Info Try 1000+ Magazines--FREE! Three Sappy People FADE IN: INT. RUMSFORD MANSION - LIVING ROOM - DAY A fancy party is in progress. The butler, a large man named WILLIAMS, spoons some punch from a bowl into a glass as THE COUNTESS, a snooty woman with a long cigarette holder and a monocle, looks on. THE COUNTESS Isn't it rather odd that your mistress hasn't put in an appearance at her own party? WILLIAMS (hands her the punch) Uh, yes, Madame. I'm sorry, Madame. The Countess walks off with disdain. The butler shoots a glance across the room. We follow his gaze with a FAST PAN TO the man of the house MR. RUMSFORD, a rather mousy gentlemen who sits worriedly in a chair. His friend DR. YORK stands over him, smoking a cigar. RUMSFORD (to himself) Where is she? Rumsford pounds his fist into his hand and rises abruptly. RUMSFORD Where is that wife of mine? DR. YORK Now, take it easy, Rumsford. Williams arrives with a tray of drinks. WILLIAMS A drink, sir? Rumsford and York each take a drink. RUMSFORD (to Williams) Any word from Mrs. Rumsford? WILLIAMS Not a word, sir. I'm terribly upset. RUMSFORD You're upset. What about me? She invites all these people to her birthday party and then runs out on them! WILLIAMS She always does that, sir. She'll probably be back in a day or two. RUMSFORD (chokes on his drink) Day or two?! Williams makes a face and walks off. DR. YORK Snap out of it, Rumsford. You must make allowances for her youth. Sherry'll turn up. RUMSFORD If I didn't love that woman so much, I swear I'd-- A car horn HONKS. Rumsford and York stare in horror as an automobile barrels into the living room and SCREECHES to a halt in front of the fireplace. The guests GASP in amazement. At the wheel of the car is the missing wife, young and vivacious SHERRY RUMSFORD, wearing a hat and a fur coat. She waves to her husband and starts to climb out of the car. SHERRY Oh, darling! Hello! Be right over! Williams enters and stares in shock at the car. SHERRY (o.s.) Oh, Williams! Williams regains his composure and stands at attention. WILLIAMS (with some resignation) Ready, Madame. Sherry takes off her fur coat while Rumsford and York exchange uneasy glances. She throws her fur coat across the room at Williams and it miraculously drapes itself goofily around his shoulders. She takes off her hat and throws it onto Williams' head. He looks rather ridiculous in a lady's hat and fur but bears the humiliation with dignity. Meanwhile, Rumsford confers with York. RUMSFORD Listen, York. You're a doctor and you're my best friend. Isn't there anything you can do for her? DR. YORK I'm afraid she's a bit out of my line. The men you want are Doctors Ziller, Zeller, and Zoller. RUMSFORD Do you think they can help her? DR. YORK Well, they're the finest psychiatrists in the business. They're terribly expensive and their methods are very peculiar. But they do get results. RUMSFORD I'll have Williams call them. I'll have Williams call them immediately. Rumsford rings for the butler. York checks his watch. DR. YORK I've got to see a patient, Rummy. I'll try to get back later. Good luck. RUMSFORD Thanks. York exits as Williams approaches. RUMSFORD Oh, Williams. I want you to telephone Doctors Ziller, Zeller, and Zoller. DISSOLVE TO: INT. DOCTORS' OFFICE - DAY Painted onto the glass of the office's front door, a sign reads: Dr. Z. ZILLER, M.D. Dr. X. ZELLER, M.D. Dr. Y. ZOLLER, M.D. PSYCHIATRISTS ENTER We PAN from the door to reveal a PAINTER cleaning up his equipment (paint cans, brushes, etc.) and a SECRETARY who struggles with a recalcitrant telephone switchboard. SECRETARY (upset) Oh, this switchboard! The secretary holds the headphone to her ear as she tries to get a line out. SECRETARY Oh, it's dead! Frustrated, she throws the headphone down and turns to the painter. SECRETARY Thank goodness you're through. I've been almost crazy. PAINTER Yes, ma'am. I'll have my stuff out right after lunch. The secretary exits into a private office as the painter exits out the front door. Immediately, the Three Stooges enter from the front door: LARRY, MOE and CURLY. Moe carries a tool box. Curly carries a huge ladder