The Rocking Horse Winner Page #2

put your feet right in the irons.

When you get the confidence of this

animal,

he will gallop with you around

every race course in England.

That's it. Through there.

And if you speak nicely to him...

and whisper in his ear...

there's not a race he wouldn't

win for you and him only half trying.

Now -

gather the reins up short.

That's right. Now, get him collected.

Let him feel the pressure of your knees.

Now my dear fellow,

believe me - I don't want your things.

I assure you the gesture was purely

selfish.

I'm fond of my club.

Sometimes, I even like the members.

It would be terrible to give it up

on your account.

That's right, Master Paul! Lean down!

Get him going! Take him to the front!

I'm coming alongside now!

Cracking the whip!

Let's take him to the nursery.

Here we go - to the stable with you.

Of course, Oscar.

Richard, don't make any mistake -

I'm not a philanthropist. I expect

to be repaid.

How Richard, how?

What made you do such a thing?

You. You did.

I? What do you mean by that?

Since we were married, we've lived

above our income. Like millionaires.

Anything you wanted, we've had!

A holiday abroad, a new dress...

Taking this house, and furnishing it.

Even during the war...

I won't be made the scapegoat in front

of my brother for your bad behavior.

There are money difficulties, I know.

That's no excuse for your behavior.

However extravagant, I may be

that doesn't make me responsible for

your card debts.

Or for the beastly way you try to settle

them. I can tell you this, Richard

I will not give up everything I love or

believe in or the things I can't do without.

But can we afford it!

- Can we?

- Somehow, yes.

- There must be more money somewhere.

- But where?

There's the children's' education

to worry about.

- Richard has a new job.

- Not yet.

- Oscar will put in a good word for you.

- That's beside the point.

All this hysteria, my dear Hester,

is a waste of energy and exhausting.

Especially, since you're excited about

trivialities.

- Trivialities?

- Richard's problem is solved.

I will also help him get this new job,

but I warn both of you of the

seriousness of your position.

If you continue gambling Richard,

it's only a question of time before

you're ruined.

I've been unlucky.

It's not luck - you're a bad card player.

As for you Hester,

you are shamelessly extravagant.

I'm speaking not as your brother, but

as your trustee.

If you cannot live within your means,

at least live within calling distance of it.

The idea of giving up everything you

love may become a reality.

Nonsense. You exaggerate.

- I seldom do.

- I refuse to be frightened by you.

We must have more money!

You've had every penny from the trust.

We can't go on like this! We must have

more money!

- Not from me, Hester.

- It doesn't matter where it comes from.

We have to have it, and we must

get it.

We must have more money! That's all

there is to it!

There must be more money!

"There must be more money!"

"There must be more money!"

"There must be more money!"

"There must be more money!"

"There must be more money!"

"There must! There must!"

"There must be more money!"

"More money, more money,

more money!"

Would you like to sit down?

Yes. I'll sit there. Thanks.

Say, is that an important envelope?

This one?

Oh, very. Yes.

I expect Mother will be pleased to get it.

That's difficult to say.

She may, of course,

and then again, she may not.

- She burns most of her letters.

- It won't do any good to burn this.

- Is it special?

- I'll say it is.

Very extra super special.

Mrs. Richard Grahame?

- Yes.

- I'm from Parton Duffit.

Here's a writ.

Good day, madam.

I suppose we won't be going for a walk

now.

Why not?

Don't be lazy. Of course we're going

for a walk.

It will do use good. Come on, we'll

go out this way.

- Good afternoon, Mrs. Grahame.

- Good afternoon.

Why don't we have a car? Why do we have

to use Uncle's or a taxi?

Because we are the poor members

of the family.

Why are we?

Because your father has no luck.

Is luck money, Mother?

Not quite. It's what causes you to

have money.

If you're lucky, you have money.

That's why it's better to be born lucky

than to be born rich.

If you're rich, you can lose your money.

If you're lucky, you will always

get more money.

Isn't Father lucky?

He's unlucky.

Why?

I don't know, Paul.

No one knows why a person's lucky

or not.

Don't they? Are you lucky, Mommy?

I thought I was before I was married.

Now I think I'm very unlucky.

Why?

Never mind, perhaps I'm not really.

Anyhow, I'm lucky.

- Are you?

- I can prove it.

Can you, darling?

If you're lucky, you keep on getting

more money, don't you?

- I suppose so.

- That's what you said.

And I have money in my money box.

Lots of it.

And I keep on getting it. So I must be

lucky, mustn't I?

I'll give it to you if you like, Mommy.

All of it. You can have it all!

You need it, don't you Mother?

Tell me, how much do you have in

your money box?

- Lots of it.

- Yes, but how much?

Over a pound. 22 and 7 pence last

I counted.

You would give all that to me?

Yes! Yes, of course!

Listen, darling...

that's very, very sweet of you.

I don't need any money so badly that

I would take it from you.

I'd never do that, however badly

I needed it.

So forget all about it.

Keep putting your pennies in your money

box until you have hundreds of pounds.

Would I be a millionaire then?

Not quite.

I can't imagine hundreds of pounds.

Perhaps that's just as well.

- Good afternoon, Bassett.

- Afternoon, sir.

- Anyone home?

- No sir, they've gone for a walk.

They should be back any moment.

If it's of any interest to you

Brown Jug won the 2:30.

And the Fiver? Nowhere.

- Would you believe it? Just my luck.

- And mine.

And yet, Bassett, there must be someway

to beat book.

An infallible system, sir?

Something like that.

I never head of a horse that was a

certainty that didn't finish

so far down the course that he would've

won the race coming up behind him.

Mugs - that's what we are, Bassett. Mugs!

- I've no patience with this.

- You know something, sir?

- Hello, darling. You're back early.

- Yes, I wasn't feeling good.

- Enjoy your walk, Paul?

- Yes, Father.

Look, there's Uncle Oscar!

Hello, Uncle Oscar! Have you come to tea?

Hello, Paul. I've brought you a present.

- Here you are.

- Thanks!

What a whip! It's exactly what I wanted.

Be careful - you'll destroy

all the flowers.

Oscar, how sweet of you.

He's been asking for a whip.

- How are you?

- I've been waiting for you, Hester.

- Hello, Richard. No work today?

- No, no work today.

Nor tomorrow either.

You must have a lot of worries,

Master Paul.

What's the trouble?

Oh, nothing.

What are you reading?

I'm trying to make my fortune.

And if I can find the winner of the

4 o'clock race this afternoon,

I'll be well on my way.

You know, I've got a fancy for Overseer.

But Safety Pin may be a bit of a danger.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes