The Man Who Came to Dinner Page #9

I never see you, you ungrateful moppet.

Sherry, all I can tell you is my esteem for

you is so great that I changed trains...

...in Chicago to spend 10 minutes with

you and wish you a merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas, my lad.

And to you, my little Magpie.

Beverly, dear.

Good evening.

Mr. Whiteside's in the living room.

Thank you. Come on, boys.

- Hello, Mr. Whiteside.

- Come in, Wescott.

The airwaves. Well, I shan't have

to listen to you, thank heaven.

I shall be on the train.

Mr. Wescott, will you go in the library?

John, will you help the men?

Yes. Right this way, gentlemen.

- Come on, say goodbye.

- Stop this nonsense, Maggie.

- Au revoir, my fabulous cream puff.

- What? I want to talk to Beverly.

Kiss Beverly in Macy's window

on July 4th.

I will not be rushed out like a baby that

has to have its thingamabobs changed.

Well.

Beverly, I want one minute of your time.

You'll make your train.

- What's the matter?

- I'm in trouble.

- What is it?

- I've fallen in love.

- No.

- Yes, for the first time in my life.

I can't tell you about it now,

there isn't time.

Sherry's trying to break it up,

in his own fiendish way.

- What's he doing?

- He's brought Lorraine to smash it up.

- It's somebody in this town?

- Yes, he's a newspaperman.

You'll see him, he wants

to interview you. He's written a play.

Sherry is using that as bait. Lorraine

will eat him alive. You've got to help.

- What do you want me to do?

- Lorraine's coming, and perhaps you'd:

Don't say another word, Maggie,

I know just what to do.

And I shall love it.

I shall absolutely love it.

What's more, it crosses up

Sherry and Lorraine at the same time.

It's pure heaven. I adore it.

I must fly.

Beverly, you're wonderful.

I know I am. Come to my house

for your honeymoon.

- We'll name the first baby Beverly.

- Darling, I love you.

Don't spare the horses, my man,

a woman's honor's at stake.

There you are, my pretty.

- Hollywood calling you, Mr. Whiteside.

- Oh, thank you, John.

Hello?

Banjo.

Hello, Banjo, my boy. How are you,

you feeble-minded actor?

Hello, Whiteside. How is tricks? I hear

you broke your hip chasing a blond.

No, no, my bustle's fine.

Couldn't be better.

Maggie? She's lost her mind

temporarily, but I'm fixing that.

Listen, Banjo, did you reverse

the charges? You didn't.

Call the operator

and tell her to do it.

Just a little Christmas present to you

from my host.

Well, I can't waste my time

talking to Hollywood riffraff.

- Just get on a plane right away.

- I'll think it over. I...

Hello, Banjo? If I know Banjo,

we were cut off by a beautiful blond.

Is there anything I can do

before the broadcast?

No, thank you. It isn't television, thank

heaven. They only hear his liquid voice.

He's wonderful.

The things he finds time to do.

Yes, he certainly sticks

his nose into everything.

- Good evening, Miss Sheldon.

- Good evening, John.

Hello, dear. Where's Sherry?

Inside, working.

- He's on the air very soon.

- Oh, well, of course.

That's quite a getup you have on.

Going anywhere?

This? Oh, I just threw on anything at all.

- Aren't you dressing for dinner?

- No. Just what meets the eye.

Who does your hair, Maggie?

A little French woman named

Maggie Cutler comes in every morning.

You know, every time I see you, I keep

thinking your hair could be so lovely.

I always want to get my hands on it.

You know, I've always wanted

to get mine on yours, Lorraine.

What, dear?

- How long will Sherry be in there?

- Not long.

Lorraine...

...did you know that Mr. Jefferson

had written quite a good play?

The young man who

drove you to the hotel.

Really? No, I didn't.

Isn't that interesting?

Yes, isn't it?

Hello?

Yes, yes, Miss Lorraine Sheldon?

She's here. Yes, just a minute.

A long-distance call for you.

Long distance, for me, here?

Why, what in the world?

- It's South Carolina.

- Oh, South Carolina.

Hello? Hello? Cedric?

Why, Cedric. Why, what a surprise.

How did you know I was here?

Lorraine, my sweet, I was so upset

to return and find you gone.

I was devastated. Really, I was.

Absolutely devastated.

I simply had to call you and...

- I love you.

- What?

Darling, don't talk so fast.

Then you won't stutter so.

Yes. Yes, that's better.

Yes, now I can hear you very clearly.

It's as though you were just

around the corner. I see.

I said, I simply had to call you

and tell you how much I...

- I adore you.

- What?

Oh, darling, I...

Cedric, dearest, will you

wait just a moment, please?

Maggie, do you mind? Lord Bottomley,

a very personal call. Do you mind?

Not at all.

Yes, my dearest, now tell me.

Cedric, please don't stutter so.

Don't be nervous.

Lorraine, my sweet,

I've got in touch with Mater...

...and she's given her consent

to our betrothal. Lorraine, my darling...

...will you...?

- Will you be my wife?

- Oh, darling, yes. A thousand times, yes.

Oh, my darling.

Oh, my sweet. You don't know

how I've prayed for this every night.

I'll take a plane right out of here. What?

Cedric, please don't stutter so.

Yes, I love you, my darling.

Oh, so much. Oh, my sweet.

Yes, I will. I'll be thinking of you

every moment.

You've made me the happiest girl

in the world. Goodbye.

Goodbye, darling. Goodbye.

Sherry? Sherry? Sherry, darling. I can

hardly wait to tell you, it's unbelievable!

The most wonderful thing has happened.

Cedric called from South Carolina.

- He's asked me to marry him.

- What?

I must get out of here

and catch the next plane.

May I come in now, Lorraine?

Oh, Maggie, can I get a plane

out of here right away?

The most wonderful thing has happened.

Lord Bottomley's asked me to marry him.

- Really?

- Isn't it wonderful?

I'm so excited I can hardly think. Maggie,

you must help me get out of here.

- I'd be delighted to.

- Can you look up things?

I have a timetable over here.

If you can't catch a plane here...

...I'll drive you to Cleveland.

- Maggie, you're wonderful.

Sherry? Sherry, darling,

what's the matter?

You haven't said a word.

You haven't congratulated me.

Let me understand this, Lorraine.

Am I to gather from your squeals...

...you're about to toss your career

into the ashcan?

- You couldn't expect...

- Don't explain. I understand too well.

I also understand why Cornell

remains the first actress of our theater.

Lorraine, we're in luck. There's a plane

out of Cleveland at 10:03.

- Let me see.

- Takes an hour to drive over...

Isn't everything working out, Sherry?

Peachy.

What's the hotel where I'm staying?

I want to get my maid to start packing.

The Mansion House.

Mansion House, please.

Oh, it's snowing. Isn't that wonderful?

I've never felt so much like Christmas

in all my life. Don't you, Sherry?

Shut your nasty little face!

Hello. Hello? This is Miss Sheldon.

Put me through to my maid, please.

Cosette? Now listen carefully, Cosette.

We're leaving by plane

tonight for South Carolina.

Start packing immediately,

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