The Hello Girls (Suzanne)

Louise: A world where nationalism is on the rise

We're talking about the year 1918, of course

All: WILL YOU ANSWER THE CALL

For 3 years, Europe had been locked in a deadly struggle from which there seemed no exit

Grace: Suzanne... You know you shouldn't call me when we're working

But this is important!

Grace:what is it?

Did you see the ad in the paper today? They want operators to send to France!

Grace: Who does?

The Army, Grace! The U.S. Army

Grace: so… They want us to train the troops?

No, they want us to be the troops. To serve as operators….over there!

Grace: Listen, Suzanne-

Grace, you have to do this!

Grace: why?

Because I'm doing this. Come on- it'll be an adventure

Grace: It's war, Suzanne, not a sightseeing expedition.

I know. And we all have to do our bit. But girls like us- we aren't cut out for tending victory gardens. How many times have you told me you wished you could be doing something more.

Grace: I have been known to say that

And, you know how I knew this was meant for us? The ad in the paper says you got to speak French! They need the operators to be able to translate.

Grace: But I have spoken French since college

Mademoiselle Banker! Ne sois pas une poule mouillée

Grace: ….what?

You know perfectly well what I said! Grace, you always do this. You think of all the reasons of why not, and I have to be the one to talk you into it. Remember that summer we both got pompadours?

Grace: That was a terrible idea

But this isnt. Tu dois about la moi, mon amie…

Grace: I must have the goose liver?

Not foie gras….la foi! Didn't you major in French?

Grace: actually I was a double major- French and history

So join the Army with me! Speak French.. And make history!

Louise: Yes. Me, too! Anyone else? Let's take a vote.

Don't be silly. Women aren't allowed to vote

Women: ITS NOT SO THRILLING TO PREPARE

Perfect! Keep it!

Louise: Ugh! No sappy ballads. I forbid it!

Play something we can dance to.

Bertha: “Alexander's Ragtime Band!”

No!

Grace: Yes, but I think we should go to bed early

Grace …tomorrow’s our one free day!

Grace: That might not be soon enough. We could ship out any day now

What’s your idea

Grace: Nosense…. it'll be easy. The FX said we can use the kitchen if we're out of there by 6 a.m.

Grace- we're sleeping in tomorrow

2nd officer: Oh yeah? What is it?

Well, it's a…dance. A subscription dance, see? Kind of an Army mixer, for a good cause.

1st officer: Are we invited?

A dollar gets you in the door…

Riser: blah blah…the part about obeying the orders of the officers appointed over you.

(doing a canon)

I, Suzanne Prevot, do solemnly swear to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully, against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me.

Once canon stops

There it is

Bertha: Wonder if I'll see my husband again

Wonder if we'll float. So many people getting on one tin can.

Matterson: Hey, are you ladies really going on this boat with us?

So what if we are?

Matterson: But what are you doing in that uniform

The same as you pal, we came to fight

Matterson: Pree-vog! Allumette, I want an allumette

Funny, every time I come above deck for some fresh air, you're here to pollute it.

Matterson: I think you and I must be on the same clock. Are you a Scorpio. You seem like a Scorpio

Nope. Cancer. Get it?

Matterson: no

Well you probably will

Matterson: Like if the Jerries are listening, you got ways of knowing. Is that true?

Maybe we do

Matterson: That's amazing! What's the secret

We women have our ways…

Matterson: Oh, come on. You can tell me!

Can we talk about something else

Grace: He's been overly friendly with several of us-asking a lot of questions

“Where are you going to be stationed? What kind of equipment are you using?’

Riser: and truth is, he is a spy-

I knew it!

Riser: Beauvais, prochain arrêt! Beauvais!

How much farther to Paris? It feels like we've been traveling forever

Grace: We'll get there. Tu dois avoir la foi, mon amie.

I have faith in you. Just, maybe not Lieutenant Riser. And definitely not that rat, Matterson

Grace: I'm sure the lieutenant was only trying to do what he thought was best.

How can you defend him?

Grace: He's not the enemy, Suzanne

I'm not so sure about that

Louise: ça me me derange pas. J’ai mes moyens…

Eh, arrête ton char, toots

Doughboy: Are-are you Americans

You bet your tin hat we are

Doughboy: They gotta be British

Do we sound like Brits to you, buddy

Doughboy: Well, she sounds like a New Yorker

I am! And so is she!

Bertha: We’ll all be with you, Helen. If we stick together, we'll be fine

Grace is waiting for us at the office. We can't let her-

Helen: But the next shell might hit the exchange!

You know, she's right…

Grace: EVERY DAY WE'RE IMPROVING AND WE'RE PROGRESSING

Chaumont, here

All: THERE ARE LIVES ON THE LINE

Hello, this is Chaumont

Matterson: Preee-voh

Metrerson?!

Matterson: but I can't find a match anywhere in this whole village

They've taken the town!

