Christmas Holiday Page #3

Uh huh.

I wish you could see him, Mother.

He's so wonderful.

I'm going to press his suit for him.

Have it all ready when he wakes.

Oh.

What is it?

There's a stain on his trousers.

It's his new suit. He'll be furious.

Take Robert up his coffee, Abigail.

It's time he woke.

Oh, but he likes to have it here

with me. He'll be down in a minute.

Take Robert up his coffee.

All right, Mother.

Good morning, Mrs. Manette.

Good morning, Mrs. Manette.

Where's the morning paper, Mother?

There's nothing in it.

Just sixteen pages of blank paper?

You know what I mean.

There's nothing.

Nothing?

You're sure?

Absolutely sure.

What's this nothing? Nothing what?

Oh, nothing, nothing, nothing, Abigail.

You should know Mother by now. If she

says there's nothing,

there's nothing.

Oh, you'll have to wear

your blue suit today, Robert.

You've got a stain on your trousers.

You really should be more careful.

We are trying to economize.

He will be more careful, Mother.

I'm sure of it.

Thank you, darling.

What are you doing?

You're not to go through my pockets.

Robert, where did you get

all that money?

Robert.

Well, I'll tell you. I hit

a long shot yesterday.

A sleeper.

They've been keeping it

undercover for months.

I was going to tell you but I...

You promised not to gamble again.

I couldn't miss. It was like

money in the bank.

Less than a month ago

you swore to me and your mother.

Oh, Robert.

I won't do it again. I swear I won't.

I tell you what. You hold on

to this money for me.

If I keep it, it will just

slip through my fingers.

But if you keep it...

-No!

Look, Mother...

I know you mean well. Believe me, I do.

But I'm capable

of handling my own affairs.

Robert!

Go and do your room, Abigail.

We can't leave the rooms

unmade all day, Abigail.

Please go.

Mother.

What's it all about?

What's what all about, Abigail?

This morning about there being

nothing in the paper.

Nothing about what?

And Robert's trousers.

You burned them in the incinerator. Why?

I burned Robert's trousers

in the incinerator?

Now I know what you're talking about.

Remember that old

blue velvet dress of mine?

I'm sorry but I just couldn't stand

to look at it another minute.

Robert's trousers.

I'll go, Mother.

Good evening, lady.

Is this the residence of uh...

Mr. Robert Manette?

I'd like to talk to him, please.

He's not home.

-What is it?

I'm sorry to disturb you, lady.

He wants to see Robert.

What about?

-Nothing important?

I'm his mother.

Anything I can tell him?

You ask him if he has time tomorrow to

call the third precinct station and ask

for Mr. Goulding.

Has anything happened to him?

Has he had an accident?

Lady, if anything had happened to him,

I wouldn't ask him

to give us a ring, would I?

Good night.

Sorry I had to disturb you.

What's he supposed to call up about?

Oh, routine thing.

Don't let it worry you.

Good night.

Why aren't you asleep?

I've been worried about you.

I wish people would stop

worrying about me.

What is it now?

There was a policeman here

to see you right after dinner.

What did he want?

He said it was just a routine thing.

They want you to call the police station

anytime tomorrow.

And ask for Mr. Goulding.

OK.

Robert.

What are you trying to keep from me?

It's nothing.

But Robert, I...

Please, Abigail, it's nothing.

If there's anything wrong.

-Shut up!

Robert.

I didn't want to wake you, darling.

If it's about last night, I, I...

I don't have to tell you

how sorry I am, do I?

You know there isn't anybody that...

Please say you forgive me.

That money.

Where did you really get that money?

Money?

You didn't win it at the races.

You're right.

I didn't win it at the races.

You know how silly Mother is

about banks and

all that cash she keeps in her room..

Well, I got into a jam last week and

there was just no other way

to get out of it.

I see.

Sweetheart...

I know I said it a hundred times

before but this time I mean it.

You'll see. Everything's going to be

different from now on.

Abigail, after all, those people

had to be paid.

I don't believe you.

What about that policeman?

What about those trousers?

Well I...

Mother couldn't get the stain

out of them.

I put on the extra pair.

I took the others to the cleaners.

Robert, I saw your mother burn those

trousers yesterday in the incinerator.

Anybody asks you, I got those trousers

dirty cleaning the car for a friend.

Mother gave them away to a tramp

the day before yesterday.

That's what she's going to say.

And about the money,

if anybody asks you, anybody...

You never saw me with that money.

You never knew I had it.

My life may depend upon it.

Abigail...

If you ever loved me...

I'll always love you.

It must have been awful.

If there's anything I can do.

No. Thank you.

You're a nice guy, lieutenant.

Thanks.

You better get back

to your hotel, it's late.

How are you going to get home?

Nights like this, I don't.

I stay here or some other restaurant

until the buses

start running again at 7.

I'm not going to let you

stay here alone.

I won't be alone.

There's Al and people keep dropping in.

You run along, lieutenant.

I'll get you a room at my hotel.

Not a chance.

They might let me stay in the lobby but

this is every bit as good.

I'll get you a room.

Good night, Al.

-Good night, Jackie.

Well, this is your room here.

Thanks.

Where are you going to sleep?

In there.

No.

You use the bedroom. It's your suite.

I really wish you wouldn't

argue about it.

I'm not.

I suppose you have a pillow

and some kind of a blanket.

Look, I'm tired.

-So am I.

I'm very tired.

This is much nicer than sitting up

all night in a coffee shop.

I'm really grateful to you.

I still think you ought to

sleep in there.

Look, lieutenant...

In my own little way, I'm just as much a

gentleman as you are.

Please let me stay here.

All right.

Hello.

Yes, this is Lieutenant Mason speaking.

Oh, I see.

Well, suppose it clears up.

Do you think there's a chance

that sometime today...

Thank you.

Yes, I'll stay right by the phone.

Thanks.

Good morning, lieutenant.

Good morning.

Sleep well?

I slept like a log.

It was a good idea ordering breakfast.

I always think it's a nice way to begin

a morning myself.

Do you think it will ever stop raining?

They have an answer for that in Vermont.

"It always has", they say.

I guess.

What's she like?

Huh?

This other guy. Where did she meet him?

Who?

Mona.

I hope she knows what she's doing.

I doubt it.

What are you talking about?

You shouldn't leave telegrams around

if you don't expect other people

to read them, lieutenant.

You don't want to talk about it, huh?

It's something I'll have to

take care of myself

when I get back to San Francisco.

Look lieutenant, you don't want

to do anything foolish.

I'm not going to do anything foolish.

What is there about pacing

back and forth

like a caged lion that makes a man

feel better.

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