The More the Merrier Page #7

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Harding, old man, how are you...

Haven't seen you in weeks.

Say, I'd like to ask you

a little favour, Harding...

I'm a very busy man, so just postpone

whatever you're doing there...

...and give me a few minutes

of you time.

- Oh I'd like to, but...

- I knew you'd understand!

You see, a very good friend of mine

was requested to put an appearance here.

As a matter of fact, he's working with me,

and we're very busy...

So, if you could...

I forgot to introduce him...

This is Mr Dingle.

How do you do.

Mr Dingle is...

Constance?!

What are you doing here?

What is it...

What's the trouble?

What's the matter?

Speak to me!

Hello.

It's nothing to get alarmed about,

Mr Pendergast...

Merely a routine investigation.

You see we received a wild report

over the phone...

Oh, yes?!

We receive hundreds of them...

They usually mean nothing.

Well...I should hope so!

I've known Miss Milligan for 6 years.

As a matter of fact,

she's in my department.

And we're eng...

Carter!

How've you been?

Really, Constance, I'm afraid

I don't understand!

Look, the whole thing could be explained,

if you just let Mr Dingle speak.

- Please, Miss Milligan!

- Excuse me.

Now then, Carter...

Present.

Step over here, please.

Say, if Mr Dingle could explain...

You...Pendergast...You can talk

after I'm through with Carter.

- What's Carter got to do with it?

- Sit down!

Carter was in Miss Milligan's apartment

when we arrived.

And he was in possession

of these binoculars.

What was he doing with his binoculars

in YOUR apartment?

Now then...your address, Miss Milligan.

1708 'D' Street.....Apartment 2B.

Beg pardon, I meant Carter.

Burbank...it's 651 Sunnycrest...

the house on the corner.

No...here in Washington.

Well, that's 6310 Munitions Building.

I mean your Washington address...

where you sleep.

I sleep?

'D' Street...I think it's...

1708 'D' Street...apartment what?

- Apartment?

- Apartment number!

2...

B.

I told you I thought

you wouldn't understand...

...Charles.

But how could it be?

I only introduced you to him, tonight!

Well I forgot to tell you,

we met before.

It can all be explained...

You see, I sublet half my apartment,

to help relieve the housing shortage.

To Carter?

No! To Mr Dingle.

And Mr Dingle sublet half his half

to Mr Carter.

I'd like to believe you, Constance, but...

You'd believe Dingle, wouldn't you?

Yes...Just ask Mr Dingle!

Mr Dingle!

I beg pardon?

You've got to help us out.

Yes, Ben.

Of course...certainly.

What can I do?

Well, Mr Pendergast thinks that Joe and I

Really, Constance...I don't know

what you expect to prove NOW.

Mr Dingle was in the apartment

all the time...

...and rented half of it to ME.

What apartment?

Miss Milligan's apartment.

Has Miss Milligan got an apartment?

Are YOU kidding?!

You know I have...

You lived there!

I'm sorry, but I live

at the Winton-James Hotel.

- Don't I Charles?

- Of course!

You were over there with me,

this evening, weren't you?

Yes, yes, of course...they know

I was with you!

Mr Dingle! How could you?!

I'm very sorry...I'd like

to help out you young folks...

But after all,

there's no use lying...

...when truth is staring you

in the face

There certainly isn't!

If you were a younger man,

I'd punch you right in the nose!

If you were a smarter man,

you'd use your brains...

...instead of your fists!

Come in!

I'm sorry, I thought I was in my own office!

Major Denton to identify Carter.

Come in, Major.

Are you Mr Harding?

That's right...how do you do.

Hello, sergeant.

What's the trouble?

They think I was looking at

the Government Printing Office

with those binoculars.

Well...were you?

No sir.

We've already discovered that, Major.

Now, if you're willing

to vouch for Carter...

Certainly!...

He's here on special duty.

-Thank you very much.

-Is that all?

That's all...

and thanks for your trouble.

No trouble at all...Goodnight.

Goodnight.

- You have your orders, sergeant.

- Yes, sir.

Well, I guess that about clears

everything up, Inspector.

That's right...

Show him out, Evans.

Sorry if this has caused

any of you embarrassment.

Embarrassment?!

Mr Dingle!

- Mr Dingle!

- I beg pardon.

Did you, or did you not,

live at 1708 'D' Street?!

- Shush!

- Apartment 2B

- Tell HIM!

- Tell what?

Didn't you live at my apartment?!

Is that true...

You DID live in that apartment?

Hasn't anyone brains enough

to push this little button?

- Joe!...You...

- What?

What?

Our friend here's finally broken down

and told the truth.

Oh, he HAS, eh?!

If that's true, Mr Dingle...

...why didn't you say so

in that room?

Scandal, my boy...scandal!

A thing like this gets around...ssh!

Of all the mean, contemptible,

low-down...

- Down!

- Down...yeah!

Take me to the 'Washington Sun' building.

Let's go.

You'll have to wait...

I gotta get a full load.

Taxi!

Mr Dingle..surely you don't really think

there'll be any scandal?!

I don't dare think so.

The FBI has a reputation

for secrecy.

I know, but a lot of people saw them

yanked out of her apartment...

...in the wee hours of the morning.

A thing like that's

apt to ruin a man!

"Ruin a man"...

What about a lady?!

Yes, it won't do HER any good, either.

As far as I'm concerned, my boy...

It's every man for himself.

Winton-James Hotel.

I gotta get a full load.

No...you wait for me.

I want to have a talk with you.

Go ahead.

I gotta get a full load.

Alright, I'm a full load.

1708 'D' Street.

Now, see here, Mr Dingle...

If there's a scandal, you're responsible...

You've put us all on the bad light.

It was cowardly of me...

But I can't afford...

YOU can't afford?!

You're going to Michigan tomorrow...

I have to stay right here...

I'm engaged to Miss Milligan...

Our engagement is widely known.

You got off scot-free by lying...

I hang right in the middle of things!

But you're a young man, Charley.

I AM a young man, yes!

With a career that's just beginning.

Yes, by all means...

Let's protect your career!

I don't matter!

My position doesn't make

any difference at all!...

It's only Charles J Pendergast!

Don't you shush ME!

You've been shushing me

for 22 months!

Now you've shushed your last shush!

For 22 months I've been engaged

to a career, not a man.

Here, perhaps this will relieve you

of this embarrassing situation!

Take your career...

and go run for cover!

Constance...maybe I was hasty.

You certainly were.

Then I apologise...

Now will you take back the ring?

No!

I'd think twice if I were you,

Miss Milligan.

About what?

In your position, you can't afford

to burn your bridges behind you.

You mean by being engaged

to 'Mr Smug' here...

...I can keep my respectability?

Not only by being engaged...

...but a quick marriage

before the story gets out.

Then let it get out!

Look here, Ben...you're making

a 5-alarm fire out of this thing.

Nobody's going to hear this story...

unless you shoot off YOUR big mouth.

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