 The NBC Theatre presents Production Let's Live a Little Director Richard Wallace Star Robert Cummings This is the Screen Directors Guild presentation of United California production sparkling new comedy Let's Live a Little starring Robert Cummings in his original role and introducing the director of the film Richard Wallace Main elements which go into a motion picture production are the star, the story and the director Tonight's star is Robert Cummings and the story Let's Live a Little is ready for your enjoyment But first, here's the screen director the man who welded star and story into a perfect unity and the director of such memorable films as Shopworn Angel, The Little Minister and Kiss and Tell Mr. Richard Wallace Thank you, thank you very much The comedy you're about to hear is a far cry from the old days of Max Senate when I first learned his business of picture making Our play tonight, Let's Live a Little throws a series of jettled jabs at the advertising business and especially at our current concern with the state of our nerves In short, it's the kind of a story that says brother, don't take yourself too seriously That's why it was fun to make and fun to do again here on the NBC Theatre Now for the first time on the air here's Let's Live a Little starring Bob Cummings in his original role of Duke Crawford Peace, quiet and serenity all have nothing whatsoever to do with Duke who happens to be an advertising executive Michelle Bennett, his most important client has already changed her mind three times on the theme of his current campaign That is why, at the moment if his nerves were to make a noise they'd sound something like this Now let's see, arrange for the Hawaiian band for the radio show and the hula dance for the convention exhibit What are you doing in my office? Remember me? I'm your secretary Oh yes, hello Ms. Adams, yes I'm sorry Why don't you answer the phone? Because it isn't ringing Mr. Crawford Certainly it's ringing It isn't It is It isn't? No Ms. Adams, why don't you go away? Why don't you just go away? Yes, Mr. Crawford Funny, I'd have sworn I heard a telephone Oh well I guess I'm just tired Oh, that's just my imagination Now don't pick it up, just don't pick it up All alone by the telephone It isn't New Year's Eve, Mr. Crawford I was ringing your phone You were? I mean, what do you want? It's your fiance, Michelle Bennett She wants to see you My former fiance, Ms. Adams Now throw her out Mr. Crawford, Ms. Bennett's a client Please Ms. Adams, no favoritism Tell her I'm not here Tell her I'm... You're okay, you're okay, darling Oh well, Michelle Strange thing, I'm just thinking about you Kiss me, Dukie Yeah, I've got the new contract right here I've switched all the backgrounds From Paris to Hawaii just like you want Oh, Dukie, you're not going to insist On talking business, are you? Now look, it's your business, Michelle If you want to sell cosmetic You've got to sign a contract You know, Duke, I have a feeling That once the contract is signed I won't be seeing much of you Why, that's ridiculous, Michelle I've got an idea Now, Michelle, please don't have any more ideas I can't stand any more change I know, darling And I appreciate all the nice work You've done on that Hawaiian campaign Michelle, don't say it, please, Michelle But I don't want Hawaii I want Sun Valley Sun Valley? Sun Valley? Sun Valley! Mr. Montgomery, I quit Michelle Bennett, women Women, I hate women Yes, yes, I know, Duke I've heard all about it Why can't I work on men's accounts? Tough, hard-boiled, straight-shooting He-blooded men Women, deliver me from women Get yourself another boy money I can't stand it anymore Duke, even though this is a million-dollar account I'm going to take you off it for a while Women, I hate women What'd you say? Take a few weeks off Get a good rest And look, you might read this book While you're at it It's called Let's Live a Little Let's Live a Little That's an original idea What's it about? Oh, it's about your nerves Serenity of mind It's just a thing for you Yeah Yeah, let's have a look at it Ah, let's Live a Little by Dr. J. O. Loring Who's he? A famous neurologist Say, let's Live a Little You know, Monty We might work up a swell publicity campaign on this Oh, no, Duke You need a rest Rest? Rest nothing Monty, this could be sensational I can see it now What a slogan Why not Live a Little before you die a lot Every day and every way Let's Live a Little Longer Give me the phone, chief I want my secretary I want the head of the radio department I want five artists Three copywriters, two photographers Do you have an appointment to see Dr. Loring? Appointment? No, I haven't got time for appointment Yes, I can see you're a busy man Yes, well, I... What are you looking at? Your breast pocket My breast pocket? That's just my handkerchief It looks like a pair of socks, doesn't it? Yes, it does Well, I'm here to talk over the publicity on Dr. Loring's book Let's Live a Little My name is Duke Crawford Yes, Mr. Crawford, your secretary called The doctor's expecting you Let's go right in Thank you Anybody here? Well, I guess I'll put on these socks All alone by the telephone Hello Hello Counting your piggies? What? Oh, no, no, no I'm just putting on my socks I see You usually wait till you come downtown in the morning to put your socks on? Well, what's wrong with putting on your socks? Perfume It's funny, I smell perfume Yes? Mm-hmm And I suppose you use beauty cream, mascara, eye shadow and pancake makeup too, huh? No, then Ah, a woman Ah, a man Yes, and I'm glad to be one Oh, you don't like women? Definitely not The most gorgeous, glamorous creature in the world could, well, could be right here in this room and I could throw my arms around her and kiss her Yes, yes, kiss her Right on the lips And absolutely nothing You know, I just laugh at her like this That I'd like to see Oh, you would, huh? No, Mr. Crawford Mr. Crawford, don't See? I mean, see? I'm laughing What a remarkable sense of humor Yeah, yeah Well, is Dr. Lauring in there? No, that office belongs to my associate Dr. Field Oh, I thought You're associate? Yes, I'm Dr. Lauring You are? I mean, you are? That's funny, I thought I was going to see a man Why? Does it make that much difference to you? Well, no, it's just that I found women clients extremely difficult to do business with With your approach, I can well imagine Dr. Lauring, could I see you a minute, please? Of course, Richard Mr. Crawford, this is Dr. Field Hi How do you do? Yes And Joe, I just wanted to make sure we were going to hear Professor Birkhouse's lecture tonight I'll be ready at seven o'clock I don't mean to interrupt you, but isn't anybody going to answer the phone? The phone What phone? The phone that's ringing Mr. Crawford, you mustn't let yourself become excited Excited? Who's excited? Just answer the phone Excuse me, doctor, I'll leave you with your patient Call me if he gets violent He thought I was your patient It didn't ring It didn't? Give me your hand, Mr. Crawford Please, Dr. Lauring Your pulse, Mr. Crawford Tell me, do you drink? Oh, thanks, doc, not right now Say, excuse me, what is your first name? Joe, have you read my book yet? No, I just sell them, I don't read them You're really sure your nerves are in terrible condition Do you ever hear strange voices? Voices? Look, there's nothing wrong with me, I'm fine You'll be hearing voices soon, Mr. Crawford That's your next step Next step? Look, this is ridiculous I'm just a little unstrung business, you know Would you like to talk about it? There's a balcony off my office, and it's such a lovely day Look up, isn't it beautiful out here? What do you see? Trouble No blue sky? No, just trouble A woman? Yeah, yeah, it's a woman Michelle Bennett Oh, the cosmetician? Yeah, we were sort of engaged for a while For business reasons Tell me about it Tell me all about it, Mr. Crawford You see, her company has a million-dollar contract up for renewal She keeps stringing me along about signing it Is she very attractive? Oh sure, she's beautiful In a financial sort of way And she's in love with you, but you always talk business when you're together Yeah, something like that Have you tried being a little more attentive, Mr. Crawford? Attentive? How? Champagne, soft lights, walls, perhaps a caress Then I don't think I'd mind if the contract were barely mentioned just after the walls Have you ever been in the pink champagne room? Pink champagne, it sounds lovely Joe, would you like to see it tonight? Tonight, it would be wonderful Wonderful, Mr. Crawford, I was speaking purely as a doctor Oh yeah, okay, darling Well Well, your prescription's accepted I take Michelle to the pink champagne room tonight Yes, Michelle Mr. Crawford Yes If I... Yes Nothing, Mr. Crawford You won't forget the walls No, I won't forget it Well, see you later Bye Bye Good afternoon to you, Dr. Field Wouldn't you be more comfortable if you put your shoes on? Shoes? Shoes? Oh, yes, thanks You know, I'll put them on when I get back to the office Strange case, that Crawford Richard, wouldn't it be nice if we went dancing tonight instead of going to that dry old lecture? Dancing? Well, after all, Joe, I was under the impression... Some place like... like the pink champagne room Oh, dookie, you walls beautifully, darling Oh, I love the soft lights The violins The soft light of your eyes and the sweet music of your smile, Michelle You're so charming and attentive I can't resist you when you're like this You can't? I mean, I'm so glad you're having a nice time Dookie, I have caused you a lot of trouble, haven't I? Trouble? Why, no, it's been fun No, I'm sorry, darling I'll sign the contract now if you want Contract? What contract? Dook, why are you looking at that woman? Woman? Oh, there's no woman, that's my doctor Well, stop staring at her And she wouldn't come with me Come where? She's beautiful Duke? She's lovely Duke? Oh, yes, the contract, yes, right here, Michelle The contract? I'll teach you about contracts, you... Michelle, put on that champagne bucket, don't, don't, Michelle! I hate women, answer the phone, get me a doctor Answer the