The Blue Gardenia

Hey!

Sleepy!

Pick me up here at one o'clock.

Pick you up here at one o'clock.

Where?

Age?

Age? Middle um... twenties.

Nationality: Chicago

My phone number is Granite 1466.

I'll check with my numerologist before I call.

What is it about you newspaper men?

I've been trying to get her phone number for a week.

You didn't even have to ask for it.

It's all yours: Granite 1466.

You're not gonna put it in your column, are you?

I'd be swamped with calls. - What's wrong with that?

Yeah, what is wrong with that.

It's the lunch break Mr Mayo, would you like to see the switchboard?

Sure. Thanks, Miss Carpenter.

See you in the papers. - Thank you. -See you, Crystal.

All the long distance calls for the downtown Los Angeles area come through this room.

Oh oh! My roommates.

Art class is over. -Oh, be a good girl and give me another minute, will you?

Where have I heard that before?

Sorry, no posing overtime. Try me some night.

With pleasure.

That's not what I meant.

Crystal, it looks just like you. - Oh, is that good?

Like to see some more of my work?

Your wasting your time, Rembrandt. She's got a boyfriend in Korea.

Long way off, Korea. - Yes, a long way off.

But he wouldn't want you to get too lonely, would he?

He wouldn't want you to get too friendly either.

Sally.

Sally!

All finished with Granite 1466? Or, do you still get a busy signal?

Mr Prebble, a call for you in the office. A girl. -Thanks.

I've got more numbers than the phone company.

How's the wolf been doing with all the... little red riding hoods?

Great. If you ask him.

I've told you not to call me here.

I was busy last night.

Working.

I don't believe you, Harry. You haven't worked three nights in a row in your life.

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

Rose, I'm tied up now. Call me later at home.

How can I? You changed your number and I can't get it from the operator.

You have to help me, Harry!

I just can't talk now.

Take it easy. I'll be seeing you.

Like it? Isn't it wonderful?

I'm glad you got black. It'll look good on any of us.

You don't mind if I wear it first for one night.

Aren't you ever gonna open that letter?

Right after the champagne.

Champagne? You bought champagne for yourself?

No, not for myself. You don't understand, Sally.

I know, it's your birthday, and that's fine.

Every girl oughta have birthdays.

Up to a certain point. - The flowers!

Oh, will you tell Crystal to clean up the bathroom

and I'll take her turn ironing tomorrow. - It'll wind up like it always does!

With me doing everything.

I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you?

I think my sacroiliac shifted two points south.

Oh, Crystal!

Which may be an improvement.

I'll get it.

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

Hello...

If that's for me I'm in, no matter who it is.

It's for you.

A man!

Hello...

Yes, this is Sally Ellis.

Tonight? Oh, of course!

Oh, you don't know how I've waited for this. I'll be right over! Bye!

Sally!

That's no way to talk to a man.

And it was a man.

It was the rental library down at the drugstore.

They just got in the new Mickey Mallet mystery!

It's all about a beautiful red-haired debutante

who gets in the head, stabbed in the back, shot in the stomach... Pow!

Pretty badly hurt, she staggers down the stairs

How do you know all that, you haven't even read it yet?

That's what they're all about.

Lucky girl. Living a life of passion and violence.

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

Drive-in dinner, drive-in movie, and afterwards we go for a drive.

It's still better than a dime-store novel, Crystal.

You know, you don't appreciate Homer.

I don't know what exactly they are, but he has a lot of good qualities.

I never could understand why you two broke up. Homer's so affectionate.

Well, I didn't think so when we were married.

But, now that we're divorced I'm beginning to like the big lug.

Homer always had a husband's faults.

But, now he has a boyfriend's virtues.

Yeah?

Oh, you...

If you've been listening, just forget what you heard.

Okay! - Hello.

Happy birthday! - Thank you, Homer.

Oh, that's sweet of you. Thanks.

Well, aren't you gonna open it?

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

The roast!

That's a roast?

It shrunk!

It's big enough for two. - Are you still playing games?

Now look, Homer. You have Crystal here, but like someone said today:

"Korea's a long way off".

And, if I can't have him here I can pretend I have him.

It's none of my business, Norah, but why stay in night after night

eating your heart out for some guy who... - He isn't "some guy who... ".

He's one of a couple of hundred thousand.

And I happen to love him.

It's fun for me... - To let yourself go to seed?

There are lots of guys who'd take you out, for laughs, no monkey business.

I would myself if it wasn't for... - You'd what?

Oh, Crystal! I was just uh... - Come on, Homer. Leave her alone.

Let's go. That horse I could eat is getting cold.

You sure you won't go with us, honey? This isn't much of a birthday.

I told you, Crystal, it's the way I want it.

Have a good time. - Happy birthday again.

Thanks. - Happy birthday, darling.

Did you get paid today? - Yeah!

Oh! Well come on, darling.

Goodbye. -Toodaloo! - Buh bye. Have fun.

Dear Norah,

You've probably learned by now that I'm not so hot as a letter writer.

I remember when we were kids in Bakersfield

and I worked vacations in San Joaquin Valley.

You used to bawl me out for not writing.

Well, I guess I've gotten worse.

But, that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about you... a lot.

And also thinking about someone else, Norah.

A nurse I met in Tokyo when I took a load of Commie shrapnel with me.

Angela, that's her name, supplied the strength and the courage

and everything else to pull me through.

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

there's nothing a guy can do about the real McCoy, and that's what this is.

We're in love.

And when I get out we're going to be married.

That's the story, Norah.

And, I guess there's nothing else to say except I hope you'll understand.

With affection, always...

and best wishes for your future.

"Best wishes for your future".

Yours very sincerely.

Yours very...

truly.

Hello? - Hiya honey. Had dinner yet?

No.

Who is this? - Harry Prebble.

I'm taking you up on the suggestion you made this morning.

Suggestion?

What suggestion?

When you were posing for me, remember?

How about slipping into something comfortable

like a few drinks and some Chinese food?

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

I think you made a mistake.

We'll discuss my mistakes over those cocktails.

What do you say? Hope in a cab and meet me at 'The Blue Gardenia'.

All right.

I will.

Yes.

'The Blue Gardenia'. On Vine, right off Hollywood. You got it?

I've got it.

You got what?

Just someone on the phone.

So I gathered!

How'd the dashing lieutenant like the dinner he didn't eat?

Fine. It's in the kitchen. I'm going out.

Out? Where?

I've got a date.

With a man? - With a man.

The one on the phone? - The one on the phone.

Norah, I love mysteries...

Look Sally. I haven't got time to talk about it now. I'll tell you tomorrow.

Good night!

Good night.

Men!

Chinese peas, fried rice and lobster Cantonese.

Well, that's the dinner. For the drinks: Polynesian Pearl Divers.

And don't spare the rum.

I'll tell the bar.

Hello, Mr Prebble. - Hi, Joe.

Hello. - Well hi!

Check please, Joe.

Alone?

Granite 1466?

Well, whoever she is, happy hunting.

Thanks. Same to you.

He's a very fancy man with the ladies, Mr Prebble.

Jealous, Joe?

Oh, no. No. I fancy man myself.

How you do with little black book?

Yes and no.