I Wake Up Screaming

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Blonde model murdered! Slayer's still at large! Read all about it!

- Hey, boy! - Yes, sir.

Thanks. Extra! Read all about it!

- If you know what's good for you, you'll come clean. - When did you find the body?

- Why'd you do it? - I didn't do it.

- You've said that before. - All right, and I'll say it again.

- I can keep it up as long as you can. - Listen, brother.

You don't seem to get the idea at all. You're gonna fry for this.

It means the hot spot.

It does if you can pin it on me, but I don't think you can.

I think we can.

You're a pretty tough guy, aren't you, with a crowd around?

- Why don't you come out in the open so I can see you? - Never mind that.

When did you first meet Vicky Lynn?

Say, listen, fellas. Why-Why don't you let me make a record of it...

then you can play it over to yourselves as often as you like.

Go ahead, Frankie, just once more.

Pick it up when you met her for the first time in that lunchroom on 8th Avenue.

- Okay, MacDonald. For you, I'll do it. - Thanks.

I'd been to the fights with a couple of friends of mine.

We'd just dropped in for a cup of coffee, and-

- And hotcakes and coffee. - Is that all?

No, but the rest of it isn't on the menu.

You couldn't afford it if it was.

- Say, you know something? - Yes.

I'm wasting my time being just an ordinary waitress.

Frankie, you're losing your grip.

I bet I can take that girl- inside of six months, put her on top of the ladder.

What ladder? You've promoted everything from prizefighters to fan dancers...

but I doubt if even you, maestro, could make a lady out of a hash slinger.

In the right clothes, the right places with the right people, she could get by anywhere.

It might be fun trying, even if it didn't work.

Here she comes now, Frankie. Pour on the charm.

How would you like to go to the El Chico Club tomorrow night?

- This is where I came in. - I'm not kidding.

I'll put you in a sable wrap and introduce you to café society. What do you say?

I say you're out of your mind.

Eleanor, I wish you had seen me as Romeo. I was magnificent.

- That was a long time ago, wasn't it? - How old are you, anyhow?

That, my dear Lady Handel, is a secret that I keep even from my own mother.

- Ah. - Who is that beautiful girl?

- Good evening, Mr. Christopher. - Good evening.

I have your table for you.

I say, I'm in luck. It just happens I know the man that's with her.

- Who is he? - Frankie Christopher, a sports promoter.

Prizefights, hockey, ice carnivals and girls.

Mostly girls. Excuse me.

- Wine with the dinner and coffee later. - Very good, sir.

- Hello, Christopher. - Hello, Ray.

Miss Lynn, I'd like you to meet the famous actor, Robin Ray.

Actor? Really? How do you do?

Listen, you little hash slinger, don't give me any of that "lady" stuff, or I'll bite you.

- Am I overdoing it? - Yes, but not bad.

Hello, Christopher. How are things?

- How do you think? - I think yes.

Miss Lynn, I'd like you to know Larry Evans, the columnist.

- Larry, this is Miss Vicky Lynn. - How do you do, Mr. Evans?

- I've read much about you. - Indeed. Flattering, I hope.

Naturally. Most of it appeared in your own column.

- Ouch. - Keep it up, Vicky. Swell.

Yeah. That last line wasn't in the script. Well, sit down, boys.

Sit down. Lynn? Lynn? Of the Baltimore Lynns, by any chance?

No, no. My family came from Boston, the home of the bean, you know?

Is that so? Do tell.

- May I have the next mazurka? - Oh, I'd simply love it.

- Oh, no, you don't. - Wait a minute. Wait a minute.

I didn't bring Miss Lynn for you two chiselers to cut in. Come on, boys. Fight over her.

If she dances with anybody, it's going to be with me.

Let us settle this dispute by claiming the ancient privilege of age before beauty.

- Go scuttle yourself. I saw her first. - You can't talk to me like that.

- Gentlemen, gentlemen. - Beg your pardon.

Lady Handel presents her compliments

and would like to have Mr. Christopher and his party have supper with her.

Why, we'd be delighted.

Well, you're in, Vicky. Just pick up your feet and feel your way.

Come on, Vicky.

All right, boys. Let's go.

May I present Miss Lynn and Mr. Christopher? Lady Handel.

- How do you do, Miss Lynn? - How do you do?

- And Mr. Christopher. - How do you do?

- Won't you be seated? - Thank you.

Robin, you sit here.

You haven't put a price on yourself yet.

Well, I'll do everything I can: give you a plug in the column every once in a while.

You might do worse than to have your name linked with mine.

I don't see how.

Good evening, Harry. May I please have my key?

Get that key for Miss Lynn, and be quick about it.

Well, uh, good night, gentlemen.

It's been wonderful, and I'm terribly grateful to you all.

- Well, can't we go up for a moment? - Oh, I'm afraid not.

It's pretty late, and we might disturb my sister.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Good night. - I'll be around for you first thing in the morning.

I'll be waiting for you.

- "Sister." - I hate girls with sisters.

- What are you beefing about? Have you seen her yet? - No. Have you?

