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Judge.

Hmm?

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

I know, I know. 12:15. Yeah.

Mrs. and Mrs. Nesbit, you were separated in 1932,

followed by, according to these records,

a sordid 10 years of lawsuits,

accusations, counteraccusations.

Is that so?

I want him put in jail.

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

You wouldn't let me see my own daughter!

And I--I demand her custody!

Hisdaughter. She's my child.

The court awarded her to me.

Quiet.

Mrs. Nesbit, she is not your child.

Neither is she your child, Mr. Nesbit.

When the court divided you two,

you both forfeited all rights in that child,

and she became a ward of the state,

merely in the custody of Mrs. Nesbit.

Now with this case before me,

melodie eunice nesbit is mychild.

And mychild has got to be supported.

Give Mrs. Nesbit her check, please.

But, Mrs. Nesbit,

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 2:00.

Oh, plenty of time.

Plenty of time!

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, boyfriends?

No. No, melodie's very quiet.

She doesn't seem to care for that sort of thing.

And why not?

One look at her, and I knew the whole story.

The ugliness of her surroundings

have 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, uh... Your daughter in any way

the cause of this marriage breaking up?

Well, 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've just got to make it up to her.

Can't you conceal this bitterness?

I don't ask you to conquer 10 years of mutual hatred,

but play a little game.

Let her see in you her health and inspiration.

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

Won't you?

I will if you will.

Well...

I can be nice...

If you can.

Judge, you told me to remind you.

Oh, plenty of time. Plenty of time.

Oh, damn.

Now I can't remember what I was to do at 12:15.

You said you were going to leave.

Leave? For where?

You didn't say where. You just said leave.

Here's your hat.

Yes, thanks.

My hat.

Confound that memory system of Andrew's!

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

I'll never make it!

It's no good, Milly.

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.

Milly, if we leave, someone's sure to buy that nightgown

now it's been marked down to 4.95.,

and we'd never get anything to please Marian so much.

Why don't you telephone Andrew? This is his lunch hour.

Milly, that's a good idea.

Andrew!

Andrew Hardy!

Andrew!

Andrew!

Yes, Mr. Dugan?

It's alright, Mr. Dugan.

I'm on my lunch hour, on my own time,

and I'm paying for the raw materials.

Your mother-- turn that thing off!

Your mother called. She wants you to go

to the railroad station.

It must be an emergency. She hung up.

No, sir. It's no emergency.

My sister's coming home.

If it was an emergency like the house being on fire,

my mother wouldn't worry us.

She'd be on the roof bossing the firemen.

I'm gonna change this meat-grinder here into a tow truck.

That a tow truck?

I've got a secondhand tow bar on her now--

Remember you promised to give me 10%

of any of the business I brought in?

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

Well, mister, your troubles are over.

Maybe. This car's beyond the abilities

of any human being today.

I'm not a human being. I'm a tow truck.

I'll put my tow bar here,

and you'll be in Dugan's garage before you can say,

"honest price is factory price

"and not responsible for any valuables unless receipted for."

That towing thingamajig looks a little tired.

Mister, this tow bar didn't do more than crack

when it took out the front axle of a 10-ton truck.

A 10-ton truck?!

Here we go. That's all set.

Come on. Hop in.

Look, as one motorist to another,

do you mind if we make one brief stop?

That'll be alright.

Swell. The railroad station.

I beg your pardon.

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 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. Schimmerhorn's brother?

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

Ooh, I must be slipping.

I'm Marian Hardy.

Marian har--

Not judge Hardy's daughter?

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

I've been away.

And how you've come back.

I never expected to find anything like you in this whistle stop.

And why not, Mr. Willis?

Because you're too big city.

And call me Jeff. I'll drive you home...

Or 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 rain check on the ride, though.

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

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Oh, darling!

Mother.

Oh! Oh, darling.

Oh, it seems you've been away for months!

I have, but it seems like years!

It's so good to see you.

Aunt Milly.

Let me have a good look at you!

Oh, dear...

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

Dad!

Marian, my dear!

Oh, dad, how are you?

Wonderful, wonderful. And you?

Well, happy, glad to be home?

Oh, I'm thrilled, dad.

Where's Andrew? Gosh, I've missed that brat.

James, what are you doing here?

Well, wasn't I supposed to meet Marian 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.

Whoo! Marian, old girl!

Hiya, sis!

You still love me?

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

What's that on your head, a hat?

Whoo! Going up!

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

Say, that's kind of a heavy paint job, isn't it?

Prove yourself a grownup. Don't make remarks about my clothes.

Alright, I'll act my age.

Patch my pantywaist, but you're a regular ball of fire,

but my family don't allow me to carry matches.

Pantywaist?

You haven't worn a pantywaist for years.

And you don't carry mat-- What did you say?

Skip it, mom.

