The World Moves On

In the name of our Lord, amen.

"I, Sebastian Girard, declare my will as follows:

"An annuity of $5,000 to my widow, Agnes Girard, during her life.

"My cotton mills, plantations...

"And all my cash and securities I leave to my sons,

"Richard, Carlos and John, as common property.

"And I direct them to enter into a most solemn compact...

"To act together for the advantage of the family.

"I appoint my son Richard and my friend Gabriel Warburton, of Manchester, England,

"to be my executors...

"And direct that branches of our business shall be established in France and Prussia...

"By my sons, Carlos and John, respectively.

"All interests of the firm in the United States of America...

"Shall be in the charge of my son, Richard.

"And I direct that the partnership already arranged...

"Between Gabriel Warburton and myself is to be completed,

"thus establishing the firm of Girard and Warburton...

"In the four principal countries of the world.

"If my will is not carried out in every particular,

"the whole inheritance is forfeit.

"Fourth day of August, 1825.

Sebastian Girard."

Are the terms of the will clear, Mr. Richard?

Almost pointedly clear.

Your father always knew what he wanted.

I've done business with him since before the war,

and I don't remember when he didn't.

Sorry I am to have missed him.

Let us get back to business. This partnership--

I'm sure my brothers and I welcome any association...

Which will bring us into closer relationship with Mr. Warburton.

What's his idea, tying everything up in the family like this?

Security. Cotton's a necessity of life, thou knowest.

Why in all these different countries?

Ah! Look at the situation in Europe.

See how unstable it is.

And this mess-up over that treaty of peace. Might blow up any moment.

Why, surely people aren't so foolish as to be thinking of another war.

Trouble is, wars come without thinking.

Well, they oughtn't to, according to the Bible.

But there's a lot of money to be made out of war.

A merchant's got to be practical.

And what does the merchant's wife say to that?

The merchant's wife lost her father at Waterloo,

and her brother was crippled for life in the fighting outside New Orleans.

She hates war.

You had a brother at the battle of New Orleans, ma'am?

I was a corporal in the New Orleans militia.

I counted the British dead after the battle-- over a thousand of them.

I hate war too.

There is no challenge to the terms of the will?

Are the executors prepared to undertake their duties?

- Certainly. - Yes.

The partnership is to proceed?

And the establishment of the branches in France?

- And Prussia? - Yes.

It is a solemn thing you are all undertaking,

this family compact.

It has all the moral force of an oath.

Ah, that part don't affect Warburtons.

Oh, yes, Gabriel, we're in this too.

We blend the two families into one family.

We all solemnly swear...

To safeguard the family,

to deny ourselves for the family...

And, in all circumstances, to put the needs of the family first.

And this shall be binding on our children...

And on our childrens' children.

The family.

The family.

So it's all settled, and you're off for England tomorrow?

That's right. And glad I'll be to get back to business too.

Though it's been a grand holiday at that, thou knowest.

We shall be sorry to lose you.

I'll be sorry to go, lad.

Hearts is trumps.

Shall I be very brave, madam?

If you must.

Your husband, Mr., uh, Warburton, has been boasting about you.

Oh, you mustn't believe all he says.

Oh, I do not.

He says that you are the soul, the-- the very pearl of virtue.

But I say, how can anyone so lovely, so beautiful-- is this a joke?

May I tell you in my own-- where's my husband?

Allow me to act for him.

My dear Girard, we can't both do that.

Charming.

Now I shall go and talk with some friends...

And, uh, perhaps they will talk with you.

We must find my husband.

Oh, the matter's finished.

And I'm so ashamed it happened in my house.

Please say nothing to your husband about it.

Let me take you to my mother.

John. Carlo.

Let the Englishman fight his own quarrel.

It's not his quarrel. They're our guests.

She was insulted here in our house. It's our quarrel.

Gentlemen, I shall say, "Take aim. Fire."

When I say "fire," you'll fire at once.

Ready.

Take aim.

Fire.

What's that?

You look almost like a conspirator.

I thought I'd come back and make sure you were all right.

Of course I am.

Don't you think you might find my husband?

He's playing whist. Must we disturb him?

No, but-- I--

I was so anxious he shouldn't be disturbed about that little affair.

You're leaving in the morning.

He needn't be told, need he?

I suppose not.

I don't like mysteries, but if you'd prefer--

It's very hard to tell you how sorry I am you're going.

It been a great privilege to know you, ma'am.

That sounds very formal...

And very final.

Aren't you coming to visit us in England?

I don't think so.

But it was all arranged, wasn't it?

All the same, I think it's better not.

Don't you?

I can't imagine why.

My mistake, ma'am. I beg your pardon.

- What is that song? - It's something my brother Carlos made up.

He's very romantic.

Runs in the family, doesn't it?

Perhaps.

Is there any more of this song?

Don't you like it?

Mr. Girard, I really must go now.

You've been much, much too kind to us both and--

What's the matter with your hand? You're hurt.

- It's nothing. - Those shots.

Richard. Oh, my dear.

- It's nothing, Mary. Nothing at all. - You-- you fought that man.

Let me fix your bandage for you.

We all solemnly swear to safeguard the family,

to deny ourselves for the family.

Oh, Richard.

Why were we born out of our time?

My dear. My dear.

That's good.

There's nothing left but to say good-bye.

Shall we never meet again?

No one can foretell the future.

Come, Mary, my lass. Time you were abed.

You've all your packages to make up for tomorrow, you know.

Good night, Richard, my lad.

Come. Bustle, my dear. Bustle.

We have to be aboard by 6:00, thou knowest.

Good-bye.

I shall see you in the morning.

Please don't. It-- it's much too early.

Good-bye.

I am your humble, obedient servant, ma'am.

Hey, turn tother way, lass.

That's direction to home.

Oh, come here. Come here.

- What is it? - Look, the Statue of Liberty.

Turn this way, Mary. Turn this way and look at America.

- Why, daddy? - Because I jolly well tell you to.

Oh, orders.

Columbus discovered America.

Did he? Do you know any more?

Wunderbar.

They tell me the population is mostly foreigners.

- Well, so are we, aren't we? - Ja, papa.

Wait till you all get to New Orleans.

Dad! Where is everybody?

I beg your--

Who are you?

Mary Warburton. Who are you?

Richard Girard.

Say, haven't we met somewhere?

Well, I was wondering that.

Have you ever been in England?

I've never been anywhere but America.

And I've never been out of England.

Well, I give it up.

I'd swear I've seen you somewhere before.

This is fun, because I feel the same.

Well, you're here for the great family reunion of course.

Yes.

Say, tell me, what are they like-- the others-- the foreigners?

Don't you consider English as foreigners?

No. Do you think Americans are?

- No. - Good.

Well, who's here, anyway? I just got back from a vacation.

My train got in an hour ago. I don't know a thing about them.

My father, for one.

I met him when I was a kid.

He was over here about 10 years ago, in 1904.

Oh, he's not a foreigner anyway. Who else?

Um, Erik von Gerhardt. He's one of your German cousins.

They changed their name from Girard to von Gerhardt,

you know, when they got their title.

And Erik's father, the Herr Baron von Gerhardt.