The Happiest Millionaire Page #7

Oh.

I was hoping we'd get here

before that happened.

The weather held us up.

Us?

Is someone with you, Cordy?

Yes.

My fianc.

Your...

Your what?

His name

is Angier Buchanan Duke.

He's in the car.

Do you mean to tell me

that some boy is sitting

in front of this house

thinking he's going to

marry you?

Anthony, please.

He wanted to make sure

I got in all right.

I'll tell him he can go now.

Good night!

Good night?

Aren't you going to ask him in?

No, Mother, I don't think so.

I'll call you in the morning!

We don't even get

a chance to see him?

Of course you'll see him.

When you're ready.

I'm ready now.

No, Papa.

I'm not gonna let you at him.

Not until you get used to

the idea.

Where did you meet

this young man, Cordy?

At a party Aunt Gladys

and Uncle Bill gave.

I wrote you about it.

You didn't write us

about getting engaged.

He didn't ask me until today.

What took him so long?

Oh, now, Anthony.

Papa.

I think you'll

really like him very much

if you just give him a chance.

Of course

we'll give him a chance.

Is I dreaming, I am?

Hello, John.

Oh, you look fine.

Because I'm happy.

I'm engaged!

Engaged, is it?

Well, isn't that grand?

I'm very happy for you.

Isn't that wonderful news,

Mrs. Biddle?

Isn't it just...

I'd best be getting these towels

into the parlor.

Towels?

We had a sort of accident

this evening.

But I think we should

all go up to bed now

and talk in the morning.

I am tired.

We got stuck in the snow twice.

And we thought

we'd broken the axle.

And then the fan belt came off.

But it was fun.

Good night, Mother.

Good night, darling.

It's so nice to be home.

I love you, Papa.

Good night.

Good night.

"My fianc," she says.

Without batting an eye.

And you just stand there.

And I just stand there.

What else could we do?

We've never met the young man.

We don't know

anything about him.

What's that got to do with it?

She's a child.

She's a young woman.

You can't hold back

the clocks, Anthony.

Cordelia, I don't know

what you're talking about.

I'm not trying to

hold back any clocks.

She's not ready for marriage.

You're not ready.

I'm not going to

sit still for it.

Anthony, you'll be making the

greatest mistake of your life

if you try to stop

this engagement.

Is it wrong for me to try to

protect my daughter?

Cordy has a mind of her own.

Faced with an obstacle,

she will proceed with

still greater determination.

Why, you, of all people,

ought to know that.

We don't want to push her

into an elopement.

Come on.

You know, I'm anxious to see

what he looks like.

I believe you're enjoying this.

Well, in a way, I am.

It's a very exciting time.

Cordelia,

sometimes you amaze me.

Well, I hope so, Anthony.

It never rains but it pours.

To lose your only daughter

and your pet alligators

all on the same black night.

What's all the...

Oh!

Anthony, what are

you doing down there?

The girl's crazy.

That stuff she uses to

color her hair

must have gone to her brain.

Miss, would you mind

telling me what...

What's going on?

Well...

Well, I'll be.

Anthony, what is it?

Everything's all right now.

That nitwit girl frighten you?

They're not dead!

John!

John!

Yes, sir?

John, they're not dead!

Yes, sir.

I know, sir.

Come on, George.

George!

Cordelia, it's George.

What is it, Papa?

They're not dead.

George.

George, come back here.

Allow me, sir.

George!

George, not outside.

You'll freeze all over again.

Here you are, Mother.

All right.

Out of there.

Run along now.

In the conservatory.

Ah-ah.

Thank you.

Come on.

You heard what Mother said.

Into the conservatory.

George?

Did George come

back in here again?

I didn't see him, dear.

Take a look

in the dining room, John.

Where do you suppose he got to?

There's breakfast to get on

the table, in case you forgot.

How can you be so calm with

those monsters on the loose?

They know better

than to get in my way.

You can fill the cream pitcher

and get busy settin' the table.

Idiot girl.

None of them stay very long.

I'll teach you to make yourself

at home in my kitchen!

Come out, I say!

Me new broom.

You drop that!

Drop it, I say!

Where you going, you beast?

You'd be a handbag

if I had my way.

You should've let out a call.

I'd have given you a hand.

Thank you, Mr. Lawless.

It wasn't necessary.

I managed very well on me own.

Breakfast will be

in half an hour.

I have to slice some more bacon.

Thank you, Mrs. Worth.

Well, I think

we'd better get dressed.

That girl may come back here

with the police.

Cordy.

Yes, Papa?

Cordy, I've been

thinking things over.

I realize

I acted badly last night.

I want you to invite your

young man to dinner so I can,

as you say, give him a chance.

Thank you, Papa.

Well, you know, I worked up

quite an appetite.

I think I'd rather have

scrapple than bacon.

Mrs. Worth.

Thank you, Mother.

What for, darling?

For helping Papa

change his mind.

Did I do that?

Are you sure?

Oh!

There's an old Irish proverb.

To have your alligators

thawed out

and your daughter forgive you

all on the same bright day,

that's fortuosity.

- John?

- Sir?

Who are you talking to?

No one, sir.

You know what they say about

people who talk to themselves.

It's like I said.

It's another case of...

? Fortuosity?

? That's me byword?

? Fortuosity means?

George?

George?

? Round the corner?

Ha ha!

George?

George?

I've had about as much

as I can stand, now, George!

George!

In the tank.

Will you get in the tank

when I tell you?

Right.

George!

George.

Will you come back here?

Come on.

Oh, did I frighten you, then?

Hey, George.

George!

Not in the music room.

Get in...

George.

Come on, George.

Up.

Hey!

That's a good lad.

There you go.

Come on, boy.

This way, lad.

That's a good lad.

There you go.

It's like I said.

? Every bit of life is lit

by fortuosity?

? And that's me byword?

? Every bit of life is lit by?

? Twinkle-in-the-eye word?

? Every bit of life is lit?

? By fortuosity?

Aah!

John!

Coming, sir.

George.

Yes, it can only be

a matter of weeks now.

Even the White House admits

we can't stay out of this war.

I tried to enlist.

Do you know what they told me?

"You're too old."

Me, in the prime of life.

Fit as a fiddle.

"Too old."

No more wine, Mr. Duke?

No thank you, Mr. Biddle.

I still have a full glass.

Don't you like the wine?

We have others.

A cellarful.

No, thank you. No.

I don't drink very much.

It goes right to my head.

That's where

it's supposed to go.

So you live in New York,

Mr. Duke.

Yes, ma'am. I do.

Do you like it?

Well, yes.

I guess so.

I never could stand

the place, myself.

- How about your work?

- Sir?

Do you enjoy working?

Well, no.

Not really.

- To tell you the truth...

- I don't blame you.

Offices are deadly places.

They confine a man.

Spiritually and physically.

What do you do to escape?

Escape, sir?

Yes.

Do you go in for sports?

Well, I have a boat.

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