They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) Movie Script
1
You catch a cold,
there's free aspirin.
But acts of God, the management
is strictly not to be held to account.
Fire, flats, double pneumonia,
that's between you and Him.
So read it and then sign.
For the benefit of the first-timers,
we go around the clock,
and around
and around and around.
Ten-minute break
every two hours.
Rollo!
That's the warning signal.
If it's your partner,
you've got exactly 30 seconds
to get them moving again.
No excuses, no explanations.
Thirty seconds.
If it's two knees... Rollo.
That's it, out.
O-U-T, out.
We're gonna run it
as fair as human nature allows,
so when one of the judges rules,
that's it... no appeals.
When your partner is ruled out,
you can solo for 24 hours.
If you match up
with another solo, fair enough.
Otherwise, that's it... out!
There'll always be a trainer
or a nurse on duty,
and a doctor out here
24 hours a day.
Okay?
Now, food.
Four regular meals
and three small ones each day.
NOW!
What the hell's going on over there?
Sorry.
Kid, fill this out and get over there.
Come on, get over there.
There'll be two judges
on the floor at all times,
nurses and trainers
in the rest areas.
Any questions,
come up and ask them.
Fellas, give me a break.
In a couple of hours,
we fling open the magic doors
of fame and fortune,
so line up and get your number.
Yeah, we'll take care of that,
don't worry.
Where do you want these, Rocky?
They'll be here in a second.
Put them in there.
Turkey, check the rest areas.
Is this the first time
you've been in a contest?
Some system.
Just like the fleet.
Line up and wait, only longer.
Hey! How about
goosin' it up a little?
You'll get your turn.
Take it easy, huh?
What's this stuff? Hooch?
No, that's for my stomach.
I got a bad stomach.
- Paregoric, opium base.
- No number.
He's got another one.
It's medicine.
I gotta take it for my stomach.
So take it somewhere else. I got
enough trouble without a hophead.
You heard him,
school's over. Blow.
- That's no fair. Just because a guy's...
- Hire a lawyer.
Come on. Next.
Move it up.
Once, between hitches,
I worked a cattle boat out of Galveston.
Same thing,
you know what I mean?
No, I don't think I do, actually.
Well, what I mean is, if you think about it,
cattle ain't got it much worse than us.
They got it better.
There's always
somebody feeding them.
Sure. Stuffin' 'em up good
for the slaughter pen.
Right down the chute
and some big dumb bohunk
is standing there
with a Sledgehammer.
But they don't know
it's gonna happen.
That puts 'em
one up on us, don't it?
Yeah, if you think of it that way.
What's the matter with him?
Nothing.
Have you got a specialty
of some kind?
I'm an actress.
Alice LeBlanc, from London.
You got an act or a bit?
Let's see a little.
Well, if you give us a few seconds,
we could work something up, okay?
Yes, they told me
you were fools,
but I was not to listen to your
fine words, nor trust your charity.
Jesus Christ.
You promised me my life,
but you lied!
You think that life is nothing
but not being stone dead!
Alice.
That's great, I really mean it.
Shakespeare, huh?
- It's from "St. Joan."
- Yeah, that's what I figured.
Maybe it's too highbrow,
but don't worry,
I'll set up something
just right for you.
Next!
Hey, Sailor.
Rocky, look at this.
Thirty-one?
Yeah, 31.
What do I need...
A note from my mother?
It's your feet, Sailor.
Next!
Move it. Move it.
Doc.
- You sick or something?
- It's all right.
Open up. Wider.
Wider.
What is this?
He's all right.
Bronchitis, maybe.
Yeah, maybe the Mongolian crud.
No dice.
You infect the whole place,
I got the health department on my back.
That's the way it is.
Next!
- I'm sorry, Gloria.
- That's a big help.
- You're the one that talked me into this.
- I'm sorry.
What about me?
- I'm sorry.
- That's what he said.
I can't buy coffee
and cigarettes with it.
I can't make exceptions.
- How many you got?
- 71 going through and I'm holding out...
What about her?
If she ain't pregnant, I'm Nelson Eddy.
So, what's healthier than having a kid?
And it gives the audience
something to root for.
What do you want me to do...
Run out and get knocked up?
We could discuss it later.
That soap's a little hard.
- Is this our number?
- Just hold on a second.
- You got any other suggestions?
- Get yourself another partner.
Yeah, where?
Hey, cowboy!
Yeah, you!
Come here.
Good luck, Bates.
Keep the line moving.
Look, I was just out walking.
I didn't come to...
Is that a fact?
What's your name, cowboy?
Robert. Robert Siverton.
In a minute!
You got a partner, Richard?
No, I... It's Robert
- I was just walkin'.
- There you are, miss.
How's he gonna dance in those things?
You mean boots?
They're not mine.
I room with another guy.
He went away and left them behind.
- He's gonna break an arch.
- Dig him up a pair of shoes.
Or maybe you'd rather wait
for the Prince of Wales.
- Have I got a choice?
- Yeah. Take it or leave it.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Welcome to the dance of destiny,
ladies and gentlemen.
Around and around and around we go,
and we're only beginning, folks.
Only beginning!
On and on and on and on
and when will it stop?
When will it end?
When?
Only when the last two of these
wonderful, starry-eyed kids are left.
Only when the last two dancers
stagger and sway,
stumble and swoon, across the sea
of defeat and despair to victory.
One couple, and only one,
will waltz out of here,
over broken bodies
and broken dreams,
carrying the grand prize
1,500 silver dollars.
Mr. Light Man!
The clock of fate,
ladies and gentlemen.
I said "the prize"
because only one couple
will dance on
to fame and fortune.
Those who give up,
those who give out,
those who give in-out!
Tough rules,
but these are tough times.
In the words of our great leader,
Herbert Hoover,
"Prosperity is
just around the comer."
But what do we say
about the Depression?
That's what we say
about the Depression.
Come on, let's hear it, folks!
Let's hear it!
It's walking dead night, Turkey.
Pour me a shot of water.
So pick your couple, folks.
Struggle with 'em,
hope with 'em, pray with 'em.
See if you can pick out that one lucky
couple and then cheer them on.
Come on, let 'em
hear you care, folks.
Let 'em know
you're with them all the way!
You hear that, kids?
You hear those wonderful folks
out there rooting for you?
Come on, kids,
show them you care.
A little... a little sprint for those
wonderful folks out there!
That's it.
You see 'em give, folks?
You see 'em give?
That's the spirit!
So why California?
You don't freeze
while you're starving.
It has the movies.
Are you an actress?
I done four atmosphere bits
since I've been here.
I'd have done more,
but I can't get into Central Casting.
They got it all sewed up.
Don't you know anyone
who can help you?
In this business?
How can you tell who can help you?
One day you're an electrician,
the next day you're a producer.
The only way I could get near a big shot
is to jump on the running board of his car.
God. Check that one.
Anyway, I don't know if the men stars can
help me as much as the women stars.
From what I've been seeing lately,
I think I've been letting
the wrong sex try to make me.
- You in movies, too?
- Sort of.
I was a dead French villager
in "Fallen Angels."
Hot dogs! Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!
Wasting your time, kiddo.
The only thing casting
is Von Sternbergs "Raw Earth."
Strictly an all peasant talkie.
I could play a peasant.
Not in that thing you couldn't.
- Do you like it?
- Does it matter?
Not so long as they do.
Hey, sweetie.
Got another partner, huh?
Only he don't look
much healthier than the last one.
What are you, a doctor?
He don't mean nothin', honey.
Just trying to be helpful.
Cod liver oil.
You oughta take some, maybe.
He's just steamin'
because you got 20 years on him.
Maybe more like 30.
That's where you got
your signals mixed up, sweetie.
Yeah, experience...
That's what counts.
Keep your eyes open, buster.
Pick up the beat
and try to stay with me, will ya?
Stop-time!
That's the kind of contestants
we've got for you, folks.
Very classy, Sailor.
You musta killed them in Roseland.
How about a big hand
for our very own ancient mariner?
Harry Klein!
Yowsah, Yowsah, yowsah.
Thank you, folks.
That's very generous.
You could all see that Harry
used to be in the U.S. Navy.
But something you can't see...
I'd like to be serious for a moment,
folks, if you'll permit me.
Harry Klein is one
of those brave young men
who sailed off to beat the Kaiser.
That's right,
a veteran of the Great War.
And let's hope
there'll never be another.
Harry was decorated in that war
for wounds received in action,
but that's not all.
I know Harry wouldn't want me
to tell you this,
but right now, at this moment,
there are 32 pieces of schrapnel
still embedded in Harry's body.
Thirty-two!
And here he is fighting another
kind of war and fighting to win.
Isn't that the kind of grit
and never-say-die spirit
that's made this a great country?
It is, isn't it?
You bet it is!
And I really mean that sincerely,
folks, from the bottom of my heart.
I should've learned
how to tap dance.
You okay?
Hope I don't start lugging' on ya.
You ain't never lugged on me.
Just keep thinkin' about the seven meals
a day they gonna be feeding us.
Can you feel that?
- What?
- The ocean.
The waves... you can feel them
right through the floor.
Even when you're far from it,
you can still feel it sometimes.
Not where I'm from.
- Where's that?
- Around.
Kansas.
Texas mostly-Dallas.
That must've been nice.
Nice?
Well, I've never actually
been through there,
but that's the way
it always seemed to me.
You know, like you could look
just about anywhere and see land.
I mean,
with nothing set down on it.
Yeah, it's great.
I'm a real sucker for dirt and cactus.
That's how come I left.
Well, why did you leave?
You ever been to bed
with a Syrian who chewed tobacco?
Well, if anybody ever asks you,
tell 'em there's no future in it.
What do you want...
The whole floor?
I'm terribly sorry.
The way she's throwing it around, her
feet will last longer than her rear end.
He was a butcher.
- Who was?
- The Syrian.
Listen, I didn't mean to be personal.
I was just...
I didn't mean to be personal.
Yeah? Then why'd you ask?
Well...
just to make conversation.
We're gonna be stuck together
for a long time...
Don't strain anything for me.
All right.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah.
This is Novelty Night.
We've got a husband and wife
dancing together.
Mr. and Mrs. Ora McCusick Mary
from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
There's a couple from Alaska.
Remember,
there's no place like Nome.
Don't forget to write
your poor old mother.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah.
All right, kiddies, it's opening night.
Smile for the audience.
- What audience?
- We'll worry about that.
He could get you disqualified.
I've been disqualified by experts.
Ten minutes
and then they'll be back,
and the world's championship
marathon will go on and on
and on and on and on!
I got no time
for personal problems.
Just go find a bed.
Chances are you'll probably
never see the things again.
Laundry bag here,
towels and soap in there.
It's very simple.
Keep it in mind...
The laundry bag stays in here,
towels and soap
in that room only.
Excuse me, girls.
Miss LeBlanc, you got
that specialty bit down yet?
I'm memorizing it now.
Every line.
Swell. Come by my office next break.
Maybe we'll run through it.
Better get off your feet.
When's the baby due?
Don't know.
What'd the doctor say?
Well, see, James and me
been hitchin', ridin' in boxcars.
Nature's little miracle.
Christ.
- Why...
