From the Terrace Page #8

I'll take those, Mr. Eaton.

They usually go under the stairs...

but we're getting new shelves.

You hear that, Dad?

I heard. I know.

I haven't finished them yet.

This is the den...

but as you see,

it's as much office as den.

I'll go get Mother.

Be down in a minute.

I'd never seen a mine

before last Monday.

This one of yours?

Yes. That's number four.

Dad wanted to call it

the Natalie...

but he was overruled.

This one's number one.

It's the oldest, but

number four is our pride and joy.

When built, it was the most electrified

colliery in the world.

Hmm.

This is my favorite room

in the whole house.

I used to come here

and do my homework.

Especially your arithmetic.

Why do you say that?

So your father could help you.

No. I was very good in arithmetic...

but he did help me

with everything else.

He'll help you

with a drink in a second.

I'm in no hurry for one.

Tell me...

Yes?

How does it feel

to be someone like you...

blooming in a coal

town like this?

Do you really want to know?

Mm-hmm.

Well, I love it here.

When the mountains

are covered with laurel or snow...

there's something

so beautiful about them.

And the people, too.

The miners.

The old ones,

not the young.

I've been in so many

of their homes.

Not much time

left to them.

Not much to show

for working hard all their lives...

yet they have such

dignity and wisdom...

sorrow and pride.

Oh, Mother,

this is Mr. Eaton.

Good evening.

It's nice of you to come.

You're kind to have me.

Why is everyone standing around?

Let's have a drink.

Nothing for me, dear.

Nor me, Dad.

What's wrong with you people?

Mr. Eaton?

Straight scotch is fine.

That's my boy.

Only one drink now.

We don't want

our steak ruined.

Welcome to our city.

Welcome to our home.

And all that's beautiful in it.

I guess we live closer

to basic instincts here...

than some other regions

I could name.

These miners are

a pretty hard-bitten lot.

Sometimes they start home

a little drunk...

fall down an air shaft...

get bitten by a rattlesnake...

drown in a dam.

Yet I have to say

I can't blame the men...

[Clock Chimes]

Goodness, I had no idea.

Well, I can finish this tomorrow.

Coming to bed?

Maybe I'm a softie...

baby the men too much, but...

Good night, Mr. Eaton.

Good night.

Thank you very much.

We enjoyed having you.

I might as well say

good night, too.

Nat, would you keep

Mr. Eaton company for a minute?

Mother has a heart condition.

She never stays up

later than 10:
00.

What do you do

with your time...

or do you have

a heart condition, too?

No, I have no particular

heart condition...

of either kind.

I do welfare work, gardening,

go to the movies...

the usual.

Would you go to the movies

with me sometime?

No.

'Cause I'm married?

That's a pretty good reason...

at least in Mountain City.

How about going to the movies

with me in Philadelphia?

Mr. Eaton, you probably have

a very nice wife.

I suppose you're angry

because I asked you.

No. I consider it

a compliment.

I hope you do.

You're the first person I've asked out

since I've been married.

Thank you.

There's some other things...

I really don't want to encourage

this conversation.

Mother all right, Dad?

Oh, yes.

I had some things to tell her.

I won't be seeing her in the morning.

I guess I'll be wandering along.

Natalie's having some people

for dinner Saturday.

It'd be nice if you came, too.

I don't think Mr. Eaton

would enjoy himself.

It's just our bridge club.

I'll take a rain check.

Another time.

That would be better.

All right...

but we hope you'll come back

for dinner sometime.

Good night, Mr. Eaton.

Good night, sir.

Good night.

Good night.

[Telephone Rings]

Hello.

Hello.

Natalie?

I was just thinking about you.

What were you thinking?

I'm glad you did the right thing.

You said no and...

turned me out

into the cold and lonely night.

Don't.

You saved me

from making a big mistake.

Maybe it was I

who made the mistake.

What do you mean?

I don't know.

I'm not sure. Are you?

No.

There's a drive-in movie

just outside of town.

The last show starts at 9:30.

Yes?

Tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night.

The last row of cars.

Ayellow Plymouth convertible...

slightly covered with coal dust.

We're probably making

a big mistake.

You know that, don't you?

Yes.

I know.

Good night.

Good night.

Hello.

Hello.

I guess we're the only two people

watching the movie.

You know something?

What?

I don't even know

your first name.

Actually, it's David.

David Alfred Eaton.

See, I liked David,

and my father liked Alfred...

so it was Alfred.

May I call you David?

If you like.

[Movie Music Stops]

Do you believe in love

at first sight?

No.

Neither do I.

I believe in confusion.

Yes.

A man walks around in a desert

all his life looking for water.

All he ever finds is sand.

I didn't know you were

lost in the desert.

I didn't know it either...

until last night.

I walked into a house

where there was warmth...

that didn't come from radiators.

I saw your mother and father,

and I saw you.

You're lonely.

You're away from home, that's all.

No. In one evening...

my whole life

seemed to change.

I know it sounds ridiculous...

but you made me feel...

like I'd been cheated

out of something all my life.

It's funny...

That movie out there

doesn't seem so bad...

with the sound turned off.

In other words,

you'd like me to shut up.

No. I'd like you to do

much more than that.

Now you've got me

lost in the desert.

I guess we're all out here...

searching.

Even your wife?

I didn't sleep very well

last night after I left you...

and now many things

seem clearer to me.

I don't know if you're

still in love with your wife...

but I do know that you haven't

given up on your marriage.

I know if we stop now,

we'll never do injury to anyone...

except possibly ourselves.

"I want to say goodbye...

"but not in a letter.

So I'll have to see you

one last time."

[Car Approaches]

Sure it's all right?

What?

Oh, I don't know.

Our cars being parked

so close together?

Nobody uses this road.

In fact, nobody knows this place...

except wild rabbits and squirrels...

chipmunks and field mice...

and birds and butterflies and...

falling leaves.

Which one of those are you?

I don't know.

A squirrel, perhaps, or...

maybe just a coward.

I saved your letter.

You know, I realize

something now, David.

What?

It was the proper

way to say goodbye.

The only way.

Natalie.

Yes?

Look at me.

You know something?

Even if we never

see each other again...

something very good

has happened...

'cause you'll know

for the rest of your life that...

just the sight of you...

just the sound of your voice...

created a feeling in me

that was so strong...

that I couldn't treat it

as polite conversation...

or with silence.

And I...

I'll always remember a...

a sad, lonely,

searching young man...

who passed through my life

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