🎞️ These Wilder Years (1956) is a poignant American drama film directed by Roy Rowland, starring screen legends James Cagney and Barbara Stanwyck. This heartfelt MGM production explores the themes of regret, redemption, and parental love, set against the backdrop of post-war America.
🌟 Plot Summary
Steve Bradford (James Cagney) is a successful, wealthy businessman whose life appears to be picture-perfect. Yet, a long-buried secret gnaws at his conscience: years ago, as a reckless young man, he fathered a child out of wedlock and gave him up for adoption. Now older and more reflective, Steve embarks on a mission to find his son—a journey that leads him to a women's reformatory in search of answers.
At the reformatory, Steve meets the strict yet compassionate headmistress Ann Dempster (Barbara Stanwyck). Ann is not just a gatekeeper of records but a guardian of the girls' futures, and she refuses to bend the rules for anyone, not even a man of Steve’s wealth and influence.
As Steve struggles with bureaucratic red tape and emotional roadblocks, he befriends Suzie (Betty Lou Keim), a troubled but spirited teenager who forms a touching bond with him. Suzie’s vulnerability and hope act as a mirror to Steve’s own past, forcing him to confront the decisions that shaped both his life and his son's.
In a powerful climax, Steve must decide whether to keep pursuing the truth or accept the consequences of his past. The film explores whether redemption can truly be earned—and if love can heal the wounds of time.
👥 Main Cast
⭐ James Cagney as Steve Bradford
⭐ Barbara Stanwyck as Ann Dempster
⭐ Walter Pidgeon as James Rayburn
⭐ Betty Lou Keim as Suzie
⭐ Don Dubbins as Mark
⭐ Edward Andrews as Mr. Spottsford
⭐ Basil Ruysdael as Judge
📌 These Wilder Years stands out as a mature exploration of topics that were considered bold for its time—unwed motherhood, adoption, and the emotional cost of success. The performances of Cagney and Stanwyck shine with a dignified intensity, providing gravitas to the deeply emotional material. The film is a rare dramatic piece for Cagney, who was best known for his gangster roles, and a testament to Stanwyck’s range and subtlety as an actress.
💬 Dialogue in the film is crisp and emotionally resonant, often leaving much unsaid but deeply felt. The dynamic between Steve and Ann is the beating heart of the story: their shared experiences, conflicting values, and mutual respect are captured through quietly powerful scenes.
👁️ Cinematographer William C. Mellor gives the film a stark, realistic feel, echoing the emotional restraint of the characters. The institutional setting of the reformatory juxtaposes cold order with the personal warmth that emerges in Steve and Suzie’s friendship.
🎼 The score by Jeff Alexander underscores the emotional beats of the story without overwhelming it, creating a sensitive soundscape for this intimate drama.
🌟 Plot Summary
Steve Bradford (James Cagney) is a successful, wealthy businessman whose life appears to be picture-perfect. Yet, a long-buried secret gnaws at his conscience: years ago, as a reckless young man, he fathered a child out of wedlock and gave him up for adoption. Now older and more reflective, Steve embarks on a mission to find his son—a journey that leads him to a women's reformatory in search of answers.
At the reformatory, Steve meets the strict yet compassionate headmistress Ann Dempster (Barbara Stanwyck). Ann is not just a gatekeeper of records but a guardian of the girls' futures, and she refuses to bend the rules for anyone, not even a man of Steve’s wealth and influence.
As Steve struggles with bureaucratic red tape and emotional roadblocks, he befriends Suzie (Betty Lou Keim), a troubled but spirited teenager who forms a touching bond with him. Suzie’s vulnerability and hope act as a mirror to Steve’s own past, forcing him to confront the decisions that shaped both his life and his son's.
In a powerful climax, Steve must decide whether to keep pursuing the truth or accept the consequences of his past. The film explores whether redemption can truly be earned—and if love can heal the wounds of time.
👥 Main Cast
⭐ James Cagney as Steve Bradford
⭐ Barbara Stanwyck as Ann Dempster
⭐ Walter Pidgeon as James Rayburn
⭐ Betty Lou Keim as Suzie
⭐ Don Dubbins as Mark
⭐ Edward Andrews as Mr. Spottsford
⭐ Basil Ruysdael as Judge
📌 These Wilder Years stands out as a mature exploration of topics that were considered bold for its time—unwed motherhood, adoption, and the emotional cost of success. The performances of Cagney and Stanwyck shine with a dignified intensity, providing gravitas to the deeply emotional material. The film is a rare dramatic piece for Cagney, who was best known for his gangster roles, and a testament to Stanwyck’s range and subtlety as an actress.
💬 Dialogue in the film is crisp and emotionally resonant, often leaving much unsaid but deeply felt. The dynamic between Steve and Ann is the beating heart of the story: their shared experiences, conflicting values, and mutual respect are captured through quietly powerful scenes.
👁️ Cinematographer William C. Mellor gives the film a stark, realistic feel, echoing the emotional restraint of the characters. The institutional setting of the reformatory juxtaposes cold order with the personal warmth that emerges in Steve and Suzie’s friendship.
🎼 The score by Jeff Alexander underscores the emotional beats of the story without overwhelming it, creating a sensitive soundscape for this intimate drama.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00Thank you for listening.
00:00:30Thank you for listening.
00:01:00Mr. Bradford.
00:01:30Good morning, Mr. Bradford.
00:01:31This one is.
00:01:36Good morning.
00:01:38You are right, Finch.
00:01:40Board of Directors has arrived.
00:01:41They're in the conference room.
00:01:42Who showed up?
00:01:43Mr. Nelson, Mr. Lindsay, Mr. Cole, Mr. Thielen, Mr. Blount, and Mr. Tucker.
00:01:46All right.
00:01:48You never forget a name, do you?
00:01:50No.
00:01:51What about the Paces?
00:01:52Forget those?
00:01:53I do my best.
00:01:59Hello, Brad.
00:02:00How are you?
00:02:02Jerry?
00:02:02Steve, how are you?
00:02:03JT, how are you?
00:02:04Well, I'm in something of a hurry, and I won't have time to go over the agenda with you, but
00:02:09Jerry Blount here will take over in my absence and follow through.
00:02:11You leaving town?
00:02:12Yeah, I'm going on a trip.
00:02:13Not business, a private matter.
00:02:16I don't know where it'll take me or how long, but wherever it is, I'm going.
00:02:19Now, Jerry will act as president and chairman of the board while I'm away.
00:02:22Where can we contact you?
00:02:23Can't.
00:02:24Well, we've just made contracts with half the United Nations.
00:02:27There are details that we have.
00:02:27All the details are right here in these folders.
00:02:29I have them written out for you.
00:02:30What's the rush?
00:02:32Oh, some unfinished business that's needed doing for a long time.
00:02:35Something I have to do myself.
00:02:37Well, I've got to get going.
00:02:37Steve, could you tell us how long this unfinished business is going to take?
00:02:42Until it's finished.
00:02:43Well, make yourself to come over, you know, where the cigars and liquor are.
00:02:47You're not taking that rocket ship to the moon, are you?
00:02:50If I have to, I'll take it.
00:03:05Oh, God.
00:03:07Oh, God.
00:03:08Oh, God.
00:03:09Oh, God.
00:03:09Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:10Oh, God.
00:03:11Oh, God.
00:03:11Oh, God.
00:03:11Oh, God.
00:03:11Oh, God.
