Original subtitles

Don't forget. You told me to remind you.

I know, I know. 12 .15.

Mr.

and Mrs. Nesbitt, you were separated in 1932.

Followed by, according to these records,

assorted ten years of lawsuits, accusations, counter -accusations.

Is that so?

I want him put in jail.

He didn't send us our money this month. Because you broke the agreement.

You wouldn't let me see my own daughter.

And I demand her custody. His daughter.

She's my child.

The court awarded her to me.

Quiet.

Mrs. Nesbitt, she is not your child.

Neither is she your child, Mr. Nesbitt.

When the court divided you two, you both forfeited all right in that child, and

she became a ward of the state.

Merely in the custody of Mrs. Nesbitt.

Now, with this case before me, Melody Eunice Nesbitt is my child.

And my child has got to be supported.

Give Mrs. Nesbitt her check, please.

But, Mrs. Nesbitt, my child is to see her father whenever he wishes.

I don't want to see him.

I hate my father.

I'm going to adjourn this case to investigate the facts.

But I want to see you two privately in my chambers.

Court's recessed until two o 'clock.

Plenty of time. Plenty?

Now, please.

My only concern in this matter is the welfare of this girl.

Obviously, the child is unhappy.

What kind of a life does she lead?

Well, mostly she's fond of reading and music.

Well, doesn't she ever go out and have any fun?

Dances with boyfriends?

No, no, Melody's very quiet. She doesn't seem to care for that sort of thing.

Why not?

One look at her and I knew the whole story.

The ugliness of her surroundings filled her with bitterness and resentfulness,

destroyed all her illusions.

I wonder if either of you realize

The large percentage of criminal and delinquent girls that come from broken

families.

Is your daughter in any way the cause of this marriage breaking up?

No, of course not.

Then why do you punish her?

You cheat your child of her God -given right to a happy home and the love and

guidance of a father and mother.

You just got to make it up to her.

Can't you conceal this bitterness? I don't ask you to conquer ten years of

mutual hatred.

But play a little game.

Let her see in you her help and inspiration.

Try being nice in front of her for a couple of weeks.

Won't you?

I will. You will.

I can be nice, if you can.

Judge, you told me to remind you.

Oh, plenty of time, plenty of time.

Oh, dear.

Now I can't remember what I was to do at 12 .15. You said you were going to

leave at 12 .15.

Leave for where? You didn't say where. You just said leave.

Leave.

Here's your hat.

Yes, thanks.

My hat.

Confound that memory system of Andrews.

I was to look at my hat, and that would remind me...

I'll never make it.

It's no good, Millie. If James doesn't answer by the time it rings twice, he's

not there.

Miss Ferguson, would you please wait on me now? I'm in an awful hurry. In just a

few minutes, please.

Millie, if we leave, someone's sure to buy that nightgown. Now it's been marked

down to $4 .95.

We'll never get anything to please Marion so much.

Find your telephone, Andrew. This is his lunch hour.

Really, that's a good idea.

Your mother called. She wants you to go to the railroad station at once. It must

be an emergency. She hung up. No, sir. It's no emergency, Mr. Dugan. My

coming home. If it was an emergency like the house being on fire or something

like that, my mother wouldn't worry the rest of us.

She'd be on the roof boss and the fireman.

I'm going to change this old meat grinder here into a tow truck. That a

truck? I've got a second -hand tow bar on her now.

Remember you promised to give me 10 % of any of the business that I brought in?

Well, who said anything about easy money being hard to make?

Well, mister, your troubles are over.

Maybe. This car is beyond the abilities of any human being today.

I'm not a human being.

I'm a tow truck.

Look, all I have to do is put my tow bar around here and you'll be in Dugan's

garage before you can say, honest prices, factory price, and not

any valuables left in the car unless receipted for.

Well, that towing thing looks a little tired.

Mister, this tow bar didn't even do much more than crack when it took out the

front axle of a ten -ton truck.

A ten -ton truck?

There we go. That's all set.

Come on, hop in.

Look, as one motorist to another, do you mind if we make just one brief stop?

That'll be all right.

Swell, the railroad station.

I beg yours.

Oh, no. Please, let me beg yours.

Look, I have an apology to make. I need help. I'm dying of boredom, and you look

as though you speak my language.

And what makes you think I can help you?

Because you obviously don't belong here.

Aren't you Jefferson Willis from Digby, Mrs. Schermerhorn's brother?

That's right. I couldn't forget you.

Ooh, I must be slipping.

I'm Marion Hardy.

Marion Hardy?

Not Judge Hardy's daughter.

Oh, come now. Not that girl in that outfit.

I've been away.

And how you've come back.

You know, I never expected to find anything like you in this whistle stuff.

And why not, Mr. Willard? Because you're too big city.

Call me Jeff. Come on, I'll drive you home.

Am I working too fast for the judge's little daughter?

Oh, no.

I've acquired a big city perspective, if that's what you mean.

Oh, there are my folks.

I'll take a rank check on the ride, though.

Now I've got to go be the prodigal daughter.

Oh, Lizzie.

Oh, it seems you've been away for months. I have, Mother, but it seems

years. Oh, darling. So good to see you.

Good to be back.

So let me have a good look at you.

Oh, dear.

Now, Mother, don't be narrow -minded, please.

Dad. Marion, my dear.

Oh, Dad, how are you? Wonderful, wonderful, and you?

Well and happy and glad to be home? Oh, I'm thrilled, Dad.

Where's Andrew?

Gosh, I've missed that, Brad.

James, what are you doing here?

Well, wasn't I supposed to meet Marion at 12 .15?

You were to meet the insurance man at 12 .15.

Of course, of course.

Well, I'll say this much for Andy's memory system, it makes you remember the

wrong thing.

Marion, old girl!

Hiya, sis!

You still love me?

Say, I'll kiss you if you climb out of that birdcage.

Say, what's that supposed to be on top of your head, a hat?

Woo! Going up.

Gee, it's swell to have you back, old kid.

Say, that's kind of a heavy paint job you're wearing there, is it?

Now prove yourself a grown -up by not making remarks about my clothes.

All right, I like my age.

Patch my panty waist, sugar puss, put your regular ball of fire, but my family

don't allow me to carry matches.

Panty waist?

Andrew, you haven't worn a panty waist for years.

And you don't carry matches.

What did you say?

Skip it, Mom. Well, goodbye, everybody. I've got a customer on my hands. Gee,

it's swell to have you back, old kid.

Say, what do you wash your face with? Paint remover?

Nothing wrong today, officer. Everything is fine. I'm over 16. I've got my

driver's license right here. I was driving on the right side of the road,

didn't go through any red lights or anything like that. Fine, fine.

What's your name?

Andrew Hardy.

Andrew Hardy.

And honest, you can smell my breath. I'm not drunk.

They got a funny law in this state. They like you to have license plates on your

car.

License? License plates?

Oh, my God.

They're pieces of metal about this long with numbers on them. Honest officer, I

have license plates. I just took them off so I could get right down to the

paint. That's fine.

Now this little piece of paper will get you right down to the court.

stolen sedan, number 6CW7954.

This car was stolen this morning by a young man masquerading as a garage

mechanic. That is all.

6CW7954.

Honest, officer, I didn't steal that car.

You can ask the owner. Where's the owner?

He's right there behind the...

Guys, I lost my customer. He must have dropped out somewhere along the road.

This is Farrell. I'm bringing in that stolen sedan.

Must you always be so noisy?

Dad, when you were young, did your father always begin every other sentence

must you always?

He certainly did, and I used to rise.

I'm sorry.

I won't do it again. It's only when you have a tough day that things like that

get you down.

Tough day?

If there were two really bad days in the history of the world, and one of them

was the flood in the Bible, the other would be what happened to me this

afternoon. Come on, everybody.

All ready.

Good evening, Andrew. Have you washed your hands and face? Somebody call

please. James, this is the finest meal I've ever cooked. Emily wouldn't even

me mash the potatoes for fear they wouldn't be exactly the way Marion likes

them. Well, I'm sentimental.

The whole family's together again.

Yes, I recognize and caught today how necessary we are to each other.

The basis of our whole civilization is the family group.

I'll go call Marion.

Andrew, must you always...

Yes, it's wonderful having Marion home again. Though I must

admit she's a little dizzy.

Dizzy? Mother, did you say dizzy?

Well, certainly I said dizzy.

Oh, I must have got that from Marion.

She says that nightgown I gave her was so dizzy she's going to wear it as a

formal evening dress.

Of course she was fooling.

But I wasn't fooling.

I got the idea from a girl I met in New York.

She was a sensation at the nightclubs.

This outfit has something to say.

Yes, it has something to say, but don't you think it's a little outspoken?

Do you mean you're going to wear a nightgown in public? First time I get

to a smart affair.

Andrew, you profess to be the modern type. Isn't this really 1942?

But first of all, I must ask you if that isn't your stomach staring me in the

face. Don't be silly. It's my slip. Well, it's the same color as your

and I doubt whether anybody would know the difference.

Don't be so mid -Victorian, please.

Mid -Victorian? Listen, if you were to wear that outfit some cool evening, your

goose fly should be a public scandal.

Dad, what are we going to do about this nightgown business?

It's now a dress.

Dad, how do you think I look?

Well, it seems a little dizzy.

Somebody once said of a lady's evening gown that it should expose the lady, but

not the person.

The lady, but not the person. Say, that's very good, Aunt Millie. Well,

guess you wouldn't know this common person here to be your own daughter,

you? Now, wait a minute, everybody.

Let's try and see through the silly old -fashioned conventions.

I can see right through you, old girl.

I'll get it. No, no, not in that outfit. Who's ever at the door might think we

started a Turkish bath.

Carville seems quiet after New York, I mean.

Oh, Carville's all right.

But it's out of this world.

It's drab. It's usual.

It takes things too seriously.

It's just not big city.

It's for you, Lady Godiva.

Oh, roast beef.

Gosh, I'm so hungry I could eat anything. That's if it didn't bite me

One of your boyfriends, Marion?

There isn't any card.

What a sap he is. Well, what can you expect from anybody who'd send orchids

Marion? Well, and... Here, here, here, here, here.

I'll never know what explosive chemistry exists in a brother and sister to cause

perpetual civil war.

Marion, didn't I see you talking to young Jefferson Willis at the station?

Why, yes, we chatted for a moment.

You'd better get smart, sis.

Jeff Willis is flying quite a kite around town.

Flying a kite?

Well, to put it crudely, he's a bit of a wolf.

Well, I must be getting deaf, but I could have sworn you said wolf.

And he did say wolf.

By the way, Emily, I want to have a little talk with you tonight.

Yes, and I think we ought to have a little talk about Marion, too.

We? Well, I think we've made quite a mistake letting you get out of the home

influence, and we ought to put our foot down.

Andrew, you let Marion alone.

Why, when I was her age, I wore a peekaboo waist.

Why, Emily?

Yes, I did.

And it showed my corset cover.

My mother nearly had a fit.

Gosh, I bet you were a humdinger of a gal once, Mom.

Well, allow me to assure you, Andrew, that your mother is still a humdinger of

gal.

Suppose you tell us what happened to you today.

You mean you didn't hear anything about me today? I mean, officially?

No.

Well, after dinner, on account of it doesn't go so good on an empty stomach,

maybe you and I can have a little conversation, providing you still

the Bill of Rights.

Do you see me?

Hello, Andrew.

Hey, Mom.

Gosh, that was a swell dinner we had tonight.

Thank you, dear.

Can I help you with the dishes?

No, dear, thank you.

Andrew,

you're not well.

But, Mom, I'm terrific.

I got my first week's salary from Mr. Dugan today.

I'd like to pay my board out of it.

Oh, Andrew.

I couldn't take money from you.

But after all the things that I've taken from you and Dad all my life, I'm a

working man now, Mom.

I wouldn't feel right if I didn't give you a couple of dollars a week.

Every day you've lived, you've repaid us for everything we ever did for you.

No mother ever had a finer son.

But, Mom, this is just a plain business transaction.

All right, dear.

Just a business transaction.

On one condition.

If you're short of money, you borrow from me.

Oh, boy.

Oh, boy, oh, boy. Gosh, Mom, I never thought about that.

Really?

Is Andrew in trouble?

No.

Look, he wants to pay his board.

He's only a baby.

I suppose in no time at all I'll be a grandmother.

Won't James be proud?

Come in, Emily.

Oh, hello, Mary.

Dad. Hmm? The Daily Carvel star wants me to write an article.

A Carvel girl's impression on big city clothes.

How long do you think it should be?

Well, I think a newspaper article should be about the length of a lady's skirt.

Long enough to... cover the subject, but short enough to be interesting.

Kidding, Dad, or in earnest?

Either or both.

Would Your Honor care to make a ruling?

No, I'll leave that to your own good taste.

Well, then that has them, shows them.

Is that the current motto of the sophisticated set?

What's wrong with being sophisticated?

That's what I need.

Why did I ask you to let me leave home for a while?

You had one or two unhappy experiences?

I kept thinking I was in love.

Because I was too limited to know.

When you grow up sheltered and inhibited, you make mistakes.

Not serious mistakes.

A young girl's romanticism. That's all.

I made a fool of myself, and why not? I didn't know anything.

What do people in a little town like this know about life anyway?

I was a perfect sap.

Now I've been out in the world, and I have the courage to express myself.

Courage, huh?

Sometimes it takes more courage to be afraid.

I can be happier if I live my own life to the best advantage.

Well, who said you couldn't?

Then I can do as I please about Jeff Willis, even about the nightgown.

I have a policy never to say no, especially if one is old enough to make

decisions.

Dad, didn't you ever do anything your parents disapproved?

I certainly did.

You turned out pretty swell, we think.

And I got into a lot of trouble in the process.

Come in. Come in, Emily.

Emily!

that Emily's upset over you.

Is anything wrong?

Only one of the cruelest custody of the child messes I've ever seen.

Millie, why is it that ordinarily decent people are so willing to wreck the

lives of their children simply because the marriage was a disaster?

Children are always the victims, aren't they?

Well, not this little girl, if I can help it.

With Andrew's assistance, a child who could have everything.

Only now she's got nothing of what Andrew's got too much of.

Good luck.

Come in.

Come in, Emily.

It's me, dear.

Oh.

Oh, hello. Hello, son.

Well, what's your trouble?

Finances, females, or the problems of the world in general?

No, this time it's the criminal code.

First or second degree murder?

No, I haven't committed any murders yet.

Dad, if you sent me away to prison, I could get a new trial on account of...

