 Lux presents Hollywood Bieber Brothers Company the makers of Lux Flakes bring you the Lux radio theater Starring Betty Davis and Baxter Reginald Gardner and Gary Merrill in all about Eve Greetings from Hollywood ladies and gentlemen While I was directing plays on the New York stage I had a firsthand opportunity to watch the frantic struggle of young actresses to attain stardom in the theater But I'm happy to say that none of them used the tactics of the young woman in our play tonight all about Eve I first read of Eve's unorthodox behavior in a magazine story by Mary Orr and titled the wisdom of Eve And I was delighted to see 20th century Fox turn it into the Academy award-winning picture of 1950 a portion of this honor may be attributed to the unforgettable performances of Betty Davis and Baxter and Gary Merrill We're very gratified to present them tonight in their original roles Starring with Reginald Gardner as the malicious critic and I'm sure if we really knew all about Eve we'd discover Lux Flakes in her household Lux Flakes are a must for all discriminating women who demand gentle safer washing care Now all about Eve starring Betty Davis as Margo and Baxter as Eve Reginald Gardner as Addison DeWitt and Gary Merrill as Bill to those of the New York theater no other tribute critical acclaim or Glorification can approach the heights of recognition represented in the Sarah Sidden's award for distinguished achievement a Moment ago in the Venerable Hall of the Sarah Sidden Society This most cherished honor came to a young actress named Eve Harrington Among the many eminent personalities present is the noted critic Addison DeWitt Beautiful radiant poise. She's about to make her speech of acceptance The hall rings with applause and bravoes. Everyone is looking at Eve All except Karen Richards Karen's made a little pile of crumbs on the tablecloth. She's patting it with a spoon staring at it. Absolutely I wonder what Karen Richards is thinking about Eve Harrington It seemed a lifetime ago that rainy night in October. I Hurryed down the alley to the stage door But where was she? Strange I'd become so accustomed to seeing her here night after night. I found myself looking for a girl I'd never spoken to Wondering where's Richards? Oh There you are. Well, it seemed odd suddenly you're not being here After all six nights a week for weeks watching Margo Channing enter and leave a theater I hope you don't mind my speaking to you took every bit of courage I could raise to speak to a playwright's wife I'm the lowest form of celebrity your Margo Channing's best friend you and your husband are always with her Tell me what do you do in between the time Margo goes in the theater and comes out just huddle and wait? Oh, no, I see the play see the play You mean you you've seen every performance. Yes. Well apart from everything else Don't you find it expensive standing room doesn't cost much. I manage You're coming with me young lady. I'm going to take you to Margo. Oh, no. Oh, yeah, she's got to meet you Oh, no, no, I'd be imposing on her. I'd be just another tongue-tied gushing fan. There isn't another like you there couldn't be oh By the way, what's your name Eve Eve Harrington? Margo is in her dressing room Lloyd my husband was with her and of course birdie Margo's name by a lady reporter from the south And the minute it gets printed they're gonna fire on Gettysburg all over again It was for some to they fired on birdie. Where's my cold cream? Lloyd honey be a playwright with guts write me a play about a nice normal woman who just shoots her husband I find these wisecracks increasingly less funny Margo aged in wood happens to be a fine and distinguished play That's my loyal little woman. Oh relax kid. It's just me in my big mouth Well, it's it's just did you get me so mad sometimes of all the women in the world with nothing to complain about Ain't it the truth? Yes, it is You're talented famous wealthy people waiting around night after night just to see you even in the rain Autograph fiends little beasts. They're your fans your audience. There's nobody's audience They never see a player a movie even they never indoors long enough Well, there's one indoors right now. I brought her back to see you. You've what she's just outside the door Birdie. Yeah, the heath home now. You can't put her out Margo. She worships you You must have spotted her by now. She's always there. Oh, I know the mousy one with the trench coat and the funny hat Yes, how could I miss her every night every matinee? Oh come in Eve Margo, this is Eve Harrington. How do you do my dear? Oh brother? Hello, Miss Channing my husband. Hello, Miss Harrington, how do you do mr. Richards? And this is my dear friend and companion Miss Birdie Coonan. Oh brother Miss Coonan Oh brother, what? She gets like this all of a sudden. She's playing Hamlet's mother I'm sure you must have things to do in the bathroom birdie dear. If I haven't I'll find something till you get normal Dear birdie, I was just telling Margo and Lloyd how often you've seen the play. Yes every performance Well, and am I safe and assuming that you like it? I'd like anything Miss Channing played in would you really how sweet? I doubt very much that you'd like her in the hairy eight. Oh, please don't misunderstand me mr. Richards I think that part of Miss Channing's greatness lies in her ability to pick the best plays Your new place for Miss Channing, isn't it? Well, how'd you hear about it? There is an item in Addison Dewitt's column I like the title footsteps on the ceiling Let's get back to this one every performance Yes, there are other play not with you in them not by mr. Richards, but you must have friends a whole family No Tell us about it. Do you if I only knew how try Well, it started with a play before this one Remember did you see it here in New York San Francisco? I went one night the most important night of my life until now I found myself going the next night and the next and the next Then when the show went east I went east Eve. Why don't you start at the beginning? Oh, I couldn't possibly interest you Oh, please Well, I guess it started back home Wisconsin that is there was just mom and dad and me Farmers were poor in those days. I quit school became a secretary in a brewery It wasn't much fun, but it helped at home There was a little theater group there like a drop of rain on the desert. That's where I met Eddie We played Lilliam three times. I was off Then the war came and we got married Eddie was in the Air Force. They sent him to South Pacific You were the old W. Why weren't you mr. Richards? Yeah, how did you know that I looked you up in who's who? Then came