Smell The Flowers

Act 1

Sam: Good morning, Susan.

Susan: Good morning, Sam. What's the schedule today?

Sam: Ten o'clock, telephone FAO Schwarz about the new twin baby dolls.

Susan: OK.

Sam: Telephone Mrs. Zaskey at the advertising agency.

Susan: I did that. Go on.

Sam: Eleven o'clock, approve the sketches for the toy spaceship.

Susan: Where are they?

Sam: Right here.

Susan: Did you look at them?

Sam: Yes, I did.

Susan: What do you think of the spaceship?

Sam: I think the kids'll love it.

Susan: Would you show me the drawings, please?

Sam: Huh.

Susan: Now, what else is on the schedule today?

Sam: Well, at one o'clock you have a lunch appointment with Mr. Levine, the client from the Toy-town Stores.

Susan: Where?

Sam: At Rossano's.

Susan: Hmm. Anything else?

Sam: At four o'clock, you have a meeting with the production staff in the conference room.

Susan: Make sure everybody is at that meeting.

Sam: Will do. At six you're meeting Mr. Ozawa.

Susan: Oh, yes. Are his models here?

Sam: They're in my office.

Susan: I'd like to see them.

Sam: Right.

Susan: What else?

Susan: Come on, Sam...

Sam: You work too hard, Susan. When was your last day off?

Susan: Hmm. I can't remember.

Sam: You really ought to take some time off.

Susan: What for?

Sam: To enjoy the simple things in life...

Susan: I know, Sam. Maybe soon.

Sam: To smell the flowers.

Susan: Oh, wait a minute. What's today's date?

Sam: Today is the twelfth. Why?

Susan: It seems to me I scheduled something else.

Sam: There's nothing else in the appointment book.

Susan: I'm sure I did. Oh, well, I'll probably remember it later.

Sam: I hope it isn't important.

Susan: Hmm. It's probably nothing. OK, let's get started. Would you call Priscilla Smith at FAO Schwarz, please?

Sam: Right.

Sam: These are the models from the Japanese filmmaker.

Susan: Thank you. Just put them on my desk.

Sam: And the new drawings for the toy spaceship.

Susan: Wonderful. That was fast.

Sam: We have a new artist. She's very talented.

Susan: What time is it, anyway? My watch stopped.

Sam: It's eleven thirty.

Susan: What time is my lunch date with Bill Levine?

Sam: One o'clock.

Susan: Remind me to leave at twelve forty-five.

Sam: Did you remember your other appointment for today?

Susan: No, but I have a feeling it's going to be too late when I do remember.

Susan: Yes, Sam?

Sam: I just solved the mystery.

Susan: What did I forget?

Sam: You have some guests in the reception room.

Susan: What? Who?

Sam: Mr. Harry Bennett and his daughter.

Susan: I remember! Oh... Harry! I made a lunch date with him and his daughter weeks ago.

Sam: Is he a client?

Susan: He's a friend.

Sam: Well, he's here with his daughter to have lunch.

Susan: I met her at Thanksgiving, and I promised to have lunch with both of them today.

Sam: Yes, indeed. What are you going to do about your appointment with Mr. Levine?

Susan: Any suggestions? Oh!

Act 2

Susan: Hi, Michelle. Hello, Harry. It's nice to see you again.

Michelle: Hello.

Harry: Hi, Susan. We have both been excited about seeing you and having lunch with you today. Michelle picked these flowers out for you.

Michelle: Daddy, can we go soon?

Harry: We're going to go to lunch in a few minutes, honey.

Michelle: But I'm thirsty.

Harry: OK. You go out and get a drink of water at the fountain.

Susan: The fountain is over there, Michelle. Near the Exit sign.

Michelle: Thank you.

Harry: Michelle is a little shy.

Susan: I used to be that way when I was her age. Harry, if Michelle doesn't want to go, we don't have to.

Harry: She'll be fine. Remember, I haven't dated anyone else since her mother died. This is a little difficult for her. Are you ready to go?

Susan: Yes. But could you wait one minute? I have a call to make. Would you excuse me?

Susan: Sam, get Mr. Levine at Toytown Stores on the telephone for me, please.

Sam: Right. Hello. Susan Stewart calling Mr. Levine please. He's on the phone.

Susan: Mr. Levine, Susan Stewart. I find myself in an embarrassing situation. I made another lunch date for today and forgot to enter it in my appointment book. Can you and I meet for drinks tomorrow? I'd really appreciate it... Yes... Thank you... Tomorrow at five o'clock at the Biltmore. I'll see you then. Thank you, Mr. Levine.

Waiter: Welcome to the South Street Restaurant, folks. What'll it be?

Harry: What do you recommend?

Waiter: Well, the crab salad's always a big hit.

Harry: Susan, would you like the crab salad?

Susan: I'd love the crab salad.

Harry: Michelle, would you like to try the crab salad, too?

Michelle: OK, Daddy.

Harry: We'll have three crab salads and a pitcher of lemonade.

Waiter: Help yourself to celery and carrots and other vegetables.

Harry: We used to catch crabs.

Susan: Where was that?

Harry: We had a summer house on Fire Island. Do you remember, Michelle?

Michelle: Sure. You and Mommy used to take me on the ferryboat.

Harry: Sometimes, at night, we would go down to the beach and catch crabs, remember?

Michelle: With a piece of meat on a string!

Harry: Right. Well, I think I'm going to go get us all some vegetables.

Waiter: There you go.

Susan: Thank you.

Waiter: And some ice-cold lemonade.

Susan: Thank you.

Waiter: Enjoy it.

Susan: Michelle, can I help you with the lemonade?

Michelle: No, thank you, I'll wait for my father.

Susan: Michelle, can we have a talk?

Michelle: Sure.

Susan: I know you miss your mother.

Michelle: You do?

Susan: Yes. And I'm not trying to take her place.

Michelle: Then why are you and Daddy spending so much time together?

Susan: Because we like each other. And right now, he needs a friend.

Michelle: I'm his friend.

Susan: I know you are.

Michelle: Sometimes he's very sad.

Susan: And so are you, I think.

Michelle: Sometimes.

Susan: I'd like to be your friend, too. Will you let me be your friend, Michelle?

Harry: So, what were you two talking about?

Michelle: Just girl talk, Daddy. It's too hard to explain.

Harry: You're probably right. Well, let's get started.

Act 3

Susan: Oh, it's a quarter to four, and I have a production meeting at four.

Harry: I planned to take you for a ride in Central Park in a horse and carriage.

Susan: Harry, I'd love to, but I have work to do.

Harry: OK. We'll walk back to your office with you. It's so nice out. I decided to forget about my accounting problems and just enjoy this beautiful spring day. Take the time, Susan.

Susan: I know I should, but... well, there are too many things to do.

Harry: I understand. I'll go for a ride with Michelle.

Susan: Right. Well, I had a really nice time.

Harry: So did I.

Michelle: So did I. I'm sorry you can't come with us, Susan.

Susan: So am I.

Harry: Bye-bye.

Susan: Harry! Michelle! Can you wait till I make a phone call?

Harry: Sure.

Sam: Susan Stewart's office.

Susan: Sam, this is Susan.

Sam: Hi. How was lunch?

Susan: Fine.

Sam: You're late. The production department's waiting in the conference room.

Susan: I know. Ask Paul Smith to fill in for me. He knows everything about the production schedule, and he can answer any questions.

Sam: Right.

Susan: Don't tell anyone, but I'm taking a little time to smell the flowers.

Sam: Good for you. It'll be our secret.

Susan: But schedule another production meeting for tomorrow. I'll be back for my six o'clock appointment with Mr. Ozawa.

Sam: OK, Susan. And have a nice afternoon.

Susan: Thanks.

Harry: She likes you.

Susan: I know. I like her.

Harry: How'd you do it?

Susan: We had a talk.

Harry: About what?

Susan: Life.

Harry: And what did you decide?

Susan: That's a secret... between us women.