FRIDAY AT 2:00 AM. Hot Box wardrobe mistress Laverne Borg - together with her two hairdresser assistants; the chorus line of 12 ladies; four understudies; and the two ladies at the ticket box - walked over to the small all-night café across the street from Mindy's for an impromptu bridal shower for Miss Adelaide.
Everyone loves a romance, and they were thrilled that Adelaide, their manager and lead performer, was finally getting married before daybreak to her fiancé of 14 years, the dashing Nathan Detroit, operator of the Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York.
It was not the first time Laverne has set up such a party for Adelaide, her dearest friend. But in the past, the wedding had always been "postponed" and the ladies went home with their gifts unopened. This time around, there was ground to believe the elopement would finally push through because it had been announced at Mindy's on Wednesday, with all the high rollers in town, and in the presence of Police Lt. Brannigan yet.
The ladies have been sitting for half-an-hour inside the café drinking white wine, when the bride-to-be walked in, looking forlorn. Oh, no, Miss Adelaide has been crying! So, the wedding has been postponed again! Laverne was not surprised, but her heart sank just the same.
The Hot Box was so invested on this wedding. If only to see its star performer realize her most cherished dream and give her a proper honeymoon period, it has postponed the opening of the new show and moved it to the weekend after the next. What a shame. But didn't Laverne herself tell Adelaide that her own date with Society Max tonight had been canceled in favor of Nathan's big stupid game? Heaven knows how many times other dolls' dates have been dumped because their guys would rather be at the crap game. Between craps and the dolls, craps seemed to always win.
"O, Adelaide, dear, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry." Laverne hugged her friend and tried to comfort her.
"The game was over early." Adelaide explained to the group in between sobs. "The guys were all coming out of Mindy's and I accidentally bumped into Nathan. Because we had a future to look forward to and then suddenly, it was just snatched away from us, I felt like we needed to talk.
"He said he was sorry and even suggested we could elope that very moment, but not right now," Adelaide wailed, "Because he was going to a prayer meeting! A prayer meeting, can you imagine!? It was the most preposterous, most unforgivable lie I have ever heard.
"So we fought. He said he loves me and made impossible promises again! I feel I should never want to see him again. O, Laverne, to think of all those years gone by! I am so embarrassed, I could die!"
"A prayer meeting!?" the chorus dolls exclaimed in a chorus. They encircled Adelaide and bid her to sit down, "O, Miss Adelaide, we're sorry. We're very sorry, what can we say?"
The crying suddenly stopped when the cafe door opened and in came Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown. A low wave of whispers passed among the dolls, "Isn't that the hotshot Sky Masterson? What is he doing with the mission doll?"
"Sky!" greeted Laverne, with a smile and a nod toward Sarah. "Didn't know you were in town!"
"Hello, Laverne. Good morning lovely dolls, said Sky addressing the group, "I hardly recognized you with your clothes on." Sarah gave Sky's hand a jerk, "Not funny."
"You all know Sister Sarah?" continued Sky.
"We see her with the mission band," said the chorus. "Come sit with us, Sister Sarah."
"Hello, Ladies," Sarah smiled.
Still discombobulated, Adelaide approached Sky with open arms, but he caught her by the shoulders and turned to Sarah, "Sarah, this is Miss Adelaide, Nathan Detroit's intended." And to Adelaide, "Sgt. Sarah Brown of Save-A-Soul Mission. She can testify to you this very minute that your missing bridegroom-to-be is at a prayer meeting, just around the corner."
"Nathan was telling the truth?" Adelaide gasped; grabbing Sky's lapels. "Sky, is it true?:
"Well, let's all walk over to my place to find out," Sarah smiled graciously. "The prayer meeting must be about over by now. So let's go and join the guys for breakfast."
OVER AT THE MISSION, in the open dining room, volunteers laid out on two tables a sumptuous breakfast large enough to feed a congregation - with sausages and slices of ham and bacon, country fries, omelets, cheese rolls, coddled eggs, french pastries, fruit wedges, buttered toasts, boxes of cereals, fruit juice, doughnuts, plenty of milk and coffee. Meanwhile, the gamblers politely waited until a tiny bell rang, signaling the end of the meeting. Their leader, Nathan Detroit told them to stand and hold their hats over their hearts as the mission's Brother Arvide led Grace:
"Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen."
Suddenly, exuberant applause and whistles rose from the men as Sky Masterson dramatically entered the room flanked by Sarah Brown and Miss Adelaide in each arm, followed by the dozen dancers and the rest of the Hot Box dolls.
Sky shrugged and boasted in jest, "Eat your hearts out, Gentlemen!"
Nathan was the most surprised. He went up immediately to his frustrated fiancée, took her hands and attempted to kiss her, but Adelaide demurred.
Then gallantly, the guys gave way for the dolls to get in line ahead of them at the buffet table. They maybe second-rate gangsters, con men, and gamblers, but they know their manners. They have read, or at least have heard of, Miss Emily Post and her book of etiquette. And though they refer to women as "dolls," and other men, "guys," they use "Gentlemen" when referring to themselves.
With Sarah by his side, Sky couldn't be prouder. He felt he was on top of the world, watching the guys and dolls mingle and exchange pleasantries with one another. Why, even the special guest, the Mission's Regional General Matilda Cartwright, was seen talking with Big Jule. For all he knew, she might yet be converting the Chicago mobster to repentance before daybreak.
Most of all, Sky was happy to see the warring ex-future bridal pair, Nathan and Adelaide, starting to talk with each other, hopefully reconciling their differences. Nathan and Adelaide have been engaged for many years but have yet to be married. Any other couple might have broken the engagement at any time, but both parties claim to love each other forever and ever. So their engagement goes on forever and ever.
Meanwhile Sgt. Sarah, gracious hostess to the party, left his side to greet the guests, warmly welcoming each, sharing small talks, and shaking hands like a politician. Then she went back to hug Sky and after giving him a light kiss on the cheek, said goodnight to everybody. She left for her private quarters in back of the mission, as if on a cloud.
FRIDAY, SIX O'CLOCK AM. The prayer-breakfast meeting over, Brother Arvide happily said goodbye to the remaining guests at the door. He sighed as he watched them walk away and merge with other night people walking on the pavements for whom the colorful lights of Broadway shine like the sun.
These are the people who work - or simply hang out - in seedy saloons, brothels, burlesque halls, vaudeville stages, and dime houses. They sleep during the day and are awake at night, except for the mission workers who keep their station open at all hours.
Brother Arvide feels great sympathy and prays for them every day. How he wished he could talk to them one-on-one like a friend, to share their stories and hear of their experiences of coming to New York. How it was with each in his hometown before coming to conquer the big city; their successes and disappointments; and if they get so inclined, he would like to show them a new way of life. Mission workers are always ready to share the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ. Brother Arvide would definitely want to lead them to the Lord. And always, the mission is open for a little chat, or a little read, as well as for coffee-and-doughnuts.
Clean-living suburbanites hardly ever encounter the night people when they come down to Broadway. They generally avoid them in favor of the well-heeled, elegant clubs and restaurants and the intellectual lights of legitimate theatres, the opera and the symphony. Despite being ignored by polite society, the night people, in their own rough-and-tumble world, manage to live for another night, and the next night, and the night after the next, always hoping for a better tomorrow night.
Soon, Sky, too, said goodbye to the mission workers. He walked to his hotel, basking in the morning's early light. It had been quite a night. Sarah and he, after a short breakup, had reconciled. In the excitement of it all, he found it hard to fall asleep. He needed to read something to wind down. After a combination read of the Gideon Bible and the morning paper, Sky finally fell asleep around 10:00 am.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON. It was 4pm when Sky jumped out of bed, wondering if the Save-A-Soul mission band had done its afternoon round yet, and how Sarah was doing. It was Sarah, Sarah, in his mind just before he went to sleep; and now that another evening was opening up, it's again the happy thought of Sarah that fills his mind.
