"Once upon a time, on the North Shore of Long Island, some 30 miles from New York, there lived a small girl on a large estate." "The estate was very large indeed and had many servants." "There were gardeners to take care of the gardens and a tree surgeon on a retainer." "There was a boatman to put the boats in the water in the spring and scrape their bottoms in the winter." "There were specialists to take care of the grounds, the outdoor tennis court and the indoor tennis court, the outdoor swimming pool and the indoor swimming pool." "And a man of no particular title took care of a small pool in the garden for a goldfish named George." "Also on the estate there was a chauffeur by the name of Fairchild, who had been imported from England years ago, together with a new Rolls-Royce." "Fairchild was a fine chauffeur of considerable polish, like the eight cars in his care." "And he had a daughter by the name of..." "Sabrina." "It was the eve of the annual six-metre-yacht races and, as had been traditional for the past 30 years, the Larrabees were giving a party." "It never rained on the night of the Larrabee party." "The Larrabees wouldn't have stood for it." "There were four Larrabees in all - father, mother and two sons." "Maude and Oliver Larrabee were married in 1906." "Among their many wedding presents was a town house in New York and this estate for weekends." "The town house has since been converted into Saks Fifth Avenue." "Linus Larrabee, the elder son, graduated from Yale, where his classmates voted him the man most likely to leave his alma mater $50 million." "His brother, David, went through several of the best Eastern colleges for short periods of time, and through several marriages for even shorter periods of time." "He is now a successful six-goal polo player and is listed on Linus's tax return as a $600 deduction." "Life was pleasant among the Larrabees, for this was as close to heaven as one could get on Long Island." "Come on down from there, Sabrina!" "Come on." "You'd better finish your packing." "Who's that girl, Father, dancing with David?" "Her name is Gretchen Van Horn." "Chase National Bank." "I hate girls that giggle all the time." "You hate every girl David looks at." "You can't go on like this about David." "You've got to get over it." "Yes, Father." "It's good you're going away." "I only hope it's far enough." "Yes, Father." "Come along, Sabrina." "In a minute, Father." "You go ahead." "I'll be up soon." " Oh, it's you, Sabrina." " Hello, David." "I thought I heard somebody." "No, it's nobody." "Gretchen!" "Yoo-hoo!" "Tennis, anyone?" "Gretchen?" "What is this, mixed singles?" "No!" "You have to stay on your side of the net." "That'll be a little difficult, Gretchen." " You know the rules of the game." " OK, I'll serve." "Sabrina!" "Yes, Father?" " Don't leave your passport tomorrow." " No, Father." "It's not every girl that's lucky enough to go to Paris." "And it's the best cooking school in the world." "If your mother were alive, she'd be happy you were going there." "She was the best cook on Long Island." "I'm not saying you have to be a cook, as she was, or that I want you to marry a chauffeur." "But you know how I feel." "Your mother and I had a good life together." "We were respected by everyone." "That's as much as anyone can want." "Don't reach for the moon, child." "No, Father." "Besides, it never hurt a young girl to learn how to cook, did it?" "I'll wake you at seven." "The boat goes at noon." "Good night." "Good night." "What's going on?" "Fairchild!" "Anybody here?" "Who's that?" "Sabrina, come out of there." "Come on." "Hello." "What are you doing here?" "Just checking the spark plugs." "The what?" "Father was worried because a spark plug was missing." "I wanted to find out which one it was." "So you started the motors and closed the doors?" " I didn't want to disturb anyone." " You might never have done so again." " Does your father know?" " No!" "I wanted to surprise him." "We'd better get out." "There now." "Breathe deep." "That's right." "Now, deep breath." " What happened?" " You passed out." "I'm alright." "You don't have to carry me." "Of all the idiotic things..." "Haven't you ever heard of carbon monoxide?" "It kills people." "It does?" "What would have happened if I hadn't come along?" "I'd have died." "And fast." "Eight cars!" "One would have done it." "Good thing Mrs Van Horn asked me to drive her home." "Mrs Van Horn?" "Gretchen's mother?" " Why didn't she drive her home?" " We can't find Gretchen." " She..." " She what?" "Nothing." "The next time you start a car, leave the garage doors open." "Understand?" "A chauffeur's daughter