Original subtitles

Hurry, hurry, the big show is about to start.

This way for the big show.

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up.

Take yourself a ride into the high heavens...

Get your tickets here, now, step right up.

The show is about to start right away.

Where's Mr. Satori's office, please?

He's in his office wagon.

Now this way, friends...

Jeanne, come here.

What's the matter? You're late.

Jerry, did you speak to the manager?

Satori? He's my closest personal friend.

Now, will you stop worrying? It's in the bag.

Wait a minute. What do you want to go in there for?

Well, aren't you going to introduce me to Mr. Satori?

And ruin everything?

If people see you two together,

they'll know the contest is fixed for you to win.

Did you buy a bathing suit?

Isn't it all right?

Yeah, yeah, it's great, it's wonderful.

But if we've never met, how will he know I'm supposed to win?

Like I promised you last night...

Yeah, but, but... But nothing.

Look, wear this over your left ear.

Why? It's our signal.

Oh!

Just get in there and push your pretty little baby carriage,

and leave the brainwork up to me, will you?

Oh, wish me luck. Okay? Bye.

Hi, Sal.

Oh, hi.

A friend of mine I met last night...

You know, she's a waitress.

She's kind of stagestruck.

She... Well, she wants to win a beauty contest,

and I was wondering... Get out of here!

Oh, look, Sal. The poor kid quit her job.

She spent her last buck for a bathing suit.

Well, I kind of promised her...

You want to make some money tonight? Bet on the fat one.

She's related to the police department,

I think she's going to win.

Good evening, neighbors.

All right, ladies. The grand parade.

Come right out. Smile pretty, don't be afraid.

Show your dimples.

Thank you.

Aren't they lovely?

Aren't they magnificent?

The task before you is a very difficult one.

We must choose one of these captivating goddesses

for the fourth quarter trials,

Kansas-Missouri branch,

Central States Division of the American Beauty Contest.

You people shall judge.

Consider these points, form, figure.

Be fair, be impartial.

And, now, for your votes.

Thank you, dear. Thank you very much.

Now, you stay right here.

Sorry, dear.

Sorry. Sorry.

Sorry. Thank you. Sorry.

But Jerry promised. He said that...

Scram, will you, sister? Beat it.

Thank you.

Go on, beat it.

Thank you. Thank you.

All right, you guys, hurry it up.

What are you hanging around here for?

You missed the last bus, how are you going to get back to town?

I spent all my money to get here.

I got no responsibility to you.

Well, I didn't say you had.

Don't you know any better than to believe a traveling salesman?

I know now.

I thought maybe I might be able to get a job here, with the carnival.

Wait a minute. Did he say anything about me giving you a job?

No.

I like that.

You're honest, that's good.

Well, if it's so good, then why don't you do it yourself?

I should have won that contest. You heard the applause.

Hey, Ziggy! Speed them up back there.

I'll meet you at the junction.

Okay, boss.

Come on, men! Look alive!

Let's go, up there! Come on down!

Okay, you're working for me.

Maybe in the next town I'll let you win a contest.

Sure, ladies and gentlemen, at great expense to this show,

you will see a performance never before seen in this part of the country.

This little dance is but a small portion

of what you will see on the inside.

Learn the mystery of the grass skirts.

See if Princess Wana-Wana and her two handmaidens

reveal the mysteries of everything that happens in the islands.

That's all. You'll have to wait to see,

revealed for you, the mysteries of the grass skirts.

Move, lady. Move!

There you are, folks, your queen.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

What you see on the outside, folks,

is just the tiniest sample.

The real spice is on the inside.

Get your tickets, get your tickets now.

Did you have to talk so long? It's cold out there.

Don't give me trouble.

Well, I'm all covered with goose pimples.

If you don't like it, leave.

Sal, I'm sick and tired of playing Dardanella's Secret.

What's the matter, it ain't good enough for you?

All I do is flap around.

I want a real play, Sal. I want to act.

I'm not a coochie dancer. I want Becky Sharp.

Becky Sharp! But that...

That's a top Broadway production.

But it wouldn't be hard to change.

All you do is, you move it to a Chicago background,

you fix the dialogue, and you give the characters different names.

It's a big dramatic vehicle.

You think you're ready for it? I wonder...

Oh, Sal, please. Please?

All right.

I'll get you Becky Sharp.

You will? Sure.

So, we'll change the whole policy.

I'll get a big, red plush carpet,

and then you'll walk out on that big, red plush carpet.

And then you know what I'll do?

Huh?

I'll give you such a boot you won't be able to sit down for 20 years!

Now, you listen to me. I said listen to me.

You know what they do to people

who steal a popular hit like Becky Sharp?

They charge you with burglary, stealing.

Now, I don't steal from any man, and you don't either. Understand?

Now, get out there and shake some Arabian at these people, Becky!

Go on.

All right, all right, far enough.

Hey, what do you guys think you're doing?

Obscene and lewd. Ordinance 253.

Come on, come on, sister. Who me?

Yes, you. Get her.

Now, go, go quietly. What?

Yeah, yeah, go ahead.

Please, gentlemen, keep your seats, we have some more...

We have some... Now, now, wait a minute, please.

I'll be right with you.

What are you sitting there, shivering?

Where's the lawyer?

Don't worry. You'll be out in a minute.

Where is the lawyer?

Look, drink some coffee, it'll give you pep.

Never mind that coffee, I want a lawyer.

I'll handle it myself.

I want a real lawyer.

Now, you just be quiet and let me do the talking. I know what I'm doing.

Look, one more word...

Go on. Keep quiet. I'm going to arraign the whole thing myself.

Is it right she should be penalized

just because nature showered her with blessings?

What would you gentlemen have her do?

Go hide in a cellar

because some bigot cannot look beauty in the face?

Were the performances of Euripides...

Euripides. ...banned in ancient Athens?

No, sir. And our play is a direct translation.

In fact, this little lady can recite the entire play in Greek.

I'd like to hear it.

Judge, this girl is no hoochie-coochie dancer.

She is a Jeanne d'Arc of beauty.

Jeanne d'Arc.

Would you ban the works of Pretchilites...

Praxiteles.

...just because some vulgarians

see only the vulgar in the human form?

And Aphrodite.

You got that one correct.

