Flamingo Road

There's a Flamingo Road in every town.

It is the street of social success, the avenue of achievement,

the golden goal for all who struggle and aspire to reach the top

and sometimes find that from the top, there's no other place to go.

And so, in Boldon City,

a small town with people of big dreams,

their Flamingo Road had touched them all with ambition.

The political factions who killed flies on the porch of the Palmer House,

the big timers who killed care at Lute Mae's,

a place that had been called many things, most recently a road house,

the Tony Night Club set who sip champagne,

the gang at Pete's cafe who dunk doughnuts,

even the gaudy show folks with Coyne's Carnival

who once a year set up their tents on the wrong side of the tracks.

corners of the Earth!

We have none other than Bonnieta, 300 pounds of loving.

She shakes and shimmies like the jelly on your grandmother's table.

Also, on the inside...

You won't see it again for another year.

Only in town once a year, folks!

All right, then! Glad to see you. Hey, hey! Hey, hey! Come in!

Come in, folks, come in!

Hurry, hurry, hurry! The big-time show.

The biggest show on wheels! Twelve cars of outstanding attractions

brought to you from the four corners of the Earth.

Hey, hey! Hey, hey!

Hurry, hurry! Right this way for that featured attraction.

Those masked beauties of the Sultan's harem, in exotic, tantalizing,

captivating dances of the Far East as you've always wanted to see them.

It's spicy! It's daring! It's a thing to take your breath away!

A dance to make the old men young and the young men old!

A dance, gentlemen, which is a replica,

An exact replica of the dance

that you would expect to see in the Far East.

I can see that you're all men of the world, traveled and sophisticated.

But you, gentlemen, I'm sure each and every one of you

will understand and appreciate the unveiled beauty which will be yours

for the small price of 10 cents, one dime, the tenth part of a dollar!

Every year you've been telling me the same thing.

"Next season will be better." But it ain't. Now I want my money.

Rent for the carnival lot, the light bills, and the money I loaned you two years ago.

But, sir, I just don't have the necessary funds at the moment.

Things in the entertainment world are at a low ebb, sir.

Yes, sir, the tide is sure enough out.

Now, sir, if you'll just give me a little bit more time, I...

All the time I'm gonna give you is the time that it takes me to go uptown,

get an attachment against your show and find the sheriff to serve the papers.

I'm gonna take your show. That's what I'm gonna do.

The young ladies will unveil briefly, the box office will open

and the big show will continue on the inside.

And, now, ladies and gentlemen,

if you'll be kind enough to step up to the box office,

the young lady will oblige you by selling you the ticket and the big show...

Hurry it up, girls. We're folding the show!

Not again, Tom!

Get out of those costumes. Get going, girls.

Here we go again, kids.

Run, run, run. What do they think we are? Three blind mice?

Tell them to strike the canvas and get loaded.

We got to beat an attachment across the state line!

Get yourself together, girls. The sheriff's breathing down our necks.

Hello, there, Sheriff!

Hi, Sheriff Semple, sir!

- Boatright! - Yes, sir.

- Boatright, where's my other chair at? - Goodness, Sheriff, if it ain't...

I remember once before I didn't have me a chair for my hat.

It dropped to the floor. I had to pick it up myself.

Yes, sir.

- Boatright? - Yes, sir?

Whatever happened to that other boy?

I don't know. I guess maybe he's still in jail.

Here we are, Sheriff.

Yes, everything's gonna be all right now.

Yes, sir. Everything's gonna be all right now.

- You want to see me, Sheriff? - What have you been doing, bub?

Fishing.

I didn't figure you'd be fool enough to do any work on the county time.

Well, if I felt like I was getting someplace I wouldn't mind doing a day's work.

The county pays me little enough, but I don't even earn that.

There are plenty of folks in this county who would do less for a lot more.

When I gave you this job, I told you to let me do the worrying.

Well, it's kind of hard not to do your own worrying.

I got plans for you, bub. Long-range plans.

Deputy sheriff is just a good starter.

A man can make a heap of friends being deputy sheriff.

Of course, he can make enemies, too, but that's politics.

You just got to be sure that you make more friends than you do enemies.

I want you to run out to that carnival show that's playing across the tracks.

Mark Lanright has got an attachment against them.

- Field! - Hi!

I've been chasing you for the past 10 miles.

Hello, Sheriff.

- You're gonna have to get a faster car. - Evening, Miss Annabelle.

Don't keep the lady waiting, bub. And don't forget to serve these papers.

Hi, Annabelle.

Field Carlisle, I shouldn't even speak to you.

