You know, I just had a thought.
Why don't I go check in a hotel and get some rest, and you go find your folks?
Oh, John. Let's go meet them. The sooner we get it over with, the better.
Mom will probably be out to lunch. Dad's at his office.
- You may not meet them till dinner. - You may be wrong about them.
You should've called and told them we were coming.
You may be in for the biggest shook of your young life.
After 23 years living in the same house with them, don't you think I know them?
I hope so.
There's no problem.
We'll be a minute, then we'd like to go to Claremont Drive.
All right.
I'll see if Mom's in the office.
- Joey? - Hilary, hi. How are you?
What a surprise!
- I'll be with you in just a moment. - Okay.
- Strange. - One of Hilary's favourites.
- It's called a kinetic sculpture. - A what?
Look.
Why, isn't that someth--?
- Darling, what are you doing here? - I thought Mother might be here.
- I'd like you to meet Dr. Prentice. - Dr. Prentice, I'm so pleased to meet you.
Mrs. St. George, pleasure to see you.
Christina's lunching with Mr. Cazelet. If you like, I can ring up.
Just tell her I'm back and that I'll be home.
Has something happened? I mean, is anything wrong?
Something's happened, but everything's right. Thanks, Hilary.
- How was Hawaii? Was it fun? - Hawaii was simply unbelievable.
Do you live in San Francisco, doctor, or are you visiting?
- Just passing through. - Oh, I see.
It was a pleasure to have met you.
- Thank you. - Bye-bye.
No, Hilary runs the gallery now, but it's Mom who has all the ideas.
Her idea to put originals in hotel rooms is brilliant.
Gives people time to decide if they like them enough to want them.
The hotel gets supplied with free decor, the guests get to look at good paintings...
...the painter gets a chance to make a sale, and Morn gets a commission.
Take the next right.
-Isn't that clever? - Oh, that is clever.
- What do I owe you? - Ten-fifty, Mac.
Twelve bucks, right?
Right.
Oh, John, come meet Tillie.
Tillie, this is Dr. Prentice. John, Miss Matilda Binks.
Pleased to meet you, Miss Binks. I've certainly heard a great deal about you.
What are you doing home unexpected? You told them you're back already?
Yes, I left a message for Mom. Oh, it's lovely to see you, Tillie! I missed you.
Still ain't told me why you're home. You want those bags upstairs?
- Not my two. I've not come to stay. - Personal reasons. I'll tell you all about it.
You eat any lunch yet, or are you expecting it now?
Could you make us some sandwiches and coffee? We'll have it on the terrace.
Do you like it?
- It's beautiful. - Come out and look from the terrace.
- What? - Hey, who's that?
That's Dorothy. Isn't she a knockout? She helps Tillie during the week.
- Which days? - Never mind.
- Hey, you know, I ought to call my folks. - Okay. Use the phone in the study.
- Are you gonna introduce me? - Not on the phone.
- Won't you tell them about me? - I'd rather write.
Well, I have to meet them, don't I? Before I come to Geneva.
Or are we gonna keep our marriage a secret from them?
Why didn't I think of that? See, that's a thought.
I'll shut this in case Dorothy goes by.
Los Angeles, please. Area code 213.
Axminister 246-99. Time and charges.
Well, I've got a right to my own opinions. And you want my opinion?
I don't care to see a member of my race getting above himself.
Then I don't want your opinion, and if I do, I'll ask for--
Oh, Tillie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.
But you can't mean what you're saying either, and you're so wrong.
Look, you're the last person I'd have expected to take such a silly attitude.
You know I've always loved you, and you're just as black as he is.
How could it be all right for me to love you and wrong to love him?
Will you just stop and think about that?
What are we having for dinner tonight? Something special.
- Celery soup and rump steak. - Oh, now, come on!
Turtle soup and tournedos.
And one of your best pies?
It's Morn!
Joey? Darling?
- What the hell? Joey? - Mom!
- Darling, are you all right? - No, nothings wrong. Everything's fine!
I rang the gallery to tell Hilary that Cazelet had agreed to--
- He has? That's marvelous! - Yeah.
She was being mysterious. Said you were back.
She thought you might have a surprise. What did she mean?
Do I hear someone? ls there someone here?
Oh, Morn! I'm so happy. I've never been so happy in all my life! I'm just...
Bursting. Yeah, I can see that.
I'm already feeling happy for you. Do I know him?
No, no, that's just it. I only met him myself 10 days ago.
And you wouldn't believe what's happened in 10 days!
I think I might, if you'd pipe down long enough to tell me.
- Mom. Mom, he's so wonderful. - Wonderful things have happened in--
I've never known anyone like him. Never known anything like this.
I fell in love with him in 20 minutes!
Well! That was quick.
Well, Dad, I wanted to stop on the way back, but time got so short...
...and I've got to get to work.
Yeah, but I still don't understand why you couldn't spend one day with us.
Well, fact is, Dad, I met this girl.
You what? You met a girl? Well, why didn't you say so? Mary, he's met a girl.
That's good news. Does she live in San Francisco?
Yes, she lives up here. I'm at her house now.
He's at the girl's house now. Well, that's different, son.
- Where'd you meet her, Hawaii? - Yes. And I wanted to meet her folks.
- That sounds good, son. I mean, serious. - Yes. It's serious.
- This is quite a surprise. - Yeah, she's surprising in a lot of ways.
- Your mother says, "Is she pretty?" - Yes, she's pretty. She's very pretty.
Your mother says, "How old is she?" Mary, what difference does that make?
- Well, she's only 23, Dad. - Twenty-three, well, that's good.
You want my opinion? You're 37, that's just right. Women age faster than men.
- You reckon to marry the girl, son? - Well, we've been talking about it, but...
Dad, there's one or two problems, you see...
...that I'll write to you about on the plane to New York tonight.
All right?
He's so calm and sure of everything.
He doesn't have any tensions in him.
He knows what he believes and what he thinks is right...
...and why, and where he's going.
Oh, Morn, there's one thing I must tell you.
He was married before, and he had a son.
And it was so tragic.
Both his wife and his son were killed in a train accident eight years ago.
And John...
I haven't even told you his name.
Mom, it's John Wade Prentice.
Isn't that a lovely name?
John Wade...
Joanna Prentice, I'll be.
But, Morn. Mom?
There's something else I must tell you...
...that John's been concerned about, very deeply concerned.
He's been worrying for the past week whether you and Dad would be upset if--
Well, it's about time. I was wondering where you'd been.
Mom, this is John.
Doc-- Doc-- Dr. Prentice?
I'm so pleased to meet you.
I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Drayton.
I take it Joanna's already busted out with the big news.
Well, she has told me a good deal, and all very quickly too.
Well...
...she's only known me for 10 days, so she can't tell you when I'm blushing.
That could be another problem for us.
I'm medically qualified, so I hope you won't think it presumptuous...
...if I say you ought to sit down before you fall down.
He thinks you're gonna faint because he's a Negro.
Well...
I don't think I'm going to faint.
But I'll sit down anyway.
Can't we all sit down?
Well, l... l...
I suppose it would be all right if I said "my goodness," wouldn't it?
Well, my goodness.
- Do we mind her saying "my goodness"? - I don't mind.
- Did you tell them about me? - Yes.
They said I sounded serious and asked if you were pretty. I said you were.
They said this was a big surprise. I said it was.
What did they say when you told them I'm not a colored girl?
I didn't. It felt like too big a shock for the telephone.
A lot of people will think we're a shocking pair.
-Isn't that right, Mrs. Drayton? - I know what you mean.
