ASM      No, Mr Chapman, you really need to go straight on.

Anthony (insistent)      A moment – please.

The ASM just stands there, waiting.

Judy (drily)      Can we get you a chair!?

The ASM takes the hint and leaves.

Judy      … He’s weird. I think he escaped from somewhere.

Anthony      … How many did he give you?

Judy      Huh?

Anthony      How many pills did Mickey give you?

Judy      Pills? Darling, I haven’t taken any pills. No, I’m just full of ‘go’ tonight, I’m on a roll. I just wanna get back out there. They are a terrific audience tonight. Aren’t they? And forgiving. Don’t you think?

Anthony      I don’t know.

Judy      You don’t know? Well, you should turn around and look sometimes. There are people sitting out there.

She coughs.

… Is there any water here, I’m very dry.

Anthony      Wasn’t there any in your room?

Judy      Oh I couldn’t find it.

Anthony      Should have been on the table.

Judy      No, the room – I couldn’t find the room! All I found was the fire bucket. This place is a maze. I met Harry Houdini still trying to get out.

Anthony      Judy –

Judy      What?

Judy      You gotta! Who else is gonna play?

Anthony      I know, I know, I just –

Judy      Darling, I love that you care. But you should never let personal things affect your work. That’s unprofessional.

– Now – you get out there and start playing.

We start hearing the audience doing a slow hand-clap.

Anthony      No. If this is the only way I can protect you – no.

Judy      I don’t need protecting – not out there.

The ASM appears again, stopwatch in hand.

Anthony (referring to the audience)      Listen to them.

Judy      … Fuck ’em. I’ll get ’em back. They don’t scare me. This is my house. You come and play for me – okay?

Anthony      I don’t think I can.

Judy      Listen to me, Anthony –

She takes his hand.

Are you listening to me?

Anthony      Yes.

Judy      When we go on stage, that’s – that’s our time together. You and me. It’s just us. You know … The plain truth is that … I need you, my darling. I always have. Not just at the piano – no, no, I mean – I need you … in my life … Am I making sense? (To the ASM.) Am I making … What the hell am I asking you for? (Back to Anthony.) … Come on – let’s go. Let’s go – together – and finish the show. We have to finish the show.

She then gives a signal to the ASM.

ASM      (into the walkie talkie as he exits) Thirty seconds, she’s ready.

The drumming that marks the beginning of the coming song now begins. Judy immediately moves to her position on the Talk of the Town stage.

Music begins. Lighting change.

Transition into concert sequence – with Judy drugged and dangerous, a performance on the edge.

SONG
‘COME RAIN OR COME SHINE’