00:03:12Oh, God.
00:03:13You boys lose a ball game?
00:03:16Uh-huh.
00:03:17I lost.
00:03:20How'd you do that?
00:03:21I dropped the ball.
00:03:25You think nobody ever dropped one before?
00:03:28I was in the end zone, all alone.
00:03:32Smitty laid it right in my hands.
00:03:34It was a perfect pass.
00:03:36I had it.
00:03:37I had it all, and then I had nothing.
00:03:40I had the ball game, and then I had a great big handful, and...
00:03:44You ever hold on to any?
00:03:48Yeah.
00:03:48Plenty.
00:03:50Try to remember those.
00:03:55Some people never forget the one they dropped.
00:03:57That football team looked pretty sad.
00:04:10That football team looked pretty sad.
00:04:19Well, I don't know why.
00:04:20They got beat, didn't they?
00:04:22Yeah, but you'd think they'd sort of get used to it.
00:04:24They ain't won one in two years.
00:04:27Now, 20 years ago, they whipped everything in sight.
00:04:30But they had themselves a coach then.
00:04:32Fuller.
00:04:33That's right.
00:04:34What happened to him?
00:04:36Turned his suit in.
00:04:37Oh, 10 years ago.
00:04:39You've played for him?
00:04:42One year.
00:04:45Bradford?
00:04:46You've got a memory.
00:04:47That's all I've got.
00:04:49Yeah, you used to squirt through that line like a little greased pig.
00:04:53Yeah, didn't I, though?
00:04:54Yeah.
00:04:55Hasn't changed much.
00:05:14Nothing changes here with the faces.
00:05:18Well, there's two.
00:05:19Buy yourself some teeth.
00:05:20I think if you go out the way, I'll come in.
00:05:23Thanks.
00:05:25Check me in, will you?
00:05:26Steven Bradford.
00:05:27Yes, sir.
00:05:28Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on.
00:05:58how do you do may i help you i'd like some information about an adoption yes a long time
00:06:14ago about 20 years i'm sorry we're not at liberty to give out that information
00:06:19who is i think perhaps you better talk to miss denpster susie
00:06:24this gentleman would like to talk to miss denpster
00:06:31there's someone here to see miss denpster oh i see
00:06:43she thinks you're the man she's expecting but you haven't got your wife with you
00:06:50or anywhere else i thought so you thought what you're not the man she's expecting why didn't
00:06:55you tell her you didn't give me your name bradford you're not him yeah i know that now
00:07:00what's your name susie keller
00:07:04miss denpster this is the man oh you're not mr callahan i'm so glad susie put the diapers away
00:07:20and get some safety pins you hear all about franklin watt and einstein but never about
00:07:24the man who invented the safety pin probably a woman oh no women never invent anything except
00:07:29men um that's a saying shall we go into my office it's feeding time it isn't always this noisy
00:07:37no worse than a blast furnace and then to replacing a baby today we always get so excited i thought
00:07:41perhaps you might be the callahans and we're not ready yet please sit down thank you would you like
00:07:45some coffee please black let's see your name uh stephen bradford well what can i do for you mr bradford
00:07:57you can give me some information about what about a boy born here out of wedlock yes and what is
00:08:07your interest in your interest in him i'm his father how long ago was this
00:08:2320 years and you want to find him after 20 years why
00:08:29because he's my son
00:08:33you're married no
00:08:38why did it take you so long
00:08:44because it took a long time to get what i wanted
00:08:47and now you've got what you wanted yeah i got it and something else
00:08:54i got older and i got lonely
00:09:00i made a mistake and i carried it around with me like a
00:09:04like a healed over sore for a long time and then it began to hurt hurt badly
00:09:12and now i gotta find him that's it
00:09:15but for 20 years you didn't and for 20 years he didn't look for you
00:09:23i'm afraid it isn't as simple as all that the adoption laws are very strict they preclude giving
00:09:28out any information in order to protect the foster parents and the child
00:09:33protect him from what for me from what i can give him i'm telling you the law mr bradford
00:09:38now let me tell you about me more or no law he's my son and i'm going to find it
00:09:49miss stemster they're here the callahan's all right show them into the living room
00:10:01i'm afraid you'll have to excuse me some parents have come for their baby
00:10:04i uh i really don't see much point in your waiting but i do all right then have some more coffee
00:10:21mr and mrs callahan come in your daughter is waiting for you
00:10:26uh isn't she lovely
00:10:35we'll pick her up she's yours
00:10:56this is california
00:11:11hey there hey there
00:11:13only adopting a baby
00:11:16it isn't yours
00:11:18will be
00:11:21what was that
00:11:22some day like this they'll give away my baby
00:11:35how old are you
00:11:37six sixteen
00:11:41they can't do it they can't come on come on girl come on nobody's done anything yet here
00:11:52yeah
00:11:55don't cry about tomorrow wait till it's yesterday
00:12:01i'm sorry
00:12:05sixteen
00:12:08she came here one morning with a milk wagon hitchhiked all the way from oklahoma
00:12:12she'll stay here until they decide what to do with her
00:12:16what'll that be
00:12:16i don't know if her parents won't take her back then we'll take her case to the juvenile court she's a minor
00:12:24what was her name your girl
00:12:27my girl
00:12:29wasn't she
00:12:30oh
00:12:32emily haver
00:12:33emily haver
00:12:37oh yes i remember her she was one of my first cases yes i remember her
00:12:41of course of course we both remember
00:12:44miss demster
00:12:46i came here to find my son
00:12:48not to open old scrapbooks
00:12:50i've seen how good it is for the callahans and how very bad it is for little suzy keller
00:12:54now if you'll just give me a name and an address i'll try to do something about it
00:12:58well i i'm not sure what our records will show it it's been a long time they'd have to be looked up
00:13:03they they may even be lost what would it take to find them well you're a very important and
00:13:08probably a very busy man why don't you return to your business i'll look things up and then i'll
00:13:12get into miss demster let us understand each other i've got nothing else to do and nowhere else
00:13:19to be and i've got a lot of two things time and money and i'll use either one or both whatever it takes
00:13:28you know i could have sent somebody to do this for me and they'd have gone about it quite differently
00:13:33how bought it bought the records the court maybe even this place maybe even you
00:13:40what in the world would you do with me take it to dinner
00:13:45how about it is that the way you got what you wanted just bought it better than stealing isn't it
00:13:52yes when it's not the same
00:13:56all right i am sorry i couldn't uh one of the nurses is quite ill and
00:13:59how about having dinner with susie and me at my house what time seven i'll be there
00:14:08oh you know uh i really didn't mean that everything was for sale i know that
00:14:14how do you know that because i don't think you are
00:14:19now that that little girl she's desperate she wants her kid would give anything for it
00:14:25you know so would i i want mine
00:14:38oh come in mr bradford thank you susie ann isn't here yet who
00:14:57miss hexter she had to go back to the nursery for a while she said if she wasn't back by 7 30 we were
00:15:02to go ahead and meet without it would you care to sit down here's the gazette
00:15:12where are you going i have to watch the dinner i'll watch will you
00:15:17well it's already she must be a very busy woman she never stops things are always coming up and she
00:15:29always needs to be there they call from the nursery tonight one of the babies was sick
00:15:34it wasn't anything much and the doctor was already there
00:15:37she had to go anyway see for herself i guess she's wonderful you like her don't you you don't like
00:15:47her you shouldn't have been born
00:15:51like some thank you did you come here to adopt no
00:16:00tell me about you i'd like to hear it
00:16:07here
00:16:10well i was going to this private school that's near my home
00:16:15in pocket township in the oil fields where everybody's so rich you know
00:16:20so i began going with this boy