Would she too have been thrown into jail

and excommunicated from society,

like you're doing to this fine young lady?

This is a high-class, refined individual.

Come here, little lady. Now, don't be shy.

The Judge is a very gallant gentleman and he won't hurt you.

Your Honor, I would like you to compare Venus de Milo,

the world's most perfectly formed woman.

And here you have her, not in cold marble,

but in flesh and blood and humility.

Of course, we must make allowances for the arms.

Don't be afraid, go closer.

See, the Judge is a student of the arts.

He would like to make a comparison.

Would you say she is any less beautiful? Would you?

Would you? No!

Order. Order in the court.

I'm very sorry, Your Honor.

Case dismissed.

There.

Thank the judge for the lift.

Not at all. Oh, say, wait, your book.

You forgot your book.

Give this to His Honor with my compliments.

Oh, thank you, have a good day.

Good day.

Hey, cumpa.

Oh!

Hey! What?

Where did you learn all that Greek?

From that book, where else?

It took me five hours to learn all the names.

Did you see them drooling?

You were great.

You never cracked once. You were just perfect.

I could have kept it up all night.

See, and you said I wasn't an actress, huh?

I take it back. Talent comes jumping all out of you.

Hey. Come here.

I'll race you for it.

Watch out.

Right, I'll give you a head start! Come on!

I got it!

Hey, hey. Don't use all the hot water.

Ah!

You know what I'm going to do for you?

No, Sal, what are you going to do for me?

You think you're the only one with ambitions?

I'm going to sell this show when we get to Jersey.

Gonna hit the big time, New York!

I got a brother, Frank. He's a big shot in Coney Island.

I'm going into business with him, and you're going with me.

I knew you were going to New York.

Jerry told me, the salesman.

He told me all about your brother, so there.

Now, wait a minute.

So that's why you entered the beauty contest, huh?

To get next to me.

That's why you hung around all that night?

Sure.

I had the carfare. It was sticking in my shoe all the time.

What do you know about that?

You had it figured out all the time, huh?

Wait a minute.

You've been making good dough. Why didn't you clear out?

Hey, why?

How would you love me?

Uh-huh.

You're real serious about this acting business, huh? Why?

I just want to be an actress, that's all.

Sal... Yeah.

I learned a lot these past months with the carnival.

And I'm like you, Sal. I think I'm ready for the big time now.

You're always brushing out your hair.

Always fussing over yourself.

Immaculate.

I suppose I should thank you.

For what?

For what you said about me in the courtroom.

Don't let it go to your head.

Just look at this stuff. I could drink it, honest.

Sal, where's Broadway?

Right in the middle of that pile of bricks.

Where's Coney Island?

Here, I'll show you.

It's about 20 miles down that way.

That far?

Look, in Coney you'll be safe.

I'll see that Frank gives you whatever you want.

Topsy and Eva, The Shipwreck.

How are you going to get on the stage so quick?

What do you think, they're standing around waiting for you?

I've already made a deposit on a teacher.

What?

Madame Neilson.

David Belasco calls her the world's greatest teacher.

I've been writing to her, I've been sending her money.

Oh, Sal, don't you understand?

I've just got to try.

Okay, try. You'll get over it.

Frank's Rosalie was the best soubrette on the burlesque wheel.

After a couple of kids and a house in Brighton Beach, she forgot the whole thing.

Sal, please?

Okay, Becky Sharp, you go ahead.

Get it out of your system.

Oh. Look, Sal.

That man's waving at me.

Look!

Sal, I'm so excited.

Ah! Look over there.

Mmm! Ooh.

Oh. See?

All right, buddy. Move along.

Let's hurry, Sal.

Excited, huh?

This way, please.

Wait in here. Madame Neilson is engaged.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, it happens like this,

especially when it's important.

No tragedy.

Well, what can I do for you?

Well, I wrote to you.

I've been on the road.

I want to become an actress.

What show?

Satori's Combination Carnival and Tent Shows.

Is this you? Yes.

I don't take carnival or circus performers.

Well, I know that you don't take everyone, but...

You've already used up more time than I can afford.

I don't take beginners.

But I've given performances.

With gypsies, freaks, and snake charmers? Please go.

Maybe all the freaks aren't in the sideshows.

What's wrong with carnival people?

They took me in and they gave me a chance.

You say no beginners.

Why, I've been a hoochie-coochie dancer and a hula girl.

I've been in Arabian Nights and every other show on the carnival.

Don't you laugh at me. You couldn't teach me anything.

No, you couldn't teach me anything,

but I could sure teach you a few things.

Double emphasis, you don't need it.

Repeat that last line without hitting the desk.

I said that I could teach you a few things,

about being human and decent.

Oh, stop the bad dialogue.

What's your name?

My name is Jeanne Eagels.

Jeanne Eagels.

The way you say it, you already see it on the marquee.

I know I can't act,

but if you'd only just give me a chance and help me to...

To get your foot in the door?

Come here.

Stand in the light, here.

There.

Yes.

Well, at least not ugly.

Hurry. Hurry.

Where can I find Mr. Satori, please?

Thank you.

Hurry, hurry, folks...

Sal, Sal. Sal, you'll never guess, it's the most wonderful thing...

I'm Frank, the good-looking one.

Oh.

Hey, you must be Jeanne.

Hey, look at that crazy baboon.

You know, I'm so happy he's coming in with me.

I've worked hard for this day.

You only have one brother.

It'll do him good to settle down, huh?

Hey, Jeannie. My brother Frank. Like I told you, huh?

Hey, I got something I want to show you. Come on.

Look at that. The Cyclone.

My first concession.

In a couple of years I'll own the whole thing.

You want to go for a ride? I've been on it eight times already.

Come on. Come on, let's go.

Sal... Yeah.

Neilson's going to teach me, she's already started.

Hey, hey, maybe I'll buy that Brighton Beach Music Hall

and call it the Jeanne Eagels Theater.

The Jeanne Eagels Theater.

Sure. Why not? All the fancy ones have theaters named after them.

Al Jolson, George M. Cohan.

You're prettier than those bums.

Listen, you know something? What?

Madame Neilson says that she might be able

to get me into a play, Happy Lady.

She knows the producer, Al Brooks.

Frank and me, we've got millions of plans.

