Okay, now, all you kids got a release form.
You fill it out, you sign it,
then you hand it over when you get your official entry numbers.
Only read it first.
You break a leg, we fix it.
You catch a cold, there's free aspirin.
But acts of God, the management is strictly not to be held to account.
Fire, flats, double pneumonia, that's between you and Him.
So read it and then sign.
For the benefit of the first-timers, we go around the clock,
and around and around and around.
Ten-minute break every two hours.
Rollo!
That's the warning signal.
If it's your partner,
you've got exactly 30 seconds to get them moving again.
No excuses, no explanations.
Thirty seconds.
If it's two knees -- Rollo.
That's it, out. O-U-T out.
We're gonna run it as fair as human nature allows,
so when one of the judges rules, that's it--no appeals.
When your partner is ruled out,
you can solo for 24 hours.
If you match up with another solo, fair enough.
Otherwise, that's it -- out!
There'll always be a trainer or a nurse on duty,
and a doctor out here 24 hours a day.
Okay?
Now, food.
Four regular meals and three small ones each day.
Now!
What the hell's going on over there?
Sorry.
Kid, fill this out and get over there.
Come on, get over there.
There'll be two judges on the floor at all times,
nurses and trainers in the rest areas.
Any questions, come up and ask them.
Fellas, give me a break.
In a couple of hours,
we fling open the magic doors of fame and fortune,
so line up and get your number.
Yeah, we'll take care of that, don't worry.
Where do you want these, Rocky?
They'll be here in a second. Put them in there.
Turkey, check the rest areas.
Is this the first time you've been in a contest?
Some system. Just like the fleet.
Line up and wait, only longer.
Hey! How about goosin' it up a little?
You'll get your turn. Take it easy, huh?
What's this stuff? Hooch?
No, that's for my stomach. I got a bad stomach.
- Paregoric, opium base. - No number.
He's got another one.
It's medicine. I gotta take it for my stomach.
So take it somewhere else. I got enough trouble without a hophead.
You heard him, school's over. Blow.
- That's no fair. Just because a guy's-- - Hire a lawyer.
Come on. Next. Move it up.
Once, between hitches, I worked a cattle boat out of Galveston.
Same thing, you know what I mean?
No, I don't think I do, actually.
Well, what I mean is, if you think about it, cattle ain't got it much worse than us.
They got it better.
There's always somebody feeding them.
Sure. Stuffin' 'em up good for the slaughter pen.
Right down the chute and some big dumb bohunk
is standing there with a sledgehammer.
But they don't know it's gonna happen.
That puts 'em one up on us, don't it?
Yeah, if you think of it that way.
What's the matter with him?
Nothing.
Have you got a specialty of some kind?
I'm an actress. Alice LeBlanc, from London.
You got an act or a bit? Let's see a little.
Well, if you give us a few seconds, we could work something up, okay?
Yes, they told me you were fools,
but I was not to listen to your fine words, nor trust your charity.
Jesus Christ.
You promised me my life, but you lied!
You think that life is nothing but not being stone dead!
Alice.
That's great, I really mean it. Shakespeare, huh?
- It's from "St. Joan." - Yeah, that's what I figured.
Maybe it's too highbrow, but don't worry,
I'll set up something just right for you.
Next!
Hey, Sailor.
Rocky, look at this.
Thirty-one?
Yeah, 31.
What do I need-- a note from my mother?
It's your feet, Sailor.
Next!
Move it. Move it.
Doc.
- You sick or something? - It's all right.
Open up. Wider.
Wider.
What is this? He's all right.
Bronchitis, maybe.
Yeah, maybe the Mongolian crud.
No dice. You infect the whole place,
I got the health department on my back.
That's the way it is.
Next!
- I'm sorry, Gloria. - That's a big help.
- You're the one that talked me into this. - I'm sorry.
What about me?
- I'm sorry. - That's what he said.
I can't buy coffee and cigarettes with it.
I can't make exceptions.
- How many you got? - 71 going through and I'm holding out...
What about her?
If she ain't pregnant, I'm Nelson Eddy.
So, what's healthier than having a kid?
And it gives the audience something to root for.
What do you want me to do-- run out and get knocked up?
We could discuss it later.
That soap's a little hard.
- Is this our number? - Just hold on a second.
- You got any other suggestions? - Get yourself another partner.
Yeah, where?
Hey, cowboy!
Yeah, you! Come here.
Good luck, Bates.
Keep the line moving.
Look, I was just out walking. I didn't come to--
Is that a fact?
What's your name, cowboy?
Robert. Robert Siverton.
In a minute!
You got a partner, Richard?
No, I--It's Robert.
- I was just walkin'. - There you are, miss.
How's he gonna dance in those things?
You mean boots? They're not mine.
I room with another guy. He went away and left them behind.
- He's gonna break an arch. - Dig him up a pair of shoes.
Or maybe you'd rather wait for the Prince of Wales.
- Have I got a choice? - Yeah. Take it or leave it.
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah!
Welcome to the dance of destiny, ladies and gentlemen.
Around and around and around we go, and we're only beginning, folks.
Only beginning!
On and on and on and on and when will it stop?
When will it end?
When?
Only when the last two of these wonderful, starry-eyed kids are left.
Only when the last two dancers stagger and sway,
stumble and swoon, across the sea of defeat and despair to victory.
One couple, and only one, will waltz out of here,
over broken bodies and broken dreams,
carrying the grand prize of 1,500 silver dollars.
Mr. Lightman!
The clock of fate, ladies and gentlemen.
I said "the prize" because only one couple
will dance on to fame and fortune.
Those who give up, those who give out,
those who give in--out!
Tough rules, but these are tough times.
In the words of our great leader, Herbert Hoover,
"Prosperity is just around the corner."
But what do we say about the Depression?
That's what we say about the Depression.
Come on, let's hear it, folks!
Let's hear it!
It's walking dead night, Turkey.
Pour me a shot of water.
So pick your couple, folks.
Struggle with 'em, hope with 'em, pray with 'em.
See if you can pick out that one lucky couple and then cheer them on.
Come on, let 'em hear you care, folks.
Let 'em know you're with them all the way!
You hear that, kids?
You hear those wonderful folks out there rooting for you?
Come on, kids, show them you care.
A little... a little sprint for those wonderful folks out there!
That's it. You see 'em give, folks?
You see 'em give? That's the spirit!
So why California?
You don't freeze while you're starving.
It has the movies.
Are you an actress?
I done four atmosphere bits since I've been here.
I'd have done more, but I can't get into Central Casting.
They got it all sewed up.
Don't you know anyone who can help you?
In this business? How can you tell who can help you?
One day you're an electrician, the next day you're a producer.
The only way I could get near a big shot is to jump on the running board of his car.
God. Check that one.
Anyway, I don't know if the men stars can help me as much as the women stars.
From what I've been seeing lately,
I think I've been letting the wrong sex try to make me.
- You in movies, too? - Sort of.
I was a dead French villager in "Fallen Angels."
Hot dogs! Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs!
Wasting your time, kiddo.
The only thing casting is Von Sternberg's "Raw Earth."
Strictly an all peasant talkie.
I could play a peasant.
Not in that thing you couldn't.
- Do you like it? - Does it matter?
Not so long as they do.
Hey, sweetie. Got another partner, huh?
Only he don't look much healthier than the last one.
What are you, a doctor?
He don't mean nothin', honey.
Just trying to be helpful.
Cod liver oil. You oughta take some, maybe.
He's just steamin' because you got 20 years on him.
Maybe more like 30.
That's where you got your signals mixed up, sweetie.
Yeah, experience-- that's what counts.
Keep your eyes open, buster.
Pick up the beat and try to stay with me, will ya?
Stop-time!
That's the kind of contestants we've got for you, folks.
Very classy, Sailor.
You musta killed them in Roseland.
How about a big hand for our very own ancient mariner?
Harry Klein!
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah.
Thank you, folks. That's very generous.
You could all see that Harry used to be in the U.S. Navy.
But something you can't see--
I'd like to be serious for a moment, folks, if you'll permit me.
Harry Klein is one of those brave young men
who sailed off to beat the Kaiser.
That's right, a veteran of the Great War.
And let's hope there'll never be another.
Harry was decorated in that war for wounds received in action,
but that's not all.
I know Harry wouldn't want me to tell you this,
but right now, at this moment, there are 32 pieces of shrapnel
still embedded in Harry's body.
Thirty-two!
And here he is fighting another kind of war and fighting to win.
Isn't that the kind of grit and never-say-die spirit
that's made this a great country?
It is, isn't it? You bet it is!
And I really mean that sincerely, folks, from the bottom of my heart.
I should've learned how to tap dance.
You okay?
Hope I don't start lugging' on ya.
You ain't never lugged on me.
Just keep thinkin' about the seven meals a day they gonna be feeding us.
Can you feel that?
- What? - The ocean.
The waves--you can feel them right through the floor.
Even when you're far from it, you can still feel it sometimes.
Not where I'm from.
- Where's that? - Around.
Kansas. Texas mostly--Dallas.
That must've been nice.
Nice?
Well, I've never actually been through there,
but that's the way it always seemed to me.
You know, like you could look just about anywhere and see land.
I mean, with nothing set down on it.
Yeah, it's great.
I'm a real sucker for dirt and cactus. That's how come I left.
Well, why did you leave?
You ever been to bed with a Syrian who chewed tobacco?
Well, if anybody ever asks you, tell 'em there's no future in it.
What do you want-- the whole floor?
I'm terribly sorry.
The way she's throwing it around, her feet will last longer than her rear end.
He was a butcher.
- Who was? - The Syrian.
Listen, I didn't mean to be personal.
I was just-- I didn't mean to be personal.
Yeah? Then why'd you ask?
Well... just to make conversation.
We're gonna be stuck together for a long time--
Don't strain anything for me.
All right.
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah. This is Novelty Night.
We've got a husband and wife dancing together.
Mr. and Mrs. Ora McCusick Mary from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
There's a couple from Alaska.
Remember, there's no place like Nome.
Don't forget to write your poor old mother.
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah.
All right, kiddies, it's opening night. Smile for the audience.
- What audience? - We'll worry about that.
He could get you disqualified.
I've been disqualified by experts.
Ten minutes and then they'll be back,
and the world's championship marathon will go on and on
and on and on and on!
I got no time for personal problems.
Just go find a bed.
Chances are you'll probably never see the things again.
Laundry bag here, towels and soap in there.
It's very simple.
Keep it in mind-- the laundry bag stays in here,
towels and soap in that room only.
Excuse me, girls.
Miss LeBlanc, you got that specialty bit down yet?
I'm memorizing it now. Every line.
Swell. Come by my office next break. Maybe we'll run through it.
Better get off your feet.
When's the baby due?
Don't know.
What'd the doctor say?
