June Moon

don’t know what to do. You and I look at things different. But Ed’s so nice. The things he says they make me feel young again. And it’s such a relief to just talk to a man that hates music! Eileen Listen, if you don’t do this⁠— Fred runs on, all excitement. Fred They’re going to take it! They’ve took it! They’re crazy about it! Eileen Well, that’s fine! I knew they’d like it! Fred It’s my first song! My first one to be published! Eileen That’s wonderful. Lucille Wildly unenthusiastic. It’s quite thrilling. Fred They’re making me out a check for two hundred and fifty dollars! That’s just what they call an advance royalties! Paul returns. Paul They took it all right! Lucille So Fred said. Eileen Yes! Paul You should have heard what Hart said about the melody. Fred To Eileen. Aren’t you glad about the song? Aren’t you excited? Eileen Her mind beyond the door. I should say so. Hart comes in. Hart Expansively. Well, what do you think of this young man? Making good in his first attempt! Eileen It’s wonderful! Lucille Yes, indeed. Hart And Paul, too. He’s written a nice little melody. Did you get your check, Stevens? Fred No, sir. Not yet. Hart Goldie’ll bring it to you. Maxie Crossing to his own office. Well, thought you people would be on your way by this time. Eileen We are waiting for Fred’s check! Maxie I’ll bet you are! He’s gone. Fred Mr. Hart! We were all planning on going some place tonight, to celebrate the success of the song. We’d love to have you come along with us, if you can. A moment of embarrassment. Eileen just waits. Hart Well, now, I’d like to do that, but I’m very sorry. Hart starts talking to Fred, but shifts his gaze to Eileen. You see, I just got back from this trip, and I’m tied up with Mr. Goebel tonight. Fred Oh, that’s too bad. Eileen With more meaning. Yes, it is. Hart I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time. Can’t tell you how much I’d like to be along. But of course, business comes first. A very beautiful young lady enters. Her name is Miss Rixey.. Miss Rixey Hello, Joe. Am I late? Hart After clearing his throat. Miss Rixey, isn’t it? Miss Rixey Puzzled at this reception. What? Hart Ah⁠—they told me you were coming. Miss Rixey Coming right to him. You knew damn well I was coming! Hart Still trying to cover up. Did you bring those orchestrations? Miss Rixey Holding up a bundle which obviously contains two bottles of liquor. You mean this? Hart Sunk by this time; grabs her by arm and rushes her into his office. Ah⁠—just step into my office and we’ll talk business. Miss Rixey Listen, Joe, that driver of yours is so damn dumb⁠— Hart Loudly. Yes, we publish that! Right this way! Lucille Airily, when they are gone. Well, well, well! Fred It’s too bad he can’t go, but the four of us can have a good time. Eileen Recklessly. Have a good time! You bet we can! We’re going to have the best time any crowd ever had! Aren’t we, Freddy boy? Throws her arms around him and kisses him. Fred We sure are, girlie! Goldie comes on. Goldie Here’s your check, Mr. Stevens. Paul Great! Eileen Hooray! Here’s the check! She takes it. Fred Just in time! Eileen Two hundred and fifty dollars! You’ve just got to give me a great big kiss! Lucille Oh, you two! Eileen Do you love me? Fred You bet I do! Lucille Where’ll we go for dinner? Paul I want a good steak. Eileen How about the Park Casino? Lucille Oh, fine! I’ve never been there! I hear it’s marvellous! Eileen They’ve got the most wonderful band! You’ll love it, Freddie boy! Fred I will if you’re along! Eileen I’m going to be, don’t you worry about that! Wherever you are, that’s where I’m going to be! Fred That suits me all right! Eileen Come on, everybody! Paul Don’t forget we got to cash the check. Eileen Waving the check. I should say not! We’re not going to forget that, are we, Freddie boy? Fred You bet we aren’t! They are gone; Goldie alone is left. She picks out some songs from the shelves. Edna, the girl he left behind him, peeps in, then enters. Edna Do you know if they’ve heard Mr. Stevens’s song yet? I mean “June Moon”? Goldie Pretty hard-boiled. Yah. They did. Edna Starting brightly forward. Was it all right? Did they like it? Goldie Surveying her. They took it. Edna In pleased excitement. Really! Where are they? Still in there? Goldie Not any more. They’ve all gone. Edna What? Goldie They went out just a couple of minutes ago. Edna Mr.⁠—Stevens, too? Goldie Yah. With Mr. Sears and the two girls. Edna Oh!⁠ ⁠… Thank you very much. Goldie takes a moment to look her up and down, then goes. Edna stands stock still for a moment, stunned. The door opens and the Window Cleaner returns, sponge still in hand. He looks at Edna a bit curiously; the scrutiny is more than she can stand. All she can do is rush out. The room belongs to the Window Cleaner, and maybe he doesn’t realize it. He scampers over to the piano and hits a few tentative notes. Resigning himself to a musical career, he drops his sponge on the window sill and starts picking out the notes of “Hello, Tokyo!” Encouraged by his success with the first phrase, he starts again, this time singing it. Then he takes a long breath and starts again, louder this time. He is plunging recklessly into it, and oblivious of his surroundings, when Maxie comes in behind him. Maxie stands perfectly still for a second, taking in the situation. Then he makes up his mind. Turn about, he decides, is fair play. He picks up the sponge and starts feverishly washing the window. The Curtain Falls.

Act III

The scene is still at Goebel’s⁠—the time