Sarah must be directing her mission workers in putting the meeting place back in order, after the all-night prayer party. Or visiting the sick in the hospital. Or more likely, she and the band are on their evening crusade. As much as Sky wanted a glimpse of Sarah right now, it was probably best he stayed out of the way and not be a distraction. He'd surely catch up with her later.
Sky also wondered if Nathan would be opening up the floating crap game tonight. Buoyed by his luck the night before, Sky definitely wants to play again, to share in the excitement of Nathan's Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game. This time, for the money.
As well he'd like to know if any of the genuine sinners he had delivered to the mission had actually repented. He'd be willing to bet only one or two of them did. Repentance for the many will be a slow, long, and hesitating process but there will always be miracles. As his Daddy once told him of the venerable former sinner, Saint Augustine, "Yes, Lord, later; but not now."
He showered, got dressed, picked up the evening paper, and decided to walk the short distance to Mindy's. In a few minutes, Nathan Detroit, too, walked in with Benny Southstreet, and joined Sky at the table. Nathan was not looking too happy, even as Sky heckled him, "May I offer you and Benny, a bite of cheesecake? You will thank me. It is the greatest cheesecake alive."
"No, thanks. Still working on last night's fabulous breakfast. But I will have the coffee," replied Nathan.
"I will take both cheesecake and coffee," Benny said, smiling.
"How's Adelaide?" Sky asked Nathan. "Based on what I saw last night, I presume you and Adelaide would have reconciled your differences by now and will eventually reset your wedding date."
"After 14 years of trying to evade marriage, Sky, don't be silly. You were the one who said we should fight it."
"Well, a lot of things can happen even in a period of days," Sky said, clearing the table of his newspaper as the waiter set down the cheesecakes and coffee. "Does this mean the game is on? Where?"
"Well, now that I have got your $1,000 sucker bet, it's at Joey Biltmore's tonight," said Nathan, "Adelaide will hate me for it, so what else is nu? All I want is to win back what Big Jule stole from me with his blank dice before you came in last night."
"But Nathan, how could you have laid money on the line? Was it not enough you took a bite off the top? How did it happen?"
It was Benny who answered, "Big Jule held us all hostage with the gun in his shoulder holster. He cleaned us all, including the house. It was highway robbery. Not that we thought he had enough bullets for all of us. But if he tried, the police would surely know and raid us, all captives in the sewer. No one would be able to escape."
"Sky," Nathan addressed him, "If you had not come and disarmed Big Jule with the old one-two, I would still be in the sewer holding on to dear life. Thank God you came in time and saved me. I have Big Jule's gun still and will take it with me to the game tonight, just in case. Later we will decide on what to do with it."
"Big Jule seemed real contrite at the prayer party," said Benny, "I also think Harry the Horse will hold him here at least for tonight. He will not be able to escape to Chicago so easily."
"Hmm, that is interesting," Sky replied. "And what about you, Benny, how were you at the prayer meeting last night?"
"Well, I did confess. I was the first to confess. I said I had been a bad person and a bad gambler at the start. But now I want to be a good person and a good gambler."
"That makes two of us. Had I been there, I would have confessed the same," said Sky, "By the way, where is Nicely?
"They sent him off to the tailor to be fitted with a nice, five-x's size Save-A-Soul uniform. He seems to be smitten by Sister Agatha. When you see a guy wearing the red uniform, you can tell that he's doing it for some doll."
"I hope not. One red uniform per household should be enough, especially if that uniform has stripes on it," Sky laughed. "I supposed Nathan would not be wearing such a uniform soon."
"I was happy to make good my marker and be present at the prayer meeting." Nathan replied, "But I am a good mostly-Jewish boy and I do not believe in all that Alleluia Christian crap, pardon the pun. I simply try to do my best in everything, and let G-d keep the score. But who nu?"
"Fair enough," Sky said. He stood up, and started for the door. "Now, if you would excuse me, I just remembered I have to pick up stuff from the dry cleaners before they closed down for the night. See you later at the Biltmore's."
FRIDAY, SIX O'CLOCK PM. The Save-A-Soul Mission door was open as usual and with a couple of knocks, Sky walked right in and saw Brother Arvide and Sarah poring over some papers at her desk. "Good evening, Uncle Arvide, Sister Sarah. Just thought I'd stick my head in to see how you're doing. And to thank you for the breakfast prayer party last night. It was fabulous."
"Come in, Son. We're open at all hours of the day and night," Brother Arvide said. "Sister Sarah and I were just winding up our report on the prayer meeting. Thanks to you, the mission will not be closing down. And General Cartwright herself was thrilled to have conducted the meeting."
"She did? Must have been a hoot." Then, addressing Sarah in a low voice, "Am I bothering you?"
"No, we're all done," Sarah looked at him. He noticed a distinct lightness in her movement and softness in her smile, "All I will need to do tomorrow is send the report off to Boston. And to complete the account on this month's donations and present it to the auditor to make sure everything is on the level, in case some government inspector shows up. It's that way with non-profits, you know. We do have to account for all donations and expenditures incurred in this place."
Brother Arvide interrupted, "Well, good to see you, Brother Sky. Now if you'll excuse me. Sarah, I'm off to the dining room, in case anybody looks for me."
Sarah was about to pull out another folder from her file, but Sky caught her gently by the wrist. "Have dinner with me tomorrow night?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"In Havana?"
"Nah, just at Mindy's. You've never been to Mindy's, have you?"
"I've never had reasons to go. But now that I have you..."
"It's a hangout for elegant hustlers, the criminal and artistic types; theatre patrons, newspaper people, gamblers, burlesque dancers..." He looked at her face for any signs of cringe but found none.
He continued, "Legit stage actors, cops, second-rate politicians, pimps, boxers, lascivious Indian chiefs, musicians, thieves, undertakers, bookies, song-pluggers..."
"And butchers, bakers, and why not? It's Broadway." Sarah countered, "You know, Mr. Masterson, I think you really believe I'm an awful prude."
"Are you?" he teased.
"I'm prepared to be the toughest doll to the smartest gangster and highest roller of them all."
"Lucky guy, I'm jealous," he quipped. "On the other hand, having seen you send a guy flying across the room with a right hook…"
"Will your guys be at Mindy's, too?
"I doubt if there'll be any. We're mostly tinhorns," he said. "And just to be clear, they are not my guys. I'm just one of them, when in town. I never wanted to own the house. I'm just a peripatetic gambler. Nathan is the leader of the pack; he is the boss. We're all Nathan's guys.
"I see," said Sarah. "And peripatetic, what does that mean?"
"A follower of Aristotle, with a capital P."
"P, as in Philadelphia? As in, 'smarter than three Philadelphia lawyers combined'?"
"Next time try the comic section," Sky smiled, pulled Sarah closer and kissed the tip of her nose." All right, then. I will pick you up here same time tomorrow, and we will walk over to Mindy's. Say Goodnight, Uncle Arvide, for me." Sky grabbed his hat and prepared to leave.
"Uncle Arvide?" echoed Sarah.
"As I should begin practicing how to call your mother's brother," he turned around, winked at her and walked out the door.
FRIDAY, 6:45 PM. Sky hailed a cab to take him to Joey Biltmore's garage where the action is. As he was about to get in, he saw Nicely-Nicely, in a bright Save-A-Soul uniform, calling out and running to him. "What's up, Nicely?"
