In This Our Life Page #2

reckon, but these are no times for sentiment.

You can't waste good land

with deadwood.

A thing is profitable or it isn't.

And if it isn't, it's through. Finished.

That's the way I look at things.

That's how I got where I am.

- Peter.

- Hello.

Why didn't you come in?

How's Lavinia?

- I, uh, thought you were upstairs.

We're all having a drink to Stanley.

Please come in, Peter.

She isn't the only one. Not by a jugful.

Why, Uncle William.

Why, Peter, how nice.

Hello, Aunt Charlotte. Mr. Fitzroy.

Ha. Uncle William.

Drink, Peter?

- Uh, straight whiskey.

Dr. Buchanan tells me

that you're doing good at the hospital.

He says you're clever with the knife.

- Not any more than some of the others.

- He is, Uncle. He's just modest.

If you stick to business, there's no reason

why you shouldn't take Buchanan's place.

He's pretty old. I'm not sure

he's as good as everyone thinks.

By the way, where's Craig, Stanley?

Craig? Oh, he's at a meeting of something

or other. He's coming by for me later.

Probably one of those civil-liberty

affairs. Civil liberty. Ha.

If you ask me, they're concerned only

with liberty for the wrong people.

Who are the wrong people, William?

The people who aren't worth a cent

and never will be, that's who.

Stanley, if this young man of yours doesn't

get rid of those half-baked radical ideas...

...he'll never be able

to build up a decent law practice.

On the other hand, if he's sensible...

...I might throw a few sizable fees

in his way myself.

- Perhaps he prefers his ideas to fees.

- What's that?

Craig has convictions. I like

that he wouldn't be Craig without them.

He has to earn a living. Don't forget that.

A pretty handsome living, if I know Stanley.

I needn't worry as long as I have you,

Uncle William.

You little flirt. Ha-ha.

If I were Craig, you bet I'd never let

a pretty girl like you out of my sight.

Ha-ha-ha. Why, Uncle William,

what a thing to say.

I wonder, darling,

if you realize just how lucky you are.

Does anyone ever know?

Yes, I do.

I declare, Peter, your wife still thinks

the sun rises and sets with you.

Excuse me.

We must go upstairs, too, William.

We haven't seen Lavinia.

How is Lavinia, Asa?

- When are you coming to see me?

- I'll come very soon.

Thanks again for the check, Uncle.

I wonder if you'd mind

trying on the dress.

I've got just about as far as I can

without a fitting.

Not now, Roy, please.

But we haven't much time.

I'll be back at the shop on Monday.

You go out every evening.

You want it to be right, don't you?

I don't care.

I don't care whether it's right or not.

Stanley.

Stanley, what is it, dear?

What's the matter?

Nothing.

You and I used to tell each other

everything.

It's different now.

What's happened to us?

Roy...

Oh, I don't know.

I don't either.

That's just the trouble.

Roy, I'll try on the dress.

Maybe tomorrow morning.

I've got a headache.

- Peter.

- Yes?

- Where are you going?

- Away.

What do you mean?

I'm going away. Out of town.

What do you think I mean?

I'm leaving for Lynchburg.

A doctor sent for me for a consultation.

Oh, Peter, why didn't you tell me?

I won't tell you the crazy thing

that went through my mind.

I'm terribly silly because I'm in love.

I guess you can't be so in love

without being silly about it.

What am I saying, Peter?

I'll try to be more sensible.

Just give me a moment.

It's my fault for being so clumsy,

about everything.

If you'd told me that you were going, I

would've had you packed like a good wife.

You'll want your dark-green tie

because it goes well with your gray suit.

And you like things to match.

Yes, I like things to match.

I like everything to match,

to come out right, to...

Oh, I guess I'm talking nonsense.

No, you're not talking nonsense, Peter.

There's something wrong

and you're unhappy.

Anyone with eyes can see that.

Peter, I think I know

what's the matter with us.

It's the way we're living here.

We're never alone.

People are always around.

When you come back, let's find a place

where we can be to ourselves.

Maybe if we'd done it a long time ago

in the very beginning.

It was my fault. It seemed like letting

the family down. It's different now.

- Father says they can manage.

- I don't wanna think about it.

You won't have to. I'll find a place.

Get us all moved into it.

You won't have to worry your head

about it.

- Roy...

- Please, Peter, I...

I'm tired of decorating

other people's houses.

I want one of my own and that's not all.

I want us to have a family...

...and to make our home just what

we'd wanted for ourselves and for them.

I don't want a home.

I don't understand. What do you mean?

We used to talk about it enough,

about being free.

We meant what we said, didn't we?

Why, yes, of course.

But what has that got to do with it?

Don't ask me to explain. I haven't any

reason. No reason on God's earth.

I just want you to remember what we said,

what we promised each other.

I remember there were to be no strings

to our marriage.

Even when I was little,

I hated anything with strings to it.

So we're free. Both of us, free as air.

You're a good sport, Roy, the best thing

that could happen to anybody.

Much better than I deserve.

I haven't been much of a husband

but I love you.

Heaven knows I love you.

Oh, hello, Craig. Come on in.

She's upstairs.

- Oh, Stanley, Craig's here.

- Hello, darling.

I'll be right down.

You just missed Uncle William.

He made you and Stanley a very nice gift.

You mean Stanley. The only thing he ever

gives me is a lecture on my radical views.

- How was the meeting?

- Oh, dry as dust.

It's pretty hard to concentrate on slum

clearance and Stanley at the same time.

Darling.

I can't go out tonight, I've got a

dreadful headache. I don't think I'd better.

I'm so sorry to disappoint you.

Poor darling. Anything I can do?

No, thank you. I'll just lie quietly

until it passes over.

I wish I could stay and look after you.

Pretty soon I can.

You're sweet, Craig.

Much too sweet.

Good morning, Mr. Timberlake. I'll

go tell Mrs. Fitzroy you're here, sir.

Mr. Timberlake.

Asa.

What is it? What's the matter?

I thought she might be here.

- Who? Who is it you're looking for?

- Stanley.

But Stanley's never here this early

unless she stays overnight.

I thought that's what she'd done.

Spent the night here.

But her car is still in the garage.

What car, Asa?

- What's happened?

- I don't know what's happened.

It's... It's about Stanley.

Stanley? What about her?

Asa, don't stand there like a dumb statue.

What about her?

Well, she's gone. She's not at home.

Well, where is she?

She's got to be somewhere.

Of course she's somewhere.

She can't possibly be lost.

If she'd had an accident,

we would've heard from the hospital.

Who saw her last? Where was she?

After you left last night,

she went to her room.

This morning she was gone with most of

her things. She hadn't slept in her bed.

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