Merrily We Go to Hell Page #4

very easy to handle.

Yeah?

When I get my

own way, of course.

Jerry.

Claire.

Darling. This is my

wife. Miss Hempstead.

How do you do,

Mrs. Corbett?

How do you do?

Well, my boy, I see that you

know your leading lady, huh?

Oh, yes.

Yes, we're old friends.

So that's why at once when I

read the play, I thought of you.

You know, I think he must have

had you in mind when he wrote it.

Jerry, it would be

nice to think

you'd remembered me

all these years,

particularly when you've written

such a really beautiful play.

I'm glad that you like it.

I do. It's perfect.

But now, look here, there

are one or two suggestions

I've got to make for my

part. I know you won't mind.

Now then, in the first

act, when I come on...

Well, it'd be much better if

instead of coming on with DeBrion,

I came on alone, huh?

You see, it'd be a much

better entrance for me,

and I think it'd

improve your play, too.

Let me show you.

Don't worry about her. I can

take care of her, all right.

Then, in the second act...

Thank you.

Hold this a minute,

will you?

Don't you think

it'd be much better

if the curtain were

built up for me a little?

And if you could find a way of getting

DeBrion off the stage beforehand

so that I could be alone,

I think it'd be

much more effective.

Look, let me show you.

Here.

Have you done it?

All right, all right, that'll

do. Now, Jane, I'm all right.

You run along and

do as I told you.

Very well, Miss Claire.

Oh, dear, dear.

I was just going to knock.

I'm sorry if I frightened you.

You did frighten me.

Well, I don't wonder you frightened

her. You're such a rare visitor.

Is that a reproof?

Yes, it is, decidedly.

Five minutes,

Miss Hempstead.

All right.

I'll be there.

Well, how do you feel with the

curtain going up on your first play?

Like Napoleon before

Austerlitz, or before Waterloo.

You'd better

have a little drink.

No, thanks. You know

I'm on the wagon again.

What?

Well, if the strain

becomes too great,

you'll find a bottle

in the closet there.

Jerry, why did you

suddenly decide to visit me?

Just to wish

you good luck.

Dear, why are you treating

me with this devotion?

Devotion?

Well, about as much devotion as

I'd show to a boa constrictor.

Is it because I treated

you badly once?

I didn't think you

knew that you had.

I was young

and egotistical, Jerry.

Well, what are you now?

Young and egotistical.

It wasn't all my fault, you know. No?

You were very young and

romantic in those days.

Perhaps if you'd been then

what you are now...

Well?

Well, I might be almost

as much afraid to visit you

as you're afraid

to visit me.

Curtain,

Miss Hempstead.

All right, I'm coming.

Well, Jerry,

this is your big moment.

To Waterloo.

To Austerlitz.

Darling.

Miss Claire.

All right, I'm coming.

Madam, have you

no answer for me?

Sir, if I said yes,

I should mean no,

and if I said no,

I should mean yes,

but my silence is

all true and for you.

It's your husband's play.

Applaud!

I can't. I'm too happy.

You have a funny

way of showing it.

I always cry

when I'm happy.

Author! Author! Author!

Author! Author!

Author!

I'm going back

to see Jerry.

Author! Author!

Author!

Author!

Author! Author!

Author!

Jerry!

Jerry! Jerry,

I'm so happy!

Hello, Claire.

Jerry!

Here. Jerry!

Jerry, Jerry, come on,

they're calling you.

Come on.

He can't go out there

in his condition.

Yes, he'll be

all right. Come on.

He can't.

He certainly can take

a bow for his own play.

He isn't going to.

What's the matter?

I can't take a bow

for my own play?

Come on.

He's standing up straight.

No one will notice.

Come on, Jerry.

You go on home,

get things ready.

I'm gonna bring

the gang up.

Come on. Come on.

Buck.

Stay with him,

will you?

Don't you worry. I won't

even let him out of my sight.

Speech, Jerry!

Speech!

Shall I remain here,

Mrs. Corbett?

No, I'll call you

when they come.

Very well.

My dear, you lied to me

when I arrived today.

Lied?

You said Jerry

wasn't drinking.

He hasn't been.

It is now 2:
00 a. m.,

Eastern Standard Time.

Buck, is he hurt?

He's still alive, but the couple

of bottles of Scotch are dead.

Bring him in here.

Wait for me downstairs,

driver. Yes, sir.

Whom was he

with, Buck?

No one in particular,

just hither and yon.

There was

no stopping him.

He's coming to.

If he does, maybe

he'll snap out of it.

Yes, I'm sure he will.

Thanks awfully, Buck.

Joan, I...

I'm terribly sorry, but...

I don't want

anyone to be sorry.

Okay, Joan.

I'll say...

Thanks, Claire.

Joan!

Joan!

I want

to speak to you.

I don't want to

talk about it.

You're coming back

to Chicago with me.

I'm not.

Do you mean to tell me

you're really happy?

I don't want to

talk about it.

Do you mean to tell me

you're really happy?

No, of course not.

Father, I've got

to talk about it.

I've been nearly crazy

keeping it all to myself.

I did lie to you before.

Joan, he isn't worth

your little finger.

Don't say that.

It isn't true.

Just think of all those months

in Chicago when he didn't drink.

Just think of the

marvelous fight he's put up.

He only started drinking when

we came to New York and he met...

He needs me now, and I'd

be selfish to leave him.

Maybe you think

it's none of my business.

I love Jerry, love him,

do you hear?

And it doesn't make any

difference what someone is

or does or anything

when you love him.

I'm sorry, Joan,

but even if you love him,

you can't go on like this.

I could never leave Jerry.

You can't be a doormat.

I'm not a doormat!

You don't know how sweet

and fine Jerry really is.

I know what I'm doing.

Perhaps you're right.

It is none of

your business.

Please, Joan, don't...

I didn't mean to.

You didn't mean to.

Nobody means to.

They do their best

to make trouble

between Jerry and me

at every chance.

If they'd let us alone,

we'd be all right.

Goodbye, Joan.

I've done all I can.

When you come to your

senses, come home to me.

Father.

Joan?

Joan?

Joan!

Joan!

Joan!

Hello?

I just wanted to be sure

you got home safely.

I'm all right.

What would you say if I said I

was coming over to see you now?

Well, you might

at least answer me.

Sir, if I said yes,

I should mean no,

and if I said no,

I should mean yes.

But my silence is

all true and for you.

I want terribly

to see you, Claire,

but I'm not

going to do it.

I'm going to say goodbye.

Joan!

What's the idea, Joan?

See? This is the way

you look when you're drunk.

Just wanted to show you how

you look when you're drunk.

Honey, you've got the

words, but not the tune.

But you're charming

when you're tight, Joanie.

Really, Joan, you don't know

how charming you really are.

Really, Joan, you ought

to get tight oftener.

Well, dear,

merrily we go to hell.

Merrily you go

to your girlfriend.

Listen, Joan,

you're right.

I was going to her.

I'm still going to her

unless you stop me.

I won't stop you.

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