"On his twenty-fifth birthday, provided he has lived according to instructions herein set down, my son, Roland Stone, is to receive his inheritance at the hands of my chosen executor, Lord Howe-Greene, of London, President of the British-American Insurance Co."
Stone sits back and reads over what he has written and is highly pleased. He then rings for a servant and presently Briggs enters. He is a little English butler, who has been in the family for years. Stone turns to him and tells him that he has just been making out his will. Briggs is properly impressed and Stone says to him:
SP: "BRIGGS, I HAVE PROVIDED IN MY WILL THAT IF I DIE BEFORE MY SON YOU ARE TO STAY ON WITH HIM AS LONG AS YOU LIVE."
Briggs is highly pleased, thanks him, Stone dismisses him, goes on writing. (Fade out.)
THE OLD BOY DID DIE, AS HE DESERVED TO, AND LEFT HIS SON AND HEIR, ROLAND STONE, WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT LIVE ON $50.00 PER WEEK.
2. ROLAND'S BEDROOM. (Fade in.) He is lolling in bed in pajamas and dressing gown, smoking a cigarette and opening a stack of bills and reading them.
INSERT—top bill—tailor's bill with a balance from the month before and about $275.00 for this month with a note in heavy letters "PLEASE REMIT." This one is turned over, and the second one is from a club with a statement "You have this day been posted for $179.00 and your credit is hereby suspended until same is paid." This bill is turned over and the third bill is from a florist's for $950.00 worth of flowers sent to Miss Rosalie Bird and has a note reading: "Impossible for us to fill any more orders until these bills are paid."
Roland puts down the bills in disgust, not looking further, as he knows they're all alike.
Briggs, the butler, now enters and takes up the breakfast tray which is lying on the bed opposite beside Roland. Roland looks up to him, then looks at the bills, and says:
SP: "HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO PAY THESE BILLS ON $50.00 A WEEK?"