- What's the use of having a kid
unless you got enough dough
to take care of it?
You better get off your feet.
You only got another five minutes.
Folks can't stop having babies
'cause they don't got no money.
You intend to keep it?
I could never get...
Jimmy wants the baby.
Yeah. Why not drop
another sucker into this mess?
I told you guys,
no roughhousing.
And no grab-ass there,
college kid.
What's the matter there, boy?
This ain't for me.
I got sensitive feet.
Next time, I think
I'm gonna try flagpole sitting.
You guys are crazy.
That's really pitiful.
Man can't even make it
to the first rest period.
This here's
my eighth marathon already.
My wife and I even won one
in Oklahoma City one time.
We went 1,253 hours
of continuous motion.
First one of these, kid?
- How're you doing?
- I'm fine, doctor.
It ain't first cabin.
Hell, it ain't even steerage,
but it's better than nothin'.
Well, I figured I wasn't doing anything
else real important, so here I am.
You know what I'd do
if I was your age?
I'd join up all over again... the fleet.
No, I don't think I'd like that.
I'd like to be able to move on
if I got bored or something, you know?
Bumming?
That's all right for a while.
But a man's gotta belong somewhere.
You know, be part of something.
I mean, that's human nature, right?
I guess I never really
thought about it much.
Yeah, well, you will.
When you get
to be my age, you will.
Not that I'm that old, you know.
It's the muscles up here that count, kid.
Even more so than your legs.
Right up in there.
No, you wait for Diane Nico,
she wait for you.
The petals of many flowers will fall,
but Diane Nico will wait forever.
Alice, that is terrible.
It just doesn't suit me.
I'll ask Mr. Graver to find
something else for us.
I think you'd better.
Hey, hotlips.
Get that in Paris?
No. My mother made it for me.
Do you like it?
It's very nice.
Somebody said after the first hundred
hours, you start getting used to this.
What are you looking at?
There's a partially broken
window up there someplace.
I was trying to see
if it was light out yet.
- It's 4:00 in the morning.
- Yeah, I know.
Sometimes, down by the beach,
it gets light by 4:00.
It's like that in Hawaii,
because it's an island, you know.
Yeah, I know.
Yeah. You can look right out
across the ocean to where the light is.
You can even stand in one spot
and watch the sun come up
on one side of the world
and go down on the other side.
How'd you get out there-Hawaii?
I've never been there, actually,
but you can imagine what it's like.
Yeah, you can imagine
you're Gary Cooper, too, I suppose.
I didn't mean that at all.
Why are you always trying
to start an argument?
All I meant was...
You tell that twist
to lay off of my wife.
She was at it again.
Every rest period, she's on her all the
time about why don't she have it cut out,
why don't she get rid of it.
She's giving Ruby the jumps.
I ain't having my wife
upset by no tramp like her.
- Go to hell, you big ape!
- You...
Don't.
- Boy, next time, I'm gonna...
- Knock it off!
You know the rules.
No fights on the floor.
What do you think this is...
A joint or something?
I'm keeping an eye on you.
Which one?
That was stupid. Did you see the face
on that cornpone? He coulda killed you.
Yeah, I guess.
Then why did you do it?
'Cause you're my partner.
How long we got left?
Wouldn't you know it?
I got the curse coming on.
Don't let them give you
any codeine. It'll pass you out.
Around and around and around.
Ninety-seven hours
of continuous motion.
And look at them, folks.
Still struggling, still hoping to win
the grand prize of 1,500 silver dollars.
Let's give these wonderful courageous
kids a great big hand, huh, folks?
That's the spirit.
You wanna sleep some?
No, I'm too tired to sleep.
Sailor says you gotta go
a long time, maybe 500 hours,
before you can get so you can sleep
while you're still moving.
- You look tired.
- No kidding.
Why don't you try sleeping
on my shoulder?
I won't let you slip.
You can trust me.
That's what the last guy said.
- What?
- Forget it.
Gloria?
She's there again.
She must live here.
You really ought to be nice to her.
Rollo told me she's trying
to get us a sponsor.
Nobody asked her to.
Look, it could mean four bucks a week,
clean socks, and new shoes.
Come on.
- I'm Mrs. Laydon.
- Yes, ma'am, we know.
One of the floor judges told us
you're trying to get us a sponsor.
That's 'cause
you're my favorite couple.
You're wearing my number... 67.
That's the year I was born.
Really?
We're not supposed to stay
in one spot for too long.
I understand.
You go along.
But don't give up,
'cause you're going to win.
- I know you are.
- Thank you.
You can't leave the floor.
I gotta eliminate you.
Don't bother.
Figure them two.
They'll never know
what they missed.
Why didn't you tell me
it was gonna be this tough?
You're holding your knees too tight.
It knots up the muscles.
Sixty-five.
I figured it out.
That's how old she is.
God, I hope I never live
to be that old.
That's not the way it happened.
It wasn't like that.
We were very close in a way.
I was her friend.
Yowsah, Yowsah!
Watch your feet, folks.
It's all part of the show.
Seven meals a day.
Seven-count 'em.
Believe me, these boys and girls
can really put it away.
- What's your name, my dear?
- Angie.
- How are you enjoying the food?
- Very good.
You hear that, folks?
After four days
of continuous dancing,
these boys and girls
may not be well-heeled,
but you can bet
they're well-stuffed.
Ten minute's time
is all they have to eat it in,
and they must keep moving,
they must keep dancing at all times.
- How are you doing, Sailor?
- I feel fine, the grub's good. I feel fine.
The food is prepared in our own kitchens
by our own culinary experts,
at great expense
to the management,
but they believe that these
boys and girls should be well-fed.
Keep eating, kiddies.
Keep dancing.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
I have to.
Yeah... how are you gonna feed it
after you've got it?
Couple number 65,
in a scene direct from that
smash Broadway hit "Private Lives, "
our own Ramon Navarro
and Jean Harlow...
Mr. Joel Girard
and Miss Alice LeBlanc.
Did they like us?
Did they?
I hope so.
Do you think there's anyone in?
All the studio people.
Let's go look.
Alice and Joel will be
back with us again,
if there's no Hollywood talent scouts
in the audience tonight.
And now, in keeping with our policy
of letting you folks know everything
that happens in our little family here,
I am pleased to inform you
that another sponsor's come forward
to back still another pair
of our spunky kids.
Couple number 67,
Gloria Beatty and Robert Siverton!
Let 'em see the company
that's backed you to win, kids.
Congratulations, kids.
Congratulations.
And who knows, folks?
With a sponsor like that,
they may just win.
Suppose we did win.
What would you do with it?
- What? With What?
- The money.
Maybe I'd buy
some good rat poison.
What the hell is it?
It's two hours.
You told me to get you up
in two hours, Rocky.
Shake me out a butt, Turkey.
Listen to 'em...
Those wonderful, wonderful people.
Yowsah.
Shut it.
Shut the goddamn door.
Wonderful.
You gotta understand them is all.
You know something, Turkey?
My old man never got out
of the fourth grade.
When it came to people...
he didn't know his ass from his elbow.
You know what he was?
He was a faith healer.
I used to travel his circuit with him.
I was the one he healed.
I was his shill
to get the crowd set up.
"Walk, my boy."
"When I lay my hand on you,
you will walk."
"You will walk."
Sodden old bastard!
He thought it was him
they believed in, but it was me.
Here's a guy whose fingers
stretched over 13 notes.
What are you doin' here?
It's a rest period.
You're supposed to be
off your feet.
I was just looking at the sunset.
Go on, get off your feet.
Okay.
Sunset.
Matron?
Someone?
It is gone.
Matron!
- What is it?
- It's gone.
- It's gone!
- What's gone?
My dress!
It's right in front of you.
No, my other one.
My pink one.
I...
And chemicals for my hair.
My Rouge!
And my lipstick!
Everything is gone!
Somebody's taken it
out of my bag!
Nobody's taken anything.
It's probably just slipped under here.
No. They did it!
One of them did it.
- One of them stole my things!
- You stop!
- Stop it right now.
- Give it!
- Give it back to me!
- You heard it.
You know what that means.
What the hell's going on here?
You heard the sirens. Come on!
Hurry up and get out there!
My dress.
I had it in my case...
- Is she squirrelly?
- I don't think so.
- My pink satin one.
- You better shake it up.
- You got a couple of seconds left.
- I only have two dresses.
Later! Just hustle
your fanny out there.
Nobody wants your dress.
Please wait.
Please wait.
Why don't you wear
your other one?
Please wait.
- What?
- Nothing.
What are they doing it for?
It's not for fun.
You can bet on that.
Christ. Here it comes.
I can't.
Jimmy, I don't think I can.
Yeah, you can, honey.
Just don't start thinking about it now.
Son of a bitch.
The thing to remember, kids, is this is
the kind of stunt that packs 'em in.
Listen, we'll even get some
of the Hollywood crowd out there tonight.
Get one of those uniforms
they're passing out
and make sure
you tie your numbers on.
Number 63, easy on the goods.
Listen, kids, these track outfits are being
rented for one time, and one time only,
so any rips, tears, or malicious damage,
you get charged, okay?
We don't have enough
uniforms to go around,
so the rest of you will wear
sweatsuits, but they're very nice.
We'll have the doctor
and the nurses on the floor,
so no one has to worry.
Now, you kids who are pros
already know how it works.
I'm sure the rest of you
have all heard about it.
And now-now you're going to see it!
Yowsah! The derby!
The supreme... the supreme test
of energy and endurance.
Ten solid, wrenching minutes
of rack and ruin... the derby!
Good! Good, good, good, good.
Because you're in
for an exciting extravaganza.
Yowsah, the derby.
And, if I may be permitted
to share a thought with you,
There's a lesson for all of us
in this, ladies and gents.
Contestants,
if you hear me back there...
you don't need to be number one
as you amble down
life's highway...
but don't be last!
Round and round and round
they'll go for ten little minutes.
Who will set the pace?
Who will win the race?
Everybody excepting
the last three couples!
- Let's go!
- And now, here they are!
And looky, looky, looky, folks.
They've got knees!
Everybody here?
Okay, take a good look!
Get your hankies ready, folks,
because three couples
are about to go bye-bye.
Yes, indeed.
Nurses and house physician,
are you ready?
Audience, are you ready?
All right! Bring it in!
Mr. Rhythm!
Yes. Yes, indeed, they are off,
ladies and gentlemen.
Everyone wins in this race,
except the last three couples.
The supreme test
of energy and endurance.
If one goes down,
they have ten seconds,
and ten seconds only, to get up.
And they must heel-and-toe.
Hold your hats, folks.
Here come the leaders.
Four judges, keep your eyes
on the last three couples,
because the last
three couples will lose.
Oh, Nelly!
There's a pileup.
There's a pileup
in the far comer!
One! Two! Three!
Four! Five! Six!
Seven! Eight! Nine!
How about that, folks?
Exciting? Well, I hope to tell you.
You all right?
Keep going!
Come on. Come on.
The management cautions
that no wagering is permitted,
but you can always cheer on
your favorite couple,
and believe me,
these wonderful kids deserve your cheers,
because each one of them
is fighting down pain, exhaustion,
weariness,
struggling to keep going,
battling to win,
and isn't that the American way?
Ladies and gentlemen,
I've just been informed
that among our celebrity guest list
for tonight is Mr. Mervyn LeRoy!
You hear that? LeRoy.
Who's LeRoy?
Only the best director
in Hollywood!
How about it, Mr. LeRoy?
Almost as much excitement here
as in "Little Caesar, " right?
Heel-and-toe, Sailor, or she's out!
Come on, we're almost there.
There's trouble right here, folks.
The boy from couple
number 78 is in trouble.
Get a floor judge over there.
- One! Two!
- Get up!
No, stop it!
No! Get up!
Three! Four!
Five! Six!
No! No! No!
- Eight! Nine! Ten!
- Stop it!
Out! Get him out!
Couple number 78 is out!
Out of the world's championship
monster marathon!
But that's life!
Let's give them a big hand!
Are you all right?
- Are we behind?
- I don't know.
Less than two minutes left,
ladies and gentlemen!
- Go! Keep going!
- Only two minutes.
What's the matter?
Couple number 67
is in trouble, folks.
No fooling, they're in trouble!
The boy from 67 is down!
He is definitely down!
- What is it?
- My leg.
Stretch your leg out and move it!
One!
- Shake your leg!
- Two!
Three!
- Four!
- Straighten your leg.
Five!
Help me!
Six! Seven!
Shut up, goddamn it!
He's getting up!
- I'm up!
- Hang on to me.
He's up!
The boy from number 67 is up!
But will they make it?
They've lost ground.
Forty seconds left.
Will they make it?
Hold on to me!
That was the greatest.
You've got real guts. I mean it.
- Save your breath!
- I hope you make it, baby.
Thirty seconds!
Twenty seconds!
Ten seconds!
Five seconds!
The losers are couple number 22,
28, and 37.
We weren't last.
It's okay.
I know it's
a sad moment for all of us,
but those are the rules,
ladies and gentlemen.
But after 602 hours,
25 days of continuous dancing,
I think that these kids
deserve a big hand!
Have you heard anything yet,
Mr. Graver?
Don't worry about it, Alice.
I've reported it to the authorities.
We should hear something soon.
It can't just have disappeared.
I mean, somebody must've taken it.
It's not just my dress.
It's my makeup and everything.
I have nothing else.
The doctor's decision is...
Lillian Kramer stays on
in the marathon!
The doctor assures me Lillian
just has a slight sinus headache.
Headache.
For all that quack knows, she's...
she's got a brain tumor.
No, I don't think so.
I'm not exactly sure, but I think
it's different with a brain tumor.
Different symptoms.
Yeah? How do you know?
I saw it in a movie...
with Anita Louise
and Richard Cromwell.
That's what she died of...
Anita Louise.
A brain tumor,
but it was different.
Everything just suddenly
got dim for her one day.
Until finally, she couldn't see at all.
She couldn't even see Richard Cromwell
when she kissed him good-bye.
Yeah?
Then what, she just died?
Kind of.
She just drifted off
listening to her favorite tune.
And then she was dead.
No pain or anything?
They probably lied.
Bobby?
Come on, kid.
Come on.
Come on, break's over.
Come on.
- Tommy?
- Yeah, Sailor.
Kid's sleeping.
Frank, we got a dead one here.
Give me that ammonia.
- Do you know where you are?
- What?
- Give him another dose.
- No!
Leave him alone.
Are you all right?
Hang on to me.
- You sure you can make it?
- He's gonna be okay now.
- I asked him, not you!
- Sure.
Yeah, yeah, I'm all right.
Here.
Just like in marriage, folks,
these kids have got to get off
by themselves once in a while,
but exhausted as they are,
it's tougher to stay
on their feet alone,
so keep your eyes on them,
because it may be all over soon
for one of these brave,
struggling kids.
Get your hot dogs!
Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!
Red hots! Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!
Only a nickel!
Five cents!
Hot dogs!
Get your red hots!
- What's the matter?
- Get 'em off me!
- What?!
- Get 'em away!
What?!
Matron! Nurse!
- What's the matter?
- They're crawling all over me!
- Get them off me!
- There's nothing...
Help me, please.
- They're crawling all over me!
- You're all right.
- There is nothing wrong.
- Hold her down!
- What's the matter with her?
- She's squirreling.
Hold her!
Tell 'em to turn up the Victrola.
Please help me!
That won't help her none.
Shirl...
They're crawling on me!
Listen to me, Shirl.
Listen to me.
They're crawling on me!
Where are they? Tell me.
Tell me where they are.
Here, on your arm?
They're gone.
Here, on your shoulder?
- Yes.
- There.
They're all gone.
They're all gone.
They're all gone.
- They're all gone?
- Yes, they're all gone.
Better douse her in the shower.
Come on, honey, you're all right.
You're all right.
You're all right.
That's quite a technique.
I would've thought you'd put her
on display, charge a little extra.
No. It's too real.
Gloria?
I hope that little episode in there
didn't shake you up too much.
No.
Cigarette?
No.
No.
Ten minutes rest, folks,
and then the dance goes on and on.
Remember, one admission
entitles you to stay as long as you like.
So, while the kids are resting and being
attended to by our medical staff,
why don't you visit
our beautiful Palm Garden,
where we serve refreshments
of all types.
Thank you, thank you.
Yowsah!
Yeah, that looks
kinda like her dress.
It is.
You can tell just looking at it.
Well, even if it is her dress,
it's ruined now.
There's nothing I can do about it.
But aren't you gonna try
to find out?
I mean, somebody stole it
and ripped it all up.
Maybe you should call everyone together
and try and find out who did it.
It wasn't one of the kids.
How do you know?
Because I took it.
- But why?
- For the good of the show.
That's what we're all
interested in, isn't it?
The show.
No, it's a contest.
Isn't that what it's supposed to be?
Isn't that what you advertised?
A contest.
Not for them.
For you maybe, but not for them.
You think they're laying out two bits a throw just
to watch you poke your head up into the sunlight?
Or Alice look like she just
stepped out of a beauty parlor?
They don't give a damn whether
you win or James and Ruby
or Mario and Jackie or the Man
in the Moon and Little Miss Muffet.
They just want to see a little misery out there
so they can feel a little better, maybe.
They're entitled to that.
Look at us.
We're all like this now.
Dirty, swollen feet, no sleep.
What do you want?
Isn't that enough?
Sure, as long as they can believe in it.
But how can they with Alice
looking like she's on her way
to a ball at Buckingham Palace?
She was breaking the spell.
Now she looks like she's supposed to,
so now they can believe in her.
Simple enough?
Why don't you go sack out
while you got a little break time left?
Yeah.
Robert?
Take me outside.
- We can't.
- Please.
Alice, break's almost over.
We can't.
Somewhere.
Please, anywhere.
Talk to me.
Alice...
Talk to me.
Tell me things.
Talk to me.
Hold me.
My strap... pull it down.
Kiss me, hold me.
Talk to me.
Talk to me, Robert
- What about?
- About you, about yourself.
The buttons.
About where you grew up.
Tell me where you were born.
Chicago.
I was born in Chicago.
Chicago. I've never been there.
I can't imagine it.
Tell me about your family.
- What does your father do?
- He's dead.
He was a pharmacist,
but he died.
- It's caught, Alice.
- Pull it.
He caught the flu and he died.
It's caught.
I can't get it undone.
- What should I do?
- Pull it!
There.
Kiss me.
Touch me.
Kiss me, kiss me.
- Alice, somebody's gonna come in.
- It doesn't matter.
Kiss me.
Tell me about your...
Did you have brothers?
- Sisters?
- No.
I had a brother.
He died at the Somme.
Guess what his name was.
Try to guess.
- Who?
- My brother?
- I don't know.
- Guess, guess!
- I don't know.
- It's so easy.
- George. Robert
- No.
No, wait, don't leave.
- Alice, I...
- Don't, don't.
After a few minutes,
play my favorite number.
- Well, shall we dance?
- Go to hell.
Perfect.
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
our own Russ Columbo...
Mr. Coley James.
Gloria?
Hot dogs!
Premier Mussolini was promoted
tonight, says Norman H. Davis,
American disarmament
representative at Geneva,
at a dinner in one
of the leading hotels of Rome.
Signore Marconi, the inventor,
various members of the cabinet,
and Alexander Kirk,
American Charge d'Affaires
with members of the American
Embassy staff also attended.
Following cordial conversations
with the Premier
and his cabinet members,
Mr. Davis went
to Mr. Kirk's home, where they...
Don't touch me.
Results of the election
over the radio.
Mr. Davis continues
his disarmament discussions today
with Italian experts in a long
interview at the Foreign Office.
In Boston, Anthony Bender, 43,
was allowed to vote,
but first,
he had to prove he was alive.
When Bender entered
the polling place,
he was challenged,
"Sorry, you can't vote here."
"Why not?" he asked.
"You're listed as dead,"
he was told.
Bender immediately produced
proof he was very much alive,
and officials decided
he could cast his ballot.
Firemen in Detroit
are still battling the fire
that has claimed the life of Johnny Sciutto
and his brother Guido.
Fire Chief DeCoine says containment is not
expected until early tomorrow morning.
Damage is estimated
in excess of $41,000.
This is 50, 000 Watt
Clear Channel station KFI...
- Don't!
- In downtown Los Angeles.
And now, a look at the weather.
Temperatures are expected
to drop to the middle 40s
in parts of the San Joaquin Valley...
Late night and early morning fog
is expected at all beach areas,
with temperatures in the low 50s.
Tomorrow should be
clear and warmer,
with a high of 64 downtown,
60 at the beaches, and 68...
I changed my mind.
Your partner's waiting for you.
She was leaning against the railing.
She was completely relaxed,
completely comfortable.
I didn't have a perfect view,
but I could see enough of her face and lips
to see that she was...
smiling.
One thousand hours!
And to help us
celebrate the occasion,
Jeff Maxon and his music!
Take it away, Jeff!
Yowsah! One thousand hours
of continuous dancing.
Forty-two days
of grueling, grinding,
gravity-defying gyration,
and here they still are.
Twenty-one courageous couples
still dancing.
And how long before
one of them, and just one,
will survive to win
the monster marathon?
Gloria?
Who's that?
No one.
You wanna talk?
No.
I wish you'd go back to her.
How?
You know what she thinks.
That didn't happen.
- Wanna move on the other side?
- No.
- Sleep?
- No.
What the hell do you want?
- Anyone ever tell you you're...
- Yeah, they told me.
And don't forget, folks,
ladies free at matinee tomorrow.
Until 3pm, that is.
And I have an important announcement here
about John Hirschman,
reserved seat cashier.
He is now happily convalescing
at Santa Monica Hospital
after a severe attack of appendicitis.
We know that you'll join us
in congratulations to him
and wishing him a speedy recovery.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Inside of the floor.
These people are paying to see you.
- All right.
- Come on.
I'm coming!
Moon belongs to everyone
The best things in life are free
The stars belong to everyone
They gleam there for you and me
The flowers in spring
The robins that sing
The sunbeams that shine
they're yours, they're mine
And love can come to everyone
The best things in life are free
The best things in life are free
Beautiful, beautiful!
