Original subtitles

-Wait a minute, will you? l'll be right out. -All right.

The doorbell's ringing.

Yes, l know.

Well, l'm not expecting anybody.

Neither am l.

Come on, open up.

Why, that's Johnny Case.

Open up. Open up or l'll break it down.

-Johnny. -Hello, Susan.

-How are you? Good to see you. -Nick.

Get out of Johnny's arms and let him come in. When did you get back?

Few minutes ago. l didn't have time to go home.

-Mind if l leave my grips here? -No.

-You both look fine. So long. -Wait, we haven't seen you in two weeks.

-You can't run away. -l've got a date. There's a cab waiting.

-What of it? -Have some breakfast.

-How was your vacation? -Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

Guess he liked it.

l must go. She's waiting. l haven't seen her since Wednesday.

-She? Who? -My wife.

-Nick, did you hear the man? -The room is going round and round.

She's not exactly my wife yet. But she's going to be. lt's all arranged.

Take it easy, now. Everything will be all right.

-Lie down right there. -Wait a minute.

That's it now. Tell us all about it from the beginning.

-Who is she? -What's her name?

-Why marry her? -How'd you meet?

-What does she do? -Come, boy.

Wait.

lt's love, fellows. l've met the girl.

She is....

l can't describe her, but the first thing you notice are her dimples when she smiles.

-Why didn't you say so in the first place? -That's going to make her the perfect wife.

l've found her. l didn't think they came that way anymore.

She's sweet, intelligent, the perfect playmate.

Listen, you haven't told us anything yet.

We're not letting any wench snag you without a struggle.

-Who is this girl? What does she do? -l don't know. What do most girls do?

Don't tell me you didn't find out anything about her?

Sure. She wants me, the life l want, the home l want, the fun l want.

-What about her family? -What about her family?

What about her family?

-Didn't you find out anything about them? -No.

Sure, l did. She's got a brother, a sister and a father.

Now is that good enough? Come on, Nick, really, l've got to go.

Come on, fellow, up.

Thanks. l'll be late. Where's my hat?

-Well, what do you make of it? -l can see the whole thing.

Father, too old to work. Brother, a pool shark.

Sister can't keep a job on account of she's too pretty.

Poor little Dimples has to work her fingers to the bone to support them.

Wouldn't that be marvellous?

Johnny Case comes into her life and takes her away.

-Here's your hat. l give up. -Thanks.

'Bye, Susan. 'Bye, Nick. l'll drop in later and tell you all about her.

-Johnny? -What?

Listen, when you find yourself with a family to support and things get tough....

Teaching at the university doesn't pay me very much, but....

That's sweet, but when things get tough, when l feel a worry coming on...

...you know what l do.

There. And then the worries are over.

Good-bye, you comics.

Good luck, Johnny.

-What's this? -You said 843, didn't you?

Yeah, but....

l guess she must work here.

Thanks, bud.

lt's the ice-cream man.

Excuse me. Does a Miss Julia Seton live here?

Miss Seton gave me this address.

My name is Case, John Case.

Miss Julia is expecting you, Mr. Case.

Then she does live here?

l beg your pardon, but it's the usual custom...

...for Miss Julia's callers to arrive at the front door.

l'm sorry.

-lf you'll come this way, Mr. Case. -Thanks.

Excuse me.

Judas!

l beg your pardon?

l just said, ''Judas.'' lt didn't mean anything.

lf you'll leave your hat and coat here, sir.

Thank you.

Good morning, Mr. Ned.

Your father has just left for church. He said he couldn't wait for you.

-Did l get home all right last night? -Everything is perfectly all right, sir.

-How did l get this bump on my forehead? -You slipped in your bathroom.

l'll want a drink in my room as soon as l get home from church.

Yes, sir.

Say, this....

What do people....

lf you'll come this way, sir.

lf you'll wait in the living room, sir.

The second button.

l shall notify Miss Julia that you are here.

l could have walked that.

Johnny.

Johnny.

Darling.

Darling.

-Hello, sweet. -Hello.

Johnny, mind your manners.

-Darling, where are we? -Where l live.

You promised to change that tie.

That hair.

Julia, seriously, what is all this?

l told you, where l live.

l wrote it down on the back of an envelope for you.

But it's enormous. l'm overcome. lt's the Grand Central Station.

Bad echo.

Stop criticizing this house or l'll send for the bouncer.

-Stop. Now l'm off to church. -Wait.

Do you want to know what happened?

-l went to the kitchen door to ask for you. -You didn't.

l figured you were a secretary or an old lady's companion.

-You sure you aren't? -Cross my heart.

-What's that silly thing? Look at that. -Stop it, Johnny.

You must all be so rich.

Well, we aren't exactly poor.

You should have told me, you really should.

-Would it have made any difference? -Certainly.

l'd have asked you to marry me in two days instead of ten.

-Aren't you funny? -Funny, why?

Well, to talk about it.

-Money? Why, is it so sacred? -No, of course not.

l'm simply delighted. That's all.

lf l suddenly discovered you could play piano, l'd be delighted.

Having money is like knowing how to play the piano?

Well, they're both very pleasant accomplishments for a girl.

Don't worry, if l'm stuck with a rich girl l'll grit my teeth and make the best of it.

-But you're going to make millions yourself. -But, no, l'm not.

-Yes, you are. -No.

-Yes. -No, not Mr. Case's little boy.

l'm a plain man of the people. l began life with these two bare hands.

So did the gentleman over the fireplace. Take heart from Grandfather.

-Don't tell me you're one of those Setons? -Yes, Johnny. Forgive us, but we are.

This is too much.

What man has done, man can do, or words to that effect.

Now see here, if you think l'm going to be any young wizard of finance, you're....

Cheer up, it's not at all that serious.

lf you don't think breaking the news of this engagement to Father is serious....

-You said you were going to church? -l am. That's why l'm clever.

Because Father's in church and in church Father can't talk.

-Are you that afraid of him? -No. But this is the best way.

You know, Father is a wonderful man, but he has to be handled just right.

You leave that to me.

Your job is to drop me off at church and be back before 1 :00 for lunch...

...and don't be late.

His first impression of you is terribly important.

What if l crawled in on my hands and knees? Would he like that?

Now don't jest, boy.

Now, come on, darling. Let's not let the fun get out of it.

-ls it likely to? -No, but....

Say it.

Well, what's the idea of spilling it so quickly?

Well, l have to tell Father. He'd never forgive me.

Yeah, but it could be such a swell guilty secret for a while.

l can't see what particular fun a secret would be.

-Can't you, dear? -No.

All right.

-lt's getting pretty complicated, isn't it? -You didn't think it'd be simple, did you?

-l suppose l just didn't think. -You couldn't have.

Johnny, what's the matter with you?

l just hate the thought of sitting down with another man...

...and being practical about you.

Angel.

Look, darling, it's got to be done though.

-l love you, Julia. -l love you, Johnny.

-That's the main thing, isn't it? -Darling, that's everything.

-Kiss? -With pleasure.

Why, Julia, for shame. ls this the way to spend Sunday morning?

Who's your partner, anyone l know?

Johnny, my sister, Linda. This is Johnny Case.

-How do you do? -Well, thanks, and you?

-Couldn't be better. -Good.

-He's Johnny Case. l'll marry him. -That makes it all right then.

ln about one month l'll marry him, Linda.

What?

Stand out here in the light, will you, Case?

-l've never seen him before. -Neither had l until 10 days ago at Placid.

But how did you get together? Tell me everything.

-l was.... -Well, l....

Go ahead.

l was walking along the road one morning to the rink...

...when whom should l see, but this man coming along carrying his skis.

Well, fancy that. A downright romance. Go on, dear.

He had a queer look on his face.

l can believe that. His eyes must have been burning.

No. As a matter of fact, the trouble was with his nose.

So l stopped him and said:

''Pardon me. l don't think you realize it, but your nose is frozen.''

He said, ''Thanks. Can you personally do something about it?''

-Fresh. -l thought so, too.

She was fresh to mention it. lt looked to me like a pickup.

l know a good thing when l see it.

Just a minute. Does Father know about these goings-on?

l'm off to church to tell him now.

This modern generation.

Well, young man, l hope you realize what you're getting yourself in for.

l didn't know l was marrying into a house with an elevator.

lt isn't only the elevator. The place is haunted.

You mean ghosts?

Frightful ghosts all wearing stuffed shirts and mink-lined ties.

Any skeletons in the closet?

