Happiness Ahead (Warner Bros.) (1934)

FOUR CHARACTERS BOB LANE (DICK POWELL): The poor young man JOAN BRADFORD rich young girl (JOSEPHINE HUTCHINSON): The TOM BRADLEY (FRANK McHUGH): Bob’s buddy JOSIE (DOROTHY DARE): Tom’s steno-sweetie Bits for Manager of Night Club, people in holiday crowd, other voices. Note to Showmen: Put over your radio program by making a contest of it, in which guest tickets or other prizes are offered to the twenty-five persons who send in the best criticism of the sketch itself, and of the manner in which it is presented by the local station. —6N=—=eaeeG5_0_03030383S eee Regular station announcements followed by:— ANNOUNCER: By special arrangement with Manager ............ Sane of the ................... Theatre we offer for your entertainment flashes of the exuberant action of “Happiness Ahead,” the First National production featuring Dick Powell and Josephine Hutchinson with Frank McHugh, John Halliday and Allen Jenkins —and opening its local engageBCH 2. terete: next. Mr. (narrator) will briefly outline the story. NARRATOR: It all begins on a snowy New Year’s Eve, when beautiful Joan Bradford leaves her own engagement party, slips out of the side door of her father’s fine mansion, hails a taxi, and tells the astonished driver that she wants to go somewhere on Broadway. She gets out where the jostling crowd is merriest— yelling, blowing horns, laughing, whirling noisy -clackers — and pauses before a gay chop suey place—attracted by a group of young working people who are kidding one another. She likes especially a tall, good-looking young husky by the name of Bob. With him is a funny small man they call Tom and a rather rowdy but likable girl named Josie. Joan, chuckling to herself at the lark it is going to be, follows the group upstairs—and manages to get a double table so near to them that she could reach out and touch them. (Music—horns —laughter—chatter of voices— crash of instruments—sudden silence—voice of manager—as if at a distance—strained like a ringmaster) MANAGER: Ladies and gentlemen—in just two minutes it will be twelve o’clock, the lights will go out (applause breaks in) —the band will play—and the management will wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! (wild applause and orchestra strikes up music of the song “Happiness Ahead.” . . . Far-off voices begin to hum the air with the instruments. ) TOM: Go on, Bob, old-timer, show ’em how to put it over. BOB: That’s about enough out of you, Tommie, me lad! JOSIE: Bobbie’s too much of a Lone Wolf to warble! BOB: Who’s a lone wolf? JOSIE: Go on, then! (begins herself to hum the air of “Happiness Ahead”) TOM: Attaboy, Bob... (Bob takes up the air singing the verse all join in the chorus ... applause ... yells... horns... clock begins to strike twelve... shouts... “Lights Out” .. . or chestra strikes up “Auld Lang Syne” ‘Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and the days of auld lang syne?”—as song ends wild commotion . . . band plays another tune ... and Bob is heard in great embarrassment apologizing to Joan) BOB: Oh, I beg your pardon, MISS sco te I...TI thought it was Tom’s girl... Josie... Way Seb aes JOAN: (full-throated, calm gaiety and amusement in her voice) That’s all right. BOB: Oh, but it’s not all right! I don’t want you to think that ’m.... JOAN: (more amused but liking him the more) I accept your apology. BOB: You see, I thought I was wishing a Happy New Year -. to... to Josie over there . and I must have got shoved around and... kissed you in stead... JOAN: (frankly, and meaning it) But it’s all right ... I forgive you... And I wish you a Happy New Year! .BOB: Same to you and many of ’em... but I don’t want you to think I’m... JOAN: I won't. BOB: Well, thanks ...I guess my friends are . .. (blast of music and mirth) TOM: (slyly singing) “Just a Kiss in the Dark” .:.hmh...I know how it goes! JOSIE: So you got shoved around, did you! I heard! BOB: (rather nettled) Say, you two don’t think I deliberately kissed that girl! JOSIE: Poor kid... I guess she’s got a stand up. TOM: Looks like a swell jane, too... ain’t it a shame ... on New Year’s Eve... Say Bob, why don’t you ask her if she wants to join us. BOB: Why pick on me? She must think I’m fresh enough as it is. JOSIE: Why, are your kisses that bad? TOM: Vl ask her over, so help me I will! BOB: Never you mind . Pll ask her... myself. JOSIE: Happiness ahead, huh? BOB: (off, with great and embarrassed courtesy) Say . . if you want to... thatis... if you don’t think your boy friend is going to show up 1... that is, Tom and Josie said you can move over to our table. It’s okay with them... in fact... it’s okay with all of us... Miss Pee iitg JOAN: Shtts...