Without Love (1945) - full transcript

No vacancies.

What next, boss?

Big hotels are full.
Small hotels are full.

Ain't you got no friends
here in Washington
you can stay with?

You haven't got an extra
bed at home have you?

Boss, I got two cots.
Both of them taken.

- Who sleeps in your bed?
- My wife does.

- What did you expect?
- I don't know, I don't know.

- I'm a stranger here.
- You're married, ain't you?

No, I'm not.
Well, take me to a hotel

that's got a nice large
rug in the lobby, will you?



And with a small one
alongside of it for the dog.

Right.

- Hey, taxi.
- Another customer, mister.

Throw out the lifeline.

Come on. We've been
sharing rides all evening.

Oh, it's a... dog?

- Are you the dog I know, hmm?
- Where to, mister?

I want to go to the nearest
recruiting station.

I'm gonna join
the United States Navy.

They're not open
this time of night, mister.

Oh, that's no excuse.

Oh, I know. You-you think
the Navy won't take me.

Just because I happen
to be nearsighted.

All right, ask me
to see something.



That's a house. That's a tree.

That's a sign. Says, uh...

keep off the grass.

I should think the Navy
would be very happy to get you.

Well, I'm sleepy.
Good night, doggie.

Get some sleep.

Eh, say... uh, uh,
where do you live?

Oh-ho-ho, no. No, no, no.

No, home is where the heart is.

And a man's best
friend is his mother.

But not tonight, my friend.

Not tonight, 'cause
you don't know my mother.

Yes, uh... Uh, to Jamie's house.

Where's that?

Oh, now, let's not
be stupid, shall we?

It's Connecticut Avenue
Northwest.

Northwest by East,
and quarter South.

Aye-aye, skipper.

But what number,
if I'm not too inquisitive?

Oh, it's all right.
Um... it's 184.

It's 481.

Well, you try all of them.
I always do.

You'll find it. You'll find it.

See? I told you.

It was just the question
of trying all the numbers.

Nice landing, commodore.

The day shift
is trying to sleep.

Oh, now, let's not
be absurd, shall we?

I mean, this-this nobody
lives in this house.

It's going to hear the
patter
of four little feet tonight.

- Four?
- Mm-hmm.

I can stand up.

Are you sure nobody lives here?

My cousin Jamie lives here.
But nobody lives here now.

Comprenez-vous?

Compre...Oh, yeah.
Oui. Oui, oui, monsieur.

- What is that,
free French?
- Mm-hmm.

Very free.
As a matter of fact,
I'm gonna give it to you.

I'm gonna give it to you
for a night's lodging.

That'll be 3.25 all together.

Why don't you
let him pay it?
He'll never know.

Oh, no. Couldn't do that
to a man who wears glasses.

- That would be grand larceny.
- Heh. Thanks.

Come on.

Hey, have I been out of town?

- These are my bags.
- Oh.

Here.

Oh, refugee!

I'm a refugee.

You don't believe that, do you?

Well, I'm refugee.

- From love.
- Really?

Well, the same thing
could be said about me.

Say, why don't you
spend the night here?

Spend the night here?
Oh, I couldn't do that.

- Is the dog okay?
- Oh, be careful.

You'll hurt his feelings.

Oh, I'm sorry, old man.

- May I take your bags?
- Thank you.

- Thank you very much.
- Not at all.

Let me tell you about love.

If I Only knew where
Jamie keeps the keys,

- we could have a drink.
- Jamie? Who is he?

- Jamie is a she.
- Oh.

Like George Elliot.

- Ohh. She writes.
- Who?

Oh, Jamie? She writes.

She writes horseback.

She "writes" horseback.
That's a good one.

Not that good.

Don't you say
anything against Jamie.

- Oh, she's the woman
you love, huh?
- No, no, no, no.

Jamie is my cousin.
She owns this house.

She spends most of her time
in the country.

Well, sit down. I'd like
to tell you about Edwina.

Say, who's the scientist
around here?

Oh, that's Jamie's father.
But he's dead.

My father is dead, too.

- Makes my mother a widow.
- Mm-hmm.

She's much older than I am.

Mm-hmm,
that's very often the case.

- Not necessarily.
- Really?

Well, perhaps I've just
never met a son who was
older than his mother.

No, no, no.
I'm talking about Edwina.

Edwina.

- Edwina is older than I am.
- Oh...

She's going to be married
next month.

- What would you do?
- I'd go to sleep.

Oh, it's a coward's way.

Edwina's mother and my mother
were the best of friends.

Our fathers were
the best of friends.

Our uncles were best friends.

Edwina and I have been engaged
since we were that hi...

That high.

And I love her,
and she loves me.

At least I think I do.

- Now, you take love.
- You take love.

Why, what's the matter?

You see this book?

It's logical,
it's clear, it's honest.

It doesn't tell you
one thing today
and another thing tomorrow.

It doesn't double-cross you.
It's beautiful.

I'd rather have it than
any woman who ever lived.

You know something?

I'm sober
and you are terribly drunk.

I've gotta go on the wagon.

I never heard
a dog's barking before.

- Hi.
- Who are you?

Pat Jamieson. You bought me
here last night, remember?

Oh, did I? Well, I... I didn't...

I don't remember any dog.

Oh, I'm sure there was a dog.
Uh, would you hold that please?

- Oh, sure.
- And take it over here.

Here, I-I'll take the cleaver.

Now, put it against
the post there.

- Sure.
- All right, that's it.

Nice house
your cousin Jamie has.

Do you know, Jamie?

Well, you told me
about her last night.

- It's a nice cellar. Isn't it?
- Oh, yeah.

Would you put that
right against the sewing
machine? Over there.

Ah, on the floor.
Down on the floor
against the corner.

I say, pardon me for asking,

but are you going
to dig a hole here
or something?

Because I-I don't think
Jamie would like you to.

Even if I said you could
last night.

No, no. No holes.

Now, would you
come over here?
Just bring it with you?

Right there.

I don't suppose she'd
like to rent the place
without holes?

Well, I don't know.
The house is for sale.

But rent, well, I doubt it.
Jamie is a funny sort of
bird.

You know.

Do you know that she hasn't
cracked a smile in years?

Well, money is great thing
to keep the face straight.

- Oh, yeah, you know she...
- Right on the pencil mark.

- You know, see where
I did the pencil.
- Oh.

- Would you get your
leg outta the way?
- Oh.

- That's it.
- Yeah, she-she lives alone.

She walks alone,
she rides alone.

She even eats alone.

Say, what are you
doing here, anyway?

Can't tell,
maybe I'm a counterfeiter.

Yeah, maybe you are.

You know,
if I were a counterfeiter

and if I were talking to me,
I'd say I am.

Just to throw me off the track.

But I am not as foolish
as you think I am.

Hmm, no.

Course, I may be doing
something illegal.

I might be doing secret
government work. Who knows?

Oh, not I.

Anyway,
the basement is wonderful.

It's the basement
I've always dreamed of.

And if you could
persuade your cousin Jamie

to rent it to me
or loan it to me
or let me buy it, I'd...

- I'd really be happy I met you.

- Quentin!
- Oh, hello, Edwina.

What are you doing
in this filthy place?

Where did you get that vile dog?

Oh, it's his dog.

Is Jamie here?
I was to meet her.

She's coming
to town to see about getting
a caretaker for this place.

You are the caretaker, are you?

Oh, Edwina.
This is a very, very good
old friend of mine.

Edwina Collins, Pat Josephson.

Jamieson, Pat Jamieson.

My dog's name is Dizzy.

What are you doing
in your dinner jacket?

Oh, well, aren't we
dressing for dinner at
your mother's house tonight?

-Oh, I see.
-Oh, you do?
Well, that's fine.

You overdid it again,
as you say, didn't you?

Why in the name of heaven
you think it amusing
to get yourself

into completely drunken
state is beyond me.

Now, I know you're
not a great brain...

- Oh, Edwina, please behave.
- I behave?

If you take one more
drink today, I'm through.

- Not even a little tail
of the cock that bit me?

- So, you think
that's funny do you?
- Moderately, yes.

Well, I don't.
You and your
drunken friends.

Why, you disagreeable
little piece you.

I beg your pardon!

You should have your mouth
washed out with soap.

Do you know what you're saying?

I know exactly what I'm saying.

How dare you insult
this nice guy in front
of a perfect stranger?

Well, and who do you
think you are?

I know perfectly well who I am.
What I'm trying to figure out

is what conceivable training
you could be the product of.

Quentin, who is this man?
I've never been spoken to so
in my life!

- It's time someone started.
- Quentin!

Easy there, boy.

Take her upstairs
and lock her in her room.

Oh now, look here now,
Josephson...

-Jamieson.
-Quentin, get rid
of that man

and come to Jamie's room
this minute.

Would you care
to step outside with me?

Don't be a dope,
go and consolidate
your position.

Wh-What do you mean?

Say, look, I usually charge
for unpleasant work like this.

Oh, I get it. I get it.

Well, go on
and carry it through.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, that's that, Dizz.

Too bad, would have made
a nice kennel.

He's already
arrived, Miss Jamie.

How did you get in?

Are you gonna stand there
with your hat on?

No, ma'am.

- Good afternoon.
- Good afternoon.

I'm sorry if I kept you waiting.

I told the agency not to send
over any caretakers until 2:00.

