Little Gloria... Happy at Last (1982) - full transcript

Oh

Oh

Oh could you mummy how could you be a

party to such a thing mothers don't do

to their children what you're doing to

Gloria

blackening their characters in front of

the entire world you are unaware of the

neglect that has been going on Consuela

this unfortunate child has been dying

and Gloria has paid no attention to it



that's ridiculous to hear you talk you

think she was Little Orphan Annie

how can you say the kid's been neglected

she's never been left alone a day in her

life from the day she was born she's

either been with you or with that crazy

nurse or with Gloria aren't you the one

to talk about neglect you never

considered it neglect when you left your

children scattered all over Europe when

Thelma and glory are little you never

went near them for months at a time the

child will be better off with Gertrude

that is a proven fact



ask the dr. Sandler on that Oh Kruger

would jump through a flaming hoop if

Gertrude snapped I think isn't told him

to ah maybe it's vengeance is that it

mama you never have forgiven Gloria for

not letting you live with her anymore

years ago into the streets she threw me

her own mama into a very charming

perfectly adequate flat right down the

street from her in Paris all expenses

paid is where she threw you mama let

Gloria withdraw her petition if she

doesn't want her shame to be broadcast

for all the world to see you're just

determined to drag her name through the

mud aren't you

look who's talking about mud you are not

a leak on that add up a colored man he's

a prince mama hasn't it occurred to you

yet that you might have a lot to lose to

are you forgetting the Thelma Gloria

support you to the tune of $500 a month

I see that this is a threat it's okay

you can threaten I don't care if they

can give me my check for this month I

won't need their money anymore how are

you going to live is no business of

yours it's obvious how she's going to

live Gertrude right mommy Gertrude will

support you from now on won't she

in return for you doing her dirty work

for her isn't that right my lips are

sealed

at least said soonest mended mama please

don't

go ahead with this awful thing a child

belongs with its mother any child any

mother no matter what you say you love

glory we'll think what this'll do toward

we're all life publicity alone we'll be

horrible for her I can never face my God

if I don't do this good truth I am

pleased to see you out of your widow's

weeds so soon

are you really I thought you might have

wished that my devotion to Harry's

memory would have approximated your

devotion to father's Oh hardly my dear

can I get you anything well a new heart

would not be unwelcome tell me what do

you hear about what was it that awful

gossip columnist called her after Reggie

died ah the world's most beautiful Widow

I gather you haven't been reading the

newspapers recently heavens no I'm ill

enough as it is

I'm afraid Oriya recently overstepped

even her own extremely questionable

boundaries North another panelist

European Prince surely no this time

she's seen fit to involve herself in a

lurid much publicized liaison with a

married man named Blumenthal I think

it's fair to presume the gentleman is of

the Hebrew persuasion good truth your

own life has not been without its

indiscretions my private life has never

been lived for the sake of the newsreel

cameras I have never been the source of

scandalized amusement of the masses

nor have I caused a whisper of public

embarrassment for the family it's long

since time she was called to account for

her responsibility to the Vanderbilt

name all of that notwithstanding I've

been generous to her in my will there's

plenty of time in the next world for

accounting plenty of

Gertrud says she knew nothing about it

she says the first she heard of it was

when I called her that's not so the

first she heard of his when she cooked

it up with your mother and her legal

eagles Cochran Dunnington

you think so I know so I have my sources

now Gertrudis paying Dunning foods FINA

represent your old lady excuse me your

mother what forgive me for saying this

but you've got something other than

agree it asked for 30 Whitney this is

the last time I'm gonna allow her to

treat me in this appalling passion she

may be one of the richest women in

America and she may be used to getting

whatever she wants whenever she wants it

but she is not gonna take my child away

from me she created any problems about

glory having this vision with you no

glory is coming tomorrow for the rest of

the week but you sure didn't like it I

can tell you that no Gloria if I

remember correctly this situation is

from going on now for about two years

yes and it started when you left little

Gloria with Gertrude after the

tonsillectomy right and then you went

back to Europe my first fatal mistake oh

I regret it now well no I want her back

with me for good well clearly if you're

taking a little girl two years ago kept

it for yourself they're right here in

New York I stopped just going back and

forth business into Europe things would

have been hunky-dory for you now well

however what slipped into it I guess at

first I didn't want to cause any

problems in the family because of Alice

she was so ill and I didn't want to

upset her she's always been so good to

me in Wow

little Gloria was just surrounded

completely by all these lawyers and