* --“Soan Smibhie ce BOB: If you don’t mind we’d like to... have you. JOAN: I’d love it. (Back ground of musie and merriment continues) BOB: (off) This is my buddy, Tom Bradley, Miss Smith .. . and his girl friend Josie... JOSIE: Pleased to meet ya, Miss Smith... TOM: Glad to know ya. (musie changes) ... Say, Josie... that’s our tune ain’t it “Pop Goes Your Heart”... how about a little... JOSIE: You'll excuse us, folks ... When Tommie wants to danée there’s no... (her words lost in the air of “Pop Goes Your Heart?’) JOAN: (smilingly) So they call you the Lone Wolf? ... BOB: Tom always calls me that but he’s only kidding. . JOAN: Yow’re not a womanhater then? BOB: Who... me? What makes you think that? JOAN: Oh, I just thought, you being the only fellow in the party, that you... BOB: No ma’am, not me... Say ...I was just thinking... your friend will be here for you of course... JOAN: I can’t imagine what’s keeping him... BOB: I’ve got a little Tin Lizzie outside ... If you think something has held him up... I'd be glad to take you to where you live. JOAN: Oh that would be fine ... (audience begins to hum the air of “Pop Goes Your Heart” .. car heard starting ... honk of other cars... sound of crowds ... horns... ete... . car pur ring along) JOAN: (meaning it more than he knows) It’s been a lot of fun. BOB: Glad you liked it. JOAN: Oh, there I live .. right over there . BOB: Okay... (car swerving to the curb) Apartment house, eh . .. Number 2-1-9. JOAN: Yes... (click of car —door opening) BOB: Here we are. JOAN: It’s really been nice ... Thanks. BOB: You're welcome! ( awkwardly) Too bad your boy friend stood you up. JOAN: I’m glad he did. BOB: (puzzled) Why? JOAN: If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t . . . Well, I wouldn’t have had the best time I’ve ever had in all my life. BOB: On the level? JOAN: On the level... thanks to you. BOB: Say, that’s great . . and... Now don’t get me wrong ... Tm not trying to step into some other fellow’s territory, but if it’s off with your friend that stood you up... I’d like to see you some time. JOAN: Sounds all right to me. BOB: Swell, then it’s a date for tomorrow night. JOAN: Sorry, but I can’t, to morrow ... but... how about Friday? BOB: Swell! Good night, then . JOAN: Good night... BOB: See you Peay. JOAN: Friday at eight. BOB: Bye ... (car starts, honks off gaily) NARRATOR: Joan hurried back to her fine home . . . took her mother’s scolding . . . wanted awfully to confide in her goodnatured but hen-pecked father, but didn’t! Instead, she hired an apartment at 219... furnished it with her own things and had a fire on the hearth and everything, including herself, at its loveliest by eight Friday evening when the doorbell rang: (sound of bell... door opening) JOAN: How do you do? I was wondering whether you’d remember. BOB: I was afraid you might forget. JOAN: Let me have your coat. BOB: Why, I’m taking you out. JOAN: Well, I. za BOB: Of course, if you don’t want to... JOAN: Oh, but I do... Sit down ... I won’t be a minute. BOB: Got a nice place here. JOAN: (off-scene) Glad you like it. BOB: I sure do. JOAN: (off-scene) All ready! BOB: Better tell your folks you won’t be home early. JOAN: My folks aren’t here. BOB: That’s tough—you and me’re in the same boat. I haven’t any folks either. JOAN: (touch of tenderness in her voice) Haven’t you really? BOB: No... but I guess it’s tougher on a girl than a fellow —especially when you’re out of a job, like you said. JOAN: (blufily) Well, at least the rent’s paid in advance and I still have smome ready cash. Well, if you’re ready... BOB: Okay ... (door opens, click of key) JOAN: (as they hurry down stairs) It’s a lovely night for a drive ... all the stars out... and the moon .. BOB: Swell ...I was going to take you to the skating rink ... Tom and Josie are going . .. but how’s about just taking a spin instead? JOAN: Suits me. BOB: Last time I was there . a fat woman bunked into me... put me to sleep for the count ... had to limp to work the next morning. JOAN: What kind of work do you do? BOB: Window-cleaning business. JOAN: You mean you. . wash windows? BOB: No, I’m office manager at the Peerless Window Cleaning Company but some day I’m going into business for myself... lots of money in it. JOAN: Lots of money in washing windows?... BOB: Absolutely (getting lost in the subject) I’ll show youl.7. Let’s take the Empire State Building now ... it has eightyfive stories not including the tower ... Up to the sixty-ninth floor it has fifty-eight offices on each floor. Each office has four windows .. . Now figure it out for yourself ... JOAN: That is a problem, isn’t at Ary BOB: Fifty-eight times sixtynine makes four thousand and two offices... JOAN: How can you multiply like thas. . 4.3 BOB: Oh, I’ve gone over it a hundred times, see... I know it by heart. Fifty-eight times sixty-nine is four thousand and two offices . . . four times four thousand and two makes sixteen thousand and eight windows . JOAN: Mercy! BOB: Now each window has six window panes. Six times sixteen thousand and eight makes it a total of ninety-six thousand and forty-eight window panes. At two cents a pane... brings it to one thousand nine hundred and twenty dollars and ninetySix cents... JOAN: Imagine! BOB: Yes, and that’s only to the sixty-ninth floor! There are still sixteen more floors, which go up to a point of course, that cuts down the office space which automatically euts down the amount of windows but let’s give the remaining sixteen floors an average of twenty-five offices to a floor. Can you see what that means! Only the Empire State building! ... Gee, I bet I’m boring you stiff... JOAN: On the contrary I’m terribly interested . .. but you couldn’t wash all those windows yourself ... BOB: (grin in his voice) I won't have to. Ever hear of Meehan? JOAN: No. BOB: Big political boss. He’s going to use his influence to get me a window-cleaning route of my own. JOAN: Oh, I see. BOB: Then all I’ve got to do is get the contracts, run the works and collect the cash while my crew does the massaging. Sounds all right? JOAN: Great. BOB: Well, that’s enough of that. When I get started in window-cleaning ...I... JOAN: How much cash would you need to start up for yourself? BOB: Oh, a lot . . .two thou sand dollars. JOAN: (softly) Two thousand... BOB; Youh s3*.-all of St: = Take me a whale of a while to save that. JOAN: (changing the subject) Isn’t the moon lovely shining down on the Hudson... BOB: It sure is. Funny how a fella can get to like the things -he used to think were silly ... I used to pass this spot and see couples gazing at the moon like a couple of saps... That is, I called them saps then. I bet there’s many a guy passing right now saying the same thing about us, JOAN: Maybe so. BOB: Say... how’s about some music ... Here we got a radio and everything and me gabbing like a... (turn it on. soft waltz tune) BOB: Pretty swell, isn’t it? JOAN: Mhm... BOB: Supposin’ we stop the old hunkatin here awhile... (sound of car halting) Sitting here, with a band playing for us! Imagine! . . . Say, we couldn’t do any better if we had a million dollars, JOAN: Not as well. BOB: (teasing) How do YOU know? Did you ever have a million dollars? JOAN: No... not quite. BOB: I’ll say you didn’t... Me neither . . . but that don’t mean we WON’T .. . (suddenly) You know I got a hunch. GRUFF VOICE: (off) Why don’t you marry the girl? BOB: (calling back) Okay, buddy ... I’ve heard worse ideas ... that’ll be taken care of ... (the recording orchestra starts the air of “Happiness Ahead” heard in beginning of sketch) JOAN: (very softly) Happiness ahead! BOB: (in half-whisper) Remember? JOAN: New Year’s Eve. BOB: Funny how we met... Rather . .. on pretty intimate terms ... wasn’t it... (he begins to hum the air, she joins, then the raucous sound of radio announcer’s voice) RADIO ANNOUNCER: (off) When you hear the musical note the time will be just ten seconds after nine o’clock( pause— the ‘musical note sounds’) This service comes to you through the Lamb Brothers, the home of Blue White diamonds... A wedding or engagement ring is intended to last a lifetime. Why not let her wear it while you pay for it? ... One dollar down and the ring is yours. (turns it low) BOB: That’ll be taken care of, too... (fatherly) Now listen, Joan .. . you’ve been out of work for a long time... and while your... your clothes still look pretty good — but a girl needs a pair of stockings every now and then... and then again you have to eat...So... until you get a job...why...I.. Let me slip you these bills... I : JOAN: Thanks, Bob... I couldn’t... BOB: Why couldn’t you... It’s not like we’re strangers any more ... Gee, I get worried about you... no folks... no -.. job... Vd like to help out. JOAN: You have, Bob... And I... well I have some prospects. I’m sure something will turn up. BOB: Sure it will. But I wish you didn’t have to work at all . .. Maybe some day... JOAN: (to change the subject) Listen, Bob... that’s the tune they were playing when we... BOB: Sure it is... (tunes is higher—he begins to sing with inereasing fervor “Pop Goes My Heart”. . . his voice fades into voice of the narrator) NARRATOR: But many a barrier lies between Bob and _ his ambition ... and between Joan and her dreams . .. Mother is to be appeased ... Dad to be taken into her confidence .. . Bob must yet swing out, high over the city streets, washing windows himself to prevent a strike among thé men... Joan’s attempt to help Bob into business is to hurt his pride and make him stubborn . . . Joan’s blueblood fiance is to be reckoned with .~ . and all manner of funny, tender, absurd happenings are to keep the lovers guessing! You may follow the fascinating windings of “Happiness Ahead”. . . next: at thes. 7 facets... Theatre. Until then good bye and good luck. THE END Page Twenty-nine