All language subtitles for Imitation of Life 1934-subrip

Want my quack-quack.
No, darling, not now.

Wait till Mother
finishes your bath.

Won't be but just a minute now.

Want my quack-quack.

There. Upsy-daisy. There.

Want my quack-quack.

No, darling, not now.
Later. Please be good.

Mommy's so late, and
she's got so much to do.

What's Mommy got to do?

Well, she has to get you dressed

and get you your breakfast and
take you down to the day nursery.

Don't wanna go
to the day nursery.

Want to stay home with Mommy.

Darling, I wish you could,
but you can't.

Why?

Because Mother has to go out
and sell lots of cans of maple syrup

so she can buy nice things
for her baby.

Don't want to go
to the day nursery.

Marjorie pulled my hair.

She did? Well, she was
a very bad girl to do that.

I pulled her back harder.

Well, I suppose if she
pulled you first, it was all right.

I pulled her first.

You did? Well, then you're
a very naughty little girl,

and you won't go to heaven.

Don't want to go to heaven.
Want my quack-quack.

(SINGING)
I love you and you love me.

And I don't wanna go
to the day nursery.

Oh, I think we're gonna have an
opera singer in the family. Don't you?

Come on, now give me your foot.

I love you and you love me.

And I don't wanna go
to the day nursery

(PHONE RINGING)

Mommy, telephone!
Yes, I hear it, darling.

Yes. Now you sit here and
be good for just a minute, huh?

Okay.

Hello? Good morning,
Mr. Auburn. Yes.

Yes...

(WATER BOILING)

Yes. Excuse me just
a minute, please, will you?

Hello? Yes, Mr. Auburn.

I was terribly sorry
not to find you in.

You see,
since my husband's death,

I've been carrying on
his business.

Mommy!
Yes, dear, yes.

What, Mr. Auburn?
Mommy, can I come down?

Yes. No, no, dear. Wait
till I finish dressing you.

That was just the baby.

Yes, I have a little girl.

Thank you, Mr. Auburn. I'll have the
syrup delivered to you within an hour.

Thank you so much. Goodbye.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Yes?

Good morning.

I come in answer to your
advertisement for a girl.

What?
The advertisement what say,

"Wanted, cook,
laundress, housemaid,"

"colored, not afraid
of hard work, moderate wages."

There must be some mistake.
I haven't advertised for any girl.

Well, ain't this Aster Avenue?

No, this is Aster Street. Aster
Avenue is way the other side of town.

Oh.

Funny I didn't notice
that little "avenue" word.

That's just my luck.

What they got two streets
alike for, anyhow?

I don't know.

I don't know what I better do.

There's a streetcar
right there at the corner.

You take that, you'll be
there in about 10 minutes.

We has to walk.

Oh...

All right, you wait here.
I'll get you some carfare.

Thank you.

Something's burning.
Oh, dear.

Nice quack-quack.

(JESSIE CRYING)

Oh!

Jessie! Oh, darling.
Are you hurt?

I fell down.
Oh, darling.

(EXCLAIMING)

Oh, darling, look at you.

I's all wet.

BEA: I'll say you're all wet.

We're gonna eat such a
big breakfast, aren't we?

Oh, how nice of you!

Well, I see'd you was in such a
fummix, so I just thought I'd lend a hand.

Horsie.

Hmm?

Why, darling, what do you
mean by saying such a thing?

Horsie. Nice horsie.

I've been took for many things, but I
ain't never been took for that before.

Well, thank you very much
for all you've done.

Here's your carfare,
and I wish you good luck.

Thank you kindly.

Come on, darling.

BEA: Come on.
Run along.

You right sure you wouldn't need
somebody for your own self now?

I'm right handy with housework.

And taking care of children,
that just comes natural to me.

I'm afraid I couldn't
afford it. I wish I could.

Don't worry about wages,
if that's what's on your mind.

If I could just get a home
for my little girl,

I'd be glad to work
for just room and board.

You've got a child?
Yes'm.

That's the drawback about a job.

Folks just don't want Peola.

You sweet little child.

Come here, Peola.

Come on.

Say good morning
to the lady, Peola.

Good morning.
Good morning, dear.

Why, she's a lovely little
girl. Yes'm. She's very light.

Her pappy was a very,
very light-colored man.

Peola's a pretty
nice brung up child.

She ain't been dragged up
like most of them is.

Oh, your sweet little child.

What might her name be?
It's Jessie.

And as I was saying, ma'am, if
you could put up with my little girl

and give her and me
a roof over our heads,

I'd be willing to work
for almost nothing.

Well, I have got a room
you could use, but...

Don't worry about food.

Peola, she don't eat nothing.
She's so little.

And I's very deceiving
as to proportion.

I don't eat like I look.
It's the truth.

I's very light at the table.
Honest.

Just 200 pounds of mother
fighting to keep her baby.

Two hundred and forty, yes'm.

I could get jobs all right,
excepting for Peola.

But I just can't be separated from
Peola, no matter what happens.

You know how it is, ma'am.
Indeed, I do know.

Does we get to stay,
ma'am? Please.

All right, we'll try it.
All right.

You sit right down and I'll have
your breakfast ready in a jiffy.

Good evening, Miss Bea.
You're pretty late tonight.

Yes, I know.

Where's my baby?
She's gone to bed.

Oh, I thought I'd get home in time to
see her a minute before she went to sleep.

Well, she played
so hard all day,

she almost went to sleep
while she was eating her supper.

Well, I'll run up a minute
anyway. Maybe she's still awake.

Seems like I never get
to see her at all anymore.

Yes'm.

Your supper's ready, Miss Bea.

Oh, my feet hurt.

Well, come on, honey, and sit
down, and let me rub your feet.

Come on.
All right.

That rests me all over.

It don't seem right for you

to be carrying around them old
heavy cans of syrup, peddling.

I've gotta make a living.

With your pretty face
and them pretty foots,

why, you ought to have a man
taking care of you, honey.

Oh, Delilah.
Yes'm.

I had a man once,
but he up and died on me.

Is that gentleman there in the
picture your late husband, ma'am?

Mmm-hmm. That was he.

Was you very much in love with
your late husband, might I inquire?

Well, I married him.

But did you love him?
That's what I asked, honey.

Oh, Delilah, I think I was too
young to know very much about love.

Mother was dead.

He was my father's choice. Father
wanted somebody to take care of me,

so I married him.

That's a pity.

It's too bad when you get
started off on the wrong foot first.

Oh, but you'll get over it.

Youse got a big surprise
coming to you, Miss Bea.

You need some loving,
honey child. Oh, Delilah.

What I need is
some supper. Yes'm.

I got some nice food
ready for you tonight.

That's fine. Thank you.
Yes'm.

I've got Jessie.
That's enough.

Delilah, honestly now,
doesn't she look like an angel?

Why she am an angel, Miss Bea.

(HUMMING)

Can we have some pancakes, too?

Please, Mammy.
They look awful tasty.

Go on now. Go on out of here.
You children done had your breakfast.

Go on and play, and
take that fleabag with you.

Okay, Aunt Delilah.

Delilah, you'll be the death
of me with these pancakes.

I'm glad you finds 'em
to your taste, ma'am.

I've never tasted anything so good
in all my life. How do you make them?

It's a secret.
Mmm.

Yes'm, them pancakes
is my granny's secret.

She passed it down to my
mammy, and my mammy told me.

But I ain't telling nobody.
No, sir.

I don't blame you.
I wouldn't, either.

You know, down South, my
mammy was famous for her pancakes.

White folks come from miles
around just to taste 'em. Yes'm.

It's a special secret, and
it's gonna die with Delilah.

You know, Miss Bea, all
you do is just take a little...

And that's all? That's
all. There's your secret.

Of course, you've got to
be right light with the flap.

(EXCLAIMS)

Delilah, look at the time. You've
made me late with your pancakes.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, honey.
And good luck for the day.

Thank you, Delilah.

Oh, Miss Bea?
Yes?

