- ♪ when I heard your voice - previously onmsmash...
No. We have rehearsal in an hour.
- You haven't told anybody? - No. Why?
- You focus on your work, so I can focus on mine.
How much did you take from him?
Well, that should do it.
- ♪ reaching out for you
- Richard francis, new york times.
- Scott nichols. - I'm so looking forward
To seeing where all this goes.
- My show needs your help.
- ♪ let me be your star
- We've cast the part of marilyn's mother, gladys.
- Ivy, darling! - Mom?
We're not friends.
I work for you now, and that's it.
- [voice echoing] ivy?
Ivy lynn?
[footsteps]
We've been through this.
You jump on the cart downstage left,
Where the light is.
- Yes, we have been through this.
For the past three days.
When are we moving on past public relations?
- [sighs] I haven't gotten it right yet.
- Apparently. - [clears throat]
As I explained last night,
If you start center,
Then the porters don't have enough room
To spin the luggage carts, remember?
- And as I explained,
I need to be over here
Because this is where the dancers left me.
[laughter, chatter]
- People, quiet.
- I just need you downstage left.
Where the light is. That's all.
- Let's reset and run it again.
[indistinct chatter]
- I don't understand. What am I doing wrong?
This is standard-issue tech.
- You know that's not what this is about.
- Okay, so I cast her mother.
Is that really so unforgivable?
Is that something that ends years of friendship?
- These are supposed to be rhetorical questions.
- You knew it was a risk, given their relationship.
- It was the right decision for the show,
Instead of poisoning the whole cast against me.
Sam won't even make eye contact with me anymore.
- That one's not ivy. That's all you.
- This is supposed to be fun.
Instead, it's downright depressing.
- As depressing as your son visiting colleges without you
And having the time of his life?
- You really shouldn't follow him on facebook.
- Mm.
- Or instagram. Is that frank at a keg?
- Uh-huh. [exhales heavily]
I always thought we'd be doing this as a family.
But if I can't be there,
At least I can be here, helping you.
You don't need my help, do you?
- It's tech. - Oh, fine. Fine.
I have things I need to take care of anyway.
Call me if anything changes.
- Will do.
- Have you met our set designer, sabrina?
She'd be perfect for the "arts beat" section.
- I already ran the bombshell story.
- I know, and I don't mean to be ungrateful.
But after what michael riedel said
In his column this morning,
I think you'll understand why I need to do
A little damage control.
"according to insiders, the casting of leigh conroy
"has caused a longtime friendship
"between show star ivy lynn and new director tom levitt
To go... Boom."
- [sighs] - what is he, seven years old?
- I know.
I shouldn't let it get under my skin,
But this show is my life.
I need some good press.
- Look, I get that we both love our work,
But I was hoping we could just unplug for one night.
I can. Can you?
- Well, you know I like a challenge.
How about dinner tonight?
[kissing, heavy breathing]
- [laughs]
- Ouch. - Oh.
Are you okay?
[laughs]
- Remind me why we're hiding in here again.
- Uh-- - sneaking around.
- We're working together. It's unprofessional, right?
Plus, you said yourself how messy it got over bombshell
With your friend.
- She's not my friend. And I know.
I'm just starting to feel a little weird about it.
- You feel weird about this?
- [breathing heavily]
- Where's karen cartwright?
- Um-- - karen!
- Shh. - [laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
- Oh, hey.
Wow.
Are you paying me back already?
I am impressed.
- Yeah, I'll have more when I get my next paycheck.
Hey, thanks, you know, for-- for helping me out.
Trust me, I did some stuff when I was a kid
That would make you look like a choir boy.
- [scoffs] I doubt that, man.
- Oh, you do, do you?
Well, maybe we can trade war stories
One of these days.
Hello.
- Hey.
- [clears throat]
- You two okay?
Seems like you're barely talking to each other.
- Yeah, yeah, we're okay.
Just, you know, just working.
- Okay. - Um...[laughs]
Did I just see richard francis in the lobby?
- Yes, you did.
And I hope you found a way to make the diva's role bigger
Because that's the character he's most interested in,
And he may ask you about it.
- Well, we found a way to give her a song
- Yeah, I don't think that's enough.
And I look forward to hearing it.
- Come on. - Richard.