Good-bye, everybody. I've got a customer.

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

Say, what do you wash your face with-- paint remover? Ha!

There's 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

and I didn't go through any red lights--

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 gosh.

They're pieces of metal about this long

with numbers on 'em.

Honest, officer, I had license plates.

I just took 'em off so I could get to the paint.

That's fine. This little piece of paper

will get you right down to the court.

Calling all cars.

Calling all cars.

A stolen sedan,

number 6cw7954.

This car was stolen this morning by a young man

masquerading as a garage mechanic.

That is all.

"6cw

7954."

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

You can ask the owner.

Where's the owner?

He's right there behind the wh--

Gosh, I lost my customer!

He must have dropped out somewhere along the road!

This is Farrell.

I'm bringing in that stolen sedan.

Good gracious, Andrew.

Must you always be so noisy?

Dad, when you were young

did your father always begin every other sentence

with "must you always"?

He certainly did, and I used to writhe.

I'm sorry.

I won't do it again.

It's only on a tough day that things like that get you down.

Tough day?

If there were two really bad days in the world's history

one was the flood in the Bible,

the other would be what happened this afternoon.

Come on, everybody. All ready!

Good evening, Andrew. Have you washed up?

Somebody call Marian, please.

James, this is the finest meal I've ever cooked.

Emily wouldn't even let me mash the potatoes

fearing they wouldn't be the way Marian likes them.

Well, I'm sentimental.

The whole family's together again.

Yes, I recognized in court today

how necessary we are to each other.

The basis of our whole civilization is the family group.

Uh, I'll go call Marian.

Marian! Come and get it!

Andrew, Andrew, must you always--

Yes, it's wonderful having Marian home again.

Though I must admit she's a little dizzy.

Dizzy?

Mother, did you say dizzy?

Well, certainly, I said diz--oh ho ho!

I must have got that from Marian.

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 night clubs.

This outfit has something to say.

Mm-hmm. Yes, it has something to say,

but don't you think it's a little outspoken?

You're going to wear a nightgown in public?

First time I get asked 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.

It's the same color,

and I doubt anybody would know the difference.

Don't be so mid-Victorian, please.

Mid-Victorian?

Listen, if you wore that outfit some cool evening,

your gooseflesh would be a public scandal.

Dad, what are we gonna 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. Very good, aunt Milly.

Mom, I guess you wouldn't know this common person

to be your own daughter, would you?

Wait, everybody. Let's try and see through

these silly, old-fashioned conventions.

I can see right through you, old girl.

I'll get it.

Not in that outfit.

Whoever's at the door

might think we started a Turkish bath.

Carvel seems quiet after New York, eh, Marian?

Oh, carvel's alright.

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. Roast beef!

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

One of your old boyfriends?

There isn't any card.

What a sap he is. What can you expect

from anybody who'd send orchids to Marian?

Why, Andrew Hardy!

Here, here, here.

I'll never know what explosive chemistry

exists in a brother and sister to cause perpetual civil war.

Marian, 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, uh, a bit of a wolf.

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.

Think we ought to have a little talk about Marian, too.

"We"?

I think we've made quite a mistake letting you out of the home influence,

we should put our foot down. Andrew, you let Marian alone.

When I was her age, I wore a peek-a-boo waist.

Why, Emily.

Yes, I did.

And it chilled my corset cover.

My mother nearly had a fit.

I'll bet you were a humdinger of a gal once.

Allow me to assure you, Andrew,

that your mother is still a humdinger of a gal.

Suppose you tell us what happened to you today.

Uh...

You mean, you...

Didn't hear anything about me today?

I mean, officially? No.

Well, after dinner, because

if it doesn't go well on an empty stomach,

maybe you and I can have a little conversation,

providing you still believe in the bill of rights.

You see, Milly--

Hello, Andrew.

Ma. Gosh, that was a swell dinner we had tonight.

Thank you, dear.

Can I help you?

No, dear. Thank you. They're all fini--

Andrew, you're not well!

But, mom, I'm terrific!

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

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

Andrew...

I couldn't take money from you.

After all the things I've taken from you and dad all my life?

I'm a working man now, mom, and I wouldn't feel right

if I didn't give you a couple 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.

Alright, dear. Just a business transaction.

On one condition--

Hmm.

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

Oh! Oh, boy!

Oh, boy!

Gosh, mom, I never thought about that!

Oh! Mmm!

Aunt Milly.

Is Andrew in trouble?

No.

Look.

He wants to pay his board.

And 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, Marian.

Dad...

The daily carvel starwants 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... them 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?

Well...

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.

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 his own decisions.

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

Ha ha ha. 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--

Oh.

Hello, Milly.

James, do you know that Emily's upset over you?

Is anything wrong?

Only one of the cruelest custody of the child messes

I have ever seen.

