THE GIFT OF GLORY
By
An intermingling of the present and the past as the early days of a world famous playwright are recalled by one who had known him prior to his acclaim in artistic worlds. With plans for a commemorative biography, a moving picture based on Scott's life, and play festivals under way. Nick tells of his personal relationship with the ""little, talented runt with no love of living and who died in a bughouse"", when he was Louis Scotosi delivering milk in the Gatskills where his wife. Susan, was playing summer stock. He builds up the picture of Louis' great, unselfish love for Susan, his ability to stand insult, cuckoldry, poverty as long as he had Susan; of Susan and her inability to be anything but a nymphomaniac and an alcoholic and her disdain of Louis; of Celeste Hall who hitched firmly on to Louis and used any means, but always smoothly, to get rid of Susan, Celeste, through ceaseless promotion, brings Louis fame and fortune, drives Susan to her death and is told off by Nick when, as the second Mrs. Scott she is collecting on that fame and trying to hush up the first marriage. Speakeasy time for a disillusioned novel of a literary celebrity which has some biting portraits and wry character sketches.