Ah, yes.
Ha-hah.
Whoo!
Come on.
Ooh!
- Good morning, Mrs. Kingsley.
- Good morning, George.
- How's the baby?
- Very well this morning.
Oh, I'm delighted to hear that.
Only one cat, this morning?
This was not our cat night.
But this little fellow's
nearly frozen stiff, so...
You've got a way
with those little ones.
Thank you.
Oh, good morning, Andrew.
- You've been out again all night.
- Mm-hm.
Don't you realise the streets
are dangerous? You could get mugged.
Oh well, now someone got mugged
at high noon on the sub to St Patrick's.
Could happen anywhere, any time.
- You really need another cat?
- No...
but it needs me.
I'll see you later, Andrew.
Maitland?
Maitland...
can't you've convince my mother
to stay home at night?
I doubt it.
If you'll forgive me, sir.
Oh...
You're a sweet little thing,
that's what you are. Mm.
You're home. Ohh... you don't
have to worry about anything now.
No.
Not anything to worry about.
Not at all.
There cat, make yourself comfortable.
See, you've got company.
Isn't that nice?
Ahh.
Oh, thank you.
Thank you, Maitland.
Oh.
Mm.
Maria is preparing your
breakfast tray, madam.
May I suggest you have it in bed?
Why? I'm not sick.
It was a long night, madam.
- And I thought you might be tired.
- Well...
if I'm tired,
it's from those long, endless
arguments with my son.
You know, I can't remember
the last time I heard him laugh
or even smile, for that matter.
Hmph.
Ah.
Hmph.
Fine.
Now, about the new complex.
I think it's a viable project.
Especially since we can acquire
the land for under five million.
There's also the cost of tearing
down the existing tenements.
Negligible, when you
consider the overall picture.
Sir, going to call for an investment
of about forty million dollars.
Depending on interest rates,
of course.
And the rates are decidedly
in our favour right now.
The question is,
will Mrs. Kingsley go along.
With her 51% she can outvote us.
As she did with the
government contract.
My mother is inclined to be
biased about armaments.
But this is quite another thing
and I'm sure I can get her to agree.
No,
absolutely not.
They're decaying,
rat infested tenements.
I think you'd be happy
to see them torn down.
I would be
if the people who lived in those
tenements had a better place to go.
That they could afford.
But they don't.
You can't change the world, mother.
Oh,
that's such a poor excuse
for doing nothing.
Now you know how much
I admired father.
Yes.
And I know how much he would've
approved of this project.
Oh no, no, he would not have.
Well, unless he could have provided a
decent low-cost housing for those
people who are going to be displaced.
No, I'm sorry, I just can't throw
people out onto the streets.
There are too many homeless
out there already.
Winos and bums.
Oh...
Goodnight, Andrew.
Goodnight, mother.
Maitland!
Yes, madam.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I apologise.
I-I shouldn't be taking
my bad temper out on you.
Oh, that's quite all right, madam.
Is there something you wished for?
Um...
Yes.
It's supposed to snow tonight
and I think we ought to
start out early.
- Is the cart ready?
- Yes, madam.
Good. And wear your galoshes.
You know I dislike wearing
overshoes, madam.
Wear them! Beats getting the flu!
Careful of the water.
Mrs Kingsley!
- How are you?
- Oh, just fine.
There we are, I want you to take that,
buy yourself a new fountain pen.
Now, now, now.
You want some coffee?
- No, no, no, no, no, no.
- Alright.
You take care of yourself, Molly.
- Oh, Mrs Kingsley...
- Bye, bye, dear.
Hello, everybody!
Professor? How are you tonight?
- I'm very well, thank you.
- I'm so glad to hear that.
- Here, I want you to take this.
- Oh, no, please.
Please do. Thank you.
- How are you?
- Oh, fine...
Sandwiches, huh? Good.
I'm really hungry.
All right...
There you go.
You are going to go to sleep.
Okay, kiddo.
Now, you go back to sleep.
Only don't make no mess.
Maria,
I still can't decide what
to get Maitland for Christmas.
Do you have any ideas?
Sure.
Buy him an aeroplane ticket
to Puerto Rico.
So this way my mother
can teach him how to cook.
He's a wonderful cook.
You're just not used to
American food yet, that's all.
A pie with kidneys in it,
it's American?
- Well...
- Urgh!
Hamburgers is American.
Pizza's American.
You know, my mother,
she knows how to cook American
and she don't even have a stove.
You miss your mother, don't you?
She is my mother.
Of course.
It was a foolish question,
I'm sorry.
Ah, you miss your grandkids too, huh?
Mm.
Sometimes I wake up
in the middle of the night
and I weep for them.
But why they go so far away
and they don't come back?
They don't get along
with their father.
What, you can't fix it?
I'm afraid it's long past fixing.
And it's a shame.
It's a crying shame.
I'm sorry to trouble you,
Mr Kingsley but, uh,
I've just met with the auditors.
They're pretty upset.
I'm not interested in their
emotional problems.
It's about your mother.
What's she done now?
She doesn't write cheques.
She doesn't get receipts,
she just hands out cash.
The IRS won't accept a tax deduction
for charity without proof.
I think Mrs Kingsley's conduct has
gone beyond the point of eccentricity.
Are you saying that
my mother is unbalanced?
No.
No, no, of course not. I...
I think Mrs Kingsley
is a remarkable woman.
I just thought you should be apprised
of the situation with the IRS.
I'll speak to my mother.
That'll be all, Grodin.
Franklin, will you call my mother
and tell her I'd like to join her
for dinner this evening?
Then come in and bring your book.
Don't you like your salmon?
It's fine.
Then why aren't you eating?
Mother, uh...
Andrew,
let's have it.
Have what?
The reason you wanted to
have dinner with me tonight.
Why do I have to have a reason?
It's Monday.
I know it's Monday.
Well, ever since Marion died,
you come to dinner every Wednesday
and you never deviate from your
schedule, come hell or high water.
So,
I assume you have a reason
for coming tonight.
And it's probably an unpleasant one.
Why does it have to
be unpleasant?
Because
every time you have something
unpleasant to tell me,
you do it where it won't matter
if I make a scene.
Why are you always
so suspicious of me?
I'm not suspicious,
it's just that I know you so well.
And Andrew,
if it's about that new complex,
forget it.
