. It doesn't?
No. 'Cause I got people
there that want to see me there.
They know it's not gonna
be the same unless I'm there.
Like Montgomery, for
instance. He's gettin' me in.
Doing what, if you
don't mind my asking?
Well, I'm sort of like his
chief helper, so to speak.
- I mean,
I got picked specially.
- Congratulations.
Thank you. I'm proud about it.
Real proud.
[Door Opens]
[Door Closes]
What you doin' in here? I'm only out
of the show. I'm not out of the school.
Neither am I.
She ain't got no right
to put me out anyway.
This is the School for the Arts,
not for some dumb poem. Right.
Anyway, I don't need no dumb
benefit. I do my thing anywhere.
I can't. When you dance,
all you need is music.
To tell jokes, you have
got to have an audience.
It's just not the
same as... as you.
You're right. It's a
lot tougher for me.
Tougher for you?
How do you figure that?
- Anybody can tell a joke.
- Okay. Tell one.
- Me?
- Hey, it's easy. You just said so.
So go ahead. I'm here.
Anytime you're ready.
There once was this white boy
who could dance really good.
Now that's really a joke.
[Chuckling] You're
right. It's real good.
♪♪ [Jazzy Blues]
It must be something like loving to
pilot a plane and being afraid to fly.
- Whatever that means.
- You.
Loving music and being too
terrified of people to perform.
I'd wager the rest of your band would love
the chance to play for the William Morrises...
and other such people.
Mr. Shorofsky, I'm not
like the rest of the band.
You're telling me?
Besides, concert halls
are a thing of the past.
Home entertainment, that's where it's at. If people
want to hear me, they can go and buy my tape.
And what do you buy
to hear the people?
The experience of music
is a dialogue, Mr. Martelli.
Dialogue. Two voices. The musician's
and the people who are listening.
It's a conversation between
you and your audience.
That hushed sound you
hear before the music begins...
That's an audience
saying, "Yes, I want to hear."
And the applause
at the conclusion,
that's the audience saying,
"Thank you for sharing with me."
You don't want that?
You don't need that?
The audience doesn't
always react with approval.
Not always.
I think I'll pass on that.
It's like a church.
This?
Places where the people are all facing
in the same direction, they're magic.
People just sort of
become one, they unify.
Cathedrals have
it, theaters, temples.
Toilets. [Lydia] Lookin'
good, Montgomery.
Thanks. Anybody
else waitin' outside?
Yes. Coco and her group
were in the elevator right after us.
Good evening.
Still mad? What do you think?
Leroy, it isn't the
end of the world.
You're not kicked out of
school. You're out of one show.
For all you know, it
might be a terrible show.
Oh, it's gonna be a terrible
show, all right. 'Cause I ain't in it.
[Chuckles]
No way! Forget it. Why?
Because I don't need you to
introduce me. Montgomery is the emcee.
Montgomery? He's good for the
other acts. You need someone special.
Meaning you. I
know it's immodest.
It's impossible. And besides,
it's not gonna happen.
Out, please. Excuse.
[Montgomery] Hey, Bruno!
Hey, baby, I thought
you would come.
Don't start with baby and
don't get the wrong idea.
I told the guys they
could use my stuff.
So as soon as my dad and the
freight elevator bring up the amps,
we're going to the Knicks game.
Good evening. Can I help you? Yes.
We're from the William Morris Agency.
I imagine we're on
the list. Uh, you bet.
This young lady will be happy
to show you to your table.
[Loud Whisper] Coco!
You're really an
agent? A real one? Yes.
Hi. Hi.
Is that the dress you're gonna
wear? Something wrong with it?
It's just that it's a real hot night, and
you're liable to sweat like anything in it.
That is the most incredibly gross
thing anyone has ever said to me!
You are just the El
Scuzzo of all time!
[Man] What happened?
It's just a brownout.
Danny, if it makes
you feel better, okay.
But I think you should know that
what you're squeezing is my purse.
All right, ladies and
gentlemen, all right.
We are privileged to
visit a more genteel time...
until the generators take over again
and bring us back to the 20th century...
with all its benefits
and its detriments.
Now there's no music at
all, with Bruno or without him.
Yeah, and with agents
here. Can you believe it?
Yeah, I'm sort of
new in New York.
Do these things last a long
time? The last one lasted 18 hours.
Well, at least it's romantic.
Spoken like an actress.
I study acting, but
actually, I'm a cellist.
So? Spoken like a cellist.
[Danny] There you go.
Two for the price of one.
That's really good.
Do you have to
sound so surprised?
Well, Danny, you don't exactly have
the reputation of being Einstein, you know.
And I don't have the
reputation of being stupid either.
I-I said I don't have the
reputation of being stupid either.
Did I ever tell you the joke...
Don't tell me any jokes, okay?
Are they that bad?
I'm scared. And when I'm
scared, I don't laugh at jokes.
If I don't laugh,
you'll get mad at me.
