Theodora Goes Wild Page #9

with you tonight.

Well, I might suggest tomorrow

sometime during the day.

Oh, but it's got to be tonight, sugarfoot.

Because otherwise

I'll find myself another publisher

and then you might lose

your very best little writer.

Yes, yes, goodbye, Mr. Green.

Yes. That was Mr. Green.

Theo, you wouldn't leave me

and go to another publisher, would you?

No. No, Arthur. No, I wouldn't dream of it.

I wouldn't leave you. Come on.

-Here's your house.

-No, this is your house.

No, it's your house. But I want to see

that you get upstairs all right.

-Can I help you, lady?

-No, I think I can manage somehow.

Say, you can't take her away from me.

I'm a better publisher than you are.

I don't know

what you're talking about, mister.

If you'll just put your arm

around my shoulder and lean on me.

That's right. Don't dream of it.

If some other publisher comes to you

and tries to take you away from me,

makes you a big offer, you just come to me.

I'll do better, see?

Yes, I will. I will.

If you leave me, Theo, the House

of Stevenson would just fall to pieces.

-Arthur, I wouldn't.

-You can't leave me, Theo.

You gotta reconsider.

That's the thanks I get. I discover you,

I make you famous, you leave me flat.

-I'll stay with you forever, Arthur.

-I know. The old knife in the back stuff.

Listen, listen, how much did he offer you?

I'll double it. Tell me?

Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

Where's your key, Arthur?

-Where's your key, Arthur?

-Where's your key?

-Oh, this is...

-ls this it? 805?

-No. 805.

-All right, all right.

Now, look. You let me get to the elevator,

then you press the bell.

Okay.

-Good night, Arthur.

-No, Theo, you can't do that to me.

-You've gotta stay with me.

-No, no.

No. Listen, Theo,

ask me whatever you want and it's yours,

only don't leave me.

Oh, good evening.

Oh, hello, Ethie. Hi.

Cheese and crackers.

I got it, Clarence. I got it.

Sam. Henry. Clear the whole front page.

Okay, Clarence, I got it.

"Theodora named in divorce action."

Disgusting.

"Theodora, the other woman,

in suit brought by wife of publisher."

"Charges misconduct

"between Theodora Lynn

and publisher of Adams' books."

Her publisher.

Did you see this brazen picture of her?

Lynnfield's daughter

is burning up the big town.

Small-town girl in big-time scandal.

How long is this kind of sinfulness

going to make up

the principal reading matter

for our children and the whole community?

-How long?

-Yes, how long?

Ask Theodora.

If you aren't satisfied with the answer,

stop Jed Waterbury from printing it.

But you wouldn't do that, because

this community is too all-fired nosey.

You couldn't stand not knowing

what's going on.

It's making us just a little sick of Lynnfield.

As long as I can remember,

this town's always wanted to know

what's cooking in the Lynn pot.

I think that's about all, Rebecca.

Well, I hope you're satisfied.

You've blasted Ethel's life to bits.

Don't be silly, sweetheart.

Ethel understands.

She telephoned this morning and said

the divorce action would be withdrawn.

-Come on in, and make yourself at home.

-No, Theodora.

Do you realize that you're getting yourself

the worst possible kind of a reputation?

-Oh, then you do care, Michael?

-Stay right where you are. Go on.

Keep your hands busy.

Keep on playing the piano.

Theodora, listen to me, if you make any

scandal before the governor's reception...

Theodora, please get out of town

until that reception's over.

That's all I ask of you.

If you do, I'll do anything.

I'll come up to Lynnfield

and talk to you within a month,

only please get out.

You're making my life miserable.

That's the struggle that's going on

within you, Michael.

But don't you worry.

The light breaks suddenly.

And then you'll rise up and tell Papa

what I told Lynnfield.

And then you'll be so happy.

I'll be happy when I'm darn

good and ready to be happy

and not a minute sooner.

-Michael. Michael.

-Stay right where you are.

All right, Michael, look at me.

Tell me, do we still have to wait two years?

Theodora, why can't you

be just a little reasonable?

-Who's that?

-I don't know.

-Oh, yes, the reporters.

-The reporters?

Yes. Come on, Michael. Now is your chance

to make a declaration of independence.

And tell them all about us right now.

-Never. If you tell them my name...

-ls Miss Adams in?

-Hello. How are you, Miss Adams?

-Hello.

Who's this?

The name's Brown, you snoops.

Montmorency Brown. Undertaker.

His Excellency, Governor Wyatt,

and Mrs. Wyatt.

-Good evening, Mrs. Wyatt.

-How do you do?

-How are you, Michael?

-Good evening, Governor.

-How do you do, Michael?

-Governor.

-Still painting, eh?

-I'm afraid so.

Pity he isn't a statesman isn't it, Governor?

Painter? Statesman? Same thing.

Get your hands dirty at both.

Seems to me Michael Grant

figured in the papers lately somehow.

I can't for the life of me recall the incident.

Oh, you don't mean in the story about

that terrible woman, do you, Mrs. Wyatt?

Yes, that's it.

Didn't she have your apartment?

-What woman's that?

-Oh, some awful woman novelist.

With quite a private reputation, Governor.

Well, well.

Of course, I've never had

the pleasure of meeting the lady.

You see, while I was on a fishing trip,

I received a wire from Mr. Arthur Stevenson,

my publisher,

asking if she could have the use of my

apartment during her visit to New York.

Of course, I was more than glad

to accommodate.

And then, well, you know the newspapers.

I hope steps were taken

to clear this up, Jonathan.

Certainly, Stephen, certainly.

Your father and I have been very careful

to keep this administration clean, my boy.

Yes, yes, I'm sure of that, sir.

-May I have this dance, Mrs. Wyatt?

-Oh, delighted.

Oh, Stephen, may I remind you

that there are 100 women

just palpitating to dance with you?

Well, if I must, I must. Shall we?

Thank you.

Very starchy party.

Well, I guess now we start following

glad-hand Steve around

and recording

the governor's moments of play.

Boys will be boys.

Couldn't you smile just once

for the sake of appearance?

Charming.

Suppose you try it.

Angelic.

Isn't this a lovely party, Jonathan?

Oh, you dance divinely, Governor.

-Thank you, Miss...

-Adams.

-lt can't be.

-And she snagged the governor.

You're a splendid dancer, too, Miss Adams.

-Oh, Governor.

-Yes, indeed.

Pardon me, Governor.

Do you mind, Governor? Smile. Thank you.

Thanks.

-Pardon me, please. Hold it.

-Thank you, Governor.

Thank you. Thank you.

-Charming, Governor, perfectly charming.

-Why, thank you, thank you.

-Tell me quick, is that the woman?

-ln person.

This is terrible.

Michael, in five minutes, everybody

in this house will know who she is.

They've already got a picture of her

with the governor.

I'll take care of that.

You see that she gets out of this house.

Take her out into the garden

or on the terrace, anywhere,

and keep her there

for the rest of the evening.

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