In Our Time Page #5

Mama:
it's been in

the family so long.

I remember my mother

drinking out of it.

You must forgive such

sentimentality over a cup.

But you are too

young to understand.

You come

from too far.

You are too

different from us.

But you see, one loses

so many things in life.

What remains becomes

all the more precious.

All mothers

are like that, Jenny.

They don't think their sons are

ever grown up enough to marry.

Marry?

Yes, Jenny and I are

going to be married.

Have you told

uncle Pavel about this?

No, not yet.

Janina:
but you will?

Of course.

Mama:
Stephen,

Will you help me,

please?

I think I'll go

and lie down.

You'll excuse me,

won't you?

Countess Orvid...

I'm sorry.

I know why

my son loves you.

You are young

and lovely.

But I was brought up to

live by a certain pattern.

And when that

pattern breaks,

Like that cup,

It frightens me.

Leopold:
excuse me.

My dear, I think

i know how you feel,

But you mustn't

judge us too harshly.

Oh, I'm not.

Really, I'm not.

I-It's just that...

Well, I feel

a little lost.

I understand.

But it isn't you

who is lost.

You've only wandered

into a lost world--

A world where

dinosaurs still exist.

But I'm curious about

you and Stephen.

It is strange that he

should fall in love

With a girl like you.

You are alive,

A breath of fresh air

in this musty museum.

How did he sense

that he needed you?

I thought it was I

who needed Stephen.

You'll find out

differently.

I'm sorry, Jenny.

Everything is

all right now.

Shall we go?

We'll stop at uncle

Pavel's on our way back.

Oh, Stephen,

Do we have to see

someone else?

Darling, he's

the head of the family.

I'd like you

to meet him.

Leopold:
my dear girl,

you must not Miss him.

The greatest

dinosaur of them all--

My esteemed

brother-In-Law.

He's a man who's got

his feet in this century

And his head

in the last.

Uncle Leopold doesn't quite

approve of uncle Pavel.

Well, that's one

way of putting it.

But, Stephen,

stick to your guns,

And one day,

Through this

young lady's eyes,

You may see the light

about many things.

I'll stick, uncle.

Come on, Jenny.

I look forward to your return.

Thank you.

You've been very kind.

Oh,

i--Uh...

Stephen,

I like your

Miss Whittredge.

So do I.

Stephen, faintly: I'm trying to

tell you that I'm in love with her.

Man:
that's a very

common affliction, my boy.

[Fading] for every

ailment, there's a...

You know how

i was living.

I had everything,

and I had nothing--

Nothing that

really mattered.

You were the one who always

wanted me to settle down.

Settle down, yes,

but with the right girl.

This is the right girl!

Stephen, did you come here

to ask my consent,

Or to announce

your decision?

I'd hoped you'd give

your consent.

And if I don't?

Well...

An embarrassing

question, I see.

Bring the girl in.

[Telephone buzzes]

Hello.

Bring her in.

I want to talk to her.

[On telephone] yes,

this is Count Orvid.

No. If France and England

wish to make a move,

That's their business.

We have a non-Aggression pact

with Germany,

And we intend to keep it.

As for the Soviet Union,

I think it inadvisable

to carry on any conversation

With the soviet ambassador

at this time.

It might be misconstrued

by our governments.

I'm not interested in the

protests of the polish people.

They do not know

what is best for them.

Well, if the students at the

university continue to riot,

Call out the police.

They're hotheaded fools,

and they must be stopped!

Good-Bye.

If anyone else calls,

I'm not here.

Tell them

i am on a boar hunt.

Come in.

Uncle Pavel, this is

Jennifer Whittredge.

Miss Whittredge.

How do you do?

Stephen, get a chair

for Miss Whittredge.

Miss Whittredge,

What I have to say to you

may sound somewhat strange,

Even a little harsh.

But believe me, I mean it

only for your good

And for Stephen's.

Yes.

I love my nephew

as if he were my son,

But he's inclined to be,

Shall I say...

Impractical--

Impractical in the sense

of allowing an emotion

To obscure

certain considerations

That affect you,

quite as much as himself.

I don't think

I quite understand

what you mean.

I shall try

to be very explicit.

Please, uncle,

do we have to?

Stephen, please,

until I have finished.

You are english,

i believe?

Yes.

You also have a class,

which we term aristocratic.

You must be aware

that its members

Not only enjoy privileges,

But also accept

certain limitations

Particularly

in the matter of marriage.

I think

i understand that.

But, uncle, it's something in the past.

It's

different today!

Our tradition is

the faith we live by.

It's our duty to preserve,

Not to destroy.

I can see that you are much

more realistic than my nephew.

I'll have to rely upon you

To decide what is best

for both of you.

Count Orvid, all I know

is that I love Stephen.

Naturally, I want

what is best for him.

I'm sure you do.

That's why

I'm taking the trouble

To acquaint you

with the consequences

That your marriage

would inevitably bring.

Social ostracism?

Well, perhaps you can

adjust yourselves to that,

But then there is the matter

of Stephen's career.

I had hoped, eventually,

to find him a place

In one of the ministries

of our government.

I don't care about

the ministries!

I can do

something else.

Yes?

What, Stephen?

Well, I...

Don't know exactly.

Perhaps I could

manage the estate?

The Orvid estate hasn't paid

for 20 years.

I know.

I make up the deficits.

However, Stephen,

money isn't the real concern.

I would not cut you off

and add to your embarrassments.

In fact, I would feel obligated

to increase your allowance

To take care of your wife.

That's very generous

of you, uncle.

That is, perhaps,

the one compensation

I can offer,

Miss Whittredge.

If you and Stephen insist

on going through with this,

And, uh, if you succeed

In adapting yourself

to our way of life,

You would marry into one

of Poland's great fortunes,

And your child

would be its heir.

You see?

I am not unfair.

I am giving you

both sides.

Well, Stephen, I really

must be going now.

If you don't mind,

uncle...

Excuse me.

Stephen,

will you stay, please?

Would you mind waiting in

the other room, my dear?

Just for a moment.

No, not at all.

Miss Whittredge...

Whatever you do,

I wish you every happiness.

Thank you.

I'll be right out,

darling.

Well! Do you realize our train

leaves in less than an hour?

Oh, I'm so sorry,

Mrs. Bromley,

But I couldn't help it.

How could you be

so inconsiderate

As to force me to

pack-- A woman of my age!

I mean, my experience.

Oh, I don't know what I mean!

Mrs. Bromley, I packed

everything this morning.

That is, all except

the overnight bag.

Well, I bought

some more antiques.

What was I supposed to do with

you traipsing all over town?

Oh! Well, don't stand there

just doing nothing!

Finish those bags.

And hurry, hurry!

Oh, here...here are some more things.

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