Dinner at Eight (1933) Movie Script

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

- 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.

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?

Dinner at Eight (1933) - full transcript