All language subtitles for mildred.pierce.part04.hdtv.xvid-fqm

MILDRED:
And out here.

Well?

It's something, all right.
I'll give you that much.

The rent is almost nothing, the beach
down there, it's no good for swimming,

so the property is a
turkey for residential use.

Expensive grounds to keep up.

But Laguna's coming up, Lucy.

It's not just summer
trippers here anymore.

It's year-round residents.

I know. I been doing a
little checking up myself.

But, kid, are you really
sure you can swing this?

You just opened a second place in Beverly,
not to mention who you plucked to run the joint.

- What you see in that dicey...
- The luncheonette idea was

Ida's from the start.

It was her idea to expand
on the pastry business,

it was her idea to
bring in the movie crowd...

I know, I heard it.
Save it for the jury.

But look at this place, Lucy!
Tell me you don't see something.

Thirty dollars a week
and 1% of the profits.

You and Ike can take the
upper part of the house,

light, heat, water,
food, all furnished.

Oh, shut up, will you,
for God's sake? Shut up?

Is that a yes?

Listen, baby, it's halfway
between L.A. and San Diego,

right on the main line,
and Ike's still got his trucks.

It's the first honest-to-God chance we've had
to get started again, in a legal way

since, well, you know.

You want me bawling
on your shoulder?

Good. It's settled.

But we're not doing chicken.

We're not?
What do you mean?

You think these loafs come all the way
out to the ocean just to eat chicken?

Not if I know folks.

No, what they want is a shore dinner.
Fish, lobster, crab. So that's what we give them.

And that's where we make the dough,
because fish is cheap.

But we also give 'em
a little variety.

So we offer steak, right from
our very own built-in charcoal broiler.

Oh!

Well, that all sounds grand, but do you
know anything about steaks? Or fish?

I'll learn!

You seeing Ida in
Beverly today?

I am.

Good. Tell her she's
got competition.

(LAUGHING)

IDA: Mildred,
I tell you, we're in.

In the first place, I got a lunch trade
that's almost like the Brown Derby.

People that don't want planked whitefish,
special hamburgers,

they want the little sandwiches I've got,
and the fruit salads.

You... You just gotta
hear the comments.

Then after that I got
a college trade,

all these young, refined kids
on their way home from Westwood.

Then I got my tea trade with the ladies,
plus a dinner trade,

I even got a late crowd!

From noon until
midnight I got business.

And the take-out trade from those people,
it's enough to take your breath away!

- So we did all right this week?
- I'll show you how good!

- HANS: I need the flour bags...
- MILDRED: It used to be the old fire department,

but I had my eye on it
from the day we opened.

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hurry up! Hurry up!
This is not recreation here.

It's amazing, Wally. Between Glendale,
Laguna about to open, and Beverly on a roll,

it's the pies that keep it all afloat.
I never would have known.

Well, you got a quality outfit.
Which brings me back to my point.

You think I should incorporate.

WALLY: Well, let's put it this way.

With... With all you got juggling,

I'd say that old woman in Long Beach
ought to have you pretty worried by now.

MILDRED: Remind me again
about the old woman.

WALLY: Well, she's the one
that's crossing against the lights,

who your driver, he barely grazes,
so she's not hurt a bit.

But when she hears you've got three restaurants,
you're in the soup, big time.

MILDRED: Sigrid!
Pardon me a second, Wally.

Sigrid, I need you to set up that call
with the zoning regulators

about the annex.
We've got to get those plans cleared.

I just spoke with them, Mrs. Pierce,
and they say it's all right,

just as long as no
external advertising.

Oh. Fine. Thank you.
Would you let the contractor know?

Yes, Mrs. Pierce.

Mrs. Jaeckel, I'm sorry. We'll have to
go over those books tomorrow!

Oh, yes, Mrs. Pierce.

- Sigrid, huh?
- Oh, hands to yourself, Wally.

(CHUCKLING)
You were saying?

Well, it works the other way around, too,
after those five people get ptomaine poisoning

from the fish they had at your new joint,
or say they did.

Look, you incorporate, your personal property
is safe. From anyone.

Okay. You sold me.

Insurance, too.
Call me tomorrow.

Will do.

Adios, boss.

(CLASSICAL PIANO
MUSIC PLAYING)

(PIANO MUSIC STOPS)

(REPLAYING SAME
PIANO PIECE)

(PHONE RINGING)

(PIANO MUSIC STOPS)

VEDA: Hello?
Mrs. Hannen?

Is... Is everything all right?

Oh!

No!

No! Oh!

Oh, Mrs. Hannen,
you poor, poor dear!

MRS. HANNEN: (SOBBING)
He was fine one minute, and the next...

It was all so sudden.

Is there anything
at all we can do?

No, thank you, dear.

Well, do give him
our very best.

Of course.

Yes. And thank you so much
for calling, Mrs. Hannen.

Thank you. Goodbye.

What is it?
Veda?

Mr. Hannen.
He had a hemorrhage.

Walking home from his studio.

And somehow the ambulance doctor
made a mess of it,

had him lifted by the
shoulders or something

so it's much worse than
it might have been.

Mrs. Hannen was just in
hysterics about it.

Well, of course she was.
We must go there at once.

No. He's already at the hospital,
packed in ice,

they gave him some
kind of gas to inhale,

it's just hell.

Oh, Veda.

I'm so sorry.

What am I supposed to do now,

without that damned
he-bear to knock me around?

Moire.

We always thought it was pronounced "Mo-ray."
Until we heard the priest say it.

Miss Hicks, the astrologist,
brought it over with her chart,

like she did with your name.

You were in Santa
Barbara that day.

What day?

Veda?

Dear, I know you were very fond of him,
and he was a fine man,

but... But these things happen,
after all, and...

No, Mother.
It wasn't that I was fond of him.

Not that I didn't
love the shaggy brute.

To me he'll always be
the one-and-only...

Never mind.

- But he taught me music.
- Well, there are other teachers.

Yes, there's about seven hundred fakes
and advertisers in Los Angeles alone,

and I don't know
one from another.

- Besides...
- Can't you make inquiries?

No.

There is one man, just one,
that Hannen had some respect for.

He's a conductor.

His name is Treviso.

Carlo Treviso.

He conducts a lot of operas and things
out at the Hollywood Bowl,

and on the radio.

I don't know if he takes piano pupils or not,
but he might know of somebody.

Do you want me to call him up?

Veda?

(WITH ITALIAN ACCENT)
Poor Charl. I first know Charl, was in 1922.

We make tour of Italy together,
just after Mussolini come in.

I play Respighi program
with orchestra,

Charl play Tchaikovsky concerto.

Ah, the Hannen tone,
so bright, so subtle.

You come?

So, how many years
you with Charl?

- VEDA: Uh, four years.
- MILDRED: Over four.

Any recital?
Performance?

No, no.

She's extremely gifted.

CARLO: So, I hear you play.

- Now?
- Yes, now.

- VEDA: Of course.
- MILDRED: Here.

(VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS
REHEARSING)

How could you?

(SIGHS)

Dio mio.

(DOOR SLAMS)

MILDRED: Veda?

(DOOR SLAMS)

Darling!

(DOOR LOCKS)

(PANTING)

My goodness, Veda.
Open the door!

It was inexcusable
how he behaved.

Why won't you talk to me?

- What's the matter?
- It's nothing.

Well, my goodness.

You don't have to scare
everybody to death.

Mother, if you say "my goodness"
one more time, I shall scream.

I shall simply scream!

MILDRED: Veda, darling,
he's only one instructor.

You can kill it, you can kill it right now.
You can drive a knife through its heart,

and it'll dead.

- You can forget you ever tried to play the piano.
- Well, my...

Well, for heaven's sake.

The piano is not the...
Not the only thing on earth.

You could...
You could write music.

Oh, you damned, ridiculous...

Are you trying to
drive me insane?

Yes, I could write music. I could write
any goddamn piece of music you please!

A waltz, a motet,
a cornet solo with variation!

You name it, I can write it.

But not one note of it would be worth
the match it would take to burn it.

You think I'm hot stuff, don't you?

You, lying there every day,
dreaming about rainbows.

Well, I'm not.

I'm just a Glendale wunderkind.

And there is one like me in
every Glendale on earth!

Every one-horse conservatory,
every tank town university,

every park band!

We can read anything, play anything,
arrange anything...

But we're no damned good.

Punks.

Just like you.

God, now I know
where I get it from.

Isn't it funny? You start off a wunderkind,
and you end up just a goddamn punk.

Well, if that's the case,

it certainly does
seem peculiar that he

wouldn't have known it.

Mr. Hannen, I mean.
And told you so.

Instead of spending all that...

You think...
You think he didn't know it?

And didn't tell me?

He told me every
time he saw me!

My tunes stunk, my playing stunk,
everything I did stunk!

But me, he liked.

Because he saw how
I felt about it.

Christ, that was something,
after living with you all my life!

So we went on with it.

And maybe, just maybe,
Old Man Maturity might help out later.

Like hell he will!

No. No, in this racket you've
either got it or you don't,

and will you wipe that
stupid look off your face

and stop acting as if it
was somebody's fault?

