Old Acquaintance Page #10

- Here, let me take your things.

- Thank you.

Well, it's been a long time, hasn't it?

Yes, it has.

- Oh, won't you sit down?

- Thanks.

- Same old rooms.

- Yes, the same old rooms.

- Looks nice.

- I'm glad you like it.

- Can I make you a drink?

- I'd love one.

Good.

- Any Scotch?

- Of course, silly.

Your special brand.

That's fine.

- Where's Deedy?

- Oh, she isn't here.

I can see that. Will she be in?

Well, she may come in later.

- There. Here you are.

- Thanks.

You're looking well, Millie.

- Do you think so?

- Very well.

Oh, it's just vitamins.

- Here, will you have a cigarette?

- No, thanks.

All right.

- Here's looking at you.

- Thank you.

Well, Millie, I suppose you're wondering

why I've come to see you.

I think I can guess.

- Yes?

- Yes.

You see, I know a great deal

about men, Preston.

Especially when they're behaving

according to their finer instincts.

Oh. Yes. Yes, of course.

Millie, now that I'm getting married,

I'll have a home...

and I thought perhaps you might

be willing to share Deedy with me.

I know that Laurel's a bit young to be

a stepmother, in the ordinary sense...

but I see no reason why she and Deedy

shouldn't be very good friends.

Oh, no, of course not.

- That's what you wanted to see me about?

- That's right.

Why, yes, of course.

Well, Preston...

how long have you known this young girl?

A year or two. Why do you ask that?

Well, naturally, I'm concerned about you.

After all, we were together for so long

and we had a child and...

Well, you just disappeared into the blue.

- Not a word.

- I know.

- People have feelings, Preston.

- That's true.

But I thought it best

to make a clean break.

I'm rather one of the old,

sentimental sort...

and I knew if I saw Deedy again,

it might upset the apple cart.

So I decided

to put her clean out of my mind.

All of you. Kit, too.

Kit?

Yes, Kit.

Why... Well, what had Kit to do with it?

Well, I really don't see

why I shouldn't tell you about it now.

Millie, I was in love with Kit.

- In love with her?

- Yes.

When was that?

Oh, it began a year or two

before we separated.

Did you ever tell her that you loved her?

I did. Many times.

- And while you were married to me?

- Yes.

Oh, the snake in the grass!

And all the time pretending

she was my best friend.

But she was. She still is.

She's been a better friend to you

than you've ever realized.

I'd be married to Kit now

if it hadn't been for you.

I was desperately in love with her

and I think she felt the same toward me.

- Did she tell you so?

- Yes.

She'd have married me

but you were the reason she didn't.

Her best friend. She said

that's something you just don't do.

I don't believe it.

I don't believe a word of it.

- You're just making this up.

- I'm not.

Oh, Millie, you can't mind about this now.

- What happened between you?

- Nothing.

Oh, don't let's go into it.

It's over and done with.

We certainly will go into it.

I want to know what happened.

Nothing at all. She kissed me goodbye

and sent me away.

- Oh, she sent you away.

- Yes, she did!

- You're just trying to protect her!

- Millie.

Preston, I'd like you to go, please.

I'm very glad to know

what you've just told me...

but I'd like you to go.

I must say, Millie,

you're as unpredictable as ever.

I'm terribly sorry this has happened.

I really didn't mean to upset you.

Goodbye.

Mother, what's happened?

You do let yourself go.

You asked me a while ago...

how I happened to let anything

like your father get away from me.

Well, I'll tell you.

He was taken away from me. Filched.

- Filched?

- Oh, well, stolen, then.

And who by, do you think?

By the woman I thought

was my best friend, your sainted Kit.

Mother, have you gone quite mad?

All these years I've asked myself

what I'd done to drive him away from me.

I've searched my conduct.

And all the while

the truth was lurking in the shadows.

It was that Judas

that calls herself my friend.

Look, Mother, this isn't one of your books.

This is real life.

You're talking about Father and Kit.

I know who I'm talking about.

Your father's just confessed

the whole thing.

Oh, that she would have the nerve

to criticize me...

for the way I was treating him.

Why... Why, it was in this very room.

I was sitting there on the couch...

and she was standing back here,

by the piano...

when she accused me

of making your father's life miserable.

No. No, she walked away from the piano...

and she stood right over me

and told me that.

And all the while she was carrying on

with him like some Jezebel.

Well.

Well, I can wish her no worse fate

than that for which she is heading now.

What do you mean by that?

Oh, she's embarking

on a little cradle-snatching.

That silly young boy

she's been carrying on with...

has been called into the Navy.

And she must immediately become

a young sailor's bride of 42.

Who are you talking about?

- Mother, you can't mean Rudd?

- Who else?

She was here just a few minutes ago

driveling about marrying him.

I think she sees herself at the point...

where she can't be

so sure of men anymore...

whether they're

other women's husbands, or not.

- Are you sure of this?

- Yes.

Apparently Rudd is still infatuated

and anxious for marriage...

in spite of the closeness

of their relationship.

- Just what do you mean by that?

- Just what you think I mean.

Well...

this is quite a surprise.

Oh, the longer you know Kit...

the more you'll find

she's full of hidden surprises.

- Mother, are you telling me the truth?

- Of course. Why should I lie?

Why, it's time you knew

what was going on around you.

It's time you came out

of your illusions about Kit.

I think it's about time

I came out of a lot of illusions.

Why... Why, Deirdre.

Well.

Thank you.

- Hello, Kit.

- Hello.

I'm sorry, I have to rush.

- Congratulations.

- What about?

You and Rudd. I'm so glad.

Heaps of love to you both.

- Deedy, where are you off to?

- I have a date, with Lucien.

Come in.

- Hello, Millie.

- Hello.

What's been going on?

I just ran into Deirdre in the hall

and she was almost hysterical.

I don't know what you mean.

Millie...

what did you tell Deirdre

about Rudd and me?

I told her that you were

going to be married. Why?

What did you tell her that for?

Since I haven't even told him myself yet...

I should have thought

it was a little premature.

But that certainly couldn't have upset her.

It must have been something else.

What was it?

You set yourself up

as a paragon of virtue to that girl...

and it was my duty, as her mother,

to open her eyes.

So that's what you told her.

Millie, why did you do that?

Why should you?

Why shouldn't I?

Haven't you done enough to me?

What have I done to you?

- Don't you remember?

- Remember what?

You, my so-called best friend

and Preston, my husband.

Surely you remember that?

I do, distinctly.

Then you don't pretend that you've

forgotten taking him away from me?

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