Alice Adams Page #5

to Mildred Palmer...

...because she's got money

and family to back her.

And, you listen to me,

the way the world is now, money is family.

And Alice could have just

as much family as any of them...

...if you hadn't fallen behind in the race.

- How did I?

- Yes, you did.

Twenty-five years ago, the people we knew

weren't any better off than us...

...and look at them now.

It's time for your drops.

Look at those country clubs.

The other girls' families belong to them.

We don't.

Look at the other girls' houses...

...then look at our house.

Yeah, you look at what you're doing.

Don't give me too much of that stuff.

I've counted.

The men in those families

went right on up the ladder...

...while you're still a clerk

down in that old hole.

Now, wait a minute.

Suppose I did leave that old hole,

as you call it.

Where in thunderation

could I get another job?

You know I'm not asking you

to do anything you can't do.

What are you driving at?

You know what I'm driving at.

That glue formula.

So, that's it. Dang, dang!

Not that I wouldn't like to go

and dance with you, if I could.

I'm too worried about Father

to go anywhere.

Why, she's still young.

She's still got a chance for happiness...

...if only she had a father

that had the gumption to be a man.

To be a dirty dog, you mean.

That glue formula belongs to you

as much as anybody.

It belongs to J.A. Lamb. He paid us

all the time we were working on it.

- I'd be like stealing, and you know it.

- What's he stolen from you?

He promised to do something

with that formula 20 years ago...

...and to do something for you, and has he?

You've broken your word

never to speak of that to me again.

What do I care?

You think I'd let my word interfere

with the happiness of my children?

I'm going to keep on struggling for that

till I die!

- Dang, do I have to go through that again?

- Yes, you have to till I die.

Dang!

What's the matter with you two?

Can you get her out of here?

Mother, come on.

Get her out.

- Wait. She says you have a mean life, Alice.

- No, Daddy.

Do you hear her lie?

Look at me.

Things like this Henrietta Lamb dance, now,

is that so hard to bear?

No, Daddy.

Do you hear her? Now, do you see?

Get out of here!

Both of you. And stay out.

- Did you ever smell a glue factory before?

- No.

Brother, you got something coming to you.

Here it is, Mother. The Adams Glue Works.

It looks fine, VirgiI, simply fine.

It's a starter, and some day,

if everything works out all right...

...maybe I'll be able to take over

that big building there.

It used to be an old butterine factory.

Just bills.

It's funny I don't hear something from him.

Who?

Old Mr. Lamb.

He never answered my letter, not a word.

You should have gone to see him

like I told you, VirgiI, instead of just writing.

No, I just couldn't bring myself to face him.

Don't worry, dear. You know you told me

he couldn't do a thing to you.

No, the formula ain't patentable.

There isn't anything

he could make a question of law.

But I wish I knew what he thought

about the whole business.

It's just morbidness, VirgiI.

You don't realize what a little bit of a thing

this is to him.

I bet he's forgotten all about it.

You're off your base.

J.A. Lamb don't forget things.

If he owed you money,

he'd cut off his hand to pay you.

But if he thought you were trying

to get the best of him...

...he'd cut off both hands

to keep you from doing it.

Come on, now,

I'll show you the rest of the works.

It's getting late

and you'll be worrying about supper.

No, not tonight.

Walter phoned, he won't be home...

...and Alice has gone out

with that nice, young Mr. Russell.

What, again?

I shouldn't be surprised

if they'd be engaged before long.

And here we go though all this muck

and moiI to help fix things nice for her...

...and she just goes ahead

and gets what she wants to anyhow.

Things haven't gone as far as that, VirgiI.

Will you have them play that again?

Again?

Play it again.

But we've played that five times already.

They want it again.

- Again?

- Again.

What are you thinking of?.

I think I was just being

sort of sadly happy then.

Sadly happy?

Don't you know?

Only children can be just happily happy.

I think when we get older, some

of our happiest moments are like this one.

It's like that music. Oh, so sweet...

...and oh, so sad.

But what makes it sad for you?

I don't know.

Perhaps it's a kind of useless foreboding

I seem to have pretty often.

I'm afraid I'm going to miss these summer

evenings of ours when they're over.

Do they have to be over?

Everything's over some time.

Don't let's look so far ahead.

We don't have to be already thinking

of the cemetery, do we?

Our summer evenings will be over

before that, Arthur Russell.

Why?

Good heavens,

there's laconic eloquence for you.

Almost a proposaI in a single word.

Well, I-

Don't worry. I shan't hold you to it.

No, but something will interfere.

Somebody will, I mean.

People talk about each other fearfully

in this town.

They don't always stop at the truth.

They make up things. Yes, they do, really.

What difference does it all make?

It's just that I'd rather they didn't

make up things about me to you.

I'd know they weren't true.

Wouldn't it be great if two people

could just keep themselves to themselves?

If they could manage to be friends

without people talking about them?

We've done that pretty well so far,

haven't we?

And if you want

our summer evenings to be over...

...you'll have to drive me away yourself.

No one else could?

No one.

Well, I won't.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Hello, Alice.

Did you ever know a lovelier night

than this, Mom?

Not since I was your age, I expect.

- Walter, what kept you so late?

- Where's Pa?

He's up in his room.

Why...

...don't they stay beautifuI after my age?

It may be different for you.

I think it will, Alice. You deserve it.

No, I don't deserve anything.

I know it. It's just that...

...I'm pretty happy these days.

I don't mean...

I wasn't meaning to tell you

that I'm engaged.

We're not.

It's just that...

...things seem pretty beautifuI to me

in spite of everything I've done to spoiI 'em.

What have you ever done to spoiI anything?

Little things.

A thousand silly little things.

He's so honestly what he is.

I feeI like a tricky mess beside him.

I don't know why he likes me.

Sometimes I'm afraid he wouldn't

if he knew me.

Why, he'd just worship you.

- But what do you want it for?

- I've got to have it.

But what for? Can't you tell me what for?

I've got to have it.

You've got to have it.

You seem to think just saying that

will bring in the money, $150.

- Haven't you got that much?

- No, I haven't.

You know I've sunk every cent

I've ever saved into this factory.

And even what I could raise on the house.

What's the idea

coming to me for money, anyhow?

You've got a job, haven't you?

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