The Heiress Page #2

Synopsis: In the mid-1800's, the wealthy Sloper family - widowed surgeon Dr. Austin Sloper, his adult daughter Catherine Sloper (Dr. Sloper's only surviving child), and Dr. Sloper's recently widowed sister Lavinia Penniman - live in an opulent house at 16 Washington Square, New York City. They have accrued their wealth largely through Dr. Sloper's hard work. Despite the lessons that Dr. Sloper has paid for in all the social graces for her, Catherine is a plain, simple, awkward and extremely shy woman who spends all her free time alone doing embroidery when she is not doting on her father. Catherine's lack of social charm and beauty - unlike her deceased mother - is obvious to Dr. Sloper, who hopes that Lavinia will act as her guardian in becoming more of a social person, and ultimately as chaperon if Catherine were ever to meet the right man. The first man ever to show Catherine any attention is the handsome Morris Townsend, who she met at a family party. Catherine is initially uncertain as to M
Genre: Drama, Romance
Director(s): William Wyler
Production: Paramount Pictures
  Won 4 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations.
 
IMDB:
8.2
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
NOT RATED
Year:
1949
115 min
2,655 Views


Do you suppose there's another Arthur

somewhere in this great city of ours?

- Catherine will find a husband.

- You think so?

She has the prospect

of 30,000 a year.

I see that you appreciate her.

I don't mean it's her only merit.

But you always allude to her

as an marriageable girl.

My allusions are as kind as yours,

Liz.

Do you suppose Jefferson

has left any French brandy?

Let's see.

May I get you some claret cup?

Oh, yes. Thank you.

She's gone to the best schools

in the city,

she's had the finest training

I could get her, music and dancing.

She's sat with me evenings on end.

I've tried to make conversation,

give her some social adeptness.

I've given her freedom wherever

I could. The result is what you see.

An entirely mediocre and defenseless

creature with not a shred of poise.

Austin, you're so intolerant.

You expect so much.

You remember her mother, Liz?

Her mother who had so much

grace and gaiety.

This is her child.

Austin, no child could compete with

this image you have of her mother.

You've idealized that poor dead woman

beyond all recognition.

You are not entitled to say that.

Only I know what I lost

when she died.

What I got in her place...

Catherine, what are you doing here?

I'm waiting for Quintus Seabury.

Well, don't wait here, dear.

Make him look for you.

Dancing was the one thing we

disagreed about, the Reverend and I.

Do you suppose

he's watching over me tonight?

That depends on where he is, Aunt.

- Good evening, Mrs. Penniman.

- Good evening.

Catherine, may I present

Mr. Morris Townsend?

How you doing, Miss Sloper?

Mr. Townsend's Arthur's cousin,

and he's just returned from Europe.

- How do you do, sir?

- Would you dance, Miss Sloper?

I believe she has a waltz left.

Excuse me, dear. There is Mr. Abeel.

May I?

Yes.

Which one will it be?

Oh! Yes...

Erm... the fifth?

The fifth? Thank you.

Two Rs in Morris...

Miss Sloper, I consider

that you're doing me a great honor.

You see, I'm rather choosy, too.

Catherine... Sloper.

Catherine Sloper.

Catherine Sloper, Catherine Sloper.

You know, we don't have to wait

until the fifth.

- No?

- No.

Miss Sloper,

we must make an arrangement.

I will not kick you

if you will not kick me.

Oh, dear! I'm so clumsy.

No, I'm wearing Arthur's boots

and he's a very bad dancer.

Oh!

Now, one, two, three, point.

One, two, three, point.

- Don't look at your feet.

- Where shall I look?

- Look at me.

- Oh.

No.

Very good.

When we were boys,

Arthur was called Porridge Head.

Shall we sit down?

While I've been in Europe,

he's become

a promising young businessman.

And now, Miss Sloper,

I think it's time you said something.

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Ruth Goetz

Ruth Goetz (January 12, 1912 — October 12, 2001) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and translator along with her husband and collaborator Augustus Goetz. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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    "The Heiress" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/the_heiress_9797>.

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