- A fast talker and a fast walker, ad exec Roger Thornhill leaves his office building, followed by his secretary Maggie.
- Thornhill orders Maggie to send a love note and candy to a current flame.
- Thornhill's in a hurry, and Maggie complains that she's tired and asks if they can take a cab, although their destination, a business meeting that Thornhill's attending, is only a few blocks away.
- Thornhill cuts off a man as he's entering a cab, claiming Maggie's ill. Isn't that special?
- In the cab, Thornhill continues to dictate notes and assign tasks to Maggie.
- She's to remind his mother about their plans to go to the theater that night after dinner.
- Thornhill says he'll have had two martinis by the time their dinner at 7:00 begins, so his mother "needn't bother to sniff" him. (Guess Mrs. Thornhill's a suspicious type who disapproves of her son's drinking.)
- Thornhill and Maggie discuss other business, but after getting out of the cab, before saying goodbye, he reminds her to call his mother again.