"See that the crow's-feet are retouched, will you?" "Make me glamorous, grandpa." "Get your paws off of me!" "What do you think you're doing?" "Breaking in a motorcycle?" "Let me go." "Oh, no, you don't!" "Give me that!" "Simmer down, sister." "He can't print my picture in the paper!" "Come on." "I told you we'd close that clip joint of yours." "Book 'em." "Let go of me!" "I don't like being hustled by the fat hands of the law." "I didn't do nothing wrong." "Save it, kid, nobody's giving your act a tumble." "Listen, Sergeant..." "Now, you listen to me." "You girls are getting a break." "We don't want you in our beautiful town." "We don't even want you in our beautiful jail." "Why, thanks, Sergeant." "Then why'd you haul us down here?" "The bus leaves in one hour." "Be on it." "Thanks again, Sergeant." "Glad to oblige." "Come on, girls." "You can't ride me out of town." "I didn't do nothing." "I don't know what you call it." "Soliciting drinks, serving Mickeys, rolling drunks." "You're getting off easy." "I never rolled a drunk in my life." "I just hit town this afternoon." "How did I know what kind of a joint it was?" "Well, now you know." "So get out of here, turn right, and go to the bus terminal." "We run a nice, orderly town." "Quiet." "Respectable." "I'm respectable." "You can't push me around." "What's your name?" "Lily Krenska." "Address?" "Locker 26 at the bus depot." "I told you I just got into town." "Got any money?" "A couple bucks." "You raided the joint before I got paid off." "I guess I'll have to settle with this dress." "Okay, sister." "But wear it in some other town." "Now, take your pick." "Either a vagrancy charge, or move on." "Hey, mister!" "Hey, mister!" "Look, I want that picture." "Take it easy." "Come on, give me a break." "You heard me tell the sergeant I didn't know what kind of joint it was." "Please, don't print my picture in your paper." "I don't work for a newspaper." "I'm a freelance photographer." "Pictures like yours are a dime a dozen." "I don't think I could sell it, anyway." "Then you'll give it to me?" "Sure, but I won't spoil the rest of the pictures in the pack." "So if you'll come up to my studio, I'll unload it in the darkroom." "I'm way ahead of you, Mr. Freelance." "My name's West." "Max West." "Sure, a respectable man in a quiet, orderly town." "Suit yourself." "Mr. West." "You take a nice picture, even when you have your nose rolled up for a fight." "Thanks." "How about some coffee before you catch your bus?" "No, thanks." "One more bum rap for Lily Krenska." "Since when has life been noted for its fairness?" "Just because some people get to the top, they think they can crowd everybody else." "I've popped off enough." "Thanks again, mister." "I'd better get going." "You got any cash?" "A few bucks." "You won't get far on that." "To another bus stop." "I could let you have a little." "No, thanks." "Wait." "Wait." "I could use you for posing." "What kind?" "Not that kind." "Bathing-suit art." "Strictly for tourists." "It pays $4 an hour." "Just for wearing a bathing suit?" "No." "For looking as if you never intended to swim in it." "Try one of those on for size." "In there." "All right." "Now, smile." "Smile as if you meant it." "Will anybody notice?" "All right, now hold it." "That's it." "That's..." "Three hours, that's $12." "There's nothing wrong with you as a model." "You'd be very successful at it." "Maybe." "But how long would it last?" "Once you lose your looks, what have you got?" "Nothing." "So you wind up in a joint like this, posing for an old..." "I'm sorry, Max, I didn't mean that." "That's all right." "You know, at one time, I was highly respected in my profession." "I still have my moments." "That one there of Mrs. Payton Grange won first prize at Pacific League Exhibition." "Once, the highest society wintered here." "They all came." "Mrs. Thomas Hardisty, Mrs. Payton Grange." "Still beautiful then." "All the lovely, dead ladies." "What did they ever leave you in their wills?" "Nothing." "But I commanded $100 for a portrait sitting." "If I were a young man now, with all the opportunities for photographers..." "And you didn't hit the bottle?" "I only take a little nip now and then." "Here." "Look at that layout." "Four pages." "Twelve pictures." "I'd say they paid her several thousand." "Her?" "Teresa Brinkley." "One of the best." "A woman?" "That's a pretty good racket for a dame." "It isn't a racket." "It's hard work." "It takes years of experience." "Then sex is no handicap." "But, most of all, you have to have a talent for it." "Maybe I could learn." "And you could teach me." "Me?" "Teach you?" "Sure." "I could help you with your work, clean up the place, cook for you..." "No, Lily, no." "Besides, you forget you've got to leave this town." "You've already missed your last bus." "You can get the first one in the morning." "Get some sleep here on this couch." "That's about all I can do for you." "Good night, Lily." "Hello?" "Who?" "Mr. West?" "I'll get him." "Mr. West!" "Mr..." "Mr. West." "Mr. West, get up!" "You've got a customer on the phone." "She's mad as a snake." "Get up!" "$100 I used to get for portraits... $100." "Mrs. Gulick?" "I'm sorry, Mr. West is in the darkroom." "He certainly is working on your pictures." "He liked them so well he's doing one in color." "I know you didn't order it." "He's going to enter it in the exhibition." "The..." "Pacific League Exhibition." "Yes." "Yes, they'll be ready this afternoon." "Goodbye." "Some more coffee, Max." "Drink it." "You wake me up in the middle of the night and talk me into coloring this photograph of Mrs. Gulick." "Why and how you did this, I'll never know." "Napoleon, stop stomping." "Is this hard to do?" "Maybe I could learn it." "Now, Lily, I told you last night." "Let's not go over that again." "No, no!" "Where's a frame?" "The most expensive one you've got." "I haven't sold a frame in years." "I hate to do this to you, Mrs. Payton Grange." "Now, Lily..." "You answer it." "Good afternoon, Mrs. Gulick." "I hope the pictures are ready." "Really, you're very unreliable." "We are a little behind in our orders." "And I can see exactly why." "Oh, no, you can't." "Mr. West was making some bathing-suit pictures for one of our biggest department stores." "We just made the deadline, didn't we, Mr. West?" "Yes." "Yes." "I have the prints you ordered, Mrs. Gulick." "Mr. West was so interested in your picture." "He did this beautiful colored enlargement." "Oh, it is beautiful!" "And so like you." "You know, it isn't often we can get so much character in such a young face." "Give me the frame, Max." "We thought this antique frame would be just right for it." "I have your prints, Mrs. Gulick." "Well, what about this one?" "That's only for the exhibit." "But suppose I want to buy it?" "Oh, I'm sorry." "If we'd known you wanted one..." "Now, see here, Mr. West." "I must have it." "Couldn't you possibly get another one ready for the exhibit?" "Well, I guess maybe I could." "That'll be $25 dollars extra." "25?" "That's without the frame, of course." "But it's so beautiful!" "Hello." "Yes, we have your photographs ready, Mrs. Hattree." "And we have a surprise for you." "Mr. West did one of your pictures in color." "Oh, I know you didn't order it." "But it won't cost you a cent." "It's for the Pacific Exhibition." "At noon, then?" "Thank you." "Goodbye." "Max." "Lily, did you ever hear of hellfire?" "Hear about it?" "I lived it." "I was brought up so near the railroad tracks, the cinders came in to roost." "My old man got calluses digging his elbows into the bar." "Look, Max, what I just did on the phone, it works, don't it?" "Sure, Lily, it works." "There isn't an unpaid bill in the place." "You've done a lot for me these last months." "I'm grateful." "So am I. Come on, Max, it's lesson time." "Now, this key light is the main source of light and acts the same as the sun." "Well, what are you doing now?" "This will put a bit of sparkle in your eye." "And not the kind you get from your bottle." "And this will make you stand away from the background just like third dimension." "Smile, Max." "As though you meant it." "Do you think anyone's going to notice it?" "Hold it." "Hold it." "Well, I'll hold it, but the cat won't." "That's it." "Be sure you do a good retouching job on my wrinkles." "Well, Max, thanks for everything." "I'll never forget what you've done for me." "I never thought I'd be sorry to see you get your bus." "Max?" "Yes?" "I'm going to worry about you." "Please don't." "Make sure I don't, huh?" "Who can make anything sure?" "Half sure." "Don't drink the whole bottle, and you'll be all right." "Half sure, huh?" "I'll try." "Here's your going-away present." "Max, you can't do that." "Please take it." "Hold on to it." "It's your springboard to something better." "Maybe a career." "Use it right, and it can take you any place in the world." "Yes, I can use it like a jimmy." "It'll open doors for me." "But it can only see what you want it to see." "It can even change that slum where you were raised by exposing it." "Don't forget that, Lila." "Lila?" "Lila Crane." "More elegant than Lily Krenska." "Lila Crane." "It has a fine ring." ""Photos by Lila."" "Oh, Max." "Go on." "Go on, hurry." "Hurry, you'll miss your bus." "Hurry." "I have your suitcase." "Next stop, New York, Lila." "I'm sorry, miss." "Must be some new kind of a television show." "Where are the cameras?" "All right, I've had it." "So nice of your thinking of the pictures first." "This must be one of my lucky days." "I said I was sorry." "This is no way to get acquainted, on a busy street." "All right, folks, break it up." "Miss!" "Miss!" "Wait a minute!" "Miss!" "You forgot these." "You keep them as a parting gift." "So glad you bumped into me." "Well, I said I was sorry." "It's just that I'm so mad at outfits like Allied News Service." "Allied isn't such a bad outfit, Lila." "I work there." "Reporter." "You work there?" "Well, that's just dandy." "I couldn't get anybody up there to look at my pictures even upside down." "And they're good." "Yeah, they're very good." "So?" "So, what you need is a hot news shot." ""Love-Crazed Killer Runs Amok."" ""Man Attempts Suicide Leap from the Empire State."" "Or me diving in the nude from Brooklyn Bridge." "Well, that really would be a hot news shot." "Let me know where you live." "Something might turn up." "I'm sure." "You would." "Don't call me." "I'll call you." "Yeah, these ain't bad." "Not commercial, but okay for an amateur." "And I'm not an amateur." "Yeah, we might be able to use you." "Yeah?" "Of course, you need a few pointers." "Tell you what." "Come around tonight, around closing time." "I'll show you the angles." "Don't look now, mister, but your angles are showing." "All right, let's have a big smile, honey." "Taxi." "Keep up with those engines." "Look, lady, we got speed laws in this town." "Please, it might be my home." "Hey!" "Wait for me!" "Open up here!" "Open up!" "Come back here!" "Press." "Lila!" "Let me go!" "Let me go!" "Let me go." "Oh, it's you." "I got it!" "I got it!" "You nearly got yourself killed." "Nobody else is going to get a shot like that." "Well, come on." "Where are you going?" "You want to use a darkroom, don't you?" "There's one at Allied." "My cab's waiting." "Here's a print for your files." ""Photo by Lila Crane."" "Yeah, your first professional credit." "They'd have given me more than $25 if I'd had a name." "Wouldn't they?" "Maybe." "Is that all you're interested in?" "Money?" "You know any substitute?" "And I didn't hear anybody at Allied offering me a regular job." "No." "That'll take a little doing." "But I talked to a friend of mine in the lab." "He gave me a note to Les Bauer, who runs the Club Bamba." "There might be an opening for a photographer." "I guess I should say thanks." "That's right, you should." "How about dinner, then I'll drive you home?" "My landlady and I parted company this morning." "I was ready to pawn my camera, and that I thought I'd never do." "I guess I'd better hunt up another place." "Well, there's my hotel." "What I mean is, I think I might be able to get you a room there." "Not fancy, but not expensive, either." "You jump to conclusions pretty quickly, don't you?" "I'll pick up my bags on the way." "Be anything else, miss?" "No, thanks!" "Excuse me." "Sorry." "Thanks, Freddy." "Here." "Oh, fine, thanks, Mr. Bassett." "Yeah, be sure to lock your door." "There's also a latch." "Where's your room?" "Next door?" "I live down the hall." "But if anybody tries to break in here, just call me." "I'm at your service." "Thanks." "Thanks for everything." "Now, without a chaser, give it to me straight." "What are you after?" "Nothing." "Somebody does something for you, you think they want something in return?" "That's right." "Now, take this friend of yours who gave you this." "What about him?" "Did you tell him about me?" "Of course, but..." "That's what I figured." "When does he come around?" "Hello?" "It's you." "Somebody try to break down your door already?" "I'm sorry, Russ." "I blew my top and acted like a fool." "Forgive me?" "That's all right." "Forget it." "You be a good girl, I'll buy you breakfast in the morning." "I'll be good." "Good night, Russ." "Good night." "Look in the lens, please." "One more." "Smile, now." "You're having a wonderful time." "Okay." "That's it." "Hold it." "You were wonderful." "Any extra copies to send home, sir?" "That's one place I don't want to send them." "But I'll take a dozen if you'll join us for a drink." "Oh, I couldn't do that, sir." "But I could meet you after the club closes." "Two dozen?" "Thank you." "Thank you very much." "Think I could get a couple of dozen in the same way?" "I doubt it." "Your picture, sir?" "Why, sure." "You know I'd do anything in the world for you." "Thank you." "Les?" "Yes?" "Who's the new flash girl?" "Her name's Lila Crane." "Isn't she a doll?" "Flash girl." "Your picture, sir?" "You must be new in town." "I'm Roy Carver." "Oh, yes, the columnist." ""Roy Carver's Carvings."" "When people see their names in my column, they want to cut their throats." "How nice." "People whose names are worth printing wouldn't come in here to make an emergency phone call." "If they do come, it's because they're sure they won't be seen." "Care to make notes?" "Sorry, Mr. Carver." "Five bucks for each item I print." "Well, it's so seldom anyone really important comes in here." "Let's say 10 for anything real cool?" "Okay." "Good hunting." "Thank you." "Three crummy prints from a table of seven." "Your order was two dozen, wasn't it?" "Some night, one of these guys you promise to meet is going to give you a rough time." "I'd like to see that." "Why don't you promise to meet some of them?" "Or doesn't anybody ask?" "I bet you'd like to handle the whole house, wouldn't you?" "Well..." "So that's what you've been angling for." "Look, I'm not crowding you." "Why, you've got poor old Les going around in circles, so that he gives you the best stand in the house." "I could make more money for Les snapping pictures then you could trapping furs in a checkroom." "Oh, Miss Rembrandt and her magic camera." "Put it down." "It'd be tough, wouldn't it, if something just happened to this, one night?" "Very tough." "They have such old-fashioned laws about murder." "Lila..." "What's going on here?" "Lila, are you hurt?" "I don't hear anybody asking about me." "One thing I know about you." "You're fired as of now." "Glad to." "Another girl can't make a living with this beetle around." "Did you hear what she called me?" "I'm sorry, Les." "You don't think I blame you?" "Why, you've got nothing in common with that kind." "Nothing whatsoever." "It's just that there's so much jealousy when girls work together." "If I could just handle the whole place..." "Lunge, Freddy." "Again." "Come in." "Come in, Russ." "Arm higher." "Head back." "Open your eyes." "Wet your lips." "Hold it." "Jump, Freddy." "Smile." "There's a talent scout downstairs." "They want you in Hollywood, Allura." "Really?" "Don't tell me you're giving up your job at the club." "Of course not." "Just a chance to make some extra money." "Let me make your picture." "I talked one of the agencies into letting me do one of their layouts." "I see you're working both ends of the camera." "Hold it." "I have to while waiting patiently for a job at Allied." "You're getting closer." "I need a few of your pictures." "The editor said he'd look at them." "Maybe we'll have some news when I get back." "Get back?" "Where are you going?" "Down south." "I'm covering a trial." "Will you be gone long?" "Suppose..." "Suppose the job opens up while I'm away?" "I'll tell the editor where he can reach you." "Thanks, Russ." "And see?" "No more jumping at conclusions." "Now, tell me you're going to miss me." "You know I will." "Goodbye, Lila." "Take care of yourself." "Lila." "Get me a shot of Horace Sutherland." "That booth in lower Siberia." "Who is he?" "Lawyer." "Front for the Backlin mob." "Frank Backlin?" "The gangster?" "What's he doing here?" "Playing hopscotch with his granddaughter using real Scotch." "I thought maybe he's checking the club." "Do you think Backlin would be interested in this dump?" "His money's backing the smartest club in town, opening next week, the Club Coco." "Come on, now, get me that picture." "You're pretty anxious." "Sutherland's a real pillar of society." "Devoted family man." "Twenty-five bucks for a shot I can use." "Well, it won't be easy." "How could I manage it?" "Figure it out." "You're a smart operator." "I'll make it 50." "I'll see what I can do." "Where did you get this?" "When you snapped my picture last night, I took the plate away and destroyed it." "I gave you the wrong plate." "How much?" "Oh, I didn't come for money." "You just wanted me to see the quality of your work." "Yes." "I was hoping you'd be interested enough to help me." "In what way?" "I'd like to get the photo concession at the Club Coco." "What makes you think that I could help?" "Well, an important man like you must know almost everybody." "And it would help me so much." "You see, I make very little at the Club Bamba." "Except, of course, sometimes I can sell a picture to Roy Carver." "I have a feeling you're going to be quite an addition to the nightlife of our city." "I'll see what I can do." "You are not hanging paper lanterns for a harvest festival." "Exquisite proportion will be the mark of the Club Coco." "We are ready for you, Mr. Fields." "The Club Coco will be the most elegant and the most expensive club in New York." "The cuisine and wines will be the finest, and they must be served in a manner befitting their exquisite quality." "The clientele we shall cater to will demand the ultimate in service and in courtesy." "I will tolerate no deviations from these ideals." "What do you want?" "I'm Lila Crane." "Oh, yes." "You are the girl my backers have recommended to me." "You're sure you know your business?" "I'm a good photographer, Mr. Fields." "I do my own developing, retouching," "I have special lenses and I can shoot in color." "It's extremely doubtful, but you may work out." "Naturally, you'll look entirely different when I get through selecting your wardrobe." "I have an evening gown." "Come back in an hour." "I have no faith whatever in your taste." "That's all for now." "Who is it?" "It's that man again." "Russ!" "When did you get back?" "Look, I..." "And just in time to make me decent." "How have you been?" "How do I look?" "How have you..." "What's the matter?" "I guess it had to happen." "Who is he and where did you meet him?" "Now who's jumping at conclusions?" "These are my working clothes." "I just got the photo concession at the Club Coco." "You..." "What?" "Do you know who's backing that club?" "Sure." "What difference does that make?" "Well, how did you wangle it?" "Just one of those breaks." "And I came to tell you the job at Allied is open for you." "But evidently you've made other arrangements." "But isn't all this wonderful?" "And Coco's paying me more money than I'd make starting as a staff photographer at Allied, and where there's money, there's Lila." "Green becomes me." "Sure." "I'm sorry, after you've gone to all that trouble." "No, forget it." "Well, at least you could admit it's a wonderful opportunity." "For what?" "You're a good photographer, Lila." "You could be a great one." "Just how great will you get flattering Club Coco's elegant jerks?" "Jerks?" "You don't recognize them as that, do you?" "Well, you'd better snap a picture of yourself one of these nights." "And the sooner, the better." "You might still be able to tell the difference." "Hold it." "Thank you." "Lady, take my picture?" "So, this is where you disappeared to." "Not far enough." "I didn't expect to see you here." "And this is why I didn't get the Sutherland picture." "People can get their throats cut for that sort of double cross." "Mine's still intact." "Keep it that way." "You'll be more useful to me here." "I'm not so sure." "This place is going to be hip-deep in the better class of columnist." "Except there are some items that other columnists wouldn't print." "Or pay for." "And if you saw a nickel in a garbage pail, you'd pick it up." "You're not talking to a flash girl at the Bamba now." "If I give you any items, it won't be for nickels." "We shouldn't have any trouble." "Everybody kneel." "Who is that?" "Mrs." "Payton Grange." "Mrs." "Payton Grange..." "Coco." "How good, how kind of you to come." "For your opening?" "My dear Coco, how many years is it that we've known each other?" "No, don't remind me." "Even if one's bones are creaking a bit, one must march with the times." "Have you heard?" "I'm learning the mambo." "Come with me." "Thank you." "I thought she was dead." "Very much alive." "And still the queen bee of café society." "Oh, no, no." "Lila!" "No pictures of Mrs. Grange." "I'm sorry." "Coco, you needn't scold her." "After all, she didn't know." "My dear, you do understand?" "Many years ago people were kind enough to say I was beautiful." "But you still are, and I had a special reason for wanting to take your picture." "What is it, my dear?" "I want to send a print to Max West." "Max West?" "The photographer?" "He spoke so often of you." "Come and sit down, and tell me all about him." "I think he's the kindest, most wonderful man I ever met." "He helped me so much." "He taught me everything I know about photography." "He still has his studio, of course, but he's not as active as he used to be." "He'll be so happy to hear about you." "Of course you may take my picture." "Thank you, Mrs. Grange." "But not for publication." "Of course not." "I still remember your picture hanging on the wall of Max West Studio." "You look like a queen." "Radiant." "Beautiful." "Thank you." "Mrs. Grange." "I refuse to look." "I haven't the courage." "No, Adele, you must promise not to peek." "No, no, no." "Nobody can see it." "Why, look at it." "Adele, do you see?" "Look at it, will you?" "Why, Max West must be proud of you." "I haven't looked like that for 20 years." "Coco, look." "It did turn out well." "It's too bad it's not for publication." "What are you talking about?" "Certainly it can be published." "The more people who think I look like that, the better." "Coco, you've found a genius." "Come on, darling, let's mambo." "Lila." "Yes?" "You are a genius." "The first time I saw you, I knew you'd be a great success." "Thank you, Coco." "Even on your day off, you have to think of a camera." "I have to keep working with it, Russ." "There's no stopping." "Well, I'd like more than a couple of hours of your time every once in a while." "Why?" "I'm in love with you." "Well, that's for teenagers." "I never was one, Russ." "It's too late now." "You're all grown up." "Remember?" "Should I?" "And yet, in some ways, you're not grown up at all." "Well, didn't you ever want anything very much?" "Sure, but a grown-up knows when to stop." "Look, Lila, you've been here a year." "You became the talk of the town with that Grange picture." "You've got a few good commercial accounts, and you're still hanging on to the concession at Club Coco." "You know, you could practically command your own assignment as a news photographer." "So?" "What more do you want?" "A kiss." "Just because you know how fond I am of you, don't hold out on me." "You're the one that's holding out." "Why don't you tell me what you're after in this mad scramble, and when it's going to stop?" "First..." "Not until I reach the very top, Russ." "I'm not really the talk of the town." "I'm just a little whisper." "And you want it to be a shout." "I haven't heard anybody shouting about me yet." "They will, and when they do, it might be too loud for me." "I'll hold my hands over your ears." "The last one in is a teenager!" "Move that spot over to the left, Barney." "Would you take your position, Miss Crane?" "Is this all right?" "Move that spot over to the left, Barney." "Higher." "That's fine, Miss Crane." "Martha, wasn't there a change in the script here?" "Martha!" "Max." "Lila." "Oh, Max." "Isn't all this wonderful?" "I'm going to be on Shirley Thomas' Phone Call to a Personality in 20 minutes." "It's the most important daytime show in New York." "Shirley hates my insides, but she's been angling for a TV evening spot from the Club Coco, and she knows how I stand with Coco, so..." "Max, I can't tell you how good it is to see you." "You were a dream to come so quickly." "I'm simply swamped with work and I don't have anybody else I can trust to help me." "We'll talk terms later." "Lila, there could never be any money troubles between us." "One thing I've found out, Max, money and friendship don't mix." "And Miss Crane would never let anything interfere with money." "Russ." "What are you doing here?" "I couldn't stay away." "You know Allied covers all the coronations." "Do you know I haven't seen you for weeks?" "Check your secretary." "I told her I wanted to see you last Wednesday." "What happened?" "Nothing." "I just wasn't available last Wednesday." "Did you ever think of buying yourself a poodle, Lila?" "Miss Crane!" "Yes?" "Miss Crane, we're on in 15 minutes." "Yes, I'm coming!" "Russ, this is Max West." "You know how often I've spoken of him." "Be an angel and take him out and find him some place to stay." "Please, Miss Crane!" "Don't shout at me!" "In case you don't know it, let me remind you," "I happen to be the reason for this program." "Steve, would you turn on Channel 14, please?" "We'll see Lila's show any minute now." "What do you think of her, Max?" "Well, I'm very fond of Lila." "When we're older, we don't look for perfection in our friends." "She wanted a career, and she got it." "There's nothing wrong with having a career." "There's nothing wrong with success or money." "But in Lila's case, it's not only going to her head, it's going to her heart." "I think you're quite fond of her, too." "And now for our weekly feature, Phone Call to a Personality." "Who more fitting that I call today than my good friend, the girl who's risen to the top of her profession as a fashion and a portrait photographer, the fabulous Lila Crane." "Just one second while I dial her number." "Hello?" "Why, Shirley, how wonderful to hear from you." "You mean I'm on television?" "Well, indeed you are." "Lila, do you know there are five million people in your living room right now?" "So, perhaps you'd show our viewing audience your new studio?" "Well, I was in the midst of doing an advertising layout for Dainty Girl Lingerie, but I'd be delighted." "Good." "Lila, tell me something." "We all know that you're a great photographer." "Oh, Shirley..." "But to what do you attribute your astonishingly swift success?" "Well, let me see." "I haven't been lazy, and so many friends were kind enough to help me." "I would say that good friends and hard work." "You know, friendship, I think, is the most wonderful and important thing in the world." "I couldn't agree with you more." "And now, Lila, if I hang on, will you show our visitors your home?" "Why, certainly." "Has Lila really made enough to pay for all that?" "Oh, yeah, she makes plenty, but she spends most of it." "There really isn't a lot to see in my living quarters." "But this is my darkroom." "Some photographers have assistants to help with their developing and retouching, but I prefer to do it myself." "And I always will." "Good, hard work is what makes a great picture." "I'm especially fond of these drapes." "Aren't they lovely?" "The fabric is by Hilson Textiles," "who was so kind enough..." "Long-term credit" "in return for future publicity favors." "And this vase was given to me by Coco Fields" "of the famous Club Coco." "That's power politics in the big city, Max." "But I expect it's my studio you really want to see." "Shall we?" "Girls, we have guests." "You're looking at the top models in New York." "And in case any of you think the life of a model is all glamorous fun, these girls work hard, and you wouldn't want to meet a grander bunch of kids." "Shall we get back to work?" "Sit down here." "The luster of these jewels by Gino sets off the beauty of Dainty Girl Lingerie." "And it's knowing things like that that help make a top fashion photographer." "Now I really have to say goodbye." "I'm just a working girl like any other, you know." "Goodbye, Shirley." "Goodbye, Lila." "Well, you've just seen a few minutes of a typical day in the life of Lila Crane." "Steve, another round." "No." "No, thanks." "I haven't been drinking as much since I first met Lila." "That's odd." "I've been drinking more." "Well, on second thought, I..." "Two more, Steve." "Coming up." "Good evening, Lila." "Any problems, Coco?" "It's been a little quiet so far." "It'll pick up as soon as the opera is over." "Weren't you there?" "Naturally." "But I left between the tenor's cadenza and the soprano's high C." "Hello, Lila." "Who are your friends?" "Detectives." "Pretty, aren't they?" "I didn't know you needed a bodyguard." "They're watching these." "A few samples of Gino's best." "Trusting chap." "But such good advertising." "Can we have a little privacy?" "Down the bar, boys." "They're on my tab, Charlie." "You look terrible." "What?" "You look beat." "You need a vacation." "What brought that up?" "Well, I'm going to Maine." "Never heard of it." "You wouldn't like it." "A shack, trees, fresh air, wonderful scenery." "Sort of like Central Park." "I thought you might want to come along." "Are you crazy?" "It might give us some time alone for once." "I can't just up and go." "Sure." "You don't really expect me to..." "No." "No." "Disappointed?" "Would it make any difference if I was?" "I'll send you a lobster." "Watch it closely, men." "That's valuable merchandise." "Russ, wait!" "Miss Crane." "Yes." "Judge Evans insists that you take a picture of his party." "Good evening, Judge." "Good evening, Lila." "You know Mrs. Evans, of course, and Mr. And Mrs. Hopkins." "Hello." "It's our 20th anniversary, and she had to have a photo taken by you." "Now, we'll need four enlargements, and be sure to sign them." "You know, "Photo by Lila."" "I'd love to." "Pardon me, I'm very sorry." "That's all right." "Yes, we'd better do it again." "Happy anniversary." "Lila." "These two for Allied." "I can make a magazine sale with that one." "Reject file." "Hey, what happened there?" "Did you shoot that angle intentionally?" "Of course not, Max." "Someone bumped into me as I was about to shoot it." "This is the shot I really wanted." "Make four 11-by-14s of it tomorrow." "No one would pay for a shot of Horace Sutherland and friend." "Reject file." "Good night, Max." "See you tomorrow." "Good night, Lila." "Thank you, Martha." "Did you arrange for the flowers for Mrs. Truesdale's sitting?" "All taken care of." "Good morning, Miss Crane's Studio." "Certainly." "Just a minute, please." "It's Coco Fields." "Do you know I've been trying to reach you for an hour?" "I just got back after the police finished with me." "The police?" "We have a backer, Miss Crane." "A Mr. Backlin." "Last night one of his business rivals was murdered." "Three witnesses have placed him at the scene." "On the other hand, six witnesses, dubious but producible, are willing to swear that your friend never left his estate at Whitehill." "My friend?" "You haven't forgotten how you got your job?" "I never laid eyes on the man." "Have you got a morning paper?" "Yes, I have." "Well-tailored brute, isn't he?" "The suit covers most of the hair, makes him look as if he walks only on his feet, don't you think?" "Does Backlin have a key to the private entrance?" "Yes." "But, to my knowledge, he's never used it." "Why?" "I'll call you later, Coco." "Good morning." "Can't you knock?" "I'm sorry, Max." "Loose nerves." "I don't seem to get them tied up until I've had my coffee." "What are you doing, Lila?" "Freezing a hot potato." "Forget it." "You'll have to take care of the accounts for a few days, Max." "Martha knows what's on the slate." "What?" "A girl can get fed up now and then, can't she?" "Lila, open