An American Tragedy Page #2

We might be seen.

Don't go.

I've been trying to get a word with

you ever since you came to the factory.

There's a rule there that says the head

of a department...

can't have anything to do with

a girl that works for him.

Outside, I mean.

- Yes, I know.

But I want you to see me just the same.

Will you?

You know Roberta, this is the happiest

day I ever had in my life!

How about you?

- Me too.

Somebody will see us!

Nobody will see us!

Besides I can't help it!

There's something about a day like this

that makes me want to love somebody!

Any girl would do, I suppose?

Sure!

If she were half as sweet as you are!

Then I might as well start home.

I was just kidding.

I liked you from the start.

It just came over me today

how crazy I am about you.

How will you feel tomorrow?

Crazier still!

You like me, don't you?

Yeah, but what's the good?

What do you mean "what's the good"?

- I'm only a factory hand.

You're Mr. Griffiths nephew.

You get invited to their house and meet

lovely girls with money and education.

There isn't one of them

as nice as you are, Roberta.

You're different now from the way

you are in the factory.

How am I different?

- You always go around looking so cross.

As if you had no use for any of

the girls.

Sometimes when the pressman comes up

to you and you're not expecting it...

you jump and look kind of scared.

I don't do anything of the kind!

- Yes, you do!

But now you really seem happy,

Mr. Griffiths.

I guess you better start

calling me Clyde.

But in the factory it'll have to be

Mr Griffiths, won't it?

Yeah, we'll have to

watch our step there.

That might not be so easy.

I'll tell you what...

if I feel I have to say something like,

"I love you,"

I'll just walk by and say...

"Pretty slow today, Miss Alden."

And that will mean, "I love you"?

And that will mean, "I love you".

If you're thirsty, you better

have some of mine!

I don't know what we're going to do

from now on. It's getting cold and...

it won't be very pleasant walking along

the streets like this every night.

I guess it is getting colder.

I'll soon have to get a heavier coat.

You don't suppose we could go to your

room once in a while, do you?

No...no.

Couldn't do that.

Wouldn't be right.

Besides, someone might see us. You'd

lose your job and I'd lose mine too.

Alright, if you don't want to

you don't have to!

I'm not going to walk the streets

like this every night.

Please Clyde, don't be angry with me!

I'd let you come to my room if I could!

Be easy enough to do if you wanted to.

You don't want to.

I can't, Clyde! I can't!

It wouldn't be right!

Suits me, if that's the way

you feel about it.

Clyde!

Clyde!

Clyde, please don't go!

Please don't go.

Please don't go.

There's nothing to be frightened about.

They won't hear us.

If they find out,

we'll get into trouble!

I don't care.

Bert, I love you so.

I've been crazy about you

ever since I first saw you.

I'm afraid! I've never done anything

like this before!

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Clyde...

promise me you'll never leave me.

Of course I won't, darling

Never?

- Never.

I don't know what I'd do

if you did.

Kill myself, I think.

I'll never leave you, Bert,

Honest, I won't.

Bert...

I swear I'll never leave.

Out walking tonight?

Oh, I beg your pardon.

I thought you were someone else.

Yes, I know you must gave thought

I was someone else, Miss Finchley.

I'm Clyde Griffiths.

- Oh, yes.

I've heard a lot about you

from your cousin.

How did you know my name?

I've seen your picture so often

in the society column.

Oh, you have? Well, I won't detain you

any longer, Mr. Griffiths.

I suppose you're on your way

to see your girl?

I haven't got a girl.

We will have to remedy that!

Can I take you anywhere?

I wasn't going anywhere in particular.

I'm just on my way home.

I'll drop you off on the way.

How do you do?

How do you do?

May I have this dance?

Yes, I have been looking forward

to this.

How do you do, Miss Finchley?

Miss Finchley...

...Miss Finchley...

May I call you Sondra?

How is the potato salad?

How are you?

Here's Sondra now!

She'll be looking to see if you notice

her Parisian dress!

Don't disappoint her!

Hello, Sondra darling!

Late as usual!

Here's Mr. Griffiths!

Take my plate, I'll get another.

Good evening, Mr. Griffiths.

Do you like being here?

I wouldn't have missed this

for the world!

You don't know how I love all this.

This music.

This kind of life!

You left me out!

I haven't stopped thinking about you

since the first time I saw you.

Want a puff?

You are nice when

you're intense like that.

You like gardenias?

- I like everything about you!

What would you do if

I were to give you one?

Would you keep it forever?

- I'd keep it forever!

Well, I think I'll give you one.

Hey, get this!

I don't see anyway out of this

unless you marry me.

That's alright for you, Bert. That fixes

everything for you without any trouble.

But what about me? You know

I haven't got any money.

All I have is my job and if we got

married, they'd find out all about this.

I'd have to go.

- I know, Clyde.

I don't see any other way

out of this.

Why couldn't we get married right away

and keep it a secret for awhile?

I don't want to get married now.

It means too much for me at this time.

I haven't got any money to get married

and I'm not taking a chance with my job.

It isn't your position so much as it's

that society you're running around with.

That's why you don't care

for me anymore.

You don't want to give up

those other people!

You're wrong.

You don't see what the trouble is.

It's my future here.

I want to get someplace first.

If we do this, I'll never get anywhere.

I won't be left this way, Clyde.

I can't.

I can't, I tell you!

I've no one to turn to but you

and you've got to help me!

You can leave me after awhile

if you want to.

I've heard of a lot of this.

I can't stop you from doing that

and I wouldn't want to!

But you can't leave me now!

Please Bert, don't take it like that!

If you could go away by yourself for

awhile and go through this alone...

I could send you the money to do it on,

I know!

You want me to go off all by myself?

Just so you can stay here

and get along?

Marry someone else.

That Finchley girl, maybe.

I won't do it.

It's not fair.

To think that all our love

for each other has come to this.

Alright, Bert. I'll do what you want,

but I can't now. I haven't any money.

Why don't you go up to your family and

I'll save and then we'll get married?

I'll go back home

if you promise to marry me.

Alright, Bert. I promise.

I'm going now.

You'll write me...

won't you, Clyde?

Sure, I will. I can reach you

by telephone too, can't I?

The neighbors have a telephone.

I'll write down the number.

What is it about me

that's so different, Clyde?

What is it about me that's

made you act like this?

Up until a few months ago you were

as nice as any human being could be!

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