SFX:
... APPLAUSE
HOST:
As Ramona and the cast acknowledge the applause, Mr. Claney steps forward to make an introduction.
ANNOUNCER:
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MFX:
FOR AN INTRO ... "IF I LOVE AGAIN" BY JACK MURRAY & BEN OAKLAND ... THEN OUT
HOST:
Now, we present Lee Wiley, in a dramatic sketch entitled "A Summer Romance." The scene is the lobby of a fashionable seashore resort hotel. The time -- an evening, early in September. Miss Wiley plays the part of Peggy Lynn, the hotel's switchboard operator, who is just getting ready to quit the day shift and turn over her plugs and earphones to Mabel, the night operator. As the curtain rises, Peggy is stage center at the switchboard behind the information desk.
SFX:
SWITCHBOARD BUZZES AND CLICKS IN AGREEMENT WITH FOLLOWING--
PEGGY:
(OPERATOR VOICE) Hello, hello, Seacrest Hotel. ... One moment, please. ... Seacrest Hotel. The line is busy, sir. ... Thank you. ... Yes, madam. You are connected. (NORMAL VOICE) Oh, hello, Mabel.
MABEL:
Come on, Peggy. Take off the earphones and let little Mabel take the board.
PEGGY:
I thought you'd never get here!
MABEL:
Oh, yeah? I'm five minutes ahead of time, sweetheart. Oh, and there's a swell moon on the water and I have to work -- just my luck. Ooh, you're all dressed up. Date with the boyfriend, Peg?
PEGGY:
You guessed it. And I have a feeling this is going to be my last night on the job.
MABEL:
Last night on the job? Well, what do you mean, Peg? You - you won't be here tomorrow morning?
PEGGY:
No more six o'clock reliefs, no more switchboard, no more foolish questions, no more wrong numbers. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll be on my way to New York.
MABEL:
Well, how come, darling? Don't tell me it's love!
PEGGY:
Yes. This is my first real love affair, Mabel.
MABEL:
(AMUSED) Go on. These summer romances don't last beyond September as a rule.
PEGGY:
But ours will. Ours will last forever.
MABEL:
That's a long stretch, dearie.
PEGGY:
He's the sweetest, most adorable boy in the world. And I do love him. I don't care who knows it.
MABEL:
Gee, you've been bitten hard. Hey, how long has this been goin' on, ducky?
PEGGY:
Since - since the beginning of the month.
MABEL:
Ah, now, listen, Peggy. You're a sweet kid, and I hope he's the right one for ya, but you're just a telephone operator in a big hotel -- and these summer Romeos sometimes get the idea that we're a part of the amusements.
PEGGY:
But not David. He's not that kind. He's honest and serious and ambitious. He just graduated from college and he's going in his father's business in the fall.
MABEL:
Yeah But are you sure he loves you?
PEGGY:
Of course! He's practically told me that he loves me.
MABEL:
(CHUCKLES, WRY) It - it's always wise to get it in writing, honey.
PEGGY:
And tomorrow he's going home. So tonight is going to be - the night.
MABEL:
Hmm. I see. Well, drop in before you leave and say goodbye. And, Peg. I wish you luck.
SFX:
SWITCHBOARD BUZZES, CLICKS
MABEL:
Oh. (OPERATOR VOICE) Hotel Seacrest. ... Yes, madam. One moment, please. (TO PEGGY) Hey, Peg, there's your boyfriend comin' in the lobby. All dressed up like a sore finger.
PEGGY:
Oh, do I look all right, Mabel?
MABEL:
Like a bride, dearie. Like a bride.
PEGGY:
I'll have to be going. (MOVING OFF) Goodbye, dear.
DAVID:
(OFF) Peggy?
PEGGY:
Coming, David!
DAVID:
I guess I'm a few minutes late but-- Ohhh, you look sweet, honey.
PEGGY:
Like me?
DAVID:
Do I.
PEGGY:
Just as I am?
DAVID:
Just as you are. It's a wonderful night and it's going to be ours. Every last minute of it. I thought we'd drive out to Wendell's on the Point for supper. Then we can dance or sit on the pier and watch the moon. Come on, Peg. Let's go.
SFX:
CAR ENGINE REVS UP AND DRIVES OFF
MFX:
FOR A ROMANTIC TRANSITION ... "IF I LOVE AGAIN" ... THEN IN BG, GENTLY OUT AT [X]
PEGGY:
(SIGHS CONTENTEDLY)
DAVID:
Nice out here on the pier, isn't it?
PEGGY:
Oh, it's lovely. That golden path on the water and the surf, gentle and regular, like - like a great heartbeat.
DAVID:
I wish it could always be like that, Peg. But now - I've got to buckle down to work and start my career.
PEGGY:
Well, you needn't look so worried about it. Well, you're lucky to have a career to buckle down to. (NO RESPONSE) What's wrong, David? You act so - so strangely tonight. [X]
DAVID:
(CAREFULLY) Well, having a career means putting aside your own private hopes and ambitions -- following the pattern that's expected of you, so that the big things that really matter will go on.
