BUtterfield 8 Page #4

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heard from your daughter in six days?

She's never done such a thing

before without calling.

Something terrible

must have happened.

Why does it have to be bad?

Good things happen too.

Frances, you're my best friend, but...

...I can't talk to you, frankly.

- Why not?

There are things you don't know about.

Nobody should.

- Yes, they should!

- Her father died when she was so little.

If only she'd had a wise father...

...and strong enough to keep her

on the right path!

Once, there was a man I almost married.

The major.

Major Hartley?

Somehow or other,

Gloria didn't like him.

It might have been good for her

if I had.

Anne.

Gloria's a good girl.

Don't worry about her.

But you always say

such impolite things to her.

I say the same to everybody.

I'm a born critic.

There's bad in everything,

but there's good too.

Her good far outweighs the bad.

If she was that bad, you wouldn't

have heard from her in six years.

Do you mind if I kiss you?

You do, and I'll spread an ugly rumor

all around the neighborhood.

She's a real rust bucket.

But she's mine.

A yacht!

- You didn't tell me.

- It doesn't have any Van Goghs in it...

...but I do have two original

copies of P/ayboy magazine.

Let's go aboard and "sail away

for a year and a day...

...to the land of the bong trees".

- The Owl and the Cat.

Come aboard, mate, and sign on.

But I warn you...

...the crew hasn't seen a woman

for three months.

Crazy.

Where are you bound for, captain?

Out of frustration...

...bound for ecstasy.

I've heard a lot about ecstasy.

It's everything they say...

...and more.

If you'd kindly show me to my quarters,

you can lift anchor anytime.

Emily?

Mother!

You should be in bed.

And you should not be in bed.

At least alone.

Now, I can take care of myself.

Which seems to be more

than you can do.

I want to tell you about our family.

- It's 11:
00, and I know all about...

- I'll tell you anyway. Sit down.

I want to make a point.

All right.

We've had sacrifice and cowardice...

...honor and infidelity...

...courage, love...

...deception, confusion, brilliance...

...tragedy.

- Why not just bring the dictionary?

You know what we've never had in the

family since its history's been recorded?

Privacy.

There's not one single,

solitary divorce.

It's my opinion, after 150 years,

we've earned...

...a divorce with a clear conscience.

Tomorrow, I want you

to call Mr. Robinson...

...and instruct him to draw up

the necessary papers...

...and to have them served

forthwith on that...

...worthless,

absentee husband of yours.

- He is not worthless.

- Then why isn't he with you?

Mother, you were ill.

I wanted to look after you.

You wanted to hide from

unpleasantness and the truth.

Somewhere, at this very minute, he's

probably lifting a glass in a bar...

...or some woman's skirt.

And you know it.

Oh, Mother, don't be vulgar!

Vulgarity has its uses.

Anyway, your marriage is over.

Divorce him without delay...

...and start out fresh.

- No.

Never.

This is not pride speaking,

but because I know Wes is good.

- And I love him.

- Oh, nonsense!

Now, Mother...

...you listen to me.

If there's anything wrong with Wes,

we brought it about.

Explain.

Instead of my living his life,

we brought him here to ours.

We handed him a gift-wrapped

package and said:

"Here. Here's your life.

Don't bother to live it yourself".

You presented him with a meaningless

job, all title and no work.

He woke up with energy to burn,

and he started burning it.

But in all the wrong directions:

Liquor, women, defiance.

The more he did it, the more

he had to go on to justify it.

You're not running a mission

for lost egos.

Mother, I'm running a marriage.

Not just through the good days,

but through the bad days too.

Someday Wes is going to find himself.

When he does, I want to be there.

In the meantime?

All I need is patience.

How much have you got left?

I don't know, Mother.

That's what scares me.

I don't know.

You're a magnificent woman, Emily.

Magnificent.

But why don't you fight for him?

A knock-down, drag-out kind of fight.

And give him all the more reason

to run away from me?

Emily...

...where did you ever learn

all this wisdom?

From you, you fool!

That attach case, a man would

love that, wouldn't he?

Any man.

Especially if the right woman

gave it to him.

I know the right woman

and the right man.

Let's buy it.

Good morning.

- Good morning.

- I'd like to see that attach case.

- The one in tan.

- This one?

- Very nice. Can you gift-wrap it?

- Yes, of course.

Would you care to have the initials

put on it in gold?

Excuse me.

- We have a machine that can do it.

- Fine. Thank you.

- What initials, please?

- S.C.

- S.C. Thank you.

- S. C?

Who's S. C?

Steve Carpenter.

- And who's Steve Carpenter?

- A friend of mine.

Out of nowhere.

Completely out of nowhere

comes a friend called "Steve".

It's his birthday.

Every birthday, for 12 years,

I've bought him a present.

Oh, that's grand.

I'm all choked up.

Liggett?

I'm going to have to leave

you today and go see Steve.

Now, look.

I know. "You're

with me, kid. Remember?"

Lt'll be only a moment, ma'am.

Oh, clerk?

I'm Gloria Wandrous. I called to see

if something would be ready today.

- Do you know if it is?

- I have it right here.

Miss Wandrous.

Here it is, miss.

Thank you.

- Do you mind?

- Go right ahead, sir.

Gloria...

...I'm afraid it's your turn

to act like a fool because...

...there's something

I have to tell you.

You act like a man who's expecting

his wife back in town.

How did you know? Today?

I always knew.

Someday.

Here I was, trying

to find a way to...

Look, Gloria, I have to spend

at least tonight with her.

A good night's sleep will

be the best thing for you.

I have Steve to keep me warm.

Don't say things like that.

Mr. Liggett, I can hardly wait

for your call tomorrow.

You won't forget the number?

I'll do my best.

And, Liggett...

...thank you for not calling me...

..."honey" and "babe"

and "dollface" anymore.

I couldn't.

I don't think of you

like that anymore.

Mama?

Darling.

I've been so worried about you.

I know you have been, darling,

and I'm sorry.

- Are you hungry?

- No.

Mama, I want to tell you

what I've been doing.

- No, dear, you don't have to.

- I do.

I've been with a man a whole week.

Let me tell you the truth

for once in my life.

No, please. Please.

We both know what kind

of a girl I've been.

- No, I don't want to hear about it.

- Mama, you have to!

Unless I am honest about yesterday,

how can you believe me today?

Believe what?

I'm different!

Mama, I am different.

Yesterday, it was men,

a whole world full of men...

Let me go! You're hurting me!

Mama, face it!

I was the slut of all time!

If only you'd done that before.

Long ago...

...every time I came home

all soaked through with gin.

I'm sorry.

It's not your fault, Mama.

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