Original subtitles

MASTER OF THE HOUSE

This is the story of a spoilt husband...

a type that is extinct in the country, but exists abroad.

And it is the story also a heroine...

not the brilliant, beautifully gowned...

and shingled heroine of the film play--

but just and ordinary wife and mother...

whose life is compassed by the four walls of her suburban home.

6.30 AM.

And because Mary Allmen faced the sacrifices, the heavy tasks,

the drab monotony so cheerfully,

John her husband, had come to take everything for granted.

''I'l light the fire, Kathleen - you mustn't spoil your hands.''

''Where are my slippers?''

- This was going to be one of his bad days.

''Get the breakfast tray ready for father.''

''Hurry up, mother - Dad's getting up.''

''Mother, will you hear my tables?''

''How many times I've asked you to let me have my coffee first!''

''I'll try and squeeze enough out of the housekeeping money

to get your other pair back from the menders, dear.''

''No spoons!''

''Bread and scrapel!''

''Oh, so you weren't short of butter?''

''Those wretched birds!''

''Oh, never mind now!''

''Has my coat been brushed?''

''There's a little of yesterday's joint left for lunch...

will you have it hot or cold, dear?''

''Cold!''

''Oh, heavens, are we going to have you here again to-day?''

''Nana'' Marsh, who had nursed John as a baby,

and who now lent an occasional helping hand in the little home.

''I can't do anything with this stocking of Dick's.''

''Look! They'll make Kathleen a fine pair of mittens.''

''What are nine eights?''

''Seventy-two.''

''Baby's awake.''

''Look... there's Nana!''

''Each day brought its allotted tasks;

each morning was a struggle against time,

in order to be ready for father.''

''It's no use unless you pull... hard!''

''Tell Dick to run and get a pound of cooking apples.

Father loves them baked.''

''That's too heavy for you, dear. Run and get me some potatoes instead.''

''Kathleen haven't I told you not to do the vegetables?

You'll simply ruin your hands.''

''Whatever has become of Dick?''

''Buck up, Dick... father will be here soon.''

''No wonder you've never got a decent pair of shoes to your feet!

Do you think I'm made of money?''

''I can hear John outside... grambling as usual!''

''Go and serve the porridge, so as not to keep father waiting.''

''Nana, dear, don't say anything... for my sake!''

''I'll teach you, you young scoundrel!

You'll stand in th corner instead of having any lunch!''

''Why can't you keep an eye on the boy?

You've nothing else to do all day!''

''For goodness sake, keep that brat quiet!''

''The dozens of times I've said I won't have clothes drying in here!''

''Can't the boy change his wet stockings first?

He might catch cold.''

''Let him catch cold. Perhaps it'll teach him a lesson.''

''Hands behind your back!''

''I said good afternoon, Your Highness!''

''This stuff is full of lumps.''

''Why does nobody hear that kettle except me?''

''Are we never to have a meal without you jumping up and down the whole time?''

''Go and put the water on for the coffee, dear.''

''Cold meat again!''

''Three apples between five people!''

''I'm not going to stand by and see you treated like this any longer...''

''I'm going to feth your mother!''

''BRUTE!''

''I'm so glad I've met you, Mrs. Nelson... I was just on my way to fetch you.''

''If it were only a question of money I could help,

but it's just his selfishness that is doing the mischief.''

''In spite of everything, I'm certain they're still fond of one another.

Let us two old women see if we can't put matters right.''

''Why aren't you more careful?''

''Your mother brought them, did she? I hate this Lady Bountiful treatment.''

''When you were a schoolboy I gave you a trashing that I expect you have remember to this day.''

''It did you a lot of good.''

''If your mother and that old harridan are not out of this house...

by the time I come back. I'll clear out for good. You can choose between us.''

''Well, I've done my part; now it's your turn.

You must get her to leave here before he comes back.''

''Get a porridge plate.''

''My dear, this state of things cannot go on any longer... even you must admin that.''

''I expect I'm partly to blame... I must try to manage better.''

''John's the only one to blame, my dear - he's wearing you out, body and soul.''

''You all say that John is bad...''

''But he's not... he's not!''

''Since he lost his business he's had a hard struggle...

to keep us going, and it's made him irritable.''

''But I shared the good years with him...

and I couldn't have had a better husband.

I've got to be patient with him now.''

''Sonny, hadn't mother better hear your home lessons for tomorrow?''

''From page thirty-six, down to the paragraph marked with a cross.''

''...and he ruled over his House wisely and well...

...but gradually he became...

...a fierce tyrant and those who had once loved him...

...now went in hourly fear of him..."

''What's a tyrant, mum?''

''My girl, don't you realise that you are on the verge of a serious break-down?''

''You must leave all this and get away for a complete rest...

John will appreciate you all the more when you come back.''

''But who is to look after my home and kiddies?''

''Will you do it, Nana?''

''Promise me that you won't be hard and cruel to John.''

''Cruel - no! Hard? - well that depends - on John!''

''Go and fetch a cab, Dick.''

''I've saved these few shillings to get little extras for John...

but don't let him know they're from me.''

''Let him catch cold. Perhaps it'll teach him a lesson.''

''It's your bath night, Dick. Bring the big tub in... I'll get it ready for you.''

Later.

''Good evening, dear.''

''Yes, those are mine.''

''Where is Mary?''

''Gone away!''

''Your wife is seriously ill. She's gone away for a complete rest.''

''A very ingenious idea!''