Well, you'd be prejudiced, wouldn't you?

You could carry it to the Supreme Court.

Well, maybe I hadn't ought to tell you because you're going to be the judge

I'm going to have to face.

Look here, are you serious?

I am, unless the cop was trying to play a joke, and I don't think cops have a

very good sense of humor, do they?

Driving without license plates, eh?

Well, we can settle this thing right here and save the court's time.

That'll be ten days or ten dollars.

Ten days or ten dollars?

That's my standard price.

Couldn't you make it a little cheaper, seeing as how I've never had any

criminal record?

If you had, it would be $50.

I'd better pay you quick before you... hear the rest.

The rest?

Yes, I stole a $3 ,000 sedan.

You what?

I... I made false representations about a towing job.

I must have loosened the front axle on the sedan, too. I don't know yet.

Andrew, do you mean the charges have been filed against you in these counts?

Not yet, but soon.

Soon? When? How?

By whom?

Well, Dad, it all started when I couldn't balance the budget. What

My budget.

I have to pay all my debts in New York and get my new car back, and I wanted

everything cleared up well before I went to college.

What happened that you couldn't balance your budget?

Ten dollars doesn't do me any good.

And then there was...

second -hand tow bar. That was $8. That broke anyway.

And there was the orange paint.

Look here.

I've had a hard day.

I don't ask that you be coherent or intelligent. I merely plead that you

one syllable sense.

Now, what in the world did you want with a second -hand tow bar and orange

paint? For my tow truck business.

You have a tow truck business?

I don't think so.

Now...

Oh, well, let's get with it.

Whose $3 ,000 sedan are you accused of stealing?

I don't know.

I didn't steal it.

Whose $3 ,000 sedan is who accusing you of stealing?

I guess the man that I stole the car from. I mean, that I didn't really

Look, Andrew, I've had a very hard day.

Now, let's try and pull ourselves together and try once more.

What is this all about?

It's really very simple.

The man phoned the police station, and he told the chief that he was going to

Washington and that he would be back soon.

And then he said, put that young fiend in the penitentiary for the rest of his

life. What man?

He didn't say.

The car is registered to the man out west, Mr.

Dwight. It seems as though he's...

Well, he works for the government.

The government?

Yeah, seems as though he's a detective.

Oh, my son wouldn't steal a car from an ordinary citizen.

It also seems as though he's sort of the head of the FBI out there, also.

Honest, Dad, I didn't really steal the car. I merely drove it away, and I

thought he was in the car, you see. And he wasn't in it?

Honest, I can't for the life of me figure out where I lost him. Oh, look

Andrew. Let's not go into this any further. I've got a bit of a headache.

Andrew, if I should agree to help you when this FBI man gets back,

would you be willing to do me a little favor?

I'm in no position to dicker.

Fine, fine.

Now, what I want to know at this moment is, how is your... your... Well, I...

I suppose you youngsters would call it your love life.

Yes, I would call it that, but gee, Dad, you have to use that kind of language.

I'm the father and you're the son, aren't we?

That's right.

Oh, I should be embarrassed about this thing.

What I want to know at this particular moment is, is there a girl?

You mean if I drizzle down to one particular cookie?

No, Dad, no thank you.

I'm playing the field.

Apparently that means there is no girl.

I'm going out of the retail business and going in for the wholesale trade.

You know, safety in numbers, Friday, is the spice of life. Why worry about one

girl when there are hundreds of them? I appreciate that word, safety.

You can say that again.

Why should I say it again? Didn't you hear me?

I was just agreeing with you, like you're not kidding, or he's got power, I

ain't humming, or something like that.

No, Dad, I made a mistake once, but I know now.

Why, a fella goes around with a girl steady for a couple of days, and right

he begins to think, gee, she must have invented women. And that's bad for a

fella my age, because it's most likely to lead to love.

You don't believe in love?

Love.

Going around with a stomachache because somebody didn't have the right

expression on their face when you said goodnight to them.

Fine, fine. That fits in with my plans perfectly.

Do you know Melody Nesbitt?

Young Melody Nesbitt? Sure, sure. She's just a child, not more than 16 or 17.

What kind of a girl is she?

I wouldn't know, only that she's a little droopy.

Droopy? Well, I always thought she was rather pretty.

I never noticed.

Her face doesn't do anything for her. Clothes don't do anything for her. She

certainly doesn't do anything for herself.

Or don't you understand that?

I think I do.

You mean that she's not dizzy?

Well, she's sort of a...

Sad apple, a barb. What?

A barb.

Barbarian. She'd rather stay home and listen to a bunch of opera records than

out and do a little polite smoochings.

Oh, come on, Dad. In your day, they called it necking. No, no, I'm older

that. I go back to the day when they called it spooning.

Not that Melody is a revolting frill or anything like that. It's just that she's

a little mealy with a dull line.

Do you think you could Marty yourself and...

Give her a whirl?

A whirl?

Dad, I don't mean to be critical, but that sounds a little vulgar.

It simply means be nice to the girl. Take her to a dance or something. Dad,

please, would you never use those expressions like spooning or a whirl or

bundling where anybody can hear you because it dates you? Bundling?

Well, Andrew, I do not go back to the American Revolution.

Now, what about Melody?

All right, Dad.

The occasion requires a female companion.

I'll buy her a ticket on the merry -go -round.

But don't get me wrong. From now on, if I date one girl more than twice, you can

make up your mind that I'm going to marry her.

I will remember that.

Thanks, Andy. Say, Dad, why all of a sudden interest in Melody Nesbitt?

Well, why shouldn't I be frank?

Andrew, have you any real idea what happens to children when a family breaks

No, I guess not.

Except I guess it's awkward for the kids. Awkward, Andrew, or often it

them. That's why Melody Nesbitt is a droop.

I'm hopeful of setting the stage to give some sort of an incentive for her to

have a happy, normal life, and I'd be very grateful to you for providing the

opportunity.

Gee, Dad, if I'm growing up, most of all I appreciate you talking to me frankly

like this, asking me to help you.

Oh, sure, I'll...

I'll show her a good time if I bust a rib.

Thanks, Andy, thanks.

But I don't want her to know that this is a... A frame -up? No, she won't.

Say, Dad, I just stopped to think. Remember I used to come in and we'd have

these man -to -man talks and at least I'd get some advice.

This time I come in and I don't get anything and I end up doing you a favor.

You know, I think sometimes you're smarter than I am.

Come in.

Oh, well, well.

It's really you this time, Emily.

Sit down, my dear.

Had you ever thought of divorcing me?

James! Oh, Emily.

I don't mean us.

Just for an instant, I thought... Why, Emily.

Now, I want to talk to you about a domestic case came up in my court today.

A case I want some womanly advice about.

Why, Emily, haven't we had a perfect life together?

Have I ever failed at least to try to be the husband you wanted?

Yes.

Yes, James, how do you have failed? Why, Emily, in what way?

Well, I've always wanted my husband to wear a cutaway coat.

Oh, cutaway coat. Well, the rag man got mine.

But, James, you're one of the most important men in this town.

Oh, you've no idea how proud I am when I know everybody's saying, there goes

Mrs. Judge Hardy.

And a high hat, too.

And a high hat, also. Yes, but you never wore it.

Except to Andy's graduation. Then you carried it in your hand until you had a

chance to throw it away. Well, it got squashed. It was ruined.

