Christmas in Connecticut

Garcon, where is the bordelaise sauce?

Right here, sir.

- And some more wine. - Yes, sir.

Wake up.

Wake up.

What is it, a ship?

No, you was calling me "Garcon. "

Who's Garcon?

Doggone you, Sink. I was just having a wonderful dream.

- What about? - What do you think?

- Food. - What, again?

- Yeah, and you had to wake me up. - I was lonely.

- What day is it? - Wednesday.

- You said yesterday was Wednesday. - Then it must be Thursday.

It must be.

So what?

Fifteen days.

Oh, boy, if I ever get out of this...

...my first meal is gonna be a humdinger.

A big, thick, juicy steak with baked potatoes.

Asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

And chocolate cake and ice cream.

- That for me? - No, this is for Seaman Sinkewicz.

This is for you, and you've got a surprise tonight.

Turkey? Steak?

A lovely raw egg floating in your milk.

"By America's best cook, Elizabeth Lane.

Roast goose Bearnaise with walnut dressing...

...giblet gravy, cranberry... "

Did you enjoy your lunch, honey boy?

You mean that mush?

What I don't understand is when a guy's okay, and he wants some man-size food...

...why do they hold out on him?

You forget you were out on a raft for 18 days without any food.

Your tummy's not ready for solid food.

And why is Sinkewicz's stomach any different than mine? Why?

Because you starved longer than he did, Jeffy.

You gave him the last of that K ration, remember?

That was a great sacrifice.

That was no sacrifice.

Have you ever tasted K ration?

And if I starved longer, do they have to try to finish the job?

Of course not, but the doctors know best.

All I get is milk, milk, milk.

- Every time I yawn, I'm scared I'll moo. - Silly boy.

I'll get something to read and be right back.

- Hi, fella. - Hi, Sinkewicz.

Say, look, you had steak again yesterday, didn't you?

And today, chicken Maryland.

Oh, brother.

- How do you work it? - You gotta use the old magoo, Jeff.

That's all. The old magoo.

- The old magoo. - Here we are.

Your favorite and mine.

Elizabeth Lane.

You know, she must be the most wonderful cook in America.

Yeah.

I've dreamt about eating one of her seven-course meals.

She says, "Yesterday, my son was 8 months old.

He's getting quite companionable.

I sat him in the kitchen with me while I prepared dinner.

And what a dinner it was. I took crisp lettuce, romaine and crinkly endive...

...from my own garden for my husband's favorite salad.

For this I made a rich, creamy blue cheese dressing.

Then to prepare roast duck his favorite way...

...I rub salt and pepper inside, then brown the duck in its own fat... "

Wait. Please.

Would you mind? I know she's a wonderful woman...

...a marvelous housekeeper and a great cook...

...but would you mind reading something else?

Well, of course not.

How about the new Mayfair ? There's a very funny story in it. I'll get it.

Roast duck.

Hey, Sink?

What do you want now?

You're getting to be a problem child.

What is this old magoo you talk about that gets you the food?

Oh, that?

Now, look, that nurse you got.

- Yeah? - She likes you.

Well, the magoo.

- What magoo? - Oh, now, listen.

Don't you think they like to do those little extra things...

...for a guy who's in love with them?

But it's got to be convincing. That's where magoo is different from baloney.

Altogether different.

But just how far do you have to go?

How hungry are you?

That far?

Break a girl's heart that way.

Her heart or your stomach.

Hey.

What's my nurse's name?

Mary.

Mary.

Here we are.

Where were you for so long?

I missed you...

...Mary.

Oh, well, how nice.

I mean, well, I didn't even know you knew my name.

Me? Not know your name?

What you gonna get, steak or chops?

Chops today, steak tomorrow.

- Okay, huh, bud? - Yeah, okay.

Say, how far did you have to go?

All the way.

- Yeah? - Yeah. She thinks I wanna marry her.

Nothing else worked.

Oh, well, don't you worry.

Magoo got you in. Magoo will get you out.

Look what I've got, Jeffy boy.

- Look. - Oh, gosh, Mary, you're wonderful.

Well, you're powerful sweet yourself, sugar.

We've got to cut that in itty-bitty pieces.

There.

What do you want me to do, jump for it?

- What's the matter, Jeffy? - It won't go down.

Oh, my goodness, I told you. The doctors are right.

My, you're so clever.

Little me is feeling mighty blue tonight, Jeff.

What's the matter?

I heard that you're getting discharged from the hospital in a week.

Yeah.

Maybe if I could get away, you and I might be... I mean...

...I could cook for you.

Yeah?

Jeff, marriage and domesticity, they frighten you, don't they?

- Well, to tell the truth, I... - No, I know it, I could tell.

You're afraid of being tied down. After the war, I mean.

Well, you see, Mary, I've always been sort of a rolling stone.

I was an artist and a painter. I've never had a home.

I guess I am a little afraid of the idea of...

Oh, but, Jeffy boy, a home is so wonderful.

Oh, I know it is, but the thing to do, Mary, is to wait.

After all, who knows? You may change your mind too.

Silly boy. If you only knew what a difference...

...a real home would make.

Just to feel you had it to come back to.

Yeah.

But you've never known a real home.

If you had, you'd feel differently.

You know, I was just thinking, honey boy, that...

Oh, dear.

Not now. He's asleep.

- When are you two getting married? - Oh, I don't know.

I'm afraid he's backing out. It's because he's never had a home.

- He doesn't realize. - Why don't you do something about it?

Well, do what?

Well, if he spent Christmas in a real homey home, he might...

That's how Sally Jackson hooked a Marine last year.

Yeah, but whose home?

Everybody I know lives in a hotel or one room.

You have a problem.

"Alexander Yardley. "

Why, of course.

My dear Mr. Yardley...

...I hope you will remember little me.

This is Mary Lee...

...the girl who nursed your granddaughter...

...back to health from the measles.

Alexander Yardley?

- Yes, this is Mr. Yardley's residence. - Special delivery.

Thank you.

- Elkins. - Yes, sir?

- Did my daughter phone? - Yes, sir. Midnight last night...

...but I thought it best not to waken you.

- When is she getting here? - She said she and your granddaughters...

...can't get away from Washington. Her war work is too heavy.

Say anything else?

Just that she'd call you and wish you a merry Christmas, sir.

Not much of a Christmas for me all alone.

No, sir. I'm sorry, sir.

Good morning, Mr. Yardley.

Good morning.

That Elizabeth Lane feature, the housewife one...

...runs in Home and Garden ?

No, sir. Smart Housekeeping.

Get me, what's-his-name...

...Mr. Beecham, on the direct wire, the editor.

Yes, Mr. Yardley.

Mr. Beecham at Smart Housekeeping , sir.

This is Alexander Yardley.

Oh, yes. Yes. How are you, sir?

May I wish you a merry Christmas?

Well, thank you, sir.

Yes, Mrs. Lane's feature is...

But... But I'm not sure I could do that, Mr. Yardley.

Mrs. Lane's farm and her home life are something we have no right to intrude on...

I only ask two things of my editors.

Print the truth and obey my orders.

I expect Mrs. Lane at 4.

Elizabeth? This is Dudley.

I think I'd better have lunch with you. It's important.

Well, then I'll come over now and see you.

From my living room window as I write...

...I can look out across the broad front lawns of our farm...

...like a lovely picture postcard of wintry New England.

In my fireplace, the good cedar logs are burning and crackling.

I just stopped to go into my gleaming kitchen...