Old Acquaintance Page #12

- Goodbye, Kit.

Kit...

just to have known you,

I'll always be grateful.

It's been an enchanted patch

we've had, Rudd.

Like a spell of perfect weather.

It's been like that to me, too, Kit.

Goodbye.

- Harriet.

- Yes, ma'am.

Harriet, bring down

my Persian lamb coat, will you?

- And call a cab, immediately.

- All right.

Harriet, call Major Drake

at the Park Avenue Hotel...

and tell him not to let Mr. Kendall leave

under any circumstances...

until Miss Drake arrives.

- And you needn't wait up for me.

- Well, where is Mr. Kendall?

Harriet, you're looking

at the biggest fool that ever lived.

Oh, Miss Marlowe, don't.

- Mr. Grant?

- Yes.

I'm Katherine Marlowe.

Did the man at the desk

tell you I was on my way up?

Yeah, he did.

Would you mind very much if I came in?

Not at all. Come in.

Charming. Typical bachelor's lair.

- So you're the Katherine Marlowe.

- I've often been referred to as that.

- I've heard a great deal about you.

- Have you?

- Oh, that's the bedroom.

- Really?

- Would you like a drink?

- No, thank you very much.

- I will have a cigarette, though.

- Why, certainly.

Thank you.

- Do you mind if I sit down?

- Please do.

This will be quite comfortable, thank you.

I presume there is no need

for me to tell you why I'm here.

I've come for Deirdre.

- Oh, the little Drake number.

- Yes.

- What would she be doing here?

- Well, that's what I've come to find out.

Look, Miss Marlowe, I don't know

where you got the weird idea...

- but if you think that I...

- You're far from convincing, Mr. Grant.

- Now, really.

- Deirdre!

- Come out from behind that screen.

- Now look, Miss Marlowe, I...

Deirdre, are you coming out by yourself

or shall I come over and drag you out?

How did you know I was there?

My dear, I was hiding behind screens

before you were born.

Well, I won't be treated like this.

I won't be followed about like a child.

Mr. Grant, would you get

Deirdre's hat and coat, please?

I'm old enough to take care of myself

and to lead my own life.

Mr. Grant, would you get

Deirdre's hat and coat, please?

Gladly.

Oh, why don't you let me alone?

Deirdre...

I gave you credit

for more intelligence than this.

If you insist

upon throwing yourself away...

for heaven's sake,

do it with a little originality.

This is definitely old hat.

- That goes for the way you're dressed, too.

- What are you doing to me?

What's the matter

with the way I'm dressed?

You're a fine one to criticize anything I do.

Deirdre, I have never made a practice

of slapping people...

but I'm dangerously close

to slapping you right now.

Here you are.

Thank you.

- Come on, Deirdre.

- I'm not going.

Deirdre, I want no more nonsense.

Come on.

By the way, Miss Marlowe...

if there's anyone else you know

in my little black book...

I'll be only too glad

to cross them out right now.

I know practically

everyone in New York, Mr. Grant.

- Shall I call a taxi?

- No, thank you, I had mine wait.

I'm sick and tired

of everyone interfering with me.

- Good night, Mr. Grant.

- Good night, Miss Marlowe.

You went to Lucien's tonight...

because of what you heard

about Rudd and me, didn't you?

- Well, I...

- Didn't you?

- Well, yes.

- I thought so.

- And you're in love with Rudd, aren't you?

- That has nothing to do with it.

- I don't see why you don't marry him.

- Because he doesn't want to marry me.

And, well, no nice woman wants to marry

a man who doesn't want to marry her.

- But Rudd's in love with you, isn't he?

- He was, Deirdre.

- He isn't anymore.

- You mean he just stopped suddenly?

You can't say

when you stop loving somebody, Deirdre.

All you know is that you have stopped.

But you haven't stopped loving him,

have you?

To be quite honest with you, no, not yet.

But I shan't go on loving him forever.

Anyway, the thing has happened...

and, well, thank God it's happened now

and not a year from now.

I don't think I could have taken it then.

Well, here we are.

Deirdre, you think over everything

I've said and you'll realize I'm right.

Kit, if I'd only known,

this never would've happened.

But if it hadn't been you, darling,

it might have been someone else.

And I'm happy it was you.

You're so right for each other.

Now, come on. Rudd's waiting for you.

Kit...

tell me something.

Was my father ever in love with you?

Yes, he was, once.

Kit, I can't tell you...

You're just about

the most wonderful person I know.

Oh, nonsense.

I'm not at all.

Darling, it's late...

and I'm very, very tired

of youth and love and self-sacrifice.

Now come on.

- Good night, Kit.

- Good luck, darling.

Now you be happy.

That's what I want most in the world,

for you to be happy.

Where to now, lady?

Oh.

Well, I really don't know.

Drive me around for a while, will you?

I'm sorry. I can't cruise around these days.

Gas rationing.

Gas rationing.

That's right.

Well, I guess

you'd better take me back home.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, Millie, imagine finding you here.

Kit, it's hard for me to apologize.

Anything I may have said today...

I didn't mean it.

Forget it, Millie.

I've been a fool.

I... I know you must hate me...

but if you could find it in your heart

to forgive me.

Of course I forgive you, Millie.

I'm not even angry anymore.

Thank you, Kit.

Millie, how about a glass

of nice, flat champagne?

- Do you think I should?

- Oh, come on. It'll be good for both of us.

Well, I never have, but all right.

There comes a time

in every woman's life...

when the only thing that helps

is a glass of champagne.

It's been a strange sort of day,

hasn't it, Kit?

That's putting it mildly.

I didn't expect you back so soon.

I thought you'd be out

celebrating with Rudd.

Millie, brace yourself.

I've something to tell you.

Yes?

Rudd is getting married, but not to me.

Oh.

Thank you.

Well, if he's not going to marry you,

who is he going to marry?

Deirdre.

Deirdre?

Are you joking?

No, Millie. Far from it.

Deirdre and Rudd.

But they don't even know each other,

do they, or more than casually?

Apparently they knew each other

well enough for that.

I can't believe it.

Don't be upset, Millie.

Deirdre was bound to marry someday.

And Rudd couldn't be nicer.

As a matter of fact, aside from Preston...

Rudd is the only other man

I ever wanted to marry.

And I'm just conceited enough

to think that that means something.

But it wouldn't have worked out, Kit.

You know that.

You're probably right.

Oh, my goodness.

- Millie, what is it?

- This changes everything.

Changes what?

My new book,

the one I told you I was writing.

You see, it's about two women friends.

They're practically brought up together.

They have their ups and downs,

and finally...

You mean, like us?

Oh, the characters are all imaginary but...

In a way, yes.

Millie, you never cease to amaze me.

No, really.

It's your not marrying Rudd

and both of us finding ourselves lonely.

If I finish it that way,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes