Smash (TV Series)

The Fringe (2013)

Katharine McPhee: Karen Cartwright

Photos 

Quotes 

• Karen Cartwright : [outside, on street, catching up with him]  Derek... hey... you're not really quitting, are you?

  Derek Wills : This isn't what I signed up for. I don't believe in this anymore.

  Karen Cartwright : But you can't leave.

  Derek Wills : Apparently, I can. You should find a way out, as well.

  Karen Cartwright : Hey, I'm not like you. This is my big break. It may never happen again.

  Derek Wills : Of course it will. Just have some faith in yourself.

  Eileen Rand : [comes up]  Derek!

  Derek Wills : Eileen.

  Eileen Rand : Come back to rehearsal.

  Derek Wills : I would, but I quit.

  Eileen Rand : I understand, but you can't just walk out of there. You love this.

  Derek Wills : 'Loved' it. And you're a great producer, Eileen, I would love to work with you on something, just not this.

  [looks at Karen:] 

  Derek Wills : Good luck.

  [goes off] 

  Eileen Rand : [turns to Karen]  I didn't expect that to happen today.

  Karen Cartwright : Eileen, that thing I wanted to talk to you about...?

  Eileen Rand : [shakes head]  I'm sorry, I have no time.

  Karen Cartwright : I ran into Ellis Boyd's ex-girlfriend last night. She said something I can't shake about Jerry and Ellis working together?

  Eileen Rand : Jerry and Ellis?

  Karen Cartwright : You have any idea what that means?

  Eileen Rand : [sighs]  Listen, don't say anything about this to anyone, okay? I've got to go.

  [goes off, leaving Karen perplexed] 

• Jerry Rand : [irate]  Karen...

  Karen Cartwright : [to Kyle, on phone]  Uh, I... I have to call you back.

  Jerry Rand : What is this?

  [holds copy of Time Out, Fringe Festival is cover feature] 

  Jerry Rand : What is this? My assistant just showed me this.

  Karen Cartwright : Is there a problem?

  Jerry Rand : [chuckles patronizingly]  Bombshell's entire marketing campaign is centered around introducing Karen Cartwright. You see, it only works if we're actually introducing Karen Cartwright.

  Karen Cartwright : But it isn't interfering with the rehearsals.

  Jerry Rand : And it's not going to either.

  [scoffs] 

  Jerry Rand : You can't do it.

  Karen Cartwright : It's two days.

  Jerry Rand : I'm your producer. I have the right to approve any other project you do while you're in my show. That's in your contract.

  [sighs] 

  Jerry Rand : Look, if you wanna go, go. But don't bother coming back here.

  [shakes head] 

  Karen Cartwright : [looking for help]  Derek, you know I can't not go.

  Derek Wills : You're opening on Broadway.

  [nods] 

  Derek Wills : What's more important?

  [Karen gives despondent look] 

  Derek Wills : Sorry, love, I guess we're both stuck here. Whether we like it or not.

• Derek Wills : [after Karen sang Heart]  Well, wasn't that lovely? Okay. Can someone please tell me what I'm doing here if my opinion no longer matters?

  Tom Levitt : I... just asked what you thought.

  Derek Wills : What? Sorry? Of you commandeering my show?

  Tom Levitt : It's my show, too. I wrote half of it. So... did it occur to you that I might have my own idea about how it should go?

  Derek Wills : Okay, uhm, uh, just checking. How... how many Best Director Tonys have you got, then?

  Jerry Rand : Derek, why don't you take a break? Tom, you can go on working with Karen on this song...

  Derek Wills : [interrupts vehemently]  What? Are you kidding me? Are we taking turns directing now? I'll tell you what. I'll pop off. I'll go catch a movie. You give me a call and you let me know when I'm next up at bat. How about that?

  Tom Levitt : [folds arms defensively]  Maybe if you got on board with the creative vision of the show...

  Derek Wills : No, the creative vision of the show, Tom, is my vision! I'm the director! This is how it works!

  Jerry Rand : Not when it's the money I raised at stake.

  Derek Wills : Just...

  [reins himself in, sighs] 

  Jerry Rand : Thank you, Derek.

  [patronizing pat on his shoulder] 

  Derek Wills : [brushes hand away]  Yeah, okay.

  [walks off] 

  Derek Wills : Uhm, I have a little announcement, everyone. If you'll just give me one little minute of your time. Uhm, Julia, sorry, I, uh, I tried to make the show you wanted.

  Julia Houston : Tried?

  Derek Wills : Oh, and Jerry... you truly are what is wrong with American theater. And, Eileen, you are smarter, classier and better than your producing partner, and if I were you, I wouldn't agree with a single decision he makes from here on. Tom... oh, Tom...

  [Tom still has his arms folded, gives big, forced smile] 

  Derek Wills : We've got a long history, haven't we?

  Tom Levitt : [tries to look devil-may-care]  Mm.

  [nods] 

  Derek Wills : And I am not sorry to say that it ends today. You wanna direct the show so much? Well, here is your chance.

  [shrugs] 

  Derek Wills : Because I'm done!

  [strides off] 

  Derek Wills : Oh!

  [stops] 

  Derek Wills : Ladies and gentlemen, sorry, thank you,

  [dripping with irony:] 

  Derek Wills : it's been a pleasure... working with you.

  [before heading off again:] 

  Derek Wills : Some more than others.

  Karen Cartwright : Derek...

  Derek Wills : Sorry, love. I quit!

  [yanks open door, leaves] 

• Jimmy Collins : [backstage]  What the hell are you doing here? They fire you or something?

  Karen Cartwright : No, actually, I could get in big trouble if the producer finds out. But I'm here. Doesn't that count for something?

  Jimmy Collins : [sneers]  Yeah, you're here for one night. Then you'll be gone again. It's not enough.

  [starts leaving] 

  Jimmy Collins : Get out of my way!

  Karen Cartwright : No, I'm trying to talk to you! Today sucked. Rehearsal was crazy. It made me question why I'm even doing this at all. But as soon as I got out of there, the only... place I wanted to be, the only... person I wanted to be with... was you. On stage. Singing. Because when I do, I remember why I ever wanted this.

  Jimmy Collins : [sneers]  Yeah, just not enough to actually stick with it.

  Karen Cartwright : You can be mad at me, fine, but don't... take it out on everyone else. They worked hard for this. It's their last performance. Do it for them. Do it for yourself.

• Karen Cartwright : [outside Fringe, after performance, everybody leaving for drinks]  Hey. You're coming, right?

  Jimmy Collins : Hey, don't you have to be at rehearsal... early tomorrow morning?

  Karen Cartwright : [hides disappointment]  Yeah. Well, have fun.

  Jimmy Collins : Yeah, see you around.

  [goes off, with Karen staring after him wistfully]