Wait a minute. What
is it? What's the matter?

Miss Bea, I want you to take this here
rabbit's foot and put it in your money purse.

(LAUGHING) Now, Delilah!
Yes'm, you must take it, child.

Are you the owner?
Yes'm.

I'm Mrs. Pullman. Mrs.
B. Pullman. You know.

Sorry, but I don't.

My husband was B. Pullman, you
know, the man who was killed in the wreck.

The train wreck at Camden.

I remember the wreck,
but there were so many killed.

He used to sell syrup, waffle
syrup to the hotels and places.

It's wonderful syrup,
100% pure maple.

I don't eat it.
Bad stomach. Gas.

Oh, no.
No, I don't mean...

I mean, you see, I'm keeping
up the B. Pullman business.

And I was wondering, could I make
a deal with you to rent this store?

You see, I have a marvelous
formula for making pancakes,

and it's my intention
to rent a store,

and have a pancake place
and sell syrup on the side.

Yes, and this morning I was
going to decide on several sites.

This is one of them.

It's a very good concession,
one of the best on the boardwalk.

How much are you
asking for rent? $250.

Oh, that's very high.

Well, that's terribly high.

You've got to pay
for a good location.

This store has nice
living quarters in the back.

Mmm-hmm.

Yes.

Yes, now what will you do
in the way of decorating?

A lot will have
to be done in here.

It's going to rent as is.

You don't think I'd take it
in this condition?

Well, look at it.
It's filthy!

Look, it needs new paint,
new paper.

And then the floor,
that'll have to be fixed.

Well, if it needs it,
you'll have to do it.

Will you give me three
months free? What?

Give me three months free, and I'll
do all the decorating and alterations.

What do you think I am?

I might consider one month.

Make it two, and I'll take
a year's lease. It's a deal.

I'll have to have the first
and last month in advance.

Oh, I can't do that.

I can't give you
anything in advance.

When do you expect to pay?

Well, you said you'd
give me two months.

So I'll start paying
the third month.

Nothing doing.

But, you see, I'll need every dollar
I have for alterations and fixtures.

Delilah. Delilah!
Ma'am.

We're going into business.
We're which?

You're going to make your pancakes, and
I'm going to sell them on the boardwalk.

Yes'm.
I've rented a concession.

We're gonna live in the rooms in
the back, and the store's at the front.

So leave everything now

and get buckets
and rags and soap.

We've got to start cleaning up.

And gather up the children.
They'll have to go with us.

I stopped on the way and talked to a
painter and a man about the fixtures.

They'll be there, so hurry up.

There. This is it, Delilah.
My, it's a very nice store.

Jessie, you and Peola
go outside and play.

There's a lovely place for you
right out in the back there.

Go on. Now go look at the
nice yard you've got to play in.

There. Won't that be pretty
when there's flowers in there?

Now be careful. And don't sit
on the floor, 'cause it's all dirty yet.

So these will be
the living quarters, Delilah.

But, of course, the most important
thing right now is the store.

I want you to take that sign down and
cover the front window with Bon Ami.

Miss Bea?
Yes.

Miss Bea, is
somebody died? What?

Is you been left money?
Mercy, no!

Well, you only had $19 and
some change this morning.

Yes, I know.

(SHUSHING)
Here's the painter.

How do you do?

How do you do?

Hello. You certainly did
come over right away.

Yes, ma'am.
Well, this is it.

Now, you see, all this has to be
painted, the ceiling calcimined,

and that back room papered
in the paper I selected.

So I want you to give me an
estimate, and please make it low.

But I must see it first.
Oh, sure. Go right ahead.

Sir, by the way,
do you paint signs?

No, but I can have one
made for you.

Well, I'll tell you what I want.

I want a great big sign with...

Delilah?
Ma'am?

Smile.

Huh?

Smile, you know, smile.

No, no. A great big one.

Oh, yes'm.

That's it! Now turn
to the right. Hold it.

That's it.
That's what I want.

A great big picture of Delilah
looking like that,

and underneath, "Aunt
Delilah's Homemade Pancakes."

You see what I mean?
Yes, ma'am.

But I must send someone
to make that up for you.

All right. Thanks.
That's all right.

Delilah!
All right. All right.

It's all over.
It's all over.

Delilah, I'm gonna
make you famous yet.

(MUTTERING)

(MUTTERING)

My Lordy, who's that?

The furniture man
about the fixtures.

How do you do?

Did you bring the estimate
on the things I selected?

Oh, yes, Mrs. Pullman.
Good.

Well, this is where the
grill should be, I think.

And all the way across here
I'd like to have shelves.

Now, look, you see,
the counter will be there.

And if the shelves start about
there and go straight up the top,

it should be nice, don't you...

Will you excuse me just a
minute? Surely. Then I'll look around.

Yes. Thank you.

Well, did you get it all
figured out? Well, I tell you.

Now for a first-class job,
there is lots of work here.

For a first-class, A-one job,

because I don't work cheap...
Yes.

The best figure
I can give you is $193.

$193?
Yes.

That should be a good job. Sure!

Yes. Uh...

5% off for 30 days?
Huh?

No, no, no. If I give you 30 days
to pay, I can't take nothing off.

All right. Well,
$193 in 30 days.

That's fine.
And you'll do a good job?

Sure.
And start right away?

Sure. I take another
man off another job. Good.

And we start right away.
Thank you.

Goodbye. Goodbye.
Goodbye. Goodbye.

You're gonna have a
nice place here. I hope so.

You'd better make it
eight tables instead of six.

Yes, ma'am.

That'll mean 32
chairs. Mmm-hmm. Yes.

The coffee urn, the grill, the
counter stools and the dishes.

Here's the list.

Installed, that will
cost you $1,560.

How much for cash?
Oh, that is cash.

Oh, that...

(SINGING)
I puts my trust in Jesus

(HUMMING)

And the terms
for monthly payments?

Well, 10% down on delivery
and $50 a month.

You're asking $156 down?

Well, I might as well pay cash!

Make it $50 straight
monthly payments.

Only $50 down?

Why, that'll hardly pay
the cost of my trucking.

Well, that's the best I can do.

You see, I'm opening a chain of
these shops all along the boardwalk.

And I already have a very large
wholesale distribution of maple syrup,

and that takes up a great deal
of my ready cash.

Make it $50 straight monthly
payments, and it's a deal.

Well, I don't know now.
You see...

How soon could you have
the fixtures installed?

Well, with the exception
of the grill, right away.

Of course, that will
take a little time. But...

Of course, you know, I
can't do much without the grill,

so you will hurry it up,
won't you?

Well, I'll do the best
I can, but...

I'll be down later this
afternoon and sign the order.

Yes, but you see...
Oh, what a lovely scarf pin.

Yes, it is.

Well, I wish you could make it
a little more down.

Now, don't be so greedy.

Just look what a big order
I've given you. Yes, I know.

Now be sure and come in
for some pancakes sometime.

Pancakes?
Yes.

Oh, pancakes.

Yes, pancakes.
Goodbye.

Thank you.
Come again.

There you are, Mrs. Pullman.
Paid in full.

Think of that.
I've really paid my last debt.

It's more than a great
many can say. Yes, ma'am.

You know, you've built up a mighty
pretty little business here, Mrs. Pullman.

Mighty pretty.

It does you good to see someone
go right ahead and make a success.

It hasn't been so easy
as all that.

You'll never know how near you've come to
getting your fixtures back on your hands.

But take it all in all, I've got by
and I've nothing to complain of.

You've no idea how often I've told
the story, the way you opened up here.

You paid nothing down
on the store

because you agreed
to put the improvements in.

And you got the improvements
because you had the store.

I guess about the only cash
you put out was on my fixtures.

And when I came to collect,
you talked me out of that.

All I had was talk.

And yet, a pretty
woman like you...

We won't go into that.

Come on, children. Time for
school. JESSIE: In a minute, Mommy.

Good day, Mrs. Pullman.
Let's go.

Let's do it over again.
All right.

England?
London.