00:16:22well our parents his and mine hadn't spoken for years so we had to meet each other secretly
00:16:31you know make rendezvous yeah
00:16:34then he said he loved me and he was going in the air force he was a jet pilot
00:16:40why didn't you get married we were going to on his next leave but
00:16:45he never came home what about your parents i couldn't disgrace them it would have ruined them
00:16:55my mother was so proud and beautiful and your father
00:17:03dad was a big business executive at hundreds of oil wells and everybody knew him and looked up to him
00:17:11something like you
00:17:15so you uh you couldn't marry the boy no i couldn't the montague's and the capulets
00:17:23the hatfields and the macauves
00:17:28suppose we eat and forget them
00:17:32i guess we might as well serve it
00:17:45so
00:17:55susie susie you've been a long time a lot of years to get over
00:18:01but i won't
00:18:04i never will
00:18:07i should be the one to know it now come on come on
00:18:11so
00:18:15it's getting cold
00:18:25what
00:18:39what on earth are you doing
00:18:40paying for my supper
00:18:43where's susie
00:18:44send her to a movie
00:18:46i'm gonna sit down here who's in the oven
00:18:47put some butter on it
00:18:55no it's not
00:18:56let's do it
00:19:04how's the baby oh fine
00:19:06i rocked him to sleep
00:19:07i was sorry i couldn't get here was it a good dinner the best
00:19:12she's a nice little girl
00:19:14the welfare bureau called about her today they're taking her case to the juvenile court tomorrow or two
00:19:21what are they going to do about it
00:19:23i don't know
00:19:23what are you going to do about me
00:19:30i've been thinking about that
00:19:34what have you decided
00:19:38nothing
00:19:41just like that
00:19:42no i've been thinking hard about it
00:19:43don't you realize he's a grown man now nobody you know
00:19:47don't you know
00:19:49don't you know he has parents he loves and respects who raised him and made him what he is
00:19:55what is he a fine young man
00:19:56go on
00:19:58he came here once looking for his mother
00:20:02did you ever look for her
00:20:04no he wasn't looking for you
00:20:07did he find her
00:20:10he just wanted to know if she was all right if there was anything he could do
00:20:14and because of this nice sentimental dream world in which you live
00:20:19you're going to ask me to forget it and go about my business
00:20:23i think so
00:20:26well then this i've got to tell you
00:20:28i don't live in a world of dreams and sentiment
00:20:31and i'm already about my business
00:20:33and i may add i've got a reputation for getting my business done
00:20:38whatever it takes
00:20:39and i'll get this done too
00:20:40i wish you could understand
00:20:45we couldn't operate the way you want us to
00:20:47we did it once we might have to do it again and that might be bad
00:20:52it just can't be don't you see
00:20:54some things you can never pay for
00:20:59i've never found them
00:21:01i'm sorry
00:21:05thanks for the dinner
00:21:10you've made some mistakes in your time haven't you
00:21:19too many
00:21:20they tell me you need a new dormitory
00:21:23need it badly
00:21:24we do
00:21:25and it'll take quite a piece of money like say
00:21:28fifty or a hundred thousand
00:21:31let's just say it's more than we have
00:21:33but you want it
00:21:36from you
00:21:37what's the difference you need it badly they do too
00:21:39you'll do anything for them
00:21:42you miss your dinner you miss your sleep it's your life for them
00:21:45are you too noble to stoop a little for them
00:21:46that isn't it
00:21:48but you need new buildings new equipment new everything and you're in heart for half of what
00:21:51you've got now
00:21:53that just isn't it
00:21:56it's fine mr bradford
00:21:59not quite good night
00:22:00well
00:22:10it isn't often we have so distinguished a visitor in our town
00:22:18may i ask how you came to select me
00:22:23you're the most important lawyer that's common knowledge
00:22:27i have practice here for a long time and my father before me
00:22:31i might go so far as to say
00:22:33have you gone over the case case
00:22:35oh yes certainly
00:22:37what can you do
00:22:39well first
00:22:41i cannot avoid wondering if you are pursuing the proper logic in this matter
00:22:48price is no object
00:22:49yes i quite understand but you see this boy was legally adopted years ago
00:22:53and by now presumably has made his own life
00:22:56i've been told that by amateurs
00:22:59well there is actually no way of successfully reopening such a case without applying to the
00:23:05superior court and i personally am exceedingly dubious
00:23:09you're dubious
00:23:10well yes under the circumstances
00:23:11you're dubious that you can do anything
00:23:13mr bradford you must understand i already do
00:23:15thank you very much for your trouble
00:23:17well mr bradford
00:23:18just a second mr trying to get yourself killed
00:23:40not at this late date now you look like you ought to know better
00:23:43right in front of the courthouse oh i'm sorry
00:23:48i didn't realize that you're a stranger pretty much
00:23:53well we like to be a hospitable town we don't like to book strangers here but
00:23:58we got traffic lights just like where you come from
00:24:01now you go ahead and watch your step
00:24:04like a good boy
00:24:07like a good boy
00:24:13we believe your honor that the best interest of this child would be served by making her award of this court
00:24:31character reference is good school grades passing church attendance fair has your physician made an
00:24:36examination yes your honor her health is excellent except for a poor nutritional background
00:24:43this uncle your name is your nearest of kin
00:24:47yes your honor your mother is dead
00:24:53yes says here your father disappeared before you were born
00:24:58you never saw him never knew a father
00:25:02never
00:25:05what about the alleged father of this unborn child mr oliphant
00:25:08uncooperative your honor refuses to admit paternity he states it doesn't have to be mine it could
00:25:16have been any of a lot of guys would he take a blood test he refused but you know miss dempster
00:25:23i do indeed when miss dempster learned that this fellow was marrying another girl she had me check up
00:25:28on the marriage laws of that state and we found that blood tests are required for license application
00:25:33so this is a photo stamp supplied by a friendly clerk a satisfactory report for the wait
00:25:43oh yes is it your desire to remain with miss dempster to await confinement and delivery of your baby
00:25:51yes is your intention to make this child a subject for adoption to relinquish all claim
00:25:56yes you're sure about this very sure
00:26:10yes that means forever
00:26:16i know
00:26:16miss dempster you consider this minor a fit and proper subject for admittance to the haven's
00:26:26paternity home and that her child would be a fit and proper subject for adoption
00:26:30yes i do then there's a judgment of this court that susan calabry made a ward of this court
00:26:35and be placed in the custody of miss dempster
00:26:37something for you sir a phone right here sir and uh
00:26:48bourbon on the rocks coming up hello hello switchboard this is steve bradford
00:26:55i want to speak to the bradford steelworks in detroit it's in michigan uh miss adelaide finch
00:27:01f as in fool yeah in the bar thank you
00:27:08here you are sir what's your name jess they tell me that uh
00:27:16bartenders know everything it's a good rule and i prove it how's that being the exception
00:27:23well supposing you were looking for a man and didn't know where to find him where would you start
00:27:27i'd find a woman well who would there wasn't a woman that ain't possible you sure unless he come
00:27:34in on the flying saucer he's got a mother ain't he that's likely that's for me hello hello hello finch
00:27:43get hold of jim rayburn and tell him i want him here right away i'm in buffton i don't care he's in
00:27:50the middle of a supreme court case i want him here yeah i'm at the buffton hotel and i'll be waiting
00:27:56bye jess yes sir uh supposing supposing there was no mother in it well she has to be
00:28:08maybe maybe the mother was no good pester there ain't any such thing as a good death or a bad mother
