Come September Page #2

...Benedictus sanctus...

Why Is she praying?

A friend of hers, a very fine chap,

Is passing through a severe crisis.

- Well, I hope he makes it

- No more than I do.

I'll take your rooms to your bag.

"La Dolce Vista"?

Must be a new one.

- Hello

- Just get here?

- Yes.

- You'll like it

- What's that?

- Girls.

I know. Whatre they doing here?

Sir, if you could have seen them.

Students on tour In a strange land,

their tiny bus disabled.

Theyll be gone In the morning.

Theyre staying here tonight?

I know I should have turned them away,

but the quality of mercy's not strained.

It's being strained right now.

Why not send them to a hotel?

There Isnt a vacant In town. But

if you Insist, I'll tell them to leave.

Well, they have to go somewhere.

What about this new place?

La Dolce Vista.

- Full up, sir.

- Well, they cant stay here.

- Check around and find something.

- Yes, sir.

Maurice

Oh, we had a splendid hike.

Quite exhilarating.

Miss Allison, Miss Stevens.

Mr. Talbot

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- HI.

- Miss Allison is the girls' chaperone.

- Where's Cedric?

- I had him carried up to your bedroom.

- Oh, splendid?

- Err... Who's Cedric?

- Miss Allison's parakeet.

- This is such a lovely place.

And the view from the terrace

quite breath-taking.

Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me.

Maurice, make the ladies comfortable.

Well, really

He acts as though he owns the place.

- I was hoping he'd be better this year.

- What's wrong with him?

This is a story

I wish I didn't have to tell.

Years ago, his family owned this place.

There were financial reverses,

they lost it

- That's when you bought it

- Yes.

Then the war came along. He was standing

sentry duty at an ammunition dump.

- Blew up.

- Really?

- It left him traumatised.

- You will not look at him?.

No, It's like looking at

a magnificent castle, with a weak tower.

Isn't it dangerous

to have him roaming in the house?

No, no, no. He's absolutely harmless

except for one small mental quirk

He thinks he still owns the place.

I let him come every year to stay

a while. It seems to calm his nerves.

If he says something unusual,

just play along.

- What an Interesting case history.

- Has he any money?

Only his government pension.

Naturally, I do what I can.

Oh, Maurice I think

that's why I'm so fond of you.

You're always thinking of others.

I think a psychiatrist

would help him.

Undoubtedly.

But It's none of your affair.

Sandy's a major In psychology.

She's quite a fanatic on the subject

- Dear child.

- Maurice.

- Have these shined, will you?

- Yes, sir.

- Draw my bath. Lay out my clothes.

- Yes, sir.

- Analysis would help him.

- Or good talking to.

He may be shell-shocked,

but he's not helpless.

The ideal treating you

as if you were his servant

Hello.

Hello.

- Mr. Talbot?

- Have you owned this place very long?

- Quite some time.

- You must be very proud of it

- Yes, I am.

Unfortunately, since the war, I've only

been able to come here once a year.

- It must have been a terrible war.

- They usually are.

Yes... I'd like to talk to you

about it some time.

- About what?

- The war.

- The war?

- Yes.

I have a feeling I can help.

I doubt it

It's over.

- What are you doing?

- You told me to lay out...

All right, I'll do it. Get on the phone

and find a place for those women. - Yes, Sir.

Come In.

- Mr. Talbot?

- Yes.

- I was wondering if we could talk now?

- I'm...

Please, It's terribly important

Why dont you sit down?

No, no, not there. On the couch.

What do you mean?

Now try and relax. Lie down.

- Lie down?

- It's for your own good.

There.

Really, Mr. Talbot

You must try and relax.

Now. Where would you like to begin?

I really don't know.

Where would you suggest?

Well...

Let's start with... the war.

That war really... bothers you,

doesn't it?

You were In the Army.

I thought I was In the Navy.

No, you were In the Army.

Standing sentry duty...

at an ammunition dump

that blew up.

Do you remember that?

All I remember Is

being officer In a PT boat.

Dont you see? Thats your subconscious

substituting fantasy for fact.

Look...

Thats why you think

you own this place.

Don't I?

No. Really, Mr. Talbot

You must face reality.

Your family lost this house,

Mr. Cavell bought it,

turned it Into a hotel.

- A hotel?

- La Dolce Vista?

- That's right.

- People pay him to stay here?

- Yes.

It's a hotel.

You don't know how happy

you've made me. I knew I could help you.

Oh, you have.

Suddenly, all the pieces

have fallen Into place.

Mr. Cavell will be so thrilled

you've recovered.

- I'll go tell him.

- No, no, no.

Let me tell him.

You can tell Maria to stop praying.

Her friend didn't survive the crisis.

Excuse me. I have some duties.

A major-domo's day Is never done.

Yours Is.

Don't think of your self as a major-domo.

More like a sentry

at an ammunition dump

that's about to blow up.

- Your room or mine?

- Yours.

- You're a thief.

- Yes, sir.

- And a liar.

- Yes, sir.

Completely untrustworthy.

Thief and a liar, yes.

But not untrustworthy.

I really don't think this is the proper time

to talk the matter out

Not while your mind is bristling

with negative thoughts.

I havent even begun to bristle.

- Turning my house Into a hotel.

- How easy for you to say "my house".

- You're never here.

- What's that to do with it?

When her windows are stuck do you care?

No, you're In New York

I, Maurice, have to unstick them.

On a cold night when

her radiators knock are you here?

No, I have to warm them up.

And when her plumbing goes out

who's there to unclog her? Maurice.

You're like a husband who's only

with his wife one month a year.

It's the man who's with her the rest

of the year deserves the credit

Well, I dont care for

what youve turned my wife Into.

- What have I done with the profit?

- That's a good question.

Painted her. Put In a new garden wall,

a fountain, a patio.

- I even replenished the wine cellar.

- Not to mention your wallet.

Any personal gain

was of secondary importance.

Your smile of appreciation

when you came here every year.

That was my real... my real reward.

Tell your guests

to find themselves another hotel.

As for you and your accomplices,

pack your bags and leave in the morning.

Sir, I wish you'd sleep

on that decision.

Tomorrow, we'll probably both

laugh about this matter.

We might both be laughing.

But not In the same house.

Sir, may I please ask one last favor?

Margaret, the chaperone. She's been

coming with tourists for some time.

We've become rather close,

even made plans for the future.

She thinks I'm the owner.

Will you please let me explain it to her

In my own way?

All right. But I have the feeling

I'm not doing Margaret any favor.

Thank you. I'll talk to her right away.

We should be leaving in about half an hour to

pick up Ms. Fellini at the station.

I'll pick her up my self.

Please, sir. As long as I'm here,

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