A Place in the Sun

You want a ride?

- Is this the place? - Yeah.

- Yes? - I'd like to see Mr Charles Eastman.

So would I. I expect to if I work another five years!

- How do I get to his office? - Go to the administration building.

Just a moment.

- Mr Eastman? - Yes.

I'm sorry. Our Mr Eastman is at home today. He won't be in.

He won't?

- Are you a relative? - He's my uncle.

I'm sure he'll want to see you. Let me give him a ring.

Yes, one moment, please.

Paris can dictate to women what to wear at a cocktail party or to bed.

Paris is not going to tell American women what bathing suits to wear!

- Miss Ottinger. - Hello.

Who?

Yes, of course. All right, let me have a word with the young man.

- Thank you. - It's on number two.

- Hello. - Hello, my boy.

- I hope you remember, sir. - Of course. How are you?

You certainly got here fast.

I wanted to. But I didn't want to bother you at home.

Drop by to the house at about seven o'clock.

Yes, sir. Thank you very much, sir.

My tie on crooked?

No, it's just that I was thinking... George Eastman's dropping in tonight.

George Eastman...? You mean Asa's son?

- Right. I ran into him in Chicago. - Will he lead us in a prayer?

He's not at all like Asa or his wife. He's very quiet and pleasant.

Not much education, but ambitious. And he looks amazingly like Earl.

- What's he do? - Hotel bellhop.

I always wanted to look like a bellhop!

Why bring him on here?

There's always a place at the plant.

- What do we do about him socially? - Easy. Leave town.

You don't have to take him up socially. He just wants to work.

- A man by the name of Eastman. - Show him in, William.

Charles, sometimes I think you're in your second childhood.

- Good evening, sir. - Hi, George.

This is my wife.

My daughter, Marcia. My son, Earl. George Eastman.

Sit down, George.

- Like a cocktail, a drink? - No, thank you.

My husband says he met you in Chicago at a hotel.

- That's right. - You must have left very suddenly.

Well, you see, I quit my job.

Mr Eastman was good enough to say that if I came through here,

he might find some place for me.

I think we can work something out.

- What do you think, Earl? - Done any bookkeeping?

- Typewriting? Stenography? - No.

You see Earl in the morning.

Thank you, sir. That's very kind of you.

And your mother? I trust she's well.

We've never met, but I've heard her mentioned.

She wrote Charles a moving letter at the time of your father's death.

Is she still active in her religious work?

- Yes, ma'am, she is. - Church work?

Not exactly. It's more like social work. It's a mission.

Like the Salvation Army?

No, it's not like the Salvation Army.

- It's more... - More intimate, maybe?

Did I hear you say intimate, darling?

- You're late. - I'm always late.

It's part of my charm. Good evening, Mr Eastman, Mrs Eastman.

You know Tom Tipton.

Don't drink. We haven't got time.

- Thanks. - Well, I'm ready.

Men are so disgustingly prompt.

They do it to put us women in a bad light.

I hear your place is coming along fine.

- It's a dream palace. - Will it be ready for summer?

- Even if I have to whip everyone! - All right, Simone Legree. Let's go.

- Goodnight, Eastman. - Goodnight.

- Bye-bye. - Bye.

Have you anywhere to stay?

I can recommend a quiet rooming house.

- My secretary used to stay there. - Thanks. I found a place.

That was fortunate, wasn't it?

Sorry we're not home for dinner. Some other time perhaps.

Yes. You see Earl in the morning. Goodnight.

- Goodnight, sir. Goodnight. - Goodnight.

Charles Eastman!

Be aware every minute that you're an Eastman.

- You must act accordingly. - I understand that.

Another thing.

As you noticed, nine out of ten Eastman employees are women.

There's a company rule against mixing with the girls here.

My father asked me to call this to your attention. That is a must.

This is George Eastman. Take George to Mr Whiting, please.

Mrs Kovak, this is George Eastman.

- He's here for a while. - OK. This is it.

Now you're in business.

- Hello, Angela. - Hi, Angela.

Look, this room could be your study.

There's even an old cupboard for your books.

Whatever else is in it, it isn't books.

- Who lived here? - A pirate in search of his soul.

Think he found it?

- Vicky... - What?

Could we be happy here, never seeing anyone again?

- Small world. - That's what you think.

Put your arms around me. Imagine the sea at night.

Who's your friend?

Hold me, Ray.

When I feel you close, all our lies come true.

Nothing can ever spoil them again.

If the girls saw me, they'd say I was making up to the boss's nephew.

That's silly. I'm in the same boat as you.

An Eastman isn't in the same boat with anyone.

- I work along with you, don't I? - Sure.

They'll move you to a better job, and you'll be in the front office.

That's the last we'll see of Mr George Eastman.

Who says that?

We know they put you in with us to learn the business.

I wouldn't be too sure of that.

#...Lord's divine command,

# When you find a brother struggling,

# Lend a willing, helping hand.

# Bear ye one another's burdens... #

- You lonely all the time? - Not on weekdays.

How come?

Remember I put swimsuits in boxes six days a week?

Yeah. What about Sundays? Maybe then you put yourself in a swimsuit.

Not me.

Why? You don't look good in a swimsuit?

- Sure I do. I can't swim. - You're kidding!

I never learned.

I was even scared of the duck pond when I was a kid.

We lived on a farm, a small one.

How come you came here?

We were poor. We needed the money.

I came down here and got a job.

- I'm glad. - Me, too.

This is it, where I live.

- It's 4433½ Elm Avenue. - I'll walk you to the door.

I can manage from here. I have my own private entrance.

Goodnight.

My landlady is fierce.

I've wanted to do that for so long.

I did, too.

Will we see each other again like this?

- If you want. - When?

It's up to you. You gotta be careful.

We can meet like tonight. Tonight has been wonderful!

I'd better go in now.

Don't go.

Please don't go.

Goodnight.

- I was looking over at you today. - I was looking over at you.

Not as much as usual.

- I was thinking about my plan. - Don't we work fast enough as it is?

- Hi, beautiful. - Hello, Angela.

George, I'm glad you're still in the packaging room.

Not just for my sake, honest.

It's better for you than running around with those Eastmans

and all those rich girls with nothing to do.

I've only been out to the house once since I got here.

I used to think you went every night.

Don't be silly, honey.

George, remember when I said

if you're an Eastman, you're not in the same boat with anybody?

Yeah.

I take it back.

Let's find a quieter place.

You don't know any other place we can go, do you?

There's a soda fountain where all the high school kids go.

They're noisy.

I don't care as long as I'm with you.

- What are you doing here? - Talking.

They've invented the house. It's a very good place to talk in.

You'd better get back to yours. Come on.

Come on.

- Goodnight. - Come on.

I wish I could ask you in, but Mrs Roberts is so strict.

I don't want to make things difficult for you.

Oh!

I wish I could ask you in, but we'd have to keep the music awful low.

This is nice.

Mrs Roberts is right next door.

This is the way it should have been.

This is the way...

Oh, George.

George.

(COCKEREL CROWS, DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

- Good morning. - Good morning.

Who's that? Is that George?

- Yeah. - What's he doing here?

It was the only place to put him without firing somebody.

This is no place for him.

- How's he getting along? - Fine.

It wouldn't hurt to give him a position. Well, George.

You thought I'd forgotten all about you.

- No, sir. - I've been keeping an eye on you.

- That's very good of you, sir. - Getting along all right?

- I know the work pretty well. - I suppose you do.

Do you know it well enough to take on responsibility?

- Yes, sir. - Good. I'm going to move you up.

- Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. - You've earned it.