Original subtitles

Once upon a time, there were three beautiful girls.

Two of them graduated from the police academy.

The other graduated from a top school for models.

And they each reaped the rewards

of their exciting careers.

But I took them away from all that and now they work for me.

My name is Charlie.

I said, again.

And one.

Fifteen past midnight Lying on your back

♪ Staring at the ceiling

♪ At 6 you're watching Hoping dawn will crack

♪ Hard lost feeling

♪ That fella's got you On a sleepless jag

♪ Might as well get up And do the sleepless rag

/> Here's how you do it

/> Put on the coffee Give the girls a call

♪ We'll come cracking

> They'll tell you

♪ He ain't worth it at all

♪ Send him packing

♪ But if they can't Convince you

♪ 'Cause suffering's Your bag

♪ Then you better learn To do the sleepless rag

/> Here's how you do it

♪ There's nothing to it

♪ Come on and do it

♪ Get up, just do it

♪ Fifteen past midnight Lying on your back

♪ Staring at the ceiling

♪ At 6 you're watching Hoping dawn will crack

♪ Hard lost feeling

♪ That fella's got you On a sleepless jag

♪ Might as well get up And do the sleepless rag

/> Here's how you do it

/> Put on the coffee Give the girls a call

♪ We'll come cracking

♪ They'll tell you He ain't worth it at all

♪ Send him packing

♪ But if they can't Convince you

♪ 'Cause suffering's Your bag then

LI they can't Convince you

♪ 'Cause suffering's Your bag

♪ You better learn to do The sleepless

♪ You better learn to do The sleepless

Rag

Well, I'd like to tell you all how good that was.

I'd like to,

but I'd be lying.

Listen, I did this number in Reno and in Vegas

and it always worked.

Well, it doesn't work now.

Well, if it doesn't,

it's because of these klutzes behind me.

Ladies.

I hardly think all this rancor

is gonna help get this show ready.

Darian, you'll get your show ready

when you start surrounding me

with some people that know what they're doing.

I mean, this dummy over here keeps watching her feet

just like an amateur.

Listen, I don't need this from you.

I'll handle the lady, Jessica.

Oh, and fancy Nancy is messing up half the steps.

I just don't know all the moves yet.

You're never gonna know the moves.

I noticed you messed up on a couple of moves yourself,

smart mouth.

Well, if I did,

it's because of your dumb choreography.

Who the devil ever told you

you were a choreographer anyway?

Because I'm here to tell you that you're not.

Renee, you're out of line.

No, Darian.

They're out of line, all of them.

Now, I am a pro and I expect to work with pros.

Look, why don't you just get your act together and them.

And then when you're ready,

you can call me to do this again.

All right, let's call it a night.

We'll get a fresh start in the morning.

Uh, don't you worry now, Mrs. Traina.

This is all par for the course

when you're putting a show together.

Ah! You scared me for a minute.

Now, Mrs. Traina, let me get this straight.

You've put up the money ...for Darian Mason's production?

Yes, over $150,000.

You said this is a Vegas show?

That's right.

Thank you.

Well, aren't Vegas shows usually put together in Vegas?

As a rule, yes.

But Darian Mason feels

that if we put a show together on speculation,

then audition it, we can get a much better deal.

So that's the deadline you were talking about,

an audition for the Vegas people?

Yes, in four days.

And now we've suffered our second major setback.

Your second? What was your first?

Our choreographer.

A week ago, she also disappeared.

Did you contact the police?

Yes.

Unfortunately,

they haven't been able to come up with anything.

Darian grabbed an aspiring choreographer

from the chorus, put her in charge.

Mrs. Traina, since you've come to us,

I assume that you feel

the disappearance of Renee last night

and the choreographer are somehow related.

I'm not sure what I feel.

At the prospect of losing $150,000,

my thinking is getting a little muddled.

So you believe somebody is deliberately trying

to destroy this production?

Well, it's a possibility, isn't it?

What does Darian Mason think?

Well, naturally, he's quite shaken up,

but he didn't want me to hire a detective.

He feels that it would demoralize the cast

if they thought there was any real imminent danger,

as he put it.

He's afraid they'd all panic and run.

Well, how did he explain the two disappearances to the cast?

He told the cast they just quit.

So we'll have to investigate

without Darian Mason's knowledge.

Yes.

Well, that's gonna make our establishing of a cover

a little more difficult.

Angels, I'm afraid you're going to have to pull out

your dancing shoes.

Oh. Charlie, my dancing shoes are very, very dusty.

Well, that's all right. I'll dust them off for you.

Really? Yeah.

