Mr. Skeffington

- Good evening, Soames.

- Good evening, Mr. Conderley.

Well, I'm afraid I'm a little early, aren't I?

Miss Trellis wasn't

expecting anyone until 8:00.

I thought I'd come a little ahead of time.

Have a chat with Miss Fanny.

Sorry, sir, she's still dressing.

All right, I'll wait.

- May I bring you a drink?

- No, thank you.

- I never did care for drinking alone.

- You won't be drinking alone, sir.

I won't?

No, sir. Mr. Morrison also came

a little early.

He too hoped to have a little chat

with Miss Fanny. He's in the library...

...drinking sherry.

Hello, Edward.

Hello, Jim.

How come you're here so early?

My watch is fast.

- How is it you're here even earlier?

- I have no watch.

Don't believe in them.

I believe in another sherry

though, Soames.

- If he's having sherry, I'll have Scotch.

- Very good, sir.

Well, Jim, think there will be a war?

War? Between whom?

Between whom?

Haven't you been reading the papers?

Of course. I never seem to get around

to the front pages, though.

The kaiser sent an ultimatum to France,

France sent one to the kaiser...

...and the tsar's sent notes to everybody.

- Oh, those chaps.

No, I don't think there will be a war.

Not just yet anyhow.

Too hot.

Tell me. What do you people talk about

down in your section of Maryland?

Horses. And hounds.

You must think.

What do you think about?

What we talk about.

Horses and hounds.

Of course, I do a lot

of thinking about Fanny.

Tell me, is that all you people talk about?

Horses and hounds.

Oh, no. No.

We do quite a bit of sailing too.

Really?

You must lead a busy life.

I should say.

Stables and all,

doesn't give you a minute.

Besides which, I'm thinking

of running for Congress in the fall.

You are?

You should have an easy time

with all those horses squarely behind you.

Well, thought it would be rather nice

for Fanny. Wife of a statesman.

Would it be too difficult to grasp

that others have proposed to her too?

Oh, I grasp it.

But she can't marry all of us, you know.

Well, when you're elected to Congress,

perhaps you can arrange that.

Who the devil is that?

- Good evening, Soames.

- Good evening, Mr. Thatcher.

- Is Miss Fanny down yet?

- She's upstairs dressing.

I thought if I came before the rest...

...there might be an opportunity

for a chat.

I understand, sir. But you see...

What are you doing here, Thatcher?

I feel I have a right

to propose to Fanny now.

Father's promised

to increase my allowance.

He has? Doesn't he want

to marry her himself?

We didn't discuss it.

Well, Jim, what do you think?

War or no war?

What war is that?

Oh, sorry.

Thinking about Fanny.

- Hello.

- Glad to see you.

- Is Fanny in?

- She's upstairs dressing.

- Don't announce me. I'll go up.

- When did you get in to town?

- Just off the train. How is everyone?

- Everyone's fine.

- We're giving a dinner party tonight.

- Good.

- Going to be with us long?

- I hope so.

- Be sure to save me a place for dinner.

- Yes, sir.

I don't recognize him.

Either of you know him?

Fanny will have to stop meeting people.

Looks like he's never been

on a horse in his life.

Without even knocking.

Fanny.

- Hello, Fanny.

- Who is it?

- George.

- George? Which George?

Which...? How many Georges

are there in your life?

Oh, three or four.

Well, this George is going straight

back to California.

Cousin George.

- George.

- Fanny.

- George, darling.

- Fanny.

- It's good to see you again.

- George, I love you very much...

...but would you moving your chin

to the right?

Manby spent an hour on these curls.

- Is that all you do with your time?

- Don't you think it was worth it?

Well, yes. Even after two years,

you look rather nice.

"Rather nice"?

That's all you ever say to me, Georgie.

I have my standards.

No woman is beautiful until she's

on the cover of the Police Gazette.

You never were one to spoil me.

You forget that we were brought up together.

We had the measles and mumps together.

- Hello.

- How do you do?

After all, I saw you

with your didies up, down...

- George, really.

- I'm sorry.

- I can't think of you as beautiful.

- Will you fix these curls?

By the way, I saw three strange faces

on the way up. Who were they? Suitors?

- An entirely new batch.

- What happened to the old ones?

Some married, some committed suicide

and some grew fat.

She still has every man in New York

at her feet, Mr. Trellis.

It's getting now so that they are

proposing in bunches.

Hello, Trippy, darling.

Look who's here, George.

- George, I thought I heard your voice.

- Hello, Trippy.

Well, well. Welcome back.

How have you been?

- Fine. How have you been?

- Me? Wonderful. Couldn't be better.

Trippy has a job now and is working hard.

I certainly am, only I don't like

to hear it referred to as a job.

- What do you do?

- Customer's man.

Skeffington and Company.

- Skeffington and Company? The Jewish firm?

- Yes.

- How do you like working for him?

- Oh, he's all right. Just like any other boss.

Well, he must pay awfully well.

Here you are, giving lavish dinner parties.

Two years ago you were practically broke.

Oh, but we're still broke.

We've kept it from everybody

but the butcher, the baker...

...and several department stores.

The fact is, George, I kept my eyes

and ears open down at the office...

...and I made a little killing.

I thought if I bought new dresses

and gave a dinner party...

...it might encourage Trippy

to make more killings.

Very touching.

You don't have to worry about me.

My killer's instinct is aroused.

That's wonderful. I hope it's all true.

- Why do you say that?

- You still don't look anyone...

...straight in the eye

when you speak to them.

What gives you the right

to keep picking on me?

- Find me someone worth looking in the eye.

- That's not very flattering.

All right, Trippy, darling.

We'll find someone.

Now, come on and finish dressing.

And hurry. You know you're always late.

- Evening, Mr. Middleton, Mrs. Middleton.

- Good evening.

- Good evening, Soames.

- Good evening, sir.

- Good evening, sir.

- Good evening.

I did want to see Mr. Trellis.

- I had no idea...

- Yes?

Nevertheless, I wonder if I could see him.

- Have you an appointment?

- I'm afraid not.

- Well, then, l...

- It's very important.

- Who shall I tell him is calling?

- Mr. Skeffington. Mr. Job Skeffington.

Oh, Mr. Skeffington.

I'll tell him immediately, sir.

Would you mind waiting

in the study? This way.

Thank you.

Trippy, George was just telling me that

they have a huge glass of orange juice...

...every morning in California.

Imagine.

Come in.

I beg your pardon, Miss Trellis...

...but Mr. Skeffington is here

to see Mr. Trellis.

- Who?

- Mr. Skeffington, Soames?

Yes, miss.

Darling, did you invite him?

Why didn't you tell me?

I certainly did not invite him.

He said he won't keep you a moment,

but it's very important.

Well, tell him I'm sorry,

but I can't see him tonight.

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