And the Oscar goes to . . .

Don’t you understand how you embarrassed me in there? Who do you think you are, Frankie, just who do you think you are?

I’m me. And that’s plenty good enough. I’m just as good as that creep salesman at Kleinmetz, or your phony actor friends.

Sometimes I get the feeling, Frankie, you ought to be chained up with a ring in your nose. Now, here, I’ve worked so hard to get these costumes accepted and this is the first group that has given me a chance. You are incorrigible, you’re absolutely incorrigi . . .

May I sit down?

Oh, please do. Miss Sophie Cantaro, Mr. Frankie Fane.

Hi.

Now, about Frankie.

I’ve already had one lecture on my bad manners.

What you did on that stage was very realistic.

Once you’ve been on the noisy end of a knife you don’t forget what that guy looked like comin’ at you.

Very impressive. An actor has to draw from all his experience.

Oh, Miss Cantaro, Frankie isn’t an actor. He doesn’t belong to our group.

And the opinions expressed were strictly my own, and not necessarily those of the director, the designer, or the so-called actors.

I see. What do you do?

I push a dress cart in garment center. Strong back, weak mind.

Ah, do you think you could tear yourself away long enough for a little stage experience?

Frankie, Miss Cantaro is from Hollywood.

Swingin’! And I’m from Ohio. How many Green Stamps is that?

Frankie, please.

I’ll just charge that up to Frankie’s youthful exuberance.

You can call me Mr. Fane.

Frankie, stop being rude and listen, please.

All right, I’ll listen. What’s on your mind?

I’m in New York trying to find young talent for my studio.

What studio?

An important studio. Important enough, even for you, Mr. Fane.

And you want to make me a star, is that right? Haven’t we got this all backwards? Isn’t it me that’s supposed to be hustlin’ you?

Frankie, you are rude and nasty and impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Will you stop beating on my ears! I’m up to here with all this bring-down. I’m me. You don’t like what you see then change the scenery. Go.

That’s right, go! I’m not good enough, take off.

Wait Kay! Don’t! Come back, please.

I didn’t mean that. Why do I always try to destroy the people I love? I’ve lost her. Look, the only one in the world who means anything to me. I can’t make it without her. I can’t!

Ah, Mr. Fane. Mr. Fane . . .

You can call me Frankie.

Oh, that’s twice in one night you’ve impressed me. Oh, I think you’d like to become an actor.

If that’s all it takes.

It takes a lot more. But if you’re willing to learn.

I’m willing to learn.

It means you do exactly as I say. I don’t like wasting my time.

That makes two of us . . . Sophie.