Woman of the Year Page #6

as quick as anything.

Thanks.

Know when I realized you're

the right man for my daughter?

- No, when?

- When I heard you'd asked her.

I felt whoever had the courage

to propose deserved to be her husband.

A privilege, I hasten to add, which I

don't underestimate in the slightest.

- It's a privilege.

- You're also the man...

...who's responsible for making me

feel my age lately.

- Why?

- Nothing makes you feel your years...

...so keenly as the sense

of being alone.

- There's no reason you can't see Tess.

- Oh, it's not that.

There were times she was miles away,

but I still felt, wherever she was...

...she was my girl.

Now she's your girl. That makes me

admire your courage more than ever.

I once knew a woman who was

an even more difficult case than Tess.

If such a thing is possible.

Ellen?

That was an easy guess.

What happened?

Nothing happened. That's the point.

I don't know.

Just never seemed to be quite

the right moment.

Fifteen years of wrong moments.

Fifteen years of having what I've got

instead of what you've got.

What one courageous

moment can make.

I can't see that

what you've got is so little.

Well, let's look at the evidence.

I come back to this.

Unless I can think of an excuse not to.

But you go home to someone.

Someone to talk to, to live with.

- Share each other's work and ideas.

- Yeah.

Unless you've missed out on it, you're

apt to underestimate how important it is.

That other person existing who cares

as much about your interests as you do.

Yeah, it doesn't always

work out so perfectly.

Sam, it's a lucky thing you're not

a salesman. You'd starve to death.

Here's to the continued happiness

of both of you, Sam.

To the continued happiness

of both of us.

- What's the matter, somebody sick?

- Just because a wife waits up...

Darling, you must be tired. Hop into bed,

I'll fix you something to drink.

- I'm not thirsty.

- Help you sleep better.

Good morning.

I think I overslept.

Alma forgot to wake me.

You don't have to be there till afternoon.

I checked with your office.

Don't get up. It's silly to get up

if you don't have to.

Tess, what's all this about?

Breakfast.

All right, let's have it.

Well...

As a matter of fact, there is something

I'd like to talk to you about.

I figured that. What is it?

- Darling?

- What?

Are you...

...perfectly...

...satisfied about us?

What do you call being satisfied?

I mean, do you think that...

...maybe there's a reason for the friction

we've been having lately?

Could be.

Do you think...

...perhaps it's because...

...there are only two of us?

What?

What would you think

about having a child?

Tess.

Tess, is that what this buildup is...?

Did you think I'd have to be

sold on the idea?

I thought I'd better get you

into the right frame of mind.

Get me into the right frame of... Me?

The sooner, the better.

It's already been done.

It's already been done. Well...

- Well, you gotta lie down. Go to...

- I'm all right, Sam.

Tess, but you've gotta be careful.

I'll have Mom come East for this.

She'll walk from Wisconsin for this.

What did the doctor say?

- I haven't seen the doctor.

- You've got to see the doctor.

You gotta stay off your feet,

you know...

Tess, I hope it's a boy.

- Oh, you sweet...

- It is a boy.

It is a boy? What...?

Well, how...? Who...?

He's... He's a refugee.

A little Greek refugee.

He's ours.

Two weeks ago, they made me chairman

of the Greek Refugee Committee.

I accepted without thinking much

about it.

While you were away,

they had a meeting.

And some idiot suggested

I should take the first one, so I did.

He thinks you don't like him.

- What's his name?

- Chris.

Sam, he's been to two baseball games

while he's been in New York...

...and he simply loves it.

So you'll have lots to talk about.

When he learns to speak

a little English.

Hi, Chris.

Do you suppose we could

take him out with Alma?

- I'd like to talk to you.

- He won't understand.

He seems good at sensing attitudes.

I wouldn't want him to think

that mine was anything personal...

...as far as he's concerned.

- All right.

- We can't keep that kid.

- You said you wanted a child.

I thought you meant

a child of our own.

You know that's impractical.

How could I have a baby?

- How could you have a baby?

- I'm not saying we never will.

I don't see what that has to do

with Chris. This is a humanitarian idea.

If we had a kid of our own, he might be

a swell addition to the family.

But as a substitution, he won't do.

Besides, we haven't got a home

he'd be happy in.

Sam, you cannot send that child back.

I'd look perfectly idiotic.

Besides, it isn't a question of pride.

I wanna help.

I know, your heart is in it.

Your heart is in everything you do.

If you could spare about

...from the world at large

and apply it here at home...

Hello.

It's Gerald. He says there's something

important on the Teletype...

...six or seven items back.

- All right.

Yes, I told her.

Yes, I told her it was important.

Sam, look.

Operator, I want to speak to Miss Ellen

Whitcomb at New Milford, Connecticut.

This is Miss Harding,

at Atwater 9-0599.

Yes. Will you call me, please? Thanks.

Hello. Pop! I was just gonna call you.

Well, I don't know,

it's so unexpected. I...

Yes. They're going to present

a plaque at a banquet...

...a week from tomorrow night.

You will? Oh, that's wonderful.

Yes, I'm sure she will.

Well, I haven't spoken to her yet.

I have a call in now.

I can't wait to tell her.

Thanks, darling.

All right, I'll see you then. Goodbye.

Would you have voted for me, Sam?

Hello.

Ellen, Tess.

The most wonderful thing that's ever

happened to me has just happened.

Darling.

Do I look like the husband

of the Woman of the Year?

You look fine.

I guess I got time

to go say hello to Chris, huh?

I never been to a woman's banquet.

Is the food better than at a man's?

Chicken instead of steak,

but we get a prize for going.

They won't ask me to make a speech,

will they?

I don't see why.

Hello, Chris.

- Hello.

- Attaboy, Chris.

Why, you'll be spouting English

in no time.

Nice set of toys you got here.

All you need

is a baseball diamond and...

...a football field, a playground and...

...eight other guys, and you're all set.

Chris, maybe tomorrow

we'll go to the zoo.

Get some peanuts for the elephants.

Yeah, get some for us too, huh, Chris?

Good night.

- How do I look?

- Beautiful.

That's a great collection of toys

he has in there.

Sam, Ellen's downstairs.

It's 8. They'll think I'm

trying to make an entrance.

What were you planning to do,

come up out of the floor?

- You get him those toys?

- Gerald did. Was he playing?

He was playing

a set of tennis with himself.

I'll get him some myself

in the morning.

Alma's no playmate

for that kid, anyway.

Where is Alma?

She's going to the banquet. She feels

responsible for winning this thing.

- The banquet?

- He'll be all right, he's old enough.

Rate this script:4.0 / 5 votes