House by the River Page #3

That's very interesting, Mrs Ambrose.

Don't touch that!

Did you read it?

No, I only picked it up.

What's the matter, Stephen?

Nothing it's... it's not ready

to be read, that's all.

You never minded my

reading your things before.

I've changed my ideas

about a lot of things.

I know.

Just the other night when you

went out by yourself -Don't nag!

A writer needs to be alone to gather

experiences. Can't you understand that?

I wasn't nagging, Stephen.

What I started out saying was simply

that when I was alone the other night

and John dropped in

- What did he want?

Nothing special.

Seemed so forlorn lately.

We reminisced about those evenings when

you used to read your stuff aloud to us

I wish you and John wouldn't

discuss me behind my back.

I'm not interested in what

my brother has to say.

He's a bookeeper and will always be one.

He'll never understand

the problems of an artist.

I was a fool to let you pick on

me and criticize my writings.

No one picked on you, Stephen.

You asked us for our honest

opinion and we gave it to you.

Never mind. I didn't need anyone

then and I don't need anyone now.

I'm doing very well on my own.

You mean since Emily?

Go on.

Go on, you can say it.

I didn't mean it that way, Stephen.

The success of my books

since this Emily thing

proves that they were

good in the first place.

All I needed was a little publicity.

In the future they'll not only

be good but they'll be great,

because they'll be about things I know.

Like what you're writing now? -Yes!

Well, what's it about?

- Will you stop prying!

Let's have our tea.

I wasn't prying, Stephen.

I was only interested.

I don't care for any tea, thank you.

John Byrne's Accounting Office.

Walter Herbert, office boy speaking.

One moment please.

It's your housekeeper. She'd like a word

with you, Mr Byrne. -Thank you, Walter.

Check these over, Elmer.

What is it, Miss Bantam?

- Mr Byrne.

With the cold weather coming on

I told the neighborhood boys

to gather some driftwood.

Save you catching cold like last year.

But when I went to get the woodsack I found

that your brother hadn't returned it.

I wonder, would you mind stopping

there on your way home this evening?

When did my brother

borrow it, Ms Bantam?

Several weeks ago when he was doing

the gardening. He sent Emily for it.

All right I'll...

When did you say he borrowed it?

- Several weeks ago.

And even though that Emily isn't with him

anymore, you'd think they'd return the sack.

After all, your name's on it.

- My...

My name is on it?

- Yes.

I stencilled everything

you owned with India ink.

I'll go for it if you're busy.

No. No. I'll stop by for it, Ms Bantam.

I hate this river.

We neighbors really should

gather a petition, Stephen.

What's the trouble today, Mr Ambrose?

That horrible thing floated by

again. That dead animal!

It couldn't be, must've sunk long ago.

No!

No it isn't. Why, it's a sack.

Yes, that's what it is, a sack of some kind.

Probably filled with rubbish.

Do you see it?

Well, I've other things to do

besides standing out here.

But I tell you, Stephen. You should

write up a petition for us.

Yes. Yes, Mrs Ambrose.

Really! The way some people

use this river is a disgrace.

A penny for your thoughts.

Hello John.

- Hello Marjorie.

Is Stephen in?

- No, he's on the river somewhere.

He seems to have found an

unusual interest there lately.

Won't you come in?

I'm glad you've come, John.

I need someone to talk to very badly.

When I feel like this, there doesn't seem

to be anyone else in the world like you.

Do you mind?

- You know that I don't.

You're nice, John. Very, very nice.

Yes, like mint tea when you have a cold.

Oh no John, like a...

Like a friend.

More than that.

Stephen?

I think you know John that I... tried to

make a success of my marriage.

It hasn't always been...

well, exactly perfect.

Maybe it was my fault.

Girls have foolish ideas.

And when they marry they think they've

snared Prince Charming himself.

And he is charming, John.

Very charming.

But a woman sees deeper.

I see things now in Stephen that

I never let myself see before.

Don't get bitter, Marjorie.

Oh, I know the countless

things you've done for him.

How we couldn't live like this

if you hadn't given up most of

your share of the inheritance.

So that he could continue writing

- You wanted a career for him, didn't you?

Yes.

But I didn't want a big success like this

Emily's disappearance has brought on.

At first I thought it was simply

childish the way he capitalized on it...

but there's a limit and

he's become ghoulish.

You should have heard him today...

Did you quarrel?

Yes. I hadn't wanted to tell you that.

I'm beginning to wonder why

he ever married me at all.

Perhaps it was because he need you?

He told me today that he's

never needed anyone.

That was just talk.

Everybody needs someone.

Believe me.

Are you lonely, John?

Pardon me, Mrs Byrne, but I

thought it was getting dark here.

Thank you, Mrs Beach.

Sorry I said so much, John.

It's unfair to talk about

Stephen behind his back.

But when you worry,

darkness does something to you.

I understand, Marjorie.

Perhaps you're not prepared to tell

me yet, since you are troubled I...

I'd like to tell you that I honestly think

things are going to be better for you.

Stephen's bound to change

when the baby comes.

The baby?

Stephen told me.

Stephen told you that I was

going to have a baby?

Yes.

But it's not true.

I wish that it were.

Now what on earth would make him

want to tell you a thing like that?

Maybe I misunderstood.

Don't go protecting him again, John.

You must know why he lied to you.

I can't discuss it now, Marjorie. Tell him

to come to my place when he gets home.

I'll talk to him.

You didn't eat a bite?

You didn't touch the roast.

Of course it's all dried up now.

That's what comes from warming it over and

over when you don't serve dinner on time.

Sorry, Ms Bantam.

Sorry.

Being sorry won't help a spoiled dinner.

You'll be sorry when you

get stomach ulcers.

I know it's none of my business Mr Byrne,

but you've been drinking a good deal lately.

I apreciate your interest

in me Ms Bantam but

I must remind you that I'm quite old enough

to determine my own drinking capacity.

When a man's alone as you are he should be

grateful to have somebody look after him.

I'd be grateful to you if

you'd stop nagging at me!

Why, I never heard of such a thing!

Just because I take an interest in you!

Well, I don't want you to

take an interest in me.

I'm quite capable of running my own life.

All right!

Seems like I can't do

anything right anymore.

You didn't bring the woodsack.

No.

But I told you the boys will be here

in the morning to gather driftwood.

What shall I tell them?

I don't care what you tell them.

Now please leave me alone!

I know I'm only a servant girl, Mr Byrne.

But I come from a very gentile family.

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