The Strange Love of Molly Louvain

Please, Molly. Listen to me will you, Molly.

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Please darling, don't cry.

I won't.

I'm not afraid.

I love you so much.

We'd better hurry. Hmm?

It's getting late. - Alright.

Oh Molly, quit your crying.

I probably won't see you until tomorrow night.

Mother is giving me a birthday party tomorrow night at home.

Oh, then you can't see me at all?

I probably won't see anything else but you.

What do you mean? - I've a surprise for you.

You're coming.

Ralph, you're taking me? - Of course, sweet.

You know, I've kept you a secret from my mother long enough.

You're going to be at that dinner table. Right between mother and me.

Darling.

You don't know how happy you've made me.

Your mother must be grand.

I never told you this Ralph, but my mother ran away when I was seven.

No. Haven't you seen her since? - Never.

All she left was a note for me to stay with the Bennetts. She owed $50 board.

She said don't let them put starch in my underwear. To use glycerine on my hands.

And never forget to be a lady. Nice, wasn't it.

That wasn't much of a start, was it.

Even before I began to live people said:

'That Louvain girl is just like her mother'.

Why didn't you go away?

No. Mother did that. I'll be different, Ralph.

Decent. Everything people think I can't be.

You are, Molly. You're great.

Thanks, darling. I love you.

Oh gee. 4 o'clock. I've got to pick mother up in half an hour. Let's go.

Let's hurry. - Come on.

I'll call you for you at the hotel at 8 o'clock.

And don't be the kind of a lady that's always an hour late.

I'll be ready, Ralph. I've been ready a long, long time.

Heads for men and tails for women. Ain't that right?

Let's go.

Come on tails. - Come on, heads.

A woman.

Oh man, what a woman.

What a woman.

Are you ready? The same thing.

Go.

Heads. It's a man. - Yeah.

Lucky, lucky, lucky.

Come on, tails.

It's a woman.

A woman in pants don't count.

Ready to go again or not? Ready to go again or not?

Hold 'em boys. Hold 'em.

All bets are off, boys. I got a personal interest in those gams.

Well, it's about time. You're half an hour late.

I'm sorry, Doris. - So was the hangman.

There's your dream girl of the cigar counter.

It's pretty hard to tear yourself away from a thrill for a cigar counter.

Oh, a sparring partner .. was he nice?

Swell.

Give me his address. I'll keep him from getting lonesome while you're on duty.

Not a chance. - Bye.

Bye. - See you later.

Maybe.

Hey, you.

Hello, Molly.

Mr Grant. What can I do for you? - Plenty, baby. Plenty.

Cigars, or cigarettes?

I dropped in to let you know I'm back in town.

From now on baby, everything is going to be okay for you.

Things are okay. You should be a mind reader instead of rubber goods peddler.

That was last season. I've got a new line this season.

You always have a new line. What is it now?

Silk stockings.

You will do well. You've enough experience.

Yeah. Just one thing has me worried. - What?

That I might come back here and find you gone.

I mean it.

You are the only piece of Class A scenery this town has to offer.

You'd better take a good look while you're here.

I'm going to.

That's further than you've got with her in six months.

Well she has to kid her customers along, doesn't she.

That guy isn't kidding.

Listen kid.

I have 3 swell pairs of silk stockings upstairs that are just crying for you.

They're probably not my size.

Tell you what I do.

I bring them down when I take you to dinner and we can check them for size.

By the time you take me to dinner, women will be wearing hip-boots, Mr Grant.

Listen, sweetheart.

Grab anything you can get.

You will still be on the short end.

Maybe I'm in love.

Then you're already on the short end.

What's happened?

One of the local farmers offered to share his crop of hay with you?

No.

Somebody is giving me a chance to get something I've always wanted.

Why don't you try his line? - Say, what's that guy's name?

Nick Grant. Going to ask him for lessons?

Somebody ought to punch that guy on the nose.

I thought you were much too smart to fall for any of this small-town stuff.

Paging Mr Grant.

Paging Mr Grant.

Hey boy, what is it?

Long distance call for you, sir. In booth Number 3.

Thanks. So long, baby. See you later. Probably the boss in New York.

So long.

Hello?

Hello?

Why that dirty little ..

Jimmy? - Yep.

Come in.

Did you get it? - Sure.

I had to wait until they sewed some dingus or something on it.

You're a darling. I hope you don't get in trouble with the night crew for this.

Isn't it sweet? - It's kinda swell.

Do you like it? - Do I?

It's for a big occasion tonight, Jimmy.

Huh?

Nothing. Put it on a hanger like a good boy for me will you.

That's it. Right over there.

What do I want? Oh, stockings.

Let's see. I must have one pair.

And I must be ready.

At eight o'clock.

Some guy ought to make a fortune inventing hole-less socks.

Oh, here they are.

I knew I had them.

If you want me for anything, just ..

Give me a ring.

Oh, darnation.

My last pair.

What's the matter? - What am I going to do?

That's a shame.

I'll go out and get you a new pair.

Will you? - Sure.

You've saved my life. - Oh, that's nothing.

Here.

Only 95 cents.

I can't get anything decent enough for tonight.

I've got money. I'll make you a present of it.

Don't be silly, Jimmy. You don't have to do that.

Sure I will. - No. No, wait.

I have it. Wait a minute.

Hello? Let me speak to Mr Grant please.

Bur .. but Molly. - Shush. Wait, Jimmy.

Oh, hello Mr Grant.

Are you still in the stocking line?

Sure, honey.

And I'm still giving them away to smart little girls.

Good. I'll send for them.

Jimmy, wait.

What?

No, I can't come down. I'm not dressed.

Okay baby, I'll be right up.

Jimmy. Why the long face? Did you lose your best girl?

Well, I don't like to see you take presents from a guy like him.

Oh Jimmy, this is my big night. Nothing is going to stop me.

My whole life. Everything depends on tonight.

What do you mean, you're not ..? You won't quit on us, will you?

I said it all depends on tonight.

Oh Jimmy, cross your fingers and hold that thought will you.

What do you mean? - I'll explain later. Run along.

Mr Grant is here soon. You know he doesn't like you.

That goes double. I don't like him either.

Don't think he won't go on looking at the stockings after he gives 'em to you.

Jim.

It's a good thing he isn't selling bath salts.

I'd like to punch his nose.

Who is it? - It's me.

Oh, just a minute.

I'll be right with you.

Here you are, honey. Three pairs of silk stockings and what goes with them?

Be good. I only asked for stockings.

They'll look nicer if you let me put them on for you.

I may get nervous and kick your chin. - From you it would be a pleasure.

Come on, Molly. Let me in. I feel silly standing out here.

I have it. Give me one pair. Then I go to your room and collect the other two.

You wouldn't kid me would you, sister? - Won't kid you more than you'd kid me.

Nice of you, Mr Grant.

It will be much nicer in a half hour, honey.

You'll grow a beard waiting. - What?

I said you're a dear, waiting.

Here we are, lady.

Ninety cents.

I'm sorry but ninety-five cents is all the change I have.

That's alright.

I like to come up here on the hill.

It's my idea of heaven up here.

Shall I wait? - No, never mind.

Watch your step. It's a tough climb.

Don't fall. - I won't.

I'm Miss Louvain. Mr Rogers was to call for me at the hotel at 8 o'clock but ..

Yes, Miss Louvain.

Young Mr Rogers and his mother left for New York quite suddenly tonight.

The party has been cancelled.

Mr Rogers left this note to be delivered to you.