A Night at the Opera1935

Driftwood:
Could he sail tomorrow?

Fiorello:
You pay him enough money, he could sail yesterday. How much you pay him?

Driftwood:
Well, I don't know... [muttering to himself] Let's see, a thousand dollars a night... I'm entitled to a small profit... How about ten dollars a night?

Fiorello:
Ten? Ten dolla— ha ha ha ha ha! I'll take it...

Driftwood:
All right, but remember, I get 10% for negotiating the deal.

Fiorello:
Yes, and I get 10% for being the manager. How much does that leave him?

Driftwood:
That leaves him— uh, $8.00.

Fiorello:
Eight dollars, huh? Well, he sends a five dollars home to his mother...

Driftwood:
Well, that leaves him $3.00.

Fiorello:
Can he live in New York on $3.00?

Driftwood:
Like a prince. Of course he won't be able to eat, but he can live like a prince. However, out of that $3.00, you know, he'll have to pay an income tax...

Fiorello:
Ah, there's income tax...

Driftwood:
...there's a federal tax, and a state tax, and a city tax, and a street tax, and a sewer tax.

Fiorello:
How much does this come to?

Driftwood:
Well, I figure if he doesn't sing too often, he can break even.

Fiorello:
All right, we take it.