Young And Willing (1943) Movie Script

Well, what do you think?
Is she woman or is she wax?
Hey, what's this?
Break it up, break it up!
Tony, please go away. Please, Tony.
- He can't say things about my wife.
But that's the store detective
you hit. Now will you go?
Good grief.
- Hurry, darling.
Darling, are you alright?
- Sure. It's nothing.
Sorry, Marge. That guy said things ..
- I know.
He was arrested.
- He should have been.
But I got fired. I am no longer
reposing on my sweet repose.
On account of me?
The man just said I spoiled everything.
Tony, did you find anything today?
You sure married the wrong guy, honey.
Tony, I never want to
hear you say that again.
It's just the wrong season
for the show business, Tony.
But we'll get something.
At least in the meanwhile we're
eating and we have a place to live.
It isn't our place, is it.
No, it isn't our place.
But Tony, I wish ..
It's awful being married
and we can't tell anybody.
You'd think there was something
immoral about being married.
Well.
All of us promised not to fall in love.
I hate to think what would happen if
the rest of them found we got married.
Yes. Me too.
It won't be forever, honey.
After Mr Kenny has seen us in our
play and everybody has a job.
We can yell it from the house tops.
From the Empire State Building.
Hiya, kids.
Hello, Norman.
I got terrific news.
You know that juvenile
part in Love By Night?
Yeah.
I didn't get it.
Let's go home, shall we.
You should have seen the
juvenile who got the part.
Juvenile? Ye gods, they had
to carry him up on the stage.
He must have been forty years old.
Forty?
- Yeah.
Don't they realize audiences like to
see young people playing young people.
When Arthur Kenny comes back
maybe it will be different.
He believes in new faces.
- Ours are certainly new.
Another thing. This big producer
scours the straw-hat circuit for talent.
When New York is full of it.
- And right in his own back yard.
At least in the same apartment house.
Take it easy or the
landlady will hear us.
Phew .. what a day.
Oh. Good evening.
I was just waiting for you.
You are Mrs Garnet?
- Yes.
The rent, you know ..
- Well.
See Miss Coburn about that, Miss Garnet.
You know, it's her apartment.
Sometimes I don't know
just whose apartment it is.
It's very confusing.
It confuses us too
sometimes, Mrs Garnet.
I know just how you feel.
The last time I mentioned the rent.
Miss Coburn said she was
expecting a check from her father.
Oh, that.
Oh yes, that.
That was dreadful.
It was?
You see.
Mr Coburn was in an accident.
He was?
Yes.
Yes. You see he was rushing to the
bedside of his dying brother and ..
The car got smashed up, so ..
Dottie had to send him the money to ..
Get him out of jail.
She did perfectly right.
Heavens, how horrible.
We knew you'd feel that way, Mrs Garnet.
Mrs Garnet.
That's Mr Kenny's apartment, isn't it?
Sure it is.
Did it mean anything,
your being in there?
Is he back in town, Mrs Garnet?
Who?
- Mr Kenny.
Oh.
If he isn't coming back ..
Why were you in his apartment?
- Oh.
I was getting it ready for a Mr Kenny.
The producer, you know.
That's why we asked you, Mrs Garnet.
Is Mr Kenny back?
Ask her slower.
- I'm sure I don't know.
I simply got a telephone call
to get his apartment ready.
Did Mr Kenny call you himself?
Oh.
No.
Dear me. I hope he'll be alright.
Who?
Mr Coburn's brother.
- Why?
Oh yes. We hope so too.
Hello George.
Hello, my dear.
Hi, George.
Hello George.
- Hello.
Hey, Norm. Look at this.
It certainly never gets tiresome
with George around here.
You never know when you
come home who he'll be.
You see, I'm supposed to be an old man.
- Not supposed to be.
You are an old man.
What does Stanislavsky say about that?
Is Kate home yet?
Yes, my dear. She's here.
Say old man, has the laundry come back?
Not yet.
But I'm waiting for it
to walk in any minute.
I can certainly use a shirt.
Tough. Walking around town with your ..
Coat buttoned up to your nose.
Any mail?
Yeah, you got it.
I did?
- You sure did.
Good grief.
Army, huh?
- Yeah.
What, for your physical?
Maybe they won't take you.
What do you mean, not take him?
He's not married or anything.
Why shouldn't they take him?
Maybe they won't.
For instance, I took my physical today.
How did they classify you?
- 5G.
5G?
I didn't know there was such a thing.
That's what the doctor
said who examined me.
Look, there's no use in
getting the girls upset.
Don't mention my getting this.
Anyway, until I find out.
Okay.
Thanks.
Do you think he was acting funny?
He's been acting funny a lot lately.
You know what I think?
What?
I think the guy is in the mood.
In love.
- Don't be adolescent.
We made a deal didn't we?
- Just the same.
If I thought he'd pull a stunt
like that, I'd break his neck.
So help me, I'd break his neck.
All clear, Mr Kenny.
Clumsy. Careful.
These are aluminium.
Illegal or something.
Oh.
Welcome home.
- Why, thank you.
Listen my bird-brained beauty,
you tell no-one I'm here tonight.
Understand?
It's Mr Kenny, isn't it?
Shush. When I'm here
I'm strictly incognito.
Please remember that.
- You're what, Mr Kenny?
Incognito.
This is a respectable house, Mr Kenny.
I'll have you remember that.
Don't think you can come here
and do as you please, you know.
To think after 15 years of conversations
with you I would have learned better.
Yes, you really would.
Wouldn't he.
Quite.
Hey, Norm.
I've been reading that Stanislavsky book
like you said but I still don't get it.
He sounds like a screwball to me.
Look, George.
Stanislavsky is the greatest exponent of
the art of acting there has ever been.
He's sound. He says simply this.
Don't pretend to be a
character, be it. Live it.
Only then can ..
- Sure.
But some of the things he gives
you to practice on like ..
'Pretend you are an apple
ripening on a tree'.
Now how in the ..
- No, George. No.
Not pretend.
Be an apple ripening on the tree.
Be it. Feel the seed inside of you.
Only one seed?
How do I know how many seeds you got?
You're the apple, not me.
Look.
Feel your seeds inside of you.
Feel the sun beating down
and your flesh getting soft.
Your skin about to burst.
Getting beautiful red streaks on it.
Gee.
What do I do when I'm real ripe?
What do you do?
You fall from the tree. Kerplunk.
A rosy sphere of lusciousness.
Why, Norman.
Alright. I was only trying to help.
No. I was only kidding.
Maybe I should try it.
If I only had a tree.
If you only had a tree?
What does Stanislavsky say about that?
Improvise.
There is your tree.
Isn't it pretty.
Fancy my missing that and it was
here in the room all the time.
You're sure it's an apple tree?
I'm afraid you don't have it, George.
Yes, I do. You just wait and see.
In just a little while, I'll be
the rosiest thing you've ever seen.
[ Buzzer ]
How do you do.
I was looking for Dottie Coburn.
So was I .. about the rent, you know.
Ooh.
How do you do?
I'm Muriel Foster.
What are you doing up there?
Shush.
I think I just felt a seed.
Two, I think.
Two beautiful little seeds.
Does Miss Dottie Coburn live here?
Do you notice any red streaks?
I say, I am Muriel Foster.
I went to school with Dottie
in Hoopsville, Illinois.
Ooh!
What's the matter?
You know. I think I've just
been double-crossed by a bee.
I don't know or understand
anything you're talking about.
All I ..
I must have been crossed with
some strange tropical fruit.
No northern apple ever felt like this.
Well. I guess I must be
in the wrong apartment.
But Dottie said it was this address.
We'll have a little
rehearsal before supper.
We could use some work
on that second act scene.
Yep, there it is.
I beg your pardon ..
Now, there you are.
What happened to that corpse?
You mean that ratty old corpse, sir?
It disappeared.
- Aha.
I'm not sure you're
entirely without blame.
Why should I want to murder
that poor unfortunate girl?
If I only knew that.
It's alright.
Now then. What happened?
Excuse me. Is Miss Coburn here?
I don't know. Never saw the girl.
It's her laundry. I paid for it.
You were here when she
was stabbed in the heart.
It's a dollar .83.
- Speak up, curse you.
I said it was a dollar .83.
Please. Mrs Garnet.
Nevertheless, there's strange and weird
things occurring tonight in Brooklyn.
That peculiar woman.
Do not speak of her.
She's good and kind and pure.
She's my life.
My bright angel.
Just the same, this was a dollar .83.
Please, Mrs Garnet.
We are trying to have a rehearsal.
How can we with the interruptions?
You're acting?
Ye gods.
You gave us the play in
the first place, didn't you?
Did I? Wasn't that nice.
It seems odd.
There were nine men's shirts
and six pairs of pyjamas.
No shorts?
- Yes.
Six female. Four male.
Good.
It don't seem quite right.
When Miss Coburn took the apartment ..
She said she may have a young girl
visit her from time to time, but ..
Well .. nine men's shirts.
Nine men's shirts. That's good.
I'll speak to Miss Coburn
when she comes in.
I wish you would.
The laundryman looked at me so funny.
He thought it was my wash. Imagine.
I can't.
No. I tried.
But it wasn't any use.
Farewell, bright angel.
Farewell.
Say Tony, do you have two
pairs of shorts in the laundry?
No. One.
They must be George's.
A girdle.
I'm ripe.
George.
George.
I'll get some water.
You and your Stanislavsky.
Listen. Guess what?
- You got a job?
The most wonderful thing.
- You bring the hamburger?
It isn't that.
- You brought steak?
No. It's really true.
Arthur Kenny is back.
Arthur Kenny?
- How do you know?
There's a light in his apartment.
A light in his apartment.
I hope Mrs Garnet doesn't
find out about this.
There's somebody down there.
Marge, Kate. Mr Kenny is back.
How do you know?
- Can you see him?
No. Can you, Norm?
No, I can't see him but
I can smell onions.
What do producers smell like?
- Can you see anybody?
No.
I guess Mrs Garnet
just left the light on.
What are you looking at?
Who's that?
Don't ask me.
Maybe she's been here all the time
and we just never noticed it.
Dottie Coburn, if you don't speak ..
- Muriel.
So glad to see you. When did you get
in town? You know these people?
Well enough.
Muriel Foster, these are
my apartment mates.
You mean .. you all live here?
In one apartment?
Why not?
Well, I don't think it's right.
I know what you do think
and that isn't right either.
But what will people say?
My dear young lady.
What possible harm can
result from the fact ..
That three girls and three
boys share the same apartment?
We've banded here together
for financial reasons.
And for no other purpose. Get it?
No other purpose.
No. But I wasn't thinking
anything like .. like that.
No.
She wasn't thinking
anything like .. like that.
You really are disgusting.
What if Dottie's father knew of this?
- He doesn't know.
I said if he knew
he'd be terribly upset.
But he isn't going to know, is he dear.
Is he, dear.
It's none of my business if
Dottie wants to live in a ..
A harem?
I hope it's not that bad.
No, Muriel. It's fun.
I don't think so.
An isolationist, huh?
I don't suppose you've ever had
any wish to be gregarious, either.
Have you?
No, I haven't. I leave here this minute.
Dottie will go with you to the
door to be sure you get out.
I certainly don't know what your
father's going to think, Dottie.
Three boys living with
three girls alone.
Nobody is ever alone.
You can't be with only four rooms.
Sure, there's a bathroom but with six
people it's hard to even be there alone.
I don't see why it's necessary to live
with three men just to get on the stage.
I don't live with three men, Muriel.
The others are just Tony and George.
I see.
If we didn't live together Norman
must go back to Rhode Island ..
And stay there and finish being
a dentist without any train fare.
I guess I'd just die, Muriel.
Well, this is very interesting.
I have a very interesting
surprise for you, Dottie.
You have, Muriel. What?
You'll find out.
Bye.
Hey look.
Suppose this Muriel character does tell
Mr Coburn about us living together.
She can make trouble if she wants to.
Yeah. I think she wants to.
If Dottie's father stops her
allowance, what will we do?
I read where they've discovered
there's nourishment in grass.
George .. go and get the hamburger.
Good evening, Mr Kenny.
How do you do.
He's here. Outside. He's here.
- Who?
Who?
- She means Mr Kenny.
He's who we wanted to see, wasn't it?
- Wait a minute. Are you sure?
I saw him just now by the door.
Can you see him?
He's got a big white hat on.
Yeah. I can see his head .. it's moving.
It's gone.
Ye gods, why doesn't he stand still.
- Shush. He might hear you.
Here he comes.
Gosh.
I could spit right on him.
- Goodness. Don't, George.
I've never spat on a producer before.
I would adore spitting on a producer.
But not this one. He's our only chance.
If we can't get him
to see us we're sunk.
It's a fine thing. Having to see a
producer through a peephole.
He's down there. Let's go see him.
Not all at one.
He'd think we were crazy.
Somebody should go down.
Yeah .. it should be a girl.
Producers like girls.
Not me. I'd be scared to death.
No, not Dottie.
She's too dumb.
I get it .. okay.
Put on something alluring, Kate.
Let's see. I've got that dress
I wore in Anybody's Woman.
It brought down the second
act curtain. Remember?
Yeah.
Then the audience went home. I remember.
It's kind-of brazen, isn't it Kate?
This ain't no corn-husking dame, Marge.
Hello.
How did you get in here?
- Through the pipes. I always do.
Please go away.
I'm busy with a bouillabaisse.
That makes a nice song title:
'Busy with a bouillabaisse'.
As a matter of fact a ballad was
written to a bouillabaisse once.
Thackeray wrote it.
- No?
Yes.
Can't you see anybody?
- No.
You're a very pretty girl.
You know that?
Thank you.
What was it you said you came here for?
- We want to be an actress.
I mean: we are an actress.
I can't imagine why you came to me.
You're Arthur Kenny.
- Me? No, no.
You're not?
- No. I'm just a chef.
Could you speak to him about me?
That is, if you're not afraid to.
No. I'm not afraid to speak to him.
Actually, he respects my judgement.
Why do you think you can act?
My teeth, for one thing.
See? The most beautiful teeth
in America the judge said.
Trying to bite your way into theater?
Besides that, I'm the healthiest
girl in Creek County.
Where's that?
- Iowa.
I was Queen of Corn at the fair.
- That ought to help.
Healthy?
You see. I have something
Arthur Kenny may want.
Yes. I think you have.
I mean, I think he might.
He comes here sometimes?
I know he doesn't live here
but visits once in a while.
I often wondered why.
Arthur is a very sentimental man.
You may not believe it.
He lived here when he was very poor.
It was in this apartment that
Arthur wrote his first play.
A beautiful little thing.
Was it successful?
- He never had a chance to find out.
He came home one night and
found he'd been locked out.
Mrs Garnet.
- You know her?
I know her.
His trunk was in the house
and his play was in the trunk.
Later, when he came back with
the money to get it, it was gone.
It was a terrible blow.
Like losing one's first child.
Where had it gone?
You said you knew Mrs Garnet.
She thought she'd sell the trunk.
She wasn't sure.
That's why Arthur keeps this apartment.
He comes back sometimes
to get away from everything.
He also hopes that sometime Mrs Garnet
will remember what became of the trunk.
Hmm. That's an awful lot to hope.
Then of course I can hope.
And he can always cook.
You know, Arthur loves to cook.
We shall know soon now.
No?
No.
No.
Hey.
Wait a minute.
You threw it away. All that food.
I wouldn't feed that to my pig.
You capitalist. You bombastic ..
Bagpipe.
What did you call me?
- Bagpipe.
You wait until I meet Arthur Kenny.
I will meet Arthur Kenny.
He's not the kind of man who'd
throw perfectly good food away.
I'll tell how you took food
from people's mouths.
I didn't take anything
from anybody's mouth.
You keep out of my mouth.
When I see those kids upstairs wrestling
for a dime's-worth of hamburger ..
Bagpipe.
Bagpipe!
Go ahead and spit.
What did he say, Kate?
Will he see us?
It wasn't him. It was his cook.
Did he say if Kenny was
coming back or not?
He was only interested in cooking.
He was fish happy.
That's probably Mrs Garnet
coming after the rent.
I don't suppose you happen to
have a loose egg about you, do you?
What?
I have a rather exciting
idea and I need an egg.
I haven't any loose ones.
I didn't suppose you would have.
I tried the people in there
but there's nobody home.
Thank you.
Man, but a rush.
Against Othello's breast.
And he retired.
Where should Othello go?
Now.
How dost thou look now?
This look of thine will
hurl my soul from heaven.
And fiends will snatch at it.
Gee, was I that good?
What are you reading?
- A letter from home.
What are you crying about?
Our prize sow ate all
her new little babies.
What?
They often do that.
Very intelligent.
Something that should be
practised by the human race.
Norman. Don't say things like that.
Well, I mean it.
That's the whole trouble with the world.
Overpopulation. You know that.
But wouldn't the wrong people
be eaten up sometimes?
Supposing Mr Kenny's mother had
eaten him up when he was born?
Alright, Supposing.
Norman, please don't be morbid.
It's so depressing when you get morbid.
I'm hungry.
And it's very depressing
when I get hungry too.
Coming through.
I don't know what you're
bellyaching about.
If it wasn't for Dottie you
wouldn't be eating at all.
Did you hear that?
Rubbing it in. You're paying the bills.
Please don't be mad at me, Norman.
I'll stop paying if you want me to.
Dottie.
And let four innocent people
besides ourselves starve to death?
I just don't want to do anything that
would make you mad at me ever, Norman.
I'm not mad at you.
Can't you see I'm hating myself
until I can hardly stand it?
Haven't you any perception at all?
I guess not, Norman.
Don't you think I know
how much of a heel I am?
Letting you buy the food and ..
Pay the bills.
A girl.
I wish you didn't feel that way, Norman.
I'm happy here than I would be
anywhere else in the world.
I want to be with you.
I mean, with all of you.
I guess it's a little different from
life in Hoopsville, Illinois.
Yes, it is.
That's why I'm afraid daddy may
find out about us living together.
I don't think he'd like it.
- No.
He's part elk and part lion.
Besides that, he's part Rotarian.
Yep.
You can see a man like that
probably wouldn't understand ..
About you not wanting to
finish being a dentist.
Please don't say that word.
I'm sorry.
But people not in the theater can't see
why it means so much to people in it.
Daddy probably thinks that
finishing being a dentist ..
D-e-n-t-i-s-t would be a very
fine profession for instance.
Dottie.
Have you ever looked
in somebody's mouth?
No, I don't believe I ever did.
Look in mine.
Now.
How would you like to spend the rest of
your life looking at a thing like that?
I wouldn't mind.
I guess it all depends
on whose angle it ..
From anybody's angle, it's horrible.
Well.
Don't you worry.
We'll get a break somehow.
Somehow we'll get Mr Kenny to see our ..
He hasn't been here for weeks.
He will be. Maybe any night now.
Really he will, Norman.
If we can just hold out.
- We can.
If we do, it will be due to you, Dottie.
After I get to be a success, do you
know the first thing I'm going to do?
What, Norman?
I'm going to get you front row
tickets for opening night.
Get the cigarette ashes out of it.
I don't suppose anybody's
heard from Tony, have they?
He's trying out for a job. Isn't that
enough? He said so, didn't he?
Yes, but ..
I never heard of a show trying
out in Monmouth, New Jersey.
I can't understand ..
I suppose because they always
open shows in Atlantic City ..
They must keep on doing it for
the rest of their lives I suppose.
No. It just seems strange.
He's been gone so long.
Alright. Maybe it's a good show.
Have you ever thought of that?
Besides, I want Tony back
here just as much as you do.
It's his turn to wash the dishes.
Don't you think he'd send
notices or something if it were?
For Pete's sake. So Tony isn't here.
So, we haven't heard from him.
So, is that going to kill anybody?
I really ought to see Tony.
Why?
Now you've said it.
[ Telephone ]
Pray it's a job.
- Pray it's a job.
Shush.
- Wait.
Hello?
Yes. What's that?
Yes, this is Miss Coburn's apartment.
You are what? You're who?
Mister Coburn.
Mister Coburn?
You mean the Mr Coburn
who's Dottie's father?
Who, me? I'm Norman.
Yeah, Norman.
Sure, who did you think?
It's the janitor, I am.
It's after fixing a little leak in
the radiator I came up about.
Yes. I imagine you'd like to be speaking
to your little Chickadee, Miss Coburn?
Erin go bragh.
Shamrocks and shillelaghs.
I'll fetch her.
It's your father, Dottie.
Silly. He wouldn't call long distance
unless he was dead or it's serious.
It's something serious
because he's on the phone.
Shush. It's Dottie's dad.
Hello?
- Dottie. Be very careful.
It is daddy.
I just said: 'It is daddy'.
Wasn't that alright?
I said it to Norman.
He's the one who answered the phone.
Norman? Why ..
- Tell him I'm the janitor.
He says he's the janitor.
Don't be silly. Of course not.
In New York?
Men?
Daddy, that's silly.
Why don't you come over
and see for yourself?
Tell him to walk. It's good exercise.
Walk daddy. It's good exercise.
Alright, daddy.
Hurry up. Just as fast ..
Just as slow as you can.
Alright, daddy. Goodbye.
Isn't it wonderful? Daddy is at
the station and coming over.
Yes, that's just lovely.
I said that was the surprise
that Muriel had for me.
Dottie, did he say he thought
there were men here?
Yes. How did he know that?
Ye gods.
That Muriel.
I knew we should have destroyed her.
Lose Dottie and we don't eat.
Let's pack and get out of here.
- It won't take long to pack mine.
Dottie, get dressed in something.
Something feminine so you look
like you didn't do anything.
Put on a lot of hand lotion, Dottie.
- Alright.
Hurry up, boys.
These are all my things.
Yeah. Let's not be too
particular about packing them.
Your coat, George. Put it in.
Overshoes?
- In the kitchen.
Where's your raincoat?
Kate, get my raincoat.
It's in the breadbox.
In the breadbox?
What's it doing in the breadbox?
It keeps the bread fresh.
Are you sure this is everything?
I'm surprised there's this much.
- Here.
Pipes.
Pipes. Girls don't smoke pipes.
Here's the bread.
If Dottie's father finds out about
this he isn't going to like it.
Don't forget, tell Dottie's father she
doesn't even know what a man looks like.
And you chaperone her
every minute of the time.
I'll handle it. Don't worry.
Just get out of here.
Are you sure this is everything?
The laundry.
These towels. Put them in.
Don't be silly. Girls use towels.
Not when they're marked YMCA.
Here, here.
You must hurry.
He'll be here any minute.
Desdemona. Ouch.
Listen.
We go to the landing across the
street so we see when he leaves.
Yeah.
Now don't forget, don't
let him take Dottie away.
Yeah, tell him anything.
- Anything.
[ Door knocks ]
How did he get here so fast?
It couldn't be.
Yeah, but it might be.
Paddy, did you hear the
news that's going around?
Sing. Sing.
That's very pretty. I love music.
Ye gods.
Why don't you knock if it's you?
I did knock.
- Then don't.
Don't what?
- Knock.
When it isn't you.
What is it, Mrs Garnet?
It's about the rent.
- The rent?
Yes. I'd like to see Miss Coburn.
- I'm afraid you can't. Not now.
Isn't she here?
You see.
She's in her room crying her eyes out.
Yes. It's about her father, you know.
Her father?
Yes, the .. accident.
Oh, yes.
It was an awful shock to her.
- The poor child.
I know just what she needs. Salts.
What on earth were you talking about?
- Just a little Stanislavsky.
Come on, George. Let's get out of here.
[ Buzzer ]
Paddy, did you hear the news ..?
- No.
That's the downstairs buzzer.
You can still make it.
Go on up to the roof.
- Yeah.
[ Buzzer ]
How do I look?
Don't forget, Dottie. You don't
even know what a man looks like.
What in the world have you got on?
- I'm feminine.
Dottie, that's my formal dress.
The first act in Anybody's Woman.
That was very feminine. I remember.
I hope this isn't the
flop that show was.
Too late to do anything about it now.
Your father is on the way up.
Dottie, make him let you stay.
You love it here and will
be miserable elsewhere.
Don't mention how we have to eat.
I do love it here.
I don't want to go elsewhere.
That's it. Only put more pathos in it.
- I love it here.
That's better. Now go out and make an
entrance when your father comes in.
She would pull a stunt like that.
[ Door knocks ]
Hello Muriel.
- Is this the place?
This is it.
I hope this is Mr Coburn.
- Yes.
It certainly is.
Come right in.
- We certainly will.
Thank you.
Daddy.
- Dottie.
I don't even know what a man looks like.
- What?
She said she hasn't seen you for so long
she hardly remembers what you look like.
When did you start
wearing clothes like that?
Don't pay attention to Dottie's dress.
She's rehearsing something.
I said I had a surprise for you, Dottie.
You should have said.
Don't you think you should
introduce us to your daddy?
Of course. This is Kate Benson, daddy.
I'm so glad to know you.
- How do you do.
Her sister, Marge.
Dottie told us so much about you
we feel we've always known you.
Thank you.
Dottie didn't mention she lived
with such charming young ladies.
You'll find Dottie didn't
mention a lot of things.
What do you mean?
Muriel has told me ..
- Yes. Where's the others?
What others?
You know.
We haven't the faintest idea
what you're talking about.
I noticed the name card over your bell
downstairs has several names on it.
Oh that.
That's simple to explain.
Isn't it, Kate?
Yes, of course.
They're the names of people
who lived here before we came.
We never thought of taking them off.
We should have thought of it.
- We sure should.
We thought of everything else.
- Won't you sit down, Mr Coburn?
Thank you.
I just stopped in to
see how Dottie was ..
Getting on.
- I'm fine, daddy.
Here you are.
Smelling salts.
- Not now, Mrs Garnet.
Pull in, Miss Coburn.
- Mrs Garnet, please.
What's the matter here?
- Who are you?
I am .. I'm Mr Coburn. Dottie's father.
Oh.
We were so relieved to find that
Mr Coburn really had no accident at all.
I'm glad to hear that.
But how is your brother?
His rheumatism bothers him from ..
Time to time.
I know just how he feels.
You see, I often get a
little pain right here.
And here.
- Tell us about it later.
In the morning, it's really unbearable.
- Of course it is.
Sometimes, I creak.
Who's that?
Mrs Garnet.
- Our landlady.
Why did she think daddy had an accident?
She makes up the darnedest things
to talk about her rheumatism.
She lives a very narrow life.
- Odd creature, isn't she.
Dottie, are you sure this is the
proper place for you to be living?
The 'proper place', Mr Coburn?
I don't quite understand.
Well.
Muriel here has been telling
me some very strange things.
She has?
I can't imagine what you mean.
You know what I mean.
You know very well what Dottie's doing.
But Muriel, I don't see evidence of ..
Evidence of what?
- Well.
Muriel was telling me about some ..
Some men sharing this apartment.
Men?
I don't even know what a man looks like.
Muriel Foster.
Men?
Where did you ever get that idea?
I saw them. That's where.
Repressed, no doubt.
How old are you, Muriel?
- Nineteen.
It doesn't generally get
them that young, does it.
Why don't you look in the other rooms?
Yes. What room would
you like to look in?
Well.
You understand.
I must be sure about Dottie.
Naturally. I know just how you feel.
We want to be sure about Dottie too.
Yes.
Let's start with the kitchen, shall we.
If you like.
This is the kitchen.
- It looks very nice.
We're particularly proud of the stove.
You see, Muriel? No men.
Look in the bedrooms please.
Is that where you'd keep men
if you had men, Muriel?
I've never had any men.
You know it very well.
Yes indeed. We know it very well.
We can go across this way.
Daddy, this is what we
call the girls' bedroom.
Why do you call it the girls' bedroom?
Because girls sleep here, silly.
I can't think of another reason.
Can you, Marge?
No. I can't think of another reason.
Can you, Dottie?
Mr Coburn, shall we ..
If you like.
What's in there?
Just some old clothes.
You see, dear.
No men.
Well, Dottie.
Looks like you've a nice
quiet place to live here.
Yes. Dottie loves it here.
Don't you, Dottie?
Tell your daddy how much you
love it here, Dottie. You know.
I love it here.
Muriel. It looks to me like you've
been something of an alarmist.
I have not.
You believe them and
you don't believe me.
There are men living here. I saw them.
What kind of men did you see, dear?
One of them was up in that window.
And he got ripe and fell out.
- What?
And the other two were stabbing
each other with knives.
She sounds definitely unbalanced to me.
I can't think what's
happened to you, Muriel.
I don't care. I know it sounds
crazy but they are crazy.
One of them wears a girdle.
Muriel Foster, what
kind of a story is that?
It's not a story. It's true.
What's more. They were looking
at somebody through the floor.
And one of them tried to
get me to be .. gregarious.
So there.
Muriel Foster. You're trying to make
trouble for me with my daddy?
Now, now, Dottie.
Muriel, I should like you to leave.
I'll see you at your uncle's later
and we can go into this further.
Alright. I suppose you'd like
to be part of the harem.
I suppose you'd like to live
here too and get ripe.
I should like you to leave, Muriel.
I can't imagine what happens to
girls when they come to New York.
They seem to go all
topsy-turvy, don't they.
What's that noise?
Look. Stage door. No admittance.
We seem have sprung a leak.
Old plumbing, you know.
Sounds like a big drip.
Hey, George. Norman.
Where the heck is all the towels?
Who are you?
Dottie's father would like
to know who you are too.
What in the world are you doing here?
- I just came in to take a bath.
A likely story. A likely story.
Who is this?
No idea. But if he knows what's
good for him he'll get out fast.
The idea of breaking in to a strange
apartment to take bath. The very idea.
I never heard of such a thing.
Get your clothes and get out of here.
Yes. I must run along.
Good day. Nice to have met you.
Good day.
- Just a minute. Not so fast.
I need a bath and some clothes. Look.
Why did you think you'd find them here?
- I don't know.
How did you get in here?
- I don't know.
Perhaps you had a key?
- Yeah.
What?
- No key.
You know these girls?
- I don't know anything.
He doesn't know what a girl looks like.
- You'll tell me.
You tell me what this is all about
or by heaven I thrash it out of you.
I don't know anything. I'm stupid.
Then I'll knock some sense into you.
- Daddy, stop it.
Perhaps you'll be good
enough to explain?
See, it's like this.
Partners, have you seen anything of ..
Just in time.
He hasn't gotten violent yet.
Don't do anything to excite that man.
He's liable to be dangerous.
Who are you?
- Bellevue.
Please step aside.
Psychopathic ward. Move very slowly.
And very quietly.
- Good heavens.
Shush.
You remember us?
We're your friends.
We like you.
Come now, Stanislavsky. We wouldn't
hurt you for anything in the world.
Thank goodness we came in time.
Is he .. you know?
- Completely and hopelessly.
Everything is under control now.
He won't cause any more trouble.
What's the matter with you?
- Just relax. Don't worry.
I had no idea. He barged in
here and started to take a bath.
Completely nuts.
Then he screamed for a towel
and some clothes he wanted.
Yes. You see, he suffers from
the delusion that he's dirty.
He bathes continually.
- Are you saying I'm crazy?
Yes. You're as crazy as a loon.
I'm not. I won't have anything like that
said about me. I'm as sane as you are.
I don't know why you say I'm crazy
just because I like to take baths.
I love to take baths.
I love to give other people baths too.
Love to. Love to. Boo!
- Get him out of here.
He won't hurt anybody now.
- He might have killed us all.
How'd he get in here?
We were taking some lunatics over
to Bellevue and this one escaped.
It won't happen again.
I hope not.
Come on now, Stanislavsky.
I don't know this is a safe
place for Dottie to be.
Mr Coburn, that never happened before.
Daddy, don't say a thing like that.
I can't leave. I love it here.
On account of Mr Kenny.
You see. He lives in
the apartment under us.
He's the biggest producer
in New York and ..
He's crazy about Dottie.
- Is he?
Yes he is, Mr Coburn.
He's just crazy about Dottie.
He'll do very big things
for her in the theater.
Big things.
- Kenny, eh?
You're going to be awfully proud of
this little girl someday Mr Coburn.
When she's the biggest actress
on the American stage.
Mr Kenny was saying to me
just the other night that ..
[ Door knocks ]
Who is it?
Let me in. I want to
get to your bathroom.
Another lunatic. Now, don't get excited.
I'll handle this.
Yes? Come in.
What are you trying to do, drown me?
Mr Kenny.
That's Arthur Kenny?
Take it easy.
Everything will be alright.
Take it easy? I'm up to my
knees in water. Do you hear?
Pretend it isn't there.
Then it goes away.
Something wrong with him?
- There's nothing wrong with anyone.
We're just trying to help you.
We're your friends. We like you.
I'm uninterested in your emotions.
I want to get in your bathroom.
Wait. You want to take a bath?
I don't want to take a bath.
My entire apartment is a bath.
It's that crazy man.
Mr Kenny, a strange lunatic
came in and turned it on.
Tell him to turn it off.
- Kenny.
Kenny. I'm J.T. Coburn.
This little girl's daddy.
They've just told me how interesting ..
- Spare me the details, old man.
Mr Kenny, we have a play
we want you to see.
Do you remember me? The queen of corn?
Remember?
Bagpipe, eh?
So that was Mr Kenny?
The one who was going to do so
much for Dottie. This settles it.
Unfortunately, I must spend the weekend
on Long Island, because of business.
But Monday morning, early as possible,
I'll take Dottie away from this ..
This insane asylum.
- Daddy, please.
Dottie, be ready to leave
with me Monday morning.
Well.
I had to open my big teeth, didn't I.
What's the matter, squirt.
Nothing, nothing.
What's the matter?
Where's Marge?
- In the kitchen.
What did Mr Kenny want?
To be rescued from drowning.
Tony left the water
running in the bathtub.
It got all over Mr Kenny's
apartment up to his knees.
Did you tell him about our play?
You bet.
- Well, what did he say?
He wasn't interested in
anything but our bathroom.
You mean he won't see it?
That's a slight understatement, my boy.
I wish I were boiling in oil.
Anyway, it cleared us
with Dottie's father.
He thinks everything is alright?.
Yeah. Everything's fine.
He's taking me away, Monday.
Back to Hoopsville, Illinois.
I hate Hoopsville, Illinois.
It's very depressing.
Hello Marge.
Tony.
Tony, where have you been?
Why didn't you write to me?
I was kinda tied up, honey.
- What do you mean, 'tied up'?
Well .. I'm so busy and ..
Marge, look.
- What, Tony?
I'd better give up this idea of
trying to be an actor and ..
Tony.
Acting isn't as important as
other things right now.
The shape the world is in.
Tony, that's why the world needs actors
now more than it ever has in its life.
It needs entertainment and ..
Laughter and ..
I want to make it forget the dreadful
things that have happened to it.
Marge, listen.
The world needs people
to do other things too.
Please don't talk like that.
I'd feel terrible if we were the ones ..
That let the kids down when they've
been so wonderful to us and ..
Having Mr Kenny see the
play means so much to me.
Please don't cry, Marge.
We got married so we'd be happy.
Now look at us.
Tony, if you let our getting married
spoil things we intended to do, I'll ..
I'll hate it.
Hate what?
- The baby.
What baby?
The baby we're going to have.
Marge.
Are you glad, darling? Please be glad.
Sure I am. But ..
If you let me or it spoil anything
we started out to do, I'll ..
I'll never speak to it.
- Marge.
All its life the poor thing will have
a mother that won't speak to it.
It won't be the baby's fault, Marge.
The baby is part of you, isn't it?
Alright. It would be
your fault, wouldn't it?
Couldn't you even speak to the
part that would be your part?
Only if you promise not to leave the
kids until Mr Kenny sees the play.
Alright, Marge.
I think everything
will turn out alright.
If he sees the play
before Monday morning.
Yes. He's got to do that
on account of Dottie.
Yeah.
Dottie? What has she to do with it?
Her father takes her back to
Hoopsville Illinois Monday morning.
Marge.
But where will you live then?
Wherever you live, Tony. Won't I?
Sure.
Sure.
- Naturally.
Sure. Naturally.
We'd better go back. I just came
out her to take my medicine.
Medicine?
Good grief.
Does having a baby make you sick?
Not really sick.
You just get nerves and want tomatoes
and cream puffs and food like that.
It's awfully silly how you feel.
It's all in your head.
But this fixes you up alright.
You have to be careful though.
- You do?
Yes. One teaspoonful
makes you feel divine but ..
Two makes you sick to your stomach
and three makes you go out like a light.
Good grief, you'd better
be careful then, honey.
Let's go back.
- Marge.
What, darling?
Thanks ever so much for the baby.
I suppose Marge told you, huh Tony?
Oh boy. I'll say she has.
- What are we going to do?
We're having a baby of course.
No. I mean about Dottie's
father taking her back.
You're having what?
- We're going to have a baby.
You disgusting so-and-so.
You moron.
It's alright. We're married.
You're married?
When?
- In May.
The baby is going to be born in April.
Oh.
I didn't mean anything like that.
- The heck you didn't.
Don't worry, squirt.
I think it's swell.
It's swell. But ..
I doubt they want men in the army
that were going to have babies.
Shut up, will you.
What did you say?
Who?
About the army. What did you say?
Oh.
I said.
You'll find very few men ..
In the army that are
going to have babies.
Very few.
What's that got to do with Tony?
Nothing. Nothing. Why should it?
I don't know. Tony, why should it?
What's the use?
Because I'm in the army. That's why.
The army, huh?
Tony.
We couldn't tell anybody
we're married, could we.
I never thought about the army.
I didn't know how to tell you, honey.
Gee, it's been awful
being away from you.
That's just like me, isn't it.
Just thinking about myself.
Not thinking about you at all.
Poor darling, You must
have been awfully worried.
Yeah. I couldn't tell
the army about you ..
And I couldn't tell you about the army.
I just can't imagine how it happened.
Stanislavsky.
Yes. I'll tell Mr Kenny.
After two seasons with Mr Robert
Mantel I was with the Buffalo ..
Yes. I'll tell Mr Kenny.
I want to see Mr Kenny please.
- Have you an appointment?
I want to see him about
our having a baby.
Well.
There must be some mistake.
Mr Kenny is a theatrical producer.
No. It wasn't a mistake.
Mr Kenny has to come home,
even if it's just for one night.
If you'll just have a chair
over there please.
Yes?
- Mr Kenny.
There's a young lady here who wants
to see you about having a baby.
I think you had better
see her, Mr Kenny.
Well.
Alright.
You listen on the dictaphone.
I'll leave the key down.
Yes, Mr Kenny. Yes.
You may go in now.
Hello, Mr Kenny.
Look here, young woman.
Just what has you having
a baby got to do with me?
I'm not going to have a baby. We are.
You see, there's the six of us.
- Six of you?
Where have I seen you before?
I'm Dottie Coburn. I live right over
your head in the apartment upstairs.
Coburn? You're the one with the maniac
father that tried to give me a bath?
My father is not a maniac, Mr Kenny.
He's part elk and part lion.
And he has the biggest silo in Illinois.
Dottie.
- Kate.
Gee I'm sorry, Mr Kenny.
So it's you. I knew your teeth
were in this somewhere.
I was telling Mr Kenny about our baby.
- What's she talking about?
It's really very simple, Mr Kenny.
My sister's husband is in the army.
Somehow, they're going to have a baby.
Dottie's father will take her away. You
must see our play before Monday morning.
Because Tony has to be back in camp.
I don't know what the soldiers will say
when he says he's going to have a baby.
Norman gave him a cigar.
You'll see our play, won't you?
- What play?
What are you talking about?
Look. Will you get out of my office
before I go stark staring mad.
Okay. We just asked.
You don't have to get mean about it.
Is Mr Kenny going to see our play?
- No, he's not.
I won't be here when our baby is born?
- I guess not, Dottie.
I never have any fun.
- Get her out of the office please.
Alright. We're going. We're going.
I wish Mr Stanislavsky was here.
Don't you?
Mr Stanislavsky wrote
our play 'Mostly Murder'.
No he didn't.
What did you say?
She's mixed up. He never wrote our play.
We don't know who did.
What of Mostly Murder?
We said it was a good play we like.
Good? It's a great play.
How did you know of it?
Know of what?
- Mostly Murder.
Mrs Garnet gave it to us.
She did?
Yes. She found it in an old trunk
some broken down author left.
What's the matter, Kate?
You knew about it all the time.
All the time I told you about it you
had it up your sleeve laughing at it.
I want my play.
Why should we give Mr Kenny our play?
- He says our play is his play.
I don't say it is. It is.
I wrote it. I starved for it.
I was locked out for it.
I want my play. Please give it to me.
Even if we wanted to give
you your play, Mr Kenny.
I doubt Norman would let us.
- Who is Norman?
Norman is the most wonderful
man in the world.
Where is he?
- Where we live.
I insist on being taken there.
Alright.
- Is Mr Kenny coming with us?
The battle has been my Gethsemane.
It is finished.
Think.
Think, think.
I'm going to Paris.
I must be true to my dead.
They will then march
with me towards freedom.
The torch is not out.
I shall rule the world again.
Austria, Russia .. even England.
I am a man of destiny.
Marie.
Marie, you must help me .. you must.
Why do you play Napoleon
with a French accent?
He was French, wasn't he?
No. I mean like Boyer.
- Oh.
I'm just trying to make him lovable.
Mr Kenny.
An awful thing has happened.
Mr Kenny wrote a play.
- Our play.
Mostly Murder?
- Yes. And I want it please.
You wrote Mostly Murder?
- I certainly did.
It's my property and if you don't give
it to me quietly I'll sue you for it.
Where is it? Give it to me.
- We haven't got it.
You haven't?
- We haven't.
Written down I mean.
We don't believe in that.
Working with the script.
After we learned it we threw it away.
Don't work with a script?
Yes, Mr Kenny. The only way to get
your play back is to watch us act in it.
I mean, you watch us give a
performance of your play and ..
Take it down in some way.
That way you get it back.
By George, you're right.
I have a Dictaphone.
Wait until I get it.
It's just downstairs.
I'll be right back. Don't start
anything until I get back now.
We won't.
Tony, Tony.
Hey kids. It's our chance.
- Come on. He'll be right back.
Let's see. I'll get my crystal ball.
- I'll get the uniform off.
Forget where the script was?
- Wait.
Dottie, you know nothing
about this. Understand?
Alright.
I need a dress. Something long.
Would my graduation dress do?
Anything. But hurry.
- Alright.
How do you suppose she ever graduated?
- Politics, probably.
Come on, Marge.
Let's get the furniture in place.
I forgot about you. Sorry.
Sit down. You can't lift anything.
- I can.
Sit down.
- Alright.
Gee, I hope he likes us
and nothing goes wrong.
What could go wrong?
I wish we had another
corpse for the first scene.
Well, we haven't.
Button me up, will you Marge.
I wonder what's keeping Mr Kenny.
- He probably had to shave his records.
Where is Mr Kenny?
- He's not back yet.
Tell them what Mr Kenny
is doing, Norman. You know.
I said he probably had
to shave his records.
Can you imagine that?
Yes. Let's rehearse the
beginning while we wait.
It won't hurt.
- I can sure use it.
Hurry up, Kate.
- Coming.
Kate, we'll rehearse the beginning.
Alright. Places, kids. And make it good.
It's got to be good.
So much depends on it.
Alright. Everything all set?
Wait. You forgot the corpse.
Every time I see it I'm going
to laugh instead of scream.
We can't do anything about it now.
Okay. Places everyone.
Curtain.
The spirit says the girl who
saw the murder must rise.
She must walk to the bed.
And she must ..
She must pull away the blanket.
No .. no!
Don't anyone move.
Who are you?
I am a sinister butler.
This poor child.
Why did she scream?
Darn it, Marge. You're not
supposed to be laughing.
I can't help it. It's that pillow.
It's supposed to be dead.
I think it's funny too.
It does take a lot of imagination.
Every time I pull that knife out,
feathers blow up in my face.
I'm supposed to say that
business about .. blood.
Blood.
All around.
Maybe this will help.
Look kids, we can't break up like
this when Mr Kenny gets back.
I'm sorry. It's that pillow.
Marge, we couldn't get anybody
in this much of a hurry.
Maybe Mr Kenny will be the corpse?
Certainly not.
Where could we get a
corpse this time of day?
Muriel, what a coincidence.
Muriel.
How would you like to be a corpse?
No. No, I didn't do anything.
You're going to be a corpse
whether you like it or not.
Please don't.
I didn't mean to make any trouble.
Not much, you didn't.
Really I didn't.
Anyway, nobody believed me.
I'm in trouble now.
My uncle made me come
over to apologise to Dottie.
I certainly don't know why
I should though, as ..
Darling, we don't want you to apologize.
We just want you to do us a favor.
It will be fun for you.
- You just have to be dead.
No. I don't want to.
Muriel, I don't think you understand.
We want you to play a part in our show.
Oh. What sort of a part?
It's a grand part. The kind you
can really get your teeth into.
It's the most important
part in the play.
If it weren't for you there
wouldn't be any play.
You're on the stage
almost the entire time.
I doubt I could learn
all those speeches.
That's the beauty of the part.
You see, it's all in pantomime.
You don't have to say a word.
- What do you say?
Come on, be a pal.
- We'll fix it with your uncle.
Well, alright.
Fine. Now, in the beginning
you're lying on the sofa. Dead.
You said it was a big part.
It's tremendous. Just stick this
knife in your heart and lie down.
Take it away.
- It won't hurt you.
It's a trick knife you see.
It goes in there like .. like this.
You see.
Is that how they do it?
You'll be perfect in the part,
honey. Absolutely natural.
Marge. For heaven's sake when you see
her, scream. It's my only cue to enter.
Don't worry, You'll hear me this time.
This is where you are
dead, my pet. Awful dead.
But very, very expressively dead.
Do I just lie here?
- Yes dear, you just lie there.
Can I breathe?
- No. Don't breathe.
Critics don't like actors.
