Imitation of Life Page #4

all her life, Miss Bea.

[Sighs]

Well,

were they good?

Good?

Listen, man and boy, I've

been eating griddle cakes

for 35 years,

but I never tasted any

as good as these.

What do you put in 'em?

That's the secret.

That's what

I was afraid of.

Too bad too.

Why?

To keep anything

as wonderful as this

away from the world.

How'd you like to trade in

another stack of wheat cakes...

for a hundred-thousand

dollar idea?

Honest.

I mean it.

Mean what?

I can tell you

in two words how to make

a million dollars.

Just two?

Just two.

Did you ever hear the story

of Coca-Cola?

No.

When they first put it

on the market,

they used to peddle it

over soda fountains

for five cents a copy.

But it didn't make

any money.

One day a smart fella

nudged the president

and said,

"For $100,000,

I'll tell you in two words

how to make millions."

You know what

those two words were?

Uh-uh.

"Bottle it."

"Bottle it"?

Mm-hmm.

Now, the pancakes...

the flour, I mean, box it.

Box it?

Sure, box it.

Do I get that stack of wheat?

The other fella got

a hundred thousand smackers.

Yeah!

Yeah, you get all the pancakes

you can eat, and a job besides.

Well, I don't know

about that.

I ain't gonna do it,

Miss Bea. No, ma'am,

I ain't gonna do it.

I don't know why I bother

about all this.

I've gone without my dinner.

I barnstormed over here

in the snow...

to tell her

she's on Easy Street.

And I get just as far

as a stranded dogfish

on the Barnegat Shoals.

Now you tell her.

Now, look, Delilah.

We've made $15,000

in the last six months.

We'll double that

byJuly,

and make $100,000

next year.

So now we want

to incorporate.

Yes'm.

That's the best way

to run a business.

Yes'm.

Now, here are the papers

for you to sign.

But if I sign them,

then what?

Then you'll have

a 20% interest in the

Aunt Delilah Corporation.

You'll be rich.

You'll have your own car,

your own house.

My own house?

You gonna send me away,

Miss Bea?

I can't live with ya?

Honey child,

please don't send me away.

Don't do that to me.

Why, don't you want

your own house?

No. How am I gonna take care

of you and Miss Jessie

if I ain't here?

Oh, Delilah.

You'll have me in tears

in a minute.

Let me and Peola

stay the same

as we been doin'.

I's your cook,

and I wanna stay your cook.

Of course you can stay,

Delilah.

I only thought now that

the money's coming in...

and after all, it's all

from your pancake flour.

I gives it to ya, honey.

I makes you a present of it.

Youse welcome.

Oh, Delilah,

you're hopeless.

I could've told you that.

Well, I'll simply have

to put the money

in the bank for you.

That's all right,

if you want to,

against my funeral.

I does hanker

for a good funeral.

Once a pancake,

always a pancake.

##

[Chattering, Laughing]

What are you doing

behind the bar?

I'm hiding.

Hiding?

What do you mean?

It's all your fault.

Look at me.

What's the matter?

You look grand.

Yeah, I look like a crow

calling to its firstborn.

Did you hear

what I was saying?

No.

I've been trying to say

that you're one of the grandest

party givers in New York.

Have another cocktail.

Good. I will.

I want to drink a toast.

Gentlemen, I give you

the fifth anniversary...

No, no, the 10th.

The 10th anniversary

of Aunt Delilah's Pancake Flour.

Thank you.

You're kind.

## [Continues]

Them boys sure play good

for white boys.

They oughta play well.

They get paid enough for it.

What's that got to do

with it, Peola?

Oh, nothing.

A charming party, Bea.

Thank you, darling.

Hello, Hugo.

Hello, my dear.

Sorry I'm late.

It's nice to see you

anytime.

You're beautiful tonight, and

so young.

Thank you.

Bless you for that.

Is Jessie still at school?

I suppose she'll come home

a young lady.

[Bea Laughing]

I'm afraid so.

Come on, honey,

I'll dance with ya.

Can't you leave me alone?

I don't want to dance.

I want to read.

How long is this party

gonna keep up anyway?

What's the matter

with my baby?

I'm sick and tired of it.

What, the party?

No... not the party.

What is it, baby?

What's my baby want?

I wanna be white

like I look.

Peola.

Look at me.

Am I not white?

Isn't that a white girl?

Honey, we's had this out

so many times.

Can't you get it

out of your head?

No, I can't.

You wouldn't

understand that,

would you?

Oh, what is there

for me anyway?

[Door Closes]

Peola.

Are you looking

for something?

Yes. The doorbell.

The doorbell?

Yes, isn't it silly?

I can't find

the doorbell.

I've heard of people

lighting matches

to find house numbers,

but never a doorbell.

Do you know, by any chance,

where it's hidden?

Why, yes.

It's over there.

It's all right, thanks.

I can get in now.

Jarvis?

Yes, madam.

Who's the gentleman

who just came in?

I don't know, madam.

I thought perhaps...

The light isn't working.

Will you have it fixed?

Very good, madam.

Oh!

Hello.

Hello!

Well, I finally got in.

Yes, so I see.

By the way, have you

ever seen that doorbell?

Why, yes...

I supposed it's studded

with diamonds, and they put it

in the safe after dark.

I'm coming up here by daylight

and take a good look at it.

Yes, do.

Shall we dance?

Mm-hmm.

I'd love to.

Excuse me.

##

I was late

getting here.

The party's nearly over.

Not for me.

And to think

I had this forced on me.

You didn't want

to come?

No.

A friend asked me.

Elmer Smith.

Oh, Elmer asked you!

Yes.

Do you know him?

Yes.

He's been trying

to drag me up to see her

ever since I got in town.

See whom?

Mrs. Pullman,

the pancake queen.

Oh!

I put it off

as long as I could.

Mm-hmm.

You know,

these big businesswomen

frighten me to death.

Why?

They're so efficient

and competent, and...

Tell me,

what's she really like?

Oh, she's, um... Let's see.

Why don't you ask

your friend Elmer?

No, he says she's beautiful.

Wonderful. A noble character.

But what else

could he say?

You don't think he'd jeopardize

a $50,000 a year job.

[Laughs]

Not Elmer.

## [Ends]

May I get you something?

An ice or some "flannel" cakes?

Flannel cakes?

Yes, or whatever

she calls them.

You don't think a pancake queen

is going to pass an opportunity

to advertise her product?

I'd like some champagne.

May I have two...

Just one moment, sir.

Please.

[Elmer]

There must be more

than this.!

But there are still

six cases left, sir.

It's going awfully fast.

Here, keep these two for me.

I may need them later.

Yes, sir.

So that's where

you are!

You're late.

You're drunk.

You're a liar.

May I have two?

At once, sir.

Nice time

to be showing up.

I've been here for hours.

No wonder I couldn't find you

hiding behind this bar.

Nice way to treat a guest.

A stranger too.

I've been watching for you

all night.

Didn't think you'd wait

till the party was over.

Why do they build

dog kennels in bars?

Come on. I want you

to meet Mrs. Pullman.

Can't now. Some other time.

What do you mean,

"some other time"?

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