00:28:15yes you're wrong you're no exception
00:28:31how do you do sir i'm steve bradford class of 35 oh welcome mr bradford is here for the homecoming
00:28:46oh i thought i'd look up some addresses old classmates oh just a second sir and 35 would you say please
00:28:53here it is
00:28:57no wheels what oh nothing just a joke
00:29:01uh i just remembered someone dropped out before graduation when would that be 30 uh 36 emily haver
00:29:08no just the address she registered from allentown pennsylvania i'm sorry it won't do
00:29:22oh just a second she applied for her credits in 1939 must have come back to college yes here it is
00:29:28glenbrook college new hampshire her name's changed yeah mrs arthur denham
00:29:34denham d-e-n-h-a-n-h-a-n and you're saying glenbrook college it's new hampshire
00:29:47let me see
00:29:53mrs arthur denham
00:29:54501 main street new chelsea village
00:30:07sacrifice right out here what the people ought to do is attack the government people are the
00:30:12government you tell me i'm picking my own pocket sure seven eight nine let me carry
00:30:21people i've seen the day i can carry the board over your arms i hope i see the day i can
00:30:26come back
00:30:35no johnny johnny what do you think you do huh give me that whoops oh hello
00:30:47what can i do for you i'm looking for someone uh emily haver denham
00:30:51i knew her a long time ago she died about four years ago no johnny are you her son no i'm her
00:31:01son-in-law johnny here come away from there play with us a while huh okay run along now
00:31:10oh and martha i'd like to meet an old friend of mother's i was just telling him that whoops
00:31:15come here to me boy ah there we go
00:31:25he told me she died yes i thought he might be her son no she had all daughters five of them she
00:31:34always wanted a son i'm her sister oh i'm steve bradford uh i knew her a long time ago
00:31:44i was passing through and i i just wondered about her about her life it was a good one it was happy
00:31:54that's good mr bradford why don't you leave well enough alone
00:32:03you know about us how could i help it we all shared each other's troubles
00:32:09i was just looking at the boy she didn't but she knew about him where he was i don't know
00:32:19you didn't share that if i had i wouldn't with you
00:32:34well she had a lot
00:32:37daughters home a husband a lot of people think you have everything at least everything you wanted
00:32:43a lot of people aren't telling you i am and i'm saying i don't know you don't well just in case you
00:32:54should remember i wouldn't remember if i could
00:32:58now look here this is not just a name and an address and a memory of something dead this is my son he
00:33:06doesn't belong to you or dempster or somebody on the court bench he belongs to me and nobody has any
00:33:10right to keep him from me nobody but the boy himself you want him to go
00:33:19no it's all right he's going
00:33:25i'm sorry
00:33:25buy johnny something buy him what
00:33:34i don't know a lawnmower
00:33:56say you are mr bradford look you look 20 years younger
00:34:10mr james rayburn check in uh rayburn yes sir where is he well he arrived yesterday
00:34:16i believe he's in the bar sir thank you what was the scent of my bag yes
00:34:19well sorry to keep you waiting jim took a flying trip dry run i needed the change the same sir yes
00:34:30uh in the booth
00:34:33good to see you boy
00:34:36well it's a nice little town i uh saw the library the uh hall of justice place called the uh the haven
00:34:44and schoolhouse last night i went to a movie well sorry not at all i had nothing to do just a little
00:34:51thing before the u.s supreme court
00:34:56i see you've uh taken to drinking in the daytime you must have got yourself into a wonderful mess
00:35:02i have all right let's hear it well jim you may not be the smartest lawyer in the country i'm not
00:35:09however you're certainly not the sharpest well that's possible that's what i need money's no option
00:35:14not if you called me well here it is 20 years ago i fathered a son you what yes i didn't marry the
00:35:23girl i didn't want any part of it at that time well uh she went to the haven you saw the place
00:35:30she had the child there and gave it away for adoption that was 20 years ago
00:35:35now i want the board where is she
00:35:41dead oh you seen a lawyer
00:35:46local windbag named spotford and uh they wouldn't give you any information regarding the one
00:35:52none but uh steve any uh private detective could grease the palm of a file clerk oh no no no she uh
00:35:59she has the record dan dempster who's dan dempster runs the haven oh yeah
00:36:03yeah well what uh what about her palm no not a chance
00:36:09well that's the law steve that's what i know that's why i sent for you
00:36:14well when you've been practicing as long as i have you realize that there are various interpretations
00:36:20of the law and we might find a loophole find one i'll uh have to work with this local chap uh
00:36:26spotsford spotsford i don't care whom you work with or how you work it but get it done
00:36:3020 years huh what happened to you what took you so long
00:36:40what's the difference it might matter well shall we say uh i was busy is that enough
00:36:50it doesn't help me much but apparently it was i'll uh see the spotsford then and uh examine the law and
00:36:59some of his connections i can do wonders with a few million dollars i can't
00:37:03your talent your talent is for making it not using it well spotsford
00:37:18oh hi mr bradford susie let me help you with those where are these going miss stemsters oh that's bad
00:37:26luck only when it lands in your head feel it in the air can't you what's that christmas i hadn't
00:37:33noticed just when you're rich christmas is all the time why because every day you can have anything
00:37:38you want you mean anything you can buy you really don't have to walk all this way with me i'm going
00:37:43that way tell me why do you like christmas well it's rich child and it turns everybody into children
00:37:50instead of all folks like you i'm older than you think how old is that i'm almost a mother
00:38:20hi susie
00:38:29well mr bradford i heard you left town i did but i came back to take you out to dinner
00:38:35that's very nice of you but susie and i are just about to have i owe you a dinner
00:38:39i owe you a dinner let's go out oh well i'm afraid i couldn't i have some shopping to do we can do that
00:38:44too yes but i have all these cards to sign i can sign them what is this a conspiracy no thank you i might
00:38:52be needed here i can call you it is a conspiracy well uh can i change my face but not too much
00:39:02i'll only be a minute i'll go with you
00:39:22can i help you i'd like to see something in a cashmere sweater size 38 or sure right over here please
00:39:27can i help you
00:39:54can i help you
00:39:57may i see those please these hey aren't they lovely those are gold real pearls
00:40:03how much are they 45.95 i'll take them all right would you like a gift wrap no thank you i'll wrap them myself
00:40:10bye
00:40:15almost ready
00:40:24it's the change sir thanks very much no thanks so much
00:40:30here you are thank you
00:40:31they're very pretty
00:40:40it ought to be paid a dollar 98 for them who are they for susie give them to her will you why don't
00:40:47you no you do it uh would you mind if we didn't go out to dinner i certainly would well what i meant
00:40:55as we could go home i could get this gift in the mail there's the cold ham chicken cheese
00:41:01that's for me we'll make it a kitchen picnic i'm a picnic fellow
00:41:08well uh do you always work don't you ever play do you
00:41:12not only the stock market but i was talked into a hunting trip once we took a safari into kenya
00:41:21we had everything stoves ice penicillin even a spin at piano
00:41:25we were a sporting goods store and a social club on wheels cost me thirty thousand dollars
00:41:30what for to shoot a poor mangy lion did you shoot one no the guide shot him i couldn't hit a bond
00:41:37in the inside
00:41:39you haven't answered me what oh oh hi well work is play if you like it it becomes kind of a game
00:41:47it has more meaning even when you lose well this is your whole life isn't it no not exactly
