Midnight Page #2

the next offering

in our little

musical program

will be Chopin's 11th tude,

as played by our dear,

dear friend,

Prince Potopienko.

It is the 12th tude,

ma chre.

Before we go any further,

I'd like your attention

one moment more.

Is there anybody

in this room named

Eve Peabody?

No?

Well, does

anyone here know

a Miss Eve Peabody?

Well, I won't trouble

the rest of you

any further.

Now, my dear.

Chopin's 11th Prlude.

It is the 12th

and it is an tude.

What's the matter,

darling?

Some woman

got in here

with this pawn ticket.

Madame?

A word with you.

With me?

Yes, with you.

I thought so.

Well, all right,

let's get it

over with.

I've had my eye on you

from the moment

you came in.

And I should

have known better.

You were trying

to sneak out,

werert you?

Well, I thought

if I went quietly...

Don't apologize. You are

not the only one. There

are three of us in rebellion

against that music.

Come on.

You do play bridge,

don't you?

Yes.

Good.

But why did you

pick on me?

You looked charming.

You looked bored.

You looked as though

you can trump your

partner's ace.

Better wipe

the rouge off

your mouth.

I've got one.

Madame Flammarion,

may I present Madame...

How do you do?

How do you do, madame?

Madame...

Czerny.

Madame Czerny?

Yes.

May I present

Jacques Picot.

One of the most

dangerous men

in the room.

Paid advertisement.

How do you do?

EVE:
How do you do?

Shall we cut?

Well, is nobody

going to introduce me?

Oh, this is

Marcel Renard.

He is... How would you

describe yourself,

Marcel?

I'm a

telephone worshipper.

A what?

Whenever a day comes

without an invitation,

I pray to my telephone

as though it were

a little black god.

I beg of it to speak to me.

To ask me out somewhere.

Anywhere where

there's caviar

and champagne.

Well, what are

we playing for?

Buttons?

Our usual stakes,

5 francs a point?

5 francs?

5 francs is

a bit tepid.

If you'd care to

make them higher...

Oh, no! No.

No, it makes

no difference to me.

Jacques, are you free

tomorrow afternoon?

I am.

Jacques?

Of course, my dear.

What is it?

I saw Simone inside.

She says her autumn

collection of hats

is simply divine.

Will you go

with me?

Love to.

Two spades.

Pass.

I don't want to buy

another hat that you

don't like, my dear.

You mean the one

like a duster?

I'm against feathers.

What's your bid?

Pass.

Pass.

What?

But you can't pass

when your partner

said two spades.

That means she's got

a glorious hand.

Now it's wasted.

Now I know why you

called him dangerous.

Shall I get

you a revolver,

Madame Czerny?

I'm terribly sorry.

It's difficult to concentrate

on cards... sometimes.

Naturally, when you're

worrying about the future

of the ostrich plume.

I don't think

that's very funny.

I do.

Well, thanks.

I'm afraid we're down 900, partner.

EVE:
Is that all?

Well, it looks like

a landslide for us.

I don't know whether

you should be flattered

or annoyed, madame.

Jacques usually plays

an excellent game.

Tennis or golf?

Madame, please.

Sorry.

How is the musical

evening progressing?

Dull as ever?

On the contrary.

You always did have

a horrid weakness

for Chopin.

Madame Czerny,

this is my husband.

How do you do?

How do you do?

This time, Chopin

was seasoned with

a pinch of Arsne Lupin.

A mysterious intruder

has crept in among

the guests

with the aid of

a bogus invitation.

I thought the big idea

was to get away from

this party, not into it.

You're American,

aren't you?

Yes.

One club.

Hungarian descent?

Scotch, Irish

and Choctaw.

No bid.

Czerny,

though, Czerny...

You know,

that's Hungarian.

Oh, that's

not my name.

Three clubs.

Oh, isn't it?

No, except

by marriage.

Oh, then you're

the wife of

Baron Czerny.

Pass.

Of course, you know,

the last time I saw

him in St. Moritz,

he talked about

an American girl.

Where is he now?

Oh, back in Budapest.

He's not very well.

You know, the old trouble.

Too bad! Helene, you should

see Budapest. It's the most

enchanting city.

Except, of course,

for the subway.

Did they ever finish that?

The... The streets are

still a little torn up.

Really, Georges, we're trying

to play bridge. Give the poor

Baroness a chance to recoup.

Oh, sorry, my darling.

How about pulling ourselves

together, partner?

Well, let's.

So far, we've played

like strangers. Shall we

throw caution to the wind?

That's the spirit! Come on.

Hellity-larrup, neck

or nothing.

You're wonderful.

You're magnificent.

You're talking

across the board.

What's your bid?

Three no-trump.

Double.

Hurray!

Redouble.

Pass.

- Pass.

- Pass.

Eve! Eve, stop.

What do you mean,

annoying my wife?

Well, you don't

have to push me.

Say, I...

Stop that, sir!

Twenty-three

and six and 14.

I make it 84.

That's right.

I'm sorry, Baroness.

We had the spirit even

if we didn't have the cards.

Oh, how much?

We are down

4,200 francs.

Where's my bag?

I may not have

that much with me.

Pardon me. Is

this yours, Baroness?

Yes, thank you.

If I can be

of any service...

Oh, no, thanks.

You'll take my IOU,

won't you?

Why? I'm so foolish.

I completely forgot I went

to the bank this afternoon.

How much

did you say?

4,200 for

each of us.

Good night, Your Highness.

Thanks for

a pleasant evening.

Good night.

Good night, madame,

thank you.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Did you ever find that

Eve Peabody, Stephanie?

Finally. I had her

thrown out. She was

a horrible old woman.

Roger found her

in the powder room.

Imagine. You know,

she claimed to be the

Archduchess of Mendola.

Good night,

Stephanie, dear.

Good night,

darling.

Good night, dear.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Good night.

Is your car here?

No. I had some trouble

with my chauffeur.

Then let me drop you.

We can take you,

Baroness. Can't we?

May I place at your

disposition a nice coupe

with a leak in the roof?

Over which side?

Yours!

Please. Here's

my car. I insist.

All right.

Where do you live?

At my hotel.

And that is?

I'll give you

three guesses.

The Ritz?

Right the first time!

The Ritz.

Good night!

MARCEL:
Good night.

An attractive girl,

isn't she?

Odd, her coming

here alone.

I notice she didn't

go home alone.

I'm sorry, my dear.

I forgot my gloves.

Will you pardon me

a moment?

Thank you so much.

Don't bother to

see me inside.

It's terribly late.

Oh, no.

My mother taught me always

to see a lady to her door.

Good night.

Oh, no.

You can't get

rid of me as

easily as that.

How do you know

what dangers may lurk

in the hotel lobby?

I know exactly

what dangers lurk

in hotel lobbies.

Come on.

I'm going to stay

in the lobby

for a while.

I have something to do.

Telegram back home.

You see, my husband's

sick. A night letter.

Well, write

it out, Baroness.

I'll get your key.

Oh, no. Look,

don't you know

when to go home?

No.

The key for

Baroness Czerny.

It may be in

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