Step Lively Page #5

and our theater as well.

Ah-ah-ah. I'm afraid you're ahead of

yourself. I don't think you can do that.

- Why can't I?

- It so happens the other occupant...

...of this penthouse, Glenn Russell,

the famous playwright, has been taken ill.

He's been stricken with a very dangerous

and serious malady.

- I don't believe a word.

- He didn't look well yesterday.

- Stop talking.

- Wait till you see him today.

- Where is the sick man?

- In bed, naturally.

Would you like to see him?

Step this way.

May I see him too?

I have a brother who's a veterinarian.

- There he lies.

Take it easy now.

What's the matter with him?

- We don't know yet.

Ohhh.

This will decrease the hemoglobin

in the esophagus.

You hear that?

We've sent out for Dr. Thorbolt, who is

a specialist in diseases of this kind.

What kind?

You don't know what's wrong?

Ha-ha. That's what makes him

a great doctor.

I'd suggest discretion.

- That's very discreet of you.

- Another thing, Wagner...

...if this man is evicted,

you personally will be held responsible...

...for any change in his condition.

- That is the law.

- Uh-huh.

Well, it's quite possible

that this man is ill.

I'll give you till tomorrow.

Then I'll be back with a house physician.

- I'll be glad to see you.

- Come along, Gribble.

- Ohhh.

- I have pajamas just like that.

I'm terribly sorry this had to happen

in your hotel, Mr. Wagner.

- Gordon, what is the matter with him?

- Huh? He wrote a play.

- But a play couldn't make him sick.

- You didn't read the play.

Oh.

- Morning, sir.

- Good morning.

- You're up early.

- Yes, I'm going to the Victoria Theatre.

- It's a long walk.

- That's all right, I like to walk.

Hey, Glenn?

Glenn?

Glenzie boy, where are you?

Oh, Glenn? Hey, Glenn? Oh.

Wonder where he is?

Hello, operator?

Get me Miss Marlowe, please, will you?

Right away.

Harry. Binion.

Harry.

Oh, those guys are never around.

You get no cooperation.

You've gotta do everything.

Hello, Chris. Chris, look, honey,

Glenn is gone.

Don't worry, I don't think he's far.

He'll probably call you right away.

If Wagner finds out he's not in bed,

we'll get thrown out.

So when he calls,

make a date, do something.

I don't know, honey,

Take him for a ride up at Central Park.

But explain the situation

and bring him back as fast as you can.

With a high temperature.

Yeah, okay, okay.

Thanks, sweetie. All right.

Wait here.

- Oh, Glenn.

- Hello, what are you doing here?

- Looking for you.

- How'd you know where to find me?

I've been to every theater in town.

Come on.

- Where?

- Back to the hotel.

- Why?

- I'll tell you in the cab.

- Here you are.

- You only got half a shine?

Be back tomorrow for the other half.

The Crillton Hotel and please hurry.

Well, what's up?

- Glenn...

- Yes?

Glenn, we're in trouble.

So I've been thinking. Why?

Well, now before you ask any questions,

please listen to me.

Sure.

More than anything,

you wanna see your play produced?

But, of course.

Well, this is honestly

the only way I know it can be done.

How?

Oh, I know it may seem roundabout

and complicated...

...and not exactly as either of us

would want it, but...

Go on.

Glenn, Gordon's broke.

Hmm?

That's dandy.

Everything he's had

he's put in this production.

Now they're trying to put him out

of the hotel.

I know Gordon's crazy.

I know he's unethical.

But he means well.

And he knows his business.

Oh, Glenn, for my sake,

if you could just be a good fellow.

What do you want me to do?

Oh, Glenn, would you?

Maybe.

It seems my neck's in this thing too.

After all, I did write the play

he's trying to produce.

Oh, Glenn.

Miller, for the last time...

...I demand you allow Dr. Glaston

to examine the patient.

For the last time,

I tell you it's impossible.

That patient will not be disturbed

until his physician, Dr. Thorbolt...

...has finished the examination.

- Mr. Wagner, if I may...

- I'll handle this, Gribble.

I'm gonna get to the bottom of this case.

Twenty-two actors asleep all over

the hotel, signing checks for meals.

Getting sick in our best suites.

That is, if he is sick.

- Come on, doctor, let us in.

- You can't.

- Here's the doctor.

- Gentlemen. Please.

Patient must have absolute quiet.

- How's he doing?

- Well, I...

Doctor? Why, he's not...

Joe, you are a bellboy.

That is Dr. Thorbolt.

Have you had time

to finish your examination?

Yes, a very serious case

of sleeping sickness.

- Really?

- Oh, yes. He was bit by a tsetse fly.

- Oh, no. No, not that.

- Horrible.

A very tragic case. I believe that rigor

is beginning to set into his mortis.

What the doctor means

is that rigor mortis is about to set in.

Tell me, doctor.

Do you think he has a chance?

Well, in a case like this,

it may go on for weeks.

For weeks? No, no, not in my hotel.

I don't think I've had the pleasure,

Dr. Thorbolt. I am Dr. Glaston.

- This is my case. Who brought you in?

- I did.

Miller, who is this person?

- He's a bookkeeper.

- I'm not a bookkeeper.

No, Dr. Thornberg. He is my superior.

I don't care

if he is your superior bookkeeper.

He can't disturb my patient.

- Lf he does, I'm going to walk out.

- Now, wait a minute, Har...

- Doctor, you can't walk out like this.

- Doctor, your diagnosis interests me.

Just what type of sleeping sickness

would you say it was?

Epidemic encephalitis

or human trypanosomiasis?

Exactly. As a matter of fact,

a combination of the both.

Fantastic.

How could a tsetse fly have gotten in?

- We have screens, haven't we?

- Maybe in the elevator?

Lmpossible.

Thorbolt, I demand you permit Dr. Glaston,

our house physician, to examine the patient.

Absolutely not.

I will split a fee with no one.

Furthermore, I don't think

I approve of Dr. Glaston.

I don't understand.

I have no respect for doctors

who advertise in hotel elevators.

- Name plates are not advertising.

- Crass commercialism.

Why don't you put a sign on your back

and walk around on stilts?

Oh, the hotel would never allow that.

I'll have you understand

I'm endorsed by the medical association.

Yeah, well, aren't we all?

Mr. Miller...

- Yes?

- Mr. Russell has just returned...

- What?

- To consciousness.

- Oh, oh, oh!

Oh, doctor, he's come to.

- You may come in.

- Come, Dr. Glaston.

- Oh, thank goodness.

- Why, Gordon...

- Huh?

... that young lady is...

That young lady

is Miss Florence Bloominggale...

...the well-known nurse.

- Oh.

- Where'd he come from?

- I don't know.

- He looks healthy.

- That's what's got us worried.

Will you consent to have this man

taken to a hospital?

My conscience wouldn't allow it.

Dr. Glaston, will you hurry

with the examination?

- Will you allow me?

- He's sleepy all the time.

- Say:
Ah.

- Ah.

No, louder. Wider.

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

- Isn't that beautiful?

- I don't see it.

- Telephone.

- Hello? Who?

What? Oswego?

That's my mother.

You tell Oswego

they'll have to pay for the call.

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