a letter from Eddie. He had a leave coming up. I went to San Francisco to meet him Eddie wasn't there They forwarded the telegram the one from Washington to Say that Eddie wasn't coming at all Eddie was dead. I Decided to stay in San Francisco. I found a job and his insurance helped and there were theaters in San Francisco And then one night Margot Channing came to play in Remembrance Here I am What a story everything but the bloodhound snapping at a rear end Birdie there are some human experiences that do not take place in a vote bill house and that even an x-5th rate vote Villian should understand and respect I Want to apologize for birdie. Sorry. It's just my way of talking. Oh, you didn't hurt my feelings miss Coonan Call me birdie. Oh, hi you mr. Samson. Hi birdie for your information Margo My plane takes off in 47 minutes and how do I find you not ready yet in looking like a junkyard? Thank you so much. Does my career mean nothing to you? Have you no human consideration? Show me a human and I might have Oh bill the airlines have clocks even if you haven't I start shooting a week from Monday bill I'm a junkyard bill. This is Eve Harrington. Hi My wonderful junkyard the mystery and dreams you find in a junkyard heaven help Me I love a psychotic. Oh, hello. What's your name? Eve Eve Harrington. You've already met. Huh? Where? Oh Eve you're not going. I think I'd better it's been I can hardly find the words to say how it's been Thank you. No, don't go. Well the four of you must have so much to say to each other with mr. Samson leaving No, no stick around tell you what we'll put Stanislavsky on his plane you and I and then go somewhere and talk Well, if I'm not in the way, I'll shower and dress I won't be a minute. Oh, Lord. We've got to go. Yeah Good luck genius geniuses don't need luck. I do now. We're not worried about you Good night. I hope to see you again. So I'll be at the old stand tomorrow matinee this time as a friend I'll never forget this night as long as I live Mrs. Richards And I'll never forget you for making it possible. I Can't remember why Lord and I had to leave But I do remember that as we left Eve started talking to Bill So you're going to Hollywood mr. Samson this for one picture why I just wondered Just wondered what why you'd want to go out there? I mean when a man's the best and most successful young director in the theater What book of rules as the theater exists only in New York listen junior and learn? Yes You want to know what the theater is the flea circus also opera rodeo's carnivals ballets Indian tribal dances punchin Junior one-man band whatever this magic and make believe in an audience. There's theater from Donald Duck to Illinois dozer all theater You don't have to understand them all you don't like them all why should you the theater's for everybody you include it But not exclusively so don't approve or disapprove it may not be your theater, but it's theater for somebody somewhere I just asked a simple question And I shot my mouth Nothing personal junior Margo, I am leaving here in exactly three seconds. So am I if I can find my coat. It's right where you left it Oh any messages for Tyrone power birdie. Just give him my phone number killer people mr. Samson Thanks birdie. You got the key birdie. I ain't forgot it yet. I'll see you at home in an hour Eve where are you going do you don't really want me tagging along? I don't be silly this way It's quicker if we cut across the stage Where is she Bill what happened to eat or she's at the desk picking up my tickets She said we had so little time together that she's quite a girl Bill I've forgotten they grew that way anymore that lack of pretense that sort of strange directness and understanding Isn't it silly suddenly I've developed a big protective feeling toward her a lamb loose in our big stone jungle Bill take care of yourself out there. I understand they have the Indians pretty well in hand Don't get stuck on some glamour poof. I'll try you're not such a bargain You know you're a set up for some gorgeous wide-eyed young bait. How childish you're gonna get before you stop I don't want to be childish. I'd settle for just a few years and cut that out right now Am I going to lose you bill? Am I as of this moment? You're six years old everything's ready mr. Samson Oh, oh, thanks Eve your tickets. They'd like you to get right on the plane. You've been very helpful. Good luck. Goodbye mr. Samson knit me a muffler Margo. Kiss me. Goodbye Bill Call me when you get in on the hour. Hey junior keep your eye on her. She's a loose slam in a jungle That same night who went for Eve's things her few pitiful possessions and she moved into the little guest room The next few weeks were out of a fairy tale. I was Cinderella in the last act Eve became my sister lawyer a mother friend psychiatrist and cop Her quiet efficiency her constant anticipation of my wishes drove Burley crazy and I loved it Yes, the honeymoon was on Early one morning the telephone Awakened me. I was half groggy with sleep and the operator made no sense at all We are ready with your call to Beverly Hills, California Where what call we already with the call you place for 12 midnight, California time to mr. William Samson in Beverly Hills. Go ahead, please Margo. What a wonderful surprise What a thoughtful ever-loving thing to do Bill. Have I gone crazy Bill? You're my girl, aren't you? That I am then you're crazy Oh When are you coming back in a week? Oh now bill you know how much I do but over a phone now really? That's kid stuff kid stuff or not. It doesn't happen every day, and if you won't say it then you can sing it Sing it sure like the Western Union boys used to do Bill It's your birthday and who remembered it who was there on the dot at 12 midnight. Happy birthday darling Many happy returns of the day. I get a party. Don't I of course birthday and coming home Who lie us? It's no secret. I know all about the party. He wrote me II She did sure she has mr. Weeks since I left you know all about that you probably tell her what to write Anyway, I sent her a list of the people to ask so check with her. Yes. I will how is he okay? Okay, I love you I'll check with Eve. Hmm. I love you too. Good night darling In the morning when birdie came in with my breakfast silly question to ask me I don't think it's silly at all. I said what you don't like Eve. Do you you want an argument or an answer? I'd like an answer now Why not now you want an argument is loyal and deficient like an agent with only one client She thinks only of me doesn't she well, let's say she thinks only about you anyway How do you mean that well? I'll tell you how like well like