doctors who kept telling me to leave her

where she was with Gertrude and how

healthy she was and how good the country

air was for her how many friends she'd

made and on and on and on like that I

believed them I trusted them they all

just tricked me is what they did even my

own mother's turned against me and she's

siding with Gertrude Richie's been dead

for nine years for pete's sake then I

still have to go begging to my

daughter's Guardians for what's

rightfully mine as far as I'm concerned

we're gonna fix that I sure hope so

oh I'm working on it meanwhile Gloria I

want you to stay off boats

you

never in my whole life I understand the

kind of room with this Gloria Vanderbilt

is it's not the child she wants it's the

child's money ha ha ha sure sure if

little Gloria died her mother cry

crocodile tears her millions would be

hers

it's just what she wants what the mother

don't have enough cabbage of her own

without the child she has a pauper is

what she is with a child I never heard

of a poor vanderbolten it's a long story

of a man little Gloria is a terrifically

wealthy little girl you know what wealth

brings greed that's what it brings Oh

even from an innocent child a baby lamb

would make no difference to them for

Gloria Vanderbilt and those sisters of

hers that's who don't you worry about

them this is what day mrs. Morton will

take care of them all right are you

after worried about is the kidnappers do

I have to go on to you I'm afraid you do

Don your mother wants to see you I don't

want to see her I'm afraid there's

nothing to be afraid about you'll want

to be gone a few days you'll be back by

the end of the week well I'll go if I

have to but I don't want to I'm not

happy with my mother

sometimes Gloria we have to place duty

before our own personal happiness

you'll stay with me all the time

won't you don't know Oh every instant my

sweet life

never fear of that journey

hippies you're here

Oh

Oh

you

you rang that

yes Beasley nurse Keys like wants to

take miss Gloria to Central Park and

then perhaps to a museum and I want you

to drive them and stay close by at all

times I sent that awful bodyguard away

I'm sure you're quite capable of

standing whatever God is necessary over

my daughter yes ma'am I'll see to it

good morning darling don't give mommy a

great big good morning kiss mmm the

day's first kiss is always best what are

you doing I'm paying all these nasty

bills writing our checks how do you do

it oh well see you subtract the amount

of the check from this number here and

then you write in the balance after

that's been deducted here hmm

I don't like arithmetic neither do i

darling but you'll find it in life

arithmetic is very important

has such an exhausting name ages Connie

we looked at simply dozens of houses but

you're gonna adore the one I picked

it's simply smashing and very near

glorious school so okay go tune all her

lawyers and doctors and violins insist

the country living is so healthy for my

daughter

swell she could have it but I will

provide it here's the country living

well there you are

wait till you hear the wonderful news I

have for you the same reason old

innocent children are kidnapped darling

for your money if I don't give it never

give it to her she'll never get your

money will we'll find a way to stop we

will dear we've come see you pray say

our prayer now Shh little flower at this

hour

say it dark insane little flower at this

hour show us thy house so as they say it

again so you dig it

little flower actus out show us thy

power I have to go to the bathroom Fred

oh yeah be quick

I've taken possession of the Long Island

House immediately nurse will be moving

out the day after tomorrow she was

promised to go back to mrs. with me on

Saturday she won't be returning to mrs.

Whitney nurse I'd like you to accompany

us and stay for a while until we get

settled down but Gloria is old enough

now for us to dispense with the services

of a nurse I believe I won't be with

Tilbury anymore

the governess Gloria is 10 years old now

after all every day and night of her

whole life I've been with her since she

was three weeks old yes I appreciate

that nurse but all good things must come

to an end

mustn't

yes

Oh on your way where are you off to

today to the park as usual and then

we're going to the hospital and visit

mrs. Whitney's granddaughter Nancy Nancy

in the hospital she's having her

appendix taken oh poor thing

are you going to take that puppy with

you darling I don't think The Legend of

the hosts over there Oh Beasley will

hold him for them oh of course

well have a good time see you later

park no pretending spillage the missus

witless and then only a few hours ago

the nurse informed me that mrs. Van de

Velde fully intends taking gloria out to

a house that she's rented on Long Island

I don't really know how to proceed

that's why I'm asked you both to come

here I need your legal advice I'm only

too glad to be of whatever assistance I

can be mrs. Whitley but as the child's

guardian I must of course

take care against appearing in any way

partisan in your dispute with mrs. Van

der Bilt oh I quite appreciate your

position mr. Gilcrest still I did think

it was important that you be here today

mr. Darlington I want you to tell me

what I should do under the circumstances

I don't want to do anything that is not

absolutely in accord with surrogate

Foley's judgment I want you to tell me

what I ought to do see what I mean mr.