How about that?
Wasn't that nice?
Our own number 68!
This is Ruby Fix, a lovely little lady
with an armful of charm
a roomful of courage,
and a houseful of hope.
And I know you all join me
in wishing her and her bundle of joy
a joyous ride through life.
I just hope it was worth it to ya.
We need the money.
It's celebrity time again tonight, folks.
A welcome
for Miss Helen Twelvetrees
and that rising young star,
Mr. Ross Alexander!
But every night is celebrity night
at the mammoth marathon.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
She looks like her kinda.
Who?
Like my aunt.
God, what a bitch.
He said he was gonna be here.
If there was a prize for bitchiness,
she'd have won.
Glasses, short balding guy.
Pits, like from acne.
Christ, you should've
heard her screaming.
- "Get that mangy mutt outta here."
- He's assistant director.
"You ain't bringing no animal
into my boarding house."
He's going on a ten-day
western at Monogram.
I wouldn't have brought him
back there, anyway.
Maybe something for me in it.
Something, maybe.
He just followed me, that's all.
Maybe, maybe. Maybe.
And I wouldn't have kept him,
except she started screaming.
I hope he wasn't stringing me.
I said I'd tell her husband she was
screwing one of the boarders,
- Crumb.
- Which she probably was.
But he was sick inside
with something.
Her husband?
No.
The boarder.
No, for Christ's sake, the dog!
And it kept getting worse, so he'd shake
all the time and dirty himself all over...
and whine and cry all night long.
Stupid damn thing!
He kept whimpering
and hollering and wouldn't shut up.
I mean, what the hell is God doing
sitting around up there?
What the hell good is He if He can't
make one lousy sick dog shut up
and stop waking up
her goddamn boarders?
And you know what I did?
See, after everybody had gone to bed,
I carried him down to the parlor.
And she had this mohair sofa...
It was her favorite one.
And I fixed him a place on it.
What the hell, forget it.
You should be sleeping.
I'd just wake up.
You want anything?
Something for your feet?
How about a saw?
Is there anything the doctor can give you?
Something to make you feel better?
- What's he got?
- Some aspirin.
That's what I figured.
- Have you seen Joel?
- I seen him, all right.
Boy, that's a real sweetheart
you picked this time-just like that.
And I'm the one
that's gotta tell Rocky.
Cheers.
Don't give me any of that song
and dance crap! What's going on?
Just exactly what appears
to be going on.
I've shaved, I've changed,
and I am now packing.
- For what?
- I have a job.
It's not much of a job,
but it's a job.
Ten days in a Monogram western.
You bastard!
You're not running out on me!
No? Just stand there
and watch, sweetheart.
Will she make it?
Will she make it?
After over 1,100 hours
of incredible endurance,
there she is, alone,
but still fighting,
still hoping,
still trusting... Gloria Beam.
Seventeen hours...
That's all she has left.
Will she find a new partner
before those hours run out?
Will fortune reward
her pluck and spirit?
Will she make it?
I ain't quittin'.
I'm not gonna give up.
How are the tabs?
Pretty much the same.
Phone calls are down,
cleanings up.
Yeah?
What happens
if I don't get a partner?
You've got 11, almost 12 hours.
I can count.
What happens?
You know the rules.
You could change 'em.
No. The crowd's got to have
something they believe in.
Once they quit believing,
they quit coming.
Anything else, but not that.
Tommy, we got a dead one.
Just give him to me.
Here we go.
Jesus!
If two knees
touch the floor, she's out!
Come on! Come on!
Come on, Sailor!
Out! Take her away.
Miss Shirley Clayton.
We're going to miss you, Shirl.
Isn't that right, folks?
So long, Shirl', but don't despair.
Every hear! in this room is with you,
and that's what really counts.
It's hard on all of us,
after we've lived all these hours
and weeks together,
to see one of these wonderful,
courageous kids fall out.
But life goes on,
and so does the marathon!
Three minutes left!
Three minutes of harrowing,
heart-breaking hustle!
Yowsah!
Over 1,200 hours
of continuous dancing,
and yet there they still are,
fighting, struggling to stay in the race.
But the last three couples will lose.
The last three couples
will be eliminated!
Yowsah, Yowsah!
Come on, let's hear it, folks!
Let's hear it over there!
- What's the matter? What's wrong?
- My chest!
Come on, lean on me.
Put your arm around me.
Lean on me!
Where does it hurt?
What is it?
One minute!
It's just a little bit further!
Come on, you salty old bastard!
Where's the fight? Come on!
Come on, goddamn it!
Hang on to me!
I'm tired of losing!
Come on!
It looks like our sea faring man and our
little hard luck lady are in deep trouble.
Come on, goddamn it!
We're gonna make it.
Thirty seconds!
Walk!
Walk! Walk!
Walk, goddamn it!
Walk!
We're gonna make it!
- Five!
- Walk!
- Four!
- Come on!
Three! Two! One!
Scratch them three kids,
- and there are the losers!
- Sailor, we made it!
Get 'em to the spots.
- Arthur and Jean...
- Sailor!
Pattie and Don,
Dusty and Jesse...
We made it!
Let's have a big hand
for the losers.
Come on, folks, let's hear it.
It looks like our ancient mariner
may have taken a little spill.
There's nothing to worry about.
He's all right!
Leave him alone.'
- Get her off me!
- No, please!
- Get her out of here!
- He's gonna be all right!
What are they doing to him?
He's gonna be all right.
I just had a message
from our house physician.
Nothing in the least serious.
Just a case of heat prostration.
And I understand that Harry,
crusty old salt that he is,
wanted to stay on in the marathon,
but the doc says "no,"
and when it comes to something like this,
the doctor's word is law.
He's gonna be all right.
So long, Sailor.
But we know
you'll be back to see us
and to cheer the other kids on.
You have ten minutes
to enjoy yourself
in our beautiful Palm Garden.
But I'm not better off.
I'm sorry.
Alice
Oh, my God.
Get out of the way.
Get out of here.
Come on, move, dammit!
You can come out now.
Nobody's gonna hurt you.
Don't you wanna come out now?
You might catch cold in there.
You don't wanna do that, do you?
Please.
I just wanna help you.
I just wanna turn off
the water, that's all.
I just wanna turn off the handle.
All right, I won't...
if you don't want me to.
Tell me.
Whatever it is, you can tell me.
He... touched me.
Who?
He... touched me.
Get out of here!
Is he dead?
Sailor?
You mean Sailor?
No.
You have my personal word
he's gonna be fine.
Someone screamed.
That was you, Alice.
Boy meets girl,
boy loses girl, boy gets girl!
That's the story
of our sweetheart couple;
Gloria Beatty and Robert Siverton!
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Now, I'm no Hollywood scenario writer,
but I know what
the end of this story should be.
Right, Robert?
Right, Gloria?
Wrong.
Does the prisoner wish to make a statement
to the court before sentence is passed?
No.
No, sir.
Come in, come in, kids.
Just sit down,
make yourselves comfortable.
I know this is your rest period,
so just sit down and rest.
I had a little notion, kids...
Something that could help the show,
something could benefit all of us.
And in particular,
it could benefit the two of you,
and at the same time,
give the folks out there
something to get worked up about.
What are you gonna do... put us in cages
and let 'em throw peanuts at us?
All kidding aside...
Who's kidding?
The thing I want is I want
you two kids to get married.
Right here on the dance floor.
A public wedding.
I mean, you get divorced
right after the show, if you want.
It's just for effect.
What do you say to that, Robert?
- I don't know, I guess so.
- He says no.
Does she do
all the talking for you, Robert?
That's right.
Well...
Robert maybe it'd be better
if just her and me discussed it.
Okay?
Yeah, sure.
But the idea is okay with you.
That's what you said, right?
No, sir, I didn't say that at all.
All I said was...
It's the same thing,
it's the same thing.
It'll just be a minute.
What's your problem?
You're afraid of getting married?
You're not happy until you've
screwed everything up, are you?
Wait a minute.
Wait, wait.
I'm not marrying anybody!
It's business!
Strictly business, for God's sake.
Look, you come out with something...
New clothes...
plenty of free gifts, silverware,
waffle irons, toasters,
that kind of stuff.
What am I gonna do
with crap like that?
Sell it, hawk it!
Look, for God's sake,
I'm trying to help you a little.
Maybe you'll come out
with 2 or 300 bucks... that's something.
Unless you wanna walk out of here
with the pennies they're throwing at you.
Yeah? And what if
just maybe we win?
Look, sweetheart, I've been
in this business a long time.
I may not know a winner
when I see one...
but I sure as hell can spot a loser.
You son of a bitch!
Maybe.
Do you wanna come out of this
with a couple hundred bucks or don't you?
The winners get 750 apiece.
Right, less the bills.
What bills?
Look, this marathon
don't run itself, you know.
I got bills stacked up every day.
And I keep tabs.
You kids cost me money.
Extra laundry, cleaning, phone calls,
medical bills, you name it.
What is this?
The tabs on you and Robert
You're charging me this?
Only if you win.
If you don't win, you don't pay.
I'm not out to cheat anybody.
Oh, Jesus.
Gloria, we have to get back.
What the hell's the point?
Right.
Where the hell's the other one?
Well, don't just stand there.
Why don't you help me?
What does it look like exactly?
Like this. What do you think
it's gonna look like, a necktie?
I'll tell you one thing.
I'm not leaving this
goddamn stink hole without it.
That's the last pair I got.
And I cut out streetcars
for a month to get 'em.
Is this it?
No, for Christ' sake, it's silk.
I found it.
Here, is this it?
Yeah.
Jesus, I'm sorry.
Gloria, don't...
Look, maybe you can
fix it up or something,
sort of sew it up or...
Gloria, let me see it.
Maybe you can sew it up.
I've still got 71 cents.
Maybe I can buy...
Shut up!
It's not
the goddamn stocking, anyway.
Forget it.
I used to love
to look at the ocean...
walk by it,
just sit and listen to it.
Now I don't care
if I ever see it again.
That... or anything else.
What are you gonna do now?
Try the movies again?
No.
I'd never make it.
And maybe it wouldn't
make no difference even if I did.
Maybe it's just the whole
damn world is like Central Casting.
They got it all rigged
before you ever show up.
I know what you mean.
I know just what you mean.
Do you?
What are you gonna do?
I'm gonna get off
this merry-go-round.
I'm so sick
of the whole stinking thing.
What thing?
Life.
And don't give me
no sunshine lectures.
I wasn't going to.
Then what were you
looking at me that way for?
I wasn't.
I was just trying to see your face.
Well, keep looking.
Stick around for the end.
Help me.
Please. Please.
Tell me when.
I'm ready.
Now?
Now.
What happened?
Just move on.
Better things to do. Beat it.
Come on, let's go.
Let's go.
Why'd you do it, kid?
She asked me to.
Obliging bastard.
That the only reason
you got, kid?
They shoot horses, don't they?
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Here they are again!
These wonderful, wonderful kids,
still struggling, still hoping.
As the clock of fate ticks away,
the dance of destiny continues!
The marathon goes on
and on and on.
How long can they last?
Let's hear it!
Come on!
Let's hear it!
Let's hear it!