Milly, why is it that ordinarily decent people

are so willing to wreck the lives of the 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 off.

Hmm.

Good luck.

Come in...

Come in, Emily.

It's me, dad.

Oh.

Well, hello, hello.

Hello, son.

Well, what's your trouble?

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

Well, this time it's the criminal code.

Ha ha. 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 oughta tell ya,

because you're gonna be the judge I’m gonna have to face.

Look here, you're serious?

I am, unless the cop was playing a joke,

and I don't think cops have

a very good sense of humor, do they?

Oh... driving without license plates, hey?

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

That'll be 10 days or $10.

10 days or...

$10?

That's my standard price.

Couldn't you make it a little cheaper

seeing as how I've never had any previous 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,

and... I must have loosened the front axle on the sedan, too.

I don't know yet.

Do you mean that charges have been filed against you

on these counts?

Not yet, but soon.

Soon? When, how?

B-By whom?

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

What budget?

My budget! I have to pay all my debts in New York

and get my new car back,

and I wanted everything cleared up before I went to college.

What happens if you couldn't balance your budget?

Well, the... $10 doesn't do me any good.

And then there was the secondhand tow bar--

That was $8.00-- That broke anyway.

And there was the orange paint-- Uh, look here.

I've had a hard day.

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

I merely plead that you make one syllable of sense.

Now what did you want

with a secondhand tow bar and orange paint?

For my tow truck business.

You--you have a tow truck business?

I don't think so...

Now.

Uh... oh, well, let's...

Let's skip it. Let's...

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?

Uh... I--I guess the man that I stole the car from.

I mean, that I didn't really steal.

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.

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--he didn't say.

The, uh...

Car's registered to a man out west, a Mr. Dwight.

It seems as though he's-- Well, he works for the government.

The government?

Yes. Seems as though he's...

A detective.

Ah... ha.

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.

And he wasn't in it?

Honest, I can't, for the life of me,

figure out where I lost him!

Look here, 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.

What I want to know at this moment is

how is your... Your...

Well, I suppose you youngsters would call it

your love life.

Yes, I would call it that, but, dad,

do you have to use that kind of language?

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

That's right.

Well, I should be embarrassed about this thing.

What I want to know at this particular moment is

is there a girl?

You mean have I drizzled 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.

Variety 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?

I was just agreeing with you,

like you're not kidding, or he's got pow,

or I ain't humming, something like that.

No, dad, I made a mistake once, but I--I know now.

A fellow goes around with a girl steady

for a couple of days, and right away begins to think,

"she must have invented women."

That's bad for a fellow my age, because it's liable to lead to love.

You don't believe in love?

Love... ha.

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 melodie nesbit?

Young melodie nesbit. 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? 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, uh...

Dizzy.

Well, she's sort of a sad apple, a Barb.

A what?

A Barb. Barbarian.

She'd rather stay home and listen to opera records

than go out and do a little... Polite smooching.

Smooching.

Come on. In your day, they called it necking.

No, no. I'm older than that.

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

Not that melodie is a... Revolting frill or anything.

It's just that she's a little mealy with a dull line.

Do you think you could martyr 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, never use those expressions like spooning or a whirl

or bundling because it dates you.

Bundling?

Well, Andrew, I do not go back to the American revolution!

What about melodie?

Alright, dad...

If the occasion requires a female companion,

why...

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

But don't get me wrong.

From now, if I date one girl more than twice,

you can be sure I'll gonna marry her.

I will remember that. Thanks, Andy.

Say, dad, why all the sudden interest in melodie nesbit?

Well, why shouldn't I be frank?

Andrew, have you any real idea

what happens to children when a family breaks up?

No, I guess not.

Except I guess it's awkward for the kids--

Awkward, Andrew? Why, often it crucifies them.

That's why melodie nesbit is a droop.

I'm hopeful of setting the stage to give some sort of 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.

Why, sure, I'll show her a good time if I bust a rib!

Thanks, Andy. Thanks.

But I don't want her to know 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.

Uh, sit down, my dear.

Had you ever thought of divorcing me--

James!

Oh, Emily,

I don't mean us.

Oh, just for an instant, I thought--

Oh, Emily.

No, 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 to at least to try to be the husband

you wanted.

Yes. Yes, James Hardy you've failed.

Why, Emily in what way?

Well, I always wanted my husband to wear a cut-away coat.

Ha, cut away coat. Well, the rag man got mine.

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

Well, you've no idea how proud I am when I know

everybody is saying "there goes Mrs. Judge Hardy."

He he. And a high hat too.

Well, I had a high hat also. Yes, but you never wore it.

Except to Andy's graduation.

Then you carried it in your hand waiting to throw it.

Well, it got squashed and ruined.

But James you look so distinguished

in that cut-away 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.

You're one of those husbands who won't gratify himself

to not deprive his wife and children

of a few measly dollars. We'll drop the whole thing.

What? Oh, yes. Alright.

Well, this matter I want to discuss involves

the case of the custody of a young girl.

'Hear ye! Hear ye!'

Andrew will turn up that radio.

'All ye who seek justice at the court of commons'

'hear ye! Hear ye!'

in the name of common sense.

'Hear ye! I seek the mercy of the court.'

'hear ye! Hear ye!'

'I promptly petition the court to send out'

'miss Marion Hardy. Hear ye! Hear ye!'

dear what if the neighbors should hear.

Either they have heard or they're stone deaf.

It's either fire, flood or invasion.

'Marion, come on out.'

Timberer! 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 getup you'd knock 'em cold.

I forgot. I'll get out. If I know him, he'll barge in.

I'll handle it for the family.

Oh, no, as head of this house, I think this is my duty.

Marion, come on out. Do I have to speak louder?

How do you do?

You're Jeff Willis, I presume. I'm judge Hardy.

Well, this is a pleasure.

Hmm, that is if you think so.

I do. That's quite a gadget you got there.

It's great in traffic. Watch.

Move over, you road hog!

My daughter's particularly unpleasant looking

She has a beauty treatment smeared on her face.

I can understand why she didn't wanna come out.

Excuse me, I wanna leave her a message.

Marion, how about a date

on the opening of the red Dorian on the 19th.

Please, may I have that thing a second.

Yes, sure.

The Hardy family expresses it's 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 hope the neighbors don't think we asked him to come.

One man in our family oughta handle our daughter

maybe it better be you, dad.

Excuse me. I'm going upstairs and finish my book.

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

Well, 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.

Remember the things that were okay in New York

will just get you talked about here in carvell.

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 girls and besides it isn't opening, it's reopening.

After being closed by the police.

I suppose you're gonna tattle to dad and call that

your good deed of the day.

Marion I'm awful fond of you

and I'm not gonna 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.

I'll leave the whole thing up to your conscience.

If you wanna get caught in a scandal

causing dad to resign from the bench

then we'd all have to live off my salary. That's all.

Hello, is miss nesbit there, please.

Oh, she is?

Hold the line, just a minute please.

Uh, dad maybe I better call her back again

because she's eating and they say people shouldn't have

emotional crisis while they are eating 'cause sometimes

it affects the heart.

Maybe you better disturb miss nesbit.

Because it's a personal matter that she'll enjoy

much more than her dinner.

I think your inviting me to dinner is a charming gesture.

Melody, why not ask dad to take you to the football game?

You know, she's never seen one.

Yes, what do you say, melody?

'Now that your mother is so gracious about it.'

why, I'd like it. I think I'd like it.

I certainly oughta like a football game, oughtn't I?

Telephone for miss melody.

Oh, darn. Who can that be?

Excuse me.Hmm.

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

Me? Better tone yourself down.

Honeyed accents, I'd 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. What? Is anything wrong, dear?

Who was your phone call from?

Was Andrew Hardy.

He invited me to the alumni dance at school.

Wonderful! when's this going tobe?

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

You're... you're not going. Why not?

I don't know.

I guess I just never thought about accepting.

I wish I hadn't said I couldn't go.

Then call him back. Quickly.Yes.

Tell him 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 gonna say something nasty to you

to keep you from saying something nasty to me.

Mr. Hardy? This is melody nesbit.

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 nesbit.

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

Goodnight.

Well, goodbye, dad. Thanks for the ride.

The last mile.

You don't want the car? No, no.

If I take her in the car, coming back

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 gonna take her, she'll have a good time.

She's going with me so 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, fellas will break outta 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 gotta have zip.

Oh, oh, dad..

...if a fellow takes a girl out and shows her a good time

does that mean he has to kiss her goodnight?

Well, suppose melody were Polly Benedict.

The things you have to do nowadays for their fathers.

Miss nesbit, please?

Would you wait in the living room?

Thank you.

Oh, good evening. Oh, excuse me.

You must be Andrew Hardy, I'm melody's mother.

Oh, how do you do?

Glad to know you.

I'm gonna take your daughter to the dance, tonight?

Miss nesbit, I mean.

And... it's an alumni dance, you know, miss nesbit.

And I can assure you that it's thoroughly respectable.

Won't you have cake? No, thank you.

My mom had my favorite pie tonight and I ate a bellyful.

Good evening, Mr. Hardy.

Good evening..

I brought you a corsage.

Oh isn't that nice? Customary, I believe.

Do you, 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'll think you're not popular.

No, I wouldn't think anything like that, Mrs. Nesbit.

I... honest, melody.

I'm not popular. You know that as well as I do.

Well, gee.

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

Well, that's true enough.

Shall we start? Yes.

Miss nesbit, I won't keep melody out too late.

Probably not. Goodnight, mother.

Goodnight. goodnight, children.