- No. - Then we're neck and neck.

They day I find you and I are neck and neck, I'll know I'm running down.

What's the matter with you, gettin' so sore? She ain't nobody.

She will be, and when she is, you'll be lucky if you're in the same neighborhood.

What made you so sure you could make something of her?

That's my business, promotion!

She had looks, youth, a good figure. What more do you want?

I'm asking the questions.

Then hurry up. I've got an appointment at the Garden.

- Okay, MacDonald. - Now, listen, Frankie.

There's been a murder committed, and we're just trying to get to the bottom of things.

That's all.

- What's your name? - Jill Lynn.

- Any initials? - No. Just plain "Jill."

- What relation are you to the dead girl? - She was my sister.

How long have you been living in New York?

Well, Vicky had been here a couple of years, and after Mom died...

I came on from Chicago to set up housekeeping with her.

Even though we shared the apartment, I saw very little of her the last few weeks.

Why was that?

Well, you see, I have a position as a stenographer downtown...

and Vicky was working on a night shift in a restaurant.

- We just kept different hours. - What do you know about this man Frankie Christopher?

Nothing, except he was the one who first gave Vicky those grand ideas...

about becoming a celebrity.

When did this start?

The first time I knew it was serious was the night she came home from a nightclub.

It was very late, and I had fallen asleep on the couch.

Jill. Jill, what do you think? I've done it. I'm a success.

- What is all this? - You know what happened?

Lady Handel invited me over to her table.

I met all the big shots, danced with all the good-looking young men.

I've just got dozens and dozens of invitations.

Invitations to do what?

I'm never going back to that rotten old restaurant job.

What?

Why should I? Now I realize I've been wasting my time.

- I can be somebody. - Vicky, you're not serious about giving up your job?

Of course. Why should I go on slinging hash when I can sling other things?

Vicky Lynn, have you gone right out of your mind?

No, I haven't. I've just come to my senses. That's all.

Frankie Christopher thinks I have a great career before me.

- Who's Frankie Christopher? - Oh, Jill, everyone knows Frankie Christopher.

- He's a famous sports promoter. - What does he want you to do?

Roller-skate or go over Niagara Falls in a barrel?

Jill, I already have an offer to pose for a magazine cover and a cigarette ad-

Vicky, wait a minute. When Mom died, we promised we'd look out for each other.

Don't you think you're making a fool of yourself?

- What do you mean? - This Frankie Christopher.

People like that, what have they got to do with people like us?

- Jill, they're going to help me. - In what way?

They're gonna glamorize me.

They may have started this thing as a gag, but after taking one look...

at those million-dollar debutantes tonight...

I realized I can give them cards in spades and still come out on top.

Vicky, you'll never come out on top by any shortcut.

One week, your face is on the cover of a magazine; the next, it's in the ash can.

I know I sound stuffy. Gee, I like a good time as well as the next.

Jill, you're terribly sweet, but, well, we are different.

I know the things I want, and I know how to get them.

So stop worrying about me, huh?

Okay.

What you need now is sleep. If you lose your looks, you've lost your bankroll.

Good night.

When was the first time you met Frankie Christopher?

It was the following morning. I was cooking breakfast-

- Vicky, I think he's here. - Okay. I'm putting on a dress.

- Is Miss Lynn in? - Which Miss Lynn?

The glamour girl, or just the plain, ordinary garden variety?

- Ohh, you're her sister. - You're quick.

- I'm Frankie Christopher. - That's what I was afraid of.

- May I come in? - Sure.

Course, this is just a dump, but if you can find a place to sit down-

Say, why all the cracks? You don't know anything about me yet.

I don't know anything about art, but I know what I like.

What's the idea of handing Vicky this line about making her a big shot?

That's no line. I believe it sincerely. After all, that's my business...

discovering talent and trying to put it across.

Here. Take a look at that.

Hmm. Feeding time at the zoo.

- Where are you? - I don't believe in having my picture taken.

That's for those I'm trying to put across. I just stay in the background, where I belong.

- Modest, aren't you? - Not particularly.

It's just a superstition, that's all.

- Is that Frankie? - Yes, dear.

Hold him for me, Jill. Don't let him get away.

You come out and do your own holding.

- Good morning, Frankie. - That's a nice dress you've put on.

From that moment on, life became just one great, dizzy world for her.

She was asked everywhere. She got offers to pose for advertisements...

model clothes, join the ice ballet, every possible form of publicity.

She even remembered the singing lessons Mom had paid for...

and suddenly started to fancy herself as a chanteuse.

Frankie even managed to get her a job singing with a name band.

Finally, one morning, things came to a climax.

I wonder what's keeping him. I left a message hours ago.

Why, Jill, what are you getting so excited about?

Nothing. Except he's going to be awfully mad.

- Don't worry. I can handle him. - Glad you think so.

I wouldn't be in your shoes for all the gold in Kentucky.

- Do you think that's him? - Uh-huh. I know his knock. Come in.

- What's up? - Well, it's not exactly going to be a wedding.