We're going to change the name of Luna Park to Satori Park.

How do you like that, huh? Satori Park.

Satori Island.

If I'm feeling good, I don't care if I live or die.

She's better than Courtney.

You're a good picker, Nellie.

Why else would I give her so much of my time?

She has that one necessary thing, talent!

I think I'll take her over to the Press Club, have her meet the boys.

Why not? Play along with her, Brooksie.

She'll fill all those empty seats.

You were wonderful.

Oh, Nellie, I was terrible.

I won't argue with you.

Well, I wasn't that bad.

Hurry up, change, huh?

Did you hear the applause?

You were just great.

You've done a good job, too, coach.

Oh, thank you.

Rosalie brought some friends from the neighborhood, they were thrilled.

They're waiting outside. You'll hurry, huh?

I enjoyed the show tonight. I did, too.

She was wonderful. She was.

Hey, Sal, she was great.

Didn't I tell you?

You've got a real sweet girl there.

Yeah.

Hey! Hey, Becky Sharp, come on. We're waiting for you!

Sal, I must see you. I've got to see you a moment.

Frank! Frank, I'll be right back.

Okay, Sal. We'll be here.

You didn't change yet?

Mr. Brooks is taking me to meet the press.

You're going no place, just straight home.

Rosalie's giving a party for you.

No, but I promised him.

You go on without me, Sal, won't you, please?

What do you mean, go on without you?

You don't tell me what to do.

Well, I'll ask him if you can come along.

Wait a minute, don't do me no favors.

Oh, Sal, it's the most wonderful night of my life.

Please don't spoil it.

I don't want to spoil it, but you can't let Rosalie down.

I don't want to go to Brighton Beach.

Not now. Not right away.

Maybe not ever. I'm not married to you!

That has nothing to do with it.

And you can't talk to me like that.

You came out of nowhere, you don't know nothing,

and all of a sudden you're all in an uproar.

Look, maybe I come from nowhere, but I'm going somewhere!

If I walk out that door, I walk out for good.

Well, go ahead and walk!

Are you ready, Jeannie?

Yes, Mr. Brooks.

I don't know, she's got to be

champion of the world or something.

Sometimes I'd like to hang one on her.

Jeanne! Come back!

Jeanne, for Pete's sake!

Jeanne, where are you?

Hey!

Very funny. You know any more games?

No!

That'll teach you to play games with Sal Satori.

You certainly were angry tonight at the theater.

I've seen you mad before, but never like that.

How did it go at the Press Club?

The boys were very nice to me.

They were going to take me up to Harlem,

but I couldn't, not with you so mad.

Well, I had a right to be mad.

You act so crazy.

I don't know, two lousy weeks and you go nuts.

We always fight, you and me,

but it doesn't mean anything though.

It's the way we are, the way we affect one another.

Sal, I couldn't dream of being without you,

I wouldn't know what to do.

Hey... Hey, listen.

If you'd only come to your senses. This is no life.

We ought to be like Frank and Rosalie.

Get married, settle down, have a couple of kids.

I can afford it now. Maybe even buy the house next door.

Oh, Sal, how sweet.

Sal?

Yeah?

Sal, Mr. Brooks has promised to audition me for a new play.

A play of my own.

I'm overjoyed.

They're going to open up in Washington, and...

You'll wake the others.

It's pretty, so wonderful.

Everything seems to be happening so fast.

Suddenly it's like...

Like a whole different world.

Don't. Don't.

I just don't know you anymore.

Sometimes I look at you, I...

I wonder.

I get all balled up. How is it going to be?

What's the matter, Sal?

Your feelings hurt? You still sore, huh?

Sal.

Nellie, I'm so glad you came.

You must help me.

I try and try, and I can't seem to make the part come to life.

Well, the play's no good. That's why.

Oh, come now, Nellie. Nothing we can't fix.

That's why we try out shows on the road.

Oh.

Here we are.

I don't feel like a party. It's all right.

Mrs. Corliss gives the most fabulous parties in Washington.

Good food, good wine, loves show people.

Besides rich.

A potential backer, eh, Brooksie?

You better go.

This thing is also necessary.

I'll see you at rehearsal in the morning.

Good evening, Mrs. Corliss.

Oh, good evening, Mr. Brooks.

This, Mrs. Corliss, our golden girl, Jeanne Eagels.

How do you do? How do you do?

And gentlemen of the press, and ladies,

you all know Jeanne Eagels.

Isn't she pretty. You take my place, Miss Eagels,

you're so much prettier than I am.

Go ahead.

Now, let's stand a little closer together here, please.

Wait a minute. I think I can fix this.

Stand this way.

Now, you put your arm around her this way.

Now, you put your head back on his shoulder.

Now, that will be a great picture. Ah, that's fine.

Give me a nice big smile when I ask for it, please.

Now, ready, smile.

We know all about you Mr. Donahue.

Now, this is your first starring role, Miss Eagels?

Well, no, not exactly. I replaced Miss Courtney.

And before that you worked in the circus.

Oh. Modigliani and the circus girl.

That's a bleach, isn't it, dear?

What did you say?

Well, it couldn't possibly be natural. What's your own color?

Now, when you were on the road...

That's enough. Come on. What, wait, I'm...

No, it's perfectly all right.

There's nothing to hide.

My hair is my own.

And I come from the carnival. It's true.

Yes, we ran sideshows.

Why, I've starred in everything

from Little Eva to Princess Dardanella.

You think I'm a hillbilly, don't you? Come on.

Well, let me tell you something,

that I don't care what you think.

Any of you, any of you.

Fireworks.

I know this Eagels, but she can act.

Go on, drink it.

Go on.

I'm sorry. I guess I was awful.

But you know,

sometimes they can get me so angry.

Oh, I don't know.

It's like one time, this woman asked me straight out

if I was the daughter of an Indian chief,

because my name is Eagels.

I said,

"No, I was a descendant of an old aristocratic French family."

Well, are you?

I was a waitress from Kansas City.

I used to wait on tables, too.

You did? Mmm-hmm. In college.

Of course that was before I got to be an all-American.

Oh. What's an all-American?

Well...

You're joking?

I'm Johnny Donahue, from Princeton.

So?

This is wonderful. Come on.