she's studying you like you was a booker or a player Said a blueprint how you walk talk eat think sleep. I'm sure that's very flattering birdie and I'm also sure morning Good morning. I'm going downtown now miss Channing. Is there anything else you've thought up? Well, there's that script to take back to the guild. I've got it those checks for the income tax Right in this envelope seems. I can't think of a thing you haven't thought up. That's my job miss Channing E by any chance did you place a call from me to bill for midnight California time? Golly, I forgot to tell you yes, dear You forgot all about it. Well, I was sure you'd want to of course being his birthday and you've been so busy It was very thoughtful of you. Mr. Samson's birthday. I couldn't forget that. You'd never forgive me As a matter of fact, I sent him a telegram myself Do you say anything birdie who said something well don't Theodore Dricer's much discussed novel of the 20s an American tragedy has been made into a Distinguished screenplay brought up to date in time and settings by paramount under the title a place in the Sun a superb cast Montgomery Clift Elizabeth Taylor and Shelly Winters and The critics seem to agree that all three give the best performances of their careers The story told with mounting suspense concerns a poor boy played by Montgomery Clift who finds comfort in a lonely factory girl Shelly Winters but as he progresses to wealth and success he falls in love with Elizabeth Taylor and Aspires to the social set of which she is a part his unwillingness to marry Shelly when she needs him Involves him in the famous boating accident that leads to his downfall a place in the Sun definitely deserves a place on your list of films to see The cast alone bill is a triple threat and Elizabeth Taylor as a wealthy society girl wears such gorgeous clothes For instance, Edith head paramounts well-known designer created a stunning Luxible costume for the important scene at the lake It's white augundy with layers of augundy petticoats to give it that doll-waisted look so smart this season It was luxe again and again and stayed just as lovely as new Shelly Winters wardrobe looks extra drab by comparison Well, she plans to make up for it on her trip to Paris She's counting on a shopping spree collecting gorgeous handmade slips and nighties negligee's and if I know Shelly She took several boxes of luxe in her luggage to make sure her things get the safest possible care Scores of famous Hollywood screen stars say there's nothing like new luxe with color freshener It's perfect for all kinds of lingerie silks rayons Nylons and fine cottons white state dazzling white is new Delicate colors more brilliant than ever before no wonder makers of lingerie advise luxe 33 to 1 Why don't you get a big box of new luxe tomorrow give your nice things that nice is new luxe look Act 2 of all about Eve starring Betty Davis as Margot and Baxter as Eve Reginald Gardner is Addison DeWitt and Gary Merrill as Bill Bill's welcome home birthday party a night to go down in history Even before it started I could smell disaster near When I went down the stairs I was surprised to find that Bill had already arrived Well looks like I'm gonna have a very fancy party. I thought you were going to be late. How long have you been here? No, just a few minutes I ran into Eve. She wanted to know about Hollywood. She seemed so interested a girl of so many interests Huh, it's a pretty rare quality these days a girl of so many rare qualities And so she seems so you've pointed out so often so many qualities so often and so young so young and so fair I can't believe you're making this up It sounds like something out of an old Clyde Fitch play Clyde Fitch though You may not think so was well before my time I've always denied the legend that you were in our American cousin the night Lincoln was shot. I don't think that's funny Of course, it's funny This is all too laughable to be anything else Whipping yourself into a jealous froth because I spent 10 minutes with a stage-struck kid 20 minutes 30 minutes 40 What I'm a stage-struck kid She's a young lady of qualities and I'll have you know I'm fed up with both the young lady and her qualities Studying me as if I were a play or a blueprint how I walk talk think act sleep As it happens, there are particular aspects of my life to which I would like to maintain soul and exclusive rights and privileges For instance what for instance you darling? This is my cue to take you in my arms and reassure you, but I'm not going to I'm too mad guilty mad Darling, there are certain characteristics for which you are famous on stage and off I love you for some of them and in spite of others They're part of your equipment for getting along and what is laughingly called our environment you have to keep your teeth sharp All right, but I will not have you sharpen them on me or on Eve. What about her teeth? What about her face? She hasn't cut them yet, and you know it Eve Harrington has never indicated anything to me But her adoration for you and her happiness that are being in love and to intimate anything else doesn't spell jealousy to me It spells a paranoic insecurity that you should be ashamed of print it what happens in the next reel Do I get dragged off screaming to the snake pit? Excuse me miss Channing Oh Yes, Eve the hors d'oeuvres are here. Is there anything else I can do? Thank you, Eve. I'd like a martini a very dry and very double Well, I've been looking for you Margot carry on and I have to run along. It's been a real swell party Where's Karen upstairs Lloyd? Mm-hmm getting your coat. I think now's the new play coming along. What steps on the ceiling all right? I guess and the girl she's still 20. Oh 20 ish. It's not important. Don't you think it's about time? It became important Margo. You haven't got any age Margo Channing is ageless spoken like a press agent Lloyd, I'm not 20 ish. I'm not 30 ish Three months ago. I was 40 years old 40 four oh That slipped out I hadn't quite made up my mind to admit it Now I suddenly feel as if I'd taken all my clothes off week after week to thousands of people You're as young as you want as young as they want you mean And I'm not interested whether thousands of people think I'm six or six hundred just one person isn't that so You've had another fight with Bill, right? Bill's 32. He looks 32 He looked at five years ago and he'll look at 20 years from now. I hate men Don't worry Lloyd. I'll play your play. I'll I'll wear rompers and come in rolling a hoop if you like now get out of here It's so nice of you to come upstairs with me Eve I just wanted to be sure you'd find a coat Mrs. Richards. Tell