The story of Mert and Meyer.
In our last episode, Clarence rushed into the dressing room and announced excitedly
that Ray had been badly hurt in an auto accident.
She got hurried to Ray's side the moment she heard the news.
Fortunately, she discovered that Ray's injuries were slight.
So her wild dash only served to show that she was still in love.
Margie, meanwhile, has also been having her romantic complications.
In a moment, we'll see what new surprises there might be in today's chapter
of the story of Mert and Meyer.
The Story of Mert and Meyer
Mert and Marge have just come into the Hayfield Theatre the next morning.
Sonny Darnell is looking through the mail at the rack next to the stage door.
Mert says to him,
Why hello Sonny, how's God's gift to the Bobby Talkers?
Oh I'm fine Mert. Hi Margie.
You sure look right in the groove this morning.
Oh so do you Sonny. I mean you're at the theatre awfully early.
Well I came over to play a new melody I dreamed up.
Mr. Hayfield said he might put it in the show. Want to hear it?
Oh sure I do.
Come on Margie, I'll play it for you now.
Well what's the name of it Sonny?
Well I haven't got a title, but I know it's got to be a love song.
And there's no lyric written for it yet.
But if the song is good enough, Dixie Lane will sing it.
Gee Margie, I bet you could sing it as well as she could.
Well I'll leave you two kids alone. I'll meet you in the dressing room later Margie.
Oh all right Mert, I'll be down in a few minutes.
Did you get my letter Margie?
Yes, but why did you write when you see me every day?
Well it just seemed sort of a romantic thing to do.
And I'm kind of crazy about it.
Well what about that tune Sonny?
Oh yes, here it is.
Oh Sonny, that's beautiful.
Thanks Margie. I wish you'd help me write a lyric.
Have you got the verse?
No, just the music for the chorus.
Oh you have to have a verse.
Well let's see, I'll noodle around with a tune.
You're writing a love song and you've got the melody.
Oh it must be a love song for you and me.
Something different, something musical.
Can't think of a lyric, it's so confusing.
With 16 bars of notes before us.
Let's skip the verse and write the chorus.
I love you.
That's the way to start a love song.
I love you.
With words like that you can't go wrong.
If you see stage lovers perving.
You'll always find them in the flapper setting.
A faded moon, a camp, a sky.
And he's thrilled with the look in his eyes.
Then into his arms her gaze unsteady.
And then comes the cue, you know they're ready.
With I love you, yes I love you.
Believe me Margie, I do love you.
Oh I've got to go now Sonny, Myrtle wants me in the dressing room.
Hey wait for me, I'll walk you down.
Well alright.
Marge.
Look Myrtle and I have so much to do, we've got to go shopping and...
Oh Margie listen.
My folks are coming down and oh here we are, are you in Myrtle?
In here Margie.
Oh hello Sonny, Clarence and I have some work to do.
Well we have.
We've still got a few minutes, why don't you kids relax as well.
See you later then huh?
Well as I was saying Clarence, it certainly was a relief to learn that Ray wasn't badly hurt.
You can imagine my feelings when you rushed in and told me he was in a bad way.
Oh I can imagine Merit.
I have a fine imagination you know and I'm definitely the understanding type.
Oh yes indeed.
Clarence sometimes I wonder about you.
Oh I have a soul dearie, I've got a terrific soul.
I guess so.
Say when are you going to drape this thing? I'm all ready.
Oh right now, it goes like this, over the shoulder.
Oh what gorgeous material, silver net and sequins.
I like that myself.
Say you do it justice too Merit.
You've got divine chassies dearie, the best in the show.
Clarence how do you know?
That's my business.
After all I've been hanging costumes and things on you dames for years and years.
None of you gorgeous creatures can fool me you know.
Well while you're at it, why don't you hang something on me besides a bead here and there.
Why don't you make me a costume with a long skirt?
And lose my job? Not me Bedelia.
Ouch you're sticking me with those pins Clarence.
Oh Myrtle.
Yes Margie.
Oh Myrtle with a beautiful costume, who is it?
It's for Vivian our dear premier dance suit.
I've been modeling for Clarence, he thinks I'm a human pin cushion.
Now be careful Merit, I don't want it to fall apart.
Ouch, hey you're taking part of me with it.
Oh say Myrtle, what are you going to do for a little while?
Well nothing in particular, why?
