"[ London in front of Dreyer's Book Shop ]" "[ Bell rings when door opens ]" " Good morning, sir, can I help you?" "Well, I wonder if you can, uh..." "Eh, um, this Principia Mathematica is in the wrong place, isn't it?" "If they move it you will ruin Mr. Matthews' study program." "Hmm?" "He comes in and works his way through it at lunchtime." "That's his bookmark." "Old man (trial) is a bit like a puppet reading them." "No wonder he can't afford to pay us a decent wage." "Well, it's more important that people read books than buy them." " That's right." " That's rubbish." " Hey, what's happened to the Metternich?" " Sold." " Oh, damn." "I'm sorry, sir, it seems to have gone." " If you'd like us to find you another copy, we can..." "[ Front door closes and bell rings ]" "Well, he's gone, too, the (old man of swine)." "Umm...what are doing for lunch?" "Huh?" "Oh I brought some sandwiches." "Uh, then you won't mind watching the shop while I whisk Jennie of to the latest emporium" " of the Aerated Red Company." " [ Door opens/rings ]" " No." " Good man." "I'll get her going." "In this weather, you know, you really ought to have something hot to eat in the middle of the day." "Yes, uh, I'm a big boy now." " You certainly like to have other people on you side. [ Cashier's ring ]" " Come on." " I'm coming." "Anyway, I like sandwiches." "[ Door bell rings ]" " Can I help you?" " Uh, uh, yes, of course." "[ Clears throat ]" "[ Clears throat ]" "[ Door bell rings ]" "Where's the fire?" " Huh?" " Something's burning." "Damn!" "Always doing that!" " (Sands) so quickly." " (Sainting clips to mars) on your concentration." "That's my business." "I don't care for your tone." "It's mutual." "I'm Unity Stirling." "Oh yes, well you will have to tell me if I should be impressed" "I'm new in London." "My father is a friend of Mr. Dreyer's." "Mr. Dreyer has some weird and wonderful friends." "You're a very rude young man." "Only when provoked." "You're paid to work here, aren't you?" "Not very much,...and certainly not enough to cross-examined by every society Miss who happens to wander in." "I asked a perfectly civil question." "Yes." "All right." "What can I do for you?" "I want to sell this." "I don't suppose you've even heard of Grimmelshausen." "Author of Simplicissimus, supposedly the greatest" "German novelist of the seventeenth century." "You'll be tell me you've read it next." "Only in translation." "Oh, this is only the 1912 edition." "It's still very rare." "Huh." "You know it's a pity you wrote your name in ink on the flyleaf." "What's the best you can offer?" " Nothing." " Nothing?" "Mr. Dreyer does the buying." "It's an absolute rule." " You can leave it if you like, and I'll show it to him." "How do I know I can trust you with it?" "Huh." "Don't then." "What's you name?" "Edward Richardson." "Keep it, and tell Mr. Dreyer I'll be in touch." "A pleasure, Miss Stirling." "Thank you, Mr. Richardson." "[ Clears throat ]" "[ Sniff ]" "[ Sigh ]" "Oh, damn." "[ Sigh ]" "[ Blowing ]" "[ Books slap table ] Conan Doyle." "Shall I enter him as Doyle or Conan Doyle?" " I don't think it matters much as long as you remember. - [ Ring ]" "Doyle, Sir." "Arthur Conan." "That would seem to cover all eventualities." "(It's Dreyer's day today.)" "Somebody actually paid cash for a book." "Mmm, your butler." "(The day must have unnerved 'em.)" "Just because you're jealous of my entrepreneurial flair..." "Watch it." "Here comes himself." "Um, aroused, no doubt, by the unaccustomed tingle of the till." "[ Register ring ]" "[ Clears throat ] A Study in Scarlet, first edition." " Exploits of Brigadier Gerard." "Oh, how goes the introduction of our (birth in the field)?" " Problematically." " It's coming along." " We've got it filed the "D's."" " Umm?" " Amazing." " You don't sound convinced." "My boy in certain years [ Ring ] I've seen more systems come and go when I've had a system since that's possible." "This one will work." "May I live so long." "But carry on." "Please, carry on." "Oh, Mr. Dreyer." "Thank you." "Uh, (get toward the) brigadier generals." "Oh yes, and uh, Rodney Stone." "Rodney Stone (Badly Foxed a