"WOMEN IN NEW YORK" "So I said to Howard, "What do you expect me to do?"" ""Stay home and darn your socks?" "Why do we keep servants?"" "I thought they never stay for long?" "Your move, Peggy!" "Me?" "Isn't it Mrs. Potter?" "I opened with four spades..." "If you can't even remember your own hand..." "You just went down with a thousand." "Can you afford it, my dear?" " I can, I'm not a pauper." " If your bridge doesn't improve..." "She's only playing until Mary comes back." "Jane!" "What's Mrs. Haines doing up there?" "It's that lingerie woman you sent her, Madam." "I didn't expect Mrs. Haines to buy anything!" "I was just trying to get rid of that person!" " Peggy, bid." " Pass." " She won't concentrate." " She's in love, the lucky thing." "Once she's married as long as you girls, she will be able to concentrate on vital matters like bridge again!" " Another lecture on the Modern Woman?" " No." "Given." "I consider myself a perfectly good wife, I've sacrificed a lot for Howard Fowler." "Two Spades - and I devote as much time to my children as any of my friends." " Except for Mary!" "I pass." " Mary, of course!" " Mary is always an exception." " Quite right..." " Peggy!" " Two no trumps." "Edith!" "Not again!" "I shouldn't have eaten any mayonnaise..." "This is absolutely the last time I go through this madness for a man," "Four Spades!" " If men had to bear babies..." " There would be only one per family." "I pass." "I wish I were having a baby, but we can't afford one now!" "And you'll never be able to, until you play better bridge." "Wait till you've had three children, Peggy." "I pass." " Me too." " Edith!" " Why didn't you show your slam?" "!" " Excuse me please..." "Poor, frightened, bewildered Madonna!" "I really like her, but sometimes she gets on my nerves!" "One always thinks she's had oh such a hard time." "Dr. Briggs says she has children as easy as shelling peas." "She ought to go what I went through!" "When Cynthia came, I had a Caesarian." " Got the king, Peggy?" " You should see my stomach!" "I wouldn't care how my stomach looks, as long as it's a baby!" "Patricia Smith, the little black one, you remember her?" "died at the birth of her first child." " Six are in." " Six, really?" " Do you have the king, Peggy?" "Thank you, darlings!" "Seven done..." "and the rubber!" "But I've kept my figure." "I don't blame Edith's husband..." " ...for cheating on her!" " Oh, does he?" "Oh please..." "He's made passes at all us girls." "I think it's in bad style for a man to try to make it with his wife's friends, especially when he's bald and fat." ""Phelps Potter!" I told him," ""the next time you touch me, I'm going straight to Edith and tell her!"" " And did you?" " Of course not." "I wouldn't hurt Edith for the world." "And Edith doesn't need it anyway." "She's not as dumb as most of my other friends!" "She's on to her husband!" " Is he on to her?" " Excuse me?" "If he could hear her talk about him!" "Do we know how men talk when we're not around?" "The linguistic means of men are too insufficient to be wicked." "And you, Peggy... you haven't been married long enough to really know your husband." "Well, if I did, I'd keep such things to myself." "Or do you think I'd even mention to anyone  what quarrels John and I have over money?" "!" "I'd be too proud." " All over, dear?" " False alarm." "What did I miss?" "You always underbid, my dear." "I bet in the meantime you had me on the pan... right?" "I never say behind my friends' backs what I won't say to their faces." "I merely said you ought to diet." "In my condition there's no use dieting." "I will have to start from scratch anyway." "Mary's gone off terribly this winter..." "Have you noticed those deep lines?" " From smiling." "Tragic, aren't they?" " Maybe..." "A woman's always headed for trouble when she begins to get too smug." "Smug?" "She's happy, that's all." " Her husband adores her!" " Yes, indeed!" " You just can't bear it, can you?" " What can't I bear?" "Mary's happiness." "It gets you down." "Oh, Nancy..." "If there's one thing I can say for myself I have never been jealous of Mary." " Why should I be jealous of Mary?" " Because she's contented to be what she is." " Which is what?" " A woman." " And what are we?" " Females." "And what are you?" " Me?" "I am a spinster." " Yes... that's true." "I wish I could write and make money like you do, Nancy!" "Oh Peggy, Peggy, Peggy..." " You'd earn anything, except money." " As if you'd earn money... who's buying your books?" " Well, not you, Sylvia." "By the way:" "I'm sure you're glad my new book is finished" " and I'm about to leave your midst." " Yes..." "I wish I could afford to travel!" " Where are you going this time?" " To Africa..." "You are so right!" "I'd rather face a tiger than what critics will say about your last book!" "Mary!" "Forgive me, girls!" "Forgive me...!" "Sylvia, why do you always send me those miserable characters?" " It's been a very expensive half hour." " For me too, Mrs. Haines!" " Nonsense Peggy, you were playing for me." " Oh thank you!" "Don't open it now!" "It's a nightgown, or a bed jacket, or something else." "I wouldn't know, I almost cried." "You didn't believe that woman's sob story?" "Of course, all of it!" "In any case she's a lot worse off than you and I. Edith..." "How sweet!" "Oh god, I am so sick..." "It's a girl, girls always make you sicker." " Even before they're born?" " I don't care what it is." "But why does it have to take nine months?" "!" "It takes an elephant seven years!" "I already look like an elephant." "Oh Edith, of course it's rather trying." "But when it's over..." "It's the grandest thing in the world to have children..." "Madam, Mr. Haines is on the telephone." "Oh, he's going to be kept at the office again!" " Kiss him for me!" " Sure." "Nancy, you're wrong about me and Mary." " You're still rankling?" " No, in fact I feel sorry for her." "Ah..." "It could be that..." "Mary's happiness is built on sand." "Ah, nonsense." " Jane, are the children in?" " Yes, just back from the park, Miss." "Oh I'd love to see Mary's little girl!" "Do you come along?" "Well then." "And I think it's our turn now to go to the pan." "But we don't have to worry." "You've got a poor man, and I've got no man." "That is absolutely the last time I play bridge with Nancy!" "She never misses a chance to get in a dig." "What other friends does she have but us?" "!" "It made me so nervous the way she pestered you about Mary" "I thought I'd scream, in my condition!" " Edith, I've got to tell you, or I'll scream!" "I knew it!" "You'll die!" " Stephen is cheating on Mary!" " NO!" "Really?" "Wait until I tell you everything!" "You know I go to Frederick's for my hair." "Yes." "You ought to go there too!" "Well, Frederick's now has the most wonderful new manicurist !" "It's really fabulous!" "Isn't that just fantastic?" "It's called Jungle Red." "Gorgeous." " Go on!" " Of course I tried to get you on the phone!" "I was in the tub!" "This manicurist, she's marvelous!" "I... was looking through Vogue, the one with Mary in the Beaux Arts Ball costume when this manicurist asks, "Tell me, Mrs. Fowler,"" ""isn't that Mrs. Haines, who's so awfully rich?"" "Funny how they think people like us are awfully rich!" "I forget what she said next." "You know those creatures," "Babble babble babble, without pause!" "Suddenly she said..." ""I know the person who's being kept by Mr. Haines"" " No!" " I swear!" " Someone we know?" "!" " No!" "That's what's so awful about it!" "She is a friend ...of this person's." "If Stephen at least had picked someone in our own class." " But such a blonde nothing!" " How did he meet a girl like that?" "How and where do men meet beasts like that?" "Men - that kind of women just lives for this." "And Mary..." "does she already know?" "No." " She couldn't help showing it." "She will find out." "Every woman has the instinct to feel when her husband is cheating..." " I knew it immediatly." " You, sure." "But not Mary..." "If I only knew of some way to warn her..." "You're not going to tell her?" "I'd rather die before I'd hurt her like that!" "Couldn't someone shut that manicurist up?" "No no!" "The story's too good!" "Well?" "You two look so relieved." "Were you listening?" "Am I like you?" "But Sylvia, we were were in the nursery..." "There you are!" " Did you give Stephen a kiss from me?" " Yes!" "How's he doing anyway?" "He is not so well recently." "Oh... what's the trouble?" "Nervous indigestion." "That's why we have a new cook now!" "Phelps has had indigestion for years too." "In the night it always rumbles like a lorry on pavement!" " Nothing's troubling Stephen?" " No no," "He's just been working late often." "He's not coming home for supper today." "Are you sure it's the office and not some beautiful blonde?" "Stephen?" "!" "Let's play..." "Why?" "Stephen is a very attractive man..." "Yes, I don't understand either why he hasn't deserted me for some glamorous showgirl long ago!" "Now let's have it, Sylvia..." "What...?" "Just what did you mean when you said that Mary's happiness was built on sand?" "What?" "I was just making a typical wisecrack as you always do, about marriage in general." "I always say to Howard: "If you cheat on me it serves me right!"" "That's not bad." "Don't you think, Nancy?" " No, it isn't bad." " Will we play now?" "Edith plays with Mary, Sylvia with me." " What do you think of my nails?" " Adorable!" "And it stays on forever!" "It's the latest at Frederick's, you ought to go there too!" "Sylvia...!" "They have a sensational new manicurist..." "Olga's her name." " Sylvia, the cards...!" " Jungle Red!" "Looks as if you'd been sctatching somebody's eyes out." "Why do you hurt me all the time?" "!" "But Sylvia..." "Nancy just wanted to be witty too..." "Yes... at my expense!" "She takes a crack at everything about me!" "Even my nails!" "Well I like them!" "The color is new and inventive!" "Frederick's?" "Olga?" "Jungle Red..." "Don't lose heart!" "Be brave!" "One minute more, Madam...!" "You won't regret it, Mrs. Wagstaff!" "My sandwich!" "Be brave!" "To be beautiful we must suffer." ""Good my lord, how does your honour for this many a day?"" ""My lord, I have..."" "Pardon!" "I thought I was in here..." "Why hello, Mrs. Wagstaff!" "Guess who I am!" "Don't speak, Madam, your mask will crack." "Ah it's terrible, all that paste in my face..." ""My honour'd lord,"" ""you know right well you did,"" ""And with them words of so sweet..."" " Who was that?" " That was Mrs. Phibbs, that actress..." "You sure do know her, she's on Broadway right now," "She was slapped in the face by her husband, in public, yesterday!" "Interesting!" "What's a mud mask good for?" "It lifts the chin and contracts the neck muscles." " I think I'll have a mud mask too." " Euphie!" "Tell the front desk, mud for Mrs. Wagstaff!" "Ah, I feel so awful!" "I shouldn't have eaten the lobster at the opening at the Ritz..." "That was Mrs. Barnes!" "Last week she was in the hospital." "It wasn't meat poisoning at all, it was a miscarriage!" "Olga, she'll hear you!" " That's lovely!" " That isn't "lovely", that's "Jungle Red"." " "Jungle Red"?" " Everybody' crazy about it." "Mrs. Fowler loves it too!" "Mr. Fowler made his fortune in the stock market, they say." " Right!" " But one of Mrs. Fowler's friends was telling me he is an alcoholic!" "Ah, really?" "Well, you're released now, Mr. Wagstaff." "What, already?" "We'll comb you out after the the mud mask." "Watch out, Mrs. Wagstaff, or the gloss will smear up." "Your new hair color suits you perfectly and the Jungle Red on your feet is world class." "This way, Mrs Wagstaff!" "Star of Rio... you could be my destiny..." "That old frump... one more perm, and she'll lose all of her hair." "One more year, at the latest, and she'll also lose her husband." "How can a woman be foolish enough to marry a man ten years younger!" "And do you know what a client told her friend under the drying hood?" " He's said to be a homosexual." " Mr. Frederick will be ten minutes, Madame." " Do you wish anyone in particular for your manicure?" " Yes!" " The girl who does Mrs. Fowler's nails." " Olga." "I'll get her." " I'd like to cut off Mrs. Fowler's nails!" " At heart she's a good friend." " At what heart?" "!" "Nancy, you take your friends too seriously!" "Now that's a good idea!" "You came here because you don't take Sylvia seriously?" "You did hurt her!" "At lunch she didn't talk of anything else!" "Am I getting old?" " Who put that in your head?" " No, tell me the truth!" "Beauty... is only in the eye of the beholder." "But it's so dreadful..." "having to watch helplessly how those little wrinkles creep in." " Yes..." "Time's little mice." "And the first white in your hair..." "That way you feel about autumn when you know there'll never be another spring..." "There's only one tragedy for woman." "Growing old." "Losing her man." "That's why we're so afraid of growing old." " Are you afraid?" "On my birthday Stephen told me I'd always look the same to him!" "Didn't he give you anything else?" "It rained that day." "He bought me a bottle of perfume called..." " "Summer Rain"" " How many ounces?" "Oh, you've never been in love, Nancy." "Says who?" "Have you?" "Yes." "You never told me!" "You never asked." "Neither did he..." "Here, the book my readers everywhere have been waiting for." " "The Defeated"?" " I wanted to title it "The Silence of the Womb", but my publisher thought it would make too much noise." " What's it about?" " Read it... or don't read it." " Your hand please!" " Olga?" " Yes, Madame?" "No good?" "Too bad." "It was my farewell gift, I'm off again." " Where?" "!" " Africa." "But not today?" "!" "I wanted to prevent you from giving me a farewell party." "Keep your seat..." "no tears." "For my sake." "Farewell..." "Mary." "A spirited lady!" "Yes, she's a darling." "She's a writer?" "How do those writers think up those plots?" "The beginning part might not be so hard, but the end..." "I think anybody's life would make an interesting plot... but without an interesting ending..." "Olga?" "Oh pardon me!" "Has Mrs. Fowler sent you in?" "She's sent me three clients this week!" "Do you know Mrs. Parrish that was Mrs. Leeds before?" "Mrs. Parrish herself told me about her divorce!" "Mr. Parrish came home one night with lipstick on his undershirt she said he could always explain everything before but that now was too much." "Do you know Mrs. Potter, she's pregnant for the third time!" " Yes, I know her too..." " Soak, please!" "Do you know Mrs. Haines?" "Yes... of course!" "Mrs. Fowler is so worried about her!" "Really?" "But why, I'm not worried at all!" "But you would be if you knew this girl!" " What girl?" " Crystal Allen!" " Crystal Allen?" " Yes!" "The girl Mr. Haines is cheating with.." "Don't you like the file, madame?" "No, no." "Mrs. Potter says even her unborn child was so upset!" "Whoever told you this..." " ...nonsense?" " Oh, did't Mrs. Fowler tell you?" "No." "Crystal Allen is a friend of mine!" "Soak, please!" "She's behind the perfume counter at Saks." "So was I before I left... that is, before I quit there." "That's how she met him!" " Whom... this Mr. Stephen Haines?" " Yes." "It was a about two months ago." "Us girls weren't busy." "It was an awful rainy day, I remember." "Suddenly this gentleman walks in, serious, handsome, kind of thin on top." "Well, of course Crystal nabs him." ""I want some perfume," he says." ""May I ask what type of woman for?" asks Crystal." "She was going to sell him "Summer Rain", our feature anyways." ""Is she young?" Crystal asks." ""No," he says, embarrassed." ""The glamorous type?" Crystal asks." ""No, thank God," he says." ""Thank God?" Crystal asks, and bats her eyes." "Well, she puts perfume on her palm and in the crook of her arm... and lets him sniff it." "He likes it, he doesn't stop..." "Then he tells her his name, and one of us recognized it from the papers..." "Gee, you're nervous!" "Well, after that I left Saks, and I had forgotten all about it." "But a couple of weeks later I stopped by where Crystal lives to say hello." "The landlady says she'd moved to where she could entertain her gentleman friend." ""Gentleman friend?" I ask." ""Why that Mr. Haines that she's had up in her room for hours on end!"" " One coat, or two?" " None." "But I thought that's what you came for?" " All Mrs. Fowler's friends..." " What Mrs. Fowler's friends come here for I think I've gotten." "Should I tell Mrs. Fowler you were in, Mrs...?" "Haines." "Mrs. Stephen Haines." "Mrs Haines!" "Excuse me, I am sorry!" "Is there anything I can do for you?" "Yes." "Please... stop telling that story!" "Yes, of course I will!" "And... please," "Please don't tell anyone that you told it to me." "No, I promise you." "That would be..." "humiliating for you!" "But in a way..." "I'm kinda glad you know!" "That Crystal's terrible, terribly cunning... and so pretty!" "My mother will be here any moment." "Another cup of tea please." "Yes, Madam." "Madam..." "And tell the cook we're eating on time." "We're going to the opera." "Mr. Haines... likes to be there before the overture." "I'll wear my old white..." " Yes, Ma'am..." " No, I'll wear my new blue." "Ma'am, the cook!" "She wants to speak with you!" "Or rather the old white?" " It's about me!" "She says I..." " Later, Jane!" " But it's all his fault!" " No, better bring me the new blue." " Whose fault?" " Her husband's!" "Mr. Ford's!" "He's a very good butler." "But you should see him in the kitchen he's always after us girls!" " Afternoon, Ma'am!" " He don't mean us any harm..." "I'm here for seven years..." "Mrs. Haines knows I'm reputable!" " Madam, I'd like to talk to you alone." " Please, don't forget, it's all his fault!" "Please, ladies!" " Ingrid?" " Madam..." "You're the nicest I ever had." "But I have to go." "I have to get my husband away from that girl." " But Jane just said..." " Yes, he was always like that." "Sometimes I could die, for the shame!" " I'll send him away, and you stay." " No, don't do that!" "I'll give you a hundred dollars, that's more than half of what you make together!" "Hundred dollars..." "Thank you ma'am." "We both go." " But that's very unreasonable!" " Yes, I know it's unreasonable." "It's his fault." "But besides that, he's a good man." "He always says, "Ingrid, you take the money." "You manage better."" "He doesn't want anyone else for his wife." "That's what matters, Madame." " Is that what really matters?" " Yes." "Madam..." " You'll give us references?" " Yes." "Thank you." "Bean soup, a fricassee, and apple pie for dinner, Ma'am." " Whore!" " Oh, did you hear that?" "!" " Please, Jane!" "Stop!" "I'll show you!" "Beating your little brother!" "Oh pardon me!" "Oh Darling!" "Do I get no kiss?" "You have to have a serious word with your child, really!" "She just smacked her little brother." " In pure violent temper!" " What did little Stevie do to you?" "!" "She refuses to discuss the incident with me!" "And I'm quite sure the dear boy hasn't done a thing!" " You always take the boy's side, Mrs. Fordyce." " But he's smaller!" "And in England our girls are not so spoiled!" " After all, this is a man's world..." " Thank you, Mrs. Fordyce." "Why don't you speak?" "Cat caught your tongue?" "I think it's better to leave us alone now, Mrs. Fordyce." "That also applies for you, Jane!" "Well, Darling?" " Did Stevie tease you?" " I can't tell you, Mom." "Or... do you want to wait til Daddy's home?" "I can't tell it to him either." "And definitly not to Mrs. Fordyce!" "Be a good girl!" "I don't want to be a good girl." "I don't want to be a girl at all." "Did Stevie say something like that?" "Now what did he say?" "That..." "I will get breasts some day!" "But that's no reason for crying!" "All young girls get breasts!" "You don't have too beat your brother because of this!" "But I don't want to be a girl anyway!" "I hate girls." "They talk too much and they're stupid." "And... boys are allowed everything and girls nothing." "These days girls may do all the things boys do." "They fly aeroplanes across the ocean, and... they go into politics, and make money!" "But you don't, mom." "Perhaps I'm happier just doing what I do." "And what do you do?" "I take care of you, and of Stevie and of Daddy." " You don't," "Mrs. Fordyce and Jane do that..." "Oh really?" "So I guess I'm not needed..." "Hello..." "Girl!" "Take a look what I brought you along!" "It's out in the hall!" "Hello my child." "Mama..." "Well...?" "What happened?" "Why..." "What makes you think something's happened?" "Stephen...?" "Oh how did you know?" "!" "You call for your mother, so it must be your husband." "Who is she?" "Crystal Allen." "She's... a salesgirl at Saks'." "I suppose she's young and pretty?" "Yes..." "And common!" "Of course." "Did Stephen tell you?" "No..." "I..." "I found out myself this afternoon." "Does Stephen know that you know?" "I wanted to speak to you first..." "Mama..." "What am I going to do?" "Nothing!" "Nothing?" "I'll give it a touch with the iron." "Wait, Jane!" "Look, Mama!" "This is designed by Schaparelli." "Hard to sit down with it, it's so tight at the waist..." "I'd recommend you something more plain..." "I see..." "do you think so..." "Jane, you better get me my old white." " You really think I shouldn't do anything at all?" " No." "Exactly the same happened to me twenty years ago." "With..." "With Daddy?" "!" "In many ways your father was an exceptional man." "That, unfortunately, was not one of them." "You... didn't do anything?" "!" "I had a wise mother." " You're married for twelve years now." " You think Stephen is tired of me?" "Stephen is tired of himself!" "He wants to feel young again, just because he's growing old." "We women are just the same." "But... we change our hair, get a new cook, or redecorate the house from end to end." "A man can't just do over his office, or fire his secretary." "He can't even change the style of his hair, because when he wants to he's just beginning to lose his hair..." "A man has only one option:" "Another woman." "But Mama!" "This person means no more to him than a new dress means to you!" " But Mama..." " "But Mama, but Mama..."" "He hasn't taken away anything that belongs to you, or else you would have felt it long ago!" "You think so?" "I always thought I would feel that at once..." "I love him so much..." "He loves you too." "Now..." "listen to me:" "Go away somehwere for a month or two." "A man hasn't learned to really appreciate his wife until he's had enough time to get to know the other woman." "Mother knows!" "Between us there's never been a lie before." "You mean, there's never been a secret." "Well, it's about time." ""Keeping still, when we want to talk, is a sacrifice we women have to make." says Lilian Gish." "But I would rather forgive him..." "Forgive him?" "For what?" "For being a man?" "Accuse him, and you'll never get a chance again to forgive him!" "You will coerce him into justify himself." " How could he?" "I'd like to see the man who couldn't." "Better not try it." "All that matters is being together at the end." "Also, one more piece of motherly advice:" "Don't confide in any of your girl friends!" "But they all know it!" " They think that you don't?" " Yes..." " Then leave it that way." "If you let them advise you, they'll see that, in the name of friendship, you will lose your husband and your home." "I'm a seasoned woman, my dear, and I know us." "Well." "Yes, and now I'm going down to get our tickets." " Our tickets?" " Yes" "You'll accompany me to Bermuda, dear." "To..." " To... to Bermuda?" " Yes." "My throat..." "it's been awfully bad." "I haven't wanted to worry you, but..." "My doctor... insists that..." "Oh Mama..." "I thank you." "Don't thank me." "It's nice, to have you need Mother again." "Do you want to open a charge?" "Yes... please!" "May I have the name, please?" "Allen." "Miss..." "Crystal Allen." "The Waverly Hotel." "May I have your other charges?" "Saks, Bergdorf, Cartier?" "Yes, I'll be opening those, in the next few days." "Then may I have your bank?" "Oh, I'll also get one..." "also in the next few days..." "I'm sorry, Miss Allen, but we must ask for at least one business reference." "Oh... but of course!" "Mr. Stephen Haines." "Wall Street, 40." "He's an old friend of my family." "That will do, thank you." " By the way, Mrs. Haines is one of our best clients." " Ah..." "Is she?" "Will you try on now, or finish seeing the collection?" "I'd like to see the collection first, and by the way..." "I'd rather have you not mention to Mrs Haines that I gave her husband as a reference." "I've not yet met her." "Yes!" "I mean, on a social level." " Mrs. Haines is a charming lady." " Do you mind?" "Of course not, Miss Allen." "We understand." " What do you understand?" " I mean..." " Never mind." " Please, don't think I meant..." " It's all right!" "One has to be so careful, living alone in a strange city." "I'd be uncomfortable with making a wrong impression to Mrs. Haines before I'm introduced officially." "Naturally." "The ladies are very touchy over things like that." "So we never talk about our clients!" "What else are you interested in, Miss Allen?" "Evening gowns?" "Well until I have started..." "I mean, organized my social life," "I won't have much use for evening gowns!" "I'll show you some smart daytime things." "And we have some excitingly beautiful negligees..." "Are you interested in seeing those?" "Yes...!" " Please, this time I'd like to see some younger things..." " Younger?" " Yes!" "Yes, please, Mrs. Haines!" "We got some very nice things while you were away!" "Ah, that's nice!" "I'd like to try it on." "Here you are!" "Yoo-hoo!" "May I come in?" "Sylvia, of course, come and sit down." "I don't like that underslug line." "Makes your hips look even stronger!" "Aren't you being helped, Sylvia?" "Shall I ask if Mrs. Fowler can come for the fitting?" "Don't trouble yourself about me!" "Someone will call..." "That's a very sophisicated style!" "you can't see it now..." "Someone to show it please!" "Ahh!" "So you had a... marvelous time in Bermuda?" "Yes, I had a good rest." "Howard wants me to..." "take a world cruise!" "Oh?" "By the way, how is Stephen?" "Splendid!" "He no longer has that much to do, he hasn't spent an evening in the office since I've been home." "Ah..." "Howard says Stephen no longer comes to the Club... in the afternoon..." "Sylvia, don't worry so much about Stephen, he's my concern." "Our new one-piece lace corset!" "Zips up the back, and no bones." "That's just the uplift you need!" "I always said one day you'd regret breastfeeding!" "Look at me!" "I don't think there's another woman our age with a bust like mine!" "Ice water every morning, camphor at night." "Doesn't it smell like an old fur coat?" " Who cares?" " Howard?" "Howard... has enough trouble with his prostate..." "Princess Tamara!" "How lovely!" "You must have it!" "Mr. Haines would be overwhelmed!" "He certainly would..." "but it's too extravagant for me." "And you haven't the figure." "You're wearing it wrong, Tamara." "I saw it in Vogue." " Off here, and down there!" " Stop mauling me!" " But, Princess!" " What do you know about it?" "I am not a model... but no one disputes I know about clothes!" "But no one has mistaken you for the Duchess of Windsor yet." "Princess!" "You'd better apologize." "It's just professional jealousy, they are really good friends." "You mean Howard is her friend!" "Do you accuse me of flirting with your husband?" "Oh please, help yourself, Tamara!" "But as I know Howard, you're wasting your time." "Perhaps..." "But surely somebody else is not." " But, Princess!" "You will be surprised, my dear Sylvia." " Did you get that?" "!" " No!" "Princess Tamara, show in here, to Miss Allen, room 3." " Did you say "Allen"?" " Yes." " Not Crystal Allen?" " She's a new customer." "Ohh!" "I'll take that!" "Mrs. Haines, are you not well?" "No, no." "I'm just tired." "We've kept you standing too long." "I'll get you a cognac." "You... so you know!" "Why didn't you say anything to me?" "!" "Please Sylvia, go away." "Stephen is a swine!" "Wasting your money on a person like that..." "Sylvia, please mind your own affairs." "He's making a fool of you before all your friends!" "And do you think the salesgirls don't know who pays the bills?" "I don't care, I tell you!" "I don't care!" "Oh yes you do!" "Walk over to her, and confront her!" " I'm going home..." " Mrs. Haines, your cognac." "Thank you..." "It's all right!" "It's your chance to humiliate her." "Just say a few quiet words." "Just say you'll make Stephen's life hell until he gives her up!" "Stephen will give her up when he's tired of her." "When he's tired of her!" "He... doesn't love her." "Firstly... one never can tell..." "And secondly, you don't know women like that when they get hold of a man!" "Sylvia, please... let me decide for myself what is best for me!" "Well... wonder if she's good company for your children?" "What do you mean?" "Forget it." "No..." "Tell me what you meant by that?" "Why should I tell you things you don't want to hear?" "I've known this all along." "And..." "did I gossip?" "Yes, but... what have my children to do with this?" "While you were away with your mother, Edith saw them!" "Stephen was, with this person, and your children together lunching in Central Park!" "That..." "I don't believe." "Why should Edith lie?" "She said they were having a hilarious time." "Little Stevie was eating lunch sitting on that woman's lap!" "She was kissing him with every bite." "Belive me Mary, hearing that made me heart-sick!" " What about that evening gown?" " Right away, Miss Allen." "But... as you said... it's your affair... and not mine." "Yes?" "Please?" "I'm Mrs. Haines." "Mrs. Stephen Haines." "I don't think we know each other." "Oh, please don't pretend." "So Stephen finally told you?" "A moment, please!" "No." "I've known it all along," "but I kept still." "Very smart of you." "No..." "I just wanted to spare Stephen." "But now you've gone too far." "You're after my children." "I can't tolerate you touching my children!" "For God's sake, don't get hysterical!" "What do I care about your children?" "I'm sick of hearing about them," "Stephen's always talking about them." "You won't have to hear about them anymore, when Stephen realizes how humiliating all this is to me... he'll give you up!" "Says who?" "Stephen is just playing with you." "And how!" "Are you always so cynical?" "No, not always." "Only on appropriate occasions." "What did you expect?" "That I'd burst into tears, and beg you to forgive me?" "I found what I expected." "That goes double!" "You... will have to look for someone else, Miss Allen." "That will depend on Stephen, Mrs. Haines, not on you." "Do you really think... that he really loves you?" "He's doing the best he can!" "He can't love a woman like you." "What do you think we've been doing the past six months?" "Solving crossword puzzles?" "And anyway... what are you complaining about?" "You've got everything that matters!" "The money, the name, the position..." " But all I want is Stephen!" " You can't hold him any more!" "You... you're just an old habit to him." "If it wasn't for the kids he'd left you long ago." " That's not true!" " Oh yes!" "That's just a few plain truths... you won't get from Stephen." "Stephen's... never lied to me!" "Now listen, Mrs. Haines." "Stephen is satisfied with this arrangement." "Don't force any issues... you don't want a scandal!" "You seem to feel very confident..." "The longer you stay in here, the more confident I feel." "Of course I'm on Mrs. Haines' side." "I am always for the wives." " Up and over!" "But she did behave like an idiot!" " Stretch up together!" "You know how some women are when they lose their heads." "They do things they regret their whole lives..." " Stretch!" "Of course, I do wish Mrs. Haines would make up her mind if she's going to divorce or not.." "Impossible to invite them both together right now, not knowing..." "But she ought to stay for the children's sake!" "I know I would!" "But of course Mrs. Haines never listens to any of her friends!" "Of course, I tell everybody who asks that she's doing the right thing." "What I go through to keep my figure!" "And then some fat lazy man really asked me," ""What do you do with yourself all day, Madame?"" " Oh, how are you, Mrs.?" " Fine, and how are yoou?" " You're late, Peggy!" " I'm sorry, but..." "After all I am paying for this course!" " You know I'm very grateful..." " Ah, it's only a few dollars." " It's a lot to me." " That is, for your husband!" "Skip rope!" "You always portray John as a miser." "You have your own income, and you give it to your husband..." " He earns so little." " You're robbing him of his manly self-assurance." "You're turning him into a gigolo!" "The only protection a woman has is her own money her man can't touch!" " Hello Sylvia, Peggy!" " Hi!" " What are you dong here?" "I have my face restored, I'm so glad you're here, Sylvia," "I've done the most awful thing!" "We're right in the middle of our exercises, Mrs. Potter!" "Will you tell them outside that I want my paraffine bath now?" "!" "It's terrible!" "It wasn't until here, under my facial, that I realized it..." " I could bite my tongue off!" " What is it Edith?" " I had lunch with Mrs. Jones today." " You told her something about me?" "!" "No, of course not!" "You know I'd never give you away." "But that bit about Stephen and Mary slipped out." "Oh, that..." "Then tomorrow morning it will be in all the tabloids!" "I know that!" "But I'm still trying to recall what I told her..." "I think I said," "Mary walked into the fitting room and ripped the clothes off Crystal." " Edith!" " Well I might have said "coat"..." " But I know I said that Mary smacked her!" " NO!" " But that's what you told me!" " Me?" "I did not!" " You did, come on!" " Ok, could be, maybe." "But I couldn't expect you to meet with a cheap reporter and spread it around!" "Well it doesn't really make much difference." " As they're getting divorced anyway." " Who says so?" " You did!" " Me?" "!" "I solely made mention that Mary couldn't broadcast her domestic difficulties, and then be surprised if there's a scandal!" " Mary didn't broadcast anything!" " Who else did?" "You!" "Yes, you!" "You're all making it impossible for her to do anything now but get divorced!" "You flatter us." "We didn't realize we have so much influence on our friends!" "Everyone calls her and feels sorry for her." "On the contrary" " I told her she'd make a great mistake!" "What's a woman got to gain by a divorce?" "No matter how much he gives her, she won't have what she has now!" "And you know as well as I do, that Stephen would marry that girl." "After all, he needs to protect his investment!" "But sadly I have as much influence on Mary as I have on you." "The paraffine bath is ready, Mrs. Fowler." "Ah well, I'll just give Mrs. Jones a ring and fix the whole thing." "How will you do that?" " I'll just tell her you were lying." " No!" "You can't do that!" "Al right, then." "Let her write what she wants." "In a few days it will all be forgotten anyway!" "Do you remember the scandal about now, what was her name... she then jumped out of the window and Bump." "I can't even remember her name, so please, who cares?" "Did you know, she's been having an affair for a year?" "No!" "With an employee of her husband, right under his nose!" "But he doesn't seem to care..." ""Nonsense, Mary", he said, "all one can do is to ignore it."" "Once this has started between a couple, it's over with the harmony." "Question is what they get sick of first, The arguing or the whole marriage." "Tragic!" "It's enough to make you lose faith!" " Faith in what?" " In marriage!" " And then?" " Then he said, "I already gave her up anyway,"" ""and I was a swine, about the way I did it!"" "I'd like to know how he did break it off with that Crystal Allen?" "Well, how..." ""Scram!" "My wife is onto us!"" "Well anyway, the madame didn't quite believe him." "She kept asking," " "You really don't seen her again?"" " He lied through his teeth..." "Well I don't know..." "I would have believed him." " Don't believe none of them." " Oh, it was terribly sad!" "She kept asking, "Can I ever trust you again?"" "And he said, "Oh my dearest Mary!"" ""Oh Mary Mary Mary!"" "Proves nothing, just saying "Mary Mary Mary"!" "Then he tried to kiss her, of course I couldn't see it, but she kept moaning" ""Please don't, please don't, please don't!"" " Like in the movies." " Yes!" "And then he did swear he'd been faithful twelve years!" "I hope she didn't believe that?" " She said, "You can't prove that!"" " No, he can't!" " But the way he said it!" " Oh, my poor dear..." "'Cause he spoke of other so nicely..." "So nice and well it just happened... and for months she wouldn't take nothing from him..." " But now she does, no?" " That's what Madam also said!" ""Can't you see that she's only interested in your money?" "!"" "I bet that made him sore." "No man likes to hear it!" "And how!" "He started to yell at Madam, and then she got angry too." "He told her what a good husband he's been, how he'd always cared for the kids." "and she kept interrupting him with what a good wife she'd been, and how proud she once was of him." "So they both praised themselves to the skies." "Well, I can imagine the rest..." "Anybody who's been married knows this inside out." "Suddenly Madam says, "Do you want a divorce?"" " Ouch!" "And he, "But no!" And she says, "But you don't love me anymore!"" ""But yes," he says, "you know I am very fond of you!"" "And she gets very icy, "Fond?" "FOND?" "Is that all?"" "And he said something about the children and she got even more angry." " Do you understand that?" " Of course!" "And what did she answer then?" ""Let's leave the children out of this."" "" I don't want to draw them into this."" "I was not asking you to sacrifice yourself for them."" "Then he got really furious:" ""What's that supposed to mean?"" ""What do you want anyway?" "Trying to make a fool of me?" "!"" "Then suddenly she says in an awful low voice," ""Stephen, we can't go on like this." "It's not worthy of us."" ""You're right", he says, then she, "Stephen, I want a divorce!"" "Then he, "You don't mean it!"" "Then she, "Oh yes!" "You've killed my love for you!"" " And did he believe that?" " Of course!" ""Very well, as you wish." he said, "I can't even blame you!"" " No, he can't!" " And then she said that all this was a  a farce..." "Maggy, what is a farce?" " I think something funny." " Funny?" "And that he's only interested in the children and not in her." "Really funny, such a marriage." "And then he meant she'd better sleep everything over." "That old trick..." ""That's all a result of the gossip, Mary", he says, and he suggests going for a smoke, and then she was mad again." "And now he shouted at her:" ""To heck with it!" "One moment you never want to see me again, and then you make a fuss when I just want to get some fresh air for a few minutes!"" ""Are you going to her?" "Are you?" she asked, and" ""What do you care now we're getting divorced!" he gave back, and then she was just sobbing." " Very clever." ""I don't care..." "Stephen, please go, go, go...!"" ""and don't ever come back..."" "Yesyesyesyesyes!" "I didn't hear his last words because I ran down when he was going..." "But I heard her call, "Stephen!"" "And he stops on the stairs and says, "Yes, Mary?"" "And she says..." ""Nothing." "Just don't slam the door, the servants will hear you!"" "What time does your train leave?" "You asked that 36 times within the last hour..." "His secretary ought to be here by now!" "I never knew there were so many papers to sign." " You have showed everything to your lawyers?" " Yes, they always say the same thing:" "Stephen does not give me enough..." "I know it's not true, he's been very generous." "I really wouldn't say that." "If Stephen is a rich man now, he owes it largely to you." "But that's rudiculous!" "Stephen would have made it with or without me!" "But not without your starting capital!" "Mama!" "Are you trying to set me up against him?" "I really don't know what to say anymore." "If I agree with Stephen, you accuse me of taking his side, and when I agree with you, I set you up..." "I best shouldn't say anything." "But you're both making a big mistake!" "Mama..." "I beg you...!" "The children, Mary." "Is it better to be brought up in a house full of quarreling and suspicion?" "Is that what's best for the children?" "Mother, don't reason with the children, they will stay with me!" "A child needs it's parents and a proper home." "Even if those parents don't love each other any more?" "He's still fond of you." ""Fond" of me..." "Mother, don't use that word!" "And, it's too late now..." "It is never too late." "Why don't you speak to him, I'm sure he's waiting for it..." "I didn't notice anything like that..." "Isn't he the one that's supposed to come to me?" "You wanted the divorce!" "But he could have kept me from wanting it!" " But he's too prideful for that." " You see?" "So am I!" "Damn these modern laws." "Fifty years ago one couldn't get a divorce so easily..." "One had to put up with more..." "and it was better that way." " Mr. Haines' secretary is here." " Yes." "One more moment..." "And what if Stephen marries that girl?" " He won't do that." " What makes you so sure?" "Because deep down inside he loves me." "But... he won't find it out... until I've gone away." "Mother, tell the children to write to me in Reno once a week!" "And mother don't spoil them so!" "Come, get yourself up... no one has to see you as you are now." "Jane?" " Good day, Mrs. Watts." " Good day, Mrs. Morehead." "May I introduce Miss Trimmerback, she's from our legal department, we're still missing some signatures!" "Mrs. Haines will be with you shortly." "But please don't bother her with unnecessary details." "She's pressed for time." " Good day, Mrs. Watts." " Good day, Mrs. Morehead." "Don't you feel sorry for Mrs. Haines?" "I don't feel sorry for any woman who takes breakfast in bed." " You never liked her!" " Why that?" "At least she never interfered at the office." "Maybe that's why Mr. Haines has been so successful!" " He'd have gotten farther without her." " Ah!" "Because of her he often was too cautious every time something big that came up." "Well, soon we'll be rid of her and we can go back to work..." "And what about that Allen?" " What about her?" " Will he marry her?" "Those are his private affairs and none of my business." "But she's quite a good influence on him." "She gave him a new interest in everything." "Well..." "I'd say she's lucky..." "I really have to admit." "I wish I also had a man who paid my bills." "Oh, how I hate it... making my own breakfast every morning... draging myself into the office in all weathers and working like a horse..." "And what's it all for?" "For "independence"?" "I couldn't care less at that pay." "Everything for a decent home." "I'd give a damn on "independence" for a decent home." "Even for an indecent." "That's just like you." "You're married with the office!" "Without his wife, or that Miss Allen, Mr. Haines could get by." "But never without me." "Sounds like you love him!" "I work for him." "And rather for him instead for some run-down and constantly drunk husband... who thinks just because he's a man..." "Yes?" "Miss Watts?" "Good day Mrs. Haines." "The inventories of the furniture." "I had the golf clubs, books, etchings, and ash stands sent to Mr. Haines' club." "Mr. Haines asked if he could also have the portrait of the children." "Yes... alright... just..." "He said, only if you don't mind..." "It's already packed..." "If you sign a corresponding statement it can stay here for the time being." "Sign here." "The cook's letter of reference." "Sign here." "The insurances." "Sign here, and here." "The signing over for the car..." " What do you want done with it?" " Well, I don't know..." "I already notified a garage..." "Sign here." "And if someone wants to buy this apartment while youre away?" " Well I thought, maybe..." " This form will give us authorization." " But I..." " We'll take care of it, Mrs. Haines." "Sign here." "Mr. Haines was so considerate to change your will..." "But really..." "If anything were to happen to you in Reno, half your property would revert to Mr. Haines." "It's a detail your lawyers overlooked." "Mr. Haines doesn't want to profit in the case of your possible demise." "Excuse me..." "I..." "I don't understand much about those things," " Us lawyers..." " Mr. Haines had only your advantage in mind, he's solely interested in the protection of your interests." "Sign, here." "We need three witnesses." "Your maid, maybe?" "Jane, would you please sign this as witness..." "My... my will..." "Oh Mrs. Haines, shall I, really?" "And don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything." "You know how Mr. Haines hates to be bothered with such small things." "So, goodbye Mrs. Haines... and have a pleasant journey!" "Of course you can make changes at any time, in case you remarry..." "Mr. Haines sent this!" "Oh..." "What beautiful flowers." "Orchids..." ""What more can I say..."" """ " Stephen"" "Here, Jane, I give it to you." " Nurse!" " Yes, Mrs. Potter?" "Light me a cigarette!" "Can't you wait, at least until you're done nursing?" "How many children have you nursed?" "I've nursed three!" "Ouch!" "Damned..." " She's got jaws like a crocodile!" " Hello Edith!" "Oh..." "Hello, Peggy." "Here..." "Anthuriums." "Ah... how thoughtful!" "Nurse... a vase!" "May I see her?" "Oh, isn't she cute!" "I can't stand that milky smell." " What's that on her nose?" "!" " Where?" "Oh, that's just an ash." "Nurse, she has enough." "May I hold her?" "Yes, but be careful of her head." "That's the most beautiful feeling there is." "I had a very difficult birth again, didn't I, Nurse?" "No... you had a very easy time." "What do you know about a difficult birth, or did you ever have one in a cold filthy kitchen, without ether, or any decent food, between the laundry, and without any money and then having to cook your husband's meal." "No, that wasn't a difficult birth at all, Mrs. Potter," "May I now have the baby back, please." "I hope soon you'll have one of your own." "But dear, what is it?" "That's how she is..." "If you don't have peritonitis or quintuplets, they tell you" ""It was such a picnic!"" "We're getting a divorce, John and I." "Well, everybody could see it coming." " Money, I suppose?" " Oh if just Mary were here..." " She is already there!" " Where?" "In Reno... forgive me, but it's really too funny." " Howard's cast Sylvia adrift." " What?" "Simply threw her out, five in the morning!" "He's threatening to divorce her right here in New York if she doesn't go to Reno." "But what I don't get is why Howard's been waiting until now... he knew it all the time!" "Of course... he hired Sylvia's lover exactly for that!" "so he's got free reign!" " Howard's a sly fox!" " Oh yes, life is horrible..." "That'll give a great hen party!" "All of you in Reno!" "Mary?" "Lucy...!" "Where... where's Mrs. Haines?" "Downstairs, waiting for the mail." " Oh how I hate Reno!" " You didn't have to come here." "Lucy... you must have seen a lot of divorces?" "I've been in this hotel for ten years." " And you've never been married?" " Yes, I've three children." " Oh..." "Then you're probably very happy..." "I have no time to think about that." "And... don't you ever dream about being happy?" "Once you've got kids, and a husband, mine is such a devil, 'specially when he's drunk, well you know 'em, them big, strong, red-headed men..." " Oh Lucy, he doesn't beat you?" " Of course!" "While a lot of women here need a beating more than me!" "But you live here in Reno!" "You could get a divorce instantly!" "I wanted to do it once, and I had the money too," " but I had to call it off." " Why?" " I was pregnant again." " But Lucy..." " Peggy, how are you?" " Alright, Countess." "I've been galloping madly over the desert all day..." "Hop hop hop hop!" " We must celebrate Mary's divorce!" " I don't know if this is something to celebrate." "Wait till you've had as many divorces as I had... then things look quite different." "Marry, divorce, marry, divorce, marry..." "Marry... then get divorced." "But whereever love leads I will follow." "So here I am again." "I'd rather be anywhere else on earth than here." "You've got the Reno hangover." "Did you see the doctor?" "Yes, he said it was the mountain air." "Well, you'll get used to that." "My third husband was from Tyrol." "If one lives in Tyrol, one has got to accept the Alps!" "Oh, I wish she hadn't mentioned the mountain air..." "Reminds me of that shock when Gustav made me climb that top... when we were up there I suddenly felt a push" "Yes..." "I slid halfway down the mountain, before I realized he didn't love me anymore." "I slid and slid and slid... right into the arms of the fourth one..." "that was the Count." "And that's the one you're divorcing now?" "Of course." "He was putting arsenic into my headache powders." "L'amour..." "I'amour!" " Have you ever been in love, Lucy?" " Oh yes, Madame." " Tell me about it." " There's not much to tell." "He was tall and red-headed..." "I shouldn't have married so many foreigners." "I think I'll have to find me an American again." " Good day, Lucy!" " Hello Countess..." " ...how was the ride?" " Hop Hop Hop, madly over sagebrush!" "In two weeks I'll be free..." "free as a bird!" "Free from that little French rat!" "But where, where shall I fly?" "Into the strong arms of your cowboy!" "Miriam, you should be ashamed of yourself." "He's crazy for you!" "For you he'd even leave his horse, and that's quite something." "Well, strong he is this Buck Winston." "And young!" "Have you watched the play of his muscles?" "Musical... just musical..." "That's true... with his knees he could crack coconuts if he could put them together!" "Yes..." "Sorry." "But you don't really have serious intentions, Countess?" "I still believe in love." "Then..." " I'd take him to Hollywood if I were you." " Yeah?" "Don't know..." "My second husband was a gondolier." "Oh..." "Miriam." "Hello Countess." "Hello Sylvia!" "Going to a ball?" "Just doing the town a bit..." " ...with a cavalier." " Where'd you pick that one up?" "At the Silver State Bar." "I'm not going to sit around moping, like Mary." "Poor Mary." "A nod from her husband and she'd go back." "That's a question of pride." "I'd rather eat thirteen squids than forgive Howard!" "Kicking me out like that!" "After all I've done for him!" "Main thing is we get paid, before and afterwards," " and he has to pay, right?" " You can bet on it!" "I never got a sou from any of my husbands, except for my first one." "He wrote me the most endearing thing in his will..." ""To my beloved Flora I bequeath all my estate, under the sole condition... that she leaves the administration in the hands of the executor, because she is the biggest misadventurer..." "I've ever known."" "Wasn't that sweet?" " Queen, how are you?" " Splendid!" "I don't believe that." "Sylvia, a letter for you, from Edith." "Recognizable by the infantile handwriting." " Have you heard from Stephen?" " No!" "Please stop asking me that!" "I'm only trying to help you!" "That's more than you've ever done for me." "You don't take an interest in my problems.." "I'm sorry, Sylvia, but I can't take you seriously." " Would you like another one?" " No." "Typical Edith, sends us all the gossip columns from last week." "Miriam, what secrets you keep from us..." "I didn't know..." " that you know Howard Fowler." " What?" ""Prominent stockbroker to marry ex-chorus girl"" "Those damn dirty tabloids." "You hypocritical bitch!" " Mary.... did you know about this?" " Sylvia, why do you care?" " You no longer love him!" " That has nothing to do with it!" " She only wants him for his money!" "He gets what he pays for with me, at least." "I always believed Howard Fowler was impotent." " With her, possibly..." " Mary..." "Miriam!" "Miriam!" "What a bitch!" "Broke all of my bones..." "How could you let her do that?" "And you're on her side too." "After all I've done for you!" "What?" "What have you done for me?" "!" "I told you everything!" "And I should be grateful for that?" "Don't think that everyone here supports you as I do!" "There are several people here who gloat in seeing what happened to you!" "Out!" "Get out of here!" "Get out!" "I hate you!" "I hate you!" "I hate you all!" "Poor thing..." "Love has made you lose your equilibrium." "At your fourth divorce... you will not be so agitated anymore." "L'amour..." "I'amour!" "Do you know that Buck made up a song especially for me?" "Do you want to hear it?" "A man takes a horse and mounts the saddle." "A woman takes the man and flies without wings..." " Is the coast clear?" " That was disgusting." "Right..." "Sylvia acted like an animal." " You don't belong here, Peggy!" " Yes, why is she here anyway?" " She wanted to buy a car!" " With my own money." " And John said they couldn't afford it." " He couldn't, but I could." "So "what's his, is also mine, and what's mine is mine alone." Fine." "A woman's best protection is her own money." "The best protection is the right man." "Obviously John wasn't the right man and soon you'll have forgotten him." "No I won't, because..." "Oh Mary, I'm going to have a baby!" "What can I do?" " What's his telephone number?" "!" " Eldorado 5-20..." " Again!" " Eldorado 5-2075..." "But Mary, I can't tell him!" " Why, isn't it his?" " Oh of course!" "Mary, I've always wanted it, but what can I do with it now?" "What I don't understand... you want to share everything with John, except your money." "With your child you will... share your blood, your eyes, your hair, your faults, your virtues... but you don't have the heart to give your husband some of your money?" "But that's not true!" "It's because he scolded me so!" "I have my pride..." " Reno is full of such proud women." " But I'm not like the others." "You will be in the end." "Hello, Mr. Day?" "Reno calling." "Hold on please." "Hello John?" "No I'm not sick." "That is... actually, I am..." "Oh John..." "I... we're going to have a baby." "Yes, really!" "Yes, me too!" "But of course I forgive you." "But I must pack first!" "On the next train..." "Oh John, things are going to be so different now." "Excuse me if I hang up now, but the call gets too expensive!" "I can't have dinner with you now!" "Good luck!" "Have we learned something here?" "One gets some distance..." "That's all." " May I tell you something?" " I've already heard everything..." " Maybe you haven't?" " All right..." "Tell me about my conjugal rights, and how important security is!" "That's what it always boils down to to:" "Compromises." "Well, so what..." "we're born with compromises." "My husband..." " he doesn't want me any more." " How do you know?" "If I wasn't sure I wouldn't I be here." "Matters of love... are not for a couple who has been married for twelve years." "Oh, I don't mean to say that passion isn't wonderful but I wouldn't want to relive our early times." "That... is a part of our youth, like the children we have." "But that wasn't all." "Stephen needed me." "For twelve years." "And now..." "Now he no longer needs me..." "That's why I'm marrying that Fowler." "He really needs me." "If I don't take care of him he'll drink himself to death." "Who called?" "Whom?" "Yes!" "..." "Yes, Mrs. Haines here!" "Who's calling from New York?" "Mr. Haines..." "Yes... yes, put him through!" "Stephen..." "I knew he would..." "Oh how I wished he would realize at the last moment that he needs me." " For Gods sake, tell him you need him!" " Yes, hello, Stephen?" "Thank you, well!" "And you?" "It's so good to hear your voice." "Yes... yes Stephen, it's scheduled for tomorrow at 12..." "Stephen, maybe..." "What?" "No..." "No I haven't read it..." "I only have the local papers here..." "When...?" "Did they write about it?" "Oh yes of course." "I'd rather hear it from you." "But no, no, how did you get that idea?" "Of course I understand your situation!" "I said I understand your situation!" "But no, no... no, you just imagine that..." "Why should I sound bitter?" "I hope you will find happiness." "No." "I don't have any plans yet, no." "No, none at all." "I have to go now." "Don't be mad at me." "Adieu..." "Stephen." " Madame's in the tub for an hour already..." " Yes, and?" " Monsieur..." " Monsieur will be patient." " Has the kid left?" " Mademoiselle Mary... has just finished supper with Monsieur." "Madame, Monsieur insists that you say goodbye to her." "Ahhh... ridiculous!" "For months he's tried to impose us on each other." "She doesn't likes it any more than I do!" "Let her go home to her mommy." "Here - scrub my back." "Ow!" "Not so hard... you're taking my skin off!" "Oh Helen... never marry a man who's deserted a "good woman"." "What are you still standing there?" "!" "Hello?" "Darling!" "I'm in the tub..." "I've been desperately waiting for your call!" "My skin... is already wrinkled." "What?" "No." "It's not that easy to shock me." "You ought to know...!" "What?" "Buck!" "I'm going to miss you!" "I can't tell you how I felt... locking the door on our little apartment behind me." "It was so wonderful." "Must you really, by all means, go to Hollywood?" "Metro-Goldwyn can go to hell!" "You don't have to tell me what sacrifices you make for your career," "I make sacrifices too!" "Besides..." "I've seen that cartoon figure you married!" "If that woman is a Countess, then I'm The Duchess of Windsor!" "No... yes..." "There must be an interference..." "Please call again later." "Please." "Who told you you could come in?" "Daddy told me to say good bye." " And so?" " Good bye." "No..." "Wait!" "Hand me... the brush." "How long..." "are you already in here?" "I only just came in." "Sit down." "Your daddy wants us to talk to each other." " Whaddya been doing today?" " Don't know..." "May I go now?" "My, you're in a hurry..." "Guess you can go now and tell your Daddy about my talk on the telephone, huh?" "It's too warm in here and I have my coat on." "I don't care!" "Look... for months..." "I've tried to be nice." "Why don't you like me?" "I never said that." "But you don't like me, right?" "Yes... but I never said so!" "Good." "You can go now." "Bye." "Hello?" "No..." "Mrs. Haines' kid." "Oh Buck, I can't tell you how sick those kids make me!" "I must see you, one more time!" "What?" "To a party?" "At the first Mrs. Haines', of all people?" "What's she got to celebrate?" "All right..." "But don't drink so much." "Above all, no gin, it makes you talk too much." "Yoohoo!" "May I come in?" "No!" "This is not the station, it's the aquarium!" "Who was that?" "Wrong number." "Come on Crystal..." "that was a man!" "The eye drops...!" "You know you can trust me." "There is someone!" "I've known Stephen for years." "He's not really your type!" "My therapist says Stephen has a guilt complex." "A what?" "He says men of Stephen's generation were brought up to believe that infidelity is a sin." "That's why he married you." "Just to convince himself he isn't a rake." "If Stephen's a rake, I'm The Duchess of Windsor." "And you have a Cinderella Complex." "Though my therapist thinks most American women have one." "They're brought up to believe that they have to marry a rich man." "All the things he says!" "He also says that we're in fact good for nothing." "We neither particularly please the men nor are we good mothers." "We're in a vicious circle." "Sylvia, would you please move next door now." "Is that the way to talk to me... after all I've done for you!" "You didn't know a soul when you married Stephen." "It really wasn't easy to bring you out." "Everybody was on Mary's side." "They still are." "They never miss a chance to remind me of how generous and how noble Mary is." "At the same time she's a complete nervous wreck." " She seldomly meets anyone." " Is that so?" "But quite accidentally tonight she's holding a huge reception!" "Edith mentioned it." "She's going of course." "And Flora too." " Who's Flora?" " The Countess!" "But now her name is plainly Mrs. Buck Winston." "Yes?" "Nothing." "It's unbelievable... that she turned that cowboy... really into a film star." "Well he's not my type, not at all, not at all but they say all the housemaids run after him..." " Will you stop your blathering!" " But Crystal..." "Shut up!" " Helen!" " I see..." " you're as ungrateful as all the others!" " Tell it to your therapist!" " Monsieur asks if..." " Yes yes yes... 114 pounds..." "I lost weight again!" "I have to tell it my therapist!" "This has to signify something!" "He says I must not overtax myself..." "I sacrifice myself for my friends..." "I have a Damon and Pythias Complex." "I thought you wouldn't dye your hair?" "You're thick!" "If you're really having an affair, be cautious." "You know what Howard did to me!" "Men think they own your body and soul, just because they pay your bills." "Thank you Helen." "If you were smart, Crystal, you'd have a baby." "What's this key for?" "What?" "Oh that..." "That's... a key from the Gothic Apartments?" "That's where Howard nabbed me!" "You..." "The doorman is a professional blackmailer!" "He won't blackmail me anymore." "It's too late now." "If you want to know... that's where I would meet with Stephen, before the divorce." "The key is a keepsake." "That was the dryest party in awhile." "I haven't had a single drop." "Oh, one for me too!" "When Howard's around I have to be abstinent." "I'm weaning him in stages." "He's in the secondary now." "What is the seconday stage?" "He puts ice in whiskey." "Mary... won't you finally tell us why you invited so many guests today?" "I had a reason for celebrating..." "A year ago today... was my divorce!" "But you won't stop mourning anyway." "Oh Mary..." "If all of my heroines were like you.." "My two and a half readers wouldn't consider it to be possible." "There is no man who would be worth sacrificing oneself like that." "The whole Jockey Club isn't worth it." "Excuse me Mary, but I have to go now." "Little John always cries when he feels that I'm not there." "Those stairs..." "It's so difficult climbing stairs in my condition." "Edith...!" "Not again?" "Say...are you Catholic or just careless?" "Is this your old furniture?" "Yes...?" "Why don't you give it away?" "Nothing is more depressing than sleeping in a bed with old memories." "You're playing the nun for a little too long." "How will you ever find someone else if you keep on like that?" " I don't want to find someone else." " They're not all like Stephen." "I don't want to know how others are." "Want to hear the latest about Sylvia?" " No!" " She's now regularly going to a psychoanalyst!" "Mainly because we..." "Peggy!" "Mainly because we destroyed her faith in friendship." " She can't trust any woman anymore." " I could have told her that earlier." "You've become harsh." " Not to say cynical." " Not at all." "Just wise." "I'm beginning to understand other women." "Thus begins the mistrust." "Oh my, now they're philosophizing." "Peggy, let's go." "Edith, did I tell you little Johnny already can say "Mama"?" "Yes, Peggy, exactly seventeen times until now." "By the way Mary," "Sylvia called today." "She said Stephen and Crystal will also come to the Countess' farewell party." "Oh, you secretly continue partying here?" "Miriam!" "Convince Mary to come along with me, it's my