The Great Ziegfeld Page #8

- I'd like to see them higher.

- How's that, Mr. Ziegfeld?

That's perfect now.

Keep it that way the rest of the number.

Ain't that something?

Don't you like your flowers, honey lamb?

- They're beautiful. Was there a card?

- Oh, sure. Here it is.

And there was a package too.

I done unwrapped it for you.

- You've done looked at it too, I suppose.

- Oh, no, honey lamb, I never.

- Pour me a drink, Flossie.

- Another? Ain't you all forgetting...

...you got a midnight show to do

on the roof tonight?

And ain't you all forgetting

to pour that drink?

Well, scratch my back, honey.

Is them diamonds, or is them stars?

- Who sent them to you, honey lamb?

- Who do you think?

I know.

They's from Mr. Zieg...

- Here he is.

- Tell him to come in.

Yes'm.

Audrey.

- You were beautiful tonight.

- Thank you.

Flossie, pour us a drink.

No, no, no, please, dear, no.

I just came to tell you...

Somebody else thought

you were beautiful too, oui?

From an old friend.

Not too old, I hope.

What a beautiful bracelet, Audrey.

Is this from your old friend too?

- Do you like it?

- Yes, it's charming!

You know, your friend

must have very good taste...

...because this is just the sort

of jewelry Flo would like.

I told you someday

you will have lots of diamonds, didn't I?

Yes, you did.

And I told you

I wouldn't suffer, remember?

Yes...

...I do.

Well, congratulations again, Audrey.

I'll see you later.

On the roof, oui?

She's really quite beautiful, Flo, oui?

- Yes, she is, isn't she?

- You're very much interested in her, oui?

I'm interested in all my girls, dear.

But maybe a tiny, little bit more

in her, oui?

A lot more.

- She's very unusual.

- Yes.

I could make a great star out of her,

if she'd only let me.

Ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of the rest of the company,

I've been asked to make a little speech.

Well, you see,

I have a confession to make.

Little Audrey is a wee bit tight tonight.

No, but seriously,

you really shouldn't applaud all of us...

...because everything we've done

we owe to Flo.

You see, I was just a little chorus girl

when Flo discovered me.

He taught me how to walk

and how to dress...

...and how to smile.

So...

Well...

Here's to Flo.

I am afraid you must forgive

Miss Lane tonight.

She just passed through many weeks

of very tedious rehearsals.

And the nervous strain of

an opening night. She's not really herself.

On behalf of my company,

I want to thank you.

You've been very kind

to my girls and my stars.

And speaking of stars...

...there's a young lady here tonight

who, in my opinion...

...is destined to reach

the top of her profession.

She doesn't work for me,

I'm sorry to say...

...but I'm very proud of her. She's here

tonight with her producer, lucky fellow.

And if she will, I'm going to ask

Sally Manners to take a bow.

Sally Manners.

Nice of him to pay my star

a tribute, isn't it?

Yes, it is. I hope you've got her

on a long contract.

- Are you ready, Mr. Ziegfeld?

- All ready.

Now, you'll be signing the contract

but look in the camera.

The picture wouldn't be right

without the Manners smile.

All right?

All right, shoot!

Those things horrify me.

- I think we're both to be congratulated.

- I feel it's a great opportunity.

- Thank you.

- Sage, if you'll take Miss Manners...

...and the boys into your office,

I'm sure she'll have things to say.

- I could tell them how happy I am now.

- May I congratulate you?

- Thank you.

- Right this way, Miss Manners.

- Ms. Manners...

- Come along now, boys.

- Where's that girl you said was my friend?

- Here I am.

I didn't want to disturb you.

You told them out there

that you were a friend of mine, huh?

Yes, I did.

Well, I see.

Just to get into my office, huh?

- Smart girl.

- Well, I am a friend of yours.

Have you forgotten me?

No, no, of course not. I...

I remember you very well.

Who am I?

- As if I didn't know.

- Do you?

Of course. I always remember

the time, the place and the girl.

It was...

- Atlantic City.

- Nope.

- No?

- No.

Well, that's funny. I seem to remember

a chair on a boardwalk...

...you beside me and...

Are you sure it wasn't Atlantic City?

It might have been Atlantic City,

but it wasn't me.

Now I remember!

Why, it was right here in this office.

You came up to see me about a year ago.

Oh, now it all comes back to me.

Well, how are you?

Where have you been?

No.

- No?

- No. You don't seem to remember...

...the time, the place or the girl.

Well...

Perhaps this will help you.

Mary Lou!

Well, how's my girl?

How's my fella?

Well, my little Mary Lou

is a big girl now, isn't she?

Yes!

Yes, indeed, a very big girl.

- Aren't you glad to see me?

- Yes, I certainly am!

Even if I wasn't at Atlantic City

with you?

Don't be silly.

I knew you all the time.

Now, fibber...

- Well, how long you been in New York?

- One day.

- One day. You seen my father lately?

- Yes, just before I left.

Oh, that reminds me,

he told me to give you a big kiss.

Well.

You know, I think that in all fairness...

...I should tell you I'm a married man.

- Yes, I know. I read about it.

It nearly broke my heart.

But being married in New York

doesn't mean anything, does it?

Oh, yes, it does, young lady.

Now, why are you here,

and what can I do for you?

Well, first of all, I want to give you

a big kiss for all the candy you sent me.

You've already done that twice.

Now, what else?

- Well, I want to go into the Follies.

- You do?

- I've been taking dancing lessons 2 years.

- Yeah?

- How do your father and mother feel?

- I haven't a father and mother anymore.

I'm so sorry, my dear.

Of course, Jimmy won't like it.

- Who's Jimmy?

- Just another fellow I've been engaged to.

Oh, well...

- All right, I think we can look after you.

- Do you think we can have dinner tonight?

Well, no, no, I'm afraid we can't.

- Oh, Alice!

- Yes, sir.

Take this lady down to the stage and tell

Julian to put her on as an extra dancer.

- For the time being.

- Oh, gee, thank you!

Mary Lou is an old friend of mine

from Chicago, and she's a stranger here.

- So I'd like you to sort of look after her.

- Yes, sir.

- This way, dear.

- Oh, may I say one thing before I go?

- Well, yes, of course. What?

- I forgive you for not marrying me.

- All right. Goodbye, dear.

- Goodbye.

Hello. Pardon me.

Hello, Alice. Say, Flo!

I know! You got a new song.

I'll say we have.

Play him the melody, Danny.

Oh, you'll go crazy over this, Flo.

Mr. Ziegfeld.

I must interrupt you.

This is important.

- I got an idea.

- How much will it save?

- This has nothing to do with money.

- Feeling all right?

My usual headache,

but this is about talent.

- Good and cheap, no doubt?

- Exactly. A young lady, the name of Brice.

- Fannie Brice. She's working in burlesque.

- I've seen that gal, Flo.

- Pretty?

- Well, yes and no.

Shut your eyes and listen, yes.

Open them and look, no.

- But a great performer.

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