Frank SinatraNancy, 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.
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.
[on the set of Mogambo in Africa]
Frank Sinatra
[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 is on-set doing a screen test for From Here to Eternity, while director Fred Zinnemann watches]
Frank Sinatra
Where's the dice?
Frank Sinatra
There's no dice!
FZFred 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.
[pause]
FZFred Zinnemann
Whenever you're ready.
[pause. Walks back to the set]
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.
[Ava walks away]
Frank Sinatra
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 is visiting Sammy Davis Jr. in hospital, who has lost an eye in a car accident]
Frank Sinatra
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.
[Sammy laughs. Frank smiles]
Frank Sinatra
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]
PLPeter 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?
PLPeter Lawford
Crosby offered his place.
Frank Sinatra
Bing? He's a Republican.
PLPeter 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?!
PLPeter 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!
PLPeter 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!
MFMia Farrow
You're just grumpy because you don't want me to get this part.
Frank Sinatra
[bitterly] Mia, I don't care.
MFMia Farrow
I'll see you weekends.
Frank Sinatra
Right. You'll be in New York. I'll be in Vegas and LA.
MFMia Farrow
I'll make time.
Frank Sinatra
You gotta show me that trick.
MFMia 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.
MFMia 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.
MFMia 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]
MFMia Farrow
Hey. I'm not Ava.
Frank Sinatra
[to Marty, who is dying] Pop, I'm thinking of leaving the business.
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?
Frank Sinatra
Is it hard to quit?
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.
[pause] All those years... the guys at the fire house... they treated me like... a champ... Because of you.
Frank Sinatra
Yeah.
... You're no quitter, son.
[pause]
Frank Sinatra
Thank you, pop. [stands up, kisses his father on his forehead] Goodnight. I love you, pop.
Frank... don't go... Just stay awhile.
Frank Sinatra
[sits down] Sure, pop.
[Marty slowly closes his eyes. Frank takes his father's hand, he kisses it]
Frank Sinatra
[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]
Sinatra · 27 quotes
