It Happens Every Spring Page #2

until he can be serious.

Vernon, what are you talking about?

I'm talking about 3 hours from now.

Maybe sooner. Maybe any minute.

And what's going to happen 3 hours from now?

In less than 3 hours I'll know about my experiment.

You mean you've done it?

Just about.

Oh, darling!

I'm so happy!

I haven't told you the best part.

I just heard about it myself yesterday.

My nydrocyclohexene compound

was a great commercial value.

We can buy a house, maybe even own a car.

Oh, that's wonderful.

But who's going to pay you all this money?

The Norworth Labratories.

It seems they've been working along

the same lines for years,

trying to develop a substance that will

keep insects or any living matter away from wood.

A biophobic, they call it.

And they seem to think that my compound

is the very thing they're looking for.

Vernon Simpson.

The man who discovered the biophobic.

Of course, I'd have to test its

effectiveness on wood,

but that's just routine.

Well, let's not just stand here talking about it.

Let's go find out.

Can't expect any positive results right away.

Oh, but we can look!

Hallelujah, there it is!

The white precipitant.

Sure enough, there it is.

Oh, congratulations, Vernon!

Oh, my notebook.

My notebook!

[CRASH]

Oh. There goes everything.

Just when I had it.

Oh, Vernon.

Little brats.

No degree. No job. No nothing.

You still have your notes and everything.

It can't take long.

Long?

You don't understand, Debbie.

One of those compounds alone

took 5 weeks to crystallize,

and they're all in sequence.

I can't make the second until I finish the first.

And look at these notes.

You might get some idea of the time

and work it took.

Why, I ran some of those reactions

six and eight times before I got enough

stuff to make the next step.

Now I'm going to start from scratch.

Do it all over again, step by step.

It'll take months.

That wonderful precipitate.

It's all there in the sink.

Isn't there any way you can

filter it out and save it?

Oh, that's just a hodge-podge of compounds

and ice and everything else now.

You couldn't even figure out what's in there,

let alone filter anything out.

Well, I suppose I better clean up this mess.

Can't I help?

No, dear, you just run along.

But, Vernon. . .

Darling, there's nothing you can say,

and there's nothing I can say.

Oh, Vernon.

This hasn't changed anything

as far as we're concerned.

You know that.

It's changed everything.

Darling, you mustn't feel that way.

Let me talk to you.

Please, Dear, right now-

All right. I'll see you later.

[water running]

And that puts Chicago out front 4 to nothing.

And here comes Hank Rubella.

He's the 3rd pitcher Dolan's used today.

Jimmy doesn't look happy out there.

Pitchers are his big headache.

St. Louis has a great team.

Good hitting and fielding.

With one more top-notch pitcher

Dolan might cop that pennant.

Owner Edgar Stone would like to

buy one for him, too.

But first class pitchers are scarcer

than hen's teeth this year.

Stone can't buy one for love nor money.

Astonishing.

We're Scmidtt and Isabell, Sir.

You sent for us?

Oh, yes.

Yes, so I did.

You gentlemen are doing rather

sadly in organic chemistry.

I suppose you're aware of that.

Yes, we are, sir.

Well, I don't like to flunk you.

You're both on the baseball team, so -

I had assigned some special reading.

But instead I thought I might be able to

give you some pointers,

see if we can't improve your grades.

Say, that's mighty decent of you sir.

And, in return, I was wondering if you'd

do something for me,

and keep it strictly confidential?

Sure, we'd be glad to Mr. Simpson.

Certainly, sir.

Good. Will you meet me at the baseball field

at the batting cage with your

uniforms and equipment

at five o' clock?

[Both] Five o' clock?

In the morning.

Now, if you'll just get some chairs,

we'll get started.

Now you're basic trouble is that you

haven't learned the meanings

of technical terms.

So let's get clear what we mean by

methyl, ethyl, propyl . . .

Perhaps I'd better warm up a bit first.

OK, Professor.

Alright, here we go. Right in here.

So this is why he got us up at

5:
30 in the morning,

so he could play pitcher.

Yeah, but he can't really be nuts,

or they wouldn't let him teach.

Yeah, well, it's one way of

passing chemistry, anyway.

Shut up, now. We gotta humor him.

Hey, that's a good one!

Now, if you'll step up, Mr. Isabell.

Just a minute, Mr. Simpson.

OK, Mr. Simpson, now let's go in there.

Let's have a little of this methyl, ethyl,

propyl, and butyl on that ball!

Here we go, hey!

Whoa.

Well, never mind, Mr. Simpson,

we'll get him on this next one.

Here we go!

[Smack]

[Smack]

Too bad I didn't have an outfielder in my class.

Now if you don't mind,

I think I'll try just a few more.

Sure, if you want to, Mr. Simpson.

Now, use your bean this time,

will you Tommy.

Bunt one.

Okay, okay.

[Whoop]

Wow! Did you see the hop on that ball?

That's a regular dipsy-doodle

you got there Professor.

How'd ya do it?

The result of a great deal of scientific research.

Alright, now here we go.

That's the old pepper in there.

Right down the old groove here.

Here we go.

[Whoop]

Wow. That's making them hop in there,

Professor, old boy.

Hit one this time, Tommy,

he'll think you're faking.

I ain't missing them on purpose.

Here we go, Professor, right in there, now.

Thank you, gentlemen, I'm sure you've had enough.

You hit three consecutive pitches,

then you missed three in a row.

Statistically, therefore, I've obtained

all the information possible.

Unless, of course, I pitch

several hundred more balls.

Statistics.

He got us up at 5:00 in the morning for statistics.

Is Dr. Greenleaf up yet?

Why, yes sir, but I. . .

I'm sorry to bother you so early, Dr. Greenleaf,

but I have to make the 7:14.

Oh. Is it an emergency, Vernon?

Yes, sir.

Illness, a death in the family?

No, sir. Not that kind of an emergency.

Well, what kind is it?

Well, I have a wonderful opportunity, Dr. Greenleaf.

It may not work out, but I'd like a

leave of absence starting immediately.

Mr. Richardson can finish my classes,

and Miss Brinkhoffer can take over my lab periods.

Leave of absence? For how long?

I don't know, sir. Indefinitely?

You mean you want an

emergency leave of absence to last indefinitely?

I don't understand this, Vernon.

Well, I'm afraid I can't explain it, sir.

That is, I can, but

scientifically I can't explain it at all.

You mean it has something to do with your experiment?

Yes, sir. But unless I get a chance to demonstrate it-

Oh, you intend to give demonstrations,

uh, lectures of some kind?

Well, no, not exactly.

Well, what are you going to do?

Take it to some commercial labratory

like the one you mentioned?

What was it?

Norworth Laboratories.

Well then, why is the time indefinite?

Will you grant me the leave, Dr. Greenleaf?

If I don't go now, I'll miss my train.

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