Footlight Parade Page #4

interesting book, Slavery In Old Africa.

- Have you read it?

- I don't even have time to read my mail.

Oh, it's filled with the most

fascinating pictures.

- All the women were slaves-

- Hold it, Vivian, I is a coming!

Say, that's a natural.

- Where is this book?

- I think I know a shop that keeps it.

I can see it now. Pretty girls in black face.

"Slaves of Old Africa. "

White men capture them.

- Can we get that book tonight?

- Perhaps, if we leave right away.

- Well, let's get going.

- Oh dear, I forgot. I've had no dinner.

Well, have it with me.

After we find a bookshop.

I'd adore it.

Good night, Nanette.

Oh, good night. Never mind the outline.

I think I've got a new one.

One, two, three, four, five, six, down.

Mr. Francis?

The music department sent down

this new arrangement.

Give it to Joe. Can't you see I'm busy?

I've got everything on my shoulders.

Music, costume, girls, cats.

And now I'm beginning to sniffle.

I feel as though I'm coming down

with a dreadful...

Now that's where Scotty comes in.

- Where is he?

- He isn't in yet.

Mr. Kent's gonna hear about this.

From the beginning, girls.

One, two, three, four, five, six, down.

You know you're late, don't you?

Good morning, dear teacher

Good morning to you

I'm going to report you.

Mr. Kent is very strict

about chorus people being on time.

- I'm not in the chorus anymore.

- Oh.

- They threw me out.

- I'm sorry.

And you were gonna report me.

One, two, three, four, five, six, down.

One, two, three...

Perhaps I could speak to Mr. Kent.

He might-

Now that's not fair, Miss Thorn.

You know I'm all upset. Look.

My hair's turning gray

with so much on my mind...

and you're keeping Scotty from rehearsals.

But he isn't in your chorus anymore.

Well, of course, he isn't.

They made him a principal last night.

A principal! Him?

I told you your favorite people had a voice.

All these annoyances piling up.

Come on, Scotty.

I'm waiting for you to sing that number.

Don't get a cold, will you? Come on.

- So long, time clock.

- So long, crooner.

Here's the statement

for the last six months.

Profits going up all the time.

And here's the statement for Mr. Kent.

No profits at all.

Well, Mr. Kent's statement shows that

all profits go back into production.

- Is that right?

- Exactly.

- Draw $20,000 in cash for Gould and me.

- Charge it to production costs as usual.

Yes, and take a century note for yourself.

- Good morning.

- Is it still morning?

You beautiful girl.

Nice of you to drop in.

There's some mighty pretty country

around here.

Eleven wires, nine phone calls and one

secretary slowly going out of her mind.

Arrange an audition for some girls.

I want one

to sing that number with Scotty.

And I'm starting a new department today:

Styles and Ideas.

- Who's gonna run it?

- She'll be here in a minute.

Has brains and all kinds of culture.

Just what we need.

Gave me a swell idea: Slaves of Old Africa.

A hit.

I should've kicked her out

the minute I saw her.

Hello?

Four girls from the Swiss Navy unit

married a quartet in Philadelphia...

- yesterday and they wanna quit.

- Quartet any good?

Is the quartet any good? Yeah.

- Put them in the act.

- Put them in the act.

- Sorry, Chester, to keep you waiting.

- Hello, Vivian.

This is Miss Rich.

My secretary, Miss Prescott.

I know Miss Rich, if you remember.

Oh, yeah, that's right.

I met her at your place.

Vivian is the head of our

new Style and Idea department.

I hope you'll both be very happy.

Oh, Nan, would you get

Miss Rich an office?

I'm awfully busy, but I'll see that it's done.

This way, please.

Don't forget about

our luncheon engagement, Chester.

-1:
00.

- Right.

- She work here?

- Our new Style and Idea department...

the head.

Splendid choice, Chester, splendid choice.

- Get her an office.

- Okay.

Here's our semi-annual statement.

- Maybe I'd be better off on a salary.

- I'll say you would.

When you've got a third interest?

Don't kid yourself.

Frazer and I ain't drawing a cent

out of the business either.

It's tough on you boys.

I don't see how you get along.

And besides, Gladstone's copped

the mechanical doll angle already.

- I'll stop it some way, Chester.

- That's gonna be a big help.

Between Gladstone stealing all our stuff...

and you saying there are no profits...

I'm getting pretty well fed up.

But, Chester, think of

the Apollo Deluxe Theater.

- So what?

- They're gonna do prologues.

- Forty houses.

- Have you signed them?

Apolinaris says they're too classy

for our regular stuff.

And Gladstone's hot after the contract.

It's up to you, Chester,

to think up something original.

Gladstone again. That means Thompson.

Well, we'll take care of him.

That's the spirit, Chester.

I knew we could count on you.

Come in.

I'm Charlie Bowers.

- Well?

- Mrs. Gould's brother.

Of course.

Won't you come in, Mr. Bowers?

Yes, thank you.

- Awfully glad you dropped in.

- Yes, same here.

- So sweet of you to say that.

- Yeah.

Gives one the feeling of...

What shall I say?

Esprit de corps.

Yeah, that's the way I feel about it.

Oh, I'd like to ask you, Mr. Bowers...

- Pardon me.

- That's all right. Go too far.

All right, girls, stand up!

Show Mr. Kent your legs.

- Oh, higher, higher.

- This is an audition, not an exhibition.

I'm not a mind reader, you know.

Down, girls.

This audition is to find a girl

to sing a number with Mr. Blair.

- You all got copies of the song?

- All of them.

Sing it for them once, will you, Scotty?

And, Francis, show the routine.

- Just pick up there.

- Watch this very carefully, girls.

Ah, the moon is here

Ah, and we are here

Love is off to a wonderful start

I'm sitting pretty

And you're by my side

I'm well-supplied

Plenty of you, plenty to do

Ah, it feels so grand

When I hold your hand

There's a hop, skip and jump in my heart

What is this funny thing

I can't get too much of?

I've got a feeling it's love

All right. You got the idea, girls? Let's go.

- Now, who's first?

- Mary.

Give us a pickup. Great.

Ah, the moon is here

Ah, and we are here

Sorry. Sorry, little lady. Next.

You're next. Come on.

Pick up there.

I always get in my singing mood

with perfume. Do you mind?

Never mind the smell, honey. Sing.

Ah, the moon is here

Ah, and we are here

Love is off to a wonderful start

Sorry. Sorry, won't do.

Why, I've sung before crowned heads.

You've laid yourself wide open for a crack.

We'll let it go. All right, next.

Come on, you're next. Give us a pickup.

Ah, the moon is here

Ah, and we are here

Love is off to a beautiful start

I'm sitting pretty

You're by my side

I'm well-supplied

Plenty of you, plenty to do

Ah, it feels so grand

When you hold my hand

There's a hop, skip and jump in my heart

What is this funny thing

I can't get too much of?

I've got a feeling it's love

All right, that's it. Get to work, Francis.

- Nice going, kid.

- Thanks.

That's all for the singers.

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