Shadow on the Wall

It's daddy!

He's back!

It's David, he's back, Olga!

It's daddy, I saw him!

Daddy, here I am!

Hello, sweetie!

- Did you miss me? - Every minute.

- Miss me? - Oh, twice a minute.

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for you.

That's the reason I go away.

It's such fun to come back.

Here. How's mommy?

Celia's alright. She's not home now.

Oh? All aboard.

Hope you had a pleasant trip, Mr. Starrling.

Yes, but it's wonderful to be home.

I'll take this upstairs, daddy.

Thank you, sweetie.

Oh, Susan told me that Mrs. Starrling was out.

I sent her a wire and--

Yes, a telegram did come after she left.

But she went to a matinee, so I couldn't reach her.

Of course.

Thank you, Olga.

Hello, Ms. Burke, how have you been?

Just fine. Thank you, Mr. Starrling.

- Has Susan been okay? - Good as gold.

Swell.

So nice to have you home again.

Oh, thanks. I couldn't wait to get back.

Sweetie.

Did you bring home any surprises, daddy?

I think, I'm not sure, mind you

but I think I brought something for you and Celia.

- What's mine? - Oh, nothing special.

Just something I put in my bag to keep my shirts from rattling.

Shirts don't rattle.

Which bag, which?

- Well-- - The big bag, open the big bag.

Oh, you think that's where it is?

It's always in the big bag. Always.

- Is this my present? - Oh, no.

No, this is Celia's and it's breakable.

I'll take care of this while you rummage around.

I found it.

- It's beautiful! - Do you like it?

I never had an Indian doll before.

Not ever.

- You know what? - What, honey?

I'm going to call it Cupid.

Cupid?

He has a bow and arrow, hasn't he?

Well, come to think of it, he has.

Cupid and I will help you unpack now.

I'm very grateful to both of you.

It looks like I'm going to need it.

What did you get for Celia? Perfume.

I don't like perfume. It smells.

You know something?

What?

I'm glad Celia went to her old show.

I don't think she likes us very much.

Susan, what a dreadful thing to say about your mother.

She's not my mother. My mother's dead.

You said so yourself.

Well, Celia's your mother now.

It's not easy for her.

Promise me you won't say things like that again.

Alright, I promise.

I won't say it again.

That's a good girl. Thanks.

But I still think it.

I must be getting home, darling.

When shall I see you again?

Tonight. Dinner at 7:30.

You know I don't mean that.

When shall I really see you?

That depends on David.

That is not an answer.

His last letter said he'd be back

in two or three days.

Come on, darling. We really must go.

What's that stuff, daddy?

Oh, just some souvenirs to prove I was in the war.

Did you capture them?

I wasn't close enough to capture anything.

My old sergeant gave them to me.

He's the man I just finished designing that hotel for

out in Seattle.

Now this is a German flag.

This is an armband.

SS cap.

Look! Is it real? Can I have it?

It is and you can't.

It's not a toy. It's a gun.

Bang-bang! Not to play with.

What else happened while I was away?

I guess that's all.

Except I got a new boyfriend, Bobby.

Is he nice?

We went to the park yesterday

and I sat at the bottom of the slide

and Bobby slid down and pushed me in my stomach.

Mm, that sounds like a perfect day.

Did he push you very hard?

Very hard. He's strong.

Next time, I get to push my feet in his stomach.

That's a very fair arrangement.

Are you gonna shave?

No, I think I'll wait and scrape it off before dinner.

I've got another bag to unpack.

Couldn't you unpack later?

Well, I suppose I could, if it makes any difference.

Oh, it does. You get ready and I'll get Bobby.

Hay, wait a minute!

What does Bobby have to do with it?

His father doesn't live with him

and he never saw anyone shave.

And I promised.

Oh, that does make quite a difference.

Especially 'cause he's a boy.

That clinches it.

You go and get him.

Now, this next is the reverse backhanded flip.

Gosh, Mr. Starrling, that's wonderful.

Why, that's nothing.

With a razor like this I can take my ears off.

Let me see you shave your ears off.

Is this the young man who kicked you in the stomach

the other afternoon?

Exactly the type.

Show him the beards.

The beards? Alright.

The first is the supreme court beard.

This is reserved for judges.

The next is the Mississippi riverboat..

...gambler.

Last one

I call..

...Uncle Sam.

It's the end of the act.

Like waving the flag.

Do one again, will you?

I haven't any more beard.

You can't shave without a beard.

Is it all gone?

He'll have more beard tomorrow.

He gets some every day.

Every day? Gosh!

I guess you can do anything.

Well..

Oh, come in, Ms. Burke.

Sorry, the show is just over.

Bobby, your mother wants you to come home now.

Can't I stay just a little longer?

Oh, but it's time for Susan's dinner.

And her bath, too.

Never mind, Bobby, I'll take you home

and we'll talk about shaving on the way.

- Okay. - You run along with Ms. Burke.

I'll be home in time for your bath.

I wish I had bristles, too.

You will.

You know, one day I got a frog

I brought it to school on April Fools' Day.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

And it got in this guy's desk..

- Yeah? - And..

The frog, well, it got

got in there and it plopped right on to his--

Yeah, come on, Bobby, let's go out the side door.

- It's quicker. - Yeah.

David, is that you, darling?

Celia!

Hello, darling.

Oh, David.

That's a fine thing, the warrior returns

from a six weeks' wampum hunt and no squaw.

Blame it on the telegraph company.

Oh, I have missed you so.

That's the kind of talk I like to hear.

Next time I'm going to make you go with me.

And I'll love it.

This was such a wonderful chance

to get to know Susan better.

I hope it worked.

I'm not an expert with children.

You don't have to be.

You just have to be your own sweet self

and nobody can resist you.

Darling, I must get dressed.

You better get started too.

Did you have a good time this afternoon?

What show did you see?

"Black Harvest." I went with Nancy Bolton.

Talk, talk, talk.

I made a date with her and forgot

all about it until she called.

You should have seen me skit out of here.

It must have been a relief