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In
a New York theater, stage director Bernie Dodd argues with producer Phil
Cook about hiring Frank Elgin to replace their new musical’s lead actor, who
was fired one week into rehearsal. Bernie has long admired Frank, but
Phil is reluctant, as the once successful Frank now has a reputation as a
troublesome alcoholic. Bernie finally convinces Phil to audition
Frank, insisting that he is clean and sober. Although Phil is not
particularly impressed with Frank’s audition, he agrees to sign him to a
contract with a limited, two-week guarantee. As Frank has left the
theater unexpectedly, Bernie goes to his rundown apartment to tell him the
news and meets Georgie, Frank’s wife. The dowdy but youthful Georgie
responds to Bernie with sarcasm, explaining that she is a country girl who
has never understood the vagaries of the theater.
Frank is hesitant about Bernie’s offer and asks
for time to discuss it with Georgie. After Bernie leaves, Georgie advises
Frank to take the role and do his "level best." Frank, who is
concerned about learning his lines in time for the Boston tryout, finally
agrees, figuring that he can quit the show if things go wrong. During
rehearsal, Frank has trouble concentrating and, afterward, when asked by
Bernie about his marriage, confesses he is dominated by Georgie. Frank
reveals that after their young son died unexpectedly, Georgie started
drinking, attempted suicide and set fire to a hotel room.
Later, he says, in an attempt to give her life
new purpose, he allowed Georgie to become involved in his work, and she
became so controlling, he was driven to drink. Bernie commiserates
with Frank, noting that his ex-wife tried to take over his career as well.
Georgie suddenly appears in the wings, and the three go out for coffee.
Once alone with Georgie, Bernie criticizes her for not encouraging Frank, an
accusation she quickly dismisses.
At home, while listening to the radio, Frank
hears an old recording of him singing "The Search Is Through" and begins to
reminisce. In a recording studio, while a vibrant Georgie and their
young son Johnny watch, Frank sings the final strains of the song.
Frank then insists on taking Johnny to the zoo but, outside the studio,
stops to pose for a photographer, letting go of Johnny’s hand. An
instant later, Johnny is hit by a car and killed.
Back in the present, Georgie enters the
apartment and quietly turns off the radio. She then finds two empty
liquor bottles and questions Frank about his drinking. Frank admits he
is afraid and wants to quit the show, but Georgie insists he go to Boston.
There, Frank is nervous during final rehearsal and complains to Georgie
about the quick costume changes and the understudy who lingers in the wings.
Georgie passes Frank’s complaints on to Bernie, but Bernie accuses her of
inventing problems and interfering with her husband’s career. When
questioned by Bernie, Frank, who is always pleasant with others, denies he
is unhappy with the understudy, and Georgie cries, humiliated.
_NRFPT_02_small.jpg) _NRFPT_01_small.jpg) After opening night, Frank refuses to sleep
until he has read the notices and is distraught when they are unfavorable.
With Bernie, however, Frank pretends to be nonplussed. During a
difficult rehearsal, Frank then begins to guzzle alcohol-laced cough syrup,
disregarding Georgie’s pleas to stop. Bernie corners Georgie in
Frank’s dressing room and again accuses her of meddling. When Georgie
calls Frank a "cunning drunkard," Bernie angrily informs her that Phil wants
to replace Frank and declares that Frank would improve if she left Boston.
Frustrated, Georgie slaps Bernie, then states that Frank is on the verge of
a breakdown. After instructing Georgie to be on the next night’s train
to New York, Bernie catches Frank drinking his cough syrup. Frank
claims that Georgie bought him the syrup, and now convinced that she is
trying to destroy Frank, Bernie reveals that Georgie is leaving town.
Once alone with Georgie, Frank apologizes for
lying and begs her to stay, but accuses her of having a boyfriend in New
York. Fed up, Georgie storms out, and Frank heads for the nearest bar.
There, Frank drinks heavily and, when he hears someone singing "The Search
Is Through," hurls his glass into a large mirror, shattering it.
The next morning, after Georgie bails him out of
jail, a hung over Frank continues to make excuses to Bernie. When
Bernie confronts Georgie with Frank’s story about her drunken past, Georgie
reveals that it was Frank who attempted suicide and shows him the scars on
Frank’s wrists as proof. After Bernie sends a stunned Frank to the
theater, Georgie talks about Johnny’s death and how Frank became terrified
of even the smallest responsibility. Bernie apologizes to Georgie and
asks her not to go, but she bitterly responds that she wants nothing more
than to get out from under Frank. Overcome, Bernie grabs Georgie and
kisses her, admitting that his anger toward her was a cover for his
attraction. Moved by Bernie’s passion, Georgie finally agrees to stay
in Boston.
Later, in Frank’s dressing room, Bernie yells at
Frank that he has been using his son’s death as an excuse to drink and that
he drinks to hide his fear of failure. Frank agrees with Bernie’s
assessment and listens with resignation as Phil tells Bernie that he has
arranged for Frank’s replacement. Bernie continues to defend Frank,
however, and a now sober Frank is still in the show when it opens on
Broadway. Frank and the show are a hit but, during a party at Phil’s,
Frank notices Georgie and Bernie together and senses their attraction.
When confronted by Frank, Georgie admits that she is considering leaving
him, but also acknowledges that she has been fostering his dependency.
After Frank returns to the party, the piano player begins playing "The
Search Is Through." Without thinking, Georgie rushes to stop the music
and is overjoyed to see Frank standing next to the piano, listening to the
song without fear. Georgie then kisses Bernie goodbye and runs to her
husband’s side. |
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