''I suppose you meddling old women...

have made Mary think I illtreat her?''

''And I'm to be frightened into rushing up to my mother-in-law's...

to beg forgiveness for things I haven't done?''

''Well, your plan won't work!

Mary will be the one to apologise not I!''

''We must economise now...

I'm not the good manager your wife is.''

''It's no use trying to show off with me, young man...

and I'll ask you to be a little more polite.''

''I'm mistress here now! Do you understand?''

''Take that kettle off!''

''Do it yourself!''

''That just proves you're a fool, John.

Now you'll have to pay to have 'em washed all over again.''

''I'm not going to have you here. Take your rubbish and clear out!''

''Daddy!''

''FATHER!''

''Brute!''

''Where is your mother?''

''I don't know... Granny's taken her away because she's ill.''

''You've made mother ill, and if she dies, it'll be your fault!''

''Mummy made me promise I wouldn't tell you...

but I think you ought to know...''

''For months she's been sitting up at night sewing...

so as to be able to buy you little extras with the money she earned.''

''Daddy! What are you going to do?''

''I'm going to Granny's... to fetch mother.''

''Yes, dear, it hurts us to punish those we love...

but for your mother's sake, we must make...

your father really repentant.''

''At her mother's house Mary had at last succumbed...

to the weariness of mind and body which her gallant spirits...

had defied so long.''

''Your daughter's only chance is to get away into the country,

somewhere she can get a complete rest.''

''And, of course, she must not be worried with any domestic affairs.''

''Dear, for your own sake, promise me not to let John know where you are.''

This is a plan case of a woman over-working...

and half-starving herself for the sake of her family.

Only complete isolation and rest will restore her to health.

''Take my advice... go home and wait patiently...

until my treatment and the country air have done their work.''

''It was a very humbled John who returned home...

He had seen himself through the eyes of others...

and the picture was not pleasant.''

''Good-night, Nana.''

''In the space of one short month, thirty years seemed to have rolled back...

and John was one more a small boy...

terrified of his nurses wrath...''

''It's takem you a long time to stir yourself.''

''Take the bird's glass with you.''

''What on earth have you been doing all this time?''

''Put this lamp oil away.''

''There is a Mrs. Higgins outside.''

''Oh, it's the washerwoman. Ask her in.''

''Did you imagine I was going to slave at a wash-tub...

to save you a few shillings?''

''Take this bucket down please.''

''Pretty Dick... tweet...''

''You do like the birds really daddy don't you!''

''Come and sit here by me, Kathleen.''

''Don't you wish mother were back with us?''

''Haven't you any idea when she will be home?''

''Nana says she won't let mother come home until you've...

stood in the corner!''

''Kathleen, fetch a tea spoon.''

''Do you know what I've been thinking of buying for you? A bicycle...

as soon as I can spare the instalment.''

''If I buy it for you will you tell me where mother is?''

My dear Nana, I am pleased to say...

that I am feeling almost well again in spite of the way in which I miss...

John and the children, I feel happeir than I have ever done.

''Much as Nana enjoyed her victory over the fallen tyrant...

she often secretly pitied him.''

''Here are a fes goodies, John... you know my old habit.''

''Mother, you must tell me where Mary is...

I can't stand this uncertainly any longer!''

''I've been utterly miserable since she's been away...

I can't go on without her.''

''Is that so?''

''You've changed John. A month ago you would not have admitted that!''

''What fools we men are!''

''Just because we bring home the wages, we imagine we do all the work, whereas...''

''Whereas your wives do three times the works...

and get no wages but grunts or black looks!''

''I swear I'll turn over a new leaf... if only Mary will give me another chance.''

''You must try to arrange things with Nana... you know her terms.''

''Take the opportunity while I'm out in the kitchen.''

''Nana, I want to talk to you about something.''

''You're... er... losing a hairpin.''

''John. I want to talk to you about something.''

''Your... er... tie isn't straight.''

I've found out where Mother is.

But I am not going to tell.

''Have you taken leave of your senses?''

''Attend to the stove.''

I no longer feel lonely now that I have Peter...

who seems to think that I am the most wonderful woman in the world.

Yours sincerely Mary.

''Do shut that stove!''

''Who is Peter?''

''Seems to be a man.''

''That's enough! Now I want to talk!''

SIT DOWN!!!

''You men are all alike!''

''Arrogant.''

''Selfish.''

''And stupid.''

''When first you marry, your wife is an angel...

you want to kneel at her feet and worship her...''

''But later on, when she really deserves your homage...

you treat her like a galley slave!''

''Will you admit that you deserve a good thrashing?''

''Well. I'll let you off that but if you want to know where Mary is...

you've got to do as I said...

stand in the corner!''

''Hands behind your back!''

''Ssssh!''

''John, my dear!''

''Dick, come up quickly... mother's home!''

''Who is Peter?''

''It has been a pretty severe lesson, dear, but it has made me realise...

all that you mean to me.''

''But my teeth are nice and clean, mother!''

''You're not going to be rude about my ''tuck box'' any more...

are you John?''

OPTICIAN'S SHOP A fine optician's shop situated in a provincial town...

is immediately for sale. 10.000,- Kroner cash. Write box 4327.

''And here is the money in cheque so that you can take over the shop!''

''Are you two love birds going to stay there all night?

The coffee's getting cold!''

''And the wise old clock seemed to tick:

''Mary's back - at's all right, Mary's back - at's all right''... ''

THE END