Million Dollar Mermaid Page #4

in impresario.

Everybody has the world's

greatest idea for the Hippodrome.

Mine's not the greatest,

Mr. Harper,

but it's a colorful

and exploitable package.

It's good. It's one of

the best that I've ever heard.

My compliment

on your showmanship,

but I can't use it.

You can't use it? But...

I simply can't risk it

on an unknown.

Unknown?

Take a look at this clippings.

They're impressive.

They're very impressive

but they happened in London.

In New York,

the story was just a swift.

I can't build the whole show

around the swimmer.

Annette isn't just

a swimmer, Mr. Harper.

She's got something very unusual.

I'm sure she has.

Mr. Harper, I know that

this water carnival idea

is tailor-made

for a place like hippodrome.

Let me put it this way.

Right now, the policy of

the Hippodrome costs applaud

and spectacles with story.

These are tanks

for the big climax.

For me to stage a water ballet

without even a book,

well, I mean, I like it, but...

Hello. What's it? No. No.

We have all

the confederate uniforms we want.

I might be

needing some show girls.

Can you do anything besides swim?

Well, I can dance.

Well, if you're interested,

come back Monday.

It's the best I can do.

I'm sorry.

But, Mr. Harper...

By the way,

can you find me a Lincoln

that looks like Lincoln?

Well, all those characters

you have dug out

look more like

the Smith brothers.

Yes, I know. Now look.

I've told you what I wanted.

This man must be...

If you can't do it,

I'll get somebody else.

You know what I want...

Well, that's that.

It isn't your fault, Jimmy.

It's a good idea and I run into

it with my eyes open.

Well, anyway, you can go work

with Harper if you want to.

Might not be a bad idea.

I don't know

what I'm going to do.

Probably run up to Boston.

Find my own concession

at the Beetbeach.

He wants me

to help in ballethood.

Jimmy, I have to make some money.

It's Dad I'm thinking about.

You see, music is his whole life,

loving it, teaching it,

having his own conservatory.

If only I could give

it to him that much.

You can.

How?

Forget it. I'm not going

to sell you something else

that haven't fizzle out.

Take the Harper job.

It's safe on expenses.

No. I need more

than just expenses.

Jimmy, how much can you

make out of a concession?

If it clicks, plenty.

All we have to do is pool

enough money together

to buy a little tank

and then we... Look,

I told you to forget it.

It's too much of a long shot.

I've only got six dollars

in my pocket.

Well, I still have

three silver cups left

and then that would be enough

to get us to Boston, isn't it?

Maybe.

Well, I was just thinking.

In London, we swam down

the Temps to get publicity

and that work pretty well,

didn't it?

Keep talking.

Suppose we did

the same thing here.

I'll marathon swim

from somewhere, anywhere.

Not anywhere, from Revere Beach.

Oh, baby, I knew we were a team

from the first time I saw you.

We'll stand that town on its ear.

I'll get enough backing

for ten tanks not just one.

Jimmy. Do you think so?

Think so? Who's going to stop us?

Just be patient. He'll be along

in a couple of minutes.

Where is she

going to swim to, mister?

To that lighthouse,

way up there, in fact.

Gee, that must be fifty miles.

Twenty miles.

What did you get there

in the basket, mister?

Take your hands off that hamper.

Come on, get out of here.

Go on.

Beat it, you little monster.

I don't believe it.

Did you see that?

Her legs are bare.

She ought to be arrested.

Who is she?

Look at her...

What is it? Who?

I don't believe it.

That's her.

Let's not bother her.

They'll be cheering

when she finish her swim.

Shocking.

On a public beach.

Wait up. Wait up.

The row boat is all ready.

Colder out here

than it is in the water.

Well, honey. This is it.

Good luck, Annette.

Thanks, Doc. I'll need it.

Don't worry about anything.

Just start to swim.

It's disgraceful.

Arrest that woman.

Hold. Just a minute.

Just a minute.

Just a minute, miss.

What do you think you're doing?

Officer,

this is Annette Kellerman,

the famous Australian swimmer.

She's about the embark

on a twenty miles swim.

Not in that outfit.

What? You don't expect me to go

20 miles on those things, do you?

All I expect you to do, miss,

is cover yourself up.

Come on, Jimmy.

Let's get out of here.

Not on your life.

You've done nothing wrong

and I won't

let anyone intimidate you.

Just a minute. Just a moment.

Indecent exposure.

Held for trial.

All those hypocrites,

sanctimonious

who knows, hypocrites.

How dare they.

Dad. where are we going?

Now, now.

The lobby's full of

reporters and cameramen,

and they like to know

if they can come up.

Well, you just tell them

to go away.

Tell them I've left town.

I never want to see Boston again.

I'll just go some place else.

Wrong. You'll swim here.

As far as I'm concern,

this is the greatest thing

that has ever happened.

The greatest...

I'm booked and fingerprinted

and arrested just like a con...

What others.

Don't you realize

you're the standard bearer

of all American womanhood?

In your hands lies the power

the wreck

the shutter of puritanry.

Free the feminine sex

and the aura of convention.

Go ahead, run away if you want.

But I tell you,

this is more than a trial,

more than a newspaper headline.

This is a crusade.

Bravo.

I said bravo.

This tempest over a bathing suit,

it's... it's really evil.

It should be

exposed to the world.

Well, I for one,

intends to see that

my daughter stays

and fights this thing through.

Here. Here. That a boy, Pop.

It's high time the American women

show what they have in skin.

It's up to you, darling.

You can pay the fine

and leave Boston tonight

or you can stay and accept

the challenge.

Indecent.

Tell those reporters to come up.

I'll give them a story,

bathing suit and all.

And as prosecutor

for this county,

I demand

the severest possible penalty

for this brazen young woman

who has wantonly flaunted

every statute of decency.

She and the others like her

must learn that

laws are made to be observed.

Her guilt is uncontestable.

She admits that she wore

the indecent garment in question.

I admit no such thing.

What's that?

You deny that

you appear at Revere Beach

in a flimsy material

that barely covered...

I admit

I wore a one-piece bathing suit.

I do not admit that

it was indecent.

Whatever definition you apply,

your arms,

neck and shoulder were exposed,

not to mention

your limps and thighs.

My ankle were also exposed,

not to mention my toes,

knees and fingers.

I also notice your teeth

are exposed.

Does that make you indecent?

Your honor. Your honor,

if you please.

This woman has deliberately

trying to make

a mockery of this court.

I wouldn't be surprise

if those pickets

are outside at her instigation.

This frequent disrespect...

I object, your honor.

Are you the attorney

for the defendant?

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