It's good of you to come down.
I'm sorry, we're still a bit under construction.
- Can you show me something worth writing about?
- Oh, yeah. All right, everyone!
Can we get ready for original, please?
- Can't wait to get out of here and get drunk.
- You didn't tell tom about the party, did you?
- No! I don't want him there.
He didn't even remember it was my birthday.
- Can I remind him and make him feel bad?
- No. - Please?
- No! [laughs]
I don't even want to think about work.
I just want to go and blow off a little steam,
If you know what I mean.
- [laughs] - it's been four months.
Something's gotta give.
- Okay, that I can handle. How about j.F.K.?
- He's gonna be there?
[gasps] happy birthday to me!
[both laughing] - ivy lynn?
- Oh, right there. The blonde.
- Thanks.
- That's weird.
We don't open for three more weeks.
- It's her birthday.
- Oh, my god.
Oh, my god. I totally forgot.
I'm a terrible human being.
No wonder she hates me.
Are we doing anything for her tonight?
- Everyone's so tired.
- I sent champagne. - Well, that's no fun.
Ivy loves her birthday. We have to do something.
Oh, my god.
This is exactly what I needed.
- What do you mean?
But I can remind her how much I love her,
And after she forgives me,
Everything can go back to the way it's supposed to be.
- What did you have in mind?
- [sighs]
[phone beeps]
Call liza.
- 9:00. Don't be late.
- And do not tell tom.
Do not tell him.
- Hit it.
[upbeat jazz music]
- ♪ one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight ♪
♪ one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight ♪
♪ one, two, three, four, five, six ♪
♪ one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight ♪
♪ five, six, seven, eight!
- This is who you want to be? - Like her?
Gaga, lana, the diva.
I mean, they're totally fake.
- She's not fake.
She didn't like who she was, so she reinvented herself.
Look, people do it all the time, see?
♪ way back before she hit the scene ♪
♪ and she became the indie queen ♪
♪ she was a girl with nothing big to say ♪
♪ her mouth was full of silver spoons ♪
♪ singing her dime-a-dozen tunes ♪
♪ till she came up with something new to play ♪
♪ a girl so scarred
♪ a pain so real
♪ a life so hard
♪ becomes a song you feel
♪ her tracks were leaked
♪ and all the hipsters freaked ♪
♪ she made herself a star ♪
♪ she wants, she wants, she wants ♪
♪ to be original
♪ she will, she will become ♪
♪ something remarkable
♪ who cares, who cares, who cares ♪
♪ she'll be remade as somebody original ♪
♪
♪ way back before the interviews ♪
♪ before her music made the news ♪
♪ she was a nothing no one talked about ♪
♪ a mousy girl behind the mic ♪
♪ one more vanilla look-alike ♪
♪ till she decided to stand out ♪
♪ and now it's crazy clothes ♪
♪ a brand-new name
♪ a fixed-up nose
♪ and monster fame
♪ though she might say
♪ that she was born this way ♪
♪ she made herself a star
♪ she wants, she wants, she wants ♪
♪ to be original
♪ she will, she will become ♪
♪ something remarkable
♪ who cares, who cares, who cares ♪
♪ what stunt she has to pull? ♪
♪ she'll be remade as somebody original ♪
♪ you can wipe away everything ♪
♪ you are
♪ wake up tomorrow
♪ as a star
♪ there was a girl who blended in ♪
♪ that was the way her life had been ♪
♪ till she decided to be someone else ♪
♪ she wants, she wants, she wants ♪
♪ to be original
♪ she will, she will become ♪
♪ something remarkable
♪ who cares, who cares, who cares ♪
♪ what stunt she has to pull? ♪
♪ she'll be remade as somebody original ♪
♪ somebody original
- Seems ironic, you and a song about reinvention.
Still, every new piece of your show I see
Just makes me more intrigued.
And karen's every bit as good as I've heard.
Is it true she's the one who found it for you?
- Yeah. - First bombshell, now this.
She's a real inspiration to you, isn't she?
- Karen and I collaborated. Nothing more.
- Off the record,
I get that it's bad for your image
To date another leading lady
After everything that happened last fall,
But this could be a great story.
Director and ingenue leave the bright lights of broadway
For off-broadway, arm in arm.
