Play On! - Polly

I know ,Violet, I know.

Can we get on with the rehearsal?

Good. Now ladies and gentlemen, let us take the action from the top of Act Three. We've wasted enough time already.

I've been ready for half an hour

People, can we have these charming conversations later? We've got to get this show rehearsed!

That's what i've been saying all along! Haven't I Henry!

justice tempered with mercy

I happen to think it's a lovely play!

Sure. You've got the fattest part!

How dare you!

Darling, he means you have the most lines!

I know very well what he meant!

I know my lines

And I know mine.

You are too kind diana. A pity sir Perceval could not be here"

Don't know- I'm worried about personal he's never accepted an invitation to one of our parties and then not show up- at least, not without sending word

I do! I just forgot where I i'm supposed to say them

I can't stand it! He's doing this on purpose! I know he is!

You are too kind Diana a pity sir Percival could not be here

"Do you know-I'm worried about Percival! He's never accepted an invitation not to show up at one of our parties—" I mean

Go on go on go on

To one of our parties and then not shown up—at least, not without sending word."

Should we take it from the top?

Oh damn it!

"Mmm—- no, I think not. Can't wait for Perceval forever." "Shall we my dear?"

" I suppose so. But — don't you think someone should call Perceval's flat and assets in the reason for his absence?"

Got it. "This business about Percival and the necklace. He did say he was bringing it tonight, Lady Margaret?"

"Well actually I never spoke with him directly —but there was a message delivered this morning in the post."

"By Jove! Never thought of that! Margaret are you certain about that message?

Why come to think of it no"

"You didn't receive a message?"

"Oh, yes — I did but now I wonder if it actually were from Percival"

Oh! Sorry. Just a moment— yeah, now I've got it. "But it did come by post?"

" I—I assumed it had—but—"

"Assumed? You mean, you didn't actually see it?"

"Why, no."

"—content?"

"Why— Doctor Forbes told me what it had said."

What do you mean, "if"?! I always say "telegram"!

I don't give a hoot in hell who says what! Can we get on with this disaster?!

If we'd get through the thing once we could start polishing out parts!

And when do we get the real furniture? These metal chairs are painful to work on!

But they help you polish your parts!

There! He's doing it again!

"See here, you insolent young pup! Are you doubting my word?!"

"Of course he isn't, Rex! Stephen, you should apologize to Doctor Forbes."

Crash bang

What was that?

"No sir"

"What, are you quite sure?"

Even if that's true- what about the advertising for our show? Won't some people think this show is by Agatha Christie

So much better for our box office!

Gerry's right. Let's get back to work. Sorry I interrupted.

Which line do we go back to?

Phyllis Montague fancies herself a poet.

"She is a poet. A rare talent- and a great writer!"

Finally! I could use a cup!

But we've barley gotten started

Then let it be a lessen to you

I hope we get this act done tonight. Three days til dress reversal and we haven't even done a full run through!

"Brainwashed" is more like it!

That's putting it rather strongly, Saul

Well, I'm all set. Anybody else ready to give it a go?

Oh relax, Saul. We're all much too tense tonight. Why do we keep snapping at eachother the way we do. This near to opening we are usually joking around and having a good time.

Amen

We'll get it. Somehow, no matter how awful a show may look in rehearsal, we always manage to bring it off.

That's with a printed script, Polly. This printed typewritten stuff is okay, don't get me wrong—- it's all the revisions that are killing us!

But Phyllis gave her solemn word—

"Yes indeed, I do hope he hasn't had an—" Wait i'll get it.

I certainly hope so!

it's polly's

Oh, my! Let me see

It's

No don't tell me! I'll get it!

Oh for the love of

I've got it, I've got it. Violet would you-?

Roads can be quite treacherous at night!

"Don't say such a thing it would make one think that there is some truth after all in that story about the curse!"

Gerry does it have to be called that?! It sounds like it comes from a delicatessen!

That's because you're not sounding the "h" Billy. "Dell hee" not "Delly"!

Okay, so called it the calcutta Diamond

You can't do that! Phyllis Montague told me particularly that she chose that name for its lovely double alliteration— "Delhi Diamond"—

Saul saul stop it there must be another gem we can use

You shouldn't tamper with phyllis's dialogue she won't like it

Gerry's right dear. We should have a different name

Well-

Hey i like that it's got class

But whatever will we tell phylis

And yet everyone who has ever owned the ranch our ruby has always met a dreadful demise

There seems to be! I knew there was a reason for Phylis's words. It's double alliteration: Delhi Diamond and dreadful demise

So does Phyllis Montague!

