Act 1

Excuse me a moment. I have to answer the phone. Make yourself comfortable, Harvey. Hello. Oh, you've got the wrong number. But how are you, anyway? This is Elwood P. Dowd speaking. I'll do? Well, thank you. And what is your name, my dear? Miss Elsie Greenawalt? Harvey, it's a Miss Elsie Greenawalt. How are you today, Miss Greenawalt? That's fine. Yes, my dear. I would be happy to join your club. I belong to several clubs now-the University Club, the Country Club and the Pinochle Club at the Fourth Avenue Firehouse. I spend a great deal of my time there, or at Charlie's Place, or over at Eddie's Bar. And what is your club, Miss Greenawalt? Harvey, I get the Ladies Home Journal, Good Housekeeping and the Open Road for Boys for two years for six twenty-five. It sounds fine to me. How does it sound to you, Harvey. Harvey says it sounds fine to him also, Miss Greenawalt. He says he will join too. Yes-two subscriptions. Mail everything to this address. I hope I will have the pleasure of meeting you some time, my dear. Harvey, she says she would like to meet me. When? When would you like to meet me, Miss Greenawalt. Why not right now? My sister seems to be having a few friends in and we would consider it an honor if you would come and join us. My sister will be delighed. 343 Temple Drive-I hope to see you in a very few minutes. Goodbye, my dear. She's coming right over. Harvey, don't you think we'd better freshen up? Yes, so do I.

Aunt Ethel! What a pleasure to come in and find a beautiful woman waiting for me!

Any night. Any night at all, Aunt Ethel-I would be delighted.

Did you, Veta? That was nice of you. Aunt Ethel-I want you to meet Harvey. As you can see he's a Pooka. Harvey, you've heard me speak of Mrs. Chauvenet? We always called her Aunt Ethel. She is one of my oldest and dearest friends. Yes, yes, that's right. She's the one. This is the one. He says he would have known you anywhere. You both look lovely. Come on in with me, Harvey-We must say hello to all our friends-I beg your pardon Aunt Ethel. If you'll excuse me for one moment-

You are standing in his way-Come along, Harvey. Uh-uh! Go right on in, Harvey. I'll join you in a minute. Aunt Ethel, I can see you are disturbed about Harvey. Please don't be. He stares like that at everybody. It's his way. But he liked you. I could tell. He liked you very much.

Yes, sister. Excuse me, Harvey.

Of course, sister. I happen to have a little free time right now and you're welcome to all of it, Veta. Do you want Harvey to wait too?

Ah-Jane Austen. Sit down, Harvey. Veta wants to talk to us. She said it was important. I think she wants to congratulate us on the impression we made at her party. Jane Austen-De Luxe Edition-Limited Grosset and Dunlap-The usual acknowledgements. Chaper One-
KELLY: Right away.

Veta- isn't this wonderful!

Elwood P.

Let me give you one of my cards. If you should want to call me, call me at this number. Don't call me at that one. That's the old one.

Perfectly, all right, and if you lose it- don't worry my dear. I have plenty more.

Thank you. I'll have two. Allow me.

After you, my dear.

After you.

I would much rather look at you, Miss Kelly, if you don't mind. You are really very lovely.

Some people are blind. That is often brought to my attention. And now, Miss Kelly- I would like to have you meet.

Elwood P. Let me give you one of my cards. If you should want-

Well, good for you! I'm happy to know you. How are you, Doctor?

I have had that pleasure, and I want both of you to meet a very dear friend of mine-

After Miss Kelly

Yes, thank you. Would you care to try it?

That's entirely up to him. I wouldn't presume to live his life for him.

Is that so, Doctor?

That certainly appeals to me, Doctor.

That is very often the case.

I find it very interesting, nevertheless. You and Miss Kelly here? This afternoon-you say.

Oh, yes, yes. These things are often the basis of a long and warm friendship.

Your attitude may be old fashioned, Doctor, but I like it.

Now there you surprise me. I think the world and all of Veta, but I supposed she had seen her day.

Veta shouldn't be upset about me. I get along fine.

