Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen
I am happily busy.Meanwhile, I've been waiting for that important call.
For the next three weeks, I would adapt "The Merry Widow" in the morning, write "Grand Prize" in the afternoon, and work on two more screenplays with Ben in the evening.I was exhausted and decided to relax.
One Sunday, I went to the United Labor Organization's recreation center for furloughed soldiers in New York.There's music, pretty girls, dancing, and food, and it's truly a wartime oasis.
A charming blond waitress approached, "Want to dance, Soldier?"
Of course, I would love to.
We were about to dance when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I said, "Hey, we're just starting, don't interrupt..." Then I turned around, and there were two tall police officers.
"You're under arrest, Private. Please."
Arrested? "Any questions?"
"Pretending to be an officer."
"What's the meaning?"
"You're wearing an officer's uniform. Where's your officer's badge?"
"I don't. I'm not an officer."
"That's why you're under arrest. Let's go." They grabbed me by the arms.
"Wait. You're mistaken. I have permission to dress like this."
"Who gave permission, your mother?"
They started pulling me off the dance floor.
I was terrified, "You don't understand the situation, I'm in a special unit of the Air Force, and we..."
"very good."
They pushed me towards the door El, and I said, "I kid you not. Have you ever heard of the name Wartime Special Training Unit?"
"No."
We have come outside the house.A police car was parked by the side of the road.
"boarding."
I made up my mind not to get in the car, "I'm not. You can call and ask. Let me tell you, I'm in the Air Force and I'm in a special wartime training unit and we wear whatever the fuck we want .”
The two policemen looked at each other.One of them said, "I think you must be crazy, but I can go and make a phone call. Who?"
I gave him the number.
He turned to his companion and said, "You keep an eye on him. We can also charge him with 'resisting arrest'. I'll be right back."
Twenty minutes later, the guy came back with a puzzled look on his face.
"What's the matter?" asked another.
"It was a general who answered the phone. He blamed me for not knowing that there was a special wartime training unit, and gave me a hard training."
"You mean it's a legal organization?"
"I don't know if it's legal, but there really is such an organization under the Air Force."
The other cop let go of my arm."Sorry, I'm afraid we made a mistake," he said.
I nodded, "It's okay."
By the time I got back, my partner was already dancing with someone else.
It has been a pleasure working with Guy Bolton.He has written many successful plays and is very proficient in drama.He spoke some British idioms, and we were responsible for expressing them in American terms.I am reminded of a quip by George Bernard Shaw: "America and England are two peoples separated by the same language." Guy rented a nice house on Long Island, and Ben and I went there to work with him every weekend.He has a wide circle of friends and a very interesting group of friends. At one of his dinner parties I sat next to a young lady more beautiful than I had ever seen before."Guy said you were doing a Broadway play with him," she said. "yes." "It's sure to be interesting." I asked her, "Where did you go to high school?" "I'm an actor." "Sorry, I don't know your name yet." "Wendy Barry." Wendy is British and has appeared in six films in the UK.Her godfather is JM Barry, who used Wendy's name in it.I was deeply fascinated by her, but she looked preoccupied. After dinner I asked her, "Are you okay?" She shook her head, "Let's go for a walk." We went outside and walked along a gravel path under the melting moonlight.During the blackout during wartime, there were no lights anywhere, and the only source of light was the full moon.While walking, Wendy suddenly started crying. I stopped, "What's wrong with you?" "No... nothing... I don't know what to do." "What happened?" "I—my boyfriend. He—he hit me." She was almost sobbing. I couldn't help being extremely indignant. "How can you put up with that? No one has the right to do that. Why don't you leave him?" "I-I-don't know. It's-very-difficult." She began to sob.I opened my arms and took her in my arms. "Wendy, listen to me. If he hits you now, it will only get worse in the future. Leave him now." "I know you're right." She took a deep breath. "I will." "It's good for yourself." "I feel better. Thank you!" "It's my pleasure. Do you live in New York?" "yes." "Any plans for tomorrow night?" She looked up at me, "No arrangement." "Let's have dinner together." "OK." Wendy and I had dinner at Sadie's the next night, and we had a great time.We were all together for the next two weeks. One Friday morning, I got a call. "Sidney?" "it's me." "Are you happy with your life?" "Very well. What's the matter?" "Since you are very happy, then don't see Wendy Barry again." "What did you say?" "Do you know who's paying her rent?" "No. We haven't—she hasn't mentioned it to me." "Bugsy Siegel." A killer for a criminal group. Wendy Barry was completely out of my sight.