But, James, you look so distinguished in a cutaway coat and striped trousers.

And a hat on top.

And only on Sundays, James. Just for church.

You've got such a fine figure.

Oh, Emily, that's silly. That's silly.

I will say that my waistline hasn't gained an inch since I left college.

I know. You're one of those husbands who won't gratify himself in case he might

deprive his wife and children of a few measly dollars. We'll just drop the

thing. What?

Oh, yes.

All right.

Well, this matter I want to discuss involves the case of the custody of a

girl.

Andrew, we'll turn up that radio.

In the name of common sense.

Dear,

what if the neighbors should hear? Either they have heard or they're stone

It's either fire, flood, or invasion.

It's the wolf, Jeff Willis.

Marion, come on out.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry. He's really quite dizzy. I'll stop him. Stop him? In

that get -up, you'd knock him cold.

I forgot.

I'd better get out of here. If I know that lad, he'll barge right in. I'll

handle it for the family, Dad. No, no. As head of this house, I think this is

duty.

Marion, come on out. Why don't you speak louder?

How do you do?

You're Jeff Willis, I presume.

I'm Judge Hardy.

This is a pleasure.

That is, if you think so.

Thank you.

That's quite a gadget you've got there. It's great in traffic. Watch.

Move over, you ruffian.

My daughter is particularly unpleasant looking at this moment. She has the

beauty treatment smeared on her face. Oh, and I can understand why she didn't

want to come out. If you'll excuse me, I'll leave her a message.

Marion, I'm going to take you to the opening of the Red Warrior in the 19th.

May I have that thing a second?

Sure.

The Hardy family expresses its regrets to the neighbors, but promises an

immediate end to this unfortunate annoyance.

That was kind of a cute gag, Judge Hardy.

Well, I have my moments.

I'll see that my daughter Marion sends you her answer.

Thank you, sir.

Oh, dear.

I do hope the neighbors don't think we asked him to come.

One of the men in our family ought to handle our daughter.

Maybe it better be you, Dad.

Oh, excuse me. I'm going upstairs and finish my book.

Well, Emily, we've got to remember the times have changed.

I think I'm beginning to understand what they mean by the machine age.

Sis, I hope you've decided to give that beetle a chill.

Why? He gives my ego a lift, and I need it.

Well, remember, the things that were okay in New York would just get you

about here in Carville.

How would you like to start on a highly original career?

It's called minding your own business.

Look, Marion, I know all about that Red Dorian.

Oh, you've been there?

Not with any girls, and besides, it's not opening, it's reopening, after being

closed by the police.

And I suppose you're going to tattle to Dad and call that your good deed of the

day.

Look, Marion, I'm awful fond of you, and I'm not going to say anything to Dad

about it.

Not that I care, because I'm going with Jeff Willis. And Dad said I could decide

for myself.

Well, okay, then I'll leave the whole thing up to your conscience. If you want

to take the chance of being caught in a scandal that might make Dad have to

resign from the bench, then we'd all have to live off of my salary.

That's all.

Well, is Miss Nesbitt there, please?

Oh, she is?

Hold the line just a minute, please.

Dad, maybe I better call her back again because she's eating and they say that

people shouldn't have emotional crisis while they're eating because sometimes

affects the heart.

Maybe you'd better disturb Miss Nesbitt because it's a personal matter that

she'll enjoy much more than her dinner.

I think you're inviting me to dinner is a very charming gesture.

Melody, why don't you ask your father to take you to a football game?

You know, she's never seen one.

Yes, what do you say, Melody?

Now that your mother's so gracious about it?

I'd like it.

I think I'd like it.

I certainly ought to like a football game, oughtn't I?

Telephone for Miss Melody.

Oh, darn, who can that be?

You're a bad actress, my dear. You're overdoing it. Me?

Better tune yourself down.

Honeyed accents would never go with that face.

I'll thank you to keep my face to yourself.

I mean... I mean, there's no reason why we shouldn't act like reasonable human

beings. Is there, Melody?

No.

Is anything wrong, dear? Who was your phone call from?

It was Andrew Hardy.

He invited me to the alumna dance at the high school.

Wonderful. When is it going to be?

I didn't ask. Of course, I'm not going.

You're not going? Why not?

I don't know. I guess I just never thought about accepting it.

I wish I hadn't said I couldn't go. Then go and call him back quickly.

Yes, tell him that you had an engagement with your father and you've been able

to break it.

Strangely enough, I think I'll do that very thing.

Steady there, my friend.

I was only going to say something nasty to you to keep you from saying something

nasty to me.

Mr. Hardy, this is Melody Nesbitt. Mr. Hardy, if you haven't already asked

anybody else, I'd be very glad to go to the alumni dance.

But remember, you asked me... It'll be a pleasure to have your company, Miss

Nesbitt.

That'll be Friday night, and I'll call for you at 8 o 'clock.

Good night.

Good night, Dad. Thanks for the ride.

The last mile.

Are you sure you don't want the car?

No, no. If I take her in the car, then on the way home she might get some ideas

about parking. I think I'll be much safer if we walk.

Well, give Melody a good time.

Well, if I'm going to take her, she'll have a good time.

She's going with me, so naturally all the other fellas will have to break.

Break? Cut in to you. Only that's too old -fashioned, so it's break.

With my social standing, the fellas will break out of loyalty.

I see.

But you prefer the girl that you date to be a real temptation to the stag line,

eh? Naturally. Even in this age of democracy, a girl's got to have zip.

Uh -oh, Dad.

Look, tell me.

Just because a fella's going to take a girl out and show her a good time, does

that necessarily mean that he has to kiss her goodnight?

Well, suppose Melody were Polly Benedict.

Songs have to do nowadays for their father.

Nurse, please.

Will you wait in the living room, please?

Oh, good evening.

Oh, excuse me. You must be Andrew Hardy. I'm Melody's mother.

How do you do? I'm glad to know you.

I'm going to take your daughter to the dance tonight.

Miss Nesbitt, I mean.

And it's an alumni dance, you know, Miss Nesbitt. And I can assure you that it's

thoroughly respectable.

Won't you have a piece of cake?

No, thank you. My mom had my favorite kind of pie tonight, and I ate a belly

full.

I mean... Good evening, Mr. Hardy.

Good evening.

I brought you a corsage.

Oh, isn't that nice?

Customary, I believe.

Do you want me to pin it on for you?

Is that customary, too?

Kind of.

Well, then, by all means, let's be customary.

I wouldn't know.

I've never had a date with a boy before.

Oh, Melody, darling, Andrew will think you're not popular.

Oh, no, no, I wouldn't think anything like that, Mrs. Nesbitt.

I... Honest, Melody. I'm not popular.

You know that as well as I do.

Oh, gee.

Well, Melody never cared to go to dances, or with boys.

Well, that's true enough.

Shall we start?

Yes. Uh, Mrs. Nesbitt, I won't keep Melody out too late.

Probably not.

Good night, Mother.

Good night.

Good night, children.

You think you better put on your wrap? Why?

Aren't you afraid of getting cold?

I'll bet this is the first time you ever said that to a girl and meant a wrap.

Uh, Miss Nesbitt.

Call me Melody. Well, not for intimacy, but it's just silly being Miss Nesbitt

when I'm only a kid.

Somehow you seem older.

That's because I spend most of my time with my mother.

