Mildred Pierce Page #5

entered, the creditors can't touch you.

-Your worries are over.

-l'll be seeing Bert next week.

He's coming to take

the children for the weekend.

-l'll think about it.

-Nothing to think about!

-No divorce, no restaurant!

-l'll think about it, Wally!

l'd have to know a little more about

it. Divorce is serious. l'm not--

-Hello, Dad!

-Hello, dear.

We'll be down in a minute.

Veda wants to know where

her new bathing suit is.

-lt's in the top drawer of her dresser.

-Okay!

She says it's in the upper drawer

of the dresser.

Here.

l wonder if there are many boys

up at Arrowhead.

lf there are, they're sure to find you.

Don't worry.

-Well, what about you and Wally Fay?

-You should know better than that.

Bert, listen. l've put everything

l've got into this restaurant.

l've worked with painter, carpenters,

electricians.

And suddenly,

everything is beginning to take shape.

l've worked hard.

l'm going to get that divorce.

l know. You want me to poke you in the nose

so you can claim l was guilty of cruelty.

No, Mildred. No divorce.

l'm going to file papers.

There's little you can do about it.

-l don't need your permission.

-No? Well, file away.

l'll fight you all the way.

You and Wally Fay.

-And what's more, l'm--

-You don't have to worry about me.

Well, that was quick.

My, how nice you look.

-Thank you.

-Hello, Father.

-Goodbye, Mom.

-Goodbye, darling.

Have fun. Be careful swimming.

That water's awfully cold!

-Bye!

-Bye!

On the way,

can we stop and have a hamburger?

l guess so.

We'll have to hurry, though.

lt's moments like this that make

me happy that nylons are out.

Well, if it isn't our silent partner.

l've been silent long enough.

l came to check on my investment.

-Well, how do you like it?

-Delightful.

-You're here to check on your investment?

-Absolutely.

Then you'd better look

at your investment.

Over there's the counter. Here will be

one table and over here four tables.

We have 1 0 booths, four people

to a booth. That's 40 people.

-We can expect to feed--

-lngenious.

Today's a holiday.

Why don't you get out of here?

l'd love to, but l'm awfully busy.

lsn't the bar beautiful?

l've got one at the beach house.

Why don't you come see my ocean?

l've seen one. lf you've seen one,

you've seen them all.

Why should people come to eat

and go someplace else to drink?

-That's why l put in the bar--

-Logical. But, back to my ocean.

Why don't we go have a swim

and forget about our investment?

l'd love to, but....

-l've got too much to do.

-Come on.

Look out. l might say yes.

-You know might be highly original?

-No. What?

Just say yes. Right away like that.

No. No, l shouldn't.

You'll find that the only things you

regret are the things you didn't do.

l hope you're right.

Look. Why don't l pick you up

in, say, 30 minutes.

No, l really can't.

-How about it?

-All right. You win.

There you are. Just help yourself. lf you

don't find what you want, let me know.

-Are you hoarding bathing suits?

-They belong to my sisters.

There's nothing like having

a large family.

-Yell if you need help with the zipper.

-Thank you, but l won't need any help.

-How do you like your drink?

-Harmless.

-l like your ocean.

-l borrowed it from the Navy just for you.

-You have a wonderful view.

-l wouldn't say that.

l hope the suit fits better

than the robe.

lt does.

-Do you live here year round?

-The family mansion is in Pasadena.

Complete with iron deer, a ghost

and a greenhouse. l come here in the spring.

-lt must be lovely.

-Yes, but lonely.

ln the spring, a man's fancy turns to

what he's thought about all winter.

lt's a good thing California winters

are so short.

-No whistle?

-l'd need a police siren.

-Well, here we go.

-Go? Go where?

-Swimming. lsn't that why we're here?

-l suppose it is. Wait a minute.

-Come on.

-Hold it.

-Drink?

-No, thank you.

-You drink too much.

-l do too much of everything. l'm spoiled.

Too many sisters.

They all seem to be my size too.

Yes. l like them your size.

-To brotherly love!

-Thank you, Mr. Beragon.

Monte Beragon.

That's a very unusual name. Spanish?

Mostly. Maybe a little

ltalian thrown in.

But my mother is

a real dyed-in-the-wool Yankee.

That's why l'm such a self-controlled

and dignified young fellow.

And just what do you do?

l loaf in a decorative

and highly charming manner.

-ls that all?

-With me, loafing is a science.

-You're very beautiful like that.

-l bet you say that to all your sisters.

-Shall l tell your fortune?

-Can you?

We Beragons come from

a long line of teacup readers.

l'm not very impressionable. l lost

my awe of women at an early age.

But ever since you came here, l thought

of what l'd say when we met again.

Now l can't say anything.

-You take my breath away.

-Do l?

l like you, Monte. You make me feel--

-l don't know, warm.

-And wanted? Beautiful?

Yes.

When l'm close to you, there's a sound

in the air like the beating of wings.

-You know what it is?

-No. What?

My heart. Beating like a schoolboy's.

ls it? l thought it was mine.

The record.

Monte, the record.

ls he there yet? That's good.

l think l have everything we need.

Yeah, l called everywhere.

l'll wait another five minutes.

Wait. l think she's coming now.

-Promise?

-l don't know.

-Thursday? Friday?

-Make it Wednesday.

-Good. Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

-Where have you been?

-What are you doing here?

l've been looking all over for you.

l've been nearly nuts.

-What is it?

-lt's Kay. She's sick.

We came down from Arrowhead

80 miles an hour, but--

-Well, it's pneumonia.

-No.

She isn't here.

She isn't here? Where is she?

Mrs. Biederhof's.

l was frantic. l didn't know

what to do. l sent for Dr. Gale.

lt's all right, Bert, just hurry!

Mommy!

Yes, darling, Mommy's here.

More oxygen.

l hope it was all right to bring her

here instead of the hospital.

-But l thought it would save time.

-You did the right thing.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Biederhof.

-Nurse?

-Yes, doctor?

One more cc.

l'm sorry. l couldn't save her.

l'm sorry, Mildred.

We did everything in our power.

l brought her into the world,

and it seems hard that l was the one to--

l'll fix you a nice, hot cup of tea.

l'll never forget her.

Never, as long as l live.

She said, ''Mommy!''

And that was all.

l loved her so much.

Mother.

Please, God, don't ever let

anything happen to Veda!

After that, only one thing was on my mind.

To open the restaurant and make it successful.

Short stack. Easy on the butter.

Adam and Eve on a raft. Hit me hard.

-l'm glad you enjoyed it.

-We'll come again tomorrow.

See you tomorrow. Good night.

Too bad you had to stand so long.

l'm sorry l've kept you waiting.

This way.

l'm so glad you liked it.

We've been jammed ever since the doors

opened. Here you are.

Arline, take the orders.

-We have great fried chicken.

-l'll have it.

l hope you like it.

Pick up something. Never make a trip

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