-Julia hasn't told you about Grandfather? -No.

-He stole a railroad from the stockholders. -That's not true.

And of course you've heard about me. l'm the black sheep.

That's a goat.

-Don't pay attention to her. -The engagement's off.

l won't marry into any family with a black sheep.

-l think l like this man. -Hello.

You'll see him at lunch. 'Bye, darling, we've got to fly.

See you at lunch, Sis.

Placid was lovely, Father.

l met a young man up there. He's coming to lunch today.

His name is Case. Johnny Case.

-l'm going to marry him, Father. -What?

Did l understand you to say....

And who may Johnny Chase be?

-Case, Father, not Chase. -Well, then, Case.

Father.

Will you please tell me....

Marry? Did you actually say that?

Charming service.

-A lovely service. -Thank you.

-We shall have to talk at once, Julia. -Yes.

You haven't as yet told me one intelligent fact about this....

Johnny? He's a man with a definite future. He's with Sloan and Hobson.

-lndeed? l know Sam Hobson. -You do?

Hello, Julia.

Hello, Marjorie. You look well.

-A mild, lovely Sunday, Edward. -Quite.

-Did you have a little accident, Ned? -So they say.

l don't seem to have been there when it happened.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Good morning.

Kindly put your hat on, Ned.

l believe l see Mr. Hobson now.

-Run along home. -Yes, Father.

Take your time, Father.

The front door this time.

Miss Julia has not returned from church yet, sir.

l'll walk around the block.

-You're expected in the playroom, sir. -Playroom?

Miss Linda asked that you be sent up the moment you arrived, sir.

Miss Linda.

-The playroom is on the fourth floor, sir. -Thanks.

-Hey! -Hey, yourself.

l'm lost.

A lot of people haven't been coming up here. Want a bite?

Thanks.

The bell captain sent me up.

This is quite different. From the rest of the house, l mean.

This was Mother's idea.

She thought there should be one fun room in the house.

She used to be up here as much as we were before she died.

l think it was a kind of escape for her.

She was marvellous.

That's quite a doll.

-That was Julia's. -Yeah?

She loved it.

My, how she loved it.

Looks like her.

Did she love that, too?

Now don't you say a word about Leopold. He's very sensitive.

-Yours? -Looks like me.

-Who's the musician in the family? -My brother, Ned.

l saw him this morning when l arrived. At least l saw somebody with a hangover.

That was Ned.

He could have been a fine musician.

-What do you mean? -lf Father hadn't interfered.

-Who performed on the flying trapeze? -All of us.

And a terrible cousin of ours named Seton Cram.

He and l used to swing by our knees and spit at each other.

-Nice goings-on. -l'm happy to say now, l rarely missed.

There's Julia and l as kids.

She was beautiful even then, wasn't she?

Case?

What?

l love my sister Julia more than anything else in the world.

l don't blame you, so do l.

She's so sweet, you don't know.

Yes, l do.

She's beautiful and exciting, too, don't you think?

Stop it. l'll start jittering.

lt's terribly important that she should marry the right person.

-That's important for everyone. -No. lt's particularly so for Julia.

l suppose you realize you're a rather strange bird in these parts?

How's that?

You don't know the men we see as a rule. Where've you been?

Working hard.

-Nights? -Nights, too.

What about these little jaunts to Placid? Come clean, Case.

Want to know something? That was the first holiday l ever had.

-No. -Sure.

-Then you can't have been working long. -Only just since l was 10.

-Ten? -Sure.

At what?

Anything l could get. Financial house the last few years.

Does she paint? She never told me.

No, you don't.

-Why, isn't she any good? -lt isn't hers, it's mine.

There lies Linda the artist. Don't disturb the ashes.

Frankly, l stank.

What did you try after you discovered you couldn't paint?

-Case, are you drawing me out? -Sure. Come on.

-You really want to know? -Sure.

Well, l tried to go on the stage.

Would you care to see me do the sleepwalking scene from Macbeth?

-''Out, damned spot!'' -No, some other time.

The teachers at Miss Porter's School thought it was very promising.

-What else? -There were lots of humorous episodes.

l tried to get Father to let me take a nursing course at a hospital.

Yes, and l almost got arrested trying to help some strikers over in Jersey.

How was l to know that Father was on the board of directors of the company?

You see, Case, the trouble with me is that l never could decide...

...whether l wanted to be Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale or John L. Lewis.

-What's the matter, you fed up? -To the neck.

Even with this million-dollar museum? All those marble pillars down there?

Case, compared to the life l lead...

...the last man in a chain gang thoroughly enjoys himself.

What you need's some time off from what you've been doing day in, day out.

You mean from what l've not been doing days in, please, years out.

How does your garden grow, Case? ls life wonderful where you are?

lt can be.

-But it hasn't been? -l don't call what l've been doing ''living.''

-What do you recommend for yourself? -A holiday.

-For how long? -For as long as l need.

-You mean just to play? -No, l've been working since l was 10.

l want to find out why l'm working.

The answer can't be just to pay bills or pile up more money.

Even if you do, the government takes most of it.

-But what is the answer? -That's what l intend to find out.

The world is changing out there. There's new exciting ideas running around.

Some right, some cock-eyed, but they are affecting our lives.

l want to know how l stand, where l fit in, what all this will mean to me.

l can't find that out sitting behind a desk in an office.

l'm going to get money together, and then knock off.

-Quit? -Quit.

l want to save part of my life for myself.

There's a catch to it though, it's got to be part of the young part.

You know, retire young and work old.

Come back and work when l know what l'm working for.

-Does that make sense to you? -That makes a lot of sense.

-Does Julia know? -No.

l won't get her hopes up until l get enough money.

She has enough for two right now, or for 10, for that matter.

l don't want her dough. l've got to earn it myself.

That's foolish.

You're all right, though. You haven't been bitten or caught by it yet.

-By what? -The reverence for riches.

-Look out for that, Johnny. -No, not for me.

-Who took the Scotch from my closet? -What happened in church?

-lt was in my riding boots, a full quart. -Neddie, shut up. Did Julia tell Father?

l haven't been up here in years.

What did Father say?

We left Father talking about that guy to Mr. Hobson in front of church.

-Who's the egg anyway? -l'm the egg.

And he's a good egg, too. Johnny Case, my brother, Ned.

How are you?

Congratulations! This place gives me the creeps.

l've been telling Johnny about some of our childhood dreams.

Some dreams.

lt's in tune.

l thought you'd want to come back and finish that concerto you were writing.

The Seton Concerto in F Major.

Come on, Neddie. Neddie, play it.

Play it, Neddie. Johnny and l can bear it. Can't we?

You really want to hear it?

Neddie, no.

l've been boasting about you.

Hello. What are you all doing up here?

What a morning.

-What did Father say? -He isn't home yet.

l want to know the minute Mr. Seton returns. Buzz up here twice, will you? Thanks.

-Was it terrible at church? -Not so bad, but there's dirty weather ahead.

Now you....

-Johnny, you didn't change that tie. -That's right, l didn't.

Well, never mind, Ned can lend you one.

l feel like a goat being prepared for the sacrifice.

Now, that's a sheep.

What you need is a drink.

-We'd better give him some coaching. -l'd be grateful.

Firstly, Father will want to know how you're fixed.

-Fixed? -Money. How much?

You wouldn't expect it of a man in Father's position, but money is our God here.

-Johnny, it isn't true at all. -No? What is, then?

Well, young man?

Well, sir, at the moment l have in my pocket exactly $34...

...and a coupon for a Bank Night at a Lake Placid movie.

No gilt-edge securities, no rolling woodlands?

l have a few shares of common stock tucked away in a warm--

Common, don't say the word. l'm afraid he won't do.

He's a comely boy, but probably just another of the vast army of clock-watchers.

-How are you socially? -Nothing much there either.

Your mother wasn't even a whooziz?

-Nope. -Linda, l do wish you'd shut up.

-Maybe he's got a judge in the family. -Yes, that might help.

Old Judge Case's boy. White pillars, guitars a-strumming.

-'Evening, Master. -How you all, Miss Linda?

-Know any prominent people? Drop names. -Just casually, you know.

At Mrs. Onderkonk's cockfight last Tuesday, whom should l see but Mrs. Marble.

-l thought we'd die laughing. -Johnny, this is rot.

''Johnny,'' she calls me....

-Linda, will you be quiet? -l'm having a swell time.

This is terrible.

Do you realize that you are trying to marry into one of America's 60 families?

