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Heaven Can Wait
Comedy-Fantasy in Three ActsBy Harry Segall.
Filmed as:
Here comes Mr. Jordan (1941), directed by
Alexander Hall.
Heaven Can Wait (1978), directed by
Warren Beatty and Buck Henry.
ASIN: B000GVIZMI
Published by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Published 1941.
Description:
Mr. Jordan is checking passengers who are to
depart in an airplane for the Hereafter. The routine is interrupted by the
arrival of Joe Pendleton, an attractive prizefighter, who refuses to admit he
is dead and induces Jordan to look up the "records," which reveal
that Joe is not scheduled to arrive for another 60 years! But, as Joe starts to
return to earth to continue his fighting, word reaches Heaven that Max Levene,
Joe's manager, thinking he had been killed, had Joe's body cremated, and Joe
has no body to return to. Jordan promises to find Joe another body and is
informed that the wealthy Jonathan Farnsworth is about to be murdered by his
wife. So, Joe suddenly finds himself in the home of the financier, visible as
Joe to the audience but apparently as Farnsworth to Mrs. Farnsworth, and the
public. The comedy begins when the pompous "Farnsworth" unaccountably
goes into training as a fighter. In addition, "Farnsworth" decides to
share his wealth and right the wrong "he" did to charming Bette
Logan's father. Bette, having despised Farnsworth, finds herself falling in
love with him and he with her. Just as Joe (still in Farnsworth's body) is
about to get a chance to become a fighter, Jordan reports that Farnsworth does
not approve of Joe's treatment of his body (and money) and is raising a fuss to
have it back. While deciding on another body for Joe, Jordan receives a flash
that K.O. Murdock, the champion, has been mysteriously shot. As K.O. is about
to be counted out Jordan transfers Joe's spirit into the body of K.O. in time
to have K.O. remain champ. There are still problems to be straightened out when
Joe really becomes Murdock and loses memory of his previous
existence-includingBette. Fortunately, they meet and fall in love again-and Mr.
Jordan is free to head for the Hereafter, his earthly task accomplished."
