Dinner at Eight (1933) - full transcript

Darling, I've got
Lord and Lady Ferncliffe.

They'll come to dinner
next Friday.

I just had a radio
from them on the boat.

Wasn't that brilliant of me,
getting the Ferncliffes?

Yes, that was very
brilliant of you,

if you want the Ferncliffes.

But I do.

You remember them, darling.

They entertained us in London.

I remember them well,

and very dull it was, too.



Australian mutton

and a lot of people
who'd been buried for years

and got up just
to eat that mutton.

You don't realize
how important it is, Oliver.

Everybody will be after them.

I thought you and Ferncliffe
had lots in common.

Isn't he interested
in shipping, too?

Mr. Oliver Jordan
accepts.

Of course, it's
terribly short notice.

Oh, thank you, Gustave.

Let's see.
Lord and Lady Ferncliffe

the Talbots,
the Doctor and Lucy.

Oh, I saw that your
precious Carlotta Vance

arrived on the Europa yesterday.



Carlotta?
Oh, fine, let's have her.

Of course, she goes with
quite a different crowd

than the Ferncliffes over there.

All those impossible
fast people.

At her age, too.

Oh, nonsense.
Carlotta has no age.

Oliver, just because she was
once your favorite actress...

Dad, I thought you'd gone.

Well, if it isn't her ladyship.

Oh, don't look at me,
I'm a sight.

Didn't sleep a wink.

I thought I heard you
moving around in your room.

Couldn't you sleep, either?

Nerves?

Oh, I don't know.
I suppose so.

Say, pips, there isn't anything
really wrong, is there?

Now, how can the
shipping business go on

if the owner's tie
isn't straight?

Paula, I'll want you and Ernest
for dinner next Friday.

When does his boat land?

- I don't know, mother.
- You don't know?

Aren't you being awfully
vague about your fiance?

I certainly hope
Ernest is more excited

about this wedding
than you seem to be.

And don't forget, we're going
shopping this afternoon.

I can't this afternoon, mother.
I'm sorry.

But you've got to.
You've simply got to.

Do you realize you're
being married in a month

and you haven't got
a stitch of trousseau?

Why can't you go shopping
with me this afternoon?

I've an engagement.

What engagement?

I'm going to a concert.

A concert?
Oh, that reminds me.

When Cousin Hattie
comes in this morning,

I want to give her our
Philharmonic seats for Thursday.

Whom are you going
to the concert with?

Hello. Dr. Talbot's residence?

Mrs. Talbot, please.

Mrs. Oliver Jordan calling.

Paula, what concert...

Lucy? How are you, my dear?
Listen, Lucy.

Lord and Lady Ferncliffe
arrive from London tomorrow

and I want you and Wayne
a week from tonight.

Yes, dinner at 8:00.

Mr. Jordan's late.

He probably stopped at the dock.

Where'd you put those invoices?

- What invoices?
- For the Castilian.

What's the hurry?
She's not sailing till tomorrow.

Oh, good morning, Mr. Jordan.

Good morning.

It's cold outside.

Why, I thought it was
real pleasant.

Not down on the dock.

Cold down there,
alright.

Yes. Oh, just a minute.

The Castilian isn't
going to sail tomorrow.

- What?
- Not sailing?

No use sending a boat out
without enough cargo in it

to keep her down in the water.

My, my.

No Jordan boat has
missed a trip in 60 years.

I know that.

Will the Santa Ciara
sail next week?

Oh, cheer up, Fosdick.
Cheer up.

It's just as good
a line as it ever was.

The best in the world.

Right you are.

Some other people think so, too.

I wish I knew who it was that's
trying to buy up our stock.

You're not going to lose control
of the line, Mr. Jordan.

Mr. Jordan, your father,
your grandfather--

No, no, no.
Of course not.

And we're going
to put up a fight

they wouldn't be
ashamed of, either.

And the first step in that.

Did you get a hold
of Mr. Packard?

He's coming in this morning.

Good.

Mr. Jordan...

Miss Carlotta Vance
is here to see you.

Carlotta?
Here? Outside?

Oliver! Ducky!

Oh, I was never so glad to see
anyone in all my life.

Carlotta!

This is a surprise.

Why, you look marvelous.

Do I?

I do, don't I?

Divine.

Oh, Oliver, actually

you're looking
handsomer than ever.

- Ahh!
- Oh!

Oliver. Oliver--

A little gray.

Gray? Nonsense!

Distinguished.

- Come on over and sit down.
- Oh, Oliver...

Let me look at you.

Now, what are you
doing over here?

Trying to mend my
shattered fortune.

Well, you picked
a nice day for it.

In the right part of town, too.

There are our financiers

sitting on those
benches out there.

Now, come along, Carlotta.

Who did you come down
to the Battery to see? Huh?

Not me.

No, sir. I'll not deceive you.

I came down here to see the
United States Customs inspector.

Isador J. Greenbaum,
the son of a...

Say, why shouldn't
I own six fur coats?

Why not, indeed?
It's perfectly reasonable.

And when I was standing
in the Customs office,

what did I sight?

"Jordan Line."

Says I to myself, says I,

"Maybe the old
gentleman is in."

And here you are.

Well, I'm very grateful
to Mr. Greenbaum.

Oliver, I'm as
flat as a millpond.

I haven't got a sou.

Oh, Carlotta,
go along with you.

What about all those gilt-edged
securities and your theater?

Why, that alone ought to bring
you enough to live on.

Hmph, my chief reason
for coming to this country

is to get rid of
that rat trap.

What's the matter with it?

Why, for six months,
they haven't taken

the lock off the door.

It's now known as the
"Spiders' rendezvous."

Can't collect rent from them.

You know, when old Stanfield
gave me that theater

I thought it was very
magnificent of the old boy.

Now I wish I'd taken a sandwich.

Oh, Lotta, you
always exaggerated.

I bet you're rolling in wealth.

Well, what have I got?

Railroads, oil, cotton.

That's what they
gave you in my day.

I only could take what they had.

And you know what's happened
to those things.

You are down to cases.

"International star
returns to stage."

Never.

I'll have my double chins

in privacy.

I've seen too many
hardened arteries

dragged out to make
a first-night holiday.

Oh, no.

Oh, now, Carlotta,

your stock must bring you
in a little something.

It can't cost you an awful
lot to live over there.

Oh, no?

Well, you saw how
it was like at Antibes.

You and Millicent...

10 and 20 for luncheon,
cocktails.

Most of them staying
on for dinner.

Very same thing
at my house in London.

Everybody popping in.

Noel, Winston,

and once in a while, Wales.

I didn't do so badly
for a little girl

from Quincy, Illinois,
eh, Ducky?

But it all takes money.

But why don't you
get rid of all that,

live over here for a while?

Oliver, I've been
in New York four days,

the first time I've
been back in 10 years.

And I'm lost already.

No, everything's changed.

I couldn't stand it here.

I'd die.

I belong to the
Delmonico period.

Ah, table at the window,

looking out on Fifth Avenue...

boxes with flowers in,

pink lampshades,

string orchestra

and I don't know...
Yes.

Yes, willow plumes,

inverness capes,

dry champagne

and snow on the ground.

Say, they don't even
have snow anymore.

- Pardon me, Mr. Jordan.
- Miss Copeland?

Mr. Eton is outside.
He wants to see you.

Oh, I'll go and see him.

Will you pardon me
a minute, Lotta?

Oh, let me get that for you.

Oh.

Thank you, my dear.

Oh, Miss Vance, I...

I just want to...

I hope you won't mind...

but I can't help telling you

how exciting it is

seeing you right here.

Oh, how sweet.

I shall never forget it.

I saw you when you
played in Trelawney.

Oh, you were wonderful.

Yes. That was the
last thing I did.

Yes, I remember it as plainly
as if it was yesterday...

though I was only a
little girl at the time.

How extraordinary.

Oh, It's wonderful
seeing you like this.

Yes, it is.

You know, we must
have a nice talk

about the Civil War sometime...

Just you and I.

Well, I got rid of him.

Oh, Oliver...

What do you think about me
selling my Jordan stock?

Well, I'd rather you didn't,
you know, just at this time.

We've been hit, just as
everyone has, of course.

But I'm afraid you wouldn't
get what it was worth

if you sold it now.

Oh, I'd expect to lose
something on it.

But you know, ladies must live.

Well, you see, Carlotta,
it's like this.

The Jordan stock
has never really

been on the market, you know.

As a matter of fact,
it's very closely held.

Only six or seven people in all.

Of course, you've got
a very small block of it.

Let's see, what did you

pay for it anyway,
do you remember?

$61,240.

Why, Carlotta,
you're marvelous.

No. I remember because
it's the only stock

I ever paid for myself.

But then you said it was good.

And yes, it was...

for nearly 20 years.

The last two or three or...

Oliver, you wouldn't want to
buy it back yourself, would you?

Yes, I would, Carlotta.

But I'd find it rather
difficult just now.

Why, Oliver...

I always thought of you having
all the money in the world.

I thought so, too, for a time.

When I think of
Oliver Jordan 3rd...

Oh, I dropped that,
oh, years ago.

Dear Oliver, you were sweet.

So serious, so respectful.

I was very fond of you, Oliver.

I was very much in love
with you, Carlotta.

You were the most entrancing
creature in the world,

and I was at your feet.

Well, so was all New York.

If-- if you went to
a restaurant, it was made.

If you wore a certain hat,
it became the rage.

I was rather gorgeous, wasn't I?

- Oh.
- Remember?

They named everything after me.

Cigars, race horses...

perfumes, battleships.

They were a little
previous on that.

But one thing I shall
always remember.

The day you were 21...

you asked me to
marry you, Oliver.

What a young fool
you must have thought me.

No, I thought
it very sweet of you.

You see, I was 30-ish.

I remember I went home
and wept a little.

They didn't often
ask me to marry them.

You broke my heart when you
refused me, Carlotta.

So I buried my grief
in the shipping business.

Dear Oliver.

Mr. Packard is here now.

- Oh, tell him to come right in.
- Yes.

Do you mind, Carlotta?

He's quite a fellow,
Dan Packard.

Used to be a miner.

Big Western stuff, you know.

Ooh, how interesting.
I'd like to meet him.

Alright, Mr. Packard.

That's no elevator,
that's a birdcage.

Hey, Jordan, what kind of
a dump is this, anyway?

Oh, I-- I beg your pardon.

Dan Packard.
This is Miss Carlotta Vance.

- Miss Vance.
- How do you do?

Wait a minute.
Not Carlotta Vance?

Yes.

Why, I know you.

Jordan, you old son
of a gun, you.

Yes.
Saw me when he was a boy.

Nursie held him up
so he'd get a good look.

Why, your picture
was on the wall

of every mining shack
up there in Montana.

Right alongside
of John L. Sullivan.

Yeah.

Sutton's Opera House.

What was the name of
that piece you were in?

- You wore pants.
- Still do.

That's my exit cue.

Well, when will I see you,
Lotta? Soon?

Oh, Millicent called me
up this morning.

I'm dining with you
next week, Friday.

Oh, fine, of course.

You know, I'm just dying
to see Paula again.

Oh, I'm sure she's
crazy to see you.

You were so sweet to her when
she was in London last year.

But where are you staying?

I'm stopping at
the Hotel Versailles.

Oh, the old Versailles.

O-- O-- O-- O'Brien.

Oh, that's it. Goodbye.

Toodly-oo, Lochinvar.

What did she call me?

Sit down, Dan. Sit down.

- How've you been?
- Oh, just fine.

I can only stay a minute.

Running down to Washington,
seems like the President

wants to get down
at the bottom of things.

Uh, the reason I asked you
to come over, Dan,

was I wanted to put
something up to you.

Sure. Go ahead.

It's about the Jordan Line.

Say, who put up this building,
Peter Stuyvesant?

Looks more like a museum
than an office.

Well, let was the last word
when the old gentleman built it.

It's been like this
for 75 years.

Well, I hope those
old tubs of yours

don't date to this office.

Well, what do you
got on your mind?

Well, you know all
about our business.

I-- I don't need to go
into that.

Of course, this Depression isn't
going to last forever and...

But if it takes a little
longer than we figure,

I wanna know if you
and your associates

would be in a position
to sort of tide us over?

- Hmm.
- Oh.

I appreciate that
I'd have to turn over

some of my holdings to you.

I'd rather not disturb
the other stockholders.

Well, I don't know anything
about your business, Jordan.

But it looks to me
like it's gone to seed.

All I have to do is look
around this office.

To tell you the truth, I...

I don't think
you have much to offer.

Now, look here, Packard.

Our ships have traveled
the ocean for a century.

We started from clipper ships.

We're not going to stop.
We're not through.

I'm sorry, Jordan.

Why, I didn't mean anything.

You know, I'm,
I'm a businessman,

and everybody's bothering you.

I apologize, Jordan.

Oh, that's alright.

Now, I may be wrong.

Tell you what you do.

You get me some figures
on this thing.

The assets, the stockholders,

a list of them,
and the holdings and...

You submit it to me
and I'll give you

an answer within 24 hours.

That's very kind of you.

What's the matter?
Got a pain?

Oh, no.

It's a little indigestion.

- Indigestion?
- Yeah.

Half a lemon.
I get it all the time.

Half a lemon in hot water.

Well, I gotta travel,
I'm in a hurry.

You send me all the dope.
I'll do whatever I can. So long.

Mr. Jordan, I wouldn't
trust that man

as far as I could throw
a bull by the tail.

Well, I hope you're wrong.

I hope we're both wrong.

Why, what's the matter, sir?

I'm alright.

Hello?

Mrs. Jordan, sir.

Hello, dear.

Oliver? Darling, I'm simply
out of my mind.

I'm still shy one couple,

and I just can't find
an extra man.

What am I going to do, dear?

Well, you can do
something for me, dear.

You can invite
Dan Packard and his wife.

You're joking!

Ask that common little
woman to my house?

And that noisy, vulgar man?

He smells Oklahoma.

Oh, no, they're not
as bad as that.

Anyway, it would be an enormous
favor to me if you did.

Of course, if it will
help you, dear.

Oh, Hattie, you can't imagine.

Hattie just came in, dear.
Maybe she can help.

But do try to think of an extra
man, won't you, dear?

Uh-huh, yeah, I will.
I will, dear.

Goodbye.

Those Packards.
Really.

Another dinner party?

Only a small one, darling.

Otherwise, I'd love
to have you and Ed.

You understand?

No need to apologize.

A cousin is a cousin.

And Ed hates functions.

Ed hates anything
that keeps him

from going to the
movies every night.

I guess I'm what's called
"A Garbo widow."

Hello?

Hello?

Who is it?

Mrs. who?

Jordan?

Mrs. Oliver Jordan?
Just a minute.

Who's that on the telephone?

A Mrs. Oliver Jordan wants
to speak to you on the phone.

- Who?
- Mrs. Jordan.

Mrs. Oliver Jordan?

- Yes.
- Holy cat!

Hand me that telephone,
you nitwit.

Hello, Mrs. Jordan.

Of course, I remember you.
I've seen you at the races.

Mr. Jordan and I are
giving a small dinner

for Lord and Lady Ferncliffe

two very dear friends
of mine from England.

Gee, that sounds swell to me.

Well, It's awful nice of you
to ask us, Mrs. Jordan.

We'll be glad to accept.

Well, goodbye.

Don't you want to know the date?

Oh, sure, honey.

Friday.

A week from tonight.

Dinner at 8:00.
Thanks.

Well, Goodbye for real
this time, Mrs. Jordan.

Tina, get my engagement book.

Well, it's around
here somewhere.

Take this down.

Next Friday evening...

at the Oliver Jordans',

dinner at 8:00.

Me eating with
Lord and Lady Ferncliffe.

Well, you don't have to
write that down, stupid.

Listen, Tina. Don't crack
about this to Mr. Packard.

I wanna spring it on him
at the right time.

That slug never wants to meet
any refined people.

Clear that away, Tina.

Hey, wait a minute!

What did Dr. Talbot say?

What time's he coming?

He didn't say exactly.

He asked,
"Was there any symptoms?"

And I said,
"No, I didn't think so."

And he said, "Alright then,
he'd be over sometime today."

Well, I got a cold,
and my legs ache all over.

Well, you didn't tell me
to say that, Mrs. Packard.

Well, you should have known it.

- Here's your new hat.
- Oh, goody.

Oh, higher, you fool.

Don't it look cute, huh?

Swell.

Tell Oscar to pack.

Just overnight stuff,
that's all.

You in bed again?
What's the matter?

I don't feel good.

What's the idea of the hat?

Going out?

What do you eat all that
sweet stuff for?

Why don't you get up
and do something?

You don't care what I do
or how I feel.

Look at me. I was never sick
a day in my life, and why?

It's because I do things
and get out and get to moving.

Hey, Oscar, I don't want
any dinner clothes.

That's the reason.

Dr. Talbot says
that you're an extrovert

and I'm an introvert.

A what?

An introvert, you dummy!

And that's why I've got
to be quiet a good deal

and have time to reflect in.

Reflect in?

What have you got
to reflect about?

I have to think and act
at the same time.

You know why I'm going
to Washington tonight?

Because the President
wants to consult me

about the affairs
of the nation.

That's why.

What's the matter with him?

Everything's the
matter with him.

That's why he's sending for me.

You know, I wouldn't
be a bit surprised

but what he offered me
a cabinet job.

What do you know about that?

Oh, where'd that buffer get to?

You ought to be married to
some of the guys that I see.

They'd give you
something to reflect about.

I called on a fellow
this morning

who can't handle
one little business.

I juggled 50 things at once,
and he doesn't handle one.

Here's the blowoff.

He's got the layout that I've
been looking for, for two years

and the sap lays it
right in my lap.

Little Dan Packard owns
the best shipping line

between here
and the tropics and...

Mr. Oliver Jordan
is out on his ear.

We're invited there
for dinner next Friday night.

And I'm gonna wear my new
silver with the white fox.

We're not going.
That's out.

How do you get that way?

Why not?

Oh, I can't go
and eat his dinner.

If he's a sucker,
that's his funeral.

No.

Presidents in Washington
and all those rummies...

but you can't go
any where's with me.

Once in our life, we get
asked to a classy house.

And I got a new dress
that'll knock their eye out

and we're going!

We're not going!

We are so, you big crook!

You pull a dirty deal
and it ruins my social chances.

Well, you can't
get away with it.

Oh, go lay an egg.

Danny?

Kitty wants to go see
all the great big

lords and ladies in their
big, beautiful house.

Danny?

It's for Lord and Lady
Ferncliffe.

- Who said so?
- She did.

Well, why didn't you say so
in the first place?

Because you were mean
to poor little Kitty.

Ferncliffe, you know who he is?

He's the richest man in England.

- Goody, you'll go?
- Certainly I'll go.

I've been trying to
meet him for two years.

That ties up with
the Jordan stuff.

See, and I did it for you.

You know what I'll do?

I'll buy up that Jordan
stock through dummies.

I'll use Baldridge
and Whitestone,

fellows like that.

Keep my name out of it.

Out of what?

Oh, out of what...

Dr. Talbot's come.

Good. He'll take care
of you alright.

Ferncliffe! What a break!
Goodbye, kitten.

- See you tomorrow.
- That's fine, goodbye.

Come on, Oscar, let's go.

Tina, quick, get me that other
jacket, the one with the fur.

Hurry up, you nitwit!

Clear the things off the bed
and fix it up a bit.

Tina, leave me my book.

You know, the fat one
that Dr. Talbot gave me.

It says
"Aspects of the Adult Mind."

- Here it is.
- Well, leave it here.

Now, show the doctor in.

Well, well, what's this?

Hello, doctor.

I just ran into your
husband downstairs.

He tells me, he's going
to see the president.

Yes, he's gonna
help him fix things.

Hmm.

Well, what's wrong
with the little lady?

Well, doctor, I don't know.

I kind of ached
all over and

felt funny and...

You got to be careful
of the flu,

and I thought maybe
if I stayed in bed...

You never come and see me
anymore unless I send for you.

Now listen, Kitty,
I've been very busy.

You know how busy I've been.

But I'm so lonely
for you, Wayne.

And you know how I need you.

I don't do anything all day
except just long for you.

Well, why don't you...

Why don't you try and read?

I know.

You're tired of me.

No, I'm not, honey, but...

- Honey--
- Oh, Wayne, darling!

Look at you,
quivering with pride.

Just 'cause you're
going to be ate tonight

by Lord and Lady
what's his name. Ha-ha!

Oh, the aspic!
The aspic!

- It's too divine, Mrs. Wendel.
- Thank you, ma'am.

It was the only thing
I was worried about.

No, no, I think that's better,
Mrs. Wendel.

What is it,
The Wreck of the Hesperus?

It's the British lion,

in honor of Lord Ferncliffe.

It will just make the dinner.

Oh, isn't that Aunt Emma's
vegetable dish?

Yes, isn't it lovely?

This just came, Mrs. Jordan.

Thank you, Dora.

I can still remember when a
telegram always meant bad news.

- Oh, good heavens!
- You see?

Freddy Hope, my extra man,
he's got pneumonia.

Well, of all the thoughtless,
selfish...

On the day of my dinner, too.

Now, what am I going to do?

Why do anything?

I never could understand
why it has to be just even,

male and female.

They're invited for dinner,
not for mating.

I don't know where
I'm going to find someone

who'll fit in with
the Ferncliffes.

Nothing but a rubber plant would
fit in with the Ferncliffes.

Why don't you get
an actor for Carlotta?

- An actor?
- A movie star.

Aren't there any
movie stars around?

I've got it.
Larry Renault.

He'd be too marvelous.

I wonder if he's still in town.

He was in town yesterday.

Ed, the movie hound,
read me an interview

with him
in last night's Telegram.

He's leaving pictures
and going into a play.

And he knows Carlotta.

We met him at her place
in Antibes

three years ago.

He was simply a sensation.

The girls fighting
to get into his car.

And on the beach...
Well, my dear,

he wore even less
than the girls.

Ed says he isn't so hot
since the talkies.

You can't fool Ed
about the pictures.

He remembers John Bunny
and Francis X. Bushman,

Henry B. Walthall.

I don't suppose
he'd even remember me.

I wonder where he's stopping.

Uh, The Versailles, that's it.

The Versailles,
that's where he is.

That's where Carlotta's staying.
Are you sure?

Yes, I remember
the whole interview.

He was wearing a two-piece
dark-blue flannel lounging suit

with a cunning white monogram
on his upper pocket.

Let's see, I'll put him
between Carlotta

and the Packard woman.

See if you can get him first,

and let nature take its course.

I do hope he's free for tonight.

"Free, white, and 45," Ed says.

I'll say this for him,
in his photographs,

he has the most
heavenly profile.

Hello. Mr. Renault, please.

Well, Good luck, dear.

Hello, Mr. Renault?

This is Millicent Jordan.

I don't suppose
you'd remember me.

Antibes?

Oh, yes.

Yes, of course I do.

How do you do, Mrs. Jordan?

Dinner, tonight?

Well, let me see. I, uh...

I'm afraid that
possibly I can't.

You see...

I have another engagement,
of course, but...

I might be able to break it.

And Paula, my daughter,
you know,

she'll be so glad
to see you again.

I don't suppose you'd
remember her at Antibes?

Of course, dear lady.

It sounds like a
very amusing evening.

I shall certainly try to come.

At 8:00?
Thanks very much.

What do you know about that?

Oh, darling, please,
you must come.

I don't know.

I'd feel kind of
like a heel.

Oh, Larry, please.
It will be such fun.

To be at dinner with you
in my own house.

And darling, they
aren't so stuffy, really.

They'd be crazy about you.

Oh, sure. I mean...

Well...

- You know--
- And, darling...

While I was dressing for dinner,

I could be thinking,

"Larry will be here."

Oh, darling, it's so awful not
to be with you every minute.

Larry?

What?

I'm awfully jealous of the play.

Are you really going
to act in it?

Well, my agent's bringing
Baumann up here this afternoon.

I might as well
sign the contract.

Baumann's as good a producer
as there is, I suppose.

And I'll have to sit
in the audience

and watch you make love
to another woman.

Well, I hope it flops.

That's what I hope.

Well, the play is not much.

But I think I can put it over.

I play the only male character.

Not another man?

Oh, there's a small male
part for a bit actor.

- He's a beachcomber.
- A beachcomber?

Yeah. He has one small scene,
but I dominate that.

I love you so.

May I use your comb?

Where have you been
all this time?

Came as quick as I could.

Hey, wait a minute.
Where's my change?

Had to go to a new place.
Cost half a dollar more.

Who told you to go to a new...

Well, a little drink.

Any reason why I shouldn't?

No, of course not.

Except, at mother's tonight...

I want them to see you at
your best. Larry, don't.

Oh, Paula, mind your
own business, will you?

- Don't talk to me like that.
- I'll do as I please.

Darling...

Darling, let's not quarrel.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm kind of on edge today,

deciding about this play and...

everything.

It's my fault.

I'm a little jumpy myself.

Ernest gets back
from abroad this evening.

Ernest?

Will he be there
at your mother's?

Poor Ernest.

I'm awfully sorry for him.

He's so sweet.

I can't understand yet
what's happened.

Less than a month ago,
I thought

I was in love with him.

And you were one of those
million-dollar movie stars.

Now listen, Paula,
I want to tell you something--

I know, I know.

Ernest is just
the sort of young man

I should marry.

And you're the sort that girls

are always warned against.

Well, I don't give
a hoot what people say.

I know all the
things you've done.

I know how many times
you've been married.

I'm still married.

I don't care.

I'm sick of hiding
my love for you.

I'm sick of scheming
and pretending.

Do you think I can
go on with Ernest?

After all we've
been to each other?

You don't know
anything about me.

You've known me a month.

Larry, how can you?

A month. As though
time were important.

It is important.

There are other
things important.

You're a kid of 19.

You're 19 and I'm 47...

I'm almost 40.

You'll be telling me next
I'm not old enough

to know the facts of life.

You don't.
Not the real facts.

You can't.

Everything has been
too easy for you.

You don't know what it means
to be up against it.

Keep fighting them every second.

To pull yourself up,
hand over hand

while they're waiting
with a knife to cut the rope.

Well, I'm not through yet.

I'll show them.

If they think I'm finished...

Larry, make sense.

What's that got to do
with our love?

Love.

Love.

You want to know
the truth, Paula?

I love you.

As much as I can love any woman.

But it isn't real love anymore.

There have been too many.

I've been in love
a 100 times.

I've had three wives.

Do you want to know about them?

No.

Well, there was Violet.

She was a vaudeville hoofer.

Rooming houses, dirty kimonos,

fried-egg sandwiches.

We fought like wildcats.

Then I broke into pictures
and I left her.

Then I married Edith.

She was crazy about my profile.

Always kept talking about it.

She was society.

Well, we were happy
for about six months.

Then Hollywood dazzled her.

Well, you know what happened.

Out in her car one night,
drunk as the devil...

over the cliff.

Were you in love with her?

As for Marcelle...

Well, you know, about her.

She's the top of the heap now.

Biggest draw of any
woman in pictures.

Ambitious. I've never
known any woman like her.

She'd do anything to get along,

and knife me to get there.

Always telling me someday
she'd be bigger than I was...

And now I'm...

Well, there they are,
the three of them.

I won't tell you
about the others.

They swarmed on me.

Every age, kind,
and description.

What do you want with me?

I love you.

You're young and fresh...

and I'm burned out.

Paula...

This is the first decent thing
I ever did in my life.

You listen to what
I'm telling you.

I won't listen. I love you.
It's no use, Larry.

Nothing you can say
will make any difference.

I'm going to tell mother
and dad and Ernest.

And I'm going
to tell them tonight.

I tell you, you're not!

That's Mac, my agent.

Paula, I want you to promise me.

- No!
- For the love of heaven, Paula.

It's no use, Larry.
My mind's made up.

Don't you ever get up?

Oh.

You know my agent, Mr. Kane?
Miss Jordan.

Sure.
How is the little lady?

Splendid, thank you.
You?

Top of the bottle.

- Am I butting in?
- Not at all.

I was just going.
Goodbye.

Pearls in your oysters.

Paula, please think
of what I've said.

Oh, dear.

Goodbye, Larry.

Goodbye. Paula.

I must, Larry.

Now, aren't you ashamed?

For 50 minutes, I walk you
around the block so you...

And then you come
right in here...

Oh, momsy's sorry.

She doesn't give a darn
for the old man's carpet.

No, Gant, I'm awfully sorry,
Gant.

Well, how is the great
profile today?

You been out or just
sticking around here?

No. I didn't feel very well.

I slept rather late.

I'm going out to dinner.

Say, why don't you
go up to McDermott's

and get a workout every day?

Get your, uh,
get yourself in shape.

What is this, cinnamon toast?

I'll be alright.

As soon as I get into rehearsal,
I'll get into shape.

Sure, just... keep on with that.

That'll fix you up.

Well, did you see Baumann?

I thought perhaps
he'd come up here with you.

Oh, Baumann?

No, he... He didn't come up.

Uh, did he give you
the contract?

Oh, look, Larry...

I-- I got some disappointing
news for you, kind of.

- What's the matter?
- Well...

You know how these managers are.

This way, that way.

You never know
when you got them. Well...

For the love of...
Come out with it.

Well, I'm telling you.

I go in to see Baumann
this afternoon.

He's sitting there,
a face down to here.

I start talking about the play.
What does he do?

He tells me he's got to go south
for a month. He's sick.

What does that mean?

Well, there you are.

He's got to go south.

You can't do a play
when you're south.

But he's got to do it.
It was all settled.

It was talked over,
but it wasn't really yet...

You know, unless you get it down
in that old black and white...

Even then sometimes
it's no good.

Well, we'll take it away
from him.

There are other producers.

The cheap crook.

Sure. Baumann's no good.

That's how he got where he is.

But that's not the point.
What does he do?

He goes and he turns the play
over to this Joe Stengel.

Stengel...

Stengel.

I rather like the idea of going
with Stengel.

They tell me he does
those highbrow plays. Ibsen.

- "I want the moon, mother."
- Yeah, yeah. Now, look...

He understands
I'm to be starred, of course.

- Well, th-- that's just it.
- What?

Now, look, Larry.
Don't blame me.

I've been plugging
for you for months.

What are you trying to tell me?

Now don't go up
in the air about it.

There's sure to be
something else.

You mean I'm out?

You dirty double-crosser.
Do you mean I'm out?

Larry, I'm telling you,
nobody knew about this. Nobody.

Who's going to play the part?

This, uh, Cecil Bellamy.

That piffling little...

Why, he's English
in the first place.

Well, the part says
"English Explorer."

I can be English.
English as anybody.

I've been waiting six weeks
for this play.

I could've had a million things.

Personal appearances,
radio, vaudeville--

Sure, sure, you could.
And you can get them yet.

But the thing for you
is a part in a play.

You know, get back in that
old public eye.

Yes, but where's the vehicle?

Well, I was thinking about
this play again...

And you know, Larry,
I never said anything

but I never thought
that part was so hot for you.

You know the part that I'd be
crazy to play if I was an actor?

- What?
- That beachcomber.

Beachcomber?

You're asking me
to go on...

and play a part
that isn't...

Get out of here.
Go on. Get out.

Now, Larry,
don't make a mistake.

Get out before I kick you out.

Have it your own way.

Wait a minute.

Close the door.

What makes you think
this part isn't right for me?

It's no good. They're going
to get tired of him.

Now, this beachcomber.
He comes on once.

Swell scene. He goes off.

They keep waiting for him to
come back, and he never does.

What a part.

Yeah, his one scene
is very nice.

It's a pushover.
You know what's gonna happen?

When that final curtain hits
the floor and what's his name,

this Bellamy, when he comes out
to take his bows...

they're all gonna be yelling,
"Renault! Renault!"

- You think so?
- It's a pushover.

I tell you what. I'm going
to see Stengel right away.

- He's a friend of mine.
- Wait a minute.

Don't let on you talked
to me about this.

Just tell him maybe
you can get me to play it. See?

Huh! Leave it to me.

I might be able to get Stengel
to drop up

here for a minute
as a favor to me.

You know, I used
to be Joe's office boy.

How long you going to be here?

A long while.
I'm not dining till 8:00.

Well, if I can get him
to come up, I'm good.

Well, goodbye.

Oh, Mac, Mac.

Here's a funny thing.

I wonder, I wonder if you could

let me have five bucks.

Taxi fare. I didn't get down
to the bank.

I'm going to this dinner tonight
and what do you suppose I got?

Seven cents.

Imagine that.

Look, I-- I just got enough
to go down to the office myself

but I'll bring it to you
when I come back.

Come in.

Can I take the table now?

Waiter.

It, uh...

It just occurred to me,
I haven't had anything

to eat since breakfast.

I'm not dining until 8:00.

Bring me up a cup of coffee.
Good and strong.

And, uh, I think I'll take
a caviar sandwich.

Yes, sir.

Well, that's all.

I'm very sorry, Mr. Renault,

but were you going
to sign for it?

- Why?
- Excuse me, please...

But my orders are that
if you sign for it,

I cannot serve any more
food here.

What's...

Not-- not serve?

Get that order up here at once.

I'll speak to the manager.
Get it up.

Hello, hello, hello...

Hello?

No, I didn't call.

Hello. Wait a minute.
Yes, I did.

Uh, send up a bellboy
to go on an errand.

Send up, Eddie. Eddie!

The one who always
goes out for me.

There's six in the waiting room.

Mr. Jordan telephoned, he wants
to know if you'll see him.

Oh, I suppose so.

Did you see Mrs. Talbot
as you came through?

- She wanted to talk to you.
- No. No, I didn't.

Dr. Talbot's office.

Who is it, please?

Well, who is it?

I'm sorry, but I'll have
to have a name.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Packard.
He's in. Just a minute.

Oh, doctor, Mrs. Packard's
on your private wire.

Uh... Alright.

Hello.

Yes. Yes.

Now, Kitty.

Kitty, lis... Kitty,
would you listen a minute?

No, I can't come over.

These are my office hours,
you know that.

There's nothing
the matter with you.

I've been busy.

I'll see you tonight
at the Jordan's.

Of course you can go.

Of course I do.
I think you're very sweet.

No. No, of course there's no
other woman.

Now, Kitty,
you're driving me...

Yes, uh...

Yes, I think you better
sleep for an hour and rest

and, uh, and then take
a mild bromide.

Well, my office is full of
patients now.

You must excuse me.

Oh, no, no. There's no cause for
alarm. Yes. Goodbye.

Hello, Lucy.

Hello, Wayne.

- How are you, dear?
- I'm fine. And you?

I'm alright.

- Anything new?
- No. No.

Just the same old thing, hm?

What?

I mean, unreasonable women
patients.

Yes, yes.
She's not really sick.

You know, women with a lot of
time on their hands.

I prescribed a sedative, but she
doesn't really need anything.

How about an apple a day?

What's that?

Don't bother.

What?

Don't bother because I know
all about it.

Oh, wha...

What are you talking about?

Oh, Wayne, dear, I'm not going
to make a scene.

You know I never do, do I?

Remember how nicely
I behaved about the others?

Mrs. Whiting and that Dalrymple
girl and...

and the Ferguson woman,
Dolly, and...

Where are your files?

You're quite wrong.

Now, dear, I knew
just when it started.

Now she's at the insistent
stage.

It's all just a great bore,
isn't it, darling?

Don't think I don't mind.

But I can't let it
tear me to pieces

the way it did the first time.

It was just before
Wayne was born, remember?

I thought the world
had come to an end.

The noble young physician...

was just a masher.

Surely a little more than that.

A great deal more.

That's why it's so pathetic.

You're two people, really.

One's magnificent...

and the other's so shoddy.

You're right, Lucy.

I don't know why you've stayed
with me all these years.

Because I'm still in love with
you. Isn't that funny?

You'd think I'd have more pride.

I love you, Lucy.
It's never been otherwise.

You know what I think?

I think you're still
a little boy

living over on Tenth Avenue...

a little bit in awe
of the girl from Murray Hill.

And that's why, forgive me...

these glamorous women
in your life...

have all been a little common,
a little bit Tenth Avenue, too.

These, these other women, why...

Well, it's like gambling
or drinking,

or drugs.
You just keep on.

A habit can be cured
if the patient wants to.

The patient wants to.

Of course, you mustn't stop
too suddenly.

Lucy darling,
it's you and I.

It's always been you and I,

and always will be.

Now, you must believe that.

- Doctor? Oh, I'm sorry.
- Hm?

Mr. Oliver Jordan's here,
and he seems very ill.

Have him come right in.

- I'll see you later, dear.
- Alright, dear.

You're alright now,
Mr. Jordan.

Why, what's this, Oliver?
Here, here.

Here, come right over here
and sit down.

- Take it easy now.
- Come on. Come quietly.

- That's right.
- There.

There you are now.

That's it.

- It's right here.
- Nitrate of Ammo, quick.

Here.

Here. Sniff this.

There. That's better.

Oh, I'm alright now.

How long has this been going on?
Have you ever had it before?

No. N-- not exactly like this.

Oh, well, it's probably
indigestion.

What did you have for lunch?

I-- I didn't have
much of anything.

I'd like you to come in tomorrow
for a more thorough examination.

Alright. 2:15?

I'll be at the hospital till
4:00 so you better make it 4:15.

Oh, alright.

Hey, I feel great.

I may fool you
and not come at all tomorrow.

Ah, you show up here.

Broken appointments
are charged double.

I never pay them
anyhow.

What are you doing tonight,
Oliver?

- Well, you're dining with us.
- Oh, that's right.

- Among others.
- That's right.

Well, listen,
couldn't you arrange to

sneak away and go to bed early?

We're going to the theater.

Now, you avoid any excitement...

and stop worrying about
business.

- Old pump out of order?
- No, no. It's a bit weary.

Just a little tired, that's all.

Oh, I see.

- Well, see you later, hm?
- Yeah.

- Dinner at 8:00?
- I believe so.

- Goodbye, Oliver.
- Goodbye, doctor.

- Thank you very much.
- It's alright.

You're not fooling me.

How bad is it?

Coronary artery. Thrombosis.

How long will he live?

A few years, months...

days, even.

Are you sure?

Positive. You can tell
it like that.

Poor fellow.

Yeah.

- Ready?
- Alright.

Alright, Mrs. Beveridge.

- Excuse me, ma'am.
- Yes, Mrs. Wendel?

Why, what's the matter
with your face?

Oh, it's that old tooth again.

What seems to be wrong?

It's, it's the aspic
for the dinner tonight.

- The aspic?
- Yeah.

I-- I-- I had to drop it
on the floor.

You had to drop the aspic
on the floor?

Yes, ma'am.

You see,
you see the butler

and the chauffeur
were fighting and, and...

and I had to get between them.

Ricky and Gustave fighting?

- What about?
- Dora.

Dora?

What do they mean
by fighting in the kitchen?

I don't know, ma'am.

But we can't use the aspic
for dinner tonight.

Well, of course not,
if you dropped it on the floor.

- No.
- 5 o'clock. This is terrible.

I particularly wanted the aspic.
It's so dressy.

Send for some crabmeat.
You can cook it Newburg.

- Yes, ma'am.
- Send Ricky for it at once.

But, but I can't send Ricky,
ma'am.

- Why not?
- Well...

You see, he's been arrested.
He's in jail.

- Excuse me, madam.
- In jail? For what?

For stabbing Gustave.

Excuse me, madam.
Miss Carlotta Vance is calling.

Tell her I'm not here.

- Where is Gustave?
- Well...

You see, they took him
to the hospital.

The doctor's sewing up his eye.

Millicent.
Whoo-hoo!

- Oh, dear. Oh, dear.
- Where are you?

- In here, Carlotta.
- Will that be about all, ma'am?

- I hope so.
- Thank you, ma'am.

Millicent. Ducky.

I never was so glad to see
anyone in all my life, my dear.

- Dear Carlotta.
- Oh.

You don't mind me rushing in on
you like this, do you?

I just popped in to see Oliver.

Oh, really? How nice.

- I'm afraid--
- No, I'll wait.

Anything to get out
of those streets.

Oh, may I have a whiskey and
soda? You don't mind, do you?

Millicent, really,
I-- I'm just dying.

- Why, of course.
- Oh, my.

I'm absolutely cracked up.

Yeah. Simply depleted.

I've been in every office
building

from the Battery to the Bronx.

Say Millicent, you don't mind
if I take my shoes off, do you?

Ooh! What a relief.

Oh, me. Oh, my.

No. Please do.

Thank you. It's that big toe.

What a city.

I left the hotel
at 11:00 this morning,

a young and lovely girl,
now look at me.

I took on ten years
trying to get

from the Versailles
to Times Square.

And then I had a restful, nice
luncheon with four lawyers.

On the 88th floor
of the what's-it building,

you know, the Sky Club.
Heh!

A cloud floated right
into my soup plate.

Yes, it's terrible,
but we get used to it.

Oh, dear, the minute
I see Oliver,

I'm going back to my hotel

and pop myself into bed,
and I'm not

going to get up until tomorrow
at noon.

Thank goodness
I don't have to go

to one of those dreadful
dinners tonight.

But you're dining here.

Oh?

Oh!

How enchanting.

Of course!
The Ferncliffes.

Oh, well, that means a nice
little cozy game of bridge.

I can always keep awake
for that.

But we're going to the theater.

Oh. Oh, now, won't that be
delightful?

Yes. I always
like to see a new play.

What are we going to see?

We're going to see
"Say It With Music."

Oh! Oh, yeah.
That will be enchanting. Yes.

Yes. I thought
it was so amusing.

What? You've seen it?

Yes.
Yes, two or three times.

Well, that's nothing.

Oh, no. I'm used to that.

Funny man.
With a cigar.

Should I mix it for you, madam?

Oh, thank you very much,
my dear.

Yes, that'd be very nice of you.

Oh, dear, dear, dear,
let me see. Uh-oh.

Now, that's enough.
T-- that's enough.

How complicated life is.

Well...
If ever... No, my dear.

Wait a minute. Don't spoil it.

Phew!

Well...

- Oliver.
- Oh, Oliver, ducky.

Hello. Hello, Carlotta.

- Well, Carlotta.
- Carlotta wants to talk to you.

Oh, I'll not keep you a minute,
Oliver.

I've got to get a new butler
for tonight.

Oh, I do hope the agency
will send me

one who doesn't drop things.

Optimist.

If it's not asking too much.

I-- I tried to get you...
Oliver, sweet.

You won't be cross with
Carlotta, will you?

You see, I told the man
that I wanted to ask you first,

but he said, "No, it
must done today." You know.

You know,
a meeting or something.

Then I couldn't reach you at
your office and I went ahead.

Then I-- I sort of got
worried about it.

Carlotta, what are you
trying to tell me?

Well, you see, Oliver, sweet,
you know, Carlotta's so broke.

And it was such a chance,

and I-- I sold my Jordan stock.

I hope you won't mind. That's
what I came here to tell you.

Who did you sell it to?

Oh, a most charming man.

My, he had such nice manners.

Let's see. His name is, um,
oh, "James K. Baldridge."

- Mm.
- Mm-hm.

- Oh, I hope you don't mind.
- No, no, no. It's alright.

Well, Oliver, I-- I did try to
reach you, Oliver.

You know, you said you didn't
want to buy it back yourself

and along came that nice
Mr. Bainbridge

with all that beautiful money.

- See, it's certified.
- Hello. Uh, Mr. Kingsbury.

Oliver Jordan speaking.

Oh, you are cross.
Oh, I'm just devastated.

I wouldn't have done it
for anything in the world.

I'd rather go barefoot
and hungry--

Kingsbury? Uh, sorry
to disturb you at home.

Uh... T-- the...

Uh, have the Satterlee sisters
sold their Jordan stock?

Well, you sold it this
afternoon.

Uh, would you mind telling me
who bought it?

Baldridge.
Thank you very much.

Well, I guess I'll be trotting
along. I'll see you at dinner.