Mart)." " Uh, both first editions." " (Come on.)" " I was, uh, thinking about having something hot in the middle of the day today." " Oh yes." "I wondered what you were doing." "If that's an invitation, I accept." " That's a date." " [ Ring ]" " Excellent." "A Straggler of '15." "[ Ring ]" "That's supposed to be one five." "And (The Story of Wolfe and Knew)." "[ Nancy Holland ]" " I'm looking for a friend." " Irving edition." "No papers missing." "[ Nancy ]" " Edward Richardson." "Nancy!" "Hello." "Excuse me." " Thank you." " Well." " Yes." "How long you down for?" "Just the day." " It's difficult to talk." " Yes, well." " At that time, I-I mean, if you could spare a few minutes" " at dinner time." " Oh, I might." " Not if you're busy..." " Let me just go and see." "Jennie." "Is it time for lunch?" " [ Gasp ] About that." " Yes?" "Well, she's an old friend from home, you know." "She's only here for the day." " So, uh,...well I wondered..." " You're forgiven." " You're a brick." " Yes, I know all about that." "Why don't we go out one evening?" " We could." " This evening." "What do you say?" "All right." " Now that is a date." " Don't keep your friend waiting." "[ Opens door; rings ]" "[ Closes door ]" "Sandwiches, anyone?" "Well, this is a funny old place you picked on." "It's all the rage." " Do you come here often?" " Actually, it's my first time." "(Gelam Sharpe),...was she your London girlfriend?" "Well, good Lord no, she just works there, that's all." "Would I, uh, I don't think she minds, you know." "[ Laughing ] Yes, I do." "[ Orchestra plays ]" "Well, what brings you to London?" "You, mostly." " Oh?" "I'm flattered." " I'm pleased." "It's just that, well..." "I thought we hadn't talked since Tom." "He killed himself." "It was an accident." "We have the accidents we need." "Perhaps." "Who are you trying to fool?" "You knew something terrible was going to happen that night, and so did I." "I could hear it in your voice." "If I had come over as soon as you had telephoned the chances are that Tom would still be alive today." "Why didn't you?" "God knows." "That's a lie." "I had..." "Tom..." "(beneath an idiot)." "I'll not believe you wished him harm." "I never wished him well." "Not with her." "Not Tom, Alex, anyone." "Tom shot." "Alex drowned." "(We'll say who caused the accidents, won't he?" ")" " You weren't the cause." " Who else?" "I don't blame you." "I wanted to say that at the funeral." "Thank you." " I think you can blame the McKechnie's much more than you or Lydia." " What would you like?" " Tea." " And to eat?" " Sandwiches..." "[ Indistinct; applause ]" "Twice." "Anyway, let the past bury it's dead." " Just like that!" " More or less." "Life starts everyday." "And for me that's here..." "now." " I don't think I could ever leave it for a moment." " No." " Or you?" "No." "But, then, I don't think writers need happiness, security or even approval." " What they need are experiences." "Places they can observe." " Absorb and use." "People, too?" "No one can use people who don't allow themselves to be used." "No." " Cash or check?" " Oh, heavens, cash." " I've seen this new dress I simply have to have, and a check would be impounded by my bank manager [ Ka-ching ] towards paying off my overdraft, or something equally absurd." "About tonight, I see city lights are (gone on Cinnamon Ritson Road)." " The carriage trade doesn't take kindly to being stared at, you know. - [ Clack ]" " There, then." " Thank you." " Not at all." " Hello." " Hello." " So, you two have met?" " Why yes." "Don't let me interfere with the running of the shop." "Mr. Richardson and I know each other (over)." " She left the Grimmelshausen with me." " Only because he wouldn't buy it." " I'm not allowed to, I told you." " It's true." "The buying, perhaps the sale of this company, but you must allow" "(those man) his one remaining pleasure." " Only one." " Ha, ha." "Now, now." "Will he make a bookseller?" "Ah, I doubt it." "I do a fair day's work." "For often less than a fair day's wage." "That's also true." "Only, I fear your heart's not in it." "Mr. Richardson aspires to be a writer." "Is that so?" " I must be going, so..." " Remember me to your father." "I will." "We give at-homes for writers, actual and aspiring." "There's one tonight, six o'clock to eight-thirty." "Mr. Dreyer has the address." "Well, if I decide to come I'll ask him for it." "Hm, au revoir." "[ Door bell rings ] What does she think she is?" "Max Stirling's daughter." "The publisher?" "The very same." "Oh." "[ Clears throat ]" "[ Clears throat ]" "Don't tell me." "She's only (inleven) for the night." "No, but, uh...her father's Max Stirling, the publisher, and he's giving an at-home tonight." " So if it wouldn't be inconvenient..." " Oh, not a bit." "I've been meaning to tell you, I find I have an engagement, anyhow." "Oh, good." "Well then, perhaps tomorrow night?" "I'm afraid that's booked, too." "In fact my lunchtime's and evenings are pretty full for the foreseeable future." "Excuse me." "Tell me." "To what do you think this day will attribute to your success, uh, talent for sexual aggrandizement or...sheer sexual ardor." "[ Laughter ]" " Daddy see, George has been trying to have a word with you all evening." " Bertram, darling!" " Well?" " It's uh, it's about the advance you're offering." "If you want to talk about business come to my office." "That's what offices are for." " Poor George." " I shouldn't worry about him." " Keeping him fondly confounded like a (dog) is one of Max's foibles." "What the devil does he ask us here for?" "He doesn't, these literary soirees are Unity's events." "One of Unity's events." " That's unkind." " Also untrue." " Unity's specialty favors are hidden if Wine's here." " Ha, ha." "Poor, poor George." "[ Piano plays ]" " Who's that priceless woman?" " My wife." " Sorry." " My sentiments entirely, my dear fellow." "You must be a friend of my daughter's." " Max Stirling." " Richardson." "Well you look as though you're enjoying yourself about as much as I am." "I don't really know what to say to strangers." "I suppose you want to be something in publishing?" "Actually I want to be a writer." "Oh you're the boy who works for Otto Dreyer, and you write in your spare time?" "His, too, I imagine." " Are you any good." " I'm getting better." " So, what are you working on now?" "A novel of London life." "Ho!" "Join the queue." " Oh, well." "And when it's finished, may I send it to you?" "Why not?" "If you don't, Unity undoubtedly will." "[ Unity laughing ]" " Oh!" "Come I'll introduce you to Father." "We've already introduced ourselves." "Well, how very enterprising." "I liked him." "At least he was real." "A real (woman)." " Yes." " You are funny." "Hello, (darling) you look divine!" " Most people are real, you know." " Here?" "Just because we're not like Evansford." "Oh I don't hold any brief for Evansford." "I left Evansford." "Yes?" "Well because it's ugly." "Looks like a scar on the countryside." " [ Unity laughs ] - (Looks static moment.)" "A running sore." "And the people in it most of them are dull, narrow, limited." "But that's because of lack of opportunity, more than anything." "But these people,..." "they seem to choose to stay on the fringes of it." " (Doubless, worthless...)" " But amusing." "You're altogether too serious." "Why don't you ask me to have dinner with you?" "Have dinner with you?" "I can't." "[ Unity giggles ]" "I thought I knew someone like you, once." " In Evansford?" " In Evansford." " And you got hurt." "Other people did too." "Oh, ho-hum." "Goodnight." "Oh!" "[ Sigh ]" "If we hurry we can catch the second "House of City Lights."" "And upset your landlady into the bargain." "I'll get my coat." " Goodnight." "Goodnight, Sunshine." "[ Closes door;" "laughter ]" "[ Cheerful chatter ]" "Care for a drink?" "Um, sorry I'm having one." "Ah, how about you?" "Actually we're having one." "Oh." "Oh, I see." "Well, um...see you." "[ Closes door ]" "We should have asked him to come." " D'you want him to come?" "No, - [ Ring ] but I hate to hurt a person's feelings." "You're a very nice girl." " Well, what's wrong with that?" "So dull." "Can't I be interesting?" "[ Edward laughs ]" "[ Opens and closes door ]" " Cheers." " (Close your eyes.)" "[ Edward giggles ]" "Hm..." "I've always