France?
Paris.

Italy?
Don't tell me now. Rome.

Now you ask me.

Germany?
Berlin.

Denmark? Don't tell
me, now. Copenhagen.

Belgium?
Sprouts?

You mean Brussels!
Oh, yeah.

PEOLA: First thing you know,
you're gonna get a D again.

Goodbye, Mommy.
Goodbye, honey.

They sure likes
each other, them two.

Peola's smarter than Jessie.

Yes'm.
We all starts out that way.

We don't get dumb
till later on. Oh, Delilah.

It's been nice for them to
have each other all these years

when we've been so busy.

You... You think we all
gonna make money, Miss Bea?

I hope so, Delilah. Of
course, it's hard to start out.

But we've paid all our debts,
we've got some money in the bank.

We're certainly better off
than we were five years ago.

We sure is, honey. It certainly
would be nice if we got rich.

It certainly would.

I could send Jessie
away to college.

And Peola, she wouldn't have
to do housework for nobody.

Once in a while,
we could take a vacation.

Well, all the vacation I needs
is to get off of my feet.

Maybe have a little
place in the country.

There's plenty gentlemen on the boardwalk
would be glad to give you that and more

if you weren't so set
in your ways, Miss Bea.

I sees them smiling at you.

There's Peola.
I wonder what's the matter.

(CRYING)

Peola?

Peola!

What's the matter, honey?
What's happened?

Peola. What's happened
to my baby?

I'm not black! I'm not
black! I won't be black!

Peola!

She called me black.
Jessie called me that.

Now, now.

Jessie.

Jessie Pullman,
for shame on you.

DELILAH: Come on now and sit
down on Mammy's lap. That's a girl.

(CRYING)

(SHUSHING)

Now, now, now, Peola.

Calm yourself, baby.

You gotta learn to take it. You
might just as well begin now.

You apologize
to Peola this minute.

No, no, Miss Bea.

Don't make her apologize.
Ain't no good in that.

(CRYING) You!
It's 'cause you're black.

You make me black.

I won't! I won't!
I won't be black.

Jessie, how could you say such
a mean, cruel thing to Peola?

I didn't mean anything.

It ain't her fault, Miss Bea.

It ain't yours
and it ain't mine.

I don't know rightly
where the blame lies.

It can't be our Lord's.
It's got me puzzled.

BEA: Oh, dear! I don't want
to get the Old Maid again.

Your turn now.

Let's see. Watch me
pick a real good one.

Shucks!
That was a good one.

Now, be careful.
How you feeling, darling?

My headache's much better.
Is it?

Uh-huh.

School's nearly out.
It's time to be better.

Oh, Mother,
I really have got a cold.

I know you have, darling.
I was only fooling.

Anyway, I'm glad to have an
excuse to keep you home with me.

My, ain't that rain
raining terrible?

Mmm-hmm.
Surely is.

Seem like the ocean's
turned bottom side upwards.

How you feel, honey?

Better, thank you.
Oh, that's good.

My Peola forgot her
rubbers and umbrella.

I guess I better go meet her with 'em else
we'll have two of 'em down instead of one.

TEACHER: We'll read a chapter
until the rain lets up.

Then I think you'll
be able to get home.

Shall it be Little Men
or Little Women?

CHILDREN: Little Women!
All right. Little Women.

TEACHER: "Jo was very busy
in the garret",

"for the October days began to grow
chilly and the afternoons were short."

"For two or three hours, the sun
lay warmly in the high window..."

Good afternoon, ma'am.
It's raining so hard,

I brought rubbers and coat
to fetch my little girl home.

I'm afraid you've
made some mistake.

Ain't this the 3-B?
Yes.

Well, this is it.
It can't be it.

I have no little colored
children in my class.

Oh, thank you.

There's my little girl.

Peola.

Oh.

My poor baby.

Teacher, has she
been passing? Passing?

Why, yes.

Peola. You may go home.

CHILD 1: Gee, I didn't know she
was colored. CHILD 2: Neither did I.

(CHILDREN MURMURING)

I hate you. I hate you!
I hate you!

Peola! Peola, honey!

Peola. Peola!

Peola, honey!

Some rain!
Yeah.

Hello. Swell weather
for ducks. Hello.

Not for business.
No. Hotcakes and coffee.

I see you have a
window-shopper, Mrs. Pullman.

Yeah.

Some aroma. Why don't
you come in and have some?

If I had the price, I'd been outside
of six stacks of them already.

Oh.
Yes, ma'am.

I'm practically the greatest
living pancake surrounder

in the Western Hemisphere.

I took it up as a child.
Took years to perfect myself.

But I'm not having any today.
I'm sorry.

Not half as sorry as I am.

Come on and have some
anyway, on the house.

You mean it?
Sure, I do.

I'm practically in.

Why, Peola, didn't you see
your mother? Yes, I saw her.

But she had your
raincoat and rubbers.

What happened?
Nothing.

Come, Peola. Let me take
those wet clothes off of you.

Go away. Leave me alone.

Now, baby, there ain't
no need of being that way.

I said go away
and leave me alone!

What's the matter?

Don't tell her.
Don't tell me what?

She was passing, Miss Bea,
and I give her away.

She know I wouldn't have
done it on purpose.

Now, Peola, you
mustn't feel that way.

Oh, she can't help
herself just now, Miss Bea.

It's like her pappy was.

He beat his fists
against life all his days.

It just eat him
through and through.

Go on, darling.
Take your wet clothes off now.

Perhaps you'd better send her
to a different school.

I can't keep sending her to
different schools all her life, Miss Bea.

(SIGHS)

Well, were they good?
Good?

Say, listen, man and boy, I've
been eating griddlecakes for 35 years,

but I never tasted
any as good as these.

What do you put in them?
That's the secret.

That's what I was afraid of.

Too bad, too.
Why?

To keep anything as wonderful
as this away from the world.

How'd you like to trade in
another stack of wheat cakes

for a $100,000 idea?

Honest. I mean it.
Mean what?

I can tell you in two words
how to make a million dollars.

Just two?
Just two.

Did you ever hear the
story of Coca-Cola? No.

Well, when they first
put it on the market,

they used to peddle it over these
soda fountains for five cents a copy.

But it didn't make any money.

One day a smart fellow
nudged the president and said,

"For $100,000, I'll tell you in
two words how to make millions."

You know what those two
words were? Mmm-mmm.

"Bottle it."

"Bottle it"?
Mmm-hmm.

Now, the pancakes,
the flour, I mean, box it.

Box it?

Sure, box it.

Well, do I get
that stack of wheat?

The other fellow got
100,000 smackers.

Yeah!

Yeah, you get all the pancakes
you can eat, and a job besides.

Well, I don't know about that.

I ain't gonna do it, Miss Bea.
No, ma'am, I ain't gonna do it.

I don't know why
I bother about all this.

I've gone without my dinner. I
barnstormed over here in the snow

to tell her
she's on easy street.

And I get just as far as a stranded
dogfish on the Barnegat Shoals.

Now you tell her.

Now, look, Delilah. We've made
$15,000 in the last six months.

We'll double that by July,
and make $100,000 next year.

So now we want to
incorporate. Yes'm.

You see, that's the best way
to run a business.

Yes'm.

Now, here are the papers
for you to sign.

But if I sign them, then what?

Then you'll have a 20% interest
in the Aunt Delilah Corporation.

You'll be rich.

You'll have your own car,
your own house.

My own house?

You gonna send me away,
Miss Bea? I can't live with you?

Honey child, please don't send
me away. Don't do that to me.

Why, don't you want
your own house?

No. How am I gonna take care of
you and Miss Jessie if I ain't here?

Oh, Delilah.

Delilah, you'll have me
in tears in a minute.

Let me and Peola stay
the same as we been doing.

I's your cook,
and I wanna stay your cook.

Of course you can stay, Delilah.

I only thought now that
the money's coming in,

and after all, it's all
from your pancake flour...

I gives it to you, honey.
I makes you a present of it.

Youse welcome.

Oh, Delilah, you're hopeless.

I could've told you that.

Well, I'll simply have to put
the money in the bank for you.

That's all right, honey, if you
want to, against my funeral.

I does hanker
for a good funeral.

Once a pancake,
always a pancake.

(BAN D PLAYING
1930s DANCE MUSIC)

What are you doing
behind the bar, Elm?

I'm hiding.
Hiding? What do you mean?

It's all your fault.
Look at me.

What's the matter?
You look grand.

Yeah, I look like a crow
calling to its firstborn.

Did you hear what
I was saying? No.

I've been trying to say
that you're one

of the grandest party givers
in all New York.

Here, have another cocktail.
Good. I will. I want to drink a toast.

Gentlemen, I give you
the fifth anniversary...

No, no, the 10th.

The 10th anniversary of
Aunt Delilah's Pancake Flour.

Thank you.
You're all very kind.

(BAN D PLAYING)

Them boys sure play good
for white boys.

They ought to play well.
They get paid enough for it.

What's that got
to do with it, Peola?

Oh, nothing.

A charming party, Bea.
Swell.

Thank you, darling.

Hello, Hugo.
Hello, my dear.

Sorry I'm so late. It's
nice to see you anytime.

You're very beautiful tonight.
Thank you.

And so young.
Bless you for that.

Is Jessie still at school?
Yes.

I suppose she'll come home
a young lady. I'm afraid so.

Come on, honey,
I'll dance with you.

Can't you leave me alone? I
don't want to dance. I want to read.

How long is this party
gonna keep up anyway?

What's the matter with my baby?

I'm sick and tired of it.

What, the party?

No. Not the party.

What is it, baby?

What's my baby want?

I wanna be white like I look.

Peola.

Look at me. Am I not white?
Isn't that a white girl there?

Oh, honey, we's had
this out so many times.

Can't you get it out
of your head?

No, I can't.

You wouldn't understand
that, would you?

Oh, what is there for me anyway?

Peola.

Are you looking for something?

Yes. The doorbell.

The doorbell?
Yes, isn't it silly?

I can't find the doorbell.

I've heard of people lighting
matches to find house numbers,

but never a doorbell.

Do you know, by any chance,
where it's hidden?

Why, yes. It's over there.

Well, it's all right, thanks.
I can get in now.

Jarvis?
Yes, madam.

Who's the gentleman who just
came in? I don't know, madam.

I thought perhaps that...

Jarvis, the light isn't working
out there. Will you have it fixed?

Very good, madam.

Oh!
Hello.

Hello.

Well, I finally got in.
Yes, so I see.

By the way, have you
ever seen that doorbell?

Why, yes...

I suppose it's studded with diamonds,
and they put it in the safe after dark.

You know, I'm coming up here by
daylight and take a good look at it.

Yes, do.

Shall we dance?
I'd love to.

Excuse me.

Well, I was rather late
getting here.

The party's nearly over.
Not for me.

And to think I had this
forced on me.

You didn't want to come?
No.

A friend asked me.
Elmer Smith.

Oh, Elmer asked you!
Yes. Do you know him?

Yes.

He's been trying to drag me up
to see her ever since I got in town.

See whom?

Mrs. Pullman,
the pancake queen.

Oh.

I put it off as long as I could.

Mmm-hmm?

You know, these big
businesswomen frighten me to death.

Why? They're so efficient
and competent and...

But tell me,
what's she really like?

Oh, she's... Let's see. Why
don't you ask your friend Elmer?

No, he says she's beautiful,
wonderful, a noble character.

But what else could he say?

You don't think he'd
jeopardize a $50,000-a-year job.

(CHUCKLING) Not Elmer.

May I get you something?
An ice or some flannel cakes?

Flannel cakes? Yes, or
whatever she calls them.

You don't think a pancake queen

is going to pass up an opportunity
to advertise her product?

I'd like some champagne.

May I have two...
Just one moment, sir. Please.

ELMER: There must be
more than this!

But there are still
six cases left, sir.

It's going awfully fast.

Here, keep these two for me.

I may need them later.
Yes, sir.

So that's where you are!

You're late.
You're drunk.

You're a liar.

May I have two, please?
At once, sir.

Nice time to be showing up.
I've been here for hours.

No wonder I couldn't find you
hiding behind this bar.

Nice way to treat a guest.
A stranger, too.

I've been watching
for you all night.

Didn't think you'd wait
till the party was over.

Why do they build
dog kennels in bars?

Come on. I want you
to meet Mrs. Pullman.

Can't right now.
Some other time.

What do you mean,
"Some other time"?

I've something more important
to do right now.

For instance? I'm taking a
drink to a very charming lady.

You haven't lost any time,
have you?

I tried not to.

Don't you think it's high time you
paid your respects to your hostess?

Later.

Here she is, and you're going to
meet her, whether you want to or not.

Bea, this is an old friend
of mine, Stephen Archer.

Steve, this is Mrs. Pullman.

The pancake queen.

Oh.

I don't know what
to say. How to...

I've been so rude.
I'm so sorry.

Sorry! What are you
sorry about now?

I hope you'll never know.

Say, what's the matter
with him anyway?

Don't feel too badly.
I led you on to your downfall.

I feel all kinds of a fool.

You see, I was to have
met Elmer here.

And then I...
I met you instead.

It's all right now, isn't
it? If you say so, yes.

You know,
I'm not really civilized.

For the past eight months, I've been
walking on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean

with the jellyfish
and the whales.

What are you talking about?

Let me introduce myself again.
My name is Stephen Archer,

and I am an ichthyologist.

A what?
Ichthyologist. Fishes.

You know, I study fishes for those
who are interested in the life of the fish.

So you can better understand why a man
who spends all of his time with the fish

should behave like one.

Good night.

Good night.
Good night.

Have one?
No, thanks.

WOMAN: Good night.

WOMAN 2: Good night.

Well, it's getting late.
The guests are going home.

I said the guests
were going home.

Yes, I know.
It's after 2:00.

Way after.

I'm aware of the time.
Also other things.

There's no use
you hanging around here.

Tomorrow you'll just be
the forgotten man, that's all.

Then I'd better
make the most of tonight.

She's got no time
for silly romance.

She's such a charming
woman, Elmer.

Uh-huh.

And you're such a
fortunate man. Why?

To be her general manager.

You don't, by any chance, need
an office boy down there, do you?

Yes. We've got one. I'm it.

Good night, honey.
Good night, dear.

Don't forget, I'll see you
Thursday. I'll be there.

Good night, Mrs. Pullman.
Good night.

Leaving, Elmer?

Or can I get you something?

You can get my hat and coat.
I'm going home.

Jarvis, Mr. Smith's
hat and coat.

Elmer, where did you meet
that nice friend of yours?

I don't remember.

I think it was in a speakeasy.
He's a fugitive from justice.

I don't know how such
people get into your house.

You better put
the piano in the safe.

But he's a friend
of yours, isn't he?

That's my story,
and I'm going to stick to it.

That's all, Jarvis.

The old bear loves you,
doesn't he?

He's been such a faithful
watchdog to Jessie and me.

Jessie?
My daughter.

Here she is.
Oh!

She's older than that now.
She's away at school.

Well, she's charming.
Like you.

Oh, I suppose she doesn't seem
so wonderful to others, but to me,

she's the beginning
and the end of everything.

I don't wonder.

Not finished?
Are you throwing me out?

I'm a working woman. There's
tomorrow morning, you know.

This must be yours.
It's the only one left.

Oh, this is brutal.

I'll go on two conditions.
What?

That you lunch with me
tomorrow. I mean today at...

I never go out for lunch.

At Pierre's at 1:15.

All right.

But I said two conditions.
What's the other?

Will you kiss me?
What?

So I'll know I'm forgiven.
You did lead me on, you know.

Oh, it was fun.

Just a little bit cruel,
aren't you?

I'm a woman.

You're Juliet and Beatrice
and Diana of the Crossways.

All the women I've loved.

Have you only loved
characters in books? Mostly.

Waiting for one to come alive.

And now one has.

Thank you.

Pierre's at 1:15.

Good night.
Good night.

By the way, next time,

the bell is here.

I'll remember next time.

(WHISTLING)

BEA: Hello, Delilah.
Come on up.

Let's talk the party over.
It's the best part of it anyway.

Everybody gone?
Mmm-hmm.

I'm not a bit sleepy.

Don't bother about that now,
Delilah. Let it go till morning.

Miss Bea, you sure
had a good party.

I think so.

Oh, it feels good
to get those off.

I'll bet it does.

Come here.
Let me take 'em.

Come on, put 'em
up here. That's it.

That's what you used to do
in the old boardwalk days,

when my feet ached
from peddling maple syrup.

Remember?
I remembers.

We's gone a long ways
from there, ain't we, though?

We certainly have.

Miss Bea, there was a very
handsome gentleman up here tonight.

I got a peek at him.
Who might he be?

I wonder which one.

Don't you know a handsome
gentleman when you sees one, honey?

Well, there was
a handsome gentleman.

I wonder if I mean
the same one you mean.

You does, honey.
What's the gentleman's name?

Stephen Archer.

Mmm.

That's a good name
for a good man.

Funny thing, Miss Bea, I got
a great sense about a man.

You ain't taking
no chance there.

Mercy, Delilah! Of course
I'm not taking a chance!

Why, to hear you talk, you'd think
he'd proposed and been accepted.

That's all right.
Leave him be.

Things is working.
Leave him be.

I'll leave him be.

You gotta do your part, honey.

Now, what on Earth
do you mean by that?

Well, I means, if he makes
a move in the right direction,

you don't have to slap his
hand, in a manner of speaking.

Delilah, there's nothing farther
from my mind than a husband.

What he do, Miss Bea?

He's an ichthyologist.

Yes'm.

Well, I always say, there ain't a
better business for a man to be in.

He make pretty good
money at it, I guess.

At what, Delilah?

At that "ichylologist" business.

Yes, I think he does
very well at it.

Well, I declare.
Keep him indoors, I suppose.

No, outdoors most of the time.

A traveling man, I reckon.

All over the world.

All over the world. Say, honey,
what is this business of his?

It's fishing, Delilah.

Just fishing?

Uh-huh.

With a hook?

No. No, the study of fishes.

Oh. But I wouldn't
let that stand in my way.

Let him go fishing.
There's worse things.

Funny, though. He don't
look to be a lazy man.

Oh, Delilah.
You're incurably romantic.

It ain't romantic to
want a man. Just natural.

I've got Jessie.

And you've got Peola.

Yes'm. I got Peola, Miss Bea.

What am I gonna do about that
poor child? She's so unhappy.

You know, Delilah,
I've been wondering

if it might not be better
if you could send Peola

to one of those good
colleges in the South

for colored people,

where she could finish her education
and where she wouldn't be faced

with the problem
of white all the time.

You know what a disaster
her schooling has been here.

Yes'm.

If she'd only go.

Ask her anyway.

We've worked so long
and so hard for our two girls.

And for Jessie,
it's been well worthwhile.

I want you to have the
same satisfaction with Peola.

You deserve it, Delilah. I'll do
everything in my power to help you.

Maybe down there
in some other school...

Why don't you talk to her?
Yes'm.

I'll go right down,
and if she ain't asleep,

I'll try and reason with her.
Yes, try, Delilah.

Yes'm. Good night, Miss Bea.
Good night, dear.

Asleep yet, honey?

No.

Peola, won't you be a good
child like you can be, darling,

and do something for your mammy?

Don't say "mammy"!

Look here, baby,
you go down South

to one of them
high-toned colleges

where only the high-toned goes.

Wouldn't you do that
for me, honey?

A Negro school?

Ain't nothing to be
ashamed of, daughter dear.

Meet your cross halfway.

It won't be near so heavy.

Go amongst your own.

Quit battling!

Your little head's sore now
from butting against stone walls.

Open up and say,
"Lord, I bows my head."

He made you black, honey.

Don't be telling him his
business. Accept it, honey.

Do that for your mammy,
your mother, dear.

Oh, my baby.

(HUMMING)

(WHISTLING)

You back again?

Hello, Elmer.
Not staying for dinner?

No. Do you realize
what you're doing?

Don't you know you're spoiling one of
the best businesswomen in New York?

Me?

And ruining a great business?

Oh, Elmer,
you overrate my powers.

Ever since the night I introduced
you here, what's it been?

Paradise.

Yeah.
Not for the stockholders.

You're overly sensitive
about them, Elmer.

Stockholders don't expect
anything anymore.

They've been trained not to.

In the name of
the National Recovery Act,

will you let her have a day free so we can
get some office work done at the office?

Is that the only reason you
want me to leave her alone?

You'd make a great undertaker.

(LAUGHING)

My, Miss Bea,
you sure do look beautiful!

Thank you, Delilah.
Do you like my dress?

Mmm! It ain't your dress.
It's more than that.

It's in your eyes
and your cheeks.

It's come to you, Miss Bea.

What's come?
Has he gotten very far yet?

Delilah, you're
a matchmaker at heart.

There's Mr. Archer now.

Miss Bea,
when you sits on the sofa,

sit to this end, thisaway,
not to that end, thataway.

Delilah, what are
you talking about?

I's done put my bestest rabbit
foot underneath the pillow.

(LAUGHING) Oh, Delilah!

Hello, Stephen.

What are you laughing at?
Tell me so I can laugh, too.

I wouldn't dare now.
Perhaps later.

It's a century
since I saw you last.

Four hours.

Look at your lovely flowers.

It's so terribly nice of you
to send them to me every day.

Bea, down the river there,

you can't see it
because it's beyond the bend,

my boat is waiting.

In 10 days, you could
be drifting in a tropic sea

under a night sky
of the most unbelievable blue.

All full of stars
that burn warmly.

And so close, you can
almost take them in your hands.

I know it sounds too poetic,
but so help me it's true!

You'd glide past mysterious
little islands, black and silent.

And in the water
under your feet,

you'd see sudden shining streaks of
phosphorescence like shooting stars.

Flying fish.

And on the shore breeze,
there'd come to you

the perfume of warm lands,
hyacinth, jasmine.

And there isn't a sound.
It's all silent.

All my life,
I've never known silence.

There are seven
telephones on my desk.

I hear them ringing
even in my sleep.

Down there,
we don't have telephones

or conferences
or stockholders' meetings.

The only businessmen
are the sharks.

They're the collectors. Only they
don't collect, they just glide by.

It sounds like paradise.

It is paradise.

It could be if...

Bea, I haven't made a
mistake about you, have I?

You do like me?

Like you?

Uh-uh.

I love you, Stephen.
Oh, Bea!

I've loved you
from the first minute

when I looked out of the window

and you were having such
an awful time with the doorbell.

Darling!

Let's not wait very long.
Let's be married soon.

Whenever you like.
Oh, my dear!

Before you know it,

we'll be on the bridge of my
boat, sailing down the bay.

Destination?
Wherever we feel like going.

With you, anywhere!

Oh, I forgot.

What?
There's Jessie.

What about Jessie?

She'll be home in a few days
for her vacation.

Well?

Stephen, will you do
something for me?

Of course! Anything.

Let's keep it
a secret for a while.

Let's not tell Jessie anything
about you and me, not at first.

Whatever you say.

I want her to know you and like
you before she finds out about us.

You see, well, Jessie and I,

we've always been together,
just the two of us.

Now, don't you worry.
Just leave Jessie to me.

I'll be so nice to her that by the
time we're ready to break the news,

she'll be begging you
to marry me.

I'm sure she will.

Hello, Jarvis.
How do you do, sir?

Miss Pullman is in the
drawing room. Yeah?

Hello!

Hello.

Oh, I beg your pardon. I
thought Mrs. Pullman was here.

I'm Jessie Pullman.
Won't you come in?

Why, but... But it...

What?

But you're supposed
to be just a little girl.

But I'm not!
I'm grown up.

Look.

Oh, that's an old picture.
Mother will keep it out.

I'm going to have
some new ones made.

I am Stephen Archer. I'm
a friend of your mother's.

Do sit down. Mother should
be here any minute now.

She wasn't expecting me
until tomorrow.

So I understood.

How long's your vacation to be?

Oh, you know it's a vacation?

I know a lot of things
about you,

except how big you are.
There you fooled me.

I love vacations.
This one's only two weeks.

But I expect to squeeze
every minute out of it.

I couldn't get home fast
enough to be with Mother.

STEPHEN:
There's your mother now.

Mother!
Darling!

Darling!
Mother!

When did you get here?
About 3:00.

Why didn't you let me know?

I wanted to surprise you.

I had a chance to motor down
with Janie Prentice.

But I thought you wouldn't be
through with your exams until today.

I was supposed to take one
in algebra this morning,

but I would have
flunked it anyway,

so I didn't see
any reason for staying.

If it's algebra, I don't care.

But don't tell me
you failed in anything else.

Oh, no, I was a very bright child
and passed in everything else.

Mother, could I change from English
Composition to Dramatics next term?

Yes, darling.
Let me look at you!

Good heavens!
How you've grown!

I'll say I have. None of
my clothes fit me anymore.

Going to have to have
some new ones.

Oh, I can't bear it.

My little girl's grown up.
It's too dreadful.

Mother, may I go
to your dressmaker this time?

I feel so silly in these
simple things. We'll see.

And I need a new riding habit
for the horse show.

You're coming up for it,
aren't you, Mother?

I don't know, darling.
I'll try. You...

Oh, Stephen, I'm so sorry.
This is my daughter.

Oh, we're old friends.

Mr. Archer and I
have been talking.

Oh! He's an
ichthyologist, dear.

Do you know what that is?

Why, Mother, what do
you think I go to school for?

Oh, I beg your pardon!

Darling, I'm dying for my tea.
Will you run and tell Jarvis?

Of course.

Did you see Delilah?
Yes, I've seen everyone.

Isn't she sweet?
Her mother all over again.

It seems I can't do without
you even for a little while.

Even for the few minutes
I do go to the office.

Sweet.

Oh, Stephen, isn't she big?

Well, she's tall,
but she's just a baby.

I'm going to forget about the
office while Jessie's in town.

We'll give her
one round of gaiety.

Dinners, theaters, we'll go
to all the smart restaurants.

You'll help me, won't you?
Of course I will.

Ichthyologist.
Ichthyologist.

Ichthyologist. I-C-H...
Ichthyologist.

Ichthyologist. "One who
makes a study of fish."

Fish?

Here's your tea, darling.

No, thanks, Mother.
I really don't care for any.

No? Well, I'm gonna swallow
mine and then go freshen up a bit.

Not even one of these?

No, thank you.

Mr. Archer and I are going
to give you a whirl

to take the taste of school
out of your mouth.

I'm going to play hooky
from the office too.

Mother, that'll be grand!

Mr. Archer's idea.

He says he'll be proud
to take us about.

I will, indeed.

I think we're going to have
a marvelous time.

Now, you and Stephen can plan
what plays you'd like to see

while I'm dressing.

Well, have you any suggestions about
plays? I mean, do you know what's on?

I'm afraid I don't. I'll
have to look over the list.

But I'm very much
interested in ichthyology.

Are you?
That's very flattering.

Take, for instance,
the habits of the sea mew.

Is the sea mew
the same family as...

I'm afraid you have me
stumped there.

You see, my subject is fish.
The sea mew is a bird.

Oh...

But that's a perfectly
natural mistake.

The sea mew ought to be a fish.

I'm caught, aren't I?
The very first crack.

Well, it takes a bit of doing
to tell the birds from the fish.

I suppose I'd better confess.
Oh, do.

I was just bluffing
a minute ago.

I didn't know what ichthyology meant at all
until I looked it up in the encyclopedia.

But I read so fast,
I couldn't remember.

A better way for you
to learn about ichthyology

would be to see
my private aquarium.

Could I? I'd love to.
When may I come?

Would tomorrow be too soon?
Tomorrow would be perfect.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Come in.

Hello, Delilah.

Excuse me, Miss Bea.
I hope I ain't bothering ya.

What is it?
But I'm in trouble again.

Peola. She's left the school.

Oh, Delilah!

I'm sure it's not
as bad as you think.

But it's four days now
since she left the school,

and she ain't come home.

We'll go down there, Delilah.
We won't leave a stone unturned

until we find her.

Mother!
Darling, I'm so sorry.

I've got to go away
for a few days.

Delilah's just had
some bad news.

Peola's disappeared
from the school,

so you see, I've got to
go down there with her.

Mother, what do you suppose...

We don't know anything more,
darling.

I'm sorry.
Is there anything I can do?

Yes. Will you take care
of Jessie for me?

I'll do my best.

There's Delilah now.
Poor Delilah.

I'll go and speak to her.
Yes, do.

I'm awfully sorry, Delilah.

I know everything's
going to be all right, though.

DELILAH: If anything
happens to that child,

I'd just get sick all over.

I hate to run away like this, but if
you could have seen Delilah's face...

I understand.

I'll say goodbye here.
Goodbye, darling.

Telegraph me often.

Yes, I will, darling.

I wish I could go with you.

I wish you could, too,
but there's Jessie.

I know.
By the time you get back,

Jessie and I will
be great friends.

I'm sure you will.

Good evening, madam. Good
evening, sir. Good evening.

Two, please.
Certainly.

This way, please.

This must be the place.

There she is, Miss Bea!
Yes.

How do you like your new job?
Very much, thank you.

Thank you.
Give me one of those.

Yes.

What can I do for you?

Peola.

We've been looking
everywhere for you.

Are you talking to me?

There must be some mistake.
My name isn't Peola.

There ain't no mistake.
Why have you got this job?

You don't have to work. I'll
give you everything you want.

What are you talking about?

I'm sure you've got me
confused with someone else.

Why, Peola, child!
I'm your mammy!

Why, that's ridiculous! I
never saw you before in my life!

MAN:
What's the meaning of this?

This woman doesn't know
what she's talking about.

Do I look like her daughter?

Do I look like I could
be her daughter?

Why, she must be crazy!
Peola!

How can you talk
to your mother that way?

Come on, Delilah.
Come on.

Brace up, Delilah.
Everything will turn out all right.

We'll find her again.
Yes'm.

Miss Bea, there she is!
She's back.

Peola's come home.
She's back home. My baby!

Baby!

My little lamb.

Peola, you're back!

Yes, Mother.

And I want to tell you how
sorry I am for what I did to you.

Oh, that's all right.

Come, come, baby, and sit down.

It don't feel like you're
really here standing so far off.

Mother, I've done everything
you wanted me to.

I went to that school and tried
to be happy there to please you.

But I just couldn't bear it.
I couldn't! I had to get away!

I understand, baby.

We're gonna forget all
about it now. It's all right.

But it isn't all right,
Mother. I want to talk to you.

I'll go upstairs, Delilah.

No, Miss Bea. You stay,
please. I want you to hear, too.

What's my little baby
got on her mind?

I want to go away.

Go away? Go where, Peola?

I mean... By that I mean
I want to go away.

And you mustn't see me or own me

or claim me or anything.

I mean, even if you
pass me on the street,

you'll have to pass me by.

No, Peola!

I know it's terrible
of me, Miss Bea.

But you don't know what it is
to look white and be black.

You don't know.

I can't go on
this way any longer.

I can't give up my baby.

I bore ya. I nursed ya.

I love ya. I love ya more
than you can guess.

You can't ask
your mammy to do this!

You've got
to promise me, Mother.

I'm your mammy, child!
I ain't no white mother!

It's too much to ask of me. I ain't
got the spiritual strength to meet it.

I can't hang on no cross!
I ain't got the strength.