Tillie's made us sandwiches. Let's go outside.
Yes, let's.
- Come on, Dr. Prentice. - I can explain the situation in two minutes.
You see, John was invited to lecture at Hawaii University.
We met at the dean's party, and after the party we went for a long drive.
- Thank you. - Since then...
...we've been somewhere together every night. Been swimming every day.
John was supposed to fly back to Los Angeles on Saturday to see his parents.
That's where they live.
Thank you, Tillie.
Try one of these. They're great.
- Do you want some coffee? - No, thanks.
- Does your father know you're back? - No, I was gonna phone him.
- Do you think he'd come back early--? - He's playing golf with Monsignor Ryan.
That's marvelous! Then he can meet John and we can all talk over dinner.
Because John has to fly to New York tonight to see a friend at Columbia.
Tomorrow he's flying to Geneva to do three months' work...
...for the World Health Organization. What I intend to do...
...is fly to Geneva next week so we can be married.
- And that's the whole situation. - In a nutshell.
Except he thinks the fact he's a Negro and I'm not creates a serious problem.
Does he?
I've told him that it wouldn't make the slightest difference to you or Dad.
But he just wouldn't believe me. That's why we're here.
And that's why he's watching you so closely while pretending not to at all.
She's absolutely right. I'm sorry.
I told her not to spring all this on you so suddenly, but--
You could at least tell your father I'm somebody you met in Hawaii--
- Oh, now, really! - Give him a half-hour to adjust--
But what for? He still has to be told, doesn't he?
Well, you should make up your minds because I think I just heard his car.
- Mr. Matt? - Hi, Tillie. How are you?
- All hell's done broke loose! - What's wrong, the waste disposal?
It ain't that. All hell's broke loose.
- What's happened? Where's Christina? - She's on the terrace with little Joey...
...and somebody calls hisself Dr. Prentice.
Doctor? There's a doc-- Well, what's wrong? What's happened?
Joey?
Here he comes.
- Daddy! How are you? - Well, what's happened?
- Tillie said there was a doctor-- - Dr. John Prentice. This is my dad.
- Pleased to meet you. - How are you?
- What is it? Something wrong? - I just decided to come home early.
Dr. Prentice and I met in Hawaii and we flew back this morning.
Oh, well, well, well. Sit down. I thought something was really wrong. Tillie said--
Oh, Tillie's behaving very strangely today. Coffee?
No. No, thanks. I have a date to play golf with Monsignor Ryan.
How are you? What's the matter? Are you having a chill?
No, darling. I'm fine, l...
Doctor? Where are you practicing, in San Francisco?
- Sit down. - No. No, sir. I am just here for one day.
Where is your practice? Hawaii?
Well, no, I'm not established in any one place.
I'm in tropical medicines, mostly in Africa these past few years.
- Well, that sounds interesting. - Everything about him is interesting.
I'm sure it is. Well, I wish I had more time.
- Excuse me-- - Couldn't you stay and talk with us?
I'd love to, but I'm gonna be late as it is. Will I be seeing you later, doctor?
- You certainly will. - Good. Well, that's good.
- Dr. Prentice will be here for dinner. - Oh, fine, fine. Then you can tell me--
And there's a great deal to tell too, isn't there, Morn?
Well, fine. See you all later.
What the hell is going on here?
- This doesn't make sense either. - I told you.
What? If you don't explain in the next few minutes what you three are playing at--
- I can explain it, Mr. Drayton. - You can? Well, let's have it.
Well, it's my fault. You see, we have a sort of a situation here.
Joanna and I didn't just meet in Hawaii. We spent a good deal of time together.
I mean, all the time after we met.
And, well, we have this problem.
I fell in love with your daughter.
And as incredible as it may seem...
...she fell in love with me.
And we flew back to San Francisco...
...to see if you or Mrs. Drayton would have any objections if we got married.
Joanna told her mother as soon as she walked in.
And I had the stupid idea that maybe there was some way to...
...break this gently.
Daddy, you're making John and me nervous.
Am I? I wouldn't want to do that, wouldn't want to make anybody nervous.
Chris, are you nervous?
Sit down, doctor, before you make me nervous.
Would anybody like a cup of coffee?
What did she say when Joanna told her?
- Did she raise any objections? - None so far.
- There hasn't been much time. - What objections?
I know this is sort of a shock because it's all so sudden and unexpected.
I never thought I might fall in love with a Negro...
...but I did, and nothing in the world is gonna change that.
Even if you had any objections, I wouldn't let him go now...
...if you were the governor of Alabama. I mean, if Morn were.
So tell him, will you?
Tell John if you have any objections, and then you can go play golf.
Well, what is it you expect me to say?
You'll have to give me time to think about this.
The doctor says you have a problem. You certainly have.
And if you're expecting any sensible statement from me, I need time to think.
- Does that sound reasonable? - It's reasonable, but not quite practical.
You see, Matt, there's sort of a special problem.
See, I've got to fly to New York tonight, and on to Switzerland tomorrow night.
Yes, and what Joey wants, what she proposes is to go to Geneva herself...
...so that they can be married in the next couple of weeks.
- What the hell is all the rush? - We know we want to get married.
Unless somebody does have any objections, why should we waste time?
John and I aren't gonna change our minds.
Are you saying-- Are you telling me...
...that you want an answer today about how your mother and I feel?
Well, of course we do. We want you and Morn to state...
...clearly that you have no objections whatever.
And that when we do get married, we'll have your blessing.
- Now, are you gonna play golf or not? - No, no, no.
I'll just call it off. Excuse me, doctor.
- And that's my dad. Do you like him? - I don't know. Does he like me?
I don't know. When he puts on his American-eagle face...
...nobody can tell what he's thinking except Morn.
I don't think he liked any of us after the silly way we began.
Give John some more coffee.
She's beautiful, Joanna. She's even better-looking than you, you know that?
Hello, Edie? Two things, Edie, both of them urgent.
Call up Monsignor Ryan, make my apologies, tell him I can't play today.
Tell him something's come up, something personal at home. Yeah.
Then call the library and see if they've got any dope on a John Wade Prentice.
Prentice. He's a doctor of medicine, fellow about 35, 36.
- Oh, Matt! Gee. - He's a colored fellow.
Yeah. If they haven't got anything, call up the Medical Association.
Get anything you can, will you, Edie? Hurry it up and call me back.
- There can't be any necessity for that. - It can't do any harm either.
But Matt! For gosh sake, Joey said he was lecturing at the university in Hawaii.
Tell me, did this ever occur to you that this might happen?
No.
Never occurred to me either. Not once.
Can you tell me your reaction? How do you feel?
Oh, I don't know. I was shaken at first. I still am, I suppose.
But, Matt, they mean what they're saying. They know what they're doing.
They may mean what they're saying, I accept that.
But they don't know what they're doing, I won't accept that.
- If I'm not intruding? - Of course not, John. Please come in.
I'd like a couple of minutes with the two of you, if I may.
Sure. Sure, doctor. Come on in.
There's something you both ought to know. I made a decision.
Joanna doesn't know about it, and she shouldn't.
What is it, doctor?
Joanna thinks she's committed, and that our future is settled...
...but there is no real commitment.
And up to now, nothing is settled at all.
I don't understand. Joanna said you were going to marry no matter what we think.
Well, that's not the case.
Unless you two approve, and without any reservations...
...there won't be any marriage.
Well, why, John? Why have you decided that?
Mrs. Drayton, this thing has happened so quickly...
...I'm just as startled as you must be.
Two weeks ago, I would have said such a thing was inconceivable.
