Give a Girl a Break

Give the dogs a break. They've only had the part two days.

Come on, Mustard. Turn around. Turn around.

Mustard, turn around.

'Please, anybody that's in the sketches'

'will you please go down to the smoking room. Please!'

- That's all. Just five yachts. - Five will be enough?

No, no, that's for Ms. Hallson.

Yo!

'Please, Ruth, Delmira, Joe, let's go.'

Anybody in the sketches, please, down to the smoking room.

Oh, Mr. Belney.

Mr. Sturgis, here's your lunch.

Put it there, and get Janet Hallson.

- Okay. - Now.

Ted, Ted, this is terrible. Where are the girls?

Leo, this is Janet Hallson's big entrance.

I want just the one girl, and all the rest boys.

- It'll be great. - Wonderful!

Ted, for Janet's entrance, I've got the full orchestra.

Violins, flutes, oboes, brass, timpani, drums.

Leo, it should be absolutely silent. Just the hand claps.

- It will be sensational. - You're absolutely right.

Now, we'll build this into a big climax.

The guys all spread out and disappear, and there she is.

Well, where is she?

She's in the dressing room

and Mr. Jordan would like to speak to you.

Uh-oh. Take ten minutes. Get some cigarettes, Bob.

Yes.

Well..

I'm afraid that if we want to keep our star

an apology is in order.

- For what? - Does it matter?

No.

Janet, may we come in?

Ted Sturgis is here.

He'd like to apologize. Wouldn't you, Ted?

I finish a number and what happens? Does he say anything?

Oh, no. It's okay. Okay!

Clear the stage. Let's get on with the next.

Not a word to me, the star of the show.

- Treats me like a chorus girl. - Janet, I know that...

I've worked with the biggest people in the business!

I don't have to take this. I've got managers begging me.

This morning they called me from London, give me anything I like.

We know that, Janet. We know.

And Ted feels terribly

that you should be upset even for a minute.

Does he?

Look, Janet, I couldn't be sorrier.

I wouldn't have this happen for the world.

I think you're a great artist. You-you're great. Just great.

The way it is, the number was great.

Honey, I got a show to put on.

Just got so many weeks, no time to stop and palaver over people.

Palaver? Listen to him! This Johnny-come-lately!

This, oh.. He goes, or I go. Make up your mind.

Janet, don't talk like that. No one is going to go.

Oh, no? Fanny!

Now wait a minute. A contract is a contract.

Sue me.

Linda Marlick. She'd be perfect. Wonderful voice.

Magnificent personality. She can dance rings around the others.

Doesn't know her left foot from her right.

Calls herself a dancer. It's embarrassing to watch her.

Besides, she's rehearsing down the street already.

Anybody that's any good is set this late in the season.

Ted, how about your ex-partner? She can really dance.

'It'd be a big story, the two of you together again.'

How about her?

She's out of the business. She quit.

Maybe she's ready to come back. Why not give her a try?

I tell you, she quit.

Hey, how about Hollywood? There ought to be a star out there.

You could fly out.

Hey, do you know what I think, Mr. Sturgis?

- Bobby, go for coffee, will ya? - Yes, sir.

- Listen, do we need a star? - Of course, we need a star.

- Who says so? - That's what I wanna know.

This town's jumping with talented kids.

Someone unafraid to work, who I didn't have to palaver over.

- That word again. - I'd make you a star.

You'd have a name to put up in lights after the show opened.

I saw a girl three weeks ago. If we could get...

- We haven't time for auditions. - Just give me 24 hours.

You're not gonna get any star before then.

Just give me 24 hours and I guarantee

I'll come up with something. Or phone the agents.

Get the newspapers to lend us a story.

You're crazy. Give this to the newspapers

you'll be swamped with girls.

That's exactly what I want.

If I could think of this girl's name.

I want you to call the newspapers.

Give them this item. We're looking for a girl

to replace Janet Hallson.

We're gonna give a girl a break.

There he is! It's Ted Sturgis!

- Good morning, Mr. Sturgis. - Morning.

