What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? Page #2

asked her to come live in Arizona.

She's got so much money that

somebody has to keep an eye over.

You aid and abet them.

Well, Aunt Claire believes

in the underdog, don't you?

Wait till the underdog starts

building across the road from you.

If the Indians are rich enough

to build there,

George won't mind a bit.

That's the measure of aristocracy

nowadays, isn't it, George?

It isn't every day I can get away

from my dull husband for a matinee.

I went there, my darling.

I waited over half an hour.

You should never

miss an appointment with me,

because, you see,

I give no second chances.

Pity, too.

Youve escaped.

What's wrong with our party?

Nothing. It's lovely.

Maybe I've been

to too many in the East.

And this is

the reason I came to Arizona.

The rocks or the snakes?

The open spaces.

No kidding.

Well, there's

a lot more desert out there.

I could take you for a drive.

They won't miss us.

Least of all my wife.

No, thank you. I'd like to take

my time discovering the desert.

I confess that's

what I had in mind.

On my own.

Your brother-in-law

asked us to look out for you.

He went too far.

The whole family did.

They wanted

to be nice to the widow.

And so do you?

Harriet, I'm sorry

your husband was killed.

I...

Let's go, huh?

Well, well, well.

( laughs )

Mrs. Vaughn, I don't believe youve

met George's aunt, Mrs. Marrable.

Mrs. Vaughn's brother-in-law

is a stockbroker, too, in the East.

I hope he gives

better advice than George.

Those stocks I bought for you

went up, Aunt Claire.

Up and down, up and down.

Never enough to matter.

I should be going.

It's nice to meet you,

Mrs. Marrable.

I'd completely forgotten

you had a child to take care of.

I'm so glad you had time

for a breather.

Bye-bye.

Can I get you

another drink, Aunt Claire?

No, I have to steer

this vehicle of mine.

I hope you find

a new housekeeper soon.

It's a pity you had to

fire Miss Tinsley.

She was the nicest one

you ever had.

You know, I still can't

picture her drunk.

Oh, she was though, horribly.

Otherwise I wouldn't have

discharged her.

The help problem is getting

absolutely impossible.

I hope you didn't give

Miss Tinsley any references.

She knew better

than to ask for them.

Youve had such rotten luck

with your housekeepers, Aunt Claire.

Have I?

Actually, I think

I've done rather well.

What makes this valley

so rip-humming popular?

Prettiest part of the county,

but it is kind of remote.

Well, there's one neighbor.

No one's lived there

for some time now.

I gave up nursing

on marrying a doctor,

but when he left me-

by dying-

a few years ago,

I took it up again.

Of course, my knowledge

was pretty dated

to return to full-fledged nursing,

so I became a sort of combination

housekeeper/nurse/companion.

Have you any references?

Three. I-I had four positions,

but one of my people died-

quiet, natural death

at age 95,

and I haven't been able

to reach her son.

You mustn't be misled

by my confinement to this chair.

It's purely temporary,

and I shan't require any nursing,

however adept you may be

in that field.

Well, you don't object to it

as a bonus, I hope.

I can cook a grand meal-

everything from buttermilk pancakes

to a very good beef bourguignonne.

I've always kept a neat house.

I assume

there's an underlying reason

for your desire

to offer your services.

What is it?

In other words,

why do I want to work?

Well, I applied for the job,

so I guess I want it.

Do you require

better reasons than that?

My dear woman,

you don't expect me

to buy a pig in a poke,

do you?

Well, uh...

I want to work because...

I don't think anyone should be idle.

It's bad for your morale.

Besides, I don't like

to live by myself.

I can't come up with more reasons,

but I'll keep trying.

I know it isn't easy to pick one

out of all the people

who answer your ad.

I assure you not every applicant

who contacts me by phone

is invited to appear in person.

Should I, however, decide on you,

the terms must be quite clear.

I provide room and board

and the stipend

indicated in my advertisement.

There are to be no increases.

Well, the salary's very satisfactory,

or I wouldn't have come out here.

Well, it wouldn't

allow you to save much,

and I would like to know that

youre covered in case of illness.

Oh, I do have

savings of my own.

You don't drink, do you?

Why are you hesitating?

Well, I'd hate to

miss out on the job

because I enjoy

an occasional glass of sherry.

( laughing )

Well...

one more thing.

I've had abominable luck

with housekeepers

who went dashing off

to family weddings

and to nurse ailing grandchildren.

But who would I dash off to?

I have nobody-

nobody in the entire world.

Mrs. Dimmock...

I hope you will be

very happy here.

Well.

Before you leave, would you

transplant the geranium?

Mrs. Dimmock.

Yes?

Bring me that new pamphlet

on deep rooting, will you?

In a minute.

It's in the library

with the government publications.

It came yesterday.

Mrs. Dimmock!

( knocking )

Can't you find it?

I have it.

I don't consider that

broadminded.

Well, I think youre a saint.

Stuck with that brat for months.

How can you stand it?

Don't you think your husband's

family took advantage of you?

Nope. I volunteered.

Gave me a chance

to get away from the relatives,

both Ken's and mine...

and from the small talk,

gossip, pressures.

To become one with nature.

Maybe.

Does, um...

Does that apply to men, too?

I'm sorry.

I suppose it's too soon.

Don't be sorry.

It's a good question.

I just don't have the answer.

Well, you couldn't have come

to a better place

if you want a good

roll in the hay.

Help yourself.

- Even with George.

- No, thank you.

I think youre the kind

that plays for keeps.

- If that's your-

- MAN:
Excuse me.

Mrs. Lawson?

Yes.

I knew I couldn't be wrong,

but I can't pinpoint where we met.

Maybe we haven't.

We must've.

I knew your name.

Mine's Mike Darrah.

Mind if I sit down?

Please. You don't mind?

No.

Have you also met

Mrs. Vaughn somewhere?

No, I haven't.

You don't live in Tucson.

No, I'm from Phoenix.

I'm only here for the day

to see a customer.

Let's see who can tell

what Mr. Darrah sells.

I say... real estate.

Your guess?

Mrs. Vaughn

doesn't play games.

So says my husband.

Some games I do.

I don't know what you sell,

but some of your work

is done with your hands.

Hey, youre warm.

I take your ordinary automobile

and I turn it into a snappy racing car.

- You go to the racetrack?

- Yes.

She's here taking care

of a sick nephew.

The poor little thing has asthma

and takes up all of her time.

He is improving.

Well, you told me...

No boy of ten years old likes

to be cooped up in a hotel,

especially when he's been promised

a great adventure in the West.

Look, I know this isn't exactly

typical of the West,

but I bet he likes fast cars.

He wouldn't be the only one.

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