Oh, yes, I know him. Know his wife, too. Nice people.

What did you have in mind?

That was Veta.

I tell Veta not to worry about that. I'll take care of that.

Yes, I do. As a matter of fact, I would like one right now.

Oh, no, Doctor. No. I don't believe Veta has ever taken a drink.

I certainly am surprised.

Harvey is his name.

I haven't been persecuting her with Harvey. Veta shouldn't feel that way. And now, Doctor, before we go any further I must insist you let me introduce-

From what?

That's the one we never get over-

May I say the same about both of you?

I've always wanted Veta to have everything the needs.

But I wouldn't want Veta to stay out here unless she liked it out here and wanted to say here.

Not very often, Doctor.

I like you too, Doctor. And Miss Kelly here. I like her too.

Does your grandmother drink, too?

You'd better have Veta do that doctor. Veta does all the signing and managing or the family, she's good at it.

Perhaps I better talk it over with judge Gaffney.

You and Ms. Kelly have been so pleasant. I can come back right after dinner. About an hour.

I don't really have to go now. Im not very hungry.

What might I like to do?

Oh for Veta's sake I think I outta do that doctor.

I've enjoyed it too doctor. Meeting you and Ms Kelly.

Is that so doctor, I didn't think anyone knew about that. Nobody does, do you think.

You have to pick the right bush. Since we all seem to have enjoyed this so much lets keep right at it. I would like to invite you and Ms kelly down to charlies place to have a drink. When I like people doctor, I like to stick right with them.

When?

Then lets all go down to charlies at 10 o'clock and have a drink.

And you, Ms Kelly?

Ill pick you up out here in a cab at 10 o'clock and the four of us will spend a happy evening together. I want you both to become friends with a dear friend of mine. You said later so later on it will be. Goodbye now.

Good evening.

I am happy to know that. The names Dowd, Elwood P. Let me give you one of my cards. If you should happen to call me, call me at this one don't call me at that one because thats.....the old one.

What did you have in mind?

Yes I am. I am looking for Harvey, I went off without him.

Oh no nothing like that.

Oh no, he is what you might call my best friend. He is also a pooka. Him, Veta and I came out here this afternoon.

Hmm he was sitting there in that chair with his hat and coat on the table.

Apparently I can't seem to find him anywhere.

Yes that's it.

Oh no as I know it that is something very old.

I am not to surprised by that. I hadn't either until I met him. I do hope you get the opportunity to . meet him. Im sure he will be quite taken away by you.

Not at all. If Harvey Happens to take a liking to someone then he expresses himself quite definitely. If he doesn't particularly like you he sits there like a chair or a empty space on the floor. Harvey takes his time making up his mind about people. Choosey ya see?

Harvey is fond of Veta because he is of me. and Veta and I come from the same family. Now you would think the feelings would be mutual wouldn't you but Veta doesn't like Harvey all that much. Isnt that rather too bad Mrs Chumley

But we must keep on trying.

Because if Harvey has said it once, he said it a million times "Mr. Dowd I'd do anything for you"- Mrs Chumley?

Did you know that the McEllhinneys aunt rose is going to drop in on her unexpectedly tonight from Cleveland.

Neither does she. That puts you both in the same boat now doesn't it?

Mrs McEllhinney lives next door. Wonderful woman. Harvey told me about her aunt rose and that is a little news item that you are free to pass around.

Would you care to come downtown with me and have a drink?

We wouldn't want that, Some other time maybe.

What will you do however, I'm interested.

Would you do that. I'd certainly appreciate that.

Tell him to meet me downtown, if he has no other plans.

He knows where Harvey knows this town like a book.

Just Harvey.

What?

A cocktail party at 12th and Monteview.

I hate to impose of that, But I'd certainly appreciate that.

I didn't know Doctor McClure had a sister in in Wichita!

No.

You're quite sure you haven't have time to come downtown and have a drink with me?

Some other time perhaps.

Well it's been pleasant meeting you. I hope to see you again.

Goodnight my dear. Oh you can't miss Harvey, he's very tall, like this.