The Parent Trap Page #2

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- My Dad. Isn't he dreamy?

He's very handsome. Is it cold in here?

I'm hot. Want a Fig Newton?

What's your pop like? Is he a friend

or one of those busy types?

I don't have a father, actually.

Mummy and Daddy separated.

She never mentions him now.

It's scary the way

nobody stays together these days.

- There'll be more divorces than marriages!

- Isn't it the truth?

- How old are you?

- 13.

So am I. I can't wait till I'm 18.

I'll get my own car

and go dancing till midnight.

- I'll be 14 November 12th.

- No kidding? That's my birthday too.

Isn't that peculiar? November 12th?

Hm-mm. Funny, isn't it?

Oh-oh. This one's full.

Hey, it's stopped raining!

- What is your mother like?

- I can't remember her.

- Did she die?

- Nope.

Busted up with Dad.

But she was fabulous, absolutely fabulous.

- How do you know?

- A picture on Daddy's desk.

But he caught me looking at it

and it's gone now.

Do you want to come

and get a popsicle with me?

How can you think of that

at a time like this?

At a time like what?

Don't you feel it?

Don't you know what's happening?

Don't you find it peculiar that we're

so alike and have the same birthday?

It's just one of those things, isn't it?

Will you come inside a minute, please?

Mother says I'm psychic. That I can sense

when something odd is going to happen.

I always get goose bumps. Look.

So what?

I don't understand.

What are you doing with her picture?

It's my mother.

But it's my mother too.

Lunch.

You go. I'm not hungry.

- I didn't know what to say.

- I know. I didn't either.

Golly! Sisters!

You know what probably happened?

They must have quarrelled and parted,

and just sort of bisected us -

each taking one of us.

- Why do you suppose they separated?

- I don't know.

I can't imagine anyone not loving Mother.

She's divine.

What about Dad? He's a sensational person,

as a friend and all.

The thing is that neither of them

got married again.

- You see what that means?

- Not really.

In their innermost hearts, they must

still be in love with each other.

Then why have they stayed separated?

That's how true love creates

its beautiful agony.

All splendid lovers have dreadful times.

Pellas and Mlisande,

Daphnis and Chlo.

History's jammed with stories of lovers

parted by some silly thing.

- Oh, my goodness! Oh, boy! Oh, my gosh!

- What's the matter?

You want to meet Father

and I'm dying to know Mother.

Well, what if?

It's so scary,

but we might be able to pull it off.

Pull what off?

- Switch places.

- Switch?

We could do it. We're twins.

I want to know Mother.

Look! Now I'm getting goose bumps.

Me too.

There's more to it

than just switching places.

- I believe fate brought us together.

- How so?

If we switched, they'd have to unswitch us.

Mother would bring me to California.

- They'd have to meet again.

- Face to face.

- Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

- Exactly.

Let's get to work.

It's amazing.

You should wear this to meet Dad.

This is gorgeous! I'm going to wear this one

when I go to Boston. I adore it!

Susan, pay attention. The music room

and library are on the first floor.

Your room is the second door

on the second floor on the left.

The horse is Schotzli

and the dog is Andromeda.

Verbena collects the dirty laundry

on Monday... Sharon, pay attention!

But dirty socks are on Thursday.

My favourite food is chilli beans

and you gotta chew gum because I do.

Flat A's. Remember, all your A's are flat.

Talk fast 'cause everybody talks fast.

But I never bite my nails!

Sharon, you gotta. I always chew mine.

Anyhow, Dad'll know.

Go on, bite 'em!

Can't. Shan't. Aunt. Hmm?

No. Cah-n't. Shah-n't. Aunt.

Cah-n't. Shah-n't. Aunt.

Oh, I can't wait till camp is over.

- Cah-n't wait.

- OK. I cah-n't wait.

- But, Daddy...

- You're not taking it home!

Oh, Daddy, you big meany!

I spent so much time trying to get him.

It's got to be done methodically.

Recollection and memory.

- Get her talking about how they met.

- Find out about that first date.

- Sharon!

- That's you.

Coming!

You must bring Mother to California.

Boston is no place to rekindle a romance.

Sharon McKendrick!

Goodbye, girls. Sharon McKendrick!

Your chauffeur's waiting, dear. Hurry.

The punishment was harsh, I know,

but you've survived it

and I hope you've both learned something.

- You'd be surprised, Miss Inch.

- Goodbye, Sharon. See you next summer.

Goodbye, Miss Inch... I cah-n't tell you

how very much I've enjoyed my stay.

I shah-n't tell my aunt

about the aunts... ants,

nor the debutantes, shall I? Bye.

- What did you do to your hair?

- I cut it. It was too hot long.

Wait till your grandmother sees it.

Miss Lockness, Bettina...

Upstairs. Third door to the left.

What's her name?

- Here goes nothing.

- What?

...The white wine and... Do we have

any more of the Louis St George?

We'd better have tickets

for the ladies' wraps.

Rosa, I want all the gilt chairs

in the music room.

- You asked me to remind you...

- Yes, yes.

Do see the maids keep quiet. They must

empty the ashtrays without clinking.

- Yes...

- I want both Steinways at the north end.

- Have you checked the delivery?

- I'll see about it now.

- You're home from camp.

- Hello, Miss Lockness.

- Did you bring home all your underwear?

- It's in my luggage.

Probably full of germs.

What have you done to your hair?

- Do you like it?

- Wait till your grandmother sees it.

Who's that I hear out there?

Is that my little girl?

That tall gangly thing?

- Hi, Grandfather.

- Hello, sweetheart. Oh, my.

Let me look at you. Have you had?

- What's the matter, dear?

- I'm just happy to see you.

And I'm happy to see you too.

Your Grandpa missed you around here.

It was an awful...

Wait a minute. What are you doing?

- Making a memory.

- Making a memory?

Years from now, when I'm quite grown up,

I'll remember how Grandfather

always smells of...

- ...tobacco and peppermint.

- Tobacco and peppermint!

I use the peppermint for my indigestion and

the tobacco to make your grandmother mad.

Sharon!

Sharon!

Welcome home, darling.

- Mother!

- It's so good to have you home.

Let me look at you...

What on earth have you done to your hair?

- Cut it.

- That's certainly obvious.

I thought something was different.

What's done is done. It'll grow again.

What's the matter, Sharon?

Are those tears I see?

- I can't help it, Mother. If only you knew.

- Knew what?

- Sharon! When did you get back?

- She just arrived. She looks wonderful.

What have you done to your hair?

- She cut it.

- I had to because...

If my opinion means anything -

which I doubt - I like it the way it is.

- Charles, stop burbling.

- I haven't burbled in years.

Go and read your newspaper.

- See you at dinner.

- Bye.

It doesn't look so bad.

It's hoydenish. Are you a boy or a girl?

Make up your mind. What's that?

It's a present I brought for you.

We made it... I made it for you.

- Thank you. What is it?

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