I'm not going to change my mind.
- It's not the complex.
- Good.
Then what?
Your personal account.
What about my personal account?
You hand out cash.
Mm-hm.
Well, is there a law against that?
No, of course not.
But if we're gonna claim a tax deduction
for the money you give to charity
the IRS demands proof.
Now if you wrote cheques,
or got receipts.
Hm?
Huh.
How can someone
without any identification,
cash a cheque?
I don't see what good
a receipt would do
from someone whose only address
is a subway grate
or maybe a cardboard carton.
Then why do anything?
You know the aim of the Kingsley
foundation donates millions to charity.
- Mm-hm. And it's all tax-deductible.
- What's wrong with that?
Well, nothing really but...
maybe
maybe if you paid
a little more taxes.
And worked always
looking for loopholes,
then the government might,
just might
stopped cutting the budget
for the needy.
That doesn't make sense.
Well, it does to me.
But then, of course, I didn't graduate
from Harvard Business School.
Why can't you just accept the fact
that I'm trying to protect you?
Me?
Or my money?
There is a difference, you know.
-
Get in the wagon.
- Aaahhh!
- Come on, lady, get in the wagon!
Hey...
Wait a minute!
Wait a minute!
Come on!
Oh...
Officer.
Hey, never mind, Molly.
Why are you arresting
these people?
We're not arresting them, lady,
we're just gettin' them off the street.
People complain they're
k*lling their business.
What business?
Dirty book stores and flop houses.
Get lost, lady.
No, officer, these people
are friends of mine
- and I am not going to see them
go to jail. - Is that so?
- Officer, what are you...?
- You too, lady, in the wagon.
Get in there.
Get in there!
Ooh!
Eh!
Whoa! Ha, ha...
You don't belong in here.
Mother?
Mother.
Mrs Kingsley?
Thank heavens. Took your time
about getting here.
- Come on, they're dropping the charges
against you and Maitland. - Good.
Oh, wait a minute,
uh,
if they don't go, I don't go.
Bail them out.
Oh-ho...
Come on.
Yay!
Mother, the car's down the street.
Oh, thank you, Andrew.
Molly, I don't want you to worry
because I'm gonna see to it
that the charges are dropped
against both of you two as well.
- Aw.
- All right?
You know, I think you
busted that cops nose.
I think that cop deserved
to have his nose busted.
- Goodnight, Molly.
- Goodnight.
And God bless you,
take care of yourself.
Goodnight.
- Thank you!
- You're welcome.
It was on television,
in all the papers.
How could you make such
a spectacle of yourself?
Really, Andrew,
I am in no mood for a lecture,
so, just sit on it. Please?
My son is furious with you.
Oh, he'll cheer up
at Christmas.
Not Andrew, he doesn't
like Christmas, he...
Ma...
Maitland...
Oh...
-
Maitland.
Nurses station.
Mm-mm.
Maitland,
what happened?
Madam collapsed in the park.
She was still unconscious
when the ambulance arrived.
- Did you call Dr Greenspan?
- He's with her now.
In there.
How is she, Henry?
I'm fine, Andrew. Fine, see?
There hasn't been time for more
than a cursory examination.
Her pressure was elevated
but nothing threatening.
There you see, I'm fine.
Nevertheless,
I want her to stay in hospital
for some tests but she refuses.
There is absolutely no reason
to make tests.
I'm fine.
You probably are but we won't know
until we take the tests.
Maybe you can talk
some sense into her.
Dr Murphy, to the office.
Dr Murphy...
Andrew,
ask the nurse to bring my clothes.
- I'm going home.
- You're not going home.
You're gonna stay and do whatever
tests Henry thinks are necessary.
Look, I am alright, I promise.
People don't collapse
unless there's a reason.
Well, that's a jolly thought,
I must say.
It's just a precaution.
Well...
For once, just once,
won't you do what I ask?
Especially when it's
for your own good?
You really are worried,
aren't you?
Of course, I'm worried.
Oh.
Yes. Yes, I'll stay.
I frankly don't think
there's any need for it but
if it's going to make you
feel any better,
all right.
Hey,
she's gonna be okay?
Madam appears to be
in her usual spirits
but she will remain in hospital
for a few days for some tests.
Hey,
you don't look so hot.
I bet you don't eat all day.
How about I scramble you up
some eggs?
Thank you, no.
I've no desire to eat.
Hey, she's gonna be okay.
She's gonna be okay.
It's an aneurysm, Amanda.
That's an enlargement of the
wall of an artery, like a bubble.
And in this instance,
it's inoperable.
I'm very sorry, Amanda.
What you mean is, I...
I have a bubble
in my head
and it's going to burst?
That's one way of putting it.
I'm so sorry.
When?
There's no way of knowing.
Oh,
but-but it can happen...
anytime?
Yes.
Soon?
Soon is relative.
Weeks...
months?
But it's, um...
inevitable?
I'm so sorry, Amanda.
Oh, dear, sweet Henry,
please stop saying you're sorry.
I never thought I was immortal.
I'll tell Andrew.
No.
Oh, no...
no, I...
I-I don't want Andrew to know.
He's your son, Amanda.
I know.
I know that but
there's no point in upsetting him
over something that
nothing can be done about.
And...
there's another reason, too.
I don't want what time I have left
to be spent being treated
like an invalid.
There are too many things
that I have to do.
What about pain?
Minimal.
Oh, thank heavens.
That's a blessing.
Because you know what a
chicken I am about pain.
Yes, I know.
Um...
will I be incapacitated
before it happens?
It's unlikely but...
Good.
Then I want your absolute
solemn word, a promise,
that you will not tell Andrew.
I think you're wrong.
But I'll respect your wishes,
of course.
Oh, cheer up.
This is one secret you won't
have to keep very long.
That's a hell of a thing
to say to a doctor!
Well, I didn't say it to my doctor.
I'm saying that
to my friend.
But I'm going to tell Maitland.
Why Maitland and not Andrew?
Because
Maitland will probably
be with me when it happens.
And I want him to be prepared.
You understand?
Thank you, Henry.
And, uh,
that's it.
Uh,
everyone dies.
It's just a matter of
when and how.
Yes, madam.
Is there anything else?
No.
No, you know everything
that I know, right now.
Thank you for confiding in me.
Would you like a cup of tea?
That would be nice, yes.
