Me and My Shadow

[thehefner]

JOHNNY: *Sigh* Sometimes, Bub, I have to wonder if it's all worth it.
BUB: Arruh?
JOHNNY: It's like, some days, you're toppa the world, and then pow! You're a schmuck. You're a World Class Sucker, A-Number 1, you dig?
BUB: ... Yeah. I... dig, Johnny.
JOHNNY: I mean, hell, look at you. Look how far you've come! When I first met you, it was all just "arruh" and "rruh?" but now you can actually talk! But do they care? Does anybody?
BUB: I... don't care...
JOHNNY: I mean, look at us, pally! I mean, what if we never make it to Vegas, y'know? What if, like, what if the Clancers got to us? Or if that sleazebag of a manager o'mine, that bozo Tennessee O'Connell, gets us into even deeper caca next time? And even if not, we're living day to day, never knowing if there's gonna be any gas, food, or booze on the horizon. This is a sucker's life, make no mistake. Just look at us! What have we got, huh? What have we got?
BUB: ... We got... the rhythm.
JOHNNY: (pause; Johnny smiles) Damn skippy, hippie. (Beat) Oh coo-coo, baby. You can talk. You know what I just realized we can do now?
BUB: What?

Johnny smiles.

Lights! Music! Singing!

JOHNNY: Like the wallpaper sticks to the wall...
BUB: Like the seashore clings to th'sea...
JOHNNY: Like you'll never get rid of your shadow,
Bub, you'll never get rid of me!
BUB: Let all the others... fight and fuss... whatever happens...
JOHNNY/BUB: We've... got... us!
BUB: Me...
JOHNNY: We're closer than pages that stick in a book...
BUB: And... my... shaaaadowww...
JOHNNY: We're closer than ripples that play in a brook...
BUB: (strolling... down the af-ter-noooon...)
JOHNNY: Wherever you'll find him, you'll find me, just look,
Closer than a miser or a bloodhound's to Liza, me...

BUB: We're closer than smog when it clings to LA...
JOHNNY: And... my... shaaaadowww...
BUB: We're closer than Bobby is to JFK...
JOHNNY/BUB: Not a soul can bust this team in two,
We stick together like glue!
JOHNNY: Yes you do!
And when it's sleeping time...
BUB: That's when we rise...
JOHNNY: That's when we rise...
BUB: We start to swing...
JOHNNY: Swing to the skies...
BUB: Our clocks don't chime...
JOHNNY: What a surprise!
JOHNNY/BUB: Yeah, they RING-! (BA-DUM!) A ding-ding, Happy New Year!

BUB: Me...
JOHNNY: And now to repeat what I said at the start...
BUB: And... my... shaaaadowww...
JOHNNY: They'll need a large crowbar to break us apart...
JOHNNY/BUB: We're alone but far... from... bluuuuue!

Before we get finished, we'll make the town roar!
We'll make all the late spots, and then a few more!
We'll wind up a Jilly's right after Toot's Shore,
Life is gonna be we-wow-whee!
For my...
Shadow...
And meeeeeee!

BUB: Hey... Johnny...?
JOHNNY: Yeah, Bub?
BUB: Do me... a favor?
JOHNNY: Jeez, what is it now?
BUB: Would you... mind taking it... just one more time?
JOHNNY: From the top?!
BUB: No! From the ending!
JOHNNY: Wonderful!

***BIG MUSICAL FINISH!***

JOHNNY/BUB: And while we are swinging, to mention a few,
We'll drop in at Danny's, The Little Club too,
But wind up in Jilly's, whatever we do,
Life is gonna be we-wow-whee! Yeah!
For my...
SHADOW...
AND MEEEEEEEEEE!!!

JOHNNY: Yeah!
BUB: Hey, Johnny...?
JOHNNY: Oh forget it, Bub.
BUB: All right.