"They raided the Hot Box and arrested everyone, including Miss Adelaide," Nicely blurted out, "I went down to the station to check on her. She told me to go back to the Hot Box, to her dressing room and get her purse. She left it behind during the roundup. Without it, she will not be able to pay the bail. But the place has been cordoned off by police, and I could not get in.
"I said I would get Nathan, but she said no. She is angry with him and does not want his crap money to bail her out. Besides, I do not think Nathan has any money left. He was wiped clean by Big Jule, as were all of us. The only way Nathan was able to secure Biltmore's was with your sucker bet."
Sky pushed Nicely into the cab, "Get in. Let us go and bail out Miss Adelaide. What was she arrested for?"
"Nobody knows. It was a dragnet. The police simply secured the area and arrested everyone in sight. Everyone. Charlie and his office staff. Adelaide and her dancers, the few in the audience, stage hands, waiters, bartenders, janitors – you name it." Nicely said. "About 40 of them. They will take all night to process and all Miss Adelaide wanted was to pay her bail, go home and get some rest, and maybe come back later. But she can not do that without her purse."
"Hmm, I think I know what it is all about," Sky told Nicely. "From communiques received in Las Vegas last week, it seems this New York raid was a long time planning. A joint project of the city police and the ATC, it is supposed to be a war on sex trafficking, but I doubt they would find enough underaged prostitution in the area. The worst they would be able to turn up may be some dancers offering undercover cops a little more than just a lap dance, and a few nudity. But cops need to arrest some people, and so they did."
On reaching the station, Sky and Nicely found Miss Adelaide sitting on a chair in a corner, apart from the rest of the Hot Box people who were squeezed tightly on three long benches in the waiting area. Right away she knew why Sky came.
"I don't want your (sneeze!) dirty crap money to bail me out, Sky," she said tersely. "I can fend for myself, once I get back my purse." (Sniffle, sniffle.)
"Bless you, but it's not crap money, Adelaide. It's my money. I earned it and will spend it anyway I want. Right now, it's to bail you out," said Sky, empathically. And with that, he went and got Adelaide processed ahead of the pack. In a half-an-hour, all three were out of there.
SKY GRABBED A TAXI but instead of taking Adelaide straight to her home, they drove to the all-night café across the street from Mindy's. He ordered pastrami on rye sandwiches piled high on a large serving plate, a big green salad, french fries, coffee and a large bottle of merlot for the three of them to share, while discussing events of the day and the night before.
"O Sky, it was awful. I don't know how it could happen so fast," Adelaide said wearily. "My girls and I were lined-up behind curtain #2, getting ready for our number. Suddenly, two cops appeared from nowhere and started slapping bracelets on us. I begged them to at least let the ladies go back to their dressing rooms so they could put on something decent. We simply couldn't be hauled off in our skimpy costumes; but even in the dressing rooms they wouldn't leave us alone. They watched as we changed clothes. So humiliating."
Nicely listened sympathetically, but having finished his share of sandwiches and wine, begged to be excused. He has to be up in the morning for the early band march, and needs to start getting used to sleeping at night.
"O, Sky, sweetie, what is happening to me?" Adelaide sobbed, tears falling into her coffee, "It's hard enough to appear happy on stage while your heart is breaking at the tragic turn of events; but to be hauled off by the police like cattle is almost surreal."
"Adelaide, my Daddy used to say, no matter what happens, take care of yourself first." Sky said, "You'll need your strength of body and determination of mind to get through this."
"Sky, honey, not only was our wedding postponed, Nathan doesn't even know I've been arrested," she cried.
"Don't worry about Nathan. He has his own business to attend to tonight." Sky said. "If you don't mind my asking, what is it exactly with you and him? I understand it's been 14-15 years since you were engaged. Why, that's even longer than we've been friends. I clearly remember the first time I met you and Nathan in the Hot Box. "
All of a sudden, Adelaide clenched her jaws and assumed a hard stance. And if looks could kill, Sky would have dropped dead there and then.
