Elmer Gantry Page #2

the cannibals and the chorus girl, hm?

There she was in the wildest jungles

of Borneo, without a stitch on,

except her dancin' shoes

and her pith helmet.

Can I speak to Mrs. Wilson,

please? Thank you.

Hello? Hello, Sally?

Me. Elmer. Who do you think?

Swell, just swell. How's every

little thing with you, honey?

- Baby, I just got into town.

- (knocking at door)

Hold it a sec, Sal. Come in.

- How did we do?

- Ran out of the money in both races.

Sally? How about tonight, baby?

What time does your husband get home?

But, honey, I won't be here tomorrow.

Well, look, can you come over

for an hour? A half an hour, huh?

Oh.

Sure, Sal. Sure I understand.

Think nothin' of it, honey. I'll catch

you next time around. Bye, now.

- Did you get the bottle?

- Nah.

You know bootleggers.

They do a cash business.

- Toss you. Double or nothin'.

- No. You're too lucky, Mr. Gantry.

- Thank you. Anything else I can do?

- Thanks, kid.

(woman)? Just now,

your doubting give o'er

# Just now, reject Him no more

# Just now, throw open the door

# Let Jesus come into your heart

# Lay we every burden down

# Grace our spirits will deliver

# And provide a robe and crown

# Yes, we'll gather at the river

# The beautiful, the beautiful river

# Gather with the saints at the river

# That flows by the throne of God

# Yes, we'll gather at the river

# The beautiful, the beautiful river

# Gather with the saints at the river

# That flows by the throne of God

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.

Welcome to the house of God.

(fanfare)

# Mine eyes have seen the glory

of the coming of the Lord

# He is trampling out the vintage

where the grapes of wrath are stored

# He hath loosed the fateful lightning

of His terrible swift sword

# His truth is marching on

# Glory, glory, hallelujah!

# Glory, glory, hallelujah!

# Glory, glory, hallelujah!

# His truth is marching on

# Glory, glory, hallelujah!

# Glory, glory, hallelujah!

# Glory, glory, hallelujah!

# His truth is marching on

Oh, my dear, beautiful people.

When I arrived here and I saw

your gracious countryside,

I said to myself "I won't.

I just won't be cooped up

with a lot of stodgy old ministers

discussing hell and damnation!"

So I sneaked out,

and I've been doing what most

of you have been doing - farming.

Milking the cows, lying in the clover,

and letting the joy of God's nature

flow into my heart.

And here's the proof

there's a happy, joyful God,

a bountiful God, a generous God.

Milk!

Here, Reverend. The Lord's nectar.

And pass it along to those

dear newspaper reporters

so they can wash out the taste of whisky.

Tonight...

tonight I feel gloriously happy,

and I want you to feel happy too.

We're gonna sing together,

laugh together, rejoice together

like carefree children of a happy God.

We're going to rejoice that inside

of us lives the veritable spirit

of the everlasting

redeeming Christ, Jesus.

- Hallelujah!

- Praise the Lord!

Bill, see how many of those dear people

can match God's bountiful gift

with their own offerings.

You darlings can't make milk,

and God just won't make money.

# Stand up, stand up for Jesus

# Ye soldiers of the cross

# Lift high His royal banner

No preaching tonight. No sermonising.

No sad faces or tears, just happiness.

Tomorrow...

tomorrow is the last night

of our revival here,

but when I leave,

you're going to carry on my work.

You're all of you evangelists,

every blessed one of you.

Shake hands with the person on your

right. Go on! Ask them if they're saved.

Won't you shake hands for Jesus?

Bless you, brother.

Sing, everybody! Sing his praises!

- Sister Falconer!

- Won't you find happiness in Jesus?

It's happiness to hear your wondrous

message. Can I have a moment?

Excuse me, please. Excuse me.

- Excuse me, please.

- Thank you, brother.

Oh, uh, yes... Sorry. No change.

Thank you.

(car horn)

I picked some flowers for you.

Sister, my son saw the Virgin Mother

on the roof last night after your sermon.

Can you spare me an hour?

I simply can't. Aren't our counsellors

taking care of you? Sister Rachel?

Sister Rachel, see what you can do. Every

one of these lovely people is important.

- May I have your names, please?

- I must congratulate you again.

- Thank you.

- I'm a preacher.

- I know how inspired you must've been.

- What church?

What church? Well, uh, at present,

I don't exactly have a church, but...

What is it this time, brother?

Booze or women?

Why, Sister Falconer. Me?

Whichever one it is,

you have my blessing. Jim?

- Uh, Sister, I, uh...

- Nice try, brother.

- Will prayer cure diabetes?

- Would you give me your address?

- Sister?

- Just a moment.

- What denomination?

- I must talk to you.

- If you'll just leave your name.

- I have an important message for you.

A message? From Sister Falconer?

- I heard you sing last night.

- Oh?

I know flattery don't mean much

to a talented person like you,

but when you sang that

inspiring song "Beulah Land",

it made me realise that music

is the voice of love.

- Oh.

- And what is love?

Love is the morning and the evening star.

America. A land of great opportunity.

Take me. I've been with the Central

States Appliance Company a year.

I'm their crack salesman already. They

wanna make me a partner. It's a great life.

Folks in 14 states know me by my

first name. Makes a fella feel humble.

- Would you like to start with a cocktail?

- A cocktail in the middle of the day?

Don't you know that drinkin' is sinful

and against the principles of Coolidge?

I meant shrimp cocktail.

Just bring us some of

Mother's apple pie and coffee.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry.

Tell me, when did you

first start servin' God?

Two years ago. In Cato, Missouri. Sister

Sharon's gospel singer got hurt in a riot.

A riot? In a Christian town like...

What was the name?

Cato.

Cato, Missouri. Yes, some roughnecks

started yellin' and screamin' and hollerin'.

During the services?

Sister Sharon yelled to a farmer on our

side "Hit him one for the Lord, brother!"

Apple pie. They ought to write

a song about apple pie.

A gospel song. And you should sing it.

(whistle blows)

(conductor) All aboard!

- Godspeed the good work, Sister!

- Good luck, Sister Sharon!

Godspeed, Sister Sharon! Good luck!

Shara?

Our advance man in Lincoln, Nebraska,

got drunk, and he's disappeared.

No more business tonight.

- Thank heavens. When I didn't see you...

- Thinkin' about you every second.

The fire department in Lincoln say

that we can't put up a tent our size.

- The church committee are bickering...

- Please, Bill.

The gentleman with Sister Falconer.

- Mr. Morgan?

- Yes.

Tell him Mr. Lefferts would like to see him

out back on the observation platform.

Thank you, sir.

Mr. Lefferts? My name is Gantry.

Congratulations.

- Sorry I woke you up.

- Then why did you do it?

Oh, I recognised you.

I had to congratulate you on those

articles you wrote about evolution.

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