Limelight Page #5

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But it's not my fault.|You would save my life.

Well, we all make mistakes!

I'm sorry.

You should be. A young girl like you|wanting to throw your life away.

When you're my age,|you'll want to hang on to it.

Why?

Well, at this stage of the game|life gets to be a habit.

A hopeless one.

Then live without hope.|Live for the moment.

There are still, there are still...

There are still wonderful moments.

But if you've lost your health!

My dear, I was given up for dead|six months ago, but I fought back.

That's what you must do.

I'm tired of fighting.

Because you're fighting yourself.|You won't give yourself a chance.

But the fight for happiness|is beautiful.

Happiness...

- There is such a thing.|- Where?

Listen, as a child I used to complain|to my father about not having toys

is the greatest toy ever created.

Here lies|the secret of all happiness.

To hear you talk, no one would|ever think you were a comedian.

I'm beginning to realize that.|It's the reason I can't get a job.

Why?

Because they have no imagination.

Or think because I'm getting|on in years I'm old, all washed up.

Never! After hearing you talk.

Perhaps I drank too much.

There's usually a reason|for drinking.

Unhappiness, I suppose.

No, I'm used to that.

It was more complicated.

As a man gets on in years|he wants to live deeply.

A feeling of sad dignity comes upon|him, and that's fatal for a comic.

It affected my work.

I lost contact with the audience,|couldn't warm up to them.

And that's what started me drinking.

I had to have it before I went on.

It got so I couldn't be funny|without it. The more I drank...

It became a vicious circle.

What happened?

A heart attack. I almost died.

And you're still drinking?

Occasionally, if I think of things.

The wrong things I suppose,|as you do.

What would you like|for your breakfast?

What a sad business, being funny.

Very sad if they won't laugh.

But it's a thrill when they do.

To look out there|and see them all laughing,

to hear that roar go up,|waves of laughter coming at you.

Let's talk of something|more cheerful.

Besides I want to forget the public.

Never. You love them too much.

Maybe I love them,|but I don't admire them.

I think you do.

As individuals, yes.|There's greatness in everyone.

But as a crowd, they're like|a monster without a head

that never knows which way|it's going to turn.

It can be prodded in any direction.

I keep forgetting about breakfast.|How about some poached eggs?

Come in.

- A telegram.|- Oh, thank you.

Are you all right?

This is what I've been waiting for.

Good news?

Redfern, my agent, wants to see me.

Wonderful!

You're right.|This is the turning point.

Those managers have been holding|out on me, breaking my morale.

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