Script

Maybe you can borrow the thousand from Sky.

Not Sky. With him that kind of money ain t lending money. It s betting money. So why don t I bet him? Why don t I bet him a thousand on something?

You would bet with Sky Masterson?

I ain't scared. I am perfectly willing to take the risk, providing I can figure out a bet on which there is no chance of losing. He likes crazy bets... Ooh! Look - run into Mindy's Restaurant and ask Mindy how many pieces of cheesecake he sold yesterday and also how many pieces of strudel.

How much cheesecake, how much strudel -

What do you want to know for?

Just find out! Now beat it - here comes Adelaide. If she hears I am running the crap game she will never set foot on me again.

(BENNY and NICELY run off as ADELAIDE ENTERS, carrying a small box which contains a man's belt and a small card. She is followed by THREE GIRLS from the Hot Box.)

Hello, Nathan dear.

Adelaide! Pigeon!

(Embrace)

(To Three Girls)
You go ahead, girls. Order me a tuna fish on rye and a chocolate sundae with tomato ketchup and mayonnaise.

Okay, Adelaide.

(THEY EXIT)

We gotta get back to the Hot Box.

You still rehearsing?

Yeah. That slave driver Charlie - he's been working us all day. Finally I says, "Look, Charlie, I'm starving! I gotta get outa here and get something to eat." And he says, "You don't want to eat. You just want to sneak out and meet that cheap bum, Nathan Detroit!"

(Outraged)
So what did you say to him?

(Proudly)
I told him. I says, "I'll meet whoever I want!" Nathan! Happy Anniversary!

(SHE hands him the box)

A present? For me?

(HE begins to open it)

I hope you like it.

(He looks inside)
A belt!

Read the card!

"Sugar is sweet, and so is jelly, so put this belt around your belly." That's so sweet. Look, honey - about your present. I didn't get one. I'm sorry.

(ADELAIDE gets in front of him - he puts his arms around her)

No, I kinda like it when you forget to give me presents. It makes me feel like we're married.

Don't worry, honey - one of these days I'll be in the money, and you'll have more mink than a mink.

Nathan darling, I can do without anything just so long as you don't start running the crap game again.

The crap game! What an absurd thought!

(BENNY and NICELY ENTER)

Psst!

(NATHAN turns to him)

Yesterday Mindy sold twelve hundred cheesecake and fifteen hundred strudel.

More strudel than cheesecake. That's great!

Nathan! What is this?

Nothing, honey. Look, Adelaide, I'm expecting a fellow, and I know you're hungry...

Nathan, are you trying to get rid of me?