Old Acquaintance Page #4

that telephone. You better call her.

I will.

Oh, this is Miss Belle Carter,

The News Post.

- Oh, hello, Miss Carter.

- How do you do, Miss Marlowe?

- This is Miss Deirdre Drake.

- How do you do, Miss Drake?

How do you like

your daughter's new outfit?

Now, that is something. Well.

The very latest thing in winter fashions.

It's lovely, Kit,

but you shouldn't have done it.

- Why not? I enjoyed it.

- You know, this kind of thing...

has been going on between these two

ever since she was born.

Well, she's really partly mine, anyway.

I was at the hospital when she was born.

As a matter of fact,

she gave me her first smile.

Her mother said it was gas.

- That wasn't true, was it, Deedy?

- No.

Well, young lady,

where have you two been today?

- Oh, we went to the zoo and to the stores.

- We went everywhere, Pres.

Are you very excited

about the opening of your play tonight?

Well, I've been trying to forget it all day.

Every time I think about it,

I get butterflies in my stomach.

Come on, Deedy.

We'll see if Mademoiselle

has your supper ready.

- Excuse us, Miss Carter.

- I'm not hungry.

Now, you go and eat, and drink your milk.

That must be Mrs. Drake.

I'll tell her you're here, Miss Carter.

She'll be right out.

- Hello, Millie.

- Hello.

- Oh, what's the matter?

- Who's out there?

Oh, Kit, your daughter,

and a lady of the press, why?

I'm desperately tired.

You knew I would be.

Too much shopping?

I didn't get half the things done

I planned to do.

Just wait till you see Deedy,

and you'll forget all about being tired.

You haven't been calling the child

that silly name...

in front of a reporter, have you?

I wish you wouldn't.

Very good, madam.

But wait till you see her anyway.

Kit's bought her a new outfit.

They've just come in.

Why does she keep her out so late?

Upsets her whole routine.

They've had a marvelous time.

Been on a bender,

both of them completely cockeyed.

Preston, I'm in no mood

for your silly jokes.

Now, Millie, you're tired.

Let me fix you a nice, big drink.

- How many have you had?

- Fourteen or fifteen.

Oh, stop being funny.

Preston, you know I don't like you

to drink in the daytime.

- It's as good a time as any.

- Oh, Preston.

Millie, you better see that press lady.

I told her as much as I could.

- What did you tell her?

- Oh, how brilliant and capable you are...

and how we regard life

from our pinnacle of success.

But, Preston, I've asked you

a thousand times...

- to let me handle my own interviews.

- I had to be polite.

Well, next time,

please talk about something else.

Millie, I...

- Millie, you look like the Queen of Sheba.

- Oh, thanks.

But, I had my hair done this afternoon.

New girl, dreadful.

She just chatted at me all the time.

I thought she'd never stop talking.

Millie, Miss Carter asked me to tell you

she can't wait very much longer.

Yes, I know. I'm going.

Pres tell you I stole your daughter

this afternoon? We went shopping.

He told me. Time you had one of your own.

Oh, how do you do, Miss Carter?

Well, I'd better call that Broadbank wench.

- Where did she say she'd be?

- She was just leaving the theater.

She must be home then.

- Kit, will you tell me something?

- Yes, what?

I've been wanting to ask you for years.

- Why are you and Millie such friends?

- Oh, Pres, what a thing to ask.

I mean it. It can't just be

because you were girls together.

Well, that counts

for more than you'd think.

Hello? Miss Julia Broadbank.

Miss Marlowe calling.

Thank you.

Millie remembers the same things I do.

That's important.

For instance,

I think she's the only one I know...

who remembers

when I used to be called Chunky.

I shouldn't think

you'd want anyone to remember that.

I know, but one does.

It's funny, but one does.

What? Well...

All right, I'll wait.

Besides that, I owe Millie a great deal.

On my very first day at school...

she took me by the hand

and brought me home...

and said to her mother very solemnly...

"Mama, this is Katherine Marlowe

who's going to my very best friend."

What? No, she called me.

And then, when my aunt died,

her home was the only real home I had.

Her mother and father couldn't have been

nicer to me if I'd been their own daughter.

Millie's really all right, Pres.

Kit, you're just what I always thought

you were, a pretty nice person.

Oh, pooh.

I don't know what I'd have done

if you hadn't been around all these years.

Just to look at you...

I know, my...

My fatal beauty drives men mad.

I don't have to tell you, do I?

Miss Broadbank, I was told you called.

Well, I'm returning your call.

My dear Miss Broadbank,

that is not what I said at all.

I love you so much.

Pres, I've begged you not

to ever say that to me.

No. No, I did not go to the theater

this afternoon.

Because I'm sick and tired of arguing.

I don't care what you wear

in the second act.

What?

You can wear spangles if you want to.

Kit. Kit, Mommy wants me to go to bed!

Do I have to?

You should save your voice for tonight.

Goodbye.

Kit, can't I stay up until you leave?

I don't wanna go to bed yet.

- Aren't you sleepy, old lady?

- No.

I don't wanna go yet.

Deedy, you and I are in the doghouse.

Now, if you really want to help...

you'll go to bed quickly

and go right to sleep.

Because if you don't, your mother'll

never let us go out together again.

Do you hear?

- Good night, angel.

- Good night.

- Go on.

- Daddy, give me a piggyback.

- You're too fat.

- I am not.

Giddyup.

Kit, I meant every word I said.

Take me out again tomorrow, Kit?

- I'll try.

- Okay, good night.

- Giddyup.

- I'm galloping already.

You are not. Giddyup.

- Thank you so much, Mrs. Drake.

- I've enjoyed it.

Oh, Kit, I'm glad you've come in.

Miss Carter wanted

to say goodbye to you.

It's been an honor and a pleasure,

Miss Marlowe.

I wish I could do a story on you sometime.

She always says she hates publicity.

Well, some other time, perhaps.

It's been so nice.

Tell me, how is your new book

coming along?

Well, I write, and I rewrite,

and I still don't like it.

But at least, when you do turn one out,

it's a gem.

None of this

grinding them out like sausage...

- I suppose I could cut my throat.

- There's a knife on the table.

Miss Carter, I'm sure you'll excuse us.

We have a million things to do.

- Good luck for tonight, Miss Marlowe.

- Thank you. Bye.

Thank heavens I don't have to write

for literary snobs like that one.

What difference does it make

what she said?

At least, I don't labor over my writing,

and I'm proud of it.

If I have more facility than others,

that's my good luck.

And you can take comfort

in the knowledge...

that your books sell and mine don't.

Well, I deliberately write

for the great, broad public.

- Of course, and I wish I knew the secret.

- I wish you did, too.

I'd be much happier if you were

more successful financially, Kit.

Well, I'm willing. What do you suggest?

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