2. INT. SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM - AUDITORIUM – NIGHT
Inside the auditorium, the curtains rise and the lights on stage come up. As BOB HOPE walks to the podium to begin his emcee duties for the evening, the conductor begins playing Hope’s theme song, “Thanks for the Memory.”
BOB HOPE
Thank you very much. Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the annual Academy Awards show. This is Hollywood’s big night, so naturally we’re holding it in Santa Monica. I’m emceeing the awards because they wanted someone who could lose and keep smiling, and I’ve had the most practice. This night means a lot to everyone in the movie industry. This is the night that war and politics are forgotten and we find out who we really hate.
The audience applauds. The camera pans the audience, and we see Frankie sitting next to an empty seat, applauding. Then the camera cuts to HYMIE KELLY, also seated in the audience some distance away. He is seated next to Kay Bergdahl. Hymie is watching Frankie with a disgusted look on his face. We hear his thoughts . . .
HYMIE (V.O.)
You finally made it Frankie. Oscar night, and here you sit on top of a glass mountain called Success. You’re one of the chosen five and the whole town’s holdin’ its breath to see who won it. Been quite a climb hasn’t it, Frankie? Down at the bottom scuffling for dimes in those smokers. All the way to the top, magic Hollywood. Ever think about it? I do, friend Frankie. I do.
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