Parnell Page #3

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invitations.

Where am I to appear?

And when?

I was going to

ask you to dinner

At our house

next Thursday.

I'm coming.

At what time?

At 8:
00.

Next Thursday

at 8:
00.

But it's in the country at Eltham.

Quite a distance.

No distance at all.

Then I can really

expect you?

Good-Bye,

Mr. Parnell.

And thank you.

You know...

Miracles happen.

I have my proof

of that now.

Miracles?

Yes.

I've seen you before

today, Mrs. O'shea.

Indeed.

Last week

at the opera.

You were wearing a white

dress with white roses.

Why, yes!

The lights went up,

and there you were.

Suddenly,

there was no music,

No opera house,

nothing-

Nothing but

a distance between us.

I asked who you were.

No one could

give me your name.

I resolved to find it

out, to meet you.

And now,

here you are-

Here we are...

Talking...

Friends.

I should consider it

an honor

If we might be,

Mr. Parnell.

Good-Bye.

I won't take any

more of your time.

You won't forget

next Thursday?

No.

Good-Bye.

The OGorman Mahon

will sit here.

Mrs. Wood will sit here.

And Mr. Parnell

will sit there.

Here, ma'am?

In this chair?

Yes. Oh, the saints be with us!

I'll be in the same

room with him this night!

Tomorrow I can die.

Just so it isn't

tonight, Ellen.

What's the matter,

Katie?

Anything wrong?

The kitchen

is like bedlam.

The uncrowned king of

Ireland is coming for dinner,

And they're practically

in hysterics.

They'll be in them completely

when he doesn't turn up.

He will...

Though I almost wish

he wouldn't.

Stage fright?

Not exactly.

Why, then?

I felt that

it was bad enough

To have to be a party

to Willies scheming

Before I met

Mr. Parnell.

Now that I have,

It's loathsome.

I gather you liked him

better than you expected.

I'd give anything not to

have this evening happen.

Auntie, I-

Here comes that dear,

inquisitive sister of yours.

Isn't it wonderful?

Entertaining in

this house again!

I'm so excited!

Aren't you, Katie?

I can see you are.

Oh, I think it's wonderful,

Willies being in parliament

And you giving political

dinners for him.

I do envy you,

Katie.

What's that?

Kathleen

Mavourneen.

You're not going

to sing tonight?

Well, I thought perhaps an Irish song

Would be

a compliment.

Not if I have anything

to do with it.

Clara, I should think

by now that you-

Hello, Katie.

Hello, Willie.

Parnell not here yet? No.

Evening,

aunt Ben, Clara.

It's an honor to be

here tonight, ma'am.

We're pleased

to have you.

Yes.

And you, ma'am,

Are lovelier

than ever.

Thank you,

general.

Ah, miss wood.

Good evening,

general.

Have you been fighting any more duels?

Well, not since

last I saw you.

Oh, did I ever

tell you

That, in the course

of me life,

I've had 22

major encounters,

To say nothing of

minor skirmishes.

You did, general.

I think it's

too thrilling!

19 of them in defense

of women's honor.

Honor?

I always wondered

why they called it that.

Does the little

lady play?

And sings.

Well, not really.

Just for my own

amusement, you know.

Amusement?

Well, I suppose it's

a special kind of humor.

Oh, then

we must hear you.

Kathleen Mavourneen!

That's my

favorite song.

Oh, no, general.

I couldn't.

Really, I couldn't.

I haven't looked

at it for ages.

Oh, now, now, now,

We're not going to

let you off, miss wood.

What voice have you?

Soprano or contralto?

No.

Well... it's a sort

of mezzo, really,

Though I did once

take high "c."

That was a day.

Pity providence

chose gout

Instead of deafness

to afflict me with.

Katie.

Yes?

My election has cost

more than I expected.

I'll need

some money.

How much?

2,000.

To get you

into parliament?

Well, the OGorman

Mahon and me.

Have you got to pay

his expenses, too?

Well, I couldn't have

got in without him.

Can you let me

have it?

You know I can't.

I haven't anything.

You could

get plenty.

Aunt Ben paid your

debts 3 months ago.

I can't ask her again.

You mean you won't.

If you'd rather

put it that way.

Hmm.

Look here, Katie.

If I can't pay my

election expenses,

There's only one thing

left for me to do:

Retire and become

a country gentleman.

What do you mean?

Well, if I can't

pay my debts,

I'll have to come down

here and live with you.

Good evening, sir.

Good evening.

Here's

Mr. Parnell now.

You will be nice to

him tonight, won't you?

Good evening,

Mr. Parnell.

Good evening,

captain Oshea.

Glad to have you

here, sir.

It's an honor

for us.

Nice of you to come.

We're only

a small party.

I hope

you won't mind.

I should like it.

Good evening,

Mrs. O'shea.

Good evening,

Mr. Parnell.

My aunt,

Mrs. Wood.

How do you do?

My sister,

miss wood.

Miss wood.

And I believe

you know

The OGorman

Mahon.

I do. Good evening,

general.

Good evening,

Mr. Parnell.

I hope Im

not late.

I'm afraid it's dinner

that's going to be late.

In fact, there's

more than a chance

That you won't

get any.

No?

You see, my niece

Has all Irish servants

in her kitchen.

And they're so excited

about your coming,

That what with all the tears and prayers

And blessings

that are going on,

I shudder to think

what dinner will be like

If it does

materialize.

Ha ha ha.

What a fine house you

have here, Mrs. O'shea.

And you've given it

a soul, too.

Filled it with

that subtle warmth

Which makes houses live.

Thank you.

It's cheerful tonight

because of all this

Distinguished

masculine company.

Ha ha. I don't see

how Willie can be content

To spend all his time away

from this charming atmosphere.

Do you, Mr. Parnell?

Ahem. Katie, if we aren't

going to have any dinner,

Why don't you play

something for us?

Yes. It may help us

forget our hunger.

Well, your

policy in the house

Is exceeding

beyond all bounds...

Do you know

what Im playing?

Don Giovanni.

Do you often go

to the opera?

No, I don't

like opera.

Strange that I should

have gone that night.

I don't know

why I did,

Unless it was

to meet you.

Do you believe

in fate?

No.

Haven't you ever

felt that

There might be

someone, somewhere,

Who, if you could

only find them,

Was the person that you

were always meant to meet?

Haven't you ever

felt that?

No.

I've wished sometimes

I did believe

There could be

such a person.

Mr. Parnell, there's

something I must tell you.

Yes?

I didn't want to

invite you here tonight.

And, really, I hoped

you wouldn't come.

But I did.

I'm sorry

you're disappointed.

Oh, under

different circumstances,

Nothing would have

given me greater pleasure.

But as it is...

As it is?

You see...

How can I tell you?

Well...

It's Willies wish

to have you here tonight.

You must understand what

an acquaintance with you

Will mean to my

husband politically.

He urged me to

go and see you

And invite you,

and I did.

He hoped you wouldn't refuse an

invitation presented that way.

And I didn't.

Why do you bother

to tell me that?

I want to be

honest with you.

I have to be.

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