From the Terrace Page #11

Do you want me to?

Oh, David.

I can't bear being

with you any longer...

just talking.

Is there someplace we can go?

No, Natalie.

A hotel?

You wouldn't like that.

No... neither would you.

But arrange it, darling, please.

Busy, busy, busy.

How's the Nassau Investigation going?

Don't you want to wait for my report?

Only if I have to.

Don't worry. You'll get

the whole story tomorrow.

I hear you had a talk

with their test pilot...

a fellow named Kelly?

That's right.

You saved my son's life once.

You might want to do the same...

for his old man.

You skate on thin ice,

you'll get your feet wet.

Weren't you skating

on thin ice last night...

making love in public

to a young lady...

who bears no resemblance

to your wife?

You should be

more careful, Alfred.

Wait a minute. Let's be

a little realistic.

We may want to do

each other a big favor.

Do me a favor.

Get out of the way.

You know as well as I do...

that Mr. MacHardie has

some hidebound notions...

about improper behavior

around here.

Like the improper way...

you tried to turn the Nassau deal

into your own private game?

I got proof I plan to put

before the board tomorrow.

Oh, you wouldn't do that...

because if you do,

you go with me...

You and your plaything.

Why don't you go jump in the lake?

No. That's your specialty.

That's how you got

into this company...

in the first place.

[Doorbell Buzzes]

Sir...

could I interest you...

in a set of the

Encyclopaedia Britannica?

Step right this way, young lady...

and we will discuss the matter.

Thank you.

Oh, darling,

hold on to me.

Don't let me run away.

I almost didn't come.

I turned back twice.

You know, we don't

have to stay here.

We could go for a walk

or out for dinner...

go to the mov...

Champagne?

Come here.

Look.

It's lovely.

You know, I think I'm going

to remember this night...

for all time...

and someday,

when we finally part...

I'll go to Spain...

and live with my memories...

as soon as I see you

getting tired of me.

You'll be too old to travel

when that happens.

I love you...

more than I ever thought

I could love anybody.

I love you, David.

Message from Mr. Duffy.

Get out!

Get more of the girl.

I got plenty.

Let's go.

Come on, let's go!

Why do I feel this...

this kind of death?

Of what?

I don't know.

You were just thinking...

of what your mother and father

would feel...

if they saw one of those

photographs of us.

I wasn't thinking that,

and I won't let you.

Can't keep it out

of your mind forever.

Unless I play ball

with Duffy tomorrow...

you're going to be

undressed in public...

smeared all over the newspapers.

I don't care.

You've got to believe that.

I knew what I was doing.

I've got to accept the consequences,

whatever they are.

Well, I won't let them

do it to you.

Not to me.

If you're going to let

that man blackmail you...

it's to protect your career.

Everything you've

worked for, not me.

You see?

That's the death I feel.

There will always be that uncertainty

for you, won't there?

Why you did it, for whom.

Well, I don't think

I could live with that.

Can't we end

this kind of talk?

You're very close to saying

final things, Natalie.

Maybe they have to be said.

Maybe there never really

was any future for us...

and it took

your friend Mr. Duffy...

to wake us up from the dream.

You know what you're doing,

don't you?

Sending me back to Mary...

and yourself back to Mountain City.

Is that what you want?

Well, if it is...

why don't you say so?

Because the moment I do...

I'll feel that my life is over.

You're trying to force me

to say it, then.

I guess maybe I am.

All right, then...

if that's the way you want it.

Goodbye, Natalie.

Goodbye.

[Door Shuts]

Is something wrong?

Anything you want to unload?

The least I can do is listen.

You know something, Alfred?

You and I could have

such a pleasant relationship...

if you'd just unbend a little.

What kind of relationship?

Whatever we like...

whenever we like it, silly.

Of course, I know there's

no love lost between us, but...

if you'd just stop playing the role...

of the aggrieved husband...

we might have the same

enjoyable relationship...

that a lot of our

married friends have.

Well, I've seen you look at me...

when I knew you wanted me...

and I certainly wanted you.

And you just turned around...

and walked back

in your own bedroom.

I always thought,

"He's such a fool...

such a waste."

Now, wouldn't it be nicer...

if we were friends this way?

Shut up.

You look like an old man

tonight, Alfred.

What's the matter,

is your girlfriend giving you trouble?

I don't want to talk about it.

I hope you haven't been

stringing her along...

and telling her

you were going to get a divorce.

Knowing women, I'm sure

she kept hoping you would...

and now she's angry

because you won't.

I always knew she had no guts.

Well, am I wrong?

Is your girlfriend

holding out on you...

and demanding marriage?

Mary, please.

If it'll do you any good...

you can tell her...

it's not just your boss man

Mr. MacHardie...

who's standing in your way.

You can tell her that

you also have a wife...

who happens to like

her marital arrangement...

and doesn't intend to change it.

Why not?

It gives me status, security...

and a wonderful kind of freedom.

Well, why are you staring at me?

When I think...

of the misery that

we've brought each other...

the wasted years,

betrayals, humiliations...

I'm not blaming you for it.

I guess I did as much as you did...

to destroy whatever

we had between us...

but it's gone now.

It's beyond recovery, dead.

That's all right.

We don't need it.

As a matter of fact...

maybe it would be more

interesting without it.

I'm going to bed now, Alfred.

I'm really

not that bad, remember?

[Doorbell Rings]

Mr. Eaton?

Yeah.

Sign here, please.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Before we hear Mr. Eaton's report...

on the Nassau Aeronautical

Corporation situation...

I have a few words to say...

of a very happy nature.

All right, Henry.

I know you'll forgive me...

for breaking one of our

more tiresome traditions...

if I decorate this stale

but profitable room today...

with the presence

of an attractive young lady.

Gentlemen...

Mrs. Alfred Eaton.

How do you do?

Right over there, Mary.

Mrs. Eaton was let

into our little secret...

several days ago...

and if I may judge

by the look of surprise...

on her husband's face...

she's kept her secret...

better than most women are

considered capable of doing.

Now, Alfred,

I come to something...

which is no secret...

and that is the high esteem...

in which you are held

by this firm.

I speak not only for myself,

but for all my partners.

You have dedicated yourself

to your work...

with a devotion

that might serve...

as an example to all young men...

who aspire to success.

You have sacrificed...

your own pleasures

and pastimes for us.

You have traveled all over

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