over his shoulder. LARRY Looks like there's nobody here. MOE This is the place all right. CURLY Maybe I got the-- Curly turns to look around and SMASHES the glass of the front door with his ladder. LARRY You puddin'-head! Why don't you look what you're doin'? CURLY I couldn't help it. I was lookin' around to see if there's anybody in the office and when I turned-- Curly turns and SMASHES a glass water cooler with the ladder. MOE Look what you did! CURLY What?! Curly turns to look at the smashed water cooler and the ladder swings around and POPS Moe in the face. MOE Oh! Moe clutches his eye in pain. He advances on Curly. MOE Why don't you be careful? Moe pokes Curly in the eye. LARRY Drop that ladder before you hurt somebody. Curly DROPS the ladder on Moe's foot. Moe clutches his foot in pain. MOE Remind me to tear out your Adam's apple. CURLY I'll make a note of it. As Curly reaches into his pocket, the secretary returns and sees the mess they've made. Curly, with a tiny pencil and pad, makes a note to himself to remind Moe to tear out his Adam's apple. MOE (annoyed) Give me that! Moe grabs the pencil away from Curly. Curly squeals and pulls another pencil from his pocket and starts to write with it. Moe grabs the pencil away. MOE What's the matter with you? Curly makes a few noises of frustration and then pulls a giant-sized pencil from his jacket and starts to write. CURLY Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk. Moe grabs the pencil and HITS Curly over the head with it. CURLY Oh! You'll break my pencil! MOE I'll break your head. Moe pulls a hair out of Curly's chest and Curly squeals in pain as the secretary joins them. SECRETARY Say, what war is this? MOE Never mind the wisecracks, Toots. We're trouble-shooters from the phone company. What's wrong here? SECRETARY Painters ruined my switchboard. MOE Come on. The Stooges move to the switchboard. SECRETARY If you can bring it to life and a call comes in for the doctors, say they're out of town. I'm goin' to lunch. MOE Okay. As the secretary exits, Curly calls after her. CURLY Hey! Bring me back a piece of burnt toast and a rotten egg! LARRY Burnt toast and a rotten egg? CURLY Yeah, I got a tapeworm and that's good enough for 'im. MOE (pushes Curly) Go on! Get busy! The Stooges get to work. Curly sees a stethoscope in a doctor's bag atop the switchboard. He pulls it out and puts the earpieces in his ear. MOE (to Larry) How's she comin'? LARRY Not so good. Curly puts the stethoscope against the switchboard. CURLY (to the switchboard) Say, "Ahh!" MOE (to Curly, off the stethoscope) What do you got here? Moe pulls on the stethoscope, stretching it out. CURLY Hey, gimme that! Gimme that! Moe releases the stethoscope -- it snaps back and WHACKS Curly in the nose. CURLY Ohhh! Moe violently pulls the earpieces from Curly's ears, causing a POPPING sound. Curly GNASHES his teeth pneumatically at Moe who hands the stethoscope back to him. MOE Now, go on! Get busy like I told ya! (to Larry) Go on! Moe shoos Larry away from the board, sits, and puts on the headphones. He puts a phone wire up to a hole in the board. MOE Pull this line through and hook it on number six. Curly pulls the line through the hole in the board -- but the line is attached to the headphones on Moe's head, thus causing Moe's head to be pulled forward violently. Moe's head SMASHES into the board. MOE Oh! Moe pulls his head back, drawing the wire backwards. This frustrates Curly who squeals and pulls on it again -- too hard. He stumbles backward and out of the scene. There is a huge CRASH. Moe and Larry jump in horror as we PAN QUICKLY TO Curly sitting in a bucket amidst the painter's equipment, each of his hands stuck in a paint can and a wooden plank on his head. CURLY Woo-woo. Woo-hoo-hoo. Hey, Larry! Help me! I'm surrounded! Woo-hoo-hoo! Moe and Larry rush to Curly's aid. They push the plank away and, each grabbing an arm, lift Curly to his feet. MOE Get up. (to Larry, off the bucket wedged onto Curly's rear) Get a hold o' that! Moe grabs Curly by the head and Larry pulls the bucket off of Curly's rear. Larry FALLS to the floor in the