She glared at him, and with an angry manicured finger wagging, raised her voice, "I remember it quite well, Sky Masterson! And if you haven't been a friend of Nathan, I would never have wanted to see you again, ever!" she paused. "Those two young ladies fought each other with hair-cutting scissors in the ladies' room over you, Sky Masterson! Over you! Shame on you! If I hadn't gone in to break it up, one or both might have been killed. There was blood on the floor!"
Sky was stunned to silence. That was not what he expected Adelaide to recall. He had hoped that by making her remember her early love for Nathan, she might open up and go back to her usual sweet self. But instead she dug up something about him that has long been purged out from his memory.
"I was very young then, Adelaide, barely out of my teens."
"Barely out of your teens and already a full-blown hustler and a cold-blooded lothario!" Adelaide scolded under her breath. "Look, Sky, I am only four years older than you, and although people think of me as a ditzy blonde, I have much more sense than you ever had. I hire, train, and manage people. And I fire them, too, if I have to. I was already a manager before I was 25."
"Figuring gender for age, Adelaide, let's just say we're even, notoriety-wise. Your profession isn't all that innocent, either."
Adelaide continued, "Those two young ladies were under my supervision. They're the daughters of two friends of my mother in Woonsocket. One reason I haven't been home in Rhode Island, and haven't visited my mother in the 14 years I've been engaged to Nathan, is because I am so ashamed with what happened between those two young ladies. I have failed them both as a supervisor and a friend. Fortunately, they have both gone to college and are now working as teachers. I hope they have become friends again. I bet you don't even remember their names."
"No, I don't." Sky sighed, now contrite. "I'm sorry, Adelaide. I'm very sorry. I've always had three or four dolls to play with at any given time in the past, what with my constant travels. It was unfortunate to have been caught in the web of those two. I didn't even know they knew each other. I'm really sorry," Sky said in a low voice.
"Didn't know they knew each other, my eye!" Adelaide tried to control her rising voice. "They worked in the same place and had the same hours. Don't be too smooth with my dolls, Sky!"
Sky answered with his head down, "I am just glad that being a close friend to Nathan, we were able to mend and maintain our friendship over the years. You and Nathan are precious to me, Adelaide. Your friendship is a home to come to, whenever I'm in New York. And I'm very grateful."
Adelaide continued, now calmer, "Sky, my dear, time you became respectful of women. We're not just dolls. We're not playthings. And now that you seem to be older, more responsible, and have found your true love, I hope you'll cherish and love Sarah Brown the way Nathan loves me. For your own good. She seems to be a lovely lady, a woman of substance, and a missionary to boot! I'm looking forward to being close friends with her."
Then Adelaide quipped in, for good measure, "Frankly, my dear, I was quite shocked that Sister Sarah would even look at you, considering."
Sky burst out laughing, "Blame Nathan – it's his fault! He bet a sucker that I would not be able to take the mission doll out on a date. No sweat, I simply took Sarah to Havana and overnight she fell in love with me. Can't blame her, either, considering."
"Gimme oxygen, puhleease!" Adelaide pretended to gasp and had to sip some wine to find her bearing. She crumpled a paper napkin and threw it at Sky, "You're up to your old trick, again, you wicked, wicked boy! When will you learn? If your other dolls learned about Sarah, someone could die."
"No, no one died," Sky parried the napkin ball and laughed. "Sarah got into a clinch with one of my Cubanitas, came out like a pro and knocked the Cuban doll down with a right hook. We left the bar looking like a war zone. Sergeant Sarah will move heaven and earth fighting for me; she thinks I'm worth it."
"Stop bragging!"
"Not bragging. It's true."
"You seduced her!"
"No. She seduced me."
"There's no accounting for taste, then."
"O, come on, Adelaide. I'm not just a pretty face!"
Adelaide slowly shook her head, "O, Sky, dear friend. For your sake, don't you ever two-time Sarah."