When l find myself in a position like this l ask myself...

...what would General Motors do? Then l do the opposite.

As long as you don't do a back flip-flop.

-Can you do a back flip-flop? Really? -Sure.

But, you'll have to teach me. l can do almost anything else.

lt'll be a pity if it doesn't come off, it'll be a real pity.

Yes, it'll be a pity if this doesn't come off, too.

Okay. Alley.

lt's Father. He's home. Come on, Johnny.

-What about the flip thing? -No.

Linda and l will go down and talk to him. You go with Ned.

-Why? -You're not supposed to have arrived yet.

-When do l arrive? -1 :00.

1 :00.

And please change that tie.

Ned will tell you exactly when to put in an appearance.

This is getting very complicated, if you ask me.

Nobody asked you. Now go on. Do as you're told. Stop it.

Go on, Case. Don't expect simplicity here. Just think of Fifth Avenue frontage.

Lend him a tie, Ned.

-You do like him, don't you? -She asks me if l like him.

Dear girl, do you realize that life walked into this house this morning?

Darling, don't let him get away.

lt'll be the same old story, of course.

-l'm being married for my money. -That's always flattering, isn't it?

What's the use of all we've got unless to get us a superior type of man?

Linda, l hate you to talk like that.

But, Julia, seriously he's like spring. He's like a breath of fresh air.

Do you know what he called this place? A museum.

Julia, here's your chance.

That's just it.

l want Father to see that Johnny has the same qualities Grandfather had.

You don't know Johnny.

You don't know how far he's come already and from what.

-Or where he's going. -l do.

l know, l can see it as clear as day.

lf it does go through all right, when are you going to announce it?

-Right away. Next Saturday. -Darling, let me give a party for it.

Now look, Father is to have nothing to do with it.

Saturday is New Year's Eve.

Julia, let's have some fun in this house before you leave it.

-lf Father doesn't mind. -No ifs at all. And just a few people.

Just your friends and Johnny's and up in the old playroom.

Let me plan it. Let me give it.

Let me do something for you once. Me, Julia.

l'd love it darling, really l would.

No, but you see, this is awfully important to me now.

Now no one must touch my party but me, do you hear?

All right, darling.

Now if they do, l won't come to it.

Linda...

...it'll be awful to leave you.

Julia, l don't know what l'll do when you go.

l've got to do something.

l've got to get out, quit, change on it somehow or l'll go mad.

l could curl up and die right now.

Why, my foot. l don't look sick, do l?

You know, this is a museum.

Never mind about me. l'll be all right. Look out for yourself.

Don't let him bully you.

-Good morning. -Good morning, Father.

-Did you see Mr. Hobson, Father? -Just for a moment.

There's another thing to be considered. What is the young man's background?

What did Mr. Hobson say?

But we mustn't rush into things, must we?

l want to be married on January 10. That's two weeks from this Tuesday.

lmpossible.

-Why? -Yes, why?

l won't stand for a long engagement.

The boy has loads of charm, Father.

-You know him? -l've heard tell of him.

Charm.

l suppose it's solid merit you're after. The rumour is he's got that, too.

A sterling chap on the whole. A catch, in fact.

Have you the financial section of the Times, Ned?

No. l try to take Sundays off when l can.

Which reminds me, l'd like you to remain in the office until 6:00.

-6:00? What for? -As an example to the other men.

-But there's nothing for me to do after 3:00. -You'll find something.

See here, Father, if you think l'm going to fake--

Did you understand me, Ned?

Father, what did Mr. Hobson say?

lt wasn't the time or place to go into the matter with him.

l asked him to drop by tonight.

Father, but what did he say?

His report was not at all unfavourable.

-That must have been a blow. -He appears to have some business ability.

He has put through a successful reorganization of Seaboard Utilities.

-Seaboard? Poor fellow. -Shrewd fellow, perhaps.

Hobson says the signs are not unfavourable for Seaboard.

We'll buy some in the morning, Ned.

But we must know more about Mr. Chase's background.

Case, Father.

Let it go. Chase has such a sweet banking sound.

-Father, he's from Baltimore. -Fine, old, pre-war stock, l imagine.

Wasn't there a Judge Case somewhere?

l intend to know more about the young man than his name and his place of birth.

lt would be advisable that when he arrives he finds me alone...

