Zenobia

Jack, it's beautiful.

There's just one thing, Young Lady...

What's that?

I don't believe in long engagements.

Neither do I.

Now, I may be wrong, but I never did believe in long engagements, and I always will.

- Oh, Mother. Mother. - Darling.

- Isn't it wonderful? - Oh, isn't it lovely?

It looks just like the one your father ALMOST gave me.

I beg your pardon Mrs. Tibbett, but don't you think I better speak to your husband about this?

Why, yes, Jeffrey, I think that would be a good idea.

Zero! Zero!

Ma'am, Mizz Tibbett?

Zero, come here!

Yes, 'am. This knife keeps slippin' and fallin'.

Zero, run down to the village and tell Dr. Tibbett to come home right away.

- Yes, 'am. - Wait a minute.

Tell him Mrs. Carter's comin' to dinner.

- You will invite your mother, won't you? - Yes, of course.

Wait a minute!

Now, let me see. What was the other thing I wanted to tell you to tell him?

Uh...I don't know. Ma'am... there... Mizz Tibbett.

About the engagement.

Oh, yes, of course. Tell him Mr. Jeffrey wants to ask his permission to marry Miss Mary.

You got that all straight?

Yes, 'am, but... not exactly.

Well, that's just fine, now run along.

Yes, 'am

And please hurry, because I've got a million things to do.

Well, to work, to work, to work, to work.

Don't folks know you can get places, most places without so much hurryin'?

Get outta my way, Boy, don't you see I'm on business.

It's a boy.

And you just take it easy and relax, Mr. Dover, and in a few days you'll be yourself again.

A boy, Doctor. I still can't believe it.

- Well, if at first you... - Oh, by the way, Doctor, ah...

About your bill..

- I'll pay it at just as soon as... - Never mind, Mr. Dover.

This one's on me.

- Well, good day. - Good day.

- Dr. Tibbett, Sir. - Whatsa matter, Zero?

Mizz Tibbett's saying... house... it's powerful important.

- Get in the buggy. - Yes, Sir.

- I got done following Mizz Tibbett... ... ... - What was wrong?

It was somethin' 'bout... ... ... ...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

- What happened to your arm? - Trying... knife...

Well, is there somebody sick?

No... uh... never said medicine...

Well, was there a fire?

- No, Sir, there's no firemens there... - Can you think of what's wrong?

Yes, Sir, I KNOW what's wrong, but...

I just can't remember, Doctor. And I remember so much...

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Well, never mind, we're home now and I can find out for myself.

Yes, Sir.

Bessie! Oh, Bessie!

Bessie, are you all right?

Fine, thank you, Henry! How are you?

But, what about Mary, is she all right?

Why, she's just fine, Henry.

- But, Bessie! - Yes, Dear?

Zero told me...

Mary, how does the upstairs look?

It's all finished, Mother. Just sit down and stop worrying, Dear.

- Oh, Dad, isn't it all exciting? - Isn't WHAT exciting?

Where do these flowers go, Mary?

Right in that vase, Mother, that's where I just put them.

Oh, well, you know how to do it, then.

Mary, what's all this excitement about?

Zero, where's that silver polish?

Polish is uh...

- Mary, wait a minute. - Dehlia! Dehlia!

- Yes, 'am? - Where's the silver polish?

Never mind, I've got it.

Oh, Daddy, I'm so happy. Aren't you?

Dehlia! Come out of that oven and tell me what's going on in this house!

I'z sorry, Dr. Tibbett, I got so much work to do, and Mizz Tibbett told me directly

that I wasn't to talk to nobody, not even to myself.

But what I'm trying to find out is...

Zeke, don't let me catch you messin' with this here pie, ya hear me?

Dehlia, what I want to know is...

I'z sorry, Doctor, but Mizz Tibbett done give me strict orders.

Can't find out anything around here. Nobody wants to tell you what's going on.

Ain't nothin' much going on here, exceptin' a weddin'.

- Wedding? - Yes, Sir.

- Who's gettin' married? - Miss Mary.

- My daughter? - Yes, Sir!

Oh, Mary! Oh, Mary! Mary! Mary! Oh, Mary, I want to talk to you.

I beg your pardon, Dr. Tibbett, there's something I wanted to ask you.

- Can't stop now, Jeff! - But Doctor, I...

I'm sorry, Jeff, not right now, I... I... this is very important.

But this is pretty important, too, Sir.

Ah, you'll have to see me later, Jeff, I want to talk to Mary.

But that's just it, I want to marry 'er.

That's fine, Son.

What?

- YOU wanna marry her? - Yes, Sir!

If it's all right with you, Sir.

Why, sure. Sure, it's all right with me.

If it's all right with you... Pumpkin.

It's all right with me... Doc.

Bessie!

Now, Henry! Don't stand there and shout at me!

I'm busy! I haven't time!

But... but, they're going to get married!

Of course they are, that's what I've been telln' you.

But... but, Bessie, this is the finest piece of news I've ever heard.

It's wonderful! And we'll drink a toast to it right now!

Ah... Bessie, where is that bottle of real old sherry?

Oh, I threw that OLD sherry away. I have some nice NEW

sherry. I'll show you right where it is in the kitchen.

Unless I put it somewhere else.

Oh, Mary, put these flowers in water.

We want everything to look just right before Mrs. Carter gets here.

Sherry... kitchen.

- Jeff... - Huh?

Did ya tell her yet?

Mother? I haven't had a chance yet, Honey.

- I figured I'd tell her tonight. - Well, I'm kinda worried.

You see, you're folks have always been so important.

And your grandfather and father both being governors.

And a town named after your family, and all that.

How's your mother gonna feel about my family?

I know what you mean, Honey. But Mom's really not so bad.

She's got a lot of social ideas, with family stuff, and all that.

She gonna be all right!

I'm the happiest father in the State of Mississippi.

So 'm I.

- Doctor, ... ... ... ... - Never mind, ZERO!

...I hope I don't forget again.

Jeff, I was just thinking, how'di't be we don't say

anything to mother tonight about us getting married.

Why not? I'm sure she'd be interested, too.

Well, you see, Mother, Mrs. Carter's always had an idea of Jeff marrying...

well... someone... sort of "social".

Not just some little ol' country doctor's family.

Well, it isn't as bad as that! I...

Isn't it? So, I thought if we broke it to her kinda easy....

You know, like Doc does, give it to her in small doses.

Well, that's a good idea, Jeff! Back to work, to work, to work, to work.

Well, I guess I'd better be gettin' along, too.

I'll see ya to the door, Jeff.

Good day, Sir.

Good day.

Now, you're not going to worry about tonight, Darling,

because everything is gonna work out just fine, ya hear?

- I hope so, really. - I know.

Doc, I'm sorry I hurt your feelings.

I didn't mean what I said about your being a country doctor.

Well, what did ya mean?

Well, I know you're the finest doctor this town has ever had.

And you used to be successful.

You took care of all the best families.

Why, Mrs. Carter used to pay you hundreds of dollars a year, didn't she?

- Yes. - And one day you insulted her.

Told her she wasn't sick and didn't need a doctor

and you wouldn't go back to see her again.

Then she broke her neck.

Didn't ya?!?!

- Yes, but... - It wasn't only Mrs. Carter.

Ya did the same to everyone else in town that could really afford a doctor.

And now look at it... we owe money to everyone.

We don't even own this house... The Bank owns it. And Mrs. Carter owns The Bank.

Why, we haven't even paid our servants in over a year.

Actually, I'm so ashamed, I can't hold my head up.

- I'm sorry, Pumpkins, but... - I know, Doc, but what's the matter?

What's happened? What is it?

That!

Oh, what's that got to do with it?

When I was sitting here reading it one day, and I

suddenly discovered that it had a lot of sense to it.

Especially the part where it says "All men are created equal,"

"and are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

I still don't understand.

Aw, Pumpkins, I wasn't happy feeding pink pills to Mrs. Carter and her rich friends.

I'd rather do something for somebody that needs a doctor. Even if they can't pay their bills.

And besides, I can't see where any man,

can make a mistake in living-up to The Declaration of Independence. Can you?

No.

Doc, I guess you're still my favorite father.

Mizz Mary, Mizz Tibbett wants you in the kitchen right away!

Run along, Pumpkins, your mother needs you.

- I will if you promise me one thing. - What?

That you won't read it again until after the wedding.

That's mighty funny, it was right here ten years ago.

Things certainly do get mislaid around this house.

Mother, what ARE you looking for?

You remember that cut glass punchbowl, Mary.

The one that we borrowed from Mrs. Randolph, that she loaned

to Mrs. Smith, after she borrowed it back from Mrs. Watson.

- I wonder where it is. - Why, that's OUR punchbowl.

You loaned it to Mrs. Randolph again.

How times fly!