June Moon

to say the least. Paying no attention to anyone, she heads straight for the telephone. Eileen Hello!⁠ ⁠… Oh, no, not at all. To say that the lady is sarcastic is putting it mildly. What train?⁠ ⁠… You’re sure of that, are you? Nothing, only I thought you might be mistaken. Everybody makes mistakes, you know. It’s a good chance for Maxie to escape, and he leaps up. While Eileen is still talking he manages to get out⁠—“Goodbye, everybody! I’m due at the Orchard! Glad to have met you, Stevens,” etc. Paul follows him out with: “Now look! Don’t say anything to Fagan, because I don’t want him to know until⁠—” The voices die out. Fred, a bit embarrassed, is left alone with the two girls, while Eileen continues her phone talk. Yes, I can imagine. It must have been terribly tiresome in Philadelphia all day.⁠ ⁠… What?⁠ ⁠… Oh, really? Her tone indicates that this is the body blow. I thought you were leaving tomorrow.⁠ ⁠… What time tonight?⁠ ⁠… My, it must be important!⁠ ⁠… Then⁠—I won’t have a chance to say goodbye before you go.⁠ ⁠… Oh, no, don’t trouble yourself⁠—it’s quite all right.⁠ ⁠… Yes, I’m sure you are⁠ ⁠… No, I don’t mind a bit. I’m just sorry you have to spend the night on a train, that’s all.⁠ ⁠… Oh, perfectly!⁠ ⁠… Have a pleasant trip. But she doesn’t mean “pleasant trip.” She hangs up; a look flashes between her and Lucille. Lucille Coming back to the present. Mr. Stevens, this is my sister, Miss Fletcher. Eileen⁠—Mr. Stevens. She gives a broad wave of the hand, as if to say, “And if you want him, he’s yours.” Eileen Her mind on the telephone. Hello. Fred I’m glad to meet you, Miss Fletcher. Eileen Thanks. Lucille Mr. Stevens is a lyric writer. He’s from Schenectady. Eileen Oh, yes. Have you been in New York long? Fred Just a couple of weeks. I’m from Schenectady. Eileen A lot she cares. Schenectady, eh? Lucille With the air of a person who is washing that up. Schenectady. Fred I was with the General Electric Company, but I left them. Eileen I suppose they’ve closed down? Fred Who knows better than that. No. I had a postcard today from a fella that works there. Lucille Mr. Stevens has been all over New York, getting ideas for songs. Eileen Do you like it? Fred Yes, I like it fine, but it costs money to live here. For instance, I had breakfast in the hotel this morning and it was ninety cents for salt mackerel and mashed potatoes and a cup of Instant Postum. Lucille No wonder you think New York’s expensive! A few more breakfasts like that and you won’t have any money left. Fred I still got plenty. Lucille Really? She flashes a look to Eileen. I’ll bet you haven’t been to any of the real places, have you? It takes a New Yorker to find those. Fred I seen the Goddest of Liberty. Lucille Oh, I mean the night places! Fred I seen it at night. Lucille Oh, no! Restaurants! Fred Huh? Lucille Mr. Stevens would love those. To Eileen. Wouldn’t he? Eileen Slowly coming to. Yah. Lucille I’ll tell you what! Why don’t we make up a party⁠—the four of us⁠—and show Mr. Stevens the town! Fred You mean tonight? Lucille What do you say, Eileen? How about it? Eileen Thinking hard; her eyes go involuntarily to the telephone. Why⁠—sure! I don’t know why not! Sure! Fred Well, wait! It’d be great to go, all right, only the trouble is I got another engagement! Lucille Oh, but you could put that off! Eileen Of course you could! Lucille As Paul reenters. Paul had another engagement, too. He broke it on your account, didn’t you, dear? Paul To whom this is news. What? Lucille We thought it would be fun for the four of us to go out some place, but Mr. Stevens doesn’t want to. Fred It ain’t that I don’t want to, but⁠— Lucille You know, you really ought to. Paul was just saying that what you needed was to go places where they do the latest numbers and hear what kind of songs are getting over! That’s true, isn’t it, Paul? Paul Ah, yes! Sure! Lucille Of course it is! Are we all set? Fred Well, I want to go all right. It’s only I don’t know on account of this other engagement. Eileen But you could do something about that. You could go if you really wanted to. So close to him that he is groggy. Don’t you⁠—want to? Fred Hesitating. Well, I ain’t dressed to go out. I mean, to some swell place. Eileen We’ll go where we don’t have to dress. Lucille How about the Orchard? Wouldn’t Maxie be surprised to see the four of us stroll in? Eileen Lucille and I’ll go right in and get our things on. A movement. Paul Well, wait a minute! It’s just that I didnt happen to bring much money with me⁠— Lucille Oh, that’s all right. Mr. Stevens can be the treasurer tonight and you can fix it up with him later! Eileen As long as you’re going to be partners! Lucille Come on! Let’s hurry! The Girls rush off. Paul Is that all right with you? Fred Looking after the pair. Say, she’s quite a girl, isn’t she? Paul Who? Eileen? Fred Does she live here with you all the time? Paul Yah. She does. Fred She’s a regular New York girlie. Paul Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad notion for you to knock around a few nights⁠—I mean, before we start working. Might give you some ideas. Fred I’m willing. Paul Great! Fred Say, can I use your phone a minute? Paul Sure. Do you want the book? Fred No, I know the number. Takes receiver off. Rhinelander 4160. Paul I’d better clean up a bit. Fred Look! They was talking about this Orchard. That ain’t one of them expensive places, is it? Paul No. Just about average. Fred Hello.⁠ ⁠… I want to speak to Miss Edna Baker, please.⁠ ⁠… Yes. To Paul. I mean, what do you think it would be likely to come to for