All I Desire Page #3

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- Nobody asked me!

- Would it have mattered if we had?

- Naomi, your supper's ready.

Don't let it get cold.

I'm sorry,

I don't think I've shouted since you left.

- You could always do that to me.

- Do you hate me this much, Henry?

I'm thinking of the children.

Our lives are settled now.

We've lived down the talk, the scandal.

If you've lived it down, fine,

it won't start up again.

- It won't.

- Ill go to the play alone.

- You needn't see me again.

- No, we'll go together.

We'll make everything seem perfectly normal

then you'll come back here to the party

and you can catch the 12:15 for Chicago.

That suits me.

Er, one other thing.

- That was Sara on the telephone.

- Sara?

Sara Harper. She's the drama teacher.

They're putting additional chairs

in the auditorium.

- Seems there's a sudden demand for seats.

- At least Lily will have a good house.

And you'll be the centre of attention.

Ill make a good impression.

That's all you care about, isn't it?

What other people will think?

I'm not the girl from across the tracks

who used to embarrass you. Not anymore.

I won't laugh too loud, make jokes or speak

to the riffraff I knew before I married you.

That's very good of you.

Oh, Henry.

I don't mean to quarrel.

I hoped after all this time

we could be friends.

You did?

Well, couldn't we,

just for tonight, for Lily's sake?

Couldn't we make it nice?

Lt didn't used to be all fights.

We did have fun at the start.

We paid a pretty heavy price for that fun.

Naomi.

Good evening.

Good evening, Miss Murdoch.

Should be an interesting evening.

- We're in time. She's not here yet.

- That way, Mr Atkins.

- Good evening, Mrs Phillips.

- Good evening.

- Have you seen her, Sara?

- Your seat is over here.

Look, Russ,

the whole town seems to be here.

Now, relax, will you?

What difference does it make?

- Sara, have you heard?

- I think everybody has.

I've never seen such a crowd.

Dad didn't have anything to do with it.

It was Lily. She wrote a letter...

- Hello, Miss Harper.

- Hello, Russ.

Come on, honey.

See, Dad. We made it.

Good evening, Mrs Underwood,

Colonel Underwood.

- Is your father coming, Joyce?

- Yes.

Yes, of course.

Here she comes.

Is that her, Papa? She looks wonderful!

Shh.

- Good evening, Henry.

- Hello, Sara.

- Naomi, this is Miss Harper.

- Hello, Sara. Henry has mentioned you.

- How do you do, Mrs...

- Call me Naomi.

Naomi.

- Erm, your seats are in the front row.

- Thank you.

- Where's Ted?

- He's looking after the buggy.

- Colonel Underwood.

- Henry.

- Mrs Underwood.

- Good evening.

- Important man?

- Very.

Sara's very nice.

Very.

Surprising she's never married.

- I suppose she has her reasons.

- Don't wait too long, Henry.

She looks fabulous. Here, take a look.

In your places, everyone, for the first act.

Come on, hurry.

Get ready for your entrance.

Now, Lily, not any more of that.

Now remember, in the third act,

only a stage kiss.

Good luck, everyone.

Come clean now, John.

What is on your mind?

Exactly who is the Baroness Barclay?

All evening I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I would say the Baroness Barclay

is the most fascinating woman I've ever met.

Really? Why, here comes the Baroness now.

Baroness, aren't you with the ladies?

Why should I be

when you're much more interesting?

Besides, Mr Lexington,

we haven't much time.

Time? We?

- Dick, would you think me rude if...

- No, not rude. Just sensible.

- And should I say rather fortunate.

- No, wait. Please stay, Lord Bakersfield.

- If you could enlighten me, Baroness...

- Mr Lexington.

NAOMI:
It was just an amateurish

high school play...

until Lily came on stage.

She looked beautiful.

She had youth, charm and poise.

Everything else seemed to melt away

and for me, there was only Lily.

It was almost magical.

I couldn't take my eyes from her.

She knew how to hold her head,

use her hands.

Oh, she was delightful.

And with training,

she could develop into an actress.

When she said she knew

what she was doing up there on the stage...

she was right.

Say, some crowd inside.

You ought to get a cut, Clem.

You should hear what the boys

at the barbershop...

Why, Dutch! What are you doing here?

- Ticket's all right, isn't it?

- Well, sure!

Then tear it.

(WHISPERING) First act's almost over.

You leave me no alternative.

I must go to the governor.

Mr Lexington,

you may do anything you wish.

Threats will do you no good...

because I shall never reveal

what is locked in my heart.

It is a sacred trust.

(APPLAUSE)

- Am I never to...

- See you.

...see you again? Never again?

Call me shameful for this

if you want to, John...

but the real shame

would be in hiding what I feel.

I love you, John. That's all there is to it.

And if loving you is a crime,

then I'm willing to pay the penalty.

Haven't I told you, it was just a stage kiss?

- Bravo!

- Lily Murdoch!

Lily Murdoch!

Bravo!

For all of us, thank you.

For myself, if you think

my performance was good,

I want to tell you why.

It was because my mother,

the famous actress, Naomi Murdoch,

is in the audience.

Anything I've done tonight,

I've done for her.

- Well, it's quite a play.

- Lily sure acted grown-up.

I wouldn't have missed this

for anything in the world.

I'm going back and see her.

Lily!

You were perfect.

It was absolutely marvellous. I love you.

And Sara, it was wonderful,

really wonderful.

You were magnificent,

each and every one of you.

- Ill see you all at the party later.

- Mother, this is the best night of my life.

Isn't she heavenly?

(LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING)

Oh, Russ.

Thank you, Russ.

Lily, the party's a darb,

and you're sure a peacherino!

- Tell it to the marines.

- Put it where the flies won't get it.

You wanna do the bunny hug

with someone who can?

Watch out for him.

He's a lemon from Lemonville.

23 Skiddoo!

I'm awfully glad you rescued me.

His dancing is as bad as his acting.

- Chuck, put this one on next, will you?

- Two-step slide?

Sure, that's the hottest thing from New York.

But an apple-knocker like you

wouldn't know that.

We don't have to be left out,

do we, Mrs Murdoch?

Joyce didn't tell me

she had such an attractive mother.

May I borrow your fellow for a while, Joyce?

I certainly approve of him.

That's very good of you.

Philip, what's the matter,

don't you bunny hug?

I've given that up, sir.

After all, I'm going to be a freshman at Yale.

Put a wreath on your nose, boy.

You're dead from the neck up.

- What a cake!

- Please ask Lily to come and see.

Lily! Come take a look.

(LILY EXCLAIMS GLEEFULLY)

- Chocolate buttercream?

- Lily.

But it's heavenly. Lena, you didn't tell me.

You don't know everything

that goes on in my kitchen.

The best party we ever had! That Naomi!

You know what, Peterson?

You know what I thought

when she walked in today?

- No.

- About you and me.

Maybe if she, maybe if the children

don't need me around anymore,

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