Elmer Gantry Page #7

She'll be out in a moment.

Didn't I tell you?

Didn't I spot her genius first?

There's been nothing like her

since Joan of Arc! I always say -

and you can quote me on this one, boys -

there's nothing succeeds like success.

- Let's get 'em outta here.

- A triumph over doubt and dissension.

- Biggest thing in Christianity.

- Can I have a picture?

Not me, and Sister's had

a tryin' ordeal, but thank you.

I was saying, if it doesn't get you here...

The poor child's practically out

on her feet. Let's give her a break.

Sure. Sure. Sure. Come on, boys, let's

give the little lady a break, shall we?

Time to say good night. We appreciated

all of you. Thanks for your cooperation.

Good night, Sister.

- Good night, Mr. Morgan.

- Good night.

- Good night, Bill.

- Mr. Babbitt.

- Never have made it without you.

- Thanks, Elmer. Good night. Good night.

- Brother Gantry...

- Sister Rachel.

Here's a young lady who deserves

your attention - our maestro of music.

Captain Holt - a real Trojan.

Thank you. Good night.

- Thank you, sir.

- Bill, I'll see if she needs anything.

Gantry... thank you.

Bill boy.

- Yes. Yes.

- Good night.

Bill boy. Yes.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Shara?

Are you decent?

Zenith Times-Dispatch? Just a moment.

Slug this "Lead all, article one. "

Revivalism came to Zenith last night.

After six years of backwoods success,

Sister Sharon Falconer -

F-A-L-C-O-N-E-R -

faced a fractious,

overflowing, metropolitan crowd.

- Paragraph.

- (phone rings)

Jim Lefferts. Uh, later, please.

- "Metropolitan crowd. "

- Um...

Many came to jeer...

but stayed to cheer.

Sister Sharon tamed the Philistines

with a simple prayer.

The big-city hicks swallowed the

chocolate-coated pill with hosannas.

- Give me a start on that, would you?

- Yeah, yeah.

But...

if simple prayer was

the main attraction of revivalism...

Sister's tent would soon be as empty

as the churches she claims she can fill.

Paragraph.

What... is a revival?

Is it a church? Is it a religion?

Or is it a circus sideshow

complete with freaks, magic,

and rabble-rousing?

Why does a revival attract thousands?

To see a miracle? To be saved from

a lifetime of sin in five minutes?

To be entertained, cured, cuddled,

in quick, painless salvation?

Paragraph.

Zenith is the heart of the Bible Belt. This

is an age that likes noise and whoopee.

We're a fertile land

for corn, beans, squash,

rumble-seat sex, and revivalism.

Hallelujah, brother.

(Lefferts) What qualifies someone to be

a revivalist? Nothing Nothing at all

There is not one law

in any state in the Union

Protecting the public from the

hysterical onslaught of revivalists

But the law does permit them

to invest in tax-free property,

and collect money,

without accounting for how it is used

What do you get for your money?

Can you get into heaven

by contributing one buck or 50?

Can you get life eternal by shaking hands

for Jesus with Elmer Gantry?

"Continued on page three. "

So...

"I watched this unholy trinity - Falconer,

Gantry, Morgan - save Nebraska. "

"Has sin in that state been washed away?

Is there less envy, lust or adultery?"

- Ah.

- Gee, I hope not.

- Break it up. A party of johns want action.

- Keep readin', honey.

- But, Lulu, they'll be right over.

- Drop dead!

- Cigarette me, Pete, honey.

- Honey, read!

"To Elmer Gantry, God is an all-American

football player with a long white beard,

who carries lightning in one hand,

and a bag of tricks in the other. "

"And Gantry has the high-pressure

style and personality to sell this God

even to big-city slickers. "

"He can make

innocent people feel guilty...

and bad people feel good. "

"Gantry has a voice made for promises. "

- Can he save anybody?

- Can he?

Can he? Anywhere, any time.

In a tent, standin' up,

layin' down, or any other way.

And he's got plenty of ways!

Lulu? Was you saved

by him, Lulu, honey?

Sister, I was saved by him

way back in Schoenheim, Kansas.

"Love... love is the mornin'

and the evenin' star. "

"And what is love?

Not the carnal, but the divine love!"

Oh, he gave me special instructions

back of the pulpit Christmas Eve.

He got to howlin' "Repent. Repent!"

And I got to moanin' "Save me. Save me. "

He rammed the fear of God into me so

fast I never heard my old man's footsteps.

The next thing I knew, I was out in the

cold, hard snow in my bare little soul.

Oh, Brother Gantry, save me!

Don't do it, Shara. Don't get yourself

mixed up in an alley fight. Listen to me...

(click)

Why, Georgie, hello!

- You shut up. I am crucified to pieces.

- What's the matter?

What's the matter? "Why did

George F Babbitt underwrite a guarantee

of $30,000 to bring a revival to Zenith?"

"Is Sister Sharon

preaching the word of Jesus

or the gospel of Babbitt's

real-estate business?"

For God's sakes! I don't want any trouble.

I am in business.

I'm a 32nd-degree Mason.

George boy, don't take

this thing so seriously!

- I just sure as hell don't think it's a joke!

- We'll lick it, Georgie!

"Georgie!" My telephone

has not stopped ringing.

Everybody's mad at me or laughing at me.

Even my own family's turned against me.

As of right now,

I am cancelling out on my support -

financial and every other way.

George, you've got to fight back!

- Fight the press?

- Yes.

Mister, do you know anybody

ever licked the newspapers?

Me and you.

Besides, I am for a free press,

and for free enterprise,

and for... whatever the hell

the other freedoms are!

But, Reverend, you invited us here.

If you withdraw your support now, you're

endorsing this vicious newspaper smear.

- These telegrams of protest...

- There's always a lunatic fringe...

These are from my parishioners. These

are complaints from my church board.

Even my national superior

telephoned me long-distance.

I'm sorry, Mr. Morgan.

- If you turn against us now...

- What I do doesn't matter.

Public opinion has turned against you.

That does matter.

- Tell him it's Sister Sharon Falconer.

- (knocking at door)

- No, I'll wait.

- (knocking)

- Did you find Mr. Gantry?

- Nobody's seen him since he left.

- His hotel room?

- Hasn't been there all day.

Yes? Mr. Eddington?

I want to see you. No, sir, at once.

No, your office will be fine.

Will you please have Mr. Lefferts there?

Thank you.

Maybe... something

happened to Mr. Gantry.

Forget Mr. Gantry.

- Evening, George.

- I'm busy.

I had a busy day myself.

Owner:
George F Babbitt.

Tenant:
speakeasy.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- Of course. 1121 Maple Street.

Store front, apartment in rear.

Owner:
George F Babbitt.

Business...

- Business:
prostitution.

- On my property?

- Well, I'll have them evicted.

- Of course. Of course.

You've been victimised, George.

- Same as me.

- Yeah.

Evening, boys. Never bet into an open

pair... unless you've got the lock!

- Say good night, George.

- Oh, this?

Well, we're just playing for chips -

you know, sociable.

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