Let's hear it.
You catch a cold,
there's free aspirin.
But acts of God, the management
is strictly not to be held to account.
Fire, flats, double pneumonia,
that's between you and Him.
So read it and then sign.
For the benefit of the first-timers,
we go around the clock,
and around
and around and around.
Ten-minute break
every two hours.
Rollo!
That's the warning signal.
If it's your partner,
you've got exactly 30 seconds
to get them moving again.
No excuses, no explanations.
Thirty seconds.
If it's two knees... Rollo.
That's it, out.
O-U-T, out.
We're gonna run it
as fair as human nature allows,
so when one of the judges rules,
that's it... no appeals.
When your partner is ruled out,
you can solo for 24 hours.
If you match up
with another solo, fair enough.
Otherwise, that's it... out!
There'll always be a trainer
or a nurse on duty,
and a doctor out here
24 hours a day.
Okay?
Now, food.
Four regular meals
and three small ones each day.
NOW!
What the hell's going on over there?
Sorry.
Kid, fill this out and get over there.
Come on, get over there.
There'll be two judges
on the floor at all times,
nurses and trainers
in the rest areas.
Any questions,
come up and ask them.
Fellas, give me a break.
In a couple of hours,
we fling open the magic doors
of fame and fortune,
so line up and get your number.
Yeah, we'll take care of that,
don't worry.
Where do you want these, Rocky?
They'll be here in a second.
Put them in there.
Turkey, check the rest areas.
Is this the first time
you've been in a contest?
Some system.
Just like the fleet.
Line up and wait, only longer.
Hey! How about
goosin' it up a little?
You'll get your turn.
Take it easy, huh?
What's this stuff? Hooch?
No, that's for my stomach.
I got a bad stomach.
- Paregoric, opium base.
- No number.
He's got another one.
It's medicine.
I gotta take it for my stomach.
So take it somewhere else. I got
enough trouble without a hophead.
You heard him,
school's over. Blow.
- That's no fair. Just because a guy's...
- Hire a lawyer.
Come on. Next.
Move it up.
Once, between hitches,
I worked a cattle boat out of Galveston.
Same thing,
you know what I mean?
No, I don't think I do, actually.
Well, what I mean is, if you think about it,
cattle ain't got it much worse than us.
They got it better.
There's always
somebody feeding them.
Sure. Stuffin' 'em up good
for the slaughter pen.
Right down the chute
and some big dumb bohunk
is standing there
with a Sledgehammer.
But they don't know
it's gonna happen.
That puts 'em
one up on us, don't it?
Yeah, if you think of it that way.
What's the matter with him?
Nothing.
Have you got a specialty
of some kind?
I'm an actress.
Alice LeBlanc, from London.
You got an act or a bit?
Let's see a little.
Well, if you give us a few seconds,
we could work something up, okay?
Yes, they told me
you were fools,
but I was not to listen to your
fine words, nor trust your charity.
Jesus Christ.
You promised me my life,
but you lied!
You think that life is nothing
but not being stone dead!
Alice.
That's great, I really mean it.
Shakespeare, huh?
- It's from "St. Joan."
- Yeah, that's what I figured.
Maybe it's too highbrow,
but don't worry,
I'll set up something
just right for you.
Next!
Hey, Sailor.
Rocky, look at this.
Thirty-one?
Yeah, 31.
What do I need...
A note from my mother?
It's your feet, Sailor.
Next!
Move it. Move it.
Doc.
- You sick or something?
- It's all right.
Open up. Wider.
Wider.
What is this?
He's all right.
Bronchitis, maybe.
Yeah, maybe the Mongolian crud.
No dice.
You infect the whole place,
I got the health department on my back.
That's the way it is.
Next!
- I'm sorry, Gloria.
- That's a big help.
- You're the one that talked me into this.
- I'm sorry.
What about me?
- I'm sorry.
- That's what he said.
I can't buy coffee
and cigarettes with it.
I can't make exceptions.
- How many you got?
- 71 going through and I'm holding out...
What about her?
If she ain't pregnant, I'm Nelson Eddy.
So, what's healthier than having a kid?
And it gives the audience
something to root for.
What do you want me to do...
Run out and get knocked up?
We could discuss it later.
That soap's a little hard.
- Is this our number?
- Just hold on a second.
- You got any other suggestions?
- Get yourself another partner.
Yeah, where?
Hey, cowboy!
Yeah, you!
Come here.
Good luck, Bates.
Keep the line moving.
Look, I was just out walking.
I didn't come to...
Is that a fact?
What's your name, cowboy?
Robert. Robert Siverton.
In a minute!
You got a partner, Richard?
No, I... It's Robert
- I was just walkin'.
- There you are, miss.
How's he gonna dance in those things?
You mean boots?
They're not mine.
I room with another guy.
He went away and left them behind.
- He's gonna break an arch.
- Dig him up a pair of shoes.
Or maybe you'd rather wait
for the Prince of Wales.
- Have I got a choice?
- Yeah. Take it or leave it.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Welcome to the dance of destiny,
ladies and gentlemen.
Around and around and around we go,
and we're only beginning, folks.
Only beginning!
On and on and on and on
and when will it stop?
When will it end?
When?
Only when the last two of these
wonderful, starry-eyed kids are left.
Only when the last two dancers
stagger and sway,
stumble and swoon, across the sea
of defeat and despair to victory.
One couple, and only one,
will waltz out of here,
over broken bodies
and broken dreams,
carrying the grand prize
1,500 silver dollars.
Mr. Light Man!
The clock of fate,
ladies and gentlemen.
I said "the prize"
because only one couple
will dance on
to fame and fortune.
Those who give up,
those who give out,
those who give in-out!
Tough rules,
but these are tough times.
In the words of our great leader,
Herbert Hoover,
"Prosperity is
just around the comer."
But what do we say
about the Depression?
That's what we say
about the Depression.
Come on, let's hear it, folks!
Let's hear it!
It's walking dead night, Turkey.
Pour me a shot of water.
So pick your couple, folks.
Struggle with 'em,
hope with 'em, pray with 'em.
See if you can pick out that one lucky
couple and then cheer them on.
Come on, let 'em
hear you care, folks.
Let 'em know
you're with them all the way!
You hear that, kids?
You hear those wonderful folks
out there rooting for you?
Come on, kids,
show them you care.
A little... a little sprint for those
wonderful folks out there!
That's it.
You see 'em give, folks?
You see 'em give?
That's the spirit!
So why California?
You don't freeze
while you're starving.
It has the movies.
Are you an actress?
I done four atmosphere bits
since I've been here.
I'd have done more,
but I can't get into Central Casting.
They got it all sewed up.
Don't you know anyone
who can help you?
In this business?
How can you tell who can help you?
One day you're an electrician,
the next day you're a producer.
The only way I could get near a big shot
is to jump on the running board of his car.
God. Check that one.
Anyway, I don't know if the men stars can
help me as much as the women stars.
From what I've been seeing lately,
I think I've been letting
the wrong sex try to make me.
- You in movies, too?
- Sort of.
I was a dead French villager
in "Fallen Angels."
Hot dogs! Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!
Wasting your time, kiddo.
The only thing casting
is Von Sternbergs "Raw Earth."
Strictly an all peasant talkie.
I could play a peasant.
Not in that thing you couldn't.
- Do you like it?
- Does it matter?
Not so long as they do.
Hey, sweetie.
Got another partner, huh?
Only he don't look
much healthier than the last one.
What are you, a doctor?
He don't mean nothin', honey.
Just trying to be helpful.
Cod liver oil.
You oughta take some, maybe.
He's just steamin'
because you got 20 years on him.
Maybe more like 30.
That's where you got
your signals mixed up, sweetie.
Yeah, experience...
That's what counts.
Keep your eyes open, buster.
Pick up the beat
and try to stay with me, will ya?
Stop-time!
That's the kind of contestants
we've got for you, folks.
Very classy, Sailor.
You musta killed them in Roseland.
How about a big hand
for our very own ancient mariner?
Harry Klein!
Yowsah, Yowsah, yowsah.
Thank you, folks.
That's very generous.
You could all see that Harry
used to be in the U.S. Navy.
But something you can't see...
I'd like to be serious for a moment,
folks, if you'll permit me.
Harry Klein is one
of those brave young men
who sailed off to beat the Kaiser.
That's right,
a veteran of the Great War.
And let's hope
there'll never be another.
Harry was decorated in that war
for wounds received in action,
but that's not all.
I know Harry wouldn't want me
to tell you this,
but right now, at this moment,
there are 32 pieces of schrapnel
still embedded in Harry's body.
Thirty-two!
And here he is fighting another
kind of war and fighting to win.
Isn't that the kind of grit
and never-say-die spirit
that's made this a great country?
It is, isn't it?
You bet it is!
And I really mean that sincerely,
folks, from the bottom of my heart.
I should've learned
how to tap dance.
You okay?
Hope I don't start lugging' on ya.
You ain't never lugged on me.
Just keep thinkin' about the seven meals
a day they gonna be feeding us.
Can you feel that?
- What?
- The ocean.
The waves... you can feel them
right through the floor.
Even when you're far from it,
you can still feel it sometimes.
Not where I'm from.
- Where's that?
- Around.
Kansas.
Texas mostly-Dallas.
That must've been nice.
Nice?
Well, I've never actually
been through there,
but that's the way
it always seemed to me.
You know, like you could look
just about anywhere and see land.
I mean,
with nothing set down on it.
Yeah, it's great.
I'm a real sucker for dirt and cactus.
That's how come I left.
Well, why did you leave?
You ever been to bed
with a Syrian who chewed tobacco?
Well, if anybody ever asks you,
tell 'em there's no future in it.
What do you want...
The whole floor?
I'm terribly sorry.
The way she's throwing it around, her
feet will last longer than her rear end.
He was a butcher.
- Who was?
- The Syrian.
Listen, I didn't mean to be personal.
I was just...
I didn't mean to be personal.
Yeah? Then why'd you ask?
Well...
just to make conversation.
We're gonna be stuck together
for a long time...
Don't strain anything for me.
All right.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah.
This is Novelty Night.
We've got a husband and wife
dancing together.
Mr. and Mrs. Ora McCusick Mary
from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
There's a couple from Alaska.
Remember,
there's no place like Nome.
Don't forget to write
your poor old mother.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah.
All right, kiddies, it's opening night.
Smile for the audience.
- What audience?
- We'll worry about that.
He could get you disqualified.
I've been disqualified by experts.
Ten minutes
and then they'll be back,
and the world's championship
marathon will go on and on
and on and on and on!
I got no time
for personal problems.
Just go find a bed.
Chances are you'll probably
never see the things again.
Laundry bag here,
towels and soap in there.
It's very simple.
Keep it in mind...
The laundry bag stays in here,
towels and soap
in that room only.
Excuse me, girls.
Miss LeBlanc, you got
that specialty bit down yet?
I'm memorizing it now.
Every line.
Swell. Come by my office next break.
Maybe we'll run through it.
Better get off your feet.
When's the baby due?
Don't know.
What'd the doctor say?
Well, see, James and me
been hitchin', ridin' in boxcars.
Nature's little miracle.
Christ.
- Why...
- What's the use of having a kid
unless you got enough dough
to take care of it?
You better get off your feet.
You only got another five minutes.
Folks can't stop having babies
'cause they don't got no money.
You intend to keep it?
I could never get...
Jimmy wants the baby.
Yeah. Why not drop
another sucker into this mess?
I told you guys,
no roughhousing.
And no grab-ass there,
college kid.
What's the matter there, boy?
This ain't for me.
I got sensitive feet.
Next time, I think
I'm gonna try flagpole sitting.
You guys are crazy.
That's really pitiful.
Man can't even make it
to the first rest period.
This here's
my eighth marathon already.
My wife and I even won one
in Oklahoma City one time.
We went 1,253 hours
of continuous motion.
First one of these, kid?
- How're you doing?
- I'm fine, doctor.
It ain't first cabin.
Hell, it ain't even steerage,
but it's better than nothin'.
Well, I figured I wasn't doing anything
else real important, so here I am.
You know what I'd do
if I was your age?
I'd join up all over again... the fleet.
No, I don't think I'd like that.
I'd like to be able to move on
if I got bored or something, you know?
Bumming?
That's all right for a while.
But a man's gotta belong somewhere.
You know, be part of something.
I mean, that's human nature, right?
I guess I never really
thought about it much.
Yeah, well, you will.
When you get
to be my age, you will.
Not that I'm that old, you know.
It's the muscles up here that count, kid.
Even more so than your legs.
Right up in there.
No, you wait for Diane Nico,
she wait for you.
The petals of many flowers will fall,
but Diane Nico will wait forever.
Alice, that is terrible.
It just doesn't suit me.
I'll ask Mr. Graver to find
something else for us.
I think you'd better.
Hey, hotlips.
Get that in Paris?
No. My mother made it for me.
Do you like it?
It's very nice.
Somebody said after the first hundred
hours, you start getting used to this.
What are you looking at?
There's a partially broken
window up there someplace.
I was trying to see
if it was light out yet.
- It's 4:00 in the morning.
- Yeah, I know.
Sometimes, down by the beach,
it gets light by 4:00.
It's like that in Hawaii,
because it's an island, you know.
Yeah, I know.
Yeah. You can look right out
across the ocean to where the light is.
You can even stand in one spot
and watch the sun come up
on one side of the world
and go down on the other side.
How'd you get out there-Hawaii?
I've never been there, actually,
but you can imagine what it's like.
Yeah, you can imagine
you're Gary Cooper, too, I suppose.
I didn't mean that at all.
Why are you always trying
to start an argument?
All I meant was...
You tell that twist
to lay off of my wife.
She was at it again.
Every rest period, she's on her all the
time about why don't she have it cut out,
why don't she get rid of it.
She's giving Ruby the jumps.
I ain't having my wife
upset by no tramp like her.
- Go to hell, you big ape!
- You...
Don't.
- Boy, next time, I'm gonna...
- Knock it off!
You know the rules.
No fights on the floor.
What do you think this is...
A joint or something?
I'm keeping an eye on you.
Which one?
That was stupid. Did you see the face
on that cornpone? He coulda killed you.
Yeah, I guess.
Then why did you do it?
'Cause you're my partner.
How long we got left?
Wouldn't you know it?
I got the curse coming on.
Don't let them give you
any codeine. It'll pass you out.
Around and around and around.
Ninety-seven hours
of continuous motion.
And look at them, folks.
Still struggling, still hoping to win
the grand prize of 1,500 silver dollars.
Let's give these wonderful courageous
kids a great big hand, huh, folks?
That's the spirit.
You wanna sleep some?
No, I'm too tired to sleep.
Sailor says you gotta go
a long time, maybe 500 hours,
before you can get so you can sleep
while you're still moving.
- You look tired.
- No kidding.
Why don't you try sleeping
on my shoulder?
I won't let you slip.
You can trust me.
That's what the last guy said.
- What?
- Forget it.
Gloria?
She's there again.
She must live here.
You really ought to be nice to her.
Rollo told me she's trying
to get us a sponsor.
Nobody asked her to.
Look, it could mean four bucks a week,
clean socks, and new shoes.
Come on.
- I'm Mrs. Laydon.
- Yes, ma'am, we know.
One of the floor judges told us
you're trying to get us a sponsor.
That's 'cause
you're my favorite couple.
You're wearing my number... 67.
That's the year I was born.
Really?
We're not supposed to stay
in one spot for too long.
I understand.
You go along.
But don't give up,
'cause you're going to win.
- I know you are.
- Thank you.
You can't leave the floor.
I gotta eliminate you.
Don't bother.
Figure them two.
They'll never know
what they missed.
Why didn't you tell me
it was gonna be this tough?
You're holding your knees too tight.
It knots up the muscles.
Sixty-five.
I figured it out.
That's how old she is.
God, I hope I never live
to be that old.
That's not the way it happened.
It wasn't like that.
We were very close in a way.
I was her friend.
Yowsah, Yowsah!
Watch your feet, folks.
It's all part of the show.
Seven meals a day.
Seven-count 'em.
Believe me, these boys and girls
can really put it away.
- What's your name, my dear?
- Angie.
- How are you enjoying the food?
- Very good.
You hear that, folks?
After four days
of continuous dancing,
these boys and girls
may not be well-heeled,
but you can bet
they're well-stuffed.
Ten minute's time
is all they have to eat it in,
and they must keep moving,
they must keep dancing at all times.
- How are you doing, Sailor?
- I feel fine, the grub's good. I feel fine.
The food is prepared in our own kitchens
by our own culinary experts,
at great expense
to the management,
but they believe that these
boys and girls should be well-fed.
Keep eating, kiddies.
Keep dancing.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
I have to.
Yeah... how are you gonna feed it
after you've got it?
Couple number 65,
in a scene direct from that
smash Broadway hit "Private Lives, "
our own Ramon Navarro
and Jean Harlow...
Mr. Joel Girard
and Miss Alice LeBlanc.
Did they like us?
Did they?
I hope so.
Do you think there's anyone in?
All the studio people.
Let's go look.
Alice and Joel will be
back with us again,
if there's no Hollywood talent scouts
in the audience tonight.
And now, in keeping with our policy
of letting you folks know everything
that happens in our little family here,
I am pleased to inform you
that another sponsor's come forward
to back still another pair
of our spunky kids.
Couple number 67,
Gloria Beatty and Robert Siverton!
Let 'em see the company
that's backed you to win, kids.
Congratulations, kids.
Congratulations.
And who knows, folks?
With a sponsor like that,
they may just win.
Suppose we did win.
What would you do with it?
- What? With What?
- The money.
Maybe I'd buy
some good rat poison.
What the hell is it?
It's two hours.
You told me to get you up
in two hours, Rocky.
Shake me out a butt, Turkey.
Listen to 'em...
Those wonderful, wonderful people.
Yowsah.
Shut it.
Shut the goddamn door.
Wonderful.
You gotta understand them is all.
You know something, Turkey?
My old man never got out
of the fourth grade.
When it came to people...
he didn't know his ass from his elbow.
You know what he was?
He was a faith healer.
I used to travel his circuit with him.
I was the one he healed.
I was his shill
to get the crowd set up.
"Walk, my boy."
"When I lay my hand on you,
you will walk."
"You will walk."
Sodden old bastard!
He thought it was him
they believed in, but it was me.
Here's a guy whose fingers
stretched over 13 notes.
What are you doin' here?
It's a rest period.
You're supposed to be
off your feet.
I was just looking at the sunset.
Go on, get off your feet.
Okay.
Sunset.
Matron?
Someone?
It is gone.
Matron!
- What is it?
- It's gone.
- It's gone!
- What's gone?
My dress!
It's right in front of you.
No, my other one.
My pink one.
I...
And chemicals for my hair.
My Rouge!
And my lipstick!
Everything is gone!
Somebody's taken it
out of my bag!
Nobody's taken anything.
It's probably just slipped under here.
No. They did it!
One of them did it.
- One of them stole my things!
- You stop!
- Stop it right now.
- Give it!
- Give it back to me!
- You heard it.
You know what that means.
What the hell's going on here?
You heard the sirens. Come on!
Hurry up and get out there!
My dress.
I had it in my case...
- Is she squirrelly?
- I don't think so.
- My pink satin one.
- You better shake it up.
- You got a couple of seconds left.
- I only have two dresses.
Later! Just hustle
your fanny out there.
Nobody wants your dress.
Please wait.
Please wait.
Why don't you wear
your other one?
Please wait.
- What?
- Nothing.
What are they doing it for?
It's not for fun.
You can bet on that.
Christ. Here it comes.
I can't.
Jimmy, I don't think I can.
Yeah, you can, honey.
Just don't start thinking about it now.
Son of a bitch.
The thing to remember, kids, is this is
the kind of stunt that packs 'em in.
Listen, we'll even get some
of the Hollywood crowd out there tonight.
Get one of those uniforms
they're passing out
and make sure
you tie your numbers on.
Number 63, easy on the goods.
Listen, kids, these track outfits are being
rented for one time, and one time only,
so any rips, tears, or malicious damage,
you get charged, okay?
We don't have enough
uniforms to go around,
so the rest of you will wear
sweatsuits, but they're very nice.
We'll have the doctor
and the nurses on the floor,
so no one has to worry.
Now, you kids who are pros
already know how it works.
I'm sure the rest of you
have all heard about it.
And now-now you're going to see it!
Yowsah! The derby!
The supreme... the supreme test
of energy and endurance.
Ten solid, wrenching minutes
of rack and ruin... the derby!
Good! Good, good, good, good.
Because you're in
for an exciting extravaganza.
Yowsah, the derby.
And, if I may be permitted
to share a thought with you,
There's a lesson for all of us
in this, ladies and gents.
Contestants,
if you hear me back there...
you don't need to be number one
as you amble down
life's highway...
but don't be last!
Round and round and round
they'll go for ten little minutes.
Who will set the pace?
Who will win the race?
Everybody excepting
the last three couples!
- Let's go!
- And now, here they are!
And looky, looky, looky, folks.
They've got knees!
Everybody here?
Okay, take a good look!
Get your hankies ready, folks,
because three couples
are about to go bye-bye.
Yes, indeed.
Nurses and house physician,
are you ready?
Audience, are you ready?
All right! Bring it in!
Mr. Rhythm!
Yes. Yes, indeed, they are off,
ladies and gentlemen.
Everyone wins in this race,
except the last three couples.
The supreme test
of energy and endurance.
If one goes down,
they have ten seconds,
and ten seconds only, to get up.
And they must heel-and-toe.
Hold your hats, folks.
Here come the leaders.
Four judges, keep your eyes
on the last three couples,
because the last
three couples will lose.
Oh, Nelly!
There's a pileup.
There's a pileup
in the far comer!
One! Two! Three!
Four! Five! Six!
Seven! Eight! Nine!
How about that, folks?
Exciting? Well, I hope to tell you.
You all right?
Keep going!
Come on. Come on.
The management cautions
that no wagering is permitted,
but you can always cheer on
your favorite couple,
and believe me,
these wonderful kids deserve your cheers,
because each one of them
is fighting down pain, exhaustion,
weariness,
struggling to keep going,
battling to win,
and isn't that the American way?
