Question: Build a movie plot around this: What work is Paulie doing? writing a screenplay
Answer:
At the New York Bulletin newspaper, its owner, Robert Drexel Gow (Charles Coburn), who has invested $2 million into this five year old project, receives a teletype story that the newspaper's editor, Max Wharton (Alexander Knox), is resigning to enlist in the army. Robert is livid, both at the news and the method that he found out about the news. There is a second story on the teletype: Max's wife, the famous novelist Paula Wharton (Irene Dunne) - who Max calls Paulie - is in Hollywood adapting her latest book into a movie screenplay. To the newspaper's Board of Directors, Robert rants his displeasure. Thirty-nine year old Max, joining them, tells them that he told them of this news two months prior, the only unknown at that time being the time of enlistment, which is in five hours. Max wants to do his duty as a citizen and responsible journalist to be close to the war, World War II. Robert's view is that without Max, the newspaper will fold because Max *is* the newspaper. Max counters that wouldn't be leaving unless he felt his hand picked replacement, Edward Kennedy (Robert Emmett Keane), could do the job, and that the newspaper has a strong editorial policy that guides what its employees do. From Hollywood, Paulie telephones Max. Not previously having known what her husband's intentions were, Paulie congratulates him on his decision. After Max informs her of the plan of basic training then possibly officer's candidate school, Paulie decides that she will move to where ever that school is to be close to him. The timing is perfect as she has seven or eight weeks worth of work to complete her screenplay for producer Joel Nixon (Pierre Watkin) before she makes her move. Before Max leaves, Robert wants to know his whereabouts at all times so that he contact him to solve the plethora of problems he foresees happening at the newspaper during his leave. Max wants no communication with Robert or the newspaper while he's gone, as he sees it as a point of distraction from his more important work of getting through...