Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

You know, I just had a thought.

I'll go check in a hotel and get some rest, and you go find your folks.

Let's go meet them. The sooner it's over with, the better.

Mom will be out to lunch. Dad's at his office.

- You may not meet them till dinner. - You may be wrong about them.

You should've told them we were coming.

It may be the biggest shock of your young life.

After 23 years of living with them, don't you think I know them?

I hope so.

There's no problem.

We'll be a minute, then we'd like to go to Claremont Drive.

All right.

I'll see if Mom's in the office.

- Joey? - Hilary, hi. How are you?

What a surprise!

- I'll be with you in a moment. - Okay.

- Strange. - One of Hilary's favorites.

- It's called a kinetic sculpture. - A what?

Look.

Why, isn't that someth...?

- What are you doing here? - I thought Mother might be here.

- I'd like you to meet Dr. Prentice. - I'm so pleased to meet you.

Pleasure to see you.

Christina's lunching with Mr. Cazelet. I can ring up.

Just tell her I'm back and that I'll be home.

Has something happened? Is anything wrong?

Something's happened, but everything's right.

- How was Hawaii? Was it fun? - Hawaii was simply unbelievable.

Do you live in San Francisco, doctor, or are you visiting?

Just passing through. It was a pleasure to have met you.

- Thank you. - Bye-bye.

Hilary runs the gallery, but it's Mom who has all the ideas.

Her idea to put originals in hotel rooms is brilliant.

Gives people time to decide if they like them.

The hotel gets free decor, the guests can look at good paintings...

...the painter can make a sale, and Mom gets a commission.

Take the next right.

- Isn't that clever? - That is clever.

- What do I owe you? - Ten-fifty, Mac.

Twelve bucks, right?

Right.

John, come meet Tillie.

Tillie, this is Dr. Prentice. John, Miss Matilda Binks.

Pleased to meet you, Miss Binks. I've heard a great deal about you.

What are you doing home unexpected? You told them you're back?

I left a message for Mom. It's lovely to see you! I missed you.

Why are you home? You want those bags upstairs?

- Not my two. I've not come to stay. - I'll tell you all about it.

You eat any lunch yet, or are you expecting it now?

Could you make us sandwiches? We'll have it on the terrace.

Do you like it?

- It's beautiful. - Come out and look from the terrace.

- What? - Hey, who's that?

That's Dorothy. Isn't she a knockout? She helps Tillie during the week.

- Which days? - Never mind.

- I ought to call my folks. - Use the phone in the study.

- Will you introduce me? - Not on the phone.

- Won't you tell them? - I'd rather write.

I have to meet them before I come to Geneva.

Or will we keep our marriage a secret from them?

Why didn't I think of that? See, that's a thought.

I'll shut this in case Dorothy goes by.

Los Angeles, please. Area code 213.

Axminister 246-99. Time and charges.

I've got a right to my own opinions, and you want my opinion?

I don't like one of my race getting above himself.

If I ever want your opinion, I'll ask for...

Oh, Tillie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.

But you can't mean what you're saying, and you're so wrong.

You're the last person I'd expect...

...to take such a silly attitude.

I've always loved you, and you're just as black as he is.

It's right for me to love you and wrong to love him?

Just stop and think about that.

- What's for dinner tonight? - Celery soup and rump steak.

Come on! Turtle soup and tournedos.

And one of your best pies?

It's Mom!

Joey? Darling?

- What the hell? Joey? - Mom!

Darling, are you all right?

Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine!

I rang the gallery to tell Hilary that Cazelet had agreed to...

He has? That's marvelous!

She thought you might have a surprise. What did she mean?

Do I hear someone? Is there someone here?

Mom! I've never been so happy in all my life! I'm just...

Bursting. I can see that.

I'm feeling happy for you. Do I know him?

I only met him myself 10 days ago.

You won't believe what's happened in 10 days!

I might, if you'd pipe down long enough to tell me.

- Wonderful things have happened in... - Mom, he's so wonderful.

I've never known anyone like him. Never known anything like this.

I fell in love with him in 20 minutes!

Well! That was quick.

Dad, I wanted to stop on the way back, but time got so short...

...and I've got to get to work.

I don't understand why you couldn't spend one day with us.

Well, fact is, Dad, I met this girl.