But, um... well, I'm sorry
to disappoint you

but I'm afraid you won't do.

- No?
- No, I wanted an older man.

Oh, I'm much older than I look.

Somehow, I thought
you'd be older, too.

- What is your name?
- Patrick Jamieson, ma'am.

- Are you single?
- Oh, yes'm, very much so.

Well, that's also
unfortunate,
I wanted a couple.

Something in the nature
of superior caretakers

for this place, which I intend
to offer for sale

furnished just as it is.

I'm sure I could show it off

to the best possible
advantage, ma'am.

I'm afraid
it would be too lonely

for one person alone. I'm sorry.

Um, Madam...
I am a great reader.

Well, as it happens
there's quite a large
library.

Still, I'm afraid that
that wouldn't be...

Uh, could I-could I
play the piano, maybe?

Well, of course, I should
have no objection to that.

- Do you play the piano?
- Oh, yes and quite well.

And there's no better companion

for a lonely man anywhere,
is there?

My father used to
play the piano for
hours on end. He...

But, uh, that's quite
beside the point.

The fact is...

Your father must have been
a very remarkable man, madam.

Perhaps, if I could get someone
in by the day to cook for you.

Yes, yes, that'll do it.

Now...

May I see your last
references, please?

Um, what is it
you like to be called?

- How do you mean?
- Patrick or Jamieson?

Whichever comes easiest.

There would be
an afternoon off once a week
and every evening,

unless I particularly
wanted you to be here.

You could ring me up.

And how much are you asking?

If I may ask?

Well, in this case,
just my meals and lodging

would be quite enough.

You would have wages suitable
to the position, Patrick.

Whether or not you would
be suitable for it,
I'm not yet sure.

The references, please.

Yes, now,
what did I do with them?

I don't remember
if I put them
in my overcoat or...

Another man is here
from the agency, Miss Jamie.

Oh-oh, yes, now-now I remember.

I left my references
at the agency

and this man
has been sent with them.

I'll-I'll get them and...

Did you come
about the caretaker's job?

- Are you Mr. J. Rowan?
- No-no-no.

- I'm sort of her secretary.
- Oh.

Mrs. Rowan is ill.

- What's the matter?
- Oh, nothing, nothing.

Just nerves.

- Just nerves?
- Yes.

You better stand over here.

Mrs. Rowan is a little fearful
of burglars.

She has trapdoors
all over the place.

If you don't happen to know
where they are...

you may make a hasty exit.

Careful. Don't break the vase.

The last man who held
this position broke the vase.

Poor fellow.

But you look very strong
and able.

I'm sure you'll be
very happy here.

Good day!

Dizzy!

Where did that dog come from?

- He was in the cellar.
- Is that your dog?

- She must have
said something to her.
- I did no such thing.

He attacked
me the minute he saw me.

He's a wonderful
little watchdog, ma'am.

And he eats
lighted cigarettes, too.

I should like to see
your references, Patrick.

Well, as matter of fact,
I have no references.

You'll just have to take us
on faith, Jamie.

Naturally, you can't
expect me to...

What did you say?

I said you'll just have to
take us on faith, Jamie.

Good afternoon.

Will you leave
at once, please?
I should've known better...

Oh, Jamie, here you are.

Oh, there's that horrible dog.

I want to apologize,
though, for thinking
you were a caretaker.

But I am.
That belongs to me, please.

You're a highbrow scientist.

Want to read a fascinating
article by him

on oxygen in relation
to altitude?

Will you kindly explain to me?

He played nursemaid
to my dear little fiancé
last night.

I'm very grateful
to you, of course.

Merely part
of a caretaker's duties.

There. Now, you're sorry
you spoke so rudely to me?

- Not a bit. It did you good.
- You fiend!

You,.
How do you spell your last name?

He's a brain, my dear.

- Are you related to...
- My father.

Hurry up, Quentin, I'm leaving.

I'll come back later.

That won't be necessary.

But what about interviewing
caretakers for you?

I've already engaged a man.

- You have? Who?
- You.

- Me?
- Yes.

Ha-ha.

Very careful,
the joke may be on you.
I may like it here.

You'll want to consult
your husband, of course.

My husband is no longer living.

I-I-I met your father
in this house.

My father admired him
tremendously.

Well, um...

About the job,
we were joking, weren't we?

Oh, no, we weren't joking.
You've hired me.

Oh, you've already
met Mr. Jamieson.

He's a great guy, Jamie.

Hurry up, Quent.
They're expecting us.

Ohh.

Well, not me.

- But I told them.
- Well, telephone.

But what can I say...

Well, just tell them politely

that I'm drunk
in a gutter someplace.

Quentin, this is the limit.
This is about all I can stand.

Why don't you all stay
and have dinner with me?

Together? You mean it?

- Please say you will.
- We will. We will. Heh.

If Edwina comes back,
we can leave a saucer
of cream in the pantry.

Quentin, tell Anna
to set a little table

for three on the terrace.

On the terrace, madam.

And may I have the keys
to the wine closet, madam?

- To the...
- Yes, to the wine closet.

Uh... it's the... brass one.

I don't know how long it is
since it's been used.

Seems such a shame
to keep a lovely thing

like wine locked up.

You should be
a shade more trustful.

Anna will show you.

But you seem to be a girl who's
kept a lot of precious things

locked up for a great many
precious years.

Thank you, ma'am.

You slay me.

Hello. Colonel Braden's office?

May I speak
to the colonel, please?

This is Patrick Jamieson.

Oh, yes. Jamieson.

Here's your protégé, professor.
Any luck?

Yes. I found a place.
I can start work tomorrow.

Nobody will bother you?
You're sure?

Good.

Wait, here's a friend.
Just flew in from Chicago.

Well, thank you. Hello, Pat!

Well, well,
you'll be happy to know

they already think
you're crazy here.

Hello, Professor Ginza.
Sure they think I'm crazy.

That's why
I wanna work alone.
How's Chicago?

Well, we are waiting
for you to come back
with that oxygen mask

that'll prove who's crazy.

You or these
army aviation experts.

Don't tell them,
but I'm betting on you.

Oh, yes, yes, we have
all the equipment you need.

Uh, say, what address
shall we send it to?

Address? Oh, wait just a minute.

Wha-what address is this place?

481 Connecticut Avenue
Northwest. Why?

481 Connecticut Avenue
Northwest.

Yes. Uh, well, if there's
anything else, I'll call you.

Thank you.

I was just ordering
some groceries, madam.

But I'm only staying tonight.

That's too bad.
We're going to have baby limas.

Thanks, Dizz.

Haven't done that
for a long time, have I?

Go on, go to bed now.

Is that all
you're going to play?

Where did you come from?

I've been sitting on the
stair
listening for a long time.

I play a little, too,
but nothing like as well
as you do.

Perhaps you'd like to take over.

No thanks. Thanks very much,
but no, thanks

Look. Because I may, uh...
because I can't sleep,
there's no reason...

I'm staying right here.

I know what it's like to be
wakeful with no one to...

Well, then talk. Just talk.
Come on, talk my ear off.

-What about?
-About yourself.
That's always interesting.

- Not myself.
- Why don't you let me
be the judge of that?

Come on, now. Come on.
Come out with it.

Where you from? Whither bound?
I like to know all about people.

Well, I was born in 1917
in the New England town

where my father was born,
his father before him,
my mother, too.

- Is that the way?
- That's the way. Go ahead.

Oh, we-we, um, we lived
in a big brick house.

Bigger than this,
but like this,
with no reason for it.

I was the only child,
and even I didn't appear

until several years after
father and mother were married.

I guess he knew
I was all he was going to get,

and that's why
he named me Jamie.

Mother was never very strong.

But I remember that she was
terribly sweet.

And really quite pretty.

I can understand that.

She died when I was eight.

Father loved me dearly,

and I simply worshipped
the ground he walked on.

Um, Miss Jennings, my governess,
I always secretly hated.

And I hate her now.

She made me terribly shy
with people

and frightened the life
out of me about God and purity.

You probably had
a very healthy reaction.

No, the fact is I never did.
By gum, I'm still scared.

I pray for guidance
and blush when I get it.

When did you get married?

Don't you think that
you ought to tell me

something about yourself first?

After all, if you're
going to live in my house
without references.

What do you wanna hear about?
My father?

I didn't happen
to have a governess.

You don't have to tell me
if you don't want to.

Look. I'm what is known
as a scientist.

I'm-I'm curious about things.
Reasons for things. Facts.

Tell you what I'll do with you.

I'll tell you a few facts
about myself, as one
scientist to another.

And I'll expect facts in return.

Keep going about you.

Well, fact number one.

About love.

I-I have been in love
once in my life.

Girl I met in Paris. Lila Vine.

She was cuckoo. Nuts.

She was bright and gay and
shallow. And lived for parties.

She was forever
humming or singing

magical little French tunes.

And saying,
"What, darling? What, sweet?"

It was a thoroughly devastating
and a supremely joyless affair.

Couldn't it have been otherwise?

Fact number two.
She had no heart.

I tell you this
scientifically and honestly.

She was a witch on a broomstick.

She wouldn't have me
and she wouldn't let me go.

The last time I saw her, she was
wearing a white evening gown

with her curls piled
on top of her head,

looking about 16.

I think most girls
have a white dress
they remember

or are remembered in,
and if one falls in love
in one...

Love.

For our conclusions on love,
madam, let me tell you
that you can have it.

Anybody can who wants it.
But not for me.

No, madam. Never. No more.

I don't want any more
of that sickness.

- Don't call it that.
- That's what it was for me.

And let me tell you that
if I ever feel the slightest
symptoms of it again,

I'll show its fair object

the cleanest pair of heels
ever a girl saw.

- Oh, it's you.
- Yes, good morning.

I thought I heard somebody.

It's odd, this. It's very odd.

Very odd, indeed.

Anna doesn't believe
in scientific research.

You never want love
in your life again.

I never want it in mine.

But our reasons are
as different as the sun
is from the moon.

You don't want it,
because you've had
all the worst of it.

I don't want it because
I've had all the best.

Was it like that?

His name was...

his name is Harry Rowan.

He was 22 when we met. I was 20.

He was just getting out
of the university of Virginia

when my father went to make
the commencement address.

We were in love before we
knew it, deeply and instantly.

We got married a month later

and... and went
to live on the sweet farm

his grandfather
left him, White Gate.

That's where I'm going
back to this morning.
I live there, still.

He-he was a scientist, too.

Agricultural. I helped him.

He was the finest, the kindest,

the gentlest human being
I've ever known.

He-he, he had
a first-rate mind,
and-and was very amusing.

I was amusing then, too.
Or he seemed to think so.

We laughed
a great deal together.

We were so young,
and everything
was such great fun.

He must have been
something, all right.

He was everything.

For two years,
it was heaven on earth.

Every living, breathing
moment of it, perfection.

- For only two years?
- That's all.

But it was a lifetime, really.

Then... one morning, early,

a... morning just like any
other one, he was trying out

a new horse, a jumper.

Seems that he behaved
all right at first, and then

suddenly, without warning,
refused a fence and threw Harry,

marvelous rider that he was.

He landed the wrong way,
the terribly wrong way

that sometimes happens,
even to the best.

They brought... brought...

They, um...
brought him back to me.

And he lived only long enough
to grin his grin at me and say,

"What a dirty trick
on us, Jamie.

But don't think we end here."

- So, you see.
- Yes, I see.

It's a simple story of a simple
girl who wants no more of life

because life has no more
to give her.

- That's right.
- But, it isn't right.

It's a complete denial of life.

You can't close the book on life

wherever and whenever you
please. It isn't allowed.

No? By whom is it not?

Oh, by the heavenly powers,
I expect.

Or, by the devilish ones.

Both to the contrary,
I shall do as I wish.

But it's so stupid.
It's such a waste.

You've got a brain.
At least your father
was supposed to have one.

Thank you so much.

It's so selfish, it's shocking.

Don't you know what you
could be doing in the world?

Or perhaps you don't think
this is your world?

Harry and I were doing
everything we could.

Long before lots of people.

He... He had a way
of seeing things ahead.

Too bad his horse didn't.

I said that purposely.

Yes, I know you did.

I like to see how much
a person like you can take.

You fancy yourself as being
hard as nails, don't you?

It's a useful quality.

Well, my-my deepest respects

to the retired student of
science in her rural retreat.

And mine to my
retired caretaker.

You-you mean from this house?

I mean from this house
as soon as possible.

Well, at least it's nice
to know you still have
a spark of life in you.

- Are you trying to be vulgar?
- It's no effort.

- Cheer up, Anna.
I've been thrown out.

- But not for
the reason you think.

- Where does this go, cookie?
- Cookie?

Uh, you must have
the wrong address.

Isn't this 481 Connecticut
Avenue Northwest?

- Yes.
- Okay, men.

- Well, I think there
must be some mistake.
- Gangway, sister.

- I'm sorry, ma'am.
- If you'll let...
I think I can explain.

Please, I'm quite
capable of handling

this myself, Mr. Jamieson.

Mrs. Rowan, really, really, I...

Where does this stuff go?

Well, it obviously
does not go here.

- If you'll just let me...
- This is not your concern,
Mr. Jamieson.

But it is my concern.

This stuff happens to be from
the War Department.

I happen to be a member of
a small group of scientists

who work in cellars, attics,
garages, anyplace.

Anyplace we keep
the rain off our backs.

Anyplace that's a little
more or less secret.

Trying to dream up something
that will help make this war

a little less difficult
for the people in it.

- Your father, if he were
alive, would be one of us.
- Yes.

My own contribution
happens to be an oxygen mask

which I hope will function
over 40,000 feet for the flyers.

You know, you could really be
a lot of help to us, Mrs. Rowen.

How do you breathe up in that

private little world
you live in?

Look, doesn't anybody
know where this stuff goes?

- It was to go to the cellar.
- What cellar?

Our cellar, Anna.

You-you mean it's okay?

Well, uh, that is unless
you'd
like to use the living room.

There won't be
anyone else here but you
for the next six weeks.

The cellar.

Out of the way, cookie.

Mrs. Rowan, Mrs. Rowan.

There's a war on, Anna.

- Not between you
and me I hope.
- No.

You and I'll declare
an armistice,

at least until I come back.

That's fine. You furnish
the cellar and I'll...
I'll feed the birds

and mow the lawn,
take care of the garden.

I'll keep the house
in apple pie order.

- It's a deal.
- By gum.

By gum.

Hmm.

Must be time for tea, Dizz.

Now the thing
is to find the tea.

I...

Well, I made it this far.
Doesn't the front doorbell work?

Not now.
Not now. Well, what is it?

- Call off your dog.
- Why?

I might bite him.

I might bite you, too,
if I knew who you were.

I'm the caretaker.

Shut up, Dizz. Lie down.

Who, me?

Hello, caretaker.
I'm Kitty Trimble.

I'm Mrs. Rowan's caretaker, too.

- Her business caretaker.
- She sent you here?

And high time, I should say.
Does the rest of the house
look like this?

- Like what?
- Like this.

I have an appointment
to show the house
to a prospect.

You can't do that.
I'm working here now.

What are you doing?
Inventing the steam engine?

I'm making tea.

Oh, I take lemon and two lumps.

I think I'd better write
a note to my client that

that bell doesn't work.

Maybe I can fix the bell.

Oh, handyman
around the house, huh?

Well, you'd make
someone a nice husband.

I'd just as soon
be a good client.

Well, that might be arranged.

"Washington Contact Limited."
Is that you?

Uh-huh. We fulfill
a very useful function.

Contacts knows the ropes,
knows the people,
knows the places.

Whom to see, where to go
for it, and how to swing it.

It provides backgrounds,
foregrounds,
and middle grounds.

Chiefly middle.
It's a master of the art of
collaboration and compromise.

But it isn't doing very well.

- Aw, that's too bad.
- Well, don't let it
depress you.

I've been worse off,
and I have a stout heart.

Who and what does it tick for?

- Its owner, chiefly.
- That would have been my guess.

Still, there are times
when one's not too busy.

Really?
I must make a note of that.

When is your slack season?

Oh, late spring. Any time now.

How about dinner
at the Cavendish Hotel
about two months from now?

Good. Around 7:30?
Shall we dress?

- You're a good girl, Miss Trim.
- Don't make that mistake.

- Which one?
- The good girl.

I'm really quite a bad one,
and I revel in it.

There's my client.

He... He won't wanna
see the cellar, will he?

I don't suppose you have any
bodies buried down there?

If your client
wants to see bodies

he'll have to look
for another house.

I suggest he do that anyway.

How does the rest
of the house look?

It's in apple-pie order.

Well, no apple-pie, thanks.
Just the check.

- Oh, come in, Mr. Carrell.
- Thank you.

- I'm a little late?
- Oh, no. I'm early.

- Now, this is the front hall.
- Oh, magnifico.

- You don't like it?
- I love it. It's charming.

So American in the best sense.
Like yourself.

Glad you like it.

Uh, shall we start
in the front of the house?

- If you prefer.
- I prefer.

Uh, this is the living room
or drawing room or music room.

I've been dreaming of something
like this for 12 years.

Tell me, Mr. Carrell,
did you live in Spain
all that time?

Longer than that.

How long
since it's been occupied?

Oh, several years.

But Mrs. Rowan
has had an excellent caretaker.

Ooh! Ooh!

- So I see.
- I should've...

Oh, please, Miss Trimble
it doesn't make any difference.

The house is charming.

Quiet, please.

You're not by any chance
a ventriloquist?

Perhaps the house is haunted.

Shh! Shh!

Will you please draw those
shades, I'm trying to sleep.

Oh, uh, that is the caretaker?

- No, that's Mrs. Rowan's cousin.
- I see. He goes with the house.

No, he goes with Edwina Collins.

That's not so.
The engagement's off.

- What, again?
- Well, this time
it's for keeps.

That's what you said last time.

Ah, now, Kitty, give me
another chance, will you?

Listen, if you think
you can stroll into my life
and pick me up

where you put me down,
you're just...

Just don't be so mean, Kitty.

Did you really
break your engagement?

I did. Wanna hear about it? W...

- Who's that?
- Oh, uh...

Uh, Quentin Ladd,
Mr. Paul Carrell.
Another client.

- Oh. Yes?
- He wants to rent this house.

- Oh, yes. Well, how are you?
- Splendid, thank you.

Number 11 is late.

