Blue Moon

Lorenz Hart slips away from the opening night of Oklahoma! and heads to Sardi's where preparations are underway for the celebratory gathering. Inside, he holds court with the bartender Eddie and the piano player Morty, regaling them with a sharp, rueful view of the show's sensational success and his own fading career. The mood is wry, intimate, and intoxicated by the glamour of Broadway.

The newly sober Hart commiserates with Eddie and Morty about Oklahoma!'s enormous success, a show he declined to write. He complains about the state of his own career, nursing insecurities as he watches others' triumphs. The conversation foreshadows the personal turmoil that will color the night.

Hart proclaims himself 'omnisexual' and flirts with a flower delivery boy, revealing his intense infatuation with Elizabeth Weiland, a Yale art student and aspiring production designer. He speaks of past loves and the desire to win her affection, hinting at the emotional volatility beneath his wit. The moment underscores the theme of longing that drives his actions.

Elizabeth arrives for the party, and Hart plans to shower her with gifts and even a card trick. He believes this could be the night he finally wins her love, masking his heartbreak with bravado. The anticipation tightens the tension around their fragile dynamic.

Hart recognizes E. B. White, who shares that he is working on a first novel for children. White asks about Hart's mouse story, and Hart improvises the name 'Stuart,' suggesting he may have inspired the character's naming. The moment blends literary legend with Hart's insecurities.

Rodgers arrives with Hammerstein and a crowd of well-wishers, inviting Hart to reconnect with the partnership. He pulls Hart aside to discuss reviving an old show, but Hart pitches a sprawling Marco Polo musical as a bold new direction. The conversation reveals how alcohol and depression strain their long collaboration.

In the restroom, Hart tells Morty the tale of his failed proposal to his former muse. The confession reveals the personal pain behind his public wit and his mounting desperation. It deepens the sense that the night is more than a party; it marks a turning point.

Rave reviews pour in for Oklahoma!, and Hart tries to congratulate Rodgers. Rodgers remains wary of Hart's drinking and unreliability while Hart's latest idea is fueled by his unrequited feelings for Elizabeth. The pride and pain of their old partnership hover over the night.

Hart introduces Elizabeth to his former partner, hoping to share a connection. Rodgers gives Elizabeth his private number and leads her away to his own party, whisking her from Hart's orbit. The moment cements the growing distance between Hart and Rodgers.

As the staff begin to close the restaurant, Hart, lonely, stays for a final drink with Eddie while Morty plays one of his greatest hits. He regales them with another story, clinging to the nightlife as a refuge from heartbreak. The night closes with Hart alone and staring into his future.

Seven months after the night at Sardi's, Hart drunkenly collapses in the street and dies. The sudden tragedy underscores the self-destructive path his insecurities and drinking had carved. Rodgers and Hammerstein are left to carry on as Broadway legends without him.

In the wake of Hart's death, Rodgers and Hammerstein continue to become Broadway's greatest songwriting partnership. The film frames this outcome as a testament to both Hart's influence and their own resilience. Their legacy endures long after Hart's passing.