Say goodbye to Millicent for me,
won't you?

No. I'll see you to the door,
Carlotta. Of course.

Hello. Yes.
This is Mrs. Jordan.

Oh, Lord Ferncliffe's secretary.

Yes?

Yes.

What's that?

But you, you must be mista...

But they can't.
They can't go to Florida.

They are coming here to dinner.
I'm giving the dinner for them.

They've gone. When?

B-- but people
don't do such things.

I don't care how sudden it was.

You should have let me--

Well, all I can say is,
I never heard

of such a thing in all my life
before, never.

- Oh!
- Mother.

- Mother, I want to talk to you.
- What?

It's about Ernest and me.
I want to talk to you--

Paula, don't bother me now,
for pity's sake.

Don't bother me now.
I can't listen to your--

But, mother,
you don't understand.

- This is terribly important.
- Paula, shut up.

Shut up, I tell you.

Let me think. Oh!

Millicent, darling,
would you mind awfully

if I didn't go to the theater
tonight?

I'm feeling pretty rotten.

- If I could just go to bed--
- What's that you're saying?

I say, I'm feeling pretty
rotten.

I'm up against a business thing.

A business thing.

At a time like this, you talk to
me about a business thing

and feeling rotten.

This is a nice time to say
you're feeling rotten.

You come to me with your...
And you whimpering about Ernest.

Some little lovers' quarrel.

I'm expected to listen to
Ernest,

business, and headaches...

when I'm half out of my mind.

Do you know
what's happened to me?

I've had the most ghastly day
anybody ever had.

No aspic for dinner...

and Ricky in jail and Gustave
dying, for all I know...

and a new butler tonight,
and that Vance woman coming in.

And having to send for crabmeat.

Crabmeat!

And now, on top of everything
else...

the Ferncliffes aren't
coming to dinner.

They call up at this hour,
the miserable cockneys.

They call up to say they've gone
to Florida, Florida.

Who can I get at this hour?
Nobody.

I've got eight people
for dinner.

Eight people isn't a dinner.
Who can I get?

And you come to me with
your idiotic little...

I am the one
who ought to be in bed.

I'm the one who's in trouble.

You don't know what trouble is,
either of you!

How you coming, kitten?

How you coming, kitten?

I've told you a million times

not to talk to me
when I'm doing my lashes.

And don't you talk to me
when I'm shaving.

I think these are the handsomest
ones you ever bought.

Will you take those back?
I'll tell you when I want them.

Yes, ma'am.

Put them in the icebox, nitwit.

Well, tomorrow,
Oliver Jordan can go

and buy himself a little rowboat
and start all over again.

He'll never know who done it.

Yeah, you're so smart, you're
gonna land in jail some day.

Tina, where are my slippers?

I'm just beginning, tootsie.
I'm just beginning.

Whose wife's got any bigger
bracelets than you've got, huh?

Remember what I told you
last week?

I don't remember
what you told me a minute ago.

About Washington.
Don't you remember that?

How'd you like to be
a cabinet member's wife?

Mingle with all the other

cabinet members wives
and ambassadors?

Nerts.

You're not gonna drag me down
to that graveyard.

I've seen their pictures in the
papers, those girlies.

A lot of sour-faced frumps
with last year's clothes on.

Pinning medals on Girl Scouts
and pouring tea for the DARs

and rolling Easter eggs
on the White House lawn.

A swell lot of fun I'd have.
You go live in Washington.

I can have a good time
right here.

Listen, stupid.

If I get that appointment to
Washington, I'm going.

And if I go, you go.
That's that.

You mean you're really
going to get it?

Certainly I am.

- I won't go.
- You will go!

On, no, I won't!
You can't boss me.

I can yell just
as loud as you can.

You've been acting very
strangely

lately, my fine lady and I'm not
going to stand for it.

Yeah. And so what?

So what?
I'm the works around here

and I'll give you
orders what to do.

Who do you think
you're talking to,

that first wife of yours
out in Montana?

Now, you leave her out of this.

That poor mealy-faced thing
with a flat chest

that didn't have nerve enough
to talk up to you,

washing out your greasy overalls
and cooking

and slaving in some lousy mining
shack? No wonder she died.

Hey, I'll sock you in a minute.

Why, you can't get me that way.

You're not going to step on
my face to get

where you want to go,
you big windbag!

Listen, you little piece of
scum, you...

I've got a good notion
to drop you

right back
where I picked you up

in the checkroom of the
Hottentot Club or

whatever the dirty joint was.

Oh, no, you won't!

And then you can go back
to that sweet

smelling family of yours

back of the railroad tracks
in Passaic and get this.

If that sniveling,
money grubbing,

whining old mother of yours

comes fooling
around my offices anymore,

I'm going to give orders
to have her thrown down

those 60 flights of stairs,
so help me!

Give me that!

- You pick that up.
- Pick it up yourself.

You pick that up!

Bracelets, eh?

After I pick you
out of the gutter,

this is the thanks that I get.

- Thank you.
- Thanks for what?

Listening to you
about what a big guy

you just been or you gonna be?

Listen. You never sent me
a flower in your life.

When I want flowers,
I gotta go buy them.

What woman wants to
buy their selves flowers?

You never sit and talk to me,
or ask me

what I've been doing,
or how I am, or anything.

Well, why don't you get
something to do?

- I ain't stopping you.
- Huh!

You bet you ain't.

You think I sit home all day,
looking at bracelets.

Ha! Of all the dumb bunnies.

What do you think I'm doing

while you're out pulling your
dirty deals?

Waiting for daddy to come home?

What are you driving at--

You think you're the only man
I know, you great, big noise?

Well, you aren't, see?

There's somebody that just
knowing him has made me

realize what a stuffed shirt
you are.

- Why, you...
- You don't like that!

Do you, Mr. Cabinet Member?

Somebody else put over a deal.

You mean to tell me that
you've been putting it

over on me with some other man?

Yes, and what are you going
to do about it, you big gasbag?

Here, you tell me who it is,
or I'll break

every bone in your body.

You can kill me, and I won't.

I'll find out who it is.

- Tini! Tini! Tini!
- She don't know.

She don't know.

Who's been coming to this house?

- Huh!
- You don't know, do you?

You shut your trap!

Who's been coming to this house?

- I ain't seen nobody.
- Oh, yes, you have!

You tell me, who's been
coming to this house?

Who came here
while I was in Washington?

Nobody. Only the doctor.

No, I don't mean him.

Who's been coming here
behind my back?

I ain't seen a soul.

Oh, get out, you dummy.

Huh! What did I tell you?

I'll divorce you.
That's what I'll do.

I'll divorce you.
You won't get one cent.

There's a law for
what you've done.

Yeah, you got to prove it first.

Yeah? I'll track him down.

I'll find him, and I'll kill
him. That's what I'll do.

Then I'll throw you out
just like you were an alley cat.

Yeah? So you want to go to
Washington.

You want to tell the president
where to get off.

You want to go into politics.

Well, I know about politics,

and I know all about the crooked
deals you bragged about.

Stealing from Brown
and that Thompson business,

and gypping old man Clarke
and now this Jordan thing.

When I tell about those,
it will raise a pretty stink.

Politics? Huh! You couldn't
get into politics.

You couldn't get in anywhere.

You couldn't even get in the
men's room at the Astor.

Why, you poisonous
little rattlesnake, you...

Listen. I've got to go to this
Ferncliffe dinner tonight.

Ferncliffe means
more to me than you do.

I'm clearing out of here
after tonight.

You can sit here and get flowers
from your soul mate.

- We're through.
- Oh, no, you ain't!

Now you're going to listen to me
while I run off at the mouth.

You're going to let that Jordan
stock stay right where it is

because if you don't, I'll
broadcast the whole rotten deal.

And if I open my trap, they can
hear me clean back in Montana.

It's the first chance I ever got
with decent society people

to see my name in the paper with
somebody that ain't mixed

in your dirty politics,
and if I miss it,

you're gonna pay for it with
everything you got.

So, you'd make a sucker
out of me, huh?

Well, I certainly ain't trying
to make a gentleman out of you,

but I'm gonna be a lady
if it kills me.

- Why, you dirty little--
- Don't say it.

So-and-so.

- Tina.
- Yes, ma'am?

Pick that bracelet up.
It fell.

Oh.

- My, it's pretty, ain't it?
- Give it to me.

Look, it just fits me.

Give it here, will you?

You got so many bracelets.

I don't see how you can
use them all.

What are you driving at?

Nothing.

Only, I thought
with you having so many...

maybe you might
want to give me one.

Come in.

Where have you been? You know I
was waiting here, you silly.

Larry, I brought up Mr. Stengel.

This is Larry Renault,
Mr. Stengel.

Larry, this is Jo Stengel.

- How do you do, Mr. Stengel?
- Mr. Renault.

Well, this is quite an occasion.
The meeting of two celebrities.

We should have
the newsreel men here.

Yes. Of course I didn't realize
it was a full-dress affair.