Now really

"Quite possibly, Lord Dudley—and yet—"

"And yet—"

Frankly i'm glad he's not here

Why Diana what a thing to say

"When he looks at me i feel as though his hands were moving all over my body."

"But— he is a knight of the realm

Isn't that where the phone rings?.. Oh wait! I turned two pages at once! Sorry about that

Sorry she says! If she does that during the performance

look on the bright side now we know the phone bell works

That women I could

No you couldn't louise has a black belt in karate

And how do you know I haven't

Saul-

That's does it! I'm through!

Did you hear what I heard—?

It sounded like Phyllis

Probably with five new pages of dialogue for you!

Saul I just accepted one apology from you don you want to have to make another

You do?

Don't you even remember your own plot, Phyllis?

Popular with our patrons!

And we're already advertising it as a murder mystery!

Lord Dudley

Henry

Polly don't be an idiot

Oh yes But- it was a bit of a shock

More changes?! Phyllis Montague, do you have a notion how hard it is to do a play— even a play that doesn't change direction every three days?! This script should have been finalized three weeks ago!

What's this Lady Margaret goes into shock at the news of Diana's pregnancy and loses the power of speech

Polly! How do you feel about it-?

"Well-I- it is rather close to opening night, Phyllis, and-and-of course, perhaps-"

Do you think- maybe we were a little rough on her-?

It's the only offspring she'll ever have—

"See here you insolent young pup! Are you doubting my word?!

" Of course he isn't rex Stephen you should apologize to doctor Forbes."

"No sir"

What are you quite sure

Does that answer your question?

"Stephen, I believe you owe Doctor Forbes an apology."

"Hello? What? Ah! Yes i see.. Yes thank you! Thank you very much.

Why dudley you look so strange! What did Percival say?"

The costumes seem to all fit right..

I think mines just a little bit too small for me...

I didn't say a word

And you'd better not

polly be fair it's one thing if he picks on you but if your going to blow up everytime you think he might say something—?

Yes. You're right. I'm sorry, Saul. Just— rehearsal jitters i guess

oh wait a minute violet why aren't you wearing a bustle like polly?

I'm not wearing a bustle!

Oh! Oh dear i'm sorry

You're sorry!

But we must! I've just discovered that there is a movie with the same title— "Murder most foul"!

Phyllis, no one in the audience is likely to be confused. They can see isn't a movie!

Don't ask just grit your teeth and pray you've got 'em

I thought you wanted us to go straight through without interruption?! With Phyllis back there listening for nuances-!

Of course she's quite a good looking made-

Henry!

"Nonsense. I was once in love myself!"

Why does he say that in the past tence?!

Polly, please!

Sorry

I simply must see myself in it let me go find a mirror

Diana that necklace how dare you take it off at once!

Lady Margaret i was only

Take it off i say this instant

Her now lady Margaret there's surely no harm done

No harm you say? How could you endanger the life of this dear girl and your own fiancée

The room started to spin oh but i'm quite all right now

I shall place this where it can do no more harm

Aren't you being silly Lady Margaret?

Perhaps I am But it is better to be safe then sorry

Should you not at least wait until Lord dudley has seen his newest possessions

He shall see it in good time, when i feel brave enough to wear it. And do not forget he purchased it for me so it is in actuality mine to deal with as I choose

sure sure i just keep forgetting to read them

We'll never be ready by tomorrow night! Never Were here almost a half an hour already and we're not even half way through the first act!

You are too kind Diana a pity sir Percival could not be here

Don't know i'm worried about percival he's never accepted an invitation to one of our parties and then not shown up at least not without seeing word"

Yes indeed i do hope he hasn't has an accident these road can be quite treacherous at night

Uh -I- oh. Damn it all to hell! (Cry)

Go ahead polly The roads can be quite treacherous at night

My my minds gone blank I can't think I

Don't say such a thing it would make one think

Oh yes oh course "Don't say such a thing it would make one thinks that perhaps there was some truth after all in that story about the curse!"

Beautiful just beautiful

Phyllis

Quite possible lord dudley and yet

and yet