Who breathe.
Alright. Places everyone.
Get set.
Okay.
Pardon me.
I'm sorry to have kept
you people waiting.
You see, I had to ..
- We know, we know.
I should need two tables please
to put these gadgets on.
One here.
One over there.
- Anything I can do?
Plug that in please, Philips.
- Yes, sir. Connection, please.
I'll get a chair.
This goes in front to the little
lady with the gypsy costume, please.
Are you sure this is my play?
- Yes, Mr Kenny.
Mr Kenny.
I wonder if anyone can say something
so we can see if this thing works.
Let me do it. Let me do it.
- Alright.
Come on, everybody quiet now.
- Alright, go ahead.
Ready?
I am a sinister butler.
This poor child.
Why did she scream?
I'm sure that's quite enough.
Now we'll play it back.
See how it sounds.
"Let me do it, let me do it."
"Come on, everybody quiet now."
"Alright. Go ahead."
"I am a sinister butler."
"This poor child. Why did she scream?"
Alright, now we can go ahead.
Alright, don't forget. This is it.
Make it good or .. curtains.
Alright, Mr Kenny. Curtain.
The spirit says the one who
saw the murder must rise.
She must walk to the bed
and pull away the blanket.
[ Scream! ]
What's the matter?
Ye gods.
Just a minute. In my play the
corpse didn't say anything.
I know, Mr Kenny.
Muriel, you're meant to be dead.
But I thought you were hurt.
You're not supposed to think.
You've been murdered.
Maybe we should have used a real knife.
I don't see anything
to get excited about.
After all, I never practised the part.
She wants to rehearse to be a corpse.
Well, I'm terribly sorry, Mr Kenny.
Alright, let's go ahead.
If I have to hang around I want
something to drink. I'm thirsty.
You're thirsty?
- Yes, I am.
Since I was a teeny-weeny baby I could
not sleep until I had a glass of water.
We'd better use the pillow.
- No, Tony. Of course she's thirsty.
I'll get you a nice
refreshing drink, Muriel.
And bring in a bottle of ketchup.
Marge.
- Mr Kenny ..
If you'll just bear up for a minute, we
will go through the whole thing alright.
Marge, what drink are you giving her?
- She has to keep quiet, doesn't she.
Go and get the ketchup.
The stuff is dangerous. Too much and ..
- Don't worry.
Here you are Muriel.
What is it?
A surprise. You'll like it.
Drink it down.
Now, we get started?
Yes, sir. Just a moment.
That's very good. Thank you.
Now we can begin.
How do you feel?
Alright.
Blood .. blood.
All around.
There. Now you know what
a fish-cake feels like.
Are you satisfied now, Muriel?
- We're all satisfied.
Alright. Now, everything set. Places.
Places.
Curtain.
The spirit says the girl who
saw the murder must rise.
She must walk to the bed and she must ..
She must pull away the blanket.
[ Scream! ]
What's happened? Good heavens.
Has anybody been hurt?
Ye gods.
- It's Mr Kenny.
You deceitful Shylock. What do you mean
by giving my play to these incompetents?
I could have you arrested.
By George, I'll have you arrested.
Please Mr Kenny, don't be mad at Mrs
Garnet. She was just trying to help us.
Yes.
There's plenty of plays in the world ..
- What's he talking about?
He says you gave us his play
but we're giving it back to him.
I don't see why you're mad, Mr Kenny.
- No.
Let's start again.
- I distinctly heard a scream.
We're doing a play, Mrs Garnet.
A play? But what was that scream?
That's part of the plot.
I have to scream.
Look, Mrs Garnet.
You keep telling Mr Kenny
how much you like us.
As actors, I mean.
We might all get jobs out of it.
I certainly will.
My, that would be fine.
On account of the rent you know.
Don't forget that.
- No. No, I won't.
Alright, come on kids.
Places again .. and try
not to let this bother you.
Fine. Everybody ready?
Yes indeedy.
Such attractive youngsters, aren't they.
Dreadfully.
- And such fine actors.
Aren't you enjoying the play?
I think it's wonderful.
So entertaining. Too sweet for words.
Please, Mrs Garnet. Not now.
Excuse me.
Go right ahead.
Curtain.
The spirit says the girl who
saw the murder must rise.
She must walk to the bed and she must ..
She must pull away the blanket.
[ Scream! ]
What's the idea? What's the matter?
Tell me, what's the matter?
- Take it easy.
Now don't move, anybody.
- What is this?
Right. Who screamed?
- I did, officer. But ..
You've no right to break in here.
- We got a call to investigate.
The lady screamed but nothing is wrong.
She screamed when saw the body.
Body? What body?
She's mistaken. There isn't a body.
Yeah. Of course not.
What would we be doing with a corpse?
Officers, don't make
fools of yourselves.
There has been no crime.
We are trying to put on a show.
My name is Arthur Kenny.
I suppose you've heard of Arthur Kenny?
How do I know you're him? You
got any means of identification?
Mrs Garnet, the landlady,
will say who I am.
Mrs Garnet, tell them who I am.
Mrs Garnet.
- Please, Mrs Garnet.
You mean, really?
- Of course really.
Is the play over?
Mrs Garnet, these policemen think
there's something wrong here.
Oh, I thought they were in it too.
You missed it.
You should have been here.
It was wonderful, I loved it.
It's a shame it's so short.
The most exciting part was where she
saw the poor murdered girl lying there.
The murdered girl? Where?
- Please, Mrs Garnet.
Right there under the blanket.
I see it.
Golly.
Call headquarters.
She's not dead. She's just fooling.
She ain't denying it.
This has gone far enough.
She's making believe.
She's pretending,
The whole thing is make-believe.
It's a play. These are all actors.
At least, so they believe.
Sure, this is a .. trick knife.
All you got to do is pull it out.
Pull it out.
Like I thought. It's a fake.
Ketchup.
I guess we made a mistake.
- You certainly did.
Anyone with a modicum of intelligence
would know she was pretending.
I'm sorry, Mr Kenny. We'll go now.
Don't let me rush you.
- Goodbye.
Get up now.
I say you can get up now.
Officer.
Just a minute please.
Something is wrong here.
This young woman is unconscious.
- Maybe she's only tired.
I was right all the time.
She's been drugged.
- No she hasn't.
She's acting. The play, you know.
Come on, wake up Muriel.
The play is over.
Wake up. She's the stubborn-est
girl I've ever seen in my life.
An awfully good actress, isn't she.
She's unconscious.
What's been going on here?
I did it.
- She didn't. I did it.
I gave it to her to keep her quiet.
She kept sitting up all the time.
It's preposterous.
I'll not get mixed up in this.
Mr Kenny, we haven't started.
Nobody leaves until I know more.
Call an ambulance.
I'd better call the wagon too.
- No.
George.
Don't touch that phone.
If you do ..
The building will blow up
into a thousand pieces.
And you go with it.
Better go away from it, Joe.
He may not be kidding.
Stanislavsky never kids.
Do you, Stanislavsky?
Look here, officer.
Get to an outside phone.
I'll take care here until you get back.
Something funny here.
Just what did happen here?
- I demand to be allowed to leave here.
Don't let him leave.
- We had an awful time getting him here.
If you make him stay, we'll
confess the whole thing. We'll ..
We'll re-enact it for you so you
can see exactly what happened.
Won't we ..
Stanislavsky?
- Yes. Sure we will.
We'll spill the works.
Look, officer.
You go back there and shut up.
Okay officer. It's like this.
You see, these people
were sitting around.
And the corpse was covered.
Now, I was just outside the door.
And this girl, was in a trance.
Like this.
Curtain.
- Wait a minute.
The spirit says the girl who
saw the murder must rise.
She must walk to the bed and she must ..
She must pull away the blanket ..
[ Scream! ]
Don't anyone move.
Good. You finally made it.
Change the record and
we'll go on with the play.
I guess Mr Kenny is dead by now.
Dead?
What are you talking about?
Last night when he left he said
he was going to kill himself.
It was a good try, anyway.
It's awful being a failure
when you're only eighteen.
We'll certainly get the old ha-ha
when we get back to Creek County.
We sure talked big when we left.
I don't care about that.
I think when the baby's born, its own
father won't know what it looks like.
And Norman will have to go back
to Rhode Island and finish ..
You know, the dentist exam.
Any sign of him?
Not yet.
I wonder why they won't get dry.
It must be the humidity in here.
How do you feel, Muriel?
I feel like a ..
A jigsaw puzzle that
hasn't been put together.
Maybe some pieces are missing?
No. I am all here.
While I was in the bathtub, I looked.
Why did you get into the bathtub
with all your clothes on?
I was leaning over it and I
must have had a dizzy spell.
It was almost as though
somebody had pushed me.
I want to go home.
Go ahead. You'll make quite
a hit at Grand Central.
Just as soon as my clothes dry, I'll get
Mr Coburn to come back here right away.
He won't wait until tomorrow to take
Dottie away when he hears what I've ..
I had better go.
I wish I had a toothbrush.
I don't know why she can't wait until we
see what Mr Kenny thinks of our play.
If she goes out of here
she'll have to use water.
Water wings.
[ Door knocks ]
Maybe it's Mr Kenny.
Daddy. You weren't
coming until tomorrow.
I don't want you to stay here
longer than necessary.
So, when I finished my business
sooner than I expected.
I decided that ..
I ..
Who are you?
Who, me?
I just came in to use the telephone.
See, I told you so. I told you
Dottie was living with a lot of men.
I don't know what a man looks like.
Where you been? Your uncle is
worried because you didn't come home.
I couldn't. These people ..
We didn't want to say anything,
Mr Coburn but she got kind of pie-eyed.
I did not.
They stabbed me and
wanted me to be a corpse.
They poisoned me and I was unconscious.
When I came to, there were
two policemen in the room.
And I poured ketchup all over my front.
And then they tried to drown me.
I don't think they like me.
No, we're crazy about her, Mr Coburn.
So, this is the bath-crazy
idiot from Bellevue, is it.
These are the two keepers?
Dottie, aren't you ashamed of yourself?
- You mustn't get excited.
I'm not excited.
- Don't shout so.
You should be very quiet.
We're going to have a baby.
What?
I told you so. I told you so.
Dottie.
Dottie is confused, Mr Coburn.
I'm the one that's going to have a baby.
Have a cigar.
- No.
I don't want a cigar. All I want is for
my daughter to get out of this place.
Dottie, go and get your
things immediately.
Don't cry, Dottie. We'll see each
other again. Honest we will.
Rhode Island is clear across
the world from Hoopsville Illinois.
The world is getting
smaller all the time, honey.
Now, you just keep thinking of that.
Let's get started.
Muriel, are you ready?
Mr Coburn, I can't go now. I'm all wet.
Absolutely right, Miss Foster.
Absolutely.
Leave her with us, Mr Coburn.
We'll take care of her.
Thank you. Come, Dottie.
Goodbye, everybody.
Goodbye, Dottie.
- Goodbye. Thanks for everything.
Give our regards to Hoopsville.
Come on, Dottie.
I've got something very
important to tell you, Norman.
Even if it makes you mad at me.
Dottie, come on.
I love you, Norman.
I always have loved you, Norman.
She sure is a dumb
little kid, isn't she.
She must be.
The spirit says the one who saw
the murder shall rise and ..
Walk slowly toward that worm
and lick the daylights out of her.
That's a good idea.
This is for Norman.
This is for Dottie. This is for ..
How do you do.
I am Phillips, Mr Kenny's man.
- Yes. I remember you.
This is Phillips, Mr Kenny's man.
Hello, Mr Phillips.
Does Mr Kenny have a message for us?
- Yes.
Mr Kenny wants you all in his
apartment in half an hour.
He does?
- How did he say it?
When he said it, was he
mad or was he glad?
I'm sure I don't analyse Mr Kenny's
inflections and cadences.
In half an hour, if you please.
Sure. We'll be there.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
I wonder what he wants.
His man didn't sound very enthusiastic.
People's men never sound enthusiastic.
That's why they're people's
men instead of people.
What the heck. Let's go and find out.
We can't be in worse shape than we are.
You said it.
I like you.
Kindly make yourselves comfortable
until Mr Kenny arrives.
Thank you.
Wow.
This looks like our apartment
with clothes on it.
He didn't burn it.
That's a hopeful sign.
Maybe he's going to sue us.
- Don't be silly.
He can't sue us for rehearsing his play.
We didn't act in public or get paid.
Thank heavens.
What do you mean? We were good.
If only so many things hadn't happened.
Let's turn it on and see what happens.
- No, no.
They're our voices, aren't they?
"Who are you?"
"I just dropped in."
"About the rent you know."
"Please, Mrs Garnet.
This is a play. Please."
"Alright, Kate. Go ahead."
"No .. no!"
That's when you got stabbed, Kate.
"Ah, the crystal gazer is dead."
"I wonder who will be next."
"[ Scream! ]"
"The nervous young man was next."
That was wonderful, Tony.
That gulping noise when you die.
"I am sorry to say, sir."
"That the two mysterious sisters."
"Were found in the well at midnight."
"Completely drowned, sir."
"Yes, sir."
"As you know."
You think maybe I
overplayed it a little?
"Oh. Keep away. Keep away."
"Keep away."
It sounds like she's singing Dixie.
"[ Scream! ]"
"Strange. They are all dead."
"Good heavens. That means of course."
"That blood-smeared cap in my suitcase."
"That was the clue."
"I killed them."
Norman, shut it off.
Ye gods.
- Do we stink.
It's pretty terrible.
Hello there. I see you've
been entertaining yourselves.
Mr Kenny. We're sorry.
We didn't realize.
- We'll go quietly.
What's up with you? Don't you
know burlesque when you hear it?
Burlesque.
- You mean ..
You think that was funny?
It's so funny we start
rehearsals immediately.
Just as you played it.
Interruptions and all.
It's terrific. No-one could
have written a thing like that.
I'm having the contracts
drawn up for you now.
Burlesque?
- We knew it all the time.
But I'm going to have a baby.
I'm sorry. I can't pay extra for that.
A bargain is a bargain.
Where's the corpse?
- She's upstairs.
Safe. She can't go anywhere.
Where's the little Coburn idiot?
Dottie?
She's gone.
Gone? Where?
Back to Hoopsville, Illinois.
She can't be gone.
She's the funniest thing in the show.
She is?
- She is?
She didn't get anything right.
No, she must be in the show. I'm sorry.
Ye gods.
Excuse me.
But there's a young lady downstairs ..
Who wants to see a young man who
wants to see a young lady downstairs.
What young lady and what young man?
She said 'Norman'.
But when I was a girl ..
Young ladies called young
men by their last names but ..
I don't know.
Wait a minute.
Where, Mrs Garnet? Who?
There. Though why she don't
come upstairs I don't know.
She lives here.
Dottie.
Norman .. I came back. I had to.
Dottie. Listen.
Mr Kenny is going to produce our
play and he especially wants you.
I know how he feels because I came
back because I especially want ..
You know what I want, Norman.
How did your father let you go?
He didn't. He checked me.
At Grand Central while we waited.
I got counting up to eighteen and
that's how old I am. So I just left.
Dottie, this is wonderful.
Wonderful on account of the play
or on account of me, Norman?
Well.
Wonderful on account of you.
You mean it, Norman?
- Well ..
Sure I mean it.
- Norman.
Gosh, I really do mean it.
Norman.
Ooh.
And she said she didn't even
know what a man looked like.
Well, she'll just have
to stop saying that now.
..s-d..