meant to ask you." "How does a wild, Welsh girl like you come to be working in a bookshop in the Charing Cross road?" "Well, to understand that you have to know Wales." "Well, I've got the general picture." " Statuettes." " Women in funny hats." " All that, yes." "Rugby football, male-voice choirs, beer, oh, and of course coal." "Of course, is right." "Where I come from the beginning and the end is coal." "Coal is everywhere." "Fouling the streams...." "In the air..." "In your food and lungs and skin and clothes." "It's in the...fish-belly pallor of men, who all their working lives crawl underground in the dark like moles." "[ Register ring ]" "It's the dark coin of the realm where one man can profit by exploiting others." "Your father must have been a miner for you to hate it so much." "No, but his father was." "Mine was a teacher." " Books were his window on a better world." "I was brought up to believe they were more valuable than gold." "[ Sigh ]" "But I can't write and don't want to." "So." "It makes more sense for me to work in a London bookshop than someone like you." "Yes, I see what you mean." "You've hardly told me anything about yourself." "Well there's not much to tell." "Oh, you don't like to remember the past, do you?" "Not much, no." "Was it so terrible?" "At the time..." "but it's passed." "Over." "That's simplicity in words." "And yet?" "You've such a look of sadness to you sometimes." "Have I?" "As if you didn't know." "[ Street traffic noises ]" "I'd ask you in for coffee, but... well, you know, my landlady." "Yes, I do." "Well." "Mine's as deaf as a haddock." " Is that a fact?" " (You know.) - [ Dog barks ]" "Well I'm not walking you home." "Pity." "Not tonight anyhow." "[ Kiss; dog barks ]" "[ Dog barks ]" " [ Door closes ]" "[ Sounds of partying ]" "[ Traffic noise ]" "[ Crowd talking loudly ]" "[ Car door slams ]" "[ Car door slams ]" "[ Car departs ]" "[ Laughter in car ]" "[ Applies parking brake ]" "Miss Aspen, I'm afraid I can't take you anymore." "I'm afraid I'll have to give it up." "It's for your own good." "Miss Aspen?" "Miss Aspen you have to wake up." "We're home now." "You have to wake yourself up, Miss Aspen." "[ Turns off engine ]" " Where are we?" " We're home, Miss." " That's what I been trying to tell you." "Where have we been?" "Why to London." " You and Nora made me drive you to London, Miss Aspen." " London?" "Where's Tom?" "Why isn't Tom here?" " We left him behind." "Is that it?" "Oh, how could we?" "We must go back and find him now." "Yes, that's what we must do, we must..." "Oh, no!" " [ Crying ]" " Oh, take me home." " You are home, Miss." " [ Crying ] No." "No." "How's Lydia?" "Do you really want to know?" " Yes." "Wild." " How do you mean?" " She and Nora Jepson." "Almost every night she hires Blackie's car and go out to Lowlands." "Anyway, wherever they can go." "And men?" " Plenty of them, too, I suppose." " I don't know." "But, drink and...rowdiness and general [ Indistinct; applause ]" " Strip poker and naked bathing in front of the hotel." "You never really liked her, did you?" " Well, as a matter of fact, I did." " I was really dazzled by her." "Weren't we all?" "What I didn't like was..." "the way people around her... people I liked..." "seemed to get hurt." "And, you said it, needed to hurt each other." "Still," "(it's taken really out of your book.)" "That's all in the past." "I'm getting married." "But you can't." " Don't you want me to?" "No." " Yes." " I don't know." " I just never thought about it." "No." "I decided to when I last saw you." "Three months ago to the day." "Well, who's the lucky man?" "Charles Tennian." "Well, you did know him." "(Fonds out Sundraft Place.)" " Nancy, look, uh..." "I'm sure he's very nice." " Well, a farmer's wife." "That's not good enough for you." "You don't know the first thing about me." " I've known you all your life." "Well, did you know that all my life I've loved you?" " In a way." " With all my heart." "I just never realized how that felt until I felt it for Lydia." "It's bad I didn't go." "She and Tom." "That's all the hurt you were." " [ Sigh ] What a muddle." " Yes." " Just, just