Ladies and gentlemen,
I've just been informed
that among our celebrity guest list
for tonight is Mr. Mervyn LeRoy!
You hear that? LeRoy.
Who's LeRoy?
Only the best director
in Hollywood!
How about it, Mr. LeRoy?
Almost as much excitement here
as in "Little Caesar, " right?
Heel-and-toe, Sailor, or she's out!
Come on, we're almost there.
There's trouble right here, folks.
The boy from couple
number 78 is in trouble.
Get a floor judge over there.
- One! Two!
- Get up!
No, stop it!
No! Get up!
Three! Four!
Five! Six!
No! No! No!
- Eight! Nine! Ten!
- Stop it!
Out! Get him out!
Couple number 78 is out!
Out of the world's championship
monster marathon!
But that's life!
Let's give them a big hand!
Are you all right?
- Are we behind?
- I don't know.
Less than two minutes left,
ladies and gentlemen!
- Go! Keep going!
- Only two minutes.
What's the matter?
Couple number 67
is in trouble, folks.
No fooling, they're in trouble!
The boy from 67 is down!
He is definitely down!
- What is it?
- My leg.
Stretch your leg out and move it!
One!
- Shake your leg!
- Two!
Three!
- Four!
- Straighten your leg.
Five!
Help me!
Six! Seven!
Shut up, goddamn it!
He's getting up!
- I'm up!
- Hang on to me.
He's up!
The boy from number 67 is up!
But will they make it?
They've lost ground.
Forty seconds left.
Will they make it?
Hold on to me!
That was the greatest.
You've got real guts. I mean it.
- Save your breath!
- I hope you make it, baby.
Thirty seconds!
Twenty seconds!
Ten seconds!
Five seconds!
The losers are couple number 22,
28, and 37.
We weren't last.
It's okay.
I know it's
a sad moment for all of us,
but those are the rules,
ladies and gentlemen.
But after 602 hours,
25 days of continuous dancing,
I think that these kids
deserve a big hand!
Have you heard anything yet,
Mr. Graver?
Don't worry about it, Alice.
I've reported it to the authorities.
We should hear something soon.
It can't just have disappeared.
I mean, somebody must've taken it.
It's not just my dress.
It's my makeup and everything.
I have nothing else.
The doctor's decision is...
Lillian Kramer stays on
in the marathon!
The doctor assures me Lillian
just has a slight sinus headache.
Headache.
For all that quack knows, she's...
she's got a brain tumor.
No, I don't think so.
I'm not exactly sure, but I think
it's different with a brain tumor.
Different symptoms.
Yeah? How do you know?
I saw it in a movie...
with Anita Louise
and Richard Cromwell.
That's what she died of...
Anita Louise.
A brain tumor,
but it was different.
Everything just suddenly
got dim for her one day.
Until finally, she couldn't see at all.
She couldn't even see Richard Cromwell
when she kissed him good-bye.
Yeah?
Then what, she just died?
Kind of.
She just drifted off
listening to her favorite tune.
And then she was dead.
No pain or anything?
They probably lied.
Bobby?
Come on, kid.
Come on.
Come on, break's over.
Come on.
- Tommy?
- Yeah, Sailor.
Kid's sleeping.
Frank, we got a dead one here.
Give me that ammonia.
- Do you know where you are?
- What?
- Give him another dose.
- No!
Leave him alone.
Are you all right?
Hang on to me.
- You sure you can make it?
- He's gonna be okay now.
- I asked him, not you!
- Sure.
Yeah, yeah, I'm all right.
Here.
Just like in marriage, folks,
these kids have got to get off
by themselves once in a while,
but exhausted as they are,
it's tougher to stay
on their feet alone,
so keep your eyes on them,
because it may be all over soon
for one of these brave,
struggling kids.
Get your hot dogs!
Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!
Red hots! Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!
Only a nickel!
Five cents!
Hot dogs!
Get your red hots!
- What's the matter?
- Get 'em off me!
- What?!
- Get 'em away!
What?!
Matron! Nurse!
- What's the matter?
- They're crawling all over me!
- Get them off me!
- There's nothing...
Help me, please.
- They're crawling all over me!
- You're all right.
- There is nothing wrong.
- Hold her down!
- What's the matter with her?
- She's squirreling.
Hold her!
Tell 'em to turn up the Victrola.
Please help me!
That won't help her none.
Shirl...
They're crawling on me!
Listen to me, Shirl.
Listen to me.
They're crawling on me!
Where are they? Tell me.
Tell me where they are.
Here, on your arm?
They're gone.
Here, on your shoulder?
- Yes.
- There.
They're all gone.
They're all gone.
They're all gone.
- They're all gone?
- Yes, they're all gone.
Better douse her in the shower.
Come on, honey, you're all right.
You're all right.
You're all right.
That's quite a technique.
I would've thought you'd put her
on display, charge a little extra.
No. It's too real.
Gloria?
I hope that little episode in there
didn't shake you up too much.
No.
Cigarette?
No.
No.
Ten minutes rest, folks,
and then the dance goes on and on.
Remember, one admission
entitles you to stay as long as you like.
So, while the kids are resting and being
attended to by our medical staff,
why don't you visit
our beautiful Palm Garden,
where we serve refreshments
of all types.
Thank you, thank you.
Yowsah!
Yeah, that looks
kinda like her dress.
It is.
You can tell just looking at it.
Well, even if it is her dress,
it's ruined now.
There's nothing I can do about it.
But aren't you gonna try
to find out?
I mean, somebody stole it
and ripped it all up.
Maybe you should call everyone together
and try and find out who did it.
It wasn't one of the kids.
How do you know?
Because I took it.
- But why?
- For the good of the show.
That's what we're all
interested in, isn't it?
The show.
No, it's a contest.
Isn't that what it's supposed to be?
Isn't that what you advertised?
A contest.
Not for them.
For you maybe, but not for them.
You think they're laying out two bits a throw just
to watch you poke your head up into the sunlight?
Or Alice look like she just
stepped out of a beauty parlor?
They don't give a damn whether
you win or James and Ruby
or Mario and Jackie or the Man
in the Moon and Little Miss Muffet.
They just want to see a little misery out there
so they can feel a little better, maybe.
They're entitled to that.
Look at us.
We're all like this now.
Dirty, swollen feet, no sleep.
What do you want?
Isn't that enough?
Sure, as long as they can believe in it.
But how can they with Alice
looking like she's on her way
to a ball at Buckingham Palace?
She was breaking the spell.
Now she looks like she's supposed to,
so now they can believe in her.
Simple enough?
Why don't you go sack out
while you got a little break time left?
Yeah.
Robert?
Take me outside.
- We can't.
- Please.
Alice, break's almost over.
We can't.
Somewhere.
Please, anywhere.
Talk to me.
Alice...
Talk to me.
Tell me things.
Talk to me.
Hold me.
My strap... pull it down.
Kiss me, hold me.
Talk to me.
Talk to me, Robert
- What about?
- About you, about yourself.
The buttons.
About where you grew up.
Tell me where you were born.
Chicago.
I was born in Chicago.
Chicago. I've never been there.
I can't imagine it.
Tell me about your family.
- What does your father do?
- He's dead.
He was a pharmacist,
but he died.
- It's caught, Alice.
- Pull it.
He caught the flu and he died.
It's caught.
I can't get it undone.
- What should I do?
- Pull it!
There.
Kiss me.
Touch me.
Kiss me, kiss me.
- Alice, somebody's gonna come in.
- It doesn't matter.
Kiss me.
Tell me about your...
Did you have brothers?
- Sisters?
- No.
I had a brother.
He died at the Somme.
Guess what his name was.
Try to guess.
- Who?
- My brother?
- I don't know.
- Guess, guess!
- I don't know.
- It's so easy.
- George. Robert
- No.
No, wait, don't leave.
- Alice, I...
- Don't, don't.
After a few minutes,
play my favorite number.
- Well, shall we dance?
- Go to hell.
Perfect.
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
our own Russ Columbo...
Mr. Coley James.
Gloria?
Hot dogs!
Premier Mussolini was promoted
tonight, says Norman H. Davis,
American disarmament
representative at Geneva,
at a dinner in one
of the leading hotels of Rome.
Signore Marconi, the inventor,
various members of the cabinet,
and Alexander Kirk,
American Charge d'Affaires
with members of the American
Embassy staff also attended.
Following cordial conversations
with the Premier
and his cabinet members,
Mr. Davis went
to Mr. Kirk's home, where they...
Don't touch me.
Results of the election
over the radio.
Mr. Davis continues
his disarmament discussions today
with Italian experts in a long
interview at the Foreign Office.
In Boston, Anthony Bender, 43,
was allowed to vote,
but first,
he had to prove he was alive.
When Bender entered
the polling place,
he was challenged,
"Sorry, you can't vote here."
"Why not?" he asked.
"You're listed as dead,"
he was told.
Bender immediately produced
proof he was very much alive,
and officials decided
he could cast his ballot.
Firemen in Detroit
are still battling the fire
that has claimed the life of Johnny Sciutto
and his brother Guido.
Fire Chief DeCoine says containment is not
expected until early tomorrow morning.
Damage is estimated
in excess of $41,000.
This is 50, 000 Watt
Clear Channel station KFI...
- Don't!
- In downtown Los Angeles.
And now, a look at the weather.
Temperatures are expected
to drop to the middle 40s
in parts of the San Joaquin Valley...
Late night and early morning fog
is expected at all beach areas,
with temperatures in the low 50s.
Tomorrow should be
clear and warmer,
with a high of 64 downtown,
60 at the beaches, and 68...
I changed my mind.
Your partner's waiting for you.
She was leaning against the railing.
She was completely relaxed,
completely comfortable.
I didn't have a perfect view,
but I could see enough of her face and lips
to see that she was...
smiling.
One thousand hours!
And to help us
celebrate the occasion,
Jeff Maxon and his music!
Take it away, Jeff!
Yowsah! One thousand hours
of continuous dancing.
Forty-two days
of grueling, grinding,
gravity-defying gyration,
and here they still are.
Twenty-one courageous couples
still dancing.
And how long before
one of them, and just one,
will survive to win
the monster marathon?
Gloria?
Who's that?
No one.
You wanna talk?
No.
I wish you'd go back to her.
How?
You know what she thinks.
That didn't happen.
- Wanna move on the other side?
- No.
- Sleep?
- No.
What the hell do you want?
- Anyone ever tell you you're...
- Yeah, they told me.
And don't forget, folks,
ladies free at matinee tomorrow.
Until 3pm, that is.
And I have an important announcement here
about John Hirschman,
reserved seat cashier.
He is now happily convalescing
at Santa Monica Hospital
after a severe attack of appendicitis.
We know that you'll join us
in congratulations to him
and wishing him a speedy recovery.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Inside of the floor.
These people are paying to see you.
- All right.
- Come on.
I'm coming!
Moon belongs to everyone
The best things in life are free
The stars belong to everyone
They gleam there for you and me
The flowers in spring
The robins that sing
The sunbeams that shine
they're yours, they're mine
And love can come to everyone
The best things in life are free
The best things in life are free
Beautiful, beautiful!
