In This Our Life Page #3

- Lf anything's happened to that girl...

- William, nothing's happened.

You know how impulsive Stanley is.

She probably thought of someone to visit,

and everyone was asleep when she left.

Good gracious, she's able

to take care of herself, isn't she, Asa?

What about Craig? Maybe she's with him.

No, no. Craig drove me over here.

He's waiting outside in his car.

This beats anything I ever heard.

Poor Lavinia,

she must be in a dreadful state.

We've got her under drugs.

I'm not worried about Lavinia.

I'm not even worried about Stanley.

It's Roy I'm thinking about.

Roy? What's she got to do with it?

There's something you're not telling us.

I knew that.

Yes, that's true.

I didn't even want to say it to myself.

Peter left last night too.

What's that? What do you mean?

He said that he had to go to the hospital

at Lynchburg, for a consultation.

We called the hospital

and they knew nothing at all about it.

Oh, so that's how it is.

But... But you can't think they're together.

You... You can't think

that she's gone off with Peter.

I've stopped thinking.

But Stanley couldn't.

She... She isn't like that.

I don't know what she's like.

I don't know what anybody's like.

She's like all the others, I suppose.

The rest of her generation.

No scruples, no religion, nothing. By

heaven, Charlotte, if a niece of mine...

You mustn't get excited,

you'll make yourself sick.

After what I've done for that girl.

After what I've done.

It doesn't make much difference,

does it...

...when a person wants something else.

She's not there.

They don't know anything.

We'd better drive straight home.

It's almost an hour since we left.

She may be back by now.

You know,

anything could have happened.

She might suddenly have taken it

into her mind to visit somebody.

Peter may have gone someplace else.

It's conceivable that two people

could leave a house on the same night...

...and not necessarily go together.

- Aren't you coming in?

- What for?

I guess you're right.

But don't do anything foolish, Craig.

You're young, you've got work to do.

- You've got your whole life ahead of you.

- Yeah.

Stanley.

You too, Father?

Oh, I'm sorry, Roy.

From here you looked just like her.

- I guess I've just been hoping that...

- You can stop hoping. Mother got a letter.

- Oh, then they... They...

- Yes, they did.

You didn't expect anything else, did you?

- What did Stanley say?

- Just what they say in books.

"I'm sorry to hurt Roy and Craig.

Peter and I had to be together.

We were meant for each other. "

Meant for each other.

You don't believe such things happen

until they happen to you.

Listen to me, Roy.

Stanley's weak but you're strong.

The weak always have the strong

to protect them.

But the strong must protect themselves

or go under.

I'll protect myself, never fear.

What are you going to do?

Are you going to let them...?

I'll never stand in their way.

Craig's a lawyer.

He may be glad to arrange it.

Oh, I can't bear to hear you talk like that.

We have to talk the way we feel.

That's the way I feel.

Roy, where are you going?

To work, of course.

Why should I stay home?

No, thanks. I'm not wearing black.

Not for Peter. Not for anyone. I've got

a life to live and I'm gonna live it.

Father, I don't like this hat anymore.

I saw one yesterday

in a show window downtown.

Bright red with a black feather in it,

off at an angle.

What could be more appropriate?

Roy, dear, I know what you're going

through but don't let yourself get hard.

Be soft, like you?

No. I'll go out and get what I want.

The way Stanley gets what she wants.

The way Uncle William got away

from you everything he wanted.

I'm going to be like the Fitzroys.

They know how to live...

...and I'm gonna be just as hard as they.

That's the way to be happy.

No, Roy.

Hard things are apt to get broken.

Uncle William hasn't broken.

Stanley hasn't broken.

But you, your life is broken.

I'm not gonna be like you.

- Morning, sir.

- Morning.

- Peter.

- Darling.

- It's been 22 hours, I counted them.

- So did I.

I wish you didn't have to live

at the hospital. When can we be together?

I guess I'm lucky to have a job

under the circumstances.

You have only one job that matters.

- You?

- Me.

- Love me?

- Mm.

Peter, I've got a surprise for you.

Where'd you get it?

Ask no questions.

- I know. You rented it.

- No, silly. It's ours.

How? You can't buy a machine

like this on what I make.

Peter, you needn't look so serious.

I didn't steal the money.

Remember Uncle William's check?

Stanley, you didn't cash it.

Well, why not? It's mine.

He gave it to me.

That was for your wedding.

Well, we're gonna be married.

If you don't understand why you shouldn't

have, there's no use my explaining.

Peter, you're away working

most of the time...

...and I'm stuck up here all by myself.

I haven't even got my car.

That's why I bought the Victrola

to help me pass the time.

You talk about passing the time.

Stanley, do you realize what we've done?

All the unhappiness we've caused?

If we don't make up for that

in our own happiness, heaven help us.

Stanley...

...you're not even listening.

This is the time to face it.

Now when we're starting out.

We've got to be happy, Stanley.

We've got to be happy.

But, silly, we are happy.

Or aren't we?

Sure. Of course, we're happy.

Then I can have it, can't I?

Just this one thing?

You know how I love to dance.

You love to dance, too, don't you?

My lands. You're still here, Miss Roy?

I had some late orders to get out.

How do you like working here, Parry?

Oh, I like it, Miss Roy. Ma and I sure

do appreciate your giving me this job.

It's mighty good to have money

coming every week regular.

What did you do with your

first week's salary, Parry?

Well, part of it went for rent.

Didn't you buy anything for yourself?

Yes, ma'am. I bought a book I've been

wanting to get at the second-hand store.

Book?

What book?

Blackstone's Commentaries: Foundation of

Common Law and Modern Jurisprudence.

- What in heaven's name is that?

- It's a law book, ma'am.

Why, Parry, you have in mind

to study law someday? Is that it?

Yes, ma'am.

But I reckon it's not gonna be easy.

What made you decide

to become a lawyer?

Well, you see, it's like this, Miss Roy.

A white boy, he can take most any kind

of job and improve himself.

Well, like in this store. Maybe he can get

to be a clerk or a manager.

But a colored boy, he can't do that.

He can keep a job or he can lose a job...

...but he can't get any higher up.

So he's got to figure out something

he can do that no one can take away.

And that's why I wanna be a lawyer.

Why, Parry, that's wonderful.

I had no idea. Minerva never told me.

Ma's afraid for a colored boy

to have too much ambition.

Oh, she just wants to save you

from disappointment. But you'll make it.

You're going to be a lawyer.

I'm certain of it.

Thanks, Miss Roy. I'll remember

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