Franklin Shepard Inc.

Lyrics

[KATE, spoken] Now, tell me, how do you two work together? [CHARLEY, spoken] May I answer that? How do we work together? [KATE, spoken] Uh huh.  [CHARLEY, spoken] Sure. He goes— [Mimes piano playing.] And I go— [Mimes typing.] (sung) And soon we're humming along— Hmm-hmm-hmm And that's called writing a song— Hmm-hmm-hmm Then he goes— [Mimes piano playing.] And I go— [Mimes typing.] And the phone goes drrrring! And he goes— "Mutter mutter mutter mutter, yes Jerome Mutter, no Jerome Mutter mutter mutter mutter" —That's his lawyer, Jerome— "Mutter mutter mutter muttеr mutter, do it Jerome" Click "Sorry, Charlеy…" [Mimes piano playing.] So I go— [Mimes typing.] And he goes— [Mimes piano playing.] And I go— [Mimes typing.] And soon we're tapping away— Hmm-hmm-hmm Bzzz! "Sorry, Charley…" Bzzz! —It's the secretary— Bzzz! —On the intercom— "Yes, Miss Bzzz?" "It's a messenger…" "Thanks, Miss Bzzz Will you tell him to wait? Will you order the car? Will you call up the bank? Will you wire the coast? Will you— " Drrrring! "Sorry, Charley—" "Mutter mutter mutter mutter, sell the stock Mutter, buy the rights Mutter mutter mutter mutter mutter" Bzzz! "Let me put you on hold…" Bzzz! "Yes, Miss Bzzz" "It's the interview…" "Thanks, Miss Bzzz Will you tell him to wait? Will you wire the car? Will you order the coast? Will you send up the bank?" And the telephones blink And the stock gets sold And the rest of us he keeps on hold And he's into making movies And he's now a corporation Right? So I play at home With my wife and kids And I wait to hear the movie bids And I got a little sailboat And I'm into meditation Right? He flies off to California I discuss him with my shrink That's the story of the way we work Me and Franklin Shepard, Inc.  [KATE, spoken] Now, when you two do work together, I've always been curious. Which generally comes first—is it the words or the music? [CHARLEY, spoken] Generally, the contract.  [INTERVIEWER, spoken] Oh, now that sounds like you think making money is a bad thing for an artist.  [CHARLEY, spoken] Money? Did I say money? (sung) No, I like money a lot— Hmm-hmm-hmm I mean, it's better than not— Hmm-hmm-hmm But when it's— Money… Money… When you're into— Money… When you should be— [Mimes piano playing.] (spoken) Listen, Frank does the money thing very well, but you know what? There are other people who do it better. And Frank does the music thing very well. And you know what? No one does it better.  (sung) Still, the telephones blink And the buzzers buzz And I really don't know what he does But he makes a ton of money And a lot of it for me— Right? So I think "Okay" And I start a play And he somehow knows 'Cause right away It's drrrring! "Hiya, buddy Wanna write a show? I got a great idea We'll own all the rights With a two-week out And a turnaround On the guarantee Plus a gross percent Of the billing clause—" And there I am in California Talking deals and turning pink Back in business and I mean just that Back with Franklin Shepard, Inc.  Very sneaky how it happens Much more sneaky than you think Start with nothing but a song to sing Next, you're Franklin Shepard— (spoken) Wait, oh wait, I am getting in too deep here.  [KATE, spoken] Franklin, let me ask— [CHARLEY, spoken] You see, Frank and I are not that kind of close. Like the way we used to be.  [KATE, spoken] Oh, but Frank, I wanted to— [CHARLEY, spoken] And a friendship is like a, a garden. You have to water it and tend it and care about it. And you know what? I miss it and I want it back Look...  (sung) Nothing permanent has happened Just a temporary kink Friendship's something you don't really lose… Very sneaky how it happens Every day you're on the brink First the prizes, then the interviews— Oh, my God, I think it's happened Stop me quick before I sink One more triumph that I can't refuse— (spoken) In case you didn't notice, this is my first time on TV and my last.  (sung) No, here's the point, whatever happens— Then we'll all go have a drink— That's the guy I love, the fella who's Inside— "Mutter mutter mutter mutter, quick, Jerome Get the president There's a crazy man On my TV screen!" Inside— Bzzz! Bzzz! Drrring!— Inside Franklin Shepard— Just write him care of Any Bank, U.S.A.— Inc.!