The Bishop's Wife Page #7

- Why, Dudley!

- Now you.

- Oh, no.

- Come on.

- Dudley, this is heavenly.

- You found the perfect word.

Look! Look what I'm doing.

You're a beautiful skater,

Julia. In fact, you're beautiful.

Oh, look! Look at Sylvester.

Go on, Sylvester!

Oh, my God!

- Excuse me.

- Surely.

Keep cool, Sylvester. Keep cool.

Relax.

That's right. Come on. Give

me the other one. That's it.

All right. Now relax.

Don't collapse. Just relax.

Hang on to me now.

Oh! Don't leave me!

Don't! Ooh!

How am I doing, Dudley?

Wait for me, Dudley!

Thank you.

- How much do I owe you, Sylvester?

- Not a cent, my friend.

My pockets are just bulging with

the coins of self-satisfaction.

- You wanna know why?

- I'd love to know.

Because you and the little lady have

restored my faith in human nature.

Good night, Dudley. Good night, Julia.

- Good night, Sylvester.

- Good night, Sylvester.

Sylvester is a noble soul.

His children and his children's children

will rise up and call him Blessed.

Dudley, this has been the most

wonderful evening I've had in years.

This has been the most wonderful

evening I've had in centuries.

- I hope I haven't left the key home.

- It's open.

Thank you, Dudley. Hello, Queenie.

- Hello, Queenie. May I help you?

- Yes, please.

- Oh! You took off my shoe.

- Hello, Henry.

Henry, what happened? I thought you

were going to meet us at St Timothy's.

- What happened to you? It's very late.

- Thank you. You'll never guess.

We went skating. There you are.

See you in a minute, Henry.

- Skating?

- Yes. Dudley's a marvellous skater.

He even made me imagine that I was good.

You should have heard those boys

sing at St Timothy's. It was heavenly.

- I'm sure.

- Did you have a successful meeting?

- Did you?

- Satisfactory.

Good. I want to see Debby

before she goes to sleep.

Oh. You haven't said a word about it.

- About what?

- My hat. My new hat.

- What do you think?

- Charming.

Thank you. I'll be right down.

One thing I know, Julia

is absolutely blameless.

- Of course she is.

- You stopped me from joining you.

Julia had a very good time.

- Well, I didn't.

- Hm.

If you'd sent me to Mrs

Hamilton, I would have gone.

You didn't. So I represented

you with your wife.

Is that part of the

normal duties of an...?

...of an angel?

Sometimes, Henry, angels must

rush in where fools fear to tread.

I haven't the faintest idea what that

means and I don't want it explained.

- You can go now. I've solved my problem.

- Have you?

Mrs Hamilton is giving the

money for the cathedral.

That was a foregone conclusion

if you were willing to

sacrifice your principles.

Don't you think it's worth

it for this glorious edifice?

I'm not sure of its

glory at a time like this.

- Oh, you're not?

- No, Henry, I'm not.

These are lean years for the world.

So many people need food.

So many people need shelter.

That big roof could make

so many little roofs.

We're dealing with a materialistic,

selfish woman. She wouldn't listen to that.

- Did you try?

- It's all arranged. It's finished.

You came so I could have a

cathedral and now I want you to go.

I want you to get out of

my life and away from Julia.

Suppose you pray for that? It was

your prayer that brought me here.

Mm-mm. Henry, that was no prayer.

It was right from my

heart. I want you to go.

- Julia doesn't.

- Julia.

Get out! Get out!

Julia's ready to come down the stairs.

Don't let her see you like that.

Try to calm yourself, Henry.

Dudley? Debby wants Dudley to come up

and say good night to her. Where is he?

- He's gone.

- Where?

- How should I know?

- Why did he leave so suddenly?

- I told him to go away. I fired him.

- Why?

He's incompetent, he's no good at his

job and I cannot stand the sight of him!

Mummy, I'm sure that

Dudley's never coming back.

Darling, you must never say never.

But where is he?

Come here, dear.

Now listen to me.

Dudley wouldn't leave

us without saying a word.

Besides, he was going to

tell you about Santa Claus.

He knows Santa Claus very well.

But it's almost Christmas Eve.

Soon I'll have to go to bed.

He wouldn't leave us without

saying a word. Would he, Matilda?

Oh, no, no. That wouldn't be

like him. Not like Mr Dudley.

Come along, Debby. I'll

get you ready for dinner.

Will you come see me

when you get back, Mummy?

Of course, dear.

Here is a list of your calls.

Ending at Mrs Hamilton's.

Thank you. Miss Cassaway, here is

the manuscript of my Christmas sermon.

I shall want the original and five

carbons for issuing to the press.

If you get the typing done before

I come back, leave it on my desk.

I'm sorry to keep you

so long on Christmas Eve.

Of course, sir. I

understand. It must be done.

Henry, I'm ready to start out now.

We go first to the

Trubshawes, then the...

- Then we go to the Vandovers.

- Goodbye, Miss Cassaway.

Sylvester!

- Hello, Julia.

- Hello. What are you doing here?

I've been waiting around hoping

there'd be another skating party

and I didn't want to miss it. Where's

Dudley? Oh, you got a preacher with you.

- This is my...

- Oh, I know!

There's gonna be a wedding

ceremony. You and Dudley.

Sylvester, this is my

husband, Bishop Brougham.

- How do you do?

- Oh.

- Oh.

- 247 North Maple.

247 North Maple.

- Mildred?

- Oh!

Oh, why, Dudley, it's

you. I didn't see you...

Where have you been? We've

been worrying about you.

- And poor Mrs Brougham...

- What about Mrs Brougham?

She's been popping in and out of here

all day asking "Have you seen Dudley?"

- Where is she?

- She and the bishop had some calls.

Finishing at Mrs Hamilton's.

- Let me type that sermon for you.

- No.

You go on. It's almost Christmas

Eve. You must have shopping to do.

- Oh, well...

- Go on, Mildred.

Thank you, Dudley.

- Merry Christmas, Mildred.

- Merry Christmas, Dudley.

Merry... Oh.

Take a sermon.

Tonight, I want to tell you

the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear

there was a child's cry.

A blazing star hung over a stable

and wise men came with birthday gifts.

Have you got that? Good. We haven't

forgotten that night down the centuries.

We celebrate it with stars hung on

the Christmas tree, bells and gifts -

especially with gifts.

We buy them and wrap them

and put them under the tree.

You give me a tie. I give you a book.

Aunt Martha always

wanted an orange squeezer.

Uncle Harry can use a new pipe.

Oh, we forget nobody

- adult or child.

All the stockings are filled.

All, that is, except one.

Oh! Oh...

- I'm sorry, Matilda.

- Oh, Mr Dudley. I knew you'd come back.

- I knew you hadn't walked out on us.

- Of course not.

Debby's been so worried

and as for Mrs Brougham...

Well, run upstairs. Tell

Debby I'll see her later.

- First I have some work to do.

- I'll tell her.

One moment, please. Mrs

Hamilton expecting you?

No, but she'll wish to see

me. I'm the bishop's assistant.

The bishop is expected,

but not the assistant.

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