Adventure in Baltimore Page #5

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Speak, monkey! Speak!

- ANDREW:

- Ahem.

- BOTH CHILDREN:

- You're the monkey!

I was clearing my throat!

Oh, it's you.

Mr Wade, it's very important that I speak with you privately.

Look, Dinah, I'm very busy.

There's nothing to stop you from talking.

Mr Steuben doesn't allow employees to talk during working hours.

Mr Steuben, may I talk to Tom? It's very urgent.

- Why, sure. Oh, Tom?

- Yes, Mr Steuben?

This young lady wants to talk to you.

I won't get this automobile done if I do, Mr Steuben.

You let me worry about that, Tom.

- Yes, Mr Steuben.

- Thank you.

- Well?

- Mr Wade, since you desire to terminate our relationship,

I feel the need to clear up the 50 I owe you.

I don't have to have that.

I feel the sooner it's settled, the happier we'll be.

After all, 50 is a lot of money.

Well, now that you mention it, I could use it.

Say, I...I certainly could.

Bernice's birthday is coming up, you know.

You'll certainly have your money.

- Have you got it?

- I...have a way to get it.

Unfortunately, I need your co-operation.

But you will have funds to lavish gifts upon your continental friend.

- Where are you going to get 50?

- Painting.

- Huh!

- If you'll deign to read it, you'll see it's a competition.

There are three prizes of 50.

I intend to win one of them with a portrait of you

as The Spirit Of Labor.

Are you bats?!

You want to get Bernice that gift, don't you?

Not that way, I don't.

I think that's foolish, Tom, since I'm doing this for you.

- You can forget it. I won't be a laughing stock again.

- All I need you for is to pose.

The face won't look like you, if that's what you're afraid of.

It won't?

Heavens, no!

A person would be vain to imagine their face personifying all labour!

I'm going to paint in the face of an ideal man

half angel, half Hercules.

No.

Oh, Tom...

Papa's lending me the greenhouse as a studio. It's completely secluded.

- So nobody would see me pose?

- No! You can put on your costume...

Costume?

..and go right over without a soul seeing.

What kind of a costume?

Well, I... I haven't decided exactly what.

After all, you have to typify labour in an idealised way.

Atlas holding the world up... Giants trampling wine from grapes...

Gulliver... Goliath...

It has to be filled with strength.

HEN CLUCKS:

"Velocity of a point is the...

"time arc at which it is traversing distance."

Phew. This hammer isn't exactly made of feathers, Di.

I'll be done in a few minutes.

HENS CLUCK:

Shoo! Go away! Get off there! Go on!

All you need is a little patience.

Patience? In this pose and costume?

- Why, if anybody saw me like this...

- Oh, Tom, don't be a prude.

An artist is above that. I'm not aware of you as a person.

To me, you're merely light and shadow.

- How does a swimsuit fit in with Hercules?

- Wait till it's finished.

MR STEUBEN:
Tom! Oh, Tom!

I have to go, Di. Mr Steuben wants me in the garage.

Tom, two more minutes and I'll be finished for the day. Please, Tom.

- I haven't got all day to waste.

- He'll be here in a minute. TOM!

Coming. I've got to go, Di.

Just one more minute.

- Hello, Mrs Sheldon!

- Bernice, dear! How are you?

Is that the new frock your mother told me about?

Just a little thing Momma made up.

It's darling. Did you come to show Dinah? She's in the greenhouse.

I know she'll be pleased you came to show it to her.

When do I get to see the painting?

It would be very bad luck for you to see it before I exhibit it.

- Dinah?

- It's Bernice!

If she sees me in here like this...

- Dinah?

- Uh...just a minute, Bernice.

Hide! Not there. Over there.

- Dinah?

- HENS CLUCK

What are you doing in this...? Oh, painting!

Just dabbing. Papa lets me use it for a studio. It's so secluded.

Who can paint with all that racket?

- WILD CLUCKING

- Oh, my mind's on higher things. Isn't that a new dress?

Yes! Don't you love the neckline? They're two inches lower in Paris.

- You know Paris. Tout a la mode.

- Oh, yes.

Tom will like it.

A girl shouldn't wear anything her fiance doesn't care for.

Tom has very decided ideas. But I don't mind him being strait-laced.

No... I mean, yes. Why should you?

Bernice, I've been wanting to ask,

can you show me how you do that French hairstyle?

- I don't mind.

- There's a double mirror upstairs.

- I'm not sure you've got the face.

- It's awfully sweet of you, anyway.

All right. Now you can squawk.

OFFENDED CLUCKING

..in a French roll. Then you take the sides...

Oh, you've finished already? How did the painting go?

Oh, er...just splendidly, Momma.

Lily? May I see you a moment?

DOOR CLOSES:

Of course, Andrew.

Lily, Mr Fletcher was just here...

..on a matter of great importance.

- Has Dinah done something again?

- No.

Oh, thank goodness.

No, it's... more important than that.

What is it?

It's something...as you know, Lily...I've never sought.

Andrew!

Dan told me I'm to be nominated for bishop.

That's wonderful!

Oh, I'm so glad, Andrew dear!

I know I should be very happy, but...

Aren't you?

- Yes, of course, but...

- But what, dear?

I...

I'm not sure I'm worthy of it.

Why, of course you are!

I feel very humble, Lily, touched,

that the people of St Edmunds think I am.

But I'm not sure that my calling is to be a bishop.

Before I told you, I went over to the church to pray.

I wanted guidance

to be told whether I had a right to be nominated.

I knew, of course, that as in all things,

that guidance would come from above.

It's because you do think this that you're right for it.

Oh, there'll be other nominees. Dr Bristow, for one.

I have great affection and respect for him. He's a truly fine man.

And so are YOU, Andrew.

And I'm a very lucky man. I know that.

- May I tell the children?

- I'm not elected yet.

Oh, nonsense!

Children! Oh, children?

Come downstairs! Your father's got news for you!

What's up, Momma?

Momma, what is it?

Your father's been nominated for bishop of the diocese of Maryland!

Pa, this is a very important day to us. Congratulations, sir.

I'm sure we'll all behave as a bishop's family should behave.

And I know the Bishop of Maryland will have the best left hook in the US.

Now, wait a minute...

I'm not even nominated, let alone elected.

- There are other candidates.

- Oh, Papa. They can't elect anyone but you.

I'm not so sure. Lily, are ice cream and cake in order?

- Definitely!

- Let's go get them!

- MARK:

- Pa, I'd like to ask a question.

What is it?

- Does a bishop make more money?

- Mark!

ALL LAUGH:

- Yes?

- I'd like to enter a painting in the exhibition.

- For whom are you delivering? Mr...?

- Not Mister. Miss.

- Miss?

- Yes. Miss Dinah Sheldon. I'm not delivering it. I'm entering it.

Entering it? We've never had a female entrant.

- The rules don't say women can't enter.

- My dear young lady,

no woman wrote a great opera,

built a great building or painted a great painting.

No woman ever voted, but we will.

You have no right to bar my work.

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