Maitland?
I knew you would handle this well.
Thank you.
Ohhh...
Oh...
Oh.
You sure you know how
to get to Brooklyn?
Yes...
I consulted the map, madam.
Good.
But how come you picked me?
Did somebody recommend me?
Uh, no. I uh,
I took your name
out of the yellow pages.
Oh.
But why bother coming
all the way to Brooklyn?
I mean, there are plenty of private
investigators in Manhattan.
I'm talking about
big-time operators.
Yes, I know.
But you see, my husband
opened his first little office
about three doors from here
and it was the beginning of
a very successful business.
And,
since our good fortune started
on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn,
I felt that
I would be lucky here, as well.
I guess that's as
good a reason as any.
Okay.
What have you got
for me to go on, please?
Maitland, please. Thank you.
Here you are.
Thank you.
Oh.
No, I just thought that
they were little kids
that this was some kind
of custody hassle.
Oh, no. Heavens, no.
And of course they're much older now
than they were in those pictures.
Uh, Josh, he's 22.
24, madam.
That would make... Melissa, 26.
Melissa is 26, madam.
And Harley is 32.
32?
Oh, it's hard to believe
he's been gone so long.
Huh.
Ah, excuse me, would you
help me out here
and tell me something specific
about them, please. Okay?
Oh, yes well, um...
- Melissa...
- Right.
always wanted to be an actress.
Even as a child.
She certainly has
the good looks for it.
And this one is...?
That's Josh.
He has a lovely voice.
And he's especially fond
of country music.
But that is, he was.
And this one must be...
how do you pronounce it, Harley?
Yes, that's Harley.
What can I tell you about Harley?
Except that
he was always involved
with causes.
What do you...
what kind of causes?
Well, Vietnam.
He demonstrated against it.
And then he finally... left the country
to avoid being drafted.
I'm sorry, I'm gonna
have to ask you this:
uh, are they in any kind of trouble?
Oh, no.
No...
No. Uh, my grandchildren left home
because they were at odds
with their father.
And they-
they didn't want me to have to
lie about where they were
if he tried to find them.
They wanted to spare me.
And I... wanted them
to have their freedom
to make their own good lives
in their own ways.
All right, I'm going to be
very honest with you.
If they don't want
to be found
and from what you're telling me,
they don't want to be found,
this is a real long shot,
you know?
Oh, yes, I realise that.
But Mr Huffner,
something has come up that
makes it very important to me
that you do find them
and there's not much time.
Uh...
Let me see now...
there's five, $10,000,
plus all of your expenses
and
an extra 5,000 for each
grandchild you'll find
by Christmas.
Well, if it's not enough,
I have more.
No... it's enough.
Good.
Then you'll take the case?
I'll take- I'd be crazy not to.
Then it's settled.
Uh, where would you begin?
Uh... I'm gonna try Nashville.
Oh,
and why Nashville?
That's where most country singers
try to break in.
Like you said, you were lucky here,
I just might get lucky there.
Ha ha ha.
That is very good thinking,
Mr Huffner.
Do you know, the moment
I saw your address
in the directory, I knew you
were the right man for the job.
You haven't said one word
since we left Mr Huffner.
Would you like to tell me
what's bothering you?
Nothing's bothering me.
Oh, come now.
After 40 years,
you don't think I know
when you're disturbed
about something?
I'm not disturbed, madam.
Would you like a glass of sherry
before dinner, madam?
No, thank you.
I want to talk to you, Maitland.
Sit down.
I should see to the dinner, madam.
The dinner can wait.
Sit down, please.
Now,
you disapprove of my hiring
Mr Huffner, don't you?
Quite the contrary.
I very much approve, madam.
Then what is it?
Since you insist, madam.
I'm disturbed that you were
less than forthcoming
with Mr Huffner.
You, uh...
you think I should've told him why
I want him to find my grandchildren?
Yes, madam.
I couldn't do that.
Well, I don't want the children
to come home just because
I might drop dead any moment.
No, I want them to come
because
they're ready to put
the past behind them
and to make peace
with their father.
And I don't want Andy to be alone
and alienated from his children
after I'm gone.
Forgive me, madam,
I should've known.
It's all right.
I could use that sherry now.
Take me to Five-Star Recording.
Okay, next is...
Thunder Sound Studio,
all right?
Change that station,
will you, please?
Okay, next.
Lady, all I want to do is
deliver a message to him.
Josh's grandma hired you to
find him and ask him to
come home for Christmas?
Yes.
What, you don't believe me?
I'd be very happy to give you her phone
number and you can check it out yourself.
- No, I guess you're on the level.
- Okay, thank you.
Josh's always talking about
his grandma,
he was crazy about her.
Well,
does this mean you're gonna tell me how
I could get in touch with him, please.
Well,
Josh has been running
from bad feelings
and bad memories
for a long time.
Maybe if he went home
for Christmas and faced his daddy,
he'd get it out of his system.
Okay.
Okay what?
Josh is on his way to San Antonio.
Thank you.
He got a job there.
Do you mind telling me the name
of the place where he'll be working.
It's a place called the Loping Lariat.
Excuse me, the Loping Lariat?
- You won't have no trouble finding it.
- I don't think so, no.
You don't have to rush, either.
That thing he's driving it'll take him
a couple days to get there.
Thank you.
The Loping Lariat.
Mr Huffner, that is marvellous news.
Yes. And I have no doubt
you're going to find those
other two scallywags, as well.
And thank you.
Thank you so much for calling.
Yes. Goodbye.
Well, he found Josh.
He hasn't spoken to him yet
but he will in the next few days.
That's very good news
indeed, madam.
Oh, indeed it is.
Uh...
did you order the tree?
It's much too early for the tree, madam.
No, I don't think so.
I want to be absolutely sure
that we get the biggest and
most beautiful tree available.
My grandchildren are
coming home for Christmas.
It doesn't leave
a great deal of time
for Mr Huffner to find
Harley and Melissa.
He will.
He will.
I'll order the tree, madam.
Thank you.
Thank you, Maitland.
Ah.
In case you have any doubts.
Yeah?
So, how do I know my father
didn't hire you to find me
just so he could
screw my life up again?
Unless your father
wears a sable coat
and carries a satchel full of cash,
I think -- that's your grandma.
Yeah, that's my grandma,
all right.
How is she?