should know better." "Yes, sir." "Bonjour, mesdames et messieurs!" "Yesterday we have learnt the correct way how to boil water." "Today we will learn the correct way how to crack an egg." "Voilà, an egg!" "Now an egg is not a stone." "It is not made of wood." "It is a living thing with a heart." "So when we crack it we must not torment it." "We must be merciful and execute it quickly, like with the guillotine." "It is done with one hand." "Kindly watch the wrist." "Voilà." "One, two, three, crack!" "You see?" "It is all in the wrist." "And now, everybody, take an egg." "One, two, three, crack!" "New egg." "One, two, three, crack!" "New egg." "One, two, three, crack!" "Take an egg." "Crack!" "The wrist, huh?" "Like a whip." "You watch." "One, two, three, crack!" "New egg." ""Dear Father, or Cher Papa as we say over here."" ""Isn't my French getting good?"" ""We finally finished our four-week course in sauces, thank goodness!"" ""Soups were tough but sauces just about killed me."" ""I almost flunked my hollandaise." "It kept separating on me."" "Too much vinegar." "Does she mention David?" "Mr Linus is ready to go into town." " What does she say about David?" " Not a word." "No, wait." "Here's something." " "I don't think of David very much."" " That's good." " "Except at night."" " That's bad." ""I decided to be sensible and tore up his picture."" "That's good." " "Please mail me some Scotch tape."" " That's bad." " Morning, Fairchild." " Morning, sir." "Beautiful day, sir." "Take the Parkway." "Two windows open. 35 miles an hour." "Yes, sir." "Morning." "Where are you off to?" " The office, where do you think?" " On Sunday?" " Today is Wednesday." " Wednesday?" "This is KL 75263." "Get me Bowling Green 91099." "Good morning, Miss McCardle." "How did the market open?" "Industrials, 247.63." "Up a dollar, ten." "Rails, 94.7." "Up 58 cents." "Utilities, 47.23." "Off 11 cents." "I'm just leaving." "Put the coffee on in 45 minutes." "Inter- office memo to David Larrabee." "Dear David, you are a junior partner of Larrabee Industries, located at 30 Broad Street, New York." "Your office is on the 22nd floor." "Our normal week is Monday to Friday." "Our working day is nine to five." "If this is inconvenient you may retire with your pension." "Having been with us one year, your entitlement is 65 cents a month for the rest of your life." "What do you hear from your daughter?" " She still loves him." " I beg your pardon?" "I mean she loves the cooking school, sir." "But she'll get over it." "And now, mesdames et messieurs, soon we will see how you have learnt the lesson of the soufflé." "The soufflé, it must be gay." "Gay." "Like two butterflies dancing the waltz in the summer breeze." "Very well." "You have five seconds!" "Four seconds." "Three seconds." "Two seconds." "One second." "To the ovens!" "Too low." "Too pale." "Too heavy." "Too low." "Too high." "You are exaggerating." "Fair." "So-so." "Sloppy." "Mmm!" "Superb!" "My dear Baron, you have not lost your touch." "Much too low." " I don't know what happened." " I will tell you." "You forgot to turn on the oven." "I have been watching you." "Your mind has not been on the cooking." "It has been elsewhere." "You're in love." "And I will venture to go a step further." " You are unhappily in love." " Does it show?" "Very clearly." "A woman happily in love, she burns the soufflé." "A woman unhappily in love, she forgets to turn on the oven." " Am I correct?" " Yes." "But I'm trying to get over it." "Why try to get over it?" "You speak of love like it was a bad cough." "He doesn't even know I exist." "I might as well be reaching for the moon." "The moon?" "Oh, you young people are so old-fashioned!" "Have you not heard?" "We are building rockets to reach the moon." "To begin with, you must stop looking like a horse." "Horse?" ""His name is Baron Saint Fontanel."" "Baron!" ""He came here for a refresher course in soufflés and liked me so much he decided to stay on for the fish."" " What does she say about David?" " David?" "She's got a baron!" ""The Baron is 74 years old, and very sweet and very wise."" ""He has a box at the opera, a racing stable, wonderful paintings and his own vineyards."" ""Tomorrow night he is taking me to a very fashionable charity ball and I have a dress just for the occasion."" ""If David could only see me in it."" ""Yards of skirt and way off the shoulders."" "Good morning, sir." " Morning." "What's going on?" " A letter from Sabrina." "Wouldn't you like to read it?" "There's something about you." " Poor Sabrina." " What's wrong with him?" "He's getting married again." " He is?" " Number four." "Who says so?" "Cholly Knickerbocker." "Don't you people ever read the society columns?" " Is my brother in?" " Yes, Mr David, but he's very busy." " I want to see him." " How about 3:30?" " I want to see him now!" " I'm sorry." "I have my orders." "He's working on the plastics deal." "Press that button, or I'll break that door down using you as a battering ram!" " Mr David!" " Make up your mind!" "Linus, I want to talk to you!" " Ask for an appointment." " Don't give me that!" "I'm mad!" "Alright, gentlemen, I'll be ten minutes." "Now what's the trouble?" "How did this get in the paper?" ""David Larrabee is to marry again."" ""The girl is Elizabeth Tyson of the Oyster Bay Tysons."" " Congratulations." " Did you plant this?" "It's common knowledge about you and Elizabeth Tyson." "Don't you like her?" "I like her a lot." "I like a lot of girls a lot." " You can say that again." " What are you doing with that gun?" "Put that thing away, Linus!" "Look at that." "The greatest plastic ever made." "Not a scratch." "I wonder how this'd stand up against a bazooka." "Miss McCardle, ask General Stanton if we can borrow a bazooka." "Yes, Mr Larrabee." " To get back to my problem..." " Lend me your lighter." "Linus, I have no intention of marrying Elizabeth Tyson!" "Doesn't burn, doesn't scorch, doesn't melt." "How about that!" "I've been married before." "I've had it three times." "This time the family approves." "You're going to do something constructive." "Taste it." "What's constructive about marrying her?" " Taste it." " It's sweet." "It's made of sugar cane." "Sugar cane." "Wait a minute." "The Tysons own the largest holdings of sugar cane in Puerto Rico!" "Second largest." "The largest have no daughter." "It's all beginning to make sense." "Mr Tyson owns the sugar cane, you own the formula for the plastics and I'm offered as a sacrifice on the altar of industrial progress!" "You make it sound as if the son of the hot-dog dynasty had to marry the daughter of the mustard king." "Surely you don't object to Elizabeth because her father has $20 million?" "That's very narrow-minded of you." "Just one thing." "I haven't proposed and she hasn't accepted." "Oh, don't worry." "I proposed and Mr Tyson accepted." " Did you kiss him?" " Elizabeth is a lovely girl." "Sooner or later you'll propose." "I'm helping you make up your mind." " Then you marry her." " Me?" "What's so funny?" "If I got married, I'd have to take a Dictaphone, two secretaries and four corporation counsellors along on the honeymoon." "I'd be unfaithful to my wife every night with vice presidents, boards of directors, slide- rule accountants..." "This... this is my home." "No wife would ever understand it." "Nor me." "You've got all the money in the world." "Making money isn't the main point of business." "Money is a by-product." " What's the main objective?" "Power?" " Ah!" "That's become a dirty word." "What's the urge?" "You're going into plastics." "What will that prove?" "Prove?" "Nothing much." "A new product has been found, something of use to the world." "A new industry moves into an undeveloped area." "Factories go up, machines go in and you're in business." "It's coincidental that people who've never seen a dime now have a dollar and barefooted kids wear shoes and have their faces washed." "What's wrong with an urge that gives people libraries, hospitals, baseball diamonds and movies on a Saturday night?" " Send in the secretaries." " Yes, Mr Larrabee." "You make me feel like a heel." "If I don't marry her, some kid will run around Puerto Rico barefoot!" "Look at this stuff." "Planes and suits will be made of it and you'll probably be able to eat it." "We're organising Larrabee Plastics." "Larrabee Construction has the plans." "Larrabee Shipping bought nine more freighters to handle the traffic." " The wheels are in motion already?" " That's what I mean." "Would you demonstrate the weight test to Mr David, please?" " Linus, I believe you." " Up you go." "I want you to see how resilient it is." "Bounce, please, ladies." "Some plastic, eh?" "We'd like a summer wedding to get in on this year's sugar crop." "Yeah." "I think you're going to be very happy." "Dearest Father, we shall be graduating next week and I shall be getting my diploma." "I want to thank you now for the two most wonderful years of my life." "I shall always love you for sending me here." "It is late at night and someone across the way is playing "La Vie En Rose"." "It is the French way of saying," "I am looking at the world through rose-coloured glasses." "It says everything I feel." "I have learnt so many things, Father." "Notjust how to make vichyssoise or calf's head with sauce vinaigrette, but a much more important recipe." "I have learnt how to live, how to be in the world and of the world  and notjust to stand aside and watch." "And I will never, never again run away from life, or from love, either." "I am taking the plane home on Friday, Father." "You needn't pick me up at the airport." "I'll just take the Long Island Rail Road and you can meet me at the train - the 4:15." "If you should have any difficulty recognising your daughter," "I shall be the most sophisticated woman at the Glen Cove station." "Taxi, miss?" "Cheapest rates in Glen Cove." "Hello!" "How are you?" "Well, I'm fine." "How are you?" "And I might add, who are you?" " Who am I?" " Am I supposed to know?" "No, you're not supposed to know." " Are you stranded?" " My father was meant to pick me up." "Whoever your father is, I'll be eternally grateful." " That is if I can give you a lift." " You can drive me home." "Good!" "I'll get your bags." " Where do you live?" " Dosoris Lane." "Dosoris Lane?" "Say, that's where I live!" " Really?" " Sure." "We must be neighbours." "And I believe in loving thy neighbour." "Oh, so do I." "Come on, David." " David?" "Is his name David?" " Yes, it is." "That's funny." "My name's David, too." "That is funny, isn't it?" "Sure you don't want to tell me your name?" "Positive." "I'm having much too much fun." "Alright, if you want to play games..." " Have you always lived here?" " Most of my life." "I'd swear I know every pretty girl on the North Shore." "You take in more territory than that." "This is maddening." "I've seen that face before." "Let me see your profile again." "I know I know you." "I have a feeling I've seen you..." "with your father." "Wait!" "Is your father Admiral Starratt?" "Hardly." "Funny." "I keep seeing him in a uniform." "Give us a hint." "What does your father do?" " He's in transportation." " Transportation?" " Railroads." "New York Central." " No." " Planes." "TWA." " No." " Boats." "United States Lines." " No." " I pass." " Automobiles." "Oh?" "Chrysler?" "Yes, Chrysler and Ford and General Motors and Rolls-Royce." "Is he on the board of all those companies?" "You might say he runs things." " I bet my brother Linus knows him." " He certainly does." "They often drive into town together." "They do?" "Straight through to the garage, please." "I feel so stupid I could kill myself." "You'll be alright in a minute." "Here we are." "I'm not just pretending we've met somewhere before." "We have met some..." "You don't live here." "I live here." "Hi, neighbour!" "Sabrina!" "Hello, Margaret!" "It's so good to be home!" "Look at you!" "You've come home such a beautiful lady!" "Oh, welcome home, Sabrina!" "Ernest!" "Jenny!" "How are you?" "Don't cry, Margaret." "It's nothing to cry about." "I bought you a hat, a Paris hat for you to wear to church on Sundays." "Jenny, I have something for you..." "Father!" "I'm sorry." "I had to take Mrs Larrabee to the hairdresser." "It doesn't matter." "I wouldn't have recognised you anyway." "David had a little trouble, didn't you?" "Yes, I did." "I'll make coffee." "Will you come to the kitchen?" " As soon as I've opened my bags." " I'll take them upstairs." "As old neighbours the two of us should have a reunion." " It's only fair." " Tonight?" " Do you really want to see me?" " Very much." " Sure?" " Yes, I'm sure." " Alright." " We'll go out on the town." "We'll drive to New York, have a quick drink, then go for dinner." "I know a wonderful French restaurant on First Avenue." "I guess you wouldn't think so much of it after Paris." "I'll love it!" "We'll go dancing." "When they throw us out of El Morocco, we'll go to the Village." "You like Dixieland bands?" "I know the greatest." "It's..." "Wait, I forgot." "We're having a party here tonight." "With an orchestra and dancing?" "That'll be even more fun." "I don't know." "A lot of dull people." "Family stuff." "I don't mind if you're there." " Sabrina?" " In a minute, Father." "I have a lovely evening dress with yards of skirt." " Shall I wear it?" " Why, yes, of course." "This couldn't be nicer." "A homecoming party!" "I'll get the dress out and press it." "See you tonight." "Hello, Linus." "I'm back!" "It's Sabrina." "Would you have recognised her?" "That scrawny kid who'd run away when she saw us, her knees painted with Mercurochrome." "How do you like those legs now?" "Aren't they something?" "David, the last pair of legs that were something cost the family $25,000." "Look what I brought you from Paris." "Sabrina, I should have mentioned it in a letter..." " Here." "Do you like it?" " But I didn't want to upset you." "Aren't they gaudy?" "Sabrina, David