A Song Is Born Page #8

Yes, Miss Honey.

It's very important to me, too.

You see, it's new and rather strange.

Up until now, my life has been like,

well, like an un-orchestrated theme.

Say, you couldn't talk a little plainer,

could you?

Not unless you have a piece of toast

or at least look under the lid anyway.

You went and bought me a present.

I hope it fits.

I went all over town last night trying

to find a jewelry store that was open.

Now, isn't that sweet?

It's a lovely ring, really it is, Frizzy.

I had hoped you'd like it.

It's our engagement ring.

Frizzy, do you mean that...

Yes, I do.

- Do you mean you really thought...

- Well, I... Yes.

What am I supposed to say?

Why, just say yes.

After what you told me yesterday

the way you feel about me,

all you have to do now is say yes.

Frizzy, don't you think

you're being a bit hasty?

I'm just as surprised as you are.

Marriage. I always thought

I was married to my music.

I thought the only thing could stir me

was Piatigorsky on the cello,

Heifetz on the violin,

Toscanini conducting a symphony.

And then... Then you.

You see, I've had

rather a curious background.

I was graduated from Princeton

when I was 13.

When I was a year old,

I could sing Three Blind Mice,

and before I was three,

I knew that the major chord

on flattened supertonic

was D flat, F and A flat,

in the key of C, of course.

People like that... I don't know.

Dust just piles up on their hearts.

It kind of took you to blow it away.

Yeah, but I didn't mean

to blow it smack into your eyes.

That's what happened.

Why don't you look inside the ring?

There's some writing. Musical notes.

Yes. There wasn't enough room

for all the words,

so I used notes instead.

Notes from the opening phrase of an aria

from the opera Paris and Helen.

Quote, "O thou beloved,

"whom so long my heart desireth,

"when will the day ere be

that my heart thou doth bless

"with a softly whispered yes. "

Unquote I suppose.

I hope you don't think it's too corny.

Oh, Frizzy, I...

Yes, come in.

Miss Honey,

there is a telephone call for you.

- For me?

- Yes.

We hate to interrupt you,

but it is a long distance call.

The man on the wire said

it was from your daddy.

- Daddy?

- That's what he said.

My daddy. Oh, yeah. I'll take it right away.

- How did it go, Frisbee?

- Very well.

- She seemed quite overwhelmed.

- That was to be expected, though.

Excuse me, but the customary procedure

is to approach

- the parents of the young lady first.

- Oh, yeah.

- Hello.

- Hello, Honey, this is Monte.

The boss wants to talk to you.

Only we're relaying the call

so it won't be traced. Get me?

Here she is, boss, ready?

Okay, now, Honey,

don't use no names, though.

Oh, boy, did you call at the right minute.

Where are you?

A little one horse town in New Jersey.

Rancocas it's called.

How have you been, baby?

Everything under control?

Not anymore.

Things are getting complicated.

No, no, nothing like that.

It's just that one of the kiddies

has broken out in a rash.

Yeah, a slight case of spring fever.

Well, don't let the old boy

run you down in his wheelchair.

Everything is set, baby. I've got

a Justice of the Peace all lined up.

That's what we're trying to figure out.

How to get you down here.

No, don't want you to take a train.

They'd spot you like a lead dime.

They'll be watching everything,

Holland Tunnel,

George Washington Bridge, everything.

I don't care if I have to hitchhike

out of here in a hearse.

I've got to get out of here.

I don't like it. I want...

Well, what other news is there, Daddy?

Everything fine at home?

How's mom's lumbago?

- How's whose what?

- Home for her birthday?

Well, I don't know, Daddy.

I won't be long.

Just wait in the library, please.

If you don't mind, I'd like to have

a few words with your father.

Oh, sure.

Daddy, this is the professor

I was telling you about.

Hello, Mr. Swanson.

This is Hobart Frisbee.

I gather your daughter has told you

of our intentions.

Hey, what is all this double talk?

Before asking for her hand,

I realize I should have asked

your permission.

Please, Frizzy.

- Are you crazy?

- You're so right, Mr. Swanson.

I realize this must come

as a great shock to you.

One of these old dodos

has got a yen for Honey.

Well, speak up, son.

What have you got for to offer?

Well, as character references,

you may call the head

of the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia

and the president of Princeton,

that's my university.

Except for occasional trouble

with my left sinus,

I am in excellent physical condition.

How's your digestion, son?

Excellent, sir. Excellent.

I draw a salary of $3,200 per year

and board.

It's not very large,

but we'll watch our nickels and...

Do I what?

Gamble? Oh, no, sir, I...

That's fine. That's fine.

Adams, I think I've got a brain flash.

Son, what did you say

your first name was? Hobart?

Well, all right, Hobart.

I don't know whether Honey told you this

or not, but she's our only child.

Well, we hadn't figured

on having a professor in the family,

but if that's what she wants,

it's okay by us.

Well, I shall do everything in my power

to make her very happy.

One other thing, Hobart.

You see, we're not young anymore.

Her mother is an invalid,

and it would just about break her heart

not to see her Honey married.

You understand?

Of course, Mr. Swanson.

My own mother is dead,

but I realize what it would have meant

to her to be present.

Well, suppose you bring the kid

right down here.

We want to meet you,

and we'll have the ceremony right here

in our own hometown.

Of course.

May I call you Father?

Thank you, Father.

This is more than I hoped for.

Father wants to talk to you.

Yes?

Well, that takes care

of the transportation, baby.

Who's going to question the Curtis

Institute and Princeton University?

Oh, listen, to...

Daddy, maybe there's some other way.

I don't want to take him

for that kind of a ride.

It's quite all right.

I'll take a few days off.

- Yeah, we all will.

- Excellent idea.

- Anyway, they don't have a car.

- We'll rent one. I can drive, I think.

Never mind the alibis, baby.

This gets you to Rancocas.

I don't want any arguments, understand?

Hello.

- What's the matter, my dear?

- He's always in such a rush.

Father? Well, that's my good fortune.

The sooner the better.

Gentlemen, I have the honor

to announce our engagement.

Oh, good. Congratulations.

There, now, Miss Bragg, don't cry.

I hope you're doing

the right thing, Professor.

I know I am.

Why don't you go upstairs

and pack some things for my fiancee?

- All right.

- Thank you.

I want to be an usher.

I want to be an usher.

- We'll all be ushers.

- Yes.

One kisses the bride.

- Yeah, we'll all kiss the bride.

That's right.

May we, Frisbee?

Go right ahead, gentlemen.

Thank you.

You've made us very happy. Very happy.

We feel that you are marrying

all of us a little.

Yes, we all do.

We wish you all the happiness

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