Show Synopsis:
Sergeant Sarah Brown is calling for sinners like the gamblers Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charlie to repent for their actions. Nathan Detroit, the gamblers' employer, needs $1000 to rent out a space a craps game and bets Sky Masterton that he cannot get Sarah to go to dinner with him. Nathan's long-time fiancee Adelaide is frustrated that he is still running a craps game and will not marry her yet. Sarah needs to get more sinners to come to Save-A-Soul meetings so that she does not have to close the branch. When Lieutenant Brannigan sees a bunch of gamblers waiting around for a game, the gamblers lie and say that they are throwing Nathan a surprise bachelor party. Nathan reluctantly asks Adelaide to elope with him, but realizes that Sky and Sarah are on a date because Sarah needs Sky to get sinners to go to her Save-A-Soul meetings and faints when he realizes he owes Sky $1000. Sky accidentally gets Sarah drunk for the first time, but she admits how much fun she's having and they declare their love for each other. When Sarah sees that Nathan has been holding a craps game in the same space where Save-A-Soul meets, she is convinced that Sky was lying about his feelings and just trying to get her away from the building. Nathan does not meet Adelaide for their elopement, and she sulks while he loses all his money. Sky gives Nathan $1000 and insists that Sarah refused to go on a date with him, then asks the gamblers to bet their souls in the next game, with the condition that if he wins, they will go to a Save-A-Soul meeting. He wins, and Adelaide does not believe Nathan when he tells her he's going to a prayer meeting, causing them to fight. The gamblers show repentence and religious fervor at the meeting, pleasing Lieutenant Brannigan, and Sarah realizes that Sky paid Nathan $1000 to protect her reputation. Adelaide and Sarah talk about how they want to marry their men today and make them better men tomorrow instead of waiting for them to change, and that is exactly what they do.

Character:
Nicely-Nicely Johnson, a gambler who is intensely loyal to his friend Nathan.

Song Context:
Nicely-Nicely and the other gamblers do not want to the at the prayer meeting, so Nicely-Nicely tells everyone he is repenting for his sins because of an elaborate dream that taught him the evils of gambling.

Fun Facts:
1. This musical is based on short stories by Damon Runyon, primarily "The Idyll of Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure." 
2. Stubby Kaye originated the role of Nicely-Nicely on Broadway. It was his final appearance on Broadway, but he reprised the role for the West End production and the 1953 film adaptation. 
3. This song has been recorded by popular artists, including Don Henley, whose recording placed on the Billboard charts in 1993.