me Eve. How are things going? You're happy? There should be a new word for happiness being here with Miss Channing She's been so wonderful done so much for me. Well, you've done your share too. Eve. You've worked wonders with Margo Well, good night. Mrs. Richards. Oh Karen Karen Isn't it awful? I'm about to ask you for another favor after all you've done already. Oh, that's nonsense It's just that Miss Channing's affairs are in such good shape now And I I heard mr. Fabian tell Miss Channing that her understudy was going to have a baby and they'd have to replace her so I I You want to be Margo's new understudy. I don't let myself think about it even I do know the parts So well and every bit of the staging But suppose I had to go on one night to an audience that came to see Margo Channing. Oh, no, I couldn't possibly Well, I wouldn't worry about that Margo just doesn't miss performances if she can walk crawl a roll She plays the show must go on. No dear Margo must go on There's a matter of fact. I I don't see why you shouldn't be her understudy Do you think she'd approve? I think she'd cheer but mr. Richards and mr. Sampson how they'll do as they're told Then would you speak to mr. Fabian about it after all he's the producer and he doesn't like me. Stop worrying Seem to be forever thanking you for something. Don't I? Good night Karen. Good night dear So Eve became Margo's understudy Naturally, I assumed that Margo knew and approved Then one Friday afternoon Margo went to the theater Someone else was leaving the cast and Margo had consented to help with an audition A friend of Addison Dewitt's a miss Caswell was trying out for the park Margo, how nice to see you waiting for someone Addison I think you'd be in the theater side of your protégé lending her moral support. Oh, but I did the audition However is over, but it can't be I came here to read with miss Caswell The audition was called for 230. It's now nearly four. Is it really who read with miss Caswell, Bill? No, no, well it can't have been max who naturally enough your understudy Well, I consider it highly unnatural to allow a girl in the advanced state of pregnancy I refer to your new understudy miss Eve Harrington Eve? My understudy But didn't you know? Of course I knew Ah, it just slipped your mind And how was miss Caswell? Frankly, I don't remember Just slipped your mind Completely Nor can anyone else tell you how miss Caswell read or whether miss Caswell read or rode a pogo stick Was she that bad? Margot, as you know, I have lived in the theater as a trappist monk lives in his faith And once in a great while I experienced that moment of revelation for which all true believers wait and pray You were one, Eve Harrington is another I take it you read well It was something made of fire and music brilliant, vivid, unforgettable How nice In time she'll be what you are A mass of fire and music That's me And old kazoo with some sparklers Tell me, was Bill swept away too? Or were you too full of revelation to notice? Bill didn't say but Lloyd was beside himself He listened to his play as if it had been written by someone else He said it sounded so fresh, so new, so full of meaning How nice for Lloyd, how nice for Eve, how nice for everyone Eve was incredibly modest She insisted that Lloyd felt as he did only because she read his lines exactly as he'd written them The implication being that I have not been reading them as written? To the best of my recollection, neither your name nor your performance entered the conversation May I give you a lift somewhere? No, I came here to help with an audition I'll just run on in to see so they'll know I did come after all I must start wearing a watch I never have, you know Well, how are you, darling? Terribly sorry I'm late, Max Max lunch was long and I couldn't find a cab Well, shall we start? Where's Miss Caswell? Oh, hello, Bill, hello, Lloyd Oh, hello, Eve Hello, Miss Channing It's all over, Margot What's all over? The audition, Eve read with Miss Caswell Eve? Oh, how enchanting However, did you get the idea of letting Eve read? Well, she's your understudy Eve, my understudy, I had no idea Well, I thought you knew, she was put down over a week ago Miss Channing, I can't tell you how glad I am that you arrived so late Really, Eve, why? If you'd been here to begin with, I never would have dared to read I couldn't have What a pity, all that fire and music going to waste What fire and music? You wouldn't understand I was dreadful, Miss Channing, believe me Oh, I'm sure you underestimate yourself, Eve, you always do Oh, you'd have been proud of her, Margot Eve was a revelation Oh, to you too, Lloyd What do you mean by that? Well, I mean, among other things, it must have been a revelation to have a 24-year-old character played by a 24-year-old actress Also, it must have seemed so new and fresh to you so exciting to have your lines read just as you wrote them Addison, you've seen Addison So full of meaning, fire and music You've been talking to that fishwife In this case, apparently, as trustworthy as the World Almanac You knew when you came in here that the audition was over that Eve was your understudy playing that childish little game of cat and mouse Not mouse, never mouse If anything, right This genius of yours for making a bar room brawl out of a perfectly innocent misunderstanding at most Perfectly innocent, men have been hanged for less I'm lied to, attacked behind my back, accused of reading your silly dialogue inaccurately as if it were the Holy Gospel I never said it was When you listen as if someone else has written your play Whom do you have in mind? Arthur Miller, Sherwood, Beaumont and Fletcher What makes you think either Miller or Sherwood would stand for the nonsense I take from you? You better stick to Beaumont and Fletcher They've been dead for over 300 years Oh, playwrights should be dead for 300 years That would solve none of their problems because actresses never die The stars never die and never change Oh, you may change this star anytime you want for a new and fresh and exciting one fully equipped with fire and music anytime you want starting with tonight's performance I shall never understand the weird process by which a body with a voice fancies itself as a mind Just when exactly does an actress decide their her words she's saying and her thought she's expressing? Usually at the point when she has to rewrite and rethink them to keep the audience from leaving the theatre It's about time the piano realize it has not written the concerto And you, I take it Bill, Arthur Padarevsky who plays his concerto on me the piano Where is Princess Fire and Music? Who? The Kid, Junior