Play Girl

Grace darling, you do everything well.

But I can't take tumbles the way you do.

My pal.

Thanks, dear.

First stop, the bar. - Uhuh.

After all those spills I deserve a drink.

No, Don. I'll change and meet you later.

Not even a little quick one?

Darling.

I always approach a cocktail with cool, calm deliberation.

See you in half an hour.

Soaking wet again. I hope you know a cure for pneumonia.

Don't worry, Josie. I'm positively bursting with health.

A new girdle will fix that.

We should have gone to Florida.

But no .. you had to come here.

Jumping around on skis and breaking your neck on ice-skates.

Who is that?

Hello?

Just a minute, please.

Mr Joseph Shawhan has called.

Joseph Shawhan?

That's Don's father.

Shall I tell him you're out?

No.

You may send him up, please.

Number 4, Josie. Quickly.

I'm Mr Joseph .. - I know.

Come right in.

How do you do, Mr Shawhan?

Well.

Won't you sit down, please?

I presume you know why I'm here.

Don must have telegraphed you about our engagement?

Yes.

I came to inform you Don is not going to marry you.

Don't you think he should decide that for himself?

No, it's something I've already decided.

I'm going to put a stop to this whole business right now.

Did you ever stop to think that Don and I might love each other?

You don't have to act for my benefit.

Your heart isn't broken so badly that a cash settlement wouldn't fix it.

Ah, I thought so.

However, there will be no settlement.

You see.

I happen to own the New York Evening Chronicle.

How charming.

Doesn't that alarm you?

Not particularly.

But why go about blasting skeletons?

I am simply trying to avoid having one in my own family coffin.

Fifteen years ago you were engaged to Dirk Hagarman.

There was a breach-of-promise suit.

It was settled for 50,000 dollars.

Then came Prince Michael Rossonov.

That brought you 40,000 dollars.

Nice Michael.

Then Tommy Gardner.

Felix Garron.

Carlos Perry.

But there's no need for me to read the entire list.

Nor annoy you with the financial details.

Financial details never annoy me, Mr Shawhan.

Here's one that will.

Don hasn't a dollar to his name and he's not going to get any from me.

So under the circumstances, I ..

I hope you have the good sense not to try to see Don again.

Of course I shan't.

If you don't approve.

After all, I'm a very sensible woman, Mr Shawhan.

Obviously you are.

As a matter of fact, there are a great many sides to my character.

If you just take the time to discover them.

Uh ..

Will you have a cocktail?

No.

No thank you.

It would be a little embarrassing for Don to have to rescue me.

That's very nice of you.

Well.

Goodbye, Mr Shawhan.

Goodbye, and ..

Thank you for being so sensible.

Josie.

I know. I heard the whole thing.

You know, I was fond of Don. He was a nice kid.

Feeling a tender passion for a million dollars ..

Isn't exactly beyond your strength, you know.

Just like you.

You haven't changed a bit since we've been together.

Twelve years. - Seventeen.

Twelve, seventeen. So what?

You haven't lost your sense of humor.

Don't you think it's about time to get married and settle down?

Josie.

I've told you before that I'm not the marrying type.

Just yet.

I may have to come to it sooner or later.

Better make it sooner.

You know, it won't many years before you'll stop attracting men with money.

Well, after all .. - Well, after all.

I don't suppose you know it but you're almost broke.

But I thought .. - No you didn't, and that's the trouble.

You had fifteen hundred dollars.

The ten prints Michael gave you and your car.

That's all.

Phone the garage and have my car in an hour.

I'll wire Miami for reservations.

How long do you think your fifteen hundred dollars will last in Florida?

A long time, Josie.

A long, long, time.

Good afternoon.

Thank you.

Is there anything else, ma'am?

Say, the polo matches start next week, don't they?

Yes, ma'am. - Well.

Bring me a copy of the social register and the hotel's Dun & Bradstreet.

Yes, ma'am. - Thank you.

I don't suppose you know it.

But the price of this suite is a hundred dollars a day.

At that rate, we can stay ten days.

If we don't eat and we hitch-hike back to New York.

Why do you suppose I sent for the social register and Dun & Bradstreet?

I can't imagine.

But I hope his old man doesn't own a newspaper.

Well?

You know, Josie.

It's a funny thing about men.

At sixteen they're crazy about girls of nineteen.

At twenty-five they want girls their own age.

At thirty, they'll settle for a girl of twenty-five.

At forty, they're right straight back where they started.

Chasing the nineteen-year-olds.

What a gal to do when she's past thirty?

Forget about moonlight and roses and settle for room and board.

By the way.

There is the little matter of room and board here at the hotel too.

Yes. I know it.

Get me Prince Michael's pin.

Not the pin?

Listen honey .. don't you remember?

You said you wouldn't part with that pin until you found yourself slipping.

I remember.

Get me the pin.

But that's ridiculous.

The gentleman who gave me this pin paid 25,000 dollars for it.

Sorry, Miss Herbert.

Conditions being what they are, I can't offer more than 6,000 dollars.

But .. - The best we can do.

Alright.

I sold it.

Well.

Our hotel bill paid in full.

Somebody to see you. - Who?

Gosh, I don't know. She said she wanted to see you.

Heavens.

Josie, call the hotel doctor.

She suffers from metabolic deficiency.

The cure is very simple. I prescribe a T-bone steak.

You mean the only thing wrong is she's hungry?

That's right. However, I am sure Miss Herbert will take care of that.

I'll send a meal up from the restaurant. - Thank you, doctor.

Good day.

Now then .. what's all this about?

What's your name?

Ellen. - Ellen what?

Ellen Daley.

Why .. I'm awfully sorry, Miss Herbert.

It's very embarrassing.

I really feel alright now, so ..

I guess I can go.

You will do nothing of the sort. Until you've had something to eat.

Now tell me .. why did you want to see me?

Well.

I saw your picture in the paper.

That you were stopping here, and I ..

I thought I'd apply for a job.

What sort of a job? - I thought ..

That you might need a kind of a social secretary.

I'm really very good at shorthand and typing.

How old are you?

Nineteen.

You're much too young to be working.

You ought to be going out with the boys and having a good time.

Do you live at home?

No.

You see, my parents are dead.

I've been trying to take care of myself but ..

I guess I haven't done a very good job.

Ellen .. I wish I could do something for you.

But I'm afraid if there's one thing I don't need, it's a secretary.

However.

I think I can help prevent another attack such as this one.

No thank you, Miss Herbert. You've been kind enough to me already.

No, I couldn't. I just couldn't.

I can spare it and you've got to eat until you find a job.

I know where I can get a job.

Not a very good one, but ..

A man said it would be open at any time.

I should think even a bad job would be better than nothing at all.