Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Page #2

his name.

Mom, it's John Wade Prentice.

Isn't that a lovely name?

John Wade...

Joanna Prentice...

I'll be.

But Mom...

there's something else

that I must tell you...

that John's been concerned about,

very deeply concerned.

He's been worrying for the past week

whether you and Dad would be upset if...

Well, it's about time.

I was wondering where you'd been.

Mom...

this is John.

Doctor Prentice...

I'm so pleased to meet you.

I'm pleased to meet you,

Mrs. Drayton.

I take it Joanna's already busted out

with the big news.

Well, she has told me a good deal

and all very quickly too.

Well, she's only known me

for ten days...

so she can't tell you

when I'm blushing.

That could be another problem

for us.

Mrs. Drayton,

I'm medically qualified...

so I hope you wouldn't

think it presumptuous if I say...

you ought to sit down

before you fall down.

He thinks you're gonna faint

because he's a Negro.

Well...

I don't think

I'm going to faint.

But I'll sit down anyway.

Can't we all sit down?

Well...

I suppose it would be all right

if I said, "My goodness," wouldn't it?

Well, my goodness.

- Do we mind her saying, "My goodness"?

- I don't mind.

What did they say?

Did you tell them about me?

- Yes.

- What'd they say?

They said I sounded serious

and asked if you were pretty.

I said you were.

They said this was a big surprise.

I said it was.

Well, what did they say when you

told them I wasn't a colored girl?

I didn't. It felt like

too big a shock for the telephone.

After all, a lot of people will think

that we're a very shocking pair.

Isn't that right?

I know what you mean.

Tillie's made us some sandwiches.

- Let's go outside.

- Yes, let's.

- Come on, Dr. Prentice.

- I can explain it all in two minutes.

You see, John was invited to lecture

at Hawaii University...

and we met at this big party

at the dean's.

After the party,

we went for a long drive.

- Thank you.

- And since then, we've been together.

We've been swimming every day.

Then John was supposed to fly back to

Los Angeles Saturday to see his parents.

That's where they live.

Thank you, Tillie.

Try one of these.

They're great.

- Do you want some coffee?

- No, thanks. No coffee.

Does your father know

that you're back?

No, I was going to phone him.

Do you think he'd come back early if...

He's coming back early, all right.

He's playing golf with Monsignor Ryan.

That's marvelous.

Then he can meet John

and we can all talk over dinner...

because John has to fly

to New York tonight to see a friend...

at Columbia University.

Then tomorrow night,

he's flying to Geneva...

to do three month's work

for the World Health Organization.

And I intend to fly to Geneva next week

so that we can be married.

And that's the whole situation.

In a nutshell.

Except that he thinks...

that the fact he's a Negro and I'm not

creates a serious problem.

Does he?

I've told him 97 times...

that it wouldn't make the slightest

difference to you or Dad.

But he just wouldn't believe me.

So that's why we're here.

And that's why he's watching you

so closely right now...

while he's pretending

not to watch you at all.

She's absolutely right, Mrs. Drayton.

I'm sorry.

I told her not to spring all this

on you so suddenly.

But... Look,

if your father's coming home...

you could at least say

that I'm somebody you met in Hawaii.

- Now, really?

- Give him a half hour to get adjusted.

But what for?

He still has to be told, doesn't he?

Well, you should make up your minds

because I think I just heard his car.

Mr. Matt.

- Hi. How are you?

- All hell's done broke loose.

- That waste disposal out again?

- It ain't that.

Just remember,

all hell's done broke loose.

- What's happened? Where's Christina?

- She's on the terrace with little Joey.

- With Joey?

- And somebody called Dr. Prentice.

Doctor? There's a doc...

Well, what's wrong?

What's happened? Joey!

Here he comes.

- Daddy! How are you?

- What's happened? What are you doing?

- Tillie said there was a doctor here.

- There is! Dr. John Wade Prentice.

- This is my dad.

- Pleased to meet you.

How are you? Nice to know you.

But what is it?

- Is something wrong?

- There's nothing wrong.

I decided to come home early.

Oh, Dr. Prentice and I

met in Hawaii...

and we flew back in the same plane

this morning.

Oh, well, sit down.

I thought something was really wrong.

Tillie said...

Tillie's behaving very strangely today.

Would you like coffee?

No, thanks. I have a date to play golf

with Monsignor Ryan.

How are you? What's the matter,

you having a chill?

No, darling, I'm fine.

I...

Doctor, where are you practicing?

In San Francisco?

- Sit down.

- No, sir.

I'm just here for one day.

Oh, where is your practice?

Hawaii?

Well, no, not...

I'm not established in any one place.

I'm in tropical medicines, mostly,

in Africa...

these past few years.

Well, that sounds interesting.

Everything about Dr. Prentice

is interesting.

I'm sure it is.

I wish I had more time,

but if you'll excuse me.

Couldn't you be a half hour late

and stay and talk with us?

I'd love to, but I mustn't keep

the Monsignor waiting.

No, I'm gonna be late as it is.

Will I be seeing you later, Doctor?

You certainly will.

Good.

Well, that's good.

Dr. Prentice will be here

for dinner, Matt.

Oh, fine. Then you can tell me

all about the African...

There's a great deal to tell too.

Isn't there, Mom?

Well, fine.

See you all later.

What the hell

is going on here?

- This doesn't make sense either.

- Well, I told you, didn't I?

What'd you tell him?

Look, Chris...

if you don't explain to me

in the next few minutes...

I can explain it, Mr. Drayton.

You can?

Well, let's have it

Well, it's my fault.

You see,

we have sort of a situation here.

Joanna and I didn't just meet

in Hawaii.

We spend a good deal of time

together.

I mean, all the time

after we met.

And, well, we have this problem:

I fell in love with your daughter.

And, as incredible

as it may seem...

she fell in love with me.

And we flew back

to San Francisco...

to see if you or Mrs. Drayton would have

any objections if we got married.

Joanna told her mother

as soon as she walked in...

and I had the stupid idea,

that maybe...

there was some way to...

break this gently.

Daddy, you're making

John and me nervous.

Am I?

Well, I wouldn't want to do that.

I wouldn't want to make anybody nervous.

How about you? Are you nervous?

Sit down, Doctor,

before you make me nervous.

Would anybody like

a cup of coffee?

What did she say

when Joanna told her?

- Did she raise any objections?

- None, so far. There hasn't been time.

What objections?

Dad, I know this is sort of a shock

because it's sudden and unexpected...

and it never occurred to me

that I might fall in love with a Negro.

But I did, and nothing in the world

is gonna change that.

Even if you had any objections,

I wouldn't let him go now if...

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