After learning from Garnett Pittman that Meg may be sent to a cannery, Birdie reverses her stance and agrees to help Charlie run the brothel. She finds Charlie and Flossy on the back porch announcing their intention to leave and intervenes. Birdie agrees to manage the establishment’s dance club facade on two conditions: Charlie must promise not to lie to her again and must delay visiting Meg, allowing Birdie to contact Meg’s guardians herself first. Charlie consents but counters that Birdie must accept her full share of all profits, arguing it is a matter of trust. Birdie reluctantly agrees.

A party-line telephone is installed in the house. Flossy begins educating Birdie on the business, explaining jargon like “keys” for rooms and “wallets” for customers, and detailing the need for medical checks. She also warns that the Anti-Vice League, for whose state presidency Garnett is campaigning, has been shutting down brothels. To recruit more workers, Charlie decides to place a coded “cat call” advertisement in newspapers in surrounding counties.

Birdie uses the new telephone to call the Heidelberg residence in Byhalia, posing as an orphanage worker to discreetly check on Meg’s welfare. The maid who answers becomes suspicious and says Mrs.