Uh... don't you wanna put on your wrap.

Why? aren't you afraid of getting cold?

This must be the first time you said that to a girl.

Uh, miss nesbit.

Call me melody. Not for intimacy.

But it's just silly being miss nesbit when I'm only a kid.

Somehow you seem older.

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

Maybe that's why I'm older than my years.

Because I'm so close to my father.

Did I say something I shouldn't?

Let's face it, Andrew. Everybody knows.

My father and mother--I know. But..

But 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 with Polly Benedict

you were simply crazy about me.

No.

As a matter of fact, I'm what you call "a droop." Isn't that so?

I asked you to go to the dance.

And at this moment, I want you to go

to the dance with me and 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 don't have to be scared. You're with the maestro.

Go park your shawl.

There'll be lot of girls here.

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

Hiya, fellas.

Kinda slippin' aren't you, Hardy?

Is she a gag? No, was all he could get.

Since he moved to New York all the girls found

that they could live without him.

What a fool Polly's been all these years.

Now wait just a minute, fellas, you've got melody all wrong.

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

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 cads?

Cads.

I'm your pal. Really, frank..

Hiya, gorgeous, let's put the show on the road, huh?

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

Thanks.

Hi, Andy. Hi, melody. Everything okay?

'Right bag on the nose, baby.'

Cynthia is a stunning girl, isn't she?

She's a smart girl, you mean?

She knows what women won't learn

that a black dress can be simple but it gives out to the men.

Shall we trip the light fantastic?

You're a brave man, Hardy.

Hello, melody. Hello, Andy. Nothing but dull, eh?

You 're absolutely sending in that hair comb.

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

Um, you like Dolly's hair?

Well, sure, it gives her zip. You know what I mean.

I certainly do.

Oh, boy, baby, you got me both ways.

Your dance is as good as you neck. Ha ha.

I've decided to order that cut-away coat as a surprise.

He'll raise cane about spending money on him.

But how he'll love it.

I've got money saved in the bank from my household allowance.

I wrote the check this week because the first of the month

there's always a 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 didn't want 'em wolfin' in.

You're terrific, Hardy. He he.

Hiya, Harry. Hi, red.

Give out, Ida.

Andy, am I alright?

Harry land is giving me a very funny eye.

Well, he probably wants to break but he doesn't dare

because he knows that I want 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.

Break, Hardy.

Well, beezy, old pal, this is one time I can't refuse you.

Look, fellas, I don't care for myself

but I promised my dad that I'd show melody a bang-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 good as gold.

Your old man don't like you borrowing.

Well, he'd skin me alive if he knew.

Gents, his I.O.U. Is as good as gold. Or else.

Five cents a minute is what I charge for droops.

Break.

You know that little girl is crazy about you.

You been to the circus and thrown peanuts to the monkey?

Sure--

Just because the monkey's happy doesn't mean it's crazy for you.

Yeah? I'm crazy for her, and I'm gonna duck in and break.

How much? For free.

Alright. Break, Kurt.

Okay, okay, so let him go dizzy. Saves me money.

But none of you hired hoofers break until he quits cold.

I wanna cut down on my overhead.

I had a wonderful time, Andrew.

Ha ha. That's swell.

I like dances, now.

That's social life, once you get a taste of it

you can't do without it.

No, I never saw any point in being popular before.

I guess it's something you've to work on.

Girls have to work plenty hard to be popular with the boys

but look at the 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, uh, first of all they have to wanna be attractive...

and then they have to have poise.

She mustn't embarrass easily.Sure.

Fellas the age that you'd go around with would be humiliated

if a girl didn't have poise.

Poise. Go on.

And then she mustn't be a door pusher.

Door pusher.

Yeah, the door on a fella's car.

Then she mustn't be too dull.

She shouldn't 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 tomorrow.

You know, my job at Duggan'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 New York.

Oh I remember, you said

"hot dog! If I ever have anymore fun. Shoot me."

Oh..

Excuse me, I thought you were Polly Benedict for a minute. I..

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.

You didn't.

Goodnight.

Well, darling, what sort of punch did they serve?

I wouldn't know.

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

Ooh! 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 6 feet tall.

A gallant knight,

thoughtful, gentle, kind.

Wearing shining armor. Riding a white charger.

Mother, Andrew Hardy doesn't need any horse.

I know, my dear.

Hey, hey, Joe.

Go see who that is, will ya?

It's a young lady.

- Theone? - 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 cookin'?

Spinster's skip. The girls escort the boys.

Oh, an excellent idea!

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 finished painting my old meat grinder here,

and it's a wonderful Saturday afternoon.

Let me drive you around, help you distribute those cards,

thus save wear and tear on your pretty little feet.

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

Aw, it's nothing at all!

Gosh, I haven't even started yet, sister,

and I'm a-rarin' to go!