I met Alan Jons and Nanette Fabre, the two stars of The Grand Prix.Alan Jonnes was a star, almost six feet tall, well built, with a big smile.He has a wonderful singing voice and is an icon in the recording industry.The lovely Nanette Fabre, in her early twenties, is in great shape, has a cheerful personality, and is a natural comedian—a role she really deserves. I have so much faith in this musical. One day after rehearsals, director Roy Hargrave said to me, "You two young men, the script is fantastic." I'm reminded of Yolanda Melo Irion's words - Totally screwed. "Thank you, Roy." "I recommended you to a friend who is working on a musical and needs a writer. Would you be interested in meeting him?" Impossible.Ben and I are already working on two scripts at the same time, and I'm still on call to go back to the Air Force at any moment. "Ok." I said. "His name is Richard Colmar, husband of Dorothy Gilgal." Dorothy Gilgal wrote a popular newspaper column, and I read her.Dorothy and Colmar have a pivotal position on Broadway. "I'll call Dick and make an appointment for you." Roy called and told me, "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock sharp." Richard Colmar produced, directed, and starred in many popular Broadway musicals, but he is just in his early thirties.He was tall and slender, warm and polite. He said: "Roy said you are a very good screenwriter. I am going to put on a fantasy musical, it is a big deal, the background and costumes are first-class. A soap opera screenwriter goes to sleep and dreams that he is. Tell the sultan a story, or you will die." "Interesting. Who plays Scheherazade?" "Vera Jolina." Vera was a world-renowned ballerina turned Broadway star who also happened to be the wife of George Balanchine. "Ronald Graham is playing opposite her. Would you like to work with Dorothy on this play?" I said, "I'd love to. Oh, and I have a partner." He nodded. "Ben Roberts. When can you start?" "immediately." Ben and I can catch up on sleep after this battle is over. Back at the hotel, I called Ben. "We're going to write a musical for Richard Colmar called Musical Dreams." He said, "Wait, why didn't the other two shows want us?" "They didn't want us. We've got to write." "We're going to write three Broadway plays at the same time?" "Isn't that what everyone does?" I was still in my uniform, waiting for the call to get me into advanced flight training.But now those three scripts keep me busy, so I hope this call will be delayed as long as possible.I just need another two or three months. The gods must be laughing when I think so. The call came two hours after I took the assignment from Richard Colmar. "Sidney Sheldon?" "it's me." "I am Major Baker, and I order you to report to Captain Burns at Brooks headquarters at nine o'clock tomorrow morning." My heart sank, the timing couldn't have been worse.We had to give up the three scripts we had.Ben only had time to write at night, and I was going to be sent somewhere across the ocean.
Captain Burns was a tall, bald man with a well-pressed uniform.I walked into his office and he looked up. "Sheldon?" "Yes, sir." "Please sit down." After I sat down, he looked at me, "Have you completed your basic flight training?" "Yes, sir." He looked at a document on his desk, "According to the plan, you should go to the Intermediate Flight Academy, right?" "Yes, sir." "The plan has been adjusted." I was puzzled, "Adjustment?" "The war has entered a new stage. Now we have to start a counterattack and go after those bastards. What we need is fighter pilots. Your eyesight is not good, so you can't fly fighters. We have received orders to disband the special wartime training force." I couldn't react for a moment, "That means?..." "All volunteers in the wartime special training unit can make their own choice: either go to the infantry battalion as an infantry soldier, or return the file to the draft bureau." There is no other choice.But what I need now is time.The drafting bureau estimated it would take at least a month to process my file before posting me overseas, during which time I could write scripts. "I choose the file to return to the drafting bureau, sir." He jotted it down. "Okay, you'll be notified by them." I have no doubts about that, the question is, when will the notification arrive?How much time would it take me to get the script out with Ben, Guy and Dorothy?I believe we can do a lot in a month, and I can run seven days a week.As long as the army gives me a month...
