Ziegfeld Girl Page #2

he don't deserve.

I'll be right behind her showing her how

every step of the way.

Right!

Oh, Pop.

Don't worry, baby.

You'll be all right.

Our act's like a snake. You cut it

in half and both ends wiggle.

Chin up, shoulders relaxed...

...and don't forget to smile.

I'm so sorry.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Hey, hey, hey!

Come up out of that hole, baby.

- You're not a showgirl.

- I'm sorry.

Good thing you outgrew

those knock-knees.

Jerry!

I hate to admit it,

but this is my kid brother.

- Jerry, this is Susan Gallagher.

- Hello.

Hiya, Susie.

Pony-size, huh?

Ma made you lunch.

Says you got to keep up your strength.

You'll need it to fight off

those stagedoor Johnnies.

What do you know about them?

I was born in a theatrical trunk,

but the lid wasn't shut.

I think my pop left it open on purpose.

He says it's what you don't know

that can hurt you.

Now, what could you learn

out of a book?

- Hiya, John.

- Hello, honey.

That's Frank Merton.

He's one of the stars of the show.

- He's got the most beautiful voice.

- Yeah?

Cucaracha. Look at that one.

She looks better all wrapped up

than the rest of them do unwrapped.

Auditions. All ready for the auditions.

Don't be so nervous, darling.

All the conductor can say is yes or no.

But he can also say,

"Who let you in here?"

Musical director is ready

to hear you, Mr. Kolter.

No, Franz. The job

isn't good enough for you.

I ask you, can such an artist as you

play second fiddle in a Ziegfeld orchestra?

- Yes.

- Yes.

No. It's a disgrace to your violin

to make jazz music.

- Where is your violin?

- Well...

...the pawnbroker is holding it for ransom.

It was a question of food or music.

Franz was too hungry to play,

and I was too hungry to listen.

- All right. Use mine.

- All right, Mr. Kolter.

Wear this for luck, darling.

How can the heart be so full

when the stomach is so empty?

I don't understand it.

- What are you waiting for?

- I'm sorry, girls...

Oh, Sage, come here.

You want credit for a great discovery?

What is the matter?

What's the matter?

Mr. Zieg...

- Well! Well, what are you doing here?

- Why, I'm just waiting...

You're waiting?

You mean Mr. Ziegfeld's waiting!

- Oh, but I can't...

- Well, well, well!

- Darling.

- Sandra, where did you go?

I was so worried, I didn't even realize

Mischa was lending me a dollar for dinner.

Well?

- I didn't get the job.

- I'm glad you didn't. Mischa was right.

- The job wasn't good enough for you.

- So the conductor thought.

Oh, he was very kind.

He said I belong in Carnegie Hall.

I play well, he said.

I play too well.

I am a classicist, he said.

That's like being dead and buried,

but with your feet sticking out.

Oh, but we're not dead yet. Look!

But, Sandra,

where did you get this money?

An advance. I have a job.

I'm going to be a showgirl

in the Follies.

The Follies? A showgirl?

It is a little silly. You just

put on some beads or something...

...and walk up and down.

Like this. See?

Now.

That's all. Just like that.

And people pay money

to look at you.

- How did all this happen?

- Well...

...I was standing there,

listening to you play, and...

Oh, darling, you played beautifully.

When a funny little man...

The one I saw didn't look

so funny or so little.

Oh, not that one. There were two.

They were both funny...

...but the funniest one

pushed me through a door...

...and there I was

in a room filled with flowers...

...and deep carpet...

...and...

And then I heard a voice

from behind the flowers saying:

"Figure, okay. Face, okay. Smile, okay.

Seventy-five a week." Next.

Next?

- What's next?

- Well...

...next you congratulate me.

I should congratulate myself.

My wife has a job.

Franz, you're ridiculous.

- All failures are ridiculous.

- But, darling, you're not a failure.

No?

Well, what is it you want me to do,

give up the job?

I know it's a rather foolish way

to earn money, but, Franz, we need it!

Do you really imagine I would stand by

while you showed yourself to other men?

Why, Franz...

...you're jealous.

- Jealous?

Don't you think I see the men who look

at you when you pass them on the street?

Do you think I'm jealous

of them? No.

I'm afraid.

That's not fear.

That's distrust of me.

If I weren't always beside you,

sooner or later, they wouldn't pass you by.

They would stop. They would talk to you.

They would go your way.

They could stop and talk to me,

they could even go my way...

...but, darling,

it still would be my way.

I know. Pretty soon,

it will be their way.

So we never really had the thing

I thought we had...

...faith in each other.

If you have that,

you don't mind about the other things.

You don't even know

you haven't got them.

All of a sudden,

I realize we haven't got them.

All right! Take the job!

Be a showgirl!

But, Franz...

It's one or the other, Sandra.

Me or the job.

Nervous?

Oh, Jenny, I can't even

put on my lipstick.

Relax, honey.

They won't be looking at your mouth.

- Well!

- I'm sorry.

I've been peeking at the audience.

The women look like Christmas trees,

and the men look like penguins.

Why should you be worried, baby?

You're an old performer.

At the Harlem Opera House, I had

four chances a day to make them like me.

- Here, it's once and out.

- Nothing to it.

It's walking down stairs

like you never had to climb them again.

Take lots of time walking down,

and you'll gather plenty of moss.

Coming in, girls!

Let me fix that, Flatbush!

You'll have it looking like an ice pack.

- Having trouble, Flatbush?

- Only above the neck.

Listen, kids!

I've got something important

to say to you.

Except for a couple of hardened veterans,

you're all new to the big time.

In a few minutes, you're going on

in your first number.

Do you know what that means?

It means you're Ziegfeld girls.

You're going to have

all the opportunities of a lifetime...

...crowded into a couple of hours.

And all the temptations.

Some of you are gonna wind up

with your names in electric lights.

Some of you are gonna wind up

with a husband and kids.

And some of you

are gonna wind up...

Well, not so good.

I know what I'm talking about

because I've seen all three happen.

Whatever it is,

don't blame the Follies...

...because it would've happened even if you

were still where Mr. Ziegfeld found you.

It just might have taken a little longer.

So remember this, kids,

and it comes straight from Mr. Ziegfeld:

"The Follies is life in one stiff jolt,

life running instead of walking...

...life speeded up to a mile a minute.

But if you've got the right stuff,

the pace won't bother you.

And if you haven't,

you'll come a cropper.

It's strictly up to you."

Dream number.

Places for the dream number.

All right, girls!

And good luck.

So you like paprika too, eh, Geoffrey?

That's Sheila Hale.

Want to meet the young lady,

as it were?

She'll be met.

Well, my little brood,

we're up to your hips in a terrific hit.

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