process. CUT TO: INT. RUMSFORD MANSION - DAY Williams is on the phone, making a call. WILLIAMS (into the phone) Hello? (beat) Yes, I know it's out of order. I've been trying for half an hour to get it. CUT TO: INT. DOCTORS' OFFICE - DAY The Stooges stand together and confer. MOE (to Curly) What's the matter with you, puddin'-head? You been actin' slug-nutty all day. CURLY It's Gertie. She's gonna have-- Curly grows suddenly bashful. But Moe realizes what he means. MOE That's wonderful. When do you expect it? CURLY Any minute. That's why I'm so upset. MOE No foolin'? Why didn't you tell us? CURLY But, you see, I-- LARRY I know. You're broke. CURLY (nods) Flat as a floogie. MOE That's bad. We gotta figure out a way to get some money and get it quick. CURLY Aw, thanks, Moe. MOE You're welcome. Moe and Curly shake hands. CURLY Okay, I got-- Moe looks down in disgust at his hand, now stained with paint, like Curly's. Moe wipes his hand on Curly's jacket. MOE Come on. Curly barks like a dog. Moe CONKS Curly in the back of the head. MOE Come on! Get to work! The Stooges head back to the switchboard. CUT TO: INT. RUMSFORD MANSION - DAY Williams is still on the phone. WILLIAMS Now, Operator, you must get that number. Now, try again, please. CUT TO: INT. DOCTORS' OFFICE - DAY Larry struggles with some phone wires. Frustrated, he whips one away. LARRY (disgusted) Ahhh... Miraculously, the wire lodges in the proper hole: a light flashes and the board starts to BUZZ. The Stooges rush to the board and Moe answers the call. MOE Hello, Operator? CUT TO: INT. RUMSFORD MANSION - DAY WILLIAMS Is this Susquehanna two-two-two-two? CUT TO: INT. DOCTORS' OFFICE - DAY MOE (into the phone) Toot-toot-toot-toot? What do you think you're doin' -- playin' trains? CURLY Ooooh! I love to play trains! (imitates a train) Choo choo choo choo choo! Whooo-woo! Sssssssh! MOE (to Curly) Why don't you get a toupee with some brains in it? Moe THWACKS Curly's nose. Curly pulls up Moe's bangs and CONKS him on the forehead. MOE (to Curly) Why, you--! Moe turns his attention to the phone. CUT TO: INT. DOCTORS' OFFICE - DAY WILLIAMS I want to speak to Doctor Ziller, Zeller, or Zoller. This is an important case. We'll pay any price if they'll come over immediately. Money is no object. CUT TO: INT. DOCTORS' OFFICE - DAY MOE (into the phone) We'll be there in a flash in the flesh! Moe hangs up and addresses Larry and Curly. MOE We need money and I got a way to get it. LARRY What are we supposed to do? MOE (points to Curly) You're Ziller. (points to Larry) You're Zeller. (grandly) And I'm Doctor Zoller. CURLY (shakes Moe's hand) Oh, glad to meetcha, Doctor. MOE How are ya, son? CURLY Now, listen, Doc. I'm troubled with T.S. MOE What do you mean, T.S.? CURLY Two Stomachs! MOE Stick out yer tongue! Curly sticks out his tongue. Moe PUNCHES him in one of his stomachs. MOE There's an impatient patient waiting. Come on. Although they protest, Moe grabs Curly by the ear and Larry by the hair and drags them away. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. RUMSFORD MANSION - DAY Sherry comes running out of the building, followed by Rumsford and Williams. A chauffeur waits beside a fancy car (license number 5R 161). RUMSFORD Wait! Sherry, you can't run out on your guests like this again. SHERRY But, darling, I'm bored! I'm only going for a short ride in a submarine! I'll be back in a day or two. Tell them all to wait. RUMSFORD But, Sh-- They are interrupted by the gentle RINGING of bicycle bells. The Stooges -- dressed in top hats and tails -- come riding up on a three-seater bicycle. They fall off the bike at the edge of the driveway -- to the shock and confusion of the Rumsfords. The Stooges rise and rush over to Rumsford. RUMSFORD Gentlemen, I'm Mr. Rumsford. Are you looking for someone? CURLY I'm Ziller. LARRY I'm Zeller. MOE I'm Zoller. As Sherry looks on with interest, Moe puts a shoe horn near Rumsford's mouth. MOE Stick out yer tongue. Rumsford opens his mouth and Moe uses the shoe horn as a tongue depressor. MOE Say, "Ahh" with your mouth closed. RUMSFORD Ahhh. LARRY (singing in harmony) Ahhh. MOE & CURLY (joining