Holiday Page #7

...for Ross of Bay State Power

all the way up to 30.

- Are you sure of that?

- I took the order myself.

That cinches it.

- Is that it?

- Just about.

Good for you.

Come on!

Good for you.

Have lunch with me at the club on Tuesday.

I think I could help you double your yield.

My dad made me promise

to quit after my first million.

You're probably joking, Professor.

With the help of the right people

in Wall Street...

...you'll make more within two years.

It wouldn't take that long

if we had the right kind of government.

- Like which country for example, Mr. Cram?

- Now no political arguments.

- Let's go downstairs and celebrate.

- Yes, this is a wonderful party.

- I'm not going downstairs.

- Come on, don't be foolish.

- But, Linda, your father said...

- I thought so but I'm not going downstairs.

- Of course if...

- I wouldn't keep anyone who wants to.

If you ask me, this is the worst case

of downright rudeness I've seen.

And has someone asked you?

Come, dear, we can discuss this later.

You wouldn't care to swing on the trapeze

and discuss it now, would you, Seton?

We shall see you later, Mrs. Porter.

Professor Porter.

I thought our name was Potter.

I must be wrong.

In appreciation of your great success

in the fields of love and finance...

...I wish to congratulate you

on behalf of the members...

...of the Fifth Avenue Anti-Stuffed Shirt

and Flying Trapeze Club.

And present you, my dear boy, with

this token of their affection and esteem.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Mr. Toastmaster, ladies and gentlemen.

My friends.

I am not much of a speechmaker,

so I hardly know how to thank you.

This young lady and myself have been

practicing a few feats of acrobatic skill...

...with which

we shall be glad to entertain you.

Alley.

- Ready?

- Ready.

Put on the lights.

Uno momento.

- Alley.

- Oop.

Linda.

The club is adjourned.

Julia, I've got a grand surprise for you.

Just a moment. Come down now.

It's nearly 12:
00...

...and we want the entire party together

to see the New Year in.

The New Year comes into this room, too.

You've caused enough trouble.

Father, if I want to see the New Year in

as I had planned, as I had asked you...

I think if you don't mind we'll go down

and see what's happened to the furnace.

Julia, this is Nick and Susan.

I told you about them.

How do you do?

- And Mr. Seton.

- Your friends are always welcome here.

I'll see you downstairs.

Thank you, but as a matter of fact

Susan has an awful run in her stocking.

Why don't you go down to my room?

It's on the third floor.

Fine.

Congratulations on your engagement,

Miss Seton.

You're not getting very much,

but I'm sure you can improve him.

Kindly walk, do not run to the nearest exit.

They're grand people.

- They'll wait, don't you think?

- I don't know. I don't know.

There's no cause for temper, child.

Run along and we'll follow. Julia and I

want to talk to Johnny for a moment.

Listen to me, Father,

tonight means a good deal to me.

I don't know what or how precisely.

Something's trying to take it away

and I can't let it go.

I'll put in an appearance downstairs. Then

I want to bring those people back here.

I want to sit and have supper with them.

We won't disturb anyone.

That's all right with you, isn't it?

Your place is downstairs.

Once more, this is important to me.

Don't ask me why.

It has something to do with this room...

...when I was a child and good times in it.

What special virtue this room has

I'm sure I don't know.

You don't, do you? No, you can't.

I'll tell you, this room's my home,

it's the only home I've got.

There's something here that I understand

and that understands me.

- Maybe it's Mother.

- Don't talk nonsense. Do as I say.

You thought I'd come around.

You always think people will come around.

Not me, not tonight.

And I shan't be disturbed either 'cause

if there's one thing you hate, it's a scene.

I can promise you one if you interfere.

I can promise you a beauty.

Johnny, so there's good news, is there?

Was Mother a sweet soul, Father?

Linda, if you're not happy here

why don't you go away?

I'll be glad if next month

you take a maid and a companion...

...and take a trip somewhere.

You distress me.

You cause nothing but trouble and upsets.

That's just what I'm going to do.

- No maid and no companion. Just me.

- As you wish.

I've been dying to get out for years.

I've never known it so well as tonight.

I can't stand it here any longer.

It's doing terrible things to me.

And now will you leave this room, please?

This room.

This room.

I don't think you'll be able to stand it long.

I'll come back when you've left it.

I don't believe I need to worry about

the way you'll take care of Julia, need I?

We'll try to manage, thanks, sir.

Seton has told us of your very successful

manipulations of Seaboard.

I consider that a very fine piece of work.

I congratulate you.

Isn't it marvellous? What a New Year.

When you return from your honeymoon

if I'm not much mistaken...

...there'll be a desk waiting for you

at the bank.

That's very kind of you, sir...

...but the success of the Seaboard deal

makes possible a certain plan of my own.

But, Johnny...

A plan? Yes?

I'm afraid I'm not quite as anxious as I might

be for the things most people work towards.

I don't want too much money.

- Too much money?

- Well, more than I need to live by.

It's been my idea

to make a few thousands early in the game...

...and then quit for as long as it lasts and

try to find out who I am and what goes on...

...now, while I'm young

and feel good all the time.

I'm sure Julia understands

what I'm getting at, don't you, Julia?

I'm not sure I do, Johnny.

You wish to occupy yourself otherwise,

is that it?

Please don't make me feel guilty about it.

Even if it is a fool idea

that people dream about and then go flat on.

Even if I find I've had

enough of it in three months, I want it.

If I let this chance go by,

there'll never be another for me...

...so I don't think anyone will mind

if I just have a go at it, will they, Julia?

Will they, dear?

- Father, let Johnny and me talk awhile.

- Just a moment.

In all my experience...

Please, Father, it will be all right,

I promise you.

Case, it strikes me you chose a strange time

to tell us this. A very strange time.

- Father.

- I see, sir.

Then...

Then perhaps...

Father, please go down.

We'll come in a minute.

He didn't get what I was driving at, at all.

Why did you do it? You knew

all that talk would antagonize him.

- You think talk is all it was?

- I think it was less than that.

I'm furious with you.

It wasn't just talk, Julia.

You don't realize what Father

is offering you.

Wait a minute, dear.

- We'd better get clear on this.

- I'm clear on it right now.

If you think you can persuade me

that a man of your energy...

...and your ability possibly

could quit at 30...

If you're tired and want a rest,

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