...in order that l may conduct the inquiry along my own lines.

l won't allow the subject of an engagement to come up in my first talk with him.

Wouldn't you like me to hide under the sofa and take shorthand notes?

l don't believe that'll be necessary.

l think the poor guy ought to see one friendly face in the courtroom.

Yes, Henry?

-Mr. Case wishes to be announced, sir. -Yes, Henry.

You will all excuse yourselves on one pretext or another.

Keep a stiff upper lip, Father. No doubt the fellow is an impostor.

-Father. -Yes, Julia?

Remember, l know what l want.

Come in.

l hope l'm not late. l got caught in traffic.

Father, this is Mr. Case.

-How do you do? -How do you do, sir?

My daughter Linda.

-How do you do? -How do you do?

And my son, Edward.

-How do you do? -How do you do?

Ned, if you and your sisters will do the telephoning you spoke about...

...l shall try and entertain Mr. Case.

We'll be back in a few minutes, Johnny.

What would we do without the telephone?

l believe you had something you wanted to do, Linda?

Me, Father?

l can't remember a thing.

We seem to be enjoying quite an unusual freedom from snow this winter.

l like snow. That's why l went up to Lake Placid.

Placid? Yes, my daughter Julia has just come from there.

Yes, l know.

-You're in business in New York, Mr. Case? -Yes, sir. l'm with Sloan and Hobson.

An excellent firm.

-A born New Yorker? -No, no. l was born in Baltimore.

July 6, 1908. l'm 30.

l used to have a lot of good friends in Baltimore.

Let me see. The Whites, the Clarence Whites.

-Possibly you knew them? -l don't believe l ever did.

-No? And there was Archer Fuller's family. -l'm afraid not.

Let me see, Colonel Evans, old Philip Evans.

No.

l haven't been there in some years and, well, l wouldn't know them anyway.

You see, my father had a small grocery store in Baltimore.

Yes. He never made a go of it though...

...and when he died he left several debts which Mother worked hard to clear up.

l was just a child at the time and l couldn't help her very much.

Mother died the May before my 16th birthday.

How sad.

Yes, it was pretty sad.

l hadn't any connections except for an uncle...

...who's in the roofing business in Wilmington.

He wasn't much good, though. He was inclined to get drunk. Still is.

We have an uncle like that but he keeps off roofs.

Mother had wanted me to go to a big Eastern college...

...so l worked my way through Harvard.

ln vacations, l worked in a steel mill and in an automobile factory.

One summer l drove a garbage truck.

Admirable.

No, they simply happened to be the only jobs l could get...

...but you can learn a lot in a steel mill, a lot you don't get at Harvard.

Anything else, sir?

l beg your pardon?

l should think you would.

ls there anything else you'd like to know about me?

Why, that is....

Well, Mr. Seton, how about it?

-About it? About what? -About Julia and me, getting married.

Why, this is a complete surprise to me.

l hardly know what to say to you.

-Well, ''yes'' would be pleasant. -l'm sure it would.

However, we must go into the matter a little more carefully, l'm afraid.

The only difficulty about that is the time. Julia's idea is January 10. Mine, too.

We'll see about that.

May l ask how we shall see, sir?

Mr. Case, l don't know you at all.

l'll give you every opportunity you permit me.

-Lunch tomorrow? -Tomorrow l have--

Tuesday?

Suppose you meet me at the Bankers' Club at 1 :00 on Friday?

l'm sorry, but Friday's out. l've got business in Boston that day.

Better make it tomorrow.

l'll see whether l can rearrange my engagements.

Ned, Julia, nearly time for lunch, isn't it?

ln the meantime, l think Mr. Sloan or Mr. Hobson might say a good word for me.

l'm decent and civilized and l love your daughter, which isn't hard.

She seems to like me, too, and that's about all that can be said for me...

...except that we have a grand chance of being happy.

-So do l. -Come on, Father, be an angel.

The matter is too important to be decided offhand.

You'll be married when l've come to a decision and on a day which l will name.

-Our plan was the 10th. -That is out of the question.

-Yes, Henry? -Luncheon, sir.

-Mr. Seton, l-- -Luncheon, Mr. Chase.

A very interesting necktie you have.

Thank you.

l have a haberdasher who's made my ties for a good many years...

