Four Daughters Page #8

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I can't go in and face all those people.

But somebody has got to do something.

I'll take care of it.

I'm sorry Reverend Thompson.

But the family wanted me to speak

for them, to you and to their friends.

"Break the news to Felix."

"Make him understand

that this is for the best."

"A dreadful mistake."

"Mickey and I will be married by .."

Oh this quiet. It hurts my ears.

Only one in my orchestra now, Etta.

Oh cheer up, they'll all

be here for Christmas.

I'm writing to Ann now.

Let's continue, Emma.

But play it louder.

All I ask is a little noise.

Darling.

Huh?

You hate vegetable soup, don't you?

No. I kinda like it.

For my sake, hate it.

Why?

Well, I just discovered something about

myself. I can't make vegetable soup.

Well, could you salvage

something from the vegetables?

An omelet, or a stew or something?

I must have done something wrong.

Those vegetables in the pot.

They disappeared.

Well, anyway we can look forward to the

Christmas dinner your Dad's making us.

I read aunt Etta's letter again.

It gets better with every reading.

In the meantime we'll go down to

Joe's Room and get a bite to eat.

What will you do for money?

We spent the last you had on

a couple of tickets to Briarwood.

I can get rid of something

I don't need anymore.

Yeah? And after that, what?

Well after that, social

security will take care of it.

I'm afraid not.

Although I feel old

enough to be eligible.

I can't make any money orchestrating.

I wish there was something

else I could do.

Nonsense.

A few gray hairs at your temple and

you'd be a wonderful bank president.

Yeah?

I'll bet you'll be glad to get out of

this dungeon for a couple of days.

Oh, it isn't so bad.

Ann.

After all these months.

Do you still love me?

It's only four months. Sure.

You really do?

Get a notary, I'll sign an affidavit.

You still love me?

You must be crazy.

That's a statement that will get you

into the most exclusive insane asylum.

Listen, you wouldn't do so bad

yourself on the entrance exam.

Come on, I'm hungry.

I don't see it.

You don't see it?

Now look, you're at the

piano, I'm at the drums.

Earl here is doubling

on trumpet and sax.

And Sammy is with the fiddle.

I tell you, it's a cinch.

Sure, we can clean up and

have a lot of in the bargain.

Say, there is where you have

lot fun:
South America.

How do you know? You ever been there?

No. But I seen postcards, ain't I.

South America sounds interesting.

Say, what kind of lightning

they got down there?

Lightning?

Oh, there must be Lulus.

You know, that's a topical country.

"Tropical". Topical means right now.

Well, was I wrong?

Say, what's so old-fashioned

about South America?

What is all this?

Wouldn't mind a change.

What the cost to get there?

Now you listen to me, Michael Bogart.

With or without the missus?

Well ..

No snap judgments, now.

With.

With?

Oh, two or three hundred smackers.

Of course you know that's second class.

Well, that's the end of South America.

I was in Washington a year ago,

and walked through the Mint.

That was the first and last time I

ever seen three hundred dollars.

Well, you got anything you could hock?

Well, what do you get

for wives these days?

Well, she'd bring more than the average.

Thank you.

And if one of my three sisters was

a brother you'd all have black eyes.

More coffee?

One check.

It's alright. I want to recapture the

feel of a walk through the Mint again.

Say, Mickey. Try and dig up the dough,

will you. You know we want you with us.

Well.

Goodbye, Mrs Borden.

Goodbye.

Oh yeah. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. Come on, Earl,

Yeah, merry Christmas.

Thanks for paying the bill.

Sure.

Say .. maybe I can wangle three

hundred dollars out of Ben Crowley?

Micky, you'll do no such thing.

It'll be a strictly legal wangle.

I promise to pay 6% and promise to sign

all the papers he shoves in front of me.

You can't Mickey, you can't.

Why not? He's in the family isn't he?

He sneaked in through marriage. We didn't

charge him for it and we don't intend to.

Listen Mickey, unless you promise

you won't speak to Ben, I ..

I won't go home.

Okay, okay.

I promise I won't ask. I'll go further

than that and offer to loan him money.

Here. Have a cigarette.

Thanks.

Now it's my turn to ask you something.

These last four months.

Have you been happy?

I've been closer to it than

I've ever been before.

Then, why do you want to

go to South America?

Perhaps to give its lightning

a chance at me. Only fair.

If you weren't married to me,

if I wasn't around your neck ..

You would get there

somehow, wouldn't you.

A stowaway or something.

As a matter of fact, two can

stow away as cheaply as one.

No, Ann. If I go, I want to

go in some sort of style.

What's up?

I'm wondering .. if I found a wallet

in the street or something like that.

I was just wondering if I'd be a big

enough of a heel to run out on you.

How are you betting?

Nothing I would do would surprise me.

Make that two.

Here we are.

You stick close to me Ann,

will you. I feel kinda funny.

Thanks, Ernest. It was awfully

nice of you to meet us.

All I know is I got my orders.

Oh I see, Emma is bulling you

even before your married.

Something fierce, but it's a

funny thing, I'm thriving on it.

Now wait, Mickey. I want

Ernest to carry all the suitcases.

It puts him in trim to wash the dishes.

Yeah, you see what I mean?

Well, you sure have him under control.

Oh this is nothing, Wait until we're

married. He'll do he cooking then,, too.

Yeah, but will I eat it?

Let me in on this, Ann.

It looks like a good thing.

Hello, Ben.

May I?

Glad you could get here, Mickey.

I'm glad to be here.

Hello Lemp.

Hello, Deitz.

How are you, Ann?

Fine.

Well, how's he been

since he won the prize?

There is no living with him. He walks

about with a check in his lapel ..

And a contract for the Seattle Symphony

Orchestra pinned to his hair.

Shades of Sebastian Bach.

Oh, come along, let's

have some Tom and Jerry.

Boy, do I need that. Was it cold.

Merry Christmas.

Ann, come and see the Christmas tree

Hello, Mickey. Merry Christmas.

Same to you, Felix.

Congratulations on winning the prize.

thanks.

Don't forget that your

orchestrating helped a lot.

Beethoven did his own orchestrating.

He didn't need any help.

He was a musician.

Christmas cheer, Mickey.

Thank you.

Like some, Felix?

Yes, thanks.

Where is Kay? Isn't she here yet?

Poor Kay. Too bad she couldn't make it.

We've a surprise for you.

Kay can't get here.

Why not?

Well, she couldn't be in Briarwood and

sing over the radio at the same time.

Could she?

Oh, aunt Etta.

Oh, is Kay going to sing on the radio?

Tonight at 8:
30 National Network.

And we've already sent her a wire

telling her how wonderful she was.

Isn't that great?

Kay on a national hookup?

Well, what have you got to say now?

I haven't a word to say

until I've had my dinner.

Dinner? That turkey ought

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