Belles on Their Toes Page #8

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Franklin Dykes.

How do you do, Miss Ann?

Well, I never expected to draw

anything like you.

- Morton, I'm real obliged to you.

- But-- But, Franklin--

It's all right, Morton.

When you come to Atlanta...

I just hope I can repay

your hospitality in kind.

But I doubt it.

Shall we go?

Come on, Morton.

Good night, Mother.

- Good night, dear.

- Don't you worry about a thing, Mrs. Gilbreth.

I'll take real good care

of your daughter.

- Good night, ma'am.

- Good night, sir.

[ Doorbell Ringing ]

How do you do? I'm Mr. Beasley.

I've come for Martha.

- Oh, won't you come in Mr. Beasley?

- Thank you.

I'll get her.

Oh, Frank, will you tell Martha

that Mr. Beasley is here?

- Martha, Bubber's here! Hi, Bubber.

- Thank you.

- Hi, Frank.

- Mother, this tie-- I can't get it straight.

Yes, dear. I'll try to fix it.

Lillie, what's going on?

I'll only be a minute, Sam.

Oh, uh, I'd like to present

Mr. Beasley. Mr. Harper.

How do you do, Mr. Beasley?

Good evening, everyone.

Hello, Bubber.

Hello, Martha.

It was so kind of you

to ask me to the dance.

That's okay.

Frank's taking my kid sister.

Come on. Let's go.

Good-bye, sir.

- Good-bye, Mr. Beasley.

- Good-bye, Mrs. Gilbreth.

- Good-bye, Mr. Beasley.

- Thanks, Mother. So long, everybody.

Good-bye, dear.

Was that Martha?

Yes. She's been practicing

all day how not to be an old maid.

- Won't you please sit down, Lillie?

- Yes, Sam.

You know, Lillie, I'm pretty well

fixed financially...

and I've got a lot of power.

But there's only one thing

that gives me a real kick these days.

[ Doorbell Ringing ]

Isn't there somebody else in the house

that can answer that?

No, Sam. I'm not very well

fixed financially.

[ Ringing Continues ]

- Evening, Mrs. Gilbreth.

- Good evening, Bob.

May I see Ann, please?

I'm afraid not.

She's gone out... with Ernestine.

Oh. Do you mind if I wait?

Of course not,

but it might be a while.

I'll wait.

You know Mr. Harper?

- Sure. Hello, Mr. Harper.

- Oh, hello.

Is he going to stay here?

Why don't we go out

someplace then?

Oh, no, I don't think so.

Thanks, anyway.

- Is there something on your mind, Bob?

- What?

- Is there something on your mind, Bob?

- What?

She asked if there was something

on your mind.

Oh, no, no.

I'm sorry, but it's just that

I have so much on my mind.

- I see.

- You do?

I'm leaving for Detroit.

That appointment

at the Detroit General Hospital?

Yes, it came through, and I have

to leave immediately. Tonight.

That's why I wanted to see Ann.

But Ann went dancing.

She won't be home--

Dancing?

I thought you said

she went out with Ernestine.

It was a double date.

She just did it to help Ernestine out...

so that Ernestine

would have an escort.

Oh. So now she's

helping Ernestine?

Well, the last time

I talked to her, she was helping you.

I suppose a year from now, she'll be

helping Martha or Frank or somebody else.

Is she ever gonna do

anything for herself?

What on earth

are you talking about?

It's ridiculous.

It's perfectly ridiculous.

I came here to tell her

that it's all right. I'll wait for her.

But I was just going soft-headed.

This isn't a family. Most families

only have two hands to hold you with.

This is an octopus,

holding on with every tentacle!

Maybe Ann is willing

to waste her life, but I'm not!

Good-bye, Mrs. Gilbreth.

Good-bye, Mr. Harper.

- [ Door Slams ]

- What the devil was that all about?

I'm not sure, but I have

a pretty good idea.

[ Up-TempoJazz ]

You know, Miss Ann, my mother always

wanted to have a large family too...

but all she ever had

was little old me.

- Gee, I hope nobody else cuts in on us.

- Me too.

You know, Martha, when Frank said he'd take

my sister to the dance if I'd take you...

I thought it was going

to be a terrible night.

- But it isn't. It's swell!

- Oh, it's swell for me too, Bubber.

Why, up till tonight,

I always wanted to be a boy.

[ Ends ]

- Thank you.

- Thank you, Morton.

If you don't mind, I think

I'd like to sit down.

Oh, sure.

- Can I get you some punch?

- No, thank you.

[ Drumroll ]

Ladies and gentlemen,

your attention, please.

We will now have the first event

in our dance contest-- the shag.

Choose your partners

for the shag contest.

- Ann, would you like--

- Come on, Ann. I'll show you

how they do it in Georgia.

[''Sweet Georgia Brown'']

Would you like

to enter the contest?

No, thank you, Morton.

You'll just lose with me.

- If you're sure you don't want to.

- Well, all right.

The worst they can do

is put us out.

- Put us out? I think we might win this contest.

- Really, Morton?

Certainly.Just watch us go.

- Frank--

- Mother. What are you doing here?

- Where's Ann?

- She's out there on the dance floor.

- I'll get her, Lillie.

- You can't do that. She's in a contest.

A contest?

But I have to talk to her.

Wait. I think one of the judges

is putting her out now.

- Oh, dear.

-Just a minute, Lillie.

Thank you.

Ann, your mother wants

to talk to you.

She's over there

by the refreshment booth.

Sir, I protest. This is the first dance contest

I ever lost in my whole life.

Well, you were doing

the Southern version.

That's not allowed in New Jersey.

- Mother, what is it?

- Come out here, Ann.

I've got to talk to you.

- I have a message for you from Bob.

- Did he call?

No. He came by and told me to tell you

he's leaving tonight for Detroit.

He got that appointment.

Oh, no.

Will you please tell me what happened

between you two?

What's this business about

your telling him you have to wait?

Why do you have to wait?

- And why is the Gilbreth family an octopus?

- Did Bob say that?

Yes.

Mother, it's just that you have

this wonderful opportunity to go to Purdue.

I ought to stay home so the others

can have the chance I've had.

Oh. And how long do you figure

that will take?

I don't know. Ayear, two.

Why not 1 5 or even 20?

By that time, we might have

Jane married off.

Or maybe she'll decide

never to get married...

and you'll both be old maids

and live with me forever.

Is that why I've kept

this family together--

so that I can have spinster daughters

around the house?

Is that why?

No. No.

- Is that a question or an answer?

- I don't know.

Well, I'll tell you.

What I've been working for

and hoping for and praying for...

is to have someone like Bob

love you and marry you.

Oh, Mother.

Now get down to that hospital

and catch him before he gets away.

- Bob!

- Listen, you. Both of you.

I'm not going to Detroit alone.

I'm not gonna let Ann sacrifice herself.

You'll just have to figure out some way

to get along without her. I can't!

- You can't?

- You're darn right I can't.

Well, what are you waiting for?

There she is. Take her.

- Everything's going to be all right, Sam.

- I'm glad that's settled.

- Now, Lillie--

- Mrs. Gilbreth, have you seen Ann anywhere?

I've been hunting high and low.

I have terrible news

for you, young man.

She just left for Detroit.

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