Dialog from Episode 15, scene 9. Rodney and Betty enter the front door of the mansion. RH: He must be upstairs. BA: With your mother? RH: Yeah. Why don't you just go in and make yourself comfortable. I'll put this away. BA: Where are you going? RH: Just to put this away. BA: Rod. RH: What? BA: Stay with me. RH: Okay, I'll stay. A native custom. Husbands do things for their wives. [In the livingroom they look at the portrait over the fireplace.] RH: Samuel Peyton, founder of the dynasty. [1845-1912]. BA: You don't look like him. I've heard so many stories about him. RH: Oh, like what? BA: You know. People say he was, hard. [Leslie calls from upstairs.] LH: Rod. Rodney. RH: Hello, Dad. LH: Hello, Betty. Welcome to our home. To your home. [Leslie grasps her hands.] BA: Thank you, sir. LH: As for you, young man. [Leslie hugs Rodney.] LH: You haven't shown the bride her room yet. What's she going to think of us. RH: Dad, is mother coming down? LH: Well, she wanted to. But she isn't feeling well. BA: I'm Sorry. LH: Why, there's nothing to be sorry about. BA: Well, I . . . LH: Nothing at all, Betty. Now, please believe that. Now, I'll have you both know that when Rodney's mother and I came back home from Paris, I brought home a case of vintage champagne. RH: That was a long time ago. LH: Especially when measured in bottles. I put the one remaining bottle on ice when you called. So Rodney, if you don't mind. RH: Okay. [Rodney goes to fetch the bubbly.] LH: Betty. BA: Mr. Harrington. LH: You, please. BA: No. No, you go ahead. LH: You know, it's strange when that boy's near me. I'm sure of all my judgments. Everything seems right then. BA: Yes. LH: Betty, there's one thing I want to say to you before he comes back. I've always prided myself on knowing when to fight and when to retreat. BA: Does my marriage to Rod defeat you? LH: Surprise. BA: That he picked me. LH: He didn't pick you, Betty. He married you, but he didn't pick you. BA: I see. The fighting, the sly words begin. LH: That won't happen. BA: No? LH: No. BA: Mr. Harrington, I'll tell you something, I'm afraid of you. And if you're not trying to confuse me, I . . . LH: . . . I'm trying to assure you, Betty. BA: Well, then why at one moment do you say welcome and the next say that Rod might not have married me? LH: To present the facts and face them. BA: Yes. LH: Betty, I have my son back. That means everything to me. I want to keep him. BA: You needn't worry about that. LH: But, I do. If he isn't happy, I have everything to worry about. BA: You're afraid he won't be? [Rodney returns.] RH: Chilled champagne coming up. Here we are. RH: Do you wish to pour, monsieur? LH: Oui, monsieur. LH: Now, right off, you're going to have to see the dean. RH: The dean? [Pop] LH: About resuming classes. RH: Oh, well, Dad, I thought I'd get a job. LH: A job. But you'll have to finish college. You'd want that, wouldn't you, Betty? BA: Of course, but there will be expenses. LH: That's nonsense. I'm not going to charge my own family room and board. RH: Dad, we thought we'd get a place of our own. LH: Now does that make sense? Rod's accustomed to nice things. You wouldn't want him to do without, would you Betty? BA: No, of course not. RH: I appreciate . . . LH: I'll leave it to you Betty, for Rod's sake. Am I right? BA: Rod, maybe we should try it for a while. RH: Okay, if you say so. LH: Now then, there remains one dispute to resolve. The name. RH: Oh, well. If it's a boy, I might just call him Rodney Harrington, Jr. LH: Well, I'll drink to that. Although you might consider calling him Leslie Harrington, the second. [End of scene.] Episode 15, scene 9 HOME