- Yeah, it's a lovely headline, isn't it?
But it's not actually true. - What?
Are you saying the bad boy of broadway is reformed?
- I'm saying that's a lot of alliteration
For the new york times.
- [laughs]
I'll come back in a week.
You can run the whole thing for me then.
- Sure.
[car door slams]
[engine turns over]
- I love the questions the show is asking
About identity and fame in the modern age.
The songs are outstanding.
- The show opens in a month.
Skip to the "but."
- But...
Right now, the diva's not a character.
She's just a symbol, a trigger for amanda
She has no real agency of her own.
- How would you fix it?
- I thought you just wanted my thoughts.
- We may not have seen each other in 15 years,
But I'm sure you haven't changed that much.
You probably already have a list of fixes.
- I may have... Some ideas.
- Julia, good to see you.
- I hope you don't mind. Scott asked.
- Oh, no, he told me. And I'm glad he did.
- Mm. Oh.
- So the boys have got some ideas
But they need help with structure.
Hope you're up for it.
- Up for what?
[laughs] oh, you're not--
You're not asking me to be a dramaturg, are you?
You know full well my feelings about that.
- Oh, yeah?
'cause the last time you used a dramaturg,
It worked out pretty well for everyone.
The boys have got talent, but they don't have time.
They need a firm hand.
- So I don't understand.
Why doesn't jimmy want anyone to know about you guys?
- He wants to be professional,
Keep everything compartmentalized.
- You don't think he's hiding something, do you?
- Like--like what, a secret wife and kids?
- You don't know. He could.
I mean, how much do you really know about this guy?
- I know he's a really good friend of kyle
And that he's extremely talented.
- So you've told me.
- That's not what I was talking about.
But also true. - Mm-hmm.
Look, I'm all for a girl having a good time,
But don't you think that this top-secret thing
Is a bit of a red flag?
I dated a guy I thought was decent for three years,
And look what happened.
I don't know. Maybe I should be worried.
You can be professional and still be public.
[phone jingles] can't you?
- Ivy.
Can I talk to you for a sec?
Happy birthday!
- Ohh. [chuckles]
- Yay!
You didn't think I'd forgotten, did you?
- Of course not.
- So any big plans for tonight?
- I really wasn't up for much this year,
You know, what with tech and all.
- Good, because I have quite the night
Cooked up for us.
- Oh, no, you really don't have to--
Sitting at home on your birthday when you could be
Dining in style with me.
- Well, I already told you that, uh--
- I won't hear another word about it.
I have a great surprise planned. You're coming.
The end.
- Um...
Well, o-okay.
- All right. - Ooh.
- Yay. - Yay!
- Okay. - [chuckles]
Tom just invited me to dinner tonight.
- And you said no. - I couldn't.
He said he had a big surprise for me,
And he wouldn't take no for an answer.
Ugh, tonight's gonna be ruined.
I'm gonna miss my own party.
- No, you won't. No, you won't. Look.
You go do your surprise thing with tom,
And by the time you're done--
- The party will be raging,
And you can have your pick of the hot guys.
- Hot straight guys. Straight guys.
Don't mess that part up. - We know, we're on it.
J.F.K.'s already in. Don't worry.
- Worry about what?
- Hey! - Nothing.
- Come again? - What?
- All right.
Let's set up for let's be bad.
- Let's set it up.
- Agnes?
I wonder if we have any more media pickup
From the ivy-leigh times piece?
- No.
I'm getting a lot more calls off the riedel column.
That could wash his bad taste away?
- Well, not really. We're in tech.
But tom's arranged a surprise visit
From liza minnelli for ivy's birthday
At table 46 tonight.
That's about it.
- Wait, tom is taking ivy to meet liza?
You're going too, right?
- Well, I hadn't planned on it,
But now that you mention it, uh,
Do you think you could get michael riedel there?
- Of course. He owes me.
- Good.
Only problem is... [sighs]
I promised richard francis I'd take a night off work
And have dinner with him.
- So have dinner at table 46.
I'll tip off a few discreet journalists
And handle the rest.
- Excellent.
- Just look at this as a chance to get
A fresh pair of eyes on the show.
- And not as some stranger coming in
And telling you what to do.
