Act 2 Scene 3 Hanratty Lines (Lead into Don't Be a Stranger, Don't Be a Stranger, Little Boy be a Man)

Frank: Live in Living Color Reprise

Sooner or later, they always make a mistake. Sooner or later. Meanwhile, while he was busy with Brenda, we were cracking this thing pretty quickly. So maybe this is my part of the show…sort of a film noir kind of thing. It was hot, even of August. So hot my ass was sticking to the seat of a car like a fly on paper and my suit was my own personal sauna. But not as hot as the woman I was about to interview. She gave new meaning to the word femme fatale. Too bad she was some poor kids mother.

Paula: Don’t be a Stranger, Tell him that for me

If I could just look at a photo…

Paula: I don’t have a recent one. Here…his junior class yearbook…

That’s him. Heavens to Betsey, that’s him. Class treasurer?

Paula: Is my Frankie in some sort of trouble?

Ma’am, your son is in a great deal of trouble. He’s passing bad checks, forging government documents -

Paula: Half of the kids his age are on dope but you chase after Frankie because he made a little mistake? Tant pis. Tell me how much, I’ll write you a check.

So far it’s about one-point-four million dollars.

Paula: Ce n’ est pas possible.

Oh, it’s possible. Unlikely, but possible.

Paula: He must be good at this.

If you were trying to raise a crook, you should be very proud.

Paula: Don’t be a stranger, tell him that for me (verse 2)

You haven’t heard from him since you left your husband?

Paula: I’m to blame. Is that what you’re saying?

I don’t do blame, ma’am. I just catch the bad guys.

Paula: I Made a Choice, and chose what’s best for me

How might I locate your son?

Paula: Ask his father. He says Frankie writes to him.

And where can I find thi

Paula: Check the bars in town.

Okay.

Don’t Be a Stranger Ends

Do you have any idea where your child is?

Sr: He’s always in the air. He’s a pilot with Pan Am! What a life!

He’s not a pilot anymore, Mister Abagnale. Never was. He’s a counterfeiter and con man.

Sr: I knew that. I just wanted to see if you knew. You expect a father to give up his son.

Yes. I would expect a father to do that. People get shot in my line of work. Real guns. Real bullets. I’d like to bring him in alive.

Sr: Okay. Here’s the truth, Got a letter from him just today. He joined up. He’s over in Viet Nam, serving his country.

Can I see that letter?

Sr: No return address. He’s in uniform, risking his life for you and me. Not a bad way to leave his troubles behind, I’d say. He got out of the game at just the right time.

The game?

Sr: You know, the game. Don’t let the bastards get the best of you. Look out for yourself, when the banks and the government and the big boys try to rob you blind.

Is that what you taught your kid?

Sr: A man should go after what he wants in life.

A man should face up to what he’s done. Mister Abagnale.

Sr: Please - Frank.

Frank. Your kid needs you now.

Sr: What can I do for him that he can’t do better for himself?

You can tell him to come in. You can tell him it’s time to stop. You may the only one who can.

Sr: Then I think we’re all in trouble, Carl. Hell, the kid used to see me as Frank Sinatra, Jesus Christ, and JFK all rolled into one. I could'n’t live up to that. I did the best I could. I told him I loved him - every day.

Maybe you should’ve told him not to commit grand larceny.

Sr: Way of the world Carl. Our fathers screw us up, we turn around and do the same to our kids. It’s the eternal cycle.

Until someone breaks it.

Sr: And If I ever Would Cry

I bet I can guess what happened next…

Sr: He’d smack the tear from out my eye

Badda-boom.

Sr: Grow up kid, you’re no Peter Pan. Little boy be a man

But you want to do your kid better, right?

Sr: You have any kids, Carl?

I do not.

Sr: Then what the hell do you know about it? I s’pose your father was a prince.

Yeah, of Darkness.

Both: I”m living proof that what doesn’t kill ya makes ya stronger!

What say we break the losing streak, Frank? Set the kid straight.

Sr: Aw the kid’s fine, a pilot serving his country! He’s doin’ fine.

You’re sure about that.

Bartender: Anything else for ya?

Payphone. I need to get to Atlanta. Make sure he gets home, okay?

2.1 begins

Look, it’s simple. We know he’s a kid. We need to find out who’s responsible for the kid. So we check out every runaway teen and missing student in the tri-state area over the past three years. I pulled a list from the mainframe. We just go to each address, ask to see a family photo.

Dollar: How long will that take?

As long as it takes. Let’s go, men.