Come on.

Here.

Do you live in this big house?

No, not me, but my aunt does.

Here we are.

There. There, that's me.

See?

That's my last game for Princeton.

Oh, then you know what it feels like.

Hundreds of people looking at you

and they're all expecting you to do something wonderful.

The jitters. Mmm.

Oh, I've had them bad.

As a matter of fact, I've got them right now.

Now? Mmm-hmm.

I was about to ask you to go for a drive.

Is it all right? I mean, did you come alone?

As alone as a man can be.

You see, my wife is suing me for divorce.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, I'm not. Not anymore.

All right, come on.

Jeanne. Jeanne!

Sal.

Sal, I'm so glad to see you.

Yeah, well, don't be.

The minute I turn my back, you make a show of yourself.

What is it now?

Look at these papers. Every time I open one, smack, there you are,

holding hands with this football player. It's nothing like that.

Look at this one. Sal!

Sal, it is nothing like that.

Johnny Donahue is a sweet, likeable guy. He's amusing.

He makes me forget my troubles.

But he's a married man. He's got two kids.

No, he's separated.

Besides, I'm not in love with him.

It's just that, well, he's a gentleman.

Oh, and I'm a slob, huh?

I didn't say that. And I didn't mean it.

What do you want, Sal?

What is it, Jeanne?

The play opened tonight.

The audience didn't like it. It's just no good.

Well, so what?

If I'm a flop on Broadway, Sal, I'm finished.

Don't you see? They won't want me anymore.

You're all perspiring.

You're going to catch cold. Come on, come on inside.

Mr. Brooks... Not now.

Mr. Brooks, please listen to me. No, Miss Desmond.

You can imagine how busy we are.

Mr. Brooks, I came all the way to Washington just to talk to you.

I'm sorry, Miss Desmond.

Please, Mr... Good night.

Good night, Jeanne.

I saw you looking at me.

I'm Elsie Desmond.

Oh, I was a golden girl once, too.

Yes, of course.

I have a play here. I believe in it very much.

I came all the way from New York just to talk to Mr. Brooks,

but he won't... He won't even talk to me.

He will talk to you, though.

You see, you're new, on the rise.

I want this role desperately.

Would you talk to him for me?

I'd be glad to.

Thank you.

You don't know how much it would mean to me, to be active again.

Why, this play will bring me back.

I'll do anything that I can.

God bless you.

That was Elsie Desmond.

Was she any good, Nellie?

She was great.

Until she met her match,

the bottle.

Mr. Satori, there's something wrong with your car, sir.

It's overheated. I can't get it started.

I'll go with you. Order me a club sandwich.

You know what this play's about?

It's based on a short story by Somerset Maugham.

It's about a minister and a prostitute. It's called Rain.

Hello, Mr. Jackson, this is Jeanne Eagels.

Jeanne Eagels?

Yes.

Forgive me for calling you at this hour, but it's very important.

What's on your mind?

You see, we've been having trouble on the road with Golden Girl.

That's Al Brooks' show.

Yes, Al Brooks' play.

Yeah, I heard about it.

I think that I could persuade Al to do Rain instead.

The Elsie Desmond play?

You are the agent, aren't you?

Yes, Miss Desmond had hoped to make a comeback with Rain,

but her option has run out.

Hello?

Yes, I know, poor Elsie told me that her option lapsed.

Oh, have you seen her?

She wants me to do it.

Yeah?

Yes. Mmm-hmm.

Hey, let's get out...

I think you'd be just right for the part, Miss Eagels.

Mmm-hmm.

I think you'll be much better than Elsie Desmond.

Yes, well, I was very touched by her plight.

Glad you called.

Goodbye. And thank you so much, Mr. Jackson.

Boy, is this a jip town.

I fix the car myself, the guy charges me eight bucks.

Where are you going?

Al, wake up.

I must see you, talk to you. Al!

What's the matter, is the hotel on fire?

I want to talk to you, Al.

Al, listen.

Now? At this hour?

Yes, now.

Look, I just read this play, and it is great.

The greatest thing ever.

You woke me up for this Desmond play?

Look, don't think I'm just a dumb blonde talking.

You don't get many chances like this, only once.

Only once in a lifetime does such a play happen.

I know it's good. I've read it.

I wouldn't touch it with that drunk Desmond.

I'd be wonderful in it.

Well, you...

You? Of course I mean me.

Well,

it's an idea.

Al, I'd die for this play.

But Desmond goes with it.

Nobody wants her.

How do you think I got the play?

She brought it to me. You saw her here this evening.

We talked, and she wants me to do it.

That makes a difference. Give it to me.

I'll read it in the morning.

No, you'll read it now. Won't you, please, Al?

Tonight? Please.

Nighty night.

I've done it, Sal. I've done it.

Done what?

I've tied up the play for myself.

You moved in pretty fast.

Oh, your sandwich is on the table.

That woman didn't give you her play for yourself, you lied.

You know you lied.

Sal, I need that play. I've got to have it.

I've seen you do some things lately. I've put up with them.

But this is different. You don't just step on a person's neck.

Look, I'll step on her neck.

I'll do anything that I have to do!

What do you know about this thing, anyway?

Who are you to preach to me?

Since when are you such a saint?

Now, mind your own business, please, Sal!

Jeannie...

Jeannie, this is a thing you'll regret the rest of your life.

I just don't want to hear anything more about it.

Every dirty trick in the book.

This has nothing to do with you, Sal. Nothing!

Right from the beginning!

It started with that Jerry in the bathing beauty contest.

The only reason you hung around me

was to play me for the trip to New York!

No, I didn't play you. It wasn't anything like that.

I knew how we met, where you came from.

But I never held you cheap.

I wanted to marry you.

But I wasn't good enough.

Now, I wouldn't even spit on you!

Get out of here. I've seen bums in the carnival,

dames who'd been through everything, they couldn't do what you're doing now!

All right, I'll get out.

You stay!

Rob! Steal! Murder even!

And those Johnny Donahues. You go with fellas like that.

Let them... Let them fool with you.

I won't be around to see it.

On stage, Miss Eagels.

They're far below the moral standards.

But the steamers stopping here make the people unsettled.

Then there's the naval base, that's bad for the natives.

You boys hurry up. Go down the dock running.