Well, it certainly would seem...

After all that work,
your dedication...

Don't you understand anything?

They don't pay off on work,
they pay off on talent!

And I'm just no good!

I'm no goddamn good,
and there's nothing you can do about it!

(SOBBING)

MILDRED: Oh, Bert,
she was devastated.

I've never seen her so crushed.

She can still barely
look me in the eye.

BERT: (ON PHONE) Gotta be rough.
After all the time she put in on that thing.

Boy, oh boy.

MILDRED: (ON PHONE)
I just wish there was something I could do.

She'll snap out of it.
Veda's no patsy.

I do believe there's
something inside her, I do.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC
PLAYING ON RADIO)

I don't care what anybody says.

(RADIO SWITCHES
TO LOUD JAZZ)

Veda!

Veda!

- I'm sorry, Bert. Can... Can I?
- Sure. Go ahead.

(VOLUME LOWERS)

Honestly, Veda.

You're perfectly capable
of going on with your music,

whether the great
masters like it or not.

Battles aren't won
by quitting, after all.

And you are talented.

Whether it's concert piano or not,
you certainly have talent.

And looks, my goodness!

Well, you've always
had a lovely figure.

Or you could still enter
one of the local schools,

like Marlborough,
and prepare for college.

I'm a little old for
rolling a hoop, Mother.

Well, at least call some friends
and have a little party.

Gloria Sedgewick or Kitty?

You could... You could have it at Laguna
if you didn't want to do it here.

I can tell Lucy to set up a room
with a special table.

And there's an orchestra we can get
and you can dance or do whatever you want.

No, Mother.
I don't want an orchestra.

Thanks, just the same.

(DOOR CLOSES)

She doesn't want
to see them people.

- What people?
- Them Pasadena people.

What do you mean?
Why not?

After she's been
Mr. Hannen's candy kid?

The one that was going to
New York and play the piano

so they'd all be
hollering for her?

You think she wants to
see them people now

and just be Veda?

Well why not?
They're her friends.

They're who she
should be seeing.

I can't just sit by and allow her
to cut herself off

- from the people that...
- Why?

Why can't you leave her alone?

(PHONE RINGING)

(COMMERCIAL PLAYING
ON RADIO)

VEDA: Hello? Elaine!

He didn't!

No!

(VEDA LAUGHING)

(QUIETLY)
It looks wonderful. It really does.

Lucy, the flowers,
they're beautiful!

We're running a
high-class dump, baby.

For some reason I don't understand,
a guy with an old-fashioned on the table

likes to listen to
the bumblebees.

(LAUGHING)

And how's Ike?

He's on call, day and night.
All he needed was a chance.

Next week he's getting a new truck.
Streamlined.

Oh, Lucy.

"Service with a gardenia."
He's thinking about having it lettered on the side.

- Oh, we're living again, that's all.
- I'm so glad.

And Archie's working out?

Best steak man in town,
bar none.

Any bum can cook fish and
make money on it, but with steaks,

you can't go wrong with Archie.

- Mr. Chris never knew what he had.
- Not until we snatched him up!

(GIGGLING)

Hi, Archie.

So nice to see you again.

Denver, originally. Well, eighteen years back,
if you want to be precise.

And my wife, Fort Worth.

Forth Worth, originally.
But San Diego ever since.

MAN: Yep, San Diego.
And we like it just fine.

Well, we surely hope you'll stop by again
next time you're headed our way.

- Oh, we sure will!
- Thank you!

Hello!

CIGARETTE GIRL: Welcome to Mildred's.
May I offer you a cigar or cigarette?

MAN 1: Okay, smarty,
suppose you tell us what's hot.

MAN 2: Yeah, I didn't get
all gussied up for nothing.

- I say we hit Ciro's or the Troc.
- I say we let the gals decide.

MAN 1: Well shake a leg,
whatever you do.

ELAINE: Thanks, puss.

BARTENDER: Here you go,
gentlemen.

Mother!

Veda, darling! I'm so pleased you came.
And with all your friends.

Ace job, Mother, really.
And that ocean view! Quite a stunner.

Thank you, dear.
Is this new?

You know, you really ought to
consult me first on a purchase like that.

Mother, I just knew
you wouldn't object.

And I was so desperate
for something new.

Isn't it too divine?
Please, Mother, please can I keep it?

All right.
Just this once.

Oh, you wonderful dear!
You're such a treasure.

Oh! You must meet Elaine.
Elaine!

Mother, Elaine.
Elaine, Mother.

Lovely to meet you, Elaine.

Likewise.
Real nice place you've got.

