Exceptional handwritten manuscript, titled and signed at the top, “The Untold Story, The Schemers, by W. C. Fields,” five pages, 8.5 x 11, no date but circa early 1920s. Fields’s original draft outlining the setting and dialogue for a dramatic scene, apparently for his one-act play entitled ‘What a Night.’ Fields lists the characters at the top, “Sir Marmaduke Gump,” “Lady Sidley Deasey,” “Major Pothlewhistle," and “Bollinger—a servant,” adding notes on behavior and setting, “When Gump is offered a cigar, he takes a handful,” “Closet filled with well-known brands of booze. Open closet so audience can get a peep,” and “All get together to talk quietly over papers, when servant walks through room with squeaky shoes.” Fields made copious corrections and revisions throughout in various inks and pencil. Housed in an attractive custom-made clamshell case with a gilt-stamped leather spine. In very good condition, with overall creases and wrinkles, and various tears and paper loss to edges. Accompanied by a typed transcript. Fields copyrighted the play ‘What a Night’ in 1921, characterized as a humorous absurdist piece. A terrific showcase of Fields’s talent in writing comedy, with great dialogue and slapstick gimmicks. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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