You just relax now,
while I show Mr. Carrell
the rest of the house.

- Dinner tonight, maybe?
- I wouldn't wonder.

And now, passing
from the living room,

we next approach what
is known as the library.

A very interesting room
containing hundreds
of rare volumes.

Excuse me. There may be a wreck.

If you don't mind.

Some girls just
can't resist a whistle.

That's right.
I'm just a poor
working girl.

How'd you find the house,
working girl?

Well, there's a little
dust on your apple pie.

Little dust
on your apple pie, too.
I didn't...

- And this, I imagine,
is the kitchen.
- Paul Carrell!

- Well, for heaven's sake...
- Pat Jamieson. Hello there.

- Hello! What are you...
- Well, well, it's a small
world, isn't it?

- Too small sometimes.
- You know, Miss Trimble,

I haven't seen Pat
since, uh, since...

You never married
that girl, did you?

- What was her name? Lila...
- Vine.

No, never married her.
How's Madrid?

Oh, Madrid is still Madrid.

My company decided
I might be more useful
here in Washington.

Back home again, thank goodness.

Think you'll be able
to stand the American women?

The question is,
are they going to
be able to stand me?

Oh, you know,
this might be
a lovely house in which

to experiment along those lines.

-Yes. Say...
what are you doing here?
-I'm the caretaker.

Most curious. Mr. Jamieson
is quite insane, you know.

- Oh, of course.
- Hello. Oh, hello.

Set another place, cook.

Jamie, this is Mr. Paul Carrell.
He wants to rent the house.

How do you do?

It's the most perfect house,
Mrs. Rowan. Charming.

And now that I've met the owner,

I can understand its
perfection and its charm.

Yes.

You belong only
in a house like this.

And in an old-fashioned dress

with perhaps some flowers,
some violets.

Do you like white violets?

If they're fresh.
But I'm sure that
any from you would be.

You know, I thought
this was about a house.

This house is not
for rent, Mr. Carrell.

I'm sorry if it has
inconvenienced you.

But how could it be
an inconvenience

to have met you, Mrs. Rowen?

- I'm well repaid,
I assure you.
- Let's go, Contacts.

We have a date with
a bartender named Charles.

All right.
Remember, only three
drinks a day from now on.

Jamie, let me know
if you change your mind
about renting, huh? Bye.

- Bye, all.
- I like purple violets.

Goodbye, Mrs. Rowan.

Uh, when will you have lunch
with me, Pat?

Oh, I'm-I'm... can't lunch.
I'm too busy.

But of course.

That man had
the oddest effect on me.

Don't think he didn't
mean to have.

Him and his white violets.

By gum, I'm glad to see you.

You weren't supposed
to be back here
for two weeks.

Well, anyway,
I'm glad to see you.

I've been very busy
keeping things in order
around here.

- I must say,
Mr. Jamieson...
- Don't say it.

Don't say it.
You can think it,
but don't say it.

I got your letters. Thanks.

You didn't actually
tell me very much about

- what you were
really doing though.

- How's it going down below?
- I can't tell you.

You wouldn't trust me
to take a look?

Well, it's your house.

I'd rather hoped
that my letters
would make you trust me.

- Just wait right there, please.

Okay.

Jiminy Crickets, Patrick!

- Oxygen?
- Mm.

How long will
it take you to complete

your decompression tank?

How'd you know
it was a decompression tank?

Oh, just guesswork, I imagine.

What... What equivalent
altitude pressure
will this withstand?

About 60,000.

You're pretty smart, aren't you?

Well, that's just a guess.

Fairly dangerous
to try that out alone,
I-I would imagine.

Oh, you would?

Well, that's just a guess.

Well, what have
you been doing
with yourself?

Oh, nothing much.
I-I've just been
around by myself.

Just riding and thinking.

- Big thoughts?
- Enormous ones.

Mm-hmm. What about?

Oh... Life with a great big "L."

Well, that's
sometimes rewarding.
How did you come out?

Not very well.

- Really, Anything I can do?
- There might be.

To tell you the truth,
that's
why I came in this
afternoon.

- Really?
- Yes, really.

Well, now, th-there's nothing
I could that I wouldn't.

Why isn't there?

Well, I don't know.
I may be wrong, but I think
that you're the most...

The... The most...

- ...woman I've
ever met in all my life.

I guess that's why you're here.

- Are you sure?
- No, no, it's just...
just guesswork.

That's nice because, uh,

I've been guessing
that I like you
a good deal, too.

And we're so utterly
different, we could help
each other, couldn't we?

-I mean, really help.
That is, if we...
-If we what?

- Don't rush me. Give me time.
- 1, 2, 3, 4...

You see, it's as I've
told you, I've been thinking

all sorts of things
and in all sorts of ways.

Backwards, forwards,
every which way,
but chiefly forwards.

Well, I hope that means
that you've decided to stop
living in the past.

Yes, that's it, and I got to
thinking maybe you're right.

It is stupid of me.
It is selfish, but...

It is a terrible world
to live in alone
with just memories,

and... and you've got such
qualities to face it with,

to do something about it with.

Your eye is so clear,
you see so straight.

You're so honest, so quick,
so aware of everything,
and fearless and forthright.

- Wait a minute, wait a...
- No, don't stop me now.

I know I'm none
of those things,
except maybe honest.

I've got qualities for it, too.

I'm strong and have lots of
energy. And I'm brave, too,
in a way.

Things don't get me down,
and I can take punishment.

It isn't just this house
I can offer you,

or myself as an assistant...
I could be your assistant.

I helped Harry,
and I did a lot of
college work before that.

It isn't only that,
but I-I want to be,
I must be part of it.

I can't just stay outside.

Nobody any good can, but I...

I just don't want
to be all alone
through it.

I want someone to lean on
a little, yes, and stand by
as well.

- I can do that.
- So?

So I thought that, after
all we said to each other
that first night,

and the way we understand
each other about love
and so forth...

I mean, I really, well,
you know I never could,

and I know how you never
could
or would or would want to.

And then there's all that
powerful commodity to be
put to use.

- So I thought.
- So you thought?

So I wondered if maybe
you'd like to marry me.

Would the idea interest you?

Because, by gum,
I'd like you to.

Because, suddenly, I've seen
that there can be another basis

for a good and happy marriage
besides love.

- And what would that be?
- Several of them.

Things shared in common.

Honesty, say,
and courage and humor.

Though I haven't got much
of that, I'm afraid.

Oh, I think you have
a great deal of that

or you never could
have thought this up.

It is sort of funny, isn't it?

I feel as though I'd ran a mile.

Mrs. Rowan, you're nuts.

Yes, so are you.
That's just the point.

Eh. It would never work.

Why not?

Because of ghosts?

Well, for a lot of reasons.

If you're interested
at all, I demand that
you think it over.

Well, I mean, two, after all,

two people are getting married
without love or the hope of it

without even
any desire for it. I...

That's just it. That's just it.

I-I could never even think
of it if someone loved me.

I'd feel so guilty all the time.

And you, do you
want the-the jealousy

the possessiveness, the misery,
the exacting, the demanding?

You'd-you'd be safe forever
from the other side of love.

Besides, you said you knew.

You'd have companionship and
the independence you prize
so.

And you could work.

We could both work, with no
interruptions of any kind.

It would take a lot
of working at.

There's-there's
one thing though. I, um...

- Madame.
- I do...

You would never have
to give that a thought.

- This is for you.
- Thank you.

Jamie Jamieson.
Be kind of a pretty name.

Don't think I didn't think
of that.

- How's it feel?
- Huh?

How's it feel?

Feels fine. How's it look?

Oh, it looks great.
You look like Buck Rogers.

Who?

Buck Rogers. He's a great flyer,
especially in the stratosphere.

- Where?
- In the funny paper.

Well, let's try
the oxygen valve.

Doorbell.

Anna's gone out, let him in.

Might be General Stevenson.

Hold everything.

Ah... ah... ah-choo!

Oh... oh.

Ah... Uhh.

- Professor Ginza, well, well.
- Hey.

Come in, come in, come in.
How are you?

My woman-hating friend,
How do you like Washington?

Fine, fine, fine.
You'll spend the night.

Well, are you sure, Patrick?

Oh, sure.
You couldn't have come
at a better time.

- Well.
- I just started
my first test.

-Really?
-I don't think
the thing'll work tonight,

but I want you to see
what I've been doing anyway.

Oh, oh yes, I forgot.
Hey, great piece of luck.

This is Professor Ginza,
I've told you about.

Oh, how do you do,
Professor Ginza?

How do you... Excuse me.

How do you do?

- This is my little tank job.
- Oh. Nice. Very nice.

Honey of a pump.

I can get her up to 30,000 feet
in less than two minutes.

Hey, say, Patrick. Who is that?

Oh, oh, oh I'm sorry.

Uh, uh, uh, may I introduce
my assistant and my wife.

Well, Patrick!
I congratulate you.

- Thank you.
- Mrs. Jamieson,
I can only say...

Mrs. Jamieson,
I congratulate you, too.

Thank you very much, professor.

Well, come on, excuse me.
Uh, uh, let's get on
with it, huh?

You mind stepping
into your plane,
Mrs. Jamieson?

- Good luck, Mr. Jamieson.
- Thank you. Same to you.

Now be careful, won't you?

- Yeah. Yeah.
- Drive slowly.

