Footlight Parade Page #6

Hello?

It can't be out of order.

I just spoke to them.

- How'd you sleep?

- Like a newborn child.

So did I. No ideas, though.

Didn't even dream of one.

Maybe we'd better start all over again.

How do you suppose

an insane asylum idea would go?

I could play the lead myself

without any trouble.

Me, too.

Hey, look at this.

"What happens to

unproduced musical comedies?"

- What does happen to them?

- "They gather dust on the shelves. "

Say, we've got it.

I know we've got it!

- Apolinaris is in the bag.

- What do you mean?

"What happens to

unproduced musical comedies?"

I can tell you

what's gonna happen to them.

We'll put them in picture houses,

prologues!

- Grand!

- Cut them down to 40 minutes.

Give them a picture

and a musical comedy for 50 cents.

Most picture fans

never saw a musical comedy.

That's the idea. Come on, let's grab a cab!

Instead of 40 people,

our musicals will have 80.

- I'm afraid of it.

- Now, I know it's good. We'll do it.

Sure, we can't miss.

I'll have George Apolinaris

up to dinner tonight.

I'll be there.

He'll be there. Our troubles are over.

There you are, Mr. Apolinaris.

You give them a musical comedy

and a picture, all for 50 cents.

It's good. But somebody beat you to it.

Impossible.

You know Thompson,

Gladstone's director?

- Doing the same thing?

- Sure, same thing.

- But he stole our idea.

- Well, sue him. It ain't my funeral.

Gladstone's got three prologues

in rehearsal.

Gonna show them to me Sunday.

Now here's what I'll do.

You fellows get three started...

but they got to be ready Saturday night.

I'll preview them in three of my houses

around town and get audience reaction.

What I like ain't worth a cent.

What audiences like is worth a million.

- And if the audience likes our stuff?

- You'll get the contract for the whole 40.

If not, I sign with Gladstone.

Give me a good reason why not.

I ate too much.

We'll see Kent and let you know.

That's up to you gents.

Well, so long.

I hope your dinner

shouldn't make me indigestion.

Yeah, well, good night. Good night.

We gotta get hold of Kent.

Try his secretary, she'll know where he is.

Hello?

Oh, yes, Mr. Frazer.

Well, I may see him later.

Yeah, it'll be late all right,

but I'll surely send him over.

How's the world's best secretary?

- I'll take care of him.

- Looks like you have already.

Here, drink this.

They want you

at Frazer's apartment right away.

Can't be annoyed, can't be annoyed.

Got the greatest news of my life tonight.

Don't tell me you married that chiseler?

I'll thank you not to insult

the future Mrs. Kent.

I'm glad you said "future. "

I always ignore crude persons, dear.

- I'll take care of you later.

- Well, now, wait...

- You got a taxi waiting?

- Always got a taxi waiting.

Now you listen to me.

This is your big chance.

Forty units in deluxe houses.

The whole Apollo circuit.

It's too late for units.

Units to the right of them.

Units to the left of them.

Volleyed and thundered

and lightening and everything.

Come on, now, you get up here!

This is a chance of a lifetime.

All right, all right, I'll go,

but I want you to know I resent this.

How dare you! My fianc.

Now you scram before I wrap a chair

around your neck.

But it's 3:
00 a. m.

Where do you want me to go?

- Listen, you cheap stenographer-

- Outside, Countess.

As long as they have sidewalks,

you've got a job.

So you're gonna hire detectives.

A fine pair of quarter-wits

I teamed up with.

Every time I get a great idea,

you let Gladstone steal it.

I've got a hunch

you know something about that.

- I don't know a thing.

- What are you gonna do about it?

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna show that big jerk

three prologues by Saturday night...

and we'll stand him on his ear.

I'll give him the greatest show

since he quit the restaurant business.

In three days?

Where'll you get the people?

Right in our own studio.

Use three choruses

and double up on the principals.

It can't be done.

Give me absolute authority

till Saturday night, I'll do it.

- You've got it!

- You got it!

It's done!

We've gotta have three

of the greatest prologues ever put on.

Now, get this.

Somebody working among us

has been giving Gladstone inside dope.

Selling him my ideas.

And for once, I'm gonna put a stop to it.

Now this is the way we're gonna do it.

Nobody leaves here until Saturday night.

Quiet!

You'll eat here and sleep here.

Live three whole days

right here in the studio.

Quiet!

This is war, a blockade.

Anybody comes in, stays in.

- What do you mean, "stays in"?

- Quiet!

Now this is your last chance to get out.

Well? Anybody wanna go?

No!

All right. Thanks. This is a large order.

Three prologues in three nights.

We're gonna work your heads off.

Curse you and break your hearts.

But by Saturday night,

we'll have what we want.

All right. Hop to it.

This is dangerous, Mr. Gould.

Anything might happen.

Suppose a fire broke out.

Locking us in like this.

He can't do it.

Let me know just as soon as it's done.

Did you check that measure

I told you about?

All girls in this number

to the rehearsal hall.

Come on, girls.

Come on, get ready.

Come on, honey, be reasonable, will you?

She and I are all washed up

and you know it.

Yeah, but does Mrs. Gould know it?

It was awfully nice of you

to bring me in here, really.

Come along, Barrington.

I'll introduce you to the stage director.

Thanks ever so much.

Please sit down right here.

I want you to meet Mr. Barrington.

Here's the man you want to see.

See, what did I tell you?

- It does look like Independence Day.

- Let's celebrate.

Now, there. Look at that.

How can you expect to keep up

a high moral tone with that going on?

I'm awfully glad to have played

love's little messenger...

and brought you two together.

But do you realize

there's work to be done?

Well, we were just...

Would you mind saving about

that much of loving for the act?

We can use it. You're in two prologues.

Miss Thorn, you're in all three.

So how about it?

Is there anything I could do?

- Yeah. See that window over there?

- Yes.

Take a running jump

and I think you can make it.

Come on, fellows, this way.

Bring it down the hall. That's it. That way.

Come on, kids! Come and get it!

Go on, let her go.

I'm terribly worried, Doctor.

- Quiet, will you!

- There's nothing the matter with you.

I feel, Doctor, that I'm gonna have

a dreadful heart attack. You just listen.

Did you hear that? Oh, I am not all right!

That's enough. Who's next?

- I'm next.

- Here.

Three prologues in such a short time.

It can't be done, it can't be done.

Get to bed, girls.

- Good night, kids.

- Good night.

I just wanted to be sure

you're all safe in bed. Good night.

Good night.

Wake up, gang!

When do we eat?

- Truckload of breakfast just arrived.

- All right!

Rehearsal in 20 minutes.

Left, right!

One, two, three, four!

Come on, kids. Come and get it.

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