MS Marty Sinatra
Frankie! Hey, Frankie! Frankie! Come on, wake up! Hey! [Frank wakes up] C'mon. Why aren't you at work?
Frank Sinatra Cuz I didn't go.
MS Marty Sinatra
What, first you quit your school, now you quit your job?
Frank Sinatra Yeah.
MS Marty Sinatra
[short pause]
Dolly! Hey, Dolly! Kid can't stick to anything! He's a quitter!
[Frank gets out of bed, takes out a pint of milk from the fridge] [to Frank]
What the hell's going on?
Frank Sinatra Mom, pop. I made a decision. I can't do that work no more. I'm gonna find me work being a singer like - like Bing Crosby.
Forget Bing Crosby! Get your job back!
MS Marty Sinatra
You listen to your mother.
Frank Sinatra No, I'm telling you! I'm going to be a singer. It's all I do in my free time and free time's not enough no more!
MS Marty Sinatra
Frankie. You work hard, then you go to college, otherwise your gonna end up like me, a guy that can't even read or write his own name!
Frank Sinatra I'm not gonna end up like you, pop. I gotta do this.
MS Marty Sinatra
Than I don't gotta support you! You don't work! You don't live here! [takes the apple out of his hand] And I'll tell you somethin' else! [smashes the apple on the kitchen table] You don't eat here!
Frank Sinatra Ma, tell him. I can do this. I - I can be someone.
You are someone. Your Frankie Sinatra--
MS Marty Sinatra
[angrily]
He's not! [to Frank] I'll tell you... You pack your bags! Hit the bricks! Out! Cuz I didn't raise no kid to be no freeloader!
Frank Sinatra Fine! [throws and smashes the pint of milk at the sink]
[Frank walks out]
[shouts]
You get a good look around this country! People are starving, mister big shot! Our neighbours! And they can't feed the seven kids they've got! Never mind a new one on the way! You know most people in this world today! They'll make $75 a week like you, mister big shot! Most people don't make $75 a month and if they did, they wouldn't quit!
Frank Sinatra [Marty walks in]
Hi, pop.
MS Marty Sinatra
I don't get it.
Frank Sinatra Pop, I've learned a lot while I was on the road, but I'm a soloist.
MS Marty Sinatra
You couldn't be a soloist in a relief line. You're nothing but a quitter.
Frank Sinatra Pop, I'm better than those bums. You don't know, you weren't there.
MS Marty Sinatra
Do you know what happens when cocky kids are in the ring? They go down. Down! Every time, down.
Frank Sinatra [walks away]
Ma, I met a guy. Hank Sanicola, he's gonna manage me.
Your gonna kill us both if you don't straighten out.
Frank Sinatra Ma, pop's wrong! I'm not going down! I'm going up!
BW Bob Weitman
Okay, now lets cut through all the crap, boys. I'm still nervous about this. Frank, I think your a very talented singer but you got a soft voice. I can't see it coming up the Paramount.
George Evans Don't worry about his voice filling up your Theatre, Bob. The girls will fill up your Theatre. [laughs]
BW Bob Weitman
I can't gamble on that.
Frank Sinatra I filled the Mosque. I can fill the Paramount.
BW Bob Weitman
The Mosque is a small Theatre in Newark. We're talking about the Paramount.
Frank Sinatra Exactly.
[during a New Year's Eve party, Nancy suddenly notices a heart shaped bracelet on Marilyn Maxwell's arm]
Marilyn, I couldn't help but notice your bracelet. Where did you get it?
Frank Sinatra [nervously]
Hey, come on. We're gonna miss the new year.
MM Marilyn Maxwell
[to Nancy]
From an old dear friend.
Did Frank give that to you?
[Marilyn tries to say something, but nervously looks over at Frank] [angrily to Marilyn]
I want you out of my house. Get out!
Frank Sinatra You think you, sweetheart, we'd give you permission to come to Houston with me?
I don't need permission. What's Houston?
Frank Sinatra I'm open in a hotel there.
Frank Sinatra Yeah. The breads good.
[sarcastically]
Awwww, poor Francis, they got you opening hotels now?