Don't bump into any clouds.

You get too much oxygen,
you gotta pull over the curb,

or they'll pinch you
for drunken driving.

How will I know
if I get too much?

You'll know, all right.

Will you handle
the exhaust valve?

Okay.

Oxygen starting in
at four pounds pressure.

Altitude 4,000
at zero minutes, 20.

Check.

You weren't married
when I saw you in Chicago.

No.

Oxygen coming in at 4.7.

Altitude 18,000 at zero, 58.

- Oxygen intake perfect.
- Check.

You were perhaps engaged
to her then?

No, only met her two months ago.

Well, she's not like
the girl in Paris.

Should say not.

Oxygen coming in at 5.1.

149, oxygen intake perfect.

Uh, when were you married?

This afternoon.

This afternoon?

But, Pat, your wedding day.

I'm worried about that valve.

Oxygen still at 5.2

Oxygen intake perfect.

She's very useful to me.

Used to work with Perry
a little at Columbia.

Yes, good, good.
But what am I doing here?

Here's where I load it.

Oxygen going up now, 5.9.

Altitude perfect.
Oxygen intake...

Whee! I feel so uptake,
intake, outtake.

I take, you take, we all take.

I take, you take,
I take, we all take.

That settles it. Come on down.

Pull over to the curb,
you're coming down, Mrs. Uptake.

What happened?

Too much gas.

What?

Oh, okay.

I hope it wasn't my fault.

No, no, no,
it wasn't you fault.
How do you feel?

All right. Um, I feel
all right, um...

Uh-oh, Pat, maybe it was
something with the valve.

I feel intake, uptake,
outtake. I don't know.

3,000. 2,000.

1,000.

Happy landing, Mrs. Uptake.

Ohh.

How'd it go?

Well, wait, wait a minute,
have to undo this.

Maybe we could-we could...
try it again, Pat,
at a lower pressure.

No. No, I don't think
that was the trouble.

- You, professor?
- No, possibly not.

But you can't solve
this problem in one day.

Especially your wedding day.

Miss Jamieson, I can't tell you.

You see, I was Patrick's
father's best friend.

I'm so very happy
that he has found

what he has been looking for.

A woman who can
stand on her head.

Exactly, exactly, Patrick.

And now, Mrs. Jamieson,
that you have come down

from 35,000 feet
to the level on which
you were married,

I think, I say good night.

Oh no, but you... you're
gonna spend the night...

- Pat, didn't you ask him?
- Oh, sure.

Who, me? No, no, thank you.

I have a very urgent
outtake. I'm late.

- No, no, you must stay.
- No, no, no, you stay here.

- It's silly for you to leave.
- What are you talking about?

Professor, professor,
you don't understand.

What don't I understand, Pat?

Well, you see us...

We-we-we have
a few questions
we'd like to ask you.

Oh, Patrick,
you are a big boy now.

I'll be back tomorrow
in the afternoon

after I've seen
General Stevenson.

I'll tell him that
you have made satisfactory
progress, up to now, anyway.

Well, even-even Dizzy
wants you to stay.

- What's the dog's name?
- Dizzy.

Dizzy?

That's quite a name
to live up to in this house.

- Well, goodbye, Mrs. Jamieson.
- Goodbye.

I'm very happy
to have met you. Bye, Pat.

Professor, you'd...

- Well, he didn't
have to insult Dizz.

I guess it's no use trying
to explain our marriage
to anyone.

No, we can't expect people
to understand.

- Did it upset you?
- The experiment?

Oh no, just means we have
more work to do, that's all.

I'll turn out the lights.
I'm tired.

You're tired, Mr. Jamieson?

- I flew up 35,000 feet.
- And upside down, too.

- Were you ashamed of me?
- I was proud of you.

Ginza likes you, too.
We're off to a flying start.

Hey, what are you doing?

- Are these your pajamas?
- I hope so, why?

Glad I don't have
to see you in them.

Fish eyes swimming in mucilage.

Well, good night,
Mrs. Uptake, intake,
outtake.

If I couldn't invent
a better helmet than that.

- We will.
- You will.

- Breakfast at 7:30.
- Well, thank you.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Dizz. Hey, Dizz. Dizz.

Dizz, hey.

Mr. Jamieson. Mr. Jamieson.

Aah! Oh, oh, oh, oh!

What are you doing
in my bedroom?

Get out of here.

I think it would
be better if you didn't
try to pretend anything.

Pretend? Aren't you
ashamed of yourself?

Get... Where is my bathrobe?

You happen to be in my bed.

Yes.

I might have known.

I guess you'll just
have to lock me up.

Well, it's no crime, you know.

If you do it, you do it.

Do what?

Somnambulism.

Noctambulism.
There are lot of names for it.

There doesn't seem
to be any cure for it.

They throw you outta
the army for it.

- Oh, Pat, Pat.
- Yeah.

- Okay.
- Yes.

If it gets any worse, why,
you'll have to call the fire...

It couldn't get any worse.
If you knew.

I know. Good night.

Where were you
in my hour of need?

Remind me to trade
you in on a cat.

What was that measurement again?

133.7.

Let's have a little
more light, huh?

Let's take tomorrow off
and go fishing.

133.7. Hmm?

I said come here,
I want to show you
something.

What?

- Nature.
- Where?

- Out there.
- Mm.

Don't be afraid to breath
it.
It's just Virginia fresh
air.

Fresh air, what's that good for?

Oh, you and me after
six months in a cellar.

Okay, I'll breath
your fresh country air

and I'll smell
your fresh country flowers

and I'll listen to
your loudmouth birds,

but I won't visit with those
visitors that are coming.

Hi there, Dizzy.
Anybody home, hmm?

Anybody home?

Oh, hello, Contacts.
Uh, would you like
to take a buggy run?

Certainly not.
What are you doing down here?

Well, same as you,
visiting friends.

- What friends?
- Oh, uh, over there.

You mean over there, don't you?
That's where Edwina Collins'
place is.

Mm, Virginia in April.

Edwina Collins in any month.

Is that engagement on again?

Of course not. I just
happened
to run into her, that's all.

She just happened
to ask you down?

Yeah, me and lots of others.
There's Sandy Buram,
Paul Carrell.

- Oh, is he down here, too?
- Mm-hmm.

I thought I heard wolves
howling last night.

- Oh, me a wolf.
- Ah, you a dyed rabbit.

Oh, yeah? Well, how long
since
you've been kissed, my sweet?

-Well, let's see.
What's today, Saturday?
-Mm-hmm.

Since, uh, night
before last I guess.

Who by?

An unidentified target.

Somebody in uniform.

- Well, it wasn't a WAC.
- Nice going.

Say, uh, where are
the married folk?

Oh, out there. Working as usual
and not to be disturbed.

How're things going?
Any patter of tiny feet?

I haven't been listening.

You know, Paul said a very,
very funny thing to me
about them this morning.

He wondered if I had...
noticed anything.

Oh, you mean such as her
wearing his white violets

the last couple times
they had lunch.

No, no, no, he wondered
if I had noticed

the, uh, absence of anything.

The absence of what?

Well, it's-it's a little
difficult to put into words.

Well, maybe you can act it out.

Now, that's a very good idea.

Supposing that I'm Pat
and you're Jamie, see.

All right.

Well, you-you don't look
like Jamie.

Here, just tilt your head back
a little. There, that's better.

Now, uh, Paul says
he never remembers
seeing them, uh, do this.

Oh, he does, huh?

Well, not only that...

but this.

Did you notice it, too?

Well, I'm beginning to.

Maybe, maybe we can rehearse
some more, huh?

- Second act.
- Curtain.

Mm? Oh, hello, Jamie.

I hope I don't
interrupt your work.

I hope I don't interrupt yours.

This isn't work.

- You said it, Dobbin.
- Her name isn't Dobbin.

- Maybe she wants a drink.
- Well, who doesn't?

There's a pail in the barn.
I'll see what we've got.

What'll it be, old girl,
Rum Collins, Tom Collins?

Edwina Collins?

Why, Kitty Trimble,
aren't you ashamed?

Now, don't you go trying
to make me feel guilty.

Kitty, I wouldn't dream of it.
It looked such fun.

- It often is.
- Often?

Does it really happen
to you often?

Well, not any more so
than is good for me.

Just never does to me.

- Well, I should hope not.
- Why?

- 'Cause you're different.
- How?

From me? Well, you're
a person of some stature.

Stature. You mean tall?

- I'm not so tall.
- I mean tall in soul.

In addition to which,
you're married.

In addition to which
I'm from New England.

- So, you see.
- Oh, dear.

You don't seriously mean you'd
like to have passes made at you.

No, no, I just like to feel
that someone might want to.

Course, there was that
Brazilian that tried to
hold hands under the table.

But I expect he was just
being good neighborly.

Oh, sure. Like Paul Carrell.

Now, there's a real nice
neighbor for you.

Paul doesn't think
of me that way.

He doesn't think of anything
any other way.

I'll get it, Anna.

Hello? Yes.

Yes, he'll be here tonight.

Well-well, what time will
Colonel Braden telephone?

Yes. Yes, thank you.

- By gum!
- Good news?

Maybe. By gum!

- Hey, Washington called.
- Who was it, the Colonel?

His office. He's going
to call you later.

Oh, just teasing us, huh?