I've been in your shoes, and trust me,
I don't want to be that person.
- Yeah, I just wish jimmy were here.
- He's busy rehearsing.
We'll keep him in the loop.
Don't worry.
Julia?
How do you and jimmy like to work?
Do you use a board?
- What's a board?
[soft moans]
- I-I've been thinking.
- Oh, you shouldn't do that.
- I don't want to do this here, okay?
- You want to try the lighting booth?
[laughs]
- I mean, I don't want to do this here anymore.
I seriously don't get why we're hiding this.
- [sighs]
I mean, are you ashamed of me for some reason?
- Of course not. - Then what is it?
Are you married? Seeing someone?
- It is nothing like that. I promise.
- Come on.
Let's just go in there and...
Tell everyone we're together, get it over with.
- No, I--
I can't do that. Not yet.
- Then let me know when you can.
'cause I'm not coming back in here again, okay?
- Karen, I d--
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
- Everything okay?
You have a flight to catch or something?
- No, I'm fine.
- 'cause checking your phone is the international symbol
For "I'd rather be having a root canal."
[sighs]
Is there a night when eileen is not here?
[sighs]
- I don't mind them setting it in present day.
I mind that it's a complete rip-off
Of the robert wilson version with nothing new to offer.
- I completely disagree.
I mean, yes, it's an homage to wilson,
But it's from an entirely new p.O.V.
Finally we get the mother's perspective.
What are you smiling at?
- You haven't mentioned work all night.
- Well, all you need to do is ask.
- This way, young man.
You'll be fine here, okay?
- Here? - Yep.
- Uh, I really think jimmy wanted it here.
- Well, forget jimmy. What do you want?
Well?
- At least give him a second to think it through.
I see you're still pushy.
- Oh, pushy? That's you.
- When was I ever pushy?
- Uh, remember when I wanted to scrap
All the flashback scenes in the amelia earhart play?
- Oh. [chuckles]
- Yeah, you went ballistic.
You would not stop until I put them all back.
- 'cause it was a terrible idea.
- That's beside the point.
- So did you guys used to date?
Both: No.
- Wait, it wasn't like that, or you couldn't?
- Wait a minute.
Was it like that for you?
- You were married.
It didn't matter if it was.
- Wow.
I had no idea.
- I made sure you didn't.
- I'm sorry, sam.
I had no idea he was gonna order four courses.
Now I'm starting to feel really guilty, though.
I feel like I should invite him.
[soft piano music playing]
Fine, I won't invite him.
I'll be there soon, okay?
Uh...
Hold on to j.F.K. For me.
Thank you.
[indistinct chatter]
What is michael riedel doing here
With our show's publicist?
♪
- I have no idea.
Coincidence?
- [gasps] oh, my god.
Did you see who just walked in?
- Wow. Look at that.
- Wow, she looks even better in person.
- How are you, honey? You look wonderful.
- Thank you. So do you.
- Oh, my god.
What's--what's happening?
Why is she coming over here?
Do I have anything in my teeth?
- No.
Hello, my lovely.
- Hello, my baby. - How are you?
- I'm fine.
So this is the birthday doll
I've been hearing about, huh?
- [laughing] oh, my god.
I am a lifelong fan.
Did--did you have something to do with this?
- I might have had something to do with it, yes.
- He knows I've always dreamed about meeting you.
- But you're gonna do more than meet me.
[stammers] well, you'll find out.
- [squeals]
- Happy birthday, my friend.
- [laughing] thank you.
Wait, the, um--
This wasn't just some p.R. Stunt
You set up to fix the bad press on our show?
- No. Why would you even--
I actually thought you were doing something for me,
But really it's still all about the show.
- Ivy, that's not true.
I don't even know how those guys
Found out about this.
The only person I told is--
♪
Excuse me.
Sorry to interrupt.
- Tom. - Did you tip off agnes
About my plans for tonight with ivy?
- I'm sorry, tom, I promised
Poor richard here a work-free evening.
- 'cause you were the only person who knew
I was doing this.
- Well, of course I did.
I mean, we need all the good press we can get.
- Well, good luck with that, eileen.
- Richard-- - pardon me.
- Well, well, well.
Is the bombshell team combusting again?
I'm starting to run out of puns for my headlines.
