Dinner at Eight Page #9

You know how people are.

They say it's just like home to them.

They're coming in tomorrow.

Is that right, Mr. Hatfield?

- Yes. Tomorrow afternoon.

- There you are.

Under the circumstances, I'm afraid that

we shall have to ask you for these rooms.

What other rooms can you give me?

That's just the trouble,

you see, we're so terribly full up.

The horse show and...

Mr. Hatfield, is there any place

that we can put Mr. Renault?

- I'm afraid not, Mr. Fitch.

- It's quite all right.

As a matter of fact...

I was just about to notify your office

I was leaving.

Some friends of mine, private car...

Palm Beach.

- When would you want me to...

- There's no hurry.

Shall we say noon tomorrow, Mr. Renault?

- Sure. Good night.

- Thank you very much.

So sorry to have

inconvenienced you in this way.

Ed.

Ed, where are you?

I'm coming.

- She's got music.

- I hear it.

- Now, Ed, it isn't going to be so terrible.

- Not so terrible?

Get into this uniform to meet a bunch

of fatheads I don't want to know...

and miss that Greta Garbo picture

I've been waiting for, for two months.

What's your idea of terrible?

Don't you want to meet Larry Renault?

That's better than going to a movie.

- That has-been.

- And Carlotta Vance.

And Jenny Lind. Is she coming?

Now, Ed, Millie's done

a lot of things for us.

Helps me with my clothes.

Besides, who can you get at 6:45

but relatives?

All right. I'm a relative and I'm here.

Come on. Let's get it over with.

- Be careful of the steps.

- I know.

That's very nice, but do you mind?

Not quite so loud.

There will be people in there

talking, you know.

Thank you.

Hello, Ed, hello, Hattie.

Where's Oliver?

Upstairs. He's got a headache

or something.

Me, too.

- How nice. So lovely to see you.

- How are you, Mrs. Jordan?

- You know Mrs. Packard, I believe.

- Of course. How lovely of you to come.

- So nice of you to ask us, I'm sure.

- Mrs. Packard, may I present my cousins...

Mr. And Mrs. Loomis. Mr. Packard.

- I'm pleased to meet you, I'm sure.

- How do you do, Mr. And Mrs. Loomis?

You know, for a minute there

I had you wrong.

I figured that maybe you were Ferncliffe.

You're close. I'm pinch-hitting for him.

What's the matter?

I'm so sorry to disappoint you...

but Lord Ferncliffe was taken frightfully

ill with neuritis this afternoon.

I am so sorry.

Do you mean to say

that Ferncliffe won't be here?

Yes. Isn't it terrible?

They had to rush him off to Florida.

I don't care for Florida. Do you?

Have you ever been to Florida?

I love it. We're not going down this winter.

- Are you?

- I don't know.

Are we going to Florida

this winter, sweetheart?

I wouldn't count on it if I were you.

I'll miss it so.

It's so wonderful to have nothing to do,

just to lie all day in the sun.

Yes, but you've got to be awful careful

that you don't get blistered.

You know, my skin's terribly delicate,

and I don't dare expose it.

Pardon me.

- Hello, Lucy.

- Hello, Millicent.

- My, you look charming.

- Lucy, you know everyone, don't you?

- Hello.

- Glad to see you.

Haven't seen you around the house lately.

What's the matter?

Did the patient get well on you?

She's getting along very well without me,

aren't you, Mrs. Packard?

I get along better

when you're looking after me.

Millicent, darling.

Do forgive me. I had to bring him.

He wouldn't stay at home.

He cried and he cried. Didn't you, Tarzan?

Isn't he sweet?

Carlotta, you know Mrs. Talbot, don't you?

And my cousin, Mrs. Loomis.

What do you think of Bunny Ferncliffe?

Dashing off to Florida

and ruining your whole dinner party.

You know, I went to the hotel

and found his telegram.

"Off on a fishing trip. Love your America.

"Never felt better in my life.

"Caroline and I want you to join us.

Wire Palm Beach. Bunny. "

Isn't Bunny a swine?

I'd rather go away in the winter

than in the summer.

I love New York in the summer.

Where's Paula?

I'm just dying to see her again.

Ernest came back tonight.

They're in the library talking.

They're going to be married, you know?

Ernest DeGraff.

DeGraff?

I think I knew his father. I did.

I think I'll barge along...

and talk to Paula alone in the library.

My dear. You poor little man.

You look so lonely. Here.

Tarzan will keep you company.

And then I had a little time,

so I went to Budapest.

Say, there's a place we've got to go

on our honeymoon.

Ernest, while you've been away,

there's something...

There you are, you two turtledoves!

- Paula.

- Carlotta.

And this is Ernest! I'm Carlotta Vance.

And don't tell me that your grandfather

saw me when he was a boy.

How did you know that I was Ernest?

I can tell an Ernest 20 feet off.

Do you suppose you two could stop

billing and cooing just long enough...

for me to have a little word with Paula?

All right. The next billing and cooing

will take place at 8:45.

Dear. He's charming, isn't he?

So like his father.

I hope he'll be as generous.

Why haven't you been to see me, Paula?

- I'm at the Versailles.

- The Versailles.

Yes, of course. I must come.

That's on East 48th Street, isn't it?

Not quite. East 53rd Street, I believe.

Yes, I was thinking of something else.

Yes, I suppose you were.

You know, I'm on the eighth floor.

Curiously enough,

just down the hall from...

You've seen me, then.

What of it? I'm not ashamed.

- No, dear.

- Go ahead. Tell Mother.

I'm going to tell her myself.

It's funny. I should think

at least you would understand.

I haven't said I don't understand.

Do you? Then for heaven's sake, help me.

Talk to Father for me, will you?

You can help me.

I'm sorry. I can't.

Not now.

All right. You want me to give him up.

I won't.

You're just like all the rest

of the old people.

I'm sure I am, but...

You think you know what's best

because you're old.

You think you can tell me

what to do with my life.

You can't, because it's my life.

I'm young. I've got a right

to go to the man I love.

I'm sure you have, dear, but...

But what? What could you possibly say

that could keep me from going to him?

Simply that he's killed himself.

That's not so.

It can't be.

They found him

just as I was starting to come here.

Poor Paula. I'm so sorry.

- Where are you going?

- To him.

No. Listen, Paula.

I realize that I'm an old woman...

and young people have a right to do

what they want...

but at this time

I think you should consider someone else.

Your father.

My poor Larry. He's dead, Carlotta.

And nothing can be done.

That's the unfortunate thing about death.

It's so terribly final.

Even the young can't do anything about it.

Really. Listen, darling.

Don't.

Paula, listen.

I wonder what's keeping Oliver.

What would you say he's missed...

by not being in this room

the last 10 minutes?

I don't know.

I guess German pictures are all right

if you like German pictures.

Say, Mrs. Talbot, I've just been talking

with your husband...

and I find that we have a lot in common.

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