If I’m Lucky

Band agent Wally Jones sends telegrams to each member while they are between engagements. The notices urge them to assemble in Centerville for an audition that could launch a major opportunity. The message sets the plan in motion and introduces the journey ahead.

The group heads to Centerville for an audition arranged by Wally for Titan Tire Company's president. Each member continues their side gigs on the way, with Earl blowing a bugle, Linda selling tickets, and Michelle working as a hat-check girl. The arrival marks a tense moment as their hopes hinge on the outcome.

Upon arrival, Wally learns that Gillingwater has already hired Benny Goodman, effectively blocking the audition. The band is disappointed as the opportunity slips away and their plans scramble.

The group, short on cash, uses a Magonnagle rally to secure a free meal and ends up being hired to accompany Magonnagle on the rest of his campaign tour. Their music becomes a key element of the political spectacle. The moment turns a setback into a new gig.

Composer Allen Clark attends a rally to sell a song to the band and to test his chances as a singer. He makes his pitch to Earl and the others, and Wally hires him partly to help carry Michelle's harp during performances. The group sees potential for a new dynamic.

Allen officially joins the band as a singer, bringing fresh energy to their performances. Gillingwater later asks the band to join his radio show, and Wally negotiates a 39-week contract worth $10,000 per week for the group. The financial stakes grow alongside their rising visibility.

As the campaign unfolds, polls begin to show that Allen could actually win the election. The unexpected possibility shifts the stakes and tempts the political machine to keep pressing forward. The band starts to realize the real consequences of their exposure.

Mark Dwyer from the State Campaign Committee pressures Allen to sign ongoing 'appointments' for cronies, using the threat of exposure to push him into compliance. Allen feels trapped as the machine tightens its grip on the campaign.

To shield the band from the political machine’s schemes, Allen dismisses them from the campaign. The group’s immediate future becomes uncertain as they lose their paid gig and public platform. The move demonstrates Allen's attempt to protect his friends from corruption.

Magonnagle returns to warn Linda that Allen has ties to the crooked machine supporting him. Linda believes the accusation and decides to leave with the band, feeling betrayed by Allen. The trust within the group fractured at a crucial moment.

In a closing rally, Allen denounces Dwyer and the corrupt machine, delivering a public stand that reframes his political stance. The moment galvanizes some supporters while alienating others. It marks a turning point in the election story.

Linda and the rest of the band hear Allen's principled stance on their bus radio and choose to return to his side. They realize they can influence the outcome by backing him publicly. The reconciled group prepares for a final push.

The pursuing police finally close in on the bus, and Allen learns that Governor Quilby has conceded the election to him. The suspense resolves as the political crisis reaches its conclusion. The band’s fate now intertwines with Allen’s political ascent.

With the election settled, Allen faces the possibility of balancing governance with a career as a radio singer. His friends celebrate the unlikely victory and the improbable pairing of public service with show business. The story ends on a note of double triumph and new beginnings.