Dark Victory

Hello there, is this the house?

I've been trying to get you.

Michael, do you realize

it's 5:
30 in the morning?

- Who is it, Agatha?

- That Michael.

We had a party last night and the last

guest hasn't driven out of the driveway.

Take it. Take it.

Hello? Kitchen.

- Lucy speaking. Yes, Miss Ann.

- Yes, I know. I know.

What's that racket? The telephone's

been ringing all over the house.

I'll talk to him.

Michael, what do you mean

at this unholy hour of the morning?

Well, good morning, Miss Ann.

Cheerful morning, isn't it? I was

wondering if I might talk to Miss Judith.

No, you certainly might not.

She hasn't had two hours' sleep yet.

I wouldn't disturb her for the world.

This is Miss Judith Traherne

of the sleepy Trahernes.

Is it, now? Well, this is Mr. Michael

O'Leary of the wide-awake O'Learys.

You have a cash customer for the colt.

We can get 10,000 if you're quick.

If you mean Challenger,

not 10 and not 20.

My head's just woozy, not vacant.

If you don't mind my saying so,

Miss Judith...

it's better if you take charge

of the ribbons...

and leave the handling

of the horses to me.

I do mind your saying so. I gave you

your orders last night, Michael.

I ought to slap that man's face.

He's impertinent sometimes,

but what can we do?

He's about the best trainer

money can buy.

- I suppose he is. What time is it?

- About 5:
30.

Good morning, Martha.

Hello, Daffy, come on.

- We're going to the stable, Martha.

- Are we?

Couldn't you go back to bed

and get a little sleep?

- Will you get us some coffee, Martha?

- Yes, miss.

Well...

here we go. Come.

- You asleep?

- It's a nice world if we can stay in it.

- What do you mean?

- Better let me drive.

- No!

- Give me that.

I will not.

Good morning, ladies.

- Oh, I managed to get you up, did I?

- Don't be fresh.

I hear you've got the finest horses

in the country.

Least you could do

is let them have a look at you.

Surely if the horses can get up early

to run and jump...

you can get up to watch them.

Michael, really!

- Hello, Judith.

- Hello!

- Hello, Jones!

- We're gonna be killed someday.

- Ann, come here.

- Thanks for the lift.

Take it away, Bob.

- I wouldn't stand for it.

- I won't.

- He's got to be fired. Right now.

- He's going to be.

Thinks he can lead us around

like horses. Ann, fire him.

Me? I'm not the mistress here,

I'm only the secretary.

But, darling, you have the character.

You're always telling me so yourself.

- Judy!

- Hello, everybody.

Good morning, Alec!

- Oh, what a party.

- Glad to see you're still on it.

All ready for tonight.

All I gotta do is change the orchid.

- Good morning, Ann. Nice, sensible Ann.

- Good morning, parasite.

Why not go to bed before

they put you there for good?

Well, now, confidentially,

it's a scheme.

Your man Michael told me

he'd give me a nice fat commission...

if I can get our sweet Carrie

to buy your colt, Challenger.

- Michael?

- And I can use the cash.

- This is the end!

- Judy, darling.

I will take that colt off your hands

if you'll let me have a bargain.

I won't sell the horse,

but I'll sell his trainer.

That's who she really wants to buy,

but he won't even look at her.

- I've never heard of such a thing!

- Judith...

- ...do you want to sell that colt?

- No, I do not! Colonel, dear.

I think you ought to buy him, colonel.

He's a perfect darling.

You can even invite him for tea.

He could play on your front lawn

with your children and your dogs.

He's a love. He whinnies.

Unfortunately, a steeplechaser has to

have more than just a pretty smile.

Colonel Mantle, my father held

that foal up in his arms and said:

"Judy, here's a champion. By Victory..."

"Out of Field Nurse by Man O' War.

Let's call him Challenger."

Catch that horse at the two-mile pole...

with his heart bursting

and he'll fold up on you.

Michael, you might fold up,

and I might fold up...

but that horse has the breeding.

That was for me, I take it.

I told you I wanted to run him.

Where is he?

- He's in his stall having his morning tea.

- Well, go bring him up here.

When I tell you to do something, do it.

Yes, mum.

That head again?

It comes and goes.

- I'll show him if that horse has courage.

- What are you going to do?

Michael...

how long have I had you?

- One month and three days.

- Remind me to think about firing you.

I don't think you'll be firing me.

We're going to get on together.

Just because I called

your little darling a coward...

Someday, you'll learn

that courage is in the blood.

Now, take your little horse

and run along.

Good riding, Judy!

What's the matter with him?

I haven't seen...

- Well, how are you feeling now?

- Oh, fine.

- How's the shoulder?

- All right.

How you escaped being hurt,

I'll never know.

- Ann, do you know something?

- What?

That colt didn't throw me. I threw him.

- What are you talking about?

- You know what happened?

I saw two jumps.

I tried to take him over the wrong jump.

You saw two jumps?

Yes, that's what it was.

It was the ghastliest feeling.

Everything went fuzzy.

Why didn't you tell

Dr. Parsons these things?

Oh, poor old befuddled Parsons.

You know what he always says:

"My dear, you've been staying up

too late smoking."

And the house is always filled

with gangs of people and...

If only he knew what happened

last week at the Colony.

What happened at the Colony?

An old lady was coming through.

I knocked her umbrella out of her hand.

- Why?

- Someone said I was drunk.

Another time, coming out

of Helene's on Park Avenue...

I ran into a woman

with her dog on a leash.

- I ran right into the leash.

- Oh, Judith...!

I didn't hurt the dog,

but the woman was furious.

Confidentially, darling,

this is more than a hangover.

If you don't tell Parsons

these things, I will.

No you won't, Ann.

You're my best and my truest friend,

and you won't tell a soul.

I wouldn't have told you except...

Well, I won't have a dumb animal

blamed for my mistake.

Yes, Elizabeth, what is it?

- Dr. Parsons is here.

- Dr. Par...?

I promised him you'd go to

a specialist about that giddiness.

But I haven't any time for doctors.

Martha, bring my things.

Listen, darling, you may be really ill.

I haven't time to be ill.

It's just some minor nonsense.

Very well.

If you're going up to town, I'm going.

I won't have another tumble

ruin your pretty clothes.

Don't be silly.

I'm perfectly all right alone.

Oh, you're as stubborn as a mule.

- Are we ready?

- She says she's not going.

Thank you, Martha.

Darling, I've got so much to do.

You have the big specialist examine her.

Goodbye, children.

Careful.

No, I'm sorry, Dr. Parsons,

I'm afraid it would be useless.

Dr. Steele has closed

his office, you know.

Permanently. No, he's not coming back.

- You're welcome.

- Sounds good, eh, Wainwright?

- I'm gonna cry in a minute.

- I gotta be out in 45 minutes.

What shall I do

with this case of Dr. Parsons'?

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