in) Ahhh. ALL THREE STOOGES (singing) Ahhh... (spoken, with disgust) Rats! MOE This is serious. CURLY You're wrong, gentlemen. It's strictly a case of latkes and [pippiks?] Sherry roars with laughter at the Stooges. SHERRY (practically squealing) This is priceless. RUMSFORD (to the Stooges) I'm not the patient. It's Mrs. Rumsford. The chauffeur looks on with amazement as the Stooges turn to Sherry. CURLY Oh. How do you do, Madame? RUMSFORD Now, see here, Sherry... SHERRY Oh, darling, you take the submarine ride. I wouldn't leave these men on a bet. Come, gentlemen! The last one in is a Republican! Sherry suddenly bolts for the front door. The Stooges take off in happy pursuit, with Curly circling Rumsford like an airplane before taking off after her. A stunned Rumsford quickly follows. CUT TO: INT. RUMSFORD MANSION - LIVING ROOM Sherry runs in, followed closely by the Stooges. Moe plows into Williams, upsetting the tray of pretzels he carries and knocking him out of the shot. Sherry laughs gaily throughout. After a moment, there is a CRASH and a woman's SHRIEK. Sherry and the Stooges turn to look at the sofa where Williams now lies in the Countess' lap beside a mustached guest named John. Everyone is covered with pretzels. John has the pretzel bowl lid on his head. WILLIAMS (totally mortified) Oh, Countess. I'm so sorry. The Countess has a pretzel wedged around her eye like a monocle. She puts her own monocle up to the other eye, trying to keep her dignity. THE COUNTESS Really! Sherry hurries over to help straighten things up. SHERRY (to guest with lid on his head) Oh, John! Rumsford rushes in and joins the Stooges. He sees the mess and winces. RUMSFORD Ooooh! Sherry starts to take the lid off John's head. SHERRY I'll get you a drink. She removes the lid but his toupee comes off with it, leaving him bald as a ping pong ball. He clutches his head in horror. A distraught Rumsford confers with the Stooges. RUMSFORD Gentlemen, what will I do with her? Now, let me tell you a little bit about Sherry. MOE Oh, don't bother. I'll take Scotch. LARRY Make mine rye. CURLY I'll take gin smothered in bourbon. Nyuk, nyuk. MOE (to Larry and Curly) Boys. Moe motions with eyes and head to something o.s. They follow his gaze. They stare at each other for a split second before racing away from Rumsford and over to a table loaded with drinks. Sherry stands at the punch bowl fixing a drink. SHERRY Gentlemen, do have some rum punch. Sherry leaves with the drink and a tray of hors d'oeuvres. CURLY Rum punch? Why, soitanly. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Curly removes his gloves. Larry pulls the stethoscope from his pocket. LARRY (off the stethoscope) I knew this thing would come in handy. Larry removes the earpieces from the stethoscope, leaving only the rubber tubing. Moe watches as Larry offers one of the earpiece tubes to Curly. LARRY Will you join me? The business end of the stethoscope is dropped into the bunch bowl. CURLY Soitanly. Skoal. LARRY Skoal. Using the tubing as a tandem drinking straw, Larry and Curly SLURP up some of the rum punch. After a moment, they stop and make faces. LARRY This is weak. CURLY Yeah. The rum went through this punch on stilts. Moe takes a bottle from the table, opens it and takes a whiff. MOE This Scotch ought to help. LARRY (picking up another bottle) This gin should make it fizzy. CURLY (with two bottles) Bourbon and rum ought to help some. Curly sniffs one of the bottles. He sneezes twice and is about to sneeze again when Sherry returns to the table and offers him a tray. SHERRY (to Curly) Hors d'oeuvre? CURLY No. Hay fever. Sherry busts out laughing at this and walks off. The Stooges pour the various bottles into the punch bowl. When these are emptied, they turn to some other bottles on the table. MOE Hey, here's some new kind of liquor. Wor-cester-shire! (pours Worcestershire sauce into the punch bowl) Oh, ho ho ho. LARRY This says "Tabasco" -- I ain't never drunk any. But we'll put it in. MOE What have you got to lose? Larry pours hot Tabasco sauce into the bowl. Curly squeals and claps his hands with delight as he finds a