PEGGY:
I always thought the things that really mattered to people were their own private hopes and ambitions.
DAVID:
Only it doesn't work out that way, Peg. That's why I wanted to take this - this last night of the summer to-- Well, to try and make you understand.
PEGGY:
But understand what, David?
DAVID:
You probably heard me speak of - Lucille Chadwick? She's just come home from Europe. We grew up together. And her father's my father's partner in the business. And we-- Well, it's - it's sort of been expected that someday we'd-- Oh. Oh, Peg, I - I - I don't want to hurt you.
PEGGY:
Hurt me? David!
DAVID:
I wanted to spare you the shock, that's all. You might-- Well, you might see it in the papers that we're - we're engaged.
PEGGY:
Engaged?
DAVID:
Peg, please. Please don't look so--
PEGGY:
Go on, David. Say it. Don't torture me by saying only part of it. Please tell me.
DAVID:
That's all. All part of the heartbreak of putting aside my own hopes and ambitions for the sake of that thing they call a career. (SLOWLY) We're going to be married in the fall.
PEGGY:
(EXHALES)
DAVID:
Peg, please. Please don't cry.
PEGGY:
Oh, don't! Don't put your arms around me. I can't stand that, David. But I'm not crying. (WITH FORCED GAIETY) What made you think I was crying? And you don't have to try so hard to say any more. I understand.
DAVID:
You do, dear?
PEGGY:
Of course I do. I knew this - this glorious summer had to come to an end. I'm only sorry it had to end on a night like this. I know you have your career and all the things that really matter. And I know I'm just - somebody to dance with. Someone to make your vacation amusing.
DAVID:
Peg, Peg -- that isn't fair.
PEGGY:
Fair? I hope you didn't think I took it seriously. I hope you didn't think I believed all the sweet and tender things you've said. I hope you didn't think I was some silly girl, romancing about her first love affair. I hope you didn't think -- I loved you.
DAVID:
Peg, Peg, listen to me.
PEGGY:
No, don't say any more, David. I'm so glad the summer's over. Leave me alone, please. Leave me by myself. Say only -- goodbye.
DAVID:
(PAUSE, QUIETLY) Goodbye, Peg. I'm sorry but I-- [?] Goodbye.
MFX:
"IF I LOVE AGAIN" FOR A MOMENT ... THEN IN BG
PEGGY:
(SPEAKS PART OF THE SONG'S VERSE)
I often wonder-- I wonder why you came to me.
You brought such a flame to me.
Why did you let it die?
And if another love should find my heart,
What's the good of it?
It will always remind me of you.
MFX:
CONTINUES FOR A MOMENT ... THEN OUT
PEGGY:
(PAUSE) Well, I guess that's [all].
SFX:
SWITCHBOARD BUZZES AND CLICKS IN AGREEMENT WITH FOLLOWING--
MABEL:
(OPERATOR VOICE, WEARY) Seacrest Hotel. Good morning. Number, please. ... Yes, sir. It's five minutes of six. Coffee shop opens at six-thirty. ... You're welcome. ... Seacrest Hotel. (YAWNS, NORMAL VOICE) Oh, hello, Peggy.
MFX:
SNEAKS IN, QUIETLY BUILDS UP TO PEGGY'S SONG
PEGGY:
(UNHAPPY) Good morning, Mabel.
MABEL:
Well, what are you doin' up so early? Why, I thought you'd be packin' your-- Well, what's the matter, Peg? Aw, come on, now. Here, sit down. You've been cryin'.
PEGGY:
(LISTLESS) I'll take the earphones. I guess you were right. I'm just a telephone operator. And the summer always comes to an end.
MABEL:
Aw, never you mind, darling. There'll be other summers and other loves. There always are.
PEGGY:
I know. But the first! The first is always so--
MABEL:
Yeah, I know. So hard to forget. But you'll forget, Peg.
PEGGY:
No. I'll never forget. Never!
(BURSTS INTO SONG)
[1ST CHORUS]
If I love again, though it's someone new,
If I love again, it will still be you.
In someone else's fond embrace,
I'll close my eyes and see your face.
If I love again, I'll find other charms
But I'll make-believe you are in my arms.
And though my lips whisper, "I love you,"
My heart will not be true.
I'll be loving you
Every time I love again.
[VERSE]
I often wonder why you came to me,
Brought such a flame to me, then let it die.
And if another love should find my heart,
It will remind my heart of your goodbye.
With every new love, you'll come back to me.
In other eyes, it's you I'll see.
[2ND CHORUS]
If I love again, though it's someone new,
If I love again, it will still be you.
In someone else's fond embrace,
I'll close my eyes and see your face.
If I love again, I'll find other charms
But I'll make-believe you are in my arms.
And though my lips whisper, "I love you,"
My heart will not be true.
I'll be loving you
Every time I love again.
MFX:
TO A FINISH
SFX:
APPLAUSE ...