The Great Lie Page #7

- Aunt Ada will probably stay for lunch.

- Yes'm.

- Violet, there's the telephone. Answer it.

- Yes'm.

Violet will lay you down here.

I is a-coming, telephone.

Hello there.

What a surprise.

Where did you spring from?

Washington. I came like the wind.

How are you, Maggie?

Never felt better.

- I want to talk to you.

- Come on in then.

- Is that your baby crying?

- Oh, yes. Violet's with him.

Darling, let me have your things.

Maggie, I hardly know how to begin.

- But you're trembling. What is it?

- Miss Maggie.

- Miss Maggie.

- Yes, what's the matter?

You're wanted on the telephone.

It's a telegram.

I just couldn't write it down.

You better go.

All right. Excuse me, Auntie.

Violet...

...I came down to be with her

when she got the news.

- It is a telegram?

- Yes'm.

Just like the grave opened up and spoke.

Quiet, Young Pete.

Hello.

Yes?

Yes, this is Mrs. Van Allen.

Go ahead.

From where?

- Signed Pete?

- Ted was down in a place called Manaos...

Oh, but... Darling.

What? Go ahead.

Yes?

"Could not wait telephone connection."

Yes.

"On my way"?

- Your uncle telephoned me this morning...

- Auntie Addy, please? Go ahead.

Yes?

"Arrive Cartersville." Yes.

"About midnight Thursday."

"Love, Pete."

Oh, thank you.

Arriving Cartersville

about midnight Thursday?

- Pete and another man were found.

- Why didn't you tell me?

- When did you first hear?

- About six weeks ago.

Harriston came to your uncle...

Arriving Cartersville

about midnight Thursday.

But that's today.

Darling, your father's coming home.

Yes, yes.

That's Pete. That's his signal.

How far is it to the airport?

Oh, about 10 miles farther on.

- What time is it, Parker?

- Eleven thirty-five, ma'am.

He's over here, this way, towards home.

He's gonna land at home like he used to.

Come on, Parker. Turn around.

He'll land,

and we won't be there to meet him.

- That can't be nobody except Mr. Pete.

- It sure can't. Listen to that engine.

You go right on

and call the airplane station...

...and tell Miss Maggie

to come right smack home.

You go right on and stand...

Be standing by.

- Maggie.

- Take it easy, Pete.

Mr. Pete, Mr. Pete.

The next thing I expects to hear

is the angel Gabriel blowing his horn.

Good evening, Violet, where are they?

Good evening.

They is at the airplane station.

They reckoned you was landing there.

Jefferson, he's telephoning.

Home.

This is your home, Mr. Pete.

This is where you belong.

Hear that, Mr. Pete?

Hear that welcome for you?

- That's him, isn't it?

- Who else?

Well... Well, I think I'll wait here

till his mother gets here.

Hey, you don't think he's having

any trouble, do you?

You think he's all right?

Well, I better go see.

Come on, Mr. Pete.

I knows what you want.

You want to get up

and say howdy to your pappy.

You ain't no poor, little orphan no more.

You has got a pappy

just like any other little boy.

Hold his little head.

There.

There he is, Mr. Pete.

The sweetest little lamb

that ever drew the breath of life.

- Where is he?

- He's upstairs.

Oh, Pete.

What about that?

Oh, yes.

What's his name?

We call him "Young Pete."

Do you like him?

He's lovely.

Darling, you look ill.

Oh, no. I'm all right. Really.

- Tell me, are you all right?

- Of course I'm all right.

Oh, Maggie...

...do you think I've changed?

Oh, the grey hair.

- A sober, solid citizen, remember?

- Yes.

Maggie...

...let me look at you

to see if you've changed.

Have I?

No.

Nothing was the same without you.

Nothing.

He's like me.

Young Pete, oh, yes.

How old is he?

Three months and four days exactly.

Our son.

Yes.

Our son.

He was all I had of you.

Except so often,

I had the feeling you were here.

Laughing at me and chasing me...

...and roaming around

in that silly little plane.

Yes, but, Maggie, I'm here now.

But you know what? It still seems

like I'm seeing you through a mist.

Jungles and dark woods.

But, darling, you're here.

You've come home.

Did she really wanna go up

and take that baby with her?

No, she wanted to hold the plane

on the ground.

Says it's bad for his ears.

Don't you ever let me catch you taking

that baby up ever.

No, ma'am. But ever is a long time.

Isn't it, Petie?

Topsy-turvy like you.

"Out with the boys." Now, really.

Violet, you're spoiling the show.

There's only one show going on now

and that's that baby going to his bed.

Violet's right, Pete.

Do you know what time it is?

- Anyway, that's bad for his eyes, darling.

- The plane is bad for his ears.

Movies are bad for his eyes.

It'll be tough on his feet.

- What?

- When he learns to walk.

Mr. Pete, can I trouble you

for this bundle?

Very good.

Sleep well.

Oh, would you like a nightcap

before you turn in?

- Now, kiss your mammy.

- Good night, darling.

- And wave bye-bye.

- Bye-bye.

Yeah, he's going with Violet.

Violet's gonna put him to bed.

You know, Maggie, nobody but you

could have such a lovely baby.

Oh, he'd be a perfect baby

no matter who his mother was.

Why can't we take him with us

to New York tomorrow?

Pete, you're insane.

But he'd like New York.

How do you know?

He told me he would.

You're absolutely mad.

- He's a marvelous boy.

- Oh, yeah.

You know, I have dozens of these.

If you really enjoy looking at them...

...I could send you 50 to Washington

if you send them back.

- He'll send you 150 if you want.

- Your Coke, sir.

- Oh, thank you.

- Coke, my eye.

- That's a Cuba libre.

- Do you mind?

No, darling, we're on a spree. But

don't forget, I'm right here beside you.

- First time in New York since I got back.

- It's a celebration.

- Who is it?

- Guess.

I don't know.

Pete, darling.

What does one say to a ghost?

Hello, Maggie. I couldn't believe it

when I heard you were alive.

It was in Australia before a concert.

I drank champagne...

...and played Chopin's "Funeral March"

in swing time, actually.

- Have a drink?

- No, thanks.

- Colonel Harriston, Miss Kovak.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Staying in town long?

No, we're going home tomorrow.

- Running away so soon?

- We've been here a week.

- I do miss the country.

- That's what she says. Don't believe her.

She's just dying to get back to her boy.

She hates being away from him.

I've got something to show you.

- Here.

- Oh, pictures. Oh, I'd love them.

That's the son and heir.

What do you think of him?

Why, he's so big.

He's 31 inches tall, weighs 29 pounds,

has eight teeth and he bites.

And if you don't believe me,

just ask that puppy there.

Oh, he's lovely.

And here.

Here's one taken with his mother.

I think he looks like Maggie. But she

will have it that he looks like me.

He is like you.

- Oh, but he has Maggie's smile.

- Perhaps.

I don't know much about babies.

Well, I must go.

You're both looking so well.

That must have been quite a moment...

...when you told Pete about the baby.

I'd like to have been there.

Well, that's what I call a striking woman.

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