because..." " Oh, I'm not marrying" "Charles the a rebound." " You're sure?" " Quite, quite sure." " I've always loved you." "I still love you." "But I always will." "But, we come from different worlds, and I see that now." "It's not just that you're clever." "We were close." " Yes." "[ Sigh ]" "We had some good times together." "Were they the same, I wonder?" " You liked dancing didn't you?" "(But see.)" "I can't forget how it ended." "(Alex) dead;" "Tom dead." "[ Sniff ] (How you cried when you heard the news.)" "Mrs. Sanderson's face at the funeral." "(Used to you being a fort to hisself,) and you come down here." "(Why isn't this penny our day?" ")" "[ Indistinct ]" "Things you can't even remember." " Those are things I shall treasure." " So you see I shall be happy." " That be enough?" "And I shall make Charles happy, too." "I'm willing to settle for what I can get." "That's something you'll never be able to do." "Which is partly why I don't see..." "[ Loud music begins ]" "[ With loud noise background ] I hope...you'll be very happy." "Thank you." "[ Indistinct ]" "No." "Well, one for the road." "[ Indistinct ]" "[ Nancy sobbing ]" " It was the end of a chapter, somehow." " I mean..." "Nancy..." "Tom." "We went to school together." "Played together" "Grew up together sometimes." " Did you realize she was in love with you?" "So-so." "So when you're with someone day in and day out you don't really stop to think about it, do you?" " No." "Not that I wanted to." "Somehow I sorted it out." "I couldn't really imagine a world in which" "Nancy wasn't in it." "Then." "And Alex was my best friend." "What an epitaph." "How to describe..." "Alex Sanderson's quick silver." "He was gay, witty, charming." "Very handsome." "Girls pining for unrequited love all over North Hamptonshire." "He was very...very shrewd." "Also he drank too much." "Why?" "'Cause he was bored." "(When he saw a put at the time.)" "Now I think it was because..." "he chose to skate over the surface of things rather than what lay below them." "Pain...anger...envy." "Fear." "I introduced her to them all." "I was proud of her." "I loved her." "I thought she loved me too." "She said she did." "'Near, and far, always and everywhere.'" "And that was just the way she wanted to be loved." "Once she realized that I..." "that any of us... she could play one of us off against the other." "It was all a game to Lydia." "A game in which two of us got killed." "Then I..." "Oh, Jennie." "Oh." "You suddenly remembered I was (read you), have we?" " If that's what you need to believe." "Then what else?" " You made all the running, didn't you." " Yes." "I mean, I didn't exactly have to twist your arm to get you to come back here." "No." "I mean, what the hell!" "You're so sorry for yourself." "I can't compete, that's all." "That's a filthy thing to say!" " It's a fairly filthy thing to do." " What?" " Using self-pity as a seduction technique." "Oh, ho, my God!" "You wouldn't be so angry if it wasn't true." "What a bitch you are after all." "Oh, but there are lots of bitches in you life, aren't there?" "I expect Nancy will become one pretty soon." "Now she's no longer prepared to hand around." "In case, one day, you might just possibly wish to avail yourself of her." "[ Slap ]" "And you a writer." " [ Sighing ] Well." " I'm sorry." "I shouldn't have done that." "No, I brought it on myself by overestimating you." " If Lydia did the same,...she's the one I feel really sorry for." " Get out!" "Don't worry, I will." "But think about it." "May be too late to help you as a man, might help your writing though." "[ Opens door ]" "Care for a drink?" "Sorry, I'm having one." "No pointing out for you, I suppose?" "Actually, we're having one." "Oh..." "I see." "You could come if you like." "No, actually, I've got to get this in the post." " If you're sure?" "So." " Have a nice time." " Thank you." "[ Opens front door;" "bell rings ]" "[ Front door bell ]" "We're closed, I'm afraid." "[ Bretherton walks in ]" " You inaccurate." " Same old Clutterhead inaccurate as ever." "Mr. Bretherton." "Well." " What can I do for you?" " Well, for a starter you can" "(cutoff than damned coffee-nose.)" "I'm not here to twist your tail." "Good Lord, no." "In that case, why have you come?" "[ Laughs ] That's good." "That's very good." ""In that case."" "(We're gettin' up the old cut-and-dry, didn't we?" ")" "For the good Jesus, I'm standing meself a trip to the bright lights, aren't I?" "Finding time on my hands, I decided to look up an old...