Four Daughters Page #7

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Philadelphia, studying

for that scholarship.

And please, I've heard all

the jokes about Philadelphia.

But you're going so suddenly, Kay.

Well, I .. I decided it was about

time I got serious about my work.

Say.

What has got into my family?

Well, I think I ought

to propose a toast.

Come on everybody.

Let's drink to the happy couple.

This is for you, Ann.

Oh, thank you.

Happiness, Ann.

If you'd bury your head

in my shoulder ..

There'd be less chance of those

people out there hearing you.

I can't help it, aunt Etta.

I love Felix, you know.

Ah,, somebody else will come along.

No.

Oh yes they will. In about six months.

That's the usual time.

Now don't contradict me, Emma.

I know all about these things.

Being a spinster.

Emma, Emma!

Emma, you haven't even ..

Why Emma, darling. What's the matter?

Oh you mustn't feel like this.

I'm not going away, I'm going

to stay right here with you.

Nothing is going to chance

for us, really it isn't.

I know, dear.

It's just that I ..

I bet you thought I'd never marry.

I didn't think I would, either,

but we're all going to.

We'll have housefuls of

children. All violin players.

Emma, you like Felix don't you?

Of course she does. We all do.

It's just Emma can't get used to the

idea of losing the baby of the family.

Any more than I can.

Oh come girls, pull yourselves

together and help me with the coffee.

Aunt Etta is right.

I'm just being silly, Ann.

Come on, let's get this ..

Emma.

I won't marry him if

you don't want me to.

We'll still be the old Lemp

girls with our tortoiseshell cat.

No .. no.

There isn't anything I wouldn't

do to make you happy, Emma.

Of course, dear. I know that.

Really Ann, they're all going to begin

to wonder what's happened to us.

You sure it isn't because it's Felix?

I mean.

You've never seemed to like

him as well as the rest of us.

But really Emma he's awfully

sweet and such fun.

After we're married,

you'll learn to love him.

Ann, stop chattering.

If we don't get some of this

coffee in to those people in there ..

Nobody is going to love anybody.

Come along, now.

You take the plates

and I'll pour the coffee.

Thank goodness there is one

steady hand in the family anyway.

Ooh!

Well, the coffee wasn't any good anyway

And just because I'm .. I'm ..

Well that's no reason I've to stop

trying to make a human being out of you.

I'm the girl who brought chintz

curtains in your life. I'm not going ..

Must you look so beautiful?

Who, me?

You're getting married. Now a ..

Another dream shot.

If that isn't tough enough ..

But you've got to look like

a convention of angels.

Why must the light hit you just right?

If your nose was shining

and your eyes dull.

Jehoshaphat .. it would

make things easier.

But look at you.

Not a hair on your head out of place.

A girl can't get married without a

permanent. It wouldn't be legal.

Nice work.

My congratulations.

They take a guy in out of the cold, give

him a look at real family, real people.

The old man, aunt Etta.

They throw Ann in his path and let

her get a half-nelson on his heart.

Then .. out in the cold again.

Here is a new lease on the gutter.

Oh Mickey, please listen to me.

Nah ..

You always said it was my fault.

I never put up a battle.

Alright. I'm full of fight now.

Ann, no-one else can have you!

I love you. You hear me?

Please, come to your senses.

Okay.

You see, Ann.

The theory is all cockeyed.

It's no use fighting.

I accept the verdict. What's more,

I'll attend the wedding.

My smile will be just

as brave as Emma's.

Emma .. why should Emma ..?

Why should Emma?

You mean to say you don't know

that Emma is insane about Felix?

Emma in love with Felix?

Mickey, you must be out of your mind.

I guess when you're used to

being on the outside looking in ..

You can see a lot of

things other people can't.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Poor Emma.

That night when you told

everybody, I was watching her.

Her face went as white as a sheet.

She ran out the room.

No.

When she came back her

eyes were red from crying.

That made me feel very close to Emma.

But it wasn't that.

It couldn't have been.

It was because I was

getting married. You see ..

Emma and I have always been so close.

Oh Mickey, I don't believe you.

You're only saying it to frighten me.

Go ahead. Get married.

You'd better go home.

People are waiting.

But it isn't true.

You were lying, weren't you?

Yeah.

That's as good a name for it as any.

Well .. I got to go. Got to pack.

Goodbye, Ann.

Allah be with you.

Goodbye, Mickey.

You go first.

I want to look after you.

Hey, Emma.

Yes, Felix?

What is this, is it a tie or a canoe

paddle? I can't make it out.

When it's in that shape,

it's usually called a cravat.

It is?

Isn't it awful what getting

married will do to you?

Any other day I'd have

a good answer to that.

Well, go to work, Emma.

Whatever it is, tie it for me.

Gosh, I'm jittery.

My fingers have turned to jelly. Feel.

Oh, they're cold.

Say, so are yours.

You know, I should have rented

an outfit instead of having it made.

It would have fit better.

How's it coming?

Wait a minute

It looks alright.

This is the end of my steady job,

isn't it? Uhuh.

Say, isn't that a steal from something?

And a good one.

Hey .. just leave me

enough air to say "I do".

I'm sorry.

Now hold still.

Thanks.

Well, how do I look?

The price tag showing?

No, you look very nice.

Striped trousers. Isn't that symbolic?

Here comes the groom .. the dope ..

Her comes the groom ..

You got 3:
12?

My watch says 3:
08.

What time you got, Adam?

Oh .. 3:
15, Ben.

3:
15.

Excuse me.

What you think's happened?

All girls get the fidgets

on their wedding day.

She probably took a walk to calm down.

I took a walk on my wedding day.

Whatever possessed the

child to do such a thing?

It should take her at

least 15 minutes to dress.

What time did you say you had, Adam?

I told you, Ben. It is 3:15.

I wonder what the hall clock says.

It says for you to put your watch

away and quit acting the pompous fool.

I'm sorry, Thea.

My first wedding.

I could stand a bracer.

[ Doorbell ]

That must be Ann now, Etta.

It's just about time.

It's a messenger boy. A telegram.

No. Never mind. I'll get it.

Ah, the wire we've all been waiting for.

Pioneer furniture company.

Congratulations and our furniture

sale starts Monday. Easy terms.

Oh, Emma.

Emma, it's for you.

Probably from Kay.

What's wrong, Emma?

What's the matter?

It's from Ann. She's ..

She's married Mickey Borden.

Let me see that telegram.

What does it say?

"Dear Emma, you must

break the news to Felix."

"Make him understand

that this is for the best."

"I found out just in time to avoid

making a dreadful mistake."

"Mickey and I will be married

by the time this reaches you."

"Felix will understand and forgive."

Sorry, son.

What are we going to do?

Father.

Ben, why don't you do something?

Don't stand there looking so helpless.

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