All I Desire Page #6

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He spent nearly the whole night

pacing the floor.

Are you trying to tell me

it would be better if I left here right away?

Yes, I really think it would.

Naomi, about the menu for tonight,

I think you would like my wiener schnitzel

with fresh carrots...

NAOMI:
Lt was perfectly delicious.

LENA:
Lt's much better

if you soak it in vinegar overnight.

HENRY:
All right, Lena, you can clear.

- Hi, Russ.

- Hi, Ted.

- Good evening, Russ.

- Good evening, Mrs Murdoch.

- Like a cup of coffee?

- No thanks. Joyce will be...

Say!

- Well, you're looking very lovely tonight.

- Thank you.

- Don't keep her out too late.

- I wouldn't put that in writing, sir.

- Have a good time.

- Good night.

- Don't be too late, Ted.

- I won't.

Tonight, Naomi, I'm afraid

I've got to finish that annual chore,

signing diplomas.

Henry, I've thought it over

and I think it would be best

if I left on the train tonight.

But you can't do that, Naomi.

Sara tells me you're set

for the graduation ceremonies tomorrow.

That doesn't make any difference.

- Joyce said something this afternoon...

- Joyce. Look...

Joyce hasn't planned on having you here

so she's finding it difficult to adjust

to something new.

- Like her father, I guess.

- No, Henry, this is best.

It's only one more day, Naomi.

Frankly, I'd be disappointed

if you weren't there tomorrow.

- You would?

- Mother, shall we tell him now?

Tell me what?

Daddy, I want you to be calm

and reasonable about this.

Ill try not to be impetuous.

- Mother and I have a wonderful plan.

- Lily, I never...

She's taking me to New York,

introduce me to all the important people

in the theatre and get me started.

- I never promised...

- She's only saying that as you'll get mad.

It's a terrible life for a girl.

Believe me, I know!

Naomi, maybe it's better

if Lily does go now,

before she has any bridges to burn.

I learned a long time ago you can't keep

people from doing what they have to do.

- It's up to your mother. If she's willing...

- Daddy, thank you!

Mother, did you hear that? I knew he would.

- Lena!

- Lily. Lily!

Lena. Lena!

I'm going to New York.

I'm gonna be an actress on the stage.

Mr Peterson,

my mother's taking me to New York.

- When did all this happen?

- Just now, can you believe it?

Peterson! You know what?

If she goes and leaves the mister...

maybe we have still to wait a little longer.

- No.

- Yes.

JOYCE:
I hate to go in.

RUSS:
Why should you go in

on a night like this?

- Oh, because it's so late.

- It can't be.

- I've hardly talked to you.

- Whose fault is that?

Yours.

- There's a time and a place for everything.

- You're so right.

- You know, I loved that lake.

- Yes.

- And I loved canoeing with you.

- Yes.

- And I love...

- Yes?

And that's the way

I always want to think of you.

Don't get up for me.

That you, Ted?

A little late, isn't it? Lily's already in bed.

I guess so.

But it's not a school night. Good night.

Ted.

Would you like me to come up

and tuck you into bed?

Gosh, I don't get tucked in bed anymore.

- No, of course you don't. Good night.

- Good night.

- Night, Dad.

- Good night, son.

You forget what you've missed.

You're lucky. I remember.

Now, that I'm here, I remember, too.

But you've had both, Naomi.

Career, success

in the great big outside world,

and marriage, to a little man like me.

I don't know, Henry.

Maybe I never had a career.

Maybe I never knew the man.

It makes you wonder.

Wonder?

We all want things we don't have.

It must've been difficult for you

being married to me.

You were so young, the things you wanted.

I was crazy ever to think a girl like you

could settle into my dull routine.

I know I wasn't patient.

I worried too much

about what people would say.

And I worried too little.

- You've had your compensations.

- Compensations?

No, I don't think so, Henry.

You don't know how unimportant success is

until you've had it...

or what a home means until you've lost it.

I have missed you, Henry.

You and the children.

I've missed you too, Naomi,

when I wasn't hating you.

I didn't think you'd miss me at all.

For a long time I hoped you'd come back.

- Is it too late?

- I don't know.

I don't know.

Where is everybody?

- Big day like today and everybody's lazy.

- Good morning, Lena.

- Good morning.

- Isn't it a wonderful morning?

- It's a wonderful world.

- It's about time.

- Good morning, Theodore.

- Well, hi, Baroness.

I would say the Baroness Barclay

was the most fascinating...

Where are you going?

I've got sense enough

not to waste the day around here.

- It's way past noon now.

- Hi, Ted.

- Good morning, Lena.

- Good morning, Joyce.

Lily. Oh, it's a beautiful day isn't it?

Well, you must have had a good time

last night.

I did. I plead guilty, your honour.

A grand time.

You should spend more time in canoes.

- Good morning, Lena, Lily, Joyce.

- Good morning.

- Smells wonderful. I swear Ill stuff myself.

- I'd have brought you a tray.

Never slept better in my life.

Even those birds couldn't wake me.

- Good morning, Lena.

- Good morning, sir.

Children. Good morning, Naomi.

Good morning, Henry. I hope you slept well.

I believe the expression is

"like a top", or is it "like a log"?

- Like a log.

- Uh-huh. Ted finished already?

We've got a lot to do uptown today

and there isn't much time.

I think maybe we'll find

there's plenty of time.

- Your mother may stay on for a while.

- Wonderful! For how long?

We can have some clothes made.

I've been wondering

what I could wear in New York.

Lily, I may not be going to New York.

- Not going?

- We may be able to persuade your mother

to stay on for quite a long time.

- Even...

- But your promise!

I never promised. I told you that I would try.

What did you say to her?

Lt was you, wasn't it?

And after you gave me permission.

- At least I thought you were honest.

- Lily!

How could you give up everything

that matters?

You let him keep us both in this stuffy town

just because he's stuffy

and old-fashioned himself.

Lily! Ill talk to her.

- Not now, Joyce.

- I won't have her speak to you like that.

- She never did...

- Joyce!

Just sit down and have your breakfast.

I'm sorry, I don't think I'm hungry.

Some mornings

it just doesn't pay to start anything.

Well, at least breakfast

started out to be happy.

Don't worry about the girls.

Something new for them. They'll get over it.

Lily, yes. But Joyce...

Joyce will be happy if I am.

And I am.

(TWO GUNSHOTS)

Stop worrying about the girls.

(SINGLE GUNSHOT)

Naomi, don't go! You can't, not now.

I'm going to stop it once and for all.

Hey, Mum! Mum, up here.

Come on, Nellie.

She's probably looking for us.

- Yes, you're here now, aren't you?

- I'm here for the last time.

- We're through.

- Through?

Henry's letting me stay. It's over between us.

- You're gonna stay and not see me?

- I never want to see you.

Don't ever bother me again.

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