bottle of his own. CURLY Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Sham paynee! Curly POPS the cork on his champagne bottle. The cork flies off and champagne SPRITZES out of the top. Curly covers the bottle with his hand to stop the flow. After a pause he looks over at Moe and does a double take. We SWISH PAN TO discover Moe with the champagne cork wedged in his right eye. Moe grimaces, pulls the cork from his eye, stares at it for a second, puts it down, and confronts Curly. MOE You shouldn't handle dangerous weapons. (off the champagne bottle) Give me that. CURLY I will not! MOE Let me have it! CURLY (reluctantly) Ohhh... Curly removes his hand and the foam SPRAYS Moe. Curly directs the stream of champagne into the punch bowl while Moe BOPS Curly's head several times in succession. Larry calls Moe's attention to the punch bowl. LARRY Look! It's boiling. The punch is practically steaming. CURLY It must be done. The Stooges grab little glass cups and dip them into the bowl. They clink their glasses together and all three drink simultaneously. After a moment, they wince horribly and belch PUFFS of smoke from their mouths. They put down their glasses and wipe their mouths, looking rather pleased. LARRY A marvelous accomplishment. MOE A prodigious achievement. CURLY You said it! It's putrid! Suddenly, Rumsford joins the Stooges at the table. RUMSFORD Gentlemen, would you be good enough to look my wife over now? MOE A pleasure. RUMSFORD This way. The Stooges follow Rumsford to the sofa where Sherry and the Countess sit talking. RUMSFORD (to Sherry) The doctor's going to look you over, dear. SHERRY Oh, goody. Curly joins Sherry and the Countess on the sofa, sitting between them. Moe and Larry stand nearby. MOE (to Sherry) Now, uh, we shall test your reflex first. SHERRY Okay, Doctor. CURLY Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Sherry's legs are crossed and Curly taps her just below the knee to test her reflexes. But nothing happens. Sherry just laughs. Curly squeals in frustration and taps her again. Still nothing. Curly squeals and palms his face. CURLY This is the way a normal reflex should act. To demonstrate, Curly crosses his own legs and taps himself below the knee. Nothing. He does a double take and scowls at Sherry. Now, Curly turns to the Countess sitting beside him and taps her knee, still with no result. THE COUNTESS (offended, to Curly) I beg your pardon. Delighted with Curly's boldness, Sherry gasps and puts a hand to her mouth. CURLY (to the Countess) Oh, you don't have to apologize. You can't help it you're crazy. The Countess is so shocked by this remark that the monocle pops out of her eye. MOE (to Curly) C'mere, guinea pig. Curly rises, sits on the arm of the sofa, and crosses his legs. Moe kneels beside him and prepares to show him how it's done. (Meanwhile, some of the other guests, including the Countess, start tapping themselves below the knee.) MOE (professorially) Now, then. Holding the palm at a forty-five degree angle... Moe taps Curly below the knee. Nothing happens. MOE Must be off a couple of degrees. Moe tries again. Still nothing. MOE (upset, to Curly) Trouble is, you've got no life. Moe KETTLE DRUMS Curly in the stomach. Curly's leg lashes out and KICKS Moe, sending him backward. MOE Oh! Curly backs away, squealing, afraid of retaliation. Reaching the other side of the room, Curly trips over the leg of a bookish guest who sits in a chair, reading a newspaper. Curly falls to the floor. CURLY (to the guest) Pardon me. GUEST I'm sorry. The guest goes back to reading his paper and crosses his legs. Still on the floor, Curly sees the guest's crossed legs and decides to tap him below the knee. He hits it hard and makes a loud wooden THUMP. The guest puts his paper down and stares at Curly who squeals in frustration before THUMPING the leg again. Finally, Curly smacks himself in the face a few times and karate CHOPS the leg. Curly clutches his hand in pain and HOWLS. The guest gives Curly an "it serves you right" nod. The guest uncrosses the leg and when it BANGS loudly to the floor we realize it is a wooden leg. Curly stares at this, reaches down, and KNOCKS on the wood. It sounds like someone knocking at a door, so Curly says: CURLY Come in. Curly pulls the guest's trouser leg up to reveal the actual wood -- and a tiny sign that reads: POST NO BILLS. Curly rises and backs away in horror until he encounters a large white marble statue of a muscular man sitting on a pedestal. Sort of a cut-rate version of Rodin's The Thinker. Curly eyes the statue's bent leg and contemplates tapping its knee with glee. CURLY Ooo-oohh. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Curly taps the statue's knee and -- improbably -- obtains the desired result: the statue's leg flexes. In response, an amazed Curly barks like a dog at the statue. Then pauses to wonder how the statue could have come to life. (It is, of course, a male model made up to look like a statue.) Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Moe, Larry and the other guests are all bent over, tapping their legs below the knee. Williams enters and makes an announcement. WILLIAMS Dinner is served. Moe straightens up and turns to Larry. MOE Eats! Curly starts GIBBERING like a madman and running in place. Moe jumps over the sofa. Larry runs around it and hops on Moe's back for a piggy-back ride into the dining room. The guests and Williams watch all this with stunned looks while Sherry laughs happily. Finally, Curly runs over and jumps on Williams' back for his own piggy-back ride into the dining room. SHERRY (laughing, to the stunned guests) Aren't they marvelous? DISSOLVE TO: INT. RUMSFORD MANSION - DINING ROOM - DAY Everyone save Williams is seated at the dining room table. Sherry sits at the head of the table. On her right sits Moe and Larry (when Larry tries to flirt with the lady on his right, Moe grabs him violently by the hair). On Sherry's left sits Curly. To Curly's left is the Countess. Rumsford sits at the other end of the table, opposite Sherry. The seating arrangement looks like this: Sherry Moe Curly Larry The Countess Lady Male Guest ? Matronly Woman ? John Rumsford Everyone has a cream puff in front of them. We know what that means... CURLY (to Sherry) I just love cream puffs. SHERRY Oh, I hope you gentlemen will like my Spanish dinner. CURLY I'm just crazy about Spanish food -- especially corned beef and cabbage. SHERRY (laughing, to guests) Isn't he funny? Ha ha ha! Curly notices the Countess looking around for something. CURLY What's all the fuss? THE COUNTESS I believe I dropped my serviette. CURLY Well, just keep seated. Nobody'll notice it. The Countess gives him a look. Curly shoots her a look right back. CURLY Okay, have half of mine. Curly tears his napkin in half and hands it to the Countess. THE COUNTESS (snootily) Thenk you. Curly grins, waves and offers a quiet "Nyuk, nyuk." Then, Curly sees the Countess powdering her face with a powder puff. He squeals quietly, digs into his pocket, and pulls out an electric razor. He plugs in the razor (apparently, the socket is built right into the dining room table) and it starts to BUZZ loudly. Curly starts shaving himself, much to the Countess' annoyance. He yelps when he snags a piece of skin just above his lip. Then he reaches over and starts shaving the Countess' face. She shrieks and jumps in horror at this. THE COUNTESS Really! She goes back to powdering her face. Curly gives her one of his eloquent dismissive waves and goes back to shaving. Williams approaches the Countess with a tray. WILLIAMS Biscuit, Madame? THE COUNTESS No, thank you. Williams is about to offer Curly a biscuit but is shocked and offended to see him shaving at the dinner table. WILLIAMS (disapproving) Sir?! CURLY Quiet! WILLIAMS (regains his composure) Biscuit, sir? CURLY (rubbing his hands with glee) Oh, soitanly! Curly takes a biscuit and sets to work on it with a knife while Williams grimaces in disbelief and moves on. William offers the tray to Moe and Larry. WILLIAMS Biscuit, sir? Moe and Larry manage to take their biscuits without incident (Larry takes two). While Moe shakes enough salt onto his biscuit to preserve the entire Columbia film library, Larry makes a sandwich out of his