You changed your mind.
Well, good.
Thank you very much, Mr. Deagan. Thank you.
[Dog Barking]
Oh, is lovely. What is it?
Hamamelis... well, flowering witch hazel. Fairly rare in these parts.
Is beautiful.
You were right. What a perfectly lovely spot.
Is that a path?
I think so.
Les have a peek. All right.
Sometimes is the people outside our world...
we confide in best.
But once you do... confide, share with someone,
they're no longer really outside, are they?
Oh. Look!
How lovely.
Did he cause that?
He didn't mean to strike me.
I am so sorry.
No. Heaven knows we all have our troubles.
I'm sure you, yourself...
What?
I don't know. Ever since running into you at the exhibition,
I kept wondering what it must be like...
to be the only one in a room.
Colored or...
whatever it was.
How that might possibly feel.
I'm sure I've... I've never...
Well,
I suppose you sort of grow accustomed to it over time.
I mean, don't get me wrong.
There is a world, even here in Hartford,
where everybody does indeed look like me.
Trouble is, very few people ever leave that world.
I only want what every father wants for his child.
The opportunities growing up I never had. Naturally.
But I tell you something. If you're really interested... Oh, I am.
You hungry? I mean, could you eat something?
I suppose I could. [Chuckles] Tell you what,
I'm gonna take you to one of my favorite spots.
On good days, is got hot food, cold drink,
and just about discernable music.
Is hard to beat that. There you go.
[Laughs]
Say, who's green Edsel? Yoo-hoo.
Here I am.
Oh. There you are, ma'am.
Let me get that for you.
[No Audible Dialogue]
Oh. Thank you very much indeed.
Thank you, ma'am.
[Chuckles] Oh, my God.
Let me help you with that, ma'am. Oh. Thanks very much.
[Chattering] "##"#"##"#"[Radio: Blues]"
Thank you. I'm hardly dressed for a restaurant.
You look fine.
[Noisy Chattering]
[Chattering Becomes Hushed]
Raymond. Don't worry.
This is a very friendly place.
Say there, Esther.
What, you can't say hello anymore?
Looks like you speakin' just fine for yourself.
Oh, now you just sore because I haven't been coming around like I used to.
Is that so? Mm-hmm.
Now what do you say about bringing us over a couple of drinks?
What would you like? Oh, uh, a daiquiri if they...
One daiquiri and a bourbon on the rocks.
Thank you, doll.
What do you think you're doing, boy?
Thank you.
Well, I hope you're finding this very amusing.
What do you mean? This is a very welcoming place.
How you doin', Gus?
See what I mean?
[Chuckles]
Thank you.
Thank you, Esther.
Here's to being the only one.
[Chuckles]
You know, we don't have to stay here.
If you feel uncomfortable... No. As long as I stay away from Esther,
I think I'll be fine.
All right then. [Chuckles]
"##"#"##"#"[SlowJazz]"
Thank you, Raymond,
for a lovely afternoon.
No. Thank you, Mrs. Whitaker.
I've had one as well.
Mrs. Whitaker sounds so formal. Would you...
Would I what?
Ask me to dance?
"##"#"##"#"[SlowJazz Continues]"
Oh. That looks wonderful. Now, les see.
Where should we put it? Oh. I know. Right there.
Right by the window.
Yes.
Thas lovely. It certainly is.
Oh. Now, les see. Where did I put that list?
Although I promised Janice that I wouldn't be late for her recital.
Can't miss that.
Sybil, I've been meaning to ask you... Yes, ma'am?
Whas the name of that church group you belong to?
The one you mentioned to me. You mean, at Ebenezer?
The Baptist group? Yes. I believe thas it.
Or was it South Green Baptist during the fair drive, the Ladies Auxiliary?
Oh. I didn't know there was more than one.
Yes. I always seem to be signing up for something.
I think thas marvelous, Sybil, that you find the time with all you do for us.