[ Sigh ]" "Yes, well, can't have a jar?" " Uh..." " Actually I've got to get this in the Post." "Why, that's all right." "I'll walk along to the Post Office with you." "Give you all the latest from the old hometown." "All the names." "All the news." "Eh?" "[ Laughs ]" "Nancy Holland is married now, you know?" "Been some changes since you been down here" "I don't mind telling you." "Yes...yes, all right." "Fine...." "Off to the Post." "[ Slaps stamp on ]" "Then we'll have a jar." "Or two." " Careful now, don't overfill the flowing bowl. [ Exhales ]" "For me and my erstwhile colleague here." "[ Inhales ] Bye, London!" "I tell you, Clutterhead, it's like the scent of battle to a newsman." "I can fairly feel me nostrils flare just being here." "[ Whinnies like a horse ]" " No need to wait till we work up a (third squire)." "I don't know." "Time to have more than my usual ready-and-waiting-for-me the moment I walked in the door." "There you are." "Bit force of beer's fit for work, what?" "[ Laughs ]" " Jolly cheers." " Cheers." "Well, how's things with you?" "Oh...so-so." "They aren't that at Evansford, I don't mind telling you." "In a slump?" "Whoo, I'm telling you." "You'd think people had decided to give up wearing shoes." "There's 4000 unemployed at the last count." "Four thousand?" "The population's not much above twelve." "That's right." "There's three tanneries shut down by the river." "Never seen anything like it." "I don't mind telling you." "You mean is everybody hit?" "Everybody." "Even the Aspens." "Aspens, too." "Miss Aspen's going down hill fast." "Lydia?" "No, no, no, not your Miss Aspen." "She's still managing to burn the candle at both ends." "But old Miss Aspen's took to her bed...and as for Rollo... he's being barred the Liberal Club." "(There's a plate?" ")" "(The Wee Chief, too.)" "Soaking it away, that is." "He and Lydia are two of a kind, if you ask me." "Well...it's all grist for the County Examiner's grist, I suppose." "Grist." "Jesus Christ, for a clever lad you always were a fool." "You know what today is?" "Friday." " The what the hell do you suppose I'm doing down here?" "Christ!" "Do you still have to have everything spelled out for you?" "I'm..." "I'm fired!" "That's why." "I'm sorry." "You're sorry." "How do you think I feel?" "Madame and I gave 40 years of our life to that paper. 40 years." "Then suddenly one find day, just like that, washed up, finished fine." " But why?" "Use what little brain the Lord gave you." "If people don't have the money to eat they don't have the money to buy newspapers, do they?" "Well." "You, uh, wouldn't have on you a few pounds you could spare, I suppose?" "'Cause I'm running a bit short." "Ah...." "Just a loan, of course." "Pay you back next time I see you." " Uh, serve again, squire." "Oh, not for me." "None suits." "You only hope you could'a drowned the sorrow with me." " Not quite out, punch." " A drop of the hard stuff." "I knew that bastard, Rollo, had some hidden away somewhere." " Suppose he buys his own." " No, he's far too busy with booze all" " to bother with..." " [ Laughs ] "booze all."" "[ Both laughing ]" "Oh, where is everybody?" "They said they were coming on later?" " Fell by the wayside." " Oh, it's ridiculous." "Damn enough on people." "There's only you and I." "We're the only one who can keep up with one another." " Absolutely." " Well, never mind we don't need anybody else." "We'll have a party." "Terrific, just you and me." " And the dogs." "We'll make it a dog party." "Come on out." " Come on, Dog, Dog..." " [ Laughter ]" " [ Laughter ] They're going crazy!" " [ Laughter ] We'll become part dog." "[ Both laughing ]" "Where are you going?" " Blackie." " Blackie?" "He's sitting in the car outside." " Well?" " He's a man." "He's bound to be able to