Dunning child's absolutely terrified by

a mother I wonder why

you know mrs. Whitley I had no idea I

see there's no one ask her about the

reasons for her her feelings

mr. Darlington the child can hardly be

expected to be capable of explaining its

feelings after all it is only a child

what are you doing Charles I'm trying to

find miss Gloria's wristwatch Madame

they've sent for it

her wristwatch who sent for it mrs.

Whitney the chauffeurs count for it

Beasley he's downstairs

this is Whitney

what's all this crying and upset being

about anyway because my mother wants to

take me well that's nothing to cry for I

hate my mother what a thing to say

you don't hate your mother Gloria you

were just excited nobody hates their

mother where's Miss Whitney as I told

you on the telephone the child was

brought to me in a completely hysterical

condition there was nothing else to be

done in the circumstances you had no

right to do anything without calling me

first

I'm her mother whether you like it or

not you've gone too far this time

Gertrude where is she

Lauria what's the matter with you she's

not good for the child you I'll never

know for what you've done

no wonder the child is in its condition

oh yeah

Hobbs isn't fit for pigs and you you're

a bird

oh I could say what I'm going to say yes

you see that I have to hire that woman

oh of course you must she prevented you

from carrying out your intention at

least she won't be around anymore to

help you carry out yours Gertrude

we'll see you've all twisted Glory's

mind against me that's what you've done

well I don't care how much money and

influence you've got so I'm gonna be

enough to kidnap a child from its mother

but we had to leave our Gertrude's

because dr. Craig said she was too upset

to be taken away I but Connie said it

was probably the best thing to do

Connie well I just went along but I want

you to get me my child back Nathan

they're doing terrible things to my baby

well the only way now is of habeus I

said which Lawton will discuss glory I

prefer not to take that action Tortoises

Whitney's attorney now he's gonna be out

of town until Monday oh no no I won't

wait another minute I want it back now

god knows what they'll do to her by

Monday okay all right I'll get the writ

today but I think you should know just

how serious a situation this could get

to be I think you should prepare

yourself for a very severe reaction

understand we have just one other thing

I found out just a couple of hours ago

you're being followed

I beg your pardon you are under constant

surveillance by private detectives or in

the employ of Gertrude Vanderbilt

Whitney I'm being followed

how do you know that I have my sources

the point is Laurie that they'll stop at

nothing to get the goods on you what

goods you took the words right out of my

mouth

no miss Laurie if this thing goes to

court you're gonna be asked a lot of

what could be called sensitive questions

and I have to ask you the first one what

I keep this in mind Gloria I'm your

lawyer I'm not your judge I have no

opinion about your private life past or

present unless there is something in it

it could be detrimental to our case

unless there was something in that if it

came up in court and I did not know

about it

in bands it could be very embarrassing

you tell me there's nothing absolutely

nothing except the ravings of my crazy

vindictive mother okay excellent private

detectives finally it was gonna be like

this mrs. Whitney has asked me to say

that she wishes at the document be

accepted that instead by our attorney

mr. Frank Crocker of the firm of solid

well you tell mrs. Whitney that she is

required by law to accept this writ in

person herself and if she doesn't you

can tell her for me I'll be just as

happy to plaster the whole front of this

house with Ritz

if you'll just wait a moment

mrs. Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney yes you

understand Gertrude that if we go into

court the publicity will be I quite

understand Frank much as I despise

airing private matters in public this

insulting effrontery of glorious cannot

go unchallenged but she would dare to

say no me know how she dare go into

court where she knows what we know about

her of course we must make every effort

Frank not to divulge anything of a

scandalous nature about Gloria I will

not be parted well don't you worry about

that Gertrude I'll see to that all right

well Gloria had better watch your step

now all the dirty linen is about to be

laundered in front of the entire nation

heavens to Betsy what a sexy I hope

you're doing the right thing hon what do

you mean well I mean can't always be

sure we're getting into can we when

we're getting into it

Oh Connie stop sounding like my older

and wiser sister why I am your older and

wiser sister

think of a bellman burger if you think

you have a good chance of torque mr.

