Term
| ELSA: It was the only way he could leave the room. |
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Definition
(Ken enters.) Is all our company met? |
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Term
| MARJORIE: Ken darling! How divoon! |
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Definition
| Marjorie, honey. (They kiss . . . exaggeratedly.) |
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Term
| EDDIE: Hi, I'm Eddie McCuen. I just did "Hellzapoppin" and . . . |
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Definition
| Eddie. We'll go to work shortly, but . . . |
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Term
| MARJORIE: Ken darling, look. (She moves penholder and the bookcase opens and closes.) A secret passage. |
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Definition
| So it is. Very like the one I just used in "The Circular Staircase," with Paulette Gddard, Laird Cregar, Judith Anderson, Lionel Atwill, George Sanders, Peter Lorre, and John Carradine. |
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Term
| MARJORIE. I saw it, Ken, and it was some of your best work. |
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Definition
| It hasn't been released yet. Now cast, as I was saying, we will go to work shortly. But let me remind you the although this is only a backer's audition for an audience of one, it is still theater. So, any questions of character or interpretation you have . . . bring them out. Theater is nothing more or less than life distilled to the pure, clear ring of truth. A ritual as old as . . . |
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Term
| MARJORIE: What's the difference? |
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Definition
| The placement of the tongue, I imagine. |
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Term
| MARJORIE: Bernice, darling. |
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Definition
| Bernice, you're looking wonderful. (Bernice, upon hearing her name, turns to go to Ken, and Marjorie misses her, almost kissing the bookcase instead.) |
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Term
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Definition
| You've added a bracelet, I see. |
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Term
| ROGER: Ken, I love your tan. |
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Definition
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Term
| ROGER: May cost us ours. Bernice and I have been asked to do a motion pucture later this year. You know who Abbott and Costello are? |
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Definition
| Those two guys in the Bobbie Clark thing? |
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Term
| ROGER: That comes from writing in front of that smoked mirror you've got over your desk, is what it comes from. |
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Definition
| Come on kids, let's get to work. |
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Term
| ROGER: We're all fine, Elsa. |
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Definition
| We're about to start rehearsal, Elsa |
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Term
| MARJORIE: How inspired! She's chosen a dish, that even if she ruined, no one could tell the difference. |
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Definition
| I suggest we get started with rehearsals, since that is why we're here. |
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Term
| ROGER: Featuring the team whose last effort...(Beat.) Another drink, Ken? You look as though you need one. |
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Definition
| It's just the memory of that horrible time. I had hoped it was forgotten. |
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Term
| ROGER: And I believe we have been gathered for a dual purpose. |
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Definition
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Term
| ROGER: She wants to obeserve us . . . together. |
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Definition
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Term
| EDDIE: You were visiting a "mither"? |
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Definition
| Someone killed three members of our dancing chorus. |
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Term
| O'REILLY: And this killer was a member of the show? |
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Definition
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Term
| ROGER: Of course we know. We play New Haven, a murder. Boston, a murder. Philadelphia . . . |
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Definition
| (ALL: (Except Roger.)) Terrible reviews. |
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Term
| HELSA: Fräulein Von Großenknüten has asked me to tell you, lunch will be served in about thirty minutes. In the meantime, there are hors d'oeuvres. |
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Definition
| I suggest we get started with the rehearsal. Which, Roger, is the only reason we are gathered here. |
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Term
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Definition
| Are we going to work or shall we all get in pajamas and continue to tell ghost stories? Actors, over here. (Indicating piano curve.) Bernice and Roger at the piano. |
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Term
| HELSA: I'm sorry there is no bratwurst Mr. O'Reilly, since you are so interested in things German. (She slams tray on the piano and exits.) |
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Definition
| Bernice, have you . . . Bernice? |
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Term
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Definition
| Have you decided how much of thebook we are going to do? |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| BERNICE: And the phone seems to have gone dead . . . (Total panic.) Help! We're all going to be murdered! Help! |
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Definition
(Bernice runs out C. doors. All follow.)Wait, Bernice, wait, there's nothing to be afraid of! (MARJORIE, ROGER overlapping.) |
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Term
| MARJORIE: I love it so far and so will Elsa. The tunes . . . the lyrics . . . divoon! Simply divoon! |
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Definition
| Let's get on to the second act. It's already four and Elsa wants to see this before dinner. |
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Term
| MARJORIE: Coffee's a good idea. |
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Definition
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Term
| EDDIE: How's it look so far, Mr. De La Maize? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| See if she has tea. No, never mind, I'll come myself. |
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Term
| EDDIE: Mr. De La Maize, I noticed...ambassador. Well, you don't have to skip it if you don't want to. |
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Definition
| Eddie, I think Roger and Bernice have Bert Lahr in mind for the role of the cab driver. |
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Term
| EDDIE: See, I do a Japanese. |
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Definition
| It needs a name in there, you understand. |
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Term
| EDDIE: I was just thinking it would add flavor. |
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Definition
| I'd be unfair not to tell you that's the direction they're looking. |
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Term
| EDDIE: (Doing a Japanese - badly.) "You are surplised I speak your ranguage? I was educated at U.C.R.A." |
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Definition
| Eddie, your talent is just as special as Lahr's, but I think it is distilled from a different kind of truth. There will probably be other rolse which will ring closer to the quality you project. Okay? (He exits.) |
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