00:41:54hayden is just one place there are many places like this
00:41:57there are hundreds of girls who go to them because well they haven't any other place to go
00:42:04they're the doorsteps of the world where children are abandoned
00:42:08you can't imagine how often or how many but you can't imagine what it feels like to find a home for
00:42:14a child it's all right it's all right it goes on all the time everywhere and very few people give it
00:42:23much thought even those who could help who could do something they're shooting lions no no i guess
00:42:32it's just that most people have enough trouble one way or the other without looking for any more
00:42:41what i mean is i guess it's just that i believe any child is really everybody's child
00:42:47that's a nice thought we try to make it a little more than that
00:42:57how long have you been here i was born here
00:43:02oh well this is more than an idealistic dream to you then yeah it must be you sacrifice your life for
00:43:10it no i don't it is my life yeah you know where i went out of town where looking for her
00:43:24to a small new england village after 20 years
00:43:28an old man looking for a boy lost and a girl he didn't know he loved until it was too late
00:43:33you know she's dead i know you didn't tell me you never asked yeah i never bothered until i wanted
00:43:45something for myself do you know what her sister said she said let well enough alone don't bring us
00:43:56your mistake mister let her remain a mistake forever keep it it's yours i don't think she meant
00:44:02it she said it and so did you i didn't mean that either what did you mean i i meant that
00:44:09i meant that doing this one thing for you is not good if it's bad for all the others for the thousands
00:44:13i spoke about you see you're just thinking about yourself which is which is how i got this way
00:44:20power for the course you told me you told me but i'm not one of ten thousand guys i'm not a drifter
00:44:27i'm not a failure and i'm not looking for the boy to take something from him that should make a
00:44:32difference shouldn't it mr bradford i excuse me hello yes
00:44:50something wrong very wrong
00:45:12what is it you'd better ask your lawyer
00:45:15good night mr brett
00:45:30good night thanks thank you
00:45:32well i thought i'd find you here not much choice in this town just spent the evening with dempster
00:45:51i took her shopping i had dinner with her getting along fine and suddenly she was called to the phone
00:45:58which came back into the room she looked at me like i had poisoned her coffee i wondered what had
00:46:03happened that's what was the matter and she said ask your lawyer you see steve you've been trying to be
00:46:10your own lawyer we have a saying that any man who does that is a fool for a client have a drink no no
00:46:17well i uh spent the afternoon with mr leland g spotsford
00:46:25you're right he's an idiot so you found out he's an idiot what else
00:46:31the loophole you can get into court can you win i wouldn't go in if i thought i couldn't good
00:46:38i'm not so sure that it's good why do you say that because even if you win you lose lose what
00:46:47look steve i'm just trying to put it nicely well just say it all right you're a big man in this
00:46:53country you're raking up a mess and you're going to wear it in court a nice juicy scandal for everybody's
00:46:58breakfast tycoon steven bradford has an illegitimate son he deserted 20 years ago you'll hurt yourself and
00:47:04you'll hurt the boy do you think what i can do for him will hurt the boy do you think i'm hurting him
00:47:13look i'm a lawyer not a padre i'm merely trying to explain how unpleasant it may be
00:47:19and i'm just wondering if you want the boy that much yes that much
00:47:28it's a little hard to believe it isn't spotsford against this lawyer rayburn from new york
00:47:33rayburn's a famous lawyer and a brilliant one and he found a loophole something
00:47:40then it's up to us to find one too i suppose i don't i know i confess i can't quite understand mr
00:47:46bradford he's famous too and rich when he goes to court he makes his whole life public why because
00:47:54that's how he got where he is once he starts he'll stop at nothing and roy yeah
00:47:59neither will i
00:48:06i don't know law is made out of reason and justice
00:48:10in a ton of it there isn't an ounce of love oh yes there is a love of justice itself
00:48:15well how'd it be going now good night ann
00:48:28thank you susie you better go home to bed
00:48:40mr bradford he isn't what you think he is
00:48:43oh i'm not blaming him darling i'm fighting him it isn't a matter of him or me it's a matter of lots
00:48:51of others we all make our beds and have to lie in them whether we sleep or not isn't that all there
00:48:58is to it except the dreams
00:49:04oh yes
00:49:06the dreams
00:49:07good
00:49:19if your honor please we move at this time to dismiss the application to reopen certain
00:49:24adoption proceedings do you challenge the good faith of the plaintiff we most certainly do
00:49:29you 20 years your honor is a long time in which to remain silent for many crimes there are statutes
00:49:35of limitations but there is no statute of limitations for the conscience inevitably there
00:49:39is no statute of limitations on the speeches of lawyers however neither one is on trial here
00:49:44his robocity nor my conscience and let me remind you sir this is a court of law and not an arena for
00:49:50the expression of personal emotions you may be seated let me remind you sir
00:49:53we beg the court's pardon this court is aware of the unusual nature of this case
00:50:01it confesses a reluctance to see such a case come before it and is mindful of the precedent that
00:50:06might conceivably eventuate now the laws of adoption whose counsel has stated are for the
00:50:10protection of the child against any form of harassment from any source even from the natural
00:50:15father or mother on the other hand the court is obliged to presume that the plaintiff here is
00:50:21not a man seeking unscrupulous exploitation of an adopted child if counsel was set forth on what
00:50:27grounds he bases this action we base this action your honor on the following section of the state law
00:50:34for adoption proceedings as amended june the 11th 1934 such proceedings may be reopened by the principal
00:50:46parties involved at any time upon presentation of evidence that such proceedings were based on fraud
00:50:53deceit or the deprivation of the legal rights of any such principal parties thereto
00:51:00your honor this is no arid father seeking to blackmail his child or that child's foster parents
00:51:08this on the other hand is a man seeking only to restore to that child all of the worldly goods that
00:51:17through unfortunate circumstances have been denied to him this is a man who made a mistake long ago
00:51:26and in his youth a terrible mistake true but a human one and now he asks only for an opportunity to
00:51:34rectify it he wants to give to that son all that has been deprived him by fraud and deceit on the
00:51:42part of defendant that's a lie just a minute your honor please yes mr olivant as your honor knows i uh
00:51:49i had the privilege of helping to draft that legislation and at the time we were all inspired
00:51:55by the great humanitarian efforts of miss dempster now accused of the ugliest of inferences in this
00:52:00same law's protective provisions never sir could any of us possibly have imagined we might see the
00:52:06day when this law could be twisted and distorted in the manner you have chosen it is true your honor
00:52:12that this man is not an unscrupulous parent seeking his son for gainful purpose but his motive
00:52:18is blackmail just the same he would use his money his vast wealth to entice the boy away from the only
00:52:25father and mother that he has known since he was deserted in his infancy and abandoned like an unwanted
00:52:30thing mr olivant we're concerned here with serious allegations may i suggest mrs fosford that you call
00:52:37your witnesses mr bradford mr steve bradford mr bradford you are the father of a child born in the
00:52:58haven's maternity home on june the 29th 1936 i am a boy a boy and this child was subsequently adopted
