Some Came Running Page #3

but you know how these things are.

Such short notice. She

was real broke up about it.

- Oh, yes. I can see where she would be.

- Mm.

Dave.

This is quite a surprise.

Yeah, for me too.

Well, still the same handsome rascal.

Why can't you keep your figure, Poppy?

Oh, well, I'd have had

a flat stomach too...

...if I didn't have such flat feet.

You haven't changed a bit, Agnes.

Oh, what a liar. Come on in.

And tell us everything

that's happened to you.

Am I keeping you from your meeting?

Oh, that committee meeting. I

was just telling Dave about it.

Oh, that. No, they'll just

have to manage without me.

Where's Dawn? Wait till you

get a look at your niece, Dave.

You can tell how he hates that girl.

- Dawn. Yes?

Dawnie?

Dawn. Well, here's your Uncle Dave.

Well, kiss him. He's your uncle.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I wouldn't have recognized him.

He doesn't look at all like Daddy.

I hardly know you.

Last time I saw you, you were

stark naked in your bathtub.

Oh, Dave, you rascal,

you're making her blush.

- Not me.

- Come on in, Dave.

Why didn't you let me

know you changed your mind?

Shh!

Gee, I wish I didn't

have a date tonight, Dave.

I tried to break it,

but this boy isn't home.

Sweetie, nobody ever broke

a date to be with her uncle.

She's going out again

on a school night?

- Just to an early movie.

- But it's with Wally.

Oh, oh, oh, real nice boy.

Now, don't you keep him

up too late, understand?

I'll bet Dave would like a drink.

- No, thank you.

Of course he'd like

one. Will you fix them?

Orders from headquarters.

Oh, you want one too, Mama?

Oh, maybe just one. It is

a rather special occasion.

I hope you like Manhattans, Dave.

Mm-hm.

Poppy's famous for his

Manhattans. Only, one's my limit.

Oh, not tonight. Tonight,

you're among friends.

Oh, now, Poppy, you've

got to promise...

...not to let me have

more than one drink.

I get giggly.

I like my girls giggly.

Dave, you remember Robert Haven French

and his daughter Gwen, don't you?

- I don't think so.

They're on the faculty...

...at Parkman College.

They're coming to pick us up.

- We're going to the club for dinner.

- The Frenches?

Yes, they called as soon as

they heard Dave was in town.

Gwen French couldn't have been

more flattering. She's, uh...

- What does she teach, Dawnie?

- Creative writing and criticism.

That's it. She says she's

read every word you've written.

What's the matter?

Oh, Agnes, the literary

crowd gives me a pain.

I quit writing. Look, can't

we do this another night?

- Would you mind?

- Why, don't be silly. Of course I mind.

We've waited too long to

have an evening with you.

The Frenches are well worth meeting.

They're really an old family.

- Oh, Poppy, how about those drinks?

- Oh, the boss wants service.

- Mama, will you give me a hand?

- Bob French owns all that land...

...between the river and the reservoir.

They're really wonderful people.

You might have told me

the Frenches were coming.

Agnes.

You're lucky I'm even speaking to you.

I envy you, Dave.

You do? Why?

Well, you left home on your

own before you were my age...

...lived your own

life, had experiences.

Girl couldn't do that.

Why would she want to?

Bumming around, doing all sorts of jobs.

Didn't that help to make you a writer?

Dawn, honey...

...bumming around can

only help make you a bum.

Well, well, well, the

old hearth and fireside.

Family all together. Nothing

like it, eh, Davey boy?

Mm-mm. Nothing.

That's Wally.

Now what we've got to do is

to get you settled down, Davey.

Put your money to work. I wanna

see you save some real dough.

- Wally boy, how are you?

- Good evening, sir.

Hello, Wally.

- Mrs. Hirsh.

Wally, this is my Uncle Dave.

Wally Dennis.

Uh, how are you, sir?

- Not bad.

- That's fine. Fine.

Haven't we met before?

I don't remember, sir.

- L, uh... You ready, Dawn? One sec.

- Good night, Dave.

- Good night, kid.

- Will I see you before you go?

- I don't see why not.

Oh, that'll be the Frenches.

Good night.

Ahem. Good night, sir.

Say, you'll get a big

kick out of old Bob French.

Dawnie, Wally.

Bob, how are you? Let

me have your hat here.

Dave, I don't suppose you

remember Professor French?

I do. I caddied for him and he

never gave me less than a dollar.

Wasn't that to keep you

quiet about my score?

- And I kept quiet.

- Thanks.

Oh, uh, you remember my daughter Gwen?

- Hello.

- Oh, I'm sure he doesn't remember me.

I was a few grades behind

you in grammar school.

I'm an admirer of yours, Mr. Hirsh.

Until people know

me, they usually are.

Oh, I meant as a writer.

That's why I wanted to meet you.

But I'm not a writer. I

haven't been for years.

Well, I'm not sure I agree with you.

The fact that an author is inactive...

...that doesn't necessarily

mean he isn't an author.

Exactly what it does mean?

I suppose it could mean

he should get back to work.

I'm told that you

teach creative writing.

- Yes, I do.

- Would you like to teach me?

She needs that. Give her more.

I'm afraid my courses are filled

for this semester. Perhaps next year.

Say, are you folks ready

for some elbow-bending?

I am. -

Elbow-bending.

He's used to talking down

to traveling salesmen.

- Sweetheart, our guests are

intellectuals. What are intellectuals?

Underpaid.

No, thanks.

Did you suppose this costume

will be all right at your club?

Why not? It's the

uniform of your country.

A toast. A toast.

Let's drink to the return

of the conquering hero.

When was the last time

you had it? In Dijon.

That's the first time I ever danced with

a teacher of creative writing. I like it.

Well, look, isn't the table this way?

Yeah, it is, but I thought

we might go to the bar.

- Do you mind?

- Not at all.

Frank, I like your brother.

Oh, he's a fine boy.

Glad to have him home.

Yes, we're hoping he'll stay.

You know, it isn't

immediately apparent...

...but he's an

extremely sensitive man.

- He sure is.

- It must be a family trait.

Frank is like that.

Terribly sensitive.

Sir.

You know, I've watched every step of

your career with a great deal of interest.

You must have a lot of spare time.

I could tell from your stories where

you were and what you were doing.

I remember when you were

working on that freighter.

And when you were

working in the oil fields.

No.

Then I think it was in

1940 we lost track of you.

Oh, the suspense is

killing me. Don't stop now.

Seriously, your first novel was more

or less autobiographical, wasn't it?

- I thought it was more or less lousy.

- Well, that isn't so.

It might have lacked

something in craftsmanship...

...but it's a really

powerful study of rejection.

Oh, that it was. It was

rejected by 42 publishers...

...and almost all of the

English-reading public.

Now, look, I told you once

before, I'm not a writer.

You have two books in

the Parkman Library.

And those two books have

netted me exactly $48.

- No personal satisfaction? -

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