White Christmas Page #9

of the great Wallace and Davis.

- That's quite a remark.

- I'm sorry. It's the best I can do.

Look, Betty,

I've got no time for games today.

Now, are you gonna

sing this song or not?

- I don't want to sing the song.

- Well, nobody's twisting your arm.

- Is that all, Mr. Wallace?

- Yes, that's all, Miss Haynes.

Yours ought to be done by now.

- How do you figure that?

- I'm not sure,

but daylight's beginning to glimmer.

Last night she couldn't sleep.

Today she won't eat.

- She's in love.

- If that's love, somebody goofed.

It's love all right, but she's

deliberately putting up barriers.

I'd bet my bottom dollar on it.

- Why?

- Because of me.

She's always felt that she's mother hen

and I'm her little chick.

She'll never leave the roost

until I'm taken care of.

- That's funny. Are you sure?

- I should've known.

She'll never get involved with anyone

until I'm married

- or engaged or something.

- Well, I guess that's the end of that.

Unless I get myself engaged

or something real fast.

That's ridiculous.

Even if it made any sense at all,

you're up here in the wilderness.

There's nobody around here.

I don't know.

Be realistic. Who could you find up here

to get yourself engaged to?

Well, I suppose it ought

to be someone that I know.

That always helps.

- Of course, it's got to be a man.

- That's an absolute must.

No, no, no. I mean a mature man.

One with talent and experience.

- Talent, experience...

- One that's witty,

- gay, charming, attractive.

- Witty, gay, charming, sure.

Where are you gonna find

such a super man?

- Don't be so modest.

- Honey, fellas like that don't...

- Me?

- Well, you're not exactly Superman,

- but you're awfully available.

- Yeah, now, don't get any ideas, Judy.

- I'm not the marrying kind.

- It's just an engagement.

Yeah, well,

I'm not the engaging kind, either.

Well, what kind are you?

Well, I'm more the "I don't mind

pushing my best friend into it,

but I'm scared stiff when I get

anywhere close to it myself" kind.

How terrible could it be for a few days?

- You do like me, don't you?

- Sure, I do.

- I mean, I'm not exactly repulsive.

- Of course not.

And you do find me gay, amusing,

good company, fun to be with?

Sure, but I feel the same way

about my cocker spaniel.

Well, let's just skip it.

I was only thinking of Betty and Bob.

Betty and Bob, yeah.

Look, it would only be temporary?

Well, of course. Well,

you don't think I'm the kind of girl

that goes around throwing myself

at a man, do you?

Of course not. Nobody thinks that.

Well, look, let me figure this out.

Now, it would only last two or three

weeks at the worst. At the most, I mean.

Well, of course.

And we wouldn't have to

announce our engagement

till it was absolutely necessary.

Absolutely necessary.

Well, OK, it's a deal.

But don't you think

we ought to kiss or something?

Not until it's absolutely necessary.

Isn't it a wonderful party?

Bob, would you like to dance?

- I'm game if you are.

- Thank you.

Hey, Betty. How about some exercise?

Come on.

The best things

Happen while you're dancing

Things that you would not do at home

Come naturally on the floor

- For dancing

- Pardon me.

Soon becomes romancing

Hi. OK.

Even guys with two left feet

Come out all right if the girl is sweet

If by chance their cheeks should meet

While dancing

Mr. Herring, this is Miss Lennis.

- How do you do?

- Mutual, I'm sure.

- Bye.

- May I?

- Looks like it's absolutely necessary.

- What... You mean, I...

Hold it a minute, fellas.

Give me a little ching-a-ring, will you?

Folks, I have an announcement to make.

An announcement, and I want you all

to be the first to know.

I don't know whether the best things

happen while you're dancing

or whether they just happen

in Vermont...

...but Judy has just agreed to...

Well, I mean that she just asked me...

That is, she just said...

What I'm trying to say

is that Judy and I are engaged.

- Congratulations.

- Thank you.

- I sure wish it would happen to me!

- Yeah, I do, too!

It's just wonderful, darling.

I'm so happy for you.

I hoped you would be.

Is everything all right?

Sure, sure, it's all right. I'm fine.

You realize you're getting the best girl

in the whole wide world?

- I... Yeah. Sure.

- You take care of her.

- I'd say this calls for champagne.

- I'll help you, Emma.

- Congratulations, kids!

- Thanks, Bob.

I don't know what you see

in this long drink of charged water,

but, honestly, after you get

to know him, he's almost endurable.

- You're gonna settle down, buster?

- Yeah.

- Pipe, slippers... All the best, boy.

- Yeah. Yeah. Thanks, Bob.

By the way, the water's fine.

Why don't you take a little plunge?

I don't know.

It seemed a little icy today.

That's today. I've a feeling

by tomorrow it'll warm up just fine.

Well, you sold me. I'll go.

Well, don't just stand there.

Aren't you going to kiss the bride?

Kiss... Yes, sir.

Yes, sir!

Now, that didn't hurt too much, did it?

You know, in some ways, you're

far superior to my cocker spaniel.

At ease, General.

- Champagne?

- Yeah, I think I will.

Champagne?

Here. Let's drink to their happiness.

To buttermilk and liverwurst

and getting things back

to where they were yesterday.

I know we always said

we'd never break up the act,

but that wasn't really very realistic.

I mean, well,

we both knew that someday one of us

or both of us would want to be free.

Besides, now that I'm taken care of,

you don't have to feel responsible

for me anymore.

I mean, well, if there's anything

special you want to do,

you can just feel free now

to go ahead and do it.

Isn't that true? I say, isn't that true?

Betty, honey, are you asleep?

Good night.

Thanks, General.

When you get back to the inn,

would you give this to Judy?

It explains everything.

I can't help feeling

this is a tactical error.

I kept watching you and Bob last night.

I say what you two need

is a good talking to.

No, General, this is a private war.

Don't do anything.

I promise. Good luck.

Sure, I know about that,

but on Christmas Eve

we're gonna have a lot

of special trains coming in here,

from Boston, Philadelphia and New York.

Now, can you handle it OK?

I'll call the traffic manager.

Good, but remember,

strictly off the record.

- Yes, Mr. Wallace.

- That's great.

All aboard!

Betty!

What's this?

Where do you think you're going?

- I'm going to New York. I've got a job.

- You've got a job. Where?

Goodbye, Bob. Good luck. I hope

you have great success with the show.

Betty, about yesterday,

if I said anything, I didn't mean it.

Goodbye.

I was so busy with other things,

I must have sounded like an idiot...

- Goodbye.

- ...but I didn't mean... Betty.

Judy. Hey, Judy. John.

Come on up here.

Let's run through the Abraham number.

Watch the tempo on the last part.

Keep it rocking, will you, fellows?

That's wonderful.

That's great, Johnny.

Listen, all right, kids, come on up

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