Rope Page #3

- I hope he does. How is he?

- Who is he?

Rupert Cadell

was our housemaster in prep school.

Housemaster for you three little dears?

Dour little dears.

He tried valiantly to teach David, too.

Rupert's a publisher now, isn't he?

Successful? Maybe he can give me a job.

Rupert only publishes books he likes,

usually philosophy.

Oh. Small print, big words, no sales.

- Right.

- Rupert's extremely radical.

Do you know that he selects

his books on the assumption that

people not only can read

but actually can think.

- Curious fellow, but I like him.

- You always did.

Golly, those bull sessions you

and Rupert used to have in school.

Brandon would sit up till all hours

at the master's feet.

Brandon at someone's feet!

Who is this Rupert?

- He used to tell you the weirdest things.

- Really? What sort of things?

I suppose Kenneth means Rupert's

impatience with social conventions.

Dor example, he thinks murder

is a crime for most men, but -

- A privilege for the few.

- Yes.

It's alright, Mrs Wilson,

I'll answer the door.

- Mr Kentley. So glad you could come.

- Thank you, Brandon.

Mrs Kentley isn't well, so I took

the liberty of bringing my sister-in-law,

Mrs Atwater, who's staying with us.

- Delighted to have you.

- Delighted to come, dear boy.

I've been in New York two weeks.

Alice has been ill almost the whole time.

Henry is forever cataloging his library.

Oh, no, Anita. Occasionally,

I even read one of my books.

But I'm on a visit.

This is just my second party.

- I suppose it's only fair -

- Let me take your things.

- I'm sorry to hear Mrs Kentley's so ill.

- Oh, it's just a cold.

Colds can be very dangerous

this time of the year.

I hope Mrs Kentley's staying

in bed with lots of fruit juice.

- She is, thank you.

- Well, that'll do the trick.

Colds dangerous, in this heat?

I don't understand that at all.

Exactly two years ago

this summer I had one myself.

I was down for three weeks.

The doctors -

Excuse me. This way, Mrs Atwater.

(Janet) ...particularly at parties.

(Kenneth) This is over my head.

David! (Glass Crunching)

(Brandon)

Uh, no, you've made a mistake.

This is Kenneth Lawrence.

(Mrs Atwater) Oh, l'm so sorry.

(Henry) That's alright, Anita.

Kenneth is often mistaken for David

even by people who aren't nearsighted.

We haven't had much opportunity to

observe the resemblance lately, my boy.

- Haven't been studying, have you?

- I've been trying to, sir.

Oh, dear.

The resemblance is only physical.

I believe you both know Miss Walker.

Janet, my dear.

I finished working out your horoscope

just before we came.

- Oh, tell.

- The stars are very kind.

They indicate a marriage very soon.

to a tall, fair-haired young man

with a very lovely father.

- Oh, Anita, I told you that a week ago.

- Oh, well, I suppose you did.

- But the stars confirm it.

- Wonderful.

(Brandon) Mrs Atwater,

may l present Mr Phillip Morgan?

- How do you do?

- Oh, you've hurt your hand.

- Oh, it's nothing, just a little cut.

- What happened?

Nothing. The glass was cracked

and it broke. That's all.

- May I get you some champagne?

- Oh, I should adore some.

Daddy used to have a glass

every morning at eleven.

But of course, Henry doesn't like it.

Mr Kentley, may I get you some?

I'd prefer a little Scotch

with a lot of water, if you don't mind.

Is David here?

I expected him to come with you.

He called and said

that he'd meet us here.

- Where did he call from?

- Our maid spoke to him.

He was at the club,

studying for his examinations...

In tennis.

The trouble with David is, he doesn't

have to study. He's too bright.

- David does alright, very much so.

- Thank you.

- How's Mrs Kentley?

- As usual. It's a cold this time.

I hope David arrives soon.

She wants him to call her.

David's her only child, Mr Kentley.

He's my only child too,

but I'm willing to let him grow up.

Why don't I call

and tell her he's been detained.

- No, you mustn't pamper her.

- David might have stopped to see her.

- Mr Kentley?

- May I use the phone?

- Of course. It's in the bedroom.

- How cosy.

- Aren't you ready for another?

- I will be.

I am, thank you.

(Henry) What a charming young man.

l wish David saw more of him.

(Janet) Yes. l'll go and call.

Kenneth,

there's too much air in your glass.

- Mine's fine, thanks.

- Would you mind taking this in to Janet?

Sure. Why?

No particular reason. I thought you'd like

to take it to her. She's in the bedroom.

- Then you'd like David to walk in.

- No, that'd be too much of a shock.

(Atwater) - When were you born?

(Phillip) - July 14.

- Can you really tell my future from that?

- I'm only an amateur astrologer.

- I'm sure you're very good.

- I do my best.

I suppose you want to know

if your concert will be a success.

- Yes, I do.

- Let me see now.

You were born on the 1 4th of July.

You're Cancer, the crab.

You're a moon child.

You're very much influenced

by the moon. May I see your hand?

You don't remember the hour

of your birth, by any chance?

No.

Good fingers, strong, artistic.

What about the concert?

These hands will bring you great fame.

(Henry) Well, l consider myself

a very fortunate man today.

- l'm on hand for the grand opening.

(Brandon) - Of what?

- Of your collection, so to speak.

- Oh yes, of course.

(Atwater)

Are you going to play? How lovely.

(Janet) - Your wife sends her love.

(Henry) - David wasn't there?

No. He'll probably be here

in a minute, though.

- Your touch has improved, Phillip.

- Rupert!

I... I was beginning to think

you weren't going to show.

You know me better than that.

Mrs Atwater,

may I present Mr Rupert Cadell.

- Delighted.

- Thank you.

- Mr Kentley.

- How do you do, Mr Kentley?

Rupert Cadell,

the housemaster at Somerville?

- I used to be.

- You must have taught my son, David.

- You flatter me. How do you do?

- Hello, chum.

- Oh, Miss Walker.

- How'd you know?

- Brandon spoke of you.

- Did he do me justice?

Do you deserve justice? Well!

Well, little Kenneth Lawrence,

how you've grown.

- Hello, er...

- Kenneth, school's out. You can say it.

Rupert, you're the same as ever.

It's awfully good to see you again.

- Why?

- Uh, well...

Don't mind me.

Very pleased to see you again.

And that bears a curious

resemblance to champagne.

- It is.

- Very good champagne.

- What's the occasion?

- I told you on the phone.

It began as a little party for Mr Kentley

so he could look over the first editions.

Then it turned out Phillip

and I were going to the country -

Yes, you told me that too, Brandon.

- Did I?

- Yeah.

Well, I thought I'd make it

sort of a farewell for Phillip.

- Therefore, champagne.

- Yes.

- I see.

- Well, it's true.

You always did stutter

when you were excited.

Well, I-I guess I'm always excited

when I give a party.

- Really?

- Mr Cadell.

Oh, Mrs Wilson.

Well, what have we here?

(Whispering)

I got that special pt you like.

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