'I promise."
Adelaide, fully recovered now, said dreamily, "One thing I really love about Nathan, he never had any other woman but me. All these 14 years we have been engaged, it's been only me for him, and him for me."
"Quite a feat for you, too, Adelaide." Sky said, now relieved. "To think that being the super attractive, celebrated star of the Hot Box, you could always choose one or more from the many men hovering over and around you. All kinds of them – single, divorced, widowers – even an occasional married rich man wanting for a mistress. But for you, it's only Nathan. He's one heck of a lucky guy, and the bastard does not even know it."
"He still wouldn't marry me, though," said Adelaide, starting to cry again. "It's the crap game that's his mistress. It's the floating crap game that's the other woman in this triangle. You are right, Sky. Nathan will never change."
"Adelaide, as my Daddy would suggest, will you think of it another way?" Sky sighed, and continued. "You and Nathan have each your own career. You have the dancers in your domain. You protect them like a mother hen, concerned for their well-being. And you're happy to be their manager. You love them. You love every single one of them. And they love you. Do you really want to give them up for a houseful of book ends and wallpaper? Do you really want to give up singing and dancing, and basking in all that adulation?" he asked.
"Keep talking."
"Same with Nathan. He is no ordinary man. He's the head of us gamblers. Okay, no one is perfect. But like your care and concern for your exotic dancers, Nathan cares for us. He makes sure our game is safe, as much as possible, away from the police. His concern is that none of us welsh on our markers; never to rat on another. We have a code of honor which Nathan, even in his hurly-burliest, craziest moments, never fails to enforce. He is our manager – our general manager. He wants us to watch our manners; to avoid violent language; to be gentlemen at all times, even with no dolls around. He also makes us laugh, which is a bonus. All that may be because of your influence. But we look up to him and respect him for what he does, and what he makes of us."
"O, Sky dear, I almost didn't recognize Nathan by your description. It's so delicious, tell me more."
"Another thing you might want to consider, a very important one: Nathan is the operator of the game. The operator is above the game. He almost never gambles; he only does if he's really broke and has no other choice. He skims off the top for what is rightfully his, that's all. He does not dirty his hands in the process; he does not interfere. He never borrows nor steals. If we were in the stock exchange, Nathan would own the brokerage, and we, guys, the brokers trying to break each other." Sky sighed and waited for Adelaide's answer.
"Your point?" Adelaide asked.
"I mean that you both can pursue your own calling and still stay together. You could still build a house and fill it with wallpaper and bookends. You could get married and have children, but without conditions of giving up one's career for the other. Like a husband and a wife with their own separate professions. You, the manager of dancing dolls; and Nathan…well, the manager of gambling guys. Nothing wrong with that picture!
Sky continued, "And if your concern is the bad reputation associated with gambling, what about the reputation associated with your provocative dances, costumes, and songs? Your profession has its own cringe-factors. You wouldn't be caught in a dragnet and be sitting in the police station tonight, if it were safe and clean. But Nathan is not bothered by your choice of career because he trusts you. He knows you know what you're doing. How I wish you'd trust him, too.
There was long silence between them, during which Adelaide noticed she hasn't sneezed at all - not even once, during this long conversation with Sky. She never felt so good. Perhaps with the vast untapped area of hope for her and Nathan's relationship opening before her eyes, her perennial bad, bad cold has finally vanished. She hopes it holds. She believes it will. Wherever Nathan is at this hour, she sincerely hopes he's having fun at the game. She looks forward to seeing him tomorrow night.
Outside the cafe, Sky reached into his pocket and handed Adelaide some money she didn't refuse. "It's a loan. It's dirty crap money to tide you over until you get to the bank, or get your purse back. You'll need some for the cab." Adelaide gave Sky a big hug before taking the taxi that will take her home.
FRIDAY, 8:30PM. Sky Masterson climbed into another cab, and headed for the Biltmore garage where the action is.