You've... 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 10:00.

Joe, you'd better answer this.

It may be a conspiracy against me.

Peter dugan's garage.

Mr. Andrew Hardy?

Miss nesbit calling.

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. I've got a couple of loose wires.

That's all, Susie. Now, watch.

Judge Hardy.

Hello, melodie.

Set your watch back an hour, please.

What for?

I came to invite Andy to the spinster's skip,

and maybe some other girl's asking him right now.

Oh, I see.

And I can say I accepted for him about 4:30, hmm?

Would you? Oh, you don't know how gratefu--

Does this mean that much, melodie?

No.

Hmm?

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.

Hello, Joe.

Judge, where'll I find Mrs. Judge Hardy?

Around by the back door, please.

Package for Mrs. James K. Hardy.

COD. $61.60.

My goodness, it's actually he--

Wait a minute. $61.60?

Why, it was only to be $40. Where's the bill?

Right here.

"Cutaway coat and waistcoat

"with striped trousers. $40.

"Extra piping $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.

Well, then, just take the package back!

The very idea!

Delivery refused.

Such dishonest people.

Just because you live in a small tow--

What's that, Emily?

Who thinks who can what?

The... the bank!

Oh. Want me to balance your account?

Oh, will you, James?

Well, I never saw a woman yet

could keep a checkbook straight.

Why, Emily, what's this?

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 I come out alright at the end of the month.

Well, I don't get that.

But each month the bank says

that I have $10 less than I figure.

So I add a dollar to each check stub,

and I come out alright.

Well, suppose you made out 20 checks during the month

and add a dollar to each stub?

Then I'd have $10 more than I thought I had.

What do you think you have in the bank now?

$45.

You do, eh?

Well, we'll see. We'll see.

5. 5 from 9 is...

Mrs. Hardy,

your balance is exactly...

It's $45.

That's what I said.

Well, keeping your checkbook involves mathematics

that would baffle an Einstein,

but it seems to work.

What are you gonna 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 new gas stove.

$50? Well, if you do that,

you'll be overdrawn $5.00.

Oh, no, I always have $5.19 in the bank that I don't count.

Why $5.19?

Well, $5.19 is such an odd sum,

I never forget it.

Mother!

Mother!

Too bad you're not gonna 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 Marian Hardy.

Good evening, Marian.

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.

Patch my pantywaist, mother,

'cause 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 'em shows 'em.

Ha ha ha!

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

Come, Marian,

let's rise above these midvictorian conventions.

I'm going to wear this outfit anyway.

Fine. Fine.

Then we all fit into the picture perfectly.

Milly, you're going to seem delightfully uninhibited

to Jeff Willis.

We'll certainly put that young man at ease

when he comes.

You're gonna let him see you like this?

Sure! If he's such a hot potato,

he'll probably show up in his shorts!

This insane joke was your idea!

My I--

Oh, no! No, it was mine.

Hot diggety dog!

Well, the first time you go out with a young man,

we don't want you to feel ashamed of us.

Alright, you win.

I'll wear my blue dress.

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

I didn't think she'd take it as hard as this.

We won that argument by a thousand miles.

That'll be the young man now.

I'll be especially nice to him.

Mrs. James K. Hardy?

Yes.

A little matter of $61--shh!

The company made a mistake.

I'm not the company, lady.

I'm the collection agency.

I gotta have $61.60.

But I can't pay it.

I've only got 19 cents in the bank.

Then tomorrow I've got to file this lawsuit in court.

In court?!

Mm-hmm.

But it's my husband's own court.

But that would get in the papers.

You can't do that. That would disgrace my husband.

$61.60 by 10:00 in the morning, Mrs. Hardy, or...

Please, I--

Sorry, lady. Dig up the dough.

Mostly they do.

Mom, what did the wolf Willis say to you?

It was a wrong number. I mean a mistake.

Well, won't everybody have some scandal?

Uh--cauliflower?

Now don't worry, mother.

Of course, everybody will be alright.

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 Marian.

I'll take care of her.

Well, Andy, one thick or two thin?

Better make it two thicks.

I've got to bolster up my tissues.

Tonight's the spinster's skip.

I suppose you've been stampeded with invitations?

The only bid that I got was the one that you brought me.

I was framed.

The women ganged up on me and melodie 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'll be glad to see melodie.

She going to call for you here?

No, I've arranged to meet her at the dance.

I didn't want to cause her any embarrassment.

You're sure not 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!

Uh--ahem--well, go tear off the paper bag,

there won't be any breaking tonight,

'cause I'm gonna dance straight through with ya!

I told mother we wouldn't be home early.

Well, here's old quick profits 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 your way clear to...

No. No. No.

Not as a special favor to me, even?

You--you couldn't-- just--

Holy mackerel!

Hardy, do you see what I see?

I do, and my eyes need crutches!

