The Office Wife

1

18th Floor. Fellowes Publishing Company.

Watch out.

[ Buzzer ]

There is the tyrant, buzzing me out.

Her buzz is worse than her bite.

Wait a minute, Kate.

I've got a new assignment

for you. I think you'll go for it.

If it isn't another on baby-raising.

Next, we come to the little

treasure's precious tummy.

Just the same, that's

your solidest book, Kate.

Still selling 900 a week.

My dear man, you think that I

want to go on writing like Dr Holz?

Whom you ought to write like?

Jack London, Jim Kelly.

Ernest Hemingway.

Myself.

Well ..

How do you like this for an idea?

I've made a few notes.

Cigar?

Not one of yours. Thanks.

How do you like this?

Most women holding important

business positions today ..

Have come up by the stenographer,

private-secretary route.

There is a long, long trail a-winding.

A man is propelled toward the

woman he marries by emotion.

That fool.

But his selection of his secretary

is more careful and intelligent.

Ha .. yes it is, I don't think.

First, he looks at her legs.

Then he smells her perfume.

Then he stares at her face.

And if he still admires

her legs .. he's sold.

Behave.

I am serious.

You mean ..?

The modern businessman's

secretary is closer than his wife.

Yet not his wife.

Now look here, Kate.

Come here.

See that office building over there?

It's an architectural monstrosity.

In every office is a stenographer.

You called them

potential mothers last time.

And in every office there is an

employer with a wife at home.

A fool at home.

You know the number of jealous wives and

secretaries who hate each others souls?

Figure it out.

I tell you, Kate. If you write a

book about the office wife.

I'll make you rich.

I suppose I can't resist that argument.

You will do it then?

Okay.

Good.

I'm sorry, Mr Fellowes.

But this time is taken.

I'm just going, Andrews.

There is your office wife.

You haven't one at home.

You see, your idea is mere bunk.

A pretty good selling bunk, isn't it.

I'll tell you something else, Kate.

I'm getting married.

Are you really?

Congratulations.

Hmm.

I'll give you a rattle.

Right.

Don't give it to your baby.

Keep it for yourself.

Miss Andrews.

Make out a contract for Miss Halsey.

A nine part serial

titled "The Office Wife".

The office wife?

A selling title, eh?

Great.

Andrew Washburn and

Mr Lewin are outside.

Lewin?

Who you call the poet.

You like his stuff.

I told them both to wait.

It's now 12:
10 and you have

many luncheon appointments.

So I've sent for your tray.

At 2.00.

A general employee's conference.

You gave me some notes.

Perhaps you'd better look them over.

Signing these checks will fill in

your time until your tray comes.

At 4:
00

It's a lawyer from Holliston Evans.

The plagiarism case.

Oh, that's a waste of time.

I'm acquainted with the facts.

I'll handle it for you.

Yes. You attend to it, please.

That gives you an extra hour

for your magazine set up.

I need it.

And that takes us late.

Into the evening.

I'm sorry, Miss Andrews.

Would you like this?

I was only thinking of you.

You are so tired.

Me?

I am iron.

Please don't bolt your food.

I'm not. I'm not.

You'd better show that poet in.

After lunch.

Yes, but ..

Besides, when you've finished, the tailor

will be here with some cloth samples.

Tailor?

Uhuh.

Some of your coats are getting ..

Quite shiny at the back.

Are they really?

Yes.

This one is ..

Is quite shiny.

Woman .. you're a jewel.

Been waiting long, Ted?

Only about an hour, honey.

Every time I call for you,

you're the last one out.

I'm awfully sorry, Ted.

Why do they always pick

on you to work so late?

Supposing I were like poor old Andrews?

She often has to work with

the boss until midnight.

Yeah?

And where does that get her?

It is with considerable disappointment

that I am returning your manuscript.

Yours, sincerely.

Well, that's all of that, thank heavens.

It's been a long day.

I'll send you home in my car.

I can just as well call a cab.

No, no. Take my car.

I'll be here for an hour.

I wish you would call

it a day, Mr Fellows.

You look so tired.

You're always saying that.

Goodnight.

Anything ..

Only ..

I .. I wish you'd take a vacation.

You're bound to have another

breakdown. Really, you are.

Well, I'm about to obey you, as usual.

I'm so glad.

Then you haven't heard the good news?

I'm going to Europe on my honeymoon.

Oh.

I'm to be married on the 16th.

Miss Andrews.

I'm ..

I'm quite alright.

Well, come, come.

Sit down for a moment.

There.

Now .. just sit still for a moment.

Miss Murdock.

Please turn the rest of your

work over to Miss Dunfield.

Why, is anything wrong?

I would like to talk to you.

Come to my office, please.

It takes more than good looks to get

by here. You've got to have efficiency.

Come in, Miss Murdock.

Sit down.

Well .. you've been promoted.

Promoted .. I have?

Yes.

Miss Andrews resigned last night.

You are to be Mr Fellowes new secretary.

Yes?

You see he's leaving next week,

for Europe on his honeymoon.

And while he's gone, you'll

have entire charge of his office.

So you'll know what it's

all about when he gets back.

Congratulations.

Whee!

Oh, I'm sorry.

Your new salary begins next week.

But I'm going to give you a week off

so that you'll get used to the idea.

Oh thank you, Mr McGowan.

And Anne.

You got this.

On your work.

What I mean is, charm counts ..

But you got this on your brain.

Don't forget that, Anne.

Indeed I won't, Mr McGowan.

Now run along. Fix your face.

Thank you.

What's the idea?

Sis, aren't you going to work?

Sis!

No.

Fired?

I thought you would be.

You know you can't mess people

around the way you do.

Who made a play for you?

Nobody.

Oh, don't tell me that, Anne.

Honestly, you ought to

get wise to yourself.

Take me for instance.

I gained six pounds.

Maybe more.

But still I'm the pet model

of the lead dress shop.

And you know why?

Because I let that fraud of a manager

kiss me on the ear every now and then.

I got my raise on brains.

Not good looks.

Mr McGowan said so.

Yeah, how much is your raise?

A dollar a week?

If you come home nights before I'm

asleep, you might learn something.

I'm the President's private secretary

and I've got a week's vacation.

I'm to handle the office until

he gets back from Europe.

My salary is forty-five a week

and how do you like that?

You wouldn't rib your

big sister, would you?

Just come back lunchtime and see me get

up for breakfast if you think I kid you.

You have the darnedest luck.

You know, darling.

With my luck and your ears, the

Murdock sisters should get ahead.

Oh gee honey, I'm glad.

Oh I'm not cross. Here, kiss me.

I'm terribly glad, Sis.

Gee, I'm glad. How'd you get it?

Old Andrews resigned.

They say the boss found out

he was in love with him.

They think he told her he

was getting married, see.

And he sent her home the other night

in the car and the chauffeur said ..

She balled all the way.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes