All I Desire Page #4

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finally you and me,

you know, Peterson, what I mean?

No.

- JOYCE:
Lena.

- Yes.

What about coffee for the grown-ups?

We'll need some more sandwich plates.

- I'm gonna take some cake up to Ted.

- Joyce, don't fret about anything tonight.

Peterson and me

can take care of everything.

Go out there. Enjoy the party.

Dance with your fianc.

- She's dancing with him at the moment.

- Go have fun with somebody else, then.

What should I do? Dance gaily with some

16-year-old while she's taking over Russ?

I'm not that good at pretending.

Peterson, would you mind chopping me

a chunk of ice out on the porch?

No.

Oh, Joyce, do you suppose that everything

for her tonight is laughing and having fun?

- Well, I'm not like her.

- What's wrong with being like her?

She has sense enough to enjoy a party

when there is a party.

She doesn't let some tiny little

incey-bincey whatever spoil her evening,

like some people I could mention.

Spoil my evening? Good heavens.

- You take Ted's cake.

- That's my girl.

Peterson, put that back in the tub.

We don't need any ice.

No?

Joyce, I know you're only trying

to make him jealous

but Russ has been asking for you

and I'm all worn out.

Thank you, Mrs Murdoch. Come on, honey.

Well, the feeling is very familiar.

Do you know, when you smile,

Joyce, you're pretty as a...

Oh, Russ! Honestly.

- Sara.

- Henry.

- I'm glad you've come.

- I had a great deal to do at the auditorium.

This sounds like quite a party,

even halfway down the block.

- Sara, it's so good of you to come.

- Thank you.

I want to tell you once again what a really

fine job you did on the play tonight.

Thank you very much.

- We owe a great deal to our leading lady.

- No, she owes a great deal to you.

- That's very nice of you.

- I'm sure that Sara would like some punch.

Excuse us.

Mrs Murdoch, what's the chances...

I mean, it would be a pleasure if...

- May I dance with you?

- I'd love to.

- There you are.

- Thank you.

- She's very charming, Henry.

- Yes, she can even charm a Yale man.

NAOMI:
Oh, no. After our London success,

we toured the provinces

and then went to France.

Paris, London. Must be exciting.

- When were you in Europe?

- Over three years ago.

We were so popular

I didn't think we'd ever get home.

Where'd Lily go?

Did you ever have a yen

to go horseback riding?

- HENRY:
Sara.

- I used to, if the horse was good.

Well, I've got a lulu. Ill tell you what,

Ill take you and Joyce horseback riding

tomorrow, how about it?

- I'd love to, but I'm leaving tonight.

- You're hard to keep track of.

Am I? Then, I'm willing to pay the penalty.

- All right.

- But not now.

Mrs Murdoch,

were you ever in the senior play?

- I was never in the senior class.

- Mother, do a scene for us.

Please!

That's very flattering,

but there's nothing I can do.

- Besides, it's late. I have to catch...

- Just one scene.

Anything. There is time, please.

- I don't know what I could do.

- I've got an idea!

Now, Lily.

Do something from this, Mother.

I've always loved it

and it's Daddy's favourite, too.

Browning.

I, erm...

I better turn down the lights.

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

"I love thee to the depth

and breadth and height

"My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

"For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

"I love thee to the level

of every day's most quiet need

"By sun and candlelight.

"I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

"I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

"I love thee with a passion put to use

"In my old griefs,

and with my childhood's faith.

"I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,

"I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears,

of all my life!

"And, if God chooses

"I shall but love thee better after death."

(ALL APPLAUDING)

Mother, how heavenly, you were wonderful.

Thank you, darling, that's music to my ears.

Peterson, everything is in the bag.

The mister is going, too.

You and me can get married.

- No.

- Don't you like it? Well, then move!

Say more, say like she does.

"I love thee. Lena, I love thee."

Now, put your arms around my neck

and say it. Say it!

I love...

No!

- Won't you please do something else?

- Please.

You don't know what this means

to an actress. I'd love to.

But I'm a believer in "always leave them

asking for something more".

Thanks again.

I have to change. I have to catch the train.

You're not catching any train tonight.

Not even if Mr Murdoch rushed you down

in his Stanley steamer.

- But it's only...

- You can't go by that old clock. It's slow.

Is it?

Lt's never been slow before...

Henry, I'm sorry. I just got carried away.

- Guess we both did.

- What time is the train tomorrow?

You can stay over for graduation.

It will be wonderful to have you with us,

won't it, Daddy?

Of course.

We'll be glad to have you here.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Good night. Good night, John.

It was a wonderful party.

As usual, I'm the last to leave.

- Good night, Sara.

- Good night.

- I'm glad you were here, Sara.

- Good night, Henry.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Naomi, you don't have to do that.

- I'm just touching up a little.

Let Lena do it in the morning.

After all, this isn't your...

No, I shouldn't be taking over, should I?

I'm sorry, Henry.

It just seemed the natural thing to do.

This house, late at night,

after all the guests have gone.

Does this still go over there?

Didn't the Tomlins

give this to us for our anniversary?

How can everything seem the same to you?

I'm sorry about missing the train.

Good night, Henry.

Naomi, why did you leave me?

All these years, I've wanted to know.

I promised myself I'd never ask you, but...

Why ask, then?

I didn't know we'd find ourselves

in the same house together.

I thought you were coming up.

- I've taken my things to Lily's room.

- Thank you, Joyce.

- Good night, Henry.

- Good night.

Good night, Dad.

Will you turn off the lights?

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

- LILY:
Mother?

- Come in, angel.

- I thought maybe I'd be too early.

- No.

I can sleep through anything

but not a nest full of birds.

Why all this fancy service?

I brought everything

Lena said you used to like.

Fried ham and four-minute eggs.

I have to watch my figure!

I never take anything but black coffee.

This morning I'm going to sin. And flowers.

You're giving me the real star treatment.

Wait until I've been with you

and know all the other little things.

Been with me... What are you talking about?

Why, don't you know? I'm going with you.

I want to get out of here

just as much as you did.

With the great Naomi Murdoch

introducing me, my career is set.

Lily, you just can't plan this fast.

- Let me give it to you straight...

- I wasn't any good in the play.

Be frank with me, be cruel.

You don't think I can act.

Baby, you were fine. You can act,

probably better than I ever could.

- Mother, then we can do it, can't we?

- Lily.

When you wrote that letter,

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