the story of Mert and Marge
in our last chapter Jack Arnold took Mert, Marge and Sonny Darnell to the exclusive New
York Supper Club, the Pink Angel. The four of them were having a grand time until Mert
saw Ray Hunt and his wife come in with a large group and sit down just a few
tables away. Ray ignored Mert completely. Jack then sprang a surprise. He put his
arms around Mert and kissed her ardently and his astounding action was
aptly noted both by Ray Hunt and a well-known gossip columnist at Ray's
table. Mert has yet to hear from Jack the reason for the sudden embrace. Perhaps
we'll find out what it is in just a moment when we hear today's exciting
chapter in the story of Mert and Marge.
It's the following afternoon Sunday just before matinee time. Down in the
dressing room a lot of languid chick chicks are getting made up to go on stage.
Troublemaker Billy Devere Mert's bitter enemy is grousing as usual. I'd like to
get a hold of the guy that changed the Sunday laws in his man's town. Sunday
matinees of all the crap. Oh so you can remember Mr. Devere way back when you
could sleep all day Sunday. Yeah there were no Sunday night shows either. Girl
could catch up with a rest after a Saturday night. Hey girls Billy's
admitting her age. It's about time too. And I get awful tired Saturday night too. This morning I had to have
four brosmose, a whole can of tomato juice and six aspirins. You know I still feel like
mother always said I would. How do you feel Miss Devere? Never felt better
Mr. Devere. Just why do you ask? No one wouldn't expect to see the innocent Miss
Devere in the act of mugging with a handsome young Jack Arnold and so
brazenly in a swank cafe. Oh what are you lipping about now Billy? I saw Devere
kiss Jack Arnold last night in the Pink Angel. Myrtle didn't kiss Mr. Arnold he
kissed her. Now what's the diff? He was doing the swooner act for all she was
worth but terrific. Oh so you saw it all. Well well. And so did Ray Hunt. I could
see everything that went on from where I sat. Well you must have been under a
table. I didn't see you in the Pink Angel Billy. Anyway Billy Myrtle and I decided
not to concentrate on one man. Haven't we Myrtle? Right Margie. Well there's one
man's fear better not concentrate on. Not when his wife is around. If you mean Mr.
Hunt Billy Myrtle just couldn't be bothered with him. Could you Myrtle? Not
much she couldn't. Oh Billy will you shut up? Oh you do love to hurt people. Well
think of his poor sick wife with everybody talking. You can't tell me that
dame's very sick. I ate dinner last night at Lindy's and when I passed their table
on the way to the ladies lounge she was making away with a whole chicken with
relish yet. Yeah and I can tell that I was with now and when we came back she was
working on Mr. Hunt's chicken with mayonnaise.
Good night. Girls I implore you don't shout. I can't stand it. I've got to struggle through this
day somehow. My head ladies my head. Oh how much do you think it cost me to have a
nervous breakdown? Where did you go last night Clarence? Well I dropped in on some
friends and then their friends dropped in for a drop. After that I started out
with some of the boys to a perfectly grand house party and then we went to
someplace over in Jersey City and then I found myself up in Harlem. By that time I
was numb perfectly numb. And what do you want us to do about it Clarence? Well I thought maybe I could get a
little sympathy from some of you wenches. I'm utterly disassembled but utterly. Oh well
after all Clarence Saturday night was always your night to howl. Howl? You don't
know the half of a dairy I simply scream. This is what's baffling me girls it's
just worried me to death. Just now I reach into my overcoat pocket what do you
think I found? Now comes the $64 question. What did you find Clarence? These. Uh-uh a pair of ladies
white evening gloves. Is that all? It's just too much to bear. What would you do about it Mert?
Well let me see them Clarence. Well size six almost new. I'll send them to the cleaners and
wear them myself. And don't worry Clarence maybe if you could remember she'd turn out
to be a nightmare. That same latches on to everything. A new pair of gloves. Oh my you
certainly have relieved my mind Mert. Well I'm going to my sewing room now to
recuperate and reconnoiter. I feel just like forever Amber. Oh poor Clarence you'll worry
about that for weeks. What do you care Mert? That's a nice pair of gloves. Well I'm all
dressed for Act One. Oh gosh Mert I'm not. Well you got lots of time Margie. I'm going
upstairs. I want to telephone from Pat's office. Hello. Oh hello Jack. I wanted to ask you
if you'd be all right if I saw you tomorrow. Well I want to tell you all about my conversation
with Harry Duffy. Oh you're saying you're going out of town? All right Jack. Yeah I'll
see you then. Oh we had a wonderful party. Yes my lad. But Jack you shouldn't have kissed
me. Oh well not in public. You'd be surprised you saw us. Sure it'll become an epic. Oh
no remorse I liked it. No you won't have to marry me. Yeah I'll tell her. Goodbye till
Monday Jack. Well so you liked it Mertel. Oh hello Mr. Hunt. Must it be Mr. Hunt? From
now on. Mertel you know it's been almost two weeks since I've seen you to talk to. Not
since the day you left for Lake Placid. Did you have a nice time? To tell you the truth
it wasn't a very pleasant time. Have you wondered why Mrs. Hunt is here in New York? I've stopped
wondering. Doesn't matter in the least that she's here. I want to compliment you. She's
a very handsome woman. Mertel you know why I went to Lake Placid. I've told you it doesn't
matter to me why you went there. After those threatening letters came to you I thought
if I saw I might try to reason with her. Might be able to come to some understanding with
her or some settlement. And you did come to an understanding. Well naturally after she
threatened me with divorce I had to make some effort at reconciliation. And she called you
her bluff. Or was it a bluff? Oh but she doesn't love me Mertel. She's only thinking of herself.
She was smart enough to know that the only thing left for her to do was to come to New
York. Are you still living at the Drury Club? No we've taken an apartment. Well I guess
there's nothing more to discuss then. Oh but Mertel does it have to make any difference?
Can't I ever see you once in a while? You know she's nothing to me. Why you told me
you'd wait for me if it took years? Do you realize what you're saying? You and your wife
have taken an apartment together. She's with you, living with you. And you ask me if you
can see me once in a while. You mean that you'd see me behind the backdrop for a stolen
kiss or that I should drop into your office when no one's here? Perhaps meet you in some
little joint on a side street or maybe you think you could drop into my apartment once
in a while when Margie happened to be out. I know that sort of stuff has always existed.
People have been led to believe that it's almost expected of a chorus girl. Mertel I'm beginning
to believe you've never loved me. You told me you'd wait for me. You seem to have lost
sight of the fact that a chorus girl job is a job and one that she has to work very hard
for to get and harder to keep. I don't have to tell you that they turn out dancers from
dancing schools like sausages. The supply is much greater than the demand and that goes
for producers too. All the time you've been handing me your line the thought uppermost
in your mind was yourself. You've been protecting your own interests, your job. Your wife being
with you adds just that much more protection. I've done some heavy thinking lately. You
can't fire me because I do my work and attend to my own business. Oh Mertel why do you go
on like this? Can't you be sensible? This is the most sensible thing I've ever done
in my life. I'm going to forget that I ever loved you and I'm going to hang on to my job.
You know you're clear of any suspicion. The letter that Billy wrote that friend of Mrs.
Hunt's did that for you. And by writing it she also cleared you. Oh you thought of that.
There won't be any divorce and we're right back where we started from. A few weeks ago
you said to me after knowing you for ten years I'd never really seen you until now. Well
you can make that statement fit both ways. You don't seem to realize Mertel what I could
do for you. You said you'd like a part in the show next season. Mr. Hunt after knowing
you for ten years I'm really seeing you for the first time. If I ever do get a part in
Hayfield's pleasure it'll be through my own efforts for talent if I have any or. Or what
metal. Or I'll rock in the chorus.
Well it looks as though Mert has finally concluded that she has been completely mistaken in Ray
Hunt. Will she in time forget that she ever loved him or will the situation merely create
further complications. One of Mrs. Hunt's threats. Will we hear more of them. We'll
find out further developments in the next thrilling chapter of Mert and Marge. This
is Andre Baruch speaking.
Get out of here.
Out.
Out.
You