...and that particular pattern l seem to recognize.

Possibly, sir, because this happens to be your necktie.

Ned and l thought it might bring me luck.

Father.

Come in, Julia.

l thought you might like some hot chocolate.

Thank you.

l just saw Mr. Hobson leave.

-Did you and he have a nice talk? -Yes.

Father...

...what have you decided?

Marriage is an extremely important step for a young girl.

Mother was younger than l when she married you.

ln marrying me, your mother and her family took no risk, either financially...

...or, if l may say so, spiritually.

-Johnny will do well financially. -No doubt about it.

-Hobson tells me he has great possibilities. -l know it.

Then it's all right?

-Do you see that cigar? -Yes, Father.

That's a brand of cigar l've smoked for 35 years.

Your grandfather smoked the same brand.

l know the quality of tobacco in it because l own the plantation where it was grown...

...and l know therefore that when l light it, it will burn smoothly and pleasantly.

And l know above everything else that it will never explode in my face.

And you're afraid that Johnny might?

There's a strange new spirit at work in the world today...

...a spirit of revolt. l don't understand it and l don't like it.

Don't worry about Johnny. l know him better than you.

My dear, l've never denied you anything that was in my power to give.

He'll burn, Father, calmly, steadily, pleasantly.

lt's only of you and your happiness l'm thinking.

Father...

...you can trust me.

l'll take care of myself.

Thank you, Father.

-Can we announce it New Year's Eve? -l shall arrange a party.

How wonderful!

Linda had said something about wanting to give a party herself.

One of those ideas of hers.

l think by now you and l know how to take care of those ideas of Linda's.

-lt was awfully sweet of her. -Linda has many generous impulses.

Father?

Come in, Linda.

ls it yes?

Father, l knew you'd do it.

-Be careful, you'll put my cigar out. -What's a cigar on a night like this?

Darling, l'm so glad. Have you told Johnny?

-l haven't had time. -Telephone him right away.

Well, then let's ring bells. Let's send up skyrockets.

Let's turn on all the lights in the house.

Father, aren't you proud of yourself?

Gee, this would have made Mother happy.

Mother, you'd love him.

Don't forget l'm to give the party to announce the engagement.

l've got it all planned. Just a few people, Johnny's friends and Julia's...

...and up in the old playroom.

No formalities, no white ties, no engraved invitations.

l like your tie, too.

-By the way, where's Linda? -She'll be down soon. l'm sure she will.

-She just hates big parties. -But not this one?

Johnny, look at Father. He's just seething with excitement.

You've won his heart completely.

-He's been awfully nice to me. -Father's such a dear.

He made all the arrangements for the party himself.

ls that the fellow?

He's rather good-looking at least.

-Hello, Uncle Edward. -Good evening.

-Seton. -Good evening, Uncle Edward.

There's Laura and Seton Cram. He's my cousin.

Darling, tell me, when are you to announce the exciting news about Julia?

Shortly after midnight as a surprise.

Well, Julia seems divinely happy.

What does Linda say? You know, we haven't seen Linda all evening.

Linda has been somewhat indisposed. lf asked, please explain she has a headache.

Yes, of course, Linda's headaches.

Now, don't worry, darling, we understand perfectly.

She shall come down before the announcement.

Of course.

Now don't worry, darling, you just leave everything to us, will you?

lt's a lovely party.

Now what's the matter with Linda?

Hello, Dorothy, you look lovely.

-Dear, where'd she get that horrible dress? -Uncle Edward is worried, isn't he?

-Hello, Bunny. -Hello, Seton.

l'd be worried, too, if l had children like Ned and Linda.

Now he takes an utter stranger into the family. l don't approve of it at all.

lf Linda had done it l could understand, but for Julia to take an unknown climber....

Mother's furious about it.

He's obviously after Julia's money.

Hello, Countess.

He doesn't even belong to the Harvard Club.

Julia, darling, you look lovely.

-Hello, Laura. -Thank you, dear.

-Hello, Seton. -l'm Cousin Laura and l'm so happy about it.

My dear, he is attractive, isn't he?

This is my husband, Seton Cram. He's Julia's cousin.

-l married into the family. -Not a bad family to marry into.

Congratulations.

-Thank you, Mr. Cram. -Don't ''Mister'' him. We grew up together.