My Son John Page #4

who could that be?

I don't think we hit

anybody else yesterday.

Hope you didn't have any trouble

at the front door.

Well, no, that, um,

that was a present

from my two sons.

They're in the service.

Yes, they were here last week.

We had a sort of, um,

farewell dinner.

Well, I...

oh, but pardon me,

you want to fight the battle

of 18.70,

what is it?

It does seem a little silly

to squabble about a repair bill

when boys like yours are...

oh, you've got another side.

Yeah.

Maybe you'd like to squabble

over a cup of coffee.

Yeah, I'd like that.

Come in.

Bring the bill.

I got it.

That's what my boys sent me.

Well, that's...

that's beautiful.

I'm just dying to try it on.

Why don't you?

I think I will.

That's nice.

Mmhmm.

Madame butterfly.

Darn.

What's the matter?

You're about as sad

as poor butterfly.

It's, uh,

it's only that this was

sent from San Francisco.

That's a harbor, isn't it?

That's where ships sail from?

Yeah.

Well, that was

a welcome interruption.

Yes?

Cleaner.

Yes, it is.

Where's Mrs. Jefferson?

Oh, she's, uh, on the phone.

I'll take it.

Yes?

No, he isn't here now.

Who is calling, please?

Uh-huh.

Wouldn't you think people

would leave their names?

These are my two boys.

The ones that, uh...

yeah.

Look like a great pair

of halfbacks.

Yes.

This one used to

pass to that one.

Yes, he'd fade way back.

Oh, yeah, to give him a chance

to get down the field.

Uhhuh.

And then...

Boom, touchdown.

You have two fine boys,

all right.

Oh, we have another son, John.

He's the bright one

in the family.

He has more degrees

than a thermometer.

I said there was only one

bright one in the family.

He's brilliant though, really.

He's going to give

the commencement address

at his university.

Oh, that John Jefferson.

Well, he is...

he's just famous, that's all.

He doesn't know it,

but his father and I

are going to be there

to hear him.

Oh, that's wonderful.

Well, I may be there myself.

That's my Alma mater, too.

- Oh?

- Mm-hmm.

Well, uh, does...

he doesn't live here

with you now then.

No, he's just visiting.

He's in Washington.

That phone call,

that was for him.

Oh.

That was long distance

from Washington.

He has a great career

ahead of him.

Well, it seems you

have three fine sons,

Mrs. Jefferson.

Mmhmm.

God was good to me.

Oh, I don't know,

I think he was pretty good

to those boys, too.

You're a wonderful mother.

Is your mother still living?

I have a wonderful mother, too.

Nothing petty about her.

Oh, you shouldn't

have done that.

You never would have

got it anyway.

Mother?

Yes, John?

Hi.

Oh, you said

you'd be home early.

Have a good day?

Mm, fine.

Well, my day was...

little lonely?

Oh, I'm sorry, mother.

I promise that I'll

see more of you.

You do, John.

You had a long distance

phone call

from Washington, D.C.

Oh.

Uh, who was it?

They didn't leave any name.

What did he, um,

did he leave any message?

It was a girl, John.

You've got a girl, John?

Oh, no, mother,

it was probably

just a routine call

from the office.

No, it was a payphone.

I heard her drop

a lot of money in.

No message?

No, she said

she'd call back later.

Mmhmm.

Where's father?

He's, uh, going over your notes.

Oh.

Well, I hope I was of some help

on his speech.

Well, uh, he didn't say...

John?

Father.

How's your supper coming?

Oh, fine.

Well, I'm sorry

that I missed you

this morning, father.

Well, it was as much my fault

as yours, son.

I ate in haste, I had to leave.

Well, uh, did you find

my notes useful?

That's what I wanted

to talk to you about, John.

I hope you got

my points, father,

because I didn't want

you to be saying things

that you didn't mean.

Now, you know,

I realize as well as you

that the legion is

a great force for good

and caution must be shown

to avoid the danger

of a misuse of their power.

Well, don't you think

fighting men can think?

Or do you think

they just bleed well?

Oh, father.

Well, then what happened

to my first line?

We legionnaires must fight

to keep the power in the people

and if we let the state

give us freedom,

it also has the power

to take it away.

You, uh, you didn't find

any substitute for that,

you just, uh, marked that out

with a blue pencil.

Put your line back.

Darn right I will.

Put the wholespeech back,

it's all right with me.

That's whati intend to do.

I said, "when the state

denies God given rights

and regards itself

as a source of liberty,

freedom is doomed."

That isn't even your idea,

is it?

No, I copied it.

What difference does that make?

Copying it

doesn't make it right.

I copied it right.

Just wait there.

John.

Oh, father, let's not

go into it anymore.

No, I've... I've got

another subject for ya.

As your father, you and I

are going to have a talk.

A good talk,

away from your mother,

and it's about you, son.

Well, if you'd enjoy it, father.

Well, I don't know

whether you will.

As I told you, we're alert

and we are alert.

You just said that.

Yes.

And you sound to me

like one of those guys

that we should be alert about.

One of those guys, father?

I just said that you

sounded like one,

I didn't say that you...

'cause if I thought that

you really were, you know,

I'd take you out in the backyard

and I'd give it to ya

both barrels.

No trial, huh?

Nah, you're off

on the wrong slant.

And you know

what I'm talking about

'cause as your father,

I wanna know

where you're at it.

Well, I can help you there.

I'm headed for the bathroom.

Wash my hands

and clean up for dinner.

Well, I'll go with you.

Yes?

Yes, it is.

Yes, he's here now.

Just a moment.

Thanks, mom.

Hello?

Yes.

Uh, lu,

I'm sorry, but I'm going on down

to the legion now.

Well, what about supper?

I'll eat something

when I get home.

Oh, but you must have a bite.

Well, I'm not hungry.

Oh, I'll hurry it up.

Now, look, the meeting

isn't till 8:
00.

You have two whole hours.

Well, it'll take me two hours

to get my speech back

the way it was.

All right, see you later, son.

Good luck, Dan.

Thanks, I can use it.

I can hear ya now.

Yes.

Yes.

I heard you.

I heard...

yes, goodbye.

Oh, I... I... I know

how you feel, mother.

Do you?

I don't understand

father's attitude toward me.

That's because

you're not a father.

With a son like me?

You look worried, John.

What, was it that phone call

that did it?

Well, it was important,

yes, mother,

but, well, don't, uh,

let's not go into

how I look again.

All right.

I... I made... I made

a cocktail

in case anybody was in the mood.

Good, let's keep it bright.

I made enough for three, but...

you know, I...

I don't like

to get back to father

again, mother, but...

if you didn't, I would.

He's so troubled, John.

You know, when we left you

off at the university...

Yes?

Well, um, he was so mad

that you'd rather talk

to highbrow professors

that he smashed right

into another car.

Oh, he did?

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