The Great Lie Page #8

Mister and Missis...

Come on.

Here you go. Here.

Jefferson, take them.

Come on, Mister and Missis,

get your supper with the rest of them.

Well, here I am.

Yes, I was expecting you.

- Going to ask me to stay?

- No.

- You'd better.

- Maggie.

Maggie. Maggie.

Pete.

- Why, Sandra.

- Hello, darling. How are you?

What are you doing here?

I hardly know myself.

I was motoring to White Sulphur Springs.

I realized

I'd gone through to Maryland...

...that you lived in Maryland,

and here I am.

I hope I'm not intruding.

Of course not.

Would you like some tea?

- I'd rather have a drink.

- Good.

- Gee, Sandra, you're looking fine.

- I feel well. A little tired.

Oh, I love this place.

Yes, I must show it to you.

I was wondering,

could you put me up for the night?

I was going to White Sulphur for a

rest anyway. I've had a tough season.

Why, yes, I suppose we could.

Couldn't we, Maggie?

Why, yes.

Oh, that would be lovely. Thanks.

How much ground have you got here?

Oh, about 20 acres. You see,

we're still sort of doing the house over.

Maggie used the other wing. This part

of the house used to be shut off.

I see. And when the family expanded,

the house went with it.

That addition, let me tell you,

is something.

I can hardly wait to see it.

It? It's a him.

Oh, that's right. It was a boy, wasn't it?

- What would you like to drink, Sandra?

- I don't know.

- Mint julep?

- Lovely.

- What are you drinking?

- The same.

Three mint juleps,

nice and cold and frosty.

Yes, sir, Mr. Pete.

I'm dying to see that baby.

- Could we go up now?

- Of course you can.

Pete, it's time for his bath.

- I know.

- Can't I see him in his bath?

Why, certainly. Come on.

Isn't the proud mama coming?

Oh, here he is.

Oh, he's got company.

- Good evening, ma'am.

- Good evening.

Lady come to see you.

- Has he had his bath?

- Yes, ma'am.

Now take your little bow

the way Violet taught you.

He's kind of shy of strangers.

He's got to get over that now.

Let me have him, Violet.

- Go to your pappy.

- Come on now.

- There.

- Now, no more nonsense.

Now, go on bow for the lady.

There, that's it.

That's a good boy.

Now you go to your mother.

- What do you think of him?

- Oh, I like him.

- What's that?

- He always likes his little tune...

...before he goes to sleep.

Oh, musical?

Where do I sleep?

In the south room.

Jefferson will light the fire.

I'll show you.

Maggie likes to stay and tuck him in.

Shall we have that drink first, Pete?

They's nice and frosty, Mr. Pete.

Coming right down, Jefferson.

Pete.

Come on. Our drinks are waiting.

Hey, aren't you dressed yet?

Oh, are we dressing?

Well, I thought you'd want to.

We have a guest.

- What's the matter? You got a headache?

- No.

Well, then you better hurry.

It's almost 7:
00.

All right.

Harriett won't leave New York

even in the winter.

She was a good sort.

Didn't she lose money?

No, that's the story she tells.

Fuzzy left her a lot.

- Did Fuzzy die?

- No, he gave her a lot.

He's in a home for inebriates,

someplace in New Jersey.

Hello, darling. You're late.

- We've already had three.

- Three?

Oh, Maggie, that wifely tone.

Do you count his cigarettes too?

It's doctor's orders.

Doctor's orders.

How familiar that sounds.

Would you believe it?

I was under doctor's orders.

You?

Yes. I had to count my cigarettes,

my drinks and my calories.

I had a little dragon watching over me

every minute to see that I did it.

It didn't seem to do you any harm.

No, I have never seen you look

more blooming.

- Come on. Have another one.

- Why, I shouldn't.

But how I love to do things I shouldn't.

To my hostess.

Maggie, my dear, may you always be

as happy as you are now.

Dinner's served.

You always were a traveler.

You would love Australia, Pete.

It's a great man's country.

Earthy and exciting.

Reminds me of our own West.

You know, Arizona.

Arizona?

That's where Young Pete was born.

- Oh, really?

- Yeah.

- Not here in the ancestral home?

- No.

That's when I was missing.

Pretty grim for Maggie.

No wonder she wanted to get away

from people.

Mr. Pete, you're wanted

on the telephone. Long distance.

Oh, excuse me, ladies.

Jefferson, we'll have our coffee

in the drawing room.

Oh, I'll take my brandy with me.

Put the coffee there.

What are you going to do?

- What are you going to do?

- Nothing.

- You're going to hold me to my bargain?

- Yes.

When I made it,

I didn't know Pete was alive.

When you thought he was dead,

you didn't want that child.

Now he's alive, you want both.

It was never a part of the bargain

that Pete should be alive.

The money you gave me is in trust.

It's never been touched.

You're not going to tell Pete.

No, Maggie.

I'm not going to tell him.

You're going to tell him.

And I'm gonna stay here until you do.

Well, that's that.

Harriston has new planes

that he wants me to see.

I think I'm gonna say good night.

I won't have any coffee.

It might keep me awake.

I want sleep.

- Sleep? You're not turning in now?

- Maggie looks a little tired.

Are you, Maggie? It's so early.

I won't go to bed right away.

I'll read and write letters.

Open the windows

and get some of your good country air.

- You've got luncheon guests tomorrow.

- Yes.

Then I think you've had quite enough

for one evening.

- Good night and try and get some rest.

- Good night, Sandra.

Oh, don't bother, Maggie.

I can find my way.

Good night, Sandra.

Coffee?

What's going on between you two?

- Nothing.

- Well, something must have happened.

Did Sandra say anything to upset you?

No, she didn't.

Well, then, my darling, don't you

think you've let me down a little?

How?

Well, I don't know

why Sandra came here.

But I'm sure she came here

for some reason.

And I particularly wanted her to see

how happy we are.

We are happy, aren't we?

Of course.

Then don't you think you could have

taken some other way of showing it?

You hardly ate. You hardly spoke.

Anyone would think that I beat you

in private.

I'm sorry.

Maggie, there's something between us

tonight.

I don't know what it is

but it's like flying in a fog.

I can't seem to get my bearings

and I don't like it.

We've always told each other everything,

haven't we?

That's been the great thing. No secrets.

Always honest with each other,

haven't we?

Well, then don't you think you can tell

me what's making you unhappy?

Maggie, I think I know what it is.

It's Sandra. Her being here

is what upset you, hasn't it?

And you think that... Well, that I still

find her attractive, don't you?

Do you?

I'd be lying to you if I said anything else.

Any man would find Sandra attractive.

Perhaps even a little exciting.

But you see, Maggie,

I'm not just any man now.

I'm your husband.

The father of Young Pete.

And believe me,

that makes a whale of a difference.

You and Young Pete.

You'd have to be a man

to know what that means.

But it's the tops.

What time is it, Violet? I didn't

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