Well do you care if I, well I, well Sonny wants to know if I can go shopping with him.
He wants to buy his mother a birthday present.
Well go ahead dear, I'll meet you at the apartment.
Now be careful Margie, remember what I said, don't concentrate on one.
You know kid, the heart and the sleeve business.
You should tell me.
Oh I forgot, Mr. Arnold's up on the stage.
Well I'll see him and ask him when you and I can consult him on that little matter we talked over last night.
Oh William Myrtle, I'll be anxious to hear what he says.
Well don't you want to see him too?
Well I'll see him tomorrow, and I told Sonny if you didn't care I'd go with him.
Well go ahead dear.
Alright I will, bye Myrtle.
Bye.
Well thanks Merit, you saved my life.
Well that's fine Clarence.
Okay, I've got to rush now, ta ta.
Bye Clarence, I'll be seeing you.
Oh Myrtle.
Oh hello Jack, come on in.
Hey Margie told me you were down here.
Yes I've been modeling for Clarence.
He's stuck so many pins in me I feel like a sim.
Where was Margie bound for with the handsome Sonny Darnell?
Oh they're going shopping.
Oh, looks like I got the brush off.
Oh Margie doesn't know her own mind.
I told her you were an old man of 33 summers, or should I say winters?
Well, I think summers will do.
Anyway she thinks you are very interesting.
Well that's something.
And someday when our Margie grows up, may I have your permission to court her if I am so inclined?
Oh, if you are inclined.
Uh huh.
Well Jack, only old man time can answer that question.
By the way, what brings you back stage at this time of day?
Oh I came over to meet Ray Hunt, we're going to lunch.
Would you join us?
I'll buy you a very nice lunch.
No thanks, I don't want to see Ray Hunt, let alone talk to him.
Well I'd like to talk to you, like a Dutch uncle.
Well, get it out of your system.
Oh, just a minute before you start Jack, may we see you sometime tomorrow?
Margie and I have something we'd like to consult you about.
Legal business, so of course we'd want to pay you.
Oh, now don't be silly Myrtle.
Nothing silly about it Jack, it's a very serious matter we want to talk about.
Well I'm very curious.
Could you come over to my apartment and have lunch with us tomorrow before matinee?
Say twelve o'clock?
I'll be there on the dot.
Good.
Okay, shoot with this Dutch uncle lecture or what have you.
Myrtle, why won't you see Ray and talk with him?
You know the answer, he's married.
Well this business he and I are to talk over is his wife business.
Now if you won't listen to him will you let me tell you his side of the story?
Well it doesn't interest me but I suppose I'll have to listen.
Well Myrtle, fifteen years ago Ray Hunt married a woman much older than himself.
They went along fairly well for about three years.
During those first three years she occupied herself by going in for queer feds and spending every cent of Ray's money she could get her hands on.
Yeah, I've met the time. Go on.
Well then Ray got to be a big time director.
Mrs. Hunt developed a bad health complex and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Uh oh.
She had to be sent to health resorts and expensive watering places and she was always bleeding Ray of his money
and giving the impression that she was the poor abused wife but never forgetting for one minute to keep her weather eye on Hunt or rather his bankroll.
She hasn't lived with Ray for years and she's played the invalid so long that now she believes it herself.
That kind of woman lives on and on.
She's cheated Ray out of fifteen years of his life and she keeps on bleeding him.
Why doesn't he get a divorce?
Well Myrtle this is New York State. Divorce laws are very strict and well Ray would never stoop to collusion.
What's that?
A wrongful agreement or you might say framed evidence.
Oh. Well I do feel sorry for him.
Myrtle you feel more than sorrow. You love Ray Hunt and you know it.
I believe you're his first real romance and he's...
Married.
Yeah. Yes it's a tough situation.
I just wonder if you two can stand the gaffe.
It's tough all right. She's too mean to die.
I just started to live again.
She has him and doesn't want him.
I want him. Can't have him.
Myrtle that must make you a...
An elk.
Well Myrtle has finally heard the story of Ray Hunt's unfortunate marriage.
But though she's a little more sympathetic towards him she still accepts only one fact.
That a married man is not for her.
As for Sonny Darnell's ardent expression of his love for Margie.
Well we wonder if Margie will really take him seriously.
Our two heroines have quite a few complicated romantic problems to solve.
In the next fascinating episode in the story of Mert and Marge.
This is Andre Barou speaking.