- Charming to see you too, michael.
- Okay, I've had enough.
Thank you for everything, tom.
- Uh--
- Ivy lynn, where are you going?
Sit down.
- Okay. Sorry...Liza minnelli.
- Because your friend tom has written
An entirely new song just for you.
- [chuckles] - all right.
- Oh, hi, there. - Well, hi, there.
- Seems like old times. - Mm-hmm.
- Remember san francisco?
[laughter]
This is just a little song I wrote
For my dear friend,
The one and only, the incandescent...
Ivy lynn, who I love.
Even when we're fighting.
Which we were just doing a minute ago.
[laughter]
♪ today at tech where life's a zoo ♪
♪ what irony, I missed my cue ♪
♪ your birthday almost came and went ♪
♪ no wonder you were malcontent ♪
♪ and so tonight to right the wrong ♪
♪ I've written you a birthday song ♪
♪ but I ain't gonna wing it
♪ look who I got to sing it ♪
♪
- ♪ may each evening be a triumph ♪
♪ where the planets are aligned ♪
♪ with you the star that hits the sky ♪
♪ and climbs
♪ and when you're waking in the morning ♪
♪ well, dear friend, I hope you'll find ♪
♪ a love letter
♪ from the times ♪
♪ then an afternoon of roses ♪
♪ like the "at home" section brings ♪
♪ just pass the metro section and its crimes ♪
♪ they're yelling on the sports page ♪
♪ but the arts & leisure sings ♪
♪ to you
♪ a love letter from the times ♪
♪ a full-page ad that's full of quotes ♪
♪ about your face, your style, those notes ♪
♪ superlatives about your gifts prolific ♪
♪ the raves from me would never end ♪
♪ about the girl who's my best friend ♪
♪ she's wonderful, she's special ♪
♪ she's terrific!
[laughter]
♪ so that's the gift I wish for you ♪
♪ and hope I can achieve
♪ and someday when we both run out of rhymes ♪
♪ I don't care about my notice ♪
♪ but I know that you'll receive ♪
♪ a love letter
♪ from the times ♪
- ♪ you're older and I'm "wisah" ♪
♪ ivy, look
♪ I brought you liza!
[laughter]
- ♪ with a love letter
♪ from the times ♪
[cheers and applause]
I was just working on the next scene.
- Okay, I'll... Leave you to it.
- No, you can stay.
Wanna help?
- Yeah, all right.
[sighs]
What are you looking at?
[sighs]
Jesse and amanda's first date.
Of course.
- [chuckles] - [grunts]
- You've been drinking.
- Oh, god, yes.
- Everything okay?
- I'm not sure.
- What is it? You can tell me.
[gentle music]
♪
- Karen, you know I care about you.
- Yeah, I care about you too.
- Yeah, that's not what I mean.
- I'm sort of-- sort of seeing someone.
Jimmy, actually, and...
It's-- it's complicated too.
I'm sorry.
I hope this doesn't make things weird between us.
- Oh, of course not. Good for you.
Shall we get back to work?
- I still don't understand when you had the time
To write that song.
In between lighting cues?
- What can I say? I'm good.
- Remember last year, we spent your birthday together
At grand sichuan?
We were both depressed.
- I remember.
The workshop had gone badly for you,
And I'd just lost marilyn.
- But we had each other.
I'm sorry I bungled things with your mom so badly.
I wasn't thinking straight.
- And I may have overreacted
A teeny bit.
- Wanna get a drink somewhere?
It's okay. You're tired.
You should go home.
- Yeah.
Yeah, I sh-- I should do that.
Um, thank you for everything.
- Sure. - [laughs]
[laughs] - your chariot.
- See you tomorrow. - Bye.
- Get good rest.
- Excuse me.
Uh, these keys, are they your friend's?
- Yes. Thank you. - No problem.
- What if we did this?
- I like it.
- Me too.
- But does that ruin the surprise of their duet?
- True. - Good point.
- Okay, what's up with you guys?
You've barely talked the last hour.
You just keep agreeing.
- Nothing's up.
- We're just focused.
- [sighs] we're out of cards.
- There's some more in the other room.
You really never had an inkling?
Ever?
- Okay.