Melodie!

Hiya, moose. What's cookin'?

Oh, fellas, this is the most sensational thing

since nero burned Rome.

It's terrific! Bigger and better than bolder dam!

I--I hardly recognized you...

You've changed!

You wolves better take a good look,

'cause tonight you're gonna have to pay me.

Hiya, gorgeous.

Let's put the show on the road.

Break, Hardy?

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

Well, you dogs, melodie's really gonna be

the belle of the ball this time.

Have you got your IOUs and cash ready?

Cash? yeah, cash. That green stuff. Folding money.

And don't give me that fish-eye, either,

you're gonna have to dance with melodie

she's gonna make carvel the talk of the world.

The worm turns. Am I laughing at the United States mint!

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. Y...

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 carvel 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... They don't mean to be.

It's just...

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 the money I put in.

Good!

In fact, I made a little profit, too.

Oh, good!

Well...

Andy, what's wrong with me?

Not a thing.

Except...

Melodie, couldn't we...

Couldn't we just not talk about it anymore?

Andy, I-- I have to...

I have to know, Andy.

Gosh, melodie, I...

I feel awful.

Goodnight, Andrew.

I'll walk you to the door.

No, please.

I will not withdraw my suit for melodie's custody

unless you admit to her

that you've lied about me!

You never told her horrible things about me! Oh, no!

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!

If there was some way I could make her see you

as the unscrupulous liar you are!

You're not doing so badly.

What are you doing out here? Something wrong?

Shh.

Yes. Marian. She's not home.

Oh... I'm sure there's nothing wrong.

That wolf Willis. If he didn't close up a joint,

he'd think he was slipping.

Yes. Of course, of course.

Oh.

Oh, what's your problem?

Oh, me?

Oh, I... Had a little trouble tonight with melodie nesbit.

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

Dad, I'm a healthy, normal fella.

And 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 melodie, a zip dripper?!

Melodie.

Love has changed her into a dream queen,

a fever frau to every fella but me.

Well, son, maybe you're growing up.

Well... if that's growing up,

I'm not so sure that I'm gonna like it or not.

Dad, she...

She cried.

You're 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...

Melodie told me at the dance

that she was happy about everything.

And she is.

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

Oh. You know, Harry land is really in love with her,

but he's too bashful to let her know.

Oh, I don't know.

I'm in a love triangle.

Mmm.

Are you sure it's not a quadrangle?

Are you positive that

Polly Benedict's coming home tomorrow hasn't influenced your position?

Nah.

Polly coming home tomorrow!

Well... 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.

I told her so in a letter.

That's too bad.

Because melodie's too fine and honorable a girl to ever cut in

if she thought that you and Polly Benedict were...

Well, if you were...

Going steady?

Mmm.

Say...

Hey, that's a swell way out!

And you can say that again!

And I ain't hummin'!

Dad...

A girl melodie'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 Dorian. The line's been busy.

Hello?

Uh, is miss Marian Hardy there with Mr. Jefferson Willis?

I don't want to be a calamity howler--

Uh, hello.

Oh.

Oh, uh, thank you.

What's the matter?

Marian and Willis left there 3 hours ago.

Well, Marian wouldn't park for 3 hours.

Maybe I'd better go look for them, huh?

No. If there weren't anything wrong, we'd feel so...

No, we'd better not talk about it.

Marian's reputation is at stake.

I don't mean to brag,

but I'm probably most qualified to look for them,

because, you know,

I know practically every nice little place to park

within 50 miles around here.

I'm sure there isn't anything wrong.

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 the problems of 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, melodie!

Judge Hardy, could you arrange some money

from my father for me so that I could go away somewhere,

maybe to school?

Oh, melodie, 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.

Shh!

Melodie, I am afraid I managed 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 couldn't run out of gas.

I never heard of a horse having a blowout.

Shh, shh.

Oh, I'm not worried, really.

Not one bit worried.

James, Emily, look!

It's alright, dad.

I'm alright.

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

Oh, him. Ha. He's boiled.

I couldn't get anything out of Marian 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 gonna beat him up, or shall I?

No, you're sinking to his level.

Come on, Andrew. Let's get him into the kitchen.

James?

Uh, yes! Yes, Emily.

Uh, Andrew, uh...

Make some coffee.

Alright.

It was only shock and hysteria.

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

Well, Andrew, our sister is alright.

That's good.

I guess Marian won't be so dizzy from now on.

What are we gonna do with this gin-soaked wolf?

Let's sober him up.

Andrew, when anyone laughingly tells you

what great fun they had getting plastered,

this is what they mean.

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.

And with a bottle of whisky inside of him.

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

Then we've got to get him home and into bed

without any of his folks seeing him.

Mom.

Mom.

You forgot to bring my pajamas down to me.

Come in. Marian's still awake.