I only saw her once
when she hired me
but she looked fine.
That's good.
Yeah, that's good.
And that's all she said
to tell me, she'd
like me to come over
for Christmas?
That's it.
So, should I tell her you'll be
coming home for Christmas?
N-No.
Okay.
Look, Mr-Mr Huffner,
it's not that I don't want to see
my grandmother. I love-I love her.
I just don't want to see my father.
Excuse me, this is really
none of my business.
I was hired to find you,
deliver a message and I did.
Okay?
You probably think I'm just some rotten
kid who's down on his old man, right?
Look, if I wanted to figure out
what made people tick,
I would've become a shrink
and not a private investigator.
I was 12 years old when-
when Harley took off.
that made me the heir
to the throne.
But Mr Huffner, the only thing
I cared about was my music.
My father didn't care.
He sent me to a military academy
to make this man out of me.
Yeah.
I tried-I tried to explain
to my father
why I kept running away
but he wouldn't listen.
He kept talking at me
instead of to me.
Do you know what it feels like
when nobody listens to you?
As a matter of fact, I do, yeah.
Boss says you're on
in 10 minutes, Josh.
Thanks.
Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean
to lay all this on you.
Do you have any idea where
Melissa or Harley are?
As a matter of fact I was hoping
maybe you could tell me.
Can you help me out?
Melissa and I kept in touch
for a while.
The last time I talked to her,
she was in Hollywood
but I don't know where
or if she's even still there.
And what about your brother? You have
any idea where he might've gone?
Probably Canada, first.
But he could be anywhere
after all this time.
Look, if you do find them,
would you tell them where I am,
just in case they might
want to get in touch with me?
Sure, why not kid.
That's a hell of a big if,
my finding them, though.
Hey, you found me.
In my book, that makes you
one hell of a detective.
I happen to be
a private investigator.
P.I.
- Thank you.
- Good luck up there.
I haven't been in your
father's office since he died.
Oh, I'm so glad you kept
so many of his things.
Well, I like having them around.
Not that I need them
to remind me
that he was a terrific lawyer
and a great father.
And a great friend.
I miss him, too.
- Cheers.
- To life.
Sit down, dear. It's a pain
in the neck looking up at you.
Well,
shall we get started?
Amanda, are you sure
you want to do this?
Well, I'm not committing hari-kari,
I'm just changing my will.
I... wanted to do it
a long time ago,
but I just didn't get around to it.
All right.
The changes you want to make
are going to necessitate you liquidating
all of your assets, after your death,
including your controlling shares
in Kingsley International.
Er, yes.
So?
Andrew expects to
inherit that control.
Well, so much for
great expectations.
This is nothing to joke about.
This is something that should be
given a great deal of thought.
Oh, believe me, I have given it
a great deal of thought.
Amanda, are you gonna tell Andrew
you're changing your will?
Oh, of course.
Andrew doesn't like surprises.
You can't do that!
Oh yes, I can.
Coffee?
Do you realise what you'll be doing
to Kingsley International?
Yes.
To me?
Yes. But...
it's not as though you're
going to be left destitute.
That's not the point!
Andy,
you already have more money
than you'll ever be able to use.
Plus 49% of the Kingsley stock.
Not enough to give me control!
And the children,
they still have their trust funds.
Not that they care.
And as you already know,
the Amos Kingsley foundation
was funded by your father
in such a way
that makes it perpetually
self-sustaining.
This isn't what father
would've wanted.
Andrew,
what your father wanted
was to protect me
during my lifetime.
But he also wanted me to be free
to dispose of his fortune
any way I saw fit,
at the time of my death.
Ohh...
Andrew,
I know that I'm a constant
source of irritation to you.
That we never see eye-to-eye
on anything.
But I was hoping just this once,
you would understand my need
to follow my conscience.
What you are doing is insane.
Why?
If Andrew Carnegie can leave
his fortunes to universities
and to building libraries,
now, why can't I leave mine,
to building shelters for the homeless?
Because I won't let you!
Uhh...
You are my lawyers and I pay you a
small fortune to protect my interest.
Can't you come up
with something?
Under the terms
of your father's will,
Mrs Kingsley is free to
dispose of all he left her,
when she dies,
in any manner she sees fit.
I know that, but my father
never intended
to have her create havoc
in Kingsley International.
Kingsley is far too substantial
to be affected.
There might be a
period of adjustment.
It will no longer be
controlled by the family.
That's always been Kingsley
International's greatest asset.
I don't need you
to tell me that!
What I need is your advice
on how to stop my mother!
There is one way.
What?
Apply to the court
and ask them to declare
your mother incompetent.
Then we can ask the court
to name you her conservator.
Don't you think that's pretty drastic?
Why?
Mrs Kingsley obviously needs
to be protected from herself.
It's not just a matter of the will.
A case can be based on the...
past eccentric behaviour.
If you'll remember, I...
I did suggest just recently that
something ought to be done
about Mrs Kingsley's lack of
responsibility in fiscal matters.
I'm opposed
to such an action.
It could be a traumatic experience.
Once we petition the court,
there will be a hearing.
We'll have to bring in psychiatrists
to testify to Mrs Kingsley's
diminished capacities.
We'll have to provide witnesses
to her erratic behaviour.
It would not only be
painful for your mother
but for you, as well.
There's bound to be publicity.
Unpleasant publicity.
Do it!
You don't think I enjoy
doing this, do you, mother?
Well then, why do it?
I haven't any choice.
Oh, that's nonsense.
People always have a choice.
It's simply a matter of
making the right one.
You know,
if your father were alive,
he would beat the living daylights
out of you.
If father were alive,
this wouldn't be necessary.
It's not too late
to call off the hearing.
All you have to do is change
your will back to what it was.
Oh...
Don't hold your breath.
I'm going to fight you, Andy.
I'm going to fight you
and I'm going to win!
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
Teatro? Theatre, theatre.
Uh, where, where, where-o?
La senora... is in...
this teatro.
Smile.
Okay.
Stretch.
One...
Keep your head up.
Stretch.
Oh, that was great. Good!
That was great. Okay.
Toy soldiers line up.
Come on, one line.
Everyone out here.
Sugarp... oh, mothers,
don't let them on stage.
The children will expect it every time.
Now, come on.
-
All right, um,
sugarplum fairies off left.
Left is that way.