phone, get me a doctor Answer the phone, get me a doctor Answer the phone, get me a doctor There is presenting the Screen Directors Guild Production of Let's Live a Little Starring Robert Cummings as Duke Crawford With Betty Lou Gerson as Dr. Joe Lawring And introducing Screen Director Richard Wallace Have a new shady leg, Lodge He's a beautiful I'd be a lot more beautiful if you hadn't brought that Crawford fellow along Frankly, Joe, I don't like him He isn't just a fellow, Richard, he's a patient His nerves need a rest Yes, so I'm noticing Well, well, well, the doctor and the, uh... And the doctor Well, be professional, somebody asked me how I'm feeling How are you feeling? No, no, I don't think I'll tell you My doctor here might take it as a breach of competence Then I'll ask you, are you feeling better, Duke? Oh, I'm ready for business I'd like to discuss your book with you for a few minutes Then let's all go back to the lots Joe, Joe, I thought that you and I might take a canoe ride While we talk things over I still think you're telling me very fast Oh, the water will be very soothing to me, Joe, very soothing All right, Duke Yeah, what were you saying, Dr. Phil? Let's all go back to the large Oh, I'd love to, but you see, I have a date Coming, Joe? But, but, but... Joe, tell me, do you believe in all those things You've preached since we've been up here? Naturally About letting nothing stop me from obtaining a worthwhile objective? Uh, Duke, I... And you want me to believe it? Duke, we'd better go back to the shore You don't really mean that I'm your doctor This is ridiculous This is... You said you hated women Well, that was three other guys We can't keep this up Well, we can try Now, wait a minute, don't move You'll tip over the canoe I hardly think that's possible The canoe won't paddle across dry land, Crawford It beached here for five minutes Well, what do you know? I noticed it Oh, Richard, help me up I'm driving you back to the city first thing in the morning, Joe There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with Mr. Crawford's nerve now Good morning, Monty Come on in Are you living a little today? Duke, Duke, my boy, what's happened to you? I'm in love, just in love, that's all Michelle Bennett, that's fine, Duke Who said anything about Michelle? You did a great little job, you did an alluring book Now, Duke, listen, I want you to drop everything and get back to the Bennett account What? You can't mean that I do mean it That's your assignment, Duke Bennett Always Michelle Bennett I'd like to take Michelle Bennett Yes, Miss Ann There's a Dr. Field here to see you Dr. Field? Oh, yes, handyman Oh, hello, Doctor Sit down, what can I do for you? Crawford, I'll be frank and brief I've had a long talk with Dr. Loring and I think there's something you should know It's not uncommon for a person in your former physical state to attempt to center his emotions upon an attractive woman In this case, you're Doctor What about it? Frequently, such a phenomenon has a beneficial result Dr. Loring felt it was her duty to find out if it would affect the cure in your case What are you talking about? In short, Mr. Crawford, in Dr. Loring's eyes you have been, shall we say, a guinea pig Guinea pig? A guinea pig? I'm sure you'll realize that this is all for your own good Guinea pig I'll teach her I'll teach her who's a guinea pig No, wait a minute, I gotta stay calm Miss Adams, Miss Adams Yes, sir? Bring me a guinea pig No, I'm cute I will Oh, where's that Bennett contract? What color? What color what? Guinea pig I am not I want that Bennett contract and send Miss Bennett a dozen organs Michelle, dear, I'm back Oh, it's you Yes, it's me Well, I see you got the orchids Yeah Well, I always think of you, dear when I see a beautiful orchid Well, it was quite an exciting evening we had at the pink champagne room, wasn't it, dear? I mean, so many things happened all at once and I, Michelle No, not the vase No, don't hit me with the vase Not again Michelle! No I'm getting so, I kind of like it Yuki, look, I've got my fountain pen I'll sign the contract right now Contract? The contract? Give it to me Right here There it is All signed Well, let me have it Not until after the wedding Wedding? Oh, why not? Oh, all right You win, Michelle Mr. Duke Crawford, please I just wanted to congratulate you Oh, why? Your coming marriage, I read about it in the papers Oh, yes, that Well, thanks Is the book selling all right? Yeah, fine, fine I suppose you're all right No Oh, yes, fine, fine No more ringing Oh Well, I don't suppose there's anything else to say No No, I guess not Good luck, Duke Thanks Thanks, Joe Bye Joe, I... Joe, you look ghastly Well, that's funny You look like Richard But you... you sound like Duke Oh, come now Duke, is it you? Joe, this is Richard You're hearing things Richard, why don't you answer the phone? But, Joe It isn't ringing Oh Oh Well, that settles it You need a rest Now, I'm cancelling our appointment And I'm taking you up to Shady Lake A few days there and you'll feel like a new woman All right, Richard Whatever you say, Duke I just called to tell you to cancel your publicity campaign For Dr. Loring Well, what's that got to do with you? I've taken Dr. Loring to the Shady Lake Lodge For a much-needed rest And as a doctor, I'm in full charge In full charge? What are you, Joe's husband or something? I hope some days you will become Mrs. Field Well, that's ridiculous I'm coming out there to talk to Joe myself If you show your face around here, I'll be delighted To punch your head And I assure you, I can do it Oh, you can, huh? Well, we'll see about that Minister's in half an hour Well, don't wait for me, because I won't be there And go and stick your head in a jar of your vanishing grease And take your contract with you You don't? Little Michelle has plans for you Here's your room, Joe Have a good night's sleep Thank you, Richard I am tired Good night Good night Open the window Brush my hair So to bed Oh What? It's me, Duke Outside the window here Duke Oh, no, you're not You're my imagination You're what? You're my imagination I shouldn't even be talking to you Oh, your pal Field is out in front Trying to keep your imagination from seeing you Keep your voice down You're not there You're not there Here, wait, I'll climb the window There Oh, I must get control of myself It's no use, I still see him Oh, so that's it Hearing voices and seeing things So I'm not here at all, huh? Of course not It's just my imagination Well, then if I'm just your imagination I can't be blamed for doing this Talk about imagination Don't put up your hands Oh, I'm sorry I was expecting someone else Where are they? Duke and this Dr. Loring She's asleep, he didn't show up Oh, yeah, he was ten minutes ahead of me You don't think he... You don't know Duke Well, if he's here we'd better stop them Before they do anything foolish What's foolish about it? Come on Joe, your nerves Duke, you blue beard Why, please, I'm very busy Joe, darling Tell him to go away Let me get my hands on that vase You're dizzy Everyone looks like Duke No, don't throw it at me I'm not Duke, you're making mistakes You look like Duke I know you're Duke No, no, it's your nerves He's there with Joe Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, my head Oh, you're not Duke Why did you pretend to be Duke? Why doesn't somebody answer the telephone? The telephone's ringing Do you hear anything ringing, dear? No, nothing Oh, it's funny Every time I kiss you, it sounds like The NBC Theatre has presented the Screen Directors Guild production of Let's Live a Little starring Robert Cummings and introduced by the director of the film Richard Wallace In following weeks, you will hear Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, and Irene Dunn And next week, the NBC Theatre turns to a romantic adventure to bring you Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. in The Exile And now, here again, our tonight's star Robert Cummings and director Richard Wallace Dick, you're not afraid of the microphone, are you? What are you so nervous about? Nervous? I got a right to be nervous I never want to go through an experience like that again But you haven't had a word to say since the start of the program That's the trouble It makes me a nervous wreck to sit through a half hour of comedy without yelling, cut Not funny enough? Didn't catch on fire? Let's do it again Oh, I see So you weren't satisfied with the performance? I didn't say that After all, you directed the film I played the role the way you wanted it Look, Dick, after all we've been through so much together How can you possibly... All right, all right You were wonderful I was not You know, I didn't play the first scene the way you told me to Ladies and gentlemen, you're witnessing an example of why directors turn gray Dick, I'm only kidding Seriously, here's my chance to do something that's been a long time coming Express my thanks to that ingenious race of people the screen directors If it weren't for that guy behind the camera the things that go on in front of the lens would be well, they'd be pretty hopeless So thanks, Dick Thanks for all your skill all your experience and all your understanding Thank you, Bob But all the thanks we want is to be able to keep right on creating films with actors as fine as yourself Good night, folks Good night Good night, Dick And good night to you, Robert Cummings and Richard Wallace Also heard on tonight's program were Betty Luke Gerson Virginia Gregg Tom Collins Constance Crowder John Tainer Sara Selby and Dan Riss Script was by Richard Allen Simmons and original music was composed and conducted by Henry Russell Production was under the supervision of Howard Wiley Your announcer, Frank Barton Robert Cummings is currently being seen in The Accus a Hal Wallace production for Paramount Listen again next week when the NBC Theatre presents Screen Directors Guild Assignment Production The Exile Director Max Oppos Don't miss an hour now of America's favorite music old tunes and new hits over most of these stations This is NBC The National Broadcasting Company