But two weeks ago, I had not met Joanna.
She's-- She's not at all like anyone I've ever known.
It's not just that our colour difference doesn't matter to her.
It's that she doesn't seem to think there is any difference.
The trouble is, this has come up at a time when I have all the problems I need.
I feel I couldn't afford to get married if it meant taking on any special problems...
...in addition to those we're obviously going to have.
When you say "special problems," doctor, what do you mean?
Well...
Your attitude, Mr. Drayton...
...and yours, Mrs. Drayton.
Joanna is very close to both of you.
If marrying me damaged her relationship with either of you...
...the pain of it would be too much for her.
I wouldn't know how to deal with that kind of situation.
In any case, I wouldn't even want to try.
Well, I'm glad you told us this, doctor.
Don't misunderstand me. I love your daughter.
There is nothing I wouldn't do to try to keep her as happy as the day I met her.
But it seems to me without your approval, we will make no sense at all.
That is why I am asking for the clearest possible statement...
...of what your attitude is going to be.
I appreciate that, doctor.
It's almost in the form of an ultimatum.
Not quite, Mr. Drayton.
All you have to say is "goodbye."
Well, that's where it's at.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak my piece.
Well? Still think you ought to have someone check on him?
- No. - He's right about Joey too.
- You know that, don't you? - Yes.
And thank God he is, Matt. That's the way I feel, thank God he's right.
She's 23. The way she is...
...is just exactly the way we brought her up to be.
We answered her questions, she listened. We told her it was wrong...
...to believe that the white people were somehow superior to the black people...
...or the brown, or the red, or the yellow ones.
People who thought that way were wrong...
...sometimes hateful, usually stupid, but always, always wrong.
That's what we said.
And when we said it, we did not add:
"But don't ever fall in love with a colored man."
- Yes? What is it, Edie? - Edie, Mr. Drayton. You want the story?
Well, he's an important guy. Just the main points. Born Los Angeles, 1930.
Graduated maximum cum laude Johns Hopkins, '54.
Assistant professor, Yale Medical School, '55.
Three years, professor at London School of Tropical Medicine.
Three years, assistant director, World Health Organization.
Two textbooks and a list of Medical Society honors as long as your arm.
Married Elizabeth Bowers, 1955. One son, John Wade.
Both killed in an accident in 1959.
- There's a lot more here. - Oh, no, that's all right. Thanks, Edie.
- What's the $2.20? - He called his parents in Los Angeles.
I guess he doesn't bum free telephone calls either.
I can certainly understand why he didn't talk about himself.
Who the hell would believe him?
- I beg your pardon, lady. - Loves me, loves me not.
Well, tell me, what do you think?
- Aren't they the way I said they were? - They're very special people--
- Shall I tell you something? - What?
For a whole week, I've been nervous.
- No. I don't believe-- - Not about what they'd ultimately feel.
Just about their first reaction.
I thought it was just possible they might let me down for the first half-hour.
You're a phony, you know that? You're a big phony!
I'm not a phony.
Well?
She's always been a happy human being.
She laughed out loud before she was 6 months old.
She was happy as a baby, happy as a little girl...
...happy all through school and college.
But I don't think I've ever seen her quite so happy as she is right now.
And I have to be happy for her, Matt...
...and I am.
I feel happy for her.
And proud of the fact that we helped to make her.
And whatever happens now, I feel glad that Joey is Joey.
How are you today? Having a steak fry, huh?
Well, now, there she is. How are you today?
- Wanna give me a lift to Market Street? - You know it, doll!
I hope these is better than the last we had.
Don't look at me. I just deliver it, I don't rustle the cattle.
You said to remind you to open the wine.
Civil rights is one thing. This here is something else.
I went out onto the terrace and-- Oh, I'll never forget it, it was so beautiful.
It was already dark and the moon was rising.
I didn't see him at first because of the view, but he was standing there.
Then all of a sudden, he moved or something, and I jumped.
And he just stood there looking at me, and sort of--
- You're burning your shirt. - Oh, yes. Sort of smiling.
"Hello," I said. "Who are you?"
And I think he thought I was, you know, attractive.
Anyway, finally he said, "Well, do you think it could possibly matter?"
- And it's just crazy, and I admit it-- - You'd better let me do this.
But 20 minutes later I felt I was in love with him.
Mom, how long did it take you to fall in love with Dad?
Well, nothing so long as 20 minutes!
- Is that really true? Oh, Morn! -"Is that really true?"
Joey, I wanna ask you something. How deeply are you and John invol--?
No, no, I have no right--
How deeply involved? Do you mean have we been to bed together?
I don't mind you asking me that. We haven't.
He wouldn't.
I don't think he could have been in doubt about my feelings, but he wouldn't.
You're burning my shirt.
He's been concerned the whole time about my getting hurt somehow.
They're still talking. Wouldn't you think they'd have said everything by now?
You say they don't have any special sense of rhythm?
That's right.
But, hell, you can see it. You can't turn on the TV without seeing kids dancing.
- And the coloured kids are better. - But there's an explanation for that.
It's our dancing and it's our music. We brought it here.
I mean, you can do the watusi, but we are the Watusi...
...if you know what I mean.
When I was about your age, my sports editor told me...
...that Negroes would never be able to play baseball.
I suppose if he wanted to, Willie Mays could be elected mayor of San Francisco.
I own a newspaper, but I couldn't be elected dogcatcher.
I don't guess you want to be dogcatcher any more than he wants to be mayor.
No, I suppose that's right.
Doctor, we've talked about a good many things...
...but there's one thing we haven't talked about.
Have you given any thought to the problems your children will have?
Yes, and they'll have some.
And we'll have the children, or you couldn't call it a marriage.
Is that the way Joey feels?
She feels that every one of our children will be president...
...and they'll all have colorful administrations.
Well, you made her, Mr. Drayton. I just met her in Hawaii.
But how do you feel about that problem?
Well, frankly, I think your daughter is a bit optimistic.
I'd settle for secretary of state.
Would you think it was some kind of cowardice if I told you that...
...no matter how confident you two are, I'm just a little scared?
No, it wouldn't.
But you never know. Things are changing.
I have a feeling they're not changing anywhere as fast as in my own backyard.
Just tell me this. Don't you think this quick decision...
...about how we feel about this thing is just a little unfair?
In a way, I do.
But it wasn't my idea that everything be settled so quickly.
Your daughter said there's no problem.
"My dad's a lifelong fighting liberal who loathes race prejudice...
...and fights discrimination."
She said, "My parents, well, they'll welcome you with open arms."
And I said, "Oh, I sure wanna meet them."
John! Telephone, it's Los Angeles.
- Take it in my study. - Thank you.
- Hello. Yes, this is he. - Dr. Prentice?
- Hello. That you? - Hi, Dad. What's up, man?
- Dr. Graves call again? - No, it's not that, son.
I just had an idea. What would you say to us flying there to spend the evening?
- This evening? - We could be up there at half past 6.
I thought maybe we could take you and your lady friend out...
- Tell them to come to dinner. - Just a minute.
No, no, Dad. See, I'm having dinner with her folks.
- Tell them they're invited! - That the young lady?
Yes, that's her. Just a minute. You haven't asked your mother--
Mr. Prentice, won't you come to dinner? You and Mrs. Prentice.
John and I will meet your plane.
- Who am I talking to? John? - Hi.
Looks like she wants us, even if you don't. And we certainly wanna meet her.
- So we'll see you at half past 6. - Oh, no, no.
Your mother says she's pleased. Oh, hell, he knows that!
- All right, son. We'll see you later. - Dad? Dad? Dad?
