Follow the Fleet Page #5

in all of my life.

Who did it? What did he say?

Oh, I couldn't repeat it.

Who was it? Point him out to me.

That man over there near the pond.

I don't like his face.

Listen, landlubber, I know your type.

You can't get away with that.

He's lucky I slipped.

-Let go of me.

-Take it easy, buddy.

Let go of me.

I'm awfully sorry

this had to happen, lieutenant.

Thanks so much for the use of your ring.

Return to your ship at once.

Aye, aye, sir.

What's the matter, Bake? You look sick.

Can I get you some bicarbonate of soda?

Sorry you're leaving so early, Miss Martin.

I have to get up early. I'm looking

for my sister. Have you seen her?

-She was on the terrace a moment ago.

-Thank you.

-What's the matter with you tonight, Bilgy?

-Nothing. Why?

-You're acting so funny.

-Am I?

Why, I don't mean to be.

That's more like you were last night.

This is tonight, baby.

And remember the date for your diary.

Now, remember what I told you.

Well, look who's here.

Thank you very much.

Where did you come from?

That's all right, son. You did your best.

I know. She treats me that way too.

I don't often try to apologize

because I seldom make any mistakes.

I thought we were

all even after last night.

Gosh, Sherry, I didn't know you took

this whole thing so seriously.

-Don't flatter yourself.

-It's Connie. She's going back home.

Why, what's happened?

Like a sap, she fell in love with a sailor.

Well, look at you.

I don't consider you a sap.

Save that for the high-class

patter and genteel dance act.

Connie won't listen.

If she goes back to Bellport...

...she'll just eat her heart out.

Tell me who it is, and I'll bring him back

if I have to drag him to her.

She wouldn't want him that way.

Who is he?

Well, with the usual

lack of imagination a sailor has...

...he told her his name was Smith.

The call him Bilge.

Bilge Smith? He's my shipmate.

I might have guessed it.

No, seriously, Bilge is a swell guy.

I'll talk to him.

Bake, you don't understand.

Connie wouldn't want him

if things had to be explained.

He's stuck on that Iris Manning.

Say, what's she like?

Anything in a uniform.

There, don't you worry about it.

I guess maybe I can

take care of this matter.

Captain Hickey, did you guarantee

this whole thing personally?

No. Not exactly.

I did tell them I sailed under your father.

And if the amount isn't met, you're

in danger of losing your job, aren't you?

Well, I'm kind of sick

of being a landlubber anyway.

Don't you worry about it, child.

Goodbye, Miss Connie.

Ahoy, Captain Hickey.

Ahoy, Miss Sherry.

-Well.

-I want you to meet...

...the United States Navy, Bake Baker.

-How do you do, Mr. Baker?

-Captain Hickey.

So this is the young man

you've been moping about, eh?

-Well, fair weather.

-Thank you, sir.

Well, I don't suppose you can

make it any worse than it is.

You see what you can do with her.

-Hello, Bake.

-Hello, Connie.

Sherry tells me you're leaving.

Well, that's probably

the wisest thing to do. Run away.

All this stuff about fighting for your man

makes things so complicated.

If all girls would just give up

and run back to Bellport...

...then we'd see the end of family life.

Little Junior would remain just an idea...

...and every man would burn

his own toast. I thank you.

Well, I'm not leaving.

Staying right here.

There, you see? I told you I'd fix it.

Why, Connie, that's swell.

What happened?

Well, I've been talking to Captain Hickey.

He's about to lose his job

for what he's done for me.

I've got to have 700 dollars

by Saturday.

Seven hundred dollars? We earn that

in a week, but they don't pay it to us.

There, Mr. Baker, is something

for you to manage.

What do you say?

I don't know, Baker. If Nolan

ever found out, he'd fire me.

All I want is a loan of some scenery

and costumes for the one night.

Now, how will he ever know?

Well, let's see.

We had a show called Mum's the Word

that folded in four days.

Those costumes were pretty cute,

but Nolan never liked them.

You can have those.

Thanks.

And if you ever need a battleship,

you can have mine.

-So long, boy.

-So long.

-Hi, Bake.

-Hello, Bake.

You know, rehearsal

was called for four bells.

Say, Bake.

Is there going to be some dames

in this show with us?

If it's the fairer sex you're referring to,

the answer is yes.

-Hello, Sherry.

-Hi.

Lookie there.

How about that, huh?

-These kids offered to help out.

-Oh, gee, that's swell of you.

I wish that tall blond angel

would adopt me.

You ain't fooling, either.

Hello.

How was heaven when you left?

Tell me, little boy, did you get a whistle

or a baseball bat with that suit?

Bomber and his blonds.

Thanks, fellows. I can see

you guys don't appreciate high art.

What's the matter, Sherry?

It's Connie. She says she's going back

to Bellport after the show, anyway.

I wish there was something

we could do for her.

That Manning woman.

Maybe something can be done.

Let's not worry about it now.

We ought to run through the new number.

We haven't been through

the dance though.

Let's take a crack at it anyway.

There isn't much time.

-Come on, fellows, let's have it, will you?

-A-flat, fellows.

That's it.

I'm moving my gear

up to the chief's quarters.

Mind getting that riveting machine out

of the way so that I can get to my locker?

Don't bother me, son.

The show must go on.

Why?

Why? I don't know why,

but that's what they always say.

I hear you're putting on a show

with the Martin girls.

Yeah.

What are you doing tonight, Bilge?

I've got a date

with Mrs. Manning at 10:00.

Well, I'll be seeing you.

"Was I long, darling?"

Was I long, darling?

Was I long, darling?

Was I long, darling?

"And every hour away from you

seems like a day."

-Mr. Bake Baker.

-Yes.

-Mr. Baker, I'm so happy to see you again.

-Oh, thank you.

It's so thoughtful of you

to ask me to join your show.

-I see you have the part I sent.

-Yes...

...it's short order to learn by tomorrow

night. I spent the afternoon studying it.

-I think I know it quite well.

-That's fine.

I just thought I'd drop in

to run through it with you...

-...since we haven't much time.

-Mr. Smith isn't here yet.

Oh, he'll be here.

Shall we start?

Well, now, I thought we'd make this

a sort of a dress rehearsal.

Oh, dress rehearsal?

I'm supposed to wear a negligee.

Yes, it's very important to the scene.

-This is going to be a lot of fun, isn't it?

-You'll be surprised.

I'll rush and slip one on.

-It'll be more effective that way, won't it?

-Oh, definitely, yes.

Yes.

-Mrs. Manning is waiting on the porch, sir.

-Thank you, Benson.

I know, it's Bilgy.

What are you doing here?

Who, me?

I'm here at Mrs. Manning's

special invitation.

Have a cigar.

I'll call for a drink for you.

Hey, Max!

What's this all about?

Oh, my being here?

Iris and I have developed

a very close friendship...

...ever since the night of her party.

Listen, how far has this thing gone?

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