Pulp Fiction, 1938 · page 21 of 64
10 Story Book, August 1938 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 21 - Story Prose This page contains dialogue-heavy prose from a comedic theatrical piece titled "Intriguing Stories, Spiced with Pretty Girls!" The scene depicts characters named Agamemnon, Phryne, Praxiteles, and Doris in what appears to be a sculptor's studio. The plot involves Agamemnon attempting to commission a sculpture from Praxiteles, with humorous misunderstandings ensuing—particularly involving Praxiteles offering to show Agamemnon another man's wife (presented as a statue) rather than introduce him to Phryne. The scene culminates with Agamemnon leaving with the sculpture to take to "the old statutory grounds." The tone is light and flirtatious throughout.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
INTRIGUING STORIES, SPICED WITH PRETTY GIRLS! are commencing to have a petting party on the bench.) Agamemnon: I think you’re wonderful! Phryne: I’m glad you like me (Sunuggles closer.) Agamemnon: Oh, boy! If my wife knew what I’m doing now! I almost wish she were here. She might learn something, the old chunk of ice. Phryne: Oh, are you married? Agamemnon: Yes. But my wife doesn’t understand me. She likes literature, but I prefer works of art like you. (Doris shakes her fist at him. Praxiteles picks up his hammer and chisel and starts working on a block of stone near Doris.) Praxiteles: Keep stiff. Agamemnon (a little drunkenly): Whoosa stiff ? Praxiteles: I said I was a little stiff in my joints. Phryne: You always are. from them. Praxiteles: From what? Phryne: Joints. Praxiteles: Some nectar! Agamemnon: I don’t care if they did. She knows her stuff. Praxiteles: What are you talking about? I want Phryne to give us some of that nectar she makes. (Phryne gets another jug and pours drinks for Praxiteles and Agamemnon. They drink. Both sputter and cough a little as it goes down. Agamemnon takes chisel and hammer from Praxiteles and goes over to Doris.) Agamemnon: Wow! What a drink! Even statues are beginning to look good to me! (Points chisel at rear end of Doris, lifts hammer and says): I’d like to take a crack at this myself. Keep away 21 Praxiteles: Put it down. You handle it like a can opener. Stop it. You'll make another Greek ruin out of her. Agamemnon (drunkenly): Oh, please. Just one little chip off the old block. One teentsie, weentsie wallop. Here goes! (Praxiteles grabs his arm but not before the chisel has poked Doris slightly. She yells and jumps a little but resumes pose wmmediately, Phryne is frightened, gives a little screem and runs out.) Agamemnon: By the gods! What is it? Praxiteles (confidentially): That isn’t a statue at all. Agamemnon: What is it then? Praxiteles (more confidentially): somebody else’s wife! Agamemnon (laughing): Somebody else’s wife? Praxiteles: Sure. I was going to intro- duce you when Phryne came in, but Phryne would have been jealous and made a row. You know how women are. Agamemnon: That’s a good one! And I was going to take a crack at somebody else’s wife! Tell you what I'll do for you. Vl let on it’s a statue I’ve bought from you and carry her outside for you.. How’s that? Praxiteles: Fine. (Agamemnon picks up Doris over hts shoulder and starts out the door as Phryne re-enters.) Phryne: Aggie? Agamemnon: Somebody else’s wife. Oh, ho! Phryne: Oh. Ho! Where are you taking her? Praxiteles: Down to the grounds. Phryne: What grounds? Praxiteles: The old statutory grounds! BLACKOUT, CURTAIN. It’s What’s that you got there, wv Comiclooe® C@