Well, see, James and me been hitchin', ridin' in boxcars.
Nature's little miracle.
Christ.
- Why-- - What's the use of having a kid
unless you got enough dough to take care of it?
You better get off your feet. You only got another five minutes.
Folks can't stop having babies 'cause they don't got no money.
You intend to keep it?
I could never get...
Jimmy wants the baby.
Yeah. Why not drop another sucker into this mess?
I told you guys, no roughhousing.
And no grab-ass there, college kid.
What's the matter there, boy?
This ain't for me. I got sensitive feet.
Next time, I think I'm gonna try flagpole sitting.
You guys are crazy.
That's really pitiful.
Man can't even make it to the first rest period.
This here's my eighth marathon already.
My wife and I even won one in Oklahoma City one time.
We went 1,253 hours of continuous motion.
First one of these, kid?
- How're you doing? - I'm fine, doctor.
It ain't first cabin.
Hell, it ain't even steerage, but it's better than nothin'.
Well, I figured I wasn't doing anything else real important, so here I am.
You know what I'd do if I was your age?
I'd join up all over again--the fleet.
No, I don't think I'd like that.
I'd like to be able to move on if I got bored or something, you know?
Bumming? That's all right for a while.
But a man's gotta belong somewhere. You know, be part of something.
I mean, that's human nature, right?
I guess I never really thought about it much.
Yeah, well, you will.
When you get to be my age, you will.
Not that I'm that old, you know.
It's the muscles up here that count, kid.
Even more so than your legs.
Right up in there.
No, you wait for Diane Nico, she wait for you.
The petals of many flowers will fall, but Diane Nico will wait forever.
Alice, that is terrible.
It just doesn't suit me.
I'll ask Mr. Graverto find something else for us.
I think you'd better.
Hey, hot lips Get that in Paris?
No. My mother made it for me.
Do you like it?
It's very nice.
Somebody said after the first hundred hours, you start getting used to this.
What are you looking at?
There's a partially broken window up there someplace.
I was trying to see if it was light out yet.
- It's 4:00 in the morning. - Yeah, I know.
Sometimes, down by the beach, it gets light by 4:00.
It's like that in Hawaii, because it's an island, you know.
Yeah, I know.
Yeah. You can look right out across the ocean to where the light is.
You can even stand in one spot and watch the sun come up
on one side of the world and go down on the other side.
How'd you get out there--Hawaii?
I've never been there, actually, but you can imagine what it's like.
Yeah, you can imagine you're Gary Cooper, too, I suppose.
I didn't mean that at all.
Why are you always trying to start an argument?
All I meant was--
You tell that twist to lay off of my wife.
She was at it again.
Every rest period, she's on her all the time about why don't she have it cut out,
why don't she get rid of it.
She's giving Ruby the jumps.
I ain't having my wife upset by no tramp like her.
- Go to hell, you big ape! - You--
Don't.
- Boy, next time, I'm gonna-- - Knock it off!
You know the rules. No fights on the floor.
What do you think this is-- a joint or something?
I'm keeping an eye on you.
Which one?
That was stupid. Did you see the face on that corn pone? He coulda killed you.
Yeah, I guess.
Then why did you do it?
'Cause you're my partner.
How long we got left?
Wouldn't you know it? I got the curse coming on.
Don't let them give you any codeine. It'll pass you out.
Around and around and around.
Ninety-seven hours of continuous motion.
And look at them, folks.
Still struggling, still hoping to win the grand prize of 1,500 silver dollars
Let's give these wonderful courageous kids a great big hand, huh, folks?
That's the spirit.
You wanna sleep some?
No, I'm too tired to sleep.
Sailor says you gotta go a long time, maybe 500 hours,
before you can get so you can sleep while you're still moving.
- You look tired - No kidding.
Why don't you try sleeping on my shoulder?
I won't let you slip. You can trust me.
That's what the last guy said.
- What? - Forget it.
Gloria?
She's there again.
She must live here.
You really ought to be nice to her.
Rollo told me she's trying to get us a sponsor.
Nobody asked her to.
Look, it could mean four bucks a week, clean socks, and new shoes.
Come on.
- I'm Mrs. Laydon. - Yes, ma'am, we know.
One of the floor judges told us you're trying to get us a sponsor.
That's 'cause you're my favorite couple.
You're wearing my number--67.
That's the year I was born.
Really?
We're not supposed to stay in one spot for too long.
I understand. You go along.
But don't give up, 'cause you're going to win.
- I know you are. - Thank you
You can't leave the floor. I gotta eliminate you.
Don't bother.
Figure them two.
They'll never know what they missed.
Why didn't you tell me it was gonna be this tough?
You're holding your knees too tight.
It knots up the muscles.
Sixty-five.
I figured it out. That's how old she is.
God, I hope I never live to be that old.
That's not the way it happened.
It wasn't like that.
We were very close in a way.
I was her friend
Yowsah, yowsah! Watch your feet, folks.
It's all part of the show.
Seven meals a day. Seven--count 'em.
Believe me, these boys and girls can really put it away.
- What's your name, my dear? - Angie.
- How are you enjoying the food? - Very good.
You hear that, folks?
After four days of continuous dancing,
these boys and girls may not be well-heeled,
but you can bet they're well-stuffed.
Ten minute's time is all they have to eat it in,
and they must keep moving, they must keep dancing at all times.
- How are you doing, Sailor? - I feel fine, the grub's good. I feel fine
The food is prepared in our own kitchens by our own culinary experts,
at great expense to the management,
but they believe that these boys and girls should be well-fed.
