Young Ideas Page #2

I hate to go sentimental

on you but have to.

Next to you, this is

the most important thing

that's ever happened to me.

I'm in love with Michael.

And life with him

can be lovely and good.

If you let me make it so.

Well, mom--

Uh, well,

let's explore upstairs.

And, incidentally,

get washed up.

Good idea,

I've got to change, too.

Although, running water seems

too much to hope for.

Jo? Jo?

Yes, Michael.

Hello, darling.

Can I count on a greeting

like this every night?

There'll probably come a time

when I'll just snarl

and say, "Oh, you again."

Think so?

No.

Neither do I.

How do you, uh,

how do you like the place?

It has an air.

Uh, Michael..

Oh, I didn't know you

expected them so soon.

I didn't. They got worried

and trailed me.

Well, let's go up

and meet them.

Uh, in a minute, Michael.

Susan and Jeff maybe a little

difficult to know at first

but you'll make an effort to

like them, won't you?

Is an effort required?

Well, they're not

really difficult.

They had an odd childhood.

Travelling, picking up

too many notions

meeting too many adults.

Out of the way adults,

at that.

I guess I haven't

been much of a mother.

I've been too busy writing,

providing the groceries.

They're your children.

That's all I care about.

Oh.

[footsteps]

- You are Jeff, I presume.

- Uh-huh.

Uh, this on the other hand,

is Susan.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

How do you do?

- Why don't we, uh..

- Yes.

- Over there, darling..

- Yeah.

It's a nice little

college you have here.

- Oh, thank you.

- Football team any good?

Yes, we won all

our games last year.

Either that or we

lost all our games.

- I, I heard something about--

- That's close enough.

I really don't pay much

attention to football.

It isn't my game.

What is your game?

I rather like chess.

- Chess.

- Chess.

I'm teaching your

mother to play.

(Jeff) 'And, uh, how

is mother coming along?'

I keep forgetting not to put

things where he can take them.

- It takes practice.

- 'Oh, sure, sure.'

You'll be surprised what a

difference ten or fifteen years

can make in your game.

Yes, indeed.

Uh, you, you kids aren't hungry

by any chance, are you?

- No.

- Not me.

No.

I have a surprise for you.

The Dean has asked us

all over for tea.

It's an opportunity for him

to meet Susan and Jeff.

Yes, of course.

So, tea at the Dean's,

on our very first day here.

I bet there's something

doing in Digby

every single minute,

isn't there?

We keep pretty busy.

Like, there's a Monday night

physiological research group.

The Thursday evening

economic forum.

Many other student activities

and let me see..

Oh ,yes. This winter

is a diversion.

We're having a series of

lectures on music appreciation.

Gee, did you hear that, Jeff?

Yeah. Oh, you picked a honey

of a spot to write in, mom.

There's certainly nothing here

to distract you.

He's joking, isn't he?

(Jo)

'How do you mean?'

Surely, you're not going on

with your writing?

Not going writing?

That's a strange notion,

Michael. Where did you get it?

Before, you had to.

To make a living, but now

there's no reason for it.

Well, that's not the point.

There are few

enough good writers

without your crossing

mom off the list.

I intend to support Jo myself.

Well, I'm sorry, but I--

Michael and I will

discuss this later.

Besides, kids,

I'm written out and lectured out

and a vacation will be good.

This graveyard is

getting you already.

Just a minute.

Jo has the right

to live her life.

You can't make her

give up her career.

I did not marry

her career.

It's none of

your business.

- And frankly, I think..

- Stop it.

- But really, mom.

- Stop it, mean it, so help me.

Come dear, we'd better

get ready for the Dean's tea.

Yes, of course.

- Poor mother.

- That's awful.

Yeah.

A genius like mother and

he'd make her stop writing.

Su, we've got to

get her out of this.

Don't be silly, she doesn't

want to get out of it.

Did you see how

she looked at him?

Temporary infatuation.

Can't be anything else.

Jeff, they're married

and that's not temporary.

- It could be.

- Jeff.

Su, for her sake,

we've got to think in terms

of a year or two from now.

By then, she'll be ruined.

Her career, everything.

What are we going to do?

We're going to blow this fellow

up with his own chemicals.

Breakup their marriage.

Right.

Gee, I don't know if we should.

Of course we should.

Do you want to save her or not?

- Of course I do.

- Alright, then you're with me?

I guess so.

You won't get sentimental

and want to back out.

No, it's for mother.

Alright.

Now, this may sound adolescent

but I think we'll

need a password.

Why?

If you do start to go

chicken on me I can

spring it on you and

get you back on the bean.

Okay.

Oh, how about "They scrape

a ton of rust a year

"from an iron bridge

over the Yukon?"

Anything you say Jeff.

There ought to be an answer

to show you get it.

Why not just be offhand and say,

"No doubt you're right."

Okay, now, if you show

signs of weakening, I say

"They scrape a

ton of rust a year--"

"From an iron bridge

over the Yukon--"

And you say..

"No doubt you're right."

I am born in Paris.

Oh, really.

Only I come here

for my education.

Paris was my home

for several years.

[speaking in foreign language]

Could I come sometime,

just to talk?

Ha-ha. In a word, oui.

Oh, merci, madame, merci.

You've done wonders

with the place, darling.

Just talent, dear,

just talent.

Who was at the door?

Oh, a boy with the kids' trunks.

Jo, about Susan and Jeff..

Oh, I think they're sorry about

the way they talked that day.

They've been nice

and quiet for some time now.

Yes, but there's still a

lot of tension between us.

Oh, I'm sorry. They must seem

like little fiends to you.

Jo, sometimes I think you don't

appreciate those kids.

If you did, you couldn't call

them little fiends.

What?

You see, you've got to

understand the adolescent mind.

Our marriage, the sudden

transition to a new home

'must have been a terrific shock

to Susan and Jeff.'

'Naturally, they were

on the defensive.'

And, furthermore, perhaps I was

a little to blame myself.

I'd like to do something to

help them adjust themselves.

I'll go upstairs and

talk to them right now.

That's the answer.

Meet them halfway.

Michael.

Sometimes I think

you're just wonderful.

[knock on door]

Come in.

- Susan, Jeff.

- Yes, Michael.

I just dropped in

for a little chat.

You might call it a

heart to heart talk.

Why, sit down.

Oh ,thank you, Jeff.

Um, I've been thinking about

this little tension that exists

between us and I realize it's

as much my fault as it is yours.

Oh, I wouldn't say that.

Well, I do.

After all, this happened

suddenly and it hasn't been

an easy re-adjustment

for you to make.

That is true, Michael.

So, speaking man to man--

Ah, let's keep it heart to heart

so that she can be in too.

Ah, yeah.

I want you to know,

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