You can't ask me
to unborn my own child.

I'm sorry, Mother.

I know it's asking a lot,

but I've got to live
my own life.

Bye.

Peola, how can you
hurt your mother so?

How can you make her
suffer this way?

I'm sorry, Miss Bea,
but I can't help it!

(DELILAH CRYING)

Don't cry, Delilah.

Don't cry.
She'll come back to you.

Give her a little time.

A few hard knocks, and she'll
come running back to her mother.

That's what mothers are for!

She'll remember
that you're here to turn to.

No, Miss Bea.

I've lost my baby.

She won't ever come back.

Of course she will.

I'm going to get Julie
to fix you a cup of tea.

And I'll be down again
in a few minutes.

Thank you, Miss Bea.
I'll be all right.

Mother!
Hello.

Darling, you're back!

Yes, darling.
We came in downstairs.

Peola's here, you know.
Yes, I saw her.

I've missed you so. You've
been gone such a long time.

Five days.

It was only supposed to be two.

What's the matter?
You look troubled.

I am troubled, darling.

I've just seen such a tragedy.

Poor Delilah!

What did Peola do?
She's gone.

She's gone away.
Disowned her mother.

Oh, how dreadful!

Darling, if anything should ever
come between us, it would kill me.

Nothing can, Mother.
We must see that it doesn't.

Don't be silly, darling.
There's no reason.

Come sit down a minute.

How much have you missed me?
Lots, of course.

But not as much as I might have
if Stephen hadn't taken your place.

Oh, so I've been supplanted,
have I? But you have got on well?

Oh, have we! We've dined
out every night and danced,

seen three plays and two picture
galleries and the Bronx Park Zoo.

Well!

Your ichthyologist
is grand, darling.

I think we ought to keep
him in the family. Mmm-hmm?

He thinks you're beautiful.
He said so.

Did he?
He thinks I'm nice, too.

Mother, why do I have
to go back to school?

What's this?
Well, after all...

Too much vacation.

You don't want me to turn out
to be a stuffy intellectual, do you?

I have no very serious fears
about that, my sweet. No.

Well, after all, what's the good of
algebra and all that stuff to a girl?

You know, this sounds
very suspicious to me.

You sure you haven't some
handsome football captain in hiding?

No, he isn't a football captain.

But there is someone!

Well, I'll have
to look into that.

Right now, I want a tub. I'm so
sticky after my night on the train.

Right, darling.
And I'm going out.

Where?
Just out.

Oh, out! I see.
Out's a big place.

Be back in an hour or two.

See that you are. I've
just begun to talk to you.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello. Hello,
Stephen. This is Bea.

Oh, hello, Bea! I'm so glad you're
back. When can I come over?

I'm just getting into the tub.
Give me half an hour.

Jessie tells me you've
played the beau in grand style.

She's a most appealing little
person, Bea, half child and half woman.

I've had a delightful time.

Hurry with that bath, will
you? I'll be waiting for you.

Goodbye, dear.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Hello. Well, if it isn't
the night prowler herself.

I didn't think you'd
get up at all today.

Wasn't it too dreadful, getting
home in broad daylight like that?

I never enjoyed anything
so much in my life.

No repentance?
Not now.

I'll probably have plenty of
repenting to do when Mother finds out.

She got home about an hour ago.

Yes, I know. I've just been
talking to her on the phone.

I'm going over there as soon
as I get through fixing Horace.

Oh.

Want to come along
and have a look at Horace?

I thought Horace
was a new species,

but he's turned out to be
just an ordinary crab.

Stephen, I've just told Mother I
don't want to go back to school.

No? Why not?
I want to stay here.

Stephen, what do
you think of me?

I think you're just about the
nicest child I've ever known.

Now, don't you begin
that child stuff!

At 37, anything under 20
seems a babe in arms.

I think 37 is the ideal age.

Don't you believe it.
It's a dreadful age.

Well, I like it.

You know, I think I like the
ones with the big claw best.

The bachelors.

Poor lonely hearts. Why don't
you put a lady crab in with them?

They'd tear each other
to pieces over her.

How romantic!

For the winner.
He becomes a married crab?

For the time being at least.
Divorce is common?

Statistics show about the same
percentage as in the United States.

You're a nut.
Excuse me.

When I marry, I'm never
going to be divorced.

(CHUCKLING) How
do you know? Just that...

When a girl like me falls in
love, it's forever, forever and ever.

What makes you so sure?

Because I am in love.

You are? Well, don't you
think you might've told me?

Is he handsome?

Stephen, it's you.

I love you.

Jessie, my dear...

It's true! I do love you!

Do you think it's fair
to make sport of your elders?

I'm not! I'm serious,
Stephen, terribly serious.

Oh, no, you're not.
You're just a baby.

Oh.

Stephen, we did have
fun together, didn't we?

I thought so. Grand fun.

That night we rode
on the ferry to Staten Island,

on the top deck
under the stars...

And last night, in the open
barouche, driving up Fifth Avenue.

That was fun, wasn't it?
For you, I mean.

You bet it was.

No, it wasn't!

You were just putting
yourself out to be nice to a child!

A perfectly silly child!

Jessie!

Hello, dear. You didn't
stay long, did you?

No, I... I'm just going
down to see Delilah.

Jarvis.
How do you do, sir?

Oh, Stephen!
I'm so glad to see you!

It's great to have
you back again.

Jessie just came in
ahead of you,

or have you two
come in together?

I stopped in at
Stephen's apartment.

I wanted to see how
Eph and Maggie were.

Eph and Maggie?
Who in the world are they?

They're two of the crabs.

Oh, now, don't tell me
you've named them!

Oh, yes, they all have
names. One's Elmer.

And one's named Fanny.

You didn't know that I was getting
to be quite an ichthyologist myself,

did you, Mother?

Did you, Mother?

BEA: That's splendid.

Mrs. Pullman, can you
come right away? It's Delilah.

Oh, yes. Excuse me.

Better now?

Yes'm, Miss Bea.

I just somehow
give out all of a sudden.

It ain't nothing.

You go upstairs.

Mary here,
she'll do for me fine.

I'm going to stay right here
until you're feeling better.

Delilah, if there's
anything you want...

Thank you, Miss Bea.

There is something.

I want me a good funeral.

What?

Delilah, what are
you talking about?

No, you're going
to be all right.

No, Miss Bea.
I'm all through now.

But that's all right.
I ain't a-worrying much.

If the Lord is ready,
it ain't for me to hesitate.

Oh, no. Delilah, I just
couldn't do without you.

None of us could.

(CHUCKLES)

That's awful sweet
of you to say, Miss Bea.

I appreciate it.

But about my funeral...

All right, what about it?

I'll promise you the
finest funeral in the world,

only you must get well first.

Yes'm.

I paid my dues regular
in all my lodges.

And I'm a church member
in good standing.

And I do want a long procession.

I hope all the lodges
turn out in full.

And I hope it don't rain.

I want to go meet my maker
with plenty of bands playing.

I want to ride up to heaven

in a white velvet hearse.

Silk velvet.

Purple satin inside the casket.

I wants them colored folks'
eyes to bulge out.

And another thing,

I want horses to the hearse.

I don't like
the smell of gasoline.

Delilah, you'll have
everything you want,

but not for years
and years to come.

Oh, you.

You and your processions.

Let me tell you some good news.

What, Miss Bea?

I'm going to be married.
Why, Miss Bea!

Now you see why you've got to
get well just as quickly as you can?

Married!

The rabbit's foot did do
some good after all, didn't it?

JARVIS:
This way, Doctor, please.

Here's the doctor to see you.

Good evening, Mrs. Pullman.
Good evening, Doctor.

Well, how's the famous
Aunt Delilah?

Doctor, this big mountain lying
here thinks she isn't going to get well.

(CHUCKLING) Well, we'll have
to get her out of that notion.

We'd better get her undressed,
I think.

BEA: I'll see you
before you leave.

Very good.

STEPHEN: Jessie. JESSIE:
Why didn't you tell me?

Because your mother
asked me not to until...

Until I knew you better
and learned to like you.

Well, I did, didn't I?

I think I'll go and come back
later. Will you tell your mother?

Yes.

Goodbye, Jessie.
Goodbye.

Stephen.

How's Delilah?

I don't know.
The doctor's still with her.

Are you going?
Yes.

I was going to run along and dress and
then come back for you in about an hour.

Is that all right?

Stephen...

Do you mind
if I don't go to dinner?

Of course not.

I'm dreadfully tired,
more than I realized,

after the trip and all
that's happened today.

I understand.

You go to bed early
and get a good night's rest,

and I'll see you tomorrow.

Yes. Tomorrow
night for dinner. Yes.

Good night, dear.
Good night.

Oh, there you are, Mother.
Hello, dear.

I like your dress.

It's one I got
while you were away.

It's very nice.

Stephen not here yet?

No. Come and sit down.

Mother, would you mind terribly

if I went back to school
the end of the week?

Darling, what's the matter?

Aren't you enjoying
your vacation?

Yes, it's been very nice, but...

Well, then what is it?
You still have another week.

And only yesterday you were asking me why
you ever had to go back to school at all.

I was just talking then.
I really do like school.

And I've been thinking, if I
do a lot of cramming, I could...

Mother, may I go to Switzerland
to finish my last two years?

Switzerland?
Yes. A lot of the girls go.

Even Janie Prentice
is talking about it.

There really are
a lot of advantages in going.

Switzerland...

Mr. Smith.
Show him in.

Hello, Jessie.
Hello, Elmer.

Hello, Elmer.

Well, there you are.
You dodging me?

What have I done?
What are you talking about?

I've been trying to get in touch
with you for the last 24 hours.

You won't come near the office,

and you won't
answer the telephone.

All I can get is the butler,
and I can't penetrate past him.

You're too busy! You're tired!
You can't be disturbed!

I'd never known about Delilah
except through the butler.

Why have you gone into the
silence? What's it all about?

Elmer, what is it you want?

I just dropped in to tell you

that unless we move in the
matter of national brands,

the deal is going
to be called off.

Well, let it!

But they're willing
to meet our demands.

You turn the management over
to them and keep 50% of the stock.

That relieves you
of all responsibility.

And there's more money in it
than you can possibly think of.

In fact, there's more money than I
can pronounce without stuttering.

Would you like to hear me try?

I don't want to sell.

What?

I don't want to give up
active management.

But what's the matter?
Before you went south,

you couldn't sell quick enough.

Well, I've changed my mind!

You wanted to get
from behind that desk.

You wanted to be a human being!

I'm not going to sell! Isn't
that sufficient? But, Bea!

Must I always give you an account
of everything I do or don't do?

Bea.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Forgive me, Elmer. I really
don't know what I'm saying.

I'm so worried and unhappy.

Is it Delilah?

Yes. Yes, of course
it's Delilah.

Elmer, did you see much
of Jessie while I was away?

She came to the office a
couple of times. Needed money.

Alone?
Steve was with her. Why?

Nothing.

I just wondered.
That's all.

Hello. May I come in?
Hello, Stephen!

Is he boarding here?

Hello, Steve.
Are you following me?

Every time I come here
I find you.

You might do worse.
Might.

Well, so long.
Good night, Bea.

I hope in the morning you'll
have better news of Delilah.

Thank you, Elmer.

Hello.

You look so worried, dear.
Isn't Delilah feeling any better?

No, she's much worse.
If we could only find Peola.

She keeps calling
for her over and over.

SERVANTS: (SINGING)
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

On her soul.

Do you realize that I haven't had a
moment alone with you since you came back?

Yes, I know. And you
were gone five whole days.

I've got a great many things
to talk over with you.

So have I. I want to
talk to you about Jessie.

Mother. Mother, the doctor
wants you to come quickly.

Mother. Mother, the doctor
wants you to come quickly.

Excuse me, Stephen.
Hello, Jessie.

Hello, Stephen.
Anything serious?

Yes, I'm afraid so.

SERVANTS: (SINGING)
Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Peola.

On her soul.

DELILAH: Peola!

Where's my baby?

I's your mammy.

Delilah, darling.

I'm all right, Miss Bea.

I'm resting better now.
That's good.

But... But I'm going...

Across Jordan...

Pretty soon now.

(CRYING)

Peola?

Peola!

Doctor, leave me
have her picture, please?

It never done her justice.

Miss Bea?

Yes, darling, what is it?

Miss Bea, try and find my baby.

Yes, darling.

And if she gets in any troubles,
you'll see her through 'em?

Of course I will.

Ain't nothing bad about Peola.

She didn't mean to harm me
when she turned away.

No, of course she didn't.

Just tell her
a right sweet goodbye.

Tell her to be a good girl.

(WEAKLY) Why, Peola ain't

little more than a baby now.

Doctor!

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

On her soul.

Oh, Stephen!

(ALL SINGING)
There is rest.

For the weary.

There is rest.

For the weary.

There is rest.

For the weary.

There is rest.

For you.

On the other.

Side of Jordan.

In the sweet.

Fields of Eden.

There are fields.

Of light.

Did you know her?

There is rest.

For you

(SOBBING) Mother!

Mother!

Please forgive me.

I didn't mean it.

Mother, it's Peola.

Peola.

I didn't mean it, Mother.

Can't you forgive me?

Peola. Peola.
I killed you.

Peola, come on.

Miss Bea,
I killed my own mother.

Don't talk like that, Peola.
Come with us. Come with us.

(PEOLA SOBBING)

MAN: Step back. All right,
folks. Step back, please.

(BAN D PLAYING
MELANCHOLY MUSIC)

She worked for me,
slaved for me.

Always thought of me first,
never of herself.

Bea.

You're so lovely.

Darling, let's not
wait any longer.

Let's be married
right away, tomorrow,

and go away on my boat
as we planned to do.

Away from business and worry.

What's the matter?

Jessie's in love
with you, isn't she?

Oh. She's told you? No,
she didn't have to. I knew.

I think I knew right away
when I came back from Virginia.

Bea, I hope you
don't think that I...

Oh, no, no. I don't, not
now. It just happened.

It isn't serious. Just a childish
infatuation. She'll get over it.

No, not if I marry you, darling.

What are you saying?

I'm trying to say that we
can't go on as we planned.

No, Bea, you can't mean that.

She'll forget all about me the first
attractive boy that comes along.

Don't you see, darling? Right
now you're the man she loves.

If I were to marry you,

she'd always feel that I'd come
between her and her happiness.

But she's going
back to school next week.

She'll find new interests.

Soon she'll laugh at this
as a schoolgirl crush.

Oh, no, darling.
Don't you see?

If you're here with me, she'll
keep on thinking about you.

She won't even
want to come home,

where the three of us
would have to be together.

And the thought of her unhappiness
would come between you and me.

I won't give you up like this.

I love you.

Stephen, I love you more than I
ever thought it possible to love anyone.

Then, Bea...
Don't, darling.

Please don't make it
any harder for me.

You must see
how impossible it is.

Stephen, go back
to your islands.

And when she forgets you,

I'll come to you, no matter
where you are, if you still want me.

I shall always want you.

Then I'll come.

Let's say goodbye.

Mother?

Yes, dear?

Where's Stephen?
Isn't he staying for dinner?

No, darling.

Look what I found
in the library,

tucked away
in the corner of the couch.

Delilah's rabbit's foot.

She must've put it there
for good luck.

Dear Delilah.

Peola's decided
to go back to school.

That's good. That's what
Delilah would've wanted for her.

When did you first meet Delilah?

Oh, a long time ago.

You were just about two.

I'll never forget that morning.

I was giving you a bath, getting
you ready for the day nursery.

Why are you laughing?

You kept yelling,
"I want my quack-quack!"

Mother, I didn't.
Yes, you did.

I can hear you now.

"I want my quack-quack!"

"I want my quack-quack!"