The Razor's Edge Page #4

- When, in 10 years?

- No, now. As soon as possible.

- On what?

- I've got $3,000 a year.

- Oh, Larry.

Lots of people

live on a great deal less.

But I don't want to live

on $3,000 a year.

Ineverhave,

and I don't see why I should.

We could go down to Capri

for our honeymoon.

In the fall,

we could go to Greece.

Remember how we used to talk about

traveling all over the world together?

Of course I want to travel.

But not like that.

Cheap restaurants, third-rate hotels...

Besides, I want

to have babies, Larry.

[Chuckling ] All right, darling.

We'll take them along with us.

Larry, you're so impractical. You don't

know what you're asking me to do.

I'm young. I want to have fun,

do all the things people do.

We wouldn't have

a friend in the world.

Isabel, stop exaggerating.

We'll do everything that you want to do,

and we'll do it together.

Oh, listen, darling.

If you hadn't a cent to your name

and got a job that brought you 3,000 a year,

I'd marry you

without a minute's hesitation.

I'd cook for you.

I'd make beds.

I wouldn't care what I wore.

I... I'd think it was fun

because I'd know it was only a question

of time until you'd make good.

But this means living like this all our lives,

with nothing to look forward to.

It's asking too much.

Oh, Larry,

you've had your fling now.

For your own sake,

I beg of you to come home with us.

I wouldn't make you happy

if I did.

You see, what you forget is that

I want to learn as passionately as...

Well, as Gray, for example,

wants to make a lot of money.

I came over here

because I was restless,

and because my mind

was muddled.

I came looking for the answers

to a lot of questions.

Some of them I've found.

Others I may never find.

But I can't stop now.

Oh, I know it sounds

vague and trivial compared with...

Well, compared with everything

that's happening at home today.

And I know I'm being

very difficult.

But I can't stop now, Isabel.

I just can't!

But what would happen to America

if everyone did as you're doing?

The answer to that is

that everyone doesn't feel as I do.

Fortunately for themselves,

most people are just content

to follow the normal course

and take things as they are.

Oh, I wish I could, too.

But I know if I tried, I'd just make

a mess of your life, and of mine, too.

But

what's this all

going to lead to?

I don't know.

It may be that when I'm through,

I will have found something to give

that people will be glad to take.

It's just a chance.

Even if I fail,

I shan't be any worse off than

a fellow's who's gone into business

and hasn't made a go of it.

Then there's nothing more

to be said.

Here you are.

IsabeL

Wear this

on another finger, please.

- We're still friends?

- Of course.

Shall we go?

Well, go on.

Go on.

-[Laughs]

- I don't believe it.

Louisa, do you realize that

in the two months you've been here,

I haven't won a game?

[Laughing]

- Who's winning?

- I am.

- Good.

-[ Chuckling]

I must say,

Isabel's taking it very well.

Has she told you

exactly what happened?

Only that she and Larry talked and came

to the conclusion they'd made a mistake.

- Has she written to Gray?

- I wouldn't know.

I'm not in the habit of opening her mail.

If you ask me,

she's very well out of it.

There's no doubt there was

a strong physical attraction,

-but that's all...

- Here she is.

- Good night, Mother.

- Good night, darling. Don't be too late.

Remember, we have to

catch the boat train in the morning.

Well,

you're very dressed up.

- You seem to be going somewhere.

- Yes.

- Where?

- Oh, nowhere in particular.

- Larry and I are going out on the town.

- Larry?

We thought we'd like to spend

our last night together.

"Evening," I trust you mean.

I'm profoundly shocked. If he had any sense

of decency, he'd never have asked you.

But he didn't ask me.

I asked him.

- You should forbid her to go.

- Will you pay any attention if I do, Isabel?

No, darling. None.

In that case, I don't think

there's any point in my forbidding it.

Pretty dress she had on.

I hadn't realized

it was cut quite so low.

I've never seen you so beautiful.

[ No Audible Dialogue]

-[ Speaking French ]

[Orchestral Playing, Up Tempo Music]

[Speaking Spanish ]

[Woman Speaking French ]

-[ Music Ends]

-[ Chattering ]

[Music Resumes]

[ No Audible Dialogue]

[Singing In Russian]

[Singing Continues]

[Music Ends]

-[ Drumming Playing]

-[ Chattering ]

[Jazz Playing ]

[Music Continues]

[Woman Screams]

Well, I guess this is good-bye.

Will you come in

and have one last drink?

Yes.

It's late.

You'd better go.

Oh, Larry.

For heaven sakes, go!

Please, Larry.

Larry.

Uncle Elliott!

That was a brilliant performance,

my dear.

I left the door

just a little open.

Shall I get you a drink?

I expect you want it.

You think you're very clever,

donlyou?

I don't think it.

I know it.

Come, come, child.

Be reasonable.

I guessed you were

up to something.

Even your poor mother

noticed the pains you went to

to make yourself

alluring tonight.

You're hateful.

But no fool, my angel.

Am I right in surmising that you thought

if you could get him to come back here,

it was almost inevitable

that the inevitable should happen?

No one could put it

more delicately.

We know

what the consequences may be

when a poor girl strays

from the narrow path of virtue.

Do we?

My guess is that if

your unscrupulous plan had come off,

it wouldn't have been long

after your return to Chicago

before the wretched Larry

got a letter from you,

telling him to come back at once

and make an honest woman of you.

You can be wonderfully disagreeable

when you like, Uncle Elliott.

I know.

It's one of my most cherished gifts.

Why didn't you

go through with it?

Vvhenllooked

into his eyes and saw

he hadn't the slightest idea

I'd set a trap for him,

I couldn't bring myself

to play such a dirty trick.

I couldn't help myself.

I suppose it was

my better nature.

Nonsense. It was your sound,

Middle-Western horse sense.

You'd have been mad

to have married him.

I wonder.

Believe me. When you've put the Atlantic

between you and that young man,

you won't care

two straws for him.

Trust your Uncle Elliott.

He's a very wise old party.

[ Chattering ]

Mr. Maturin, the cake.

[Man Speaking, indistinct]

[Woman ] Here's a knife, Miss Isabel.

I mean, Mrs. Maturin.

- What do I do with it?

- Hey, Gray, get in there. You're in on this.

I told you what, Isabel.

Take her hand, Gray.

Nothing would please me more. You know,

this is the nicest wedding I've ever been to.

- We should have thought of this sooner.

-[ Laughing] Oh, Uncle Elliott,

how do brides

cut their cakes in France?

- With a knife, dear.

-[ Laughing ]

- Now, make a wish, Gray.

- I don't have to. I've got my wish.

[Laughing]

You know, I've never been able

to understand why

when there's so much space in the world,

people should deliberately choose

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