Affair with a Stranger

KNOCK AT DOOR Mind if I sit down? Not at all.

I wanted to thank you for the part. I'm terribly grateful.

You deserve it. I just hope I don't let you down.

You'll be all right. I owe you so much.

Do you realise I've been in all your plays? Let's forget the first one.

You're never around much after a show opens.

You never have time to pay attention to me.

Pay attention? You're playing the lead, aren't you?

Seriously, don't you ever see an actress offstage?

Of course. Then how do I look?

Very attractive, very appealing and very nice.

I don't mean to take you away from your work,

but I did want you to know how I feel.

Why didn't you tell Anna not to quit? You said you'd meet me here!

I know. I promised to be in Philadelphia when you arrived.

I bought my ticket...

It's the third time! I'm not sick, I'm as healthy as a horse, Lyn.

But I want your reaction before the show goes to New York.

Why does a man have to tell his wife why he needs her?

All right, I'll see you at home, if I come home.

Oh, hello!

Hello. I didn't know you were on this floor. Right down the hall.

Where are you headed for?

I was just going to scare up somebody to have dinner with.

What about me? I'd love to.

I have to go by the theatre. I'll give you a buzz. Sure. Hurry back.

I'm tremendously hungry. Aren't you?

A little.

Operator? This is Janet Booth, room 806.

I want to make a person-to-person call.

Miss Lucy Lawson, Studio C, Radio City, New York, New York.

Will you call me? Thank you.

SHE HUMS

PHONE RINGS

Hello. Lucy? This is Janet Booth.

Janet Booth! Where are you, my dear? Philadelphia!

I know you're on air in a few minutes, but I've got a great story.

Well, here it is.

William and Carolyn Blakeley are about to get a divorce.

No! Well, are you sure? How do you know?

Oh, you're in his new play? Well, dear, you ought to know.

'..heavy rain in our area.

'In New York City, this rain will continue throughout the night...'

Thank you so much. You were divine to call me. Bye, darling.

June, get the Blakeleys.

PHONE RINGS Hello?

I'd like to speak to Mr Blakeley.

He's in Philadelphia. Is Mrs Blakeley home?

Yeah, but she can't speak cos she's in the tub.

Miss Lawson, you're on in two minutes! Wouldn't she...?

Never mind. June, get some stills of the Blakeleys from the file.

And call the newspaper office. Don't forget. I'll never make it.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

In today's papers, Marion Randolph, New York socialite, is to marry.

We announced it over two months ago, when it was vehemently denied.

And now for the big news - Broadway will be amazed

at the news that William Blakeley, playwright and director,

and his wife, Carolyn Parker, are on the verge of a divorce...

That's enough. I was sure she was going to say Blakeley was dead.

I'm going to his new play. He'll be a dead pigeon if he loses that gal.

You know him? We've been friends for years.

Know his wife, too. Had a hand in his meeting her.

It was New Year's Eve - was it '48 or '49?

All I know is, it was a clear, cold night. Times Square was jammed.

I used to run the out-of-town newspaper stand.

It was just before midnight...

"For He's A Jolly Good Fellow"

Howdy, Pop! Hello, Bill, Happy New Year! Happy New Year.

Bill, I got a hunch that next year, you're gonna do terrific.

You had the same hunch last year. It's just one of them breaks.

Things are bad then there's a change. Then there's a change to the worse.

Pay me later. Thanks.

Say, I was just thinking, you know any Broadway producers?

Only my landlady, and she's getting tired of the acquaintanceship.

You've heard of George W Craig, the producer, haven't you?

Who hasn't? He got his paper from me before he moved to 5th Avenue.

Great guy. I think maybe I can get him to do something for you, see?

You mean, to read my play?

He used to ask me to look out for new talent. Yeah?

HUBBUB FROM CROWD

Good evening, Pop. Evening, Ma'am. Happy New Year!

Same to you, Ma'am.

What's everybody looking up for? They're waiting for the ball.

At midnight, that ball comes down, and then it's New Year. Really?

This is my first New Year in New York. Is it? Happy New Year.

Happy New Year.

Who is that? I don't know. But she gets the Toledo paper every night.

Toledo? Happy New Year.

Hello! What are you doing in New York? I think you've made a mistake.

Ah, the old home town paper - Toledo. It's good to see you.

You don't remember me, do you? I certainly don't. I remember you.

Your name slips my mind. Yours slips mine, too.

I'm Bill Blakeley. Don't tell me... I'm not going to.

BAND PLAYS "Auld Lang Syne"

Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

You ought to be put in jail. I'm gonna get a policeman.

That's a good idea. Let's find one.

The noise has died down, hasn't it? Yeah. What time is it?

Oh, it's about one o'clock or so.

Look, Miss Parker... Carolyn. Look, Carolyn,

there's something I want to say to you - I'm sorry that I...

No, I'm not sorry. What I mean is, will you forgive me?

I guess so. But don't you ever... Yes, I forgive you.

This is where I live.

Good night. Good night.

Carolyn, may I see you again? Maybe.

Give me a ring. Oh, er, Carolyn...

You may as well know I've never been in Toledo in my life.

Neither have I. But the newspaper?

It's for the lady across the road. She's from Toledo.

Good night.

Oh, my name's in the telephone book.

Did you show Blakeley's play to Craig? Look, I never knew Craig.

It was New Year's Eve and Blakeley was broke...

Say, I've got to run or I'll miss my show.

Hey, you forgot your change!

'Miss Lawson's column appears in 600 newspapers...'

Turn that thing off! '..heard by 20 million people.'

Darling, is there any truth in the report of the Blakeleys' divorce?

Why would she say it, Mrs Stanton?

These people tell just enough truth to confuse everybody. See you. Yes.

You know the Blakeleys? They used to live here on the second floor!

First, she was alone, then after they were married...

For the first six months here, she was as lonesome as a dog in a pound.

Then one night he came to call. She wanted everything just so.

She was fussin' around that apartment like a mother hen...

SHE HUMS

Oh!

CRASHING AND RATTLING

Oh, good heavens!

Are you hurt? No, I'm all right. What happened?

Oh, look at the rug!

Oh, Ma, look! DOOR BUZZER

That's him. Who's him? My first date in New York, and look!

Just let him keep on buzzing. I'll go and get a rug to cover it up.

BUZZ

That window looks terrible. Never mind. You go and let him in.

BUZZING

Hello. Good evening.

Oh! What is it?

A-hum... What's the matter?

Excuse us. What's wrong? Why, your dress, at the back.

Oh!

Oh! Hurry up and get changed.

Send him away. Don't be silly! Here.

Here's a pretty dress. Put this on. How am I going to face him?

Facing him wasn't the mistake. I'll let him in. Now hurry up!

Won't you come in? Thank you. I'm sorry we kept you. That's all right.

Won't you take a seat, make yourself at home? Thanks.

Um, Miss Parker will be out in just a minute.

Excuse me.

I'm sorry. I couldn't be more embarrassed.

For slamming the door in my face? That and...

Don't worry. There is one thing I'd like to know. Yes?

What was it all about? Was there anything wrong?

Didn't you see? See what? What are you talking about?

Oh, nothing. Nothing was wrong at all.

Nice place.

Neat, clean...

Thank you. And very feminine. May I look around?

All you have to do is turn around. Kitchen!

Spic-and-span. Chicken!

Did you cook it yourself? Mm-hmm. Would you like some? If you insist.

Got to find out if you're a good cook.

Certainly is feminine.

Um, won't you sit down? Mmm.

I'll take it. No. You stay where you are.

Yep, this certainly is a feminine place all right.

You keep saying that. I know. I mean it.

I get the feeling I'm the first man that's been here.

Indeed? It's so, um...

So feminine. Mm-hmm.

Say, you sound angry. Did I say something wrong?

I don't pretend to be a siren, but I'm no hermit either. Now wait...

There was a young man here last night... You've got me all wrong.

It was a compliment. To say a girl never had a man interested in her?

Is it a compliment to say that...?

DOOR SLAMS Oh, dear. Why...

BUZZER

Good evening. Hello. Well, nice apartment.

A little too feminine, don't you think?

What sort of a guy is he? Who?

The fellow who was here last night. Oh, he's just an old friend.

When will I read your play? What's his name? Timmy.

You said you'd bring it. Timmy who? Just Timmy.

Tell me about the play. Timmy who? What kind of a looking guy was he?

Now listen... OK, OK, I'm shut.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Oh, Miss Carolyn, they've just called me in tonight.

I was wondering if you'd take care of the kid. Well, I...

I didn't know you had company. Mrs Wallace, Mr Blakeley. Hello.

It would be fun to take care of the kid. I don't want to impose.

Now, you be a good boy, Timmy.

Timmy!

Hello, Timmy. Hi.

Timmy.

Say, Timmy, what you got here?

The night after, she came down and had a good cry.

She was sure he wasn't coming back.

Soon he was popping in and out all the time!