Frank Sinatra [angrily grabs Ava]
What is it with you? It's not enough for you to have a guy, you have to screw with his head too?
[pause, they kiss]
Goodbye, Francis.
Frank Sinatra Ava, for God's sake, what are you doing?
[shouts]
Don't you ever grab me like that again!
Frank Sinatra All right, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! Come on, your breaking my heart here.
Go home to your wife and kids. I'm not a home wrecker.
Frank Sinatra You're not a home wrecker. It was over before New York.
Oh sure, does she know that?
Frank Sinatra I never figured out how to tell her.
Take a lesson from me: Goodbye, Francis.
Frank Sinatra Ava.
It's never gonna work between us.
Frank Sinatra Nancy, don't you understand? It doesn't mean anything to me anymore. Nothing does.
Frank Sinatra Except being with her [Ava].
[tearfully]
You son of a bitch. You come in here and you cry on my shoulder about her?
Frank Sinatra She's my whole life.
[shouts]
You're my whole life! And you're children's!
Frank Sinatra I have to let go.
Frank Sinatra Nancy, why do you want to hold on to me if I don't want to be here?
Because I love you. Frank, you've done this before and you've always come back.
Frank Sinatra Nancy, for God's sake. This is different.
Frank Sinatra [on the set of Mogambo in Africa] [fixing Ava a drink]
Probably just the heat.
Yeah... [hands her the drink]
Thanks. [sits down. Pause] It's not just the heat, Frank. Uh, I think maybe I'm pregnant.
Frank Sinatra Are you kidding? Baby, that's terrific.
Look, you can't tell anyone or I might be kicked off this film.
Frank Sinatra You're the star, they can't do that--
Frank Sinatra Our baby is more important than any movie.
Listen. I know how much you want this kid, but it happens to come at the worst possible moment in my life.
Frank Sinatra I understand. [passively] You're a rising star, you're carrying the baby of a has-been.
[Ava hits him on the leg] [pause]
Sometimes I hate you.
Frank Sinatra That's great. Perfect. [gets up from his seat] You don't want our baby and you hate me.
Would you listen to me. It's a steam bath out there. There's ants, mosquitos and flies in my face! I have to puke every ten seconds! I'm up against a legendary actor! And this is supposed to be the performance of my life! Now, would you give up the role that you'd kill for, for a baby?
Frank Sinatra I don't have that role.
Frank Sinatra [Frank is on-set screen testing alongside actors Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed for From Here to Eternity, while director Fred Zinnemann watches]
Where's the dice?
Frank Sinatra There's no dice!
FZ Fred Zinnemann
Frank, we really have to move on.
Frank Sinatra No, wait a second! May I talk to you a moment. [walks over to Zinnemann] No, no, no, no, excuse me, Mr. Zinnemann. I respect that your a very busy man and I know that your not too thrilled that I'm here. But I've flown all the way from Africa to test for this part because I believe like I have never believed in anything else before that I understand this character Maggio. I grew up with a hundred Maggio's in my neighbourhood! I am Maggio! And all I ask for is a little respect that I might demonstrate this to you.
FZ Fred Zinnemann
[pause]
Whenever your ready.
[pause. Walks back to the set]
HC Hotel Clerk
Uh, excuse me. We have a problem.
We do? What's the problem?
HC Hotel Clerk
We don't serve coloured's here.
[on Sy Oliver]
He's with the band.
HC Hotel Clerk
I'm sorry, it's hotel policy.
Frank Sinatra Serve wasps? Tykes, kraut's, hunky's, mix? That's the whole band. Maybe we should all leave.
SO Sy Oliver
Hey, Frank, it's okay. I'm used to it.
Frank Sinatra So am I. It ain't okay. [to the Hotel Clerk] I grew up with bums like this. Now give him the key or I'm gonna wreck this goddamn barn!
Frank Sinatra [angrily grabs the Hotel Clerk by the tie]
I said give him the key!
Frank Sinatra [The Hotel Clerk hands Sy a hotel key] [to the Hotel Clerk]
Thank you.
Frank Sinatra You don't hang around with the guys much, do you?
