Love Me or Leave Me Page #4

Chiselers. Leeches.

You got something good,

everybody wants a piece.

Listen, Georgie,

I wanna put her on the radio.

Find out who the top man is

at every station.

Then ask around,

which one we can put the squeeze on.

Wouldn't it be easier just to ask them

to come and listen to her?

Bet you anything they'd give her a job.

- Think so?

- Why not? She sings real good.

At that you might be right.

But if you ain't, and it don't work,

I'll guarantee you one thing:

I'll brain you.

Hey, you. You know anything about radio?

- Yes, a little.

- Good. We're branching out.

- Hi, Johnny. Come in.

- Hello.

He can't make it. I think

he had something to do about his laundry.

Anyway, he said for us

to go ahead and rehearse.

- Pretty fancy, isn't it?

- Yeah.

Marty had it decorated for me

as a birthday present.

It's the first real apartment

I've ever had. I just love it.

Can I get you a drink or something?

Cup of coffee, maybe?

Not now, thank you.

Did you go to the radio station today?

Yes. I spent the morning with Brelston

outlining the first program.

Johnny, I still can't believe it.

My own radio program.

The best possible time on the air.

And how about you, maestro?

Conducting your own orchestra.

Very impressive, both of us.

What happened

when that agent came to see you?

He had a booking for me in New York.

That's what I thought.

Why didn't you take it?

Because I'm not ready for it yet.

And Marty'll tell you when you're ready?

- He's made no mistakes yet.

- Loomis doesn't make mistakes, either.

He's the best agent in the business.

He works for you,

you pay him a commission...

and you don't owe him anything.

- Why don't you let him in?

- Because I don't need him.

- Did Marty tell you, you don't need him?

- I don't need him because I have Marty.

You'll have Marty for a long time, honey.

- He'll be with you every step of the way.

- Let me tell you something.

When it's right for me to be on my own,

I'll be on my own.

Use him and ditch him

at the strategic moment?

That's a charming plan.

What are you talking about?

I don't have any plans.

You make it sound as if...

Why do you always start something?

I don't. I seem to have

a strange effect on you.

When you're with me,

you let yourself realize what you're doing.

Don't blame me if it shocks even you.

Let's go to work.

I'm sick of having you around.

Why don't you quit?

- Why don't you tell the Gimp to fire me?

- You think I can't?

I know you can. Why don't you?

I don't know.

Suppose I tell you.

Let's find him, Ruth. Now. Let's tell him.

No, there's nothing to tell him.

- Nothing's changed. Nothing.

- Ruth, darling.

Marty, I been asking you the same thing

for the past five weeks.

Is she gonna sign with us again?

How long can I stall the sponsor?

- What does she want?

- Just half of Chicago.

Marty, got it.

Relax, Brelston. In a couple of minutes,

you'll know as much as I do.

Loomis? Go ahead, what?

They agreed to everything?

All right, we'll make it. I'll contact you.

Marty, what she wanted? New York?

That's swell. When we gonna go?

Couple of days.

I don't know how smart it is.

Well, anyway, it's done.

You gotta stay here, Georgie.

- You gotta mind the laundry.

- Sure.

How far away is New York?

You'll make visits lots of times.

Well?

- No dice, Brelston.

- What do you mean?

What's the sense of half of Chicago?

She's gonna have all of New York.

Ladies and gentlemen...

I want to invite you all to a party

I'm throwing at the Plaza for Ruthie.

Quiet. I ain't through.

It was gonna be on account of

the winding up of the program.

Now it's for something more important.

Something Ruthie doesn't know yet.

- She's going to New York.

- New York?

She's gonna be in the Ziegfeld Follies.

Congratulations!

All right, boys,

I'll see you over at the party.

- I'm so excited.

- Told you I'd get the best for you, didn't I?

Now maybe you'll have a little confidence.

I do have. I always have had.

- You're coming to the party?

- I'm sorry, I can't. Thank you.

Pretty good, huh? Ziegfeld?

Will you be ready to leave

in a couple of days?

No, I'm not going to New York.

What do you mean, you're not going?

- I'll meet you at the Plaza.

- Wait, Ruthie.

All right, Georgie, take her to the car.

What's the big idea?

I've had another offer in California.

It seems pretty interesting.

There's gratitude for you.

There's nothing I can do for Ruth anymore.

- She's made it. Are you going?

- Yeah, I'm going.

You bet your sweet life I'm going.

She's gonna need me

the longest day she lives...

no matter what you think.

- No matter what I think?

- Yeah, and I know what you think...

her having anything to do with me.

I know what you think about me, too.

A jerk, a dumb mug, strictly for laughs.

No. A cheap crook, pushing people around.

- I ever push Ruthie around?

- You will, pal.

Wise guy, you know everything.

You don't know nothing.

In a million years, you wouldn't know

about Ruthie, how I feel about her.

A girl like that. You don't know nothing.

What I come from, the kind of a life,

the kind of a place.

Same place I did, Snyder.

Same place, same street,

same everything.

Me and a thousand other guys,

and they don't all turn out like you.

Who's she going with?

Answer me that, smart guy.

Who is she going with?

There's only one thing

I got against you, you poor slob.

I'm sorry you quit.

I would have liked to fire you.

All right, come down the steps. That's it.

Good. Boys, come down behind her.

That's it. Cross over. Arms, boys.

Keep coming forward.

Get some bounce into it.

- I stay here?

- That's okay. Just a bit more forward.

That's it. Fine.

Cross over here. Cross over there.

Stay there, Ruth. We'll fix it later.

Now move over a little.

That's it. Right there. Now go back.

That's right. All the way back.

Now you do the same thing.

Clear the way, so she can get through.

Come on, that's it. That's good.

That's fine. Good.

Little bit more. All right.

- That's all.

- All right, lunch, everybody. Back at 2:00.

- Same number, same people.

- Same mistakes.

I seem to do everything wrong.

No, it's me.

I haven't turned on the magic yet.

Take off the worried face

and get some lunch.

It's in your dressing room, Miss Etting.

Mr. Ziegfeld ordered it.

Thank you. Doesn't everyone

get spoiled rotten around here?

- No, we just choose a select few.

- Goodbye.

Trent, don't go. I wanna talk to you.

Mr. Snyder, I didn't know

you were honoring us today.

Today and every day.

And I still say it's lousy.

All week, I've been trying to tell you.

Why don't you listen?

Look how you've been handling her.

Guys prancing around, hiding her.

It's crummy.

Sorry you don't like my work.

Tell Mr. Ziegfeld.

I'm telling you, big shot.

Don't give me that fish-eye of yours.

I know what's good for her.

I ought to. I'm her manager.

She never made a move I didn't tell her.

I'm sure Miss Etting

has found your advice invaluable.

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