Hey, listen, if you and your nautical nitwits...
...are gonna give the girls their big break, better shove off.
- We've dropped anchor. - We have?
Say, will you guys let me forget I was once a hoofer?
It sure seems swell to be getting back where the women talk your own language.
You bet. It's gonna be great to be able to talk to a dame...
...without using your hands.
Hey, you been holding out on me. I didn't know you had a girl in your act.
- Give me that. - Wait a minute.
That's why you joined the Navy. You thought a torpedo would be easier...
- ...to dodge than a shotgun. - Don't be funny.
- I asked that little girl to marry me. - What?
Yeah, and she turned me down.
Imagine a guy asking a dame to marry.
Say, what's become of her?
Oh, I heard from her when we were down in Manila.
She's working here in Frisco.
Well. Maybe she's got a friend. Let's go see her.
No, we're all washed up.
- Say, give me that picture. - What do you want it for?
I thought you said you were all washed up.
Oh, I just kept it because I came out so good.
Lay aft for the 4:00 liberty party.
Boy, I hope I pick something good this time.
I'm always getting schoolteachers.
Why not? You got a lot to learn yet.
I want something with spangles on it, like that ex- partner of yours.
Say, let's find her.
She probably wouldn't even speak to me anymore.
The last letter from her, she said she was working in a high- class spot...
- ...where all the money goes. - Yeah? Well, that's the way it is.
Listen, you mugs, don't forget that liberty expires at 1 2:00.
We've got our orders.
Needn't wait up tonight, Mother.
We're going to Paradise.
Six admissions, please.
- Do you want any dance tickets? - Dance tickets?
- How much are they? - Three for 25.
- Give me one. - One?
Yeah, to see if I like it.
What's the matter? Don't your friends dance?
They're underage. I hold them on my lap.
- Hey, Bake, where's Bilge? - He stopped off to buy the beer.
He knows a place where you get 3 cents back on the bottles.
Hi, tiny.
I'll see you fellows. I gotta look up a party in the telephone book.
Hello? Information?
Look, I want to get the number of a Miss Sherry Martin.
She lives at 61 0 Hyde Street.
Yeah, all right.
Sorry, miss, it's the rules of the Paradise.
No girls are allowed in without escorts.
I see. Women aren't even admitted to paradise without a man.
Yeah.
Oh, there you are.
Don't bother. Your hands are full. I'll get the tickets for us.
Two, please.
I'll explain to you when we get inside.
Did you bring your lunch too?
Thank you. You see, I wanted to get in to see my sister.
She works here, and they wouldn't let me in without an escort.
I thought you were trying to frame me.
Oh, no. You see, I've never been here before.
My sister's asked me to come down. I've never been able to.
I've always been so busy, but, well, tonight I just felt like a little spree.
Well, I hope you find it.
I've sort of been playing hooky all day today.
I spent the afternoon watching the fleet come in.
Oh, gee, it was exciting. If I were a man, I'd be a sailor.
Yeah, I know just how you feel.
They're pretty, aren't they?
I'll bet you're used to seeing pretty girls all over the world.
I never give them a tumble, sister. Women don't interest me.
I'll bet you dance beautifully.
No, not a step.
Well, I gotta be shoving off. So long.
- Come to Papa. - You sure work fast, Bilge.
- Yeah, we're the slow ones. - Lay off me.
Where did you pick up that awful-looking crow?
She picked me up. I think she's screwy.
She must be if she tried to pick you up.
- Well, what will you have? - Six clean glasses.
- Who is it? - Connie.
Oh, Connie, come in.
I'm glad to see you. How'd you get away? What about your music lessons?
I didn't feel like giving them, so I just called up and said I was ill.
I guess it's just a touch of spring fever.
This is a funny time to be having spring fever, in October.
Well, things usually happen to me out of season.
Connie, why don't you admit it. You're lonesome.
Some men aren't half bad.
I don't know why. I just seem to frighten them away.
You look too darned intelligent.
It isn't that gentlemen prefer blonds...
...it's just that we look dumber.
Maybe that's it.
It used to end up by my saying I'd be a sister to them.
Now it begins by their saying they'll be a brother to me.
That's the difference between us.
I make them say uncle.
Well, I can understand that. You're attractive.
Connie, women weren't born with silk stockings on, you know.
Well, I wear silk stockings.
And no one looks at them.
Well, men haven't x- ray eyes.
Though sometimes I wonder.
Gee, you must look lovely in this.
And so could you, if you wanted to.
Things have got to be dolled up nowadays.
That's why they put brass on battleships.
Why don't you let me try to fix you up?
You'll be amazed how much better it'll make you feel.
Even though I'm not a blond, I could be dumb, couldn't l?
And you'll probably do all right too.
It takes a lot of brains to be dumb. Let's try it.
Hey, Kitty!
Connie, this is Kitty Collins. Kitty, this is my sister.
- How do you do? - Hiya.
Will you fix her up?
Well, I'll do what I can, Sherry.
I've got to go on.
I'll be back after the number.
And remember the old saying, "Clothes make the man."
Do you have to wear these?
Oh, no. I just wear them to impress my pupils.
I'll bet they're impressed.
Nobody'd ever take you for Sherry's sister.
I guess not.
I've spent most of my life up the coast in a little town called Bellport...
...while Sherry's been here.
Sherry!
- Bake! - Sherry!
Well, what a surprise seeing you here!
Yeah. I'm kind of surprised to see you here too.
Gosh, I'm glad to see you.
I'm glad to see you too.
Say, you better do something for that cold.
Oh, this isn't a cold.
It's tears because I'm so glad to see you.
I'm glad to see you too.
Thanks.
I've missed you, Bake.
I've missed you too.
A little bit.
Gosh, I'm glad to see you.
Same here.
I worried about you for two years until I learned you'd joined the Navy.
Didn't you ever get my letter?
Oh, sure, I heard from you, all right.
Telling me about how well you were doing and everything.
Why didn't you write to me?
I didn't think you cared about hearing from me.
Especially after that last time we saw each other.
Well, all I said was I didn't want to marry you.
Yeah, I know.
It all seemed very important at that time.
But it doesn't make any difference now.
Doesn't it?
No. As you said, marriage would have ruined your career.
Well, I found out I was wrong.
No, maybe you're right.
If you'd married me, you wouldn't be working in a chop- suey joint like this.
Well, I don't see any admiral's stripes on you.
I like to go incognito, just to mingle with the boys.
Order, please.
I want a Coke.
And Miss Martin will have a chocolate sundae without whipped cream.
With whipped cream, and plenty of it.
Gosh, you're glad to see me.
Well, you sure look different.
Don't l?
I'm beginning to feel different.
Kitty, there's a sailor I want to meet. How do I go about it?
Are you kidding?
No. I mean, are there any rules?
Well, yes and no.
"Yes" before you meet him...
...and "no" after.
Gosh, Sherry, how'd you ever get in a place like this?
Well, it seems I didn't mean much after we split up.
For some reason, they're not interested in a girl dancing alone...
...unless she's got a fan.
Well, a fan doesn't cost much.
Gee, it's swell being with you again.
Friends?
- Friends. - Let's kiss and make up.
No, let's just make up. That'll give you something to work for.
Why don't you guys take a walk.
Hiya, baby.
Hello, sailor.
- So you know my name. - Sure.
Haven't we met before?
That's what I should have said.
No, but haven't we?
Not a chance. Think I could forget a face like yours?
Well, I must have been mistaken.
But we're meeting now. Wanna dance?
Oh, I was under the impression that you didn't dance.
Who, me?
I'm the heavyweight dance champ of the fleet.
You've got me up against the ropes here.
Maybe we better sit this one out.
Sure.
This is a lucky night for me, baby. You're just my type of girl.