Ah, you can't when you run an organisation.
Frank Sinatra What about me?
Hey, pallie, you and I are a whole other species of human being. So, what's your signature song gonna be?
Frank Sinatra I don't want a song, I want my own sound. You see, TD, if I can do with my voice what you do with a trombone, I can knock the whole gang right off the charts.
[short pause]
Breath control. [walks]
Frank Sinatra Breath control?
Frank Sinatra Tommy! Tommy, c'mon, stop, will ya. I know you got a call.
Yeah, I got a call. So you got yourself a big show business attorney now. And I got a call from Columbia Records, and I got a call from CBS. Oh, and I got a call from your... agent. Congratulations. [bitterly] You got a hell of a back up team all of a sudden.
Frank Sinatra Tommy, I love ya. You done everything for me. But this just wasn't a fair deal.
Oh, but it's fair for you to break a contract? It's fair that they won't play my records on the radio if I don't let you out?!
Frank Sinatra It wasn't a contract. It was a life sentence. Now I told you I'd stay for a year, and I will.
Nah, if you're gonna go? Go. [begins walking away]
Frank Sinatra I'm sorry. But I gotta do this.
[turns]
Not everybody thinks you're gonna be as big as you think. Personally? I hope you fall flat on your ass. [walks away]
MS Manie Sacks
[on the set of Anchors Aweigh]
Please, I'm asking you to reconsider.
Frank Sinatra Manie, stop.
MS Manie Sacks
This is important to me, Frank.
Frank Sinatra [noticing]
Hey, that's Ava Gardner. [getting up from his actor's chair]
MS Manie Sacks
She's a dish, huh? Now, Frank, ple- Frank...
Frank Sinatra [Frank runs over to Ava]
Ava. Hi, I'm Frank Sinatra.
[tearfully]
Hello, Frank.
Frank Sinatra What's the matter?
Frank Sinatra Well, nothing's running your mascara. [takes off his sailor tie, gently wipes Ava's tears off with it]
Well, Artie and I had another fight.
Frank Sinatra Ah, dump the bum. He's just another band leader, I dumped plenty of 'em.
[laughs, smiles]
Now look what you've done. [putting his sailor tie back on] You ruined my perfectly terrible mood.
CM Crew Member
Miss Gardner, they're ready for you on the set.
Frank Sinatra It was nice meeting you, Ava.
Likewise, I'm sure. [walks away]
[tearfully]
Don't you see what's happening? I'm sitting here pretending like nothing's going on all the time. I'm doing just what my mother did, and I can't help it because I love you so much. [pause, Frank sits on the sofa] Maybe we should go away together. Just the two of us. No friends, no company. We'll send the kids to my parents house.
Frank Sinatra Nance, I got another picture.
Well, then when you come home at night, we could spend our nights together.
Frank Sinatra It shoots in New York.
[pause, tearfully]
We moved to Hollywood so you could be closer to your work, and now you're gonna shoot only in New York?!
Frank Sinatra Nance, it's such a good role.
Frank Sinatra What's the matter now?
George Evans You hit the papers again. How's your pal Lucky Luciano?
Frank Sinatra I met him.
George Evans What's that mean, you met him?
Frank Sinatra What did I do wrong? I can't shake hands now?
George Evans The press and in particular Lee Mortimer is making you the sidekick of gangsters.
Frank Sinatra Right. I drive the getaway car. [short pause] George, you said no women. You didn't say anything about mobsters.
George Evans Listen, Frank...
Frank Sinatra This is ridiculous! I grew up in Little Italy, Hoboken, New Jersey, with Joe Fischetti and half these other monkeys! And it's none of Lee Mortimer's goddamn business what I do with my private life!
George Evans It's my business! And it's my business to make you look good, and make people wanna spend money to buy your records and see your movies! I'm just telling you to think about this self-destructive path your on! Now I suggest you get the hell outta here. Go back home like I suggested in the first place! And think about what you're doing! Before you do it! Do you understand?
Frank Sinatra [short pause]
Yeah, I understand. I understand.
Frank Sinatra Maybe I should get my own place.
