Morning Glory Page #2

That was an accident.

- It was my ex-husband's birthday and...

- I know.

Well, you know

how those things happen.

- All right, Gwendoline.

- Goodbye.

- Be careful.

- I shall.

I'll mull over these lines tonight, although

it's not the best part I've ever played.

I understand, dear.

Rehearsals will be Tuesday.

- Never mind. Goodbye, Will.

- Goodbye, Miss Hall.

- Well, Rita.

- Gwendoline, my sweet.

My dear,

it's so nice seeing you again.

Yes, it's so nice to see you too.

My, you're gaining weight.

Yes. I'll soon be your size, my dear.

Tell me, are you going to be

in the play?

Well, they want me, so I've consented

to read the part over tonight.

Well, it'll be so nice

to have you in my company again.

- Well, don't let it throw you.

- No, I won't.

- Goodbye, dear.

- Goodbye. Goodbye.

- Call me up. I'm at the Ritz.

- I shall. You must come and have tea.

Yes, you bet I will. I'd love to.

Did you ever hear such nerve

in all of your life? That silly...

Come into my office

and tell me your troubles.

- Yes, a lot of good that will do.

- Now, now, now, be a good girl.

Will you please tell

Louis Easton I'm here?

- Certainly.

- How do you do, Miss Vernon?

I hope you remember me.

Why, Bob, of course I remember you.

- How are you?

- Miss Lovelace, Miss Vernon.

- How do you do?

- How do you do too?

Tell me, are they trying to rope you

into this putrid show too?

Well, I'm doing my best to be roped.

Well, my part will have

to be rewritten before I'll play it.

It's no good.

The man's part hogs the show.

We've all got to stand and kid Rita Vernon

into believing that this is a great part.

We know it isn't.

But she's under contract to me...

...and I need her to put over

your first play.

I better make myself scarce.

Somehow, I always seem

to say the wrong thing to her.

You go in there.

We'll let you know when she's gone.

But don't worry. Leave it to me.

Send in Miss Vernon.

Of course, there is a good fat bit

in the third act.

Will you go right in,

Miss Vernon, please?

Thank you.

Pardon me,

here's where I go to the mat.

Thank you very much.

Can she really act?

Rita Vernon? Yes.

She has a gift,

and she's been lucky.

Several years ago,

she was in my company.

Made a hit in a small part,

gave great promise.

She's a nice girl...

...but I'm afraid she's been spoiled.

- Did you ever know Ellen Terry?

- Yes.

I played with her.

- Was she very, very lovely?

- Yes.

The very loveliest thing

I ever saw in all my life.

I've always known she was.

- Did you ever see Sarah Bernhardt?

- Yes.

Both on the stage and off, many times.

She was the most wonderful of all,

wasn't she?

Yes. The most wonderful of all.

- More wonderful than Ellen Terry?

- Oh, they were both wonderful.

Bernhardt broke your heart.

Ellen Terry mended it.

I suppose I shall never be wonderful,

not wonderful like them.

But I've something very wonderful in me,

you'll see.

You'll help me with all the great parts,

Lady Macbeth and Juliet and Cleopatra.

I am sick and tired of playing all

this silly tripe that you pick up for me.

Why, it's not getting me anywhere.

I want drama.

Something that I can get my teeth into.

My public wants to see me

in something strong, not comedy.

But, Rita, dear, I've told you,

I give you my absolute word...

...if you do this one little thing for me,

after that you can pick your own play.

- There's no catch in it?

- No catch.

Now, please sit down and calm yourself.

Don't be so excited.

You know I wouldn't ask you to do

anything that wasn't good for you. Please.

Now, Louis,

if I do this silly play of yours...

...next time I can play any part I like...

...is that right?

- That's right, dear.

Rita, please, this is business. Please.

I know, I know,

but I never see you anymore.

Can't you come

and have dinner with me tonight?

All right, dear, dinner.

Well, in that case,

I suppose I'll play the part.

Well, I'm very happy. And you'll find out

that I've told you the truth.

This play, Blue Skies, was made for you.

That may be,

but don't forget your promise.

My part has to be built up and plenty.

- I'll get Sheridan right on the phone.

- Now you're talking.

So until tonight, au revoir, mon cher.

All right, Joe.

Coast is clear.

I suppose she's the best

we can get.

But I don't think she's as good

as she was years ago.

I know you're too critical.

She's an awful lot of trouble...

...and you never can tell what

she's going to do, but she's box office.

She's all right for this sort of thing,

but, I don't know...

...l'm glad to get it over

so we can get underway.

I just had a bright thought.

Oh, I see. Wheeler and Woolsey

playing straight for each other.

Rita, he just came in the room

this moment.

- We were just standing here...

- Oh, Louis, no alibis.

My thought was

why can't you get me something by...?

Oh, what's his name? You know...

Oh, that man that wrote that thing that

Katharine Cornell is playing at the Lyceum.

- Oh, you mean Molnr?

- Yes, yes. That's the one.

Didn't you tell me something

about having a play by him?

One you'd taken an option on

because Sheridan was crazy about it?

Well, what sort of a play is it?

Anything like the one at the Lyceum?

You could tell the same author wrote it,

but the story is different.

As a matter of fact, it'll be a great play

once we find the right woman.

The right woman.

Why haven't you sent

this play to me to read?

Now listen, ask him. That's his job.

I haven't anything to do with it.

Well, when can I see the manuscript?

Well, it isn't translated yet.

As a matter of fact,

we're working on it now.

I don't think you'd care for it.

I'll decide that myself.

Can I...? Can I see it today?

We...

We only have one copy,

and that's in my office.

Well, what's to prevent me

from reading it right now?

Or possibly you could tell me the story.

I suppose you don't mind

if I want to play the part?

Everything's very indefinite, Rita, very.

Look here,

there are several other managers...

...who will try pretty hard

to get me what I want.

I'm only going to do this rotten comedy

of yours to oblige you.

- It won't do me any good.

- Let's not go into that again.

If you want to read it, make yourself

comfortable in Sheridan's office.

- You've no one else in mind, have you?

- No, no, no. I've thought of several, but...

Rita's not silly enough to want to

do something she isn't suited for.

The trouble with you managers is that

you never give anyone a chance...

...to do anything

you haven't seen them do before.

Come along, Joseph,

and find your masterpiece for me.

What's the name of it, anyway?

- What?

- That's the German title of it...

...but it will probably be changed once

we translate it to The Golden Bough.

Golden Bough? Well, I can't say I like...

Poor Sheridan.

It'll kill him if she likes that piece.

She won't even understand it.

By the way, I was thinking

of Hedges for the doctor part...

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