the door!" "Lila, open the door!" "Lila, open the door!" "Open the door!" "Russ!" "You lost the race." "I tripped." "That's too bad." "Yeah, after you flipped this piece of driftwood in front of me, the other side of the sand dunes." "Okay, the race is a draw." "Like this." "You make me lose my breath without racing." "That's good." "Is it?" "Sure." "Why?" "Tell me why." "That's easy." "I love you." "But it isn't easy to love, is it?" "It lasts longer when it isn't." "It wasn't easy for me to love you." "And now?" "Oh, now..." "Now it's got me by the throat." "I just don't want to go home tomorrow." "You talk like you've never been in love before." "I haven't been." "Well, isn't it about time that you had a man in your life for keeps?" "Legal." "Housework and pink-curtain suburbs?" "Can you cook?" "Maybe with a can opener." "Then who wants you in the kitchen?" "Listen, Allied broke down and gave me what I wanted." "More than I wanted." "A blank check." "Europe first." "Have you ever wanted to go to Europe on an expense account?" "Who hasn't?" "Monte-Carlo, Capri..." "No." "Not the fashion pits." "The places where things are happening." "And Europe's just a start." "I can dig up my own assignments." "Asia, Africa, Indochina." "It's a fine time to spring this on me." "Honey, I couldn't tell you until I knew where we stood." "What does that have to do with it?" "I'll be traveling with a photographer." "We'll be a great team, your pictures, my stories." "So you've made up my mind for me?" "I talked to the front office about it, and they jumped at the idea." "Honey, it'd be rugged sometimes, dangerous sometimes." "But it'd be exciting." "And we'd be together." "What about my work?" "We'd leave in two weeks." "I know that doesn't give you much time to wind things up." "You really don't want me to wind up my whole career, do you, Russ?" "This isn't just an ordinary staff photographer's job." "You're a name now." "You'd be making top money." "As much as I stand to make the way I'm going?" "You could photograph the whole world." "What's wrong with it, what's right, what mistakes it's making." "The world can take care of itself." "It never took care of me." "Lila." "Get away from all this." "Go where you can use your talent instead of your wits." "Don't throw a chance like this away." "Do you know what you're asking me to throw away?" "Everything I've ever wanted." "I'm asking you to go as my wife." "But I've done too much." "I've worked too hard." "When you get back..." "No." "No." "Either you go with me now..." "That sounds like an ultimatum." "All right, go on, cover the world on some crazy crusade, get yourself killed, and wind up without a nickel." "But you can tell your bosses you'll go alone!" "Or won't they give you the job without me?" "I'll see about a plane for you." "It wouldn't be much fun driving back together." "Suits me." "I should have known you wouldn't go for the offer." "You can't see anything that isn't gold-plated." "Miss Crane." "Miss Crane, where's Mr. Bassett?" "He's gone back to his hotel, Mrs. Grannigan." "He won't be staying for dinner." "Thank you, thank you, thank you." "Oh, no, no, no." "No pictures tonight." "Please." "But it's your birthday." "I know it's my birthday, and I'm going to celebrate." "Would you ask them to play my favorite mambo, please?" "Why, sure." "Coco dear, see that everybody has a piece of my cake." "Would you like to take a few?" "Not for the papers, just for me?" "Thank you, Mrs. Grange." "Where have you been?" "We missed you." "That's funny." "I haven't missed you." "And I thought you cared." "Look at me." "Mrs." "Grange!" "Mrs." "Grange!" "What happened to her?" "I don't know..." "I don't know what happened." "We were just dancing, that's all." "Get a doctor." "Albert, the emergency hospital." "Use the office phone." "Is she..." "There's nothing more we can do till the ambulance arrives." "Mario!" "Yes, sir." "Inform the guests that we're closing." "Yes, sir." "We're closing for tonight, ladies and gentlemen." "Sorry." "Emergencies." "Please, please, ladies and gentlemen." "We're closing just for tonight." "I could do that." "I just want to keep my hands busy." "If you could have seen it, Max." "She had everything anybody could want, and all of a sudden..." "Yes, those things can be swept away in a moment." "Lila?" "How is she?" "She died on the way to the hospital." "Did you get it?" "Get it?" "The picture!" "The..." "One of those breaks." "You mean anyone would actually publish that?" "A shocker like this?" "Publish and pay for it." "Lila, you can't release that picture." "Stay out of this, old-timer." "Leave him alone." "Perhaps I'm remembering the woman I knew 40 years ago." "Lovely and kind." "You told me how much she'd done for you." "Is this the way you intend to repay her?" "Look, honey, let's not trip over our ethics." "Good night, Roy." "The picture's not for sale." "Have all those flashbulbs gone to your head?" "Do you know what that picture's worth?" "I said good night." "Sure." "Later, Mario." "Yes, Mr. Fields." "Have you seen this?" "I and everyone else in town, to judge from the phone calls." "You don't think I gave them the picture, do you?" "You've seen the morning papers?" "Mrs. Grange's will was probated." "She left token amounts to over 200 people to show her friendship." "I was one of them." "The last name was added some three months ago." ""The sum of $1,500 to Miss Lila Crane" ""in gratitude for the beauty and charm that have recently brightened my life."" "Why