Our Little Girl

Elsa Middleton:
Mother's going away for a little while. And, when she comes back, she won't be married to Daddy anymore.

Molly Middleton:
Who will you be married to, Mommy?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
This experiment is only based on a sort of a hunch.

Sarah Boynton:
All scientific experiments are based on a sort of a hunch. Backed up with knowledge and effort and patience.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
This means a great deal to me, Boynton. If it works, it means the Guggenheim Fellowship. You don't know how much I used to dream about going abroad to study. Heidelberg, Vienna. Magic words once. Now I'm married and have to settle down to being a small-time doctor in a little town.

Sarah Boynton:
I know.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
At first I thought I might save enough. But then the baby came.

Sarah Boynton:
I know.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Oh, I'm not regretting anything, make no mistake about that. My wife and Molly are... Well, I'm a lucky stiff, Boynton. You know that, don't you?

Sarah Boynton:
Yes, Doctor.

Molly Middleton:
We can't go up to Heaven's Gate without a cake, can we, Mommy?

Elsa Middleton:
No, darling, we certainly can't.

Amy:
I wish you'd let me help you, Mrs. Middleton.

Molly Middleton:
This is work that only Mommy and I can do.

Elsa Middleton:
This is a very special day. It only happens twice a year.

Amy:
Twice a year? What makes this day different from any other day?

Elsa Middleton:
This is the day that Molly and I call May Saturday. The other one comes in September.

Molly Middleton:
We call that September Saturday.

Elsa Middleton:
Young lady, who do you work for?

Molly Middleton:
For you.

Elsa Middleton:
And who does Mommy work for?

Molly Middleton:
For Daddy.

Elsa Middleton:
And who does Daddy work for?

Molly Middleton:
For the butcher and grocer and the tax-collector and the telephone company.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Hello, darling. How's the most beautiful woman in the world?

Elsa Middleton:
Just waiting breathlessly for the world's handsomest man to come home.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Well, that's what I called you about. I won't be able to get home at all today. I wanted to call and let you know in time. You see, I'm right in the middle of an important experiment. I don't think I'll even be able to make it in time for dinner.

Elsa Middleton:
But darling, this is May Saturday.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Uh-oh. May Saturday. Well, couldn't we possibly put it off till next week?

Elsa Middleton:
No, dear, we couldn't put it off. Oh, I know that sounds like a very selfish wife, but twice a year I reserve the right to be selfish. Twice a year I insist on coming between you and your work.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
But darling, I'm doing all this for you and Molly.

Elsa Middleton:
But May Saturday is for Molly, too.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
I'm taking the day off, Boynton, on important business.

Sarah Boynton:
But, Doctor...

Dr. Donald Middleton:
I said important business.

Molly Middleton:
You were almost late, Daddy.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Almost never won first prize. Say, where do you want us to sit?

Molly Middleton:
Oh, as if you didn't know.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
No, honestly, I've forgotten.

Molly Middleton:
You've forgotten where we sit when we picnic at Heaven's Gate? Oh, Daddy! Have you forgotten, too, Mommy? Do I have to tell you?

Elsa Middleton:
Afraid so.

Molly Middleton:
Right over there, where we always sit every May and September.

Molly Middleton:
Do I blow my nose, Daddy?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
If you think you can get the crumbs off that way, sure.

Elsa Middleton:
I was just thinking of our early struggle.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
It wasn't any picnic for you, was it?

Elsa Middleton:
It was grand, though. When our living room was your office, and I had to chase down prescriptions and hand you the instruments. Emergency calls at all hours. Me having to hold the patients' hands.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Molly changed all that, didn't she? I just had to hire a regular nurse.

Elsa Middleton:
Oh, I know Miss Boynton's been wonderful, but now that Molly's no longer a baby, don't you think that...

Dr. Donald Middleton:
That I could get along without Boynton? Why, Elsa, I don't know what I'd do.

Elsa Middleton:
Oh, Don, I do wish that...

Dr. Donald Middleton:
That what?

Elsa Middleton:
Forget it.

Rolfe Brent:
Look here, why don't the two of you come and go riding with me sometime?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Thanks, Brent. Mrs. Middleton might. The only thing I ride is that old bus of mine. It bounces just as much, but it doesn't bite.

Rolfe Brent:
How about you, Mrs. Middleton?

Elsa Middleton:
Oh, I haven't ridden in years. I don't know if I could.

Rolfe Brent:
Oh, of course you could. You used to be great.

Molly Middleton:
Of course you could, Mommy. You just get on them and go.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
But don't you let her take any of those jumps until she's all set.

Rolfe Brent:
You can trust me, Doctor. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, Mrs. Middleton, around ten o'clock?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
She'll get a big kick out of it.

Molly Middleton:
She doesn't want to get kicked, Daddy.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Finishing your dinner off the mantelpiece?