You promised to play tennis with me yesterday afternoon.

Well, I'm a busy man.

The duties of a deputy sheriff don't allow much time for tennis.

Papa says that deputy sheriff job is just ridiculous,

that you should have finished law school and then you'd be...

- Respectable. - Well, that's what Papa says.

You know, your papa can say almost anything he wants to

and people listen to him.

The trouble with you is you just don't want to improve yourself.

Look at that outlandish cowboy hat. Why don't you wear something dignified?

- I reckon I'm used to it. - Used to it? I don't understand you, Field.

How can you be so stubborn about some things

and so easygoing about everything else?

You know, you look awful pretty today.

I've got a good mind to give you a great big kiss.

Right here in the middle of the street? Really! You get the craziest notions.

Isn't that the truth? Well, I got to go do something official. Bye.

Papa says to invite you to dinner tonight. And don't you dare stand me up.

(IF I COULD BE WITH YOU PLAYING)

If I could be with you I'd love you strong

I want you to know that I wouldn't go

Until...

What are you doing here?

Getting up a parade. You're just in time. Who are you?

Deputy sheriff.

Oh.

Well, then you're not in time.

Yeah. I could figure that looking over the lot. They must have left in a hurry.

- Did they forget you? - No.

Why didn't you go with them?

Look, if you want to throw your weight around,

why don't you go outside where there's plenty of room?

I'm just being mildly official.

You don't look much like a sheriff.

You look more like Buffalo Bill with that hat on.

Look, all sheriffs got to wear this kind of hat,

otherwise people wouldn't know they were the law.

Why didn't you go with the others?

They weren't going anywhere. They were just running.

If it isn't this town, it's another.

Besides, I got tired of being on the wrong end of a rabbit hunt.

- Doesn't make sense. - It does to me.

Well, look, you can't stay here alone in a tent.

What you gonna do?

Well, I could pan for gold or something.

- What's your name? - Lane. Lane Bellamy. Thanks.

Lane? That's a funny name for a girl.

I suppose it was something fancy like Elaine,

but nobody ever bothered to call me anything but...

- What's yours? - Field. Field Carlisle.

That's a funny name for a man.

Well, it's really Fielding.

Look, you couldn't go away and forget I was here for the night, could you?

I could sleep here and then tomorrow figure out something to do.

- How about it? - Have you got any money?

- Sure, I've got three dollars. - It isn't very much.

That's a lot when you think of how many times I didn't have three dollars.

What'd you do in the carnival?

Well, sometimes I was Seminole Annie,

then again I was Princess Kalina, siren of the Pacific.

Lately, I've been one of the Sultan's favorite dancing girls.

But most of the times, I was just a little tired and dirty.

Sick of moldy tents and one-night stands and greasy food.

Sick of having people look at me like I was cheap.

Look, why don't you come uptown with me and get some supper?

Maybe we can figure out what to do about you.

You wouldn't have anything personal in mind, would you?

Nothing. I just don't like to eat by myself.

I wouldn't have to go like this. I've got better clothes.

- You sure you want me to go? - Sure.

There's an attachment on this show. Right now you're the only tangible asset.

I won't be but a minute.

- Maybe I'd better wait outside. - No, you don't have to if you don't want...

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you, Sheriff.

- I guess I had you figured all wrong. - Why?

You really meant that, didn't you?

About taking me uptown for something to eat?

No bargains? No "I'll do this if you'll do that?"

No hot breath down my neck?

Better?

- A lot. - Good.

You know something? You're too pretty to be alone in Boldon.

I've been in lots worse towns. Took pretty good care of myself, too.

I'll bet you did at that. Let's go. All right.

Here, take this inside and cut them up, will you?

Right away. Cut them up.

Hello, Sheriff. - Evening, Joe.

Well, how are you, Field? - Hi, Pete.

One hamburger, hold sauce.

Hey, bring me some more pie and another pitcher of milk.

- Coming right up. How's everything? How's the soup?

Hi, Field. - Hello, Millie.

- How's the Blue Plate? - You couldn't do worse.

- You're out late tonight. - Rabbit hunting.

Must use quite a snare.

Millie, this is Lane Bellamy.

- Hi. - Hello.

- You're gonna have the Blue Plate, too? - Well, if it's no worse than you say it is.

It couldn't be. Don't eat the soup, it's awful.

Two Blue Plates!

Well, here we are.

- Well, aren't you gonna ask me? - What? The story of your life?

I figure that's the least you're entitled to.

You know, I'd almost forgotten I didn't know you.