[holding baby Tina]
I read that you two were an item. You still seeing her? [pause] Listen to me, get my information from the papers.
Frank Sinatra I guess it's over with her.
Then come home, Frank. You belong here with your family.
Frank Sinatra [pause, Frank walks over to the window, looks at his kids playing in the garden]
Then why don't I feel it?
[pause]
I think it would be better if you did get your own place.
Frank Sinatra [pause]
I tried, Nance. I really tried.
Frank Sinatra Longer than you know.
You can always have me. When we're married.
Frank Sinatra [short pause]
She's not gonna give me a divorce, Ava.
Why wouldn't she give you a divorce if you don't love her?
Frank Sinatra Because she's Italian. She's Catholic. Why don't you ask her?
You're not trying hard enough.
Frank Sinatra [sighs]
What the hell do you know about it?
I know that if you really wanted a divorce you could get one. You've gotten everything else you wanted in life.
Frank Sinatra Ava, stop...
You just want it both ways, that's all this is.
Frank Sinatra No, I want it one way, with you and you alone. No billionaires, no band leaders, no bull fighters.
You can have me alone when I get you alone. And in the meantime, maybe the best way to get that if you just left me alone.
Frank Sinatra Are you crazy?
This is torture, Frank. It's wrecking my career. I just can't do this anymore!
Frank Sinatra Two minutes ago, we were happy. What was different then?
I was being a sap. I want you to go home and get a divorce.
Frank Sinatra What are you doing?
Frank Sinatra [grabs Ava's arm, angrily]
You just wait a second and tell me what's going on?
I was pregnant, and now I'm not. And I'm glad. And I don't wanna talk about it.
Frank Sinatra You're not pregnant. [Ava walks to her dressing table, she puts on a necklace] You lost the baby? [pause, angrily] Talk to me!
[putting on her earrings]
I'm not going to let you make me feel bad about this. We got no business having a baby. We don't even have time for each other.
Frank Sinatra I thought that having a baby would bring us closer.
Did having three babies bring you and Nancy closer together?
Frank Sinatra [short pause]
I wish I never saw your face.
You used to say the most beautiful things to me.
Frank Sinatra You used to give me beautiful reasons to say em.
Frank Sinatra [Ava walks away]
Where are you going?
It's New Year's Eve, and I'm going out because come Monday I'll be right back in the jungle. Are you coming?
Frank Sinatra Stay with me. I need you.
And I need people! Lots and lots of noisy happy people!
Frank Sinatra You walk out that door, baby, you walk out of my life!
Frank Sinatra [Frank is visiting Sammy Davis Jr. in hospital, who has lost an eye in a car accident]
I talked to your old man and to the doc, they're gonna get you outta here pretty soon. Get you a private nurse. Whatever you need.
[wearing a cover over his eyes]
I appreciate it, man, but you can't help me outta this one.
Frank Sinatra Ah, quit whining. You're gonna be great. [passes Sammy his cigarette] Here take a drag. [Sammy takes a drag]
What am I gonna do now? I can't dance with one eye.
Frank Sinatra What do you mean you can't dance with one eye? You can't dance with one foot.
You know the audience will be whispering "Look there's the cat with the glass eye."
Frank Sinatra Nah, they won't. They'll be saying "There goes the funny looking coloured midget with a glass eye." [they both laugh]
[short pause]
You know, butter, if I can't dance. I don't wanna live.
Frank Sinatra Yeah, well, we all hit bottom sometimes, smoky. It passes. [short pause] Hey, look at that.
Frank Sinatra Oh my God!
Frank Sinatra [jokingly]
It's a naked nurse.
Frank Sinatra [Sammy laughs. Frank smiles]
I got plans for us, kid.
[at the Sands Hotel and Casino] [on his eye patch]
Oh man, I can't even walk straight with this thing.
Frank Sinatra C'mon, you couldn't walk straight before.
You know, two years ago they wouldn't even let me in this joint. And now because of you, I'm in the steam room.
Frank Sinatra Maybe another twenty if it lets you in the pool. [they laugh]
Uh, listen, butter, you think you might be available sometime around Christmas? I'm uh, thinking of postponing this marriage thing.
