Evelyn Prentice Page #2

at this hour.

- I know how busy you are.

- It's all right.

All I can say by way of apology is that

you're aiding the cause of justice.

Good night.

- Good night, doctor.

- I'd like to be on that jury.

- I wish you were.

- Best of luck to you.

- Thank you.

- Morning at 10, then.

- Right.

By this time tomorrow,

you'll be a free woman.

- What do you mean?

- The man whose car you struck...

...was suffering from tuberculosis

of the spine.

- What?

- Before your accident...

...he had been operated on twice.

And after the second operation,

his life really hung by a thread.

Both these doctors will testify to that.

Also that even the slightest shock...

...might have produced

the most disastrous results.

Dr. Gillette will testify

that he strongly advised the man...

...against driving a car in the first place.

Why, it's entirely possible that the man

might have been dead from shock...

...or undue strain

even before your car struck him.

Of course, I can't prove that...

...but I can throw doubt

in the mind of the jury.

And a jury in doubt is a jury in the bag.

Clever dancers, aren't they,

Mr. Kennard?

Yes. Say, Barney, who's that woman

in black over there...

...sitting with the man

and the other woman?

I don't know. I don't think

she's ever been here before.

Right.

Pardon me, I think I'll call John.

If he's home now, I'll ask him to join us.

Well, allow me to do it for you.

- You'd never make it.

- Excuse me.

Hello? This is Mrs. Prentice.

Has Mr. Prentice come in yet?

Oh, I see.

No, no message. We'll be home shortly.

Goodbye.

Why, Mrs. Prentice, how are you?

- Don't you remember me?

- I'm afraid not.

My name's Kennard. Lawrence Kennard.

- Yes?

- We've met.

- We have?

- Yes.

But I can't seem to remember where.

Was it at Carol Gibson's?

- Carol Gibson?

- The author.

Oh, yes. I don't know Mr. Gibson.

Could it be at Mrs. Alan Blakely's,

at one of her teas?

I don't know Mrs. Blakely.

I've heard of her.

This is terribly embarrassing.

I know.

- What?

- You.

I mean, the smile.

Oh, do forgive me,

but it's really startling.

I knew I met you before.

That mysterious smile.

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid I'm being awfully rude.

Would you pardon me?

I'll go back to my table.

I'm sorry if I've annoyed you.

- Good night, Mrs. Prentice.

- Good night.

Who was the broad-shouldered thrill

you were just talking to?

Oh, did you see me?

- Nothing ever escapes a Drexel.

- Who was he?

I don't know. He introduced himself

to me and said we had met before.

He couldn't remember where

and neither could I.

Mmm. He was a handsome brute.

He was good-looking, wasn't he?

- I think that's all.

- Thank you, Mr. Prentice.

- So long, Mr. Prentice, and thanks.

- Quite welcome. Bye.

Anything to the rumor that

you're going to defend Senator Drake?

Excuse me. Yes?

Mrs. Prentice is on the phone.

Oh, that's another case.

I'm rather not discuss that now.

- Thank you, Mr. Prentice.

- Goodbye.

Yes, darling?

Oh, well, now, thank you.

Yes, it was easier than I anticipated.

The jury was out only two hours.

Oh.

Well, go away where?

Darling, I'd love to take a rest.

But I just discovered I've got to go

to Boston tonight to see Senator Drake.

Well, I'm sorry too, dear. But...

Well, it'll only be four or five days,

a week at the most.

That's right, honey.

Just one bag as usual.

Yes, I know.

Shirts, ties, socks, pajamas.

Drawing Room A, Car 45.

- You haven't much time.

- Thank you.

- Where's he going with those bags?

- He's taking them to the train.

- What train?

- The train Daddy's taking to Boston.

Aren't we going on the train too?

- No, darling.

- Honey, dear.

Daddy'd love to take you

and Mommy to Boston.

But he'll be so busy there,

he'd never have a chance to see you.

Gonna be a good little girl

while I'm gone?

I'm always a good little girl. Heh, heh.

- Well, I should say you are.

All aboard!

- There it is. Goodbye, sweetheart.

- Bye.

Goodbye, dear.

I'll be at the Company Plaza,

I'll phone you every night.

- Goodbye. Goodbye, honey. Bye-bye.

- Goodbye, Daddy.

- Oh, diner's in the rear?

- Yes, sir.

- Is it open?

- Yes, sir.

It's a brown bag, porter.

A little brown bag with

my initials on it right by the handle.

- Now, please try and find it for me.

Yes, ma'am.

Where are you going?

Boston.

Please don't be angry with me, John.

Today, you saved me from prison.

And I'm so grateful.

But you can't tell a man

how grateful you are...

...if that man

is taking a train, can you?

Unless you the take the train too.

- Good morning, Evelyn.

- Good morning, dear.

- Bonjour and how are you, darling?

- I'm fine.

There's some letters on the desk for you.

Don't tell me you go in

for early morning reading.

- What's the book?

- It's called Sonnets to the Sun.

- What to the which?

- Sonnets to the Sun.

Pretty, isn't it? It's a book of poems.

Poems? In the morning?

Darling, it's your liver.

So that's what Boston does

to your husband.

My first husband went there once,

but all I got was a pot of beans.

John didn't send this.

Here's a letter that came with it.

"Dear Mrs. Prentice, I have a feeling

the night before last in Barney's...

...you thought of me as one resorting

to a vulgar technique...

...to make your acquaintance."

The good-looking thrill

with broad shoulders. Go on.

"Couldn't we have tea

this afternoon at 4?

Maybe the tea leaves

will recall our past fortunes.

Especially mine."

Nice work, fella, nice work.

"I'm taking the liberty of sending you,

along with this letter...

...a book of my poems.

May I call later in the day

for your answer to my tea invitation?

Please accept.

Sincerely yours, Lawrence Kennard."

A poet. It's an awful waste

of broad shoulders.

Ever hear of him?

- Neither have I. Coffee?

- Uh-uh.

That needn't interfere

with the tea leaves.

Don't be absurd.

Well, I can't see any harm in having tea

with a nice clean poet.

And he certainly seemed clean.

Maybe you have met him

sometime, somewhere, somehow.

What if I have?

That doesn't give him a right...

...to send me gifts and invite me to tea.

- Gifts? Oh, the book.

Probably that's the only way

he can get them into circulation.

Here, you take it. I don't want it.

Evelyn, don't tell me you're not tingling

with excitement over the whole thing.

A tall, good-looking fellow

just dying to meet you?

Probably write a poem

to your eyebrows or something?

You wouldn't be human

if you didn't tingle a little.

You're absurd for words.

Where will we lunch?

What do you say to the Waldorf?

Head waiter's so handsome.

- Waldorf wins.

- Then we can shop around...

...until it's time for your tea date.

I haven't a tea date.

I'll answer.

Hello?

- Who? Put him on.

- Who is it?

- It's the thrill.

- I'm not in.

Hello?

No, this is not Mrs. Prentice.

Mrs. Prentice is out.

But she leaves word she is pleased

to accept your invitation for tea at 4.

- Amy.

- The gold room at the plaza?

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