Many a fella wants cigarettes. Hurry up!

Plenty of rain soon coming.

It can't be going to rain, can it?

Very likely.

This is the beginning of the rainy season.

But the sky is so blue.

Yes, we shall have rain very soon.

Oh, young man,

do you know whether our luggage has been taken off the ship?

No, ma'am, I don't know a thing about it.

The procrastination of these people are terrible.

Mmm-hmm. Yes, ma'am, they are terrible.

Terrible indeed.

Don't be afraid, I won't shout or make a scene.

I shouldn't have given you my play, should I?

I thought you had your own play.

I thought you were human.

You're not. You're a monster.

You tricked me out of my last chance.

Oh, you'll be a success, Eagels.

You think this play will bring you luck?

It will. It'll bring you luck, all right.

All bad.

Jeanne, come on.

Music and a nip of liquor,

that's what a rainy day is for, says I.

You dance, handsome?

Well, I bet the quartermaster...

I bet he's a mighty fine little stepper.

You know, for one his size and his years.

Come on, Major, let's show 'em.

Wait a minute. Whoa, wait a minute. Whoa, whoa.

Now, the thing to remember here is,

is that you take it very easy and you go slow.

Now, watch me.

That's it. You put your arms around me.

That's it. You see how easy it is?

That's it, that's it.

Whoa, whoa.

Phew!

Young woman, this is Sunday.

Now, let me see.

Yesterday was Saturday.

Well, right you are, Reverend. Right you are.

Stop! This has gone far enough.

You care to?

God will punish you for this.

You keep yelling, "God will punish you. God will make you suffer."

Maybe you've got the power of the Lord on your side.

All right, but I want to tell you something,

that I've got the power to stand right here

and to say to you

hang me and be damned to you!

Why the noise? Why are they shouting at me?

They're not shouting, they're crying bravo.

But it's only the second act.

Every sweet wonderful thing you ever dreamed about

is happening out there. Now go on, take a bow.

On the stage, Jeannie, it's your night. Go on. Go on, take a bow!

Thank you.

She was great. So real.

Everybody is talking about her performance.

Oh, Nellie!

Look at it. It's all so wonderful.

Oh.

Oh, Brooksie, did I ask you to put it up there, did I?

There it is.

Go on, Jeannie, enjoy your triumph while it lasts.

We've been looking for you everywhere,

it's Elsie Desmond, she's kicking up a row.

It always happens with these crackpots.

After a hit, they make trouble.

What kind of trouble?

She's been trying to reach the reporters.

She says you took her play away from her, cheated her.

Why, isn't that a ridiculous...

Well, she gave it to you herself, didn't she?

Why, naturally, she... I tried to kill the story.

There's a couple of reporters inside

who want to talk to you, Jeannie.

Let's go in. Once you tell them

just how you got the play, it'll end her lies.

Come on. Of course, I...

Al...

I wouldn't let Jeanne get mixed up with the reporters.

You handle them yourself.

Ah, yeah, yeah. That's right. Very wise.

I don't know what happened between you and Desmond,

but I have my suspicions.

Nellie... I don't want to know.

But I would go and see her, if I were you.

All right.

Miss Desmond.

Miss Desmond?

Hey, where did that come from?

Hey, who's that? What is she doing there?

Who are you?

Jeanne Eagels.

You knew Miss Desmond, didn't you?

Had dealings with her?

For you, Lieutenant.

You wait here, I want to talk to you.

Ribs caved in, punctured the lungs.

No, she didn't die immediately.

She talked for a few minutes.

She was 34.

Father, I think. In Illinois.

Yeah. Yeah, we'll check.

No. No, we don't know. She may have fallen.

No one saw the actual fall, no.

Yes, she's here now, in the apartment.

I'll question her immediately.

Jeannie.

Jeannie?

What do you want, Sal?

The chance to say "I told you so"?

Oh, cut it out.

Look, I know what you're thinking.

Get it out of your head.

If she was going to do it, she'd have done it sooner or later.

She was only 34.

All right. Go ahead, torture yourself. Make yourself crazy.

No one would have done the play with her!

No, I had to take it away from her.

So you got excited, you went dancing off on one foot.

From now on it's going to be different.

I'm stepping in, I'm going to watch out for you.

I should have done it right from the start.

I don't know what happened. I... I was a sap.

You were right, Sal.

I rob and I steal.

I do everything in the book!

You called it, I'm a murderer.

All right, I said it.

What do I care what I said?

I love you.

We've been together, we're part of each other,

no matter what I said, no matter what's happened.

What are you doing?

For the understudy.

Get that understudy out of the theater.

She's already been announced, Jeannie.

I don't want an understudy with me as long as I'm with this show!

I'm going on. They paid their money, they want to know what I look like.

I'm not hiding. Whatever I did, I did.

Let them look at me. Let them look at me

all they want to look at me!

Good. Great. I'll hold the curtain. Listen to me.

Listen to me, you're not going on. Jeannie!

Keep your hands off of me!

I don't want your help.

I don't want you to wait for me, or to take me home.

And I don't want you to worry about me,

and I don't want you to love me!

I don't want you to do anything at all for me.

Now, will you kindly step out of my dressing room, Sal?

I have a performance to do, and I've got to get ready.

I thought the best thing was to come and see you here.

I know what you've been through today.

I like being around you. It's fun.

I haven't been this alive since college.

No, thanks.

You don't need Scotch. What you need is me, Donahue, an Irishman.

My wife got her divorce today.

I'm free.

Of course, I'm broke, but I'm free.

Does that mean anything to you?

Should it?

I want to marry you, Jeanne.

Hey, Sal, look who's coming.

Ah.

What'd I tell you? On her hands and knees.

Sal, take it easy.

I'm a reasonable man. If she wants to apologize, we'll see.

All right. Take her away.

Sit down there.

And be sure to keep your seats

and hold on to your hats.

Tickets. Tickets, please.

Sal.

Oh, hello, Jeannie.

All right, take her away. And sit down there. Sal.

Sal, I've got to talk to you.

What did you say?

I said it's important.

All right, go ahead.

We've never held back, have we?

We've always been honest, even when it hurts.

Maybe I can make it easier for you.

You want me to forgive and forget, huh?

