The next morning, Jeannie, a happy-go-lucky chorus girl, comes upon Duke, a lug from New Jersey, and mistakes him for an actual English Duke. Duke, who is perpetually nervous around women, tries to escape, but Jeannie does everything in her power to get him to notice her (“Do it Again”). In the ritzy living room, Jimmy and Billie realize that they are hopelessly in love (“’S Wonderful”) But Eileen returns with her father – the ultra-conservative Senator Evergreen – and her aunt – the Duchess Estonia Dulworth – to demand that Jimmy and Eileen have a legal wedding. Jimmy has no choice but to marry Eileen, and Billie pretends to be a cockney maid so she can stick around and guard the bootleg. As Eileen beelines towards the cellar to get the wedding china, Jimmy and Cookie frantically distract the wedding party away from the basement (“Fascinating Rhythm”) as the curtain falls. Act II On the ritzy terrace, the Vice Squad and Chorus Girls revel (“Lady Be Good”). Billie enters and realizes she’ll never be as happy as the dancing revellers around her (“But Not For Me”). Cookie and Duke enter and, since they’re all now disguised as servants, they plot how they can get the impending wedding luncheon over and done with as quickly as possible. The Duchess barrels on to instruct Cookie in the finer points of luncheon preparation. She insists on hiring a string quartet for entertainment, but Cookie has other ideas (“By Strauss” / “Sweet and Lowdown - Reprise”). As Billie sets the ritzy luncheon table, Jimmy makes one last attempt to appease her (“Do, Do, Do”). But Billie will have none of it. As the luncheon begins, Cookie and Duke frantically serve the luncheon guests, and the Duchess continues to annoy Cookie, who spikes her lemonade with Gin. Billie entertains them all with a cockney song (“Hangin’ Around With You”) which mainly serves as an excuse to keep pouring hot soup on Jimmy’s lap. But Billie accidentally pours some steaming soup onto Eileen, who immediately fires her. The Duchess, now happily drunk, defends Billie and reveals a deep secret as she grabs onto Cookie, climbs on the luncheon table and swings from a chandelier (“Looking for a Boy”). After he drags off the Duchess, an angry Jimmy calls Billie a common criminal, and they realize that they can never be together. Jimmy goes to prepare for his wedding, as Jeannie enters looking for Duke, who Billie accidentally reveals isn’t a real duke. Jeannie is furious, so Duke tries to win her over with a poem (“Blah Blah Blah”), but Jeannie rushes away. In the ritzy bedroom, Cookie is dressing Jimmy for his wedding as Billie enters to return his wallet. Jimmy and Billie both realize that this is the last time they’ll ever see each other (“Will You Remember Me?”). The Chorus Girls and Vice Squad set up the wedding (“I’ve Got to Be There - Reprise”). As Senator Evergreen presides, Eileen makes her very grand entrance (“I’ve Got a Crush on You”). But just before vows are exchanged, Cookie and Duke rush in, pretending to be Prohibition Agents, though Chief Berry quickly enters and reveals their true identities. As they’re arrested, Jeannie rushes in and proclaims her love for Duke, then the now sober Duchess proclaims her love for Cookie. Still, Senator Evergreen insists the bootleggers must be arrested, but Jimmy’s mother, Millicent, makes an appearance, revealing the true nature of her son’s heritage – Senator Evergreen is Jimmy’s father. The senator proclaims the day a joyous one and all are free to pursue their new and surprising loves. Jimmy realizes that Billie has rushed to the boathouse to sail away forever, and he rushes to swear his devotion to her. Millicent follows and reveals that she happens to be the biggest rumrunner on Long Island, and she’d like Billie to marry her son and take over her business. Billie happily accepts (“Someone to Watch Over Me - Reprise”). And on the ritzy terrace under a starry night, love has blossomed, the bootleg is opened, and the company celebrates their newfound joy (“They All Laughed!”). MUSICAL NUMBERS Act 1 1. Sweet and Lowdown – Jimmy, Jeannie, Chorus Girls and Society Guys 2. Nice Work If You Can Get It – Jimmy and Billie 3. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Reprise) – Billie 4. Demon Rum – Duchess, Chief Berry, Senator and Vice Squad 5. Someone to Watch Over Me – Billie 6. Delishious – Eileen, Bubble Girls and Boys
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