Road House

Hi.

Hello.

Hmm. Better luck with your shoes off?

Ha.

You waiting to see me?

Okay. Who are you? - I'm Pete. Pete Morgan, the manager.

Good. Can you manage me a room in a hotel? I'm tired.

Well, uh, it's kind of tough.

But, uh, I have a little place upstairs while you're waiting, if you're tired.

What did you say your name was?

Pete. It's a tricky name. - Pete what?

Morgan. - Well, Mr. Morgan, I'd be very happy...

...if you'd just getJefty for me.

Oh, well, Jefty is a little busy right now.

I usually, uh, handle the details.

Is that so? Well, I'm Lil Stevens, new entertainer from Chicago.

Right now I'd like to sleep.

Oh. The new equipment.

What do you do to entertain? - Oh, didn't Jefty tell you?

No, but I can guess. I know Jefty.

Isn't this small stuff for a good performer?

Not at the money I'm getting.

Small town, small pickings. - Well, I got a small voice.

Besides, who said I was good? - What'd he promise to pay you?

Too much. About twice what I usually get.

And how much is that?

You son of a gun. I wanted to surprise you.

You did. You surprised me. - I did?

Well, what do you think of Lily?

Was I smart to get her? - Very smart.

Come on, Jefty. How about that hotel? - In a minute, honey.

She'll be a knockout in the bar, won't she? - Oh, sure.

I'll get you a place. But first, uh, have a drink.

Meet the help. I kept the bar open for you.

Okay. I could do with a little cooking sherry.

Come on, Pete. Let's celebrate.

Here it is, honey. And it's all Jefty's.

Oh, Susie, come here.

I want you to meet Lily Stevens, our new entertainer.

Hello. - Hi.

Take her over to Sam and introduce her to the bar.

I'll get you a room. - Fine.

You know, you two are gonna like each other.

Yeah, we already have something in common. Same barber.

What do you do? Sing? Play the piano?

Mm-hmm. Something like that.

Sam? This is Miss Lily Stevens...

...our new attraction from Chicago.

Jefty says give her anything she wants.

Always.

Always is a long time. Glad to know you, Lil.

Same here, Sam.

What'll it be? - Scotch.

Soda? - Straight. Got a cigarette?

Yeah, sure. - It's quite a deal you've got here, huh?

Yeah, nice bunch.

Bottoms up.

How's Chicago? - Okay.

Got a nickel? - Yeah, sure.

The name is Miss Lily Stevens.

That's right. She'll be over in a little while.

Okay, kid. Thanks.

I got Lily a room. - Antlers Hotel, room 12, large double.

Same old room? - Aw, now, Pete.

Don't you ever learn? - But this gal is different.

What's the matter with the hometown talent?

They're easy to handle.

Last year those entertainers from Kansas City,

St. Louis- Remember the trouble?

Now, wait- - Okay, you're the boss.

But don't ask me to dump 'em when you're tired.

Tired?

Pete, you don't understand. I can't get anywhere near Lily.

How much do we pay her? - Two-fifty.

Two-fifty? And I'm supposed to make this place show a profit?

There goes my percentage. - But if she don't deliver, she goes.

Yeah, boy she must have been hard to get.

How many weeks? - Six.

But as I said, if she don't deliver, she has to go.

Six weeks.

Oh, come on, now. Stop spoiling my fun.

I know I shouldn't mix business...

...with pleasure. That's why I've got you around.

Hey, come on.

- Hey, Jefty. - Yeah?

Miller wants to see you in the poolroom. - Okay.

Go on inside and get friendly.

You made a bad impression.

Hey, Art. Get Jefty's station wagon around the front.

Ah, ah. - Got to cheat a little, Sam.

Your troubles are over, Miss Stevens. Gonna be all taken care of.

The Antlers? - Yeah, Antlers Hotel. Nice, big room.

Antlers? Guess this is a moose trap all around.

'Moose trap.'

That's good. - That's terrific.

Thanks, Sam. See you later. - Good luck.

Oh, Miss Stevens, I'll see you out front.

I'll get your bags. - Mm-hmm.

Hey, Susie, what do you think of this one?

She's something, isn't she?

If you like the sound of gravel.

Uh, tell me. Think I'm gonna like this rattrap we're going to?

The Antlers? You betcha. It's a swell place.

It's got a dining room, plenty of class- Everything.

And besides that, it's the only hotel in town.

That does it.

Where's Lily? - Pete took her to the hotel.

Took her to the hotel? What for? - I don't know.

I really don't know. I just work here.

Gimme a brandy, will ya, Sam?

Say.

She's pretty nice, isn't she? I'll say she is.

What, are you talking to yourself?

I don't get it.

I don't get it at all.

What happened? - Search me, boss.

This is something new- Pete being nice to an entertainer.

Yeah.

What's this? - The depot.

Yeah. That's where I came in. - Yeah, that's where you're going out.

Now look, Miss Stevens, let's not kid each other.

As I said, it's small pickings in this town.

Now, here's a couple of hundred bucks and some extra.

I think that'll square us for your trouble.

Yeah, that's better.

You see, every time Jefty leaves town...

...he gets drunk and brings somebody back.

Oh, he does? Does he know you're going to all this trouble?

No, but he'll find out it's for the better, and so will you.

Supposing I don't want to go? - Yeah, but you will.

You see, Jefty gets tired easily...

...then it's up to me to do the dumping.

I don't like it, but if I have to I can get rough.

Oh, you can? Huh.

Well, this should really buy me off, shouldn't it?

I thought you'd be as smart as you look.

Listen. When I want to leave, I'll let you know.

I came out here with a contract. I needed the dough.

And I'm gonna collect every nasty little cent of it. Maybe more.

Who knows? Before I'm through, you might be running for the depot.

Don't try to borrow two bits from me when you shove off.

Now look, baby, I'm not trying to rush you.

Silly boy.

So that's Jefty's new attraction. - Not so bad.

When's she supposed to give out? - Pete says tonight.

She reminds me of the first woman that ever slapped my face.

- If she sings like she looks... - You wouldn't let me wear a dress like that.

How's the take tonight, honey?

We can use Lily if she's good. - She'll be good.

Oh, Pete, look, uh-

I wanna do this right. Give Lily a break, you know what I mean?

Lights out, spotlight. Okay? - Give her the works.

Okay, good.

Folks, uh, I'd like you to meet...

...our new entertainer, from Chicago-

Miss Lily Stevens.

Lily?

It's quarter to 3:00

There's no one in the place

Except you and me

Is she good?

She does more without a voice than anybody I've ever heard.

Honey, you were wonderful.

Terrific. - Oh, you're crazy, you know that?

Come on, give 'em another one, huh, baby?

Well, wise guy, is she good? - She's good.

And little Jefty did it. Don't forget that.

She'll be the biggest hit we ever had.

She'll double our business in the bar. Well, come on. Admit it.

I admit it. - You know what I think I'll do?

I'll knock out that wall in the back, and I'll double the bar.

Now, wait a minute.

We'll have the swellest joint west of Chicago.

Don't lose your head, Jefty. - Two-fifty? Ho, ho.

She's a steal.

You know, I'm beginning to get interested in this business.

Lily, how about a double, on the house?

No thanks, Sam. Bad for my voice. - You were great.