Well, I suppose that's
a colonel's privilege.

- Who was your visitor?
- Quent.

Quent. Oh, that's good.
He brings me luck.

- What luck?
- You.

Why, Mr. Jamieson,
whatever are you saying?

Yes, sir. It was
a lucky night for me

the night you proposed
marriage to me.

I proposed to you,
a lady doesn't do that.

- That's no lady,
that's my partner.

The concern of
Jamieson and Jamieson

is quite a going one,
wouldn't you say?

The formula's perfect, Pat.

You've made me over into
something useful and alive.

I never felt it
so much as today.

Nonsense, no one ever made you
over into anything.

You're your own special
creation, you always will be.

- Only...
- Only?

Only, I sometimes wonder
if you don't miss love
more than you admit.

No, I don't. How about you?

Who runs away from the telephone
every time it might be
Lila Vine's in town?

Listen to me, Jamie.

You never catch me running
away from anything.

My mind is much too busy
with other things to...

think about anything like that.
Get that through your head
once and for all.

And you be sure, Mr. Pat,
that my head's all
I've to get it through.

And that it's through
that already.

- Then why for the love of...
- Love of what, Pat?

What love have we two
anything to do with?

- Uh, uh, Washington!
- Jeepers, I hope so.

Yes? Mm-mm. Mm-mm.

Yeah, yeah, tell him
I'll-I'll be right there.

I forgot. I told Paul
Carrell
I'll go riding with him.

- Do you need me anymore?
- No, mm.

Tomorrow, you learn
to ride a horse.

- You hear?
- Tomorrow.

- It's nice, isn't it?
- Perfect.

This is the first time I've
been in Virginia in April.

"April, April with her girlish
laughter." That's a poem.

"April is the cruelest
month."
That's another poem.

What's the rest of it?

"April is the cruelest
month,
breeding lilacs out

"of the dead land.

Mixing memory and desire."

"Mixing memory and desire."
Who wrote that?

T.S. Elliot. "The Waste Land."

What comes after mixing memory
and desire?

"Stirring dull roots
with spring rain."

I was a dull root.

Now, you're stirring.

Mixing memory and desire.

Whoa.

Tell me something.

Why haven't you ever asked
me
about Lila Vine?

You knew that I knew her.

Possibly because
I wasn't interested.

Most unusual.

- Unless...
- Unless what?

Never in my life will I
understand American
marriages.

Will you have lunch
in town with me next week,
the usual place?

If I'm in town.

Would you prefer that
I ask Pat this time?

- What's funny?
- You, and your primness.

I'm glad you can laugh.

Well, I do lots.
Why shouldn't I?

Because all at once,
I think I understand
a very curious fact...

- Mm?
-...of a lovely girl who
doesn't love her husband.

Who doesn't love...

Well, what are
you talking about?

And who doubtless never has,
nor he you, possibly.

Amidst all this plenty,
starvation.

- I never heard such...
- Never angry with him.

Never malicious.
The perfect marriage.

And now your calm,
dispassionate lack
of interest in a girl

he was once madly in love
with, possibly still is.

-Possibly?
-Well, that proves it.
You don't love him.

Well, suppose Pat and I
happen to believe

that two people can
help each other much more
if they aren't in love?

Very perverse.
Very interesting, though.

If we aren't a hundred times
happier than any number

of people
who married for love...

- I tell you it works.
- Sweet girl.

- And if it does,
what's the difference?
- None, except to me.

- We'll talk about it in town.
- I don't think we will.

My primness, did you say?

Well, how foolish of me.
We'll talk about it in town.

That-That's the last time
you'll do that, though.

- If you prefer.
- I prefer.

What you said just now about
Pat and me, it isn't true.

We're-We're very much
in love in every way.

I've already forgotten
that the subject came up.

Ohh.

Oh.

Pat, hey!

Pat.

- Where's Mr. Jamieson?
- He's gone back to Washington.

To Washington?

- Where's Miss Kitty?
- Out front.

I'll send a wire about
clothes
if I catch the Chicago train.

- Anything else, Colonel?
- Nothing, except some sleep.

Oh, does that door
lock on the outside?

- Why, no, sir.
- Thank you.

- Why did you ask that,
Mr. Jamieson?
- I'll tell you later.

Hope you didn't mind my
ordering the berths made up,
Mr. Jamieson.

I need sleep badly.

There was a dog barking
outside my window
all last night.

- You don't like dogs?
- In their proper place.

- Did I say something funny?
- No, no, no.

Hope you don't mind
my taking the lower.

No, no. No, no. No, sir.

I don't mind anything.
I-I just hope you've...

-...brought sleeping pills
with you.
- Never use drugs.

Hey, what's that?

Uh, this is a little
invention of mine.

Hello, Dizz. It works
on exactly the same principle
as the other mask.

Of course, not for
the lower temperatures.

Now, the oxygen container,
you see, is carried on
the back...

Mr. Jamieson.

And-And the little
valve works automatically...

- Mr. Jamieson.
- Yeah, and I have...

Mr. Jamieson,
I have been assigned
by General Stevenson

to assist you to conduct
a serious scientific...

Who is it?

I'm looking for
a Mr. Patrick Jamieson.

- Jamie?
- Hey, Pat.

- I made it.
- Good.

Hello, Dizz.

Boy, was it close. I didn't
even have time to pack a bag.

Uh, Colonel Braden,
this is Mrs. Jamieson.

Isn't this lucky?
I hope I'll be able
to find a berth somewhere.

Oh, but Mrs. Jamieson,
that's up to me now.

Oh, no, no, Colonel.
I'll find an upper somewhere.

- What?
- Well, what I mean...

Maybe we ought to draw lots.

Oh, hardly. I'll find something.

Sorry to be... Wait a minute.

- Sorry to be such a bother.
- I assure you,
it's a great pleasure.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Good night.
Good night there, Colonel.

- Well.
- Hello.

- Oh, Pat, I had to come.
- I'm glad you did.

- Really?
- Yes, mm-hmm. Only...

Have you got a pair
of pajamas, extra?

I think so, yes. I hope so.

Excuse me, Colonel.

What time did you and the other
gentleman wish to be called?

About an hour before
the train gets in.

Thank you, Colonel.

Yes, sir.

The colonel's sleeping
in the washroom.

- Only he's not sleeping.
- Poor colonel.

- Say, uh...
- Hmm?

Would you like
to tie this for me?

I'm afraid if I tie it myself

I'll remember how to
untie my own knot.

They still look like fish eyes.

What does? Oh.

- Want to trade?
- Oh, no, no.

Thanks very much, but no thanks.

Would you like something
to read? I've got some books
in the station.

You're a funny girl, aren't you?

You didn't remember to bring
any pajamas, but books, yes.

Books are more important
than pajamas.

Only in some states.

The Supreme Court
hasn't decided that yet.

Say, would you toss up
those magazines that are
in my bag, darling?

Thanks.

Did you read Steiner's article

on the stratosphere
in the new "Technical Review"?

Mm-hm.

It's not very good.
Don't bother with it.

Oh, I'd forgotten
this one completely.

This one what?

"Ah, love, let us be true to
one another, for this world

which seems to lie before us
like a land of dreams."

Which issue of
the "Technical Review"
is that in?

Matthew Arnold. It was
my father's favorite poem.

What's yours?

- Favorite poem?
- Mm-hm.

Hmm. "Men seldom make passes
at girls who wear glasses."

I like Dorothy Parker, too.

Here's Edna Millay.

"Oh, come again to Astolat.
I will not ask you to be kind.

And you may go when you will go
and I will stay behind."

All right so far.

Pat, do you remember anything
about a poem that goes, um...

"April is the cruelest month,

"breeding lilacs
out of the dead land.

"Mixing memory and desire,

stirring dull roots
with spring rain."

"Mixing memory and desire"?
Where'd you get that one?

Paul Carrell, this afternoon.

Carrell?

He certainly doesn't
mix any desire with memory.
He takes it straight.

I'm ashamed of myself, Pat.
I lied to him this afternoon.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

I told him you and I loved each
other very much in every way.

Well, how did that particular
subject happen to come up?

He kissed me.

Hm. Good old Paul.

Temperature?

- Temperature normal.
- Oxygen intake?

- Oxygen intake perfect.
- Vision?

Vision clear.

Check.

Check.

Good night.

Good night, Pat.

Mr. Jamieson.
Mr. Patrick Jamieson.

Mr. Jamieson.

I'm crazy
about this music.
- Remind me to dance with you.

- I'm starved.
- This is no place to eat.

12th floor.

Say, do you know where
I could buy some flowers?

Cleopatra Roof.

- You want something, sir?
- Yes, I want a lot of them.

It's April on
the Cleopatra Roof.

Well, those are
very beautiful. $5.00.

Well, don't let it get you down.
I've got $5.00.

These should make
my wife very happy,
don't you think?

And that should
make you very happy.

I am happy, it's...
It's... ah... ah-choo!

Flowers give me hay fever.
Excuse me.

Patrick Jamieson.

- Yes, yes. Yeah.
- Mr. Jamieson?

- Telephone.
- Oh, thank you.

You can take it over there.

Thank you. I may-may
make a reservation later.

Yes, and I'll make it in French.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you.

- Thank you, sir.
- Thank you. Thank you.

Oh, uh, do you have
a call for Mr. Jamieson?