didn't you steal her diamonds as she lay dying?" "Coco!" "Get out." "Coco, you must believe me." "I didn't do it." "Roy Carver..." "Everyone knows you two have a working agreement." "I had nothing to do with it." "I destroyed the picture." "He must have stolen the negative." "Coco, you must believe me." "I believe you'd use your grandmother's bones to pry open a cash register." "And now, if you will excuse me, I have some business with Mario." "Max?" "Max." "Mr. West is gone." "He said goodbye." "I see." "Were there any calls?" "Yes." "There were several." "Mr. Gino was first." "Get him for me, please." "Mr. Gino, please." "Mr. Gino, I'm holding for Miss Lila Crane." "Gino, you called?" "What on Earth are you talking about?" "What do you mean, you're closing your account?" "My methods have done pretty well for you so far." "Didn't I get you more publicity than you've had in years?" "Gino?" "Gino!" "Shall I call Mr. Baldwin of Dainty Girl Lingerie?" "Or any of the others?" "No, thanks." "Hello, Russ." "How have you been?" "Freddy let me in." "Sure." "Leaving soon?" "Next Friday." "Have you heard what's happened to me?" "Yeah." "You've lost most of your accounts." "It figures." "Listen, Russ, you're the only one that can help me now..." "No." "If it's the job at Allied, that's out." "But I didn't come about the job." "I just want Roy Carver to tell the truth." "The truth about what?" "That he stole the picture and sold it." "You do believe me, don't you?" "Even if I did, would you want me to choke it out of him?" "He's done plenty." "You can dig something up." "You want me to blackmail him, so he'll take your rap?" "You've got it all wrong." "No." "You have, Lila!" "With your sharp angles." "I just want him to tell the truth, please." "Don't, Lila." "Once in my life, I played it the way I thought you'd want me to." "And nobody believes me." "You, Coco, Max." "Well, I don't throw in my hand." "And if all of you think I played dirty, just watch me." "And thanks for nothing, Russ!" "25,000." "Of course, this picture could have been taken at any time." "It could have, but it wasn't." "That's Judge Evans celebrating his 20th anniversary at the club." "If I..." "If I arrange for the purchase of this picture, what guarantee will my client have that he's received all the copies?" "There's one copy he won't have." "I put that away in a very safe place." "That's my protection." "You're asking for trouble." "I'm sure Mr. Backlin is a reasonable man." "At times." "He has a deep and ugly temper." "Unpredictable." "All things being equal, I'd rather not see you hurt." "You'll call me?" "You're determined?" "I'll open negotiations if you insist." "Hello?" "Yes, Mr. Sutherland." "I think it would be better if we met in a public place, don't you?" "Say the 46th Street Automat?" "A brightly-lighted table in the center of the room." "I'll be waiting." "Taxi!" "It'll be one just like this." "Call us if you find it." "Here are the keys." "Hi, Steve." "I've been trying to get you on the phone." "What about?" "Max." "Not that he's been making trouble or anything, but whatever it was must have hit him pretty hard." "Thanks, Steve." "Come on, Max, let's go home." "Max." "Max, snap out of it." "Max, what do you know about this?" "Max, when did the messenger bring it?" "Max, what's she getting herself into now?" "Max!" "Hello, operator." "Get me the Gramercey Manor Apartments, please." "Hello, Miss Lila Crane, please." "Lila?" "Lila?" "Lila!" "Lila!" "Hold it!" "You and this gal must be kind of friendly." "Are you in this with her?" "Maybe you know where the picture is." "Well, one of you is going to tell us." "Frank Backlin don't like blackmail." "Why don't you give her a break?" "You better tell me where it is before the boys beat it out of her." "You look in the darkroom?" "All right." "Where is it?" "Under the tray." "Hand it to me." "My eyes!" "My eyes!" "They're burning out!" "Where's the phone?" "Where is she?" "Well, call somebody." "I'm going blind." "After you tell me where they took her." "Help me, please!" "Please, I need your help!" "When you tell me where they've got her." "Tell me!" "The Miracle Trucking Company." "Where is it?" "Come on, don't make us get fancy." "Why don't you tell us where it is and make it easy on yourself?" "I told you if anything happens to me, that picture goes to the police." "Before anything really happens to you, you'll tell us where it is." "Do you think Backlin will let himself be bluffed by a two-bit cookie?" "Where is it?" "Where is it?" "See what's up." "Put off that horn." "What are you trying to do?" "Bring the police?" "Get out!" "Matt!" "Where are you?" "Matt!" "Matt!" "Oh, Russ." "After I get you out of here, you can go to Backlin and get a better price for that picture." "I had that coming." "I just want to go to the police and tell them what I know." "You're risking a jail sentence for withholding evidence." "I know, but I'll have to take that chance." "If I'd thought a beating would bring you to your senses, I'd have done it myself." "That dame's story will take care of Backlin and his mob." "Look, I want that picture." "Take it easy." "Come on, Max." "Give me a break." "He can't print a picture of me looking like this." "Well, I can't spoil the rest of the pictures in the pack, so if you'll come up to my studio..." "I'm way ahead of you, Max." "Lila, darling, of course you're coming back to the club." "I..." "I won't have my wife working in a nightclub." "But, Lila, your career." "You heard the man."