Strangers When We Meet

- Good morning, Patrick.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

- Hi, Patrick.

- Hello, David.

David, you might need these.

What time did you folks leave last night?

Don't even mention it.

Don't lose your books.

- So long, David.

- Goodbye, Daddy.

I have a theory that men are only honest

with each other over breakfast.

You know, before they put the armor on.

Tell me something, Coe.

Did my name mean anything to you

when you heard it over the phone?

No, I'm afraid not. Should it have?

I've achieved a certain degree of fame.

I'm a writer.

- Ever heard of a book called Star Reach?

- No.

Disaster?

No, but then I don't get a chance

to read much fiction.

You can't expect to enlighten everybody

with two brilliant thrusts.

If you read anything at all...

...you'd know that

Star Reach was serialized in the Post...

...was Book of the Month and MGM

bought it from its galleys for a picture.

Disaster is on the best-seller list

for 34 weeks...

...and Fox is shooting it right now.

You must be very successful.

- I'm King Midas.

- I'm delighted to hear that.

I like to experiment in my work

now and then...

...and that can run into a little money.

That whimper you just heard was my wallet.

Maybe I picked the wrong architect.

Maybe. How did you happen to pick me?

I ran across this in a magazine

in a dentist office.

And I liked it.

Yeah.

That's the only house I haven't wanted

to tear down and start all over again.

I know what you mean.

Someday I hope to get my publisher

to stop sending me galley proofs.

Every time he does that,

I try to rewrite the whole stupid book.

So, how do we go from here?

First how much do you want to spend?

Like to keep it under $100,000.

We'll certainly do something with that.

It depends on the kind of house you want,

and whether or not we can agree on it.

- At $100,000, you'd disagree?

- It's possible.

What are you,

one of these temperamental artists?

If you want to call it that.

The kind of house I design

won't advertise you, it'll advertise me.

I can't afford to have a dull house

go up with my name on it.

You ought to understand that.

Who gets the review, you or your editor?

- More coffee?

- No, thank you.

Good hips, that girl.

All right, let's say our tastes agree,

now what?

I want to see your lot, of course.

But first I'd like to read your book,

Star Reach.

My second one was better.

But aren't first ones

usually autobiographical?

Bright boy. You do read a little.

Before I go to the drawing wood,

I must know everything about you.

So far, all I know about you

is you like coffee and hips.

There are some closets I don't want opened.

I'm no stool pigeon.

Suppose you think the book's lousy?

Let's not look for trouble before we start.

- There'll be plenty of that, anyway.

- Sounds like a kidney operation.

No, it's not that bad, really, but...

You know, Altar,

designing a house for somebody...

...that's a very personal thing.

I like you, Coe.

You like me?

I'm not sure yet. I think I will.

- I'm not asking you to marry me.

- I'd have to refuse.

- Hi, there, Larry.

- Hi, Felix.

Eve called. Said you forgot the meat order.

I told Harry to have it ready.

Thanks. How'd you like the party last night?

Didn't care for it very much, Larry.

Of course, I may be old-fashioned, but

I think Bud goes a little far, don't you?

How do you mean?

You know, those jokes he tells.

I took Betty right out of the room.

I'm not a prude,

but there's no place at a party...

...for that kind of innuendos. Suggestion.

- I think Bud's harmless.

- Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.

Maybe you are. Excuse me.

Miss, I think you walked off with my cart.

No, I'm sure I...

I'm sorry, I must have been daydreaming.

Don't you think it might be easier

if we wheeled it over to your cart?

I guess it would.

You're Patrick's mother, right?

I saw you at the bus stop this morning.

- I'm David's father.

- Yes, Betty Anders was talking about you.

- How do you like the book?

- I haven't started it yet.

- I started it, but...

- But what?

His women seemed false to me.

I don't know.

It just seemed shallow somehow,

so I never finished it.

- He'll be delighted to hear that.

- Do you know him?

I'm doing a house for him.

That's right, you're the architect.

You must be a good one.

Betty said you won a prize.

A long time ago.

How do you like the neighborhood?

- I thought you'd just moved in.

- Last month. It's fine.

People are

pretty much the same everywhere.

I guess that's everything.

I'm sorry I stole your groceries.

You're not so pretty.

I have to go.

Good afternoon, Mrs. Gault.

Nice woman. Very pleasant manner.

- I caught you. You drink your milk now.

- How much?

You drink this much,

and then you can tell me a secret.

- No. That much.

- Okay, let me see you do it.

Larry, is Mr. Altar as solemn

as he is in the picture on that book?

No, not at all.

I kind of like him, Eve.

I think he's willing to take a chance

and let me do the house I really want to do.

That's the important thing, isn't it?

With enough money, so I don't have

to worry about the plumbing.

Will that be a relief.

I'm glad you made a good impression.

I was afraid you'd get there

and not understand a word he was saying.

What do you mean?

I don't know. I just thought

you'd have a head this morning.

I've got a head. Everybody's got a head.

Have you got a head, Peter?

Really, Larry. You knew

you had an important appointment.

A couple of martinis never hurt anybody.

They make me amorous.

You just think they do.

Martinis don't mix with s-e-x.

What's x-e-x?

Never mind. You just drink your milk.

Is it like Santa Claus?

In a way, son.

Is Daddy doing a house for Santa?

No, darling, he's doing a house for a writer.

I'm glad this is what you want, Larry.

I'm happy.

I think it's going to be very exciting.

- I'm glad.

- Guess what?

What, Peter?

- Guess.

- You lost a tooth?

No, but I wet the bed again last night.

You'd better be more careful, son.

This wasn't on my list.

That must be...

There was a slight mix-up at the market.

Between me and this gorgeous blonde.

- Really? Who?

- Patrick's mother.

Margaret Gault. Betty told me about her.

I hear she's very beautiful.

He drags me home from the party early.

He says he's tired.

So I get all set to watch television.

But not Felix.

He has to carry me upstairs

like a regular hero.

You know, I swear that man's got

one thing on his mind day and night.

It's getting so lately that I go out

to lunch so he won't come home for lunch.

I guess they're all alike, though.

Is Ken that way?

Yes, he's that way.

There are times

when my husband bores me stiff.

Does Ken bore you?

No, never. He's always very interesting.

Well, a girl like you.

You know, you're so beautiful,

sometimes I can't even stand you.

Old Octopus will be home for lunch soon.

I'd better get home.

- Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wagner.

- Thank you.

- Thanks for the coffee.

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