Yes.

Hello?

Hello, Lila.

Yes. Yes, I remember you.

What is that? What is...

Well... well, uh,
that's unfortunate,
I... but I don't un...

How...

Well, how would seeing me
help you any, Lila? I...

Oh, don't say that. Well, uh...

Yes, yes, yes, all right.
I'll call... tomorrow.

Tomorrow. I'll call you there
tomorrow. Yeah. Yes, yes.

- This isn't my birthday.
- I know it. It's mine.

I'm gonna get my wish.

Maybe.

How about letting
a fellow in on this?

Well, you see, it...

It really isn't my birthday
until next we... week.

But I thought we ought to
have
some reason to celebrate

our first night
together in a hotel.

Here's to you, Pat.

To you, Jamie.

- Ah.
- Mmm.

It's good, isn't it?

I haven't had any for
an awfully long time.

Do you, um... like my new dress?

- Mm-hmm.
- I like it.

Dizzy likes it.

I thought perhaps
if you weren't too tired,
we might go out dancing.

Of course, if you don't want to,
we can celebrate right here.

Have some more wine, Pat.

There's a place downstairs
called the Cleopatra Room.

- Cleopatra's on the roof.
- Oh, is she?

That's even better for us. As
high as possible, 50,000
feet.

We might even go 60,000 feet
if we drink enough
champagne.

Ginza said...

- But that's another story.
- Ginza said what?

I-I had a long talk with
him on the telephone.

He loves you very much.
I think he likes me, too.

He wants us to be happy.

He didn't think I should
go home until you do.

Home?

Well, you see, I'm not
much real use to anyone

now that the Army
has taken over.

Poor Pat.

You're tired, aren't you?

And the Cleopatra Room will
probably be horribly
crowded.

And besides, Cleopatra
was bitten by a snake,

and we wouldn't want that
to happen to us, would we?

Here's to us, Pat.

To us, Jamie.

You can... You can
get Cleopatra's music

right here in your own room.

Isn't science wonderful?

We don't have to go upstairs
or downstairs.

We can dance right here
in my lady's chamber.

This is my dance I believe,
Mr. Jamieson.

You are listening
to dance music from
the Cleopatra Roof.

I'll open the other
bottle of wine.

Come on, it's your turn.

Flat.

It's very flat.

Yes.

Too bad.

Dizzy, get off that couch!

I said get off the couch.

Dizzy, get off the couch.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I spoke so crossly.

Here, maybe I can fix that.

Thank you.

Why don't you marry her?
She's getting a divorce.

Why don't you go to
Washington and see her?

Why don't you send for her?

I came here to do a job.

But you do want to see her.
Then, for pity's sake,
why don't you,

and get it over with?
You're free. Send for her!

I'm-I'm sorry, Pat.

So am I.

Get down, Dizz!

Do you realize you're
objecting not to my seeing
too much of a girl

but to my wish not
to see her at all?

- To my mind,
that's much worse.
- How do you figure that?

Well, if you're afraid
to see her, it must mean
that you still love her.

- You're not making sense.
- I am making sense,
and you know it.

Why in heaven's name
can't you understand?

I'm going for a walk.

I won't be here
when you get back.

That's up to you.

Well, my boy,
this is the big day.

Now, let me see.

Pulse, respiration,
blood pressure. Mm-hmm.

It's too bad Mrs. Uptake Outtake

won't be here to witness
your triumph.

- Yeah.
- Well...

Uh, say, tell me
honestly, Patrick,

would you care to
postpone this test?

- Why?
- Maybe until
your wife returns?

She's not returning. Let's go.

Well, Patrick,
you are about to try out

your Jamieson
super-duper oxygen mask

under actual flying conditions.

I hope it works
as well up in the air

as it did down in the cellar.

All right. There you are.

Now put this on.

Uh, that way...

Now, Patrick,
keep those lights parallel.

'If they become unsteady,
I'll know you are in
trouble.'

Okay? Good luck to you.

Now, boys. Canopy.

That's right.

- Better start the oxygen
now, Mr. Jamieson.
- What's the altitude?

- Altitude, 9,000.
- Temperature, 61 above.

Wiggle the stick, Patrick.

Hold her steady now.

Altitude, 29,000.

Up you go, Patrick.

Altitude, 29,000.
Temperature, 21 below.

21 at 29.

- Everything okay, Thompson?
- Yes, sir.

Pulse, 67.

Respiration, 11.

Blood pressure, 129 over 83.

Nothing wrong yet, Doctor.

RPM, 41.

Altitude, 41,000.
Temperature, 61 below.

Peripheral vision
slightly off at 45,000.

Blood pressure, 113 over 70.

- Respiration down to seven.
- How's the pulse?

- 85.
- Good.

Pulse up to 92.

50,000!

He's done it. He's done it.

- Altitude, 52,800.
- Ten miles.

That's 7,000 feet higher
than we hoped for.

- Respiration down to six.
- Pulse up to 101.

Bring him down
the minute he blacks out.

Jamie. Jamie.

We made it.

Dizzy, come here. Come here.

Dizzy.

Now, you be quiet. Come here.

Quiet.

Hiya, Dizzy.
What are you doing home?

- Well, it's about time.
Did you get my wire?

- Should I have?
- Yes, frankly.

You haven't seen the body of
Quentin Ladd around, have you?

- What's all that?
- That's a surprise for Jamie.

Oh, well, the surprise
is on you.

I just left Jamie in
the arms of Paul Carrell.

What are you talking about?

A dance, Einstein.
Nothing more, yet... I hope.

Good old Paul.
He gets around, doesn't he?

Say, what happened in Chicago?

Since Jamie came back
she's been giving

a good imitation
of a powder keg.

Well, Paul left
his matches behind.

Well, he also carries
a lighter, and it works.

He's no amateur
bombardier, mister.

Kitty, had personal experiences
along those lines?

Oh, just once-over lightly.

He thinks she's on
the target now, huh?

Do you know what
I think about men?

I think they're
the most stupid,
the most ignorant

the most conceited...
present
company included, of course.

Present company included.

And Quent's right
up there with you.

He hasn't called me
in three days, I don't
even know where he is.

I saw his beloved Edwina
at the party tonight,
though.

What a gang.

All the evening's entertainment
needs is a playgirl from Chicago

Who I met yesterday.

Named, ah, Lila Vine.

- Where?
- Oh, one of those
cocktail things.

Say, she really takes over a
party, that Lila and her piano.

And her cute little curls
and
that long cigarette holder.
Did you ever see that?

It's so long she can smoke
in
two rooms at the same time.

- I take it you didn't like her.
- Oh, I loved her.

So did Jamie.

- Was Jamie there?
- Mm-hmm, with Mr. Carrell.

Lila sang her some of your
favorite French songs.

"Trez chick."

Where'd you say Jamie was now?

At the Whitestone,
Maggie Lorrington's
apartment.

- Do I have to dress?
- You're going?

That's more like it.

If Quentin's there,
you can tell him for me
that I'm through with him.

He's like smoking. It's
easier
to cut it out altogether.

On second thought,
I think I'll go with you
and tell him myself.

Get out of here.

What's the occasion?

British or Russian,
one of them things,
you know.

Thank you.

Hi, Contacts!

Well, what do you think?
They took me.

- My boy, I'm proud of you.
- Thank you.

Well, what's the matter?

I mean, heh, don't you
wanna win the war?

Oh, terribly sorry.

-If you don't mind.
-Oh, not at all.
Not at all, sir.

-Not at all.
Go right in. Go right in.
-Thank you.

Oh, they're splendid chaps.

High-ho and a bottle of rum.

Oh, come on, I'm thirsty.

I have something to say to you.

Sailor, beware. Breakers ahead.

- Telegram for Mrs. Jamieson.
- Maybe she's gone home.

Well, here we are, folks.
Hot, fresh, barbequed
bourbon.

Doesn't do nobody any good.

Well, it's the kind
of good I like done me.

I think I'll see
if they left any trace.

Uh, step right this way,
Miss Trimble, if you please.

Now, then, uh, what did
you wanna say to me?

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye?

- Is that what you
wanted to say to me?
- Yes.

Well, now that's over,
we can have a drink.

'Cause I want to say
something to you.

- What?
- Hello.

Hello, Kitty, how are you?
Gee, it's good
to see you back.

I'm not coming back, ever.

I've stood it as long as I can.

You're unreliable, untrustworthy
and unappreciative.

Well, you're doing fine.
Here, try this one.

I haven't finished.
Except with you.

Absolutely, completely,
and forever.

Oh, this may be the last time
we see each other, you know.

You mean you're really
going someplace?

One never knows in the Navy.

Tomorrow maybe?

I just thought at least
you'd give me a goodbye kiss.

Just as a patriotic gesture,
of course.

Well, I'll let you know
when I finish this drink.

- Contacts, I'm gonna miss you.
- Oh, no, you're not.

Looks fine on you, though.

- It does?
- Mm-hmm.

Well, then, why don't you
finish that drink?

Just tilt your head back,
I'll be right with you.

This is your last kiss.

Oh, on my honor as a sailor.

Goodbye, sailor.

Goodbye, Lieutenant.

That's the quickest commission
a sailor ever got.

Oh, there's a submarine
off the starboard bow.

Clear for action.

I beg your pardon,
Miss Trimble,
have you seen Quentin?

