Double Harness Page #2

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Where's Valerie?

Oh, hello, Dennis.

Val will be right down.

Gosh that smells good.

Are we going to eat here?

No, cook's night out. I'm just fixing

something for Father.

And it'll be better than anything

you'll get at your restaurants, too.

- Maybe I'm marrying the wrong sister.

- Oh, no, Valerie can cook if she has to.

- Have a cocktail Dennis?

- Will I?

You didn't think I'd say no,

did you?

- Hello, darling.

- Hello, sweet.

- How do you like me?

- Marvelous.

No cheap speakeasy for us tonight

with this outfit on.

- I thought we'd go to the Little Club.

- I was afraid of it.

Here, Valerie, will you take a little

active interest in these vegetables?

I've got to change.

- Come along, Father, soup's ready.

- Come and get them, children.

Why, Colonel, are you running

out on us?

Yes, I've had a glass of sherry

and my dinner's waiting

- Will you excuse me?

- Yes, sir.

- You know, something tells me I love you.

- Yes, yes, go on.

I ove you, I love you...

I love you.

Darling, I love you.

That's John Fletcher.

He's taking Joan to dinner.

John Fletcher?

Say, that's a swell idea.

John Fletcher and Joan.

I wonder why someone

hasn't thought of that before?

Someone has apparently.

- Is Joan back yet?

- No.

Can I come out too?

I've been in this kitchen before.

Sure, come on, Mr. Fletcher.

- Have a cocktail?

- Thank you.

- Hello, John.

- Hiya, Denny.

Joan will be down in a minute.

We don't always entertain in the kitchen

but this is the cook's night out.

Bring that plate, Denny.

We're going to the Little Club if you'd care

to join us later in the evening.

Oh, it's too noisy and crowded.

Don't expect us.

There's no telling where we'll go.

Thanks for the gardenias, John.

I didn't by any chance tell you that they

were my favorite flowers, did I?

No, you didn't. I just thought

that they were like you,

sort of cooly virginal, yet

exquisitely inviting.

I thought that all out by myself too.

- Just a fool.

- Must I drink alone?

Well, I'm afraid you must.

This is the last one.

I'll share it.

Can you be trusted?

Can you?

In drinking, yes.

- How did you like it?

- Oh, what a lovely play!

Made me want to be all feminine

and clingy.

Good. I hope the effect lasts.

Oh, here comes our car.

We haven't decided where we're going.

Oh, anywhere at ll. As long as it isn't

too noisy and crowded.

I got it. Why don't we go

to my place?

It's quiet and really rather nice.

You've never seen it, have you?

- No.

- The liquor's very good.

And there's a balcony with a grand

view of the city.

I know. On a clear day

you can see Goat Island.

That sounds alluring.

- All right, Freeman, that'll be all, I think.

- Very good, sir. Good night.

Good night.

Of course.

He would.

Would what?

Carefully close the door.

Certainly, I've got him trained.

You even have the moon trained,

haven't you?

Nice, isn't it?

Perfect.

You haven't drugged the champagne,

have you, darling?

No, I'm not that modest.

Thank you.

Oh, my, don't let me fall

asleep here, will you?

That's never happened to me yet.

You're a tremendous success

with women, aren't you?

Almost stupendous. I have to fight

five or six duels a week over them.

- Why, only last Tuesday...

- No, no! Don't tell me.

I'm excited enough for tonight.

You don't act it.

Well, I should hope not.

Do you suppose I want you to think

that this is the first time in my life...

I have ever had supper in a

gentleman's apartment alone at night?

I wouldn't be a bit surprised

if it were the first time.

Are you trying to insult me,

my good man?

Oh, I know you must have had

plenty of opportunities.

But I just like to believe that...

I'm a bit more persuasive than

the other men you know.

You are.

I have to admit I'm completely enamoured

of you. Have been for years.

You've kept awfully quiet about it.

Too much competition.

I knew I didn't have a chance.

Well, now that you have your chance...

I trust you'll make the most of it.

Well, I'm trying to.

Only I don't seem to know

how to go about it.

Suppose I demonstrate.

My flowers.

This crab here is two bits.

What's the jury's verdict in the case

of Mr. Crab?

Immediate execution in the

nearest vat.

- Does that mean you want it?

- Absolutely! Sold for two bits.

- Look!

- Huh?

Isn't that one of your ships?

Well, it's one of the company's.

I can hardly call them mine any longer.

I suppose you're just going to let

that splendid, great business...

slide right out of your hands.

Why not, I don't want it.

These splendid great businesses give

too many headaches these days.

Oh, but the Fletcher Line has been

in your family for so long.

Each generation has built it up.

How can you bear to let it go

into the hands of strangers?

Why not? Rather let the strangers worry.

I've got enough money for my

modest needs.

Oh, but you could be such a tremendous

success, John, if you wanted to be.

- You know you could.

- I like my comfort.

I like all the good things in life

and I like the leisure to enjoy them.

Mind you, I'm not denying that there are

moments when I'm rather tempted...

to dash out and seize the world

by the throat...

and set about making a great man

and a thorough nuisance of myself.

Then I consider the lilies of the field

and how they grow.

And I'm tempted no longer.

After all, why not be a...

lily, when it's so pleasant?

Let's talk about you.

That's much more interesting.

All right.

You know that today is an anniversary?

It's just two months ago tonight...

that I first called on you

in your apartment.

Yes, I wondered if you'd think of it.

Did you?

You want me to lie or tell you

the truth?

Oh, go on, lie.

I want to believe it.

Well, it's no fun to lie to you, Joan.

You know, you uh... you're just about

the only girl I've ever known...

who can stand the honest truth.

You're so darned honest yourself.

Pleased to have met you.

Hey, wouldn't you gals like a nice

bottle of three times two?

I'm fainty.

Now, it's perfectly clear

what you're to do, Val.

Joan, I believe you've fallen

in love with him.

Of course I have.

Makes me so mad I could hiss.

But I thought it was to be

a business proposition.

No emotion to spoil it.

That's what I thought.

Say, how would you gals like a glass

of bear, or a cocktail or something?

- My tongue is hanging out.

- Oh thanks, Denny, no. I have to run.

Besides, I have an engagement.

- Not with John again?

- Yes, with John.

Maybe someone ought to look into this.

- Well, maybe somebody ought.

- Shall I call him up and ask his intentions?

- No, dear.

- Why not?

He might tell you.

But Joan, you haven't seen half

of my new things.

Oh, I'll stop by in a day or two, honey.

Oh, don't come down with me!

I'll turn the lights on.

It's getting dark.

Say, Val, if your telephone rings tonight,

answer it yourself, won't you?

- Sure.

- Yes... of course...

Oh well, I may just scrap

the whole idea.

- Goodbye.

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