Undercurrent Page #4

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He'll get it somehow.

How well I know.

All right, let him have the model.

Goodbye. I look forward

to seeing you in Middleburg.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Alan.

And make Ann practice her riding.

She's nice. You didn't tell me

you had a brother, Alan.

We've been busy, Ann.

I haven't had a chance.

We're a little late.

I'll wait outside while you dress.

Something's troubling you, Alan.

You haven't been yourself all evening.

Is it something I've done?

You're surprised that I hadn't told you

about Michael.

- Your brother? No, we haven't...

- Spoiled my first day alone with you.

It's perfect. It's typical.

Good old Mike.

I'm sorry it had to come like this, Ann.

I meant to tell you.

Please don't tell me anything

if it's painful to you.

I want you to know.

You'll have to some time.

You'll meet people in San Francisco

who knew Mike, who love him.

Adore him.

He does that to people.

Mother adored him.

He was her favorite. I also ran.

Mike's bright. Very bright.

Knew how to handle people,

make them eat out of his hand.

When my father died, we took over

the San Francisco plant...

...began to experiment. Mike ran

the business, I was the engineer.

That's when I started working

on my flight control.

I hardly ever saw Mike.

He didn't have any time for me.

We were making money

hand over first...

...on automobile gadgets

and airplane stuff...

...when suddenly,

we began to run out of money.

I couldn't figure out why.

Mike had bought a ranch

about 30 miles outside the city.

He gave big parties,

collected horses and girls.

I decided to call in my own auditor.

Mike must've thought I was an imbecile

to do it the way he did.

It's like putting your hand

in a cash register. Just like that.

He was stealing from you?

Your own brother?

Yes, my own brother.

I drove out to see him.

I don't think I'll forget that night.

Mike had a big party

going on at the ranch.

He was pretty drunk.

When I told him,

he didn't bother to argue with me.

He told me to get out...

...go back to playing

with my little flight control.

He said I'd never do anything about him,

not while Mother was alive.

And I didn't.

The next year was something.

I guess he knew

it was just a matter of time, so he...

He really let me have it

every way he could.

I suppose I hated Mike then

as much as I've ever hated anyone.

Anyway, Mother died. Mike disappeared.

I don't know where he went.

Last I heard, he was in the Army.

I hope so. I hope it did something for him.

He disappeared because he was afraid

of what you might do to him.

Maybe, but Mike's not afraid of me.

I remember his face

the last time I saw him.

I keep thinking he's alive somewhere

and hating me the way he must.

I even felt I didn't have

the right to marry you.

- Don't say that, Alan.

- I'm sorry, Ann. I shouldn't have said it.

He can't hurt us

if we hold each other...

...never let him come between us.

Why should he?

What's Mike got to do with us?

Oh, nothing, except,

while you were speaking...

...it was as though a shadow...

I'm sorry. We'll never think

or speak about it again.

All right.

But if anything ever does come up

about him to upset you, you'll tell me.

- You'll let me know.

- Nothing ever will.

I've nothing left for Mike but

an overwhelming desire...

...never to see him again.

Hope we don't. I do so hope we don't.

Darling, I'm so deeply sorry for you.

And yet, in a way, I'm glad you told me.

Because it means you're not as sure

of yourself as I thought you were.

You need me, even if

it's only to help you forget.

Yes, I do need you, Ann.

You may have a no-good brother,

but you're going to have a good wife.

Best wife you'll ever have.

I'll make it up to you, Alan.

I'm so grateful to you

for so many things.

It's as though you'd led me by the hand

into a strange and wonderful world.

- A world to dream of.

- Why dream?

You're here, you're mine, and I love you.

Nora.

- Where is 3 Cambridge Street?

- Three blocks east, Mrs. Garroway.

Three blocks east.

Madam, the news just telephoned.

They want to know, is this dinner party

your fifth or sixth of the month?

- Why do they wanna know that?

- It's customary.

I see. Well, I really don't know.

The fifth or the sixth?

I haven't the vaguest idea.

- The sixth, I believe, madam.

- I see. Thank you.

I think you'll find the seating

in proper order.

I put Justice Putnam

on your right, of course.

Of course.

Who is Mr. Henry Gilson?

A new congressman

from the Midwest, madam.

Wondered why you placed him

in the doorway.

He's no one important, madam.

That explains it. Thank you.

Sorry, Henry.

You're not important, poor guy.

There are only four or five of these,

as far as I know.

And they're all in private collections.

- Hello.

- How do you do?

I'm looking for a print. Sort of a...

- A hunting print?

- No. Not exactly.

- Audubon?

- Well, like that.

That's lovely. What is it?

- That's a Dickens scene.

- Oh, Pickwick.

- Yes, Pickwick Papers.

- I like that.

- May I have it?

- Why, certainly.

Could you send it right away...

...to Professor David Hamilton

of that address?

- It's a birthday present.

- Tomorrow morning?

That'll be fine.

I'll pay you for it now.

Oh, no, I haven't any money with me.

Would you charge it to me?

I'm Mrs. Alan Garroway.

- Of course.

- I'm at the Vendome.

Oh, Mrs. Garroway,

I'm glad you came in.

Only last night I was looking at a book

that your husband left to be bound.

It's been here for some time.

Oh, here we are.

My house, I say.

But hark to the sunny doves

That make my roof

The arena of their loves

And fill the chimneys

With their murmurous song:

Our house, they say.

Are you sure that this

is Mr. Garroway's book?

Why, yes, from Middleburg, Virginia?

Yes, that's right.

It's a fine old book, isn't it?

And very much used.

I had to be quite careful.

- Do you like the binding?

- Yes, it's a beautiful binding.

I'll just take it with me, then.

That all right? Thank you very much.

- Goodbye, Mrs. Garroway.

- Goodbye.

Excuse me, madam.

Would you look at the table again,

please?

- Why? Is it different?

- The flowers.

Oh, they're very pretty.

I always feel so sorry for flowers

at a dinner party, don't you?

- They die so quickly.

- Yes, madam. Will that be all?

Yes, thank you.

Nobody important. Poor guy.

Mr. Justice Putnam, do you mind?

Don't you fret, Henry.

You're just as important

as anybody here.

More so. Now...

And what part of the Midwest

do you come from, Mr. Gilson?

- Iowa.

- Oh, I love Iowa.

- So big and full of corn, isn't it?

- Yes, ma'am. Yes. Yes, it is.

- Judge Putnam.

- Yes?

The Supreme Court decided

the Tideland's case in '42, wasn't it?

Yes, '42.

Shall we go into the other room?

You may serve the coffee inside.

- Delightful dinner, wasn't it?

- Oh, yes.

- Oh, Ann.

- Yeah?

Just a minute, sorry.

Are you trying to be rude

to Judge Putnam?

Why did you have to seat him

in the doorway?

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