Holiday Inn

Merry Christmas, bud.

Thank you. Merry Christmas to you.

Okay. Hi, chief.

Come in.

Hello, honey.

Mmm.

Well, this is our last night in show business.

Some feeling, huh?

Some feeling.

I got the ring and the license.

- Honey, we're ready. - Oh.

Say, there's a hook left over at the top here. Should that be?

Oh, never mind that, dear. I'll take care of it.

- Jim. - Huh?

Oh, I think that tie is terrible.

Who cares? Tomorrow I'm a farmer.

You'd better go change it.

Listen, honey, when you flip 'em those twinkle toes,

who's going to be looking at my tie?

You only have five minutes.

- Hurry. - Okay, I'm on my way.

What'd he say?

I didn't tell him.

Why not? We love each other.

You want to continue dancing.

I know, but he gets a look.

Oh, he's always had that look.

It doesn't mean anything emotionally.

It has something to do with his liver.

Simply tell him you've made a mistake.

You don't want to give up your career and live on a farm.

But he's already bought the farm

and the license and the ring.

Oh, I can't tell him.

All right, I will.

Right after our number.

Listen, darling, don't weaken.

Think of our life together.

Think of diamonds, of sables,

of your own little penthouse.

Is that a promise?

Well, just think about them for the time being.

- - Ready, miss Dixon.

- Oh, thank you. -

Say, this thing didn't come out even.

Oh, I'll fix it.

We have to hurry.

- I love you. - I love you.

And Jim.

I love Jim too, but after all,

I mean, let's not be too chummy.

[Big band playing "I'll capture your heart singing"]

It's not much of a Christmas present for you, is it?

I mean, both of us walking out on you.

Don't worry about me, kid. I'll do all right.

What a chum.

Can't you see what we're walking out on? The grind.

365 days a year.

When's the last time you had a day off?

I don't know, maybe last year.

Did you ever hear of Thanksgiving or labor day

or the fourth of July?

Vaguely.

You know what they are, don't you? They're holidays.

Days of rest. There's lots of them.

They Mark 'em in red on the calendar so you can't miss 'em.

What happens in show business when a holiday comes along?

You give an extra performance.

Not for me, brother.

Lila and I are going up to that farm in Connecticut.

We're going to live by the calendar.

- Say, Jim. - Hmm?

Um, there's something you should know.

Oh, I know, Ted. I feel the same way about you.

You know, we've had our ups and our downs

and we've fought a little over the women we've swiped from each other, but...

- I know, but... - Sorry, Jimmy boy, but that's life.

Ted, if I'm not the best manager in the business,

I'll eat a garage mechanic's shirt.

Fifteen weeks at the park club,

sight unseen, for you and Lila.

$200 a week more than you were getting with a farmer thrown in.

What's the matter?

- I haven't told him. - [Gasps}

- you haven't told him! - You haven't told him?

Haven't told me what? What's... what's this? What's the news?

Well, don't be upset, Jim, dear.

It... it isn't that I don't love you.

I do. I love everybody.

But when Ted explained how much he loved me and...

All at once, we both realized that we belonged together.

The two of us, dedicating our lives to making people happy with our feet.

The two of you, huh?

Dedicating your lives to making people happy with your feet.

That's sweet.

Well, I guess that kick I just got was a good start, huh?

Sorry, Jimmy boy, but that's life.

It's best that you found out now, Jim.

You wouldn't want to make Lila unhappy.

Oh, no. No, I...

I wouldn't want to make Lila unhappy.

Not now, now that I really know her.

What a narrow squeak that was.

What do you mean by that?

Oh, nothing, nothing, honey.

Just happy that you're happy.

That little speech sounds like the crackle of confederate money.

Well, kids, I'm still going to rejoin the human race.

I hope you get a lot of work, holidays included.

Dance yourselves into beautiful nervous breakdowns.

If you ever want to look me up, you know where to find me.

Midville, Connecticut.

Under a large, shady tree,

just being lazy.

whoa, whoa, whoa!

So lazy acres was a snare and a delusion, huh?

Oh, brother, there's the hardest work in the world.

Maybe you'd be happier back in town, Jim.

Of course, if you get that agricultural urge again,

you can always raise a geranium.

Oh, no. Wait till you hear.

I think I've dreamed up the greatest idea I ever had.

And you've had some pips.

Oh, but this can't miss.

I'm turning the farm into an inn, but what an inn.

Here.

Read up, brother.

Holiday inn, midville, Connecticut.

Get off the highway and relax on a farm.

Dancing, entertainment, home cooking.

Open holidays only.

- Open holidays only? - Mm-hmm.

Say, how many of those are there?

Oh, there's about 15.

That gives me 350 days a year to kick around in.

He would think of that.

Did you get your discharge papers from that sanitarium?

Oh, don't you worry. This is gonna work.

I'm having auditions out at the farm every day.

Say, if you run into any talent that's willing to work

for a share of the take, will you send 'em out?

Sure. As soon as I get back.

I'm flying down to Miami beach tonight