Sin Takes a Holiday

I have a notion to say to him you think it was a machine.

And the worst...

For $30 a week, he expects a Cleopatra, a Mother Hubbard, and a speed record

all rolled into one.

Taxi!

Thirty-nine Riverdale.

Thank you, ma'am.

Good evening.

Mr. Stanton just asked about you, miss.

Oh, is he up?

Practically, miss.

Tally-ho. Nothing like a good day's sleep, my lad.

Beg your pardon, sir?

Hmm? Oh, I was talking to myself.

Oh, good morn... Uh, good evening, Miss Brenner.

Good evening.

I hope I didn't spoil your evening.

Oh, no. I enjoy coming here.

It's lovely.

The quiet, I mean.

Oh.

No.

What next?

A letter from Mrs. Henderson Hall.

You'll probably remember as Mrs. James.

She wants you to get her another divorce.

On what grounds?

She wishes to marry, um... Count Pesso.

That's a reason, not grounds.

- Make a appointment. - Yes, sir.

This is practically a duplicate. It's from Mrs. Mona Cavanaugh.

- Yeah, and what are her grounds? - The same.

What? They both want to marry Count Pesso?

Oh, no. Pardon. Her reason is James O'Dell.

Oh.

When will these women realize that reason has nothing to do with getting a divorce?

- Make an appointment for her. - Yes, sir.

Probably use, uh, mental cruelty.

Check up and see what grounds we used for her last time.

Yes, sir.

White versus White?

Yes. The case is called for 10:00 tomorrow.

You've had one postponement.

Well, let's see it.

- Uh, good evening, Gaylord. - Hello, my lads.

Oh, you don't have to pretend to work hard. We're not clients.

Don't you realize that only very dull people work this time of day?

Or anytime of day.

I apologize for boring you with this, but I've just started.

Thank heavens we're here in time to save you from that old devil work.

Oh, I must do some work tonight.

What do you want us to do, to sharpen pencils for you?

- Impossible. - Good evening.

- I hope I'm in the right place. - Well, I don't know.

It, uh, says it intends to work.

What? Ah, gentlemen of the jury, a lady is in distress.

Good. That's where most of them belong only I spell it with an "H."

Gentlemen, the lady is young, very lovely to look upon.

Ah, that's different. Very different.

Thank you, gentlemen.

What's her distress?

Her husband will fight her divorce action.

Mm, perhaps he has reasons to.

What difference does that make?

The lady shall have her current heart's desire

- or I shall have to take down my shingle. -

Hello?

Hello. Who is this?

This is Mr. Stanton's secretary.

Is Mr. Richards there, young woman?

I beg your pardon?

- This is Mrs. Richards. - Oh. Uh, just a moment, please.

Uh, Mrs. Richards.

I'm not here. You haven't seen me.

I Want to speak to my husband at once, do you hear?

Now don't tell me he's not there because I know...

Oh, I know what she's saying. By heart I know it. Tell her I'm not here.

- Or I'll come rush up there... - Just a moment. Just a moment, please.

- Mr. Richards is not here. - Oh, I know very well he is there.

I'm sorry, madame. Mr. Richards is not here. I've not seen him.

I insist on speaking to him...

Mrs. Richards says...

I know. Don't tell me. Can you imagine her calling me here?

I told her I wasn't coming here. I told her 20 times I wasn't coming here.

- Have a scene? - No, a brawl.

Well, you fellas would get married.

Well, it's the normal way to live. Finding your way out of the house at night.

Everybody should get married once.

Mm. Just to find out how really happy you can be... single.

- I know, so I don't have to prove it. - You're both wrong.

- Get a wife such as I have. - You only see yours once a month.

That's the point. I'm in no danger. You are.

- Oh, I don't think so. - A single man is always in danger.

A clever woman could get you most anytime she wants.

They don't always stay married.

Once a single man is named co-respondent or even hinted at,

well, you know what happens.

Me? I'm married already and have a great feeling of security.

But Richards here is married, doesn't seem to have worked out for him.

He has the wrong kind of wife. She's interested in him.

- Oh, and yours isn't? - Not in the least.

Her life is peopled with flowers and, uh, canary birds.

- - Beautiful, isn't it?

But are you sure that's all she's interested in?

Certainly.

I'm afraid you're not too sure.

You haven't any firsthand knowledge, have you?

When I was a little boy,

I pulled the braids of the coachman's daughter,

and I was severely punished for it.

I still like to play with girls.

Mm. With or without braids.

But I've learned not to play in my own yard.

I might add that I feel the urge to play seriously.

I'm sailing for Paris next week.

- I hope you have a rotten time. - Thanks. You'd better come along.

It's the only life.

What do you do in New York, uh, hibernate?

I don't get involved.

Or have any fun?

Then, I don't spend much time in New York.

And I haven't a worry in the world.

Huh. Neither have I.

Not yet, anyhow.

- Uh-huh. - Why "uh-huh"?

Uh-huh, nothing.

Unless she happens to want you, which she probably doesn't.

But if she did, delicately,

with a tuba accompaniment,

tell the whole town that you've broken up her home and then walked out on her.

That, my innocent, young friend, is the new sin

and your luck will have run out.

I haven't the remotest idea what you're talking about.

And besides, it isn't all luck.

Modest,

isn't he?

What do you think, Miss, uh...

- Brenner. - Uh, Miss Brenner.

I'm sure it doesn't make any difference what I think.

But I would like to know.

Well, Mr. Stanton says it isn't all luck that has kept him single.

I was just wondering who has the other half of the luck.

May I wait in the library?

Oh, certainly. I'm afraid I shan't be able to work until later.

- I'll have your dinner served in there. - Thank you.

Do you suppose she meant anything by that, hmm?

Yes. Anything.

- Good evening, Martin. -

There's something about this place that attracts me.

Yes, I can understand that.

- Can we stop here a moment? - Certainly, madame.

- I'm going to announce you to Mr. Stanton. - Please do.

Why doesn't Gaylord keep a maid?

- Criticizing your host? - Why not if the criticism is constructive.

Who was that gal we passed in the hallway?

I imagine she's his secretary.

She has the look anyhow.

Comforting to have a plain girl for a darling secretary, isn't it?

You know, I think Richards gets his office girls from the Follies chorus.

- - Who said that?

Who hasn't said it at one time or another?

- Hello, darling. - Hello.

- Hello, sweetie. - Good evening, beautiful.

- Good evening. - I hope so.

Ah, hello.

Isn't anyone going to say hello or something to me?

I'm speechless. Lost in admiration. You never looked so well.

I have a special reason, dear.

- Come along. - We're coming.

- Do you approve of me, darling? - Always.

And especially tonight. What's the occasion?

Don't be curious about that. Just about me.

I'm curious about everything you do.

That was sweet.

- Shall we go in? - Yes, dear. Oh, Gaylord.

Who's the girl we passed in the hall?

Girl? Oh, my secretary.

I hoped she was a maid.

You should keep one, dear.

It would be, uh... nice.

Of course. I never thought of it.

I'll attend to it tomorrow. That's a dear.

Uh, the picture...

it, uh, fell down.

Never mind. I'll attend to it.

Thank you.

Oh, I'm not hungry.

You'd better eat. He may keep you late again.

I suppose.

- Uh, the picture. - Yes?

It didn't fall. Uh, I knocked it down.

Yes, miss. Your dinner is served.

Well, if we expect to see any of the first act, let's get going.

Oh, let's be very late.

So that you can tramp on everybody's toes?

Don't you love to hear them crunch? Toes, I mean.

- Oh! - Come on, come on. Let's go.

- Oh, I have a runner. - Change?

- No, dear. - Ahh.

You're a darling. And I'm terribly happy.