[Chuckles] I just have so much in the attic I've been meaning to go through.
I thought you might know of a church or civic organization...
that could use a donation.
Well, certainly, Mrs. Whitaker, if thas what you're looking for.
Places in need are never hard to find. I'm sure you're right.
Oh! My. Hello. May I help you?
Good afternoon, ma'am. Allow me to introduce myself.
My name's Reginald Carter and this is Martha Livingston.
We're members of the Hartford Branch...
of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Oh, well, certainly, I am familiar with your organization.
Perhaps you'd be interested in reading over our complimentary brochure.
Mm. Yes. I would. If you wouldn't mind signing our roster...
[Phone Rings] I'm running so terribly late as it is.
Sybil, would you mind signing for me? Yes, ma'am.
Thank you.
[Phone Rings]
[Car Door Opens And Shuts]
"##"#"##"#"[Ballet]"
Mother! Hello, dear.
Did the recital just begin? Shh!
So where are the other little girls from your class?
Over there.
[Applause]
[Phone Ringing]
[Rings]
Janice. Janice!
[Rings]
[Door Slams]
Sybil? [Rings]
Hello. Cathy?
EI? Oh, Cathy. Thank heavens you're home. I've been trying you all day.
EI, what is it? So you haven't heard? You haven't heard a thing?
No. What happened? Oh, Cathy. There's been talk. Vicious talk.
What do you mean? About what? About you?
Oh, for heaven sake. What now? Honey. Is Mona, Cathy.
She's... Well, she's just been on some kind of rampage,
swearing up and down that she saw you and a colored man somewhere out on Franklin.
Getting out of a truck or some such thing.
The same colored man she claims you were talking to at the art show.
Eleanor, thas... thas preposterous.
I mean, yes, I've spoken to Mr. Deagan on occasion, but this makes it sound like...
I know. You have no idea what is been like around here.
The phone has been ringing off the hook since 8:00 this morning.
Eleanor, the entire situation is so absurd. Darling, I know.
What in the world am I supposed to do?
[Eleanor] I suppose you could start by getting yourself another gardener.
Frank? What on Earth... Eleanor, could I call you back? Frank just walked in.
Of course. You go ahead. I'll call you later.
Frank? [Frank Sighs]
What are you doing home? Is everything all right?
Just tell me one goddamned thing. What?
Is it true, what they've been saying?
Frank, I can't believe you even...
Because if it is, even in the slightest, I swear to God, Cathleen...
Frank, I am sorry you even had to hear such nonsense.
Yeah, well, Dick Dawson didn't seem to think it was such nonsense...
when he snuck away from his desk to phone me today.
Good heavens. He says the whole friggin' town's talking!
Frank, please. Sybil will hear you.
I sent her out!
Christ, Cathleen, do you even have the slightest idea about what this could mean?
Don't you realize the effect is gonna have on me...
and the reputation I have spent the past eight years trying to build...
for you and the children and for the company?
Frank, I swear to you, whatever Mona Lauder saw or thought she saw...
was entirely a figment of that woman's hateful imagination.
Yes. I have spoken to Raymond Deagan on occasion.
He brought his little girl to Eleanor's art show. But... But, apparently,
even here in Hartford, the idea of a white woman even speaking to a colored man...
Oh, please! Just save me the Negro rights!
You know what that woman is capable of!
And besides, I-I've already given him notice...
and we... we won't be seeing that man again.
[Lips Smack] Fine.
[Slams Glass Down]
[Liquid Pouring]
[Slams Decanter Down] [Sighs]
Is that why you came home... because of what Dick said?
[Cigarette Lighter Clinks] [Lighter Sparks]
Did something happen at work?
[Inhales Deeply]
[Exhales Deeply] Frank.
[Sighs]
Tsk. I guess you could call it some sort of early Christmas bonus.
What do you mean?
A month of rest and relaxation.
Can you imagine? During the busiest season of the year.
What a goddamn honor.
