Three Secrets

Bill Chase:
Anything new on the Johnnie Peterson thing?

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
Who's Johnnie Peterson?

Bill Chase:
You mean you haven't heard?

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
No.

Bill Chase:
[Smiles] The good American housewife loves her radio first and her husband second.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
[Coyly, after Bill kisses her] Bill, mother's in the house.

Bill Chase:
She is? Lucky for you.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
She's gonna stay with me while you're gone.

Bill Chase:
[Holding her] Good. Keep you out of trouble.

Mrs. Connors:
Susan, get a hold of yourself.

[Susan continues to read the newspaper article on the plane crash]

Mrs. Connors:
Susan, do you think yours is the only child born five years ago today?

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
He came from the shelter.

Mrs. Connors:
They handled hundreds of babies.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
Oh, mother. All you have to do is look at him.

Mrs. Connors:
What do you expect me to see?

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
He has my mouth and my coloring.

Mrs. Connors:
Is that your evidence? A newspaper picture? Five years later?

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
I can't help it. I can feel it. It's mine.

Mrs. Connors:
All right. What if it is? There's nothing you can do about it except throw away your marriage. You think you can tell Bill?

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
I should have told him a long time ago the truth.

Mrs. Connors:
It's too late for the truth. Darling, listen to me.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
If I hadn't listened to you, my child wouldn't have been on that plane.

Mrs. Connors:
I'm trying to help you. You made a mistake and have done your penance. Five minutes ago you told me you wrapped up your girlish grief. Don't bring it out in the open again. Don't do this to yourself. Don't do this to Bill.

Paul Radin:
[Before leaving for the military] There's someone else.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
Someone else?

Paul Radin:
Back home. Before I met you. I... I can't forget her. I tried to but I can't.

Paul Radin:
Do you really love her?

Paul Radin:
We went to school together. We've known each other since we were kids. Susan, I can't even explain it to myself. All I can ask is please forgive me... Say something. Say goodbye to me. Tell me you hope I get killed. But don't just stand there looking at me.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
Why did you come here?

Phyllis Horn:
Just a reporter covering a story. Wouldn't it be ironic if it were my own?

Mark Harrison:
[Handing her a gift] For my prettiest reporter.

Phyllis Horn:
Orchids? Next time bring nylons.

Mark Harrison:
I've met hundreds of guys coming back from overseas. You're just like they are. First thing they want is a companion and a chocolate soda.

Phyllis Horn:
What would I do with a chocolate soda?

Bob Duffy:
[after Phyllis kisses him] If that's your artillery, you just fired a blank.

Bob Duffy:
Look, Phyl. I happen to be a sentimental guy that comes from a family of 12 kids. I get lonesome without eleven people around... or even one.

Bob Duffy:
[after his matchsticks collapse at the bar] The way they build things nowadays. No foundation. Just like people.

Mark Harrison:
This will make you the biggest newpaperwoman since Nellie Bly.

Phyllis Horn:
Never heard of her.

Bob Duffy:
[to Phyllis] You had me fooled for a while. Long enough to get a license and marry you.

Phyllis Horn:
There's one legitimate thing about me. The way I love you.

Bob Duffy:
Put it in your column.

Bob Duffy:
Just for a moment there I thought you were a human being.

Ann Lawrence:
[after making a scene] Well, what are you all staring at? Go back and write your headlines. That's what you're here for, isn't it? Let's see what kind of a story you can get out of a kid's body. [She cries]

Bob Duffy:
Ever since the beginning, you've been in and out of my life like a night visitor. This time don't bother to check in.

Phyllis Horn:
This time there happens to be a war. I didn't start it. I'm sorry there is one. But as long as there is, I'd be a chump if I didn't make it work for me.

Bob Duffy:
I don't like war profiteers. You sell agony by the paragraph.

Phyllis Horn:
I'd like to speak my peace before I go.

Bob Duffy:
Just so you keep it under a thousand words.

Phyllis Horn:
Only two words. I'm scared. I mean it, Duffy. Ever since I sold my first script for five dollars I've been fighting to get to the top. Stepped all over people. Been ruthless, conniving. Fought like a man in a man's world and I made it. But I don't want to lose you, Duffy. 'Cause this is home plate. If I lose you I'll roam around like a homeless alley cat with no place to come back to. Don't throw me out.

Bob Duffy:
Why is it the only time you sound like a woman is in this crummy room?

Phyllis Horn:
'Cause it's ours, Duffy.

Bob Duffy:
I shouldn't let you in.

Phyllis Horn:
You couldn't keep me out. It's always been that way, Duffy. [They kiss]

Bob Duffy:
I'm sorry for you, Phyl. You tried hard to be a woman. You just couldn't make it.

Hardin:
A good newspaper man leaves his emotions at home when he goes out on a job. You ought to know that.

Phyllis Horn:
All right, Hardin. I've done my best. Now you do your worst.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
Who is the mother? Did you find out?

Ann Lawrence:
We cancelled the call.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
But why?

Ann Lawrence:
We thought if was better if we never found out. In a way he belongs to all three of us. And since all of us can't have him, we decided that you are the one to try to adopt him.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
I don't understand.

Phyllis Horn:
Yes, that was our decision.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
But you just can't leave it like this. You aren't being fair to yourselves. You'll blame yourself all you life if you don't find out.

Ann Lawrence:
Listen, Susan. You can get Johnnie. No court in the world would turn you two down.

Susan Adele Connors Chase:
But if he's yours?

Ann Lawrence:
Even if he turned out to be mine I have nothing to offer him. Don't make me find him just to lose him all over again. It's much easier to tell myself that maybe he's yours.

Del Prince:
Mr. Crossley's a genius. It says so in all the papers.

Ann Lawrence:
What do you know about being a genius?

Del Prince:
His checks are good.

Del Prince:
I'm telling you what's best for you. Go home. Forget him. Because he's forgotten you.

Ann Lawrence:
I'm not like the others. It's different this time.

Del Prince:
Not for him it isn't.

Ann Lawrence:
I'm going to have his baby.

Del Prince:
That IS different.

Ann Lawrence:
Thank you very much.

Bill Chase:
[Waking the hotel manager] Where can I find Mrs. Chase?

Ed Jackson:
Who?

Bill Chase:
Mrs. Chase. Isn't she registered?

Ed Jackson:
Nobody's registered. I wouldn't know if Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley were in the bridal suite.

Bill Chase:
Can you page her?

Ed Jackson:
What?

Bill Chase:
I said can you page her?

Ed Jackson:
You've got a loud enough voice. Why don't YOU page her?