Alice Adams Page #2

- Gee whiz, I can't go in-

- Come on, get in.

- What's the idea?

- Don't go in there.

Back up. Leave this awfuI mess outside.

Back up.

Look what you've done.

I'll have to drive around anyway.

Shut up.

Well, do you want to go home?

You bet I'm willing.

No, leave the car here.

Wait a minute.

I'll lock her up so none of these millionaires

run off with it.

Wait!

What's the idea?

Leave this with your coat

in the men's dressing room...

...as if it were an extra one of your own.

Joke on us.

Our car broke down outside the gate.

Walter, your coat, back there.

I suppose you want us to dance

the first dance.

Yes, please. I'll be right down.

- Good evening, Mrs. Dowling.

- Alice.

Hello, Ella. You look lovely.

Ready?

Mrs. Dowling.

- I'm so glad to see you.

- Ella, how nice of you to come.

- Frank, good evening.

- Good evening, Mildred.

Relax, nobody's looking at you.

We must speak to Mildred

and Mr. and Mrs. Palmer.

I haven't got a thing to say to them.

You didn't wear the maize Georgette

as I thought you would...

...but you look simply darling.

And those pearls-

You know my mother and father, I think.

Fine, thank you.

Mrs. Palmer, my brother.

Hi.

- Mr. Palmer.

- Hi.

It's wonderfuI, and the mystery is

where you ever learned to do it.

I suppose you think there's no place

to dance besides these frozen-faced joints.

Frozen-faced? Why, everybody's having

a lovely time. Look at them.

They holler loud enough.

You don't call that Palmer family

frozen-faced, I suppose?

Certainly not. They're just dignified.

Besides, I don't like you

to talk that way about them.

They passed you on

like you had something catching.

How fantastic.

Why, Mildred's a great friend of mine.

Poor you.

Hello, Henrietta.

- Hello, Alice.

- How are you?

Henrietta Lamb, isn't her dress divine?

She's too bony.

Hi, Sam.

- What you doin' up here, big boy?

- I brought my sister.

You're kind of getting in

the big time yourself.

Yes, sir.

That's Skinny Sam

and his Hot Shot Stooges.

Yes, you seem to know him quite well.

A great guy.

There's Frank and Ella Dowling.

It's good that his tubby sister comes

or he wouldn't have anyone to dance with.

And vice versa.

- You mustn't forget to dance with her.

- Me?

And Henrietta Lamb and Mildred, of course.

I'm as liable to dance with those sticks

as I'm to buy a bucket of tacks and eat 'em.

What a bunch.

As soon as I'm rid of you,

I'll go to the room...

...where I left my hat and coat

and smoke myself to death.

You mustn't get rid of me too soon, Walter.

Why, you naughty old Walter.

Aren't you ashamed

to be a wonderfuI dancer...

...and then only dance with little me?

You could go on the stage if you wanted to.

Wouldn't it be wonderfuI to have everyone

clapping their hands and shouting?

- Hurrah for Walter Adams.

- Calm down.

You know you'd like it.

Just think, everybody shouting, "Hurrah! "

The joint'll be pulled if you holler

any louder, besides I'm no goat.

- Goat? What on earth...

- I can't eat dead violets.

I've done my duty.

Flag one of these long-tailed birds

to take you on for this dance.

Pardon me, Alice.

Organdy, perhaps we're wrong.

How do you do, Ella?

- I'm fine. How are you?

- Thank you.

- Isn't this a lovely party?

- It certainly is.

But then the Palmers always give...

It's all right.

You can go now, but come back later.

- Can I have this dance, Alice?

- Why, you nice Frank Dowling, how lovely.

Gee, that was great.

Yes. Let's sit out the rest of this,

shall we?

All right.

Don't look now but Mother's trying

to get me to dance with Ella...

...and I'm not going to.

Let's go into the hall.

She wants me to ask Henrietta

and Mildred, too...

...but I'd much rather dance with you.

You're not stuck-up

like those other girls are.

You'd never refuse to dance with me.

Mildred, your party's a grand...

- Hello, Arthur.

- Hello, Mildred.

- I'm glad you finally got here.

- I'm sorry I'm late.

Never mind that.

You look beautifuI tonight.

Thank you.

Who's that man with Mildred?

Why, that's Arthur Russell.

Arthur Russell?

I never heard of him.

He's some sort of a cousin

to the Palmer family.

Second or third or something.

They say he's got wads of money.

He and Mildred

are supposed to be engaged.

No.

Well, if they're not, they soon will be.

My sister says

she talks about him all the time.

- Ella says-

- Never mind what Ella says.

Let's find something better

to talk about than Mr. Russell.

Well, I'm willing.

What do you want to talk about?

Nothing.

Suppose we just sit, shall we?

All right.

We'll be along.

Come with me, Arthur.

Look at the orchestra, Frank.

Aren't they screaming?

Someone told me they're called

Skinny Sam and his Hot Shot Stooges.

Isn't that just crazy?

Don't you just love it?

Yeah.

- Come on, Arthur, you're way behind us.

- There you are, Arthur.

Well, what now?

Talk or sit?

Suppose we just sit some more, shall we?

All right.

Pardon me. I've just seen Henrietta Lamb.

She's promised to save this dance for you

if you'll come right away.

Look here, Mother.

I wish you'd understand

that I can ask for my own dances.

- I'm more than 6 years old.

- Why, Frank...

I just thought I was doing you a favor.

It isn't pleasant to be spoken to like that...

...by your own son, before strangers.

- Now, Mother.

- You'd better go, Frank, really.

There, you see, Miss Adams says so herself.

For goodness sake.

Pardon me, are these chairs taken?

Yes, I'm sorry.

I'm waiting for my partner to return.

No, I can't.

Look, I can't dance with all of you.

- But it's my dance.

- You promised me.

- What can we do?

- Listen, you promised to dance.

Let's match, odd man gets the dance.

That's fair enough.

- I'm sorry, boys.

- Wait a minute.

I wonder if you know which

of the gentlemen is Mr. Walter Adams?

Yes, I know him all right,

but I couldn't say exactly where he is, miss.

If you do see him,

will you please tell him his sister...

...is very anxious to speak to him?

- I will.

- Thank you.

Say, your sister wants you.

Don't bother me, I'm hot.

Here we go, eighter from Decatur.

May I come and talk to you, Mrs. Dresser?

Why, yes, of course.

But why aren't you dancing?

I have been.

I just wanted a chance to catch my breath.

Alice, this is Mr. Russell.

Miss Adams,

he wants to ask you for this dance.

May I?

Yes, indeed.

Will you excuse me?

You're not a very talkative young lady,

are you?

Usually, yes.

Then why not now?

When anyone dances

as beautifully as you do...

...conversation is hardly necessary, is it?

That depends on who's talking.

I guess that's all.

I wish we could dance this next together,

but I guess we're both all booked up.

Where's your next?

Do you see him anywhere?

Yes.

Well, as a matter of fact, I promised

to sit the next one out with my aunt...

...so if you'll just take me over there.

Thank you.

- I wonder if you could do me a favor?

- Anything.

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