Libeled Lady Page #5

Not yet on your hook,

but rising to the bait.

I stand corrected.

I remember once, in the high Sierras,

I was using a Wickham's Fancy.

- No, a grizzly wing.

- Father...

for two hours we've had nothing but fish.

My dear, I was only telling him

about my trip to the Sierras.

Perhaps you'd like to dance? Shall we?

- Did you ever fish the Rockies?

- Have I?

Fisher Falls. Gluckman's Point.

Gluckman's Point?

I'm afraid that dancing

isn't exactly my line.

I should say it was part of your line.

- May I be frank, too?

- Why not?

You dance superbly.

I was hoping for something original.

Dear, life is so full of disappointments.

- Sorry.

- Just the lurch of the boat.

Afraid I wasn't concentrating.

It was your eyes.

Beautiful, aren't they?

They remind me...

Yes, I know.

Sparkling diamonds, deep sapphires.

No, they remind me of angry marbles.

Connie, darling! You must have

luncheon with us tomorrow, promise?

I've a bone to pick with you.

I'm afraid I...

I'm sorry, but we can't work

on our book without Connie.

She's our inspiration.

I thought that was rather clever.

Yes. I thought you thought so.

Don't I get a vote of thanks?

Oh, by all means.

It just dawned on me

that I seem to have made myself...

a permanent member of your party.

Yes. It's dawned on me, too.

Shall we sit down?

So, you've fished Gluckman's Point?

You're an angler, all right.

I should say Mr. Chandler

is quite an angler.

Will you both excuse me? I'm quite tired.

- See you tomorrow.

- I think not.

I'm staying in for the rest of the trip

with a dozen good books.

- You're not ill, my dear?

- Oh, no.

That'll give you a chance

to talk fish till New York.

I could talk fish from here to Shanghai.

Couldn't you, Mr. Chandler?

Yes, yes, and back again.

- Good night, Dad.

- Good night, dear.

Good night, Mr. Chandler.

Don't keep father up

too late with your fish stories.

Gluckman's Point?

Glasses?

How do I look?

Nobody in the world will know you.

Fine. That's the idea.

Catching up on your reading?

Remember me?

Oh, yes. I just left Father.

He's enjoyed his three-day fish fest.

So have I.

- He's waiting for you.

- He won't mind waiting.

You don't know Father.

You know the man. I know the angler.

It's nice you have so much in common.

I won't detain you.

Goodbye, Mr. Chandler.

Goodbye.

You've got to help me.

I'm in a bit of a jam

with the Burns-Norvells.

I've been trying to duck them,

but they finally caught me.

Cocktails and dinner tonight.

How nice. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Wait a minute, now.

It's your turn to come through for me.

After all, I inherited them from you.

I'm going to tell them

that you and your father...

will also join me for cocktails

before dinner.

Mr. Chandler, you think of

the sweetest things.

Now when the Burns-Norvells arrive...

- you come in without your father.

- Father gets all the breaks.

And announce that he wants

to see me right away.

A brilliant idea for our book...

and that we'll have to work

the whole evening.

See, could you do that?

Good, then cocktails

in my stateroom at 7:00.

- In your stateroom?

- Yes.

You see, the bar is

too near the dining room.

Oh, I see.

- Your stateroom at 7:00?

- That's right.

- Splendid.

- All right. Until then.

7:
00. She'll be alone

with me in my stateroom.

Give us about 10 minutes.

Swell. How did you manage it?

She thinks I've invited

a lot of other people.

How do you do? Are we late?

Late?

So sweet of you to send

a message by Connie...

asking us to have cocktails with you.

She asked you to...

She said that you were

too bashful to ask us yourself.

Where is Miss Connie now?

- We needn't worry about Connie.

- We forgot to tell you.

Connie isn't coming.

She has another headache.

Mr. Chandler? Where are you?

- Hello.

- The inevitable Mr. Chandler.

- How was the cocktail party?

- Delightful.

So sorry I couldn't come.

I trust the Burns-Norvells consoled you.

I found them very charming.

Far superior to many people

one meets on boats.

Yes. Babs is one girl in a million.

And so rich, too.

- Or didn't you know that?

- At least she has good breeding.

Then...

- Everything went off all right?

- Oh, yes.

In fact, I'm glad now that you didn't come.

You are?

Why this change of heart?

You're so fragile.

- Fragile?

- Yes, you damage so easily.

- Damage?

- Sues for $5 million.

That fascinates me.

Asks $5 million damages.

- So the Burns-Norvells told you.

- It gave me a new light on you.

Who is this marvel, I said,

Florence Nightingale? Jeanne d'Arc?

What has she done to earn

such a precious reputation?

- Found a cure for death and taxes?

- Aren't you being a little absurd?

- Aren't you?

- Wait a minute, you don't understand...

Do be careful. It might break.

I'm not accustomed to handling

anything so delicate, so valuable.

That should be touched only by royalty,

dukes or earls.

As a matter of fact,

you should be kept under glass.

And that is the last I saw of Miss Connie

until we reached New York.

Five days on a boat,

and she slaps your face.

- That's fine progress.

- So the wonder boy lays an egg.

- Would you hush your girlfriend?

- Say, listen, nobody's hushing me.

I've got my ticket to Reno,

my reservations at the hotel...

- and even my lawyer.

- Postponed only.

A million-to-1 we'll never see them again.

You lose. He's already invited me

for a weekend of fishing.

Just you and the father?

What do I do, bust in on you

and the old man?

Connie will be there.

I'll take bets on that, too.

That wasn't any farewell slap.

- When?

- We're driving up tomorrow.

Perfect. Alone in the mountains,

away from the world.

The next night, Gladys and I...

No. I'd better stay in the background.

- Just Gladys.

- What, alone?

And a detective.

Connie rushes from her room.

You come from yours, follow her down.

- What'll I wear?

- Flashlights! The case is in the bag.

Nice work. I knew you'd deliver.

I think I'll wear the pink.

I look awful cute in pink.

- There's only one hitch.

- Hitch?

- Fish.

- Fish?

I've told him fish stories

that would curl your hair...

and I've never even had a rod in my hand.

- I'll have an instructor here in the morning.

- In the morning?

Him? Here? Where am I supposed to be?

Now, it'll be all right, Gladys.

- You're gonna leave me here alone?

- I'm here.

It'll be all right.

It's just a business arrangement.

It's mighty funny business, if you ask me.

Where are you going?

To get some bedclothes.

I'm sleeping out here.

You see, it'll be all right.

Bill out here and you in there.

Do you mean to tell me

that you're willing for me, your fiance...

- the girl that you love...

- Please.

I've done plenty for you

and the Star...

but there's a time to draw a line,

and I'm drawing it.

I trust Bill like he was a brother.

Yeah, but he isn't my brother.

He can't even speak politely.

- He insults me with every breath he takes.

- Pipe down. You'll hurt his feelings.

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