Casanova Brown Page #5

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She says will you come

down to the solarium.

It's the first corridor and then to the right.

Didn't it strike you...

I don't say this

just because she's my child, either.

But didn't it strike you that her head

seemed to be a little bit better shaped

than is usual at such an early age?

Oh, there's no question about it.

And it'll be a very lucky family

that gets that child.

- Which way?

- First corridor to the right.

Thank you.

- I beg your pardon.

- Yes?

What did you mean by the family

that gets that child?

I mean the family that gets it for adoption.

Adoption? What adoption?

Why, I thought you understood.

Miss Drury has registered the child

for adoption.

That's why we needed

your medical record.

Who had that fool idea?

Well, I'd hardly describe it as a fool idea.

Our adoption society has accomplished

a great deal of good

by providing comfortable homes.

You mean to tell me you're peddling

my daughter around to some lazy idiot

who hasn't got a family?

Miss Drury's title to the child

is clear and legal.

We've already checked into that.

Well, what about the father?

What's he supposed to do?

Just stand around and dig his toe

in the ground?

Really, Mr. Brown, these are matters

you must take up with Miss Drury.

- Lf you'll excuse me.

- Certainly.

Thank you.

- Gee, you look good.

- Thank you, Cas.

You're looking quite well yourself.

- You're all right?

- Well, yes.

- No complications?

- No, isn't it wonderful?

I was so scared.

I suppose everybody is for the first one.

But everything went right along

according to schedule.

Knock on wood.

I'm so glad.

Did you see the baby?

Did I?

Yes.

I'm awfully sorry to bother you

with all this,

but if it hadn't been

for all that silly red tape, I...

Say, what's the idea

of giving my baby away?

Your baby?

Isn't it?

Technically, yes.

All right, then. What's the idea of giving

my technical baby away?

If you're going to raise your voice, Cas,

I'm afraid I'll have to go back to my room.

I'm not raising my voice.

I just want to know what's the idea.

- Lf you're going to shout...

- I'm not shouting, I...

I'm sorry. I'm excited, that's all.

But what is the idea?

I'm afraid you forget, Cas, that I'm under

no obligation to account to you.

That's over.

What I choose to do with my baby

is my own affair.

Not yours.

Well, that's a fine attitude.

However, suppose you were

getting married again.

Suppose this marriage

meant the chance of a lifetime

for complete and wonderful happiness.

What are you talking about?

Suppose this man idolized you,

even as you loved him,

actually looked upon you with reverence.

Ahead lay

the promise of perfect bliss and peace.

Would you take the chance of destroying

this whole future

by suddenly presenting to him

another man's child?

Great Scott,

are you planning to get married again?

I said "suppose. "

That's ridiculous.

You can't marry anybody.

- And why can't I?

- Because you're a mother.

Well, that's not stopping you.

What are you talking about?

I'm not a mother.

You're a father

and you're getting married again.

- Who told you that?

- I read it in the paper.

- What paper?

- The Rossmore paper. That's what paper.

How did you get a hold

of a Rossmore paper?

What difference does it make?

- It's true, isn't it?

- Yes, but I...

I know all about it.

You're getting married tonight.

- But that's different.

- Oh, is it?

Then how would you like

to go to Madge tonight and say,

"Look, darling,

I've got a little surprise for you. "

And then flash your baby?

- Well, of course...

- All right, that's the way it is with me.

You don't want your happiness spoiled,

neither do I.

You just can't do it, that's all.

You just can't throw that baby away.

And you can't marry that creep

you've dug up.

She'll be happy, Cas.

Happy, with utter strangers?

Oh, well, everybody's a stranger

to a newborn baby.

Don't you understand?

She doesn't know anybody.

She knows us, all right.

That's absurd.

Why didn't you write to me?

- Why didn't you write to me?

- You knew I loved you.

You knew that there was no one else

in the world for me.

No matter how nutty your mother was.

How was I to know, after the way you left?

That fire was an accident, darling,

believe me.

I waited and waited.

Nothing, not a word.

I waited until...

Till it seemed foolish to wait any longer.

So far as I could see, you'd just forgotten.

Forgotten? I've never forgotten.

Don't, Cas, please.

It's true, darling.

You've never left my thoughts

for one single day.

I tried to drive you out, again and again

and again, but I couldn't do it.

I can't forget you.

Please, Cas,

you're in love with someone else.

Me? Who?

You're engaged to be married.

That's right, by george.

Holy mackerel!

Why did you wait so long?

Look, Isabel, before I get out of here,

you've got to do something

about that baby.

Excuse me.

2:
00, Isabel.

Wait just a minute. Please.

If you don't mind.

What will I do? He still loves me.

He still smokes, too.

Did you see Miss Drury?

- Yes, I did, thanks.

- That's good, I'm glad.

I'll tell you a little secret

that ought to make you feel a lot better.

The couple that's coming over to look

at the child are quite well-to-do.

She'll have literally

every care and comfort.

They're coming to look her over.

Well, they want to see her, of course.

What will they do if they don't like her,

throw her back?

They'll like her, all right.

I can promise you that.

She's a beautiful child.

What's he gonna do?

Taking him away from here.

Taking him home.

Excuse me, please. Excuse me, I got to go.

- Please, Doc.

- No, no.

Will you have her back soon, Doctor?

Oh, yes. The mother is going to get a

hydropolytechtomy.

That's too bad.

It's not unusual in septivenous cases.

Hygienic son of a gun, isn't he?

In other words, you never

had the slightest intention

of releasing the child for adoption?

No, I'm afraid not.

You see, I simply couldn't

go to him directly.

I understand, Miss Drury.

But I can hardly pretend to approve.

Changes of heart often happen,

that's only to be expected.

But the deliberate use of the society

in a scheme to inveigle

the father's interest...

But I just had to know.

Don't you see?

Well, it's done now.

I don't suppose it's caused

any actual harm.

Let's hope for the baby's sake

that it hasn't been in vain.

Thank you so much.

As a matter of fact, don't you think

it might make a very appealing picture,

if you were to walk out to him

with the baby in your arms.

Homework, I suppose.

- I hope she's awake.

- I'll go and get her.

Hello? Yes?

Chicago? Yes, he's here.

Chicago calling you.

Hello?

Yes, speaking.

Who?

Oh, Cas. Well, how are you, my boy?

J.J., listen.

I find myself

in an extremely awkward position.

Well, well, well.

I can see that you are not

exaggerating your quandary.

Well, how do you like that?

No kidding! Well, then what did she do?

Listen. Now, what I want

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