Keep eating, kiddies. Keep dancing.
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah!
I have to.
Yeah...how are you gonna feed it after you've got it?
Couple number 65,
in a scene direct from that smash Broadway hit "Private Lives,"
our own Ramon Novarro and Jean Harlow--
Mr. Joel Girard and Miss Alice LeBlanc.
Did they like us? Did they?
I hope so.
Do you think there's anyone in?
All the studio people. Let's go look.
Alice and Joel will be back with us again,
if there's no Hollywood talent scouts in the audience tonight.
And now, in keeping with our policy of letting you folks know everything
that happens in our little family here,
I am pleased to inform you that another sponsor's come forward
to back still another pair of our spunky kids.
Couple number 67,
Gloria Beatty and Robert Siverton!
Let 'em see the company that's backed you to win, kids.
Congratulations, kids. Congratulations.
And who knows, folks?
With a sponsor like that, they may just win.
Suppose we did win. What would you do with it?
- What? With what? - The money.
Maybe I'd buy some good rat poison.
What the hell is it?
It's two hours.
You told me to get you up in two hours, Rocky.
Shake me out a butt, Turkey.
Listen to 'em...
Those wonderful, wonderful people.
Yowsah.
Shut it. Shut the goddamn door.
Wonderful.
You gotta understand them is all.
You know something, Turkey?
My old man never got out of the fourth grade.
When it came to people...
...he didn't know his ass from his elbow.
You know what he was? He was a faith healer.
I used to travel his circuit with him.
I was the one he healed.
I was his shill to get the crowd set up.
"Walk, my boy."
"When I lay my hand on you, you will walk."
"You will walk."
Sodden old bastard!
He thought it was him they believed in, but it was me.
Here's a guy whose fingers stretched over 13 notes.
What are you doin' here? It's a rest period.
You're supposed to be off your feet.
I was just looking at the sunset.
Go on, get off your feet.
Okay.
Sunset.
Matron?
Someone?
It is gone. Matron!
- What is it? - It's gone.
- It's gone! - What's gone?
My dress!
It's right in front of you
No, my other one. My pink one.
I--
And chemicals for my hair.
My rouge!
And my lipstick!
Everything is gone!
Somebody's taken it out of my bag!
Nobody's taken anything. It's probably just slipped under here.
No. They did it!
One of them did it.
- One of them stole my things! - You stop!
- Stop it right now. - Give it!
- Give it back to me! - You heard it.
You know what that means.
What the hell's going on here?
You heard the sirens. Come on! Hurry up and get out there!
My dress. I had it in my case--
- Is she squirrelly? - I don't think so.
- My pink satin one. - You better shake it up.
- You got a couple of seconds left. - I only have two dresses.
Later! Just hustle your fanny out there
Nobody wants your dress.
Please wait. Please wait.
Why don't you wear your other one?
Please wait.
- What? - Nothing.
What are they doing it for?
It's not for fun. You can bet on that.
Christ. Here it comes.
I can't. Jimmy, I don't think I can.
Yeah, you can, honey. Just don't start thinking about it now.
Son of a bitch.
The thing to remember, kids, is this is the kind of stunt that packs 'em in.
Listen, we'll even get some of the Hollywood crowd out there tonight.
Get one of those uniforms they're passing out
and make sure you tie your numbers on.
Number 63, easy on the goods.
Listen, kids, these track outfits are being rented for one time, and one time only,
so any rips, tears, or malicious damage, you get charged, okay?
We don't have enough uniforms to go around,
so the rest of you will wear sweat suits, but they're very nice.
We'll have the doctor and the nurses on the floor,
so no one has to worry.
Now, you kids who are pros already know how it works
I'm sure the rest of you have all heard about it.
And now--now you're going to see it!
Yowsah! The derby!
The supreme--the supreme test of energy and endurance.
Ten solid, wrenching minutes of rack and ruin--the derby!
Good! Good, good, good, good.
Because you're in for an exciting extravaganza.
Yowsah, the derby.
And, if I may be permitted to share a thought with you,
there's a lesson for all of us in this, ladies and gents
Contestants, if you hear me back there...
...you don't need to be number one
as you amble down life's highway....
but don't be last!
Round and round and round they'll go for ten little minutes.
Who will set the pace? Who will win the race?
Everybody excepting the last three couples!
- Let's go! -And now, here they are!
And lookyy, looky, looky, folks.
They've got knees!
Everybody here?
Okay, take a good look!
Get your hankies ready, folks,
because three couples are about to go bye-bye.
Yes, indeed.
Nurses and house physician, are you ready?
Audience, are you ready?
All right! Bring it in!
Mr. Rhythm!
Yes. Yes, indeed, they are off, ladies and gentlemen
Everyone wins in this race, except the last three couples.
The supreme test of energy and endurance.
If one goes down, they have ten seconds,
and ten seconds only, to getup.
And they must heel-and-toe.
Hold your hats, folks.
Here come the leaders.
Four judges, keep your eyes on the last three couples,
because the last three couples will lose
Oh, nelly! There's a pileup.
There's a pileup in the far corner!
One! Two! Three!
Four! Five! Six!
Seven! Eight! Nine!
How about that, folks? Exciting? Well, I hope to tell you.
You all right?
Keep going!
Come on. Come on.
