Daily Dialogue — November 18, 2019

The door of Bud’s apartment opens, and Bud comes out with the wastebasket full of empty bottles. Just then, DR. DAVID DREYFUSS, whose wife we met earlier, comes trudging up the stairs. He is a tall, heavy-set man of fifty, with a bushy mustache, wearing a bulky overcoat and carrying an aged medical bag. 
 
DR. DREYFUSS: Good evening, Baxter. 
BUD: Hi, Doc. Had a late call?
DR. DREYFUSS: Yeah. Some clown at Schrafft’s 57th Street ate a club sandwich, and forgot to take out the toothpick.
BUD: Oh. (sets down wastebasket) ‘Bye, Doc. 
DR. DREYFUSS: (indicating bottles) Say, Baxter — the way you’re belting that stuff, you must have a pair of cast-iron kidneys.
BUD: Oh, that’s not me. It’s just that once in a while, I have some people in for a drink.
DR. DREYFUSS: As a matter of fact, you must be an iron man all around. From what I hear through the walls, you got something going for you every night.
BUD: I’m sorry if it gets noisy — 
DR. DREYFUSS: Sometimes, there’s a twi-night double-header. (shaking his head) A nebbish like you!
BUD: (uncomfortable) Yeah. Well — see you, Doc.

Starts to back through door.

DR. DREYFUSS: You know, Baxter — I’m doing some research at the Columbia Medical Center — and I wonder if you could do us a favor?
BUD: Me?
DR. DREYFUSS: When you make out your will — and the way you’re going, you should — would you mind leaving your body to the University?
BUD: My body? I’m afraid you guys would be disappointed. Good night, Doc.
DR. DREYFUSS: Slow down, kid.

— The Apartment (1960), written by Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Doctor. Today’s suggestion by Gsmiley.

Trivia: The studio wanted Groucho Marx for the role of Dr. Dreyfuss, but Billy Wilder said no, stating that he wanted an actor with more dramatic weight for the part.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by Gsmiley: “Halfway through Act One, Dr. Dreyfus is introduced in a funny not-expository kind of way. Important because we’ll need him nearby to treat Fran.”