Elaine lives in Beverly.

- Ah. And what do you do, Elaine?
- Actress.

Oh. What pictures
have you acted in?

Just character parts.

I see.
(GIGGLES)

- MAN 1: Say, let's get out of here.
- MAN 2: Yeah, you said it!

MAN 1: Anyone decide
where it is we're going?

MAN 2: Details, details.

Well, Mother, we're off.

Have a wonderful time.

MAN 1: Ladies.

- Lovely to meet you, Elaine!
- Yeah. You, too!

(LAUGHING)

I know it's none
of my business...

What?

I just think you ought to
know what's been going on.

What? With Veda?

I'd say it's been about half a dozen times now.
And always with that same awful girl.

And not just here. Ida's, too, and other places.
But with men, Mildred.

All sorts of men.

Oh, Lucy.

- MAN 1: Hold on tight!
- ELAINE: Yeah!

MILDRED: They're just young.

(SCREAMING
LAUGHTER)

LUCY: Not too young.

(CLOCK TICKING)

(TIRES SCREECHING)

(CAR PASSING)

(SIGHS)

(CAR PULLING UP)

(CAR STOPPING)

(MAN LAUGHING)

MAN: The night is young!

(VEDA MURMURING)

VEDA: Good night.

(MAN LAUGHING)

- MAN: Oh, Veda.
- VEDA: Shh!

(MAN LAUGHING)

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

(CAR DOOR SLAMS)

(LAUGHING)

VEDA: Oh, say,
don't be bashful!

Come on, Veda.
Just one!

VEDA: (LAUGHING) No!

MAN: Why won't
you even...

VEDA: I told you,
not in this condition!

(LAUGHING)
Stop it. Stop it!

Don't be such a pill!

Ugh!
(LAUGHS)

Look at you, you can barely stand.
You're going to wake the entire street!

Come on.

You really are a dolt, Sammy.

- Veda!
- Shh! Good night!

(DOOR OPENS)

(CAR STARTING)

(CAR DRIVING AWAY)

(TIRES SQUEALING)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(DOOR LOCKS)

Hello?

VEDA: Hello, Mother.

You're having a
lovely day, I see.

I feel like hell.

Mmm.

- Were you out late again?
- I suppose I was.

Well.

You know, I was talking to
Mrs. Gessler not long ago,

and she said you and
your friends have been...

Mrs. Gessler?

She said you've been in the restaurant
quite a lot with your friends.

That's all.

I don't really see how that's
any business of hers.

She's concerned about you.

She loves you like her own daughter.
And she and I...

We... We only want
what's best for you.

Mother, it was you who said I shouldn't
lie around moping all day, wasn't it?

And just because nosy Mrs. Gessler
has something to...

There's no use getting
on to that subject.

The point is there's nothing
to be alarmed about.

Nothing at all.

There's not?

Of course not.

Mmm.

The fact of the matter is
I may go into pictures.

And Elaine, she may be a bum.

There's no use being
silly about it.

I grant at once she's
nothing but a tramp.

But she knows directors.

Lots of them.
All of them.

And you have to know
directors to get a test.

Pictures?

You never said anything
about pictures before.

It's just an idea.

Well, I think it's wonderful.

I think it's a wonderful idea. Oh Veda, with...
With your looks and your talent...

Darling, if there's
anything I can do,

anything at all...

There's nothing for you to do, Mother.
Thanks just the same.

Well you let me
know if there is.

Pictures.
That's marvelous news!

A Mrs. Lenhardt is
here to see you.

- Who?
- Mrs. Lenhardt.

That's the one that
called yesterday.

Like John Lenhardt,
the director?

I don't know any Lenhardt.

Thank you, Mrs. Kramer. And check with
Beverly and Laguna before making the order.

Yes, Mrs. Pierce.

I hear Barbara Stanwyck was in Beverly
last week, sipping coffee.

Go on!

Mrs. Pierce.

I've been looking forward
so much to meeting you.

I'm Mrs. Lenhardt,
Mrs. John Lenhardt,

and I'm sure we're going to work out
our little problem splendidly.

Now why do I feel certain
we have met before?

Possibly in one of
my restaurants?

Doubtful.
We just so rarely go.

Well, I do have a branch in Beverly.
Perhaps you dropped in for a cup of chocolate.

Ha! No doubt that's it.

Can I offer you anything,
Mrs. Lenhardt?

No, thank you ever so.

Well, as I'm sure you've guessed,
I've come to discuss our children, Mrs. Pierce.

Our babies.

Our babies?

Well your little Veda,
of course,

and my Sammy.
Sammy Forrester, I should say.