Excuse me, miss, uh, Kingsley?
Please, could you...
I don't want to talk...
I'm a private investigator
from New York.
I'd like to talk to you for a couple
of minutes, when you finish up here,
if that's okay with you.
All right?
Kingsley's not my name anymore,
so I have no idea how you found me.
But if you're working for my father,
the answer is no.
Excuse me, ma'am.
I don't know your father.
Your grandmother's
the one who hired me.
That's my favourite picture
of my grandmother.
Thank you.
Why don't we go on the deck,
it'll be cooler.
Does it scare you living on the edge?
I guess not, huh?
No, only when the earth moves.
- Which it does from time to time.
- I see, okay.
It's pretty good, you know?
Finding me the way you did.
To tell you the truth, I was
about to toss in the towel...
when it suddenly occurred to me that
you might've gotten married. So...
Well,
that only lasted about
a minute and a half. But,
I only got married
to spite someone,
which isn't very admirable,
I guess.
But you kept his name.
Kingsley's my father's name and
he's the person
I was trying to spite
by marrying the first and
worst man that came along.
I'm sure you have your reasons.
Look, I've been pretty tough
on you, haven't I?
Ah, come on.
In my line of work you don't expect
to win any popularity contests.
So, uh...
are you going to New York tomorrow?
Uh, no, um...
I'm going to Canada.
Why Canada?
Your kid brother told me that
that's probably where Harley went
during Vietnam, so...
But that was ages ago.
It's the only shot I got.
You're really running
yourself ragged, aren't you?
I didn't think it showed.
Actually, I have been thinking
of giving myself a day off.
And being out here and everything,
I thought maybe I...
you know, take in the...
sights.
Well, I... I could be your guide.
I don't have rehearsals tomorrow
and I'd be glad to show you around.
Why?
Because I...
was kind of nasty to you
and I'd like to make it up to you.
Do you always look a gift horse
in the mouth?
I'm not a genius but I've never
been accused of being stupid.
I thank you for the offer.
My father...
thought it was ridiculous of me
to think of becoming an actress.
So I enrolled in acting school
without telling him.
Then I fell in love
with one of the students.
And when I told my father,
I was gonna get married,
he gave my intended husband
$50,000 to go away.
And he did.
He did.
Sounds like your old man
was right about this guy.
- It's not the point.
- Sorry.
I don't understand. What is the point?
The point is, my father was trying to
teach me that money could buy anything.
Including people.
Ah, yeah.
# #
It'll be even prettier from up here
when all the Christmas lights are on.
- Yeah?
- Mm.
What does that mean?
That you're not gonna
come east for Christmas?
I don't know.
It's not that I don't want to.
- I love my grandmother.
- Look, uh, excuse me,
this is probably
none of my business
but it really wouldn't have
cost you anything
to let your grandmother know
where you were all these years.
But it would've cost her.
For as long as I can remember
she had to act as a buffer
between our father and us.
I know it really hurt her
and I don't want that
to happen again.
Look,
we better go now.
You've got an early plane tomorrow.
Try to relax, Molly.
I'll stay right here with you
until you fall asleep.
Isn't it a crock?
Dying just before Christmas.
And I don't like this.
They don't even let no flowers in here.
You're right.
It is a crock.
I'll be right back.
Orderly, to Ward 3, stat
Orderly, to Ward 3, stat
Maitland.
I would like you to
call Dr Greenspan.
Tell him him I want a room for Molly
at the private pavilion.
And then arrange for an ambulance
to come and transport her.
Very good, madam.
She's resting now. She's all right.
I'm afraid I imposed on you,
Mrs. Kingsley
but there's no one else
on whom I could call.
This is no imposition, believe me.
I'm glad you called.
I never seen...
so many flowers.
I'm...
dying like I was somebody.
You silly girl.
You are somebody.
Ah...
You're a child of God, Molly,
who loves you dearly.
And so do I.
Molly.
My dear.
What are you doing, Maria?
They call from the
Christmas tree place today
and they say that tomorrow that
they're gonna bring the tree, so
I get ready the bubbles.
Good.
This one don't look like no bubble.
Oh, no.
No, no, that goes on top of the tree.
My father carved that for me
when I was a little girl.
I'll tell you all about it some day.
He called it the Christmas dove.
Oh, I-I-I almost forgot.
A Mr Huffner called today, also.
Oh.
And?
Madam is waiting, Maria.
Hold the horses.
I listen in Spanish,
I got to translate to English.
Yeah.
Okay.
He said to tell you that
he found your granddaughter.
Oh, that's wonderful.
And that he's going
to Canada now
and he will call you again
when he gets there.
I just knew that man would succeed.
Now that's two down and one to go.
Perfect.
Mm-mm.
-
Give me a scotch,
will you, please?
No, wait, wait, change that to, uh...
an Irish coffee. As long as
the coffee is nice and hot.
Yes, sir.
Irish coffee, Peter!
My assumption is that you are not
from Canada. Where you from?
Arkansas.
Hey... Arkansas.
How long you been up here?
Since Vietnam.
I'm one mountain boy who ain't able
to sh**t a rabbit without chucking up
so I wasn't about to sh**t deer.
As a matter of fact, I'm up here looking
for somebody who might've come up here
during the w*r.
Don't he wanna go home?
There's amnesty.
His, uh, grandmother
wants him home for Christmas.
So, I'm lookin' for him.
Nice.
My folks never want to see me again.
Well, actually I've been busting
my butt for the last 2 days.
Checking with all the official
sources they got up here.
I don't even know if this guy
is in, uh, Canada, let alone Toronto.
How about Montreal?
Lots of the guys went up there...
I could also try Manitoba
or Saskatchewan
or take a dogsled to the North Pole.
I just don't have the amount of time.
What about the club?
- Excuse me, the-the club?
- That's what I call it.
They helped out guys like me
when I first came up here.
Mm.
They got us jobs,
tried to find us places to live.
Some of the guys needed shrinks and
lawyers. They helped out with that, too.
I just have no idea they'd have
an organisation like that anymore.
What with the w*r being over so long.
I never thought of it.
For some guys the w*r
won't never be over.
Yeah.
Maybe Mays can help you
find the guy you're looking for.
He's one of the first guys
who came here.
He helped site up the club.
Thank you, Arkansas.
You're welcome.
