Frankie and Johnny Page #3

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But, outside of that, nothing.

- Come here.

- Hey, Boss.

A customer wants to raise the limit.

- How's he doing?

- Big loser.

Losers we always accommodate.

Don't shuffle the cards. I'll be right back.

- Hey, you can't do that to me.

- Hello again.

- Do what?

- Disappear.

You and I meeting tonight was

no accident. The gypsies sent you.

Gypsies? Who believes in them?

I do. A fortune-teller told me a gorgeous

redhead would come into my life,

the luckiest thing

that ever happened to me.

- I'm a gorgeous rabbit's foot?

- You don't know how badly I need you.

- Tell me more.

- Oh, hello, Boss.

- I finally found my good-luck charm.

- Did you, now?

I'll break every casino on the river

before I'm through.

You're through now.

Didn't you tell him who you are?

- I don't even know who he is.

- Allow me.

Johnny... my number one girl, Nellie Bly.

How about that?

She means a lot to both of us.

She's private stock -

all 120 pounds of her.

Weren't you due on stage

five minutes ago?

Ten.

- Forget it, Nellie. He's spoken for.

- Yes, but I'm not.

To show you how worried I am,

let's go hear lover boy sing.

# Wise men have known

women can't live alone

# So a woman should understand

# That what every woman lives for

# What every woman lives for

# Is to give her love to a man

# He may not be the kind

you find in picture books

# A real-life hero

with dashing handsome looks

# He may not be the guy

that you've been dreaming of

# But that won't stop you

from giving him your love

# So, dear, can't you see

that it was meant to be?

# It's part... part of our destiny

# Cos what every woman lives for

# What every woman lives for

# Is to give her love to a man

# And I hope that man is me

Hey! Johnny likes her.

Maybe it'll be one big happy triangle,

and I'll come out on the right side!

What is this? You wouldn't talk to me

last night and won't today. What did I do?

Who smiled at Nellie Bly last night

like she was the only girl in the world?

Who is she?

- D'you really wanna know?

- I really wanna know.

- Where do you think I got this?

- You robbed a bank.

- 700 dollars, and I owe it all to her.

- You owe it all to me.

I got nothin' but admiration

for a man who pays his debts.

Now we're even,

give or take a few dollars.

- When I win, I lose.

- Who hates you up there?

If you see her again - and my advice is:

Don't - thank Nellie Bly for me.

Somebody page me?

Anybody I haven't met yet, I'm Nellie Bly.

I'm Mitzi. Last week's kisses.

You might

get him back on the rebound.

Rebound?

I'm the original rubber ball.

- Looks like Mitzi's got her hands full.

- Looks like you have.

- Hello, everybody.

- Hello.

- I hear you wrote a new number.

- It's the one I told you about.

Frankie, this is Nellie.

Shake hands and come out fighting.

- I just might do that.

- Your claws are showing.

And they scratch.

- I hear you're Braden's girl, off and on.

- I'm nobody's girl.

Let's keep it that way.

Could we stop wasting time

and rehearse?

- You written lots of hits?

- A trunkful.

- Wait till Joe hears this one.

- Joe the deck hand?

Joe Wilbur, the music publisher

from New York. He'll be here next week.

It's money in the bank if he likes it.

Money you can keep.

- For how long?

- We own half the song.

On account of the title

- "Frankie and Johnny".

At least the billing is right.

Let's hear it, Stephen Foster.

# Frankie and Johnny were lovers

# Oh Lordy, how they could love

Uh... just play it.

# Frankie and Johnny were lovers

Time they got married.

# Oh Lordy, how they could love

Blabbermouth.

# Swore to be true to each other

# This story has no moral

# Hmmm

# This story has no end

# Hmmm

# This story only goes to show

# That there ain't no good in men

# They'll do you wrong

# Yes, they'll do you wrong

# Frankie and me, we are lovers

# Oh Lordy, how we can love

# Swore to be true to each other

# Just as true as stars above

# Frankie, I'm your man

# I'll never do you wrong

# I knew that I was a winner

# When a new gal caught my eye

# But I couldn't two-time Frankie

# For that chick named Nellie Bly

# I'm Frankie's man

# I wouldn't do her wrong

# Baby, leave me here to gamble

# I'll be home before dawn

# Don't wait up for me, honey

# And don't you worry while I'm gone

# Johnny, you're my man

# Now, don't you do me wrong

# Johnny, he wasn't too lucky

# He was a loser that night

# So he tried to change his luck

# With a gal who wasn't right

# He's Frankie's man

# But he's doin' her wrong

# Frankie,

I don't wanna make you no trouble

# Honey, I don't wanna tell you no lie

# But...

# I saw your sweet man, Johnny

# He was messin' round

with that Nellie Bly

# Well, if he's your man

# Then he's doin' you wrong

# Frankie went back to find Johnny

# But she wasn't lookin' for fun

# In her sweet, dainty little hand

# She was totin' a 44 gun

# To shoot her man

# Cos he was doin' her wrong

# Frankie looked into the barroom

# And right there, in front of her eyes

# There was her sweet man, Johnny

# Making love to that Nellie Bly

# He was her man

# She caught him doin' her wrong

Johnny?

# Frankie, I beg you, don't shoot me

# They'll put you away in a cell

# They'll put you

where the cold wind blows

# From the hottest corner of hell

# Johnny, you're my man

# But you're doin' me wrong

- Mr Wilbur...

- Shh.

# He was her man

# But he done her wrong

- Did I write a hit, Mr Wilbur?

- You know what's good about this song?

- The words?

- The music?

No. Them.

You ought to be on Broadway.

You didn't like the song?

It's fine for their act.

I might even publish it.

But a hit? I know one when I hear it.

You're just saying that because

you don't want to give us an advance.

- Shut up, sweetheart.

- No advance, no song.

- Back in the trunk it goes.

- Nobody pushes me around. Forget it.

- How big an advance?

- Talk to my business manager.

Well, now, Mr Wilbur! Um...

- $300 and the song is yours.

- $100.

- Oh. Let's just split the difference. $250.

- Let's not quibble about it. $200 it is.

- Were you serious about Frankie and me?

- I've seen better, but not very often.

- Isn't Johnny great?

- Isn't she wonderful?

All you need is new costumes, new

arrangements and new special material.

Here's my card.

- Look me up when you get to New York.

- Thank you, Mr Wilbur.

- We're on our way!

- Goodbye, riverboat! Hello, Broadway!

# We never got discouraged

# We never had a doubt

# Cos sooner or later

# Talent must win out

# Look out, Broadway, we're comin' fast

# Now we're gonna see

our names in lights at last

# No more hot dogs at Sloppy Joe's

# We're gonna dine on steak and wine

at Delmonico's

# Rich or poor, it's great to have dough

# That's one thing we know

# Lots of fun, lots of laughs

# Signing cheques and contracts

and autographs

# We're off for N-e-w Y-o-r-k

# Look out, look out, Broadway

# I wanna see all the hustle and bustle

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