Oh, really?
I thought you were the kind of man who never gives girls a tumble.
You've got some very funny ideas about me.
Oh, I admit I've been around. But I've never met one like you, baby.
No, I guess you haven't.
Hey, what's the idea?
It's a line of defense.
Well, watch my maneuvers.
You can't beat the Navy.
All right, sailor. I surrender.
Unconditionally?
Well, I'm willing to discuss terms.
Okay, baby. Let's get out of here.
Let's find someplace where we can talk.
I'll go ransom my hat and meet you at the back exit.
And don't walk out on me.
- Where's Connie? - Dropped in a minute ago...
...and said she was leaving, for you not to worry.
Poor kid. I'll bet she was scared with all these sailors around.
Thanks.
All right, everybody.
And now, as you know...
...the Paradise Club holds its popular Saturday night dance contest.
Mr. Weber will tap the shoulders of the eliminated couples...
...and as usual, your applause will decide the winners.
I thank you.
- Kind of neat, huh? - Kind of.
Listen, my enlistment's up in the spring.
Then we'll pick up where we left off, only this time you'll ask me to marry you.
The Navy must be a wonderful institution.
It produces such a modest, shrinking type of man.
Yeah, doesn't it?
Go away.
How do you like that?
On my dime, he wants to cut in.
The village cutups.
Wait a minute. This is the dance contest.
- Is it? - I'm not supposed to be in it.
- Why not? - Because it's for guests.
Well, I'm a guest. Ten cents' worth.
No, I don't think I'd better.
Maybe you're right. You probably couldn't keep up with me anymore anyway.
You think not? Well, I'm not so sure you could keep up with me.
Gosh, you've kind of taken the wind out of my sails.
There aren't any sails these days, baby. Just steam, full steam ahead.
Come on, let me get you something to eat.
- Don't tell me you can cook too. - Oh, yes.
You don't know the kind of person I really am.
Well, you've given me a faint idea.
Oh, boy.
Say, I haven't seen the inside of an icebox since I left home.
Where is your home?
Texas.
I've been back once or twice to see my mother.
- She never knows when I'm gonna turn up. - Don't you ever write her?
I'm no good at writing. Don't know what to say.
You could say you love her.
What's the use? She knows that.
Custard pie.
- Now, don't tell me you made this too. - I made it.
Sweetheart, you've got everything. I knew it from the first minute I saw you.
- Bilge, I've got to tell you the truth. - About what?
Well, the first time you saw me, you acted as my escort.
Remember the funny- looking girl with glasses who bought your ticket?
- Yeah. - Well, that was me.
Well, what was the getup for?
It wasn't a getup.
Until tonight, those were the kind of clothes I wore. That was the real me.
Well, how do you like that?
But that doesn't make any difference. I'm nuts about you anyway.
Say, Connie, what are you?
A teacher.
I knew it.
Yes, a music teacher.
Well, that ain't so bad.
Oh, Miss Martin, I want to speak to you.
Mr. Weber, I want you to meet Mr. Baker, a friend of mine.
Mr. Baker is a guest.
- Oh, how do you do? - How are you?
Mr. Weber owns the Paradise Club.
Is that so?
Not a bad little spot you got here, Mr. Weber.
It isn't right for Miss Martin though.
She's used to working in a nicer atmosphere.
Oh, you don't like this atmosphere.
It's all right for some people...
...but not for Miss Martin.
And who are you?
Me? I'm her manager.
I see. Well, I think you'd better go manage her somewhere else.
Beginning right now.
Pick up your salary in the morning, Miss Martin.
Good night.
Well, I fixed that.
You fixed me.
I did that on purpose. I don't want you working in a place like this.
I'll take you to see Jim Nolan. I'll get him to put you in his show.
- He'll do that. - It might have been better to wait...
...until we were sure.
Now, I'll take care of everything.
That's exactly what's worrying me.
Bilge, how long are you going to be here?