Frank Sinatra [short pause]
They got to you.
No, no, no, no, nothing like that. It's just that uh, all the good rabbi's are gonna be in convention in Miami in June.
Frank Sinatra What does May think about it?
[short pause]
Haven't told her yet. She ain't gonna love it.
Frank Sinatra [pause]
She's gonna love you, baby. She'd be crazy not to.
[they embrace]
PL Peter Lawford
Well, apparently the Secret Service looked the place over. They're uh, worried about access, they think it'll be a security risk. They hope you understand.
Frank Sinatra [stressed, holding the red telephone]
Where's he staying?
PL Peter Lawford
Crosby offered his place.
Frank Sinatra Bing? He's a Republican.
PL Peter Lawford
They think he'll be safer there.
Frank Sinatra Safer? Peter, don't give me this safer crap. Just tell me what the real reason is?!
PL Peter Lawford
[sits down]
It's what they tell me, Frank.
Frank Sinatra [angrily]
If you can accept that, then screw you. Screw all of ya! Tell me the real reason? [pause, stands up] You've been my friend for twenty years, Peter. You got no loyalty! You got no guts! You wanna be a Kennedy more then my friend?! [shoves the red telephone at Peter] Fine!
PL Peter Lawford
Frank, I'm married to them. What do you want me to do?
Frank Sinatra [short pause]
Get out. Get the hell outta here! [pause] GET OUT!
Mia Farrow You're just grumpy because you don't want me to get this part.
Frank Sinatra [bitterly]
Mia, I don't care.
Mia Farrow I'll see you weekends.
Frank Sinatra Right. You'll be in New York. I'll be in Vegas and LA.
Mia Farrow I'll make time.
Frank Sinatra You gotta show me that trick.
Mia Farrow I'm sorry. But you don't really want me to end my career, do you?
Frank Sinatra I wanted you in my life so that we could be together. I sorta dig having you around.
Mia Farrow Yeah, and I get stuck with the girls and you drink with the guys, and you call that being around me. I want us to be closer. [sighs] I still feel like your girl and I want to feel like your wife. I want to have your baby.
Frank Sinatra [pause]
I never gave the kids I had enough time. They grew up thinking the telephone was their father. Look, we got a project we're both interested in, why don't we do it? We can be together and we can work together.
Mia Farrow [pause]
But this is such a good part. We can do our movie right after this one.
Frank Sinatra [pause]
Sounds like old times to me. [switches off the bedroom table light]
Mia Farrow Hey. I'm not Ava.
Frank Sinatra [to Marty, who is dying]
Pop, I'm thinking of leaving the business.
MS Marty Sinatra
Why do you wanna do that for?
Frank Sinatra I'm tired. Tired of being in the spotlight. Music business changes so fast they can't keep up with the next guy anymore. Maybe I should stop trying. [pause] You always told me, "Fighters gotta know when to quit. Stay too long, they remember you as the guy on the canvas." [pause] Pop?
MS Marty Sinatra
... What?
Frank Sinatra Is it hard to quit?
MS Marty Sinatra
Not if you had a guy on the mat...
Frank Sinatra You used to call me a quitter, remember? [pause] Remember what a pain in the ass I was when I was starting out? I had to sing, I had to be the best. I always knew that I could do it, pop. I wanted you to know I could do it.
MS Marty Sinatra
[pause]
All those years... the guys at the fire house... they treated me like... a champ... Because of you.
Frank Sinatra Yeah.
MS Marty Sinatra
... You're no quitter, son.
Frank Sinatra [pause]
Thank you, pop. [stands up, kisses his father on his forehead] Goodnight. I love you, pop.
MS Marty Sinatra
Frank... don't go... Just stay awhile.
Frank Sinatra [sits down]
Sure, pop.
Frank Sinatra [Marty slowly closes his eyes. Frank takes his father's hand, he kisses it] [pause]
Goodnight, champ.
[fade to black] [cut to six years later at Madison Square Garden, New York City, 1974, where Frank, now 58, is on stage performing "That's Life"] [Last scene of the film]