And I just don't think I could
handle that right now, okay?
Okay.
[Sighs]
So, uh, what do we talk about?
Well, we could talk about why you don't
like me and why you say cruel things to me.
I don't say cruel things.
I make jokes, that's all.
Yeah, and sometimes
they're cruel.
- Really?
- Yeah. Really.
Maybe it's because I wanted to
be in the show more than I realized.
How do you do? What?
- I'm Doris Schwartz. You come here often, Mr. uh...
- Danny Amatullo.
Pleased to meet
you, Mr. Amatullo.
Likewise, Ms. Schwartz.
You look very
attractive in that dress.
How long do you
think this could last?
Oh, a couple of hours
is usually about all.
[Sighs] William Morris agents don't
wait a couple of hours for anybody,
least of all, a bunch of kids.
Why? Are they
afraid of the dark?
This is such a
joke to you, isn't it?
Well, no show for you,
no basketball game for me.
I think we came out about even.
No, we didn't.
[Sighs] No, we didn't.
And when I tell
stories and stuff,
real stories about things
that really happened,
I-I'm afraid they
won't be as interesting.
So I... So I add stuff
and I make up stuff,
so everyone will
think it's funny.
But then the stories aren't
as true anymore either.
Sometimes, I think I shouldn't
worry about how much they laugh.
Maybe I don't need 10
phony laughs for each story.
Maybe one real laugh is enough.
What do you think?
I think you should
tell them about you.
About stuff that happens,
and it's funny and it's real.
You think so? I think so.
Like, uh, maybe, there were
these two kids stuck in an elevator.
Why don't you save that story
for when you introduce me?
Listen to how quiet.
God forgive us. We created a
generation that cannot make music...
without woofers and tweeters
and amps and preamps.
These children need
batteries to whistle. [Giggles]
What are you doing?
They want to go.
They have another
show to catch downtown.
If they're gonna make it, they have to
leave now. Why do they have to leave now?
Coco, they have 36
flights to walk down.
It's our fault, not theirs.
We allowed them to grow
up weak, without standards.
And when a generator a hundred
miles away goes kaput, they go kaput too.
Very sad.
They're on their way
out the door, man.
Look, Coco, I don't care about
people like that, agents and managers.
Besides, with the power out, it
won't sound as good as it should.
[Sighs] Bruno, any music we make
is gonna sound better than silence.
And if you can't care
about people like agents,
can you care about people
that you go to school with?
All right!
♪ I don't need nobody else ♪
- ♪ To tell me how to be ♪
- Ohh!
♪ I'm not gonna play no game ♪
♪ With me you get
just what you see ♪
- ♪ I got the power ♪
- ♪ Power's there for me ♪
♪ I got the power ♪
♪ Everything I can be ♪
♪ I got the power ♪
♪ It's gonna set you free ♪
♪ I got the power ♪
♪ I got what I need inside ♪
♪ For all I want to do ♪
♪ I don't need a place to hide ♪
♪ As long as I
can count on you ♪
- ♪ We got the power ♪
- ♪ Baby, can't you see ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Every time it's you and me ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Power, yes, we do ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Gonna set us free ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to
be Gonna set us free ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ The light inside
of you and me ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ We got the power ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to
be Gonna set us free ♪
♪ We got the... We
got the... We got the... ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪
♪ We got the power to be Right inside
of you and me ♪ ♪ We got the power ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ Ooh, power ♪
♪ We got the power to be ♪
♪ We got the power ♪
♪ Everything we can be ♪
♪ We got the power to be Gonna
set us free ♪ ♪ Ohh, yeah ♪
♪ We got the power to be Right inside
of you and me ♪ ♪ Don't you know ♪
♪ We got the power to be
Gonna set us free ♪ ♪ Hey ♪
♪ We got the, we got the
We got the power to be ♪♪
[Cheering, Applause]
Boo! Boo! Boo! All right!
You've just been
booed, Mr. Martelli.
And the men of William Morris
were watching the pretty girls dance.
They didn't hear a note
of your music. Did you die?
Did the world come to an end?
Are you still young
and well and whole?
Yes, sir.
You don't get applause
unless you grow.
And you don't grow unless you
are courageous enough to be bad.
Though I don't think your
music will get booed very often.
Show business is my life.
[Cheering, Shouting]
Come on. Let's
go. It's showtime.
[Chattering]
We can't let this go to waste.
What are you talking about?
The time we had. I mean, we
were really honest with each other.
People in show business
never get those kind of times.
I mean, they're usually too shallow
or too tied up with their own egos.
But you and me,
we got past that,
and we just can't forget it.
I mean, there are more important
things than egos and putting on shows.
We just always have
to remember that.
We'll always remember.
[Montgomery] Hey,
everybody! It's showtime!
♪♪ [Disco]
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Fame ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Remember, remember
Remember, remember ♪
♪ Fame ♪♪
[Roars]