Gone I must have frightened her away I wouldn't be surprised Sometimes you frighten me Nothing but a body with a voice No mind What a body? What a voice? Now calm down The gong rang, the fight's over I will not calm down Don't calm down You're being terribly tolerant, aren't you? I'm trying terribly hard Well, you needn't be I will not be tolerated and I will not be plotted against Here we go Such nonsense What do you all take me for? A little nail from the country? She's been my understudy for over a week arrives here for an audition when everyone knows I will be here and gives a performance out of nowhere gives a performance You've been all through that with a lawyer The playwright does not make the performance and it doesn't just happen and this one didn't full of fire and music and whatnot carefully rehearsed I have no doubt full of those bills, stamps and touches I'm sick and tired of these paranoic outbursts I didn't even know Eve Harrington was your understudy until half past two this afternoon Tell that to Dr. Freud along with the rest of it No, I'll tell it to you For the last time I'll tell it to you I love you You're a beautiful and an intelligent woman Body with a voice And a great actress You have every reason for happiness Except happiness Every reason But due to some uncontrollable unconscious drive you permit the slightest action of a kid Like kids Of a kid like Eve to turn you in of an hysterical screaming harpy Now once and for all stop it Well, it's obvious you're not a woman I've been aware of that for some time Well, I am I'll say Don't be condescending Now come on, Margo Let's get out of here I'll buy you a drink Well, I'll admit I may have seen better days But I'm still not to be had for the price of a cocktail Like a salted peanut Margo, let's make peace Terms are too high Unconditional surrender Just being happy Just stopping all this nonsense about Eve And Eve and me No, it's not nonsense I wish it were Margo, tell me what's behind all this I don't know, Bill Just a feeling I don't know I think you do know But you won't or can't tell me I said before it was going to be my last try And I meant it I just can't think of anything else to do I wish I could Goodbye, Margo Bill, where are you going? To find Eve That suddenly makes the whole thing believable Oh, Bill Lloyd, I don't understand a word you're saying You're too angry for coherence Not only was she two hours late But then that childish, heavy-handed routine About not knowing Eve was her understudy Well, it's just possible that Margo didn't know Of course she knew Addison told her Just tell me one thing, Karen Just one thing Somebody's got to stop Margo All right, now who's going to do it Who's going to give her that boot in the rear That she needs and deserves Going to be a very cozy weekend, dear What weekend? What are you talking about? We're driving out to the country tomorrow night Just the four of us Bill, Margo, you and I Well, we've spent weekends before with nobody talking Just be sure to lock up all the blunt instruments Lloyd was right, of course That boot Margo had coming to her Heaven knows she deserved it We'd all felt those size fives of hers often enough But how? How to do it? And then it came to me My big idea Only two people in the whole world would know Also, the boot would land Where it would do the most good for all concerned After all, it was nothing more than a perfectly harmless joke Which Margo herself would be the first to enjoy And no reason at all Why she herself shouldn't be told about it In time My big idea required a telephone call Hello? Oh, this is Mrs. Richards Will you please call Ms. Harrington to the phone? Yes, Ms. Eve Harrington Before we continue with act two of All About Eve I'd like to introduce a special guest, Ms. Jean Mayberry The charming daughter of the casting director at 20th Century Fox I understand, Jean, that your career started with ice skating That's right I joined an ice show troop and traveled all over Even to Cuba A generation ago ice skating in Cuba would have been as fantastic As an invasion from another planet But a day such a possibility isn't so fantastic 20th Century Fox has made a picture about it The day the earth stood still A very provocative picture Michael Rennie as a man from another planet Arrives to warn the earth that they must maintain peace Or be destroyed I was fascinated by the huge flying disk That carries him to Earth And Patricia Neal was fascinated by Michael And both Michael and Hugh Marlowe found her fascinating too Well, no wonder She did look excitingly lovely In that simple wardrobe she wears in the day the earth stood still Those magic white touches on her dress And white blouse are just as smart as can be You know, while she was making the picture They were luxe again and again New luxe with color freshener Just worked miracles Keeping them looking white as Neal Luxing after luxing Amazing new luxe, you know Keeps white silks and rayons whiter than ever before And white cottons from piqués to organdies Look dazzlingly white without bleaching Colors stay unbelievably vivid and new looking Well, I'm a luxe fan from way back, Mr. Kennedy I was born and raised in Hollywood So I know how the screen stars love luxe Patricia Neal says New luxe is even better than ever Thank you, Jane Jean Mayberry We were delighted to have you tonight Women all over the country are excited about wonderful new luxe Now they're using it for nicer everyday washables As well as their loveliest dresses and blouses It's so safe The perfect way to give all washables That nice new luxe look We pause now for station identification This is the CBS radio network The curtain rises on act three of All About Eve Starring Betty Davis as Margo Anne Baxter as Eve Reginald Gardner as Addison DeWitt And Gary Merrill as Bill That was a cold weekend we spent in the country Bill didn't come at all Margo didn't know where he was and didn't care, she kept saying Somehow we staggered through Late Monday afternoon Lloyd and I set out to drive Margo to the station And my big idea went into operation Its purpose was to make Margo miss her performance So that Eve would have to take her place All I did was drain the gas tank of the car My timing was perfect Margo missed her train and we sat there the two of us While Lloyd, cursing softly, went down the road in search of gasoline Cigarette, Karen Um, no, no, thank you, dear I haven't been very pleasant this weekend Well, we've all been a little tense lately Come to think of it, I haven't been pleasant for weeks For that I'm truly sorry More than any two people I know I Don't want you and Lloyd to be angry with me Well, how