The Great Ziegfeld Page #6

- Anna.

- I mean it. I'm determined.

Anna.

You let the reporters come up, yes?

All right, I tell them everything.

Anna?

Well, I should tell them, no?

No.

Now, you do what I ask you to, darling...

...and I'll do whatever you wish.

You mean, you'll let me have

gowns like Lillian Russell?

Oh, no, darling.

You're not her type.

- But I'll tell you what I will do.

- What?

I'll put eight Lillian Russells

on the stage behind you.

Isn't Anna beautiful?

I wonder if the milk baths

really make her skin so nice.

Oh, they most certainly do.

I've been taking them for a long time.

Oh, Marie, were they not

wonderful tonight?

And the girls!

Don't they look gorgeous?

Marie.

Look. From my Flo.

Oh, my Flo.

Oh, Marie! Marie!

You read what he says.

Oui, madame.

Read it to me, quick!

What does it say?

"My darling.

I never knew that one long year

could seem like one short moment.

You are magnificent, my wife. Flo. "

Oh, Marie.

- Marie, did you hear that?

- I just read it, madame.

No, no. Did you hear what he says?

"You are magnificent, my wife. "

Oh, madame, look! Look!

Marie!

Come on, help me.

Oh, isn't it gorgeous?

Oh, madame, look, look!

Here's another one!

Oh, Marie!

Oh, that makes me

so much inside. Here.

Much too much.

First, he gives me all

the flowers in the world...

...and now he takes the stars

from the heavens, just for me.

"You're magnificent, my wife. "

- Am I magnificent, Marie?

- Oui, madame.

No, no, no.

He's magnificent, not I.

Marie!

Marie, I must show them to the girls!

I come back immediately!

And when Mr. Ziegfeld comes,

please tell him he shall wait!

Girls, would you like to see

something wonderful?

Oh, what is it?

- Look! And this!

- Diamonds!

- From my husband!

- May I try the bracelet?

- Yes, sure.

- That's gorgeous.

Audrey, are you not interested

in my presents?

I would be if they were mine.

But, Audrey, you will have

many of them someday.

Maybe you have to work a little,

to suffer a little.

- But what is that?

- I'll work, but I won't suffer.

- Here you are, dear.

- Thank you.

Isn't it beautiful, Audrey?

I'll say it is.

I'd give my soul for one like it.

That would be a very

bad bargain, Audrey.

All right, that's fine! Tie it off!

You're better with your feet

than your broom.

Mr. Ziegfeld, you think so?

I wish you'd give me a chance.

I've got talent.

I'd like to get away from shifting

scenery and moving props.

- How long have you been a property boy?

- Five years. But my heart hasn't been in it.

You've been working a long time

without your heart.

- That tickle you?

- It does.

And this weekly return tickles me more.

Look, a profit of $5000.

If you'll just be conservative,

I mean, live reasonably.

Don't incur any fresh obligations,

forget you have charge accounts...

...and you'll soon...

- You're right.

- I will.

- Darling!

Oh, Anna.

Anna.

You're the sweetest husband

in the whole world.

Mr. Sampston!

Look.

From my husband.

On our anniversary.

This and this.

Are they not gorgeous diamonds?

Yes, indeed, Miss Held, gorgeous.

Good night, Mr. Ziegfeld.

Good night, Sampston.

He didn't seem very happy

about my presents, oui?

Anna, men who keep books

are never very happy.

Marie, you go out for a while.

He is my maid tonight. Go, go, go, go.

- Oh, I am, am I?

- Yes, you are.

Later, I count the diamonds in the bracelet

and necklace and kiss you for each one.

What about the orchids?

Don't I get anything for them?

For each petal of each orchid,

another kiss extra. So...

Take off my stocking, please.

You know, this might get to be a habit.

Flo, you're wonderful.

Do you know that?

I suspect it.

Everything you promise me, you do.

Everything you say will happen, happens.

And now I am a big success

in America, thanks to you.

Flo!

Why do you do that when I am

trying to say nice things to you?

Such a very bad maid!

But I love you.

- Flo?

- What?

Flo, are you as happy as I am?

Happier. Why do you ask?

Because sometimes

I think I am too happy.

Sometimes I get afraid

it won't be always like this...

...working only for you

while you do the show just for me.

Couldn't I do another show

without spoiling our happiness?

Of course you could. Don't be silly.

Do you want to do another show?

Well, darling, now that you've

made such a tremendous success...

...I have a little idea

that I'd like to carry out.

Idea for a show?

- The biggest kind of a show.

- With music and girls?

- Beautiful girls and...

- And without me, oui?

Well, darling, you couldn't do

two shows at once, could you?

Now, Anna, see here.

Suppose we go down to Rector's

and celebrate our anniversary?

- No, I don't...

- Just us and a bottle of wine.

- I don't feel like it.

- Come on, now, dear.

- No, I'm so nervous.

- It'll be good for you.

I'm so tired.

I'm so disappointed in you

I could scream!

- Now, Anna...

- I mean it.

I thought you loved me more

than anything in the world.

I thought I am your one ideal,

your only ambition.

- Anna...

- No.

I think only of you, and I thought

you will only think of me.

But it is not so.

You have big plans without me.

You will do a big show.

You will go broke again!

Anna, you're jealous.

- No, Flo!

- Yes.

Don't say that, no, no, no!

I hate jealous people,

and I don't know what's...

I'm angry, and I wish you would go.

Please, please.

Please go. Go! Go!

Marie!

Marie.

Flo.

- Good morning, Mr. Billings.

- Good morning, Miss Drake. Messages?

Nothing important, except Mr. Erlanger

wants to see you today.

Mr. Ziegfeld is in your office.

Well, why in my office

instead of out here?

I thought he'd be more

comfortable in there.

Well, I... Oh yes, I see.

To what do I owe the honor

of this visit, Mr. Ziegfeld?

Mr. Billings, if you've ever had it in for me,

you've certainly avenged yourself.

This is positively the worst cigar I've ever

smoked in my life. How are you, Jack?

- All right. How are you?

- Never better. Sit, won't you?

Thank you. Nice of you.

I'm here to do you a great favor.

I'm sorry, I can't take advantage of it.

I'm broke.

That's why I'm hooked up

with Erlanger.

Oh, well, that's fine for me.

He's just the man I need.

Jack, I want to do a new show,

a big show.

I'm willing to split it 50-50 with Erlanger,

and all he has to do is put up the money...

...and furnish the theaters.

- Oh, that's all?

That's all.

Of course, you'd furnish the star.

Oh, this isn't for Anna.

Anna's show is all set.

No, in this one...

...I want to star the girls.

- Don't be ridiculous.

Without personalities,

you haven't got a chance.

I'll have personalities, all right,

lots of them.

But they'll mostly be

blonds and brunettes.

What are you going to call this opera?

I'm going to call it

the Ziegfeld Follies.

Follies. Follies, all right.

What's the matter?

That's a good title.

What's so unusual about a girl show?

We've got plenty now.

I don't mean that kind.

They're way out-of-date.

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