dance better than a dog." " [ Exit laughing ]" " Right!" "[ Nora calling outside ]" " Blackie!" "[ Indistinct ]" " Don't be shy." "No need." "You seem awfuly shy." " Hello!" " Miss Aspen." " I'll get you a drink." " Whatever you say." "Oh, don't be boring." "[ Music starts ]" " Now, come on, dance!" " [ Indistinct ]" "Don't you want my business anymore?" "I'll be glad of it." "Then if you want to keep it you'd better buck up, and learn to do as I say!" "[ Jazz music continues ]" "Good old Blackie." " Dance...." "Dance." "You're not now shifting furniture." "What's the matter with you?" "Time was you couldn't wait to dance with me." "Well, you were glad enough to dance with me at" "Milton Posnet, weren't you?" "Go and dance with Nora." " Perhaps she can shake some life into you." "Butter up." "Go on." " Make go!" " Can you move?" " Lead!" " Lead me, man." "Lead me." "A real man wouldn't need to be told." "[ Nora chuckles ]" "Whoa!" "Oh, ha, ha!" "Oh, ha, ha!" "Oh, ha, ha!" "Ha, ha!" "[ Girls laughing heartily ]" "[ Girls laughing ]" "Now I get you for me." "Put mine on the floor." "(At least I counted up it would be like with Blackie.)" "[ Indistinct ] ...it's gonna get single." "Well listen, see what you're just doing." "Gotta get home." "Gotta get some rest." "Well take her home, then." " Now." "This minute." "Do you hear me?" " Yes, Miss." " Look, (who's with me)." "[ Music plays on ]" " You want to be fast tomorrow, Miss?" " I'll let you know." " Yes, Miss." "[ Coughs ]" "[ Severe coughing ]" "[ Sighs ]" "[ Music has stopped;" "record player clicks on ]" " Cheers, my cheers.." " Cheers." "I know your mother and family you have left." "The bookshop." "I thought you might have been on the street by now." "Which street?" "[ Bretherton laughs ]" "Yeah, (you bubbly go over there)." " Which street, indeed." " No, I mean it, which street?" "By Christ, I believe you do." "Sweet Jesus, Fleet Street, Fleet Street." " I thought you must have succombed by now." "with the makings of a journalist in you somewhere." "I thought you might have heard of a billet for old guide and mentor." "I'm sorry." " I wish there was something I could do." " Ah, forget it." " You still scribble, eh?" "Scribbling yourself?" " Um." "Funny that." "I'll tell you something else, though." "I want this is strictly between you and me." "I had plans in that direction." "You were going to write a novel?" "Definitely." "Not just a novel, novels." "Novels, plays, short stories." "Works that would endure and change people." "Change the world." "I've only how, too All there." "It's just a question of buying time to get them down on paper." "Reporter seemed like a good idea." "In the same line, see?" " All right." " I wouldn't be expressing myself, but I'd be learning my trade." " Polishing my style against the day." "Balls...country." "Anybody tells you that you tell them it's all balls." "If you want to learn to be a writer,...be a writer." "Anything else, the claims jumps, [ Inhales ], you can always chuck it." " You mean to this year, next year, but you've got a wife, too." "You got kids coming." "And those dreams turn to nothing over the years." "You can't even remember anymore." "And that's when they retire you." "Or fire you." " Doesn't make any difference." " By the way, you're finished." " Alone, out of work, into (reform)." "So get on, Clutterhead, or get out." "Just don't think there's any other way." "There never was, and there never will be." "Never me." "What do you mean you have to go?" "You're not happy?" "Is that it?" "I've said something to offend you?" " Pay no attention." " It's not that." "It's just that I want to write full-time" "And if I don't start now I never will." " My dear b..." " My mind's made up." "[ Sigh ]" " How much notice do you need?" "Well, if I say a month, at least you will eat for a month." "You couldn't make it any less?" "I have to find a replacement, haven't I?" " Very well." "[ Flop ]" "[ Sigh ]" "[ Sigh ]" "[ Knock on door ]" "Oh, come in." "[ Door opens ]" "Oh,..." "You're about the last person I expected to see." " You left the bookshop?" " Four months ago." " It took me that long to