I'm terribly sorry, but I'm afraid I haven't
any idea what you're talking about.

You mean Veda hasn't
told you anything?

About what?

Well, I see.

Well, in that case,
I'll try and begin at the beginning.

Please.

Well, they met... It seems only yesterday.
Actually it was a few months ago now,

at my house.

My husband, of course,
is a director,

and he was considering
Veda for a part.

And, as he so often does with these kids,
when we have a little party going on,

he asked her over.
Veda and her little friend Elaine,

another lovely child
who my husband's...

Yes, I've met Elaine.

Well.

Veda met Sam and it was
simply love at first sight.

It must have been, because that boy
of mine is so... He's so smitten, so serious.

You don't mean to tell
me they're engaged?

No.

No, I wouldn't say
they were engaged.

In fact, I know for certain that my Sammy
had nothing of the sort in mind.

But, Veda...

(LAUGHING)
Veda has somehow got the idea that...

Well, I understand it, of course.
Any girl wants to get married.

But I want to assure you, Mrs. Pierce,
that Sammy had no such intention.

So I'm sure you'll
quite agree with me

that any talk of marriage
would be most undesirable.

And why, precisely?

Because they're nothing but children,
of course.

- And from entirely different worlds.
- What different worlds?

Well, different communities,
let's say.

They have different backgrounds,
different ideals, different friends.

Sam, for one, has always been
accustomed to a great deal...

And you think Veda hasn't?

I'm not exactly on relief,
Mrs. Forrest... Mrs. Lenhardt.

Then let me make myself
perfectly clear.

If Sammy gets married,
he will be completely on his own.

And I doubt either one of them would be
terribly accustomed to that reality.

Well,

why should Veda feel this way
about it and your boy not?

I'm not a mind reader, Mrs. Pierce.

But let me tell you one thing.

If you, or that girl, or anybody,
employ any more tricks,

- trying to blackmail my boy...
- Blackmail?

You may as well understand
here and now, Mrs. Pierce,

that I shall prevent this marriage.
I shall prevent it in any way that I can,

and by legal means,
if necessary.

- Arline, there's a spill under six.
- A spill?

You were saying?

I'm saying if there
are any more threats,

any more officers at my door,

any more of these tricks
she's been playing,

I shall not only have her arrested,
I shall have her prosecuted for blackmail.

I shall not hesitate
for one moment,

for I have quite reached
the limit of my patience!

Did you get that, Arline?

- I... I was looking for the spill.
- What did she say?

She said Veda was trying to blackmail
her boy into marrying her

and if she kept it up she'd
have the law on her.

You remember that, Arline,
in case I need you.

Well.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SLAMS DOWN
HOUSE KEYS)

MILDRED: Veda?

Where are you?

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

Mother! You startled me!

Well, I'm sorry, darling.

Um...

Veda, something's happened.

I... I have to talk to you.

Well, at least let
me take off my hat.

Personally, I find pictures a bore.
Don't you?

Especially Nelson Eddy pictures.
Although I suppose it's not entirely his fault.

Veda, a Mrs. Lenhardt
was in to see me today.

- A Mrs. John Lenhardt.
- Really?

She says you're engaged
to marry her son,

or have some idea about
marrying him or something.

She's quite talkative.

Veda, darling,

what was she talking about?

Why haven't I heard
anything about any of this?

Well,

I think it's a
bit of a stretch,

saying that it was my idea
that Sammy and I get married.

Well after the big
rush they gave me,

with Pa breaking his neck
to get me a screen test,

and Ma having me over morning,
noon, and night,

and Sonny boy phoning me and writing me,
saying if I didn't marry him

he'd end his young life.

So personally I think it
was more of an ambush.

Certainly I said nothing about it
or even thought about it

until it seemed advisable.

What do you mean, advisable?

Well, Mother,
he was certainly very sweet,

or seemed so at any rate.
And they were all so encouraging.

And I certainly was
most indiscreet.

But then, after the big whoop-de-do,
their entire attitude changed.

And here I am, holding the bag.
One might just say I was a bit of a sap.

(SIGHS)

Oh, Veda.

I only wish you felt...

Holding the bag? What do you...
What do you mean?

Oh God. You don't mean to tell me you're...
You're not...

Veda?

I didn't want to
believe it myself.

Oh!

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

But how do you know?

How can you be sure?

It's true, it's only
been a couple of months,

but so far, it seems to
be the only explanation.

Oh!

Oh, Veda!

Oh, my baby.

(CRYING QUIETLY)

- Why didn't you tell me sooner?
- Mother, I was afraid.

Of me? Of Mother?

No, of course not.

But of making you suffer.

