Holiday Page #3

Case, compared to the life I lead...

...the last man in a chain gang

thoroughly enjoys himself.

What you need's some time off from

what you've been doing day in, day out.

You mean from what I've not been doing

days in, please, years out.

How does your garden grow, Case?

Is life wonderful where you are?

It can be.

- But it hasn't been?

- I don't call what I've been doing "living."

- What do you recommend for yourself?

- A holiday.

- For how long?

- For as long as I need.

- You mean just to play?

- No, I've been working since I was 10.

I want to find out why I'm working.

The answer can't be just to pay bills

or pile up more money.

Even if you do,

the government takes most of it.

- But what is the answer?

- That's what I intend to find out.

The world is changing out there.

There's new exciting ideas running around.

Some right, some cock-eyed,

but they are affecting our lives.

I want to know how I stand, where I fit in,

what all this will mean to me.

I can't find that out sitting behind a desk

in an office.

I'm going to get money together,

and then knock off.

- Quit?

- Quit.

I want to save part of my life for myself.

There's a catch to it though,

it's got to be part of the young part.

You know, retire young and work old.

Come back and work

when I know what I'm working for.

- Does that make sense to you?

- That makes a lot of sense.

- Does Julia know?

- No.

I won't get her hopes up

until I get enough money.

She has enough for two right now,

or for 10, for that matter.

I don't want her dough.

I've got to earn it myself.

That's foolish.

You're all right, though.

You haven't been bitten or caught by it yet.

- By what?

- The reverence for riches.

- Look out for that, Johnny.

- No, not for me.

- Who took the Scotch from my closet?

- What happened in church?

- It was in my riding boots, a full quart.

- Neddie, shut up. Did Julia tell Father?

I haven't been up here in years.

What did Father say?

We left Father talking about that guy

to Mr. Hobson in front of church.

- Who's the egg anyway?

- I'm the egg.

And he's a good egg, too.

Johnny Case, my brother, Ned.

How are you?

Congratulations!

This place gives me the creeps.

I've been telling Johnny

about some of our childhood dreams.

Some dreams.

It's in tune.

I thought you'd want to come back

and finish that concerto you were writing.

The Seton Concerto in F Major.

Come on, Neddie. Neddie, play it.

Play it, Neddie. Johnny and I can bear it.

Can't we?

You really want to hear it?

Neddie, no.

I've been boasting about you.

Hello. What are you all doing up here?

What a morning.

- What did Father say?

- He isn't home yet.

I want to know the minute Mr. Seton returns.

Buzz up here twice, will you? Thanks.

- Was it terrible at church?

- Not so bad, but there's dirty weather ahead.

Now you...

- Johnny, you didn't change that tie.

- That's right, I didn't.

Well, never mind, Ned can lend you one.

I feel like a goat

being prepared for the sacrifice.

Now, that's a sheep.

What you need is a drink.

- We'd better give him some coaching.

- I'd be grateful.

Firstly, Father will want to know

how you're fixed.

- Fixed?

- Money. How much?

You wouldn't expect it of a man in Father's

position, but money is our God here.

- Johnny, it isn't true at all.

- No? What is, then?

Well, young man?

Well, sir, at the moment

I have in my pocket exactly $34...

...and a coupon for a Bank Night

at a Lake Placid movie.

No gilt-edge securities,

no rolling woodlands?

I have a few shares of common stock

tucked away in a warm...

Common, don't say the word.

I'm afraid he won't do.

He's a comely boy, but probably just

another of the vast army of clock-watchers.

- How are you socially?

- Nothing much there either.

Your mother wasn't even a whooziz?

- Nope.

- Linda, I do wish you'd shut up.

- Maybe he's got a judge in the family.

- Yes, that might help.

Old Judge Case's boy.

White pillars, guitars a-strumming.

- 'Evening, Master.

- How you all, Miss Linda?

- Know any prominent people? Drop names.

- Just casually, you know.

At Mrs. Onderkonk's cockfight last Tuesday,

whom should I see but Mrs. Marble.

- I thought we'd die laughing.

- Johnny, this is rot.

"Johnny," she calls me...

- Linda, will you be quiet?

- I'm having a swell time.

This is terrible.

Do you realize that you are trying

to marry into one of America's 60 families?

When I find myself in a position

like this I ask myself...

...what would General Motors do?

Then I do the opposite.

As long as you don't do a back flip-flop.

- Can you do a back flip-flop? Really?

- Sure.

But, you'll have to teach me.

I can do almost anything else.

It'll be a pity if it doesn't come off,

it'll be a real pity.

Yes, it'll be a pity

if this doesn't come off, too.

Okay. Alley.

It's Father. He's home. Come on, Johnny.

- What about the flip thing?

- No.

Linda and I will go down and talk to him.

You go with Ned.

- Why?

- You're not supposed to have arrived yet.

- When do I arrive?

- 1:
00.

1:
00.

And please change that tie.

Ned will tell you exactly

when to put in an appearance.

This is getting very complicated,

if you ask me.

Nobody asked you. Now go on.

Do as you're told. Stop it.

Go on, Case. Don't expect simplicity here.

Just think of Fifth Avenue frontage.

Lend him a tie, Ned.

- You do like him, don't you?

- She asks me if I like him.

Dear girl, do you realize that life

walked into this house this morning?

Darling, don't let him get away.

It'll be the same old story, of course.

- I'm being married for my money.

- That's always flattering, isn't it?

What's the use of all we've got

unless to get us a superior type of man?

Linda, I hate you to talk like that.

But, Julia, seriously he's like spring.

He's like a breath of fresh air.

Do you know what he called this place?

A museum.

Julia, here's your chance.

That's just it.

I want Father to see that Johnny

has the same qualities Grandfather had.

You don't know Johnny.

You don't know how far

he's come already and from what.

- Or where he's going.

- I do.

I know, I can see it as clear as day.

If it does go through all right,

when are you going to announce it?

- Right away. Next Saturday.

- Darling, let me give a party for it.

Now look,

Father is to have nothing to do with it.

Saturday is New Year's Eve.

Julia, let's have some fun

in this house before you leave it.

- Lf Father doesn't mind.

- No ifs at all. And just a few people.

Just your friends and Johnny's

and up in the old playroom.

Let me plan it. Let me give it.

Let me do something for you once.

Me, Julia.

I'd love it darling, really I would.

No, but you see,

this is awfully important to me now.

Now no one must touch my party but me,

do you hear?

All right, darling.

Now if they do, I won't come to it.

Linda...

...it'll be awful to leave you.

Julia, I don't know what I'll do when you go.

I've got to do something.

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