Love Me or Leave Me

Now, Marty, don't get sore.

Who's sore? When Georgie tells me a customer don't want to pay up his bill...

naturally I want to hear why.

Because I'm tired of being milked like a cow every week.

Why can't I pay you off once and for all?

Cut that out, Orry. I run a legitimate laundry.

What laundry says how many tablecloths and napkins you gotta take?

My laundry. It's our policy. We want our customers should be clean.

Who needs so many tablecloths? Who comes into a place like this to eat?

Every customer has a quota. Otherwise it wouldn't pay me.

Mr. Orry.

- That's all right. - I saw the whole thing.

It's you again.

She broke my leg. I'm gonna sue this joint.

My dear man, so a girl steps on your toe. It was an accident.

Accident nothing. She kicked me on purpose.

- Impossible. - I can explain everything.

Did you deliberately kick this customer?

- Yes, I did. But I warned him three times. - You're fired. Now you...

That's not fair. He's wrong. It wasn't my fault.

He's got 10 cents for a dance. He can't be wrong.

Cash in your tickets and get out of here.

The next dance is on the house. Enjoy yourself.

But be careful the way you dance. Get him a girl.

Marty, you gotta understand my angle. Now, business hasn't been so...

Not bad, huh? I could fix it up for you.

She's one of those stage-struck ones. You know the type.

Too bad, kid.

You gonna pay up, Orry, or you want we should suspend our service?

What did you have to go and make a fuss for?

Why should I let that big ape paw me?

- It's natural. They all do it. - Not to me, they don't.

Yeah, I forgot. You're different. You're going places.

That's right.

Get wise to yourself, duchess. You're not going anyplace.

Not till you stop hollering, "Hands off."

I'll stop hollering when I want to. Not because the customer's always right.

Have you had a good look?

I understand you wanna go on the stage. Maybe I can help you.

You get out of here, or I'll call the manager.

This happens to be a private dressing room.

Private for employees, which you're not no longer.

You want me to help you go on the stage?

Why don't you buy a ticket and try your line on one of the employees?

- That is, if you have 10 cents. - lf he has 10 cents?

He's the owner of the biggest night club laundry in Chicago...

- eight trucks, a payroll of 43. - I know everybody in the business.

- They're my customers. - He can introduce you...

- to a dozen guys... - Shut up.

What're you butting in for? I can't talk?

I'll give you one of my own personal cards.

Why should you?

Why not? I like to help a girl when I can.

And you've got a very excellent personality, I can see that.

I only need to write something on my card and they'll put you to work.

I must have left them out in my car.

Meet me outside, and I'll... Now what's the matter?

I'm not getting into any car with you.

Who said you should?

Who invited you? I said, "Meet me at the car."

You dope, he's trying to give you a break. Take advantage.

Or don't. If you want it, okay. If not, not.

- Come on, Claire. Get out. - What?

Here, buy yourself a horse and buggy. Only beat it.

What's the matter? You invite me out for a pleasant evening.

- I wait who knows how long... - So I changed my mind. Go on, blow.

Getting awful beat up, that Claire. Been around too long.

Hi, baby.

- Honey, I'd like to... - Up an alley.

What's your name?

Ruth Etting.

Take this over to the Circle. You know where it is?

It's on the North Side. They'll fix you up. Go on, take it.

Can I give you a lift someplace?

I'm just trying to be agreeable. Don't do me no favors.

- Do you want the card back? - Keep it.

Use it in good health.

You wanna know what's your trouble, girlie?

You ain't got no faith in human nature.

That's all?

She's obligated, ain't she? So, what're you sitting?

Maybe we can catch up with Claire. So she's got a lot of mileage on her.

Eddie Fulton.

Thanks, kid.

Only one chorus in the next number, girls. We're running late.

Hurray for Johnny Alderman, the people's friend.

Taking in laundry? I got a sackful of socks.

I wish I had. These have to last till payday.

The point is, can you last till payday? I get tired just watching you out there.

I must be something to watch. I'm just not a dancer, that's all.

It seems odd you'd want a job dancing then.

I didn't. They made a mistake. I'm a singer.

- You had much experience? - None so far. I'm just starting.

You going about it the right way?

What do you mean? Somebody gives me a chance to sing, I'll sing.

I've seen a lot of singers fail because they get off to a bad start.

Right now is when you need coaching, before you have time to form bad habits.

You need special material, arrangements to show off what you've got.

That is, if you're serious about it.

I'm serious, all right. I'm also broke.

That'd take a lot of money.

Tell you what. I might work with you a little, if you like.

Odd hours after the show.

Would you? That would be wonderful.

It would be a pleasure. One artist to another.

I have a piano at my place.

It isn't far from here. We could squeeze in quite a bit of time.

Wouldn't that be an awful lot of trouble for you?

There's some trouble a man doesn't mind getting into.

- Get ready, girls. Five minutes. - Saved by the gong.

Better get back to your piano.

Will you kindly use your head?

That one belongs to the Gimp, bought and paid for.

- The Gimp? - So don't make trouble for yourself, or me.

I got a big investment in this place.

It's funny. I would have sworn she hasn't been around much.

Maybe she hasn't. What she knows, they learn in the cradle.

Wait a minute, Frobisher.

- Etling, I'm here. - Hello, Mr. Snyder.

I got my own laundry, eight trucks, and she does her own washing. Cute, huh?

- They treating you right, kid? - They're wonderful to me.

Okay, Frobisher, thanks. Blow.

I delivered, didn't I? Tell the truth.

You thought I was giving you the business, right?

I've got to go.

Frobisher, the kid is staying out of this one.

Sure, why not?

No, I better go.

- No... - He won't mind.

There is something I want to ask you. You see, I'm dancing.

That's great. Tell me, have you ever been to Florida?

No, I haven't. I hate to bother you...

You'll be crazy about it. Take it from me. All the girls are nuts about Miami.

Mr. Frobisher put me in the chorus...

He won't fire you, don't worry. He wouldn't dare.

It's the worst weather here, freezing cold.

In Miami, you go swimming in the ocean every day.

I don't want to dance, I want to sing.

Singing, dancing, what's the difference? You're on the stage, ain't you?

- In here, Georgie. - All set, Marty. Got the train tickets.

How do you like that? We're leaving Friday night.

- Leaving for where? - For where? For Florida.

Little girl, you gotta start listening to me.

But I don't want to go to Florida.

Why not? How do you know you won't like it?

You've never been there. You said so yourself. You'll love it.

What's not to like?

She thinks it's a line.

She thinks I say Miami, I mean Atlantic City.

- Georgie, show her the tickets. - Here are the tickets.

Frobisher will keep your job for you. Don't worry.

Mr. Snyder, I'm not going.

Georgie, get out of here.

Beat it.

- Look here, you stupid little broad... - Don't you talk to me like that.

I'll talk to you any way I like. You know who I am?

You think I let dames get away with anything?

I'm not trying to get away with anything. I didn't ask you for one thing.

You didn't ask but you wanted. I did my share, what about you?

Who do you think you are? You're nothing.

Get funny with me, and I'll throw you back to that crummy dance joint.

You won't have to. I'll walk back.

What are you doing?

I'm leaving. All I wanted was a chance to sing.

And I'll get it.

You don't have to do a thing. I'll get it for myself.

Hey, Etling.

What's her name?

Ruth. Ruthie, come on out.

What did I say that was so terrible? What crime did I commit?

- Come on like a good girl. - Want me to drag her out, Marty?

Get out of here.

- Deal me in. - Hurry up.

That's all we wait for Etting.

All right, kids, rehearsal. Let's go.

- Gay, you take Etting's place. - I'm a specialty.

- Mr. Snyder wants to see you right away. - I'm working. Sorry.

Listen, I asked you nice, didn't I? You want me to ask you not nice?

Sure. Might as well have both versions.

Johnny.

You think the Gimp found out you talked to the girl?

Maybe. If he has, you think I should crawl into the laundry and apologize?

Well, I would. But I'm an old man and I want to live.

What else have I got? You better go.

But, Mr. Frobisher, we can't rehearse without music.

- So hum to them. - Hum?

All right, girls, line up. Come on, line up.

One, two, three, four.

You notice how the help all wear gloves?

Once the wash is washed, it ain't touched by a human hand.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I like things clean. Sit down, make yourself comfortable.

- Marty, the piano player. - Oh, yeah.

How much you get an hour to coach?

- Coach? - Miss Etling.

She wants to sing.

She thinks she shouldn't make bad habits at the beginning.

She should have arrangements, you know what I mean?

- What do you get by the hour? - $5.

I'll give you $10. Anybody hangs around me, they make.

Well, can she sing?