Maybe that's why I'm older than my years. Because I'm so close to my

Did I say something I shouldn't?

Let's face it, Andrew.

Everybody knows.

My father and mother. I know that.

But, gosh, that has nothing to do with us.

Not unless you're doing a little polite spying for your father.

That's not true.

Oh, you asked me to the dance tonight because you wanted to.

All the time you were running around with Polly Benedict, you were simply

about me.

No.

As a matter of fact, I'm what you call a Drew.

Isn't that so?

Look, Melody, I asked you to go to the dance with me.

And right at this particular minute, I want you to go to the dance with me, and

I want you to have a good time.

Now, are you coming with me or not?

Not bad, Mr. Hardy.

At this particular minute, I believe you.

I'm a little scared.

You've got nothing to be scared about. You're with the old maestro himself.

Go park your show over there. There'll be a lot of girls here you know.

They'll probably think dead away when they see me.

Hiya, fellas.

Kind of slipping, aren't you, honey? Is she a gig?

No, she was all he could get. Sure, ever since he's been in New York, all the

real girls found out they could live without him. What a fool Polly

been all these years.

I'll wait just a minute, fellas. You've got Melody all wrong.

She's not genuinely gruesome. She's just a little different, that's all.

A lot different than I'd date.

Look, for my sake, I promised the kid to have a good time.

So, would you mind breaking in just once?

Are you gentlemen or cats?

Cats.

I'm your pal.

Really, Frank.

Hiya, gorgeous.

Let's put the show on the road, huh?

I'll say this much for you, Harvey, and do it upright.

Thanks.

Everything, Harmon?

Right bang on the nose, baby.

Cynthia's a stunning girl, isn't she?

She's a smart girl, you mean.

She knows what most women won't learn. That a black dress can be awful simple,

but it gives out to the men.

Shall we trip the lights fantastic?

You're a brave man, Hardy.

Hello, Melody. Hello, Andy. Nothing but Dolly. You're absolutely sending in that

hair coat.

Oh, I whipped it up on the maid's night off.

You like Dolly's hair?

Why, sure, it gives her zip.

You know what I mean.

Certainly do.

Boy, baby, you got me both ways. You dance as good as your neck.

I've decided to order that cutaway coat for James as a surprise.

He'll raise Cain about spending money on him, but how he'll love it. I've got

the money saved up in the bank from my household allowance.

But I have to write out the check this week, because at the first of the month,

there's always a certain amount of confusion between me and the bank.

What dance is this?

Oh, about fourth or fifth.

It's the 16th straight with you.

Oh, I told the stag line that I want them wolfing in.

You're terrific, Hardy.

Break. Hiya, Harry. Hiya, Red. Give out, Ina.

Andy, am I all right?

Harry Land is giving me a very funny eye.

Oh, he probably wants to break, but he doesn't dare because he knows that I

you all to myself.

Let's go home.

Why should we?

You're stuck with me. Oh, I wish. Stop wearing your conscience on your sleeve.

Maybe I'll turn those wolves loose over there. Come on.

Great, Cordy.

Well, busy old pal. This is one time I can't refuse you.

Look, I don't care for myself, but I promised my dad that I'd show Melody a

-up time.

I'll make this a business proposition.

You fellas give her the once -over lightly, it'll mean cash.

Or my I .O .U., which is as good as gold.

Your old man don't like you borrowing.

He'd skin me alive if he knew.

Jets, his I .O .U. is as good as gold.

Or else.

Five cents a minute is what I charge for droops.

Well, that little girl's crazy about you.

Did you ever go to the circus and throw a penis to the monkey?

No, sure. Well, just because the monkey's happy, that doesn't mean the

crazy about you. Yeah?

Well, I'm crazy for her, and I'm going to duck in and break.

How much?

For free.

All right, break, Kurt.

Okay. Okay, so let him go dizzy.

Saves me money. But none of you hired him for his break until he quits cold.

I want to cut down on my overhead.

I had a wonderful time, Andrew.

That's swell.

I like dances now.

Well, that's the way with social life. Once you get a taste of it, you can't do

without it.

You know, I never saw any point in being popular before.

I guess it's something you have to work on. Well, girls have to work plenty hard

to be popular with the boys, but...

Look at their reward.

Yeah, I can see that now.

Andrew, what makes a girl attractive?

Oh, lots of things.

Such as what?

Sit down a minute and tell me.

Well, first of all, they have to want to be attractive, and then they have to

have poise.

She mustn't embarrass easily.

Sure. Fellas the age that you would go around with would be humiliated if the

girl didn't have poise.

Poise. Go on.

And then she mustn't be a door pusher.

Door pusher?

Yeah, the door in a fella's car.

Then she mustn't be too dull. Of course, I'm not saying she should be a free

neck either, but she should have a good line.

And then she should make the fella feel as though that he's really got

something.

He's got what?

Oomph. And to do that, she has to make herself attractive to the other fellas.

Oh, yes, of course.

She has to want to be attractive.

Mm -hmm.

Well, I've got to be going.

I've got to get up early in the morning, you know, my job at Dugan's Garage.

Andy, you've had a perfectly miserable evening.

But really, I don't care if you did because... What was it you said about

York? Oh, I remember you said, Hot dog, if I ever have any more fun, shoot me.

Excuse me, I thought you were Polly Benedict for a minute. I didn't mean to

your feelings.

You didn't.

Good night.

Well, darling, what sort of punch did they say with that dance? I wouldn't

Mother, what kind of a boy does Andrew Hardy seem to you?

I should say a bit shortish. Not good looking, but a nice face.

Good manners.

Lots of fun to be with.

No, darling.

He's six feet tall.

A gallant knight.

Thoughtful. Gentle.

Kind. Wearing shining armor.

Riding a white charger.

Mother. Andrew Hardy doesn't need any horse.

No, my dear.

Hey, Joe, go see who that is, will you?

It's a young lady.

The one?

No, it's a new one.

Okay, I'll go.

Hiya, Susie. Hello, Hardy. Can we put one of these in your window?

Sure, what's cooking? Spencer's gift. The girls escort the boys.

Oh, an excellent idea.

A chance for the girls to pay back their social obligations.

Susie, who are you going to ask? I just can't decide.

I have social obligations to, oh, a dozen boys.

Well, then you still have an open mind about the subject.

Susie, my sweet.

I just got through painting my old meat grinder here, and it's a wonderful

Saturday afternoon. Suppose you let me drive you around town, help you

distribute those cards, and thus save wear and tear on your pretty little

Why, Andrew Hardy, I never knew you could be so nice.

Oh, it's nothing at all. Gosh, I haven't even started yet, sister, and I'm

raring to go.

You come to take me in?

Not today.

The chief got a letter from Mr. Dwight. He'll be here Saturday to get his car

and send the thief up for a nice long stretch.

I'll pick you up Saturday about 10.

Joe, you'd better answer this. It may be a conspiracy against me.

Peter Dugan's garage.

Mr. Andrew Hardy?

Mr. Nesbitt called.

Mr.

Hardy has done gone home for the day.

Never mind, thank you.

Gosh almighty, what is it? A traveling barber shop?

Certainly not.

Scientists have proved this pattern to be conspicuous even in the dark.

Look.

I expect to make a fortune.

I expect to get a headache.

Oh, trained, huh?

As soon as a girl gets in, it runs out of gas.

No such thing. It's just that I've got a couple of loose wires, that's all,

Susie. Now watch.

Judge Hardy.

Hello, Melody.

Set your watch back an hour, please.

What for?

I came to invite Andy to the spinster skip and maybe some other girl's asking

him right now.

Oh, I see.

And I can say that I accepted for him about 4 .30.

Would you? Oh, you don't know how great... Does this mean

that much, Melody? No.

Yes.

I don't know.

Maybe.

I guess I'm being sort of silly. No, you're not being silly.

But don't you let Andrew make you unhappy.

Oh, no matter how unhappy Andrew could ever make me, I'd be happier than I was

before.

Where will I find Mrs. Judge Hardy?

Around by the back door, please.

Package from Mrs. James K. Hardy. C .O .D.

$61 .60.

My goodness, it's actually here.

Wait a minute. $61 .60?

That was only to be $40. Where's the bill?

Here.

Cutaway coat and waistcoat with striped trousers, $40.

Extra piping vest, $20.

Charges, $1 .60.

But that's outrageous.

They wrote about the piping, but they didn't say it would be $20 more.

Mrs. Hardy, I'm sorry, but it's $61 .60 or I have to take the package back. Then

just take the package back.

Very idea.

Delivery refused.

Dishonest people.

Just because you live in a small town.

What's that, Emily?

Who thinks who can what?

The, uh, the bank.

Oh, want me to balance your account?

Oh, will you, James?

Well, I never saw a woman yet keep a checkbook straight.

Boy, Emily, what's this?

You made out a check for $10, and you entered on the stub as $11.

Oh, I always enter up the stub for a dollar more than the check, and then I

add all right at the end of the month.

Well, I'll get that.

Well, each month the bank says that I have $10 less than I figure.

So I add a dollar to each check stub and then I come out all right.

Well, suppose you made out 20 checks during the month and added a dollar to

stub.

Well, then I'd have $10 more than I thought I had.

What do you think you have in the bank now?

$45.

Well,

we'll see, we'll see.

Five, five, nine is...

Mrs. Hardy, your balance is exactly... $45.

That's what I said.

Well, keeping your checkbook involves mathematics that would baffle an

but it seems to work.

What are you going to do with all that money?

Well, I was going to use this money for something that turned out to be

dishonest. But now I think I'll just give Mr. Woodward $50 down payment on a

guest, though.

$50? Well, if you do that, you'll be overdrawn $5.

Oh, no, I always have $5 .19 in the bank, but I don't count. Why $5 .19?

$5 .19 is such an odd sum, I never forget it.

We're going to be here for dinner. That's as good a ham as I ever baked.

Mother, are you ill?

Never felt better in my life.

Mashed potatoes a la Marion Hardy.

Good evening, Marion.

Hello, Mother.

Well, I'm hungry enough to eat a horse.

What is this?

What is what, my dear sister?

So that's the gag.

That's my panty waist, mother.

But you're a ball of fire in this outfit.

Oh, sophisticated, James.

And you, a trifle short, but good and dizzy.

Well, them that has them shows them.

If you think you're going to laugh me out of wearing my dress.

Come, Marion, let's rise above these mid -Victorian conventions.

I'm going to wear this outfit anyway.

Fine. Fine.

And we all fit into the picture perfectly.

Millie, you're going to seem delightfully uninhibited to Jeff Willis.

we'll certainly put that young man at ease when he comes.

You mean you're going to let Jeff Willis see you like this?

Sure, why not? If he's such a hot potato himself, you'll probably show up in his

shorts.

This insane joke was your idea.

Maya! Oh, no. No, it was mine.

Ah, tickety -dong.

Well, the first time you go out with a young man, we don't want you to feel

ashamed of us.

All right, you win.

I'll wear my blue dress.

But I'll show you. You'll see.

Why did he think she'd take it as hard as this? Well, we won that argument by a

thousand miles.

You better be the young man now.

I'll be especially nice to him.

Mrs. James K. Harney? Yes? A little matter of $61.

The company made a mistake.

I'm not the company lady. I'm the collection agency.

I've got to have $61 .60.

But I can't pay it.

I've only got 19 cents in the bank. Then tomorrow morning I've got to file this

lawsuit in court and attach your husband's salary.

In court? Mm -hmm.

But it's my husband's own court.

What, that would get in the papers. Oh, you can't do that.

That would disgrace my husband.

Sixty -one dollars and sixty cents by ten o 'clock in the morning, Mrs. Hardy.

Or... Please, I... Sorry, lady.

They get the dough.

Mostly they do.

Mom, what did the Wolf Willis have to say to you? Oh, it was the wrong number.

mean, a mistake.

Everybody have some scandal? Uh, cauliflower?

Oh, don't worry, Mother.

Of course, everybody will be all right.

Oh, dear, I forgot to put the lawsuit in the gravy. I mean the salt.

It's nothing, James. She just has a guilty conscience about Marion and the

I'll take care of her.

Well, Andy?

One thick or two thins?

Gotta make it two thicks. I've gotta bolster up my tissues.

Tonight's the spinster skip.

I suppose you've been stampeded with invitations?

No, the only bid that I got was the one that you brought me.

I was framed. The women ganged up on me and Melody hooked me.

As painful as it is, you'd rather go with her than not go at all.

I'd rather not go at all, period.

But I couldn't say no because I wanted to help you out.

I'd be glad to see Melody.

Is she going to call for you here?

No, no. I've arranged to meet her at the dance. I didn't want to cause her any

embarrassment.

You're sure enough to save your own embarrassment.

Look, Dad.

With the agony that I'm going to have to go through tonight, a little minor

emotion like embarrassment would be a pleasure.

Well, go tear off the paper bag, and there won't be any breaking tonight

I'm going to dance straight through with you. I told Mother we wouldn't be home

early.

Well, here's old Quick Prophets himself.

Look, fellas, I'm on a slab tonight. I'm flat busted.

Now, I don't expect any charity from you termites, but couldn't you see you're

way clear to... No.

That is a special favor to me, even.

You couldn't...

Just... Holy mackerel.

Hardy, do you see what I see? I do, and my eyes need crutches.

Melody!

Hi, you moose.

What's cooking?

Oh, fellas, this is the most sensational thing since Nero burnt Rome. It's

terrific. It's bigger and better than Boulder Dam.

Hardly recognizing you. You've changed.

You wolves had better take a good look, because tonight you're going to have to

pay me.

Hiya, gorgeous.

Let's put the show on the road.

Oh, this is one time I can't refuse you, old man.

And, dogs, Melody's really going to be the belle of the ball this time.

Have you got your IOUs ready and cash besides?

Cash? Yeah, cash, green stuff, that folding money, you know. And don't give

that fish eye either, because you know that you're going to have to dance with

Melody, because she's going to make Carvel the talk of the world.

The worm turns.

Am I laughing at the United States men?

You

didn't

mind leaving a little early.

No, not at all.

The only thing was that you had a couple more dances booked up.

Yeah, with the wolves.

Not with you.

Why, Andrew, didn't I have poise?

Yes, you had sensational poise.

Was I attractive to the other fellows?

To get any guy in town, all you'd have to do would be to just throw the switch.

Any guy but you.

Never in the history of Carville has there been such a ball of fire.

You didn't have to pay the boys tonight, did you?

How'd you know about that?

Oh, I heard.

Girls can be pretty cruel that way.

