[Telephone rings.]

[LEONARD BERNSTEIN, spoken]
Hello?
Yes
Of course
Yes, I'm aware
Oh, that's terrible news
Is he gonna be okay?
No, I understand
And no chance for a rehearsal?
Yes
All right
May I get three tickets for today?
Yes
All right
All right, yes, thank you

You got 'em, boy!

[Instrumental: Symphonic Suite from "On the Waterfront"]

[BRUNO ZIRATO, spoken]
Leonard, bellissimo

[LEONARD, spoken]
Oh, yes
[BRUNO, spoken]
Did you get any sleep?

[LEONARD, spoken]
No, I didn't get any sleep, Bruno
"Manfred" starts with a downbeat rest
And you didn't give me any rehearsal with the orchestra

[BRUNO, spoken]
I told you you were going on

[LEONARD, spoken]
No, you told me it was a possibility, Bruno

[ANNOUNCER, spoken]
Good afternoon
United States Rubber Company again invites you to Carnegie Hall
To hear a concert of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Of which Artur Rodziński is musical director
Bruno Walter, who was to have conducted this afternoon, is ill
And his place will be taken by the young American-born
Assistant conductor of the Philharmonic Symphony, Leonard Bernstein

[Orchestra plays beginning of "Manfred Overture."]

[BRUNO, spoken]
Today, you were here for an historic performance
This performance that was fantastic was broadcast all over the world
And I feel obliged to say that Maestro Bernstein
Was called this morning at 9:30
And he was told that he would actually conduct here
For the first time after many years—
[LEONARD, spoken]
Without rehearsal

[BRUNO, spoken]
Without rehearsal
But he loves the music, he doesn't need rehearsal
He feels it so much
And after many years, he really wanted this
It has happened and I'm so proud
Carnegie Hall is so proud of you
And New York is proud of you
Leonard Bernstein

[LEONARD, spoken]
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Thank you, thank you

Well, I'll tell you fellas, I don't remember a thing after that downbeat rest
I must've blacked out and then when the audience applauded I came to

[JERRY ROBBINS, spoken]
Listen, don't let this get in the way
I'm on a roll here, baby
I wanna be able to choreograph the last segment with the dancers
While I'm in Cincinnati
[LEONARD, spoken]
Okay, but Jerry, I'm in love with the music
I told you
As soon as I have something that I'm cooking up
I'm gonna record it and send it to you

[DAVID OPPENHEIM, spoken]
Oh, this is the new ballet he's composing for you?
The one about three sailors on leave in New York getting up to no good?

[JERRY ROBBINS, spoken]
That's the one

[DAVID, spoken]
Well, don't argue with him, Jerry
He's a young man to be reckoned with
You can read it right here

[LEONARD, spoken]
Stop, David, please

[DAVID, spoken]
"Bernstein shows mastery of score—"

[LEONARD, spoken]
David, please

[DAVID, spoken]
"Youthful conductor carries out an exacting program—"
And it [?]

[JERRY, spoken]
Sure, right next to Hitler's bombing of Poland

[Knock on the door.]

[LEONARD, spoken]
Come on in, it's open

[ISAAC, spoken]
Sorry, gentlemen

[DAVID, spoken]
No, no, he likes leaving the door open

[ISAAC, spoken]
Oh, for God's—

[LEONARD, spoken]
Oh, hey, Isaac, come one
You know David, and that's Jerry Robbins

[ISAAC, spoken]
Hello
Listen, listen, we've got to get you downstairs
You're an hour late already

[LEONARD, spoken]
I'm just working on the score

[ISAAC, spoken]
No, I understand
Rodziński's coming a little early—

[LEONARD, spoken]
Rodziński's here?

[ISAAC, spoken]
He'll be at rehearsal

[LEONARD, spoken]
Okay, I'll be down in a second

[JERRY, spoken]
Isaac, Isaac?
Don't forget your show pony here is a composer

[LEONARD and SECOND PIANIST play Galop from "Fancy Free."]