Show Boat Page #5

Fine, yeah.

I'll be with you in a minute.

- We got great new routines for you.

- Fine. Fine.

We brought somebody

with us who we think has real talent.

- We'd like you to hear her.

- Yeah?

Nolie Ravenal. Nolie Hawks, that is.

- She sings. Like a nightingale.

- I already got a singer. Besides, l...

Take off your hat.

Yeah, I guess I got a few minutes.

What kind of songs do you sing?

Well, negro songs mostly,

and spirituals.

- Jazzbo singer, huh?

- Well, no, l...

- Yes, yes.

- It won't do any harm...

...to listen to her, Joe.

All right, go ahead.

I wrote it out myself.

I hope you'll be able to read it.

I'll make out, sister.

Fish gotta swim

Birds gotta fly

I've gotta love

One man till I die

Go hurry her nibs with that costume,

will you, Joe?

Can't help

Lovin' that man of mine

- Come on, Julie.

- I've been trying to get her to...

Yeah, Jake's getting all riled up

about everything.

- Just a minute.

- Maybe I know

- Who's that singing?

- Some gal the dance act brought in.

Look, Julie,

Jake wants to see this dress...

She's a pretty good looker,

but she needs the job bad, I guess.

- Needs a job? Why?

- Schultz said she was married...

...to some two-bit gambler

and he walked off and left her flat.

Us boys are all no good, you know that.

Come on, Julie. Bring the dress.

That's a rainy day

Julie, dear,

you've got to try this dress on.

But when he comes back

The day is fine

Come on, Julie.

Let's have the drink.

Shut up.

The sun will shine

He can come home

As late as can be

Home without him

Ain't no home to me

Can't help loving that man of mine

Well, how about it, Mr. Green?

Oh, not bad. Leave word

where we can reach you, honey.

Something may show up later, see?

- Charlie.

- Keep trying, sister. You'll make it.

- Thank you.

- You were super.

Well, you two certainly did your best.

Mr. Green, Julie's gone.

- What?

- I ran after her, all the way to the street.

She just laughed at me, right over

the top of a bottle. She's quitting.

- Well, what about my opening?

- She said if you don't hire...

...the little girl who just sang,

you're crazy.

- Why, that trampy little...

- I'll go get her, boss.

Let her go, the dirty worthless...

Hey, you with the hat.

Take it off.

Let's hear that number again.

Happy New Year!

Yes, sir, that's what

I said to Parthy.

I said, "I'm going to Chicago to see

Nolie and Gay for New Year's...

...whether you come or not."

You wear the trousers, eh, buster?

I wouldn't look good in skirts,

would I?

Happy New Year!

- Right this way, please.

- Right this way, he said.

Yes, sir, right this way.

Come on, ladies. Right here. Right now.

There we are.

- Champagne, sir?

- Champagne? Right.

Thank you. Fill the scuppers.

Happy New Year!

I guess your daughter has plenty of lucre

to be staying at the Sherman Hotel.

As a matter of fact,

they're not living there anymore.

Got a place of their own now.

Nolie never wrote me.

Figured she wanted to surprise me.

But I'm gonna surprise Nolie,

because Ellie and Frank...

...they're the top liners

on the bill here.

They'll know where she is, all right.

With the finish.

Happy New Year!

So you have a good excuse

for a night out on the town, buster?

Don't need any excuse.

This is New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year!

And now, the new sensational

dance duo, Schultz and Schultz.

That's Ellie. That's Ellie and Frank.

Wait'll you catch them.

I taught them everything

they know myself. Yes, sir.

There they are.

Life upon the wicked stage

Ain't ever what a girl supposes

Stage-door Johnnies

Aren't raging over you

With gems and roses

When you let a feller hold your hand

Which means an extra beer or sandwich

Everybody whispers

"Ain't her life a whirl"

Though you're warned against a rou

Ruining your reputation

When you've played around

The one-night trade

Around this great big nation

Wild old men

Who give you jewels and sables

Only live in Aesop's fables

Life upon the wicked stage

Ain't nothing for a girl

Though I've listened to you

Moan and grieve

You must pardon me

If I do not believe you

There is no doubt

You're crazy about

Your awful stage

I admit it's fun

To smear my face with paint

Causing everyone

To think I'm what I ain't

And I like to play

A demimonde role

With soul

Ask the hero does he

Like the way I lure

When I play a hussy

Or a paramour

But when once the curtain's down

My life is pure

And how I dread it

Life upon the wicked stage

Ain't never what a girl supposes

Stage-door Johnnies

Aren't raging over you

With gems and roses

I've got talent

But it ain't been tested

No one's even interested

Life upon the wicked stage

Ain't nothing for a girl

Hey, what did I tell you?

That's Ellie and Frank. More!

We want more of that, don't we?

Come on, boy.

Excuse me, girls.

If you don't mind, ladies...

...l'm going back and say hello to them.

Now, wait right here. Don't go away.

- But who will now charm you

with a popular new ballad.

First time on a Chicago stage.

That sweetheart of the Mississippi,

Miss Magnolia Ravenal.

Nolie.

A little maiden

Climbed an old man's knee

- Can't hear you.

- Begged for a story

- Do, uncle, please

- Nolie.

- Why are you single?

- My baby.

Why live alone?

- I had a sweetheart

- Nolie.

- Years and years ago

- Here.

- Nolie, here.

- Where she is now

Take it back to the river.

Quiet!

Quiet! Quiet!

I'll tell it all

I believed her faithless

Nolie, remember what I told you.

Smile.

After the ball is over

After the break of dawn

After the dancers leaving

After the stars are gone

Many a heart is aching

- lf you could read them all

- Smile.

Many the hopes that have vanished

After the ball

- Oh, Papa.

- After the ball is over

After the break of dawn

After the dancers leaving

After the stars are gone

Many a heart is aching

If you could read them all

Many the hopes that have vanished

After the ball

Happy New Year!

Should old acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind

Should old acquaintance be forgot

And days of auld lang syne

And that's the way it is, Papa.

Just like you said. It's Monday.

Well, you'll just wanna forget him,

Nolie, darling.

- He's a scoundrel. A no-account.

- No, Papa, no, he isn't.

He was only trying to think of me.

Well, from now on, you can

just be thinking of yourself.

Why, after tonight, you're a big star.

You can go to New York.

No, I can't. No, I can't.

I can't just think of myself either.

I'm gonna have a baby.

Nolie.

Nolie.

You say he was thinking of you,

and he knew about this?

No, Papa. No, Gay never knew.

You see I was...

He was so worried

and so down that...

Well, I was waiting for things

to get better before I told him.

But I...

Don't worry, Papa.

I wanna come home.

If you'll have me.

If we'll have you?

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Let's celebrate, everybody.

Here's to a happy new year.

It will be a happy new year, won't it?

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