A New Leaf Page #3

That is something I usually

require of servants ...

in the form of a brief letter

written by someone like myself ...

to the effect that

the servant in question ...

does not have the ingenuity to steal.

Well, you can't ask for better

credentials for marriage ...

or a better return on your investment.

What is my collateral

in the event that you fail?

Collateral?

My wardrobe and furnishings.

Oh my God, what would I ...?

Yes, go on.

My collection of first editions.

- My paintings and sculptures.

- Oh, well.

- And my ...

- What?

- No.

- No, what?

Well ... that's it.

No, no. You said no. You said no.

What? No, what?

Alright. My Ferrari 275 GTB 4 ...

which retails at $15,900

and is owned outright by me.

That's at least $500,000

worth of collateral.

I'm asking for a $50,000 loan.

- Six weeks?

- Six weeks.

Well, I may be a sentimental old fool ...

but in memory of our long, long years

that I spent as your guardian ...

I'll do it.

Thank you, uncle.

- On one condition.

- What's that?

Should you fail to repay

me in six weeks ...

I am entitled to ten times

the amount I'll lend you.

Ten times the amount?

That's ten times 50,000.

Yes, that's right.

That's ... it's everything ... I ... own.

Of course you could always go to

a bank and ask for a personal loan.

A bank?

Oh God, if I could be a fly

on the wall that day.

Those are my terms. Take them

or leave them as you choose.

- But that's usury.

- Mh-hm.

- I'll take it.

- Good.

I'll have my attorney

draw up the documents tonight.

We should be finished by tonight,

don't you think?

Yes. Thank you, uncle.

Call me Uncle Harry...

After all, we're in business

together now, Henry.

Thank you, Uncle Harry.

In that case, you may call me Mr Graham.

You know, Henry, I have never thought

of you as terribly interested in women.

It comes as rather a shock to me, too.

- Are there any here?

- Huh?

I mean ... unattached ones?

Yes, yes, there's Sharon Hart,

over there next to Felix.

Does she live with her family?

No, no, as far as I know,

Sharon has no close family.

Her husband, Robert Hart,

was a cattle baron, I think.

Really?

Oh, Sharon, I'd like you

to meet Henry Graham.

I eat, I sleep, I swim, I dry off.

All so simple, perhaps even primitive.

And it satisfies me.

I have found peace in Connecticut.

I mean, after all, what else is there?

I love, I wish love, I am human,

I am a woman, Henry!

A what?

A woman, Henry.

I want ... I need ... I desire love.

That is what a woman is born for.

Damn mosquitoes!

No mother? You have no mother? No father?

No ... no children? No one at all?

No one at all.

Oh, Henry ...

How I long to hear another voice.

A man's arms ...

Oh, I am alive.

I want to give ...

love.

Darling!

No! Don't let them out!

3 weeks, 2 days and 3 hours to go, sir.

- Please don't scratch, sir.

- Oh, God help me!

My aunt got very interested

in the Heart Fund.

She had an attack a little while ago.

Your aunt ...

Does she live in New York?

Yes, as a matter of fact she does.

- What sort of an attack did she have?

- A heart attack, you see ...

- Oh, do you have any other relatives?

- Oh no, no, none at all.

- No mother?

- No, no, no mother. And ...

- No father?

- No, no. No, no father.

We were wondering if you would

like to put your name ...

on one of our letterheads

as one of our sponsors ...?

- Well, you wouldn't have to do anything.

- No, thank you.

Oh. Well, would you ...?

Henry!

What the hell are you doing here?

I thought you hated dancing and

didn't believe in private charity.

You were correct.

One week, 5 days and 10 hours, sir.

I'll never do it, Harold. Never.

Not only do I still have to meet her,

but I have to court her ...

marry her and get $50.000 from her ...

before the honeymoon.

I'll never do it ...

unless I elope tomorrow.

You will do it, sir.

When we are working for something we

really love, as you are, sir ...

we can always find a way.

What are you spraying, Bo? Do you

really understand what you're doing?

Oh, my dear. I've spent years on this,

on this very topic. Yes, because ...

Henry!

Everybody! This is Henry Graham.

- This is Harriet Storch. Bo, of course, you know.

- Hi, Henry.

Mr and Mrs Sims, Toot and Roggie.

They're here from Geneva on home leave.

This is Lucy Sylvester.

And our neighbours,

Dr and Mrs Daryl Hitler

John Sylvester and Freddy,

of course, you know ...

Excuse me, you're not by any chance

related to the Boston Hitlers?

No, we're from Glen Cove.

Henry, this is Ms Henrietta Lowell.

This is Mr Henry Graham.

Ms Lowell. How do you do?

Come there, now. Come and see Bo.

Yes. You dropped your gloves, Ms Lowell.

Now come with me and have a nice chat

with Bo while I get you some ...

- Gloria, what's today's date?

- July 27.

Come sit with Bo and I'll

get you some nice tea.

Henry, sit down. Would you believe it?

Sooty blotch!

Got rid of the crown gall

and got sooty blotch.

I think it's sooty blotch, I'm not sure.

That's becoming mad, Bo.

By the way, who's Henrietta Lowell?

- She's old Guy Lowell's daughter.

- And who's old Guy Lowell?

Was. He's dead now.

Been dead ever since I can remember.

And who was he when he was alive?

Well, he was an industrialist ...

... or composer, something like that.

Well, did he die with his wealth intact or ...

did he lose everything in suicide ...?

Oh, well, I'm merely curious.

Well, he died with his wealth intact ...

I heard he was enormously wealthy

when he died. Is that right?

I thought you didn't know who he was.

Well, I didn't at first ...

but the vividness of your description

has restored him to my memory.

He was old Guy Lowell,

who died enormously wealthy.

- That right?

- Yeah. He was enormously wealthy when he died.

And the girl?

She's enormously wealthy, too.

Lives all alone in a huge place with ...

dozens of servants milling about her.

About 50 acres of land.

- No mother?

- No.

No sisters, brothers?

No close relatives?

No. No. Harry, you're hurting my arm!

Oh, sorry. Sorry. Sorry, Bo.

She, er ... she's not engaged?

No. She's a botanist!

She teaches at some ...

Writes a lot of papers

on ... fronds ... for periodicals.

Doesn't ride, either.

Doesn't entertain. Doesn't even talk,

as far as I can tell.

I think she's about the most isolated

woman I've ever met.

Rich, single, isolated.

And she's about to drop that teacup.

Oh, she's perfect.

Madeleine, would you get Ms Lowell

another cup of tea, please?

- I'm terribly sorry.

- That's alright, dear, really. Couldn't care less.

It's nothing. It's nothing.

It's just an old rug.

Just swish that up and then just dab it,

just ... just dab it and blot it.

Here ... I'll take this.

Incredibly clumsy woman, isn't she?

No wonder she doesn't ride.

Forgive me a moment, will you, Bo?

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Henrietta, is this some kind of joke?

Because if it is, I do not find it amusing.

If your nerves aren't steady enough ...

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes