 It's acting up a bit, and your constant shouting at me isn't helping it any. I don't need to pay you to tell me my heart is acting up. What I want to know is, how much time have I got? Well, that's difficult to say. If you avoid all excitement, I think I can say a year, possibly two. A year, possibly two. Yes, but only if you do as I say. For one thing, there's no reason you should insist on remaining in this darkened bedroom month after month. Well, it's been a year since you've been out of this room. Are you going to start on that again? This living in complete seclusion is bad for you. You should leave this room and see people, take an interest in life. No, Dr. Jeffries. I wouldn't have my maid pushing me around in a wheelchair the object of everyone's pity. I prefer to remain in my room and have people think of me as I was, not as I am. As your physician, I insist. I said that I prefer to remain in this room in that final. Please, Mrs. Richards, your heart. Then stop trying to make me do things I don't want to do. Very well. Only I can't see why you refuse to have any visitors. I'll give you some interesting things. It may surprise you to know, Dr. that I am expecting two visitors. Indeed. What made you change your mind? I think it's time I drew my will. Before I do so, I want to get acquainted with my only living relatives. My former husband's nephew and niece, Gerald and Millicent. I haven't seen them since they were children and I'm curious to see what they've become. I understand Millicent is an actress. An actress? You don't mean that your niece is Millie Richards, do you? Yes, have you heard of her? Of course. She's one of Broadway's leading actresses. I saw her in a play recently and thought she was excellent. She probably drinks and smokes and has been married a half a dozen times. I'm afraid I don't know anything about that. Before I draw up my will, I intend to learn everything about her and her brother Gerald. He's 22 and probably never worked a day in his life. Aren't you being unfair, judging them before you've even seen them? Oh, perhaps, but I'll give them both every opportunity to prove they're worthy of the Richard's fortune. They said they'd be here in time for lunch. They should be on their way now. How's the hangover, brother dear? Painful, I hope? Millie, what am I doing in your car? Where are we going? Have you forgotten, darling? This is the day we were invited to visit Aunt Martha. You remember Aunt Martha? She's the one with all that money. Save it, will you? I'm in no mood for your witticism. Well, considering I spent half of last night looking for you under nightclub tables, you might be a little more grateful. I can recall doing as much for you. Where are we, anyway? About 20 miles from Aunt Martha's. Oh, my head. What a night. Yes, wasn't it, darling? Everywhere I went looking for you, they gave me IOUs you'd left behind. Exactly how much do you owe around town? Three months ago, it was $11,000. That means you probably owe twice as much by now. Look, Millie, you've got to help me. If I don't clear up my debts soon, I'll be in real trouble. And what exactly am I supposed to do? You've got to lend me enough money to hold off my creditors. Lend you money? You may not know it, dear, but I'm in far deeper than you are. But you were getting $1,000 a week for playing the lead, and why not be happy? How could you be in debt? It's really very simple. I was getting $1,000 a week. I was spending $2,000. Oh, that makes everything just perfect. Both of us so deeply in debt, we probably won't dare go back to town. Perhaps after this visit to Aunt Martha, we'll be able to go back to town in different circumstances. What do you mean? Have you forgotten Aunt Martha has something like $4 million? So what? You think she'll lend us money to pay our debts after not even seeing us for 20 years? Gerald, you're a fool. Why do you suppose she invited us to visit her? Because she's getting along in years and she has decided to make her will. Naturally, before she does so, she wants to see what we, her only relatives, are like. Now, lady, do you really think she'll leave us some money? If we make the right impression, there's no reason she shouldn't leave us all of it. All we have to do is convince Aunt Martha we deserve it. And how are we going to do that? By showing her we are simple, lovable, and unspoiled. Do you remember the actual role I played in my dream of love? Yes, of course. You weren't half bad. I was superb. The critics were mad about me. Brooks Archer said that in all his life... I'll play that role, front Martha. Just a simple, unsophisticated girl. Unspoiled by success. Well, maybe you can get away with it, but you know I can't act. How am I supposed to behave? You just play the strong silent type and leave all the talking to me. Well, I only hope you can sell the old lady on our charm. Martha, you are forgetting I am, quote, Broadway's leading younger actress, unquote. When the curtain rings down on my special performance for Aunt Martha, the Richard's money will be ours. See each other, hasn't it? Yes, I've been meaning to call on you forever so long, Aunt Martha. But my work has always interfered, and just at the last moment... Well, when you said in your letter that you weren't feeling well, I simply couldn't stay away. I'm very touched. Get an inheritance has nothing to do with it. Aunt Martha, what a thing to say. I'm not like that. Of course she isn't. Millie doesn't need money. She's one of the finest actresses on Broadway. Oh, I've heard. And what do you do for a living, Gerald? Oh, Gerald works for a Wall Street firm, Aunt Martha. Yeah. He works so hard. They pay him so little. I seem to remember that Gerald's father left him a sizable inheritance. What became of it? Oh, that was lost in poor investment. Yes, I see. I'm afraid there's a good deal about you two, I don't know. I haven't done very much, and I haven't gotten very far, Aunt Martha, but Millie's really been a credit to the family name. Everyone's heard of her. No, to riot is hardly a guarantee. Why, Aunt Martha? Now, see here. I want you two to be my guests for a week. Frankly, I want to know what you'll like before I decide how to draw up my will. Yes, of course, Aunt Martha. But I hope you'll take care of yourself so you will live for years and years. Thank you, Millie. Now, I must ask you to leave me. I'm a bit tired. But certainly, Aunt Martha. Of course, Aunt Martha. We'll talk some more tomorrow. The room's so dark, it was hard to see her. But you can tell she can't last much longer. The main point is that she fought for a little act. She asked me. She wasn't exactly bold over by your performance. Nonsense. I played my role perfectly. She's a bit suspicious now. That's only natural. Before I'm finished, she'll be eating out of my hand. Well, I certainly hope you're right. Just give me a week, darling, and you and I will be heirs to the Richard's fortune. And read her notices from a large book of clippings. Martha Richards listened quietly, now and then venturing her question. And Millie became more and more certain she'd won the old lady over. By the end of the week, she was quite sure that she'd convinced her out of her own simple un... Have you been all night? I've looked... I've looked for a place for you. I spent the night in New York. You've been drinking. So what? You're a fool. What have Aunt Martha heard about it from the servants? Just when everything's working out perfectly. So everything's working out perfectly, is it? Yes, it is. Last night, Aunt Martha phoned New York. I listened in on the hallway extension. It was her attorney she was calling. And he's coming out here tonight to draw up her will. You don't say. Well, well... What is the matter with you? You're acting very oddly, Gerald. My dear Millie, it may interest you to know that the greatest performance of your career has gone for nothing. Why, what do you mean? You may be able to sweep Broadway audience off its feet, but not Aunt Martha. Oh, I tell you, she believes in me completely. Oh, does she? While Aunt Martha was listening so devotedly to your every word, she had a private detective in New York at work investigating us. She had a private detective? Yes, dear sister. While making the rounds of the nightclubs last evening, I learned that quite a few questions have been asked about us this past week. So that's what she's been up to. Firing a private detective to pry into our path. And you can guess what she'll do when she learns that I haven't any job and gambled my inheritance away. And what do you think she'll say when she hears you were named as correspondent in three divorce actions and were involved in the Wainwright scam? I'd like to scratch her eyes out, playing with me like a cat with a mouse. Well, the game's up. We may as well go to our rooms and pack. And walk out on four million dollars? I should say not. There's no use being stubborn about it. We gambled and we lost. Tonight the lawyer will be here and she'll cut us off without a cent. There's nothing we can do about it. Well, I don't give up so easily. There must be something we can do. Well, what free? I don't know yet. Let me think. I won't go back to New York so deep in debt I can never get out. For the rest of my life, I'd be hearing her voice. Billy, dear, I want you to tell me all about yourself. Where you've been and what you've done. Well, she won't beat me before I'll let her cut me off with a cent out. And Martha is not going to cut us out of her will. Yeah? And exactly how are you going to prevent her? If we have nerve enough, we can stop her. We can inherit the whole fort. Now, you listen to me, Gerald. I'm looking closely at you. The other Gerald is face-whitened but she's gone through. He beat down all his objections and in spite of his fears in the end, he agreed to do as Billy suggested. And in the hours that followed, Billy locked herself in her room and practiced her art signature and her aunt's voice until she was satisfied she could imitate both perfectly. After that, there was nothing to do but wait tensely and nervously until eight o'clock that night when Billy and Gerald quietly slipped down the hall to their aunt's room. Billy, we can't go through with this. It's crazy. Be quiet, you fool. It's the only way out. What if we're caught? You know what that would mean. If you do as I say, we won't be caught. Now, get hold of yourself and then you're knocked. You know exactly what you're to do. Yes. Good evening, Aunt Martha. I hope you're feeling well, Aunt Martha. Thank you. No, that isn't necessary. No. No, of course not, Aunt Martha. How do you feel tonight? I... Oh. Gerald, perhaps you ought to fix Aunt Martha's pillow. She doesn't seem very confident. So you needn't bother. I'm quite comfortable, thank you. Gerald, fix Aunt Martha's pillow. She should have known better than to come on you. What are you two talking about? What's going on? Nothing. Nothing important, Aunt Martha. Yes. Let me fix this pillow for you. But I tell you, I don't want it. Oh, but you do. Millie, don't... I'll take the pillow away. Aunt Martha, I told you my plan would work. Since we simply helped nature take her inevitable course, you think of it that way and you'll feel better. I'm afraid we haven't time to discuss that. Aunt Martha's lawyer will be here in an hour. Now, will you do as I say or won't you? I guess I have no