Gentleman's Agreement Page #2

I mean, everybody does,

not just you.

It was a good bunch to start on.

There was a girl,

Minify's niece...

...who suggested that series

on anti-Semitism. Funny.

You don't say.

Why, women will be thinking

next, hmm?

What's anti-Semitism?

-Hmm?

-What's anti-Semitism?

Oh, that's where some people...

...don't like other people

just because they're Jews.

Why? Are they bad?

Some are, sure. Some aren't.

It's like everybody else.

What areJews, anyway?

I mean, exactly.

You remember last week when you

asked me about that big church?

I told you there were

lots of different churches.

Yeah.

The people who go to that church

are called Catholics.

There are people

who go to other churches...

...and they're called Protestants.

There are others who go

to still different ones...

...and they're called Jews...

...only they call their churches

synagogues or temples.

And why don't some people

like those?

Well, that's kind of

a tough one to explain, Tom.

Some people hate Catholics

and some hateJews.

And no one hates us

'cause we're Americans.

Ahem.

Well, no, no. That's, uh...

...that's another thing again.

You can be an American

and a Catholic...

...or an American

and a Protestant...

...or an American and a Jew.

Look, Tom, it's like this.

One thing's your country, see?

Like America...

...or France or Germany or Russia,

all the countries.

The flag, the uniform,

the language is different.

And the airplanes

are marked different?

Differently, that's right.

But the other thing

is religion...

...like theJewish, Catholic,

or Protestant religions.

That hasn't anything to do...

...with the flag, uniform,

or airplanes. Got it?

-Yep.

-Don't get mixed up.

I got it.

Some people are mixed up.

Why?

It's 8:
30.

You'd better get going.

Yeah, yeah, you'll be late.

Finish your milk.

Thanks, Grandma. Bye.

Whew.

That's all right, Phil.

You're always good with him.

That kid's going

to wreck me yet.

Did you and Dad have to go

through this stuff with me?

Of course we did.

Are you very disappointed, Phil?

Yes. I was almost sure...

...he'd hand me

the Stassen story or Washington.

I wasn't looking

for an easy one, Ma...

...but I wanted something

I could make good on.

I'd so like the first one

to be a natural...

...something I know they'd read.

You mean there's enough

anti-Semitism in real life...

...without people reading it?

No, but this one's doomed

before I start.

What could I possibly say

that hasn't been said before?

I don't know.

Maybe it hasn't been said

well enough.

If it had, you wouldn't have had

to explain it to Tommy...

...or your father and I to you.

It would be nice sometime

not to have to explain it...

...to someone like Tommy.

Kids are so decent

to start with.

Home for lunch?

No.

Think I'll take a walk.

You're quite a girl, Ma.

You seem surprised. Why?

I didn't think

you were going to do it.

You have a bad poker face.

I saw you were disappointed

in the assignment...

...the minute I mentioned it.

What changed your mind?

Oh, a couple of things.

I may put my niece

under contract...

...inspiration department.

No, it wasn't that.

It was my kid.

I had to explain it to him.

It was tough.

It's really each house,

each family that decides it.

I want to do it...very much.

I couldn't be more pleased.

I'll need some facts

from your research department.

What?

I'll have to get facts

from your research people.

I've got eighteen hacks

on this magazine...

...who can do this series

with their hands full of facts.

I don't need you for that.

What do you think

I brought you here for?

Use your head.

Go right to the source.

I want some angle,

some compelling lead...

...some dramatic device

to humanize it so it gets read.

You don't want much.

You just want the moon.

With parsley. Suggestion...

...there's a bigger thing to do

than the crackpot story.

It's been done plenty.

It's the wider spread I want...

...the people that would never go

near an anti-Semitic meeting...

...or send a dime

to Gerald L.K. Smith.

All right...

...I'll knock it around.

Give my best

to the research department.

So long.

You don't happen to want

my niece's phone number?

Regent 7-0493.

We're having dinner together.

I always like to go

right to the source.

Fresh coffee, sir?

Oh, thank you.

You're a very flattering

listener.

Well, I've been interested.

No, it's more than that.

Your face takes sides...

...as if you were voting

for and against.

When I told you about

my longing for a nice home...

...you looked happy.

When I told you

about UncleJohn...

...offering to send me to Vassar,

you looked bleak.

How did your parents take it...

...about Mr. Minify

giving you an allowance...

...and pretty clothes

and all the rest?

They said they wanted Jane,

my sister, and me...

...to have the things

that would make us happy.

And did they?

Yes, I think so.

I quit being envious...

...and...snobbish.

I felt right and easy.

Now you're looking

all dubious again.

Oh, please, don't think

I'm just sitting here...

...approving and disapproving.

It's not that.

It's just that...

...Well, I...

We've certainly covered

a lot of ground.

Are you engaged

to anybody now...

...or in love or anything?

Not especially.

Are you?

Not anything.

Dance?

Oh, by the way...

...what was the point

of your ex-husband...

...being asked up to the Minifys'

when you were there?

They trying

to bring you together?

Could be. AuntJessie does it

every once in a while.

Did you ask me to dance?

Oh, Phil, Miss Lacey.

OK.

He'll be right here.

He's still at it.

Hi. How's the big outside world?

Still there?

Everybody having fun?

No, no, I'm fine.

Just wish I were dead,

that's all.

Oh, thanks, Kathy.

I'm in my stubborn streak now.

If it won't budge, I won't.

That's great.

At the rate it's going now...

...do you think you'd like me

with white hair?

I'd think you'd look dandy

with white hair.

I'll be right here,

still trying.

If you don't call, I'd keep

wondering why you don't.

It works out

as an interruption either way.

I'm a working girl myself.

How many interruptions a day

do you want?

I'll thank you to call me

five or six times a day.

It's your fault

I'm in this jam, anyway.

OK. Bye.

Why don't you

take some time off, Phil?

You've been at it

day and night for a week.

You know me.

When I'm like this,

I wouldn't be fun for anybody.

I'm certainly no fun for myself.

No ideas at all yet?

Sure, plenty of ideas,

but they all explode in my face.

They just don't stand up.

The right one

causes a click inside you.

It hasn't happened yet.

Doesn't look like

it's going to, either.

I'm bored

with the whole thing...

...bored with myself,

as a matter of fact.

Do you think I'm losing my grip?

You know, writers do.

Maybe it's my turn.

Better not. You couldn't make

a nickel at anything else.

Thanks. You can go now.

That's a big help.

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