Just knowing you'd
be disappointed.

I can't bear it. I can't bear
seeing you unhappy with me.

Shh.

But what did she mean about officers?
Officers at her door?

You mean police?

I don't know.
I suppose police.

Well that is funny.

What is?

Well, from what I've been
learning about little Sammy,

it seems that any girl from Central Casting
could have sent officers to his door.

Apparently he has very
democratic tastes.

Oh, my darling.

My poor darling.

We'll see to it they do
what's right and proper.

First thing tomorrow,
I'm calling Wally Burgan.

Mother, I absolutely agree.

But I meant to tell you.
I hope it's all right.

- I've already spoken to Wally.
- You what?

Please don't worry, Mother.

He's coming here tomorrow

and he'll be able to
explain everything.

You've spoken
with Wally Burgan?

Well, I tell you,
I did a little inquiring myself

and the situation's
about what I figured.

He comes into his dough
on his twenty-first birthday.

How much exactly I don't know,
but well up in to six figures.

And when he dies, whoever he's married to,
she gets her fair share of the goods.

And that's what this is all about.
It's got nothing to do with their being too young

or whatever else that
mother's been dishing out.

It's nothing but the do-re-mi.
The old army game.

And that's why they're
so hot to settle.

Wally, we're not interested in whether
he inherits or how much he inherits.

And a settlement simply ignores the fact
that a situation has been created.

It's a terrible
situation for Veda!

Now the only thing that boy can do,
the only proper thing,

is to marry her.

I'll have him arrested
if it's the only way.

Well, arresting him
might not be so easy.

MILDRED: Aren't there laws?

Go ahead and tell her.

Well, as it turns out, I took Veda over to
the Sheriff's office just the other week

to swear out a warrant for Sam.
Nothing big, just a little morals charge.

That same afternoon,
couple of the boys went over to serve it.

Well, it turns out he skipped town.
And so far we haven't been able...

That's what she meant by officers!

You said you had no
idea what she meant...

All I said, Mother,
was that I didn't know at the time

that any officers
had actually been sent.

The very idea...

The very idea of legal steps being taken
without my knowing anything at all, whatsoever,

- is simply...
- Now hold your horses just one minute there, Mildred!

Of course I'd been
willing to talk to you.

But when I got a client says she wants
to keep things to herself...

VEDA: Mother, it's about time
you got it through your head,

that after all, I, and not you,
am the main figure in this little situation,

as you call it.

I'm not proud of it. I readily admit it's
my own fault and that I've been very foolish.

But when I act on that assumption to try
and protect you from unhappiness,

it does seem that you could give me
some credit for decent motives.

- Young lady...
- Instead of flying off the handle

- in this idiotic way!
- You have kept me entirely in the dark on this matter

and I refuse to take any more!

Wally, I am terribly sorry.

You were discussing
a settlement?

Well, they're up against a morals charge
and you're seventeen years old,

so that's all a jury
needs to know.

So we're going to meet at six o'clock
to settle on a number.

If that's the way you want to go,
I suggest you be there, too.

That is not the way
we want to go!

They'll not be allowed
to simply buy her off!

Not in her condition.
I want that boy arrested.

Look, Mildred, I understand your point of view.
But I've got to consider...

I've made my decision, Mother.
Thanks just the same.

I'll see you there at six.

Thank you for stopping by.

Over my dead body are
you meeting with them.

I'm phoning the Sheriff's
office this instant,

and if that doesn't work,
I'll hire a private detective.

You'll do nothing of the kind!

Stop that!
You listen to me, young lady!

I am still your mother
whether you like it or not!

Mother!

If you call the Sheriff's office,
they're only going to bring him back!

And if they bring him back,
he's only going to want to marry me,

which isn't quite
what I had in mind!

You see, he's quite crazy about me.

He's even rather sweet at times,
in a Buster Brown sort of way.

But as for matrimony,
I beg to be excused.

I'd much rather have the money.

You...

Now I know what that
woman meant when she...

You really are just
trying to shake her down,

shake the whole family down,
for money!

Are you even pregnant?

Really, Mother.

At this stage, it's rather
more a matter of opinion.

Oh!

(WHISPERS)
Oh, God.

(GASPING)

Veda, how could you?

If you had loved this boy...

But to pretend you loved him,
to lead him on to get money out of him!

How could you?

VEDA: Merely following in
my mother's footsteps.

What?

Stop being so tiresome!

Do I have to spell
it out for you?

There's the date of your wedding
and there's the date of my birth.

Figure it out for yourself.

I suppose it runs in families.

Why do you think
I married your father?

I rather imagine
he married you.

