Woman Wanted

Hello?

Hello?

I'm calling from Boston about your ad in the Globe.

Oh, yes?

It says, woman wanted live-in.

Why are you advertising in Boston when you live in New Haven?

Actually, I grew up with an Irish nanny.

She was kind and generous and pleasant to be with.

Are you married?

I'm widowed.

I have a son in his twenties who's, uh...

He's going through some difficulties.

He lives at home, and we need someone to help put our house in order.

Thanks for the lift.

Thanks, honey.

Yeah.

Take it easy.

Thanks.

What do you do?

I'm Richard Goddard.

Hello. I didn't think you'd be so young.

My old nanny wasn't young.

- Ever? - I don't think so.

Oh, I'll get that.

Thank you.

Come on in.

This is your kitchen.

Ah.

I don't know what we'll do about dinner.

I'm not prepared.

Oh, I'm sure I can put something together.

I should have been prepared.

Why did you do that?

The house is very dark.

- Is it? - It still is.

Yeah, I guess it is.

25 waters.

Mercy.

One more hike up Lenny's room.

I'm afraid this room is dark, too.

You need some hundred waters.

You're right.

That'll cure it.

Is this you?

With the nanny?

Yes, day of my christening.

Did you love her?

Well, I suppose I did.

Yes, I did.

I think you'll be comfortable here.

There is a backstairs root kitchen, bathroom's around the

corner, and the rest of the room's up here used for storage now.

We had five in help in the old days.

One of them stole my father's ties for her

boyfriend's, and another one forged a signature on checks.

Caught her tracing one day at a sun window.

Well, I'll

leave you to your priorities.

My name is Wendell Wharton Goddard.

My name is Emma Rowena Riley.

Other people's kitchens.

It's a very large house, but you won't have to do it alone.

Lydia comes in once a week to help with the heavy work.

I was born here, I grew up here, and, um, when I went

away to college, it was a very long trip, three miles exactly.

I was six...

Sixth-generation Yale.

Yeah.

And when my father died, I had to leave the dorms and

come home and tend to my mother and an old nanny, and

we'd retained her through the years, and she was

crippled with arthritis, so I pursued my doctorate from here.

And, of course, years later, I tended to Wendell's mother.

She died three years ago of natural causes.

This quiche is wonderful.

How on earth did you do it?

I found some eggs and cheddar.

Well, you performed a miracle.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Wendell, that looks serious.

Have you seen a doctor?

Yesterday.

Eight stitches and all.

Oh.

Wendell snorted some cocaine.

And then he drank a pint of vodka.

Apparently he was afraid to come home in that condition, so he

crawled up into one of those bins at a shopping mall on Dexwell Avenue.

Salvation Army.

Well, he spent the night there sleeping it off.

Shortly before dawn, some suburban woman drove

up and hurled a broken toaster down the chute.

Left a huge gash on his forehead.

Required a trip to the emergency room.

Yes, well, I'm very popular at the emergency room.

They provide 24-hour service, they welcome

you with open arms, and they never let you down.

Look at that.

I meant the book.

Oh, may I see you when I study at your leisure?

This is nice, isn't it?

Just a hint of orange.

Yeah.

Michael, my ex-husband, used to pour it on desserts and light it.

Flambe.

What did he do?

Hmm.

He was an actor.

He dropped out of Harvard junior year and joined a theater group in Cambridge.

Risky profession.

Yes.

I worked part-time as a stenographer.

We were able to buy a little vacation house in New Hampshire.

I got that in a settlement.

He became involved with a director.

A man.

He was bisexual.

Oh, my.

I'm sorry.

It must have been very difficult for you.

Well...

I had for a while an urge to become a statistic.

You know, just find a bridge and jump into the Charles.

How did you meet him?

I was 19.

I'd never been to a play.

A friend took me to see Camino Real by Tennessee Williams.

Michael played the part of Kilroy.

He was very handsome and very talented.

I joined the theater as a property girl, and we were married a year later.

And there were no children?

Oh, no.

Things were too uncertain.

I would like to provide as much of a family

atmosphere as I can, but we never had that.

Because Randall's mother was mentally ill for many years.

She died when he was in graduate school, and he left.

Very angrily.

Spent two years hanging out in Berkeley.

He appears to be rather a handful.

Yes, indeed.

Now, I must ask your patience.

I'm very bad at handling matters with the help.

And there are a few things I must say.

They seem to be mandatory.

I'd like it understood that on no occasion are you to entertain

men in this house, and on no occasion are you to drink my liquor.

Also, although uniforms aren't required, I'd appreciate it

if you wouldn't wear excessive amounts of jewelry or perfume.

And I expect you to confine your social life to Thursdays, a day off.

Is there a curfew?

Of course not.

Within reason.

May I be excused?

Certainly.

Uh, by the way, Wendell's mother's old Volvo will be at your disposal.

What was Wendell's mother's name?

Mrs. Goddard.

Marion.

My father, who had never

loved my mother.

Buried her quickly in.

Grove Street Cemetery.

Laid her to rest

in most indecent

haste.

Bye.

I see your customer's make-up.

Dr. Goddard.

Oh, please, call me Richard.

What would you like for breakfast?

I, uh, think I'll skip it this morning.

Emma?

Emma, I went to bed last night very upset about our interview.

You spoke most candidly and I didn't.

I skirted the truth.

Thank you.

I skirted the truth because I wanted you to think well of me.

The truth is, I have failed my son.

Miserably.

Oh.

Well, we have a severe communication problem.

Well, these are the house keys.

And this is $200 for the market.

You can take the Volvo and stock the larder.

This is the car key.

And transportation on the weekend might be a bit of a problem.

Wendell has totaled so many cars, I refuse to buy him another one.

However, he often travels up to Bennington where he has a...

a lady friend.

Her name is Monica Dunstan.

And I let him take the Volvo because...

my car, you see, is in use.

Jesus.

Are you all right?

Thank you.

I also have a lady friend.

Oh?

Yes, in New York.