Morning Glory

There's nothing in front

of the 14th row, madam.

Going down.

Yes. Yes.

- Hello, Bob. How are you?

- Oh, hello.

- Tough season, isn't it?

- Pretty tough.

I'm afraid nowadays

they're all tough seasons.

- I guess you're right.

- Come in, Mr. Hedges.

- Mr. Easton's expecting you.

- Thank you.

Mr. Kellog, will you come back

tomorrow morning at 10:00?

- Thank you.

- Mr. Seymour won't see anyone else today.

- Goodbye, Miss Hall. Good luck.

- Goodbye.

I hear Mr. Easton

is casting his new play.

Evidently everyone else

has heard it too.

When I arrived, it looked as though

the entire Actors' Equity Association...

...had been sent for.

My name's Eva Lovelace, my stage name.

What's yours?

- Hall.

- Hall?

Gwendoline Hall.

You've probably never heard of me,

because I'm just starting.

If Mr. Easton takes me,

it will be my New York debut.

But I've...

I've acted ever since I was a child.

My parents objected, of course,

to my having a career.

Parents always do, I believe.

If they're anything like mine were,

they do.

- Where are you from?

- Franklin.

Franklin, Vermont,

to go into the loathsome details.

I suppose you've had

a good deal of experience.

One way or another.

Do you believe in marriage?

I always have.

I don't. Not for the artist.

Good heavens, aren't you cold?

A coat like that isn't enough

on a day like this.

Oh, no. I like to feel cold.

It makes me feel strong.

I shouldn't like to go about swathed

in furs unless they're sables.

I don't like anything cheap,

particularly furs.

Although your story is very delightful

and has great charm...

...I will be unable to do it this season.

I'm about to produce Blue Skies,

a new comedy by Joseph Sheridan...

...which will complete my plans

for the year.

The usual, very truly yours.

- Is that all?

- That will be all for now.

Sounds very much like the first letter

you wrote me. Remember?

Well, it didn't discourage you though.

Much water has gone under

the bridge since then.

- It's been a very, very happy association.

- Happy and, I hope, profitable.

Oh, say, by the way...

...did you see the new Molnr play

at the Lyceum?

Yes, and you were right about it.

It's gone over very big.

I understand the ticket agencies

have bought it for eight weeks.

And, incidentally, I win my bet.

That's right, so you do.

Now don't rub it in.

I said if that piece was a big success,

I'd do the one you had your heart set on.

- The Golden Bough.

- Right.

You can go ahead with the translation.

- When will you read it?

- As soon as you've finished it.

- Come in, Seymour.

- Right.

Yes, I feel that your hunch is right. We'll

have to give it very careful preparation.

We want our production to be

as good as theirs if not better.

The casting will have to be gone over.

- Anybody waiting?

- Just a few, governor.

I've eliminated most of them.

Oh, Miss Hall is waiting.

- Gwendoline Hall.

- Say, look...

- Just came.

- Thank you.

I've got an idea. Why couldn't Hall

play the part right next to Vernon?

I was thinking of her,

but you've got to be careful.

- She's an awful souse.

- Take a chance.

- All right I'll see her.

- Yes, sir.

Won't you come in, Miss Hall, please?

Goodbye.

I'll see you again, I'm afraid.

- Hello, Bob.

- How are you, Will?

There's a part in this new piece,

Blue Skies...

...the governor wants to

talk to you about.

- It's not a great part.

- Oh, any part's a part, Will.

Would you like to come back or wait?

- No, no, I'll wait.

- Good.

You're English, aren't you?

Yes, I am.

Or was.

I've been over here a long time.

They take me for English sometimes too.

But I could tell you were

the real thing right off.

I mean, they take me

for English at home...

...where they think you're either English

or affected if you try to speak properly.

Do you suppose it'd be all right for me

to sit beside you so I could talk to you?

- l... I hardly know.

- I don't suppose anyone would object.

Mr. Hedges. How are you?

Glad to see you.

Will you get me that script?

- Who's that?

- Mr. Sheridan...

...author of the play I hope to get into.

- Cold today, isn't it?

- Oh, Mr. Sheridan...

Oh, I'm sorry, young lady,

there's nothing for you.

Would anybody mind if I sat down

by that gentleman who's going to wait?

It's all right, come on in,

it's fine.

Well, here I am.

So I see.

I hope you're going to tell me

your name.

I want you for my first friend

in New York.

Mine's Eva Lovelace.

It's partly made up and partly real.

It was Ada Love. Love's my family name.

I added the lace.

Do you like it or would you prefer

something shorter?

A shorter name would be

more convenient on a sign...

...still Eva Lovelace in Camille, for instance,

or Eva Lovelace in Romeo and Juliet...

...sounds very distinguished, doesn't it?

I don't want to use my family name.

I'll probably have several scandals

while I live.

I don't want to cause them trouble

until I'm famous, when nobody will mind.

That's why I must decide on something

while there's still time, before I'm famous.

Don't you think there's something very

charming that suits me about Eva Lovelace?

It's a very attractive name.

Certainly, yes.

- And now tell me, what's yours?

- Mine?

R.H. Hedges in short.

Robert Harley Hedges in full.

I think you said something about my

being your first friend in this city.

- Are you...?

- Yes, my... My friend and teacher.

You speak so beautifully,

and I know I speak so nondescript-ly...

...but could you...?

Would you...?

I want to ask you if you'll give me

a lesson every day right off.

- But l...

- I want to pay.

Not at once, because I've only

money enough for a certain length of time.

But I'd planned to go to the best teacher

I could find and arrange to pay later.

I should have to find someone

who believed in me unequivably.

- What?

- Unequivably.

Do you mean unequivocally?

Yes, that's it.

You see, those are the sort of things

I've got to learn.

Won't you give me a lesson

and let me pay you later?

- But l...

- You see, I want the best or nothing.

I'll pay for it.

And every time I'll give you an IOU.

You know, "I owe Robert Harley Hedges,"

and the date.

And then when I begin to make money,

I'll begin to buy back the slips of paper.

- When may I have a regular lesson? Today?

- But I live a way uptown...

...and my place is not exactly a studio.

Oh, that doesn't matter so long as

it's quiet, and we can sit and smoke.

I smoke, of course.

Though in Franklin, it still isn't done

in the best families.

They're very bourgeois in Franklin

and provincial.

The soul has no liberty in such a place.

Why, in Franklin, my family wouldn't

have permitted Shakespeare himself...

...to call on me

because he was a married man.

Now, Gwendoline,

I'd like to have you play this part.

Look it over.

But remember what I told you,

for your own good, no drinking.

- Let that bottle alone in business.

- I know.

Mr. Easton, it won't occur again.

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