Beyond the Sea (film)

Bobby Darin

[voice over] Momma was right about music. It opened a whole new world to me, outside of time and illness. The world I could live in.
[voice over] Soon I would be old enough to head to New York, but momma had one more lesson to teach.
[voice over] So I had a hot head, a weak heart and even a worse stage name. Walden Robert Cassotto isn't exactly a name you can see in a marquee. Well, maybe for one night only and one of the things that most performers were doing back then was to find a great stage name and then one day, I saw it, the perfect name. Just blinking, Darin. Darin. Bobby Darin. And no sooner did I change my name and I got my first gig on television. Unfortunately, I didn't know the lyrics to the song I decided to sing, so I had to devise my own method to get through it on live television. Didn't win me many fans. But it didn't finish me either. My record company was giving me one last chance to make a hit.
I gotta prove I can sing, I want it all. I want the major leagues. I want nightclubs, Vegas, movies, TV. This album will make it happen all fast, faster than you can imagine.
Let's go make movies!
[voice over] Sandy and I just got off on the wrong foot. If I could just get her away from her mother. I mean just imagine: Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee. That's it. I'm gonna start all over, like we've never met. Only this time, I'll romance her the best way I know.
[to Sandra Dee] You know, I was right about you. You're gonna be easy to love.
May I have this dance, Miss Sandra Dee?
[voice over] So I did stay at home for a while, the nineteen sixties rushed by like a locomotive, while Dodd grew up like a moose. Sandy and I made a couple of movies together, but they were all dogs. The music scene was changing as dramatically as the country. Nightclubs were out and big venues like stadiums were in. I was suddenly irrelevant, my stage literally disappearing. I tried to write new music and got involved in politics because we were now a country at war. But the fact was I was a balding chart singer who hadn't had a hit in years and who should be dead.
I may not be uh... performing for a while, I'm gonna take a little break. And as a result, I may not get a chance to publicly do something that I wanted to do for a very long time. And that is to... introduce to you... the woman who raised me. My mother, Nina Cassotto Maffia.
I wanna do a song that has been specially written for tonight. [Dick Behrke begins playing the piano] Its uh, lyrics have been changed. It was an old Bob Hope number actually. But we'd like to do it for you tonight as our way of closing and saying good night. [jokingly] As soon as Richie's finished with that thing he's composing over there. [Richie and the audience laugh] It goes something like this... [begins singing "The Curtain Falls"]

Dialogue

Memories are like moonbeams; we do with them what we want.

[at the Cocoanut Grove while performing "Mack the Knife", Bobby suddenly notices his younger self watching backstage]

Bobby Darin: Stop! Stop! Richie, stop! Hold it! Hold it! Hold it! [the band stops playing. Silence] Okay, I wanna start over. I wanna do it again.

Steve "Boom Boom" Blauner: You gotta be kidding me. That was perfect.

Bobby Darin: No, I wanna do it again. I can do it better.

Steve "Boom Boom" Blauner: Do you know how long it takes to set this up?

Band member: Yeah, I don't know how much more my chops can take today, boss.

Bobby Darin: [angrily] Well, maybe when you start playing it right, we can all call it a day. But when you play it sloppy like you've been doing all afternoon! Then were gonna do it again! And again! And again! Until we get it right!

Dick Behrke: Bobby, the guys are getting tired, that's all.

Bobby Darin: How do you think I feel?

Polly Cassotto: [playing the piano. To young Bobby] You know, before your sister was born. This is what your momma did for a living. Music opened a whole new world to me. No matter how bad I feel. No matter how sad or sick I am, I just touch these keys. Like magic, I always seem to feel better. I've always known you had talent, Bobby. This piano is for you. Charlie worked hard for it. See God wouldn't've made you suffer so much if you weren't gonna make up for it later. [sings] How happy you can be. Up a Lazy River with me.

Bobby Darin: So part of Momma's plan was....

Little Bobby: Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

Bobby Darin: What?

Little Bobby: You didn't go dancing down the street like that.

Bobby Darin: I know, it's a fantasy sequence.

Little Bobby: But it's not real.

Bobby Darin: Forget real. Listen kid, memories are like moonbeams; we do with them what we want. [winks]

Little Bobby: Oh, okay then. Go on. I'll be around if you need me.

Bobby Darin: Hey kid! come here.

Delivery guy: What's up?

Bobby Darin: I just got a question. Could you do me a favor?

[Bobby starts to walk around him]

Bobby Darin: Would you look at me?

Delivery guy: What?

Bobby Darin: Just look at me. Do you know me?

Delivery guy: What?

Bobby Darin: Do you recognize me?

Delivery guy: What are you talking about?

Bobby Darin: Do I look familiar to you?

Delivery guy: No! You don't. I don't know you. Would you leave me alone, you crazy bastard. I got things to do.

Bobby Darin: Thanks pal!

[walks over to Ahmet]

Bobby Darin: Ahmet, when the delivery guy knows me, then I'm a star.

[after filming a scene on the set of Come September]

Sandra Dee: I have never worked with anyone so unprofessional in my life. I mean, have you even acted before?