Excuse me, uh, Mr Mays?
My name is Morris Huffner. Ah...
I'm a private investigator
from New York.
Do you mind if I talk to you
for a second, please?
If I had known about
your organisation,
I could've saved myself a hell
of a lot of hard work, I'll tell you.
Well, we're mostly old news by now.
But they still need us, so...
Yeah, Harley gives us a hand
from time to time,
but he's pretty involved
in Greenpeace.
Oh, by the way, his name's not
Kingsley anymore, it's Judd.
He took his mother's maiden name
when he came to Canada.
Excuse me, that's Judd, J.U.D.D.?
- Mm, yeah.
- Thank you.
And do you mind telling me
how I can reach him?
Like I said, his grandmother's
trying to get a message to him.
Well, he doesn't have a phone,
but I don't think he'd mind
me telling you where he lives.
He talks a lot about his grandma.
He'd like to hear from her.
By the way, I really
appreciate this, thank you.
It's no problem.
Oh, I wouldn't try it tonight, though.
You know, he lives
pretty far out on a farm.
No problem, I'll rent a car.
No, you don't understand,
there's a blizzard coming in.
Our Canadian blizzards
are nothing to be out in.
No problem.
[CAR NOT STARTING]
Argh!
Argh!
Damn!
It's a good thing my dumb dog
took off after a rabbit.
I wouldn't have found you
until spring thaws.
Adam honey, let's go get
washed up for supper.
Ohh...
You got a nice family.
Well, I wanted a family.
I needed one.
Excuse me, I know that your mother's
dead but you do still have a father.
Far as I'm concerned,
my father's dead, too.
Harley, I wish you wouldn't
say things like that.
Why not? It's true.
My father has tunnel vision.
The only thing he can see at the end
of the tunnel is money and power.
A lot of time has passed, Harley,
maybe he's changed.
I don't believe in miracles.
I was a big disappointment
to my father.
I didn't give a damn about any of the
things that were important to him.
One of Kingsley subsidiaries
makes helicopters.
Had a government contract
during the w*r in Vietnam.
I led a demonstration outside the
plant and burned my draft card.
You led a demonstration
against your father's plant?
When I told my father I'd...
rather leave the country
than go to Vietnam,
he didn't say a word,
just looked straight through me
as though I didn't exist anymore.
It was the last time I saw him.
If I ever see him again,
it'll be too soon.
So, I guess this means you're not
going home for Christmas, huh?
I love my grandmother.
Oh yeah, everybody loves grandma.
What does that mean?
It means that I don't buy it.
I heard exactly the same thing from
your brother and from your sister.
If you really love
your grandma so much,
she shouldn't have had to hire me
to come looking for you, no matter
how rotten your relationship was
with your father, for crying out loud.
She's an old lady.
She's your grandma.
The next time you see her,
might be at her funeral.
I understood your question, sir.
English is my native language.
Well, kindly answer it.
Don't you think it was foolish for
Mrs Kingsley to go to skid row
with thousands of dollars
inessential?
I thought it was a
sensible thing to do.
Since neither Mrs Kingsley nor I
have sufficient room in our pockets
to accommodate such
an amount of cash.
Do you know what I mean,
Mr Maitland?
Most people would think it bizarre
to carry around a fortune in a satchel.
What would've been bizarre,
is if it had been in a trunk.
We're not here to entertain
the public, Mr Maitland.
You were present
when Mrs Kinsley assaulted the
police officer and broke his nose.
Correction, sir.
It was I who broke
the officers nose,
and it was he who did the as*ault.
Quiet please.
We'll move on to other matters.
Isn't it a fact that Mrs Kingsley
bought $6,000 worth of toys
from an exclusive toy store
just a short time ago?
Yes.
Well,
don't you think that's a rather
exorbitant amount of money
to spend on toys?
Not if the toys were
for children's hospitals
and juvenile facilities.
And to anticipate your next question,
Mrs Kingsley spends a
similar amount of money
on toys every Christmas
and has done so for
the past 20 years or so.
Thank you.
That was my next question.
I have here a receded
hospital bill
which Mrs Kingsley paid.
It was for a bag lady.
I find that term offensive, sir.
Her name was Molly Gottschalk
and she was a homeless,
destitute woman
who was dying.
Mrs Kingsley
had her transferred from Bellevue
to a private hospital.
The room bill and the doctors bill
comes to $5,400.
Is that correct?
It is.
Destitute people can die
without charge at Bellevue.
You may find that comforting, sir.
I don't.
Most people aren't so cavalier
with their money.
I also have a florist bill
which Mrs Kingsley paid.
$800 for flowers delivered to the
private room in the
private hospital.
That doesn't include the flowers
for the funeral.
And then there's the cost
of the burial plot
and the interment.
Yes, I was getting to that.
Don't you think
that's a lot of money
to pay for a stranger?
If you are suggesting that
Mrs Kingsley's acts
of charity are irrational,
let me suggest that you find
Corinthians one, equally so.
To quote:
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity,
"these three
"but the greatest of these
"is charity."
Mr Jamison asked you
a couple of questions
and I'm going to do the same.
It's called cross-examination.
You don't have to explain.
I saw it all on TV.
Cross-examination is when
you try to trick me. Eh?
All I want from you is the truth.
Mrs Kingsley has numerous cats.
Can you tell me how many?
Who counts?
You don't like cats, huh?
Some cats I like better than people!
Well,
don't you find it strange that
she has so many cats
in an apartment?
It's a big apartment.
In Puerto Rico,
the house where I live
is not so big as one room
in this apartment.
Really?
Well, your family must be able
to afford a much larger house.
Mrs Kingsley gives you money
to send to them, doesn't she?
Every month.
And she say that
when they are ready,
she's gonna bring them all here
from Puerto Rico.
That's very generous of her.
How many in your family?
Ah...
Nine.
But I'm counting one aunt.
And she's only a maybe.
Mrs Kingsley's gonna pay
for all their plane fares.
Well, how else they get here?
Only God can walk on water,
you know.
Very true.
Thank you, Miss Estevez.
You've been very helpful.
I understand your field
was philosophy.
I also taught English literature.
I'm impressed.
It's hard for me to understand how
someone with such obvious gifts
could end up on the street.
I was terminated
when the budget for my
department was cut. I...
I soon exhausted all my savings.
I'm very sorry.
