Act 1 Scene 4: Dinner Invite

Question 1

Eve:Why?! Mrs . Roberts!

Karen: Eve! I hardly recognized you.

Answer 1

How wonderful to see you again!
What a lovely Florida tan you have.

Question 2

How do you know I’ve been to Florida?

Answer 2

I’ve seen 👀 the postcards you’ve sent Miss Crane. I answer all her mail now.

Question 3

Oh, of course. How’s everything working out?

Answer 3

I’ve never been so happy! Ms Crane’s been an absolute Angel to me. When I remember what my life was like BC before Crane I mean,

I can’t 🤔 think how I managed to exist.

Now, every moment is so stimulating. I meet all sorts of celebrities; I talk to famous people on the phone 📞☎️; I reply to their letters 📄. But, best of all, I come to the theater every performance now. I double as secretary and dresser.

Question 4

What happened to Layla?

Answer 4

Miss Crane put her back in the Penthouse 🏢 kitchen.

Question 5

That’s fantastic! She’s been Margo’s dresser for 10 years.

Answer 5

She was Very good at looking after the costumes and all that but, as I pointed out to Miss Crane, she was terribly untidy. This dressing room used to be a mess.

Question 6

How did Layla like being demoted to the kitchen?

Answer 6

Not too well I’m afraid.

I try to spare Miss Crane any kind of incompetence so that she can concentrate on her work.

Question 7

How’s the play going?

Answer 7

Better than ever. As usual, the matinee is sold out.

                       {Look @watch} 

The curtain will come down in about 5 minutes. I wonder, could I ask you to do something for me, Mrs Roberts?

Question 8

What do you want eve?

Answer 8

I, I don’t quite know how to put it. I’m afraid you may think what I have in mind is wrong.

Question 9

You want to leave Margo. Is that it?

Answer 9

Anything but. I want to understudy her.

Question 10

I don’t understand Eve. You’re not an actress.

Answer 10

Not a professional one, no. But I did a lot of amateur acting in high 🏫🎒.

🌃 The night I went to your house I told all of you how I’d wanted to go to Wisconsin to study drama🎭.

Don’t you remember?

Question 11

Yes, I recall you said something of the kind. But you didn’t suggest you had any serious ambition to go on the stage.

Answer 11

I didn’t have any, not that night.
But now that I’ve been exposed ☣️ to the atmosphere of a real theater 🍿, I’ve caught the fever again.

I want to be part of it, as an actress. Of course, I’d go on working for Miss Crane as usual. But I have a lot of time on my hands, particularly in the morning 🌄🌅.

That’s when Harvey rehearses the understudies.

Question 12

But, Eve, you never get a chance to play the part. Nobody ever goes on for Margo.

Answer 12

I’m WELL aware of that.

Just the same, I’d have the experience of working with professional 💼actors.

Question 13

Have you talked this matter over with margo. Does she know you want to be an actress?

Answer 13

Oh, I wouldn’t dare tell her. I know how she feels about actors. She might turn against me.

Question 14

Yes, she very well might.

Answer 14

That’s why it would take someone with great tact, like yourself, Mrs Roberts, to suggest that I be her understudy 🖋️.

Actually!!!!
I would be a help, you know.

The understudies are always complaining that they have to rehearse with a Stage-Manager mumbling 🤬Margo’s part.

I KNOW the part already. I’ve taken it down in ShortHand from the wings 👼👼🏾. I know every word, every gesture, every position.

Question 15

You certainly haven’t let any grass grow under your feet.

Answer 15

Anyone would be foolish not to take advantage of an opportunity like mine.

Question 16

Yes, I’ll have to agree with you there.

Answer 16

Perhaps if you could STRESS to Miss Crane that it might help me to make a little extra money 💰, she might agree to the idea 💡.

You wouldn’t have to bring the matter up⬆️ that I have any serious hopes 🌥️, of becoming a professional 💼 actress.

Question 17

The truth is, Eve, I’ve always thought it a mistake not to have Margo’s part covered. But for a star of her caliber, they always engage a very experienced standby.

Answer 17

Miss Crane is too big a star, 🌟 Ever to be replaced, by Anyone!

I’d just work @rehearsals.
Not that I’m not good casting for the part.

If I DID have the opportunity;
You could come in someday and watch ⌚ a rehearsal.
I promise you that if you think 🤔 I have no talent, I’ll take your word for it and forget all my dreams 🌛. At best, you’d have a chance to see 👀what I can do.

Question 18

Well, Eve, I can’t see any great harm in it. I can’t promise anything, but I can try.

Answer 18

Then it’s as good as settled 🫱🏻‍🫲🏾.
Listen!
That’s the curtain !
She’ll be in in a minute.
Incidentally, did you drop by for any particular reason? 🧐You haven’t said.

Question 19

My husband is busy this evening. I thought Margo might come out to Sardis with me for dinner.

Answer 19

She’s had it sent in🍴.
But, if you could ……persuade 😼 her to go out with you…..

That might be JUST the right moment,

to bring up what we’ve been talking🦜🗣️ about.

Question 20

We’ll see what sort of mood she’s in. The early birds are knocking themselves out. Listen to that.

Answer 20

Isn’t it MarvelouS, Mrs Roberts??!!?
Sometimes when I’m standing in the wings 👼🏾

listening to them; it gives me a lump in my throat.

That’s when I start to imagine…. how MarvelouS it would be if ….I…. were adored ✝️🕌🕉️⛩️🪷 like that.

To have ALL that power over an audience.
What a thrill!
To be a great actress like Miss Crane must be… the most MarvelouS 🧬 LIFE in the world 🌍🌎.

Question 21

Margo: Sorry. Sardis is here.

Answer 21

I’ll eat it for you, Miss Crane!!!!!
Then I won’t have to go out!

Why don’t you accept Mrs Roberts invitation 💌?
It always gives everyone in Sardi’s such a thrilled to see 👀you.

Question 22

What the hell! I might as well be gracious once in a while. But I’m damned if I will take off all my makeup. I’ll just Pat it down.

Answer 22

Step into this. You won’t disturb your hair.

Question 23

Do you know what Eve did that was absolutely marvelous? She got a plumber in here and got the Johnny fixed. It’s stopped sounding like Niagara falls. Now it’s an absolute pleasure to pull the chain.

Answer 23

Miss crane, you embarrass me.

Question 24

I know I’m a damned fool to praise you so much. You’re ridiculously underpaid.

Answer 24

I’m perfectly content with what you give me, Miss crane.