Double Harness Page #3

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- Goodbye.

Mr. Fletcher's apartment.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Page.

No, I haven't forgotten.

Mr. Fletcher hasn't come in yet.

I don't know, but I'll give him your

message as soon as he comes in.

Yes, very well, Mrs. Page,

goodbye.

- Good evening, Freeman. Hot isn't it?

- Good evening, Miss Colby.

It's unusually warm this evening.

- Freeman.

- Good evening, sir.

- Any messages?

- Yes, sir.

That is, no, sir.

Well, make up your mind, which is it,

yes or no?

I think not, no, sir.

- Oh, you think there were no messages.

- Yes, sir.

That is, no, sir.

Well, this interests me. Perhaps you mean

to say that you're not sure, is that it?

I'm sure, yes, sir.

Well, suppose you confide in me, Freeman.

Were there or were there not any messages?

- There were, yes, sir.

- What were they?

Six telephone calls from Mrs. Page, sir.

Oh.

- Only six?

- Yes, sir.

She asked if you'd call her as soon

as you came in, or before.

Thank you, Freeman, very much.

Good night.

Good night, sir.

Is the lovely Monica coming

into the picture again, darling?

Not unless suddenly I lose my mind.

Think you're likely to?

Not while you take an interest in me.

- Do you mind if I ask you a question?

- Certainly not. Shoot.

Why didn't you ever marry

Monica Page?

There was never any question

of marriage between Monica and me.

Haven't you ever wanted

to marry any girl?

Well, not irresistibly.

Satisfied to be a bachelor

all your life, hm?

Madam, you're not by any chance

proposing to me or anything, are you?

Why not?

You could do a lot worse.

- I have quite a number of accomplishments.

- For instance.

Well, I'm a very superior cook,

an economical housekeeper,

I darn an excellent sock, read aloud

very pleasantly, dress quickly,

I'm never late, and in general

I'm clean, sober and industrious.

All the wifely virtues, huh?

I must recommend

you to my bachelor friends.

Thank you, sir, if that's the best

you can offer, let's skip it.

Were you ever a caliph of Baghdad,

do you think?

Possibly.

Tell me, caliph, what becomes of all

your favorites when their day is done?

- The sack, the bow string, the Bosphorus?

- Oh, nothing as prude as that, my dear.

No more gardenias, perhaps.

Perhaps.

Now, see here...

Things are pretty nice just

as they are, aren't they?

Aren't we happy?

Aren't you happy, dear?

Of course not.

I'm in love.

Nobody is ever happy when

they're in love.

Well, I'm in love too.

And I'm so happy I...

I can't believe it.

Ever think of wanting children?

Sure.

Then I pick up the morning paper

and read that the basic cause...

of most of the misery and present

world depression is overpopulation.

A most profound and comprehensive

conclusion, sir. May I congratulate you?

I'm going to get into something cool.

And leave you alone

so you can telephone Monica.

You don't think I'm going to telephone with

you in a room with an extension, do you?

What a nasty, suspicious nature!

Monica!

Hello, darling.

I've been trying to get you for hours.

Don't tell me you were here

all the time.

- No, just got in...

- Oh, Johnny, listen.

A whole gang of us are on our way

to the beach.

And as we were passing here

I thought I'd get you to come along.

Well, that's awfully nice

of you, Monica, but...

- I'm awfully tired tonight.

- Oh, Johnny, do come.

I haven't seen you for weeks.

You're not very hospitable, Johnny.

You might at least offer me a sandwich.

Or a cigarette.

- Help yourself. That's right, isn't it?

- No, my sweet, it isn't.

I'm sorry.

Is that your subtle way

of telling me...

you've quite forgotten me

in the past few weeks?

Now, Monica, you're not the sort

of woman a man forgets.

No?

Well, I used to get kissed

when I called here...

in the good old days before

the depression.

So you did.

Well?

Darling, you are tired, aren't you?

Why don't you come along with us?

The fresh air and the drive

will do you good.

Please, Monica.

Funny, er...

Well, surprising as it may seem,

I have some work to do tonight.

Really.

Rather important work.

Oh...

I see.

Figures, I suppose.

Uh, yes, er...

Well...

I mustn't keep you from your

important work.

But I hope it isn't going to separate you

from your friends altogether.

Oh, no. As a matter of fact it's

making me some new ones.

Men in the shipping business.

Great chaps.

You know, uh...

work isn't nearly so dull

as I used to think it was.

I can see it isn't.

Valerie?

All right. Do you understand?

Right... bye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

When the work pours, you have my number.

That's right.

Goodbye.

You don't imagine for a moment...

that Monica believed all that about

your work, do you?

She might have if she hadn't

seen that hat.

Oh, my dear, I am sorry.

Oh, I forgot all about it.

I'll never be any good

at intrigue, will I?

Oh, it's all right.

She doesn't know whose it is.

I'll have to give it to the Salvation

Army tomorrow.

Why? She'll never recognize it again.

That shows how little you know

about women.

There's an exact mental photograph of this

hat indelibly imprinted on her memory.

Well, I only hope she sees it

on the right type.

- Poor Monica.

- Why poor Monica?

You loved her once.

It's curious, isn't it?

How you can think you're in love

with someone...

and all of a sudden it's gone.

You find yourself completely cold.

It is curious.

And a little bit frightening.

I wonder...

if once that feeling goes

you can ever get it back.

I don't think so.

Shall I duck?

I won't let anybody in.

Oh.

Hello, John. Is Joan here?

- Why, er...

- I was afraid so.

Joan!

I didn't believe it.

Not you, Joan.

I could trust you anywhere.

Father...

Go and get dressed.

Well, John?

I don't know.

What do you propose I should do?

I should have thought the obvious course for

a gentleman to take under the circumstances...

would have suggested itself

to you before this.

Marriage isn't the happy solution

of all problems, Colonel.

Joan may not care for me

as a husband.

I've never asked her, but...

- I don't see why she should.

- I don't either.

But having gone this far she's probably

ready to take the consequences.

At least may I suggest

that the decision to marry...

or not to marry be left with her?

I don't see how there can be

any two ways about it.

But if she doesn't want you,

I shall not try to force her to marry you.

Quite right.

May I offer you a drink?

Yes, I'll have a straight whisky.

Thank you.

Joan...

I'm sorry, Father.

There seems to me to be only

one thing for you two to do.

But John suggests that you

may not want to marry him.

I can't believe you'd give yourself

to a man you didn't love.

- I love John, Father.

- I'm glad of that, my child.

Then, of course, there's nothing

to prevent the announcement...

of an engagement and marriage

in the near future, is there?

Not if John is willing.

Have you any doubt of

John's willingness?

Do you want to marry me, Joan?

Yes, I do, John.

Very well.

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