Double Harness Page #7

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- I couldn't get him.

I left word for him to call.

- Do you think you could use one more?

- I could use a lot more.

- Say, where in thunder is John?

- Gone.

- And it's my fault.

- How could it be your fault?

Well, Denny...

the Fletchers don't seem to like their own

party well enough to show up.

Oh, they'll be here.

That's the old schooner John's

great-grandfather started with.

- I'm so sorry, Mr. Lane.

- Hello, Joan.

Please forgive me for not being here

in time to greet you.

Oh, of course, I was almost

late myself.

How do you manage to look lovelier

every time I see you?

Oh, well it does take a bit of doing,

I can tell you.

- Have a cocktail, Joanie?

- Oh, thank you, Father.

- Where's your glass, Oliver?

- Oh, right here.

- Did you see John?

- Yes.

Is he coming back?

What on earth are you going

to tell Oliver?

Where's this high-powered husband

of yours, Joan?

I'm expecting him any minute, Mr. Lane.

He just had to go out of town today.

He really is a slave to his business.

Do you think you could find me

another drink?

Don't you think maybe you've had

enough before eating?

All right, I'll get you one.

Well, Freeman, why don't we eat?

Mrs. Fletcher asked me to hold

dinner a little while.

But the cook says if we hold it

much longer it will be a bust.

- This dinner is a bust already, Freeman.

- Yes, sir.

When I tell Denny you offered me

a thousand dollars...

what do you think he's going to do?

But you're not going to tell him.

Sure I am.

Let's have another drink.

He should know there are other men

that'll give me a thousand dollars...

even if he won't.

What you need is a little air.

Come on.

I've eaten so much caviar

I don't want any dinner.

The doctor's secretary telephoned,

Mrs. Weston,

and said you'd perhaps better come home

as soon after dinner as possible.

He said it was nothing serious,

not to be alarmed.

Thank you, Freeman.

Leonard, I think we'd better

go right away.

- We'll have to wait for a taxi.

- Well, Farley Drake's is here.

He'll let you take his if you don't

want to wait for a taxi.

- Do you suppose he would.

- Sure, I'll ask him.

Freeman, when I ring twice...

I want you to come in and tell me

that Mr. Fletcher...

has just telephoned from Sacramento.

Say that he regrets that he has

missed the last plane.

And he may not be able

to get here until very late.

- Now, have you got that?

- Yes, ma'am.

Mr. Fletcher regrets exceedingly...

- Regrets that he...

- Regrets exceedingly.

Mr. Fletcher regrets exceedingly that

he missed the last train from...

- Plane!

- Plane from Sacramento...

...and may not be here until very late.

- Yes, that's right.

- Are you sure you got it?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Two rings.

- Yes, ma'am.

Joan, the doctor just telephoned

for us to come home. Lenny's sick.

- Oh, my darling, nothing serious?

- The doctor says not but...

I think we'd better go right away.

I do hope it won't upset

your dinner party.

Oh no, not this dinner party, darling.

The Westons are leaving. Sick child.

Two less for dinner.

Nuts!

And in that case, John will have

to come to Washington.

Oh, I was just saying, Joan,

that if John has to make a trip

to Washington I shall insist...

that he bring you along.

Does he have to go to Washington?

He will, if he wants the government

mail contract.

Oh, does that mean he has

a chance of getting it?

Dinner is served, Mrs. Fletcher.

Ah, at last!

Aren't we waiting for John?

Oh, he'll be along.

Father, will you tell Valerie?

She's er... somewhere.

He said I mustn't tell you, Denny,

and I said I must.

What was it he said you mustn't

tell me?

Now for goodness sake,

don't start hiccuping.

I'm not starting. I... hic... hiccuped

twice before.

What's this, Valerie, you look drunk!

I am drunk. And Farley's gone

with Eleanor and Leonard.

Where's he gone?

For some reason he decided to drive

them home himself.

What's the matter, Valerie?

- You look drunk.

- I am.

Drake's gone too.

Gone? When?

He's driving Eleanor and Leonard home.

Said he'd explain later.

But why, why?

I said I was going to tell Denny

and he said I wasn't...

and I slapped him.

What was it he said you mustn't

tell me?

I've been trying to find out

for ten minutes!

I've been trying to tell you, Denny,

but you won't listen.

Oh...

Denny, take Valerie out in the air.

What's wrong?

Valerie feel faint?

Yes, just a little.

Well, she isn't exactly faint.

She'll be quite all right, really.

Denny knows just what to do about her.

Father, will you please stay

and take care of things...

and bring her in to dinner as soon

as she's able to stand up.

Yes.

Well, we er...

Shall we go in, Mr. Lane?

Well, I... I hope Valerie will be

all right.

Oh yes, really, she's quite all right.

As a matter of fact I think it was

just one cocktail too many...

on an empty head, you know

what that always does.

You mean on an empty stomach.

Oh yes, yes, of course,

what did I say?

Well, I suppose there's just no use

ignoring the fact...

that my dinner party has diminished almost

to the vanishing point, Mr. Lane.

Oh, I hope you don't mind. I haven't had

dinner alone with you for years.

Oh...

You won't need all that.

Drake's gone. Miss Valerie is

what you might call out.

Mr. Moore and the Colonel

are looking after her.

That leaves only two to be served.

Mrs. Fletcher and the Postmaster General.

I...

I'm afraid this dinner was shaded

right from the very beginning.

Some things are, you know.

Don't you worry, my dear.

I intended to wait until John came but...

I think you ought to know now.

He's going to get the mail contract.

Oh, Mr. Lane, that's so splendid.

Oh, John will be so happy.

And so am I.

And you can tell him from me

that it's all on account of you.

I like to put these husbands

in their places.

Oh, that is the most wonderful

news, Mr. Lane.

John really has great ideas

for the Fletcher Line.

I heard he had. Your father told me.

It's quite true that our shipping suffers

from some of our laws,

which ought to be changed.

But you know Congress.

However, I have a plan and I hope

that John feels as I do about it.

Oh, yes, I'm sure you do.

I mean... of course he will.

Freeman,

I rang twice.

Sorry, ma'am.

Freeman.

But you didn't understand.

I said that I rang twice.

Oh, yes, ma'am.

Mr. Fletcher just telephoned

from Sacramento.

He was exceedingly sorry he missed

the last plane...

and would be late getting here.

Oh, what a shame.

John will be so disappointed.

You got me completely sold

on John's business qualifications.

But what I want to know is

how is he as a husband?

Oh...

Oh, John.

I'm terribly sorry, sir,

to be late like this.

But I thought you missed

the last plane.

Yes, you telephoned that you had.

Oh yes, yes, I did.

But I er...

I got a private one that landed me

in Golden Gate Park.

It's still there, I think.

Where's the party?

Oh...

We're all that's left.

Don't ask me what happened

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