From the Terrace Page #2

and heavenly rest.

Good night, Alfred.

Sleep as late as you like...

and remember, you're

coming home tomorrow.

Tonight never even happened.

The house looks good.

Yeah. Your mother touched it up

a bit here and there.

You've put on a couple of pounds.

Soft living in the navy.

I suppose you're sleepy.

I was up at quarter to 6:00

this morning.

Not a very good time

to talk now anyway, is it?

No, I guess it isn't.

I guess I'll go upstairs, too...

if it's all right with you.

Father?

Yeah?

Nothing. Good night.

Good night.

She doesn't need you now.

Well, Mr. Alfred, how does it feel

to be home again...

and seeing

your mother and father?

Things don't change, Nellie.

They just get more so.

Huh?

We got ginger ale, seltzer,

and no liquor.

Where's the liquor?

Your father keeps it

under lock and key.

Good night, Mr. Alfred.

Good night.

[Samuel] Even the servants

in your own house...

know about you.

[Martha] I'm tired.

I'm sick. Leave me alone.

I'll leave you alone...

when you tell me

everything I want to know.

Who else saw you together?

Nobody else. Not a soul.

You were in restaurants together.

Never.

Wallowing in filth together!

And I want to know where...

every damn place!

No.

Well, you're going to tell me.

Oh, no, Sam, not tonight.

Please.

Where else did you meet him?

Nowhere else.

Only his house.

You're lying to me.

You were with him

in a hotel room.

All right.

But only once.

You could stay with him

and me the same night?

Yes!

Yes!

Did you think

you're any better...

than one of those sluts

on River Street?

I'm not proud of myself.

Not proud of herself,

she says.

How can you look

at your own son?

I can't.

If that egotistical

little father of yours...

was alive to know about this...

Your son.

Your father.

Your heroes.

I have no heroes...

only some people I love.

You were my hero.

Shut up!

And you drove me to it.

You turned your back on me...

just like you did on Alfred.

I needed love wherever

I could find it.

Love!

You're a pig.

I can't stand the sight of you.

[Door Slams]

Mr. Eaton.

His name is Charles Frolick.

He's a terrible, evil man.

How long has it been going on?

About a year.

She's been trying not to see him...

but he won't let her.

She can't help herself.

Frolick?

Number 22 Walnut Street.

Philadelphia.

Yes, what is it?

Are you Charles Frolick?

I am. What kind

of an hour of the night...

Who the devil are you?

[Woman's Voice]

Charlie!

What do you think

you're doing here?

Uhh!

Charlie!

My name is Alfred Eaton.

Alfred Eaton.

You got that?

Now, you go near my mother

again, I'll kill you.

Charlie?

What's the big idea

of keeping me...

Charlie!

Mr. Alfred down yet?

Mr. Alfred down yet?

He's having breakfast, sir.

There you are, boy.

Watch those eggs, Nellie.

Yes, Mr. Eaton.

Well, how did it feel

sleeping in your own bed?

You mother wanted to buy

a new mattress...

but I said no.

I slept very well.

Thank you.

Well, I didn't.

It's not as easy

as it used to be.

Still, I guess I'm all right

for a man of 57...

considering the way I worked

my tail off during the war.

I might even get

a chance to rest.

We all are, in our business.

Big contracts

canceled months ago...

and now those darn fool workers

are going to strike.

Let them.

There'll be nothing but gas...

in their kids' bellies...

by the time they come back.

Pay them exactly what you want.

What do you care?

I care because I'm against

anybody going on strike...

against me.

You'll know what I feel...

when you come

into the business with me.

Well, I suppose you're thinking

of taking it easy.

Not exactly.

Maybe traveling a bit,

seeing something of the country...

before settling down here.

We got to start thinking

of a club in philadelphia for you.

I doubt I'll be joining a club...

but if I do,

it'll probably be in New York.

New York? What for?

I expect to be spending

some time there.

I thought you were

going to travel.

You said I was going to travel.

I didn't.

My home base

will be in New York.

The hell it will.

The hell it won't!

I guess I don't feel

like having any breakfast.

Tell them in the kitchen

I'm not staying.

Don't you want to hear

what my plans are?

I'm in no hurry to.

I can see you won't do

what I'd hoped...

and you haven't

discussed it with me.

I'd be glad to discuss it.

You want to tell me

to go to the devil...

and take the mill with me.

You've been wanting

to do that all your life.

All I wanted to do

is to be friends with you.

That's what you want,

friendship?

I haven't got a friend

for every 10 years I've lived.

I hoped for that, too.

First, you'll have to show me...

you're a man

I'd want to be friends with.

The job at the mill was yours.

I hoped the friendship

would come out of that.

Would come out of what,

being your errand boy?

You never asked me

what I wanted to do.

Now I'm supposed to go

into the mill to please you.

You'd cripple me for life.

You don't think

I can make it on my own.

You're not big enough

to even walk in my shadow...

and you never will be.

Alfred.

So much shouting

so early in the day...

with the servants around, too.

I guess we're not a very

respectable family, are we?

You must give him time.

For what?

He'll never change.

He might get

used to your ways.

I don't think I have

that much time.

Neither has he.

There's a lot of sadness

and sweetness...

in you, Alfred...

but you can be very cruel

and cold sometimes.

Oh... nice, kind Alfred.

Did I just say something awful?

I'm sorry.

Nothing for you

to be sorry about.

Yes, I did.

What's happened to me?

I used to be nice...

and I don't even remember

what made me change.

Don't be hard on yourself.

I know a lot more

than you think I do.

You're still my mother.

What do you know?

Everything.

Oh, God.

Put your arms

around me, Alfred.

Do you still like me a little?

I love you, Mother.

Even when I'm like this?

You're leaving us,

aren't you, Alfred?

Yes.

Where are you going?

I may stay with Lex porter

in New York a while.

I suppose you'll see the Thorntons.

Fritz Thornton is throwing

a party for Lex tonight...

in Southampton.

The porters and the Thorntons...

are like a second family to you...

but just remember, they're not.

Don't get too independent.

Don't cut off your

own flesh and blood.

Anybody can disappoint you...

if you catch them

at the wrong time...

and that includes you, too, Alfred.

I know I'm not what you think

your mother ought to be.

I'm sorry if it embarrasses you...

and I'm not going

to make any excuses.

Don't worry.

That's not why I'm leaving.

I could feel it last night...

your very first look at me...

down in the driveway.

What am I?

A hopeless drunkard?

They'd rather have me that

than the other thing...

an unfaithful wife.

A pig, he called me.

Well, the drinking

makes a good cover-up...

for a lot of things.

Goodbye now, Mother.

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