The Happiest Millionaire Page #10

about everything,

I decided to take a walk

to clear my mind.

To get things straight.

I walked clear

to the Delaware River.

Oh, Angie.

We can't let this happen.

Everything will be all right

once we get away from parties

and our families

and we're on our way to Detroit.

What is it?

- Hold it!

- Cordy.

Just a minute, Mr. Duke.

I'd like another picture.

Later.

Is something wrong?

Cordy, there's something I

have to tell you about Detroit.

Yes?

Well, I've been giving it

some thought.

And I've come

to the conclusion...

Angier!

Where have you been?

I feel like Daniel

in the lions' den.

Excuse me.

I shouldn't stay away

from my guests too long.

Mother, why do you have to

act this way?

Oh, forgive me.

I don't believe it is

my behavior

that is questionable here.

What about

those wedding invitations?

I don't know yet.

And you promised

not to mention it.

But we have to know.

Mother, this is

a very difficult time for me.

And I wish you'd help me out

by going along

with the Biddles' way

of doing things.

After all, this is their house.

Angier, are you snapping at me?

Why, that's not like you.

Oh, never mind.

We'll help each other.

I promise I will do

everything I can

to keep the atmosphere peaceful.

Thank you, Mother.

And when we are out

of all this madness

and you're on your way

to the Ozarks...

Mother, I warned you

not to talk about that.

Oh, yes.

So you did.

Tell me. Is there anything

I can talk about?

Is there no one to answer

the door?

Where are the servants?

They're out there.

Fighting for their lives.

Young man, tell Mr. Biddle

I'm waiting in the parlor.

I have no intention

of going out into that mob.

Yes, ma'am.

Do you know

who that young man is?

That is Angier Duke.

There are those who would

consider the heir

to a multimillion-dollar fortune

improper choice for errand boy.

And there are those sufficiently

accustomed to wealth

that the only thing to be

considered in such a choice

is how well will the young man

perform the errand.

Good afternoon, Mrs. Drexel.

But I will have a closer look

when he comes back.

He must be quite something

if Cordy can spend a month

in New York

and still want to marry him.

If you ladies will make

yourselves comfortable,

I'll fetch

some nice refreshments.

There are those

who consider New York

the only true city

in the country.

And there are those

who wear bibs when they eat.

But generally speaking, they

are not persons of influence.

- Indeed.

- Indeed.

Champagne punch and some darling

little sandwiches.

? There are those

whose social standing?

? Is constantly demanding?

? Every single thing we do,

the public knows?

? Then there is

a lower strata?

? Where propriety

doesn't matter?

? I suppose?

? There are those?

? There are those?

? There are those

to whom position?

? Is a natural-born condition?

? To be worn with ease

like comfortable old clothes?

? Though the nouveau riche

deny it?

? All their money

cannot buy it?

? Class will out?

Goodness knows.

? But there are those?

Watercress on toast, ma'am?

? There are those who grace

the pages of the Blue Book?

Never heard of it.

Is it a new book?

Simply anyone who is anyone

is listed.

Oh. You mean the New York

telephone directory?

Hardly.

There are those whose names

predate the Constitution.

Yes, and some of them

opposed the Revolution.

Conservative.

Reactionary.

Cream cheese and cucumber?

? Philadelphia is the cradle

of liberty?

? Slumbering like an aging page

of history?

Chopped liver?

? There are those

who flaunt prosperity?

? There are those

who flaunt austerity?

? Posing cozy

on their rosy status quos?

Poison dart?

I mean, raisin tart?

? There are those

quite influential?

? There are those

inconsequential?

? There are those?

? There are those?

? There are those?

? There are those?

? There are those?

- I suppose.

- I suppose.

- There are those.

- There are those.

Well, Mrs. Duke,

I see you've met Aunt Mary.

Good afternoon, Aunt Mary.

Aunt Mary, I was looking for you

in the garden.

Not in that mob.

Hello, Aunt Mary.

Cordy.

Aunt Mary, this is Angie.

They've met.

Mrs. Drexel, I would like to

ask you a question or two

about how weddings are managed

by proper Philadelphians.

Mother, you promised.

What about the way weddings

are managed by Philadelphians?

Would anyone like a sandwich?

No.

No, thank you, John.

Is something wrong, Mrs. Duke?

Something is decidedly wrong.

I'll have a sandwich.

Let's all have a sandwich.

What about the wedding?

They really look delicious.

Won't you have one, Mother?

I've already had one.

What about the wedding,

blast it?

I would like to know,

Mr. Biddle,

why the Dukes have not received

invitations.

As I understand it,

the Drexels and the Biddles

are coming by the thousands.

It is customary

in most societies

to invite the family

of the groom as well.

But there was a separate box

of Duke invitations.

Yes.

Yes, I remember that.

Could something have

gone wrong at the post office?

John and I took them in

ourselves.

- John?

- Sir.

See if you can

find out anything.

Yes, sir.

I'm sure there's

some simple explanation.

We'll certainly

take care of it, Mrs. Duke.

These little things happen.

Little things?

How would you feel if the

Drexels had not been invited?

They'd come anyhow.

They're relatives.

It may surprise you to know

that the laws of kinship operate

in New York

and in North Carolina.

Only one thing surprises me,

Mrs. Duke.

Wait a minute.

If you could just...

Stop it!

All of you!

Duke pride.

Drexel pride.

Biddle pride.

Philadelphia versus New York.

I'm sick to death of it.

Angie and I

have been shoved aside

while everyone is busy

turning our wedding

into the biggest production

and the biggest fight

in history.

It isn't fair.

And I'm not going to let it

go on this way

if Angie and I have to elope!

Elope?

And make us all look like fools?

At this moment, Mrs. Duke,

I don't care what you look like.

Cordy.

Angier, you had better speak

to your bride.

This wedding is going to

take place on schedule.

And it is going to

be done right.

Once you're safe

in our railroad car

and on your way to Arkansas,

you can indulge your whim.

Until then...

Arkansas?

What about Arkansas?

Cordy, I'm sorry.

Well, what are you sorry about?

I have arranged

for our private railroad car

to take you and Angier

to Hot Springs

then back to New York

in two weeks

for the board of directors'

meeting.

Angie.

How could you?

Well, what, please tell me,

is wrong with Hot Springs?

I'm sure nothing is wrong

with it, Mrs. Duke.

But I'm not going to spend

my honeymoon there.

Cordy, if we could just

talk things over.

Just like I'm not going to

live in New York.

Of course you're going to

live in New York.

Because I'm not going to

marry you.

What?

- Cordy.

You most certainly are

going to marry him.

She doesn't have to

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