We're having war games. We don't know.
- Maybe in a week. Maybe tonight. - Oh, no.
Don't you worry. We'll be back in the spring.
The night the fleet arrives you and me have got a date.
- Honest? - The minute we hit port.
- Soon after that, I'm out of the Navy. - Really? What are you going to do then?
Gonna stick to the sea.
Oh, I love the sea too.
My father was a sea captain.
You know, that's what I want to be.
I'm taking my chief petty officer exams now.
Then I'm going to try for my master's papers in hopes that I can get a ship.
Bilge, I've got a ship.
- What? - Yes, come here.
Here it is.
It's a model of the real one. It was my dad's ship.
He died of a broken heart when she ran aground off the north coast.
I wouldn't want my ship to run aground either.
Dad left my sister Sherry what little money he had.
And he left me the ship because he knew how much she meant to me.
Boy, she's a beauty.
I've always had dreams of sailing on her again as I did when I was a kid.
A steam schooner, just the kind I like to feel under me.
Baby, I'd like to be captain of your ship.
I wanna sail under my own steam to China, lndia and those spiggoty ports.
So do l.
I've always wanted to sail on her to all those spiggoty places...
...with my husband at the helm.
- Holy cat. - What's the matter?
I gotta be going. Gotta be back onboard by 1 2:00.
- Oh, gee. - Sorry.
Well....
- Hello, Connie. Is Sherry home? - Not yet. She's a little later than usual.
What's happened to you, Connie? You look swell.
May I present Mr. Smith. A friend of my sister's, Mrs. Manning.
How do you do?
- I'm sorry to have broken in like this. - Oh, no, that's all right. Don't go.
Mr. Smith was just leaving. He has to be back on ship by 1 2.
I can't stay. I have an engagement, but tell Sherry I dropped in.
Good night, dear.
Good night, Mr. Smith.
Good night.
I wish you didn't have to leave, Bilge, but maybe you'd better.
Yeah, I guess so.
If you're still here tomorrow night, will I see you?
Will you.
- Tell the admiral not to go away. - I'll do that. Good night, baby.
Good night.
Mr. Smith.
Hello.
I'm going that way anyway, so I thought I might drop you off at the dock.
Thanks, that'll help me out a lot.
I'll be up to get you the first thing in the morning and we'll go see Nolan together.
- Here. - Thanks.
Can't you come up for a while?
I'm sorry, Sherry. I've only got a minute. I've got to be back onboard by 1 2:00.
Good night.
Haven't you got a home?
Turn in all liberty cards.
All liberty has been cancelled. We have immediate sailing orders.
Turn in all liberty cards.
All liberty has been cancelled. We have immediate sailing orders.
Sailing orders? Listen, I've got to get ashore.
- I've started something I've got to finish. - Yeah?
Maybe you're lucky we're sailing.
Put it in.
I've got to go to bed, Connie. I can't keep my eyes open any longer.
Yes, it's late.
Sherry, how much does a chief petty officer get?
Whatever he told you, just cut it in half.
Give me a chance. Let me talk about Bake for a while, will you?
Excuse me, darling, you go right ahead.
Of course, he would make more as master of his own ship, wouldn't he?
I'll bet he's by far the best dancer in the Navy.
Yes, that's what he told me.
Who?
You're talking about Bake.
It's swell, Sherry, isn't it?
Isn't it?
- What's the matter? - Bilge must have been right.
About what?
Well, he said they might have to leave anytime...
...but it's sooner than I expected.
Who has to leave? What? Where?
The fleet.
The fleet?
Why, the dirty, double- crossing....
What's going on?
Dance team.
Stand clear, fellows. Give everybody a chance to read it.
Well, where is Bake?
Professor Baker will commence dancing class just as soon as he...
...finishes painting the mainmast.
If you'd kept your trap shut, we wouldn't be doing this extra duty.
When you weren't back by 2 this morning...
...I had to think up some alibi.
I told the quartermaster you stayed with your mother who was very sick.
When the officer of the deck asked me where my mother was...
...I said she was home in Texas.
Well, how did I know you were going to be so dumb?
I can understand them making you do this, but why do they have to pick on me?
What kept you out so late anyway?
A very charming young lady, with loads of dough.
She was in show business too, before she got married.
But her husband didn't understand her, so the poor kid had to go to Reno.
Poor kid. I bet the chorus miss her.
She still sees them. There's nothing snooty about her.
What about that teacher that was going to make you captain of her ship?
She's a swell kid too, but she's kind of serious.
She's sappy like you. She wants to get married.
I beg your pardon.
One, two, three. One, two, three. Try it.
One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
Now the left arm up. One, two, three.
Right arm around the lady's waist. One, two, three. Now smile.
One, two, three. All right.
Let's see if you can remember what I told you.
Now, you fellows get over there. You're the dames.
Dames? What's the big idea?
You asked me to teach you how to dance, didn't you?
All right then, you're dames. You fellows are their partners.
All right, music. Now get together.
Come on, get together, get together.
One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
Don't be bashful. Grab them tight.
One, two, three. One, two, three. That's better. One, two, three.
Hey, Bake, nobody will dance with me.
That's too bad.
Keep it up, fellows, while I dance with the wallflower.
Hey!
You know, there's a difference between dancing and wrestling.
In dancing, the main idea is to keep your partner's shoulders off the floor.
I was taught to dance collegiate.
Oh, that's different.
Let's cut in.
Hey, Marines.
May I have the pleasure?
Dancing class dismissed!
What I can't understand, Miss Connie, is why you want a floater.
A girl can't handle a ship herself.
No, but she may be able to get a man to do it for her.
Well, I went over the ship like you asked me to, and....
There's lots to be done. It'll cost quite a bit.
Well, I've saved up about 600 dollars.
And I'll add 400...
...which I got convoying the Navy around the dance floor on my feet.
Even at that, I'm afraid 1 000 dollars would hardly be enough.
But I'll tell the company what nice girls...
...my old friend Captain Martin's daughters are...
...and we'll see what we can do.
Thank you, Captain Hickey.
If you don't mind my saying so, I think he's a very lucky young man.
Actually, Captain Hickey, I consider this whole thing a business proposition.
Don't you believe it, Captain Hickey. Little Red Riding Hood rides again.
I hear the old man is entertaining a party of big shots this afternoon.
- That's the reason for the dress whites. - Yeah.
Hey, Bake. I just got word I passed my exams.
No kidding, Bilge! Gee, that's swell. Congratulations.
- Thanks. - I knew you'd make it.
I know you don't care to be taken on a tour of inspection, Courtney.
But I'd like to have you glance over the ship...
- ...and look at our men. - We'd love to, Captain Jones.
If it won't trouble you, Jones, we'd enjoy it immensely.
Mr. Gilbert, my party will look about the ship.
See that attention is sounded. Have the band play a march.
Aye, aye, sir.
How about breaking up this sewing circle, and getting into a jam session?
Are you ready?
- Your men are very smart, lieutenant. - Thank you, sir.
- Mr. Gilbert. - Yes, sir.
- Have that jazz band stop playing at once. - Aye, aye, sir.
Silence!
Baker, are you aware the captain is showing some guests around the ship...
...and that attention has been sounded?
I'm sorry, sir. We didn't hear the call. We were playing.
Captain, the orchestra was playing and none of the men heard the call.
I'm satisfied, sir, they intend no breach of discipline.
- Thank you, Mr. Gilbert. - Aye, aye, sir.
Captain Jones. Would you think it a breach of discipline if I asked you...
...to let them play for us? I do so adore American music.
Not at all. Bugler, sound carry on.
Division dismissed.
Baker, please carry on as you intended.
Thank you, sir. Come on, boys, as we rehearsed it.