Grace: Put him through to the general

Hello, Cantigny. Stay on the line, please. We're putting you through to the general. No, hell want to hear it from you directly…

Louise: it's general Foch- for Pershing…!

Ad Lib

All: YOURS TO MINE THERE ARE LIVES

Twenty minutes and nothing! I can't take this…

Grace: They're within radio range. Maybe they've gotten a message

Wait, Trunk 4 is back up! That's Matterson's line! Matterson, where the hell have you been?

Riser: Is this how my switchboard unit is answering calls now?

Captain Riser…?

Riser:…The Germans are retreating.

What happened to Matterson?

WOMEN: WE GOTTA BE AT THE FRONT

What did he say?

Grace: The same as always

Suzanne: And you took no for an answer. Again

Grace: It's frustrating when you have a commanding officer who won't go to bat for you

Yeah- I know the feeling

Grace: I need you to train a fellow

Just watch- they'll send him to the front before any of us!

Matterson: Preee-voh

Oh my god…

Matterson: Operator Matterson, reporting for duty

Grace said I had to train a fella- but, you…?!

Matterson: Yeah, I'm only good for this kind of work now

Oh, don't say that, Matterson…you won't be good for this either

Matterson: Talk about adding insult to injury- sheesh

Well, the sooner we start, the sooner we'll be done, so…

Matterson: Shouldn't take long. There's nothing to the job

Oh yeah?

Matterson: AND A FLOWER FOR MY CAP

Look- I don't wanna be here either. So let's just get through this, all right?

Matterson: WHOS BORED HERE

Hush!

Matterson: SPEAKING OF FREE ARE YOU FREE THIS EVENING

Yes, you're very smooth with the lines…but let's see how you do with this kind

Matterson: BUT NOW I HEAR THERE'S TWO?!

Eugene!- will you knock it off and pay attention?

Matterson: Eugene?!

That's your name, isn't it?

Matterson: But you never call me that

Well I had to try something to get through to you

Matterson: listen, Suzanne, I'm sorry I've been a bit obnoxious. I'm just so... Happy

Happy?

Matterson: On the telephone!

Matterson!

Matterson: What, no more lessons

What else can I teach you? You're already the slickest operator I know

Grace: How did they even find out about this

Because they listened in on the call, Grace

Grace: don't tell me that! This is against so many regulations

Does it really matter now

Grace: yes! Riser's finally starting to trust us

Listen: Pershing is going to meet with riser, and he wants you there too. This could be our best chance to get to the front

Grace: I wanted as much as you do, but it's not our decision

But it is our fight. Do you know why women aren't allowed to vote, Grace

Grace: what does that have to do with this

When I was little, I asked my mother and do you know what she told me? She said men get to vote because they risk their lives for their country. Well I'm ready to do that. But unless we get to the front, they're going to say: "you were never soldiers. You were secretaries”

Grace: Suzanne, Captain Riser believes in us. If there's a chance for us to go, we will

Riser will never be on our side! You have to go over his head

Grace: You want me to break the rules

When the rules aren't fair, sometimes it's the only way to win. When you see general Pershing, you have to make our case

Scene after Twenty

Ad Lib: Grace? Grace, where are you?

Bertha: maybe something happened. Maybe they sent her off somewhere

You know, she's got a point. What if they sent Grace to the front without us

Ad Lib: Grace, where were you?!

Grace, what's wrong

Bertha: secret orders to Chief Grace banker and operators prevot, hunt, Hill, and Lebreton

Tell me this is what I think it is

Bertha: number one. The offer said persons are hereby transferred and will report for duty at widewing

Ad Lib: oh my gosh! Finally!

Louise: this is really happening, isn't it

Helmets and gas masks.. I think we're in the Army now, girls

Bertha: so kiss your Kelly home goodbye and get ready for roving life.

Oh, he sounds sore about it. Did you go over his head?

Next scene

Now this is an army barracks! No more cushy billets and feather beds for us

Grace: maybe we can hang something on the walls, so won't look so

Gee, Grace, I forgot to pack my picassos

Bertha: oh, I like it. Very military

Come on, girls. We've got a lot of real estate to spruce up here

Bertha: no, that's German plane

You can tell just from the sound

Bertha: Probably a Fokker A1 or A2

Look at that Fokker go

Grace: like cotton balls

I think the bastard is shooting at us

Bertha: The Cotton balls are anti-aircraft fire

Oh…! Oh!

Louise: they got him

Auf Wiedershen, pal, you're going down

Helen: when they shoot up in the air, what happens to all those bullets

That was a close one

Louise: that man over there has been staring at me the whole time I've been here

He's probably never seen women in the Army before. He's a German prisoner

Louise : really? Why isn't he pinned up with the rest of them

They put him to work, because he speaks English

German: oui, mademoiselle. ET vous êtes française

You're wrong. We're Americans