choice. St. Kevin's, you have enough sense to see that. You do exactly as I say and we can't fail. No, no, no, I need a little more shading under the eyes. Millie, hurry, you'll be here in a minute. I've never been late for a curtain yet and I won't be late for this. You help me on with Aunt Martha's bed, Jack. Aunt Martha? If I didn't know her body was in that closet, I'd swear you were. In light of this room, no one can help but think I'm Aunt Martha. Yes, but what about your voice and the things you'll have to know? I have been practicing, Gerald. Listen to this. As Mr.... And I assure you I shall not be. Does that convince you I can play the starring role of Aunt Martha? Yes, I'm convinced. Oh, please stop shaking. I tell you, we can't fail. I shall give the greatest performance of my career. Please come in. I'm sixty-seven and I feel eighty-seven. Well, I'm sorry to hear that. I don't think, Mr. Jordan, you've ever met my nephew Gerald Richard. Mr. Jordan, I want to have a will drawn up and signed tonight. Those require a will. It will come to the simple will dividing my entire estate equally between my nephew Gerald and my niece Millison. But Mrs. Richard... I'll be frank with you, Mr. Jordan. I have a premonition that there is no time to wait for an involved will. I see. I've been feeling worse than I've admitted to Dr. Jeffries. Be here tomorrow to sign a will. I surely hope you're exaggerating, Mrs. Richard. If I am, we can draw a new will later. Tonight I won't rest easy until I know that my wishes have been put into writing. Farewell, Mrs. Richard. If you'll excuse me for a moment, I left my secretary downstairs until I'd seen you. I'll just step out and tell her what you want. She'll drop the paper. Thank you, Mr. Jordan. I'll be long. Well, Gerald, you feel better now? You fooled him, Millie. He's completely taken in. As soon as the will is signed, I'll get rid of him. And, goodness, there's no danger of Dr. Jeffries getting here tonight. No, you might not fool him quite as easily. Well, he's attending a meeting of the State Society of Physicians. Wait a minute. It's Jordan coming back. Simple declaration, Mrs. Richard. My secretary won't take long over it. Is this, uh, Millison Richard, your niece, by any chance the Broadway actress? Yes, have you seen her? Yes, I never miss any of her plays, if I can help it. Indeed. And what do you think of her? Oh, she always puts on a good show, but privately, I think she has a tendency to overact. Oh. You think she'll act, do you? Yes. I take her last play, Why Not Be Happy? Well, I think she played it much too hard for comedy. I'd have preferred to see an actress like, uh, Joan Walker in her role. The critics didn't agree with you. Gerald, will you please hand me Millison's scrapbook? You'll find it on the desk there. Brilliant, Martin. Do you think... Gerald, hand me that scrapbook. Criticism when it's justified, Mr. Jordan. But it seems to me that you're going against my niece's huge public. Here's the scrapbook. Thank you, Gerald. Oh, just a moment, Mr. Jordan, and I'll read you what the critics had to say about Millison's performance in Why Not Be Happy. Oh. Here we are. This is what Martin Walters' dramatic critic of the evening sent no had to say. Rarely in 30 years of theatre going has this reviewer seen such a fine player for comedy as was displayed last night by Millison's Richard in her new hit, Why Not Be Happy. And that, Mr. Jordan, is the opinion of one of the best critics in the country. Well, I may be wrong, Mrs. Richard. Naturally, I was only venturing at personal opinions. Excuse me, Mr. Jordan. Yes, Miss Anderson. Finished already? Yes, sir. It's just a paragraph as you instructed here's the original and the copies. Good. Let me see what you've written. Straight forward, everything in order. Now we need witnesses. Miss Andrews will do for one the butler for the other if he's handy. He's just out in the hall. I'll get him in there, Martin. Thank you, Gerald. Now, Mr. Jordan, you are sure this will is going to stand up in court? Oh, yes, Mrs. Richard. But if it's probated, it'll certainly leave a good many unsettled problems to your ex. I'm sure they'll be able to handle them. Oh, Phillips. Yes, madam. I want you to witness my will. Yes, madam. Give me the will, Mr. Jordan. Sign here. Right at the bottom, Mrs. Richard. Will you sign here? It wasn't too late. You don't mind. I'm very tired. I'd like to be left alone. Of course. Good night, Mr. Jordan. I'll see you in the morning, I hope. And the will is signed. See, I told you it would work. So far, but we aren't through this thing yet. Oh, don't be a fool. The money is as good as ours. All we have to do is put Aunt Martha back in her bed and slip out of here, and tomorrow someone will find her dead, then you and I will inherit everything. A premonition. She might not live much longer. She didn't suffer. Did she, doctor? Mr's ability is an actress. Of course I don't mind. But what did she say to that? Oh, she almost hit the ceiling when I criticized you. She claims you were the finest actress in the country. Aunt Martha always was a dear. Aunt Miss Richards, in red to me, what one of the critics said about her niece, she'll review, are you sure, present at the time? No. I wasn't there, Dr. Jeffery, why? Because I think, Miss Richards. I beg your pardon, I never overplayed a role in my life. I'm afraid that you have. You overplayed your biggest role last night. Last night, what do you mean? Your Aunt Martha was an extremely proud woman, Miss Richards. What are you saying? Her eyes were... Turned down lulls. Could she have read me that notice last night? She didn't, Mr. George. She did, she did. An egomaniac actress author and...