Mickey      Meaning?

Judy      Meaning – Mickey – who the hell was it providing me with drugs just six weeks ago?

Mickey      That was before I really knew you.

Judy      So?

Mickey      I was helping you out. You were a guest in the club, that’s what we do.

Judy      Oh – you were providing a service?

Mickey      Kind of, yes.

Judy      Well, I tell you, the service has really gone down hill!

Mickey      I didn’t realise then, what a … I didn’t know how … What I mean is –

Judy      – Oh Christ, finish the sentence before I kill myself.

Mickey      I made a mistake. Okay? You get used to just giving people what they want without thinking – drink, hookers, drugs – that’s the way clubs are.

Judy      Fine. Let’s go to a club, then you can force-feed me the damn things.

Mickey      No.

Judy      Stop saying ‘no’ to me!

Mickey      You’ll never get clear of them if you keep –

Judy (yelling)      I don’t want to get clear! – because I don’t need to get clear. Just a little bit of help to sleep and a little bit of help to sing. That’s no crime.

Anthony      Judy, I agree with Mickey. You have to –

Judy      Oh – God!

She flings a random object across the room.

Let me explain something to you fellas. I have swallowed and vomited more drugs than you could possibly imagine. What I’m taking now is nothing – nothing – to what I was taking at home. Amphetamines, narcotics, uppers, downers, cocktails of Benzedrine and Dexedrine, all washed down with alcohol. Seconal, Tuinal, tranquilisers, energisers, and – Ritalin! I was buzzing! You could have shoved cables into me and powered Manhattan! … And where am I at the end of it all? Still standing. Centre stage, boys. Centre stage.

Anthony      But for how long?

Judy (to Anthony, vicious)      As long as they want me!

Anthony      avoids further confrontation and quietly exits.

Judy (to Mickey, more calmly)      … You’re a sweet man.

And I love that you care for me. That you’re my protector. But you need to let me look after myself sometimes. That’s my right.

She puts her hand out. He does nothing.

Judy … I ruined my life once. I’m not about to do it again. I need those. And without them, I’m not leaving this room, or going to the radio, or doing the show. Because without them, I can’t do these things. I need a little bit of help. But I heard what you said. Really I did. And Judy’s gonna be a good girl.

She starts to gently sing to him.

You made me love you … I didn’t wanna do it … I didn’t wanna do it …

He slowly relents and shakes one single tablet out of the bottle.

Mickey      Just one.

Judy      Just one …

She smiles and gently takes the pill from his hand. She sings again.