Stella Dallas Page #2

unless they...

Well...

unless they know a man is serious.

Ain't she got home yet?

Does the old man...

- Hello, Pop.

- What time did Stella get home?

Huh? Oh, that was about...

That was around...

Oh, I don't know,

but she woke me up.

Hey, Mom, how about the coffee?

And Pop's too.

Tell Stella I want to see her.

Gee, it was kind of late.

Let her sleep.

Tell Stella I want to see her.

Yes.

Why, she ain't here.

I wonder where she

could've gone so early?

She ain't slept there.

She spent the night with Carrie Jenkins.

It was raining hard.

She didn't go out with Carrie.

Why should she stay the night with her?

When she gets home, tell her to take

her things and be out before I get back.

Listen, you can't.

Give her a chance to explain.

You shut up!

Tell her what I said.

All right, then I guess

that goes for me too.

Finish your coffee.

I'll talk to your pa.

I don't want coffee or any part

of this dump from now on.

I'm through!

- I'll tell you later.

- Gee, where have you been?

- The old man's...

- Look, Charlie.

Married? Oh, Stell!

Gee, Mr. Dallas, that's swell.

Hey, Ma, she's here.

She's married.

Hey, Pop, it's okay now.

She's here.

We're here, Agnes.

My, oh, my, you sure is.

And there it is.

Yes, ma'am.

Who do it look like?

Let me see who you look like,

your pappy or your mammy.

Go ahead and open the door.

You'll have time for that later on.

Yes'm. Yes, ma'am.

I know who's gonna be boss

around here from now on.

Oh, gosh.

Home never looked so good to me.

Poor Stella.

I didn't mind it.

The hospital got on my nerves.

That darned doctor trying

to make me stay another week.

- He thought it would be better...

- Better for who?

It was just to get your money.

I felt as good the next day as ever.

Maybe better than I had

for a while.

Oh, Stephen,

why didn't you bring them to me?

The days wouldn't have seemed

half so long.

- I thought everybody'd forgotten me.

- I think we'll get you to bed.

Bed? I just got up.

Haven't you seen enough of me

in bed for the past three weeks?

Seems like three years to me.

You'll soon find you're not

as strong as you think you are.

You must remember I've had a great deal

of experience in these maternity cases.

Experience?

What do you think I had?

Tell me why doctors, nurses

and husbands...

always think they know more

about this maternity business.

Don't you think a mother learns anything

in that room they wheel her into?

Or is that just

a kindergarten class?

Let me tell you. I picked up

quite an experience in that room.

That wasn't out of books either.

Experience.

- Stephen.

- Yes, dear?

A dance at the River Club

tomorrow night.

I think I can wear

my blue dress.

- I'll let it out a little at the top.

- You don't want to go dancing already.

Before I went to the hospital,

I was stuck in this house...

for four solid months

without going anywheres.

We just got in to the River Club.

All my life I've died to go to the real

places and get in with the right crowd.

Just when I got a chance to get started,

I have to give it all up.

We'll go next time.

I don't want to go next time.

I want to go this time.

Stephen, I won't dance much.

I promise.

I just want to get a wave

and a manicure...

and get all dressed up again

and go hear some music...

and forget all about doctors

and hospitals and nurses.

And babies?

Ah, but Stephen, please.

Why, you're a wonderful dancer,

Mr. Munn.

If I'm any judge of horse flesh,

you don't shake a mean leg yourself.

Who's that she's dancing with?

He's pretty good too.

- I really don't know.

- His name is Munn.

He has something to do

with horse races.

The girls invite him over for golf,

and he gives them tips.

How'd you come to get hooked up

to a table like that?

They're some business friends

of my husband's.

Business friends?

What is he, an undertaker?

Get him to ditch that bunch of moss bags

and come over and join us.

Spencer Chandler's table?

We don't even know him.

Well, that won't take long.

- You know what he said after our dance?

- No. What?

He said, ''Ed...''

He always calls me Ed.

''You can pick winners on a dance floor

better than you can on a racetrack.''

Yeah? Ah, go on.

Don't red apple me.

No, on the level.

I'll prove it to you.

I'd have to ask Stephen first.

- Yes?

- Come here.

Excuse me. Yes?

- This is Mr. Munn.

- How are you?

Mr. Spencer Chandler wants us

to come over to his table.

- I'm sorry. We're just leaving.

- Leaving?

- It's only quarter after.

- I know, but that's late for us.

- Come just for a nightcap.

- Yes, Stephen, please.

I'm afraid we can't.

Thank you. Good night.

Good night.

I'll get the things.

He dug it out of his pocket.

The horse came in and paid 20 to 1.

What do you think of that?

- Oh, dear.

- Did you lose something?

- What was it?

- May I help you?

I remember.

I gave it to Mr...

Pardon me.

- What do you think of that?

- What a story.

Say, Ed, did you give me back

my handkerchief?

- You never gave it to me.

- I must have lost it.

- Take mine.

- No, I didn't mean...

Wait a minute. I want you

to meet a friend of mine.

- Mr. Chandler, this is Mrs. Dallas.

- How do you do?

Spencer, I want you to prove

something to her for me.

Didn't you say I could pick 'em on

the dance floor as good as on the track?

I wouldn't feel too flattered. Munn

hasn't given me a winner in a month.

- Will you sit down?

- Thank you.

Miss Dallas, I'd like you

to meet Miss Terry.

I believe your wife lost something,

and she thought maybe Mr...

- Mr. Munn might know.

- Thank you.

Stephen, this is Mr. Chandler.

Mr. Chandler, my husband.

Mr. Chandler asked me to dance.

You don't mind?

Sorry, my wife's just out of

the hospital and should be in bed.

We'll hurry then.

Come on.

You wouldn't like to sit down

and have a little snifter?

No, thank you very much.

Thank you.

What have I done this time?

I'll take my usual lecture. Begin.

Stella, I asked you not

to wear those earrings...

that cheap imitation necklace.

You took them off.

You agreed.

Then after we got there,

you came out of the dressing room...

I'm perfectly willing to let you

tell me how to talk and act.

But please don't give me pointers

on how to dress.

Allow me at least to know more

about one thing than you do.

After all, I've always been known

to have stacks of style.

You should have heard Ed Munn,

and he's been around a bit too.

He's traveled further,

and he...

All right, then, farther.

Whichever it is, I don't care.

Gosh, I have to think twice

every time I open my mouth.

Spencer Chandler didn't seem to

have to turn the other way either.

He only happens to be

one of the Chandlers.

Please don't say things

like that.

- Remember you're my wife now.

- And can't look at another man.

- That isn't the point at all.

- That's a laugh.

An affair between

Spencer Chandler and I.

Well, I am coming up

in the world.

Stella, can't you...

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