As your agent-manager, it's the least I can do.

Clever. But what about your dancing shoes?

Oh, no. A little ballroom, a little disco,

I can handle that.

Chorus line, no thanks. I'll think of something else.

Can you arrange an audition for Kelly, Mrs. Traina?

I think so.

With one girl gone, maybe dead,

well, somebody will have to take her place.

Well, I wished you'd phrase that another way, Mrs. Traina.

A five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two.

All right, got that?

Okay.

Okay, try that with me.

A five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two. Going up.

Six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Okay?

All right, add those two sections together.

A five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

You better do some fancy promoting.

I think this girl is in a little bit better form

than I am.

Attitude. Blind them with attitude.

The flick kick.

Okay.

Right? Okay, but take it from the top. Okay.

A five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

If you're gonna do that, could you try to do it in tempo?

What?

If you're gonna rattle those pages,

would you just do it in tempo?

Oh, uh, I don't know how to...

You don't what?

Uh, know how to do it in tempo.

Then don't do it.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

No, no. Wait, wait.

Put it together. That's it, yeah.

Seven, eight.

What are the estimated set costs?

Uh...

Eighty-two thousand.

It's too low.

What?

It's too low. It can't be done at that price.

One, two, going on. Six, seven, eight.

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

Mr. Mason?

Darian Mason?

Yes.

Kris Munroe.

Well, you're a pretty one. Are you gonna dance for me?

No, I hope I'm gonna shake your hand.

Oh.

Then what are you gonna do?

I'll explain to you why I'm here.

Go ahead. I'm listening.

Well, I'm a reporter

and I'd love to do a story about you.

A story?

I'm from the Omaha Dance Review.

Do they dance in Omaha?

Very well.

And we're very impressed with the way you dance here.

If you don't mind,

I'd like to just hang around and, uh, observe you.

Well, uh, I'm not dancing.

Well, whatever it is you're doing,

you do it very well.

I'll bet they do other things very well in Omaha.

Such as?

Schmooze.

Schmooze?

You're schmoozing me.

Am I doing it well?

Very well.

Heh-heh. Does that mean I can stay?

You know that's what it means.

Wanna go get some more water? Can you do it in tempo?

Two, three, four, five, Six, seven, eight.

Great. Now, if you'll add that other section

that I taught you...

I think you're better than all of them.

I'm not as good as any of them.

Oh, yeah? I think you are.

Well, you don't count.

You sure you don't want some more coffee?

No, thank you.

Would you stop bugging me? You're driving me crazy.

I'm just trying to be nice.

Well, don't be. Don't do me any favors.

From you, I don't need any favors.

You really ought to be nice to me.

Considering what I know about you.

You really ought to be nice.

Okay, okay, lighten up.

Get me some coffee.

Cream, no sugar?

Right.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Darian, listen. Since we're fighting the clock,

why don't we just hire this girl

and end the audition and get back to work?

No, I don't think so.

Darian, she can out-dance any of the other girls

we've hired so far.

Well, she dances very well,

but she doesn't have the look that we need for a Vegas Show.

Uh, I want you to hire the other girl.

Uh, what's her name?

Garrett. Kelly Garrett.

Oh, we haven't even seen her dance yet.

Now, I've seen her move, and I love her look.

Hire her.

She has no experience.

She doesn't even have a resume I can check out.

I'm sure she'll be fine.

Darian.

Hire her.

How did you do it?

Do what?

Get to Darian.

Get to him?

Don't play dumb with me.

I think the lady's trying to tell you something.

She's not doing it very nicely.

No, she isn't, is she?

Clever little routine you two have got going here,

but I don't buy it.

Look, I think you'd better get to the point.

The point is, Darian just insisted that I hire you.

Insisted? She hasn't even danced yet.

Now look who's playing dumb.

Look, I don't know Darian well enough

to get to him, as you put it.

If you want me to audition for you, I'm ready.

It'd be a waste of time

because, as I said, he insisted.

Looks like we work together.

You got the right word, honey. Work.

And I better get a lot of it from you.

Ooh.

Well, looks like you got the job.

Lucky me.

♪ We're gonna be pals To the end

♪ We're gonna be buddies And friends

♪ And if the going Gets rough

♪ We're gonna All hang tough

♪ We're gonna wing it In the groove

♪ Pretend we've got Every move

♪ And if our act Starts to cave in

♪ Well at least We never gave in

/> Gonna fly free of the nest

♪ Playing it Close to the vest

♪ Give them the best Of our best

I And the hell With the rest

♪ In case you missed it Let me state again

♪ We're gonna be pals And friends

♪ And buddies to the end

♪ We're gonna be pals Buddies and friends

♪ To the end, to the end

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ To the end, to the end to the end

♪ In case you missed it Let me state again

♪ We're gonna be pals Buddies and friends

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ To the end, to the end To the end

D> To the end, to the end >

Okay, okay.

Let see if we can get this thing on its feet.

Hi.

Hi.

Well, what do you think?

Well, they all seem to care

and they're trying real hard, but...

An audition in three days. Ehh.

Unless it gets better quicker,

our client, Mrs. Traina, stands to a lose a bundle.

Okay, this is basically an ensemble number,

but I will need one of you to do a feature bit.

Nancy, did you volunteer?

Well, I'll try as long as it's not too featured.

And Darian would like you to volunteer.

And what do you want?

Whatever Darian wants.

Okay, let's line up. Girls in front.

You four boys in back of the girls please,

and the rest of you lay out

until I can figure out where to put you.

Okay, right over here.

All right, this starts on the right foot.

On the count of one, ready?

A five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

A one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Okay.

The first part looks pretty good,

but now it needs more style.

It's gotta be sharper.

When the legs are in this position, take top...

Jessica,

why didn't you speak up and volunteer?

Are you kidding? I can barely keep up as it is.

I don't understand you.

You get an opportunity and you don't take it.

Will you lay off, you little creep?

I told you not to talk to me like that.

That's it. Okay. Good.

You better remember what I said.

You better be nice to me.

I'll tell them what I know.

I mean...

I mean, I don't want to.

But if you make me, I'll do it.

Uh...

Okay, let's take it from the top.

Nancy, you try it first.

You sit out.

Okay, come on, let's go.

A five, six, seven, eight. A one.

Hold it, hold it.

Nancy, what are you doing?

I'm trying to do what you asked.

Trying doesn't make it.

Trying is for amateurs, doing is for professionals.

Well, look, I'm not a quick study.

I need a little more time.

Time we haven't got, Nancy.

Elephants have time

and they dance just about as well.

Okay, once more. Kelly, this time you try it.

One thing first.

What?

You lay into me like that

and I'll climb down your throat.

From the top.

A five, six, seven, eight. A one.

Patty, Janet.

May I see you in your starting marks, please?

Now, take your back...

Hi.

You gonna take a shot at me too?

Maybe with my camera.

It should be a great picture. The Texas dancing elephant.

She was pretty rough on you.

Yeah, but the only problem is, she's right about me.

Now you're being rough on you.

She's right about all of us.

Come on, I can't buy that.

It's true. We're all a bunch of misfits.

My daddy bought me this job.

He just did it to help,

but I let him because I wanted it do badly.

What do you mean your dad bought you this job?

Aw. It don't make any difference.

I guess we both made a mistake.

I should have stayed in Texas.

By the way, who are you anyway,

and why are you asking me all these questions?

Oh. My name's Kris Munroe.

I'm with the Omaha Dance Review.

Listen, you gotta keep the faith.

Besides, all you have to lose is a job.

See that lady over there?

She stands to lose an awful lot of money.

What are you talking about?

Well, I heard that she put up all the money for this show.

Where did you hear that?

Oh, I don't remember.

But I think it's true.

Um, maybe I'll talk to you sometime, okay?

Six seven, eight.

Two, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight. One, two, three.

Better, better. Much better.

Your double air turn to the knee ends on eight.

Up, two, three, and kick on four,

passe through.

Triple pirouette, open, four, step, five,

kick, six, step, seven, kick, eight.

Okay. One more time. All together.

A five, six, seven, eight. A one.

Hello?

Who?

Oh, Nancy.

Listen, I'm sorry to wake you up,

but I've gotta talk to you.

What's the matter?

You said you were a reporter. I've got a story for you.

Can I meet you somewhere?

Uh, sure. Where?

How about that little coffee shop around the corner

from where we're rehearsing? It's open all night.

Okay, okay.

Uh, give me about 45 minutes, okay?

Bye.

Operator.

Why?

Angels, have the police come up with anything

on Nancy's disappearance?

No, Charlie.

And she hasn't gone back to Texas.

They checked with the Texas authorities.

Kris, Nancy didn't give you any idea

what this story

she was going to give you was about, did she?

No, Charlie,

but she sure seemed anxious to talk about it.

Since she didn't show up,

we have to assume someone stopped her.

Was Nancy having trouble with anyone in the production?

No, but, well, she was a little upset

because the choreographer, Marcia, had leaned on her.

Was she considering quitting?

Oh, no. I don't think so.

She really wanted to work.

One thing does puzzle me, though.

What's that?

Well, she said that her father bought her the job in the show.

Bought her the job?

Yeah, I couldn't figure out what she meant

and she certainly wouldn't elaborate on it.

You know, maybe I should contact her father

and see if I can find out what she meant.

Good idea, Bosley.

Now, Angels, the choreographer, Marcia,

does she have anything to gain

by the disappearance of these girls?

She's a dedicated professional, very demanding.

Since this is her first job as a choreographer,

she wants everything to look good.

Even if it means getting rid of people

that she thinks are untalented?

Hard to tell.

We should check out that guy who pushes the broom

at the rehearsal hall.

He's got something going with, uh...

Oh... Oh, that girl, Jessica Toddson.

Something going? You mean a romance?

Well, he has eyes for her all right,

but she can't see him at all.

Then I heard him say she better be nice to him

or he'd tell what he knew.

Well, we'll check him out. Uh, what's his name?

John Summers.

John Summers and Jessica Toddson.

Well, Angels, the picture's not getting any clearer, is it?

No, it isn't, Charlie.

The clock's ticking, my feet hurt,

and tomorrow I have some heavy waltzing.

Oh. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

♪ Dancing lady in the night Turning

♪ To the left, to the right Turning

I If you should chance To glance to me

♪ Please tell me If you chance to see

> Am I in your eyes Through the night

♪ Turning

♪ To the left, to the right Turning

♪ Surely you can guess

♪ I don't live unless

♪ I'm in your sight Dancing lady in the night

♪ In your eyes Through the night

♪ Turning

♪ To the left, to the right Turning

♪ Surely you can guess

♪ I don't live unless

♪ I'm in your sight Dancing lady in the night.

Okay.

For the first time through with costumes, not too bad.

Okay, take five, and I'll give you my notes.

Je...

Jessica?

You did really good.

Thank you.

I knew you could do it.

All you do is believe in yourself like I believe in you

and all those other things, they won't matter.

How did I do?

You were great. Terrific.

Did you get hold of Bosley?

Yeah, I talked to him.

He come up with anything?

Well, our girl with the unwanted boyfriend,

Jessica Toddson,

seems her credentials are a little suspicious.

What does that mean?

Well, on her resume it says that she danced in clubs

in Vegas and on Broadway.

Not true? Not true.

Last four years, she's been working in this club

in Bakersfield called Dirty Harold's.

Which is?

A strip joint.

A strip joint?

Yeah, she's been dancing sans clothes.

Au naturel, as they say.

And guess who followed her here from Bakersfield.

John Summers.

Good guessing.

He was the janitor in Dirty Harold's.

So it's her background he's threatening to expose.

Hmm, so it would seem.

Oh, listen,

Bosley got a hold of Nancy's father

and asked him just how he bought Nancy this job,

and he claims he put in a hundred thousand dollars

into this production.

A hundred thousand?

I thought our client was the only investor

in this little project.

Yeah, so did I.

Listen, after you guys wrap tonight,

I'm gonna see if I can get a peek

into Darian's files.

He's gotta go to the airport to pick up the Vegas people.

After that, I'll meet you around the corner

in that little coffee shop

about a half hour after everybody's gone.

Okay. See you later.

Well, Miss Munroe.

What have we here?

Uh, I'll bet you're wondering what I'm up to.

Yeah. I'd love to hear your explanation.

Would you? Good. Well, you know I'm a reporter,

Oh?

And I was very curious

as to how all this came about, you know.

Finances, contracts.

I was sure you wouldn't wanna take time

to explain it to me, so...

You decided to try to find out for yourself.

Right.

You're lying, Miss Munroe.

No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

You know, I don't know what you and your two girlfriends

are doing here, but I don't think I like it very much.

"Charles Townsend Detective Agency."

No, I don't like it very much at all.

I think you have something of mine.

Miss Munroe, I wanna know

who sent you here and who hired you.

Well, you might say I'm looking

after the best interest of your investor.

Or should I say investors.

My, my, we are a clever little girl, aren't we?

Yeah, well, you're pretty clever yourself.

You got a nice little scam going here.

How many investors are there?

Actually, there are six.

Who have put up how much money?

Between a hundred and 150,000 apiece.

So you deliberately hire

inexperienced singers and dancers.

You get rid of the ones that turn out to be too good.

All to make certain

that your audition is a failure.

Well, with six investors

all thinking they own 100 percent of the show,

I could hardly afford to pay them off

if I succeeded, could 17?

No, I guess you couldn't.

Where are the three girls, Mr. Mason?

Well, actually, you might say I have them on ice.