If you mean why you got
yourself knocked up,

well I suppose you did it
for the same reason I did.

For the money.

What money?

Mother, in another minute I'm
going to be getting annoyed.

Of course he has no money now!

But at the time, he was quite rich.
And your father, he ran a garage.

But why, Veda?

Haven't I given you everything
you've ever wanted?

If there was something you needed,
couldn't you have come to me first

instead of resorting to this?

To blackmail?

You want to know why?
I'll tell you why.

With enough money,
I can get away from you!

You...

And your pie-wagons, and chickens,
and everything that smells of grease!

I can get away from Glendale,

and its dollar days,

and furniture factories,

and women that wear uniforms
and men that wear smocks!

From every rotten, stinking thing
that even reminds me of this place.

Or you.

I see.

Well, it's a good thing I found out
about your little scheme when I did.

Because had you gone through with it
or even tried to,

you'd have been out of here a lot sooner
than you might have expected.

You don't make those
decisions anymore.

There's nothing you can say
about what I do or when I do it!

Then get out! Now!

This is unacceptable!

Unacceptable?
Coming from you!

I have no idea what
you're talking about.

Oh, jeepers, let's see!

Father, Monty, Wally.

You take what you need!

That's it.
That's it!

You get your things out
of this house this instant,

or you'll find them in the middle
of Pierce Drive when you come back!

Mother, you needn't
be so over-dramatic.

I said now!

You witch.

You shrew!

You hideous cow!
(DOOR SLAMS)

I am never coming back to
this hovel as long as I live!

(DOOR SLAMS)

Oh!

(DOOR LOCKS)

(DOOR BANGS)

VEDA: See this place in
a thousand years is too soon!

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR SLAMS SHUT)

(LOUD FOOTSTEPS
RUNNING)

(HUFFING AND
SNIFFING)

Veda. Where do you
think you're going?

(CAR PULLING AWAY)

Veda!

MILDRED: Well, the Victor Hugo,
that's news.

That's what she said.

Having the toniest
restaurant downtown

wasn't enough, apparently.

They need one here
in Laguna now, too.

And where, exactly?

A mile down, she said.
Near the Texaco.

Funny Ida called you.

Wanted to be sure
and give me the good news.

The Victor Hugo,
that's competition, all right.

Hmm.

I guess we must be
doing something right.

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHING)
Yeah. We should charge a commission.

Don't worry, baby.

The shine'll wear off that place
real fast. You watch.

- Oh, I'm not worried about that.
- No?

No.

No word?

Not in months.

What about Bert?
Does he see her?

He says she's
living in Hollywood.

Somewhere on Franklin.

That's all.

Look, baby.

Maybe it'll do her some good
fending for herself for a while.

Kids learn fast it ain't
all it's cracked up to be.

No.

It certainly isn't.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC
PLAYING ON RADIO)

RADIO ANNOUNCER: And coming up next,
my little chickadees, right here on

the Buzz Winston Family Hour, is the swellest
of talents to grace the waves this season,

a sweet little gal with
a voice like an angel.

You're not gonna believe the
notes this local girl can hit!

(CHANGING STATIONS)

♪ When I'm awfully low
and the world is cold, ♪

♪ I will feel a glow
just thinking of you ♪

♪ and the way
you look tonight. ♪

♪ Oh, but you're lovely
with your smile so warm ♪

♪ and your cheeks so soft. ♪

♪ There is nothing for
me but to love you. ♪

♪ Just the way
you look tonight. ♪

♪ With each word
your tenderness grows, ♪

♪ tearing my fear apart. ♪

♪ And that laugh that
wrinkles your nose ♪

♪ touches my foolish heart. ♪

♪ Lovely... ♪

♪ Never never change. ♪

♪ Keep that breathless charm. ♪

♪ Won't you please arrange it, ♪

♪ cause I love you. ♪

♪ Just the way
you look tonight. ♪

MAN: Great job tonight.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

Bert?

Oh, Bert.
I'm so glad you called.

No, I was...

I was going through the
hall closet the other night

and I...

found some things of Veda's
that I thought she might want.

- BERT: Of Veda's?
- Mmm-hmm.

Just some winter clothes.

Sure, sure.

I didn't... I didn't know if you had
any plans to be seeing her,

- but if you did...
- No.

I thought perhaps...

No, I haven't seen her in
quite some time, in fact.

Could you call her?

Bert?

Well, sure, I can call.

I know she'll want
her winter coat.

Her piano.

Mildred, listen.
Of course I can call her.

I know you see her, Bert.

I know you talk.

It's just... I can't stand it...

I have to know what's
going on with my baby.