00:53:10through the haven yes the haven that would be of course miss dempster
00:53:18did you have any knowledge of the adoption at the time it took place
00:53:22i did not did you at any time receive notice of such proceedings never did you did you as the father
00:53:36of this child at any time give miss dempster or anybody else authorization to place this child for
00:53:44adoption no did you at any time sign a legal relinquishment to this child
00:53:54no thank you mr bradford that'll be all no cross-examination we uh reserve the right however
00:54:01to call mr bradford later
00:54:03miss dempster
00:54:20miss dempster when you were subpoenaed as a witness in this case certain records in your possession were
00:54:28also subpoenaed is that correct that is correct and did you bring those records with you i did not
00:54:33you mean you ignored the subpoena so far as the records are concerned i did you refused an order of
00:54:40this court i did i've spent most of my life finding homes for unwanted children
00:54:49i couldn't bear to see a child betrayed or deserted
00:54:52even an animal feeds its young fights and dies for it
00:55:00i found homes for them among human beings who who just didn't exist for themselves
00:55:06who gave them names and love without which nobody can grow into somebody with faith and decency
00:55:14and if this man is allowed to wreck the happiness of that boy
00:55:17then everywhere adopted children and foster parents will live in fear that such a thing could happen
00:55:23to them your honor i submit that this witness is in contempt of court your honor please the subpoena
00:55:31for these records has not been made in good faith it is a name and an address not any other information
00:55:36that the plaintiff is seeking the court directs that these records be produced after recess otherwise the
00:55:43court has no alternative but to a judgment stemps are in contempt the court will reconvene at half past one
00:56:01like to see her get out of this hmm here will you gentlemen have lunch with me
00:56:06me no well then i'll see you after recess
00:56:18i'm not very hungry myself what about a drink
00:56:20thank you
00:56:30thank you there was no other way that was the loophole
00:56:36fraud there was no fraud except me i was the only fraud you said to get it done
00:56:44i know i know you didn't care what it cost don't care steve you never know just what these things
00:56:53will cost it'll cost you more than you ever dreamed and i said about that i don't care
00:57:00but i do care what it cost dempster i made a criminal out of her and a shyster out of you
00:57:06i can live it down but she can't you i can pay for it but i can't pay her
00:57:12her you want to back out i can't do that either all right then let's get back to the scene of the
00:57:19crime come on
00:57:25if your honor please miss dempster is compelled by circumstances to ask for a temporary continuous
00:57:30the court issued an order subject to contempt proceedings now i demand i think counsel mr
00:57:35all of them will try to explain your honor there's there's been an emergency at the maternity house
00:57:40your honor this is obviously an attempt to avoid the order of this court i suggest that if counsel
00:57:52if it please the court i have been informed that miss dempster will be able to appear within
00:57:56half an hour as soon as the patient is removed to the general hospital very well the defendant's
00:58:01absence will be excused we will resume in half an hour
00:58:16your honor examination of a certain paper requires that i make a further motion at this time
00:58:30a motion for dismissal of the case your honor there is a matter of contempt before this court
00:58:35it is highly improper i submit that any other motion the court will hear the motion if it has any bearing
00:58:40in the matter of contempt the plaintiff has stated that this action was based upon his rights as a
00:58:47proper party to the adoption he seeks to reopen this man your honor has misrepresented himself to the
00:58:52court he is not a proper party to this adoption and has no claim of any kind in law you question the
00:58:59sufficiency of the plaintiff's cause of action we do i should like to call miss dempster your honor this
00:59:05is merely an attempt to sidetrack a contempt citation i demand we will hear the witness in support of
00:59:11the motion to dismiss miss dempster please may i ask miss dempster can you identify this paper i can
00:59:22will you tell the court exactly what it represents this is a report of an interview between mr stephen
00:59:28bradford and the state welfare agency and in the presence of two witnesses john t radabo and elizabeth
00:59:33wilson dated july 18 1936 i just received it by special messenger that is a certified copy it is your
00:59:40honor will you read it please mr bradford said he would not assume any responsibility toward emily have
00:59:54or the baby that he would not marry the girl he said that he would not pay anything toward the expense of
01:00:00her confinement and that it was none of his business how she got along he said to the welfare
01:00:06representative and before the witnesses why do you say i'm the father of the child it could be any
01:00:12one of 16 other guys and when stephen bradford was asked then you deny you are the father of the child he
01:00:21said
01:00:25i most certainly do i think that'll be all miss dempster your witness
01:00:36no questions your honor we have no further evidence the motion to dismiss is drafted this court is adjourned
01:00:42see you at the office well good day gentlemen
01:00:54something you forgot huh you didn't think she'd use it did you
01:01:01steve if i'd have known this i'd have never gone to the court with you you could have got into the
01:01:06papers in a much nicer way truth is you gambled didn't you you gambled that a decent honest woman
01:01:14like and dempster wouldn't smear you in public you gambled that there are people who wouldn't do under
01:01:20you what you do under them well see there are a lot of people in this world who go a long way
01:01:26against a lot of strength for something they really believe in like a like a mother for a child or
01:01:32like this woman for for all the kids on earth
01:01:39doesn't sound like me does it
01:01:42well this is one i don't mind losing
01:01:46send me a bill
01:01:49no charge this one's on the house coming
01:01:54i'll see you at the hotel right
01:02:02i
01:02:06i
01:02:08i
01:02:12i
01:02:14i
01:02:16i
01:02:18i
01:02:20i
01:02:22i
01:02:24I've got something to tell you.
01:02:42You told me.
01:02:43Oh, I don't mean that. I mean about the emergency call.
01:02:45It was Susie.
01:02:46She had an accident.
01:02:47She stepped into the street.
01:02:48An automobile hit her.
01:02:49She's...
01:02:50Is she bad?
01:02:52I don't know.
01:02:52She's in the hospital.
01:02:53They want to operate.
01:02:54But she won't let them.
01:02:56She's afraid she might lose the baby,
01:02:57and she wants the baby to live even if she dies herself.
01:03:00What can we do?
01:03:02I don't know.
01:03:03She asked for you.
01:03:05Me?
01:03:06Yes.
01:03:07She asked for you.
01:03:08Dr. Miller?
01:03:35Yes.
01:03:36I'm Bradford.
01:03:37The little girl asked for me.
01:03:38I know.
01:03:39She won't let you out.
01:03:40Is that it?
01:03:41That's it.
01:03:41You told her you might lose the baby.
01:03:43Would you?
01:03:44Maybe.
01:03:46What about her?
01:03:47She suffered abdominal injury, and she has internal bleeding.
01:03:51You see, in her condition, with the child almost ready for birth, surgery is definitely indicated,
01:03:55but she'd rather gamble that the bleeding was stopped without surgery, without endangering the child.
01:04:01Will it?
01:04:02It's possible.
01:04:03But it's foolish.
01:04:04Yes, medically.
01:04:05Well, she's just a kid.
01:04:06You're not going to leave it up to her.
01:04:07We have to.
01:04:08That is, until it can be an emergency.
01:04:10Well, when is that?
01:04:12When she goes into shock, begins to die.
01:04:14Tell her.
01:04:15Explain it to her.
01:04:16Just don't leave through your rule book.
01:04:18I did explain it.
01:04:19Why don't you?
01:04:20Dr. Miller, send me.
01:04:36If she gets restless, ring death.
01:04:46Bye.
01:04:50I just stepped into the street.
01:05:01I was thinking of something else.
01:05:04Who isn't?
01:05:07It was the baby.
01:05:10I felt something move.
01:05:14I thought it might be time for him.
01:05:18Her?
01:05:20Maybe.
01:05:23You want to bet?
01:05:26I can't bet anything.
01:05:30Except my life.
01:05:32Not with me.
01:05:33You can't bet that with me.
01:05:39No, not with you.
01:05:41Susie.
01:05:42You sent for me, didn't you?
01:05:46You asked for me.
01:05:47Why?
01:05:50Just asked.
01:05:52Oh, no.
01:05:53No, no.
01:05:54Because we're old friends.
01:05:55That's why.
01:05:57Some people are friends before they ever meet.
01:05:59Before the world began.
01:06:01No.
01:06:01I haven't very many.
01:06:03I hate to lose one.
01:06:04I'm not going to lose you.
01:06:06I can't afford it.
01:06:07I can't afford to lose you.
01:06:09I'm too lonely.
01:06:13You asked for me.
01:06:14You wanted something.
01:06:17Now I want something, too.
01:06:18From you.
01:06:20From me?
01:06:21Yes.
01:06:23Susie.
01:06:25I want you to do what the doctor says.
01:06:28I want you to go in there and let them take care of you.
01:06:31And both of you will be all right.
01:06:33You and the baby.
01:06:34You will live and he will, too.
01:06:36Or she will.
01:06:38And because of that, so will I.
01:06:40And everything will be all right.
01:06:42Just believe that.
01:06:43Believe it.
01:06:50I'll go in there.
01:06:52And tell them that you're ready.
01:07:03And I'll be here all the time.
01:07:07I just hope he can make her understand it.
01:07:24You may go ahead.
01:07:25She's ready.
01:07:26Now, there's anything you need.
01:07:27Anybody else.
01:07:28Anything.
01:07:29Just a little.
01:07:37All the years.
01:07:40I didn't know.
01:07:42Didn't know what I was doing.
01:07:44You know now.
01:07:47Yeah.
01:07:48I certainly do.
01:07:55Where do we wait?
01:07:56Oh, in here.
01:07:57Oh, maybe it's better if she loses the kid this way.
01:08:08Why?
01:08:10Why?
01:08:11She's going to lose it.
01:08:13It's better never to have something at all than never to be able to find it.
01:08:19Isn't that so?
01:08:20I don't know.
01:08:24This thing of living with ghosts.
01:08:27Somebody dies, you bury them.
01:08:29You put some flowers on their grave.
01:08:31If a Sunday afternoon, you go home.
01:08:33But this kind of a ghost, you can't see it.
01:08:37It's around, but you don't know where it is.
01:08:39Well, it's a ghost of yourself.
01:08:43And it won't die.
01:08:44It won't die.
01:08:46Except that there's always a kind of hope in everything.
01:08:51Is there?
01:08:53As long as there's life, I guess.
01:08:55I'm sorry I heard you.
01:09:04Oh, that's all right.
01:09:08Thanks.
01:09:12I have to get back to the Haven for a while.
01:09:14Why don't you...
01:09:15Why don't you take a walk and get some air, some coffee?
01:09:19Oh, no, no.
01:09:20I think not.
01:09:21Well, it may be quite some time.
01:09:23No, I'll wait here.
01:09:25They'd let you know wherever you are.
01:09:27No.
01:09:29I told her I'd wait.
01:09:49She's fine.
01:09:51She's going to be all right, then?
01:09:52She'll be all right.
01:09:53The baby's fine, too.
01:09:57The baby?
01:09:57Yes.
01:09:58He's six pounds, four ounces, and hungry.
01:10:00He?
01:10:01That's right.
01:10:03I'd have lost a bet.
01:10:05But I finally won an argument.
01:10:07Have you told Miss Dempster?
01:10:09Yes, I have.
01:10:09Oh, thank you so much.
01:10:11Have you got an alley?
01:10:27Have you got an alley?
01:10:41Take your pick.
01:10:43You're bold.
01:11:00Not very good.
01:11:02Come on.
01:11:02I'll make you look like a champ.
01:11:03I don't think anybody can do that.
01:11:05You don't know me.
01:11:07No, I don't.
01:11:09You mean be careful of strangers in trains and pool hall?
01:11:13We'll play for a dime or a doorknob.
01:11:15I'll bet you a cup of coffee.
01:11:16You've got to bet.
01:11:18I've got an edge, though.
01:11:19I think I've got the only round ball in the place.
01:11:22I just spent nine hours in a hospital waiting room.
01:11:26Need to get unwound.
01:11:28Everything all right now?
01:11:29Hey, a little kid got hurt.
01:11:30A friend of mine.
01:11:32Came off better than I did.
01:11:34Glad he's okay.
01:11:35She.
01:11:36Only girlfriend I got.
01:11:37But I'll go first.
01:11:38He's your mind.
01:11:39You know what I mean?
01:11:48No talent, no finesse.
01:11:50Just slam the ball at me.
01:11:52Same with everything.
01:12:09Beautiful.
01:12:22I'm glad you're no gambler.
01:12:24Pure luck.
01:12:25What's your name?
01:12:27Mark Nelson.
01:12:29I'm Steve Bradford.
01:12:30Yes, I know.
01:12:32What do you mean you know?
01:12:34Well, you're pretty well known.
01:12:36That much?
01:12:39I'm sorry.
01:12:41I shouldn't have done this.
01:12:43What?
01:12:45Well, I mean, I wanted to look you over when you didn't know.
01:12:49It was a chance that came along, and I took it.
01:12:52When I didn't know what?
01:12:55Who I am.
01:12:57Would it be any of my business?
01:12:59I think it is now.
01:13:03All right.
01:13:06I'm your son.
01:13:09You wanted to find me.
01:13:36I came to find you.
01:13:55You want to talk somewhere?
01:13:58Yeah.
01:13:58I don't want to see what I'm going to do, but I don't want to see what I'm going to do.
01:14:28I don't want to see what I'm going to do.
01:14:33What will it be?
01:14:37Just coffee.
01:14:38Life?
01:14:39Yeah.