How about that?
Wasn't that nice?
Our own number 68!
This is Ruby Fix, a lovely little lady
with an armful of charm
a roomful of courage,
and a houseful of hope.
And I know you all join me
in wishing her and her bundle of joy
a joyous ride through life.
I just hope it was worth it to ya.
We need the money.
It's celebrity time again tonight, folks.
A welcome
for Miss Helen Twelvetrees
and that rising young star,
Mr. Ross Alexander!
But every night is celebrity night
at the mammoth marathon.
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
She looks like her kinda.
Who?
Like my aunt.
God, what a bitch.
He said he was gonna be here.
If there was a prize for bitchiness,
she'd have won.
Glasses, short balding guy.
Pits, like from acne.
Christ, you should've
heard her screaming.
- "Get that mangy mutt outta here."
- He's assistant director.
"You ain't bringing no animal
into my boarding house."
He's going on a ten-day
western at Monogram.
I wouldn't have brought him
back there, anyway.
Maybe something for me in it.
Something, maybe.
He just followed me, that's all.
Maybe, maybe. Maybe.
And I wouldn't have kept him,
except she started screaming.
I hope he wasn't stringing me.
I said I'd tell her husband she was
screwing one of the boarders,
- Crumb.
- Which she probably was.
But he was sick inside
with something.
Her husband?
No.
The boarder.
No, for Christ's sake, the dog!
And it kept getting worse, so he'd shake
all the time and dirty himself all over...
and whine and cry all night long.
Stupid damn thing!
He kept whimpering
and hollering and wouldn't shut up.
I mean, what the hell is God doing
sitting around up there?
What the hell good is He if He can't
make one lousy sick dog shut up
and stop waking up
her goddamn boarders?
And you know what I did?
See, after everybody had gone to bed,
I carried him down to the parlor.
And she had this mohair sofa...
It was her favorite one.
And I fixed him a place on it.
What the hell, forget it.
You should be sleeping.
I'd just wake up.
You want anything?
Something for your feet?
How about a saw?
Is there anything the doctor can give you?
Something to make you feel better?
- What's he got?
- Some aspirin.
That's what I figured.
- Have you seen Joel?
- I seen him, all right.
Boy, that's a real sweetheart
you picked this time-just like that.
And I'm the one
that's gotta tell Rocky.
Cheers.
Don't give me any of that song
and dance crap! What's going on?
Just exactly what appears
to be going on.
I've shaved, I've changed,
and I am now packing.
- For what?
- I have a job.
It's not much of a job,
but it's a job.
Ten days in a Monogram western.
You bastard!
You're not running out on me!
No? Just stand there
and watch, sweetheart.
Will she make it?
Will she make it?
After over 1,100 hours
of incredible endurance,
there she is, alone,
but still fighting,
still hoping,
still trusting... Gloria Beam.
Seventeen hours...
That's all she has left.
Will she find a new partner
before those hours run out?
Will fortune reward
her pluck and spirit?
Will she make it?
I ain't quittin'.
I'm not gonna give up.
How are the tabs?
Pretty much the same.
Phone calls are down,
cleanings up.
Yeah?
What happens
if I don't get a partner?
You've got 11, almost 12 hours.
I can count.
What happens?
You know the rules.
You could change 'em.
No. The crowd's got to have
something they believe in.
Once they quit believing,
they quit coming.
Anything else, but not that.
Tommy, we got a dead one.
Just give him to me.
Here we go.
Jesus!
If two knees
touch the floor, she's out!
Come on! Come on!
Come on, Sailor!
Out! Take her away.
Miss Shirley Clayton.
We're going to miss you, Shirl.
Isn't that right, folks?
So long, Shirl', but don't despair.
Every hear! in this room is with you,
and that's what really counts.
It's hard on all of us,
after we've lived all these hours
and weeks together,
to see one of these wonderful,
courageous kids fall out.
But life goes on,
and so does the marathon!
Three minutes left!
Three minutes of harrowing,
heart-breaking hustle!
Yowsah!
Over 1,200 hours
of continuous dancing,
and yet there they still are,
fighting, struggling to stay in the race.
But the last three couples will lose.
The last three couples
will be eliminated!
Yowsah, Yowsah!
Come on, let's hear it, folks!
Let's hear it over there!
- What's the matter? What's wrong?
- My chest!
Come on, lean on me.
Put your arm around me.
Lean on me!
Where does it hurt?
What is it?
One minute!
It's just a little bit further!
Come on, you salty old bastard!
Where's the fight? Come on!
Come on, goddamn it!
Hang on to me!
I'm tired of losing!
Come on!
It looks like our sea faring man and our
little hard luck lady are in deep trouble.
Come on, goddamn it!
We're gonna make it.
Thirty seconds!
Walk!
Walk! Walk!
Walk, goddamn it!
Walk!
We're gonna make it!
- Five!
- Walk!
- Four!
- Come on!
Three! Two! One!
Scratch them three kids,
- and there are the losers!
- Sailor, we made it!
Get 'em to the spots.
- Arthur and Jean...
- Sailor!
Pattie and Don,
Dusty and Jesse...
We made it!
Let's have a big hand
for the losers.
Come on, folks, let's hear it.
It looks like our ancient mariner
may have taken a little spill.
There's nothing to worry about.
He's all right!
Leave him alone.'
- Get her off me!
- No, please!
- Get her out of here!
- He's gonna be all right!
What are they doing to him?
He's gonna be all right.
I just had a message
from our house physician.
Nothing in the least serious.
Just a case of heat prostration.
And I understand that Harry,
crusty old salt that he is,
wanted to stay on in the marathon,
but the doc says "no,"
and when it comes to something like this,
the doctor's word is law.
He's gonna be all right.
So long, Sailor.
But we know
you'll be back to see us
and to cheer the other kids on.
You have ten minutes
to enjoy yourself
in our beautiful Palm Garden.
But I'm not better off.
I'm sorry.
Alice
Oh, my God.
Get out of the way.
Get out of here.
Come on, move, dammit!
You can come out now.
Nobody's gonna hurt you.
Don't you wanna come out now?
You might catch cold in there.
You don't wanna do that, do you?
Please.
I just wanna help you.
I just wanna turn off
the water, that's all.
I just wanna turn off the handle.
All right, I won't...
if you don't want me to.
Tell me.
Whatever it is, you can tell me.
He... touched me.
Who?
He... touched me.
Get out of here!
Is he dead?
Sailor?
You mean Sailor?
No.
You have my personal word
he's gonna be fine.
Someone screamed.
That was you, Alice.
Boy meets girl,
boy loses girl, boy gets girl!
That's the story
of our sweetheart couple;
Gloria Beatty and Robert Siverton!
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Now, I'm no Hollywood scenario writer,
but I know what
the end of this story should be.
Right, Robert?
Right, Gloria?
Wrong.
Does the prisoner wish to make a statement
to the court before sentence is passed?
No.
No, sir.
Come in, come in, kids.
Just sit down,
make yourselves comfortable.
I know this is your rest period,
so just sit down and rest.
I had a little notion, kids...
Something that could help the show,
something could benefit all of us.
And in particular,
it could benefit the two of you,
and at the same time,
give the folks out there
something to get worked up about.
What are you gonna do... put us in cages
and let 'em throw peanuts at us?
All kidding aside...
Who's kidding?
The thing I want is I want
you two kids to get married.
Right here on the dance floor.
A public wedding.
I mean, you get divorced
right after the show, if you want.
It's just for effect.
What do you say to that, Robert?
- I don't know, I guess so.
- He says no.
Does she do
all the talking for you, Robert?
That's right.
Well...
Robert maybe it'd be better
if just her and me discussed it.
Okay?
Yeah, sure.
But the idea is okay with you.
That's what you said, right?
No, sir, I didn't say that at all.
All I said was...
It's the same thing,
it's the same thing.
It'll just be a minute.
What's your problem?
You're afraid of getting married?
You're not happy until you've
screwed everything up, are you?
Wait a minute.
Wait, wait.
I'm not marrying anybody!
It's business!
Strictly business, for God's sake.
Look, you come out with something...
New clothes...
plenty of free gifts, silverware,
waffle irons, toasters,
that kind of stuff.
What am I gonna do
with crap like that?
Sell it, hawk it!
Look, for God's sake,
I'm trying to help you a little.
Maybe you'll come out
with 2 or 300 bucks... that's something.
Unless you wanna walk out of here
with the pennies they're throwing at you.
Yeah? And what if
just maybe we win?
Look, sweetheart, I've been
in this business a long time.
I may not know a winner
when I see one...
but I sure as hell can spot a loser.
You son of a bitch!
Maybe.
Do you wanna come out of this
with a couple hundred bucks or don't you?
The winners get 750 apiece.
Right, less the bills.
What bills?
Look, this marathon
don't run itself, you know.
I got bills stacked up every day.
And I keep tabs.
You kids cost me money.
Extra laundry, cleaning, phone calls,
medical bills, you name it.
What is this?
The tabs on you and Robert
You're charging me this?
Only if you win.
If you don't win, you don't pay.
I'm not out to cheat anybody.
Oh, Jesus.
Gloria, we have to get back.
What the hell's the point?
Right.
Where the hell's the other one?
Well, don't just stand there.
Why don't you help me?
What does it look like exactly?
Like this. What do you think
it's gonna look like, a necktie?
I'll tell you one thing.
I'm not leaving this
goddamn stink hole without it.
That's the last pair I got.
And I cut out streetcars
for a month to get 'em.
Is this it?
No, for Christ' sake, it's silk.
I found it.
Here, is this it?
Yeah.
Jesus, I'm sorry.
Gloria, don't...
Look, maybe you can
fix it up or something,
sort of sew it up or...
Gloria, let me see it.
Maybe you can sew it up.
I've still got 71 cents.
Maybe I can buy...
Shut up!
It's not
the goddamn stocking, anyway.
Forget it.
I used to love
to look at the ocean...
walk by it,
just sit and listen to it.
Now I don't care
if I ever see it again.
That... or anything else.
What are you gonna do now?
Try the movies again?
No.
I'd never make it.
And maybe it wouldn't
make no difference even if I did.
Maybe it's just the whole
damn world is like Central Casting.
They got it all rigged
before you ever show up.
I know what you mean.
I know just what you mean.
Do you?
What are you gonna do?
I'm gonna get off
this merry-go-round.
I'm so sick
of the whole stinking thing.
What thing?
Life.
And don't give me
no sunshine lectures.
I wasn't going to.
Then what were you
looking at me that way for?
I wasn't.
I was just trying to see your face.
Well, keep looking.
Stick around for the end.
Help me.
Please. Please.
Tell me when.
I'm ready.
Now?
Now.
What happened?
Just move on.
Better things to do. Beat it.
Come on, let's go.
Let's go.
Why'd you do it, kid?
She asked me to.
Obliging bastard.
That the only reason
you got, kid?
They shoot horses, don't they?
Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!
Here they are again!
These wonderful, wonderful kids,
still struggling, still hoping.
As the clock of fate ticks away,
the dance of destiny continues!
The marathon goes on
and on and on.
How long can they last?
Let's hear it!
Come on!
Let's hear it!
Let's hear it!
Let's hear it.