Boy Meets Girl (Warner Bros.) (1938)

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PLANT THIS AMUSING 6-DAY SERIAL STORY AS AN ADVANCE BUILD-UP FOR YOUR SHOWING CHAPTER ONE Starring JAMES CAGNEY and PAT O'BRIEN Fictionized from Warner Bros. picture. Adapted from Bella and Samuel Spewack's comedy stage hit, produced on the stage by George Abbott. Screenplay by Bella and Samuel Spewack. OW HAT am I doin’ for you! Haven’t I just got the two best writers in the business to do your next screen story?” Rossetti, the agent, bit another cigar, and directed his most hurt expression at Larry Toms, the fading Western star, who sulked on the cushions beside him, as the Dusenberg swept majestically through the gates of the Royal Studios. “What two writers?” “Benson and Law! And have the got a story for you! Ill say they have! A story that’s gonna put you right back at the top of the heap! Gonna make you the biggest star in the business!” After crawling through an assortment of midgets, African savages and French soldiers the big car stopped. Rossetti hopped out followed by Larry, and began a search for the elusive Benson and Law. “They’ll be workin’ day and night on your story, Larry! Day and night! Stay here in Mr. Friday’s offices till I locate ’em!” When Rossetti did at last find them, and urged them to lose no time in telling their story to Larry Toms — Law astonished him by insisting that he had no story to tell. “Tell it to him anyway!” bawled Benson, and Law did. When he stopped for breath Larry Toms spoke. “I’ve been listening for two hours,” he said “and don’t know yet what it’s all about! trate and ain’t even here — and: s3¢81"? At that moment Mr. C. F. Friday, the producer strode in. “No antics, boy, please!” said C. F. importantly, seating himself and taking up the phone. “We’ve got a heavy day before us! Miss Crews, I don’t want to be disturbed by anybody! Understand? And order some lunch, Miss Crews? A plate of raw carrots and a bottle of certified raw milk. See that it’s raw!) Bring enough for everybody.” “Just a minute,’ Law yelled, getting to the phone before C. F. could hang up, “just a moment. Benson wants two cups of chicken broth — some ham hocks — cabbage — lemon meringue pie — and some bicarbonate of soda...” “ve just seen B. K., boys,” said C. F. profoundly, “and this studio faces a climax .. “Ym the only college man in the studio! They resent it! If my next picture fails, ’m out!” He went into a reverie. “IT have an idea for a play I want to discuss with you sometime, boys youll be wild abouteite. 7-2? Miss Crews, the secretary, announced that lunch was served. The door opened softly — and a waitress entered timidly with the tray. A blonde wisp of a girl of twenty-one — but looking much younger because of the ineffable “Can the two of us be godfather?” What is it about, Law?” “Listen, Toms,’ said Benson who had been dozing during the telling of the story, “I’ve been writtin’ stories for eleven years! Boy meets girl! Boy loses girl! Boy gets girl!” “Or,” interrupted Law wisely, “Girl meets boy! Girl loses boy! Girl gets boy! Love will find a way! Love never loses! Put your money on love! You can’t lose. I’m gettin’ hungry!” and he turned away with complete lack of interest. Rossetti didn’t like his attitude. “If I may make a point, Mr. Law,” he said, “I don’t think you’re showing the proper respect to Mr. Larry Toms — who is — after all one of the biggest stars in this studio!” “Just because I don’t get Dick Powell’s fan mail,” grumbled Larry, “it doesn’t mean I ain’t got his followin’! A lot of them that want to write me — ain’t never learned how to write.” “Well, let me tell you something, gentleman,” said Rosetti, “before I became an agent, I taught diction, and Larry Toms is potentially the greatest actor Vvevever mete... Why wore Ls. “What are we waiting around for, Law?” asked Benson yawning. “For lunch, me boy!” “Say, I’m getting fed up with this!” roared Larry Toms. “I got writers who are just plain crazy! A producer that can’t concen charm and touching naivete about her — Law leapt toward her shouting “Lunch!” Benson outdid him. “Grub” he yelled. “Susie I love you!” “Please, Mr. Benson .. . be careful” piped Susie weakly, and promptly collapsed on the floor. “Good God!” cried C, F. “Susie! Susie!” called Law, bending over her. “Get the doctor over here right away” shouted Benson into the phone. “Somebody give me water .. .” commanded Law in a professional tone and Benson brought him a glass from the tray. “This is a nice thing to happen in my office...” said C. F. looking down disapprovingly at the still figure. “Who is this girl, anyway?” Susie’s big dark eyes flickered open. “What’s wrong with you, young lady?” barked C. F. CON OUHENG wed ele Me se ce much better now, thanks! Didn’t eall for a doctor, did you? You didn’t have to!” She smiled ever so faintly. “There’s nothing wrong — it’s only natural!” “What do you mean natural?” snorted C. F. “Natural for you to come into my office ... and collapse on my floor?” “Oh, no, sir,” said Susie modestly, sorry he had misunderstood her, “it’s only natural when you’re going to have a baby!” (Continued tomorrow) < CHAPTER TWO Starring JAMES CAGNEY and PAT O'BRIEN Fictionized from Warner Bros. picture. Adapted from Bella and Samuel Spewack's comedy stage hit, produced on the stage by George Abbott. Screenplay by Bella and Samuel Spewack. THE STORY THUS FAR: Benson and Law, hired by Royal Films, to write a story for the fading Western star, Larry Toms—are at a loss for an idea. A conference is held with C. F. Friday, the producer, while he is being massaged and manicured. Susie, the slim blonde waitress, enters with the tray of lunch, and promptly collapses. Law tries to revive her, Benson phones for a doctor, but before he arrives the girl comes to. When C. F. berates her for collapsing in his office, she says naively, that it was natural for anyone to collapse when they were going to have a baby. AW and Benson—two writers in search of an idea—looked at each other as if a big one were about to hit them—as Susie made the startling remark about the baby. C. F. ran to the phone. ‘‘ Tell that doctor not to come .. .’’ he shouted. ‘‘You heard me! I don’t want him!’’ He hung up the receiver fiercely and turned to Susie, fuming. ‘‘T won’t have my office converted into a maternity ward!’’ **You’d better eat your lunch before it gets cold!’’ Susie said. ‘‘Take it easy, Susie!’’ said Benson. '¢¢T’m quitting at the end of the week ...’’ she said coloring slightly, ‘fso I thought I’d tell everybody why. I wouldn’t want them to think I was discontented ...’’ Law was honestly touched by Susie’s sincerity. It stirred the Irish in him. ‘‘Our little mother ... ’? he sighed sentimentally, ‘four little mother! ’’ **Oh,’’? said Susie, ‘‘don’t make fun of me.’’ ‘*RPun?’’? He got up and went toward her. ‘‘I’ve never been so -and girls locate ea » for their prize. It m a monetary prize. “It’s terrific C. F. . touched in my life. Why, Susie, I feel ...er...4I1 feel purified! ’’ ‘*Susie,’’ asked Benson reverently, ‘‘can we be godfather?’’ ‘<Do you mean it?’’ eried Susie, overcome with the magnanimity of the offer. ‘‘Do we mean it?’’ retorted Benson, again speaking for the firm. ‘‘ Just say ‘yes’ and see how quick I get Mark Hellinger to print: ‘Benson and Law are godfathering in June’!’’ ‘‘Oh!’? exclaimed Susie gratefully, ‘‘I do think it would be wonderful for Happy to have writers for a godfather!’’ ‘“Happy?’’ Benson was mystified. ‘‘Im going to call him Happy,’’ said Susie tenderly, ‘‘even if he’s a girl, I am, because I want him to be happy even if he is a girlie? ‘‘Beautiful!’’ sighed Benson, ‘*A beautiful thought! ’’ ‘¢Where are you going to have this baby, Susie?’’ inquired Law with deep concern. ‘<TIn the County Hospital. It’s all fixed. I was very lucky because I’ve only lived in the county three months, and I’m not eligible! ’’ Law was at the phone. ‘‘Give me the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital,’’? he demanded peppily, ‘‘and make it snappy! ’’ Suddenly C. F. realized that Susie was still present. ‘‘Say, you — what are you sitting here for???’ Susie tried to rise but Law pushed her down. ‘Listen, ©. F.!’? he cried, ‘<Don’t you bark at our inspiration! ’’ ‘¢Your inspiration?’’ ‘¢Yes, our inspiration! We’ve got one!’’ ‘¢What is it??? ‘A baby! ’? answered Law, with rising excitement. ‘CA baby!’’ echoed Benson. ‘“Boys,’’? moaned C. F., mopping his brow, ‘‘I’m a patient man, but you’re trying me! ’’ “!Dor't” you. get it, ©.) a Bn shouted Benson. ‘‘ Larry Toms and a baby!’’ Larry Toms, who was to be starred in this phenomenal but unwritten drama, was frankly puzzled. ‘“Wait a minute... ’’ he began, seratching his head, ‘‘ wait a minUte. .ce Law took the floor. ‘‘ Larry finds a baby in the Rockies—get it, C. ears ‘‘Girl with a no good father ..’? interrupted Benson and went on with extreme rapidity, ‘‘out of Las Vegas—has a baby—gambler is killed. Girl leaves baby on ranger’s doorstep! Larry is the ranger —he finds the baby—’’ . it’s colossal!’’ ‘¢ “My goodness!’ Larry says,’’ interposed Law, ‘‘ ‘a baby’... .’’ ‘¢Yeah, a baby—?’?’ ‘<The most precious thing in life ... ’’ Benson cooed. ‘<The cutest goldarn little thumbsucker you ever saw,’’ added Law in his best Western lingo. ‘CA love story between Larry and the baby, C. F.!’’ cried Benson, warming to it. ‘‘Then he meets the mother, see! She wants her baby back! She’s reached the end of her tether! The man she loved has let her down! She hates men... all men, see?’’ ‘She won’t even look at Larry <n), PUL IN WAW s GAGLy.s ‘“No,’’ Benson went on, ‘‘ there she sits—bitter, brooding, cynical — but underneath a mother’s heart! Larry joins the Foreign Legion see... ?’’ ‘¢Talk about scope ... Sweep ... !?? said Law. ‘‘What a set-up, C. F.! What a story! The Virgin of the Foreign Legion and the West Point man who wanted to forget! The baby brings them together—splits them apart—brings them together! ’’ ‘¢Boy meets girl—boy loses girl —boy gets girl... !’’ broke in Benson, with tears in his eyes, *¢Tt’s terrific! ’? ‘<Boys,’’ shouted C. F., springing up and banging the desk, ‘‘I think you’ve got something! Let’s go up and try it on B. K. while TUS Oties (Continued tomorrow) Show your editor these two chapters as samples. Send for galley proofs of all six. Mats of type and scenes free to newspapers on request from editors. Write or wire: Warner Bros. Publicity Director, 321 West 44th Street, New York City. [14]