The management cautions that no wagering is permitted,
but you can always cheer on your favorite couple,
and believe me, these wonderful kids deserve your cheers,
because each one of them is fighting down pain, exhaustion,
weariness, struggling to keep going,
battling to win, and isn't that the American way?
Ladies and gentlemen, I've just been informed
that among our celebrity guest list for tonight is Mr. Mervyn LeRoy!
You hear that? LeRoy.
Who's LeRoy?
Only the best director in Hollywood!
How about it, Mr. LeRoy?
Almost as much excitement here as in "Little Caesar", right?
Heel-and-toe, Sailor, or she's out!
Come on, we're almost there
There's trouble right here, folks.
The boy from couple number 78 is in trouble.
Get a floor judge over there.
- One! Two! - Get up!
No, stop it!
No! Get up!
Three! Four!
Five! Six!
No! No! No!
- Eight! Nine! Ten! - Stop it!
Out! Get him out!
Couple number 78 is out!
Out of the world's championship monster marathon!
But that's life! Let's give them a big hand!
Are you all right?
- Are we behind? - I don't know.
Less than two minutes left, ladies and gentlemen!
- Go! Keep going! - Only two minutes.
What's the matter?
Couple number 67 is in trouble, folks.
No fooling, they're in trouble!
The boy from 67 is down! He is definitely down!
- What is it? - My leg.
Stretch your leg out and move it!
One!
- Shake your leg! - Two!
Three!
- Four! - Straighten your leg.
Five!
Help me!
Six! Seven!
Shut up, goddamn it! He's getting up!
- I'm up! - Hang on to me.
The guy from couple 67 is up!
But will they make it? They've lost ground
Forty seconds left. Will they make it?
Hold on to me!
That was the greatest. You've got real guts. I mean it.
- Save your breath! - I hope you make it, baby.
Thirty seconds!
Twenty seconds!
Ten seconds!
Five seconds!
The losers are couple number 22,
28, and 37.
We weren't last. It's okay.
I know it's a sad moment for all of us,
but those are the rules, ladies and gentlemen
But after 602 hours,
25 days of continuous dancing,
I think that these kids deserve a big hand!
Have you heard anything yet, Mr. Graver?
Don't worry about it, Alice. I've reported it to the authorities.
We should hear something soon.
It can't just have disappeared. I mean, somebody must've taken it.
It's not just my dress. It's my makeup and everything.
I have nothing else.
The doctor's decision is...
Lillian Kramer stays on in the marathon!
The doctor assures me Lillian just has a slight sinus headache.
Headache.
For all that quack knows, she's... she's got a brain tumor.
No, I don't think so.
I'm not exactly sure, but I think it's different with a brain tumor.
Different symptoms.
Yeah? How do you know?
I saw it in a movie...
...with Anita Louise and Richard Cromwell.
That's what she died of-- Anita Louise.
A brain tumor, but it was different.
Everything just suddenly got dim for her one day.
Until finally, she couldn't see at all.
She couldn't even see Richard Cromwell when she kissed him good-bye.
Yeah?
Then what, she just died?
Kind of.
She just drifted off listening to her favorite tune.
And then she was dead.
https://t.me/RickyChannel
No pain or anything?
They probably lied.
Bobby?
Come on, kid. Come on.
Come on, break's over. Come on.
- Tommy? - Yeah, Sailor.
Kid's sleeping.
Frank, we got a dead one here.
Give me that ammonia.
- Do you know where you are? - What?
- Give him another dose. - No!
Leave him alone.
Are you all right?
Hang on to me.
- You sure you can make it? - He's gonna be okay now.
- I asked him, not you! - Sure.
Yeah, yeah, I'm all right.
Here.
Just like in marriage, folks,
these kids have got to get off by themselves once in a while,
but exhausted as they are,
it's tougher to stay on their feet alone,
so keep your eyes on them, because it may be all over soon
for one of these brave, struggling kids.
Get your hot dogs!
Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs!
Red hots! Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!
Only a nickel!
Five cents!
Hot dogs! Get your red hots!
- What's the matter? - Get 'em off me!
- What?! - Get 'em away!
What?! Matron! Nurse!
- What's the matter? - They're crawling all over me!
- Get them off me! - There's nothing--
Help me, please.
- They're crawling all over me! - You're all right.
- There is nothing wrong. - Hold her down!
- What's the matter with her? - She's squirreling.
Hold her!
Tell 'em to turn up the Victrola.
Please help me!
That won't help her none.
Shirl...
They're crawling on me!
Listen to me, Shirl. Listen to me.
They're crawling on me!
Where are they? Tell me.
Tell me where they are. Here, on your arm?
They're gone. Here, on your shoulder?
- Yes. - There.
They're all gone. They're all gone.
- They're all gone? - Yes, they're all gone.
Better douse her in the shower.
Come on, honey, you're all right. You're all right.
That's quite a technique.
I would've thought you'd put her on display, charge a little extra.
No. It's too real.
Gloria?
I hope that little episode in there didn't shake you up too much.
No.
Cigarette?
No.
Ten minutes rest, folks, and then the dance goes on and on.
Remember, one admission entitles you to stay as long as you like.
So, while the kids are resting and being attended to by our medical staff,
why don't you visit our beautiful Palm Garden,
where we serve refreshments of all types.
Thank you, thank you Yowsah!
Yeah, that looks kinda like her dress.
It is. You can tell just looking at it.
Well, even if it is her dress, it's ruined now.
There's nothing I can do about it.
But aren't you gonna try to find out?
I mean, somebody stole it and ripped it all up.
Maybe you should call everyone together and try and find out who did it.
It wasn't one of the kids.
How do you know?
Because I took it.
- But why? - For the good of the show.
That's what we're all interested in, isn't it?
The show.
No, it's a contest.
Isn't that what it's supposed to be?
Isn't that what you advertised? A contest.
Not for them.
For you maybe, but not for them.
You think they're laying out two bits a throw just to watch you poke your head up into the sunlight?
Or Alice look like she just stepped out of a beauty parlor?
They don't give a damn whether you win or James and Ruby
or Mario and Jackie or the Man in the Moon and Little Miss Muffet.
They just want to see a little misery out there so they can feel a little better, maybe.
They're entitled to that.
Look at us. We're all like this now.
Dirty, swollen feet, no sleep.
What do you want? Isn't that enough?
Sure, as long as they can believe in it.
But how can they with Alice looking like she's on her way
to a ball at Buckingham Palace?
She was breaking the spell.
Now she looks like she's supposed to, so now they can believe in her.
Simple enough?
Why don't you go sack out while you got a little break time left?
Yeah.
Robert?
Take me outside.
- We can't. - Please.
Alice, break's almost over. We can't.
Somewhere. Please, anywhere.
Talk to me.
Alice...
Talk to me. Tell me things.
Talk to me. Hold me.
My strap--pull it down.
Kiss me, hold me. Talk to me.
Talk to me, Robert.
- What about? - About you, about yourself
The buttons.
About where you grew up. Tell me where you were born.
Chicago. I was born in Chicago.
Chicago. I've never been there.
I can't imagine it. Tell me about your family.
- What does your father do? - He's dead.
He was a pharmacist, but he died.
- It's caught, Alice. - Pull it.
He caught the flu and he died.
It's caught. I can't get it undone.
- What should I do? - Pull it!
There.
Kiss me. Touch me.
Kiss me, kiss me.
- Alice, somebody's gonna come in. - It doesn't matter.
Kiss me.
Tell me about your-- Did you have brothers?
- Sisters? - No.
I had a brother.
He died at the Somme.
Guess what his name was. Try to guess.
- I don't know. - Guess, guess!
- I don't know. - It's so easy.
- George. Robert. - No.
No, wait, don't leave.
- Alice, I-- - Don't, don't.
After a few minutes, play my favorite number.
- Well, shall we dance? - Go to hell.
Perfect.
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
our own Russ Columbo-- Mr. Coley James.
Gloria?
Hot dogs!
Premier Mussolini was promoted tonight, says Norman H. Davis,
American disarmament representative at Geneva,
at a dinner in one of the leading hotels of Rome
Signore Marconi, the inventor,
various members of the cabinet,
and Alexander Kirk, American Charge d'Affaires
with members of the American Embassy staff also attended.
Following cordial conversations
with the Premier and his cabinet members,
Mr. Davis went to Mr. Kirk's home, where they...
Don't touch me.
...results of the election over the radio
Mr. Davis continues his disarmament discussions today
with Italian experts in a long interview at the Foreign Office.
In Boston, Anthony Bender, 43, was allowed to vote,
but first, he had to prove he was alive.
When Bender entered the polling place,
he was challenged, "Sorry, you can't vote here."
"Why not?" he asked.
"You're listed as dead," he was told.
Bender immediately produced proof he was very much alive,
and officials decided he could cast his ballot.
Firemen in Detroit are still battling the fire
that has claimed the life of Johnny Sciutto and his brother Guido.
Fire Chief DeCoine says containment is not expected until early tomorrow morning
Damage is estimated in excess of $41,000.
This is 50,000 watt Clear Channel station KFI...
- Don't! - in downtown Los Angeles.
And now, a look at the weather.
Temperatures are expected to drop to the middle 40s
in parts of the San Joaquin Valley...
Late night and early morning fog is expected at all beach areas,
with temperatures in the low 50s.
Tomorrow should be clear and warmer,
with a high of 64 downtown, 60 at the beaches, and 68...
I changed my mind.
Your partner's waiting for you
She was leaning against the railing.
She was completely relaxed, completely comfortable.
I didn't have a perfect view,
but I could see enough of her face and lips to see that she was...
...smiling.
One thousand hours!
And to help us celebrate the occasion,
Jeff Maxon and his music!
Take it away, Jeff!
Yowsah! One thousand hours of continuous dancing.
Forty-two days of grueling, grinding,
gravity-defying gyration, and here they still are.
Twenty-one courageous couples still dancing
And how long before one of them, and just one,
will survive to win the monster marathon?
Gloria?
Who's that?
No one.
You wanna talk?
No.
I wish you'd go back to her.
How? You know what she thinks.
That didn't happen.
- Wanna move on the other side? - No.
- Sleep? - No.
What the hell do you want?
- Anyone ever tell you you're-- - Yeah, they told me.
And don't forget, folks, ladies free at matinee tomorrow.
Until 3pm, that is.
And I have an important announcement here
about John Hirschman, reserved seat cashier.
He is now happily convalescing at Santa Monica Hospital
after a severe attack of appendicitis
We know that you'll join us in congratulations to him
and wishing him a speedy recovery
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Inside of the floor.
These people are paying to see you.
- All right. - Come on.
I'm coming!
Moon belongs to everyone
The best things in life are free
The stars belong to everyone
They gleam there for you and me
The flowers in spring
The robins that sing
The sunbeams that shine
they're yours, they're mine
And love can come to everyone
The best things in life are free
Beautiful, beautiful!