Back at the hotel, I called Ben right away: "We're going to be late tonight." "What's wrong?" "I'll tell you when you come." "Very late" turned out to be three o'clock in the morning, when Ben staggered out of the hotel room and headed for Fort Dix. Ben was as anxious as I was.I tried to comfort him: "Don't worry, the recruiting bureau is very slow." For the next three days, I worked like hell, running from theater to theater, trying to race against the clock to get things done before the drafting office called. On the fourth day, I went back to the hotel and the front desk staff handed me a letter.The letter began: Congratulations. My heart sank, and I had to report to the Bronx draft bureau the next day, and my career as a playwright was over.I want to give up the three scripts that I took the lead in, and go overseas, facing the threat of death at any time.Suddenly, I was filled with ecstasy. I knew my emotions were completely out of control.I don't know what's going on with me, but looking at the silly face in the mirror, I can't help crying. At nine o'clock the next morning, I reported to Army Recruiting Headquarters for a medical exam.The physical exam was the same one I had in California.Thirty minutes later, the examination was over, and I was sent to the doctor's office. He looked at a piece of paper carefully: "Your medical report shows that you have a herniated disc." "Yes, sir. But they also knew from the first medical examination that they..." He interrupted me. "They shouldn't have accepted you. If you flare up in combat, you're not only in danger to yourself, but to those around you. You can't get past that." "gentlemen." "I'm going to write you 'Physically unfit for service.'" I am silent. "I'll notify the California Recruiting Service that you're retired..." I sat there for a long time, thinking about everything that just happened, and then I got up and left. I walked towards the door, and the doctor said behind me, "Remember to take off that uniform." I'm a civilian again. That afternoon, I went to a clothing store and bought two coats, some shorts, a shirt and a tie.In doing all of this, I feel so unreal.I was ready to go back and continue to be a playwright.
On August 14, 1943, "The Merry Widow" premiered at the Majestic Theater.It turned out to be one of the most successful Broadway adaptations.There were rave reviews from all walks of life. The New York Times: "A worthy adaptation." Herald Tribune: "Gives Broadway something to be proud of and happy about." "Mirror": "Pleasing to the eye, luxurious in style, tasteful and beautiful in music." U.S. Journal: "A moving, light-hearted, endearing, hilarious love story." Walter Winchell: "Exhilarating first night in August. The Merry Widow adaptation is sold out." Howard Barnes: "An entertaining adaptation brightens up the summer with the entertaining, melodious and spectacular 'The Merry Widow' at the Majestic Theater." Frank Sullivan: "It is my pleasure to report that The Merry Widow has been brought out of the old papers and brought back to life by two capable men, Sidney Sheldon and Ben Roberts. .” "The Merry Widow" ran on Broadway for nearly a year and toured various places for another two years.On the night of the premiere, after the show, the entire company went to Satie's to celebrate. I walked up to Satie and said, "Mr. Satie, now I can repay you." He smiled slightly, "You've paid me back. I saw the show tonight."
Notes: heroine.
