"Is she all right?" Mackie asked Maple as Betty walked by the studio.
"She'll be fine."
"She's been ill for several days now," Mackie said as he picked up his script.
"Four I believe," Maple said as she sat down at the organ. They waited for a signal from Hester in the control room.
The morning had begun.
#
Betty carefully folded the letter and placed it into the envelope. Using her best penmanship she wrote Scott's Washington address. She slipped the envelope into the pile of bills. Gertie probably wouldn't notice this letter--the fifth one this week. She glanced at the envelope. Perhaps she had his address wrong?
#
#
May 10, 1942
"Betty, I feel so useless," Jeff said as Mackie finished the early afternoon news. "I should be doing more..."
Betty glanced up quickly from the account books. "Well, you could help me with books."
Jeff laughed. "Ummm, Betty--Hilary handles all our finances for a reason. And that's not what I meant. I mean with the war--I should be out there--where is the Coral Sea anyway?"
"Oh. Near Australia. We've been through this before. What you are doing here is important."
Jeff shook his head. "I am constantly asked why I'm here--not over there..."
"Jeff...I have no influence with anybody who can help you...And no desire to become Hilary's next victim." She played with her pencil. "Maple says they are opening some sort of club for service men, maybe you and Hilary can perform Shakespeare..." That had been Hilary's suggestion fifteen minutes earlier. She suspected that Maple's act would be better received. "In fact we've been asked to put together some sort of show..." But Jeff was already starting his litany of Shakespearean roles he would be interested in doing.
"Why don't you work with Hilary and Mackie on this."
Jeff stopped speaking and looked at her. "What about you?"
She shrugged. "I'll remain here. Behind the scenes. Writing scripts...That kind of thing."
"How about Henry V? Once more unto the breach..."
"Good idea...except Hilary wouldn't have much of a part..."
"True...As You Like It? All the world's a stage, and all the men--"
"She would probably prefer it if you would do a romantic scene--not one where you got all the good lines."
Jeff laughed. "It is appropriate--we are on a stage..."
"All the world's a radio...Jeff, why don't you work with Hilary on the wedding scene...Mackie can..."
"Mackie can what?" Mackie asked pushing the door open.
"Shakespeare. All the world's a stage--" She started.
"And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances--" Mackie continued in his best actor's voice. Betty shrugged at Jeff as Mackie continued with the quote. May 17, 1942
Maple sat down by Betty and took her hand. "Betty, is everything all right?" Betty looked up, her eyes were wet, and shook her head.
"I haven't been able to contact Scott...I haven't heard from him since late March...and now...well..."
Maple smiled. "Betty, Betty, Betty...We've guessed."
Betty looked down at her lap. "That obvious?"
"Ever since that day you almost threw-up on Hilary's shoes. Scott doesn't know?"
"I've written him a dozen times and haven't had a response. I even tried calling his rooming house. He hasn't been there for several weeks. His landlady wasn't very informative..." She burst into tears.
Maple wrapped her arms around her friend and let her cry.
#
Mackie sat on the stool waiting for Hands of Time to finish so he could read the news. He studied Foley's face carefully, then his own cards. "Full house. Fives high..." He stared at the five cards Foley put down. Four sevens and a two. He sighed as he slid the paper over to the sound-effects man. "All right," he whispered. "You can read this afternoon's news." Foley smiled as he picked up the news announcements. May 30, 1942
"Betty, sit down," Maple ordered. "I'll take care of that. How you feeling today?"
"Better. I told Mom the other day." She smiled slightly--she'd wanted Scott to be the first to know, but...She'll try to come out soon. She suggested I eat something late at night. It does seem to help with the morning sickness."
"That's good. Well, if you need anything let us know--your wish is our command kind-of thing--you know." Maple grinned. "And Gertie is already knitting booties. Do you want a boy or a girl?"
"I haven't given it much thought...A girl?"
Maple chuckled. "Scott would like that--he could spoil her...I'm sorry, Betty?"
"It's nothing...I heard from him--or rather about him last night. A note from some guy named Friedman--I think he's Scott's boss--saying Scott was fine, just doing some work."
"That's great. I'll tell the others. Did he say when Scott would be back."
"No..." Betty stared at her desk. "It's just the last time someone I know just did some work for the government...He wouldn't tell me where Scott was..."
"I wouldn't worry about Scott--he's a Sherwood...He's fine Betty."
"I hope so."
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