01:14:39mark
01:14:48for years years i've thought about this about finding you and uh i've thought of the things i'd say
01:15:01i'd lay in bed nights make them up i knew there'd have to be something good
01:15:09now that it's here you're here i can't remember any of them
01:15:16but anyway i thought about it and you
01:15:23i thought about you too
01:15:34how oh every time i read about you
01:15:40you're a man people hear about almost a legend
01:15:45the legend of a tycoon
01:15:49tin god
01:15:51steel
01:15:53but you know what i was really made of
01:15:58how could i
01:16:02well
01:16:03i deserted your mother and you
01:16:06well i read all the stuff too
01:16:09me the man of steel
01:16:11but you you knew
01:16:15no no i never did
01:16:17maybe that's why i came here
01:16:20to see
01:16:21well
01:16:23what does a man say
01:16:25what do i say
01:16:28i'm sorry
01:16:29forgive me
01:16:31see
01:16:35i only came here to tell you what you meant to me
01:16:38and only because you were looking for me
01:16:41you were never real
01:16:45just a kind of ghost
01:16:48if you'd have become a nobody or jailbird
01:16:54i think i would have pitied you and understood a little better and
01:16:58have cared
01:16:59because maybe that would have explained something
01:17:03i wouldn't have been a fraud
01:17:06that's right
01:17:08before you all over me
01:17:10maybe
01:17:11mark
01:17:30do you mind
01:17:31would you mind telling me about yourself
01:17:35would you
01:17:36oh
01:17:39i live with my dad
01:17:40i call him ed
01:17:43he's ed nelson
01:17:44runs a printing shop
01:17:46i've been working there too
01:17:48when i'm 21
01:17:50he's
01:17:50he's gonna take me into the business
01:17:52make me a partner
01:17:53ed nelson and son
01:17:56yeah
01:17:58what do you like
01:18:00the best
01:18:03oh mark
01:18:07mark there's
01:18:08there's so much
01:18:09so much that needs saying
01:18:11i was missing something
01:18:18and i know it's too late
01:18:20it may not be even worth mentioning
01:18:22but that's what it was
01:18:24i was missing something
01:18:27i was missing you
01:18:29oh
01:18:34what i had to say to you
01:18:36doesn't
01:18:38mean anything now either
01:18:40i was going to tell you
01:18:43how much i despised you
01:18:44that there was
01:18:47always one guy in the world
01:18:49who would always despise you
01:18:50no matter how
01:18:52big you got
01:18:53or
01:18:53rich or famous
01:18:55that i'd rather be called
01:18:59mac or charlie
01:19:00or
01:19:00anything
01:19:03than have your name
01:19:05but
01:19:09i'm glad i came here
01:19:12and met you
01:19:12because
01:19:15i
01:19:17couldn't say that
01:19:19and mean it now
01:19:20and i
01:19:23i think
01:19:26everything's better
01:19:28a lot better
01:19:30you know what i mean
01:19:31yeah
01:19:33yeah
01:19:33and if it means anything
01:19:39i missed you too
01:19:41i hated to
01:19:45but i did just the same
01:19:46anything you need
01:19:52i
01:19:56i needed this tonight
01:19:57just this
01:19:59yeah
01:20:00so did i
01:20:03goodbye
01:20:30let's go
01:20:32and
01:20:33i
01:20:34i
01:20:36i
01:20:38i
01:20:42i
01:20:44i
01:20:46i
01:20:47i
01:20:48i
01:20:49i
01:20:50i
01:20:52i
01:20:54i
01:20:56i
01:20:57i
01:20:58i
01:20:59i
01:21:00So long, son.
01:21:19Come in.
01:21:23Well, Mr. Bradford.
01:21:24I want to thank you.
01:21:32You sent for him, didn't you?
01:21:33Not exactly.
01:21:35I just told him where you were.
01:21:37He liked you.
01:21:38Oh, he's all right.
01:21:39Yes, he is.
01:21:41I'm all wrong.
01:21:43Nobody is.
01:21:44Oh, well.
01:21:45There's one thing I can do, I think, as one of the next men.
01:21:50I can't send you a check.
01:21:51Not for that.
01:21:52I didn't say what for.
01:21:55Hello?
01:21:56Yes?
01:21:58Oh, wonderful.
01:22:01Yes.
01:22:03Yes, right away.
01:22:06Send a wire to the Donaldsons.
01:22:08Tell them, happy to inform you, you are now proud parents of a beautiful baby boy.
01:22:13We'll be able to travel in two weeks.
01:22:16A phone regarding details.
01:22:18Congratulations, Ann Dempster.
01:22:20And see that that goes right away, Helen.
01:22:24Susie's kid?
01:22:28Uh-huh.
01:22:34How is she?
01:22:35Oh, she's fine.
01:22:35She's with the baby.
01:22:36She can't seem to stay away from him.
01:22:38But she will.
01:22:42She will for some time to come.
01:22:45Probably forever.
01:22:46What can she do?
01:22:47She's only a child herself.
01:22:49She can't go back to where she came from.
01:22:51Yeah.
01:22:53She has no right to the child.
01:22:55No right to live with something she was willing to give up a young life for.
01:23:00Are the Donaldsons willing to die for it?
01:23:02Or is it just something that they can afford?
01:23:05Like a new car or a mink coat?
01:23:08I can't help it.
01:23:10No.
01:23:11Nobody can help it.
01:23:12Nobody can help her.
01:23:14Oh, I didn't say that.
01:23:16I didn't say nobody could.
01:23:18Look, throw the junk in the bag.
01:23:27I've got a cab waiting downstairs.
01:23:29Yes, sir.
01:23:33Hello.
01:23:34Yeah.
01:23:35Put her on.
01:23:37Hello, Finch.
01:23:38Yeah, I'm through here.
01:23:40Just about.
01:23:41Coming home.
01:23:42Yeah.
01:23:42Philip Finch.
01:23:43Get this.
01:23:44Get a Christmas tree.
01:23:46Big one.
01:23:47A green one.
01:23:48Mm-hmm.
01:23:49And deck the walls with holly.
01:23:51That's right.
01:23:52Lots of it.
01:23:54Good girl.
01:23:55Fine.
01:23:55Bye, doll.
01:23:56Bye.
01:23:56Bye.
01:23:56Bye.
01:23:56Bye.
01:23:56Bye.
01:23:57Bye.
01:23:57Bye.
01:23:57Bye.
01:23:58Bye.
01:23:58Bye.
01:23:59Bye.
01:24:00Bye.
01:24:01Bye.
01:24:02Bye.
01:24:03Bye.
01:24:04Bye.
01:24:05Bye.
01:24:06Bye.
01:24:07Bye.
01:24:08Bye.
01:24:09Bye.
01:24:10Bye.
01:24:11Bye.
01:24:12Bye.
01:24:13Bye.
01:24:14Bye.
01:24:14Wait for me.
01:24:15I won't be long.
01:24:15Take your time.
01:24:16I've got a meter right here.
01:24:23Hi.
01:24:23Hello.
01:24:26Oh, hello.
01:24:27Hello.
01:24:27I see you.
01:24:28How are you, Mr. Bradford?
01:24:30Suzy will be down in a few minutes.
01:24:32There.
01:24:33You look ever so much more important.
01:24:34How do you feel?
01:24:35Like I've been reborn.
01:24:36Oh, no.
01:24:37Bye.
01:24:37Bye.
01:24:39Bye.
01:24:39Bye.
01:24:39Bye.
01:24:39Bye.
01:24:40Bye.
01:24:40Bye.
01:24:40Bye.
01:24:40Bye.
01:24:40Bye.
01:24:40Bye.
01:24:41Bye.
01:24:41Bye.
01:24:43your grandson
01:24:56have we got a name for him i have what is it steve
01:25:02well well
01:25:05couldn't feel more honored steve
01:25:09this is the greatest event we've ever had
01:25:12i wonder what the betting would be
01:25:14yeah imagine the odds a man could get i'm becoming a father and a grandfather all in one afternoon
01:25:19and let me hold him sure you know how you i know how come on give
01:25:25who i know how she thinks i was never a baby steve
01:25:30hello tell her
01:25:34goodbye thank you mr bradford
01:25:38goodbye mr bradford
01:25:40oh you're not going to get rid of us that easily
01:25:42is she no is she of course not so long
01:25:47oh susie
01:25:54goodbye miss dumpster
01:25:56goodbye darling
01:25:58goodbye
01:26:00goodbye
01:26:02goodbye
01:26:03goodbye
01:26:07goodbye
01:26:08goodbye
01:26:10goodbye
01:26:14goodbye
01:26:29goodbye