It has been a pleasure working with Guy Bolton.He has written many successful plays and is very proficient in drama.He spoke some British idioms, and we were responsible for expressing them in American terms.I am reminded of a quip by George Bernard Shaw: "America and England are two peoples separated by the same language." Guy rented a nice house on Long Island, and Ben and I went there to work with him every weekend.He has a wide circle of friends and a very interesting group of friends. At one of his dinner parties I sat next to a young lady more beautiful than I had ever seen before."Guy said you were doing a Broadway play with him," she said. "yes." "It's sure to be interesting." I asked her, "Where did you go to high school?" "I'm an actor." "Sorry, I don't know your name yet." "Wendy Barry." Wendy is British and has appeared in six films in the UK.Her godfather is JM Barry, who used Wendy's name in it.I was deeply fascinated by her, but she looked preoccupied. After dinner I asked her, "Are you okay?" She shook her head, "Let's go for a walk." We went outside and walked along a gravel path under the melting moonlight.During the blackout during wartime, there were no lights anywhere, and the only source of light was the full moon.While walking, Wendy suddenly started crying. I stopped, "What's wrong with you?" "No... nothing... I don't know what to do." "What happened?" "I—my boyfriend. He—he hit me." She was almost sobbing. I couldn't help being extremely indignant. "How can you put up with that? No one has the right to do that. Why don't you leave him?" "I-I-don't know. It's-very-difficult." She began to sob.I opened my arms and took her in my arms. "Wendy, listen to me. If he hits you now, it will only get worse in the future. Leave him now." "I know you're right." She took a deep breath. "I will." "It's good for yourself." "I feel better. Thank you!" "It's my pleasure. Do you live in New York?" "yes." "Any plans for tomorrow night?" She looked up at me, "No arrangement." "Let's have dinner together." "OK." Wendy and I had dinner at Sadie's the next night, and we had a great time.We were all together for the next two weeks. One Friday morning, I got a call. "Sidney?" "it's me." "Are you happy with your life?" "Very well. What's the matter?" "Since you are very happy, then don't see Wendy Barry again." "What did you say?" "Do you know who's paying her rent?" "No. We haven't—she hasn't mentioned it to me." "Bugsy Siegel." A killer for a criminal group. Wendy Barry was completely out of my sight.
I met Alan Jons and Nanette Fabre, the two stars of The Grand Prix.Alan Jonnes was a star, almost six feet tall, well built, with a big smile.He has a wonderful singing voice and is an icon in the recording industry.The lovely Nanette Fabre, in her early twenties, is in great shape, has a cheerful personality, and is a natural comedian—a role she really deserves. I have so much faith in this musical. One day after rehearsals, director Roy Hargrave said to me, "You two young men, the script is fantastic." I'm reminded of Yolanda Melo Irion's words - Totally screwed. "Thank you, Roy." "I recommended you to a friend who is working on a musical and needs a writer. Would you be interested in meeting him?" Impossible.Ben and I are already working on two scripts at the same time, and I'm still on call to go back to the Air Force at any moment. "Ok." I said. "His name is Richard Colmar, husband of Dorothy Gilgal." Dorothy Gilgal wrote a popular newspaper column, and I read her.Dorothy and Colmar have a pivotal position on Broadway. "I'll call Dick and make an appointment for you." Roy called and told me, "Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock sharp." Richard Colmar produced, directed, and starred in many popular Broadway musicals, but he is just in his early thirties.He was tall and slender, warm and polite. He said: "Roy said you are a very good screenwriter. I am going to put on a fantasy musical, it is a big deal, the background and costumes are first-class. A soap opera screenwriter goes to sleep and dreams that he is. Tell the sultan a story, or you will die." "Interesting. Who plays Scheherazade?" "Vera Jolina." Vera was a world-renowned ballerina turned Broadway star who also happened to be the wife of George Balanchine. "Ronald Graham is playing opposite her. Would you like to work with Dorothy on this play?" I said, "I'd love to. Oh, and I have a partner." He nodded. "Ben Roberts. When can you start?" "immediately." Ben and I can catch up on sleep after this battle is over. Back at the hotel, I called Ben. "We're going to write a musical for Richard Colmar called Musical Dreams." He said, "Wait, why didn't the other two shows want us?" "They didn't want us. We've got to write." "We're going to write three Broadway plays at the same time?" "Isn't that what everyone does?" I was still in my uniform, waiting for the call to get me into advanced flight training.But now those three scripts keep me busy, so I hope this call will be delayed as long as possible.I just need another two or three months. The gods must be laughing when I think so. The call came two hours after I took the assignment from Richard Colmar. "Sidney Sheldon?" "it's me." "I am Major Baker, and I order you to report to Captain Burns at Brooks headquarters at nine o'clock tomorrow morning." My heart sank, the timing couldn't have been worse.We had to give up the three scripts we had.Ben only had time to write at night, and I was going to be sent somewhere across the ocean.