You met a girl? Why didn't you say so? Mary, he's met a girl.

That's good news. Does she live in San Francisco?

Yes. I'm at her house now.

He's at the girl's house now. Where did you meet her, Hawaii?

Yes. And I wanted to meet her folks.

- That sounds good, I mean, serious. - Yes. It's serious.

- This is quite a surprise. - She's surprising in a lot of ways.

- Your mother says, "Is she pretty?" - Yes, she's pretty.

Your mother says, "How old is she?" What's the difference?

- She's only 23, Dad. - Twenty-three, that's good.

You're 37, that's just right. Women age faster than men.

- You reckon to marry the girl? - We've been talking about it, but...

Dad, there's one or two problems, you see...

...that I'll write to you about on the plane to New York tonight.

All right?

He's so calm and sure of everything.

He doesn't have any tensions in him.

He knows what he believes and what he thinks is right...

...and why, and where he's going.

Mom, there's one thing I must tell you.

He was married before, and he had a son.

It was so tragic.

His wife and son were killed in a train accident eight years ago.

And John...

I haven't even told you his name.

It's John Wade Prentice. Isn't that a lovely name?

John Wade...

Joanna Prentice, I'll be.

But, Mom. Mom?

There's something else...

...that John's been very deeply concerned about.

He's been worrying if you and Dad would be upset if...

Well, it's about time. I was wondering where you'd been.

Mom, this is John.

Doc... Doc... Dr. Prentice?

I'm so pleased to meet you.

I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs. Drayton.

Joanna's already busted out with the news.

She has told me a good deal, and all very quickly too.

She's only known me for 10 days, so she can't tell when I'm blushing.

That could be another problem for us.

I'm medically qualified, so I hope you won't think it presumptuous...

...if I say you should sit before you fall down.

He thinks you're gonna faint because he's a Negro.

Well...

I don't think I'm going to faint.

But I'll sit down anyway.

Can't we all sit down?

Well, I...

I suppose it would be all right if I said, "My goodness," wouldn't it?

Well, my goodness.

- Do we mind her saying "My goodness"? - I don't mind.

- Did you tell them about me? - Yes.

They said I sounded serious and asked if you were pretty. I said yes.

They said this was a big surprise. I said it was.

Did you tell them I'm not a colored girl?

I didn't. It was shocking for the phone. People will think we're shocking.

- Isn't that right, Mrs. Drayton? - I know what you mean.

- Tillie's made food. Let's go outside. - Yes, let's.

- Come on, Dr. Prentice. - I'll explain it in two minutes.

John was lecturing at Hawaii University.

We met at the dean's party, and afterward we went for a drive.

Since then, we've been somewhere together every night.

John was flying back to Los Angeles on Saturday to see his parents.

That's where they live.

Thank you, Tillie.

Try one of these. They're great.

- Coffee? - No, thanks.

- Does your father know you're back? - Not yet.

- Do you think he'd come back early...? - Yes, he's playing golf.

Marvelous! He'll meet John and we can all talk over dinner.

John's flying to New York tonight to see a friend at Columbia.

Tomorrow he's flying to Geneva for the World Health Organization.

I'll fly to Geneva next week so we can be married.

- That's the whole situation. - In a nutshell.

Except he thinks the fact he's a Negro and I'm not creates a serious problem.

Does he?

I've told him that it wouldn't matter to you or Dad.

He won't believe me. That's why we're here.

That's why he watches you so closely while pretending not to at all.

She's right. I'm sorry. I told her not to spring this on you so suddenly.

You can tell your father you met someone in Hawaii...

- Now, really! - Give him time to adjust...

But what for? He still has to be told, doesn't he?

You should make up your minds because that's his car.

- Mr. Matt? - Hi, Tillie.

- All hell's done broke loose! - The waste disposal?

It ain't that.

- What happened? Where's Christina? - On the terrace with Joey...

...and someone called Dr. Prentice.

Doctor? What's wrong? What's happened?

Joey?

Here he comes.

- Daddy! - What's happened?

- Tillie said there was a doctor... - Dr. John Prentice. This is my dad.

- Pleased to meet you. - How are you?

- Is something wrong? - I decided to come home early.

We met in Hawaii and flew back today.

Sit down. I thought something was really wrong. Tillie said...

Tillie's behaving very strangely. Coffee?