But when you consider the bang-up job I've been doing...
ever since good ol' Dr. Bowman came on the scene...
and for being... What did Millstein call it?
"Years overdue."
They do owe you a vacation after all you've given them.
[Exhales Deeply]
Palm Springs is supposed to be nice.
So says the word on high.
I know it may not seem like it now,
but a little time away, a vacation,
might be the best thing...
for both of us.
Frank, what a wretched day it must have been for you.
[Door Shuts]
Say, what do you know? Pop's home. What you doin' home, Pop?
David, your father has work to do.
Is best you help yourself to a glass of milk and get started on your studies.
Yes, Mother. Say, Pop... Mind your mother, David.
Yes, sir.
[Exhales Deeply]
Uh, say, Mr. Deagan... Yes, Jake?
There's a lady on the phone for you. I'll be right there.
[Chattering]
[Bell Over Door Rings]
Hello. Hello.
Thank you for meeting me. I realize you have a busy schedule.
Worked out fine. I was glad you called.
Are you sure everything's all right?
Uh, is there something I can do for you folks?
Can we leave here? Of course.
What is it? What happened?
I wanted to see you in person, Raymond. I...
I just... I can't.
Can't what?
It isn't plausible for me to be friends with you.
You've been so very kind to me and I've been perfectly reckless and foolish in return,
thinking... Thinking what?
That one person could reach out to another,
take an interest in another...
and maybe for one fleeting instant...
could manage to see beyond the surface,
beyond the color of things?
Do you think we ever really do...
see beyond those things...
the surface of things?
"Just beyond the fall of grace,
behold that ever-shining place."
Yes. I do.
I don't really have a choice.
I wish I could.
Good luck to you, Raymond.
Mrs. Whitaker. You! Boy!
Hands off!
Yeah! You! Raymond, please don't.
[Whispering]
You're so beautiful.
Come on, dear.
Oh! It is them! It is!
Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father.
Mwah!
Oh-ho. Merry Christmas, sweetheart.
Now I'll be as good as all the other girls in class.
Here you are, darling.
Just the way you like it. Ahh.
Hey, Pop. Look at this steam engine.
Wonderful. Oh. My goodness.
I knew I was forgetting something.
A little something for Mr. And Mrs. Claus.
Well, what have we here?
[Gasps]
"Bermuda." [Lips Smack]
"Acapulco. Rio.
Miami." Take your pick. Is your choice.
Mother, will you help me lace up my slippers?
In a minute, dear. I don't know. Stan is always raving about Miami.
Oh, Frank. Miami would be a dream.
El says is just darling. Everything's pink.
Oh, really? Hmm.
Maybe we oughta consider Bermuda.
[Laughing] Oh, Frank! I do love you, darling.
Mwah. I do.
"##"#"##"#"[Latin Jazz]"
I must say, you look extremely fetching...
all gussied up in your white tux and tie.
Well, is a good thing, since I can hardly breathe in it.
Oh. Is not that bad.
You like my dress? Why, yes.
Very much. Didn't I say?
You did not. Well, is a ravishing dress...
with a ravishing girl to go with it.
Thas more like it.
[Applause]
[Man] Very nice.
[Chattering]
[Man] Right this way, sir. Hilda, we're over here.
Ah. Excuse us. No problem at all.
#### ["Auld Lang Syne"]
You have a lovely family. Thank you.
Have a Happy New Year. Happy New Year.
Oh, Kenny, be a darling and pour the champagne. Sure, Mother.
[Emcee] Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come...
for the countdown into the new year.
Must be almost time. All together now!
[Emcee, Crowd] Five, four, three,
two, one.
Happy New Year! [Cheering, Applause]
Happy New Year, darling. #### [Fanfare]
Happy New Year to you.
[Chattering]
Where do you wanna go? Mm. The table.
All right. Mary. Did you see Kenny?
Martin! Martin!
Martin!
Oh! Caroline.
You know you're not supposed to go in there!
Now what did I tell you about going in that pool?
You know you're not supposed to go in there! [Crying]
[Crying Fades Away]
[Woman] Donna!
Hello there. Well, hello.
Nice swim, darling? Ahh.
Isn't the sun just marvelous? Mm-hmm.
[Woman] Donna. Time to get out. What? But why?
Because I said so.
Here comes Kenny. I was looking for you on the other side.
I tell you, we're gonna have to start meeting points.
That does it. I've had quite enough fashion advice for the afternoon.
I do believe is time for my Miss Mitchell.
Oh, heavens. What?
I think I left it upstairs. So silly. You want me to go get it?
No. You just sat down. Oh, no. I don't mind.
You sure? Yeah. I have to get a paper anyway.
Thank you, darling.
I think is right there on the nightstand.
[Birds Chirping, Squawking]
Hey, Hutch. Look. What?
[Hutch] Hey, fellas!
Look who's coming. Is daddy's girl.
Hey there, daddy's girl. Where do you think you're going?
Home. Home to see your daddy?
Yeah. And his white girlfriend. [Chuckling]
Hey! Where you going?
We just wanna play.
Uh-oh. Wrong turn, daddy's girl.
Hey, daddy's girl. Over here.
Yeah. She made a wrong turn all right. Just like her daddy.
They're here! I see their car! They're here!
Welcome home, Mr. And Mrs. Whitaker. Oh, my goodness.
What a lovely greeting. Hiya, Pop. Hey, Mother.
Hey. So, Mother, was it dreamy?
Oh-ho. Listen to you. "Dreamy."
Did you have a nice time, Mr. Whitaker? Yes. It was very relaxing.
Say, Pop... David, help Sybil with the luggage please.
Pop, you'll never guess what happened at school this week.
Try and guess. David. Uh, I give up.
I'm helping, Mother. Billy Hutchinson and these two other boys...
all got expelled from school.
I think you mean "suspended." No. "Expelled." I swear.
For throwing a rock at a girl's head. Thas terrible.
A little girl at school? No. She was a Negro.
What? Who told you such a thing? Tommy Hawkins.
He saw it, so he had to tell the principal.
Sybil, is this true? Yes, ma'am. I'm afraid it is.
[Huffs] What on Earth has gotten into this town?
It was just a couple of foolish kids.
Yeah. Hutch said that they were just trying to teach her a lesson.
Well, I think is dreadful, and you're not to play with that Hutch boy again, understand me?
Yes, ma'am. David, while you're up,
how about flippin'on the set for your old man?
Sure, Pop.
Mother, how do you spell "skirt"? Uh, just a minute, dear.
Mother's making a call.
[Clears Throat]
Oh. Yes. Hello. Um, I was wondering if you could help me possibly.
I just received your brochure,
which I found extremely informative,
and I was curious about what was entailed, precisely, in your...
in your volunteer program in terms of particular skills and so on.
You see, I... Oh. [Chuckles]
Oh, yes. I can hold.
[Door Opens] Father's home.
Frank. What happened to the match?
Oh, my, um, shoulder. It started acting up.
I... I just couldn't sit there any longer.
You didn't say anything. Father, I did the splits today. Wanna see?
[Hangs Up Phone] Janice, your father just walked in the door...
and you have schoolwork to finish.
Yes, Mother.
You know, Frank, you never had that physical.
And I think you're due for one. Can I call Dr. Ellis?
You know, is been three years.
Oh. Did I tell you that the pediatrician thinks that Janice is going to need braces?
Father, do I have to? Apparently, our little girl has an overbite.
Pop, you'll never guess what I'm doing. Where is your coat?
Is in the garage. I'm waxing Pop's car. And whas it doing there?
Is gonna look swell, Pop.
How many times do I have to tell you children you are not permitted outdoors...
in this kind of weather unless you are properly dressed?
Yes, ma'am. Because I give up.
If you wanna go and catch your death of cold, then so be it.
You try talking some sense into them, Frank, because whatever I say doesn't...
[Hushed Sobbing]
Frank?
[Sobbing Continues]
Whas the matter?
[Sobbing Continues]
God.
David, Janice, go upstairs to your rooms.
[Sobbing Continues] Now.
[Sobbing]
[Cathy] Now!
[Sobbing Continues]
Frank.
What is it?
[Gasps]
Cathy, [Sobs]
Something's happened.
What?
[Inhales, Exhales Deeply]
I've fallen in love with someone...
who wants to be with me.
[Sobbing] Oh, Cathy,
I-I-I just... I... [Gasps]
I never knew what that felt...
But I know that sounds so cruel, but...
Oh, God. Cathy, I tried.
I tried so hard to make it go away.
It... It... I thought that I could do it...
for you and for the kids.
But... I can't.
I just... I can't.
I can't. [Sobbing]
I, um, assume then, you'll be...
wanting a divorce.
Cathy.
[Vehicle Departing] [Dialing Phone]
Eleanor.
Eleanor, is me, Cathy.
[Softly] Oh, Cathy.
So you see, EI,
why I couldn't tell you anything... anything at all.
Oh, you dear sweet kid.
In a million years, I couldn't have imagined. Not Frank.
[Sighs] I think thas whas been hardest of all.
The endless secrecy.
Our entire lives just shut in the dark.
Are there savings? None to speak of.
Certainly not with Frank's job on the line.
Well, honey, if there's anything you need, anything at all...
Oh, EI. I mean it. We're here, all right?
Thank you, EI,
for always having been.
[Sighs]
You know, is funny. Whas that?
This whole time, the only person I was able to talk to about any of this...
was Raymond Deagan.
What? Is true.
Not in the way that Mona intended. Nothing like that.
But we would just talk.
And somehow, it made me feel...
I don't know.
Alive somewhere.
Eleanor, I know is ridiculous and mad,
but I... I think of him.
I do.
What he's doing. What he's thinking.
I...
I do.
EI? What can I say?
You're so full of surprises, I'm speechless.
What do you mean? I'm sure I musve looked entirely the fool...
crusading away against Mona Lauder and all her so-called inventions.
Eleanor, how could you say such a thing?
I didn't say a word.
Who am I to tell anyone how to lead their lives?
Eleanor, nothing happened between us. I told you that.
Cathy, is none of my business,
but you certainly make it sound as if something had.
Mrs. Whitaker? [Gasps] Oh. Sybil.
I'm sorry to disturb you, ma'am. I-I just...
Yes, Sybil?
There's something I've been wanting to tell you, ma'am, for some time.
Something I believe you surely wanna know, even if it isn't exactly my place.
Well, what is it? Is about the little colored girl, ma'am.
The one that got hit. Yes.
What about her?
I'm sorry, ma'am. It was Mr. Deagan's little girl, Sarah.
What? Oh, Sybil. No.
The neighbors tell me she's doing just fine. Oh, that poor sweet little girl.
That... How in God's name could you not have told me, Sybil? This was weeks ago!
Mrs. Whitaker, please don't be cross with me.
I didn't wanna make things any worse.
Sybil, do you know where Mr. Deagan lives?
I believe he's been at his father's old place on 12th and Governor.
Twelfth and Governor. Thank you.
Are you going there now?
Please keep an eye on the children. I shouldn't be too long.
Mrs. Whitaker. What?
Would you like me to go with you, ma'am?
No. No, I'll be fine. Thank you, Sybil.
[Dog Barking]
[Knocking]
[TVAudience Applause] Who on Earth?
Yes. Raymond, I... I just heard. Just this instant.
I heard and I jumped into my car.
How are you? How is Sarah?
We're fine. Thank you.
Would you meet me around the side?
Sarah, everything's all right. Daddy's just gonna be out for a minute, okay?
Okay.
Raymond. What she musve been through.
Whas being done to the boys? Nothing.
I won't put her through that again.
Not now. Not with rocks coming through the windows every night.
Raymond, thas hateful. Oh, is not whites throwin' them.
Is coloreds. No.
Yeah.
Seems to be the one place where whites and coloreds are in full harmony.
[Sighs] Anyway, we'll be outta here soon enough once and for all.
You're moving?
[Train Horn Blowing]
Yeah. Where to?
I have a brother in Baltimore,
says he can find me work there.
So we're packing up the house.
Two weeks, Friday, we'll be on the 4:30 train heading south.
What about your... your business, your shop?
Oh, the business is through.
Nobody's gonna hire me.
[Inhales Deeply] So I'm gonna sell the shop to a cousin of mine.
Yeah. Things are...
pretty well finished for me here.
I've never lived anywhere other than Hartford.
Perhaps...
sometime in the future...
after you're settled, I could...
Perhaps I could come for a visit,
see Baltimore.
You see, I...
Well, it seems as if I'm to be single again.
Oh, Mrs. Whitaker.
Please call me Cathy.
Cathy.
No one would know us there.
I'm just not sure that would be a wise idea.
After,
well,
everything thas...
What matters now,
what has to matter the most, is whas right for Sarah.
I've learned my lesson about mixing in other worlds.
I've seen the sparks fly.
All kinds.
Have a proud life.
A splendid life.
Will you do that?
Good-bye, Cathy. [Hushed Sob]
[Sobbing]
[Phone Rings]
[Sobbing Continues]
[Rings]
[Sniffles]
[Rings]
[Breathing Heavily]
[Rings]
Hello. Cathy, did I wake you?
I-I'm sorry to call this late. I hope I didn't, uh...
Uh, no. I was awake.
I, uh, didn't want to upset the children.
No. No, of course not. [Exhales Deeply]
[Clears Throat] How are they, by the way?
Fine. Just fine. They still ask when you'll be coming home.
I know.
Thas, uh, partly why I'm calling really.
I got a call from Dick yesterday...
and he said that everything was set,
um, papers drawn up.
And he wanted to know how Thursday was for you. 3:00 or sometime?
I... I told him I thought you had car pool Thursdays,
but I wasn't absolutely certain, so I said I would check.
You never could remember my car pool days.
And they've always been the same.
Wednesdays and Fridays, long as I can remember.
Oh, Wednesdays and Fridays. Right. Uh...
[Sighs] Same old absentminded...
What time... did you say on Thursday?
What? The appointment. What time?
Three. Uh, three o'clock.
All right.
Okay. Uh, well... great.
That... That was it, uh, really.
I... [Clears throat] Know is late.
It is.
So I'll see you on... on Thursday then.
See you Thursday.
Good-bye, Cathy.
Good-bye, Frank.
[Birds Chirping]
Sixty-seven dollars and thirty-two cents.
Now, what day is today?
[Sawing Continues]
Oh, Sybil. You don't need to do that.
Is Friday.
I know is Friday, but there's so much to be done now,
I can hardly expect you to be polishing tables.
No reason not to keep things up. No reason at all.
I know. Don't forget the grocery list.
Thank you.
I don't know how on Earth I'd ever manage...
I shouldn't be long, Sybil. All right, Mrs. Whitaker.
[David] Why are we turning in here?
I'll be right back. Where are you going?
Now stay put, both of you.
All aboard! Southbound train to New York and Washington...
now departing!
All aboard!
All right. Thanks. I'll be seeing you.
All aboard!
Southbound train to New York and Washington...
now departing.
All aboard!
Ready to go?
Thas my girl.
[Chattering]
[Man] Wesley! Come on! We'll miss the train.
[Woman] Don't forget to call your mother tomorrow.
All aboard! Southbound train to New York City...
Thank you, sir. Here you go. Thanks.
All aboard!
[Train Horn Blows] [Bell Ringing]
[Ringing Continues]