My Reputation

- Good morning, Mr. Everett. - Good morning, Anna.

Is Mrs. Drummond ready to see me?

Mr. Everett, I let her sleep late. I hope you don't mind.

As long as I can get back to Chicago by 12.

You go in. I'll take her breakfast up right now.

Fine, fine, thank you.

Oh, Anna, there's such a lovely piece

in the paper about poor Mr. Drummond. Listen.

"The funeral yesterday of Paul Drummond

"prominent young business executive saddened many

especially those who remembered his brilliant athletic career--"

Where's the bacon?

In the warming oven.

"Of late years, he was prominently connected

"with the Indian Hill Hunt Club

"which is noted for its splendid athletic records."

'Good morning, Anna.'

It's about time. I thought you'd forgot.

- How's the missus? - She's alright.

Think she'll want anything special today?

I think she'll want us to go on just the way we always do.

'Good morning, Mrs. Drummond.'

Good morning, Anna.

How nice the tray looks.

It's cooked just the way you like it.

You will eat some, won't you?

Thank you, Anna, put it on the table.

Alright, Mrs. Drummond.

I better put some cold water on my face.

Oh, my eyes feel all gritty.

Mr. Everett's downstairs.

It's after ten.

Oh, Anna, you shouldn't have let me sleep so long.

There's such a lot to do.

But, there isn't. Is there?

Nothing to do at all.

What shall I tell Mr. Everett?

I'll eat my breakfast downstairs with him

so we won't waste his time.

Alright, Mrs. Drummond.

Mrs. Drummond will be right down.

- Where are the boys? - I kept them out of the house.

You know how noisy kids are.

Hello, Frank. I'm sorry to be late.

Only a few minutes.

Ana, let's not have quite so many flowers in here.

- Makes such a sickly smell. - 'Yes, Mrs. Drummond.'

Please don't stand, Frank.

It's just that I don't feel like sitting.

- Would you like some coffee? - No, thank you, Jess.

How neat you are, Frank.

That's what comes of being a bachelor all your life.

Paul never picked up anything.

That was always one of my wifely duties.

Hanging up his clothes.

Jess, do you feel equal to going over these papers?

Of course, I do. Please don't baby me.

Is everything alright?

Well, in the main, yes.

Paul left things in as good shape as he could

considering he was ill for so long.

Can the boys still go to school as Paul planned?

Paul took care of that with a trust for their education.

'Of course, that money could be used for other purposes.'

No, I wanna do it the way Paul planned.

The only thing I'd hate would be giving up Anna.

I feel responsible for her. She's been with me so long.

Well, you can keep Anna.

But I suggest you let Dave and Mary go.

I'll do whatever you say.

Jess, this has nothing to do with the money end of it.

But don't you think you'll find it difficult to keep on here

'so many memories?'

Memories aren't as painful as people say.

This came four days ago.

Paul sent it special delivery.

It's for you.

Frank, I...I wanna read it to you.

You were fond of Paul.

"My darling Jess

"it seems strange to be writing this to you..

"...for you'll be reading it when I'm no longer with you.

"We've shared so much together all these years..

"...that I can't think of you without me.

"Bring up the boys to stand alone.

"Don't let people dictate what you shall do or shall not do.

"Because it would be impossible for you to do anything..

"...which is not fine and decent and true.

"As far as my part of your future is concerned

"I read a poem somewhere once that said

"Better by far you should forget and smile.

"Than you should remember than be sad.

"Thanks, Jess, for being my wife.

Your loving but unpoetic husband...Paul."

'Alright, leave it there, you wanna race?'

- 'Beat you to the door.' - 'Bet you can't.'

Beat you, beat you, beat you.

- Oh, hello, Uncle Frank. - Good morning, Uncle Frank.

Hello, Kim.

- Hi - Keith.

Oh, hello, mother, we didn't know you were here.

We thought you'd still be asleep.

Not much chance of that with you two.

We kinda expected you down to watch us swim.

I had some business to talk over.

You going to the ball game?

When do I get to go to one?

- I'd sure like to see it. - Me too. Cubs vs. Dodgers.

Now, now, boys. Not today.

Gee, I forgot. We're sorry.

Why don't you go if you want to?

- Today? Well, grandma said-- - That you should stay with me?

- We like to be with you, mom. - Thanks.

I like to be with you too.

But we've lots of time to be together

and ball games don't happen every day.

Go on, you can tell me about it afterwards just like with dad.

You? Why, you don't know what team Joe DiMaggio played for.

You see? Say, can we go pretty soon?

Start right now. There's not enough gas to drive, you know.

We'd rather go on the train anyway.

Come on, Keith, if you're coming.

Okay. You sure you don't mind, mom?

No, run along. Have fun.

- 'Come on, Keith!' - Okay, I'm comin'.

You've done a fine job of those boys.

It was two-thirds Paul.

Couldn't you please stay for lunch?

I wish I could. I have a board meeting at 12.

I must be getting back.

Could you join me for supper tonight?

I'd be happy to come out here again.

Thank you. This is our regular night at mother's.

- Promise me you won't worry. - I'll try not to.

If you have any problems at all

no matter how trivial they might seem... please call me.

I'll call you anyway, Frank.

- By the way, what about a cab? - No, thanks.

I think I'll walk. The exercise will do me good.

It's mother.

Oh, dear. I'm not dressed.

Well, you look perfectly dressed to me.

Oh, not to mother.

Bye, Jess.

- Good morning, Frank. - Good morning, Mrs. Kimball.

- How's my poor little girl? - She's fine.

There she is. Jessica, come out and see Mrs. Thompson for a bit.

I see Frank got you up.

I know. Anna let me sleep too long.

- Good morning, Mrs. Thompson. - Good morning, my dear.

I hope you don't mind my telling you

what a lovely service it was.

Dr. Burrows spoke so beautifully, I thought

and the church was simply exquisite.

Yes, yes. It was very well arranged, Stella.

You might recall, it's only yesterday.

Thank you very much for telling me, Mrs. Thompson.

Wouldn't you like to come inside with mother?

No. Ralph's taking her to the Ration Board.

She's having a perfectly fearful time.

Her car only gets nine miles to the gallon.

They're just doing everything they can to break our spirit.

- It's pure class prejudice. - Are you leaving now, Frank?

Uh, Ralph will take you down to the station.

Ralph, drop Mr. Everett at the station.

But, Mary, I don't really have to go to the Ration Board.

Now, Stella, don't be spineless. Stick to your rights.

This is still America, I hope.

I'll call you later about my income tax, Frank.

Come, dear.

My poor child, you look simply awful.

You'd have done better to have remained in bed.

Speaking of bed, you shouldn't wander in a dressing gown.

- What must Frank think? - Oh, mother, I'm fully clothed.

You're so innocent, you don't seem to understand

that other people's minds don't run in the same way.

Frank's a gentleman of course, but he's also a man.

I stopped by for more black stockings.

I got the perfect veil for you.

You'll need several, of course. Where are you going?

We can talk while I'm dressing.

You allow Anna to walk over you. There's dust on this banister.

Really, mother, what time have any of us had to dust banisters?

- Hello, grandma. - We gotta have some money, mom.

Go and ask Anna for some change.

- Where are you going? - 'Ball game.'

On this day?

I should think you'd be ashamed, boys.

- Mother, please don't. - It's okay, mom. We're sorry.

Come on, Kim, let's feed the dogs.

Allowing them to go to a ball game.

They like it. They always went with Paul.

People like to do a great many things they don't do, Jessica.

They were dying to go.

It isn't a question of their wanting to go.

It's the way it would've looked.

They're too young to have their lives changed by Paul's death.

They've adjusted themselves very well so far.

Going to the game was part of that adjustment.

I would call it wanting in feeling.