I just came as I was.

Well, Mr. Renault has got
a dinner date

with some of his Park Avenue
friends.

You know, these, um,
these big picture boys,

they're pretty social.

Yes. I've heard.
Well, look, Mr. Renault.

I haven't got an awful
lot of time.

Yeah, Larry, suppose we get down
to brass tacks, huh?

Alright, my dear fellow.

Well, Stengel, you're going
to produce this play, eh?

And you want me to act in it.

- Well, I--
- Larry.

This is just getting acquainted.

You know, he's just crazy to
play the part.

Just a minute.
Let's get this thing straight.

I understand from Mr. Kane here

that you wanted to know
if I'd be willing

to portray the beachcomber
in this thing.

Wait a minute.
Not so fast there.

- Now, Larry--
- In the first place.

If I consent to play this part,
and I don't say I will...

it will have to be built up.

Built up?
The fellow's got one scene

and they find him dead
on the beach.

This isn't a play about
spiritualism.

Don't forget, I'm Larry Renault.

- Larry, for heaven's sake!
- Shut up!

Now, listen, Stengel.

I'm a name, and I know it,
and so do you.

And I'm not going on to play

second fiddle to any cheap
English ham.

- Now, Larry...
- $8,000 a week!

That's what I got,
and I was gonna

get ten till the talkies
came in.

So, don't think
you're doing me a favor

by asking me to play in your
ratty little show

because I'm doing you one.

I think maybe we're keeping you
from your dinner, Mr. Renault.

- Jo, he doesn't mean--
- Yes, I do!

And just because
it's Mr. Jo Stengel,

it don't mean a thing to me.

I'm still good,
better than I ever was.

Good night, Mr. Renault.

Now, listen to me, old-timer.

I'm drunk, and I know
I'm drunk,

but I know
what I'm talking about.

For heaven's sake, Mr. Stengel.

It's alright, Mac.
I'll see you tomorrow.

I wouldn't be
in your rotten show.

Not Larry Renault.
You know why?

Because I'm an important artist,

and you're nothing but a cheap
pushcart producer.

Pushcart!

You cockeyed, drunken fool.
I bring him up here.

I go down on my hands and knees
to do it. And you! You...

Well, that's that.

Hey, wait a minute.

I got something
to say to you, too.

Telling him I was crazy
to play the part.

You got this play
away from Baumann

and you gave it to Stengel,

you double-dealing chiseler.

I've been suspicious
of you all along.

You're in with the managers.

You've been taking my money
and working for them.

You don't say.

I'm working for the managers,
huh? Taking your money.

Me? Me, that you're into
for 500 smackers in touches.

You think I've been lying to you
all the time?

Alright. You're going to
get the truth now.

Renault, you're through.

Get out.

I'll get out
and I'll stay out...

but get this first.

I never worked
so hard in my life

to put anybody
over as I did you.

You think I told you
all the things that I tried?

No! Because I couldn't come to
you and tell you what they said.

I felt too sorry for you.

- You were sorry for me?
- Vaudeville. Ha-ha!

Every time I walked into a
booking office,

they leaned back
and they roared.

They called me
"Mac, the Grave Snatcher."

Last night, I sent another
telegram to the Coast.

I knew it was no use,
but I sent it anyway.

You want to see the answer?

No. No.

"Thank you.
When we're in the market

for bit players,
we will let you know."

Ah. You're trying to throw
a scare into me.

Oh, no.

I'm just telling you the truth.

You know,
you never were an actor.

You did have looks,
but they're gone now.

You don't have to
take my word for it.

Just look in any mirror.
They don't lie.

Take a good look.

Look at those pouches under your
eyes. Look at those creases.

You sag like an old woman.

Get a load of yourself.

Wait till you
start tramping around

the offices,
looking for a job

because no agent's going to
handle you.

Sitting in those anterooms
hour after hour,

giving your name to office boys
that never even heard of you.

You're through, Renault.

You're through in pictures
and plays

and vaudeville and radio
and everything.

You're a corpse,
and you don't know it.

Go get yourself buried.

They don't want that junk.

They wouldn't give me
nothing on it.

Why, it's a silver frame.
The buckle's solid gold.

Alright, You take them.
I lugged them

to every pawnshop
on Sixth Avenue.

Ah, you little liar. I bet
you never took them anyplace.

Say, who you calling a liar,
you down-and-out ham?

Oh, you filthy little rat, how
dare you talk to me like that?

- Okay.
- Wait a minute.

I didn't mean that.
I'm sorry.

Listen. I-- I got to have some
liquor. I'm sick.

Lay it out for me like a good
kid. I'll pay you back.

Say, shat kind of a sucker
do you think I am?

I got to have it. I got to.
I'll pay you back.

I'll pay you back tomorrow.

Ah, baloney.

How do you do, Mr. Renault?

I've not had the pleasure
of meeting you before,

though you've been with us
for some time.

- I'm Mr. Fitch, the manager.
- Oh.

Mr. Renault, we find ourselves
in a very awkward predicament.

We've just had a communication

from some very old clients
of ours,

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Montgomery.

They've always occupied
this particular suite.

You know how people are. They
say it's just like home to them.

They're coming in tomorrow.
Is that right, Mr. Hatfield?

- Yes. Tomorrow afternoon.
- There you are.

Under the circumstances,
I'm afraid

that we shall have to ask you
for these rooms.

Oh!

What other rooms
can you give me?

Well, that's-- that's
just the trouble.

You see, we're so
terribly full up.

The horse show and...

Mr. Hatfield, is there any place
that we can put Mr. Renault?

I'm afraid not, Mr. Fitch.

It's quite alright.
Alright.

As a matter of fact,
I was, uh, just about to notify

your office I was leaving.

Some friends of mine,
private car...

Palm Beach.

Uh, when would you
want me to, uh..

No, there's no hurry.

Shall we say noon tomorrow,
Mr. Renault?

- Sure. Goodnight.
- Thank you very much.

So sorry to have
inconvenienced you in this way.

Ed?

Ed, where are you?

I'm coming.

- She's got music.
- I hear it.

Now, Ed, it isn't going
to be so terrible.

Not so terrible?

Get into this uniform
to meet a bunch of fatheads

I don't want to know...

and miss that
Greta Garbo picture

I've been waiting for,
for two months.

What's your idea of terrible?

Don't you want to meet
Larry Renault?

That's better than
going to a movie.

- Ha-ha! That has-been.
- And Carlotta Vance.

And Jenny Lind.
Is she coming?

Now, Ed, Millie's done
a lot of things for us.

Helps me with my clothes.

Besides, who can you get at
quarter to seven but relatives?

Alright. Alright.

I'm a relative and I'm here.

Come on. Let's get it over with.

- Be careful of the steps.
- I know. I know.

T-- that's very nice,
but do you mind?

Not quite so loud.

There will be people in there
talking, you know.

Thank you.

- Hello, Ed.
- Hello.

Hello, Hattie.

Where's Oliver?

Upstairs. He's got a headache
or something.

Me, too.

How nice.
So lovely to see you.

How are you, Mrs. Jordan?

You know Mrs. Packard,
I believe.

Of course.
How lovely of you to come.

So nice of you to ask us,
I'm sure.

Mrs. Packard,
may I present my cousins...

Mr. and Mrs. Loomis.
Mr. Packard.

I'm pleased to meet you,
I'm sure.

How do you do, Mr. Loomis?

How are you, Mrs. Loomis?

You know, for a minute there
I had you wrong.

I figured that maybe you were
Ferncliffe.

You're close.
I'm pinch-hitting for him.

What's the matter?

I'm so sorry to disappoint you,

but Lord Ferncliffe
was taken frightfully ill

with neuritis this afternoon.

I'm so sorry.

Do you mean to say
that Ferncliffe won't be here?

Yes. Isn't it terrible?

They had to rush him off
to Florida.

I don't care for Florida.
Do you?

Have you ever been to Florida?

I-- I love it.

We're not going down this
winter.

- Are you?
- I don't know.

Are we going to Florida
this winter, sweetheart?

Well, I wouldn't count on it
if I were you.

I'll miss it so.

It's so wonderful to have
nothing to do,

just to lie all day in the sun.

Yes, but you've got to be
awful careful

that you don't get blistered.

You know, my skin's terribly
delicate,

and I don't dare expose it.

Pardon me.

- Hello, Lucy.
- Hello. Hello, Millicent.

My, you look charming.

Lucy, you know everyone,
don't you?

- Hello.
- Glad to see you.

Haven't seen you around
the house lately.

What's the matter?

Did the patient get well on you?

Oh! Yes, yes she's getting along
very well without me,

aren't you, Mrs. Packard?

Well, I get along better
when you're looking after me.

Oh! Millicent, darling.

Do forgive me.
I had to bring him.

He wouldn't stay at home.

He cried and he cried.
Didn't you, Tarzan?

Isn't he sweet?

Carlotta, you know Mrs. Talbot,
don't you?

