In This Our Life Page #5

The road's closed.

- What's the trouble?

- There's a forest fire west of Hinsdale.

- That's far from here.

- We're setting a check fire just ahead.

- Can we see the fire?

- Lf you climb the hill, lady.

- Let's.

- Sure.

It's kind of frightening.

Give me your hand.

- To keep me from being frightened?

- No.

Just because I want to hold it.

- You mind?

- No, of course I don't mind.

I'm very fond of you, Roy.

I think you're trying to be.

Trying your best.

That fire over there

must be the one they set.

That's what we're trying to do, Craig,

isn't it? You and I.

What?

Start another fire.

That's what we want of each other,

isn't it? That's all we want.

I'd like to think of it as something more.

Something in itself.

- Permanent.

- Oh, don't use that word, Craig.

It frightens me.

There's nothing permanent but now.

The moment. That's all there is.

There'll be other moments.

And there'll be other days.

I'm not going to lose you.

You'll only lose me if you try to hold me.

Don't do that, Craig.

We should've learned that lesson by now,

both of us.

Never count on its lasting

and don't ask me to count on it.

- I can't think when you're so close to me.

- Then hold me closer.

I don't want you to think.

I offered to give him back the ring but there

wasn't anyone else he wanted to give it to.

He didn't want to have it around

to remind him, so I should keep it.

As long as he felt that way about it,

why should I do otherwise?

It was his desire.

- Put the things down there, Betty.

- What time does Peter get home?

Don't worry about him.

He never gets in till late.

I could do with a drink, honey. Oh.

What are you doing home so early?

- You seem overjoyed.

- How are you, Peter?

Great. How are you?

We... We've been out shopping.

Stanley got the cutest hat and...

- Come on in, Betty.

- No, I think I'd better be going.

- No, come on in and have a drink.

- I'd better not. I'll call you tomorrow.

- I'm sorry.

- Forget it, honey.

- Goodbye.

- Bye.

I'll remember that, Peter.

- It was such a nice way to treat my friend.

- Friend?

She's the best friend I've found

in this place.

- Then you'd better get some new friends.

- Maybe I will.

But you'll approve of them even less.

- What do you mean by that?

- Exactly what you think I mean.

Stanley, we've got to stop tormenting

each other.

Look, I'm a surgeon.

I've noticed lately when I'm operating,

my hands. I'm not sure.

I don't dare slip.

You could give up drinking.

There some things you could give up.

Running up bills I can't pay.

- Who do you think I am, your Uncle William?

- I do believe you're even jealous of him.

Shut that thing off.

I won't.

Do you hear me?

- Shut that thing off.

- Keep away from me. I hate you.

I hate the day I married you.

I hate everything about you.

You and your righteous airs.

Why don't you go back to Roy

where you belong?

She's just fool enough to have you.

Good afternoon, Miss Roy.

- Hello, Parry. How is everything?

- Oh, just fine.

This is the kind of work I like.

Mr. Craig gives me time to study.

- What does your mother say?

- Oh, she's mighty proud, Miss Roy.

She thinks I'm almost a lawyer already.

- Mr. Craig in?

- Yes, ma'am.

You better tell him

I'm here before I go in.

Oh, he'd give me a bawling out

if I kept you waiting.

- Thanks.

- Darling. I'm glad to see you.

- Craig.

- Sit yourself down.

I came to bring you a message

from Uncle William.

- Or maybe that's just an excuse.

- Ha-ha.

- As if you needed one.

- Uncle William wants to see you.

He'll be at the house.

You're coming, aren't you?

Why, of course. What does he want?

He's never been anxious

to see me before.

Maybe he's suffered

a change of heart.

I suspect he wants to offer you

some legal business.

Well, I certainly could stand

one rich client.

- Make up for a lot of the others.

- Craig, I'm so proud of you.

- Proud enough to marry me?

- Maybe. Someday.

How about Christmas?

Christmas is too soon.

- Well, April then.

- Oh, no. Not April.

I thought that was all over

for both of us.

I think it is, Craig, but I wanna be sure.

In the meantime, let's just be happy.

The doctor says I'm getting older...

...although, I'm blamed if I feel it.

Anyway, I've got too many interests

to take care of myself.

And I've decided to entrust the management

of some of my affairs to others.

I've done a good many things

for Stanley, the rascal.

And I figure it's about time

I did something for you.

The long and short of it, Craig, is I

believe you're honest and intelligent.

And I'd be willing to throw some

of the legal end of my business your way.

That's very generous of you, Mr. Fitzroy.

Only one condition

I'm forced to stipulate.

You now represent certain persons

I can't approve of.

As a young lawyer

you had to take your clients...

...where you could find them but now...

- Wait a moment.

Just what clients are you referring to?

Young man, you don't expect me

to hire you as my lawyer...

...and let you bring

condemnation proceedings...

...to tear down my own houses?

- Oho. You're one of the property owners.

I am. And what's more,

those houses are plenty good enough...

...and have been for 50 years.

That's just the trouble.

- Eh? How's that?

- I appreciate your offer, Mr. Fitzroy.

And now I understand

why you're making it.

Well, what about it?

Well, just as you say...

...I can't very well represent you

and be against you at the same time.

Just what do you mean?

- You'll give up the other things.

- I couldn't afford to.

Why not?

Those people can't pay you any large fees.

No, they can't pay much.

But they're very good clients.

Young man...

...before you turn this offer down,

you should consider your future.

- You should think of Roy.

- He is thinking of me, Uncle.

Well, I am blessed if I know how.

Well, I'm afraid I have to be going.

Good night, Mr. Fitzroy.

I'll walk out to the car with you.

- Mr. Timberlake.

- Good night, Craig.

Well, can you beat that?

Turning down an offer like that

and actually patronizing me to boot.

Asa, what is this world coming to?

I doubt if their generation could do

a worse job of it than we've done.

Roy, you think I did the right thing,

don't you?

Craig, is it too late for me to change

my mind about what you asked me today?

- You mean...?

- Lf the offer's still good...

...I'd like to marry you.

Just as soon as we can.

Darling.

Hello.

Yes.

Yes.

This is Mr. Timberlake.

Baltimore calling?

I can't hear you very well.

What?

What's the name?

Betty Wilmoth?

Yes.

Yes.

When did it happen?

Yes.

Yes.

Well, one of us will be there.

Roy. Craig.

Will you come in here, please?

What is it, Daddy?

Roy.

I have bad news.

It's about Peter.

He died this afternoon.

- Hey, what's that?

- Peter dead?

A friend of Stanley's telephoned me

from Baltimore.

But he can't be dead, Daddy.

- Peter couldn't be dead.

- Was it an accident?

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