What's the matter with you?
- Mom! - Yeah?
John's father and mother are coming to dinner.
Good. Marvelous.
- We'll meet their plane at half past 6. - Fine. You tell Tillie.
Okay.
Joanna, I told you. My folks, they don't--
- They think you're a colored girl. - Why didn't you tell them?
- I was gonna write to them. - What difference does it make?
Do you think they wouldn't come? Call and tell them.
- They'll know when I go meet them. - That's not a good idea. I'll meet them.
- It gives me a chance to explain-- - Why do you dramatize everything?
Look, I've told Peter and Judith we'll meet them for a drink at 5:30.
There's just enough time to get to the airport.
She's my best and oldest friend so you've just got to let them meet you.
- Did he tell you about his medical plan? - No. What?
It's the damnedest thing you ever heard of.
They put a medical school on 20 trucks, then they run into some African country...
...pick up the brightest native kids, hundreds at a time...
...and put them through courses. Like they do the U.S. Army Corps.
Only his idea is that they're all specialists trained to do one simple thing.
Like sewing up a wound, or delivering a baby, what have you.
They go into places where people have never heard of an aspirin...
...let alone a doctor.
Imagine what that means.
For every 1000 kids they train, they can save a million lives a year. Think of that.
He seems to have made quite an impression on you, Matt.
I asked him how he got so far. You know, he's only 37.
He said he thought he got the best breaks...
...because everybody he met didn't want him to think they were prejudiced.
Yeah, he made an impression. I wouldn't know how to fault him.
- Are you trying to fault him? - Of course I'm not.
You know his father is a mailman? Retired now, lives in Los Angeles.
Now, how do you suppose a coloured mailman...
...produced a son with all the qualities he has?
- You'll find out this evening. - What?
- Guess who's coming to dinner. - Who?
You mean-- His parents?
Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute.
- Whose idea was that? - Joey invited them.
Yeah, Joey, Joey. We're being pressurized. You know that, don't you?
First there wasn't gonna be a marriage unless we approved.
Then we had one day to make up our minds.
Now we have to spend hours entertaining somebody we never heard of!
Don't look at those. Those are my baby pictures. That was at Klosters the year--
I'll get it, Tillie. Just a second.
- Monsignor Ryan, how wonderful! - Well, good afternoon.
- Good afternoon. - But why are you here, not in Hawaii?
And what is the problem that caused your father to chicken out of golf?
- And who is this gentleman? - This is Dr. John Wade Prentice.
We met in Hawaii 11 days ago and we're gonna be married.
Are you indeed? I take it you mean to each other?
- Dr. Prentice. - Monsignor.
- Well, of course, you're the problem. - Yes.
I'm afraid I am.
I knew nothing. Why haven't your parents informed me?
They didn't know either. We flew back this morning.
Excuse me a second, I forgot to tell Tillie something.
Well...
- I suppose this was all very sudden? - Yes, it was.
You two have had time to consider what you're doing?
No, we've not.
We'll be two more for dinner.
- How many steaks did you get? - I got four. I was told four.
Well, order two more because the doctor's father and mother are coming.
- His father and mother here? - That's right.
If the butcher can't send them, tell him to put them in a taxi.
It's getting more like a Holy Rollers' meeting every minute.
Of course! I know about you. I read an article about you in Commonweal.
I shall want to talk to you about that.
Do you know this fellow you brought home's a very important man?
I'm wholly aware of it. And when I'm married to him, I'll be important.
I daresay you will, as a matter of fact.
- Where's Arnold Palmer? - Dad and Morn are in the garden.
Just go on with what you're doing. Fore!
Of all the friends we've ever had, he's the closest.
We're not Catholics...
...but he and Dad and Mom have sat on committees and things.
He's a wonderful man, and we love him.
You're a remarkable fellow, Mike. You get younger every minute.
- Did you...? - Yes! I've just seen him.
Handsome fellow, isn't he? Little Joey's nothing less than radiant.
It warms me chilly old heart just to look at her.
- Mike, aren't you just a little shocked? - Shocked? Why should I be shocked?
I've known a good many cases of marriages between races in my time.
Strangely enough, they usually work out quite well. I don't know why.
Maybe because it requires some special quality of effort.
More consideration and compassion...
...than most marriages seem to generate these days.
- Could that be it? - Yes, it could.
I'm glad you said that.
That's a beautiful thought. You do have beautiful thoughts, Mike.
It's my trade, you know.
What about laddie over here? You making heavy weather of it?
You know, this man is quite a famous fellow in his own right.
He's done incredible work in Asia and some awful place in Africa.
Mom! Hilary's here. She wants to see you.
Excuse me, will you? Express some more beautiful thoughts to the lad there.
Thank you.
I hope you won't think that I'm prying, doctor, but naturally, one is curious.
Naturally.
Dr. Prentice and I are gonna be married, Hilary.
Are you?
Well, I didn't even know. I mean, Christina hadn't even mentioned it.
- She didn't know. It was a surprise. - A surprise?
Well, I should think it was!
My dear, Joey tells me congratulations are in order. And you didn't even know.
What's the problem, Hilary? What brings you all the way up here?
Oh, Mr. Cazelet phoned about the--
Oh, that. Excuse us, will you? I'll walk out to your car with you.
- I hope I'll be seeing you shortly. - Actually, no.
Dr. Prentice is leaving tonight, and Joey within the next couple of weeks.
Well, then you must permit me to wish you every happiness.
Come along, Hilary.
Christina! Oh, my poor dear, what a shook for you.
I knew something was up, but this? Whatever are you going to do about it?
- I mean, the child is of age-- - Yes, the child is 23.
Hilary, why didn't you simply ring up with the Cazelet information?
Well, I must admit, I was intensely curious.
I simply couldn't believe it. I mean, it's so unlike Joey to do anything so stupid.
- Yes, come along. - But what you must be going through!
You must try not to worry about it.
Now, I have some instructions for you. Go back to the gallery. Start your motor.
When you get there, tell Jennifer she'll look after things temporarily.
She's to give me a ring if there's anything she can't deal with.
Then go into the office and make out a check for cash, for the sum of $5000.
Then carefully, Hilary, remove absolutely everything...
...that might subsequently remind me you were ever there...
...including that yellow thing with the blue bulbs you have such an affection for.
Then take the check for $5000, which I feel you deserve...
...and get permanently lost.
Not that I don't want to know you, though I don't...
...it's just that I'm afraid we're not really the sort of people...
...that you can afford to be associated with.
Don't speak, Hilary, just go.
See that boy, the tall one? If he'd played his cards right, you'd never met me.
- But he fell for some girl from Pomona. - That'll teach him.
Mom? You know what Hilary was doing? She was being an absolute bitch.
She was. I almost wish you'd fire her, I really do.
Joey! How can you be so hard?
She has a really quite ruthless streak, John. Be warned about it.
She gets it from her father.
They need all the help you can give them.
Because they're going to have special difficulties--
- Christina. - No, no. Don't budge, please. Sit.
Of course, they know all that. They're serious, fine, intelligent people.
And if they know what lies in store...
...and they still want each other enough to accept it...
...I think it's plain they love each other very much.
Any two people who love each other that much...
...deserve all the best luck in the world.
I don't know. I wish I didn't have the feeling that they'll never make it.
That the whole thing's impossible.
You feel that way, do you?
You're really thrashing about, then.
That's very interesting, indeed. And rather amusing too...
...to see a broken-down old phony liberal come face to face with his principles.
Of course I always have believed that under that fighting liberal fagade...
...there must be some sort of reactionary bigot trying to get out.
Oh, go to hell. You and your crowd are still preaching hell.
Well, I'm off.
As much as I'm enjoying your discomfort, I can save a few souls before supper.
But I am, as it happens, free for dinner--
Oh, please come, 7.30. The doctor's family are flying up from Los Angeles.
Well, in that case, you'll actually need me.
Otherwise, your side won't even outnumber the blacks.
Thank you, my dear.
Half past 7.
What was that the Beatles sang?
We could work it out, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah
We can work it out
- Mom did it. Does it look like him? - He looks a little grim, doesn't--
- Hey! - No, no. Don't let me disturb you.
Not at all.
I hope you don't mind, but I've just wangled an invitation to dinner.
- Marvelous. I'm delighted you're coming. - Thank you.
I'm very delighted to have met you. See you this evening.
- Certainly. - You know, you two make me feel...
...quite extraordinarily happy.
I'd better tell Tillie. If you listen, you'll hear her going through the roof.
I've brought you the latest bulletin. Guess who's coming to dinner now.
- The Reverend Martin Luther King? - Oh, Tillie.
You're so close. It's Monsignor Ryan.
Bake a second pie, will you? You know how he loves your cooking.
Oh, listen, is the big guest room in order? Dr. Prentice wants to have a shower.
- He does? - He does.
Well, she's 23 years old. She has the right to do as she pleases.
- But that's not the point. The doctor said-- - I know what the doctor said.
Look, could we get out of here for a few minutes? What are the others doing?
They're meeting Peter and Judith for a drink, then going on to the airport.
All right, come on.
Well, come on, will you?!
What ever happened to Homer, that lawyer? Thought she liked him very much.
Nothing happened to Homer. Dr. Prentice just happened to Joey.
Hell, it was only last Christmas she said Homer had the inside track.
Isn't that the place where we got the good ice cream? Let's get some.
- Oh, Matt, it's after 5! - Oh, a little ice cream can't hurt!
Yes?
When I had ice cream before, I had a special kind of flavour I liked very much.
- I can't remember what it was. - I'll bring the list.
Oh, no. You must know what it is.
Daiquiri ice, honeycomb candy, cocoa-coconut, almond fudge...
...mocha jamoca, peanut butter and jelly, cinnamon banana mint?
- Must've been some another place. - Fresh Oregon boysenberry sherbet.
That's it. That's it.
I'm sure that's it. Fresh Oregon boysenberry. Bring me a big one, huh?
- Will you have some? - No, no, black coffee.
One double fresh Oregon boysenberry and one black coffee. Thank you.
You know, Matt...
...I think Mike was right, that Joey is lucky.
The work he's doing is so important. She'll be able...
...to help him with it and share it all with him. It's the best break.
You know, for us it's all been great.
But do you know what was the best time of all?
In the beginning, when we struggled.
And you were working too hard and worried, and sometimes frightened.
And there were times when I felt, when I really knew...
...that I was a help to you.
That was the very best time of all for me.
- Okay. One black coffee. - Thank you.
- And one Oregon boysenberry sherbet. - Thank you. Thank you.
Here. Okay.
This is not the stuff. I never had this stuff before in my life.
You know, it's not bad, not bad at all. I kind of like it.
Fresh Oregon boysenberry.
Yes, sir?
When I had the ice cream before, this isn't the stuff I had.
But I like it, it's very good. I like it very much.
Okay.
- How do you do, Miss Binks? - I got something to say to you, boy!
Just exactly what are you trying to pull here?
I'm not trying to pull anything. I was looking to find me a wife.
Ain't that just likely?
You wanna answer me something? What kind of doctor are you supposed to be?
Would you believe horse?
You make with witticisms and all, huh?
You may think you're fooling Miss Joey and her folks, but you ain't fooling me.
You think I don't see what you are?
You're a smooth-talking, smart-ass nigger just out for all you can get...
...with your black power and all that other trouble-making nonsense.
I brought up that child from a baby in her cradle, and ain't nobody gonna harm her.
And as long as you're around this house, I'm here watching. You read me, boy?
You bring any trouble, you'd just like to find out what "black power" really means!
And furthermore to that, you ain't even all that good-looking!
That was very good. If I come in again, remind me about the boysenberry.
Yeah, I sure will. Thank you, sir.
- Shall we take some home for dessert? - No. Tillie's baked some pies.
You stupid idiot!
- Can't you look where you're going? - Your car's so low, I couldn't see it.
Of course you didn't see me! You weren't even looking where you were going!
- Look what you did to my car! - All right, it's my fault. My insurance--
Yeah. Who cares about your insurance? I worked over three months on that!
- How much will it cost to have it repaired? - Well, look at it! Thirty or 40 bucks.
Stupid old man! You ought to be put away some place, in a home.
Here, there's 50 bucks. Don't bother to have it fixed. Buy a new one!
Some of these old guys, they're senile!
Stupid old man!
There ought to be a law! There ought to be a law!
What the hell is it today?
Less than 12 percent of the people in this city are coloured.
I can't even have a dish of Oregon "boozenberry" without running into one!
I just can't tell you how happy I am for you.
And the whole thing having happened so quickly.
You remember Peter and me. It took us three years to decide to get married.
We lived together for two of them.
- To John and Joey. - John and Joanna.
He won't call me anything but Joanna. I like it too.
To John and Joanna.
You know, where you're so lucky is in Joey's folks. Joanna's folks.
Take my word for it, Matt Drayton really stands for something in this town.
- I know. It's always been a good paper. - A great paper, and he made it what it is.
There's never been a public issue on which Matt Drayton didn't take a stand.
- When exactly are you flying over? - As soon as I can arrange everything.
Why wait until next week? Why aren't you flying over with John?
John, why am I not flying over with you?
- John, why am I not flying over with you? -ls your passport in order?
- Yes. - Need clothes or anything?
Nothing I couldn't get there.
Well, then it seems crazy to go all that way alone when you could go together.
- Why don't you both leave tonight? - Why not?
Yes.
Matt, it's 6:00. In an hour, they'll all be here. The doctor's plane leaves at 10:45.
No matter what it is or when you say it, you'll have to tell them how you feel.
I need more than one day to make a decision like that.
It's the silliest thing I ever heard of. But I'll tell you this:
I am not going to try to pretend that I'm happy about the whole thing. I'm not.
And if the doctor's decision depends upon that, then it's just too bad.
And I'm thinking only of Joey's welfare.
I have nothing against him personally, but he's a grown man...
...and he behaved irresponsibly in the first place by letting it happen.
Now he wants me to be happy about a situation...
...when I happen to know they'll both get their brains knocked out!
I'm sorry, but that's the way I feel. And I know how you're reacting.
You're so wrapped up in Joey's excitement...
...that you are not behaving in her best interest.
Yes, Mom.
There's no reason not to go tonight. You can understand, can't you, Morn?
My passport's in order, there's nothing at all I really need.
And it won't take me an hour to pack.
And I'll be able to be with him. We'll be together the whole time.
Mom, they're here. I can see them.
Oh, they look like awfully nice people. His mother looks lovely.
Look, you break it to Dad for me, will you?
Well...
I guess I should've called you back again because there is one thing l...
I... I should have...
I've been meaning to write to you about it. Yeah, there's one thing I didn't explain.
And I'm afraid it's gonna be kind of a shock.
If you see what I mean.
Mom, Dad, this is Joanna Drayton.
Joanna, my mom, my dad.
Mrs. Prentice, I'm so happy.
- Miss Drayton? - Drayton, yes.
Mr. Prentice, I'm very pleased to meet you.
I can explain.
I can imagine what's going on in your mind...
...but we can explain.
- You can? - Of course we can.
You-- You have bags?
Of course you have bags. Well, let's go get your bags.
Mama.
- What did your folks say'? - All's well.
- Did you talk with your father? - To Mom, but she'll tell him.
- Tonight? - I thought I ought to tell you.
This whole damn thing-- No, that's out of the question.
I couldn't do what you're about to do...
...so I don't understand how you'll propose to go about it.
But you can't break their hearts over a drink and then sit down to dinner.
I know that. Don't you think I know that?
I have to talk to the doctor, I'll talk to him after dinner. Tell him exactly how I feel.
Matt, I'm not trying to give you an argument.
There's nothing I can say that you don't know anyway.
But it's important that you understand how wrong I think you--
You're making the worst mistake you've ever--
I think you're gonna regret it with more bitterness for as long as you live.
You're wrong. You're as wrong as you can be.
Because I'm thinking of her. Even the doctor's gonna know I'm thinking of her.
There's something else. I'm surprised it hasn't occurred to you.
The doctor will accept whatever you say to him because he's terribly sensitive...
...and because he said he would accept it. But Joey won't.
The most obvious mistake you're making is in underestimating your daughter.
She'll fight you, your whole attitude and every argument you ever try to give her.
And one thing more.
Until today I would never have believed that I could say such a thing.
But when she fights you, and for what it may be worth...
...I'm going to be on her side.
Well, I never would've believed I'd hear you say a thing like that.
Damn it.
- Can I get you another drink? - No, thanks. I'll get it myself.
- I wish we had more time-- - How have your parents--
What were you gonna say, Morn?
I was going to ask Miss Drayton how her mother and father reacted to--
- Yeah, I wanted to ask that too. - Please call me Joanna.
They were shaken. I don't think I've seen them so surprised.
What shook them was that I wanted to marry anybody they hadn't heard about.
I can't blame them for being sort of stunned by it all.
Well, then you couldn't blame us if we were a little stunned too, could you?
I wouldn't appear unreasonable if I suggested that...
...the two of you are behaving like escaped lunatics, would I?
Dad...
...this whole thing happened so quickly. It's like trying to ride a rocket.
We didn't plan it that way, it just happened that way.
It's a little hard on Joanna's folks, I'm sure it's gonna be hard on you.
We've got one evening to discuss it.
If you have objections, you'd better raise them soon...
...because in exactly four hours we're gonna be gone.
I don't think I could list all my objections in four hours. I'd need eight hours.
Well, you've only got four hours, so you'll just have to talk twice as fast.
- Christina! - Hello, darling. How are you?
- Forgive me. I'm a little bit early. - Come in.
You know, I don't like to be always repeating myself...
...but how long since I remarked...
...that I thought that you were the loveliest woman I have ever known?
You know, there is a kind of envy that is in no way sinful.
That's what I've always had for Matt.
- What can I get you to drink? - Well, I like Scotch.
- But aren't we drinking wine? - Yes.
Oh, I'll have a drop of Scotch anyhow. Equal amount of soda, please.
Thank you.
My dear, what's the matter?
Sorry.
We're in trouble, Mike.
We're in terrible trouble, terrible trouble.
John told us, Matt and me, that he wouldn't marry Joey...
...unless we could say that we approve with no reservations whatever.
Joey doesn't know that he said that.
She decided to go with him tonight. She has her tickets.
The two of them are on their way in with John's parents.
Neither of them knows that Matt has decided...
Well, Matt has decided that he can't approve.
That's not true. Please tell me it's not true.
- Where is Matt? - He's upstairs, changing. He's--
He's not himself, Mike.
Excuse me.
It's incredible!
- Table all right? - It's fine, Tillie. Thank you.
Miss Christina, what's gonna happen here?
I don't know, Tillie. I just don't know.
You and Mr. Matt, you gonna put a stop to this damn nonsense foolishness?
Tillie. Tillie, I don't want to put a stop to anything.
He's a fine man. He's a wonderful man.
And Joey is very much in love with him.
And it isn't just "damn nonsense foolishness."
I tell you, Miss Christina, the way you're talking...
...I don't understand nothing no more.
Nobody understands nothing no more.
No, I don't think you're butting in to something that doesn't concern--
Damn, blast these lousy long--!
I understand how you feel, Mike. I understand how everybody feels.
But you have to understand too, they've boxed me into a hell of a corner here.
And no matter what Christina or you say, I am not going to behave irresponsibly.
I'm not gonna tell them they can't get married. I don't have the right.
But they don't have the right to expect me to be happy about something that--
Oh, for God's sake!
Matt, you're on the point of destroying all the happiness there is...
...in one of the happiest families I've ever known.
- Have you any appreciation for Christina? - Christina?
Have you any appreciation of how that woman has behaved today?
She was all for it, as though there were no problems at all.
But there are no problems that Joey and John Prentice don't know about.
Christina has more respect for Joey's judgment than you have. I say--
Oh, come off it! If Joey came home with some fuzzy-wuzzy and said:
"Mom, this is the man for me," Christina would say, "Oh, really? How wonderful!
Where will we get enough roses to fill the Rose Bowl?"
I'm trying to remember where I've seen you so angry.
Oh, yes. When you took nine shots on the 7th green.
- Could you get the hell out of here? - I think I know why you're angry too.
Not with the doctor, whom you respect.
Not with Joey or Christina, not even with me.
- You're angry with yourself, Matt. - You're a pontificating old poop!
You're angry because all of a sudden and in a single day, you've been thrown.
You're the last man I would expect to behave the way you are.
You're not yourself. You're off-balance.
You don't know who you are, what you're doing.
That's your trouble. You've gone back on yourself. In your heart, you know it.
Listen, there's a limit to what I'll take, even from you!
For 30 years, there's been no man I've admired or respected more.
You know that, Matt.
And for the first time in all those 30 years...
-...I feel sorry for you. - Now, damn it, that's enough!
Are you really capable of putting yourself in my position?
Unless you've got some kids of your own hidden away somewhere...
...how could you know how a father would feel in a situation like this?
You don't know! I believe-- I know they wouldn't have a dog's chance...
...not in this country, not in the whole stinking world!
They are this country, Matt. They'll change this stinking world.
Yeah, sure, sure. Fifty years, maybe, or 100 years...
...but not in your lifetime. Maybe not even in mine.
My dear friend, I wish with all my heart you could be restrained.
And if I were 10 years younger, to prevent you from going downstairs...
...I believe I'd make an effort to wrestle you to the floor.
That'll be the day. That will be the day. That--
Is that the car? Did you hear a car?
- Mrs. Prentice. I'm Christina Drayton. - How do you do?
How do you do, Mr. Prentice? I'm so pleased to meet you. Come on in.
Let me take your coat and hat. And yours, Mrs. Prentice?
How good of you to come this long way to see us. Do go in.
What did Dad say? Did you tell him? Was he shaken?
Well, it was a surprise, Joey.
- Does he wanna talk to me? - Yes, I'm sure he does, John, later.
Please come in.
- May I get you a drink? - May I have some sherry, please?
- What a lovely room. - John, would you be bartender?
I'll have some sherry too. Shall we sit over here?
- What will you have, Dad? Bourbon? - Thank you.
- You have such a magnificent view. - Thank you. Please sit down.
Sit down, Mr. Prentice.
- Did you have a pleasant flight? - Very pleasant, thank you.
The view of the sunset was breathtaking.
Only took 40 minutes. Four hundred miles.
It's incredible, isn't it?
My husband will be down directly, I think. He's upstairs changing.
And we have a friend of ours who's coming to dinner, Monsignor Ryan.
- I'm sure they'll be down in a minute. - Mrs. Prentice.
- Thank you. - Mom.
- Thank you. - Here you are, Dad.
Thanks, son.
Are you Catholics, Mrs. Drayton?
No, we're not, Mr. Prentice.
I'm afraid we're nothing in particular. Monsignor Ryan is a very old friend.
- Do you come often to San Francisco? - Joanna.
- I've got to talk to your father. - There he is.
Dad, I'd like you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Prentice.
- This is my father. - Mrs. Prentice, nice to meet you.
- How do you do? - Mr. Prentice, happy to meet you.
- How do you do? - May I present Monsignor Ryan?
- How do you do, ma'am? Mr. Prentice. - Glad to meet you, sir.
- Are you and John tending bar? - Yes.
- We're both drinking Scotch. - Coming up.
Sit down, sit down. Sit down. Sit down there, Mike.
Well...
- Did you have a nice flight from I.A.? - Oh, yes. Very nice flight.
Only 40 minutes.
- Only 40 minutes from I.A. - Terrifying.
You could talk about flying to Geneva.
John and I are hoping all four of you will fly over for the wedding.
Would anybody like to talk about that before I start packing?
L-- I take it they've told you all about their plans.
Of course we have. It's only when you're eloping that you keep it a secret.
I don't know about you, Mr. Prentice, but it seems these two are rushing it a bit.
Well, it seemed that way to me too.
- It seems like that to you too, huh? - That's right.
Well, I'm certainly relieved to hear that.
I was beginning to think I was the only one around--
I would like Mrs. Prentice to see the view.
What are you talking about? What view?
From the terrace. Before it gets cold.
- Would you care to see the view? - Yes, thank you. I would.
Good. Excuse us. Bring your drink with you, that's fine.
Mrs. Prentice, have you had any chance to speak privately with John?
Well, no.
It's important you understand what's happened here...
...and what I'm terribly afraid is going to happen.
May I explain the situation to you, or try to?
- Yes, please. I wish you would. - Well, first I have to ask you--
Forgive my being so abrupt and so direct.
Are you shocked by the fact...
...that John, your son, is involved with a white girl?
Yes, surprised.
It never happened before.
I guess it never occurred to me that such a thing might happen.
But it wouldn't be true to say that I'm shocked.
Are you, Mrs. Drayton?
Well, I think I was at first, this afternoon...
...because it came as a surprise to us too.
But now I know how they feel about each other.
Joey's still very young, Mrs. Prentice, but she's not a child.
And they're deeply in love with each other.
Mrs. Drayton, are you about to tell me that you'd approve the marriage...
...but that your husband won't? Is that it?
Yes, that's it.
My husband won't, either.
I wish there were more time, if only so that we could adjust to the situation...
...but the way things are, there just isn't any time.
If we're going to accept the thing at all, it seems to me...
...we'll have to trust the two of them...
...and accept that they know what they're doing.
And, Mrs. Drayton, my husband just won't do that.
They seem to be having quite a conversation out there.
You know, it might do no harm if we could have a few words, Mr. Drayton.
Yeah, sure. Yeah. Yeah, sure, sure.
We can go in my study there. Will you excuse us, please?
Doc, you'll excuse us, please?
I'll have another drink if you will, doctor.
- Another? - No.
If you'll excuse me, I'll go up and throw a few things together...
...like for the next 10 years.
Mr. Drayton...
...I don't know you at all, and I wouldn't want to offend you...
...but are you some kind of a nut? Are you telling me that you approve of this?
No, Mr. Prentice, I wasn't going to tell you that.
Because if you do-- Well, you may be a big, successful newspaper publisher...
...and I'm a pensioned-off mailman, but you are right out of your mind!
I have a pretty good idea of what my father is saying to him.
I wish I knew.
You were talking with him upstairs, monsignor.
Have you any idea what Mr. Drayton is saying to my father?
I can tell you one thing.
I was very sorry to hear that you intend to withdraw from the situation...
...if you encounter any opposition.
She's up there packing.
John, your mother would like to speak to you.
Thank you.
- This is a mess, Mike. Where's Joey? - She's upstairs, my dear.
I'm going up.
- Everything is ready when you all are. - Yes, well, we're not ready, Tillie.
Well, what you're saying is that you feel practically the same as I do.
That's right. But even so, Mr. Prentice, this is a hell of an unhappy situation...
...for both your son and my daughter. I...
Well, I think it would be best if you talked to John yourself.
I said that if they didn't approve, there'd be no marriage. Yeah, l...
- I set the terms, Mama. - They don't disapprove.
- Only Mr. Drayton. - Are you sure?
She said she'd even drive the two of you to the airport.
John, I've lived with your father for almost 40 years.
- God willing, there'll be a lot more. - Oh, Mama.
And even though I've only known about this situation for one hour...
...I feel the same way Mrs. Drayton does.
She says Joanna will never give you up.
I guess it depends upon how much you want her.
Want her?
I want her, Mama.
You know what it's been like for me these past eight years?
I felt like I never wanted anybody again.
But, Mama...
...these last few days with her...
...it's like I'm alive again. It's love.
Excuse me, doctor.
- Your father wants to talk to you. - Does he?
He's in my study.
I've been talking to your husband, Mrs. Prentice. He seems upset by all this.
I know. Your wife says you are too, Mr. Drayton.
Well, not upset, exactly. It's a very difficult problem.
For whom? For you and my husband?
I think you'll solve your problem all right.
All you have to do is tell them you're against them. That's all.
And you'll have no problem.
You're not going to tell me you're happy about this relationship?
This is not a night for talking about happiness, Mr. Drayton.
This is an unhappy night.
You've been talking to Christina. I know how she feels.
Can you imagine for one minute that I want to see either one of them hurt?
No. No more than my husband does.
But hurt they're going to be...
...worse than my husband knows.
I think worse than you know too, Mr. Drayton.
I tell you, he's as much against this thing as I am, maybe more.
Son, you've got to listen to me. I'm not telling you how to live your life...
...but you never made a mistake like this before.
You know you've been nothing but a source of pride for me and your mother.
But you don't know what you're doing!
Now, this affair here, it all happened too fast, you said so yourself.
But you've got to stop and think! Have you thought what people would say?
Why, in 16 or 17 states, you'd be breaking the law. You'd be criminals.
And say they changed the law. That don't change the way people feel about this.
For a man who, all his life, never put a wrong foot anywhere, you're out of line!
That's for me to decide, man.
- So just shut up and let me-- - You don't say that to me!
You haven't got the right to say a thing like that after what I've been to you.
You know that and I know that. Yeah, I know what you made of yourself...
...but you know I worked my ass off to buy you the chances you had!
You know how far I carried that bag in 30 years?
Seventy-five thousand miles. And mowing lawns in the dark...
...so you wouldn't be stoking furnaces and could bear down on the books.
There were things your mother should have had that she insisted go for you.
And I don't mean fancy things. I mean a decent coat. A lousy coat!
You'll tell me now that means nothing to you? You'll break your mother's heart?
What happens to men when they grow old?
Why do they forget everything?
I believe those two young people need each other...
...like they need the air to breathe in.
Anybody can see that by just looking at them.
But you and my husband are...
You might as well be blind men.
You can only see that they have a problem.
But do you really know what's happened to them?
How they feel about each other?
I believe that men grow old...
...and when sexual things no longer matter to them...
...they forget it all, forget what true passion is.
If you ever felt what my son...