Captain Burns was a tall, bald man with a well-pressed uniform.I walked into his office and he looked up. "Sheldon?" "Yes, sir." "Please sit down." After I sat down, he looked at me, "Have you completed your basic flight training?" "Yes, sir." He looked at a document on his desk, "According to the plan, you should go to the Intermediate Flight Academy, right?" "Yes, sir." "The plan has been adjusted." I was puzzled, "Adjustment?" "The war has entered a new stage. Now we have to start a counterattack and go after those bastards. What we need is fighter pilots. Your eyesight is not good, so you can't fly fighters. We have received orders to disband the special wartime training force." I couldn't react for a moment, "That means?..." "All volunteers in the wartime special training unit can make their own choice: either go to the infantry battalion as an infantry soldier, or return the file to the draft bureau." There is no other choice.But what I need now is time.The drafting bureau estimated it would take at least a month to process my file before posting me overseas, during which time I could write scripts. "I choose the file to return to the drafting bureau, sir." He jotted it down. "Okay, you'll be notified by them." I have no doubts about that, the question is, when will the notification arrive?How much time would it take me to get the script out with Ben, Guy and Dorothy?I believe we can do a lot in a month, and I can run seven days a week.As long as the army gives me a month...
Back at the hotel, I called Ben right away: "We're going to be late tonight." "What's wrong?" "I'll tell you when you come." "Very late" turned out to be three o'clock in the morning, when Ben staggered out of the hotel room and headed for Fort Dix. Ben was as anxious as I was.I tried to comfort him: "Don't worry, the recruiting bureau is very slow." For the next three days, I worked like hell, running from theater to theater, trying to race against the clock to get things done before the drafting office called. On the fourth day, I went back to the hotel and the front desk staff handed me a letter.The letter began: Congratulations. My heart sank, and I had to report to the Bronx draft bureau the next day, and my career as a playwright was over.I want to give up the three scripts that I took the lead in, and go overseas, facing the threat of death at any time.Suddenly, I was filled with ecstasy. I knew my emotions were completely out of control.I don't know what's going on with me, but looking at the silly face in the mirror, I can't help crying. At nine o'clock the next morning, I reported to Army Recruiting Headquarters for a medical exam.The physical exam was the same one I had in California.Thirty minutes later, the examination was over, and I was sent to the doctor's office. He looked at a piece of paper carefully: "Your medical report shows that you have a herniated disc." "Yes, sir. But they also knew from the first medical examination that they..." He interrupted me. "They shouldn't have accepted you. If you flare up in combat, you're not only in danger to yourself, but to those around you. You can't get past that." "gentlemen." "I'm going to write you 'Physically unfit for service.'" I am silent. "I'll notify the California Recruiting Service that you're retired..." I sat there for a long time, thinking about everything that just happened, and then I got up and left. I walked towards the door, and the doctor said behind me, "Remember to take off that uniform." I'm a civilian again. That afternoon, I went to a clothing store and bought two coats, some shorts, a shirt and a tie.In doing all of this, I feel so unreal.I was ready to go back and continue to be a playwright.
On August 14, 1943, "The Merry Widow" premiered at the Majestic Theater.It turned out to be one of the most successful Broadway adaptations.There were rave reviews from all walks of life. The New York Times: "A worthy adaptation." Herald Tribune: "Gives Broadway something to be proud of and happy about." "Mirror": "Pleasing to the eye, luxurious in style, tasteful and beautiful in music." U.S. Journal: "A moving, light-hearted, endearing, hilarious love story." Walter Winchell: "Exhilarating first night in August. The Merry Widow adaptation is sold out." Howard Barnes: "An entertaining adaptation brightens up the summer with the entertaining, melodious and spectacular 'The Merry Widow' at the Majestic Theater." Frank Sullivan: "It is my pleasure to report that The Merry Widow has been brought out of the old papers and brought back to life by two capable men, Sidney Sheldon and Ben Roberts. .” "The Merry Widow" ran on Broadway for nearly a year and toured various places for another two years.On the night of the premiere, after the show, the entire company went to Satie's to celebrate. I walked up to Satie and said, "Mr. Satie, now I can repay you." He smiled slightly, "You've paid me back. I saw the show tonight."
Notes: heroine.