You're telling me you killed them?

No, no, not at all.

No, you see, they've been sedated

by a masked individual that they could never identify.

After the audition tomorrow,

I'll tell my investors the bad news,

I'll release the girls,

and they'll never know who kidnapped them or why,

and I'll show a very healthy, healthy profit from my failure.

Except for one problem.

Yup, you.

You can't just sedate me.

No, I'm afraid I can't.

And since this isn't a very good place

to dispose of you,

shall we go?

I knew I'd blow my diet

sitting in that coffee shop for an hour.

I may never forgive Kris for not showing up.

Look, why don't we check Darian's office.

Kris might still be there.

Okay.

I'll cover him from here. You try to get behind him.

Okay.

Look, look, can't we talk this over?

We already did. Move.

Look, wait a minute.

I don't have to spill everything I know.

I mean, I'm not willing to die to stay honest.

Move.

Hold it. Put the gun down, Mr. Mason.

She said, drop it.

Kris, duck!

Ooh.

Far enough, friend.

You okay, Kris?

Oh. Yeah, I'm okay.

Nice dive.

Yeah, one of my best.

I suppose you're a detective too.

How did you figure that out?

Well, you're no great dancer.

What did you say?

Uh, but on the other hand, uh, you're not that bad.

Come on. Let's go.

Wait a minute.

You mean the three who quit,

they were really kidnapped?

Yes.

They're in the hospital right now being checked over.

They'll be out in a few days.

You're saying that Darian Mason hired us

because he wanted to blow the audition?

Well, that was, uh, the general idea.

Well, my big break as a choreographer

and I get the job

because he figured I couldn't cut it.

I guess that's a wrap.

Oh. Wait a minute.

The people from Vegas,

they'll be here for the audition

in a couple of hours.

You can't just walk out.

Mrs. Traina, why bother?

You backed a bunch of losers.

Wait a minute now.

There is a possibility

that Darian Mason could have miscalculated.

Meaning what?

Meaning I think you owe it to yourselves to give it a try.

She's right, you know.

If you all believe you're losers,

you're halfway there.

But if you believe you're winners,

you're also halfway there.

Besides, if you pull it off,

Miss Traina and the other investors

can get a good portion of their money back.

I think you owe it to them to try.

You think so?

Yeah, I do.

Okay, since you've rehearsed the number with us,

you can come up here and stick your neck out

with the rest of us.

Seems fair.

I like it. I like it.

You just wait. This is gonna be terrific.

I... I knew you'd make it.

I haven't made it.

None of us have.

You will.

Look, I'm not a standout. I'm just glad I made the team.

You're a standout to me.

Thank you, John. Would you get the zipper?

Thank you.

You okay?

Piece of cake.

Okay, let's do it. Break a leg.

Let's do it.

Bye.

♪ We're gonna be pals To the end

♪ We're gonna be buddies And friends

♪ And if the going Gets rough

♪ We're gonna all Hang tough

♪ We're gonna wing it In the groove

♪ Pretend we've got Every move

♪ And if our act Starts to cave in

♪ Well at least We never gave in

♪ Gonna fly free Of the nest

♪ Playing it Close to the vest

♪ Give them the best Of our best

I And the hell With the rest

♪ In case you missed it Let me state again

♪ We're gonna be pals And friends

♪ And buddies to the end

♪ We're gonna be pals, buddies And friends

♪ To the end, to the end

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ To the end, to the end To the end

♪ In case you missed it Let me state again

♪ We're gonna be pals Buddies and friends

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ To the end, to the end To the end

♪ To the end, to the end ♪

Well, how did you like it, Mr. Karnes?

Uh, it needs a little work,

but I like it.

Start the playback.

I wanna see this thing. Look it over again.

♪ We're gonna be pals To the end

♪ We're gonna be buddies And friends

♪ And if the going Gets rough

♪ We're gonna all Hang tough

♪ We're gonna wing it In the groove

♪ Pretend we've got Every move

♪ And if our act Starts to cave in

♪ Well at least We never gave in

♪ Gonna fly free Of the nest

♪ Playing it Close to the vest

♪ Give them the best Of our best

I And the hell With the rest

♪ In case you missed it Let me state again

» We're gonna pals and friends And buddies to the end

♪ We're gonna be pals, buddies And friends

♪ To the end, to the end >

Like it?

I like it.

I thought you'd like it. Ah, we all like it.

♪ In case you missed it Let me state again

♪ We're gonna be pals Buddies and friends

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ Pals, buddies And friends

♪ To the end, to the end To the end

♪ To the end, to the end ♪

Yeah.

Whoo!