Stella Dallas Page #5

Well, anyway,

it'll make an even number.

Sure.

Come on. We'll wait

in the other room.

You sit over there.

Let Gladys go.

Remember what I told you.

- Miss Dallas' residence.

- That's right.

Miss Dallas' residence.

Okay. I'll tell her.

- Who was it?

- Miss Cheeny.

She says Alice May can't come.

Who?

Alice May Cheeny.

She sits next to me in school.

It'll make the table look better.

It won't be so crowded.

I'll fix it.

I better make some more biscuits.

The others is all dried up.

Yeah. Let's do that.

That's a very good idea.

You know, Mother.

They're not coming, or they'd be here.

Oh, Lollie, you don't think that...

We'll go in together.

I never know what to look for.

You change so much each time.

- Do I look older?

- Older? You're a young lady.

- Your wardrobe's growing up too.

- I have a costume for everything.

Fine, because we have

a wonderful invitation...

to spend our whole time together in

the most beautiful place in the world.

Better than Maine?

Where?

You'll see.

- How are you?

- Martha, this is my daughter, Laurel.

How do you do?

Oh, Daddy, how beautiful.

- This is Mrs. Morrison.

- How do you do?

- So glad to see you.

- I'm so glad to see you too.

Michael, this is Laurel

we've been waiting to meet.

Now, don't overdo it.

He's such a nice dog.

- Where are the boys?

- Still down at the stables.

Tell them their surprise is here.

You don't mind being a surprise?

Come on, Mike,

we'll go fetch 'em.

I'll show Laurel her room.

It's lovely.

How sweet.

If you let me have your keys,

I'll have Martha unpack you.

Oh, I can do it.

I'll take your coat.

Yes, thank you.

And your hat.

Oh, everything.

I like nice closets too.

We'll hang this here.

I'm so glad you brought

your riding clothes.

It was one of the things on my list,

to ride in Central Park.

We'll be using them here too.

And so many pretty dresses.

The fun your mother must have

choosing them for you.

She makes them all.

She does?

Oh, how clever.

What a lucky girl you are.

How lucky she is too.

All boys want to wear

are overalls.

I suppose you want to freshen up.

But don't change.

I'll see that your father has his tea.

He has to get right back to town.

Come down when you're ready.

Don't keep the boys waiting too long.

Thank you.

They won't acknowledge they like her.

They haven't got as far as that.

But have you noticed the hair brushing

and collar wearing going on?

I have.

Mother...

am I too little

to dance with Laurel?

- Did she say so?

- No, but Con did.

If I wanted to dance with Laurel,

I'd ask her, not Con.

I will.

Big intrigue.

Let me have it.

You'll drop it.

I will not.

- Why don't you let Con carry it?

- I wanna carry it.

- Good-bye. It's been fun.

- Oh, yes.

We'll look forward so

to next time.

I've had such a lovely time,

I don't know how to thank you.

Good-bye, Laurel.

I brought your suitcase.

- Here's a present for you.

- Thank you so much.

Good-bye!

Oh, aren't they the nicest boys?

I think so.

How did you like Mrs. Morrison?

I think she's

the loveliest lady I ever knew.

Do you really, Laurel?

Oh, I mean... I mean...

Of course, I mean,

except my mother.

Mother, how nice!

It's a little stuffy.

I'm gonna open a window.

All right.

You happy?

I guess I'll shove off.

You two got lots to talk about.

So, what are you

gonna eat, Ed?

Me? I don't know.

I ain't very hungry.

I thought maybe

I'd stop in at...

Come back

and have dinner with us.

- You only bought two chops.

- One for you, one for Lollie.

I'm so happy,

I couldn't even look at a meal.

- What time?

- An hour.

So long, lollipops. I'll come back

and tie on the nose bag with ya.

- Want me to bring anything?

- No, thanks.

Why did you? I thought we were

gonna have a nice, quiet time alone.

So did I, Lollie, darling.

Things haven't been going

so good for poor Ed lately.

You'd never know it

to hear him talk.

You remember that big watch

and chain he used to wear?

Well, they're just

not there anymore.

I'm sorry.

She's not here anymore.

I let her go.

What did I need

with anybody around?

Oh, Mother, you shouldn't have.

Besides, I was glad to have something

to do to help pass the time away.

You know what I did?

I saved enough money out of her wages

for a deposit on a fur coat for you.

Mother, you didn't.

You're just going to

get it right back.

I don't want a fur coat now.

None of the girls at Mrs. Morrison's

are allowed to have them yet.

Oh, no?

Here.

You know what I've been thinking?

Would it cost too awfully much

for us to have a house...

with our own front door

and a little garden and flowers...

and a room for each of us?

Just in case sometimes we wanted

somebody to stay all night.

Mother, not a great big

expensive house like Mrs. Morrison's...

but just a little tiny place.

Say, tell me

about this Mrs. Morrison.

- What's she like?

- Mother, she's lovely.

She's sort of...

Well, she reminds me

of a flower...

that grows up in Maine.

All pale and delicate,

but strong too.

I don't know what you call it.

I don't care what kind

of a flower she looks like.

Is she tall or short,

dark or light, fat or thin?

- How old is she?

- She's not any special age.

She's like one of those goddesses

in my mythology book that way.

Come now. You can tell

whether she's 20 or 40.

Oh, she's not 40, no.

I guess maybe she's about 25.

And how did your father

happen to meet this goddess?

It's like a story.

Con told me all about it.

Con. Is that her husband?

Oh, no, he's dead.

Didn't I write you?

Dead, is he?

Well, that's convenient.

No, it isn't a bit convenient.

When Mr. Morrison died,

he left a whole lot of houses...

and horses and money.

Mrs. Morrison has to look out

for them all by herself.

She said she wouldn't know

what to do...

without Father to help her

and advise her.

Yeah. I can just imagine.

I just remembered.

I've got some snapshots of her.

- I just want to look at you.

- I want you to see her.

She's beautiful.

You'll be crazy about her!

The funny thing about her is that

she's not only beautiful all dressed...

but even when she wakes up

in the morning.

She spends hardly any time

on her face.

Once I saw her put soap and water

right on it.

All I can say is there are

different kinds of skin.

Besides, with her money,

she don't have to worry about her looks.

Say, are those real pearls

she's got slung around her neck?

- Look what you're doing!

- What?

You're getting cold cream

all over her picture.

- I didn't mean it.

- Give it to me.

I'll do it.

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the...

Hi, lollipops.

- Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas.

Here is the mistletoe.

Now, where's the kiss?

Run along. Go inside.

What do you mean by showing up

here in this condition? Get out.

I've got something for you.

I've been robbed.

Why, if I thought

that anybody would take...

Here you are, my dear.

A very Merry Christmas.

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