How about that? Wasn't that nice?
Our own number 68!
This is Ruby Fix, a lovely little lady with an armful of charm
a roomful of courage, and a houseful of hope.
And I know you all join me in wishing her and her bundle of joy
a joyous ride through life.
I just hope it was worth it to ya.
We need the money.
It's celebrity time again tonight, folks.
A welcome for Miss Helen Twelvetrees
and that rising young star, Mr. Ross Alexander!
But every night is celebrity night at the mammoth marathon.
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah!
She looks like her kinda.
Who?
Like my aunt.
God, what a bitch.
He said he was gonna be here.
lf there was a prize for bitchiness, she'd have won.
Glasses, short balding guy.
Pits, like from acne.
Christ, you should've heard her screaming.
- "Get that mangy mutt outta here." - He's assistant director.
"You ain't bringing no animal into my boarding house."
He's going on a ten-day western at Monogram.
I wouldn't have brought him back there, anyway.
Maybe something for me in it. Something, maybe.
He just followed me, that's all.
Maybe, maybe. Maybe.
And I wouldn't have kept him, except she started screaming.
I hope he wasn't stringing me.
I said I'd tell her husband she was screwing one of the boarders,
- Crumb. - which she probably was
But he was sick inside with something.
Her husband?
No.
The boarder.
No, for Christ's sake, the dog!
And it kept getting worse, so he'd shake all the time and dirty himself all over...
and whine and cry all night long.
Stupid damn thing!
He kept whimpering and hollering and wouldn't shut up.
I mean, what the hell is God doing sitting around up there?
What the hell good is He if He can't make one lousy sick dog shut up
and stop waking up her goddamn boarders?
And you know what I did?
See, after everybody had gone to bed, I carried him down to the parlor.
And she had this mohair sofa-- it was her favorite one.
And I fixed him a place on it.
What the hell, forget it.
You should be sleeping.
I'd just wake up.
You want anything? Something for your feet?
How about a saw?
Is there anything the doctor can give you? Something to make you feel better?
- What's he got? - Some aspirin.
That's what I figured.
- Have you seen Joel? - I seen him, all right.
Boy, that's a real sweetheart you picked this time--just like that.
And I'm the one that's gotta tell Rocky.
Cheers.
Don't give me any of that song and dance crap! What's going on?
Just exactly what appears to be going on.
I've shaved, I've changed, and I am now packing.
- For what? - I have a job.
It's not much of a job, but it's a job.
Ten days in a Monogram western.
You bastard! You're not running out on me!
No? Just stand there and watch, sweetheart.
Will she make it?
After over 1,100 hours of incredible endurance,
there she is, alone, but still fighting,
still hoping, still trusting--Gloria Beatty.
Seventeen hours-- that's all she has left.
Will she find a new partner before those hours run out?
Will fortune reward her pluck and spirit?
Will she make it?
I ain't quittin'.
I'm not gonna give up.
How are the tabs?
Pretty much the same.
Phone calls are down, cleaning's up.
Yeah?
What happens if I don't get a partner?
You've got 11, almost 12 hours.
I can count.
What happens?
You know the rules.
You could change 'em.
No. The crowd's got to have something they believe in.
Once they quit believing, they quit coming.
Anything else, but not that
Tommy, we got a dead one.
Just give him to me.
Here we go.
Jesus!
If two knees touch the floor, she's out!
Come on! Come on!
Come on, Sailor!
Out! Take her away.
Miss Shirley Clayton.
We're going to miss you, Shirl. Isn't that right, folks?
So long, Shirl, but don't despair.
Every heart in this room is with you, and that's what really counts.
It's hard on all of us,
after we've lived all these hours and weeks together,
to see one of these wonderful, courageous kids fallout.
But life goes on, and so does the marathon!
Three minutes left!
Three minutes of harrowing, heart-breaking hustle!
Yowsah!
Over 1,200 hours of continuous dancing,
and yet there they still are,
fighting, struggling to stay in the race
But the last three couples will lose
The last three couples will be eliminated!
Yowsah, yowsah! Come on, let's hear it, folks!
Let's hear it over there!
- What's the matter? What's wrong? - My chest!
Come on, lean on me. Put your arm around me.
Lean on me!
Where does it hurt? What is it?
One minute!
It's just a little bit further!
Come on, you salty old bastard!
Where's the fight? Come on!
Come on, goddamn it!
Hang on to me! I'm tired of losing!
Come on!
It looks like our sea faring man and our little hard luck lady are in deep trouble.
Come on, goddamn it! We're gonna make it.
Thirty seconds!
Walk!
Walk! Walk!
Walk, goddamn it!
Walk!
We're gonna make it!
- Five! - Walk!
- Four! - Come on!
Three! Two! One!
Scratch them three kids,
- and there are the losers! - Sailor, we made it!
Get 'em to the spots.
- Arthur and Jean... - Sailor!
Pattie and Don, Dusty and Jessel...
We made it!
Let's have a big hand for the losers.
Come on, folks, let's hear it
It looks like our ancient mariner may have taken a little spill.
There's nothing to worry about
He's all right! Leave him alone!
- Get her off me! - No, please!
- Get her out of here! - He's gonna be all right!
What are they doing to him? He's gonna be all right.
I just had a message from our house physician.
Nothing in the least serious
Just a case of heat prostration.
And I understand that Harry, crusty old salt that he is,
wanted to stay on in the marathon,
but the doc says "no," and when it comes to something like this,
the doctor's word is law.
He's gonna be all right.
So long, Sailor.
But we know you'll be back to see us
and to cheer the other kids on.
You have ten minutes to enjoy yourself
in our beautiful Palm Garden.
But I'm not better off.
I'm sorry.
Alice
Oh, my God.
Get out of the way.
Get out of here.
Come on, move, dammit!
You can come out now.
Nobody's gonna hurt you
Don't you wanna come out now?
You might catch cold in there.
You don't wanna do that, do you?
Please.
I just wanna help you.
I just wanna turn off the water, that's all.
I just wanna turn off the handle.
All right, I won't...
...if you don't want me to.
Tell me.
Whatever it is, you can tell me.
He...touched me.
Who?
He...touched me.
Get out of here!
Is he dead?
Sailor?
You mean Sailor?
No.
You have my personal word he's gonna be fine.
Someone screamed.
That was you, Alice.
Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl!
That's the story of our sweetheart couple--
Gloria Beatty and Robert Siverton!
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah!
Now, I'm no Hollywood scenario writer,
but I know what the end of this story should be.
Right, Robert? Right, Gloria?
Wrong.
Does the prisoner wish to make a statement to the court before sentence is passed?
No.
No, sir.
Come in, come in, kids.
Just sit down, make yourselves comfortable.
I know this is your rest period, so just sit down and rest.
I had a little notion, kids-- something that could help the show,
something could benefit all of us.
And in particular, it could benefit the two of you,
and at the same time,
give the folks out there something to get worked up about.
What are you gonna do--put us in cages and let 'em throw peanuts at us?
All kidding aside--
Who's kidding?
The thing I want is I want you two kids to get married.
Right here on the dance floor.
A public wedding.
I mean, you get divorced right after the show, if you want.
It's just for effect.
What do you say to that, Robert?
- I don't know, I guess so. - He says no.
Does she do all the talking for you, Robert?
That's right.
Well...
Robert, maybe it'd be better if just her and me discussed it.
Okay?
Yeah, sure.
But the idea is okay with you. That's what you said, right?
No, sir, I didn't say that at all. All I said was--
It's the same thing, it's the same thing.
It'll just be a minute.
What's your problem?
You're afraid of getting married?
You're not happy until you've screwed everything up, are you?
Wait a minute. Wait, wait.
I'm not marrying anybody!
It's business!
Strictly business, for God's sake.
Look, you come out with something-- new clothes...
...plenty of free gifts, silverware,
waffle irons, toasters, that kind of stuff.
What am I gonna do with crap like that?
Sell it, hawk it!
Look, for God's sake, I'm trying to help you a little.
Maybe you'll come out with 2 or 300 bucks--that's something.
Unless you wanna walk out of here with the pennies they're throwing at you
Yeah? And what if just maybe we win?
Look, sweetheart, I've been in this business a long time.
I may not know a winner when I see one...
...but I sure as hell can spot a loser.
You son of a bitch!
Maybe.
Do you wanna come out of this with a couple hundred bucks or don't you?
The winners get 750 apiece.
Right, less the bills.
What bills?
Look, this marathon don't run itself, you know.
I got bills stacked up every day.
And I keep tabs.
You kids cost me money.
Extra laundry, cleaning, phone calls, medical bills, you name it.
What is this?
The tabs on you and Robert.
You're charging me this?
Only if you win.
If you don't win, you don't pay. I'm not out to cheat anybody.
Oh, Jesus.
Gloria, we have to get back.
What the hell's the point?
Right.
Where the hell's the other one?
Well, don't just stand there. Why don't you help me?
What does it look like exactly?
Like this. What do you think it's gonna look like, a necktie?
I'll tell you one thing.
I'm not leaving this goddamn stink hole without it.
That's the last pair I got.
And I cut out streetcars for a month to get 'em.
Is this it?
No, for Christ' sake, it's silk.
I found it.
Here, is this it?
Yeah.
Jesus, I'm sorry.
Gloria, don't...
Look, maybe you can fix it up or something,
sort of sew it up or...
Gloria, let me see it. Maybe you can sew it up.
I've still got 71 cents. Maybe I can buy--
Shut up!
It's not the goddamn stocking, anyway.
Forget it.
I used to love to look at the ocean...
...walk by it, just sit and listen to it.
Now I don't care if I ever see it again.
That...or anything else.
What are you gonna do now? Try the movies again?
No.
I'd never make it.
And maybe it wouldn't make no difference even if I did.
Maybe it's just the whole damn world is like Central Casting.
They got it all rigged before you ever show up.
I know what you mean.
I know just what you mean.
Do you?
What are you gonna do?
I'm gonna get off this merry-go-round.
I'm so sick of the whole stinking thing.
What thing?
Life.
And don't give me no sunshine lectures.
I wasn't going to.
Then what were you looking at me that way for?
I wasn't.
I was just trying to see your face
Well, keep looking.
Stick around for the end.
Help me.
Please. Please.
Tell me when.
I'm ready.
Now?
Now.
What happened?
Just move on.
Better things to do. Beat it.
Come on, let's go.
Let's go.
Why'd you do it, kid?
She asked me to.
Obliging bastard.
That the only reason you got, kid?
They shoot horses, don't they?
Yowsah, yowsah, yowsah!
Here they are again!
These wonderful, wonderful kids, still struggling, still hoping
As the clock of fate ticks away,
the dance of destiny continues!
The marathon goes on and on and on.
How long can they last?
Let's hear it! Come on!
Let's hear it! Let's hear it!