Without Love Page #4

It's a complete denial of life.

You can't close the book on life

where and when you please.

- It isn't allowed.

- No? By whom is it not?

By the heavenly powers, I expect,

or by the devilish ones.

Both to the contrary,

I shall do as I wish.

But it's so stupid. It's such a waste.

You've got a brain.

At least your father

was supposed to have had one.

- Thank you so much.

- It's selfish, it's shocking.

Don't you know what

you could be doing?

Or don't you think this is your world?

Harry and I were doing everything

we could long before lots of people.

- He had a way of seeing things ahead.

- Too bad his horse didn't.

I said that purposely.

Yes, I know you did.

I like to see how much

a person like you can take.

You fancy yourself as being

hard as nails, don't you?

It's a useful quality.

Well, my deepest respects

to the retired student of science...

...in her rural retreat.

- And mine to my retired caretaker.

- You mean, from this house?

I mean from this house

as soon as possible.

At least it's nice to know

you still have a spark of life in you.

- Are you trying to be vulgar?

- It's no effort.

Cheer up, Anna. I've been thrown out,

but not for the reason you think.

Where does this go, cookie?

- Cookie?

- You must have the wrong address.

Isn't this 481 Connecticut

Avenue Northwest?

- Yes.

- Okay, men.

- I think there must be...

- Gangway, sister.

- Sorry, ma'am.

- If you'll let...

Please, I'm quite capable of

handling this myself, Mr. Jamieson.

- Mrs. Rowan, really, really.

- Where does this stuff go?

Well, it obviously does not go here.

- If you'll just let me...

- This is not your concern.

But it is my concern.

This stuff happens to be

from the War Department.

I happen to be a member

of a group of scientists...

...who work in cellars,

garages, anyplace.

Anyplace that'll keep the rain off.

Anyplace that's a little

more or less secret.

Dreaming up something

that'll help make this war...

...a little less difficult

for the people in it.

Your father, if he were alive,

would be one of us.

My own contribution

happens to be an oxygen mask...

...which I hope will function

over 40,000 feet for the flyers.

You know, you could really be

a lot of help to us.

How do you breathe up in that

private little world you live in?

Look, doesn't anybody know

where this stuff goes?

- It was to go to the cellar.

- What cellar?

Our cellar, Anna.

You mean, it's okay?

Well, that is, unless you'd like

to use the living room.

There won't be anyone else here

but you for the next six weeks.

- The cellar.

- Out of the way, Cookie.

- Mrs. Rowan. Mrs. Rowan.

- There's a war on, Anna.

- Not between you and me, I hope.

- No.

You and I'll declare an armistice,

at least until I come back.

That's fine. You furnish the cellar

and I'll feed the birds...

...and mow the lawn,

take care of the garden.

- I'll keep the house in apple-pie order.

- It's a deal.

- By gum.

- By gum.

Must be time for tea, Diz.

Now the thing is to find the tea.

Well, I made it this far.

Doesn't the front doorbell work?

Not now. Not now. Well, what is it?

- Call off your dog.

- Why?

I might bite him.

I might bite you too

if I knew who you were.

I'm the caretaker.

Shut up, Diz. Lie down.

Who, me?

Hello, caretaker. I'm Kitty Trimble.

I'm Mrs. Rowan's caretaker too.

- Her business caretaker.

- She sent you here?

And high time, I should say.

Does the rest of the house look like this?

- Like what?

- Like this.

I have to show the house

to a prospect.

You can't do that.

I'm working here now.

What are you doing?

Inventing the steam engine?

I'm making tea.

I take a lemon and two lumps.

I'd better write a note to my client

that that bell doesn't work.

Maybe I can fix the bell.

Handyman around the house, huh?

Well, you'd make someone

a nice husband.

I'd just as soon be a good client.

Well, that might be arranged.

"Washington Contacts Limited. "

Is that you?

We fulfill a very useful function.

Contacts knows the ropes,

the people, the places.

Whom to see, where to go.

Provides backgrounds, foregrounds,

middle grounds.

Chiefly middle. It's a master at the art

of collaboration and compromise.

But it isn't doing very well.

- That's too bad.

- Well, don't let it depress you.

I've been worse off

and I have a stout heart.

Who and what does it tick for?

- Its owner, chiefly.

- That would have been my guess.

Still, there are times

when one's not too busy.

Really? I must make a note of that.

When is your slack season?

Late spring. Any time now.

How about dinner at the Cavendish

Hotel two months from now?

Good. Around 7:
30? Shall we dress?

- You're a good girl, Miss Trim.

- Please. Don't make that mistake.

- Which one?

- The good girl.

I'm really quite a bad one

and I revel in it.

There's my client.

He won't wanna see the cellar,

will he?

I don't suppose you have any bodies

buried down there?

Say, if your client wants to see bodies,

he'll have to look for another house.

I suggest he do that anyway.

- How does the rest of the house look?

- It's in apple-pie order.

Well, no apple-pie, thanks.

Just the check.

- Come in, Mr. Carrell.

- Thank you.

- I'm a little late?

- Oh, no. I'm early.

- Now, this is the front hall.

- Oh, magnifico.

- You don't like it?

- I love it. It's charming.

So American in the best sense.

Like yourself.

Glad you like it.

Shall we start in the front of the house?

- If you prefer.

- I prefer.

This is the living room

or drawing room or music room.

I've been dreaming of something

like this for 12 years.

Tell me, Mr. Carrell,

did you live in Spain all that time?

Longer than that.

- How long since it's been occupied?

- Several years.

But Mrs. Rowan

has had an excellent caretaker.

- So I see.

- I should...

Please, it doesn't make any difference.

- The house is charming.

- Quiet, please.

You're not by any chance

a ventriloquist?

Perhaps the house is haunted.

Will you please draw those shades?

I'm trying to sleep.

That is the caretaker?

- No, that's Mrs. Rowan's cousin.

- I see. He goes with the house.

- No, he goes with Edwina Collins.

- That's not so. The engagement's off.

- What, again?

- Well, this time it's for keeps.

That's what you said last time.

Now, Kitty, give me another chance,

will you?

If you think you can stroll

into my life and pick me up...

...where you put me down,

you're just...

Now, just don't be so mean, Kitty.

- Did you really break your engagement?

- I did. Wanna hear about it?

Who's that?

Quentin Ladd, Mr. Paul Carrell.

Another client.

- Yes?

- He wants to rent this house.

- Oh, yes. Well, how are you?

- Splendid, thank you.

Number 11 is late.

Just relax while I show Mr. Carrell

the rest of the house.

- Dinner tonight, maybe?

- I wouldn't wonder.

Passing from the living room, we

approach what is known as the library.

A very interesting room

containing hundreds of rare volumes.

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