Burton any comments

you have any chance to get a job you're

just a windproof

yeah

there's no surprise she's got herself

some of the best lawyers in the country

logic so for this row second

you'll all rise

oyez oyez oyez the Honorable Supreme

Court of the state of New York City and

County of New York is now in session the

Honorable John Francis Carew presiding

machine

gentlemen in regard to allegations of

unfitness contained and certain

affidavits submitted in this case may

remind you that there is nothing in the

law to warrant the exercise of the

powers of parens patriae that would

deprive a mother of a child the custody

of a child unless the mother was so

unfit that constant association of the

child with the mother would prevent her

from growing up to be a good and useful

member of society only the most unusual

circumstances would warrant the refusal

of the custody of a child in favor of

any other relatives no matter how

unselfish the motives of that relative

may be and only the most compelling

evidence of such unusual circumstances

would warrant the awarding of the

custody of a child to any other person

other than the natural mother that's it

you may proceed yet oh

we call Emma Sullivan Keithley

you swear until I say though she's right

nothing it looks a little sable sure is

what is your occupation nurse when did

you take charge of the infants the

subject of inquiry in this case I took

her when she was three weeks old father

was alive did he see the child much all

the time what about mrs. Mandeville

I seen very little her do you remember

some of the people who were in that

Paris house friends of mrs. Vanderbilt

there was Prince ho and LOI he was a

prince but he had no money he was her

lover he was a German I moved to strike

that out like that oh and there was her

brother mr. Morgan that was his support

there he was supported by the child I

moved to strike that out I get out but

mr. Harry Morgan live he lived there he

didn't work Your Honor I moved to strike

out Prince didn't work either nobody

worked it was all supported by the child

by the child's money Your Honor please

woman stop not good for a witness to

volunteer too much it shows a partisan

spirit it discounts a testimony severely

now remember we have teeth in the front

of our mouths like that so we can clamp

down on our tongues

proceed let me ask you this and so that

we can get it straight in the beginning

what is your feeling toward the child I

object to that what her feelings are

jjan sustained may I not show that the

person who has charge of the child

laughs there I don't know that it's of

the slightest importance in this case

whether she loves it or not I don't know

whether it's important whether she loves

it can you tell us something about the

books you saw around did you notice what

kind of books there were yes they were I

saw them I saw the books I never seen

anything like it

vile books disgusting pictures Your

Honor I move to strike that out

disgusting your honors a pictures of

naked yes Sara Melissa hooks is lying

around open he he dropped him down there

prince illinois he'd leave them there

after you've been reading it to her

now risk is leaked to your knowledge did

mrs. Vanderbilt ever take the child to

Sunday School never never never said a

prayer with the child

child said her prayers with me I taught

her my prayers I believe that you are a

Catholic are you yes I am but to your

knowledge did mrs. Vanderbilt ever go to

Mass never to my knowledge never in my

time do you want this child to be

reconciled with its mother what do you

mean

to love its mother yes anyone who would

love her yes and and and love all and of

God first and be honest and good living

and clean and lead a clean life I want

her to have a clean life I pray to God

to give it to and not ever name dragged

in and known like many others didn't

mrs. Whitney know before you came to

this courtroom that you were going to

endeavour to destroy every vestige of

the good reputation and character that

mrs. Vanderbilt had no she has no good

name no her sisters either nobody's safe

with this woman yes she's like this

letter has already been marked for

identification do you recognize the

handwriting yes miss letter was

supposedly written by little Gloria to

her mother and April above here take it

won't bite you just don't touch me I

have no desire to touch I can assure you

yeah

I suggest that that letter never

originated as we've been asked to

believe in the minds of an innocent

nine-year-old girl I suggest that those

words were dictated to her by another

person an adult prayer no objection no

we're not all liars

we're not your sword we're not your kind

call him October 2nd 1934 head

Vanderbilt boudoir secret spared servant

in Sables peeped on prints paragraph

yesterday at the behest of mrs. Harry

Payne Whitney a servant in Sables crept

up society's back stairs to the witness

stand to tell a shocking tale painting

her former employer is a lazy loose

erotic woman addicted to books and

pictures treating of sadism and other

forms of abnormal sexual behavior for

five hours mrs. Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt

listened to a tight lip nurse denounced

her with virtuous relish as a cocktail

craze dancing mother a devotee of sex

erotics and the mistress of a German

Prince oh my glorious Gloria it was a

blistering tale no skin lotion consumed

good morning ladies and gentlemen won't

you be seated

my only thought since little Gloria came

to live with me and throw out the court

proceedings has been for the child's

welfare she's always saying she's only

interested in my daughter's wealth is it

middle Gloria's welfare that she's being

brought up with hatred for the one

person she should love most in the whole

world

her own mother it was always my hope and

desire to bring the child and her mother

closer together this case is not of my

making

she's been behind this whole movement to

rob me of my child if this case wasn't

her doing as she claims then why were

her attorneys trying to find witnesses

to testify against me as long ago as

last June

my most fervent wish is that this case

could be put out of the public mind for

the sake of the child as for my

supposedly being unfit because I was

away from my child too much

what about Gertrude and her children

they grew up with nannies and nurses not

their mother and everybody knows that if

that's the reason I'm supposed to be

unfit then she's no more fit than aya it

seems to me that the issue has become

sadly enough more one of a mother's

personal behavior shall we say but of

course I have very little money and

Gertrude Whitney has many many millions

and eighty million dollars couldn't

possibly be wrong could it money has

never been a primary issue in this

regrettable case we call the rear tire

and when were you employed by mrs.

Vanderbilt for the first time the scale

for the first time in 1929 in Paris and

in what capacity were you employed as

personal maid will you tell us something

about what you remember as to the daily

habits of mrs. van der Bilt

but when did she get up oh mrs. Van der

Bilt got up at the horn one o'clock

sometimes two sometimes three sometimes

four and sometimes she said it meant all

day did you notice anything about the

kind of books there were around the

house yes

well they're books with pictures in them

yes what kind of books were there there

were very dirty books what kind of

pictures whether you say there were

dirty books oh he had pictures said

we're not allowed to look at that what

you mean sure but I'm trying to find out

now whether they were pictures of one

sex or both sexes or what what

difference would it make what sex they

were supposing they were homosexual your

honor wouldn't make any difference where

they were homosexual or bisexual

unisexual trisection all right maybe

just as dirty if they were homosexual or

unisexual or bisexual or trisexual er

yeah I will with for the best suit were

you with mrs. Van der Bilt when she went

down to the Riviera in 1932 and can yes

when did she live at the Miramar she

lived there for how many weeks or months

two months did she live alone no no I

think she was living with her friend

lady mid-field Evan and this friend lady

Milford Haven appeared to be a decent

fine lovely person yes and this is van

de Ville was with her at the hotel yes

did you see any impropriety of that

hotel during the two months at the

Marimo

Hotel do not understand during those two

months that mrs. Vanderbilt get drunk no

I did not see you at all did she run

around with anyone yes ooh landlady

midfield Evan no you said there were

there some men or gentlemen no I always

sir mrs. Van der beek coming coming out

of the Miramar Hotel with her friend

letting me feel David so you did not see

any improper conduct during the entire

two months isn't that right I remember

something that seems to me very funny

tell us if you can

what thing you saw well one day mrs.

Vanderbilt got me for breakfast like she

do she always called me for breakfast

she called you for breakfast yes so I

serve breakfast and I took her things up

to my home for placing them and a few

minutes afterwards I came back into mrs.

Van der bits home to put the clothes

into the closet when I came into the

home some mrs. Vanderbilt lying on her

bed reading paper and besides the bed

was Lady midfield heaven with her arm

AHA mrs. Van Der Beek's neck lady

Milford Evans arm was along mrs. Venable

neck and she was kissing her like a

lover

intercession to this file give your

testimony of this style we were taken

privately

hey what is excused except the parties

in this case Berninger why why did I ask

that last question why that is

first-year law school you'll never ask a

question unless you have the answer to

it and Gloria why didn't you tell me

that she was your special friend I told

you about our friendship Oh sweetheart

please please now there are friendships

and then there are friendships it's all

so ugly folks it's a pack of malicious

lies Gloria now please if you're

anything more to tell me but Pete sake

just tell me now please no there's

nothing nothing

not what about the books you did not

tell me about the books what about those

books who cares about the books what I

do in the privacy of my own home is

nobody's business

no huh it used to be nobody's business

I've studied the situation over the

weekend I've come to the conclusion

that's so much scandalous gossip being

bet loose from this courtroom that it

might embarrass the child's future

therefore I have determined to hold the

future sessions of this trial and

private Noah will be allowed in this

room during the taking of testimony

except those people about safe for by

counsel in order to accommodate the

members of the press I am prepared to

provide them with my personal summaries

of the testimony I will meet with the

reporters from the evening papers at

1:00 p.m. and the reporters from the

morning papers at 4:00 p.m. it's all

asleep well barring the press in the

public yes the civil Practices Act

covers it but the personal summary of

the testimony I know it sounds kind of

fishy me and why was it you and not your

daughter

who engaged the nurse for the infant

mrs. Morgan my daughter didn't show any

desires or any interest to choose the

nurse and the mother what contribution

did she make toward the care of the

child it is not my daughter's fault but

she has not been born with a maternal

instinct no she was indifferent to the

child she had nothing to do with the

child mrs Morgan will you search back in

your memory and tell us when you

commenced to say is into your daughter

by way of protest about the life that

your daughter was living or about the

care of the child what did you complain

to your daughter about her conduct well

during the last six years I've been all

the

I'm telling her that she must settle

down and love her own country better

than she did to live in this country and

to take an interest in the things of our

country and to drop the European

entanglements and the European titles

and the desires of for a life of

pleasure that you can get on the other

side and to be more domestic and to do

things like that I love my daughter

it's for my baby's sake that I'm doing

this your honor

this is sacrifice of my life that I am

making I am going to remain alone in

this world without anybody if she had

committed murder I would have taken her

on my own shoulders for her except for

the baby not if she had murdered the

baby mommy mommy

but I did not know that I would be

called to go through this gallery on

earth that I am going through how did it

come do this

Court is adjourned until 10:00 a.m.

