Attack of the Puppet People

_ sir?

Can you please tell me where I can find Dolls Incorporated?

Room 502, first door on your left.

Thank you.

These are the Brownies from the Valley High School.

- The girls are here to visit the factory, Mr. Franz.

Yes, Mr. Franz.

He'll be with you in a moment.

I'm sure the girls would like to see the doll display

while they're waiting.

Well, fine.

Thank you.

- I like the one over there next to you.

It's beautiful.

I like the one over there.

- They've got so many beautiful dresses.

I like the one over there best.

There are so many, I don't know which one I want.

Don't let Mr. Franz catch you.

He's very particular about these dolls.

Nobody's allowed to touch them.

Come on, let's look at the other dolls.

Young lady, do you like my dolls?

Oh, I think they're lovely.

D0 you really?

You must meet some of them.

My dolls are fashioned from all walks of life.

Here's a bride.

Isn't she lovely?

And over here, now let me see.

Here's a housewife going shopping.

And here, oh mY, V95-

She's very important.

This is my nurse.

She helps to keep my little people well.

Wouldn't do for anything to happen to them, would it, nurse?

You treat them like real people.

But of course.

They're my friends.

My name is Franz.

What's yours, my dear?

Sally Reynolds.

You came about my ad, I suppose.

- Yes. But I don't think I'm the girl for the job.

Wait, please.

Let me be the judge, huh?

How much experience have you had?

Very little.

I worked a year in a college bookstore, that's all.

Married?

No.

Live with your family?

I haven't any family.

I'm on my own.

I'm sure there's somebody else that's better qualified.

- You're exactly the one I want, Miss Reynolds.

I'd like you to start right away.

I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

- Just answer the phone, take care of my accounts

and my correspondence.

As you can see, I'm no good at paperwork.

I'm sorry, Mr. Franz.

I couldn't.

I have no one to help me with my dolls.

I work alone.

I need someone in the office.

Whatever you do, your work will be satisfactory, my dear.

I pay the usual wages, but if that isn't enough,

I could manage a little more.

Won't you please try it?

Just for a day or two?

Dolls Incorporated.

One moment, please.

A Mr. Grant for you.

I'll take it in the back room.

Yes, Mr. Grant.

- I understand you had a secretary named Janet Hall?

Yes, Miss Hall used to work for me.

- Do you have any idea where I can reach her?

Well, she left last week.

She was going to take a better position with Pathay.

You might try to reach her there.

This is Pathay.

She never showed up.

- If you see her, will you have her get in touch with me?

I'd be glad to, Mr. Grant.

I'll make a note of it right away.

Thank you, goodbye.

Goodbye.

Who is it?

It's Sally.

Mr. Franz, if I'm to work for you,

I'll need the cash ledger.

Can you tell me where it is?

I'm afraid I don't know.

Janet took such good care of things.

I'll be right out and help you look for it.

Well, hello!

Who are you?

My name is Sally.

I work for Mr. Franz.

Since when?

Six weeks ago.

Do you have business with Mr. Franz?

I sure do.

I'm Bob Westley, the best salesman in St. Louis.

Well, he can't be disturbed right now.

You may wait or perhaps come back later.

- The least you can do is tell him I'm here.

- But I'm sorry, he just can't be disturbed.

He's not in the factory.

Now, are you gonna tell me where he is?

Please, don't get me into trouble.

Mr. Franz is in the back room.

And when he's in that room, he never wants to be disturbed.

All right, all right, don't get excited.

But can't you send up some smoke signals or something?

Call him on the phone.

He'd be furious.

Mr. Franz, furious?

They don't come any milder than him.

Say, are you afraid of him?

Please, I've got work to do.

If you'll excuse me, I'll be able to do it.

Look.

Let's start all over again.

I apologize.

I don't want to get you into any trouble,

and I want to be friends.

Okay?

_ Qkay.

- All right, now that we're friends, tell me the truth.

Are you afraid of your boss?

No, I'm not afraid of him.

Maybe just a little.

He does get a little peculiar at times.

What times?

When he talks to them.

He's so serious.

It's almost as if he expected them to talk back.

" Who?

Why, the dolls, of course.

The dolls? (laughs)

Wait, just a minute.

Good morning, Sally.

Been dreaming up anything new about the boss?

Dolls Incorporated?

It's on the fifth floor.

Second floor!

Well, I can take the letter.

I work there.

Are you Miss Hall?

No.

Well, it's registered.

Someone will have to sign for it.

Maybe you better see Mr. Franz about it.

Third floor!

Are you another new man?

Seems we just got one lately.

I'm special delivery.

Fourth floor!

- Whatever happened to that friendly fellow

who brought the mail around here for so long?

You mean Old Ernie?

Funny thing, two days before he was to retire

and get a pension, he disappeared.

Yes sir, started out one morning with his mail sack

and never came back.

Yes, Miss Reynolds.

I'll be right out and sign for it.

Bob.

Good morning.

Morning.

- I'm sorry I don't know Miss Hall's new address,

but I expect her to stop by in a day or two.

I'll see she gets this.

Thank you.

Come on in, Bob.

Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

I'll be right with you, Bob.

How beautiful!

Yes, very nice.

The price doesn't seem too out of line.

I'll take four gross of that.

What do you like, my dear?

This one here.

The white organdy with the blue ribbons.

- Ah, It's a pity you can't model it for us.

I can see it would be very becoming on you.

Yes.

- Well, two gross of the strapless organdy,

and two of the negligee.

How about lingerie to go with it?

Yes, you can put that in, too.

When can you deliver them?

Ten days.

Is that all right?

Yes.

Will that be all, Mr. Franz?

- Do you mind if I keep this strapless organdy?