Well, they don't mean to be. It's just that they were jealous tonight, that's

all.

No, I didn't have to pay the fellas tonight.

In fact, I got back all the money that I put in.

Good.

In fact, I made a little profit, too. Oh, good.

Andy,

what's wrong with me?

Not a thing.

Except... Melody, couldn't we... Couldn't we just not talk about it

anymore? Andy, I have to... I have to know Andy.

I feel awful.

Good night, Andrew.

I'll walk you to the door.

not withdraw my supermelody's custody unless once and for all you admit to her

that you've lied about me. You've never told her horrible things about me. Oh,

no, certainly not. But she believes you.

Well, naturally.

I'm her mother. She even believes this new sweetness and light is her real

father, because I told her so. Come on, fool me. Oh, if there was only some way

I could make her see you as the unscrupulous liar that you are. You're

so badly.

Dad, what are you doing out here? Something wrong?

Yes, Marion. She's not home.

Oh, no. I'm sure there's nothing wrong.

Let Wolf Willis, if he didn't close up a joint, he'd think he was slipping.

Yes, of course.

What's your problem?

Oh, me?

Oh, I had a little trouble tonight with Melody Nesbitt.

It's very apparent that Melody likes you pretty well.

Dad, I'm a healthy, normal fella.

Here I can't fall in love with a girl that's just dripping with zip from every

pore.

It just doesn't make sense to me.

Not Melody, a zip dripper.

Melody. Love has changed her into a dream queen. A fever frow to every

but me.

Well, son, maybe you're growing up.

Well, if that's growing up, I'm not so sure that I'm going to like it or not.

Dad, she... she cried.

Passing another milestone.

It's always a shock to a man when he finds out for the first time that some

girl... Well, some girl cried.

You mean life is like that?

Sometimes.

And a man is helpless except to hurt.

Tonight, Melody told me at the dance that she was happy about everything.

She is.

And you're just the stage that she's going through.

Oh. You know, Harry Land is really in love with her, but he's too back with

let her know.

Well, I don't know.

I'm in a love triangle.

Are you sure it's not a quadrangle?

Are you positive that Polly Benedict's coming home tomorrow hasn't influenced

your position?

Yeah.

Polly coming home tomorrow?

Didn't you know it?

Her father told me today.

No.

Polly couldn't influence my position.

I'll admit that it knocked me for a goal when Polly Benedict left, but I've

outgrown her. In fact, I told her so in a letter.

That's too bad.

Because Melody's too fine and honorable a girl to ever cut in if she thought

that you and Polly Benedict were... Well, you were... Going steady.

Say, that's a swell way out. And you can say that again. And I ain't humming.

Dad, a girl Melody's age couldn't buy any poison in this town without a

prescription, could she?

I wouldn't worry about that.

That's the red door in. Lion's been busy.

Hello.

Is Miss Marion Hardy there with Mr.

Jefferson Willis?

I'd want to be a calamity howler. Hello.

Thank you.

Marion,

Willis left there three hours ago.

Marion wouldn't park for three hours. Maybe I'd better go look for him.

No, if there weren't anything wrong, we'd feel so... No, no, we better not

about it, Marion. His reputation is at stake. And I don't mean to brag, but I'm

probably the most qualified man in the world to go looking for him because, you

know, I know practically every nice little place to park within 50 miles

here.

Well, I'm sure there isn't anything wrong.

Oh, we'd feel better if I have a look.

James.

I heard you put in the phone call. I had to listen.

Now, now, mother, don't worry.

But have we been wrong in being liberal with our children? Have we brought them

up badly?

Mother, we've done everything we can to prepare our children to meet their

problems for the future. And meet them they must sooner or later.

Now, come, dear, you get a little rest.

I'll call you if there's any news.

You know, James, there's a lot of talk about town that Jeff Willis drinks.

Don't you worry about that.

Why, Melody.

Judge Hardy, could you arrange to get some money from my father for me so that

could go away somewhere?

Maybe to school?

Oh, Melody, aren't you dramatizing just a little?

In a few months, to you, Andrew, will only be... No, Judge, that isn't it.

I heard my father and mother fighting tonight.

Everything that I thought was fine is rotten.

I never want to see either of them again.

Melody, I am afraid I manage this thing very badly.

I think I'll telephone your mother and keep you here tonight.

Sometimes I wish automobiles had never been invented.

Now, a buggy, it couldn't run out of gas.

I never heard of a horse having a blowout.

Oh, I'm not worried, really.

Not one bit worried.

James, Emily, look!

It's all right, Dad. I'm all right.

I found that mess smashed up against a tree in McMahon's Lane.

Oh, him.

He's boiled.

I couldn't get anything out of Marion because she's...

No, James, this is something a mother can handle best.

And I thought I knew more than my family. Come on, dear.

Dad, are you going to beat him up or shall I?

No use thinking to his level. Come on, Andrew.

Let's get him into the kitchen.

James? Yes, yes, Emily.

Andrew, make some coffee.

All right.

It was only shock and hysteria.

Well, I told you we hadn't failed with our children, Emily.

Well,

Andrew, our picture is all right.

That's good. I guess Marion won't be so dizzy from now on.

What are we going to do with this gin -soaked wolf?

We've got to sober him up.

Andrew, when anyone laughingly tells you what great fun they had getting

plastered, this is what they mean.

Does this strike you as being funny?

No, sir.

How does it strike you?

Not funny at all.

Well, you want to take a good look at him.

There he is.

He can't see and he can't hear and he can't even speak.

And this is man.

Man, that glorious creature touched with divinity.

Capable of great poetry, great leadership.

Capable even of giving himself wings.

Man.

With a bottle of whiskey inside of him.

Well, first we've got to try and straighten him out.

Get him home and into bed.

Not any of the folks seeing him.

Mom. Mom.

You forgot to bring my pajamas down to me. Come in. Marion's still awake.

Excuse me, sis. I've got to get my pajamas.

Sorry to put you out of your bed.

Oh, he doesn't mind. We thought Marion's room would be nicer for Melody.

Oh, I don't mind, sis.

I guess it'll be a pleasure sleeping on that big couch downstairs.

Mother, could I speak to Andy for a minute alone?

Well, I'd better put the cereal on the stove anyway.

You feel all right, Marion?

All right in every way except that I'm a fool.

But believe me, this is one lesson that's going to take.

Andy, I want to thank you for coming out and finding us.

Dad said it was your idea and... I towed Jeff's car to the garage. I sneaked it

in the back way.

Nobody will ever know that you were with him.

It'll just be that he got drunk and he hit a tree.

Andy, do you think I'll ever be anything but an idiot?

Well, if Mom and Dad think you're the most wonderful daughter in the world,

you're not going to make a liar out of them, are you?

No, you're just going through a stage.

All women go through stages.

They fall in love too easily, and they cry, and they do a lot of funny things.

Now, if you have the stuff in you, you'll come out a good investment.

Dad and I had a long talk tonight.

We're not worried about you.

You've changed a lot since I've been away.

Dad thinks so.

Too grown up to kiss your sister?

Not until I'm 90.

Come on, Andrew.

Come on, I want Maddie in to go to sleep.

All right, Mom.

Well, good night, Marion. You know, you're okay for a woman.

It's not your fault that nature made women's brains lighter than men's. Good

night. Good night, and thanks again.

Let's have a long talk tomorrow.