Monday morning nice weekend

Gloria guess who's coming to see you

this morning

I'm afraid she's a bit upset

where is she in her room is Keith Luke

with her no I sent her away for the day

good

my grandson's nurse is with her miss

Walsh perhaps it would be better not to

see her just now Gloria we're here to

see the child and seer we will

Laurie darling it's mommy

nice no she must open this door we're

here to see this little girl this is a

court order I know it is but Gloria

won't give me the key

why did you let her have it didn't she

took it we'll take it back for goodness

sakes hurry we must stop this

immediately give me that kid do you hear

me

get here hang it over Gloria Gloria this

is aunt Thelma open the door this

instant she's thrown the key in the fire

she what

Laurie thank you George

what's the matter you're not frightened

about Thelma are you yes oh yeah I

haven't done anything to you no well

then come on give me a kiss don't talk

like a little child

you know your mother's in there crying

you've made her very unhappy what'd you

go and tell her you sorry and give her a

kiss no look here Gloria do you realize

how much you're hurting your mummy you

don't really want to hurt her do you

what do you know all right then I won't

tell are you sorry for behaving like

such a silly little girl growing up no

you can't behave this way

Gloria

that's what you see I am keep asking for

you in the car we could play it together

okay

Oh

hello oh yes put her on hello Julia how

high Annie well you call me with bad

news Julie I don't want any bad news yes

I'm sitting down

what sure

Julie they can't do that that's against

the law but well who leaked it

Oh Julia really honest to god it you

don't know did it okay all right thanks

again honey goodbye

that was Julia McCarthy from the news

somebody leaked the booklets testimony

it's gonna be in the midnight edition

that's contempt of court Nate oh just

when I need a lawyer

concerning a missive Annabelle's taste

in literature Zog admitted that he

looked at a book of erotic drawings of

unclothed nuns as many as he could stand

these which showed women in

unconventional positions the butler

testified reluctantly as someone who is

in this courtroom while the butler was

on the witness stand gave a very

accurate story of his testimony to the

newspapers

somebody has betrayed my confidence now

if we were not for the fact that I don't

want to embarrass this trial at this

moment I most certainly would ascertain

the culprit if there is anything we can

do in the way of an investigation I will

be glad to cooperate your honor your

honor

I have already spoken to the managing

editor of The Daily News mr. Frank House

and strenuously requested that both

sides of the story be written now may I

request that your previous ruling as to

secrecy be a rolling stance these

proceedings will continue close to the

press and to the public

and when I went into the room the child

appeared preoccupied and discouraged

emotionally I asked her what had

happened she said that her mother had

wanted to keep her and she the child

didn't want to stay I asked her why she

didn't want to stay and what did she

reply to that dr. Lawrence she said

because I hate my mother I asked her why

on earth she should feel that way

towards her mother she said because I'm

afraid of her did you say anything to

her at that time doctor I told her don't

take life so seriously and you say that

after only six days of treatment by you

the condition of the child improved most

certainly dreams are better you say the

terrors are gone James better Tara's

gone and all this in six days is that

true doctor I produced a marvelous

change beautiful result a happy child I

think it's wonderful here in the

greatest metropolis of the world the

city of the purple robe and copper-clad

we find this bitterest of family

vendetta's and for what the custody of a

little golden girl who is too young to

understand with all the mudslinging

means mrs. Vanderbilt and her brothers

and sisters are fighting mad family

skeletons will rattle when the new

celebrated legal battle resumes

operation this morning in the Supreme

Court in such a tale were staged in a

Broadway theatre a pictured on the

screen the audience would shout

impossible the place at Westbury has

been in my husband's family for a great

many years my children were brought up

there and after they married I built

them houses on the place near so that we

all live in a small community and my

children and my grandchildren are there

it's a little community of children

except one children too many

don't get back it oh I'll get it

go on Thawne get back that go and get

back get back

come on come on come on Go Go

Harry get back come on get back get back

you hear me get that hell up this is

your deadline there anybody who comes

any closer to my courtroom than that

will be held in contempt of court

and contempt

now where were we

you're told his honor that you maintain

studios in New York and an Old Westbury

Long Island yes you have models yes

now in your work you design in the nude

don't you I presume you mean my models

are in the new not I that's what I mean

yes both male and female yes totally

nude yes breasts of women exposed yes

certainly now has the childhood Gloria

Vanderbilt been to your museum the

Whitney Museum yes once or twice where

the pictures are exposed and the

statuary is exposed yes and some of it

