Mr. Skeffington Page #8

I must admit, at first I was very angry.

And then suddenly, I realized

that the five secretaries...

...were five gates to freedom.

And now you can live

with your conscience.

Well, yes.

I hope the two of you will be very happy.

George...

...is the custody of the child

always given to the mother?

That's the usual court procedure.

Why? Don't you wanna keep

young Fanny?

Of course. It's just that, well...

Poor little Fanny. I can't help but feel

she'd so much rather be with Job.

She loves him so.

Put them here, Soames.

Yes, madam.

For you, George.

Well...

...shall we drink to my conscience?

- Hello, Fanny, darling.

- Hello, Mother.

Who's calling, please?

One moment.

For you, Mrs. Skeffington.

Mr. MacMahon.

Excuse me, George.

What have you done with your father?

He's fixing the plumbing

in the doll's house.

- I see.

- Hello, Uncle George.

Hello, Fanny, darling.

I'm glad to see you.

Hello, Mac.

No, I find courtrooms are very dull.

Well, of course.

At 7? Well, l...

Well, you'd better not come until 8.

I'll see you then.

Goodbye.

It's all right, Mother.

He can come at 7.

I'll go to bed early,

and he doesn't have to see me.

Why, Fanny, what a thing to...

Hello, Fanny.

Hello, Job.

It's all fixed, darling.

You can give Bo Peep a shower now.

Thank you, Daddy.

Fanny, dearest, wouldn't you like to show

Uncle George your doll's house?

Uncle George, do you wanna see

my doll's house?

I have to.

- How was it in court today?

- Tiresome.

I napped now and then.

- Don't let the judge catch you.

- Well, he napped too.

- Job, would you like a cocktail?

- No, thank you.

- Are you comfortable at the club?

- I have a view of 47th Street...

...and the avenue.

Won't you sit down.

I want to talk to you.

If you don't mind, I'll stand.

I've been sitting all day.

First of all, Job,

I want to thank you...

...for the very generous settlement

you made on me.

Twelve years with the wrong husband?

It should be rewarded.

Well, of course, it was ridiculous of you

to settle a fortune on me.

But then, it would've been ridiculous

for me to refuse, wouldn't it?

I'm glad you're going

to be reasonable about it.

Job, still laughing at me.

Without moving a muscle.

I assure you, Fanny,

you're no laughing matter.

I can't bear to look at you, Job.

Your eyes have such a hurt expression.

They have? I repudiate them.

I have no right to feel hurt. I knew

you didn't love me when I married you.

I'm sorry, Job.

I'm really sorry I can't love you.

That's all right, Fanny.

You can't really love anyone.

Well...

That's not meant as a reproach.

That's just one of the facts of your life.

Well, it's not very flattering.

You know, Job, I'm very fond of you.

And I might never have taken

this step at all, if I hadn't discovered...

Well, after all, Job, five of them.

You mustn't think too harshly

of my secretaries.

They were understanding when I came

to the office after a hard day at home.

- Job.

- Well, what did you expect?

You think I would've looked at another

woman if I'd received affection from you?

You wouldn't allow a dog in the house.

You didn't need one with me around.

- I was petted, admired, but never loved.

- Job, really.

- Fanny...

- Job, please don't beg.

Beg you, Fanny?

I never begged you in my life.

I hope I never will.

I've a dreadful headache.

This isn't what I wanted

to discuss with you.

I'm sorry, but I have a headache too.

I think mine precedes yours...

...by quite a few years.

I find all this very distasteful.

All right, I'll listen quietly.

What do you wanna discuss with me?

Our daughter.

What about our daughter?

She's not going to be very happy

staying with me.

She loves you so much more.

Well, I'm no hypocrite. I'm glad she does.

Yes, but you see, the court says

a child should stay with its mother.

Never mind what the court says.

What do you say?

Well, I think a child should.

It's just that...

Well, it's just that...

Are you sure she won't be

a hindrance to you?

- After all, you're still young and beautiful.

- Don't be insulting. It isn't fair.

You know perfectly well that if Fanny

is miserable, I shall be miserable too.

What do you want me to do?

I was wondering if you wouldn't talk to her

sometime and see how she feels about it.

All right. I'd be glad to.

Thank you, Job.

That's very sweet of you.

Have I your permission

to take her out to dinner?

That would be lovely.

I'll see that she's dressed

in her very best.

- Fanny?

- Yes?

Have her wear the blue organdy, will you?

She looks like you in it.

Fanny, you've eaten hardly anything.

I know. I'm not very hungry.

You haven't eaten much either, Daddy.

And you need more food than I do.

I had a big lunch.

If you eat some more, Daddy,

I'll eat some more.

All right.

It's a very smooth orchestra.

Very smooth.

Yes, isn't it?

Daddy?

Yes, dear?

- Aren't you coming home to live anymore?

- I'm afraid not.

Ever?

I don't understand.

Do you like it better at the club?

Yes, I do.

Then could I come to the club

and live with you?

I'm afraid that's not possible, darling.

You see, it's a man's club.

No women allowed.

Then who makes your bed

and cleans up?

A woman.

It's all very confusing.

Daddy, couldn't you move

to an apartment where they allow women...

...and then maybe I could come

and live with you?

No, I'm afraid I couldn't, Fanny.

You see...

...l'm going to Mexico on business

and then to Europe.

I'll be gone a long time.

Then I won't see you very often.

- Not very often.

- Oh, Daddy.

Fanny, here comes the waiter.

- I'm sorry, Daddy.

- Everything all right, sir?

Yes, thank you.

We're not hungry.

You'd better take this away.

- Will the lady have dessert?

- No, thank you.

No dessert?

We have very delicious crme glac.

That means ice cream, Daddy.

Vanilla, peppermint, strawberry.

- No, thank you.

- You bring the young lady a glass of milk...

...and I'll just have a demitasse.

Yes, sir.

You'll see.

You'll be very happy with your mother.

Your mother loves you.

- You know that, Fanny, don't you?

- Yes, Daddy.

But you love me too, don't you, Daddy?

Why wouldn't I be happy with you too?

Well, I don't know

if I can explain this to you, Fanny.

You see, your mother and I

are of different faiths.

I never noticed any difference, Daddy.

Well, I mean, religious faiths.

You believe in God, don't you?

Certainly, I do.

Well, so does Mommy. She told me so.

Honestly, I don't see any difference.

Well, Fanny, it's... You see...

...l'm Jewish. Your mother is not.

Now, if you stay here with your mother,

you will never know what it is...

I mean, if you come to Europe with me...

...it's different there...

...and people may look upon you as...

Oh, this is very difficult

to explain to a child.

I suppose it's easier to explain

to a grown-up, isn't it?

I don't know.

Well, if you don't want me, Daddy...

...I suppose I can always live by myself.

Fanny.

Oh, Daddy. Daddy.

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