No bitterness, no regrets.

Hey, now, now, not so fast.

Let me get it straight, just what is it you want?

I want to get married, Sal.

That's a big step, marriage.

A partnership is one thing a woman can't...

But you don't understand, Sal.

I want a big family, Jeanne.

Lots of kids, your children.

I didn't mean that...

Okay. One thing at a time.

We'll get married, get settled.

I'm not marrying you, Sal.

I'm marrying Johnny Donahue.

That college boy? That all-American water bucket?

You're marrying that? Where is he now?

I asked him to wait in the parking lot.

He's hiding out, huh?

I'm going to drop-kick that football right...

Oh, Sal. ...out of the stadium!

Sal, I... Please!

Hey, hey, what's all the fighting about?

Please, Sal.

Please don't fight, Sal. Please, Sal.

Sal, please.

Hello, Mr. Satori.

There's a dirty word for a man who steals another man's woman,

that's Donahue.

Oh, I think it's the other way around, she stole me.

Didn't the same thing happen to you?

You all-American freak.

Please, Mr. Satori. Please.

Do you love him?

Very much.

I guess that's the way things go sometimes, huh?

Go on, beat it, both of you.

Take that pile of junk with you.

I don't want my place to get a bad reputation.

Well, what are you all looking at? Go on, beat it!

After two very wonderful years,

our show is going on the road.

So, goodbye, New York, and God bless you.

Everything packed? Yeah.

Had to get an extra suitcase for your shoes.

Tickets? Reservations? All taken care of.

I checked your luggage, Miss Eagels.

Talk to my husband.

Jeanne.

Yes?

Jeanne, won't you change your mind about joining Actors' Equity?

Everyone in the legitimate theater belongs to it.

Why? What do I need a union for?

I'm sorry.

"'Gin' Eagels," they call her.

She's earned the name.

Always a high kicker.

It's my girl, all right.

And I wasn't good enough for her.

All of this wouldn't have been good enough for her either.

She begged, she had to marry that guy or the sky would fall down.

It's been five years now, Sal, forget it.

She doesn't mean a thing to me! It's all dead and buried.

Baloney! You still got her in your bones.

Oh, boy!

Isn't it a beautiful car?

Hey! Good morning, Uncle Sal.

Hey, good morning.

Uncle Sal... Hello.

What kind of car is that?

Oh, you like that one, huh?

It's the newest car, a Duesenberg.

Will you bring us to school in it?

Oh, come on, please. Oh, please, come on.

Please. Please.

All right, all right, you got a deal. Wait outside.

Goodbye. Bye, Mom. Bye Mom.

Goodbye. Goodbye.

Now, be good, now. And don't fool around in school, all right?

Ah, they're beautiful, huh?

I'll be right back.

I want to read the baseball scores.

Take it easy. Single file to the financier.

You'll all get your money back.

Just take it easy. All right.

Tickets now, to the financier.

You'll all get your money back.

I wonder what all the fuss is about.

You're getting your money back.

The actors don't get their money back, Miss Eagels.

When a performance is canceled,

it's bread out of their mouths.

Johnny...

Who are these peasants?

They're from Actors' Equity, Jeanne.

What's Equity got to do with me?

Throw them out. Be reasonable, Jeanne.

I think you ought to speak to these gentlemen.

Gentlemen?

These snoopers that come in here to lecture me?

You know what I am?

I am a star.

I don't need Actors' Equity. I'm going to Hollywood.

And I'll be a star there, too.

Now, throw them out.

I'm sorry, fellas, she's really not temperamental, hardly ever.

Here's one for you, Johnny.

Here's to Princeton.

Actors' Equity!

Roll them.

Hit the lights, Phil.

Wind machine going.

All right, action.

Remember, Jeannie,

you're grieving over your fiancé, who is in prison

for a crime he did not commit.

There's passion in your eyes

and murder in your heart.

All right. Set.

Bow.

Remember, Jack, you're a complete louse.

All you think about

is despoiling this flower of Southern womanhood.

Now move around. Don't let him know how you really feel, Jeannie.

Move close to her.

Speak your title, Jack. Closer.

All right, a little closer.

All right. All right. Cut!

Kill the wind. Very good.

Now, next...

Well, wrap them up, everybody. Happy New Year.

Happy New Year, Jack.

Jeannie, you were wonderful as usual.

Ah. Thank you.

Now, look, you're sure you won't change your mind

and come to our party tonight?

No, I'm afraid not. Thank you anyway, though.

You see, Johnny and I...

Well, we make it a little ritual

to spend New Year's Eve alone together, quietly at home.

Mmm-hmm. I understand.

Happy New Year.

Jack? Jack. Yes.

Have a Happy New Year, Miss Eagels.

Tell my husband that I'm waiting for him, won't you, please?

Murph! Yes, Lou?

Murph, call Mr. Eagels, please.

Mr. Eagels, you're wanted on...

Get out there. That's a boy.

See, you hold that just like you would a watermelon. See?

Hey, Mr. Eagels, your wife is looking for you.

So long, buddies.

Bye, Johnny.

Jeanne, somebody at the door.

I hope you enjoyed your dinner.

Can I get you something else?

Over there.

Here you are.

Thank you, Mrs. Eagels. Happy New Year.

And a Happy New Year to you, Mr. Eagels.

Yes, sir, folks, here we are right in the middle of Times Square.

In exactly five seconds, it will be 1928.

One, two, three, four... One, two, three, four...

Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Jeanne.

I remember one New Years, we went up to New York from school.

Yes, I know. They carried you on their shoulders.

Yeah, they... Yeah.

Johnny...

... from the blustery shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago,

the windy city has the joyous message for all the world,

Happy New Year!

Tell me something.

Do you like being Mr. Eagels,

picking up after me like a maid?

What do you want me to do?

Honey, how would you like to go to the Coconut Grove?

The alumni are having a get-together.

I know I can get us a table.

What do you say?

Get me a drink.

From the home of the flying monkeys,

the world famed the Coconut Grove...

Happy New Year!

... wishing you all a Happy New Year.

You beautiful thing, you.

Yes?

Yes, New York.

What did you say? Sal?

Oh, Al Brooks. All right.

Hello, Al?

Same to you.

A new play? Sure. Sure, why not?

