Gentleman's Agreement Page #3

Ahem.

Well, no, no. That's, uh...

...that's another thing again.

You can be an American

and a Catholic...

...or an American

and a Protestant...

...or an American and a Jew.

Look, Tom, it's like this.

One thing's your country, see?

Like America...

...or France or Germany or Russia,

all the countries.

The flag, the uniform,

the language is different.

And the airplanes

are marked different?

Differently, that's right.

But the other thing

is religion...

...like theJewish, Catholic,

or Protestant religions.

That hasn't anything to do...

...with the flag, uniform,

or airplanes. Got it?

-Yep.

-Don't get mixed up.

I got it.

Some people are mixed up.

Why?

It's 8:
30.

You'd better get going.

Yeah, yeah, you'll be late.

Finish your milk.

Thanks, Grandma. Bye.

Whew.

That's all right, Phil.

You're always good with him.

That kid's going

to wreck me yet.

Did you and Dad have to go

through this stuff with me?

Of course we did.

Are you very disappointed, Phil?

Yes. I was almost sure...

...he'd hand me

the Stassen story or Washington.

I wasn't looking

for an easy one, Ma...

...but I wanted something

I could make good on.

I'd so like the first one

to be a natural...

...something I know they'd read.

You mean there's enough

anti-Semitism in real life...

...without people reading it?

No, but this one's doomed

before I start.

What could I possibly say

that hasn't been said before?

I don't know.

Maybe it hasn't been said

well enough.

If it had, you wouldn't have had

to explain it to Tommy...

...or your father and I to you.

It would be nice sometime

not to have to explain it...

...to someone like Tommy.

Kids are so decent

to start with.

Home for lunch?

No.

Think I'll take a walk.

You're quite a girl, Ma.

You seem surprised. Why?

I didn't think

you were going to do it.

You have a bad poker face.

I saw you were disappointed

in the assignment...

...the minute I mentioned it.

What changed your mind?

Oh, a couple of things.

I may put my niece

under contract...

...inspiration department.

No, it wasn't that.

It was my kid.

I had to explain it to him.

It was tough.

It's really each house,

each family that decides it.

I want to do it...very much.

I couldn't be more pleased.

I'll need some facts

from your research department.

What?

I'll have to get facts

from your research people.

I've got eighteen hacks

on this magazine...

...who can do this series

with their hands full of facts.

I don't need you for that.

What do you think

I brought you here for?

Use your head.

Go right to the source.

I want some angle,

some compelling lead...

...some dramatic device

to humanize it so it gets read.

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