You Were Never Lovelier Page #6

Papa, Grandma's here. Hurry!

Thank you very much.

Very kind of you.

- Congratulations.

- Oh, Maria.

What's going on between

your wife and my husband?

They're always whispering.

This is a fine time

to suspect your husband...

...on your wedding anniversary.

Well, I don't know.

You're such a fool,

and you think you're so smart.

Why, Maria actually

seemed happy...

...when I told her

I hadn't invited Mr. Davis.

Robert.

- Oh, Mr. Davis.

- We're so glad to see you.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Mrs. Acuna.

- It's so nice of you to ask me.

- We're happy to have you, aren't we?

- Delighted. Aren't we, Papa?

- Yes, indeed.

Congratulations, Mr. Acuna.

It gives us all an opportunity

to say goodbye to him.

- Goodbye?

- Goodbye?

He received an offer from New York,

didn't you, Robert?

- Well, that is...

- Insisted on taking tomorrow's plane.

Didn't you, Robert?

Yes, I guess I did.

- Oh, Mr. Davis, you can't!

- We won't let you!

I'm sure Mr. Davis

knows what's best.

- For him.

- You must induce him to stay.

I have no alternative. He asked me

to tear up the contract.

- Didn't you, Robert?

- Yes, sir.

Grandma wanted to meet you.

- Isn't she a lovely girl?

- I've never met a lovelier one.

Remember, I have

my own chapel at home...

...if you'd like to get married

without the usual Acuna fuss.

Granny, we...

You don't understand.

We have no use for a chapel.

We've just heard that Mr. Davis

is forced to leave us.

You chose exactly

the right word, Maria.

Our dear friends, 52 years ago

in a little village in Brittany...

...my beloved mother

and father were married.

When they came to South America

they brought a song...

...and a happy tradition with them.

This music was played

at their wedding...

...and 25 years ago,

at Delfina's and mine.

And now, in honour

of my beloved mother...

...and in tribute

to my charming wife...

...I have asked Mr. Cugat

to play that music for us tonight.

Hey, you've got to make Davis

so jealous that he won't leave Maria.

If he takes a plane,

it's gotta be on a honeymoon with her.

Will you do it?

Well, well,

what are you waiting for?

Listen, old man, I started this dance

with Maria, and I'm going to finish it.

Go out there and cut in on him.

Keep after him until he's so jealous

he can't stand it.

Help!

Mr. Davis, how dare you

attack a guest of mine!

- The jester was getting out of hand.

- And getting in my hair.

- I will not tolerate this sort of thing.

- It was our fault, we egged him on.

But falling in the pool

was his own fault!

Everything that happens

in the Acuna family is my fault.

I work long hours, I do as I'm told,

and where does it get me?

In the end?

Oh, so it's you!

You chose your costume well, fool!

Mr. Acuna, I have stood enough.

Fernando, I didn't know.

I guess it was partly my fault.

It's not your fault I'm distantly related

to this fuddy-duddy by marriage.

- What was that again?

- You will bark at me no longer!

I resign, and don't take advantage

of our family connections...

...to try to get me back again.

Fuddy-duddy.

Oh, let's tell the truth.

We were trying to help ourselves.

We're sick and tired

of being old maids.

We wanted

to make Robert jealous...

...so that he'd propose to Maria

before he left.

- You're wasting your time.

- Well, why?

Because I'm not in love with Robert

and he's not in love with me.

I think we've embarrassed

him enough.

Don't let it upset you, Robert.

Maria was bound to come

to her senses sooner or later.

Kind of settles your problems,

doesn't it?

Would you mind

if I said goodbye to her?

Not at all, not at all.

Thanks.

Maria.

Why did you say that

to Robert out there?

What else could I say?

Everybody's trying to push him into

marrying me. Even Granny tried it.

If you ask me,

I don't think he needs any pushing.

Maria.

There's something I've got to say.

Take her in the garden.

You can say it much better out there.

The air's nice out there, remember?

I just wanted to say that...

Gee, you're beautiful.

It's funny, I had so much to say.

And now I can't think

of a darned thing.

Where was I?

You said I was beautiful.

Oh, yes, I did.

Look, would you mind turning

the other way, please?

Why?

I can't concentrate

when you look at me like that.

I was only kidding.

Oh, you're terrific!

What's the use?

Is that what you wanted

to say, Robert?

Well, that's only the first part.

I don't quite know how

to tell you the rest.

Well, maybe I can make

it easy for you.

I love you too.

Oh, doctor, you've struck a nerve!

Well, Robert,

did you say goodbye?

Not exactly.

It was more like hello.

I can never say goodbye

to her, sir.

- I love Maria.

- You don't say.

Well, that's just too bad.

It would be

if she didn't love me too.

That's poppycock.

You heard what she said.

Yep, I was there. You weren't.

- You're leaving on tomorrow's plane.

- Yeah, but with Maria.

You'll do nothing of the kind!

Sit down, Robert, sit down.

This is going to hurt you,

and I admit, I'm sorry for you.

Maria isn't in love with you.

She merely thinks she is.

That's good enough for me.

- How will she feel when she finds out?

- Finds out what?

That you weren't

her unknown admirer?

That you agreed to deceive her

in exchange for a contract?

Well, that's not a very pretty way

to put it.

A woman doesn't mind you lying

when you compliment her...

...but she'd never forgive a lie

that made her a moonstruck ninny.

She's not. And I haven't been

exactly lying to her.

Besides, you got me into this.

Did you know that Maria

found a romantic ideal at 15?

- No.

- She did.

His name was Lochinvar.

You don't mean that fellow

on a white horse?

A sort of knight?

She cherished a dream

that she'd meet a man...

...that measured up to that ideal.

- I don't believe that.

She's a big girl now.

Have you taken a good look

at her lately?

At heart, she's still the same

romantic girl.

You were just an accident, my boy.

It might have been anybody.

Any man who arrived

when she was ready and waiting...

...for the lover who intrigued her,

who brought her orchids.

There'd come a day when

the illusion I created would vanish.

Suddenly, she'd see you

as you really are.

And that's...? That's bad, huh?

For Maria, yes.

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

I try to appear hard,

but I'm a fake, Robert.

At heart, I'm a sentimentalist.

I pity you, but I love my daughter.

I want to see her happy.

Don't you?

Of course I do.

If I go north, will you promise

that she'll never know...

...that I didn't send the notes?

- I give you my word.

It's just that I want her

to remember me...

...as she thinks I am.

I'll let her keep her memories.

As a matter of fact,

I'll compose a farewell note...

...that she'll treasure

as long as she lives.

It's best that I don't see her again.

I wouldn't know what to say.

I'll say it.

I'll break it gently.

Thank you, sir.

We're awfully sorry, Fernando.

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