swallow my pride." " That's a very effective tactic of yours, walking away from a girl." " So much more intriguing than running after her." " It wasn't a tactic." " I know." " That makes it doubly effective." " I'm flattered." "Anyway, I still don't want to get involved with you." " Why didn't you send your manuscript to Father?" "[ Sigh ] I thought it was part of the package." "That's insulting to both of us." "Is this it?" " Yes." "Good." " He's a busy man." "Don't expect to hear from him for a while." "Oh, why are you doing this?" "Ah!" " No, I mean it." "Why?" "I couldn't think of any other way to intrigue you." "[ Edward laughs;" "door closes ]" "Anyway by that time I decided to try my luck here anyway." "[ Sigh ] And then..." "Well then, when Tom..." "Yes, whatever." "Lydia and I... it just seemed that one of us had to get away." "So..." " More coffee?" " Only if you are." "A cigar?" "To be honest, that would just be showing off." "Heh." "Well let's be honest, then." "You are the first with my daughter, sir-- protégés--who hasn't attempted to use her." "You're rather the reverse, I understand." " Uh,..." " No, I'm obliged." "However...that isn't the reason I asked you to come and see me." "Which is this." "You've read it?" "I have." "And?" "Frankly, I think it's abominable." "Shallow, derivative, unfelt." "Impersonal." " I care not more for the characters at the end" " than I did at the beginning." " And I know as little about them as you appear to." "Well, I'm sorry to have wasted your time." "Oh, we were to be honest were we not?" " Yes...but if that's what you think..." " Now, sit down." " How long have you lived in London?" "Almost a year." " Well now do you understand why I cross-examined you" " about your background?" "Does it matter?" "But in that farrago of nonsense," "In fact what most annoyed me about it.-- there are signs of talent." "A certain individual style." " Of course that's a tribute to my perception." "You did your best to disguise them, goodness knows." "As you've a lot to learn, I mean in sheer technique," " Yes, I know." "that can be taught." " What can't be,..." "there are hints up there and much more in your conversation." "I can't talk very well." "Oh, I just tend to be people who can't talk." "But you can express fellings with words." "Now I know more about..." "Lydia, from what you told me today, than any of the characters there." "Well, I can't write about her." " Oh no, not yet, perhaps." " But I suspect you will." "No." " My point is this..." " you may write about none of it directly," " but Evansford, Lydia, young, uh..." "oh, the boy who's drowned," "Alex." "Alex, and his mother who danced like a girl," "Blackie Johnson, Nancy and her brother, who shot himself," "that's what like it or not, ...these are the people and things that have formed you." " They're what might make you unique as a writer." "All my life I've..." "I've felt that I had to get away." "That I was different." "That I'd suffocate if I stayed." "And now you're telling me..." "What are you tellling me?" "That's where your roots are." "I don't know." "No?" " Well, no one can tell you what to do." "I'll tell you what I'll do, though." "I'll commission you to write a novel about that part of the world." "Your part of the world." "Standard terms and an advance which should keep you from starving until you deliver." "There's a contract." "I must go to the office." "Finish your coffee and think it over." " Talk it over with a lawyer if you like or an agent if you must and let me know." " Oh yes,..." "and invest in a typewriter." "Not just that it makes life easier for us and, in this case it wouldn't have been a great tragedy, but I should hate you to lose the only copy of your next manuscripts." "[ Door closes ]" " Portrait of the artist as a young lawyer." " May I see?" "Strictly fair, but not in the least over-generous." "Typical." "I wouldn't waste money having a lawyer vet it If I were you." "I just don't know how to thank you." "No?" "Be a success." "I couldn't bear it to get out of it I had been turned down by a failure." "Good luck." "[ Door closes ]" "Son." "Dad." "Welcome home."