I might have had the teeniest inkling
The day we saw john guare speak
At the 92nd street "y."
I just thought I was crazy.
- You were. I was totally over you by then.
[both laugh]
God, I was mad at you for so long,
I'd forgotten that some of the best nights of my life
Were sitting on the floor like this, working with you.
I'm just glad I'm not mad anymore.
- Me too.
- I just had the most amazing idea.
Do you guys want to hear it?
- Absolutely. - You bet.
[upbeat pop music playing]
- Hey! - Hey!
Birthday girl!
- Hi! - Hi!
- Birthday girl!
- [laughs] - don't kill me. Don't kill me.
I did all I could,
But j.F.K. Left with high kick heidi,
Like, ten minutes ago.
- That's okay.
I'm not really in the mood anymore.
- So tom not only ruins your birthday,
But he kills your sex drive?
- [sighs] we should lighten up on tom.
He's made some really big mistakes,
But his heart's in the right place.
You should've seen what he did for me tonight.
- I'd rather do this.
Huh?
To you.
Let's go. - [mouths silently]
- Here she is. - Hi.
- Hey. - Happy birthday.
- It's my birthday. It's my birthday.
[music continues]
- I just think that, if you're gonna do that...
- Hey, guys. Oh, my god, what--
- Tom, hi. - Hey.
- Do you guys live near ivy?
- No, uh-- - oh.
Um, well--
- Weird.
Hey, there's syd and amber.
- Amber? No. - No.
- That's not-- - no. No.
I wouldn't--
- Amber.
All: ♪ happy birthday to you
♪ happy birthday dear...
- [clears throat]
- You dropped your keys.
-You have everything. Your- no, I don't.Ct.
I just feel like if I--
If I can't be famous, I'm a nobody.
Nothing else matters.
- Really?
What about me?
I'm right in front of you.
- Oh, god, that's enough!
This is so sweet, I'm getting a cavity.
The scene is supposed to prevent amanda
From committing suicide.
You do it like that, the entire audience
Is gonna want to jump off the bridge with her.
- That's a little harsh, derek.
Well, wait and see what the critics say.
Do it again, please.
- [sighs]
I don't understand. Your life is perfect.
God, you're all over the place. This is a mess.
- I'm trying something different.
- Well, why don't you try my blocking instead?
- All right, maybe we should take a break.
- No!
Again.
- [sighs] I don't understand.
Your life is perfect. - Oh, my god.
You know what?
This is the last time I use untrained actors.
Come here. It starts like this. Come here.
- Hey, hey! - Derek, what are you doing?
- It feels like it does. - Well, it doesn't!
This concerns your boyfriend here.
- He's not my boyfriend. - You told him.
- Yeah. So?
- [sighs]
- You should've been straight with me.
Oh, I'm sorry I didn't stay away from her
After you told me to.
- Told you to?
What are you talking about?
You told jimmy to stay away from me?
- Again, that is not what I said.
- Yeah, it kind of is.
- No, it isn't. - I'm not your property.
- Yeah, I know that. - No, you don't.
This is the same crap you pulled with dev.
You don't control me. You don't run my life.
You can't keep doing this.
- Doing what, precisely?
Helping you get everything you ever wanted?
Don't worry about it, sweetheart.
I'm done.
- Come on, karen, let's get out of here.
- I'm not going anywhere with you.
- What, you're mad at me?
- Are you kidding?
- What did I do?
All--all those games, all that time we were hiding,
It was because of derek, because you couldn't
Stand up to him?
- Karen, it's not that simple.
Instead of making me sneak around and lie to him
And to everybody.
I-- [sighs]
I thought you were more of a man.
I thought you both were.
- Hey. Hey!
This is not what it looks like.
- [chuckles] are you kidding me?
You all just happened to be in the same bar
- I thought about inviting you.
I really did. But I just...
Couldn't.
- Well, that's hard to hear.
All I wanted was to make it right with you.
I know you've been mad at me, but...
[chuckles] we're friends.
- Tom...
I love you, but you can't be my friend right now.
- They're not mutually exclusive.
- Yes, they are.
And they should be.
You put our friendship on hold
When you hired my mother.
- I already apologized for that.
- But you wouldn't have to
If you were just being my director.
