Double Harness Page #5

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Everybody says he's putting

the Fletcher Line back on the map.

Yes, but he isn't making any money yet,

he's only losing less.

- The car's at the door, Mrs. Fletcher.

- Oh, thank you, Freeman.

- You mean you won't help me?

- But I can't, dear.

- I've given you more than I should already.

- But you've got to!

If you don't, what am I

going to do?

- Why don't you tell Dennis?

- No, I can't tell Dennis. He'd leave me.

He told me the last time if I ever

did it again he'd leave me.

Oh, Denny doesn't mean that,

darling, he loves you.

He did once.

But you don't know what a lot

of bills can do to love.

- You going downtown?

- Yes.

I'll go with you.

What's the money for, Valerie?

Oh, you know...

Clothes and things.

Dennis doesn't understand that

a woman has to look decent.

Do you want me to talk to Dennis

for you, Val?

- You do and I'll poison you.

- Well, what are you going to do?

I don't know.

I've got to think.

I'll ride as far as the hairdresser's

with you, if you don't mind.

I tell you what I'll do.

I'll see how much I can raise

on Mother's ring.

Oh, Joan, would you?

You don't happen to know of a good,

reliable pawnshop, do you?

No, but I'll find one.

Where are you having lunch?

At the Rendez-Vous, with Eleanor Weston.

Want to join us?

No. Eleanor doesn't approve of me.

And does that spoil my whole life.

Besides, I'm lunching with Farley Drake.

Farley Drake.

What's Valerie up to, Joan?

Nothing. Farley and Dennis

are great friends.

Well, I think you'd be very foolish

to give her any more money.

Maybe so, but I'm afraid Dennis

really will leave her...

if she doesn't cut out some

of her extravagances.

Well let him. It'll do both

of them good.

No husband and wife can settle down

to a civilized companionship...

until they've fought through

two or three good separations.

It might better be about money

than lovers.

What do we do about that?

Pretend not to see them?

They'll probably see us.

Of course we might hide our heads

in the sugar bowl.

To be utterly tactful, I suppose you know

this isn't the first time...

they've met since she got back.

Meaning what, dear?

Meaning that in my nasty, evil mind...

I think Monica Page is again going

after your husband.

Well, she may get him.

What's the matter, don't you want him?

I'm mad about him.

Going to hand him over

as easy as that, hm?

I'm getting a divorce from him

in a month or two.

What for?

If you're mad about him.

If I have to compete with that siren

I want it to be on equal terms.

But Johnny, you've only got one life.

And you were such a dear playboy.

You'll find others.

Don't you think I've tried

ever since your marriage?

I hate like the deuce to admit it,

but there isn't anybody else

in the world like you, John.

You're sweet, Monica.

Come on, let's get out of here.

Check, please.

I wonder if she'll be as successful

with him this time as she once was.

Who can tell? Men are so flattered when

a good-looking woman yearns over them.

I know how I can tell.

Meet me at the door, will you?

I'm going to stop by and speak to them.

Go ahead. You look ravishing.

Hello, dear, hello, Mrs. Page.

I saw you just as I was leaving.

I wanted to invite Mrs. Page

to come and spend...

the weekend of the 13th with us

out at the ranch.

Will you come, Mrs. Page?

I'm only having six or eight people...

- ...and you know most of them.

- I'd love to. Thanks so much.

That's fine.

Won't you sit down, Joan?

Oh thanks, dear, no.

Eleanor Weston is waiting for me.

I'm so glad you'll come, Mrs. Page.

John will tell you how to get there

and everything.

Oh, I know the way to Johnny's ranch.

Oh, yes, of course you do.

I forgot.

We'll see you Friday night then.

Do come in time for dinner, hm?

- Thanks.

- Oh, excuse me, Monica...

- I'll show you to your car, Joan.

- Oh thanks, dear, no.

Eleanor and I are walking

down to Magnin. Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, dear.

She's a very clever woman, Johnny.

She is.

Why did you marry her?

- Isn't the answer to that quite obvious?

- But you don't love her.

Well, Monica, I think I'm the best

judge of that.

I suppose you know it's common gossip

that she married you for your money.

It's about as true as most

common gossip.

I'm sorry.

Johnny, do you remember the last time

we were together in this place?

No, I don't think I do exactly.

You don't dare.

You loved me then.

I wonder if I did.

Oh, Johnny, are you ditching

me completely?

You little racketeer, will you kindly

remember that I'm married?

Oh, can't you forget it even

for a little while?

I don't want to.

Now, I've had a suspicion for some

time that I've been a bit of a sap.

I've just been waiting for something

to confirm that suspicion.

And has it been confirmed?

I think it has.

By me?

No.

By my wife.

Farley, you're a successful financier

and I've got to make some money.

Could you tell me how to go about it?

- How much have you got to make?

- A thousand dollars.

Well, why don't I let you have it?

I will, you know?

Any strings?

Naturally.

Naturally.

When shall I send it, Mr. Fletcher?

- I'll take it.

- Yes, Mr. Fletcher.

Did you find that pawnshop all right?

Yes, they were very pleasant.

Just like a bank.

I could only get $500 on it, but I thought

that was better than nothing.

That ring was worth a lot more

than a thousand dollars.

What good will five hundred do me?

It won't pay everybody but at least

it'll keep them quiet...

till you can get caught up.

But I can't tell them I can

only pay half.

It's so darn humiliating.

Well, that's the last I can

give you, Valerie.

I mean it.

I'll never ask for any more

if I can ever get out of this jam.

Farley Drake's coming to dinner

tonight, isn't he?

Yes.

He'd uh... like to make love to me.

- Would you like to have him?

- No.

Oh, my gosh, look at the time.

I've got to take off if I expect to be

back here for 8 o'clock dinner.

Is the Postmaster General like royalty,

that your guests have to be here

ahead of him?

It would be nice if you weren't late.

All right, thanks for the five.

Oh, don't say anything about

the new dress I'm wearing tonight.

I'm hoping Dennis won't notice it.

- Oh, hello, Val.

- Hello, John.

- Is Joan upstairs?

- Yes.

You and Denny are coming to dinner

tonight, aren't you?

- Yes.

- Good.

- Uh... John.

- Yes?

Could I talk to you a minute?

Sure.

Serious business?

Very serious business.

- I want to ask you a favor.

- Of course, what is it?

I hate asking you but...

I'm in an awful mess.

I'm sorry to hear that, Val.

What's the trouble?

Well, ever since Denny and I

were married...

his business has been getting

worse and worse.

You know how business are

these days.

Don't I.

Well, Denny's is the worst of any...

and he's lost a lot in some

bank failure...

and the bills have just been

piling up and up.

And for the last three months I've been

using the rent money to pay them.

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