Morning Glory Page #3

Will you please tell

Louis Easton I'm here?

- Certainly.

- How do you do, Miss Vernon?

I hope you remember me.

Why, Bob, of course I remember you.

- How are you?

- Miss Lovelace, Miss Vernon.

- How do you do?

- How do you do too?

Tell me, are they trying to rope you

into this putrid show too?

Well, I'm doing my best to be roped.

Well, my part will have

to be rewritten before I'll play it.

It's no good.

The man's part hogs the show.

We've all got to stand and kid Rita Vernon

into believing that this is a great part.

We know it isn't.

But she's under contract to me...

...and I need her to put over

your first play.

I better make myself scarce.

Somehow, I always seem

to say the wrong thing to her.

You go in there.

We'll let you know when she's gone.

But don't worry. Leave it to me.

Send in Miss Vernon.

Of course, there is a good fat bit

in the third act.

Will you go right in,

Miss Vernon, please?

Thank you.

Pardon me,

here's where I go to the mat.

Thank you very much.

Can she really act?

Rita Vernon? Yes.

She has a gift,

and she's been lucky.

Several years ago,

she was in my company.

Made a hit in a small part,

gave great promise.

She's a nice girl...

...but I'm afraid she's been spoiled.

- Did you ever know Ellen Terry?

- Yes.

I played with her.

- Was she very, very lovely?

- Yes.

The very loveliest thing

I ever saw in all my life.

I've always known she was.

- Did you ever see Sarah Bernhardt?

- Yes.

Both on the stage and off, many times.

She was the most wonderful of all,

wasn't she?

Yes. The most wonderful of all.

- More wonderful than Ellen Terry?

- Oh, they were both wonderful.

Bernhardt broke your heart.

Ellen Terry mended it.

I suppose I shall never be wonderful,

not wonderful like them.

But I've something very wonderful in me,

you'll see.

You'll help me with all the great parts,

Lady Macbeth and Juliet and Cleopatra.

I am sick and tired of playing all

this silly tripe that you pick up for me.

Why, it's not getting me anywhere.

I want drama.

Something that I can get my teeth into.

My public wants to see me

in something strong, not comedy.

But, Rita, dear, I've told you,

I give you my absolute word...

...if you do this one little thing for me,

after that you can pick your own play.

- There's no catch in it?

- No catch.

Now, please sit down and calm yourself.

Don't be so excited.

You know I wouldn't ask you to do

anything that wasn't good for you. Please.

Now, Louis,

if I do this silly play of yours...

...next time I can play any part I like...

...is that right?

- That's right, dear.

Rita, please, this is business. Please.

I know, I know,

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