two biscuits and a giant stalk of celery. With both hands, Larry raises the unwieldy sandwich to his mouth and is about to bite into it. MOE (to Larry) Hey. Where's your Emily Post? Moe's reference to the famous etiquette maven causes Larry to stick both his pinkies in the air before biting down joyfully on the sandwich with an impolite CRUNCH. Moe nods in approval and continues to salt his biscuit. Meanwhile, the Countess continues powdering her face. Curly has cut his biscuit in two and places one half on the table and starts to butter the other half. CURLY This is my favorite dish. Biscuits! Biscuits all the time. The Countess sets the powder puff down on top of Curly's half-biscuit. He finishes buttering, picks up the powder puff by mistake, and puts his "biscuit" in his mouth. He tries to bite off a piece but can't. He makes a face, then squeals; the Countess who now puts on lipstick, gives him a disdainful look; Curly finally bites a piece of powder puff, glancing happily at the Countess; struggles to chew it, going cross-eyed at the effort; swallows some down; takes another bite; squeals, earning another look from the Countess; Curly pauses for a moment ... then abruptly stuffs the biscuit in his mouth and tears off another piece. The Countess sighs and rolls her eyes. Suddenly, Curly starts to choke. He grabs his throat, eyes bulging. Desperately, he WHACKS the back of his head causing face powder to SPEW out of his mouth. He grabs a water glass from off the table and drinks some down. He turns to look at the Countess and grimaces. The Countess is white with powder and totally mortified. Sherry cracks up at the sight of her. SHERRY (to Curly) You funny, funny man! MOE (grimly ironic) Yes. Isn't he a scream? Williams serves the tamales, a native Mexican food made of minced meat and red peppers rolled in cornmeal and wrapped in corn husks. SHERRY Ooh, I just love tamales in the Spring! CURLY (off his tamale) What a funny thing. It don't know whether it's comin' or goin'. Suspicious, Moe and Larry peer at their tamales, at first tapping them cautiously, then POUNDING them. Curly picks his up, shakes it, hears a GLOOPY sound from its interior, sets it on his plate, and strikes up a conversation with it. CURLY (to the tamale) Speak to me so I'll know which is the head or the tail. Curly barks at it twice, then pats it gently as if it were a dog. CURLY (to the tamale) Quiet now, quiet. Nyuk, nyuk. Moe tries to penetrate the corn husk with a spoon, to no avail. MOE (to himself) This thing can't lick me. Moe tucks his napkin into his collar and starts to manhandle the tamale. Meanwhile, Larry uses a fork and a knife on his tamale with no result. LARRY Mmm. Stubborn, huh? Finally, Curly figures out that you have to unwrap the darn things and happily begins to do so. CURLY Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Larry butters and salts his and BITES down on it as if it were corn-on-the- cob. Moe tries to finger-poke his tamale as if it were Curly. Finally, he tries to squeeze the life out of it. MOE Get tough with me-- ?! Moe SLAMS it to his plate. Sauce SQUIRTS out of it and blackens Moe's face. He tries to wipe it off, only making it worse. MOE (off the tamale) A bomb! An infernal machine! Curly keeps tearing off flakes of husk, finally finding one he likes. Moe starts to do the same. Curly salts his husk and pops it in his mouth. Moe butters one of his own, puts it with another one, and eats it like a sandwich. He claps his hands together and looks satisfied -- until he tastes the husk. Then, he pauses to make a face. Curly scrapes sauce off a husk with his knife and grows wild-eyed with anticipation as he salts the husk and stuffs his mouth with it. Larry, having made no progress, bites into one end of his tamale causing sauce to STREAM out the other end and blacken Curly's face. Upset, Curly wipes his eye. Larry looks in horror at what he's done. CURLY (angry, to Larry) Why, you--! Curly picks up a tamale and threatens to throw it at Larry. LARRY I'm sorry. Don't throw it! Don't throw it! Larry ducks his head into Moe's lap as Curly throws. The tamale