For the Love of Mary

I'm sorry, Your Excellency.

I'll have to verify your appointment

before I can pass you through.

You'll have to pull over.

- Hi, Mac. - Morning, Mary.

Did you save me a parking space?

Right at the head of the line.

Thanks.

- Good morning, officer. - Just a moment.

Where do you think you're going?

To work. Here's my pass.

Employees use the West Executive Avenue entrance.

Oh, but I always come in this way.

Yes, but beginning today, you're an employee

and employees use the employees' entrance.

You know, officer, I have a lot of influence.

My father's quite a big shot around here.

Young lady, rules are rules.

- And no exceptions. - And no exceptions.

- Good morning, Mary. - Oh, good morning, Harkey.

- Having trouble, Tim? - A little.

I wish you'd give the new girls in your department

a rundown on the rules around here.

With you for a father, I'm sure this one knows them backwards.

Dad, you're in a rut. What you need is a change of climate.

Now why don't you try a few weeks at the south entrance?

- Young lady, I... - Bye, Tim.

See you for dinner, dad.

Mary, my new girls usually get an indoctrination speech

almost as long as a congressional record.

- Must we, Harkey? - Glory be, no.

After a couple of years at the Supreme Court,

I'm sure you know the duties and responsibilities of the job.

There's one thing I must stress though.

That's the need for absolute secrecy.

Anything you might overhear is a solemn trust.

- I understand. - I'll wire them for you...

- I'm sorry, sir, he hasn't... - I haven't...

Well, here she is, girls.

The ex-voice of the Supreme Court.

- Hi. - Welcome to the family.

Hello, Mary.

Pull up a switchboard and sit down.

- Thanks. - White House, please.

I don't think I'll have much trouble, Harkey.

The boards are the same general type I've been using.

Except that here, more is expected of you

than merely handling the switchboards.

Besides memorizing hundreds of numbers,

you've got to be a combination of diplomat and detective.

Ready to decide instantly which calls

are legitimate and which of 'em cranks.

Senator Downs is in Istanbul.

Shall I try to get him for you, sir?

You have to locate people in all parts of the world.

Some who haven't been heard from in years

and often under almost impossible conditions.

White House.

One moment, sir.

- It's him again. - Old faithful, on the dot.

What'll I tell him this time?

I've run out of polite phrases for go jump in the lake.

Tell him... no.

Mary, you might as well start now as later.

There's a Mr. Paxton on the line.

He's been pestering us for days

trying to get through to the president.

We've instructions to kill his call

at the board, but he takes a lot of killing.

- Well, I... I'd... - Now go ahead now.

Let's see what sort of a diplomat you are.

- It's all yours. - White House. Thank you.

May I help you, please?

Well, isn't there someone besides the president

who can take care of it?

Uh, may I enquire the nature of your business?

Fish?

Oh, but I'm sure that they have a fish market

where they trade, Mr. Paxton.

My dear lady, I don't sell fish. I study them.

I'm an ichthyologist.

Oh, an ichthyologist.

Uh, may I suggest that you communicate

with the Fish and Wildlife section

of the Department of the Interior.

Now why would a man get so upset about fish?

Maybe they're spoiling.

White House.

No, Mr. Paxton, I did not cut you off.

Look, miss, every year, like a clock, I pay my taxes.

I'm a citizen in good standing.

And the president is supposed to be a servant of the people.

Oh, I know that the president is the servant of the people.

And if he's a servant of the people,

he's supposed to be available when the people need him.

Well, I'm one of the people.

Now will you, please, put my call through?

Well, um, why don't you try writing to your congressman?

Well, t... there must be someone

who can help you without bothering the president.

Well?

He says he has more nickels than a slot machine

and he's going to get through to the president

if he goes broke trying.

I think he should be reported to the Secret Service.

There's no law against phoning the president.

I'll get rid of that guppy grower once and for all.

- Mary, no. Not that one. - Why not?

Listen.

Good morning, Mr. President.

Yes, Mr. President. London will call back at 10:15.

You're welcome, Mr. President.

This is the president's private extension.

Of course, he may call on anyone of the other 185.

But when that little light goes on,

it's always the president.

I see.

Call for you, Mary, on trunk 5.

Justice Hastings at the Supreme Court.

Uh-oh, here comes a dissenting opinion.

Hello, Justice Hastings.

Mary, what's my daughter's phone number in Texas?

What time do I take my pills?

And what the devil are you doing over there?

Thackerville 318, ring 2.

The white pills at 11:00, the brown pills at 4:00.

And I'm working on the switchboard.

That's what I heard, and it doesn't make much sense.

You walked out on the switchboard to marry Phillip.

Now I learn you've walked out on marrying Phillip

to go back to a switchboard.

That's idiotic even for young people.

Uh, w... well, uh, can't we talk about it later?

I can meet you at Gustav's.

Dad and I are having dinner there.

Goodbye, Justice Hastings.

Uh, wasn't that sweet of him?

He just wanted to call and wish me luck.

Mary, you did give them notice when you left the Supreme Court.

I wouldn't want them to think I lured you away.

Oh, it's nothing like that.

Mary, for you. Justice Peabody on 5.

- White House. Yes, please. - One moment, please.

Yes, I'll take care of it right away.

Hello, Justice Peabody.

Mary, your decision not to marry Phillip.

Is your own business

and I'd be the last one to interfere.

Thank you, Justice Peabody.

It was very nice of you to call to tell me so.

But clarification with a misunderstanding

is not interference.

And I happen to know that Phillip's explanation

of what happened the other evening is the absolute truth.

It's no use, Your Honor, I've been through all that...

Now just let me handle this, Phillip.

That Wentworth girl is a witness in an important government case

and Phillip was out with her strictly in his capacity

as an attorney for the Justice Department.

Justice Peabody, the fact that Phillip was out

with Miss Wentworth is immaterial, irrelevant

and has no bearing on the case. I'm still not getting married.

I... I know, but...

Y... yes, but...

Mr. Justice, can't we discuss it some other time?

Tonight at Gustav's. Goodbye.

Mary, I'm afraid there's one point I overlooked.

White House operators are always on call.

Therefore as a matter of practice,

we never hire young married women.

So if there's any possibility

of your getting married in the near future...

Oh, but there isn't.

I'm sure everyone's convinced of that by now.

Well, it didn't sound that way.

Believe me, Harkey, that's the last we'll hear of it.

Mary, for you. Justice Van Sloan.

Rules are rules, and we're not

supposed to receive any personal calls.

That's all I received all day.

It's a wonder my first day at the White House wasn't my last.

Oh, fine.

Now we're back to the hiccups again.

I thought you were all calmed down.

I'm perfectly calm.

And when we get inside, I'll be even calmer.

Sure, you will.

- Oh, hold it, dad. - Hm?

See if Phillip's in there, will you?

He's there. Now what?

Mm, let's just wait a few seconds

to be sure there are no more stray hiccups.

Phillip knows I only get them when I'm emotionally upset

and I don't want him to think I'm upset on account of him.

Stop worrying, Gustav.

The examination is quite simple.

Thousands of people have passed it.

And you've still got four days.

I know, Your Honorship, but just to answer

the questions, that's not enough for me.