is yours yes this point your honor I

will offer an evidence a partial list of

certain articles apart though you at the

Whitney Museum of American life a mural

painting of a woman wearing a very short

black slip and no panties and black silk

stockings and black shoes the lack of

panties and the short slip leave the

thighs and the under paws exposed

entirely a man's torso showing that

genitalia exposed in a very pronounced

manner a nude figure of a woman leaning

on her hands in a sitting position with

the breasts Hani developed legs slightly

raised apart sketch of a woman who has

gone to the roof to hang wet wash being

embraced in a corner by a much younger

man while a small child sits at one side

playing with clothes pins and clothes

basket giving the impression of a

married woman cheating in front of a

child entitled love on the roof you say

to his honor that this paper describes

accurately the paintings and figures in

a crude manner yes

incidentally John Sloan's love on the

roof is of itching not a sketch I stand

corrected my artistic education has been

badly neglected no doubt I shouldn't be

surprised I offer this in evidence I

object to it as a material course the

situation is very different from having

a lot of dirty pictures

around the house and those figures were

absolutely naked were they not when you

sculpted them I used women models when

they were absolutely nude how about the

man not completely in the nude what do

you mean not completely a fig leaf or

something analogous to a fig leaf but in

the case of the women the women were

absolutely stark naked yes now are there

any figures there those that you

sculpted yourself that are without the

presence of the fig leaf yes when you're

completed the designing you tore off the

fig leaf is that it on the statue I did

on the model I did not I should like to

say that the paintings and sculptures in

the Whitney Museum mentioned earlier and

many others like them are works of art

and are recognized as such they are no

different than similar works of art in

the Louvre or the Metropolitan Museum

the Whitney Museum is a recognized

Museum of Art it's open to the public

free no complaint has ever been made

about any work of art contained in it I

always hope that little Gloria and her

mother could have a closer relationship

I said everything I could to arouse in

this child an affection for her mother

in accordance with that idea that they

should have a closer relationship it

wasn't the child's only apprehension was

that her mother was going to take her

out to Long Island to live with her

certainly not when the child showed

hysterics and started to shriek and

scream when her mother came into the

room that was not just because she

didn't want to go out and live with her

in the country when the child said if I

have to go back I'd rather die that is

not simply a fear of going back if you

through no I'm not if the child says I'm

afraid of my mother I don't want to go

back with her I don't want to be with

her that signifies something far beyond

the fact that she doesn't want to go on

it in the country the fact is the child

was afraid for her life

did she have to testify they're

insisting on a Gloria it's perfectly

cruel I don't know how I even got you

can do this to her when we've got one

break at least she won't have to appear

in the courtroom Carew will take a

testimony in his chambers and only

Smythe and I will be there I don't know

how they can do this - huh just have the

face of Gloria I hate to say this but

she's their star witness

don't you think you could learn to love

your mother no I never want to go back

to her do I have to think you'd want to

know she was never nice to me

how was she not nice to you middle her

huh

once I had a little dog very much and

she took him away from me

maybe the dog had fleas no he didn't but

didn't you like your mother before you

went out to live in the country no I

didn't let you send her all these nice

little postal cards here all these nice

little pictures of animals and and

flowers and all these X's and O's well I

had to because I was afraid of her

afraid of what I don't know I'm just

afraid of her you know any prayers yes

let's hear you say some prayers hel Mary

full of grace Lord is with thee blessed

art thou look well talked a little

slower

I can't say it unless I say it fast hail

Mary full of grace the Lord is with thee

blessed art thou blessed art thou I see

that every night it's awfully funny I

can't remember it do you say the our

Father our Father who art in heaven

hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come

thy will be done

give us this day our daily bread and

forgive us our trespasses as we forgive

those who trespass against us

it is not into temptation but deliver us

from evil amen

and I know this one this is a short one

when you want something to happen you

say little flower at this hour show me

thy power

dodo tell me that can you say the

Apostles Creed I used to know that but I

forget

can I go now how about the act of

contrition you know when you say you're

sorry for your sins no this child's

religious education has obviously been

badly neglected now in this photograph

your mother

you're smiling I'm smiling with you

mother right yes because of photographer

said to smile and at that time you hated

your mother yes Gary how old were you

when you began to hate your mummy as

soon as I could understand things as

