me, Billy Marsh!

BILLY. [Coolly.] I'm not trying to bully you. I'm trying to save your
reputation.

LORETTA. [Faintly.] Reputation?

BILLY. [Nodding.] Yes, reputation. [He pauses for a moment, then
speaks very solemnly.] Loretta, when a woman kisses a man, she's got to
marry him.

LORETTA. [Appalled, faintly.] Got to?

BILLY. [Dogmatically.] It is the custom.

LORETTA. [Brokenly.] And when . . . a . . . a woman kisses a man and
doesn't . . . marry him . . . ?

BILLY. Then there is a scandal. That's where all the scandals you see
in the papers come from.

[BILLY looks at watch.]

[LORETTA in silent despair.]

LORETTA. [In abasement.] You are a good man, Billy. [Billy shows that
he believes it.] And I am a very wicked woman.

BILLY. No, you're not, Loretta. You just didn't know.