Bobby Darin: Well, I'm learning, but let me tell you something, Blondie, you're not exactly Audrey Hepburn.

Mary Douvan: [after Sandra and Bobby get engaged] I wished you had concentrated more on Rock Hudson.

Sandra Dee: Rock Hudson is a very nice man, Mother, but I'm not in love with him.

Mary Douvan: He still would have made a better husband than that "BOBBY DARIN"!

Bobby Darin: It's OK, I'm not gonna hurt you. Watch. My momma used to tell me a story when I was a kid that in the Middle Ages, one of the knights in King Arthur's court, he laid down his sword between himself and Guinevere, and he promised that he would never cross over to the other side.

Sandra Dee: Really?

Bobby Darin: I am laying down this sword between us. That's my side of the bed, and that's yours, and I will never cross over. Ever. I don't care if we don't touch for a thousand nights. Only you can cross over to my side. Only you.

[on the set of Captain Newman, M.D.]

Sandra Dee: What's he talking about?

Bobby Darin: The tour, baby.

Sandra Dee: Honey, I'm not done finishing my movie yet.

Bobby Darin: Well that's okay, you and Dodd can join when you're done.

Sandra Dee: I'm not bringing the baby on the road.

Bobby Darin: Well, then leave him with the nanny, that's why we hired her.

Sandra Dee: I don't want Dodd to be raised by the nanny.

Bobby Darin: He's not going to be raised by the nanny and what am I going to do on the road? Who am I going to sing to if you're not there?

Steve "Boom Boom" Blauner: [interrupting a tender moment] Bobby! Whoa, sorry. But I was right about the war picture. Get your speech ready 'cause as soon as this tour is over, you're going to the Oscars, pal. You just got nominated.

Bobby Darin: [shouting] Hallelujah! Yes! Yes!

Sandra Dee: Oh, Christ.

Nina Cassotto Maffia: I heard you were going into politics. You still thinkin' about doing that?

Bobby Darin: Well, I'm considering it. I mean, they've asked me.

Nina Cassotto Maffia: Well, you know how the papers try and smear people with things from their past when, you know, they're gonna run for an office?

Bobby Darin: Mm-hm. Yeah. So what?

Nina Cassotto Maffia: There's something about your past that I think it's finally time for you to know.

Bobby Darin: What are you talking about?

Nina Cassotto Maffia: It's about Polly. She wasn't who you thought she was, Bobby.

Bobby Darin: She was the best mother in the whole goddamn world. What are you talking about?

Nina Cassotto Maffia: She was a great mother because she was my mother, so I know it's true.

Bobby Darin: Than you take that back!

Nina Cassotto Maffia: No, she was a wonderful person and a wonderful mother. But what I think you really need now is the truth. The truth about your mother. And the truth is... Polly was not your mother. Sam was not your father. You ain't my brother, Bobby. [pause] We swore that we would never let you find out. Polly was my mother. Not yours. [pause] She was your grandmother. Sweetheart... [tearfully] I'm not your sister. [pause] Bobby, I'm your mother.

Polly Cassotto: We made a pact that we would never tell you.

Little Bobby: Is she kidding?

Polly Cassotto: She got pregnant when she was seventeen.

Nina Cassotto Maffia: [tearfully] It's true, Bobby. I didn't want you to be a bastard, so I gave you to momma, so that way no one could call you one.

Polly Cassotto: She couldn't give you up for adoption.

Nina Cassotto Maffia: When I went off to the hospital, when it was time for you to be born. Momma moved us to the Bronx where we didn't know nobody. And then when I came back, we said you were her baby, not mine. But that way I could keep you.

Little Bobby: Do you realise what you're saying to me?

Polly Cassotto: We did it to protect you, Bobby.

Nina Cassotto Maffia: You need me now. I can really be here for you. You're lost. You can finally have the mother that you never really had.

[pause]

Little Bobby: Who was my father?

Nina Cassotto Maffia: Oh, Bobby. I was dating a lot of guys back then.

Little Bobby: [angrily] Who was my father?!

Bobby Darin: When did you meet Nina? What year?

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: I don't know, nineteen thirty something.

Bobby Darin: Do you know who my father is, Charlie?

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: No, Bobby. I don't know.

Bobby Darin: I wish I knew who he was.

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: Look, Bobby, I know I ain't no college boy, but I always felt like I was your father.

Bobby Darin: Charlie, you've been more than a father to me, you know that. I just wish I knew.

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: Well, you stay out here much longer, Dodd's gonna be saying the same thing about you. Now, you may not know who your father is, but you got two mothers out of the deal and both of them were great. Have you seen how hard it's been for her? Not to be able to tell anybody that you're her son? You ought'a find yourself, get back on the stage. You are Bobby Darin.

Bobby Darin: Yeah, that's who I thought I was.

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: Okay, okay. Walden Robert Cassotto.

Bobby Darin: No I'm not, Charlie. I'm not even him.

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: Well, maybe you're both.

Bobby Darin: Hey.

Sandra Dee: Hi.

Bobby Darin: I've been looking for you all day.

Sandra Dee: [laughs] No, you haven't, you liar.

