Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Page #4

- Shall I tell you something?

- What's that?

For a whole week,

I've been nervous.

No. I don't believe it.

Not about what they'd ultimately feel.

Just about their first reaction.

I thought it was just possible

for the first time in 23 years...

they might let me down

for the first half hour.

You're a phony. You know that?

You're a big phony.

Well...

She's always been

a happy human being.

She laughed out loud

before she was six months old.

She was happy as a baby.

Happy as a little girl.

Happy all through school and college.

But I don't think

I've ever seen her...

quite so happy

as she is right now.

And I have to be happy

for her, Matt.

And I am.

I feel happy for her.

And proud of the fact

that we helped make her.

And whatever happens now,

I feel glad...

that Joey's Joey.

How are you today?

Having a steak fry, huh?

Well, now, there she is.

How are you today?

Wanna give me a lift to Market Street?

Save me a cab.

You know it, doll.

I hope these is better

than the last we had, hotshot.

Lady, don't look at me. I deliver it.

I don't rustle the cattle.

You said to remind you

to open the wine.

Civil rights is one thing.

This here is something else.

I went out on to the terrace.

Oh, I'll never forget it.

It was so beautiful.

It was already dark

and the moon was rising.

I guess I didn't see him at first

because I was looking at the view.

But he was standing there.

Then all of a sudden

he moved or something, and I jumped.

And he just stood there,

looking at me and sort of...

- Ah, you're burning your shirt.

- Oh, yes. Sort of smiling.

"Hello," I said.

"Who are you?"

And I think he thought I was...

you know, attractive.

Anyway, finally, he said...

"Well, do you think

it could possibly matter?"

- And it's just crazy, and I admit it.

- You'd better let me do this.

But 20 minutes later,

I felt I was in love with him.

Mom, how long did it take you

to fall in love with Dad?

Oh, well, nothing like

so long as 20 minutes.

- You mean, is that really true?

- Yes, that's really true.

Oh, Mom.

Joey, I want to ask you something.

How deeply are you and John in...

No, I have no right to ask.

How deeply involved? Do you mean,

have we been to bed together?

I don't mind you asking me that.

We haven't.

He wouldn't.

I don't think he was in doubt

about my feelings, but he wouldn't.

You're burning my shirt.

He's been concerned the whole time

about my getting hurt somehow.

They're still talking.

Wouldn't you think

they'd have said everything by now?

Are you saying they don't have

any special sense of rhythm?

That's right.

But, hell, you can see it.

You can't turn on the television set

without seeing those kids dancing...

and I say the colored kids

are better than the white kids.

But there's an explanation for that.

It's our dancing, and it's our music.

We brought it here.

I mean, you can do the Watusi...

but we are the Watusi,

if you know what I mean.

I remember,

when I was about your age...

my sports editor telling me that Negroes

would never be able to play baseball.

Now, I suppose if he wanted to...

Willie Mays could be elected

mayor of San Francisco.

I own a newspaper,

but I couldn't be elected dogcatcher.

Well, I don't guess

you want to be dogcatcher any more...

than he wants to be

mayor of San Francisco.

No, I suppose that's right.

Doctor, we've talked about

a good many things...

but there's one thing

we haven't talked about.

Have you given any thought to

the problems your children will have?

Yes, and they'll have some.

And we'll have the children.

Otherwise,

you couldn't call it a marriage.

Is that the way Joey feels?

She feels that all of our children will

be president of the United States...

and they'll all have

colorful administrations.

Well, you made her, Mr. Drayton.

I just met her in Hawaii.

But how do you feel

about that problem?

Well, frankly, I think your daughter

is a bit optimistic.

I'd settle

for secretary of state.

Would you think it was some kind

of cowardice if I told you...

that no matter how confident you two are

I'm just a little scared.

No, it wouldn't.

But you never know.

Things are changing.

I have a feeling they're

not changing anywhere else...

as fast as they are

in my own backyard.

Just tell me this.

Don't you think this quick decision...

about how we feel about this thing

is just a little unfair?

In a way, I do.

But it wasn't my idea

that everything be settled so quickly.

Your daughter said

there's no problem.

She says, "My dad is a lifelong fighting

liberal who loathes race prejudice...

and has spent his whole life

fighting against discrimination."

She said, "My parents...

They'll welcome you with open arms."

And I said...

"Oh, I sure want to meet them."

Telephone!

It's Los Angeles!

- Take it in my study.

- Thank you.

- Hello?

- Dr. Prentice?

- Yes, this is he.

- Hello. That you, Little John?

Hi, Dad. What's up, man?

Dr. Graves call again?

Oh, no, it's not that, son.

I just had an idea.

What would you say to us

flying up there to spend the evening?

- This evening?

- We could be up there at 6:30.

I thought maybe we could take you

and your young lady friend for dinner.

- Tell them to come to dinner.

- Just a minute.

- I'm having dinner with her folks.

- Don't be silly.

- Tell them they're invited to dinner.

- Who's that speaking? The young lady?

Yes, that's her.

No, just a minute. You haven't asked

your mother, and there's Tillie.

Won't you come to dinner,

you and Mrs. Prentice?

John and I will meet your plane.

- Stop butting in.

- Who am I talking to? John?

Hi, Dad.

Looks like she wants us

even if you don't. We want to meet her.

- So we'll see you at 6:30. What?

- Oh, no.

- See?

- Your mother says she's pleased.

Oh, hell, he knows that.

All right, son.

- Dad!

- We'll see you later. Bye.

What's the matter?

Mom!

John's father and mother

are coming to dinner.

Oh, good.

- Marvelous.

- We'll meet their plane at 6:30.

Fine.

You'll tell Tillie, won't you?

I told you,

my folks, they don't...

They think

you're a colored girl.

- Why didn't you tell them?

- I was gonna write to them.

What difference does it make?

Do you think they wouldn't come?

Call them back and tell them.

They're gonna know anyway at 6:30

because I'll go with you to meet them.

That's not a good idea.

I'll meet them.

It gives me a chance to explain.

I have to explain.

Why do you keep trying

to dramatize everything?

Look, I've told Pete and Judith that

we'll meet them for a drink at 5:30.

It gives us just enough time

to get to the airport.

She's my best and oldest friend

so you've just got to let them meet you.

Did he tell you

about this medical plan of his?

No. What?

It's the damndest thing

you ever heard of.

They put a whole medical school

on about 20 trucks.

Then they run

into some African country...

pick up the brightest native kids...

hundreds at a time...

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