Elsa Middleton:
I'm not as ancient and decrepit as you thought, is that what you mean?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
How'd your old riding outfit work this morning?

Elsa Middleton:
I can just squeeze into it, thank you kindly. You know, Don, I wish you'd go riding with me, or... or something.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Me riding would be something.

Sarah Boynton:
Now that we've gotten positive results from the cultures, I'm sure you'll be able to prove your entire theory.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
If I only can, it'll mean the beginning of a whole new treatment.

Sarah Boynton:
And don't worry about things while you're away.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
What do you mean? Why should I?

Sarah Boynton:
Oh, uh, I meant about the patients. I'm sure I'll be able to take care of them in your absence.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
I know I can always count on you, Boynton.

Elsa Middleton:
Oh, Don, must you go to New York?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Darling, this is the chance of a lifetime.

Elsa Middleton:
I know, and I don't want to be a bad sport, but must you go at this particular time?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
What's the matter, Elsa?

Elsa Middleton:
I suppose I'm being foolish, but I get so bored and lonely, just waiting for an occasional glimpse of you.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
You poor dear. It isn't much fun for you, is it?

Elsa Middleton:
Darling, take me with you.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
But that wouldn't be any fun for you. I go from hospital to hospital day and night.

Elsa Middleton:
I wouldn't mind. I'd wait for you.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
But you just said...

Elsa Middleton:
That's right. I did, didn't I?

Elsa Middleton:
Poor Don, cooped up in that laboratory with poisonous gases and diphtheria germs.

Rolfe Brent:
I thought it was only for a few days?

Elsa Middleton:
Don forgets time when he's working.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
[after Molly falls down] Are you hurt?

Molly Middleton:
[rubbing her bottom] I think I might have a little fever.

Molly Middleton:
Daddy, it's September Saturday, and we're not going, because I'm a big girl now. Daddy, why do we have to go and get big?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Oh, it's not because you're so big. I think you're still pretty little. But we just can't manage Heaven's Gate anymore because... things are all changed.

Molly Middleton:
Because Mommy's going away?

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Because of a lot of things. We're all so sorry, you, and Daddy... and your mother, I guess. But we'll just have to look for something else to have fun with. There's going to be a circus in town next Saturday. Gee, I'd like to see a circus, won't you?

Molly Middleton:
I'd like to see a circus if it didn't come on September Saturday.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
I didn't particularly care for that farewell speech you just made to Brent!

Elsa Middleton:
Don, don't say anything you're going to be sorry for.

Molly Middleton:
Why don't we have dinner anymore, Amy?

Amy:
What do you mean, don't have dinner anymore? You have dinner every night, don't you?

Molly Middleton:
I mean with Daddy and Mommy, like before.

Amy:
Oh, I don't know. Anyway, it's none of my business.

Molly Middleton:
Is it any of my business?

Amy:
If those people would only go away and leave them alone, everything would be all right.

Molly Middleton:
If who would go away and leave them alone, Amy?

Amy:
That nurse and that Mr. Brent.

Rolfe Brent:
Hello, Molly.

Molly Middleton:
Hello. [Rolfe reaches to down to pick up Molly, but she backs away from him]

Rolfe Brent:
Well, what's wrong?

Molly Middleton:
I don't like to be picked up. Except by my daddy.

Rolfe Brent:
Well, he's not here just now, Molly. Won't you let me do it?

Molly Middleton:
You don't know how a daddy does.

Rolfe Brent:
I could learn.

Molly Middleton:
It's very hard to learn, sir.

Rolfe Brent:
Let's have a trial. Let's pretend I'm the daddy and you're the little girl.

Molly Middleton:
But I *am* the little girl!

Rolfe Brent:
Why don't you like me, Molly? I like you. I like you and your mother and your daddy.

Molly Middleton:
I don't care! We don't like you! We wish you'd go away and never come back!

Rolfe Brent:
Who's we, Molly? Your mother? [Molly nods] Are you sure? [Molly runs away]

Molly Middleton:
I told him, Amy.

Amy:
What?

Molly Middleton:
I told Mr. Brent what you said.

Amy:
What I said?

Molly Middleton:
About Mommy and Daddy and me and wishing he'd go away and never come back.

Amy:
What? To his face? Look here, miss, you're going to get into trouble for that! And don't say I told you so!

Molly Middleton:
But you said...

Amy:
I said nothing about him, you understand?

Molly Middleton:
Is it the worst thing I've ever done, Amy?

Amy:
Yes, I think maybe it is.

Molly Middleton:
Will Mommy spank me?

Amy:
Yes, I think maybe she will.

Molly Middleton:
Will Daddy? He never has.

Amy:
Well, maybe he won't, not for anything you said to Mr. Brent.

Molly Middleton:
I was naughty today, Mommy, worser than I've ever been before.

Elsa Middleton:
Why, what on earth have you done?

Molly Middleton:
This morning, I told Mr. Brent we didn't like him.

Elsa Middleton:
That wasn't very kind.

Molly Middleton:
And I told him we wished he'd go away and never come back.

Elsa Middleton:
But that isn't true, Molly.

Molly Middleton:
Mothers can't think of everything.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Look at this. A few months ago, that would've meant everything in the world to me.

Sarah Boynton:
It's the fellowship! Congratulations!

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Yeah, congratulations, it's swell.

Sarah Boynton:
For once I'm going to talk to you not as your assisstant, but as your friend. It's not worthy of you to act this way.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Please, Boynton, don't interfere.

Sarah Boynton:
Don't interfere? Do you expect me to stand idly by and watch you ruin your life? I understand what's going on between your wife and Mr. Brent.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Keep quiet! What right have you...

Sarah Boynton:
What right have I? Because I love you.

Rolfe Brent:
Molly, I want to ask you something.

Molly Middleton:
Yes, Mr. Brent?

Rolfe Brent:
Would you like to call me Uncle Rolfe?

Molly Middleton:
No, thank you.

Rolfe Brent:
Well, I don't much care for that uncle business, either. How about just calling me Rolfe, then, without the uncle?

Molly Middleton:
Can't we just talk without me calling you anything, sir?

Rolfe Brent:
I'm afraid not, Molly. You see, you're coming to live in my house pretty soon.

Molly Middleton:
You can't live in anybody's house but your own.

Rolfe Brent:
Oh, but it will be your own.

Molly Middleton:
He's teasing.

Elsa Middleton:
No, Molly, he's not teasing.

Elsa Middleton:
Molly, you're getting too big for Heaven's Gate.

Molly Middleton:
But you and Daddy didn't get too big.

Rolfe Brent:
Don, I want to talk to you.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
There's nothing to talk about.

Rolfe Brent:
Now, wait a minute. The blame isn't all on one side, you know. It won't do you a bit of harm to listen to the truth. I didn't take Elsa from you. You gave her to me.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
What are you talking about?

Rolfe Brent:
You were at the office or the laboratory morning, noon, and night.

Elsa Middleton:
I had no logical reason for coming back. I guess it's just what Don would call... a hunch.

Rolfe Brent:
But darling, I thought we'd agreed on everything.

Elsa Middleton:
Maybe I'm being foolish, but I had to be sure.

Rolfe Brent:
You've got to trust my judgement. I mean, the situation would be easier and simpler if it weren't for Molly.

Elsa Middleton:
Don't say that!

Rolfe Brent:
But we've got our own lives to live. If it weren't for Molly, I know we could be happy together.

Elsa Middleton:
I do wish we could do things like other people without always feeling guilty.

Molly Middleton:
[to her dog, Mr. Smith] I think it would be easier for them if you weren't here, either, so you and me, we'll run away. Now, don't make a fuss, Smithy. We've got to remember that we're growed up now. Besides, you have me and I have you. We'll always have each other, won't we, Smithy? We'll go to Heaven's Gate first and say goodbye to it, and then we'll go a long ways away.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Did you and Mommy get into any mischief while I was gone?

Molly Middleton:
No, I haven't thought of any good mischief, and Mommy's been too busy riding.

Rolfe Brent:
You know, Don, I have too much time to play, and maybe you haven't enough.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Oh, I have all I want. Elsa can represent me in the sporting world.

Rolfe Brent:
Well, if I had such a charming representative, I'd retire to the sidelines, too.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
You playboys are the ones who are really on the sidelines.

Sarah Boynton:
It's Mrs. Stevens, Doctor, on an emergency.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Did you bring the kit?

Sarah Boynton:
Yes, I have it outside.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
You'll have to excuse me.

Elsa Middleton:
Let me come, too, Don. I can at least keep the other Stevenses out of the room.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
You stay here and finish your dinner.

Elsa Middleton:
But you may be late.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
If I am, I'm sure Rolfe will be kind enough to escort you home.

Rolfe Brent:
You mean lucky enough.

Rolfe Brent:
You know, Don, it's uncommon that you would risk such a lovely girl with someone as susceptible as I am.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Well, if you don't think I worry about it, you're crazy.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
That job needed us both, Boynton.

Sarah Boynton:
I wish you wouldn't call me that.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
Why not?

Sarah Boynton:
Because I have a real name, you know. It's Sarah.

Dr. Donald Middleton:
All right, Sarah. Goodnight. Oh, and don't let me forget to fill out that report on the measles case tomorrow. Remind me in the morning, will you, Boynton?

Sarah Boynton:
Yes, Doctor.

Rolfe Brent:
I know I'm a fool. I know I may be spoiling everything. But I just can't keep up the pretense. I want so much to...

Elsa Middleton:
Go ahead. I'm not afraid.

Rolfe Brent:
Elsa, you must know that...

Elsa Middleton:
I know. I'm very fond of you, too, Rolfe.