The Blue Gardenia

Hey!

Sleepy!

Pick me up here at one o'clock.

Pick you up here at one o'clock.

Where?

Age?

Age? Middle um... twenties.

Nationality:
Chicago

My phone number is Granite 1466.

I'll check with my numerologist

before I call.

What is it about you newspaper men?

I've been trying to get her

phone number for a week.

You didn't even have to ask for it.

It's all yours:
Granite 1466.

You're not gonna put it in

your column, are you?

I'd be swamped with calls.

- What's wrong with that?

Yeah, what is wrong with that.

It's the lunch break Mr Mayo, would

you like to see the switchboard?

Sure. Thanks, Miss Carpenter.

See you in the papers.

- Thank you. -See you, Crystal.

All the long distance calls for the downtown

Los Angeles area come through this room.

Oh oh! My roommates.

Art class is over. -Oh, be a good girl

and give me another minute, will you?

Where have I heard that before?

Sorry, no posing overtime.

Try me some night.

With pleasure.

That's not what I meant.

Crystal, it looks just like you.

- Oh, is that good?

Like to see some more of my work?

Your wasting your time, Rembrandt.

She's got a boyfriend in Korea.

Long way off, Korea.

- Yes, a long way off.

But he wouldn't want you to

get too lonely, would he?

He wouldn't want you to

get too friendly either.

Sally.

Sally!

All finished with Granite 1466?

Or, do you still get a busy signal?

Mr Prebble, a call for you in

the office. A girl. -Thanks.

I've got more numbers than

the phone company.

How's the wolf been doing with

all the... little red riding hoods?

Great. If you ask him.

I've told you not to call me here.

I was busy last night.

Working.

I don't believe you, Harry. You haven't

worked three nights in a row in your life.

I've got to see you and talk to you!

Rose, I'm tied up now.

Call me later at home.

How can I? You changed your number

and I can't get it from the operator.

You have to help me, Harry!

I just can't talk now.

Take it easy. I'll be seeing you.

Like it? Isn't it wonderful?

I'm glad you got black.

It'll look good on any of us.

You don't mind if I wear

it first for one night.

Aren't you ever gonna open that letter?

Right after the champagne.

Champagne? You bought

champagne for yourself?

No, not for myself.

You don't understand, Sally.

I know, it's your birthday,

and that's fine.

Every girl oughta have birthdays.

Up to a certain point.

- The flowers!

Oh, will you tell Crystal

to clean up the bathroom

and I'll take her turn ironing tomorrow.

- It'll wind up like it always does!

With me doing everything.

I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you?

I think my sacroiliac

shifted two points south.

Oh, Crystal!

Which may be an improvement.

I'll get it.

My cigarette. Just a minute, I'm coming!

Hello...

If that's for me I'm in,

no matter who it is.

It's for you.

A man!

Hello...

Yes, this is Sally Ellis.

Tonight? Oh, of course!

Oh, you don't know how I've waited

for this. I'll be right over! Bye!

Sally!

That's no way to talk to a man.

And it was a man.

It was the rental library

down at the drugstore.

They just got in the new

Mickey Mallet mystery!

It's all about a beautiful

red-haired debutante

who gets in the head, stabbed in the

back, shot in the stomach... Pow!

Pretty badly hurt, she

staggers down the stairs

How do you know all that,

you haven't even read it yet?

That's what they're all about.

Lucky girl. Living a life of

passion and violence.

Now me, I've got my life with Homer.

Drive-in dinner, drive-in movie,

and afterwards we go for a drive.

It's still better than a

dime-store novel, Crystal.

You know, you don't appreciate Homer.

I don't know what exactly they are,

but he has a lot of good qualities.

I never could understand why you two

broke up. Homer's so affectionate.

Well, I didn't think so

when we were married.

But, now that we're divorced

I'm beginning to like the big lug.

Homer always had a husband's faults.

But, now he has a boyfriend's virtues.

Yeah?

Oh, you...

If you've been listening,

just forget what you heard.

Okay!

- Hello.

Happy birthday!

- Thank you, Homer.

Oh, that's sweet of you. Thanks.

Well, aren't you gonna open it?

Why? Don't you know what's in it?

The roast!

That's a roast?

It shrunk!

It's big enough for two.

- Are you still playing games?

Now look, Homer. You have Crystal

here, but like someone said today:

"Korea's a long way off".

And, if I can't have him here

I can pretend I have him.

It's none of my business, Norah,

but why stay in night after night

eating your heart out for some guy who...

- He isn't "some guy who... ".

He's one of a couple

of hundred thousand.

And I happen to love him.

It's fun for me...

- To let yourself go to seed?

There are lots of guys who'd take you

out, for laughs, no monkey business.

I would myself if it wasn't for...

- You'd what?

Oh, Crystal! I was just uh...

- Come on, Homer. Leave her alone.

Let's go. That horse I

could eat is getting cold.

You sure you won't go with us, honey?

This isn't much of a birthday.

I told you, Crystal,

it's the way I want it.

Have a good time.

- Happy birthday again.

Thanks.

- Happy birthday, darling.

Did you get paid today?

- Yeah!

Oh! Well come on, darling.

Goodbye. -Toodaloo!

- Buh bye. Have fun.

Dear Norah,

You've probably learned by now that

I'm not so hot as a letter writer.

I remember when we

were kids in Bakersfield

and I worked vacations

in San Joaquin Valley.

You used to bawl me out for not writing.

Well, I guess I've gotten worse.

But, that doesn't mean I haven't

been thinking about you... a lot.

And also thinking about

someone else, Norah.

A nurse I met in Tokyo when I took a

load of Commie shrapnel with me.

Angela, that's her name,

supplied the strength and the courage

and everything else to pull me through.

I didn't want it to happen but...

there's nothing a guy can do about the

real McCoy, and that's what this is.

We're in love.

And when I get out we're

going to be married.

That's the story, Norah.

And, I guess there's nothing else to

say except I hope you'll understand.

With affection, always...

and best wishes for your future.

"Best wishes for your future".

Yours very sincerely.

Yours very...

truly.

Hello?

- Hiya honey. Had dinner yet?

No.

Who is this?

- Harry Prebble.

I'm taking you up on the suggestion

you made this morning.

Suggestion?

What suggestion?

When you were posing for me, remember?

How about slipping into

something comfortable

like a few drinks and

some Chinese food?

I'm sorry, Mr Prebble. I...

I think you made a mistake.

We'll discuss my mistakes

over those cocktails.

What do you say? Hope in a cab and

meet me at 'The Blue Gardenia'.

All right.

I will.

Yes.

'The Blue Gardenia'. On Vine,

right off Hollywood. You got it?

I've got it.

You got what?

Just someone on the phone.

So I gathered!

How'd the dashing lieutenant

like the dinner he didn't eat?

Fine. It's in the kitchen.

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