Mildred Pierce Page #3

What do you expect,

want it inlaid with gold?

lt seems to me if you're buying

anything, it should be the best.

-This is definitely not the best.

-Quit. You're breaking my heart.

lt's impossible.

Look at it. Ruffles.

l wouldn't be seen dead

in this rag. lt's horrible.

How could she have bought me

such a thing?

It didn't take me long that night

to figure out that I was dead broke.

And with Bert gone,

it looked as though I'd stay broke.

I felt all alone. For the first time

in my life, I was lonely.

There was so much to remind me of Bert.

How things used to be with us.

And what great hopes we had.

-Hi, Mildred!

-Hello, Wally.

-Bert around?

-Not right now, he isn't.

He left things a mess at the office.

l thought he could straighten them out.

-Ask him to drop over, will you?

-lf it's important, find him yourself.

He isn't living here anymore.

-You mean you've busted up?

-Something like that.

-For good?

-As far as l know.

lf you don't know,

l don't know who does know.

-You here all alone?

-No, l have the children.

Bert must be crazy.

You know, l never did mind

being around you, Mildred.

You don't hear opportunity knocking,

do you?

Me? l'm conscientious.

Not too much ice in that drink

you're about to make for me.

-You're moving in?

-Maybe.

l won't cry my eyes out

about you and Bert splitting up.

l like the idea.

lt makes me feel good.

l wish it made me feel good too.

-l like Scotch.

-l know what you like.

With soda.

l've always been soft in the head

where you're concerned.

-You surprise me.

-This is on the level.

Bert's gone. Okay. l figure maybe

there's a chance for me now.

l wouldn't drop dead

at the idea of marrying you.

Quit kidding, will you?

l figured maybe one day

you might have a weak moment.

lf l do, l'll send you

a telegram, collect.

Easy on the ice for this, will you?

No soda?

-Sorry. Bert never had it around.

-We'll take care of that.

-Say when.

-Not for me. l'm not used to it.

We'll take care of that too.

-You're sure of yourself, aren't you?

-You gotta be educated.

You just joined

the world's biggest army.

The great American institution

never mentioned on the 4th of July.

A grass widow

with two children to support.

-Why don't you make an effort to grow up?

-You make an effort to forget Bert.

-Maybe l don't want to.

-But you'll be lonesome.

-You can't get along by yourself.

-Well, l can try.

-Come on, get wise.

-Wally, you should be kept on a leash.

-Why can't you be friendly?

-l am being friendly.

l mean it. Friendship's much more

lasting than love.

Yeah, but it isn't as entertaining.

Cut it out. You make me feel

like Little Red Riding Hood.

And l'm the Big Bad Wolf?

You got me wrong.

l'm a romantic guy, but l'm no wolf.

Then quit howling!

l know you romantic guys.

One crack about the moon

and you're off to the races.

-Especially when it looks like a sure thing.

-Here we go again.

Did l do something wrong?

You'd better go, Wally.

-No dice, huh?

-Good night.

Well, no dice, no dice.

You can't shoot a guy for trying.

l just thought maybe that--

Mildred, l was only kidding.

l wouldn't pull any cheap tricks

on you.

-You know that.

-Yes, l know.

Why--

-l said good night, Wally.

-Okay. Round one goes to Mildred.

-There won't be any round two.

-l'll keep on trying.

-l know, once a week.

-Twice a week.

-Veda! You awake?

-Yes, Mother.

-You'll wake Kay.

-No. She's tired out.

-She cried herself to sleep.

-Was it about her father?

Yes.

ls he going to marry Mrs. Biederhof?

-l don't know.

-l do.

l do know that you should be asleep.

-l've been thinking.

-What about?

-l heard you and Wally talking.

-Well?

-You could marry him if you wanted.

-l'm not in love with him.

But then maybe we could have

a maid like we used to...

...and a limousine.

And maybe a new house.

l don't like this house.

Neither do l. But that's no reason

to marry a man l'm not in love with.

Why not?

Veda, does a new house mean so much

to you that you would trade me for it?

l didn't mean it, Mother.

l don't care what we have,

as long as we're together.

lt's just that there's

so many things that l--

That we should have and haven't got.

l know, darling. l know.

l want you to have nice things.

And you will have. Wait and see.

l'll get you everything.

Anything you want. l promise.

How?

l don't know.

-But l will, l promise.

-You darling.

-Come on, go to sleep.

-All right.

-Happy dreams, sweetie.

-Thank you.

-l love you, Veda.

-l love you, Mother. Really, l do.

But let's not be sticky about it.

Good night.

I had to get a job, any kind.

I had no experience in the business world,

but I had to get a job.

I walked my legs off. Getting a job

wasn't as easy as I thought.

Days seemed like weeks, and everywhere

I went I heard the same thing:

Sorry, we need people with experience.

I was sick at heart

when I saw the restaurant.

I decided to go in for a cup of tea.

Good afternoon.

Sit here?

Menu.

Clear the dirty dishes

off number three. Pick up your feet!

-Roast chicken is nice.

-No, thank you. l'll....

l caught you red-handed.

l didn't take your rotten tip.

-What's the trouble?

-She's lifting tips. l've seen her.

Go into the kitchen.

You keep out of it.

-How about some service?

-Someone will take care of you right away.

-l hope so. l have--

-You mind your own business.

Sorry to leave you like that,

but we're so short-handed.

-You wanted tea?

-No, l want a job.

-What?

-Well, you seem to need help....

l want a job.

-You ever work in a restaurant before?

-No.

Follow me.

-You're a nervous gal, aren't you?

-l'm just a little anxious.

You want to watch that.

lt's tough on dishes.

l don't think you're the type for

the work, but l'll give you a trial.

You need white shoes. Ask for nurses'

regulation in any store. $2.95.

We furnish the uniform, but it

comes off your check. $3.95.

You get it at cost.

Keep it laundered.

lf you don't suit us, we charge you 25

cents. That comes off your check too.

Keep your own tips.

Here, have your tea.

Thank you.

-What's your name?

-lda, what's yours?

Mildred Pierce.

Chef's salad. Hold the mayonnaise.

-Two plates, hold the potatoes.

-Two chops, medium and rare.

Two chicken dinners.

One without gravy.

Two chickens. Hold one gravy.

Not ''without,'' say hold.

I learned the restaurant business

the hard way.

In three weeks,

I was a good waitress.

-One chicken. Hold veg.

-Chicken. Hold veg.

Steak, medium. Club san. Roast beef.

Hold one. Combin salad.

In six weeks, I felt like I'd

worked in a restaurant all my life.

In three months, I was one

of the best waitresses there.

I took tips and was glad to get them.

And at home I baked pies

for the restaurant.

Those'll be done in minutes.

We have a dozen peach, a dozen berry...

...a dozen pumpkin, a dozen cherry.

After we finish the apple, we can quit.

l don't know how you keep it up.

Honest, l don't.

l sleep all morning, but you go to

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