could we? You're Margo And what is that? Besides something spelled out in light bulbs, I mean Besides something called a temperament Which consists mostly of swooping about on a broomstick And screaming at the top of my voice Infants behave the way I do, you know They'd get drunk if they knew how When they counted what they want When they feel unwanted or insecure or Unloved What about Bill? He's in love with you More than anything in this world I love Bill And I want Bill And I want him to want me But me Not Margo Channing And if I can't tell them apart, how can he And Karen About Eve I've acted pretty disgracefully, taught her to Well, I... No, no, no, no, don't fumble for excuses Not here and now with my hair down At best let's say I've been oversensitive to Well, to the fact that she's so young So feminine and so helpless To so many things I want to be for Bill Margo, I... I want you to know how sorry I am about this About what? Getting stuck like this, I... I can't tell you how sorry I am No, Karen, don't give it a thought One of Destiny's merry pranks After all, you didn't personally drain the gasoline tank What? I said you didn't personally drain the gasoline tank This is Addison DeWitt It is now my turn to tell you all about Eve That night with Margo Channing marooned in the country, Eve Harrington took her place on the stage Her performance was magnificent But one thing puzzled me Why was I invited to that particular performance Along with half a dozen other critics A performance about which the management knew nothing Until curtain time when Margo failed to appear Afterwards I went backstage The dressing room door was closed But I had no trouble overhearing a rather interesting conversation Eve and Bill Samson So you can be very proud of yourself, Eve That was a wonderful job you did tonight I'll admit I was worried what Max called me I had my doubts You shouldn't have had any doubts Well, your audition the other day was one scene The woods are full of one scene sensations But you did it With work and patience you'll be a good actress If that's what you want to be Is that what you want me to be? Well, I'm talking about you and what you want So am I Well, what have I got to do with it? Everything The names I've been called but never Spangali Good luck, Eve Don't go, Bill Don't run away From what would I be running? You're always after the truth On stage What about off? I'm for it Then face it Ever since that first night here in this theater When I told you what every young actor should know When you told me that whatever I became It would be because of you Your makeup's a little heavy And for you You're quite a girl You think? I'm in love with Margo Hadn't you heard? You hear all kinds of things I'm only human rumors to the contrary And I'm as curious as the next man Find out One thing What I go after I want to go after I don't want it to come after me Just score it as an incomplete forward path I waited a reasonable length of time after Bill left And then I too had a chat with Eve Harrington I wanted to write a column about Eve There were many questions to ask It's so kind of you to stop by, Mr. Dewitt I'm glad you like me tonight But it's still Ms. Channing's performance I'm just the carbon copy you read When you can't find the original I've heard about your modesty, Ms. Harrington But I think the time has come for you to shed some of your humility It's just as false not to blow your horn at all As to blow it too loudly I don't think I've done anything to sound off about One pretty good performance by an understudy It'll be forgotten tomorrow It needn't be Why not? I'm a nobody I am somebody You certainly are After you change if you're not busy We could have supper I'd love to Or should I pretend I'm busy? Let's have a minimum of pretending I shall want to do a column about you I'm not even enough for a paragraph There's so much I want to know I've heard your story in bits and pieces Your home in Wisconsin Your tragic marriage Your fanatical attachment to Margo It started in San Francisco, didn't it? Yes, yes, that's right And that memorable night When Margo first dazzled you What theater in San Francisco is that, Eve? Was it the Schubert? Yes, the Schubert Ah, fine old theater, the Schubert Full of dignity and traditions Tell me, what was your husband's name? Eddie? Eddie what? Really, if I'm never going to change I'll only be a moment, Mr. Duethy Where would you like to go, Eve? We must make this a special night You take charge Thank you I believe I will I learned a lot about Eve that night After I brought her home I went to my office to write my column What I wrote pleased me exceedingly Saying you can't believe it, Karen It's right here in print, isn't it? Listen to this Miss Harrington had much to tell About the lamentable practice of permitting, shall we say Mature actresses to play roles Requiring a youth and vigor Out which they retain but a dim memory I still can't believe it, Eve About the understandable reluctance In the part of our entrenched first ladies At the stage to encourage younger actresses About Miss Harrington's own long Unsupported struggle for the opportunity But Eve couldn't have said anything like that What gets me Is how all the papers in town just happened To catch that particular performance last night The little witch must have sent out Indian runners Well, she won't get away with it Nor will Addison do it and his poison pen And don't try to tell me I... I came as soon as I read that piece of film Oh, Bill, thank goodness Oh, Bill Oh, Marko, Marko, I ran all the way It was here, baby Everything's all right now I... I guess at this point You and Marko might rather be alone Here, do you mind, Karen? Marko, Marko, baby Thanks, Karen, we'll phone you later That very night Eve and I were having a bit of supper In the cub room when they walked in Marko, Bill, Lloyd and Karen They seemed unusually happy and gay In brief, our big news is simply this Marko and I are going to get married Glory, hallelujah Well, love Marko, when? When are you going to do it? Tomorrow we meet at City Hall at 10 And you, Marko, we're going to be on time for one Yes, sir City Hall, that's for prize fighters and reporters It's only for the license There's a three-day wait for blood tests I'll marry you if it turns out to have no blood at all What are you going to wear? Oh, something simple, a fur coat over a nightgown The point is we want you two beside us As our nearest and dearest friends Which we are Which we'll always be Excuse me, Mrs. Richards Oh, yes, ma'am This note, it's for you Oh, thank you A very indiscreet care Next time tell your lover to blow Smoke rings