Bobby Darin: I have. [they kiss]

Sandra Dee: You look so good.

Bobby Darin: I feel good. I feel great physically. I mean, as so much as I can breath easy since the first time I can remember.

Sandra Dee: [looking at their son Dodd] Dodd misses you being at home. [pause] I miss you. [Bobby and Sandra embrace]

Bobby Darin: I'm proud of you, baby.

Sandra Dee: I'm really trying, Bobby.

Bobby Darin: I know you are.

Sandra Dee: That's not why you left. There's more than that. I'm not who you want me to be, I'm not an intellectual, I'm not as smart as you.

Bobby Darin: You're smart enough for ten of me. [pause, looking at Dodd] And look what we did together.

Sandra Dee: You're gonna see him again?

Bobby Darin: Oh, I'd love too. I'm just not entirely sure I can get used to the idea of booing as a nightly ritual.

Sandra Dee: [laughs] Oh, you can't blame them, they don't understand. You're always ahead of your time. They're so shallow. People hear what they see anyway and...

Bobby Darin: Yeah, I know the... [realising] What did you just say?

Sandra Dee: [confused] That you can't blame them it's...

Bobby Darin: No, no, no, about people hearing... what?...

Bobby Darin: [running over to Boom Boom] Boom Boom! Boom Boom! Boom Boom! Boom Boom! Boom Boom! Boom Boom! Book me back in Vegas.

Steve "Boom Boom" Blauner: [laughs] You don't wanna go back to Vegas.

Bobby Darin: Oh, yes I do. I wanna go back to Vegas and I wanna go back on stage.

Steve "Boom Boom" Blauner: Don't tell me you found yourself?

Bobby Darin: Now. I'm a nightclub animal, Boom Boom. And I love it. And quite frankly I think I do it better than anybody else in the whole goddamn world.

Steve "Boom Boom" Blauner: You're also one of the most modest people I've ever met in my life, but I don't want you going back there.

Bobby Darin: It's gonna work this time. I can be what I want, I can say what I want, I can sing what I want! Sandy just said it, she just said it beautifully.

Steve "Boom Boom" Blauner: What?

Bobby Darin: "People hear what they see."

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: You don't look so good.

Bobby Darin: Well to tell you the truth, Charlie. I don't feel so hot. I gotta go under the knife again, that's why we're taking off early. I've got blood poisoning, its catching up.

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: Look, we don't have to do this. We can call it off.

Bobby Darin: Charlie, I gotta get ready now.

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: I gotta go make sure Nina's at a good table.

Bobby Darin: Charlie, I wouldn't have gone this far without you.

Charlie Cassotto Maffia: Kid, you're a runaway train. Just get through tonight.

Bobby Darin: Yeah, always leaving one more, Charlie.

Bobby Darin

[voice over] Momma was right about music. It opened a whole new world to me, outside of time and illness. The world I could live in.
[voice over] Soon I would be old enough to head to New York, but momma had one more lesson to teach.
[voice over] So I had a hot head, a weak heart and even a worse stage name. Walden Robert Cassotto isn't exactly a name you can see in a marquee. Well, maybe for one night only and one of the things that most performers were doing back then was to find a great stage name and then one day, I saw it, the perfect name. Just blinking, Darin. Darin. Bobby Darin. And no sooner did I change my name and I got my first gig on television. Unfortunately, I didn't know the lyrics to the song I decided to sing, so I had to devise my own method to get through it on live television. Didn't win me many fans. But it didn't finish me either. My record company was giving me one last chance to make a hit.
I gotta prove I can sing, I want it all. I want the major leagues. I want nightclubs, Vegas, movies, TV. This album will make it happen all fast, faster than you can imagine.
Let's go make movies!
[voice over] Sandy and I just got off on the wrong foot. If I could just get her away from her mother. I mean just imagine: Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee. That's it. I'm gonna start all over, like we've never met. Only this time, I'll romance her the best way I know.
[to Sandra Dee] You know, I was right about you. You're gonna be easy to love.
May I have this dance, Miss Sandra Dee?
[voice over] So I did stay at home for a while, the nineteen sixties rushed by like a locomotive, while Dodd grew up like a moose. Sandy and I made a couple of movies together, but they were all dogs. The music scene was changing as dramatically as the country. Nightclubs were out and big venues like stadiums were in. I was suddenly irrelevant, my stage literally disappearing. I tried to write new music and got involved in politics because we were now a country at war. But the fact was I was a balding chart singer who hadn't had a hit in years and who should be dead.
I may not be uh... performing for a while, I'm gonna take a little break. And as a result, I may not get a chance to publicly do something that I wanted to do for a very long time. And that is to... introduce to you... the woman who raised me. My mother, Nina Cassotto Maffia.
I wanna do a song that has been specially written for tonight. [Dick Behrke begins playing the piano] Its uh, lyrics have been changed. It was an old Bob Hope number actually. But we'd like to do it for you tonight as our way of closing and saying good night. [jokingly] As soon as Richie's finished with that thing he's composing over there. [Richie and the audience laugh] It goes something like this... [begins singing "The Curtain Falls"]