Excuse me, sis,

I gotta get my pajamas.

Sorry to put you out of your bed.

He doesn't mind.

We thought Marian's room would be nicer for melodie.

I don't mind, sis.

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 alright, Marian?

Alright 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...

I towed Jeff's car. I sneaked it in the back way.

Nobody'll 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?

Mom and dad think you're the most wonderful daughter.

You're not gonna make a liar outta them, are ya?

Naw, 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.

If you have the stuff, you'll come out good.

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?

Hmm, not until I'm 90!

- Come on, Andrew! - I want Marian to go to sleep.

Alright, mom.

Well, goodnight, Marian.

You know, you're okay for a woman. It's not your fault

that nature made women's brains lighter than men's.

Goodnight.

Goodnight, and thanks again.

Let's have a long talk tomorrow.

Sure, sis, because 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.

I've got to disillusion a woman about being in love with me,

and Polly's coming home,

and I'm in trouble with the FBI.

I'll get it, Emily.

Where is Emily?

She took melodie home to get some clothes.

She said she'd see you in court.

I'll be late. You'll have to tell them--

There is 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 Marian straight home.

I suppose you already know

I could put you in jail. Yes, I do know that.

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

I mean from Marian'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 gonna give you a chance to prove that.

Jeff, you'd better go home

take care of yourself 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...

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 bear in mind

I have the power to take melodie away

and place her in a school.

No! No!

Just a minute.

Melodie.

Come. Come in, my dear. Come in.

Melodie,

I'm going to ask your father and mother

to search down deep in their souls

and answer my questions truthfully.

Mr. Nesbit,

is melodie'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 melodie's father the horrible unscrupulous creature

that you've painted him to her?

No, melodie, 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 melodie would get the benefit.

James--

Oh. Excuse me.

Oh, I'll be... 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--

Well, 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.

Whole thing's a racket.

If 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.

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'd better not admit that to Andrew.

James, Andrew isn't going to get married...

No, Emily, no. What a ridiculous idea.

What's so ridiculous about it?

Not many boys in the whole wide world

is handsome as our Andrew.

Stop acting so nervous, will ya?

I told you I'm gonna fix everything.

I know, but what'll melodie say?

I'll admit it'll be like a bust in the nose to her,

but my dad admits it's the right treatment for a lovelorn dilly.

Stay here and try to look halfway handsome when I drag you in.

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

And it's a diller killer of a day for football, too!

Killer diller!

Melodie,

isn't that Andrew Hardy at 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, 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'llhandle that young man.

Hi, melodie. Hello, Andy.

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

Well, hop to it, cookie. Right in there!

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

Polly 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 been dying on the vine since you've been gone.

You remember you and me, sulfur and nitrate?

Whenever we get together, we just go boom! Ha ha!

What?

Am I--am I gonna take you to the football dance tonight?

Yeah, I...

Guess I'd better.

Good-bye, 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 with him tonight.

Harry!

Harry, darling!

Hello, Harry!

Hello, melodie. Come on in!

Isn't Harry land simply the best-looking boy in town?

Thank you, Andrew.

And good-bye.

Hi, there, 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.

Your what?

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

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?

Aw, that...

That was just kidding, Polly.

You know, lead 'em on by pushing 'em off.

I--I think you're wonderful.

Well, good-bye, Polly.

Good-bye. Good-bye, Mr. Dwight.

Good-bye, Mr. Hardy.

Ahh...

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 Marian,

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 'em right in the nose."

Eh, well, that is using a...

A long forgotten technique

of telling the honest truth so plainly

as to jolt the victim out of all superficialities.

And it's guaranteed to knock over any lovelorn dilly.

Well, that--

That was in Andrew's case.

But, James, Andrew will be home for dinner.

I told you, Emily,

Andrew's gonna be a little late.

I managed to glean that Polly Benedict

is again leading our son around by the ear.

Whoo-ooh!

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!

Hear ye, hear ye! Hey, Mrs. Hardy

and all the Hardy family!

Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!

Don't let those beans get cold, mom!

I'm a-comin'!

Well, where on earth did you get that infernal machine?

Jeff Willis gave it to me.

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

I thought you told me today

that Polly Benedict had a ball-and-chain on you.

That was this afternoon.

I took Polly home, she changed into her new dress,

when her mom saw how low-cut it was,

she sent Polly to bed!

Come, Andrew. Your dinner's getting cold.

Alright.

How's the, bust in the nose technique

working out with melodie?

Oh, fine, fine.

She's going to the dance with Harry land.

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

You know, Andrew,

you did a great deal for melodie.

That's alright, dad.

You know, now that I've got melodie solid on Harry land,

I've been thinking...

Mmm...

She's an awful swell girl...

I'm gonna worry the rest of my life whether I was glad I passed her up.

Yeah.

I was right.

Women are habit-forming.