Budget cuts...
were they the only reasons
that the university let you go?
They fired you because
you're an alcoholic, didn't they?
An alcoholic,
a falling down drunk
who preferred to present
himself to Mrs Kingsley
in a much more
sympathetic light.
You took advantage of a rich
and vulnerable old lady...
That's enough!
You have absolutely no right to
speak to this man in that manner.
What kind of human being are you?
Quiet, please!
Quiet.
Mr Jamison,
I will see you and your client
in chambers.
Fine.
That goes for you too, Mr Grodin.
I understand that you were
overwrought, Mrs Kingsley.
I am NOT overwrought.
I am outraged.
However, that's not the reason we're
asking for this delay, your honour.
We see no reason for a delay,
your honour.
We feel we've made our case
and a decision is forthcoming.
May I ask why you
want a delay?
I will tell him, Stuart.
My grandchildren are
coming home for Christmas.
I would like you to meet with them
and to talk with them
and if you decide that
I need a conservator,
I want you to appoint them
as my conservators.
That's ridiculous.
I have no objection to a delay.
Well,
if Mr Kingsley has no objection,
I see no reason
- not to grant a brief delay.
- Thank you.
Shall we say...
January the 5th at 10am.
And I think it would be advisable
for us to meet here in my chambers.
Thank you.
Okay.
A happy Christmas,
your honour.
A happy Christmas to you,
Mrs Kingsley.
Is there something else,
Mr Kingsley?
I didn't want to say this
in front of my mother,
I was afraid it would
embarrass and humiliate her.
That's why I agreed to the delay.
Ah, I don't follow you.
My children,
the grandchildren my mother
referred to, are not coming home.
Not for Christmas. Probably never.
They've been gone for
a great deal of time and
their whereabouts are unknown.
I started this action because
I felt that my mother was no longer
able to handle her own affairs.
But I didn't realise how much
she had deteriorated.
She's fantasising now,
suffering from delusions.
Well,
I can't thank you enough,
Mr Huffner, for coming here.
I know it would've been
much easier for you
if you had just mailed in
your report.
That's... that's okay.
I just feel so sorry
that I couldn't tell you that they
were coming home, that's all.
Oh, they'll be home for Christmas.
Ah, excuse me,
- maybe I didn't make myself clear.
- Yes, you did.
It's just that I know
my grandchildren.
Incidentally,
uh, if you're free on Christmas Eve,
we have open house here and I'd
like very much to have you come.
Oh, thank you.
I don't have a family so, I never have
anything special to do on Christmas.
Oh.
This is awfully nice of you.
Thank you.
It's all settled.
Thanks.
And goodbye again.
Ah, Mr Huffner,
I think you're a wonderful detective.
Oh.
Private investigator.
Whatever.
You're wonderful.
Ooh, the lights look wonderful.
See how white the dove is now?
Yes.
That's what's different.
What did you do to it?
Oh, I put it in the
dishwashing machine.
The children are gonna
get a bang out of that.
Maitland,
I thought the detective say
the grandkids wasn't coming home.
Mrs Kingsley believes
they'll come.
But I'm very much afraid she's
going to be disappointed.
Today, instead of reading you
a fairy story as I usually do,
I'm going to tell you
a really true Christmas story.
- Would you like that?
- Yeah!
Does it have a happy ending?
Well, it starts out
rather sadly but...
yes, it does have a happy ending.
Good. Once upon a time...
a long, long time ago
when I was a little girl,
just like you,
I lived on a farm
with my mother and father
and each year
just before Christmas,
my father would
take me into town
to buy a gift for my mother.
Then,
one year, when I was 7 years old,
a sad thing happened
and there wasn't any reason
to go into town to buy the gift.
My mother died.
But I didn't cry.
I was too angry to cry because
she had gone away and left me.
My father told me,
it would be better if I cried.
Because, he said, tears
were God's way of melting a heart
that was frozen in grief.
But I was too angry to cry,
and that was when he told me
the story of the Christmas dove.
Some people call it
the dove of peace.
Anyway,
he said it happened during
a terrible, terrible w*r,
and that one evening,
even though it was
Christmas Eve,
there was a battle raging,
and suddenly,
across the b*ttlefield,
a beautiful dove appeared,
soaring gracefully and easily,
and when the soldiers saw it,
their g*ns went silent,
and they remembered that
it was the birthday
of the Prince of Peace.
And then what do you
think happened?
Well,
those soldiers
threw away their g*ns
and they started walking toward
each other across the b*ttlefield
and when they reached each other,
they embraced
and they wept,
and their tears melted the anger
in their hearts.
And then I cried too.
Because I understood why my father had
told me the story of the Christmas dove.
I realised that he
wanted me to know
that there's no peace
without forgiveness
and no happiness without peace.
Maitland,
will you be good enough to ask
my mother if she'll see me.
Madam is resting.
Please ask her, it's important.
If you'd care to wait in
the living room, I'll inquire.
What is it, Andrew?
Are you alright, mother?
I'm fine.
I was wondering if perhaps
you wouldn't like to fly down to
Bermuda with me for the holidays.
I am not about to have
the children arrive
and find an empty apartment. No.
I don't want you to sit here and wait
for something that's not going to happen.
Are you sure we should be having
this conversation at all?
After all, we are adversaries,
you know.
We're not adversaries.
I'm sorry I had to put you through
that court hearing but I had no choice.
So you said.
I had to protect what father
spent his lifetime building up.
I don't have to tell you
how much I admired father.
So you said, many times.
It's true.
Yes, well I think that your father would've
preferred to have you love him.
Of course, I lo...
I did.
Even the word
makes you uncomfortable.
Heh.
It's such a simple word.
Why is it so hard for you?
You know I'm not demonstrative.
I know but...
people need to know.
They need to be told
that they're loved.
Did you ever tell your children
that you love them?
Did you ever tell Marion?
She was your wife.
And the only thing she wanted
when she was dying
was to hear you say
you loved her.
You weren't even with her
when she died.
You know I had to be
in London.
-There was a great deal of money involved.
- Oh.
And I had a responsibility
to the shareholders.
I inherited that responsibility.
I had to prove that I was as
capable as father, didn't I?
Why?
Did you think I would love you
any less because you weren't?
Oh, Andrew.
Love. Real love,
it's unconditional.
Then why did I feel
I had to earn it?
