Line's Busy - PT1
Line's Busy - PT1
Line's Busy: Silent comedy written, directed and starring Billy West. A funny sight gag routine as Billy waits to use the telephone but is continuously cut off by someone else. Besides humor, this film also contains a good look at fashion trends of the time.
Line's Busy - PT1
GV Billy standing in an old fashioned telephone booth parlor replete with plush leather couches and such, he reaches into his pocket & pull out a calling card. Title card reading "A brain wave to call up the girl." MCU Billy studying the calling card, he looks up at the camera w/a smile. MS as Billy walks to phone booth, as he opens the door a woman walks out & a man in a hurry rushes in, same thing happens as he tries another. MS door opening to another booth, a rather large man is seated on the floor talking on the phone. MCU Billy standing outside the booth tipping his hat w/"beg your pardon" expressions. MS Billy at booth door as fat man walks out, a second man w/monocle in his eye grabs Billy by the shoulder & asks him for change, man w/monocle slips into booth behind Billy as woman slips into booth Billy was headed toward. MCU Billy tossing his change.
Line's Busy - PT1
MS Billy in parlor waiting to use the telephone, the couple seated on leather couch behind him gets up & leaves, a second couple enters the scene to take their place, Billy walks backwards toward the couch. MS man & woman taking a seat on the leather couch, Billy is walking backwards & not paying attention, he unknowingly takes a seat on the woman's lap, the angry man of the couple jumps up & confronts Billy. Title card reading "That seat is reserved." MS as Billy apologizes, the woman slides over & Billy takes a seat in the middle. MCU man talking on phone inside booth, he opens the door slightly in a teasing manner. MS Billy & others seated on couch waiting in anticipation for their turn. Same exchange is repeated. GV parlor w/Billy & others seated on couch, there is more teasing w/the opening & closing of phone booth door then man in booth finally exits, Billy & man seated on couch rush to booth, Billy gets there first & slams the door in other man's face, man falls to the floor.
Line's Busy - PT1
MCU Billy finally inside telephone booth w/calling card in hand & speaking into receiver. Title card reading "Drop a nickel, please." MCU Billy pulling a quarter out of his pocket. MS man waiting outside phone booth as Billy opens door to look for change. Title card reading "Have change for a quarter?" MS as man fishes into his pocket & gives Billy change, but man pulls a fast one on Billy by pulling him out of the way and running into booth to use it himself, Billy slams the door shut.
Line's Busy - PT1
GV parlor as Billy walks back to the couch to wait for an open telephone, woman seated there stands up & walks off, Billy takes a seat, as he fantasies about the woman he is waiting to call a stylish woman in great flapper dress & hip waddle strut enters the scene. MCU woman. MCU Billy gawking at woman. MCU woman making goo-goo eyes. MCU Billy smiling. MCU woman rolling her shoulder in a flirty way. MCU Billy getting giddy. MCU as Billy stands up from the couch & offers the flapper lady a seat. MCU Billy & flapper lady seated on couch, woman tries to read the message on the calling card Billy holds, scooting closer to him until there is no more couch, a nervous Billy tears the calling card up & tosses the pieces into the air.
Line's Busy - PT1
Title card reading "I could die for a man with a moustache." MCU Billy seated on parlor couch next to an aggressively flirtatious flapper woman, he humorously moves his pocket watch from right to left pocket as she hangs her arm across his back as rubs his shoulder. MS Billy seated at end of couch as flapper woman continues to flirt, an angry man enters the scene & grabs his flapper wife from Billy's side, Billy stands w/a sign of relief & clutches his hand to pocket, his relief turns to panic as he realizes that he no longer has the calling card for the lady that he was originally waiting to call, he falls back onto couch.
Line's Busy - PT1
GV parlor w/Billy seated on couch as large woman enters the scene, she carries packages is one arm & a young girl in the other, Billy moves over so the woman can take a seat. MCU Billy seated on couch next to the young girl who is sitting on her mom's lap, while mom is busy fussing w/her packages the girl purposely knots Billy's hat right off his head, girl laughs as Billy makes some funny facial expressions about the situation. GV parlor as man exits booth, the large woman leaps from the couch to make a call, leaving her bratty daughter on Billy's lap. MS Billy seated on couch w/girl on his lap, he attempts to fix his tie as the girl repeatedly slaps him in the face or messes w/his hat, a frustrated Billy takes the girl's knit cap in which causes her to slap Billy around some more.
Line's Busy - PT1
MCU large woman in phone booth talking away, giving a signal as if say "Just one minute". MCU Billy seated on couch w/bratty girl seated on his lap, she slaps him in the face & laughs. MCU large woman in phone booth talking away, giving a signal as if say "Just one minute". MCU Billy seated on couch w/bratty girl seated on his lap, the girl slaps him in the face repeatedly while laughing. CU woman talking away on telephone. GV parlor as young woman walks out of booth, Billy is seated on couch getting slapped around by the young girl seated on his lap, Billy jumps up & runs to open booth to make a call. MCU young girl seated on couch throwing a temper tantrum. GV parlor w/Billy standing outside booth, his gives up his opportunity in order to console the girl. MCU Billy seated on couch w/girl on his lap, every time he tries to get up the girl starts w/the tantrum.
Line's Busy - PT1
MCU large woman in phone booth talking away, giving a signal as if say "Just one minute". MCU Billy seated on couch bouncing a bratty girl on his lap, she slaps him in the face. CU woman talking away on telephone. GV parlor as man exits booth, Billy jumps up off the couch runs to open booth to make a call, the bratty girl jumps on the couch throwing a tantrum, Billy rushes back to console her. MCU Billy trying to calm the girl down as she jumps on the couch, Billy caves & bounces the girl on lap while she slaps him in the face. GV parlor as girl's mother finally gets off the phone, she walks over to the couch & gathers her packages, Billy is holding her bratty daughter hoping to get rid of her ASAP. MCU woman holding packages talking away as an exhausted Billy ties to hand the bratty girl to her mother.
Line's Busy - PT1
Title card reading "You're the first stranger she ever took to... " MCU woman holding packages talking away as an exhausted Billy ties to hand the bratty girl to her mother. Title card reading "I want you to come up some Sunday and spend the day with her." MCU woman holding packages talking away as an exhausted Billy ties to hand the bratty girl to her mother. GV parlor as Billy finally hands the young girl off to her mother, as mother & child walk off a mob bum rushes the telephone booths leaving Billy to wait once again. MS Billy pacing in front of occupied booths, a woman walks out & Billy rushes in. MCU Billy talking on phone. Title card reading "Line's busy." MCU of Billy on the phone as he releases a sort of yelp & hangs up. MS long line of men & women waiting to use the telephone. MCU Billy inside booth w/wide eyes. MS long line of people waiting to use the phone, Billy bursts out of the booth but runs back inside to avoid being trampled. MCU Billy in telephone booth coming up w/a plan.