Gilda & Johnny A triolet sequence based on dialogue from the 1946
film “Gilda,” starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford.

Ballin Mundson

Hate is the only thing that’s ever warmed me.
Didn’t you feel it tonight? That lick of desire
born of malice? This is the heat that formed me.
Hate is the only thing that’s ever warmed me.
No icy woman’s wiles have ever charmed me.
Give up the charade. Come closer to the fire.
Hate is the only thing that’s ever warmed me.
Didn’t you feel it tonight? That lick of desire?



Gilda’s Hello

Haven’t you heard about me? I’m well known
for risky bets and reckless love, for bluffing
and winning it all. Men can’t leave me alone.
Haven’t you heard about me? I’m well known
and nothing but trouble. A heart as hard as stone.
If I were a ranch, they’d call me the Bar Nothing.
Haven’t you heard about me? I’m well known
for risky bets and reckless love, for bluffing.


Johnny Resists

I hated her, so I couldn’t forget her face
or get her out of my mind, no matter what
I did or tried. I ran her husband’s place
and hated her all the time, her taunting face,
her come-on eyes, begging me to give chase.
But neither of us wanted to be caught.
I hated her, so I couldn’t forget her face
or get her out of my mind, no matter what.



Is That Your Idea of a Friend?

It’s silent when I want silence
and talks when I want to talk.
A knife is a handy appliance.
It’s silent when I want silence.
It knows what I mean by reliance
and knows how to walk the walk.
It’s silent when I want silence
and talks when I want to talk.



Gilda’s Dilemma

I never can get a zipper to close.
Maybe that stands for something.
I hook my brassiere and pull on my hose
but I never can get a zipper to close.
Who has time to fight with clothes
and closures? Who knows? Maybe it’s nothing,
but I never can get a zipper to close.
Maybe that stands for something.



Uncle Pio Opines

Only frustrated people smoke too much
and only lonely people are frustrated.
They say it calms their nerves or adds a touch
of je ne sais quoi. I think they want too much:
to be a so-and-so, have such-and-such.
And social life is vastly overrated.
Only frustrated people smoke too much
and only the lonely people are frustrated.



Gilda’s Song

She did a dance called the Hitchy-koo.
So put the blame on Mame
for fires and blizzards and earthquakes, too,
‘cause she did a dance called the Hitchy-Koo.
I’ll give you the lowdown: it’s you-know-who.
Was there ever a meaner dame?
She did a dance called the Hitchy-koo,
so put the blame on Mame.



Johnny’s Aside

She didn’t believe I wasn’t coming back.
Every night she got all dressed up and waited
to hear my voice, to get me in the sack.
She didn’t believe I wasn’t coming back.
But I could read her mind—I had that knack—
and knew the scenarios she’d fabricated.
She didn’t believe I wasn’t coming back.
Every night she got all dressed up and waited.



Gilda’s Solution

Let’s admit it. Both of us were stinkers.
This way no one has to apologize.
So maybe we had a few. We all know drinkers
thrive on drama. Both of us were stinkers.
No one ever accused us of being deep thinkers,
but aren’t we rather clever to realize—
and isn’t it wonderful?— both of us were stinkers.
This way no one has to apologize!