Random Harvest Page #3

for a couple of hours tomorrow...

and I'll look in on Friday.

- Thank you, Doctor.

- Goodbye.

Goodbye.

- Morning, ma'am.

- Good morning.

Sorry I wasn't down.

- Were you wanting rooms?

- Well, that depends.

- May I use your telephone?

- Certainly. It's in there.

Thank you.

Smithy, come and sit down.

You look worn out.

He does look poorly. The poor dear.

Is this the phone?

Yes. You just picks it up,

turns the handle...

Yes. Thank you.

I want to make a trunk call, please.

Melbridge 4294.

What?

Clevedon 2707.

Hello?

Hello, Paula.

No, he's all right. Come to in a jiffy.

Right as rain, barring a bump on his head.

Big as an apple, it was.

That fellow of yours must have given him

what I gave the gunner.

What? A bump.

Biffer, don't make me laugh.

I'll go into hysterics. What?

He is an angel. So are you.

Do you mind if I rush off now

and tell Smithy? He'll be so happy.

A thousand thanks, darling, and goodbye.

Smithy, it's all right.

Isn't it wonderful? Sam's all right.

Now you have nothing

to worry about, nothing.

Sam's being awfully decent about it.

He says it was just an accident.

An accident?

It's a friend of ours who had a bad fall.

We were terribly worried about him,

but it's all right.

And we would like to stay...

that is, if you can have us.

Well, I've got a nice double front.

Sun comes in all day.

Just the thing for your husband

after the flu.

He's not my husband.

Not yet, I mean.

We're just sort of engaged.

I've got two nice rooms adjoining...

with hot and cold and a view of the lake.

If you'd like to come up.

Smithy, isn't it wonderful?

I'm so thankful. I was terribly worried.

All you have to do is to get well,

and you will get well, won't you...

in this lovely place?

Say it. Let me hear you say it.

- I will.

- That's the spirit.

I had to tell her we were engaged.

You don't mind, do you?

I thought you was behind me.

Don't you want to see the rooms?

I'm sorry. Yes, of course.

We're just coming.

Come on, Smithy.

If I were you, I'd open it.

Smithy, you are a fraud.

I'm simply dying of curiosity.

It's from Liverpool, from that newspaper.

I say. So it is.

"Liverpool Mercury. Managing Editor,

Samuel C. Henson."

Must be about that article you sent them.

- Yes, I suppose it could be.

- For pity's sake, Smithy, open it.

- It's a check.

- I don't believe it. Let me look.

It's a small check, but it's a check.

Smithy, how wonderful.

- Aren't you terribly happy?

- Yes, I am.

- Means an awful lot.

- Smithy, I'm proud of you.

You didn't know you had an author

on your hands, did you?

Yes, I did. I knew you were good.

I'm really not a bit surprised.

You think I can sell another?

Another and another and another.

Lots of them.

Smithy, I wonder if you were a writer

before you...

- Before the war.

- Yes, I've wondered that, too.

Aren't you terribly curious?

About the past, I mean?

Well, I'd like to know,

but the present's looking up.

Supposing it all

came back to you suddenly...

and it was awfully grand,

with all sorts of wonderful people?

I wouldn't mind a bit.

You might even be married, Smithy.

Who knows?

Nonsense.

- How can you be so sure?

- Well, because...

Paula, I wonder

if I could make a living at writing.

Of course you could.

Make a regular income, be independent.

Why not?

And I'm getting quite good at typewriting.

It's a lot of nerve, but...

I've fallen in love with you.

No, you haven't.

You're just being a gentleman.

No. I'm nothing of the sort.

I'm asking you to marry me...

on a check for two guineas.

Smithy, don't ask me, please.

I might take you up on it.

I'm just that shameless.

Paula.

I've run after you from the very beginning.

You know I have.

I've never let you out of my sight

since I first saw you in that little shop.

- Never do it, Paula.

- What?

Never leave me out of your sight.

Never again.

Smithy, you do mean it?

You do want it? Really?

More than anything else in the world.

My life began with you.

I can't imagine a future without you.

I better say yes quickly

before you change your mind.

It's yes, darling.

Now I can relax.

I'm hungry.

- Smithy.

- What is it?

But, darling, you proposed to me...

and I've accepted you...

What's wrong?

Smithy, do I always

have to take the initiative?

You're supposed to kiss me, darling.

Goodbye.

- I'm so happy for you.

- Goodbye. God bless you both.

Thanks, Vicar. Thanks, Doctor.

Thanks again for all your kindness.

- Here. Take this.

- Doctor, no.

That's all right. Keep

it for the christening.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

I must oil that hinge.

Wait.

- I must cut that back.

- No, darling. It's so pretty.

Home.

Home.

- Today, is it, sir?

- I think so.

- Have you got the nurse in?

- Three days ago.

- Pretty trying, this business.

- I know how you feel, sir.

Been through it myself.

- Did your wife suffer much?

- No, nothing to speak of.

But me, crikey.

Got neuralgia, have you?

- I don't think so.

- Lucky.

I had it something cruel with our second.

- What they call synthetic pain.

- Do they?

That's the scientific name for it.

I said I'd never face it again,

but you know how it is.

Here I am with four

and more bad news on the way.

Well, good luck to you, sir.

It's all right, Smith.

She's out of danger now. It's been

a hard fight, but she's made it...

and you have a son.

Come on. Pull yourself together.

She's all right.

Nothing in the world to worry you now.

It's a boy. That's what you wanted.

And eight pounds of him, too.

Don't you want to see her

after all her trouble?

Of course you do.

Good morning.

I've dropped in to register a new subject.

- Name of child?

- We're calling him John, after me.

My wife thinks he's the image of me,

but I don't see it.

Really? And the date?

He has her eyes, blue,

and when he smiles...

he's just like my wife,

except for the teeth.

Yes, well, you can't expect everything

all at once.

- What did you say the date was?

- November 6.

- Don't you want his weight?

- No, thank you.

Eight pounds, three and a half ounces.

He's gained an ounce a day since.

- It's remarkable.

- Father's profession?

Writer. In a small way, of course.

Writer and parent. Parent in a big way.

That will be all. Yes. Thank you.

But you can form only

a very inadequate picture of him...

- from what I've given you.

- I'll have to struggle along.

- I'll bring him in one of these days.

- Do that.

Then you can see for yourself.

Do I get a receipt?

You do.

- Thank you very much. I'll bring him in.

- Do that.

Hi, nurse!

Here you are. I don't

think I forgot a thing.

- Is he asleep?

- Lf he was, he isn't now.

Wait.

- Did I wake him?

- No.

I brought him a present.

Will he like it? Will he know it's a cat?

- Smithy.

- Yes.

- Come here.

- What?

No, here.

Look, I'm Mrs. Smith.

Do you remember me?

What's so wonderful about that fellow?

He just eats and sleeps.

Much of the time, he's not even friendly.

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