a tap of glass No world is full of love tonight, Lloyd No woman is safe Well, this beats all world's records For running, jumping, or standing tall Marko here, read this Please forgive me for butting into what seems At a happy occasion But it's most important that I speak with you Please And that's underlined Meet me in the lady's room, Eve I understand she's now the understudy in there Well, after all, maybe Eve just wants to apologize I have no possible interest in anything she'd have to say What could she say? That's what fascinates me Go on, Karen, find out Karen, during all the years of our friendship I have never let you go into the lady's room alone Now I must I am busting to find out what's going on In that feverish little brain waiting in there Well, all right Thank you for coming, Karen I just had to speak to you I don't know what you have to tell me, Eve But I won't believe a word of it Why should you? It's about Mr. Dewitt's column Oh Are you going to tell me you didn't really say any of those things? All I know is that Well, you find yourself trying to say what you mean But somehow the words change They become his words And suddenly you're not saying what you mean But what he means I just wanted you to know Responsibility is mine And the disgrace Oh, now let's not get over dramatic You really have a low opinion of me, haven't you? You'll be glad to know I've been told off in no uncertain terms all over town Miss Channing should be happy to hear that Now, Eve, don't cry I'm not crying After all, you still have a powerful friend left And Edison Dewitt He's not my friend You were my friend I wish I'd never met him I'll never get over this Never Oh, yes, you will You're very young and very talented And believe it or not If there's anything I can do There is something Yes I think I know Something most important you can do Lloyd's new play You want to play the lead You want me to tell Lloyd I think you should play Chora If you told him to, he'd give me the pot He said he would Don't you know that part was written for Margo? It might have been 15 years ago It's my part now You've got to tell Lloyd is for me I don't think anything in the world would make me say that Edison wants me to play it Over my dead body That won't be necessary, Karen Eve, Edison knows how Margo happened to miss that performance last night And how I happened to know she'd miss it In time to call him and notify every paper in town You better sit down, Karen You look a bit wobbly If I play Chora, Edison will never tell what happened In or out of print A simple exchange of favors I'm so happy I can do something for you at long last Your friendship with Margo Your deep, close friendship But what happened to it, do you think? If you knew the cheap trick you'd played on her for my benefit No, it'd be so much easier for everyone concerned If I were to play Chora So much better theater, too You'd do all that Just for a part in a play I'd do much more for a part that good Excuse me, Karen Edison's waiting Care to look at a menu, Eve? But you can't be very hungry after all that humble pie Oh, nothing of the kind Karen and I had a nice talk Including a casual reference to the part of Chora And your hopes of playing it I discussed it very openly And Karen mentioned, of course, that Margo expects to play the part Oddly enough, she didn't say a word about Margo Just that she'll be happy to do what she can to see that I play the part Just like that, huh? Just like that? You know, Eve, sometimes I think you keep things from me I don't think that's funny It wasn't meant to be I confide in you and rely on you more than anyone I've ever known To say a thing like that now without any reason when I need you more than ever I hope you mean what you say I intend to hold you to it We have a great deal in common, it seems to me Oh, nothing much, she apologized With tears With tears Very classy stuff, lots of technique Groom, may I have a wedding present? What would you like, Texas? I want everybody to shut up about Eve Just shut up about Eve That's all I want Never have I been so happy So happy and so forgiving I forgive Eve Do you know why I forgive Eve? She left good behind the four of us here together It's Eve's fault, I forgive her And Bill, especially Bill, she did that too You know, she probably means well after all She is a lost Never try to out-guess Margo Correct Which brings me to you, Lloyd Lloyd promised not to be angry with me Well, it depends I'd better just come right out and say it I don't want to play Cora You...what? Now now, wait a minute, Karen You've always been so touchy about his plays It isn't the part, it's a great part in a fine play But not for me anymore Not for a four-square, upright, downright, forthright married lady What you're being married got to do with Oh, it means I've finally got a life to live I don't have to play parts I'm too old for Just because I've got nothing to do with my nights Oh, Lloyd, I know you made a plan to please Understand? Please What's so funny? Oh, nothing Nothing Everything's so funny Everything In due time, they were wed Margo and Bill Also in due time, rehearsals started for the new play Starring Eve Harrington Occasionally, I'd drop by the theatre Not only to admire Eve But to be amused of the increasing tension Developing because of Eve Between those two old friends Lloyd the writer and Bill the director Something was in the air The play was now ready for its out-of-town opening in New Haven That afternoon, I saw Eve at her hotel I thought I'd be panic-stricken Want to run away or something Instead, I can't wait for tonight to come To come and go Are you sure of tonight? Aren't you? Frankly, yes It'll bring me everything I've ever wanted The end of an old road The beginning of a new one All paved with diamonds and gold You know me better than that Paved with what then? Stars What time is it? Almost four Oh, good plenty of time for a nice long nap You could sleep now, couldn't you? Why not? The mark of a true killer Sleep tight, rest easy and come out fighting Why did you call me a killer? But did I say killer? I meant champion I get my boxing terms mixed Oh, by the way There'll be a party here tonight You'll come, won't you? We're having everyone up after the performance We are? Lloyd and I I find it odd that Karen isn't here for the opening, don't you? She's always been so fanatically devoted to Lloyd Addison, a few moments ago I said this would be a night to remember I didn't mean just the theater What else? Lloyd, he's going to leave, Karen We're going to be married So that's it Still just the theater after all It's nothing of the kind Lloyd loves me I know nothing