Dinner at Eight Page #5

Get yourself in shape.

What is this, cinnamon toast?

I'll be all right. As soon as I get

into rehearsal, I'll get into shape.

Sure, just keep on with that.

That'll fix you up.

Did you see Baumann? I thought perhaps

he'd come up here with you.

Baumann?

No. He didn't come up.

Did he give you the contract?

Look, Larry...

I got some disappointing news for you,

kind of.

What's the matter?

You know how these managers are.

This way, that way.

You never know when you got them.

Well...

For the love of... Come out with it.

I'm telling you.

I go in to see Baumann this afternoon.

He's sitting there, a face down to here.

I start talking about the play.

What does he do?

He tells me he's got to go south

for a month. He's sick.

What does that mean?

There you are.

He's got to go south.

You can't do a play when you're south.

But he's got to do it. It was all settled.

It was talked over, but it wasn't really...

You know. Unless you get it down

in that old black and white...

Even then sometimes it's no good.

We'll take it away from him.

There are other producers.

The cheap crook.

Sure. Baumann's no good.

That's how he got where he is.

But that's not the point. What does he do?

He goes and he turns the play over

to this Joe Stengel.

I rather like the idea of going with Stengel.

They tell me he does

those highbrow plays. Ibsen.

- "I want the moon, Mother. "

- Yeah. Now, look Larry.

He understands

I'm to be starred, of course.

- That's just it.

- What?

Now, look, Larry. Don't blame me.

I've been plugging for you for months.

What are you trying to tell me?

Don't go up in the air about it.

There's sure to be something else.

You mean I'm out?

You dirty double-crosser.

Do you mean I'm out?

Larry, I'm telling you,

nobody knew about this. Nobody.

Who's going to play the part?

This Cecil Bellamy.

That piffling little...

He's English in the first place.

The part says "English Explorer. "

I can be English. English as anybody.

I've been waiting six weeks for this play.

I could've had a million things.

Personal appearances, radio, vaudeville...

Sure you could. You can get them yet.

But the thing for you is a part in a play.

You know, get back in that old public eye.

Yes, but where's the vehicle?

I was thinking about this play again...

and you know, Larry,

I never said anything...

but I never thought

that part was so hot for you.

You know the part that I'd be crazy to play

if I was an actor?

- What?

- That beachcomber.

Beachcomber?

You're asking me to go on...

and play a part that isn't...

Get out of here. Go on. Get out.

Larry, don't make a mistake.

Get out before I kick you out.

Have it your own way.

Wait a minute.

Close the door.

What makes you think

this part isn't right for me?

It's no good.

They're going to get tired of him.

Now, this beachcomber.

He comes on once.

Swell scene. He goes off.

They keep waiting for him to come back,

and he never does.

What a part.

- Yes, his one scene is very nice.

- It's a pushover.

You know what's gonna happen?

When that final curtain hits the floor...

and what's his name, this Bellamy,

when he comes out to take his bows...

they're all gonna be yelling,

"Renault! Renault!"

- You think so?

- It's a pushover.

I tell you what. I'm going to see Stengel.

He's a friend of mine.

Wait a minute.

Don't let on you talked to me about this.

Just tell him maybe you can get me

to play it.

Leave it to me.

I might be able to get Stengel

to drop up here as a favor to me.

I used to be Joe's office boy.

How long you going to be here?

A long while. I'm not dining till 8:00.

If I can get him to come up, I'm good.

- Goodbye.

- Mac.

Here's a funny thing.

I wonder if you could let me have $5.

Taxi fare. I didn't get down to the bank.

I'm going to this dinner tonight

and what do you suppose I got?

Seven cents.

Imagine that.

Look, I just got enough

to go down to the office myself...

but I'll bring it to you when I come back.

Come in.

Can I take the table now?

Waiter.

It just occurred to me, I haven't had

anything to eat since breakfast.

I'm not dining until 8:00.

Bring me up a cup of coffee.

Good and strong.

And I think I'll take a caviar sandwich.

Yes, sir.

That's all.

I'm very sorry, Mr. Renault,

but were you going to sign for it?

Why?

Excuse me, but my orders are...

if you sign for it,

I cannot serve any more food here.

Not serve?

Get that order up here at once.

I'll speak to the manager. Get it up.

Hello? No, I didn't call.

Hello. Wait a minute. Yes, I did.

Send up a bellboy to go on an errand.

Send up Eddie.

The one who always goes out for me.

There's six in the waiting room.

Mr. Jordan wants to know

if you'll see him.

I suppose so.

Did you see Mrs. Talbot?

She wanted to talk to you.

No, I didn't.

Dr. Talbot's office. Who is it, please?

Who is it?

I'm sorry, but I'll have to have a name.

Yes, Mrs. Packard. He's in. Just a minute.

Doctor, Mrs. Packard's

on your private wire.

All right.

Hello.

Yes.

Now, Kitty.

Kitty, listen...

Kitty, would you listen a minute?

No, I can't come over.

These are my office hours, you know that.

There's nothing the matter with you.

I've been busy.

I'll see you tonight at the Jordans'.

Of course you can go.

Of course I do. I think you're very sweet.

No. Of course there's no other woman.

Now, Kitty, you're driving me...

Yes, I think you better

sleep for an hour and rest...

and then take a mild bromide.

My office is full of patients now.

You must excuse me.

No. There's no cause for alarm. Goodbye.

Hello, Lucy.

Hello, Wayne.

How are you, dear?

I'm fine. And you?

I'm all right.

- Anything new?

- No.

Just the same old thing.

What?

I mean, unreasonable women patients.

Yes. She's not really sick.

Women with a lot of time on their hands.

I prescribed a sedative,

but she doesn't really need anything.

How about an apple a day?

What's that?

Don't bother.

What?

Don't bother because I know all about it.

What are you talking about?

Wayne, dear, I'm not going

to make a scene.

You know I never do, do I?

Remember how nicely

I behaved about the others?

Mrs. Whiting and that Dalrimple girl...

and the Ferguson woman, Dolly, and...

Where are your files?

You're quite wrong.

Now, dear, I knew just when it started.

Now she's at the insistent stage.

It's all just a great

bore, isn't it, darling?

Don't think I don't mind.

But I can't let it tear me to pieces

the way it did the first time.

It was just before

Wayne was born, remember?

I thought the world had come to an end.

The noble young physician...

was just a masher.

Surely a little more than that.

A great deal more.

That's why it's so pathetic.

You're two people, really.

One's magnificent...

and the other's so shoddy.

You're right, Lucy.

I don't know why

you've stayed with me all these years.

Because I'm still in love with you.

Isn't that funny?

You'd think I'd have more pride.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes