A Woman's Face Page #6

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is all right.

I'm sorry, sir.

I didn't know she had asked.

Don't worry about Emma.

She's a little J-E-A-L-O-U-S.

And I don't blame her a bit.

Now, come on, my boy. I tell you what.

Will you let me be

Miss Paulssen's escort?

But nobody else.

Now, you go up on the stairs

and watch me dance with her...

...then go right to bed. Promise me?

- I promise, Granddaddy.

- That's right, my boy.

- Good night, Miss Paulssen.

- Good night, my escort, and thank you.

You know, I'm afraid I am going to have

to ask you to go back to Stockholm.

Lars-Erik told me this morning

that he wants to marry you.

- And now you're J-E-A-L-O-U-S.

- That's it.

Oh, come on. Come on.

We dance well, don't we?

Yes, it's fun. It's fun.

[MUSIC STOPS]

- What's happened to the orchestra?

- Let's find out.

What's wrong here?

[ORCHESTRA PLAYING]

BARRING:

Oh, come on.

Oh, no, sir. I couldn't.

You must.

It's our old weaving dance.

It isn't difficult.

Now, come on. Come on.

Good evening, Uncle. Our train was late.

- Oh, just in time, Torsten. Take my place.

- I will be glad to.

[DANCERS YELLING]

Good evening, Miss Paulssen.

- You told the orchestra to play this?

- Yes.

Consul, I bring you a modern miracle.

Dr. Gustaf Segert away from his hospital.

Now I don't want to return to the city.

Oh, we'll try to keep you, doctor.

Did that pretty wife of yours

come with you?

- No. Mrs. Segert is traveling.

- Oh, too bad.

I'm afraid we'll have trouble making up

for her with any of our local charmers.

[MEN LAUGHING]

- Excuse me, consul.

BARRING:
Yes?

That girl over there.

That girl?

Sorry, doctor. That one's taken.

- My grandson's in love with her.

- Is that he dancing with her?

My grandson's only 4.

She's his governess.

Would you like some punch,

Miss Paulssen?

If you wish, Mr. Barring.

Do you find the work up here interesting,

Miss Paulssen?

Very interesting, thank you, Mr. Barring.

- I congratulate you, Miss Paulssen.

- On what?

On how well you look in

our local costume.

There was an early saint

who came from this district.

Saint Gerda.

She was a patron saint of children.

In that costume

you amazingly resemble her.

Or perhaps I'm mistaken?

- You are mistaken.

- Indeed?

[MUSIC STOPS]

[PEOPLE APPLAUDING]

Would it reassure you...

...to know that I hate everybody here?

- You hate my uncle? Why?

- He's the nicest man that ever lived.

- Oh, that's just it.

Perhaps you would prefer

to dissolve the partnership, hm?

No.

No.

BARRING:

Ah, here you are, Miss Paulssen.

I have another dancing partner for you.

- How thoughtful of you.

- Dr. Segert...

...Miss Ingrid Paulssen,

my grandson's fiance.

Good evening, Dr. Segert.

Good evening, Miss Paulssen.

- And my nephew, Torsten Barring.

- How do you do, Dr. Segert?

I've had the honor of meeting your wife.

Is she with you?

No, my wife is traveling.

I've just been admiring your dance.

You would think she had been born

right in this district.

Indeed, yes.

But Consul Barring tells me

that you've been in Switzerland.

Geneva, mostly.

Do you know Switzerland?

No, I've never been there, unfortunately.

- Or should I say fortunately?

- That would depend, Dr. Segert.

- Indeed? On what?

- On what you are looking for.

EMMA:

Consul Barring.

BARRING:

Yes, Emma.

If you can interest yourself

in the other guests...

...they're almost ready

for the grand march.

Yes, I'll be right there.

You must help me, Torsten.

- Yes, certainly. Thank you for the dance.

- I leave you in good hands, doctor.

And don't forget,

she's promised to Lars-Erik.

[ORCHESTRA PLAYING]

- Well.

- Well, what?

Well, my cold-blooded,

ruthless, little Galatea.

I can't tell you how relieved I am.

Come over here.

Go ahead.

Mm-hm. Good.

Good.

- So that's why you're so relieved.

- Only partly. Only partly.

You had me worried. Imagine looking

fearfully into the papers each morning...

...to read of an outrageous crime

committed by a beautiful brunette.

My Frankenstein.

And now l...

I find...

You find what?

Perhaps you could tell me.

Oh, no, you're the expert.

Turn on your lights.

Unfortunately for humanity,

the light hasn't been invented...

...that could look into that interesting

heart of yours.

But perhaps I could issue a preliminary,

encouraging bulletin.

Encouraging?

Yes. Let's say, tentatively.

Say the patient has had

the intelligence to find a place...

...where her past life can't tempt her.

And the courage to go where her new name

might mean a really new life.

And let's say that my hopes...

...may have begun to be justified.

Because I know about your intelligence.

I've seen your courage.

And l...

I have hoped.

- Oh...

- Well, what's the matter?

First it's the old man

and then the kid and now you.

Can't you all leave me alone?

- How much longer?

ANNA:
Oh, not much. Don't move.

- Then can I go skiing?

- Perhaps this afternoon.

Just be quiet.

SEGERT:

Oh, Barring. Torsten Barring.

TORSTEN:
Yes? What is it?

SEGERT:
Just a minute.

TORSTEN:
Good morning.

SEGERT:
Good morning.

- You said something about my wife.

- Why, yes. A most charming lady.

I've only seen her once or twice.

SEGERT:
Yes? I don't remember

her mentioning having met you.

TORSTEN:

That's my great tragedy, doctor.

I never make an impression

on beautiful ladies.

SEGERT:
I should say quite the contrary,

Mr. Barring.

- Unless you don't consider Miss Paulssen.

TORSTEN:
Miss Paulssen? Oh, the governess.

She interests you?

SEGERT:
Yes, very much.

- You need have no fear, my dear sir.

I shan't say a word to your wife.

[TORSTEN CHUCKLES]

- This is your first visit to Forssa?

SEGERT:
Yes, I'm very impressed.

Consul Barring has quite an empire.

TORSTEN:

Mm-hm. Built on iron.

SEGERT:
Yes, I saw the smelter

as I passed the falls.

[CLOCK CHIMING]

TORSTEN:
Oh, the falls. Let me tell you,

without those falls...

- Lars-Erik.

...there would be no smelter.

Lars-Erik.

- Lars-Erik.

LARS-ERIK:
What?

SEGERT:
What's the matter?

- It's the lamp, ultraviolet.

- It's hot.

- How long?

Four minutes over.

- His first treatment?

- No, third.

- What happened to you?

- Well, l...

- Is it bad?

- Well, the boy isn't in any pain.

SEGERT:

No, it isn't serious. First-degree burns.

Another four or five minutes...

Come, doctor. There's no need

to frighten Miss Paulssen.

Remember, she and Lars-Erik

are engaged to be married.

Oh, you told him.

Who directed you

to give these treatments?

- The local doctor. It's for his sinus.

- Oh.

- Get some Vaseline.

- Yes, doctor.

Tell me. Is that grandfather of yours

awake yet?

Granddaddy's always up at 6,

even when he's been drinking.

[TORSTEN AND SEGER CHUCKLING]

That's why this branch of the family

is where it is.

- You don't live here all the time?

- No.

- I come only when invited by the consul.

- Or me.

That's right, my boy.

And I'm extremely grateful to you.

[FOOTSTEPS]

- Doctor, shall I put it on?

SEGERT:
Yes.

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