of Lloyd and his loves I leave those to Louisa May Alcott But I know you I'm in love with Lloyd Oh, Addison, won't it be just perfect? There's no telling how far we can go He'll write great plays for me I'll make them great You're the only one I've told The only one who knows Except Lloyd and me And Karen? She doesn't, no She knows enough not to be here But not all of it Not that Lloyd and I are going to be married Well, say something Anything Congratulations, Skoll Good work, Eve What do you take me for? Is it possible, even conceivable That you've confused me With that gang of backward children You've played tricks on That you've the same contempt For me you have for them I'm sure you mean something by that, Addison I don't know what I'm nobody's fool, Eve At least of all yours I never intended you to be Yes, you did, and you still do I still don't know what you're getting at You know it as well as I do But Lloyd may leave Karen But he will not leave her for you What do you mean by that? I have not come to New Haven To see the play Discuss your dreams Or climb the ivy walls Of Eli Yale I have come here to tell you That you will not marry Lloyd Richards Or anyone else for that matter Because I will not permit it Will not permit it? That sounds very evil Something out of an old melodrama So does the history of the world For the past 20 years Frankly, I had hoped that somehow You would have known That you'd have taken it for granted That you and I You and I Now remember, as long as you live Never to laugh at me But anything or anybody else But never at me Now to begin with Your name is not Eve Harrington It's Gertrude Schlezinski Get out It's true that you worked in a brewery But life among the molten hops Was apparently not as dull as you pictured it In fact, it got less and less dull Until your boss's wife Had your boss followed by detectives She never proved anything Not a thing But the $500 you were paid To get out of town Bought you straight to New York, didn't it? She was a liar She was a liar But there was no Eddie No pilot You've never been married That was not only a lie But it was an insult to dead heroes And to women who loved them San Francisco has no shoe but theater You've never been to San Francisco That was a stupid lie And not worthy of you I had to meet Margot I had to say something Be somebody Make her like me But she did like you She helped you and trusted you You paid her back By trying to take Bill away That's not true After you failed with Bill You used my name and my column To blackmail Karen Into getting you the part of Cora And you lied to me about it No, no Sweetie, I had lunch with Karen Not three hours ago As always with women She told me more than she learned But I should want you at all Suddenly strikes me As the height of improbability But that in itself is probably the reason You're an improbable person, Eve And so am I We have that in common Also an inability to love Insatiable ambition and talent We deserve each other Are you listening to me? Yes, I am And you realize and you agree How completely you belong to me Yes, I listen Then take your nap And good luck for tonight I won't go on tonight I couldn't Not possibly I couldn't go on You'll give the performance of your life I won't I won't, I can't But of course she did And ever since her triumph has endured That is why she's here tonight Here at the Sarah Sidden Society Eve is now on the dais So gracious and modest Telling the honored members And distinguished guests That the award belongs not to her But to those who made it possible Marco and Karen, Bill and Lloyd Let's listen in For without their confidence in me Their kindness and friendship and faith This night could never have been How can I ever repay them? Although Although I'm going to Hollywood next week Do not think for a moment that I'm leaving you My heart is here in the theater I'll be back to claim it And soon That is If you want me back She's coming to award me now To our table It'll take a while All those photographers And then of course She'll have to pause for a moment at their table Margos and Bill's Lloyds and Karen Congratulations, Eve Thank you, Karen Nice speech, Eve But I wouldn't worry too much about your heart That is a statue they gave you You can always put it where your heart ought to be Oh, Mr. Dewitt Why, Miss Caswell? How nice to see you again Isn't she wonderful, Mr. Dewitt? There's no one like her, Miss Caswell No one in the world Tell me, Miss Caswell Do you want some day to have an award like that of your own? Oh, more than anything Then you must ask Miss Harrington how to get one Miss Harrington knows all about it We hope you enjoyed our show As much as our stars enjoyed doing it for you Of course you know what a reputation screen stars have For beautiful clothes Well, you can give your washables the very same care The stars insist on for their own gorgeous things It's new looks with color freshener The most wonderful improvement ever made In a wonderful product Don't take my word for it Try it yourself And you'll agree you've never seen anything Like the magic it works on colors It actually keeps white things white as new Makes colors sparkle like jewels And keeps your prints sharp and brilliantly clear No other soap, no other type of suds Is safer for your nice things Your washable silks, rayons, nylons, and fine cottons Once you've tried new looks with color freshener You'll never again put up with anything else Get a big box of new looks with color freshener Tomorrow, use it for all your washables You'll be thrilled with their nice new lux look And here they are, an outstanding cast To take a bow for outstanding performances Betty Davis, Anne Baxter, Reginald Gardner, and Gary Merrill And how nice to have you back again We haven't seen you here since the arrival of little Katrina You know how I love appearing on the Lux Radio Theater Love appearing indeed Quite a way to get some more lux flakes, Anne Betty, when you have a new baby You need all the lux you can get Watch this girl remember as Eve She'll want all our lux flakes in a minute Now, girls, the plays over There's plenty in the wings for all Lux Flakes really are a must in our house Even before Katrina All this talk of young children Why didn't anyone ask me to be a godfather? Do you think you're quite the type? After listening to you for the last hour I thought you relished little children as part of your diet Well, don't be silly I just finished a picture of 20th Century Fox Starring Clifton Webb called Elopement In which I played a godfather And now I'm at RKO in Andrew Cleese on the Lion Typecasting again This is the Columbia Godcasting System