We're almost finished with the movie.

Mmm-hmm.

Say, do you ever see Nellie?

Well, give her my love, won't you? Okay.

Sure, soon as we're finished.

Oh, Johnny?

He's fine. Sure, I'll tell him.

Mmm-hmm.

Thanks, Al.

He said Happy New Year.

He says Happy New Year!

Well, Miss Eagels, you're free. Free as the air.

This way you will avoid running into Mr. Donahue.

Johnny's here?

Oh, hello, Johnny. Hello.

Tom, I have everything arranged.

Yeah, we'll have a look at this...

Hello, Jeanne.

You look magnificent. I guess all you needed was a year away from me.

Forgive me for messing up your life. I'm sorry.

Oh, it's all over. I want to thank you for five crazy, wonderful years.

Goodbye, Jeanne. Where do I sign?

Here. Mmm-hmm.

Yeah, that's it. Yeah.

Settlement. Mmm-hmm. That's right.

Come on, Jeanne. Get it up.

Please, Jeanne, a little higher.

This is as far as I'll go. And you're too young and I'm not that old.

Hey, Jeanne, what do you think about Johnny Donahue getting married again, huh?

Well, I hope his wife appreciates everything that I taught him.

That's it, boys.

We open tonight and I want her to get some rest.

Good luck, Jeanne. Bye, fellas.

Knock 'em dead, Jeannie.

Come on. I'll buy a round.

I'll see you later. Yes, dear.

Remember me, Becky Sharp?

Hello, Becky.

You look so prosperous, so distinguished!

Me? Distinguished? I...

I suppose that's a fancy way for saying I've aged six years.

Well, how are Frank and Rosalie doing?

Fine.

Frank's going to be a father again.

Oh.

And you? What about you?

The only girl I ever wanted to marry

turned out to be a great lady of the theater.

You're blazing quite a trail.

You keep track?

I read things.

What? Stories about "Gin" Eagels?

Her drinking, the wild parties, the shows she misses?

Tell me something, Sal, do you believe it? All of it?

Even the gossip that I take dope?

It's your life, live it as you please.

I will.

I'm doing fine. Don't I look fine?

Unbelievable.

Not a line, not a single giveaway trace.

What did you expect? A broken-down wreck?

Look, I'm at the top and I intend to stay there.

So, don't worry about me, Sal, not for a minute.

I don't worry about you, not anymore.

Goodbye, Jeanne. Good luck.

Aren't you coming to my opening?

Nope.

They're getting restless. Where is she?

It's your fault, Nellie. I told you to stay with her.

I'm a dramatic coach, not a policeman.

She's here, Mr. Brooks.

Don't turn on the light.

Where were you?

I was walking in the park.

You're drunk, dead drunk!

And as far as Equity is concerned, it's the end of the line.

I can't seem to shake that idiotic union.

Leave her alone!

She's drunk! I'm through making excuses. I've got to tell them the...

Now, wait a minute! You'll say nothing of the kind.

I'll have her on that stage in 15 minutes.

Oh, for the love of Mike, how can you?

Well, I know her better than you do.

Now get out! Go on, get out.

Okay.

Fifteen minutes.

Oh, go on. Get out.

We need to change this dress.

What brought on this new madness?

Sometimes you feel blue and alone.

And everything is dark in front of you. You know how it is.

And you get scared.

Oh, but on your opening night?

How could you? Take off the pearls.

Now, what really happened?

I met an old friend.

A friend?

That's a fine friend, getting you into this condition!

He doesn't care anymore what I do.

Satori? Well, you forget him.

Now, just forget him, that's all.

And he was like ice.

He laughed at me.

Me, Jeanne Eagels!

I hate him. I hate him.

Oh, I could beat you.

I could just beat you.

Calling on the last dregs of your strength, at a time like this.

Dr. Richards is coming. He'll give me something.

Richards. That ghoul.

New York is full of fine doctors,

and you have to pick that slimy Richards.

Why do you do these things?

Movies by day, plays by night, never sleeping.

Headaches, pains, pills.

After the show you faint dead away.

I faint, Nellie,

but I never faint before the show, only after.

Oh, here he is. Here he is, the savior.

Well, she's changed her mind, Dr. Richards.

No.

No, please. No, please.

Please.

If you want me to help you, Miss Eagels,

ask this woman to leave the room.

Send him away! You get out. Get out!

Nellie, please.

I must go on.

I've got to have something to calm my nerves.

Please, Nellie, please.

Oh. First liquor and then sedatives.

Oh, I'd rather you didn't go on,

tonight, tomorrow, or ever again.

I'd rather see you dead.

No, wait, don't go.

Help me.

Sit down. Sit down.

Just relax.

All you need is something to calm you down.

Would you leave us, madame?

Hurry, Doctor.

They're waiting for me.

Hurry.

There, didn't I tell you? Go on. Do something.

Places, places, places!

Anything else, madame?

No, Marie.

But let me know the moment that he gets here, won't you?

Oui, madame.

His favorite chair.

My darling.

Why, this is...

"This is an occasion, my dear."

This is a...

"This is an occasion, my dear."

This is an occasion...

This is a...

This is a... This is a...

This is a...

No. This is a...

Nellie!

No!

This is a...

It's all right. It's all right.

It's all right. It's all right.

It's all right. It's all right.

Which brings us up to the cancellation of Careless Lady,

here in New York, two weeks ago.

I admit everything. Anything. How much is the fine?

It goes beyond fines, Miss Eagels.

You may never work on the legitimate stage again.

Why, you...

You can't!

We certainly can.

No member of Equity will be allowed to work with you.

Have you read Article Five of our by-laws?

Well, let me read you some of it.

"Any member who shall be guilty

"of an aggravation or conduct

"which is prejudicial to the welfare of the association

"or any of its membership as such,

"is prejudicial to its welfare..."

Miss Eagels! She won't get away from us...

We are not through yet. Miss Eagels.

Mr. President. Miss Neilson.

Mr. President, I can't defend Miss Eagels' behavior.

I won't even try. It's inexcusable!

But as you know, she rose like a comet overnight,

but without the self-discipline, without the background,

that is needed to support such quick fame.

The theater to this girl is her only reality.

It's her father and mother, husband, children.

Have pity on her. She's sick.

She's sick with that reckless self-destruction

that often comes with great talent.

Punish her?

Yes, but don't snuff out that flame.

For to this girl, Jeanne Eagels,

a long suspension is like a death sentence.

I want you guys to make sure

to get that picture of Jeanne Eagels.

When she gets thrown out of here for good,

I want those pictures spread all over the afternoon edition.

Jeanne!

True-blue Sal!

So, you came to the hanging, too.

Now, stop it!

They've changed their minds.

The suspension's only for 18 months.

Don't make it such a tragedy.

I used to laugh at them.

I used to call them names.

They caught up with me, though.

You said I was too smart.

Easy.

It's not the end of the world.

The end of my world. If I don't work, I'm nobody.

What about vaudeville? Equity can't stop you there.

Not for me.

Always shooting for the moon.

When you were a coochie dancer,

you had to be Becky Sharp.

When you got to Broadway, you had to be a big star right away.

Will you just ease up once and do it my way?

We...

We can try it out in my own theater.

What are you laughing at?

It feels so good to have you bawling me out again, Sal.

Like coming home.

Sal, we could take all...

Maybe we could take all the high moments of all my plays.

We could make it like a Jeanne Eagels medley.

Sure we can.

Oh, Sal, will you help me?

Sure. Of course I'll help you. Sal.

Sal, Sal.

Hello, Sammy.

Hi.

I caught your act.

Best thing that ever happened to vaudeville.

Miss Eagels.

Thank you.

Why don't you go up and check the cars on the Racer.

I'll take care of these?

All right.

Hi.

Oh, hi. How'd the matinee go?

Fine.

The, uh...

...seal stole the show.

lt'll be different when you get to New York and open at the Palace.

You'll have Nellie again and before you know it,

the months will pass and Brooks will have his new show ready.

And you?

I'm going to Europe.

You're going away?

Yeah, didn't I tell you?

I'm going to sail in 10 days. We got big plans.

Come on, I want to show you the new pavilion.

Did you ever hear of a guy named Mareti?

Uh, no.

They shoot him right out of a cannon.

It's the most fantastic act I ever saw.

I'm going to get him and every other artist I can lay my hands on.

We're going to make this the greatest amusement park in the world.

Satori Park! Satori Island!

It's all come true, hasn't it?

Yeah.

New horses?

No. Same old horses, just new paint.

If only we could do it to ourselves.

It's easy. Every year, a fresh coat of paint.

Every year, a flock of new kids. That's life.

It's a good business, too.

Now, your mommy wouldn't like that.

What do you say, kids? You want a ride, huh?

Okay, everybody rides.

Compliments of the management. Here we go.

All set?

Want a ride? Compliments of the management?

All right, Casey! Take it away!

Remember when you took me for a ride once

and we fell flat on our faces?

Mansfield, Ohio, July 21st, 1921.

Happiest days of my life.

Mine, too.

Only I didn't know it then.

Yeah.

Sal, let's get married.

Hey, wait a minute.

That's my line. I'm the guy who used to say that all the time.

Oh, what a chump I was.

Married. You couldn't be married to anyone.

I used to think you were crazy.

But you had a fire burning inside you.

You knew what you wanted.

Me, all the time trying to harness a comet to a baby carriage.

Imagine.

Just imagine.

And me, waiting in a bungalow, for the...

For the Great Satori to come home.

You know, it took me a long time to learn that

two people like us could love each other

and yet, if they got married, they'd destroy each other.

I guess I never had what it takes to be a wife.

I robbed you, Sal.

Robbed me?

Of those six children.

It was going to be 12, remember?

You know,

if the devil himself were to come out of the ocean and say,

"Satori, you can live your whole life over again.

"Have everything you want,

"but you can't have Jeanne,"

I'd turn him down

and still take the little I've had of you.

Mr. Satori? Yeah.

We'll need an engineer on the new power plant.

It's too complicated for my boys.

I'll look at it.

Yes, sir.

Still do everything yourself?

Sure, still a paisa.

Still like to work with my hands. What about dinner?

Oh, I'd rather wait. After the show.

All right. I'll see you.

I'm going to the corner, Miss Eagels.

Can I bring you some hot soup?

No, thank you, Joe.

What are you doing here?

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean...

Oh, Miss Eagels, please help me.

I want to be a great actress, just like you.

Please go home.

I'll do anything. Anything!

You don't know what you're saying.

I've got to be an actress. I've just got to.

Yes.

Maybe you will.

But take my advice and don't. Now please go.

You're beautiful. You have everything in the world.

Everything in the world.

Did that kid bother you, Miss Eagels?

Oh, no. No.

Crazy, stage-struck punk, always pestering the actors.

There was no harm done.

Well, it's all right now, she's gone.

How about a belt?

Good stuff. Oh, no, thank you.

Bonded Canadian.

You high-hatting me?

Oh, no. Of course not, Mister...

O'Hara. Chick O'Hara. Just call me Chick.

Hey, you look tired. Don't move.

You know where it gets me? Right here at the base of the neck.

Please forgive me, Mr. O'Hara...

Nerves. Just nervous.

We still got a couple of hours.

Gets lonely in vaudeville between shows, hmm?

Look, baby, you're perfectly safe with me. My lips are sealed.

Get out of here. Leave me alone.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

I've heard about your famous parties. Let's have one, huh?

Get out of here.

Come on. Stop putting on airs, just relax.

Leave me alone, you filthy bum!

I don't have to fight. I know what you are.

A drunken tramp they kicked off Broadway.

You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for your boyfriend Satori.

And you call me a bum!

That's my cue, Nellie.

So terribly young to die.

Remember when we saw her in Rain?

What really happened to her?

Well, her heart just stopped, that's all. She died.

The papers said she earned a fortune and she gave it away.

I read in this morning's drama section that in spite of her short career,

she was the greatest American actress that ever lived.

What a pity she's gone. So young. So beautiful.

I'll take romance

While my arms are strong and eager for you

I'll give my arms their cue

I'll take romance

So, my lover When you want me, call me

In the hush of the evening

When you call me

In the hush of the evening

I'll rush to my first big romance

While my heart is young and eager and gay

I'll give my heart away

I'll take romance

I'll take my own

Romance