The Great Lie Page #3

- It's so warm.

I'll get your wrap.

You were magnificent.

Bravo. Bravo.

- Hello. How are you?

- Oh, darling, you were never better.

- Darling.

- How are you?

Let's have some food.

I've never known you

when you played so magnificently.

Sweet of you to come around,

but I'm catching the New York plane.

What happened to that young man

you ran away with?

- What? Hello. Come in.

- Oh, hello.

He's still running.

I've only paused for breath.

If that's Peter Van Allen I know,

don't let him get out of your sight.

You might have let us know.

We were in New York.

Well, I'm afraid that party was

a little wild even for you and Harry.

Excuse me just a moment.

- Hello, Maggie.

- Hello.

- Weren't you out front at all?

- No, I just got in at 10: 15.

Oh, and you came right back to see me.

How sweet.

Where's Pete?

In New York.

Did you come to see him?

I came to see you both.

I thought he'd be here naturally.

How did you know I was playing here?

- Called your apartment in New York.

- Pete's there?

No, there wasn't any answer

so I talked to the porter downstairs.

You see, I was calling from Washington.

Well, would you like me

to give a message to Pete for you?

Yes.

Let's go into my dressing room

for a moment.

Sit down, Maggie.

- Cigarette?

- No, thank you. I've just had one.

Sweating like a stoker.

Well, don't catch cold. I'm just over one.

- May I bring you anything?

- No, thank you.

Pete left the window open while I was

in bed and I caught cold in my shoulder.

I didn't play very well tonight.

I'm sure he did it on purpose.

One thing, there's never a dull moment

with Pete.

Tell me, did you find him stubborn?

When?

Well, you were engaged to him twice,

weren't you?

Yes.

You're looking very well

under the circumstances.

What circumstances?

You said you had a cold.

Oh, yes, but I said I was over it.

The cold?

Definitely.

Good for you.

Now, what is it you want me

to tell Pete?

It's an idea I've had for him

for a long time.

If you write it, I won't open the letter

if you mark it "Personal from Maggie."

I went to Washington

to see my Uncle Ted.

After Pete told me he was going

to offer himself to the government.

What for? Income tax?

Aviation.

Didn't he tell you his plans?

Not about flying for the government, no.

No, I'm going to keep Pete

on the ground.

What is this scheme?

Pete is an expert of maps

and navigation.

He was made a Fellow of the Royal

Geographical Society in England.

Oh, he has a natural instinct for it.

And that coupled with his flying...

...makes him the kind of man

the government's gonna need.

Uncle Ted said all he'd have to do

would be to apply for a job.

Well, that's very kind of you, Maggie.

But I like Pete where he is and as he is.

Well, he's your husband.

Yes, he is.

Supposing you go.

I came...

- It was just a thought.

- Oh, and a very sweet one.

If I didn't think you meant so well,

I'd feel like slapping your face.

On that one point, Sandra,

we deeply understand each other.

- Don't miss your little train, Maggie.

- I won't.

I want to make a party-to-party call.

What?

Person-to-person call then.

Mr. Peter Van Allen.

V-A-N A-L-L-E-N. In New York.

Gramercy, 550264.

If he's not there, try the Racquet Club.

If he's not there, try the Yale Club.

Find him.

His wife, Mrs. Van Allen, is calling.

Hurry it up.

- Jefferson, whose car is that?

- Mr. Pete's.

- When did he come?

- This morning.

Why didn't you tell me?

Violet promised me she'd sweep him

out of the house with the trash...

...while I was getting you

from the station.

But why didn't you tell me?

Well, we wasn't gonna say anything

if Violet done got him cleared out.

You done had all the botheration

you can stand.

I heard a roar like thunder and in come

this machine a-flying through the gate.

It done tore down part of the gate.

Slammed on the brakes and might've

thrown itself through the window.

- Miss Maggie.

- Yes?

We tried every means at our disposal...

...outside of witchcraft,

to get him out of the house.

But he wasn't in no moving mood.

- I do think you have your nerve.

- Now, hold your horses.

I will not. This isn't a roadhouse...

...that you can drop in and out of.

I don't want you here. Go to your wife.

- Don't be a fool.

- Don't touch me.

Let's not brawl.

At least listen to what I have to say.

Supposing you go.

A prisoner has a chance to speak

before he's sentenced.

- You sound like a book, a cheap one.

- The prison line was a good simile for me.

All right, laugh.

Supposing I admit I haven't had

a particularly happy time lately.

It's been a shock.

I did love you more than anything else

in the world and it does hurt.

Now, what could you say

that would alter that? What?

Do you suppose I'd come here

if I didn't have something to say?

- Definitely bearing on what you just said.

- No, but what about your wife?

Sandra?

Well, Sandra was not properly divorced

from my predecessor, Mr. Stokes...

...when it was thought

that we were married.

The necessity

for a second marriage ceremony...

...was explained to me by my lawyer,

Jock Thompson, last Wednesday...

...when I came here to see you.

But you didn't tell me that.

I should liked to have told you

but I had a clear duty ahead of me.

I returned and explained the situation

to Sandra.

I asked her to marry me

when her divorce papers were final.

That was yesterday, Tuesday.

But she preferred to go to Philadelphia

and perform on her piano.

So I waited in New York until midnight.

And then by every stroke

of my conscience, I was free.

So I came down here to tell you about it.

I've always told you everything

about myself, haven't I?

Give me a cigarette.

I've got a funny feeling

in the pit of my stomach.

This room is full of ghosts.

I haven't been in this part in years.

Yes, you know, we're going to have to

do something about this room.

Violet...

...lunch.

Ham, cakes, honey and coffee.

Jefferson.

Jefferson. Jefferson.

You go right out and get that peanut-fed

hickory-smoked, sweet Virginia ham.

You ain't gonna feed that man, is you?

Listen, Jefferson.

I'd feed the devil himself...

...if he'd polish up the smile

on Miss Maggie's face like that.

Violet, you better practice ducking.

Ducking, what for?

When that high-toned New York lady

what he done married...

...comes stomping here with that gun...

- Gun?

There's gonna be shooting here

and shooting there.

No dog's gonna be safe.

I ain't gonna

have nothing to do with it myself.

I ain't worried now.

Steady, Jefferson, here we go.

I'm steadying.

Nice music.

Yes.

Must be something very special

going on around here.

Oh, yes. Yes, a wedding.

Oh, friends of yours?

I've known them both for years.

Personally, I'm glad the suspense is over.

They've been messing about at getting

married ever since I can remember.

- Fools.

- Yes.

Was it a nice wedding?

The usual thing:
"Do you? I do."

Kiss the bride. Have some cake.

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