The Great Lie Page #6

you couldn't have.

What have you got behind your back?

Come on. Hand it over.

Pickles. Oh, Sandra.

Yes, pickles. I like them.

- I know you do.

- I want them.

I'm sick and tired of doing

without things I want.

You and that doctor with your crazy

ideas of what I can and what I can't eat.

You're starving me.

But you've kept very well on this diet.

You know you have.

And it's not for much longer.

And left alone, how you eat.

That's the way I'm made.

I'm not one of you anemic creatures...

...who can get nourishment

from a lettuce leaf.

I'm a musician. I'm an artist.

I have zest in appetite and I like food.

I've been lying awake thinking

about food and now I'm gonna have it...

Sandra, Sandra, sit down.

I'll make you a sandwich.

But no pickles.

No onions?

A very thin slice.

Whoever heard of an ounce of brandy?

The doctor said, as long as you were used

to brandy, you could have an ounce a day.

But no more.

Come on, Sandra, play.

Just because you don't drink.

Oh, I do, I love a drink.

I haven't had any up here...

...because you weren't allowed it.

- That's very kind of you.

I suppose you think

I'm a chronic alcoholic.

Oh, Sandra, I don't.

This will probably turn into a cyclone,

one of those tornadoes...

...you read about in the newspapers,

and blow us all away.

I wish it would.

I'm stifling.

Well, let's...

Let's play over here.

Come on, Sandra.

We've got time for one more game.

The wind is driving me mad.

Can't you do something

about that lamp?

It's a pity you couldn't have found

a place with electric light.

Well, I could have.

I'd have also found newspaper reporters.

If you want privacy,

you have to pay for it.

Why don't you tell me

I've smoked enough?

Well, if it will take your mind off

the weather...

That's right, be patient with me.

I'm a spoiled child, an imbecile,

to be humored.

Maggie, the martyr. You make me sick.

As for keeping my mind off weather,

who brought me here?

- Come on, Sandra. Let's play.

- You brought me here. I've had enough.

I'm fed up with the whole business.

I'm going to get out of here.

Sandra.

No, you can't keep me here

and I won't stay. I won't stay.

Don't go like this. It's not good for you.

I'm going to the garage

and start that car and get out.

Be careful with that lamp,

you'll set the house on fire.

Oh, I will? That will be fine.

- That will settle everything.

- Sandra.

You burned me. You burned me.

No.

No.

Sandra, I'm sorry. Really, I am.

I'm sorry. Come on.

Maggie.

Maggie.

Isn't that doctor here yet?

He should be any minute.

Ed left an hour ago.

I never thought I'd be doing this

with some hick doctor taking care of me.

He's not a hick doctor.

Oh, no, he's a Park Avenue specialist.

That's why he's in Arizona

delivering babies at a nickel a bunch.

You know very well why. He could easily

be a Park Avenue specialist if he wanted.

That's what he says.

Now, look, Sandra,

I know you're uncomfortable.

But don't worry about Dr. Ferguson.

I know about him,

that's why I took this place.

He's had a brilliant record

at Johns Hopkins.

Oh, I suppose he knows his job.

I wish he'd get here.

You smoke a lot, don't you?

Yes.

Sadie, don't leave her alone

for a minute.

- So you never had a child of your own?

- No.

A pity.

Just the sort of woman

that should have them.

- Oh, well, you'll have plenty of time.

- I suppose so.

It spells life with capital letters.

A woman without a child

is like a man without an arm.

The right arm.

Tragic, the father dying

before the child was born.

Did you know the father?

Yes.

What sort of man was he?

Oh, he was handsome and clever

and gay.

- Will you have some coffee?

- Yeah.

Doctor?

Do you know what I miss here tonight?

I miss the father standing around

getting in everybody's way.

Waiting for me to say:

"Well, old man, it's all over

and they're doing nicely."

Doctor?

All right.

There he is, safe and sound.

Pete.

Oh, Pete, my darling.

Bravo.

Now, here, you see, is the river.

The Amazon.

- And down here is Manaos.

- Manaos.

The nearest point

which they could be brought.

Up here, this section here.

That's all jungle. It's almost impassable.

But where were they heard of? Here?

Oh, I can't tell you that.

All I know is that the searching party

left Manaos yesterday by canoe.

They must have had something to go on.

Of course, it's just the vaguest chance.

What are you up to? Hello, Colonel

Harriston. I didn't know you were here.

You're always whispering.

Want your coffee here?

- Come here, darling.

- What?

Harriston has come over to tell me

there's a faint chance...

...of at least two of those men

being alive down here in Brazil.

Do you mean Pete?

Well, they have rumors

of whites living with natives up here.

Miles away from anywhere.

- You mean Peter Van Allen?

- Possibly.

We don't know that.

There's a rescue party going in to see.

Then I must telephone to Maggie at once

but I don't know where to get her.

Last I heard was a post card

months ago...

...from, I think, the Grand Canyon.

Something about Old Faithful.

I wouldn't say a word. Remember

the suspense when they were lost?

- I'll never forget it, nor Maggie's face.

- We don't want that.

After all, it's just a chance.

No, I think you're quite right.

I shan't say a word.

Oh, Ted. Do you realize it's months

since we've heard from that girl?

All the better. Save us some awkward

moments while we're waiting.

- Yeah. You're not going, colonel.

- I'm afraid I must.

- I wanna follow this thing through.

- Oh, well, I'm sorry.

Anyone would think

you hadn't been fed for a month.

Here, Mabel, greedy.

Give your sister a chance.

Now, that's all for today.

It's Petie's feeding time, Miss Maggie.

We're coming.

Come on, Petie, going in to lunch.

Come on.

Come on.

There we go.

Pete, now we'll have a little lunch.

Yes, we will.

Now we're gonna have our lunch.

Come on. Come on, darling.

- I got his lunch all ready for him.

- We know.

You know, I was thinking, Violet,

Mr. Pete went to college at Yale.

I suppose he'd like Young Pete

to go there too.

Yes, Miss Maggie.

Shall I go up and pack his things now...

...or would in the morning

be soon enough?

Oh, Violet.

He sure going to look mighty funny up

at that Yale college without any teeth.

I am silly.

Now you're talking sense.

Straining your eyes to appear

20 years ahead.

What you going to be doing

in the meantime?

Bringing up this young gent.

You is young, Miss Maggie,

and your little boy needs a pappy.

And you, Miss Maggie,

you ain't hardly had no marriage at all.

Nope. No other man for me.

You're the man of the family now,

aren't you, Pete?

We mustn't spoil him, Violet.

No, ma'am.

What's that?

Oh, Pete, you're getting bigger

every single day.

It looks like your Aunt Ada's automobile

coming through the gate.

Really?

Well, I didn't know she was coming.

- You'd better take Pete and feed him.

- Yes'm.

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