Modern Screen (Jul-Dec 1945)

A PRODUCT OF THE GROVE LABORATORIES, Inc. Vitamin Division ST. LOUIS 3, MISSOURI Serving the nation's health for over half a centurv "She's a nice girl," Clarence said. "A nice girl," Joe said. And he wasn't thinking of the waitress from Brooklyn . . . Out at the Studio, the cop said no, they couldn't get in to see Iturbi or anybody else. They just couldn't get in. So they had to go all the way around the back and hop three fences and dodge a half dozen guys with badges and when they finally got to Iturbi's office the girl said no, Mr. Iturbi wasn't in, he was on Stage Five. But he wasn't on Stage Five or at Recording or at the Rehearsal Stage. They could try the Producer's Building, though. There were a hundred offices in that building and there was a blonde secretary in each one and before Joe finally made all the rounds it was getting pretty late. And Iturbi wasn't anywhere. There was a little motorcycle chugging away down the street when they got to the Parking Gate and there was a line-up of limousines, fat, black and round as grounded dirigibles. Clarence cocked an eye at the limousine. Joe talked to the Gate Attendant. The attendant pointed down the street where the little motorcycle was becoming a dot against the horizon. "Iturbi," he said. It was late evening when they climbed the street to Susan's house again. Friday night. Clarence pulled himself up the hill wearily. Joe's face was angry. "What are we going to tell her?" Clarence said. "That we chased Iturbi for two days all over Los Angeles?" "How are we going to tell Susie?" Clarence mourned. "I'll tell her," Joe said. "At the El Parador tonight." But at the El Parador that night he didn't quite say it. Instead he found himself out in the garden with Susan. "Well, Joe — " Susan said. "Well, Susie—" She half turned, throwing a pebble into the pond, watching the ripples catch and spread: "How's Lola?" "Lola? I haven't even seen her." "No? Isn't she . . . isn't she what you wanted, Joe — ?" "I don't know, Susie. I don't know anymore what I want — or what I don't want. I'm all mixed up." "Mixed up?" "Yeah. Take a girl like you, Susie. I know you're not for me. But sometimes I get a feeling — " "What kind of feeling, Joe?" "I don't know. Moonlight and roses. I want to say things to you I never said to any other girl in my life. And I want to say them right — " "What kind of things?" Joe said softly "Things like: I love you." And there in a little Mexican garden off a crooked street in Los Angeles under a California moon that looked like a painted orange lantern in the sky, Joe Brady was kissing a girl named Susan Abbott . . . He had to tell Clarence, of course. Not that it made much difference. They'd both never see Susan again. Early tomorrow morning he'd tell Susan that the audition with Iturbi was just a gag. "Joe — " Clarence was saying. "Yeah?" "We're going to have to tell Susie about Iturbi — " "Yeah. Tomorrow." "And we're going to have to tell her something else." Joe said: "What else?" "We're going to have to tell her," Clarence said, "that I don't love her." "What!" "Remember that waitress I told you about, Joe. The girl from Brooklyn — she's the one, Joe. That's all there is to it. She^s the one." "Well, call me a wolf . . ." Joe said. He came up the hill again early the next morning. Donald saluted smartly. "I'm all alone," Donald said. "I promised Aunt Susie I'd be all right." "Where is Aunt Susie? Joe said. "Aunt Susie went to the studio to see Mister Iturbi. She wanted to ask him what he wanted her to sing. Aunt Susie has an 'addition.' " "Oh!" Joe groaned. He looked at his watch. There wasn't time for him to go out to the studio. He had only time enough to catch the bus back to San Diego and get back on board ship before his liberty ran out. He bent to Donald. "Donald," he said, "will you do something for me? "Aunt Susie is going to come back. And maybe she's going to be mad. But you tell her I was here — " "Uncle Joe was here — " "And tell her I'm sorry — " "Uncle Joe is sorry. — " "And tell her I tried—" "Uncle Joe tried — " "And tell her I love her — " Susan Abbott sat in the commissary trying to drink a cup of black coffee. There was a nervous flutter in her stomach. Someone sat down beside her; a well-knit, sturdy man, keen eyes — "I'm early, Mr. Iturbi," she said. "I beg your pardon?" "I said I'm early. For the audition. I'm Susan Abbott." "Audition? Susan Abbott?" "The audition Clarence Doolittle arranged. With Joe Brady. The sailors. Your friend, Clarence — " "Clarence?" Iturbi said. "My friend Clarence? I have no friend Clarence." "The audition," Susan said wildly. Iturbi leaned forward. He took her hand gently: "Now," he said, "suppose you start from the beginning . . ." The Admiral's Office on board the battleship was clean and efficient looking. Clarence Doolittle and Joe Brady stood stiffly at attention as the Admiral returned their salute from behind his desk. In one corner a man with keen eyes was seated. "Brady. Doolittle," The Admiral said. "I'd like you to meet Mr. Iturbi — " "I understand you wanted to see me," Iturbi said. "See you?" Joe gasped. "We were all over California — " "Yes?" Iturbi said. "No, it's too late now," Joe said. "There was a girl — " "Susan Abbott, perhaps?" Iturbi said. Clarence and Joe stared at each other. They were out of the office in a flash. Up on a platform the ship's band was swinging into the final bars of an orchestral number. Joe pushed his way through the crowd of sailors until he was just opposite the platform. He was in time to see Iturbi come to the conductor's podium. Iturbi rapped his baton on the stand a few times, said something to the players. Joe got half way up the platform. Then he saw her. Iturbi's hands rose. And then she saw him . . . Iturbi turned to the crowded deck. "In a moment, gentlemen," he said, "you will hear the debut of a new young singer named Susan Abbott. Just now — " Just now, Susan Abbott was kissing a Gunner's Mate named Joe Brady . . . CAST Characters Name Clarence Doolittle Frank Sinatra Susan Abbott Kathryn Grayson Joseph Brady Gene Kelly Jose Iturbi By Himself Donald Martin Dean Stockwell Girl From Brooklyn Pamela Britton Police Sergeant "Rags" Ragland help keep baby healthy and happy Naturally, mother, you want to do everything you can for the health of your child. And so, you'll want to know about the benefits of Vita-Baby. 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