farewell party..." "I've booked two floors at the casino and invited half of New York!" "I'm too tired, Flora." "Ah, you're just cross because Buck's had a drop today!" " Buck is completely sloshed." " Because he only drinks straight gin!" "Even though he's not allowed to!" "Mr. Metro-Goldwyn... explicitly forbid it in the new contract." "Mary..." "Mary, you have to come along." "This is my farewell party, we will never come back to New York!" "Never!" "What's wrong with New York?" "Haven't you noticed how Buck was today?" "It's not just the gin, it is not as it was before..." "even if I first thought so..." "He's cheating on me..." "That's unbelievable..." "I have no proof yet, but... he smells of a strange perfume every afternoon." " And where is he in the afternoon?" " With his horse, he says..." "But the horse... the horse was already shipped to Hollywood last week!" "I was there myself..." "on the photo..." "He's leaving all the same." "He's practising gymnastics, he says..." "But today I called up where he's allegedly practising and do you know what that... blockhead said?" " Your Buck?" " No, no... that doorman..." ""He's not here" he said." "He..." "He hasn't been there ever." "That's when I got angry... and made it clear to him that Mr. Buck Winston... practises there every afternoon!" "And?" "Thereupon he apologized..." ""Beg your pardon, Your Imperial Highness", he said" ""but I believe right now he's boxing..."" ""with Max Schmeling."" "Yesyes..." "L'amour, I'amour..." "L'amour..." "C'est d'accord!" "Mais jamais I'amour avec escapade!" "A love with an escapade is better than no love at all." "and if he makes such efforts to hide it from you it only shows how much he appreciates you!" "I should have..." "had him observed." "But... they all use the same appartments anyway..." "You really won't come along, Mary?" "No." "I can't miss out on that party." "I badly need new material for my new book." "Cheers!" "Well, Queen, shoudn't we go there after all?" " No." "Better not." " Then I go'll alone." "Howard and I have to play the happy couple to Sylvia." "Shall I spit in Crystal's face for you?" "No." "You're passing up a swell chance." "Where I spit no grass grows." "Mom...?" "Yes...?" "What's the matter?" "Who's the Duchess of Windsor?" "Where did you get that?" "Well, Crystal said, if somebody else was a Countess, then she's the Duchess of Windsor." "I don't want you to talk badly about Crystal." "But the one she was talking to on the phone she called "Buck"...!" "Who?" "Say what?" "Crystal said on the telephone "Oh Buck, Buck, I will miss you!"" " Mom, what are you doing?" " Go to bed, child." "Mama just has to go for a moment." "Jane!" "A taxi!" "What are you standing there gaping!" "Hurry!" "Hurry!" "Hush!" "How could Buck do this to me?" "No scandal, Countess, this could cost him his career!" "And what will become of me?" "Of my five husbands" "Buck is the first who ever told me in public what he really thinks of me!" "Yes... that way one always learns something new... and stays young!" "He even admitted... that he's been cheating on me for many months... and all that while Smoke Gets in Your Eyes." "Don't touch me." "Did he at least tell you the lady's name?" "No... he wasn't that drunk." "It seems she is married." "In that regard his views are very proletarian." "The only thing he said was that she was an authentic redhead." "What...?" "That narrows down the field considerably." "So what." "She's going to forgive him anyway." "I'd forgive unfaithfulness - maybe... ingratitude never!" "I picked him up from those praries and I married him, and then he tells me..." "such things?" "What awful things did he say?" "He said, he might be a cowboy, but he still wouldn't want to drive an old cow to the West Coast." "This marriage has taught me that you can't expect any noblesse from a cowboy!" "Miriam, come..." "We have to get her home somehow." " You take her down while I look for Buck!" " Nancy!" "Nancy, I need a telephone now," "I urgently have to call Mr. Metro-Goldwyn." " Do you have a safety pin?" " No..." "Oh my God, this is so embarrassing!" "This is so embarrassing!" "She's not here." "And I don't think she's coming." "She will come." "I know it!" "Fine, and what are we going to do then?" "That..." "I don't know yet." "But in any case I'll get her tonight!" "Buck's leaving for Hollywood tomorrow." "Why don't you settle this with Stephen?" "I don't have an proof!" "But maybe I can confront her with Buck, if he's really as drunk as you said." "Drunk?" "Right now he's trying to pair Flora off with the doorman!" "Then he's very drunk." " Have you got a twenty-dollar bill?" " Yes...?" "That'll lock him in the men's room... till we need him." "My halter-neck strap fell into the soup... and almost even more..." " I shouldn't have come." " But your husband allowed it!" "Flora was disgusting!" "Flora wasn't disgusting, Flora was idiotic." "Showing jealousy, when you have a reason for it, means killing a marriage." "Ah, Edith, always your wisdoms..." "Peggy, I'm the only happy woman you know." "And why?" "Because I don't expect any man, especially not my husband, to understand me." "And how could he?" "I'm a woman." "I don't try to understand men either." "They're simply animals." "So... why should I quarrel with God because he made them like that?" "I have my security, and that's what matters." "Yesyesyesyesyes..." "Yesyesyesyes..." " Does it still show?" " No, not at all." "Oh thank you so much!" " Stephen is beside himself!" " He'll come around." "Is my mouth on straight?" "Why are you making yourself up?" "Do you want to meet someone?" "Can't you think of anything else but men?" "Mrs. Haines!" " What a surprise!" " I beg your pardon?" "It's such a lovely and amusing party!" "I was already afraid you would miss it!" "Oh, may I introduce!" "Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Haines  Mrs. Haines." " Pleased to meet." " Yes!" "Those modern marriages!" " As I was just telling Miriam..." " Come along, Sylvia." " I think this lady is drunk." "Mary!" "Is that true?" "Yes!" "Mr. Buck Winston..." "seduced me into it." "You know Mr. Buck Winston too..." "He loves to drink and he carries everyone along!" "Sorry." "I'm afraid I don't." "But Crystal," "I introduced him to you myself, don't you remember?" "Yes!" "...Now I remember." "See?" "I'm never wrong." "He's in the hall, waiting for someone, and he's even more drunk than you may possibly fear." "Wouldn't it be embarrassing if he'd meet Stephen in this condition?" " Where are you going?" " I don't want to listen to this blather!" "You can't go in there either!" "There is Mrs. Buck Winston, and she's having hysterics - on the same matter." "Buck's deceiving her!" "That's all insanely interesting..." "but what's it to do with me?" " Some say it's you!" " Really?" "If he says so he's lying!" "He's just the cheap sort..." "Tomorrow it will be all over town." "Stephen... will not like it very much." "What are you trying to do?" "Want to frame me, in front of witnesses?" " This little bitch set her up!" " Keep out of this!" "Don't get excited Sylvia, this is not about us...!" "Well... what did he drivel in his booze stupor, that conceited ape?" " Out with it!" " It... is all so embarrassing!" "Oh really?" "What do know about me, Mrs. Haines?" "Everything!" "Everything?" "Everything...!" "Well if you know everything, why don't you go to Stephen and tell him, your awesome discoveries!" "You... are just bluffing." "Come Sylvia." "That's a very good idea, I will tell Stephen." "But I don't think he'll believe you." "Oh, don't laugh, Crystal..." "Stephen's still very fond of Mary." "Now let's get this straight..." "Mrs. Haines." "I've got what I want, and I'm going to keep it." "I won't let you oust me with gossip." "What you believe... and what Stephen believes, will cut no ice in divorce court." "You need proof, and you haven't any." "When Mr. Winston's sober again, he'll apologize, and Stephen will have to accept it." "So," "That's that." "Good night." "Hopefully Mrs. Winston will accept it too!" "She will have no other choice." "And the apartment?" " What apartment?" " You know exactly what I mean." " Give it up!" " You have been seen!" "Mrs. Winston had you watched!" " When?" "Where?" " When you both were coming out!" " Where?" "That's all lies!" " I wouldn't be so sure, Crystal!" " Keep out of this!" " If you only had confided in me!" " She did not?" " No!" "She thinks she can make it alone!" "Else I would have told her that there are much safer places than the Gothic Apartments!" " Shut your filthy mouth!" " How dare you?" "!" " I'll break the facts to Stephen." " You..." " ...want to destroy my marriage!" " Just as you destoyed hers!" "Well, fine." "Help yourself... if what I've left over is good enough for you..." "Thank you!" "It's good enough!" "Mary!" "Mary, haven't you any pride?" "Sylvia!" "Jungle Red!" "Pride is a luxury a woman in love can't afford." "Outside... there's a Mr. Haines." "He's been waiting a long time for his wife." "Tell him I'm coming." "Subtitles:" "Karagarga"