Yeah, sure, sis. Because, you know, I've been through these stages myself.

Tomorrow?

Oh, no, tomorrow I... I'm gonna be pretty busy all day.

Your job?

Yeah, my job, and I've got a disillusioned woman about being in love

and Polly's coming home, and... I'm in trouble with the FBI.

I'll get it, Emily.

Where is Emily?

She took Melody home to get some clothes.

She said she'd see you in court.

I'll be late.

You'll have to tell Emily.

There's someone at the door, James.

Oh.

Judge Hardy, could I have a little talk with you?

What have you got to say for yourself, Willis?

What can I say?

First, thanks for getting me home without letting my folks know.

Common decency.

I suppose you already know that I was so drunk that I... I wouldn't bring Marion

straight home.

I suppose you already know I could put you in jail for it. Yes, I do know that.

That's why I came over to take my medicine.

I mean, from Marion's father as well as Judge Hardy.

Mm -hmm.

I wasn't too drunk to hear what you said last night about me and liquor.

I've learned my lesson.

I'm going to give you a chance to prove that.

Jeff, you better go home and take care of yourself for a couple of days, and

I'll study out your punishment.

Thank you, sir. I can tell you one penalty right now.

You get that loud speaking thing off your car.

Yes, sir.

I'll get rid of it this very day, sir.

Do you know what she said to me?

She said, I don't want to ever see either of them again.

I'll give you one more trial, but I want you to bear in mind that I have the

power to take Melody away from both of you and place her in the school.

Oh, no. Just a minute.

Melody.

Come in, my dear. Come in.

I'm going to ask your father and mother to search down deep in their souls and

answer my questions truthfully.

Mr. Nesbitt, is Melody's mother really the scheming, grasping, cruel woman

you've made her out to be?

No, she isn't.

We couldn't get along together, but... I guess that was more my fault than hers.

And is Melody's father...

The horrible, unscrupulous creature that you've painted him to her.

No, Melody, he isn't.

It was just as much my fault as his.

Mother. Oh, darling.

Bless you.

Well,

I don't think we're going to have any more trouble.

I'll make it up to you, honey.

If you two would only be honest.

I think you could acquire a new and reasonable friendship together.

And Melody would get the benefit.

James. Oh, excuse me. Just a minute, Emily.

Now, you get out of here, the three of you. Get out.

Yes,

Emily?

James.

Mr. Woodward won't give me back the $50 I paid him on the new gas stove.

I can't tell you. It's too terrible. You see, there's a collection agency.

Don't you tell me any more about that.

That was a fake collection agency.

I found this letter on the table and I opened it.

The whole thing's a racket.

You hadn't ordered that white piping on the... They never would have sent you

the suit.

No wonder the price was so low. And they'd never have gone to court.

So thousands of people are blackmailed by just such rackets.

James, I'm so relieved.

I was afraid to tell you about it.

Afraid of me, Emily?

All good wives are afraid of their husbands.

Well, for the sake of your own sex, you better not admit that to Andrew.

James, Andrew isn't going to get married. No, Emily, no. What a

What's so ridiculous about it?

Not many boys in the whole wide world as handsome as our Andrew.

Stop acting so nervous, will you? I told you that I'm going to fix everything.

Yeah, I know, but what will Melody say?

Well, I'll admit it'll be like a bust in the nose to her, but my dad admits that

it's the right treatment for a lovelorn dilly.

Now, you stay right here and try to look halfway handsome when I drag you in.

Here, here, I forgot to take the price tag off.

And that's a diller killer of a day for football, too.

Killer diller.

Melody, isn't that Andrew Hardy of the Garden Gate?

Relax, darling.

For an hour or two last night, I carried quite a torch for young Mr.

Hardy.

From now on, everything's so swell about us that I've got the right

understanding of myself.

Besides, for a while I'm going to play the field. I'm going to start throwing

the switch.

I've got to make up for a couple of years of listening to opera records.

Now, you two get upstairs.

I'll handle that, young man.

Hi, Mallory. Hello, Andy.

May I use your telephone, please? It's an emergency.

Hop to it, Cookie. Right in there.

I just found out my heart's back in town.

Holly Benedict?

Oh, isn't that marvelous?

Hello, may I speak to Miss Benedict, please?

Why, hello, Polly, old girl. Say, am I lathering to see you? You know, I've

dying on the vine since you've been gone.

But you remember you and me?

Sulfur and nitrate, whenever we'd get together, we'd just go boom.

What?

Am I going to take you to the football dance tonight?

Yeah, I guess I better.

Goodbye, Polly.

She's just the girl for your type.

Yes, you're a sweet boy.

You're sort of quaint.

Me, quaint?

Did I act a little sappy last night?

How in the world could I have been so silly?

Silly?

Andrew, what did you really come here for?

Well, Harry Land, he wanted me to ask you if you'd go to the football dance

him tonight.

Harry Land simply the best -looking boy in town?

Thank you, Andrew.

And goodbye.

Playmate?

You know Mr. Dwight?

Little trifle from the FBI?

I've had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dwight.

Once.

Nice guy, Dwight.

My mother's cousin.

What?

Polly's told me quite a bit about you, Mr. Hardy.

Well, I hope she's told you enough to keep me out of Alcatraz.

Andrew, what about those letters you wrote?

Have you really outgrown me?

Oh, that was just kidding, Polly. You know, lead him on by pushing him off.

I think you're wonderful.

Oh, goodbye, Polly. Goodbye. Goodbye, Mr. Dwight. Oh, goodbye, Mr. Hardy.

Polly. What are you made up for with that hairdo and that skirt?

Now, Andrew Hardy.

Oh, well, what do you know about it? Living here in this small town.

Oh, gosh. We just get through this thing with Marion, and now I've got you on my

hands.

Now, look here, my friend.

Yes, Polly.

You going to take me to the football dance tonight?

Yes, ma 'am.

It seems funny without Andrew here.

I guess a family sort of depends on all its members.

Well, this family does.

I solved a big problem today by using a technique that Andrew said he was going

to use to solve one of his own.

A technique that Andrew called bust them right in the nose.

That is using a long -forgotten technique of telling the honest truth so

as to jolt the victim out of all superficialities.

And it's guaranteed to knock over any love lawn, Dilly.

Well, that was in Andrew's case.

But, James, Andrew will be home for dinner.

I told you, Emily, Andrew's going to be a little late.

I managed to glean that Polly Benedict is again leading our son around by the

ear. Woo!

Hear me, hear me, hear me.

Hear me, hear me, hear me.

On earth did you get that infernal machine?

Jeff Willis gave it to me.

Dad, I'm not wanted by the FBI. I'm a free man.

Thought you told me today that Polly Benedict had a ball and chain on you.

was this afternoon. I took Polly home, and she changed into one of her new

dresses, and when her mom saw how low -cut it was, she sent Polly to bed.

Come on, Andrew. You didn't know it was getting cold. All right.

How's the bust -in -the -nose technique working out with Melody? Oh, fine, fine.

She's going to the dance with Harry Land.

Although she didn't have to say that he was the best -looking fella in town.

You know, Andrew, you did a great deal for Melody.

That's all right, Dad.

You know, now that I've got Melody solid on Harry Land, I've been thinking.

She's an awful swell girl.

And I'm going to worry all the rest of my life whether I was glad I passed her

up.

Yeah, I was right.

Women are a habit for me.