Heaven Can Wait Page #10

Miss Nash, to tell you the truth...

I didn't exactly come up here

to be admired as a museum piece.

Now, Jonesy, don't be touchy.

- Yeah. Anyway, Miss Nash -

- Peggy.

Anyway, Peggy...

I'm sure it's a waste of time

to talk of the past...

when the present can be so lovely

that one anticipates a most delightful future.

Oh, thank you, Jonesy.

What a difference.

You know, the moment you meet

somebody of today he says...

"How about it, babe?

Where do we have supper?"

The next moment,

he pulls out a diamond bracelet.

And before you know it

there it is on your wrist.

How crude. How crude.

Yes, very crude.

And let me tell you...

a bracelet hastily presented...

is usually selected hastily...

whereas a bracelet chosen with care -

- Has better stones?

- The very best.

Oh, Jonesy, Jonesy,

you make it all sound so wonderful.

- But how could I explain such a gift to -

- To whom?

Oh. Friend of yours?

Very much so.

- Serious?

- I'm afraid it is.

Is there anything I could do

to make you forget this young man?

Jonesy, you're asking a lot.

Just look at him.

- He seems very young.

- Not too young.

Would it be indiscreet of me

to ask who this young man is?

Come on, Mr. Van Cleve.

Don't you know your own son?

No, I didn't fall into your trap.

You know, Mr. Van Cleve,

girls are awfully smart these days.

It must be rather sad

for the great cavalier of the gay '90s...

to find his technique

is getting rusty.

Yes, I've heard all about

the daring Henry.

I understand

in my mother's day you were.

And I'm sure you had

a very dashing figure.

And now you're a kind of, um...

retired Casanova.

You know, it's always the same with men

when they retire.

Some grow flowers, and, uh...

some grow a tummy.

Miss Nash, my son

means very much to me.

- He means very much to me too.

- How much?

Oh, yes, that's right.

Of course.

In your day girls used to wait...

for the old-fashioned father to come

with the big checkbook to pay off.

I'm sure that happened.

Well, that's one thing

that hasn't changed.

Shall we say... 5,000?

Five thousand?

Oh, Jonesy, you underestimate me.

I'm much worse than that.

To get rid of somebody

as terrible as me is worth -

Well, I'll make you a bargain -

$25,000.

All right.

I'll send you the money.

- Before lunch?

- Before lunch.

Good-bye, Miss Nash.

- You've been perfectly charming.

- And so have you.

- And you hope never to see me again.

- I wouldn't say that.

Miss Nash, now that our problem

has been solved...

I would like to ask

one slight question.

Not that it matters, but I'm just curious

and I would appreciate an honest answer.

I give you my word.

Suppose you didn't know I was Jack's father

and you happened to see me on the street...

or in a restaurant.

This is just an academic question.

How old would you say I am?

Well, I'd say about 50.

- That old?

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- I didn't mean to hurt you.

- Oh, no, no. That's perfectly all right.

- Thanks very much.

- Excuse me, but how old are you?

Fifty.

No wonder you get those headaches.

Thank you, darling.

Martha, this is going to be a bit unpleasant.

I've tried to keep it from you for some time,

but now I think I'd better tell you.

I know.

You don't love me anymore.

Now, darling, don't try to be funny.

It's aboutJack.

Will you please

stop worrying aboutJack?

If he wants to stay out late,

what of it?

If he's ever going to have any fun,

now's the time. Don't spoil it.

Martha, this is serious.

Very, very serious.

I just happened to learn the boy

got into the clutches of a certain girl.

I went to a great deal of trouble -

Believe me, it wasn't easy-

but I managed to find out

who the girl was.

- You mean Peggy Nash?

- Ye -

Where did you -

How did you know?

Oh, I forget.

Someone told me.

You go to lunch,

and you hear things.

Why didn't you tell me? How can you

be so placid about a thing like this?

Darling, why should I excite you?

I know you so well. Certain little things

get you all worked up, and then you don't sleep.

Then you have to take a pill,

and then you don't want to take a pill.

Believe me, Henry,

the less attention you pay to them -

Really, these things

work themselves out.

Oh, Martha, Martha.

That is one of your greatest charms.

After almost 25 years in New York,

you're still the innocent little girl from Kansas.

But, fortunately,

I have had experience with showgirls.

And it's a father's function

to save his son from the mistakes he made.

If we ignore matters like this,

how do you think our boy will end up?

Just like you -with a girl like me.

No, darling, never.

Where would he find

anybody like you?

He couldn't.

He won't be that lucky.

- Aren't you sweet.

- I have no illusions about myself.

Martha, if I hadn't met you

I hate to think where I'd be right now.

Well, probably outside

some stage door...

or even inside the dressing room...

and having a wonderful time.

- Oh, now, darling -

- Come on. Give me a kiss.

Don't let's worry about it anymore.

Martha, I just want to

get your viewpoint.

Do you think it would be a bad idea,

just to be safe, if I looked up this girl and, uh -

And what?

Well, maybe,

just to avoid complications...

ask her to leave the boy alone

and, if necessary, buy her off.

Now, Henry, don't even consider

anything as foolish as that.

All right, all right, all right.

It was just a thought.

- If you want me to, I'll drop it.

- Good.

How much did you pay the girl?

Why, what do you mean?

Don't I know my Henry

and his innocent eyes?

I beg your pardon, sir, but you've told me

to let you know when Mr. Jack arrived, sir.

- He's just come in, sir.

- Thank you.

Mmm.

You see? He's home early for the first time

in weeks, and I'll tell you why.

He went to the theater as usual,

and she gave him his walking papers.

- And the poor boy is probably all upset.

- I hope he is.

And, Martha, don't you baby him.

Don't you spoil what I've done.

- Hello.

- Hello, Jack.

Hello, Mother.

Hello, Father.

- How are you, Jack?

- Fine.

- You look a little depressed.

- Who, me? I never felt better in all my life.

Besides that, I could use $100.

A hundred dollars?

What for?

Well, I wanna throw a little party tonight,

take someone out.

Oh. I see.

Tell me, whom are you

going around with these days, Jack?

Now, Martha, that's Jack's personal life

and we shouldn't pry into it.

Here you are, Jack.

There's your hundred dollars.

- Thanks, Father.

- Have a good time.

- Thanks.

- I'm not interested in whom you're taking out.

I'm sure she's all right.

Anyway, it's none of our business

whether you're taking out MaryJones...

Helen Smith, Mitzi Glutz...

or Peggy Nash.

Peggy Nash?

Father, what is this? Are you trailing me?

Where'd you hear that name?

I don't know.

Martha, where did we

hear that name?

I don't know.

And don't ask me.

Well, uh, uh, one has friends...

and, yes, one goes to lunch an -

Tell me, isn't she a Follies girl

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