Uh, he was here a minute ago.

Quentin!

- So you had to do it,
didn't you?
- Yes, Edwina.

I told you father was trying
to get you a commission.

- I already have
my commission.
- As what?

- As an admiral.
- Ha ha. Very funny.

I'm going home now.
I want you to come with me.

I'm afraid I can't, Edwina.
Navy regulations.

Article XI, Section Three.

An admiral answers only
to one person...

his wife.

Congratulations,
I'm sure you'll be very
happy.

- Edwina, have you seen...
- Yes.

- When did she leave?
- She? I thought you
meant Quentin.

I meant Jamie.

You've been away,
haven't you, Professor?

Look. If you don't know
when Jamie went home...

Home? Why should she go
home?
She was having a whirl.

Has the great lover gone, too?

- If you mean Carrell...
- "If I mean Carrell."

If you mean Carrell,
he left the party alone.

Then that makes everything
all right, doesn't it?

Jamie is probably
on her way home,

and Paul is probably
in his apartment downstairs,
reading a book.

What's the matter, brain?
You look worried.

I am worried. I'm terribly
worried about you.

Why don't you try
having your mind lifted?

- Who is it?
- Pat Jamieson.

- Who?
- Pat Jamieson!

Well, Patrick, I thought
you were in Chicago.

- No, I'm in Washington.
- So I see.

Thought I'd drop in for a drink.

I can see that, too.

Well, almost looks as though you
might have been expecting me.

I don't like to drink alone.

That's friendly. I like that.

- Cigarette?
- No, no, no, thanks.

I don't like them rouge-tipped.

Some wine?

- How did you find Jamie?
- How did I find her?

Here you are, Patrick.

Not what we used to drink
in Paris, but, uh...
very pleasant.

You left a little rouge
on the glass, too.

Can you imagine that?

Terrible service in this hotel.

Tell me how you found Jamie.

I'll tell you when I see her.

I thought she might be
at the party upstairs.

- She was.
- She was?

Looking radiant, too.

Her trip to Chicago must
have
done her a world of good.

Here's to the new Jamie.

Is there something seriously
wrong with the old one?

Evidently not.

The perfect wife and
the perfect husband.

No faults, no jealousies.

Marriage without pain.

You think I think that's
her scarf, don't you?

- Why should you think that?
- Because I know you.

But I also know Jamie...

and that's how I know
it's not her scarf.

That doesn't mean
anything, either.

I thought you weren't
supposed to be jealous.

Not of you, my friend.
Never of you.

- Lila Vine once said that...
- That isn't what
we're talking about.

- Jamie isn't Lila, is that it?
- That's it.

For instance, Lila might
hide behind that door.

Jamie never would.

Your faith is admirable,
Patrick.

But as a scientist, I think
I'll back up my faith

with a little investigation.

- I wouldn't do that.
- Why not?

Because I don't want you to.

- I want the key.
- What good will it do?

- Prove that I'm right.
- Do you need proof?

No, but you do.
If I don't get
the key and go into that room

you'll make up quite
a story about all this.

All right, give me the key
or I'll kick it in.

All right.

Well, scientist,
are you satisfied?

I always have been.
How about you?

Perfectly.
Now, let's have some wine.

Yeah.

Cheer up, Patrick.
What are you worried about now?

I'm worried about a heel.

- Me?
- No, me.

You'd better save that for
your friend, they're rationed.

- When did she go to bed?
- When she got home.

Did you leave that cake
and stuff in there?

- Yes, yes. Did she see that?
- Yes.

Did she say anything?

She said she didn't want
to be disturbed.

Oh.

Well, what time
did she get home?

I couldn't tell you I'm sure.

Since you tinkered
with the kitchen clock,

it's never run right.

See that, Dizz?

That's a medal.

It's a medal they gave me
for that oxygen mask.

And no matter what you think
of her personally,

she deserves it more than I do.

Shh. Quiet now.
Mustn't wake her up.

Mustn't we?

No! No, not now.
Now, now, look, Dizz!

Dizz, take it easy.
Now, look. Hey, Dizz!

Now, look, Dizz, this is okay.

I'm awake, you see?
Now, watch. Now, watch.

Now, now, now, look. Dizz! Dizz!

Now, now, look, take it easy.
Take it easy.

Now, don't be a cluck, Dizz.

This is not on the level.
Follow?

Here, this is a gag.
Now, sit. Now, watch me.

Now, watch. Now, watch.

Look. Look. Now, look.

Pat, darling.

You're back. However are you?

Oh, darling? How am I?
Oh, I'm simply supreme.

Very.

I gained four pounds
and then lost them again,

and I'm full of all sorts
and descriptions of mischief.

- Isn't this fun?
- 'Say, what are you... '

Your poor frazzled self. You've
been working too hard again.

The north wind doth blow,
and we shall have snow

and what will poor Patrick
do then, poor thing?

Hey, hey.

Hey. Hey. Hey.

Do come down, dear, and I'll run
you up some sharps and flats.

- What, darling?
- I didn't say anything.

- What, sweet?
- I said I didn't say anything.

Still the same old Pat.
Comes right back at a girl.

- Well, how do I look to you?
- You look slightly over-lit.

I couldn't be more thrilled
at seeing you home.

Come and kiss me,
sweet-and-twenty.

Youth's a stuff will not endure.

Have you been knocking
a few over or something?

Oh, darling?
Oh, no, just sheer,
wonderful animal spirit.

I love animals, don't you?
I love their spirits.

How she loved
the chiffon nightie.

Wear it with
the fur-side outside.

Wear it with the skin-side
inside.

Come and kiss me,
laughing water.

But on the second thought,
no.
I spent hours on my makeup.

Like my flowers, sweet?
Paul is so thoughtful.

I must remember to put them
back in the icebox.

Put Paul back in
the icebox, too.

Smell them.

Paul, dear Paul. He's quite
mad about me, you know.

- What are you supposed to be?
- Me? Me, Jamie Coco.

Me, French gal. I brush up
on my music un petit peu.

Want to hear?

Stop it!

But, darling, Lila told me you
simply adored cette chanson.

N'est-ce pas?

Come here, my little
sleeping beauty.

Why, why, whatever
is the matter, sweet?

You're going to find out
what's the matter.

- But I... I thought you
liked girls like that.
- No.

Toujoursyoung.
Toujoursgay.
Toujourson their heels.

No, I don't like
anything about it.

I don't like your dress,
I don't like your flowers

and I don't like that!

- Ouch! By gum.
- Not even your own.

They are too mine.

They were in a box
in my father's desk.

What do you think you're doing?

I've been giving you
a little finger wave.

Five curls.

So you saw Lila.

Yes, I did.

- So did I, in Chicago.
- Oh, and?

So your little imitation
was unnecessary,

if that's why you did it.

If you still love her,
the quicker you get a
divorce,

- the better.
- That's right.

Now, with your beautiful
freedom back again

I wonder what you'll
be doing with it?

Remembering your shining face,
I expect.

That's sweet, Pat.
That's very sweet.
I think I'll settle for
that.

Will you get the divorce
or shall I get it?

- You get it.
- I haven't any grounds.

Pat, I've got to
tell you something.

I'm not sure that
I want to hear it.

As a matter of fact,
I'm certain I don't.

It doesn't matter.

You mean I have no
authority,
even in your own house?

- I nearly did, Pat.
- Nearly did what?

- Fall.
- For Paul? Ridiculous.

- I know. But it's true.
- Oh, nonsense.

You're not the falling type.

You're like the Tower of Pisa.

You may have certain leanings,
but you always remain upright.

- You don't think I'm serious.
- All right, you're serious.

Are you going to Reno
or shall I go?

Or we could go together, Pat.

It might be fun.

Mighty pretty,
this western country.

Mighty.

- Feel the altitude?
- I thought it was my heart.

Here we are coming into town.
Made that in nothing flat.

That must be the Metropole.

Hmm, right nice hotel,
they tell me.

I hope they have rooms for
us.
Is there somebody still
at the desk?

Yes, right here.

Good evening,
whatever your name is.

- Good evening, miss.
- Missus, if you don't mind.

I don't mind. Don't mind a bit.

Uh, have you two rooms reserved
in the name of Jamieson?

How long do you
expect to be here?

- The usual time,
six weeks.
- Oh.

- Divorce you're after?
- It's a divorce he's after.

Don't be silly.

He's obviously mad about you.

What makes you think so?

His heart.

I can't see it.

You're standing in
the wrong light.

His every thought
overflows with you.

Waking, sleeping
and sleepwalking.

Go on.

Oh, now, don't rush me.
Just take it easy.

After all, he flew
to Washington with a cake
on his lap for your birthday.

Your real birthday,
and he hates birthdays.

Have you reservations for us
or have you not?

Well, we might have,
with, uh, certain reservations.

Can't you possibly rid
yourself of them?

We understood
it was to be for a single.

- Who's the person with you?
- My husband.

- Oh, that's what you say.
- All right.

He's my gentleman friend.

Uh, We may have something
on the second floor.

A little old-fashioned,
do you mind?

No, I don't mind.

So you will send
the luggage up
in a little while?

In a very little while, madam.

And in the meantime, uh,
here's the key to your room.

Oh, Pat.

- Thank you so very much.
- Not at all.

We're looking forward
to having you with us.