You'll have to do some palavering now.

Just a minute please. Wait just a minute.

Uh, now as you can see, it'll be quite impossible for

Ted Sturgis and myself to see all of you dance.

However, we do want to be completely fair.

But if you're not both a dancer and a singer

you're just wasting my time and your time.

What do they want? Jane Powell and Nero rolled into one?

..any professional experience will you dropout?

Thought they're gonna give a girl a break.

Now, that'll be the day.

...both ballet and tap..

Just get in line, and I-I'll be with you in just a minute.

- Hey, where you going? - I haven't got a chance.

- How can you say that? - Well...

Matter of fact, if you ask me

you got the best chance of 'em all.

I have?

I got it. Look, you wait right here.

I'm gonna tell Ted about ya.

But you don't know anything about me.

Well, maybe we could take that up later.

- Don't run away on me, now. - No, I won't.

Look at them. Ever see such beautiful girls?

Yeah, but have they got talent?

Only important thing in the world.

If a girl's got talent, she need not be good looking.

She could be real ugly.

- Not in this show, she can't. - You said it.

- Oh, Mr. Sturgis... - Bob, go for cigarettes.

- But, Mr. Sturgis... - And get Bremlick.

Tell him to call or come. No rehearsals, costume fittings.

Yes, sir. But there's a girl here, a wonderful girl.

Just see her, I'm sure...

- Later, Bobby, later. - Thanks.

And now, there's one. Third from the right.

That's my girl!

That's her!

Excuse me. What's your name?

- Joanna Moss. - That's it!

I want you to meet Mr. Sturgis.

I saw your recital. It was wonderful.

But I couldn't remember your name.

I looked in all the back papers. Watch out.

Ted, this is Miss Moss. The one with the recital.

How are you?

I told him about the wonderful reviews.

The Times said, "It was sheer enchantment..."

- That was the Tribune. - That was the Tribune.

The Times said, "It was the dawn of a new era

in the art of the dance." I still owe $475 on it.

It was worth. After all, a dancer can't dance in a vacuum.

Can she? Wouldn't you like me to show you my...

No, no, I-I really...

I have plenty of time. I came prepared to...

No no, please. I-I have all these other girls.

Won't you give me a chance?

Yes. Not right now. I want you to meet Mr. Jordan.

- Come upstairs to my office? - Thank you.

Uh, Oh, Miss Moss, your, uh, your slip is showing.

Ted, didn't I tell you she was exactly what we're looking for.

I'll take her up.

Huh? There she is, Mrs. Sturgis.

Well, an awful little girl, for such a big part.

How much experience have you had?

Well, I-I haven't had any.

Well, that's-that's just what's so wonderful, you see.

She's not one of those, those tired faces

you've seen around in musicals and nightclubs.

I'm sorry.

I was afraid, but Mr. Daler told me he telephoned you and you...

- Jim Daler? - Yes.

You must be little Suzy Doolittle.

Why didn't you say so?

I want Mr. Jordan to meet you.

Will you wait upstairs in my office?

You better make it Mr. Jordan's outer office.

Thank you. Thank you.

You know what I think? I think...

She's exactly what we're looking for.

Yeah.

Sorry to keep you waiting. It just got through.

Have I still got a chance?

You certainly have. I've just had a 152 no's.

I'll be with you in a minute. I've got to see Mr. Jordan.

Sorry to keep you waiting. Gotta see Mr. Jordan.

- Be with you in a minute. - It's in the bag.

'You'll have four numbers.. Oh, Ted.'

'Isn't this a wonderful surprise?'

'Miss Corlane said she's ready to work again.'

'I was telling her about the numbers you've worked out.'

Madelyn, we should find another spot for you

in the middle of the second act. Don't you think so?

Did you tell Ms. Corlane we're opening in three weeks.

That's pretty short notice for anyone

who's been out of the business so long.

I've never stopped working, not for a day.

You only have to look at it to see that.

Okay, then she'd care to audition for us tomorrow?

- Ted, aren't you being silly? - The others are doing it.

I'm perfectly willing to audition.