Listen to me. There's
something I gotta show you.

What?

- Can I come over there?
- What are you...

What, you... You mean now?

(KNOCKING)

Bert...

Take a look.

But...

I don't understand.

Singing?

That's what it says.
Soprano!

"Hank Somerville program
conducted by Carlo Treviso?"

That's the... That's the one
who threw her out on her ear!

I remember.

How long has this
been going on?

Couldn't prove it by me. But the way I get it,
Veda's been on the air a lot already.

On the little afternoon programs
nobody pays attention to.

That's how she got this chance
with a big national hookup.

I'm reeling.

Well, it just goes to show
the kid had the stuff all along,

to get a spot like that
with a big jazz band,

and nobody giving her
any help but herself!

- She does look lovely.
- She sure does.

She'll be going out live,
nationwide,

from the NBC studio
in Hollywood.

How did you find out?

She called you?

She called me up
and told me the good news!

And she'll call you up, too.
Of course she will.

Oh, no.

- She won't call me.
- Sure she will.

Look, I know how you feel,
but this is the kid's first big chance.

And it's a chance, all right.

If these torch singers have
the right hot licks on their first night out,

they can hit the
big time overnight.

Oh, don't be like that.

Why don't we listen
in together?

Make a night of it.

What do you say, Mildred?

I still haven't seen
your place at Laguna.

Oh, I suppose you're right.

Thanks, Bert.

You come out to Laguna
and we'll make a night of it.

That's what I like to hear.

What's all this?
Veda's singing on the radio?

That's it, all right. Turns out she's been
making quite a splash on the local channels.

One of the girls said she heard Veda
was on the radio but I didn't pay it any mind!

Though I can't say I'm surprised.
You must be bursting!

- I certainly wish her well.
- That's charitable.

Come on, I set you up outside.

All right, fellas, just put it in the corner
where I told you, over there.

Careful, careful!

That was some dinner, Mildred.
Perfect steak.

You hear that, Lucy?
You got a fan.

Any more of him
where he came from?

- You saw the dinner trade.
- I'm afraid I did.

Is it already time?

Any minute now.

ANNOUNCER: Coming up
next on RCA Radio,

The Hank Somerville Music Hour!

- I hear she's got quite a style, your little girl.
- Oh you bet!

If hot licks are what it takes,
this kid's got 'em.

Hear, hear.

( ANCHORS AWEIGH playing)
SAILORS: Ahoy! Ahoy! Land ho!

Thar she blows! Ahoy!

Is this it?
Is that the program?

Oh, sure.
It always starts like that.

(MUSIC ENDS)
SOMERVILLE: The Hank Somerville Music Hour,

sponsored by Snack-O-Ham, the snackin' ham
that smacks of goodness. I'm Hank Somerville,

and tonight, our guest is
Los Angeles' own Veda Pierce!

Now is that your real name,
Miss Pierce?

VEDA: Yes it is.

SOMERVILLE: I want to know.
Is your voice unduly piercing?

(CARTOON SOUND EFFECT)

VEDA: No, but my scream is, as you'll
find out if you make any more such remarks.

(LAUGHING)

She put that one across,
all right!

SOMERVILLE: And what will you be
singing tonight, Miss Pierce?

VEDA: The Bell Song,
from Delibes' Lakme.

- The...
- SOMERVILLE: Oh, my!

Which?
(CARTOON SOUND EFFECT)

SAILOR 1: He's down, boys!

SAILOR 2: What do we do?

SAILOR 1: Quick!
Grab the smelling salts!

- SOMERVILLE: Say, what's the big idea?
- What's it about?

It's a big, operatic aria.

The idea is it's a little
over the Kaydets' heads.

- Shh!
- SOMERVILLE: Look, she's about to begin...

Oh, now I get it.
(FANFARE PLAYING)

Oh, don't worry.
She'll knock it over all right.

(VEDA SINGING
A CAPELLA)

Oh, hey, hey, hey!

(ORCHESTRA PLAYING)

♪ Ou va la jeune Indoue... ♪

♪ Filles des Parias... ♪

♪ Quand la lune se joue... ♪

♪ Dans le grand mimosas... ♪

♪ Elle court sur la mousse... ♪

♪ Et ne se souvient pas... ♪

♪ Que partout on repousse... ♪

MAN: Will you get a load of that?
Holy smokes!

BERT: Mildred?

♪ L'enfant des parias... ♪

♪ Le long de lauriers roses... ♪

♪ Revant de douce choses... ♪

♪ Elle passe sans bruit... ♪

♪ Et riant a la nuit. ♪

(VEDA TRILLS
TO A CRESCENDO)