You shouldn't have to worry about my feelings,
And I shouldn't have to worry about yours
If I need a night off from my boss.
- I miss you.
I miss being a part of everything.
- We're not losing each other.
We're just changing.
For now.
- I ruined your birthday.
- Liza minnelli sang a song you wrote for me.
I'd say that pretty much makes it the best birthday ever.
- Happy birthday.
[somber music]
♪
- So basically, we realized the show
Could really deepen if the diva felt
Amanda was responsible for her downfall.
The whole second act, she can plot her revenge
And then enact it in the end.
Have I missed anything, julia?
- Not bad for a day's work, huh?
- We should've waited for jimmy.
- Told you that wasn't necessary.
- So what do you think, then?
- I don't know why we didn't think of it sooner.
- I'm sure jimmy and karen will have issues,
Especially now that her part has to be reduced.
- She'll live.
Karen's nothing if not a professional.
Seriously.
Great work. - Thanks.
I'm glad you're happy.
- You know who else is gonna love this?
Richard francis.
We should show it to him next week
Once you've ironed it out.
Get ana in at 8:00.
She's gonna have a lot of new material.
As well as some of karen's songs.
- What'll jimmy and karen think about that?
- I don't care what they think.
Go home.
I'll see you tomorrow.
- Whew. [laughs]
- Hey. - Hey.
That was fun.
So you'll keep me posted as to what happens?
- What are you talking about? You're not done.
- I told you this was a one-time thing.
- After watching you work today,
I know you don't mean that.
We don't have to call it "dramaturg."
You can be a consultant.
Or a fairy godmother
Or whatever you want to call yourself.
I just want you involved.
- Do you want to get a drink?
- I would love that.
- Great.
Oh, but just to be clear,
This time, if you feel something,
You can tell me.
- Oh, I'll let you know.
- Actually, a little weird.
- Well, birthdays are always bittersweet, you know.
Or haven't accomplished since the last one.
- And what a freaking year it's been, right?
- Mm-hmm.
- I mean, I have been up and down.
I was almost out.
And now I'm right back up again.
- Mine has been pretty much the reverse.
- You're gonna get back up again too.
You won't be a swing forever.
- God, I hope so.
I'll walk you home.
- It's around the corner.
Even in my state, I can manage.
You go ahead. I'll be fine.
[knock at door]
- I had a feeling I'd find you here.
- 'cause I'm a workaholic?
Listen, I've got a broadway show opening in three weeks.
And I should never have said that I'd take a night off
Because I can't.
And I'm not going to apologize about it.
- I'm the one who should apologize.
- Go on.
- Most of my life, I've been married
To someone who didn't work.
If I'm honest...
I think I liked being the only one who did.
This is new to me.
And I'm trying.
- To tell you the truth,
Work isn't the only thing that's been distracting me
These days.
I'm still not quite over my last relationship.
- So we both have baggage.
What else is new?
I'm willing to go slow if you are.
- I might be.
[bitter sweet symphony playing]
- ♪ 'cause it's
♪ a bittersweet symphony
♪ this life
♪
♪ try to make ends meet
♪ you're a slave to money
♪ then you die
♪
♪ I'll take you down the only road ♪
♪ I've ever been down
♪
♪ you know the one that takes you to the places ♪
♪ where all the veins meet, yeah ♪
♪ no
♪ no change, I can't change ♪
♪ I can't change, I can't change ♪
♪ but I'm here in my mold ♪
♪ I am here in my mold ♪
♪ but I'm a million different people ♪
♪ from one day to the next ♪
♪ I can't change my mold ♪
♪ no, no
♪ no, no, no
♪
- Jimmy, what are you doing here?
It's midnight.
- I'm sorry I listened to him.
I wish I hadn't.
I just-- I didn't know what to do.
You know, and I know I screwed everything up.
I just... Wish that there was some way
You'd let me make it up to you.
- How?
- Maybe take you out on a real date?
Out in public,
Where people can see us.
[laughs]
Like I should've done a long time ago.
- When?
- I don't know. How about now?
Plenty of places still open.
We can go anywhere you want.
- [sighs]
I have to get my coat.
- Hey, take mine.
[suspenseful music]
♪
- You didn't think I was gonna forget
Your birthday, did you?
- I'm glad you didn't.