Random Harvest Page #5

Yes, and I gather the estate

is divided equally between all of us...

with the exception

of the two business interests...

- which, naturally, fall to me.

- Naturally.

- And this house, which goes to Charles.

- To Charles?

But why on earth

should Charles get the house?

That gives him more than Chet,

the eldest son.

- Morning, Uncle George.

- Morning, Kitty. Morning, everybody.

- Morning.

- I say, have you heard the news?

Plenty for all and plenty more...

when up-to-date methods are used

in the handling of our various interests.

In fact, without being unduly optimistic,

I think I may say...

Sausages, by Jove!

But if the whole matter's

gonna be treated as a joke...

Sit down, Chet. It's no joke to me.

That is, supposing it really is Charles

who's suddenly turned up like a...

Like a bad penny?

Hello, my dear fellow. How are you?

- Hello, Chet. How are you?

- Delighted to see you, Charles.

- Welcome home, darling.

- Hello, darling.

- Charles, this is jolly.

- My dear.

Charles, dear, how nice to see you.

You haven't met Henry yet, have you?

A new brother-in-law?

How do you do? Congratulations.

- Thank you very much.

- You remember Lydia.

- How are you?

- How are you?

- Hello, old chap.

- I'm Kitty.

Jill had to take me when she took Daddy.

How do you do, Kitty?

Please sit down, all of you.

- I'm afraid I'm upsetting your breakfast.

- Here's a chair. Next to mine.

- What can I get you?

- You go on with your breakfast...

- and I'll forage for myself.

- Go ahead, my dear chap.

We're all absolutely delighted

to see you back.

Have to kill the fatted calf, what?

I'll settle for a couple

of George's sausages.

- Lf he's left any.

- Plenty. I'm on a diet.

- By Jove, he's kidding. Amazing.

- They sound absolutely deafening.

By the way, my dear fellow,

Truslove's reading the will this morning.

It's 10 years old,

so you won't be done out of your share...

- which includes the house, I understand.

- Really?

I'm sure you're all waiting

for some sort of explanation.

I really haven't got one.

That's what loss of memory does for you.

Sheldon's told you all I know.

I was in Liverpool yesterday morning.

Why or how, I've no idea.

I'd been knocked down by a taxi

and came to in a chemist's shop.

Before that, I can't remember a thing.

Since a shell hole in France,

and that was three years ago.

Those three years

are a complete blank to me.

I don't know what I've done,

where I've been.

I found a little money in my pocket

and this key.

The key to your house?

If I knew that, I'd know where I belong.

- You belong here, Uncle Charles.

- Yes?

Yes, of course. This house.

I hope you'll all still think of it as home

and come whenever you like...

and stay as long as you care to,

now or anytime.

- Charles...

- I shall come. Often.

- I'm terribly glad you're my uncle.

- Thank you, Kitty.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, sir.

- Sorry you're leaving.

- Well, Charles.

Take care, old chap, won't you?

Excuse my left hand.

Hello, Uncle Charles!

I've come to say goodbye!

- Hello, Kitty. You off, Julian?

- Yes.

I don't think I shall call you uncle.

You're not really my uncle.

Forward minx. Goodbye, Charles.

Let's meet again sometime, somewhere.

We must.

- Goodbye, young woman.

- Goodbye.

Let's sit down, shall we? Come on.

Mother will be hours yet.

She's always late.

Can I have a puff of that cigarette?

Do you think you should?

All the girls at Kerwood smoke

as soon as they're in sixth.

- You don't mind, do you?

- Why should I?

Charles, aren't you going to be...

terribly lonely all by yourself

in this big house?

Perhaps. Why?

Only when people are lonely...

they're rather apt to marry

the first woman who comes along.

It doesn't do, you know.

- It doesn't?

- Never.

Not once, in all your years of experience?

I shall be 18 in three years.

- I'll keep you in mind.

- Will you?

I know you're laughing at me...

but please don't do anything rash

in the meantime...

because I do like you awfully,

from the very first moment.

Is this a leap year, by any chance?

I don't know, and I don't care.

- I've said it and I mean it.

- I'll have to think it over.

Anyway, don't you think

that I might come here in the holidays...

and sort of take care of you?

- What would Mother say?

- Jill? She wouldn't mind.

- She loves to get rid of me.

- Kitty!

You'll write to me, won't you?

- Kitty!

- Will you?

All right, if you want me to.

Here I am, waiting.

Goodbye, Charles. Goodbye, Sheldon.

- I've simply got to fly.

- Goodbye, my dear.

- Lovely to see you. Come along, Kitty!

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Kitty.

- Goodbye, Uncle Charles.

Thanks for asking me

to come and visit you in the holidays.

- Will you be dining at home, sir?

- Yes, I suppose so.

- Alone, sir?

- There's no one else, is there?

I thought perhaps you might like to ask

the vicar or Dr. Hampstead.

I don't think so, Sheldon. Thank you.

I'm afraid you'll be very lonely

in this great house.

May one ask, sir,

have you any plans for the future?

No. I might go back to Cambridge.

I never got my degree.

I might take a fling at writing.

I always wanted to, if you remember.

I wonder what he would have

liked me to do.

I think he always wanted you to carry on

at Rainier's where he left off, sir.

But Mr. Chetwynd

is head of Rainier's now.

Yes, now, sir, but... We shall see.

In any case, I'm not a businessman.

- Have you ever tried, sir?

- No.

I wonder what I was doing in Liverpool.

"Dear Uncle Charles..."

or "Dear Charles."

What do you think?

He's not really my uncle, you know,

and I have intentions.

"Dear Charles, so you've left Cambridge

and gone into the business.

"What a shame.

I know you hated to leave your books...

"and that quiet corner of the river

where Rupert Brooke used to dream.

"Mother says you're simply a wizard at it.

We're all going to be rich again.

"Write to me soon.

"I keep all your letters.

"Sentimental little college girl.

"Dear Uncle Charles.

"Dear Charles, I've graduated with honors.

"I'm sending you my photograph

in cap and gown.

"Will you put me on the desk

in your study?

"And please, look at me sometimes.

"Dear Charles... My dear Charles...

"just to remind you that I'm growing up.

"I have lots of beaus.

"I do hope you're jealous.

"By the way, I saw your picture

in the paper.

"I was impressed.

"'Industrial Prince of England..."

"'Mr. Charles Rainier."'

Hello, nuisance.

My word.

Do you like it?

My dear, you look adorable.

Adore me. I can bear it.

- Haven't I seen that hat before?

- It's not a bad hat, is it?

It's a lovely hat.

Now it will be a lovely lunch.

My dear, I cannot possibly afford the time.

Come on.

Yes, you can. Miss Hanson says so.

She says it will do you good

to get out of this office...

for an hour or two.

Or two?

- Miss Hanson.

- Yes, Mr. Rainier.

Owing to lamentable weakness

of character...

I'm having lunch at the Savoy

with your approval.

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