The Gilded Age

I see it as a privilege,

to be called upon to provide a new limb,

a new lung, for this mighty city of ours.

Together, gentlemen, we are taking a step forward

into our shared future,

helped by the new technology

which makes what would have been

quite impossible for our parents

only too possible for us and for our children.

This is a great day for New York,

one that should, and will,

shed glory on every man in this room.

I thank you for your support.

Mr. White.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you

Union Central Station.

Congratulations. - Oh, thank you.

- Bravo. - Amazing.

Well done.

Thank you, thank you.

- I'd like to see that. Should I...

- Thank you. - I told him...

Gentlemen, thank you for coming...

Are you sure this is the right moment?

I won't get a better one,

after the reception he's had here.

I hope you're right.

Congratulations, Mr. White.

They like your work quite as much as I do.

Congratulations to both of you.

He's done a wonderful job, hasn't he, Father?

- Wonderful. - I find it very inspiring.

Architecture, I mean.

That's why I'd like to be an architect.

- I don't understand you. What?

He wants to study architecture.

And, of course, I'd be only too happy to help him.

Where has this come from?

I've been trying to tell you for some time.

No, you haven't.

Well, I've wanted to tell you.

But you have a job.

Here, with me. - I know. But...

Mr. Russell, I think that Larry just wants

to learn about the principles of architecture.

After three or four years, he could then employ his skills

in the management of your business interests.

- Is that what you want? - No.

I want to be an architect.

You see, Mr. White?

My son disdains your peacemaking compromise.

I believe Larry has talent,

if that might make a difference.

It won't.

And now I'll put your mother and sister into the carriage.

Please see to our guests.

But what do I say to Oscar when he gets here?

What can I say?

That he has disgraced his character?

His name?

And his mother?

Well...

What do you mean, "Well"?

Only that all men, or almost all,

have a fling of some sort when they're young,

and they live to tell the tale.

Oh. This is a tale I'd rather were not told.

I just think these things happen.

How do you know?

Have you been leading a double life?

No, but I'm not so simple that I don't know what goes on.

You'll be calling yourself a woman of the world next.

Well, I'm not Rip Van Winkle, Agnes.

And I understand that young men have to sow their wild oats.

- Even if that were true,

they do not have to sow them with servants.

- What would you prefer? An actress?

Or a prostitute? - Ada!

I'm going to have to ring for my smelling salts

if you do not moderate your tone.

You should not even know these words exist.

Well, I do.

And I know that well brought up young ladies

are not the girls lighting the cigars

of their escorts at Delmonico's.

You are forcing me to reevaluate your character.

I can't help that.

The point is, he's coming for dinner this evening,

and I don't know what to do.

I should do nothing.

Do nothing and say nothing.

But of course, you won't listen to me.

Mrs. Bauer asks if she might have a precise time

to serve the first course this evening.

Agnes?

Ada, dear, would you tell Mrs. Bauer

I think it would be nice to sit down to dinner tonight

at half past eight?

Thank you, Bannister.

Well done.

That was quite a trick with the lighting.

It was only a battery.

By the time the station is built,

electricity will be part of our lives.

Edison is mounting a demonstration

on September 4th. - What's he got planned?

First, he'll switch on his plant on Pearl Street.

But later, at 10:00,

he will illuminate the offices of "The New York Times"

on Park Row.

How do you know so much about it?

He invited me to attend.

I'm to meet him for a terribly grand dinner

in time for the evening illuminations.

Well, why didn't you say this before?

I didn't think it would interest you.

Of course it does.

All I want to know is, how long do we have to wait

before we install it at home?

Oh, one thing.

Clay and I are meeting lawyers after this,

so I may be home late.

We'll get through this, George.

We just have to be strong.

You always hearten me,

with your confidence of victory.

What will you do with that?

You don't have a bank account.

Perhaps I plan to open one, Mrs. Bauer.

And I'm going to find out who wrote that letter

to Mrs. Van Rhijn if it's the last thing I do.

How?

It could have been anyone in the Russells' house.

Someone will know who did it.

Whoa, there!

Cheer up, Mr. Russell.

It can't be as bad as all that. - Can't it?

I've quarreled with my father.

Or at least we soon will.

- Is this over architecture? - How did you know?

Because you told me, that day outside Mr. White's office.

Ah.

You must give your father time.

He loves you. He won't want to fall out.

When my father loves, Miss Brook,

there is a price to be paid.

I cannot deviate from his ambitions.

Mother, me, Gladys, we must all keep to the steps

he has laid down.

You have one life, Mr. Russell.

If you take the wrong path, you will pay the price

for many years.

Now I must escort Pumpkin home.

Good day.

Mistress is getting up a party for September 4th

when Mr. Edison turns on his electric lights.

Why the fuss about Mr. Edison?

We've known about electricity for a hundred years.

And there have been electric storms for centuries.

But Mr. Edison has tamed it, Miss Turner.

He has mastered it.

He knows how to make it, how to store it, how to use it

for our benefit. - I think it's exciting.

Is it?

When electricity comes, half our jobs go up in smoke.

Cooking, cleaning, it'll all be done with electricity

before you know it.

What is the mistress planning for the night

when the lights are turned on?

Not a large party, and not here.

- It's more of a picnic. Eight people.

Four in the landau, four in another rented carriage.

They'll meet here at 7:00 and drive to Park Row.

They'll dine in the carriages to make sure of a good place

and watch Edison illuminate the "Times" building at 10:00.

Who will they get to serve?

Two of the footmen can go as postilions.

They'll manage.

I wonder who she's planning to hook into her scheme.

The Fanes will be there.

But I think she'll try for Mr. McAllister again,

if she can persuade him to be seen with her in public.

I'm sure he'd be very glad to be seen with her in public.

Even you don't believe that, Mrs. Bruce.

But he may tolerate it for the sake of a good dinner

and a decent seat for the display.

Please give us a rest from your nastiness, Miss Turner.

What's that, Mr. Church?

My golly.

I thought we might practice in here.

We could rehearse a new production of "Aida" in here

and still have plenty of room to spare.

The thing is, I assume we need some more people.

Six more for a quadrille.

Two more girls and four men, but don't worry.

Angela Schermerhorn loves dancing,

and she's a cousin of mine.

And Sally Drexel.

And I can easily round up a few young men.

Maybe we could ask Orme Wilson.