Gentleman's Agreement

Aren't you tired?

No. There's so much of it.

Will we live here

all the time, Pop?

Want to?

Sure. I like it.

Why did we always live

in California?

I was born there,

got married there...

...just went right on living there.

Did Mother ever come

to New York?

No. I was here by myself once

for three days.

You still think of her, Tommy?

Sort of.

Not all the time.

Just sometimes.

How old was I

when she died, Pop?

You were four years old.

A long time.

You ever going

to get married again?

Oh, maybe.

Want me to?

I don't care.

I like it fine this way...

...but Grandma says

you're getting tougher...

...to have around the house.

She does, does she?

Any more complaints

from Grandma?

She says

you're too picky and choosy.

Where are we going?

To meet Grandma at Saks.

Hey, Pop, look at that.

What's he supposed to be doing?

That's Atlas carrying the world

on his shoulders.

No kidding? That's what

Grandma says you're doing.

She wishes you'd leave the world

alone a while.

Yeah? Looks like

I'll have to slug Grandma.

Hey, we're late.

Grandma's going to slug us.

Come on.

I love waiting for people.

There's nothing like waiting

for people who are always late.

We're late because I'm carrying

the world on my shoulders.

It's heavy.

You can't walk fast.

Put it down gently

and pay for your son's shoes.

I'll thank you, Tommy,

to keep your mouth shut.

I said he's getting tougher

to have around the house.

How much are shoes in New York?

Better give her ten bucks.

Wish me luck, Ma.

I'm going up to the magazine.

Good luck, Phil. I hope it's

something you want and not far.

It'll be right here.

Otherwise, Minify wouldn't have

gotten us the apartment.

Does Mr. Minify

always tell you what to write?

Don't you ever think up

what to write yourself?

Yeah, I think sometimes

for myself.

I'm late. Have fun.

Boys' shoes?

Fourth floor.

Toy department, please?

Second floor.

Right in there.

Thank you.

Smith's Weekly, please.

Reception room. Sixth floor.

Right in there.

Yes.

I did have an appointment.

I'm sorry.

I have no record of it.

I spoke with his secretary...

...and she said

to come in this morning.

He'll be in

himself in a half hour.

Yes, please?

I have an appointment

with Mr. Minify.

-Name, please?

-Schuyler Green.

Telegram for Mr. Pendleton.

Through the door,

second office to the right.

Schuyler Green

to see Mr. Minify.

Thank you.

Mr. Minify is expecting you.

-Mr. Herman will call for these.

-Janet.

For Mr. Minify.

Follow me, please.

Thanks.

-Yes, please?

-Miss Dettrey's expecting me.

Just a moment, please.

Mr. Green.

Mr. Minify's

on the long distance.

He'll be through in a moment.

Won't you sit down?

Have you seen the last issue?

PHI L:
No. Thank you.

Mr. Green out there yet?

Yes. Mr. Green is here.

Good. I'll be right out.

Come in.

Glad you're here, Green.

This is all right now.

Get it off airmail special.

-Glad to see you. Come on in.

-Thanks.

Sit down.

Finding your way around?

Almost.

Mother and kid like New York?

Fine.

They like the apartment, too.

Probably the last

Manhattan apartment left.

Getting to know people here?

Not yet.

I'm slow about that.

We'll fix that.

How about tonight at my place?

Having a couple girls

and some people.

Thanks. Some other time.

Nonsense. I won't ask again.

Here's the address.

Miss Miller,

don't disturb me for anything.

Tell Mrs. Minify

Mr. Green's coming to dinner.

Now get good and comfortable.

There. Because

I'm going to talk to you...

...for about an hour.

Maybe two.

I've had an idea.

Go into the bar.

-I'd love a martini.

-We'll get you one.

Jessie.

Schuyler Green I've been

telling you about. My wife.

I know Mr. Green. I've

read everything he ever wrote.

You never stop talking.

Get him a drink.

What'll you have?

-A martini.

-Good.

Kathy, this is Mr. Green.

My niece Miss Lacey

and Bill Lacey.

You better clear things up.

Well, Kathy...

Kathy and Bill have been

divorced a couple years.

Calls herself Miss Lacey

and confuses everybody.

All very friendly,

very civilized, and very dumb.

Likes your stuff, though.

Please sit down, Mr. Green.

Bill, get me a drink?

-Same as before all right?

-Just right.

I haven't read

everything you've written...

...but what I have has been...

What do people call

a guy whose name is Schuyler?

Phil.

Good. I don't have

to say Green all the time.

Two hardy last names,

and Schuyler is impossible.

-That bad?

-I wouldn't call a dog Schuyler.

John.

It was my mother's name.

My middle one.

I started signing my stuff

Schuyler Green...

...on the college paper

at Stanford.

It sounded better to me,

I guess, than Philip.

Like Somerset Maugham

instead of William...

...Sinclair Lewis instead of Harry.

Somerset, Sinclair, Schuyler...

all Ss.

Maybe that means something.

Yes.

Do you mind telling

people what you're writing now?

No, not at all.

Well, I'm not writing anything

just now, but...

Let me tell her.

I've asked him to do a series

on anti-Semitism.

Break it wide open. Been wanting

to do it for some time.

Do I get a credit line?

You? For what?

Remember around Christmas

of last year...

...thatJewish schoolteacher

resigning? I was the one...

I knew somebody was after me,

but I forgot who.

John, theJacksons are here.

I'm always stealing ideas

without knowing it, Phil.

That's what keeps

the magazine original.

Funny, your suggesting

the series.

Is it? Why?

Oh, uh...

...lots of reasons.

You make up your mind

too quickly about people.

Women, anyway.

I saw you do it

when you sat down.

As apparent as all that?

You cross-filed and indexed me...

...a little too well bred,

self-confident...

...artificial, a trifle absurd,

typical New York.

No, I didn't have time

for all that.

Yes, you did.

I even left out a few...

...faintly irritating

upper-class manner...

...overbright voice.

All right, all right, I give up.

You win.

I'm sorry.

I couldn't resist it...

...because it's only partly true.

Is this your first trip east?

No, it's not my first trip.

Every other time

I've been here...

...I've had a plane or railroad

or boat ticket for tomorrow.

Are you going to stay?

I think so.

You're getting

a pretty complete story on me.

Now it's your turn.

Well, you know I'm divorced.

I help run a nursery school.

I'm called Miss Lacey.

Do you want just anything?

Just anything.

Dinner.

Dinner?

No reading comics at the table,

Tommy. Put it away.

Oh, let me finish.

I'm right at the end.

No making mysteries

at the table, either, Phil.

Mysteries?

You haven't even mentioned

your assignment.

He wants me to do a series

on anti-Semitism.

You don't sound

very enthusiastic.

I'm not.

Will he insist on your doing it?

Oh, no, he's not that kind

of an editor.

Ma, what do you do to just eggs

to make them taste this way?

Pray over them.

Have a good time last night?

Yeah.

You know, you need new people

as much as you need new places.

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