Mr. Skeffington Page #10

Georgie, I had no idea

that you were here.

You know, it's heavenly

to be back home again.

Manby, shouldn't you go and see

that the luggage is taken care of?

- Yes, Mrs. Skeffington.

- Georgie.

This is such an unexpected pleasure.

Fanny, my dear.

- Welcome home, Mother.

- Thank you.

- Would you like to sit down?

- She mustn't stay up long.

- She's still very weak.

- Dr. Melton is a bully.

Well, that's what you pay me for.

May I use your telephone?

Yes. Clinton will show you where it is.

Thank you.

Georgie.

- We'll have some tea, Mother.

- Oh, I think that would be delightful.

Oh, this looks so cheerful

after that depressing rest home.

- Notice how Fanny arranged the flowers?

- Oh, how sweet of you, Fanny.

- They're perfectly lovely.

- Sit here, Mother.

- Let me help you with your coat.

- All right.

You know, I'm not really such an invalid.

Clinton, have you been well?

- Yes, madam, very well, thank you.

- Good.

- I'll pour, Clinton.

- Yes, miss.

- Cream or lemon, Mother?

- Lemon, thank you.

Well.

Wasn't it just like me

to contract a child's disease?

Georgie, I look dreadful, don't I?

Fanny, you could never look

anything but adorable.

You're lying.

I know perfectly well how I look.

But after a few weeks' rest

I'll be quite recovered.

Of course you will.

Mother.

Thank you.

Of course diphtheria

is the most dreadful nuisance.

My hair fell out in handfuls.

Henri saved my life. I don't know

what I would have done without him.

He's so clever.

Uncle George?

Of course, here I am,

chattering on about myself.

Fanny, what have you been doing?

- Oh, nothing very much, Mother.

- Have you seen Johnny Mitchell?

Yes, I've seen him.

- How is he?

- Oh, he's just fine.

Georgie, who do you think

I've been seeing?

- Who?

- Job.

- Job?

- Father?

Yes. He just sits around all day,

staring at me...

...with those soulful eyes of his.

- You've been having hallucinations.

- Is that what they are?

Well, you'd better not tell

Dr. Melton. He'll raise his fee.

When did this begin, Fanny?

During my illness.

One day I shut my eyes,

and he suddenly appeared.

Then as time went on, even if

I didn't shut my eyes, he appeared.

Standing beside me

or in front of me and just looking.

Fanny, I wish you'd write your father

and ask him to stop.

I find it very disconcerting.

- Have you heard from him?

- No, and I'm worried about him.

I've written him three letters

with no answer.

He couldn't possibly have had

time to write.

He's been too busy staring at me.

Well, I must be going.

It's time you were upstairs.

Don't yell.

I want one more sip of my tea.

All right. Just one.

There.

Georgie...

...would you help

a decrepit old lady up the stairs?

Nonsense.

Thank you.

- Doctor?

- Yes?

I've been hiding something from you.

What?

- I've been having hallucinations.

- Well, you keep on hiding them.

I haven't the slightest idea

what to do for them.

I'll be in to see you in a day or two.

Two or three weeks at home

and you'll be able to start running around.

Very well, doctor.

Oh, Fanny, wouldn't you and Georgie like

to have dinner with me in my room tonight?

We'd love to, Mother.

- Goodbye, doctor.

- Goodbye.

- Doctor?

- Yes?

Doctor...

...Mother looks so...

- I understand.

It was quite a shock, wasn't it?

Diphtheria has a ravaging effect, you know.

Your mother was a remarkable woman.

Always looked 20 years younger

than she really was.

But this illness, well...

But don't you think

with rest and care that...?

I'm afraid not.

The years have caught up with her.

As you can see, this illness

has even added a few.

Does she realize that?

- Have you told her?

- I mostly certainly have not.

I don't think anyone should. That's

something she must find out for herself.

But don't worry,

we all have to grow up someday.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, doctor.

Here's your breakfast, Mrs. Skeffington.

It's a lovely morning.

Just right for a nice walk in the park.

The eggs seem to be a bit

on the raw side.

I don't like walking in the park.

But you've been in the house

for 10 days now.

You've scarcely been out of this room.

Dr. Melton says you can go out

anytime you wish.

I know. I know.

Well, how would you like

to wear your beige?

Or better still, your black and old rose?

Have there been any calls for me

this morning? Aside from Dr. Melton's?

Mr. Trellis called

and he wanted to know...

- He wanted to know how I was feeling.

- Yes.

No one else?

No. No one.

One's footsteps are very

quickly covered, aren't they, Manby?

Yes.

It would seem that way.

Why hasn't my daughter

been in to see me?

She went riding early this morning

with Mr. Mitchell.

Have you decided if you'll wear

the beige or the black?

Manby, don't ask me that question again.

I'm sure you must find me

very irritable this morning.

I understand.

But I've slept so badly. Hardly at all.

I'm sorry.

Not at breakfast, Job.

What did you say, Mrs. Skeffington?

It's Mr. Skeffington again.

Oh, dear. Again?

I must do something about him, Manby.

He pops up more and more all the time.

And he always makes his appearance

at a moment when I'm most depressed.

Why don't you go see that new doctor

Miss Clarkson is always talking about?

- You mean the psychoanalyst?

- Yes.

I detest women

who go to psychoanalysts.

I've heard that sometimes

they can be very helpful.

Wasn't his name Bile or Boils,

or something like that?

- Byles.

- Byles.

What a horrid name.

There's nothing wrong with you that fresh

air, exercise and hard work won't cure.

Try it for two weeks and if

you don't feel better, come back.

Thank you. You've been

such a help to me. But l...

- Good day, Mrs. Hemmit.

- Good day, doctor.

Good day, Mrs. Hemmit.

- Yes? What is it?

- There's a Mrs. Skeffington here.

- I said you were busy.

- I don't know Skeffington.

- She have an appointment?

- No, but she insisted that I give you this.

- All right, show her in.

- Yes, doctor.

Will you come in, please?

Dr. Byles, I'm Fanny Skeffington.

Sit down.

Thank you.

- Doctor, I wanted to...

- Be quiet.

There's nothing urgent about you.

Isn't there? Perhaps you don't realize

that for the past two...

One moment, please.

What is the meaning of that?

Your perfume is a bit heavy for me.

Now, go on.

Well.

Well, as I said, for the past two months

I've been most distressed about something.

It all started during my illness.

I've just had diphtheria.

You see, doctor,

my husband keeps appearing.

He's everywhere.

In the chair, beside my bed...

...standing at the foot of my bed,

watching me eat my breakfast...

Just everywhere.

And I find it most disconcerting.

You should have stuck to him.

- Stuck to him? After what he did?

- How old are you, Mrs. Skeffington?

Forty...

...five.

Fifty.

Well, I didn't sleep very well last night.

See how important quiet nights are

for women your age?

- To everybody, I imagine.

- If you don't want to become an eyesore.

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