is engaged." "He's getting married again." "I know." "Margaret wrote me." "Brandy." "And this is for you to wear on your day off." " Then you don't care?" " Not too much." "He's not married yet." "I don't like that." "I don't like the sound of it." "Father, everything has changed." "Nothing's changed." "He's still David Larrabee." "And you're still the chauffeur's daughter." "And you're still reaching for the moon." "No, Father." "The moon's reaching for me." "I wish the wedding were tomorrow, David." " Don't you?" " Yes, dear." "Ten more days." "It'll seem more like ten years." "Yes, dear." "Father had planned for us to fly to Honolulu afterwards." "I said not." "I don't want to spend the first 18 hours of my honeymoon in a plane." " Do you?" " Yes, dear." " David!" " What?" "I mean, no." "What did you say?" " Aren't you interested?" " Of course, dear." " Aren't they a sweet couple!" " Charming." "Elizabeth is lovely." "Why do young men wear white jackets in the evening?" "They look like barbers!" " Now, Oliver..." " My throat's dry." " Have you been smoking?" " I've stopped smoking." "It's sad that after 48 years of marriage distrust should creep into our relationship." "I'll join the men in the library." "David?" "I think I ought to have a talk with your chauffeur." "What for?" "Father wants to give me a car and your chauffeur could tell me..." "Sure, sure." "Of course." " What's his name?" " Sabrina." "I mean Fairchild." "I'll talk to him." "Don't bother." "Alright, darling." "I know you'll take care of everything." "What is it, David?" " Would you like to get some food?" " No, thank you." " A drink?" " No." " I'm terribly sorry!" " It's my fault." "I didn't see you." " Will it wash out?" " Yes." " You'd better do it now." " Come on, Elizabeth." "I'll help you." "Sabrina!" "David!" " Hello." " You look wonderful." " Thank you." "I'm a bit late." " I worried." "Were you afraid I'd forgotten the address?" "It crossed my mind." " Shall we dance?" " Right here?" " Who is that girl?" " I don't know." "I wonder what happened to Elizabeth." " What a lovely party." " It is now." "The nicest one you've ever had." "And I've been to all your parties." " You have?" " Standing up there in that tree." "Sabrina, if I'd only known." "Sabrina, where have you been all my life?" " Right over the garage." " Right over my car." "Right up in that tree." "What a fool I was." "And what a crush I had on you." "It's not too late, is it?" "I don't know, David." "Is it?" "You should see her!" "You should see Sabrina!" "The prettiest girl." "The prettiest dress." "The best dancer." "The belle of the ball." " It's as if she belonged up there." " I don't like it." " Is she dancing with David?" " That's right." "He's holding her so close I don't see how she can breathe." "And the way they look into each other's eyes..." " I don't like it." " Tom, be happy for her." "This is what she wanted." "It's where she belongs." "It's not." "And it's not where I belong." "Remember the chauffeur on the Harrington estate?" "His daughter fell in love with the son." "Next he was driving the family to the church, changing his uniform and then giving the bride away." " That's not for me." "I don't like it." " That was 25 years ago." "Come on." "Let's sneak up and see her." "David?" " Hello, Mother." " I don't know this lady." " You do." " Good evening, Mrs Larrabee." " Mother, this is Miss Fairchild." " Sabrina?" "Yes, of course." "Yes, of course." "Of course." "Sabrina." "You didn't recognise me, did you?" "Have I changed?" "You certainly have." "You look lovely, Sabrina." "I thought it'd be fun to ask her to the party as a welcome home." "David's been wonderful." "He met me at the station." "Did he?" "How nice of him." " She's been to Paris." " Yes, I know." "Come and cook something very special for us, Sabrina." " I want to see what you've learnt." " I've learnt a lot." "Bye." "This is such fun." "So much more fun than just watching from that tree." "I'm glad you came home." "I'll never let you go away again." " Never?" " Never." "Would you like to kiss me?" " Would I?" " Yes." "A nice, steady kiss." " Not on roller skates this time." " Roller skates?" " You don't remember?" " I remember I had a pair." "I was nine and you had your arms around me because you were teaching me to skate backwards." "Suddenly, you kissed me." "I've never forgotten." " Sabrina, let's get out of here." " Yes, let's." "I tell you what." "You slip away first." "I'll meet you at..." "The indoor tennis court." " And you'll bring champagne." " Of course." "You saw a lot from that tree!" "Will you have the orchestra play Isn't It Romantic?" "Naturally."