The Gilded Age

- Did you think we'd forget about you?

- I can't give you what I haven't got.

- Find it! -

But I can't.

Get the money.

I'll be back to collect it tomorrow.

- At this rate, I shall have more clothes

than the Princess of Wales.

- But if Mrs. Van Rhijn insists...

- Who am I to object? -

- It's good of you to keep me company.

I don't mind.

At least, I think it's ridiculous

that you're not allowed to walk out on your own.

But it gives me a chance to get some air.

Now for the sleeves.

- By the way, someone from home is coming to the city.

- Oh? - I got a letter this morning.

- - A friend from Pennsylvania?

Not exactly.

The lawyer who managed my father's affairs

when he died.

Is it about business?

- It may be. He doesn't really say.

- Will you let him visit 61st Street?

Why?

Would that be very shocking?

It's not that,

although Mrs. Van Rhijn may think so.

But, uh, I might want to ask his advice.

Really?

- Any colored lawyer would find his way back to my father,

and he can't know about it.

- I'm not sure Mr. Raikes would do it.

- But I can always ask. - Excuse me--

- And he studied law in Pennsylvania?

I presume so.

Is this for your writing?

No, it's a personal matter.

- Raise your arms, please. - How is the writing going?

Are you getting much done?

I think so.

I sent out query letters.

To which publications?

- No, I'll tell you once I hear back from them.

I don't want to risk bad luck.

- Well, I hope Mr. Raikes can be of help.

I also hope he hasn't turned up a pile of Daddy's debts.

What can you mean?

Of course I haven't called on Mrs. Russell.

- Marian, I hope you don't encourage her in this.

I don't.

- What do you know about the Russells' daughter, Glenys?

Is she out?

- Do people like that bring their daughters out?

I thought they just sold them to the highest bidder.

- She's called Gladys, not Glenys.

And I don't think she is out yet.

- But she's very nice. - How do you know?

I met her with Aurora Fane.

- Aurora skates so close to the edge.

- Do you know this Gladys well enough to ask her to luncheon?

- Not really. - I should think not.

- Agnes, you can't have anything

against an innocent young girl.

I am opposed to her tribe.

- Is this for sending up? - Right there.

- Are you quite well, Mrs. Bauer?

Why wouldn't I be?

You seem upset.

- Oh, I've been chopping onions.

- Miss Scott, have you been working with Mrs. Van Rhijn?

Yes.

- Suppose you think that makes you a sort of secretary.

- She is a secretary and not a "sort of" anything,

which puts her above you in the pecking order, Miss Armstrong.

- Mr. Oscar's good-looking, isn't he?

I saw him when he left.

- Mr. Oscar's interested in one thing only,

- and you haven't got it. - What's that?

- Money. - Don't bash her down.

She only said he was good-looking, and so he is.

- I wonder if they'll try to set him up with Miss Marian.

- He wants an heiress, the richest he can find.

And Miss Marian hasn't a penny to her name.

- If you've finished demolishing the characters

of every member of this family, John and I will serve luncheon.

- Are you ready, Mrs. Bauer? - I am.

Who is this Mr. Raikes?

- The lawyer who settled Henry's estate.

- Do we have to receive him? - He waived his fee.

Oh, I see.

Well, let's make it tea and be quick about it.

Good. Now we can get started.

Has Mr. Raikes arrived in the city?

He should be here by now.

- Then ask him for tea tomorrow.

- You don't have to. - Ada says he waived his fee.

- He did. - Then you will give him tea.

You cannot be indebted to these people.

- Very well, I'll ask him for half past 4:00.

Anne Morris wants me to call on her at 3:00.

She'd like me to take a stall in her bazaar.

- What do you mean, take a stall?

- Run a stall and gather the things we'll sell.

It's for charity.

- Well, I didn't think it was for profit.

- They're joining the Dispensary

for Poor Women and Children

with the Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children

and they'll move the whole thing to 7th Street.

- That's sounds sensible, doesn't it?

- It sounds dull enough to be respectable, at any rate.

There you are.

Do you still see Mrs. Morris?

- I haven't quarreled with her, if that's what you mean.

But you don't see her?

- I gave her a check for her charity,

which, as you so gallantly pointed out,

was all they wanted from me,

and I haven't heard from her since.

- You know, she's married to Alderman Patrick Morris.

- So I believe. - I'd like to meet him.

- Then invite him to your office.

I want it to be informal.

- Ask him here for dinner. - He wouldn't come.

Ask him anyway.

- You're not suggesting we should go.

- I'm curious as to why I'm included in her largesse.

I suspect her husband's had a hand in it.

Does that make a difference?

- George Russell is a force in this city,

whatever you like to pretend.

But who else would be there?

We could be dining with anyone.

- Won't there just be the four of us?

- Can't you meet him at his office?

- It's not what he wants, is it?

- But how would I explain to people?

- Why not say you wanted to invite her

onto the board of your bazaar?

I don't think so.

Aurora Fane's the chairwoman again,

and they had a falling-out last time.

You are joint chairwomen.

The choice is yours as much as hers.

- I'm not sure its ever successful,

trying to mix different types.

- You won't say as much, I hope.

Of course not.

And I'll invite her to come and support us on the day.

She can't be offended at that.

Oh, can't she?

You won't accept

if Mr. Russell makes you an offer.

I shouldn't think so.

But I'd like to know what I'm turning down.

- And when Mrs. Astor hears we've gone to their house,

what then?

- Mrs. Astor knows how the world works.

Thank you, Bannister.

Please tell Mrs. Bauer I've asked Mr. Oscar

to join us for tea.

He'll be company for Miss Marian's friend,

- so we'll be five. - Very good, ma'am.

- Can Oscar get away? - He says so.

He's got a luncheon at the Union

with Ogden Goelet, and he'll come straight on.

He won't go back to the bank.

- Could he introduce Marian to some of his friends?

He must know any number of suitable young men.

- Hmm, well, John Adams wasn't exactly a roaring success.

But I agree, he must know other candidates.

- Or perhaps Oscar might take a shine to her himself.

Take a shine?

- I only meant she's-- - They are first cousins.

And she hasn't a cent.

So I'd be grateful if you would keep

your servants' hall slang to yourself.

- Money isn't everything, Agnes.

Ha, you say that to me

after the sacrifice I made to save your skin?

- To save both our skins, Agnes.

- You've heard we're to entertain

Alderman Morris and his wife?

- And if I know Mrs. Russell, she'll want quite a show.

- I've made a list of what I'll need

from the store cupboard

and a few things that we'll have to order in.

- I'll take care of it, thank you.

Mm.

Are you starting to feel at home?

I think so.

But I'm open to advice if you have any.

- Oh, you look as if you know the ropes

pretty well, Mrs. Bruce.