hits and spatters Moe. Moe grabs Larry by the hair and pulls him off his lap. MOE (to Larry) Get up, you. Moe SMACKS Larry on the forehead and turns to Curly. MOE (to Curly) Why, you--! Moe picks up a cream puff to throw at Curly. CURLY Moe! Don't! Curly ducks his head into the Countess' lap as Moe throws. The cream puff hits the Countess in the forehead. Curly pops up. CURLY I ducked -- Curly sees the creamed Countess and reacts with horror. The Countess desperately tries to maintain an air of dignity. The young MALE GUEST sitting beside her begins to roar with laughter at the sight of her. So she SMACKS him in his open mouth with a cream puff. Now, it's Sherry's turn to laugh hysterically. The Male Guest grabs a cream puff and eyes the Countess. He rises, much to her dismay, preparing to hit her with it. THE COUNTESS (also rising) Oh, no no no no no no... But, at the last second, he throws the cream puff at Sherry instead, hitting her square in the face. Rumsford, sitting at the far end of the table next to the guest named John, puts a hand to his head in dismay. But Sherry, smiling like a kid, winds up and pitches her cream puff across the length of the table, hitting John. Then she grabs Curly's cream puff and hits Rumsford as he is shouting: RUMSFORD This is outrageous! I demand that something be done-- ! Sherry laughs even harder than before, shaking in her chair, her mouth wide open. Rumsford grabs a cream puff and somehow throws it right into her open mouth. John, wiping some cream from his face, accidentally FLICKS some onto the Matronly Woman beside him. She, in turn, picks up her cream puff and SMACKS him with it. They start throwing the rest of their food at each other. MOE (to Curly) This is all your fault, you-- Moe picks up a cream puff. Curly hides behind the Countess. CURLY Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo... Cut it out, Moe! A cream puff hits the Countess. She sputters. Curly pokes his head out from behind her. CURLY Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. He ducks back. Another cream puff hits the Countess. CURLY (to Moe) You missed me. The Countess says something defiant but incomprehensible. MOE Ehh, that'll teach you! Moe gets hit by a cream puff. An untouched FEMALE GUEST tries to keep the peace. FEMALE GUEST Folks! This must stop! The woman is instantly CLOBBERED by a cream puff. By now, the room has degenerated into anarchy: Sherry, Larry, Moe, Curly and the others all either throw cream puffs or get hit with them or both. Curly ducks beneath the table and pops up with his napkin covering his head. Of course, the moment he peeks out from behind it, he is WHACKED with a cream puff -- CURLY I surrender! I-- Curly rises, grunts, and gets WHACKED again. CURLY Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. An unsuspecting Williams calmly enters the room and stares wide-eyed in amazement. Everyone is throwing food. WILLIAMS Doctor York just-- Williams gets hit by a cream puff. Huffily, he turns to exit and gets a cold one right in the back of the neck. He raises his shoulders high, exhales deeply, and marches out of the room. Rumsford and the Stooges crawl on hands and knees away from the rioting partygoers and confer in a quieter part of the room. RUMSFORD (to the Stooges) Gentlemen, I think you'd better leave now while my wife's still enjoying herself and before she changes her mind. Believe me, I'm grateful. (pulls out a wad of cash) Will-will about fifteen hundred do? MOE (taking the whole wad) Oh, that's just right. Thanks. Rumsford crawls away to join Sherry while the Stooges count their money. Sherry is having a ball, throwing and being thrown at. SHERRY Whoooo! Ha ha ha! A smiling Rumsford approaches, carrying a huge chocolate cake that says HAPPY BIRTHDAY on it. SHERRY (happily, off the cake) Oh, my birthday cake! Oh, darling, in all my life I've never had so much fun! Rumsford immediately DUMPS the entire cake on her head. RUMSFORD Me, too. They stare at each other, she in disbelief and he, inscrutably, with his hands on his hips. FADE OUT This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page