PLAYHOUSE 90: THE SECOND HAPPIEST DAY (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series. Gus Taylor, a publishing executive, rehearses his wedding to rich socialite Lila Norris. The rehearsal is interrupted by the arrival of Tula Marsh, who tells Gus that her son George, his best friend, has shot himself and is only barely alive. Despite the protestations of Lila's mother Ava, Gus leaves the rehearsal in order to visit George as he recalls the events that led him to this day. He recalls his college days, where he meets George for the first time; Gus has just returned from the Korean War and is roommates with George and a freshman named Charles Vale, nicknamed "Cuppy." Gus and George become fast friends, and discover that both of them are in the pre-law program. Gus wants to join George's club, as George was born into money and he desires the connections it will afford him. Gus cannot help but notice the picture of Lila which George constantly keeps on his desk; George intends to marry her. Two months later George tries to get Gus into his club, but the others vote against it. Gus believes he didn't make it in due to his rich friends viewing him as beneath them. He discusses his upbringing in a small Massachusetts town and his ambitions, including a desire to become a Supreme Court Justice. Gus is somewhat envious of George, since he feels that his family's wealth ensures him a bright future. George is moved by Gus's sentiments and invites him to come along to Lila's birthday party during winter break. At the party Gus is first introduced to Lila and there is an immediate attraction between the two of them. However, they do not get the chance to talk since Gus accidentally splatters Ava with champagne upon meeting her, causing her to retire to her bedroom. Embarrassed, Gus drinks himself into a stupor over the course of the evening. He accidentally wanders into Ava's room and collapses. Ava is incensed at him but helps clean a cut he sustained in his fall. As George and Lila try to take Gus away, he speaks his mind about his treatment by Ava and her high society friends, feeling that they "don't represent quality" and that they have no ambition like him. He exits, leaving an impression on Ava and Lila. Over the next six months, Gus focuses himself wholly on his studies at law school. His friendship with George improves, and he is even let into George's club. He doesn't see Lila or Ava again until graduation, when he and George hold a party in their room. Ava takes Gus aside and says that she appreciates his "guts" and his ability to speak his mind in front of her. She offers him a job at "Blythe," the magazine she publishes, but he refuses. Much to Gus's surprise, Ava says that she will not allow George to marry Lila since she feels he will become directionless after school, and that Lila is "weak and pretty." She implies that Gus should try to take Lila away from George. George makes an announcement at the party to make his wedding plans official. However, at Ava's urging Gus and Lila share a passionate kiss when no one else is looking. After the party, George goes to make sure everyone gets home safely, leaving Lila and Gus alone in their room. One they're alone, Lila attempts to seduce Gus. She says that Ava has arranged for George to hold off his marriage to Lila until he gets a real job, and that he's abandoning law school to work for her magazine, since Ava "makes quick executives." Finally they cannot contain themselves and admit they love each other. Lila says she'll carry on an affair with Gus until she's married with George, but Gus finds this so distasteful that he rips off Lila's shirt and leaves in a fury, leaving Lila alone, sobbing. Gus tries to forget the incident with Lila but cannot put it out of his mind. Several months later he receives an invitation from George to his bachelor party. He goes to George's house and meets his mother Tula, who recounts her numerous failed marriages and talks about her alcoholism. She grows more morose as she calls George "lost" and recounts his father's suicide ten years ago. Gus, feeling rather uncomfortable, leaves. He visits George in his office at Ava's magazine, but George is soon called away to Ava's office. Ava furiously berates George for his incompetent work; Gus inadvertently overhears everything. During all this, Lila comes in to see Gus. According to Lila, Ava plans to fire George and prevent him from marrying her. Gus is concerned about what this will do to George. George comes back in, still reeling from Ava's fury. He contemplates traveling to Europe or Texas to take up business, and still wants Lila to marry him, although Lila indicates ambivalence towards accepting. Defeated and distraught, George leaves. Gus marches into Ava's office and stands up to her. She admits that she brought George into her office and fired him specifically so that Gus would overhear her. Ava offers him George's job at the magazine, and offers him Lila along with it. Gus tries to get Ava to arrange it so that George will marry Lila, but Ava counters that Gus has only this one opportunity to "claim" Lila for himself. Gus nearly leaves, but returns for Lila. George leaves for Texas and Gus assumes his position at the magazine. Lila tells George that she needs more time to herself, but in truth she plans to marry Gus. Gus does not tell George the truth. Gus runs the magazine proficiently and feels he is happy. Ava tells him that George is coming to visit, believing that he will pick up Lila and they will be married. Gus asks Lila to meet George at the airport alone and tell him the truth. Lila is frightened at the idea of being alone and not having anyone to tell her what to do, but Gus assures her that she will be able to do it. The next day, Cuppy visits Gus and Cuppy reminds him that he gave up his profession in law for the publishing job. Gus is confident that everything will work out and picks Cuppy to be his best man. However, he is asked by Ava to come to the house immediately, where he finds her chastising a weeping Lila. He learns that Lila married George the previous night, as she felt sorry for him and couldn't bring herself to tell the truth. However, she left him alone since she realized she couldn't stand him. Gus, furious at this turn of events, tries to walk out, but Ava says she can have the marriage annulled, believing that this ultimately proves that Lila loves Gus in a twisted fashion. Six weeks later Lila's marriage to George is annulled at Ava's behest and preparations are made for Gus and Lila's wedding. George disappears, only to return in the midst of Gus's bachelor party, disheveled and on the verge of tears. Everyone except Gus and George leaves so that they can talk. George breaks down crying as he asks Gus to give him Lila back, although Gus responds that if he wants Lila he should take her back himself. George reveals that he got Gus into his club those years ago by threatening to resign from it unless they took him. Gus insists that he never took anything from George and pleads with him to stand up for himself; their confrontation even grows physical as Gus slaps George and both of them break down crying. The next day brings Gus back to the present, where he goes to visit George. However, it is too late: George is dead. Gus eventually returns to the wedding, where he tells Ava of George's death. He admits that had George lived, he would have given him Lila and he bursts into tears. However, they decide that there is nothing more for them to do but to go through with the wedding. Gus emerges and notices Lila talking with a stranger; they appear to be rather close. The ceremony begins and Lila nearly misses her cue by continuing to talk with the stranger. Gus tries to question her about it while they kneel at the altar together, but she dismisses his questions. The story ends as Gus continues with the ceremony, suspicious of Lila. Includes commercials. (This program contains technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Museum.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: June 25, 1959 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:20:20
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:43958
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1956-1960
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Kleenex tissues
CREDITS
- Peter Kortner … Producer
- Ralph Nelson … Director
- Steven Gethers … Writer
- John Phillips … Based on the novel by
- Robert Cummings … Host
- Tony Randall … Cast, Gus Taylor
- Margaret O'Brien … Cast, Lila Norris
- Fay Wray … Cast, Tula Marsh
- Jack Mullaney … Cast, Charles "Cuppy" Vale
- Judith Anderson … Cast, Ava Norris
- John Lupton … Cast, George Marsh III