And my cousin, Mrs. Loomis.

What do you think of
Bunny Ferncliffe?

Dashing off to Florida

and ruining your whole dinner
party.

You know, I went to the hotel
and found his telegram.

"Off on a fishing trip.
Love your America.

"Never felt better in my life.

"Caroline and I want you
to join us.

Wire Palm Beach. Bunny."

Isn't Bunny a swine?

I'd rather go away in the winter
than in the summer.

I love New York in the summer.

Where's Paula?
I'm just dying to see her again.

Ernest came back tonight.

- They're in the library talking.
- Yes.

They're going to be married,
you know?

- Yes.
- Ernest DeGraff.

DeGraff?
DeGraff.

I think I knew his father.

I did.

Well, I think
I'll barge along

and talk to Paula
alone in the library.

Oh, my dear.
You poor little man.

You look so lonely.
Here.

Tarzan will keep you company.

And then I had a little time,
so I went to Budapest.

Say, there's a place we've got
to go on our honeymoon.

Ernest, while you've been away,

there's something...

Ah, there you are,
you two turtledoves!

- Paula.
- Carlotta.

And this is Ernest!
I'm Carlotta Vance.

And don't tell me that your
grandfather

saw me when he was a boy.

How did you know that
I was Ernest?

Oh, I can tell
an Ernest 20 feet off.

Say, do you suppose you
two could stop

billing and cooing
just long enough

for me to have a little word
with Paula?

Alright.

The next billing and cooing
will take place at 8:45.

Yeah. Oh, dear.
He's charming, isn't he?

So like his father.

I hope he'll be as generous.

Why haven't you been to see me,
Paula?

I'm at the Versailles.

- Oh, the Versailles.
- Mm-hm.

Yes, of course. I must come.

That's on East 48th Street,
isn't it?

Not quite.
East 53rd Street, I believe.

Oh, yes. Yes, I was thinking
of something else.

Yes, I suppose you were.

You know, I'm on the eighth
floor.

Curiously enough,
just down the hall from, uh...

Oh, you've seen me, then.

Well, what of it?
I'm not ashamed.

- Oh, no, dear.
- Go ahead. Tell mother.

I'm going to tell her myself.

It's funny.

I should think at least you
would understand.

I haven't said
I don't understand.

Do you?
Then for heaven's sake, help me.

Talk to father for me,
will you?

You can help me.

I'm sorry.
I can't.

Not now.

Alright.
You want me to give him up.

Well, I won't.

You're just like all the rest
of the old people.

Oh, I'm-- I'm sure I am,
but...

You think you know what's best
because you're old.

You think you can tell me
what to do with my life.

Well, you can't,
because it's my life.

I'm young. I've got a right
to go to the man I love.

Oh, I'm sure you have, dear,
but, uh...

But what?
What could you possibly say

that could keep me
from going to him?

Simply that he's killed himself.

That's not so.

It can't be.

They found him just as I was
starting to come here.

Oh! Poor Paula.
I'm so sorry.

- Where are you going?
- To him.

No. Listen... listen, Paula.

I realize that
I'm an old woman

and young people have a right to
do what they want...

but at this time, I think you
should consider someone else.

Your father.

My poor Larry.

He's dead, Carlotta.

And nothing can be done.

That's the unfortunate
thing about death.

It's so terribly final.

Even the young
can't do anything about it.

Oh. Oh, really.

Listen. Shh. Listen, darling.

Don't.
No, don't.

Don't... shh...

Paula, listen.

I wonder what's keeping Oliver.

What would you say
he's missed

by not being in this room
the last 10 minutes?

Oh, I don't know. I guess German
pictures are alright

if you like German pictures.

Oh, say, Mrs. Talbot, I...

I've just been talking with your
husband

and I find that
we have a lot in common.

- Yes?
- Yeah.

We're members of the same
golf club.

Oh! How nice.

I wonder when we eat.

- Pardon, madam.
- Yes, Dora?

Will you please come upstairs?

Mr. Jordan isn't feeling well.

Very well, Dora.

I don't know how I...
I've got to...

Maybe I'd better go up
and see him with you, Millicent.

- Perhaps you'd better.
- Yes, surely.

Oliver!
Oliver.

I'm alright, Millicent.
Don't worry, please.

I-- it's something
I had for lunch, huh, Talbot?

Certainly. Uh,
have you any spirits of ammonia?

I think there's some in the
medicine chest.

- I'll get it.
- Please.

I'll be right back, Oliver.

- Ah, I'm alright.
- There, there, now.

Take it easy, old man.

- Take it easy.
- Ah.

That's right.

Here, here you are, dear.
You do this.

You can do it much better
than I can and remember,

we must not spoil
Millicent's dinner.

They probably won't know
anything

about this news until tomorrow.

I'm alright now.
Thank you.

Of course you are, my dear.

Now Ernest...
Ernest won't notice a thing.

I don't want to see Ernest.
I don't want to see anybody.

Oh, yes, you do, dear.

But I want to tell you
one thing.

Don't ever let him know anything
about this...

because if there's one thing
I know, it's men.

I ought to.
It's been my life work.

I can't ever love another man.

No, of course you can't, dear.

But, uh, if you should,
you know, someone like Ernest,

he won't want to know anything
about your past

as long as you keep it
in the past.

Come on, dear.

Why, Millicent, what is it?

I had to tell her, Oliver.

- Oliver... Oliver, my poor.
- Oh, now.. Now dear...

Don't, don't, don't dear.
Please...

Sit down, Oliver.
Sit down.

That's it.
Here. Drink this.

Why didn't you tell me?
Why didn't you tell me?

Dear, dear, it isn't as bad
as all that. Is it, now?

No. Not at all.
No.

Oliver... Oliver.

Oh, dear heart, I would have
told you all about it.

No, you wouldn't.

And I've been too busy
to notice...

while you've been suffering.

Oh, Oliver, I do love you,
and I've always loved you...

even though
I have turned into a silly,

stupid, useless wife.

Oh, now, but you haven't,
Millie. You haven't.

As a matter of fact,

you've turned out a
much better wife...

than I have a husband,
I'm afraid.

- No, no, no.
- Yes, yes.

You see, the thing that's
troubling me most, Millie,

is that...

Well, I'm afraid
that Jordan Line is gone.

- Gone?
- Mmm... we're broke.

Oh! But everybody's broke,
darling.

Don't let that worry you.

We'll economize.
That's what we'll do.

We'll economize.
Now, let me see.

I really don't have to take
a box for that

charity thing
Saturday night now...

you know, for backward orphans
or something.

And I'll cancel my
hairdresser's tomorrow.

You leave everything to me.

And with Paula married
to Ernest,

we'll take a smaller
place somewhere.

Hello, Embassy Club.
This is Mrs. Oliver Jordan.

I want to cancel my table
for after the theater tonight.

Thank you.

And you go to bed
right after dinner, darling.

Oh, darling, we're going to be
happier than ever.

You'll see.

I like it in New York
in the summer.

Gee, I've had some swell times
on penthouse parties.

Hm. All my life, I've wanted
to be a penthouse girl.

Yeah. You'd be good at that.

Well, I'll be seeing you.

Ed!

- Joseph.
- Yes, madam.

You can announce dinner
in a few moments.

Yes, madam.

- Oh, hello, Hattie.
- Hello, Oliver.

- How are you, Ed?
- Oh, I'm fine.

- You alright?
- Oh, fine, thanks.

Oliver, I've missed you.

I'm sorry. I had to telephone.
Some business.

You're not cross with Carlotta,
are you?

You know I love you.

- Go on. Tell Jordan.
- Shut up.

- Go on and tell him.
- Shut up.

If you don't, you'll be sorry
as long as you live.

Shut up. Shut up.
Shut up. Shut up.

- How do you do, Mrs. Packard?
- Glad to see you, I'm sure.

- Well, Oliver, how are you?
- Glad to see you.

I'm delighted, I assure you.

I think we'll go in to dinner.

Seems rather rude
not to wait for Mr. Renault.

But after all, it's nearly 9:00.

You're not going to tell him?

- Mr. Jordan, I've got...
- I'll tell him.

I'll tell him.
I'll tell him.

Dan never will let me talk
to anyone that's attractive.

Oh, well!

Oliver, I've got something

very important to tell you.

I've got some news for you.

News? When a man bites a dog,
that's news.

I hope you'll like that stuff I
brought from Paris for you.

One of them is a knockout.

You came near losing the Jordan
Lines this afternoon.

A dirty crook
by the name of Baldridge

tried to pull a fast one.

- You don't mean--
- Yes, but I saved it for you.

We headed him off.

Say, old man, I've been
awfully unfair to you.

Oh, no, no.

I was reading a book
the other day.

- Reading a book?
- Yes.

It's all about
civilization or something.

A nutty kind of a book.

Do you know that the guy
says that machinery

is going to take the place
of every profession?

Oh, my dear, that's something

you need never worry about.

Say, I want to sit
next to Oliver!

Oliver, where are you?