Smash (TV Series)

The Dramaturg (2013)

Katharine McPhee: Karen Cartwright

Photos 

Quotes 

• Derek Wills : [after her performance]  It's a good song, so what?

  [gets up] 

  Derek Wills : All their songs are good. If they had an album, I'd buy it. Maybe. But I'm a director of musicals, and there's no musical there.

  Karen Cartwright : Oh, that's because I'm only playing you the songs.

  Derek Wills : Which you did last week, as well.

  Karen Cartwright : And you liked them. I thought you'd wanna hear more.

  Derek Wills : With you conveniently singing the demo this time?

  Karen Cartwright : [chuckles]  Well, it is a song my character would sing. She's an aspiring pop star.

  Derek Wills : Oh, there are characters, are there? Is there a plot as well?

  Karen Cartwright : Of course. And the writers would love to tell you about it themselves.

  [smiles] 

  Derek Wills : Can't I just read the book?

  Karen Cartwright : They're still working on it. Meet with them. Let them explain their vision to you.

  Derek Wills : [comes to her]  Look...

  [leaning over her, looking into her eyes] 

  Derek Wills : I think it's great that you're hustling while Bombshell sorts itself out, but new musicals take years to develop. I need something right now. Something big.

  Karen Cartwright : This is big.

  [gets up] 

  Karen Cartwright : I promise.

  [he sits down on couch] 

  Karen Cartwright : How about later today?

  Derek Wills : [busy with cell phone]  No, I've got a meeting. The producers of The Wiz can't find my replacement yet. Surprise, surprise. I've convinced Ronnie to hear me out. It's been a while since I've got something to prove. It's quite refreshing.

  [smiles] 

  Karen Cartwright : Then you know how these guys feel?

  Derek Wills : All right! I will meet them.

  Karen Cartwright : Yay!

  [claps hands, then jumps joyously] 

  Karen Cartwright : Yes, yes!

  [jumps onto couch next to him] 

  Karen Cartwright : So, tomorrow then?

• Karen Cartwright : [entering]  Hello.

  Derek Wills : Hey.

  Karen Cartwright : I can't believe Bombshell's back in rehearsal. So what are we working on?

  Derek Wills : Moving the Line.

  Karen Cartwright : Just as long as we're done by dinner.

  Derek Wills : Hmm?

  Karen Cartwright : Kyle Bishop and Jimmy Collins? We're meeting them tonight.

  Derek Wills : Oh, no, yeah, we'd be done in plenty of time.

  [she moves on, then stops] 

  Derek Wills : What is it?

  Karen Cartwright : I was starting to think I was never gonna be Marilyn again.

  Derek Wills : I wouldn't let that happen.

  [smiles] 

• Karen Cartwright : Jimmy, I'm sorry about the last few days, it's just been crazy...

  Jimmy Collins : You don't have to explain, Karen. Your... your show is in rehearsals. It's totally fine. I get it.

  Karen Cartwright : Just because I'm in Bombshell doesn't mean I'm any less available for you and Kyle. I totally meant what I said about your musical. We're gonna get it moving.

  Jimmy Collins : Um, how? Derek doesn't even know who the hell we are!

  Karen Cartwright : [shakes her head]  That's not true. I played him your songs, and he loved it. He was just... in the moment and it was our first day in rehearsal in a long time, and he just couldn't place you, that's all.

  Jimmy Collins : Look... I really don't care either way. This... this is just a bunch of crap I scribbled down when I was wasted. But to Kyle, this is everything. And for the first time in his life, you have him believing that the one thing that he's ever wanted, could actually come true. And, if that's not the case, you tell him.

  [goes off, she sighs]