Why did I always feel that I wasn't
included in what you had with father?
- But you were.
- I was not!
I wasn't gonna let that
happen again, and I didn't!
It's impossible.
Excuse me madam, would you like your
dinner in front of the fire tonight?
Is something wrong?
B...
Because Amos and I
were so much in love,
and we never hesitated
to show it,
Andrew grew up believing
that he wasn't a part of it.
That he was excluded.
Oh...
Oh, that poor little boy.
Oh,
how lonely he must've been.
And how insensitive of me,
not to have seen
what was happening.
Maitland, I've been so blind,
for so many years. I just...
I just pray to God
that my son can forgive me.
You've done nothing
that requires forgiveness.
Oh, but I have.
If Andrew can't show love
or even express it,
then it's-it's got to be more
my fault than it is his.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
It's 7 o'clock,
when will the company come?
People come whenever they please
when it's open house, Maria.
Bring in the eggnog.
Well, it all looks beautiful.
You've outdone yourself.
Thank you, madam.
Ah, you didn't forget
the pine cones, did you?
No. The cones are in the basket
by the fireplace.
Good.
I want it to smell
as beautiful as it looks.
Uh, were you able to
get ahold of Andrew?
Andrew hasn't been in
his office all day, madam.
But I left word with his secretary
that you wanted to see him this evening.
Well, um...
perhaps...
perhaps you'd better
put a note under his door.
- I've already done that, madam.
- Oh, you're way ahead of me.
Company!
Pine cones.
Maria, bring in more eggnog cups.
I'll see to the door.
Leave the door open, Maitland.
There should always be
an open door on Christmas eve!
Yes, madam!
Oh.
Thank you very much.
Oh, Merry Christmas,
Mr Huffner.
Thank you.
Merry Christmas to you, too.
Oh, how nice that is.
Oh my, that's lovely.
- Come in.
- Thank you.
- Maria?
- Si, madam.
Put this on ice, will you?
And we'll have it with supper.
- Si, okay.
- Well...
I, uh, I was brought up in a home.
- You were?
- Yeah.
They call them orphanages now.
Oh, yes.
I used to sit around and try to imagine
what a real Christmas would be like.
Oh.
This is it.
Oh, that's a lovely thing to say.
Come in.
Thank you.
Oh, would you like an eggnog?
Um...
Or maybe a drink. Maybe I could
fix you a drink if you'd prefer.
It's Christmas! Eggnog!
Eggnog, certainly.
I see you're expecting
a lot of company.
Oh...
Mr Jamison, he's my attorney.
He usually makes this the
last call of the evening.
And then there are the people
from the Sullivan house.
But they won't come until
after their own party.
And, of course... my son
and...
my grandchildren.
Mrs Kingsley, about your grand...
I don't know what time they'll
get here but they will get here.
Please.
Thank you.
Ah. Would you like
an hors d'oeuvre?
- Not at the moment.
- Ah.
Have you been keeping yourself busy?
Yes.
I closed my office.
You mean for the holidays.
Nuh-uh. For good.
Oh, but why?
You're such a good detective.
Uh, investigator.
Thank you
for remembering.
No, I'm not gonna
give that up.
I just think it's about time
I got out of Brooklyn.
Oh.
And where will you go?
I'm thinking about moving
to Los Angeles.
I like the climate.
You do.
- You see this? - Yeah.
- Josh made it for me.
And he wrote the piece of music
that's inside of it, too. - That's nice.
On his 16th birthday.
Isn't it wonderful? Music.
- Maria?
- Si, madam.
Would you please put on some...
Christmas carols.
- Anything.
- Yes, madam.
Are you starving?
- No.
- Oh, thank heaven.
Because we're not gonna sit down
until all of the guests arrive. All right?
Now, this is Harleys...
he made it in, uh...
It's quite late, madam.
Would you like me
to serve dinner?
Oh no, Maitland,
we'll wait for the children.
Thank you.
Ah...
Mr Huffner, would... would you
push that log before it falls?
Yes. Thank you.
Alright.
I know you're disappointed,
Mrs Kingsley.
We...
Ohh...
You surprised, grandma?
No, indeed...
I expected you.
Oh, Melissa.
Josh.
Harley.
Oh, I'm so glad to see you.
But we didn't even know ourselves
that we were coming until yesterday.
- Yeah, I called Josh.
- Melissa called me already.
I didn't know how to
reach Josh until Morris...
Mr Huffner,
left his number with me.
And with me.
- Oh.
- Yes.
- Wait, I almost forget.
- Uh-huh.
Grandma...
this is Patti,
we're getting married.
Oh,
well, that is a surprise.
I've got another surprise for you,
grandma.
This is Nora.
Nora.
God bless you dear.
And this is our little boy.
Adam.
Oh...
Adam. Well, you are my
best Christmas present.
Let me see you.
Oh, you're beautiful.
Give grandma a big kiss.
Mmm, thank you.
- Grandma?
- Yes, honey. What?
It's taken us a long time to...
grow up
and realise that
usually there's a reason why
people act the way they do.
Yes, there is, mm-hm.
And maybe we didn't try
to understand father
any more than you
tried to understand us.
Oh, sweetheart.
So, if you'll give us another chance,
we'd like to try too.
Oh.
I just can't tell you
how happy you've made me.
All of you.
I'm so...
I'm so thrilled to have you here.
Oh, darling.
Grandpa.
Oh...
Andrew.
Please... come in.
No. Thank you.
I just dropped by to...
to give you this.
Uh,
what is it?
The documents voiding my request
to be your conservator.
No one needs a conservator
less than you.
Thank you.
Oh.
I know I haven't always
understood you, Andrew
but there never is a moment
that I didn't love you.
I want you to know that
and I want you to believe that.
It's very important.
For both of us.
Mummy says you're
supposed to be my grandfather.
This is Adam,
Harley's little boy.
His son.
I'm not supposed to be
your grandfather, I...
I am your grandfather.
Merry Christmas, father.
Merry Christmas, father.
Merry Christmas, father.
Welcome home.
Yeah.
Are you alright, madam?
Come in, quickly.
Look.
Look, there on the terrace.
Oh my,
how perfect.
Merry Christmas, madam.
Oh, Merry Christmas
to you too, Maitland.
Christmas Eve (1986)
Moderator: Maskath3