Undercurrent Page #2

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- Your mother?

- Yes.

She died three years ago.

What a sweet-Iooking face.

She was sweet, all right.

She was a scientist too...

...as good a one as dad, and a dynamo.

Mine was just the opposite.

Mother was an invalid for years.

Whenever it snowed, she always said

that's what she missed:

Walking in the snow.

Why am I talking like this?

I hate being sentimental.

- I like it.

- I think I knew you would.

Is that why, Ann?

Am I trying to please you?

Whether you're trying or not, you are.

Mr. Garroway, I was wondering...

...were you surprised when I...?

When we...?

- Met?

- Yes. Did I remind you of someone?

No. Whatever put that idea in your head?

Quite the opposite.

You look like no one

I'd ever seen before.

That would be it. Someone you'd never

seen before and given up trying to find.

It's quite a shock.

Rummy, mind your manners.

One of the tragedies of my life.

Dogs don't seem to care for me.

- It's a sign of bad character.

- Oh, Rummy's a fine one to talk.

He has no character at all, lazy little...

Eats tetradite. Steals it and eats it.

I've got a dog in Virginia, boy,

that'd make two bites out of you.

But I like you better,

even if you don't like me.

Well, you'll have to forgive him.

If he could read, he'd know

that he was snubbing a celebrity.

- Every magazine you pick up...

- Spare me, please.

No, seriously.

As an American, I'm very proud to be

sitting here with you in my own house.

- As an American?

- Yes.

How do you feel about it as a girl?

As a girl?

Tickled pink.

But that, Mr. Garroway, is my business.

And catching that last plane

is my business. I wish it weren't.

I'm sorry Dink didn't get back.

It's all right. Anyway, tell him

how grateful I am for his cooperation.

- I certainly shall.

- Goodbye.

- Good...

- I'm sorry.

- Electricity from your feet.

- Yes. Did you see the spark?

Spark?

How fresh this always is, and new.

It always takes me into another world.

Whatever world it was you were in,

my dear, you were not alone.

Of that I'm certain.

- What do you mean, Dink?

- Garroway.

- Dink.

- Yes?

You mustn't say that.

Mustn't speak the truth?

Well, that's not the truth.

- I'm nobody, he's...

- A man. Chemically speaking, a man.

All life isn't chemistry.

More than you think.

But that isn't bad, it's nature.

Oh, dear. Professor Joseph Bangs.

- Hello, Joe.

- Hello, Ann. Saw the lights.

Thought I'd take a chance on finding you.

It was just the sheerest impulse.

- Flowers for you, Miss Hamilton.

- Well, thank you very much.

Come on in, Joe.

Now, why didn't I think of that?

Good heavens. Hello, Bangs.

- Good evening, sir.

- I can't imagine...

- I can.

- Did anybody answer the...? Well.

Dozens of them.

What a nice way for him

to show his respect for you, Dink.

Roses don't show respect,

roses show intentions.

And we haven't got a vase big enough

to hold them.

Garroway?

Typical ostentation.

I felt the same way when I met him.

Too much personality for a scientist.

He's not a scientist.

He doesn't claim to be.

He invented

the Garroway Distance Controller.

Won the war with it, single-handed.

It was... It is very important.

Not only in war, in peace.

However, in talking to him...

...I felt I knew more

about his invention than he did.

I don't see why Alan Garroway has to be

attacked because he has a personality.

It's no crime, you know. Not yet.

Excuse me.

Oh, Dink, that was silly of me.

- Joe go away mad?

- No.

Bangs is all right.

He doesn't mean any harm.

- I imagine he's a little jealous.

- Oh, it's ridiculous.

- Alan Garroway isn't thinking of me.

- Now, before you say it...

...another telegram came from him today.

- It did?

- He'll be back Thursday.

- He will?

Well, of course.

- He has to.

- Oh, no, he doesn't have to.

I know what you're thinking,

and it's nonsense.

- I'm nobody, and he's...

- Don't you ever go to the movies?

- It happens all the time.

- Dink, look at me.

You're my father. You love me.

I probably seem fine to you.

But Alan Garroway...

Look at me.

Take the scales off your eyes and look.

You look.

Ann.

- Ann, look here.

- What?

Nothing yet.

A little alcohol, caustic acid.

Now change the formula.

A little, just a drop.

There.

- No nonsense now. That's tetradite.

- What's that got to do with me?

Well, love is a chemical formula,

like anything else.

I recognize the formula.

That's a very romantic conception, Dink,

for a scientist.

You're as bad as Joe Bangs

with his spark.

Don't fight, my dear.

Don't fight feeling the way you must.

But don't think I like the idea, I don't.

I'm a jealous father, selfish.

- I like our life together.

- Me too.

But it's happening.

Nothing can stop it now.

You're foaming, my dear.

- I'm not foaming.

- More than you think.

Now, pour you into a tube.

Let's call it a church.

Now change the formula.

Just a drop.

Just a drop of religious ceremony.

- The world changes.

- Nonsense.

Is that what you'll say

a few weeks from now?

When the chemist of heaven

in a long, black robe asks you...

To have and to hold

from this day forward.

For better or worse,

for richer or poorer...

...in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish...

...till death do you part.

I will.

I now pronounce you man and wife.

All right?

I've been higher than this

the last few weeks, much higher.

- Will you fasten your safety belt, please?

- Yes, thank you.

This is it. Washington.

I'm impressed.

The nearest I've ever been

is a letter to my congressman.

I wired Warmsley to meet us.

He's the manager

of the San Francisco plant.

- Oh, I can't...

- Just relax, Mrs. Garroway.

- What did you say?

- What, Warmsley?

No, no. Who? Mrs. Who? Who?

You're very sweet.

Mrs. Garroway. Mrs. Alan Garroway.

Judas.

- Hello, Mr. Garroway.

- Warmsley.

This is my wife, Ann. Mr. Warmsley.

The daughter

of Professor David Hamilton.

- How do you do? Let me.

- How do you do? Oh, no.

That's all right. I can take this.

I have a car.

- What was the matter?

- Nothing. Why?

Well, he looked surprised. Why?

- Didn't you tell him?

- Surprised?

He knew I went to see your father

about tetradite.

You don't look at all like tetradite.

He's a good manager, Warmsley is.

- How's the conference going?

- All right, Mr. Garroway.

- I can leave for San Francisco tomorrow.

- Fine.

There's the Jefferson Memorial, darling.

Oh, Alan, this is an exciting town.

We'll have dinner and then

friends are coming to meet you.

- People?

- Yes.

Some of my friends are people,

nice people.

- Don't worry, darling.

- Oh, I'm a coward. I'm scared to death.

They'll probably take one look

and say, "Where did he dig her up?"

You'll be the most beautiful woman there.

You wait and see. Huh, Warmsley?

Oh, yes, I should say that

Mrs. Garroway has nothing to fear.

Nothing and no one.

- And the food was dreadful.

- You're mad!

- It's the best in town.

- Very nice to see you again.

- Alan. A few people?

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