...feels for your daughter, you've forgotten everything about it. My husband too.
You knew once, but that was a long time ago.
Now the two of you don't know.
And the strange thing for your wife and me...
...is that you don't even remember.
If you did, how could you do what you are doing?
Well, I don't care what your mother says. This is between you and me.
That's the first thing you've said that makes any sense. That's where it's at.
- Yeah, and what I mean to say-- - No, you've said what you had to say.
You listen to me.
You say you don't want to tell me how to live my life?
What have you been doing?
You tell me what rights I've got or haven't got and what I owe to you.
Let me tell you something. I owe you nothing.
If you carried that bag a million miles, you did what you were supposed to do.
Because you brought me into this world.
And from that day, you owed me everything you could ever do for me...
...like I will owe my son if I ever have another. But you don't own me!
You can't tell me when or where I'm out of line...
...or try to get me to live my life according to your rules.
You don't even know what or who I am, Dad. How I feel, what I think!
If I tried to explain it the rest of your life, you will never understand.
You are 30 years older than I am.
You and your lousy generation believes the way it was is the way it's got to be!
And not until your generation has lain down and died...
...will the dead weight of you be off our backs!
You understand? You've got to get off my back!
Dad.
You're my father.
I'm your son. I love you.
I always have and I always will.
But you think of yourself as a coloured man.
I think of myself as a man.
Now, I've got a decision to make.
And I've got to make it alone, and I've got to make it in a hurry.
So...
...would you go out there and see after my mother?
Mom!
Oh, darling!
You've got to talk John's parents into flying over with you.
It would mean so much to John to have them there, and I know they can afford it.
You know, I think John's father will make it rough for him.
Did you see his expression when he walked off to have a talk with Dad?
Isn't she lovely? Don't you like her already?
Yes, darling, I do. She's a good one.
You know, when John's father first saw that I was white, I thought he'd faint.
- What about your own father? - Yes. That was funny, wasn't it?
Oh, Morn, isn't this thrilling? Aren't you just--?
Yes, darling, I am just...
I should be able to say something to you, Mrs. Prentice.
In my trade there are a hundred clichéd phrases of comfort...
...for every human condition.
But in the midst of this heartbreaking distress...
...I must admit I'm completely stumped.
There's simply nothing I could say.
- Mary, you've just got to understand-- - Please, John.
The monsignor is right. Please, say no more.
I'll be a son of a bitch.
Close the door, Mr. Drayton.
You didn't have the guts to tell me face to face, did you?
Before you start telling me how much guts I've got...
...I told you I'd have something to say.
Now I'm ready to say it.
Are you going to stay in here?
Joey.
You know that I'm completely sympathetic, don't you?
You know that I have no reservations about anything.
And that whatever makes you happy is my happiness too.
Of course I know that.
Then listen to me, darling.
There's something I have to tell you about this situation...
...which you don't really--
Christina! What are you doing up there? Joey! Come on down here, both of you!
How about your glasses? Can I get you a drink, Mr. and Mrs. Prentice?
- No, thank you. - John? Mike? No, you've had enough.
- Dad. What's going on? - There's something I want to say.
And I'd like you to sit down, see if you can keep quiet for once. Please, sit down.
Sit down, Chris, please.
I have a few things to say, and you might just think they're important.
This has been a very strange day. That's not putting it too strongly.
I might even say it's been an extraordinary day.
I've been out there thinking about the day and the way it has gone...
...and it seems to me that now...
...I need to make a few personal statements...
...for a variety of reasons.
The day began for me when I walked into this house and Tillie said to me--
Excuse me. Tillie!
This'll only take a second.
- Everything's been ready-- - I know, I know. All right, Tillie. Sit down.
Mr. and Mrs. Prentice, this is Miss Matilda Binks...
...who's been a member of this family for 22 years.
And who today has been making a great deal of trouble. Sit down, Tillie.
Now, the minute I walked into this house this afternoon...
...Miss Binks said to me, well, "All hell done broke loose now."
I asked her, naturally, to what she referred...
...and she said, "You'll see." And I did.
Then after some preliminary guessing games, at which I was never very good...
...it was explained to me by my daughter that she intended to get married...
...and that her intended was a young man whom I had never met...
...who happened to be a Negro.
Well, I think it's fair to say that I responded to this news...
...in the same manner that any normal father would...
...unless of course his daughter happened to be a Negro too.
In a word, I was flabbergasted. And while I was still being flabbergasted...
...I was informed by my daughter, a very determined young woman...
...much like her mother, that the marriage was on...
...no matter what her mother and I might feel about it.
Then the next rather startling development occurred, when you said...
...that unless we, her mother and I, approved of the marriage...
...there would be no marriage.
- You didn't. What a funny thing to do. - Joey.
This may be the last chance I'll ever have to tell you to do anything.
So I'm telling you, shut up.
Now, it became clear that we had one single day...
...in which to make up our minds as to how we felt about this whole situation.
So, what happened? My wife, typically enough...
...decided to simply ignore every practical aspect of the situation...
...and was carried away in some kind of a romantic haze, which made her...
...in my view, totally inaccessible to anything in the way of reason.
Now, I have not as yet referred to His Reverence...
...who began by forcing his way into the situation...
...and then insulting my intelligence by mouthing 300 platitudes...
...and ending just a half-hour ago by coming into my room...
...and challenging me to a wrestling match.
- What time is your plane? - Ten forty-five.
Right.
Now, Mr. Prentice, clearly a most reasonable man...
...says he has no wish to offend me, but wants to know if I'm some kind of a nut.
And Mrs. Prentice says that, like her husband...
...I'm a burned-out old shell of a man who cannot even remember what it's like...
...to love a woman the way her son loves my daughter.
And strange as it seems...
...that's the first statement made to me all day...
...with which I'm prepared to take issue.
Because I think you're wrong. You're as wrong as you can be.
I admit that I hadn't considered it, hadn't even thought about it...
...but I know exactly how he feels about her.
And there is nothing, absolutely nothing that your son feels for my daughter...
...that I didn't feel for Christina.
Old, yes.
Burned-out, certainly.
But I can tell you, the memories are still there.
Clear, intact, indestructible.
And they'll be there if I live to be 110. Where John made his mistake...
...was attaching so much importance to what her mother and I might think.
Because in the final analysis, it doesn't matter a damn what we think.
The only thing that matters is what they feel...
...and how much they feel for each other.
And if it's half of what we felt...
...that's everything.
As for you two and the problems you'll have, they seem almost unimaginable.
But you'll have no problem with me.
And I think that when Christina and I and your mother...
...have some time to work on him, you'll have no problem with your father, John.
But you do know, I'm sure you know, what you're up against.
There'll be 100 million people right here in this country...
...who will be shocked and offended and appalled at the two of you.
And the two of you will just have to ride that out...
...maybe every day for the rest of your lives.
You can try to ignore those people...
...or even feel sorry for them and for their prejudices and their bigotry...
...and their blind hatreds and stupid fears...
...but where necessary, you'll just have to cling tight to each other...
...and say, "Screw all those people."
Anybody could make a case, a hell of a good case, against your getting married.
The arguments are so obvious that nobody has to make them.
But you're two wonderful people...
...who happened to fall in love...
...and happen to have a pigmentation problem.
I think that now, no matter what kind of a case some bastard could make...
...against your getting married, there would be only one thing worse.
And that would be if, knowing what you two are...
...knowing what you two have...
...and knowing what you two feel...
...you didn't get married.
Well, Tillie. When the hell are we gonna get some dinner?
Translated by: Ryan Dress