SIDE 1

(Millie hangs up the phone. Then to MR. GRAYDON and MISS DOROTHY, oblivious to their attraction to one another.)

Did you two meet?

(MISS DOROTHY and MR. GRAYDON shake their heads "no.")

Mr. Graydon, this is my friend, Miss Dorothy Brown, from the Priscilla Hotel. We're spending my lunch hour at the Mad Cap Beauty Spot. Miss Dorothy's going to have her hair smartly bobbed.

(as if he's been stabbed)
Bobbed?! With your beauty?

Miss Dorothy's an actress, and I thought with the way the theater is today, so rotten

Miss Dorothy, I'm going to take you to dinner and try to dissuade you from robbing mankind of those adorable curls. May I take the liberty of asking you to dine?

Perfect. Millie, I think I'll keep my curls, at least until tonight. Instead, I'm going to find a suitable frock for this evening. Till tonight, Mr. Graydon.

Trevor!

Trevor!

(MISS DOROTHY exits. MILLIE sits at her desk.)

That Miss Dorothy! Great Scott, that Miss Dorothy! Pretty as a peach and skin to beat the band. Perfect little pippin.

(fighting tears)
Perfect.

What a dandy little bundle for a fellow to cuddle.

Dandy.

(man-to-man)
Say, imagine all that sweet softness in your arms&

(regaining his professional composure) 
Yes, well, make dinner reservations at the Plaza. The Candlenook Room. Quiet corner table for two. I think Miss Dorothy's for the Plaza, don't you?

(when MILLIE dejectedly nods "yes") 

And John? Flowers.

There's a florist around the corner from the hotel. I'll order from them.

That's using the old bean! Roses. Two dozen.

(a knife in her heart as she scribbles on her pad) 
Two dozen.

Long-stemmed.

(he's turning the knife in her heart) 
Long-stemmed.

Plump.

(MR. GRAYDON exits.)

SIDE 2

What's happened to you? You're supposed to be at the Candlenook room with Miss Dorothy?
 

She stood me up.
 

How very strange.

(JIMMY enters and spots MILLIE.)
 

There you are!
 

Jimmy, you've got to hear this.

(to MR. GRAYDON)
Go on, Mr. Graydon.
 

(still very upset)
I went to the Hotel Priscilla to call on Miss Dorothy, and the lady at the front desk

Mrs. Meers.

 said that she had checked out. No note, no forwarding address...

Something's very wrong.

(instantly very serious and no longer tearful)
You suspect foul play, son?

She wouldn't check out without telling anyone.

Ethel Peas did. And another girl when I first moved in. Both of them were here one day and gone the next, without a word to anyone, except Mrs. Meers.

(In a flash, a perfect imitation of MRS. MEERS.)
"Sad to be all alone in the world."

(chord)

How's that?

Mrs. Meers is always saying that.

(chord)

You don't think ?!

(chord)

I do.

You don't mean ?!

(chord)

White slavery!

(MILLIE and JIMMY gasp.)

Cruel, but true. If a girl is all alone in the world and she checks out, who's to question her fate?

I'm calling the police!

(stopping JIMMY)
Steady, boy. Anything that might arouse Mrs. Meers's suspicion could mean an end to Miss Dorothy.

You're right. What we need is a temporary orphan, someone who's willing to put herself in harm's way. I'd do it myself, but she knows me.

And Graydon, I don't think either of us would pass as a new girl in town.

(MILLIE gets an idea.)

But I know someone who would!

(MILLIE and MR. GRAYDON look at each other.)

(as if at the office) 
Flannery!

(JIMMY, MILLIE and MR. GRAYDON exit.)