Ziegfeld Girl Page #8

Listen, Sheila, I know you got

a nice place here...

...and that you never cared

for it much in Brooklyn.

But if you could just come

home to live, maybe...

- I might stop those cats from meowing?

- Well, yes.

That'd make it okay again

about the car and music lessons?

You know I don't mean that.

We don't want anything

except having you around.

And I'm supposed to believe that!

You've taken things from me

for months, all of you!

- It was the same then, only more so.

- But listen...

Now I gotta go home

to cover up for the neighbors!

You're yelling me down. The louder

you yell, the less you got to yell about.

People aren't talking any more now

than they were then.

If I was good enough to support you then,

I'm bad enough to stop now.

If you ask me, I think Gil's the one

that's really got something to yell about.

All right. Let Dad take care of you,

like he used to, working his heart out.

Have the rent collector on your neck

and no new dresses for Ma.

You hanging around pool halls.

And Betty growing up to run an elevator.

You were all right

till you stopped running one.

Okay.

You do it your way.

Only let me alone!

Let me do it my way.

Now get out!

Go on!

All right.

Here.

You think of everything, don't you?

Show opens in a couple of hours.

Get some rest.

What for? I'm full of pep.

I'm always full of pep.

Always full anyway.

Annie...

...how many fur coats have I got?

Well, counting that new ermine, six.

Yeah, and how many of these

service stripes have we collected?

Adding Mr. Geoff's signing-off present

and deducting that one we pawned...

...I make seven.

- Seven.

Think of it. I'm a very lucky girl.

Six fur coats, seven diamond bracelets,

an apartment on Park Avenue...

- What are you trying to do to yourself?

- What am I trying to do?

Don't you know?

I'm counting my blessings, Annie.

Counting my blessings!

Overture. Overture.

Overture.

- It's too bad about Mischa's uncle, isn't it?

- Yes. It's too bad about most people.

Little Patsy's picture's out of the lobby,

and little Patsy's out of the show.

And this is the first time in five years

I haven't been the June bride.

But don't fret, Jenny. Patsy's okay.

You know, I think I'll settle down

and adopt a baby, a boy about 21.

There's nothing wrong with Patsy

a good marriage won't fix, eh, Flatbush?

Places for the Trinidad number.

Where do you think you're going? Slayton

told you to stay off. You're plastered.

Sure I am. And a beautiful pink.

- Listen, you're leading with your chin.

- Yeah? Who are you to talk?

The best horrible example

you'll ever see.

Yeah, I know I look funny

on a soapbox...

...but you're so darn much like

I used to be. I hate to see you...

Listen, honey, being a Ziegfeld girl

is swell...

...but at most, it's only a few years

out of a lifetime.

And what are you gonna have after that?

I'd give my right arm,

yeah, and everything on it...

...for a guy with an ice-cream wagon,

if he really loved me.

And you've got a guy with a truck.

Come on back, honey.

Back to what?

Why didn't somebody stop her?

I don't know. I just opened my eyes,

and there she was.

- Are you all right?

- Leave me alone!

- You better go on the wagon.

- You better take the pledge.

I'm all right.

- Didn't I tell you not to go on?

- Well, l...

Sure, sure. That's right.

Here, Jenny.

Pour her back in that bottle

and send her home for good.

Come on, kids. Don't be so nosy. Make

your change for the next act. Hurry up!

Gosh! How can a girl

do that to her career?

How can a girl do that to herself?

Poor Sheila.

Sandra!

Franz.

Oh, Franz!

- Sandra.

- Very good, my boy. Very good.

See you in Carnegie Hall.

Did he say Carnegie Hall?

Yes. Why not?

Wear this for luck, darling.

Orders is orders.

But if you ask me, honey...

...you looked better falling down them stairs

than the rest of them do strutting down.

Do you suppose Prohibition

will ever get around to sodas?

I'm sorry it never got around to alcohol.

You heard from Sheila yet, Jerry?

Nothing but a loud popping of corks,

and we can't seem to track them down.

How about your dad?

He's still knocking them stiff in Omaha.

That is, stiffer than they were.

I almost forgot.

Funny, I didn't.

- Pinning a blue ribbon on me?

- Why not?

Aren't you the best of your class?

I'm sorry, miss. It's a phony.

I'll give you $ 10 for the setting.

Ten dollars?

Well, what am I kicking about?

I never thought you'd

quit the show, beautiful.

You can't do this to me, honey.

I got my pride.

What's this longhaired husband

of yours got that I ain't got?

A fiddle.

Well, now I've heard everything!

You're walking out on a Ziegfeld

contract to do an act in Hoboken.

Well there's nothing else I can do.

I've got a name now.

We can get bookings.

Isn't there any other way of helping your

pop without cutting your throat so publicly?

Try and see it his way.

He's worked all his life to be what he is,

and if he can't go on believing in that...

...what's he got?

Why don't you hire him

as your instructor or something.

And then don't listen to him.

I've tried that.

He knows it's a phony.

Then pension him off.

Put him out to pasture somewhere.

You're talking about my pop,

not a fire horse.

Get him a little job. Anything.

Like in the Follies, maybe.

- Oh, Mr. Sage!

- No, Mr. Sage!

It would be wonderful! Can't you

see how wonderful it would be?

- For who?

- For everybody! Pop would wow them!

- Anyway, I'd like him.

- Send Pop around to see Slayton.

Send him?

Why, he's waiting right outside.

- We were on our way to Hoboken.

- Well, bring him in!

And leave Hoboken where it is.

Might be easier to bring Hoboken here.

Pop's got a mind of his own.

You know, honestly, Mr. Sage,

I don't think I noticed it before...

...but I guess that you're really one

of the great men of the century.

The century is still young.

We couldn't let our star attraction

walk out on us.

You're paying a bitter price

to keep her.

That old guy smells with lace on,

and you know it.

- We'd have to fumigate after every show.

- No. Just after the first performance, pal.

Stick him in on the opening night.

Put him in front of a drop in one.

Give him two minutes.

Next night, he isn't there.

And the kid's with him in Hoboken.

Well, I'll have to think

of an answer to that.

- Hello, kid.

- Hello, Joe.

That nag looks like a cinch in the fifth.

Let's see that sheet.

Brandy, George.

Give it a twin.

Cash or credit, Miss Hale?

- Well...

- I'm sorry, but the boss says no.

No more credit.

Two Manhattans.

Good try anyway, kid.

Jimmy Walters.

- Remember?

- How could I forget?

- Seen you when you done it.

- Yeah.

You look like you got a different kind

of headache these days.

Yeah.

You look good and defrosted.

Yeah...

...but you're still on ice.

You know what I mean?

I got enough left for a couple of beers

if you can stand the old ear.

Okay, champ.

Couple of beers.

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