Ladies of the Chorus Page #4

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and his friends were horrified.

There were terrible scenes after that.

When I couldn't stand it any longer,

I slipped out of the house

one night and left Boston.

What happened

to Alan?

His father sent him off to Europe

and had the marriage annulled.

And you never tried

to get in touch with him?

I had no reason to.

Then what did you do?

What could I do?

I went back to the only thing

I knew, burlesque.

In the middle

of the act, poor kid.

Is the doctor still in there?

Doc, how is she?

It's all right.

Nothing to worry about.

Of course, she should not

be working.

What's wrong with her?

Nothing wrong with her. She's

going to be a mother. That's all.

A mother!

You mean right now?

Well, not right this minute.

Well, what do you know.

Peggy was born

four months later.

For a long time, we lived

in theatre dressing rooms.

As soon as she was old enough,

I put her in school.

And I continued on in burlesque.

Not as its queen. I became just

one of the ladies of the chorus.

Boo!

Billy!

Mae!

Oh, Billy, it's so good to see you.

I was out front watching you.

Kitten, you're still the cutest.

How do you feel, Mae?

Oh, I'm fine. Gee, you look wonderful.

Oh, I feel good, too.

What are you doing here?

Did the show close?

No, the show's

playing Boston this week.

You weren't laid off?

No, no, I quit.

Let's get out of here. This traffic...

You quit?

Yeah. This traffic is like

Grand Central Station.

But you can't afford to.

You're not as young as

you used to be, you know.

Oh, I don't know.

Besides, I got a few

simoleons stashed away.

It's like this.

I got a letter from Peggy.

She's graduating from high school.

Yes, Billy, she is.

Well, it wouldn't be an

honest-to-goodness graduation

without your old Uncle Billy,

would it? So here I am.

Same old Billy.

Oh, cut it out, Mae. You'll embarrass

me in front of all these people.

Oh, I got a little present

for Peggy's graduation.

You think she'll like it?

Oh, it's beautiful.

She'll love it. Oh, but, Billy, you

shouldn't have done it. You can't afford it.

Oh, it's nothing. It's a little thing

I bought a long time ago.

Uh... It's for Peggy, remember?

Well, that's about all there is.

After graduation, Peggy

insisted on going to work,

and she managed to get

in the same chorus with me.

That was her way

of helping out.

So you see, Randy, the marriage you propose

for Peggy didn't work out in my case,

and it won't in yours.

You're wrong.

People are different today.

They're more broad-minded

about such things.

Mother will accept Peggy

for what she is.

It won't work.

Mrs Martin, I hope you'll

forgive me for saying this,

but you have

a mother complex.

I'll consent to the marriage,

on one condition.

Yes, what is it?

That you tell your mother you're going

to marry Peggy Martin, a burlesque queen.

I don't want you

to misunderstand me.

I agree that your experience

wasn't a happy one.

But I do think you're being very

short-sighted to inject your bitterness

into Peggy's future.

I'll tell Mother. That

was always my intention.

Good day, Mrs Martin.

Yes?

It's me, Mother. May I come in?

Well, yes, dear, come in.

What are you doing up so early?

Couldn't sleep.

Oh, something on your mind?

Something you didn't

tell me last night?

Yes, and it's...

It's very important.

Randy, you're in love.

How did you know?

It's very simple.

You're just like your father.

Every time he had anything on his mind,

it was sure to be written on his face.

Okay, you win.

Well, anyhow, she's...

Don't tell me.

Let me guess.

Hazel Langley?

No.

Mertis Rogers?

No, no.

Ann Crawford? No?

No, it's none of them, Mother. It's...

Well, then, who is it?

Peggy. Peggy Martin.

Oh. The Boston Martins?

No, just plain Martin, Mother.

No social position.

But does it make any difference, as

long as Peggy and I love each other?

She's wonderful.

And so's her mother.

Well, can't you tell me

something of their background?

Background? I'll, uh...

I want you

to meet them first.

And when you get to know them, I'll

tell you all about their background.

All right, dear, if

that's the way you want it.

Why not invite them here to

spend a couple of weeks with us.

Oh, Mom, you always

say the right thing.

I love you.

You know, you're a doll.

Sure you've

got everything?

Just a few little things

left in the bedroom.

Uncle Billy!

Well, how's my little gal?

Hi, Mae.

Oh, it's wonderful to see you. We

were afraid you wouldn't make it.

Oh, I got your call, so... What's

the do? You folks going some place?

To Cleveland. We're going

to visit Randy's mother.

She's invited us.

Isn't it wonderful?

Oh, it sure is, honey.

We're leaving on the 2: 10 train.

Oh, Uncle Billy, I'm the

happiest girl in the world.

You'd better start thinking about coming

to Cleveland to give the bride away.

You bet I will.

I've got to finish

packing, Uncle Billy.

Well, I sure hope this works out.

It will, Billy. Randy has told

his mother we're from burlesque.

Burlesque. Seems

I've heard of that.

This must be the place.

Yes, we've lived

in Cleveland all our lives.

My husband started

his business here.

Of course, he had branch offices in

New York and Chicago and Los Angeles.

We saw a great deal of

those cities and Europe, too.

I suppose you're a native New Yorker.

Oh, yes.

What was your

husband's business?

Uh, brokerage,

Mother.

Really?

Yes, he was a Boston man.

Oh, we've some very

dear friends in Boston.

Do you know the Drummonds

by any chance?

No, Mrs Carroll.

Or the Peter Milners?

Uh... No.

What schools

did you attend, my dear?

Well, Mrs Carroll, I...

Excuse me, Madame. Mrs

Brewster is on the telephone.

Will you excuse me?

Randy, you didn't

keep your promise.

No, I didn't.

But why, after I made it

perfectly clear?

Well, maybe I should have.

But, well, I thought I'd tell Mother

after she got to know you.

Give her a chance to see for

herself what kind of people you are.

It was a mistake not to tell her.

I don't think so.

Maybe Randy's right, Mother.

I hope so.

Oh, I almost forgot. The

gang's over at Roger Clark's.

I want them

to meet Peggy.

Why, of course, dear. I know how

anxious your friends are to see Peggy.

Yes, they are. Come on,

honey. See you later.

Don't be late for dinner.

We won't.

We're going over to the Brewsters'

tonight to have a few hours of bridge.

You do play bridge,

don't you?

Oh, I'm afraid not. I could

never get interested in it.

That's perfectly all right, my dear.

There's always a little game of poker

for those who are allergic to bridge.

Hi there, stranger.

Hi.

It seems to me I know you

from some place.

Oh, yes, you're my mother.

I believe that's it.

Oh, it's so nice running

into you again.

Oh, mothers like that sort of thing.

We should see each other

more often.

Maybe have lunch

together someday.

Well, I'll consult my date book.

Oh, I know you're awfully

tied up, but, um...

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