soon as totally Nene explained things to

me

Gloria wondered understood that she

doesn't dislike her mother it's just

that she hasn't seen very much up does

she claim that her mother neglected her

she doesn't seem to recall anything

about that we just say to look glorious

unusually bright child oh no nothing

about children what do you have five of

your own they their mother's concern yes

we all had the strictest of Catholic

education when the child went to bed she

used to cross herself and say Hail Mary

in French I was talking to her yesterday

and she made no suggestion that she knew

anything whatever about making a sign of

the Cross

I watched her I gave her every

opportunity now if there is one thing

that is characteristic of the Catholic

above all others it is the making of the

sign of the Cross now you go over the

waterfront and you see a fella about to

jump in the water he'll make a sign on

the cross before he jumps in if he's a

Catholic I've seen Jewish boys make the

sign of the Cross when I jumped in there

was a gang of us in the neighborhood and

we used to go swimming every day after

school weather permitting the East River

that was I don't know whether little

boys still go swimming in there after

school but if they do in there Catholics

you can bet your bottom dollar they make

the sign

across at least I hope they do be a sad

state of affairs of things have come to

such a pass that religion no longer

plays a part in the daily play of little

boys sad state of affairs

I remember one little fella Oh must have

been in line at the time I suppose a

little bit of chat in a resolution

introduced before the committee of

courts and practices at the Federal Bar

Association lawyers today denounced

Supreme Court Justice John F Cairo for

borrowing the public and press not to

mention line to the reporters about

what's really going on in court

grievous damage already inflicted on the

plaintiff who is asserting the most

natural of Rights with every sympathy

and presumption in her favor the court

saw fit to clamp the lid of secrecy on

all further evidence the plaintiff

protested her counsel protested and yet

the court has seen fit to brush aside

these fundamental considerations of

justice the judges course in this matter

is wrong he is obviously made a mistake

and a grievous one this judge is

incomprehensible wonderful Nathan says

Cara's gone around the bend no you're

not looking too good hon lost a lot of

weight since this trial began eleven

pounds in five weeks

well beats dialing mrs. Vanderbilt will

you tell us briefly where you spent your

early life up to the time that you

married mr. Vanderbilt I was born in

Lucerne Switzerland in 1905 I stayed in

Europe until 1916 in 1916 my sister

Thelma and I came to America for six

months in 1917 I spent nine months in

America and the rest in Europe

in 1918 I spent nine months in the

United States and went back to Europe in

1920 I went to Brussels where my father

and mother were then living in 1921 I

visited in America until thelma's

marriage

June 19-22 I went to Brussels in

September 1922 I came back to America in

March 1923 I married mr. Vanderbilt I

was 18 please tell us where you were

educated and the name of the school or

schools there were so many uh I was in

school in Switzerland I was in school in

Spain I was in school in Germany I was

in school in Switzerland again and then

I went again to France within a period

of four years you attended school in

four different countries conducted in

four different languages yes I think so

I guess who it's very complicated I

never in my life touched my daughter in

anger except for once one time when she

asked me for some money in those days

she was a very little bit of a thing

she used to open my bag and look through

it there was some loose change

I said Gloria you can't have that

because it hasn't been washed the money

I said I'll give it back to you after

it's been washed she said oh well I'll

go and ask nanny so off she went to ask

her grandmother so when I went after her

and I said Gloria mommy says you can't

have any money that hasn't been washed

and I took her by the shoulders and I

turned her around this way I didn't push

her and I didn't know treat her I I just

turned him around and said off with you

to nurse so she started crying because

she couldn't have the money before I was

washed then when I came in mrs.

Vanderbilt was in bed reading a paper

and there was lady milford-haven beside

the bed with her arm around mrs van der

Bilt's neck lady Milford's arm around

mrs van der Bilt's neck and she was

kissing her like a left

mrs. Vanderbilt it any such occurrence

ever take place it certainly did not

were you ever guilty of such an act or

similar act with any woman any time at

any place no never

when his honor undertook the difficult

task of talking to your daughter she

said that she hardly saw anything of you

and that you weren't nice to her

said an accurate statement that is not

an accurate no although she written lots

of letters she said she didn't love you

but only wrote them because she was

afraid of you now did you ever see or

notice any fear on the child's part

never never had any doctor would seen

her during all the years that you had

her did any doctor tell you that upon

examination he discovered that the child

had an apprehension or fear of you know

10 a.m. tomorrow morning

Oh

and it's perfectly obvious to anyone

with half an eye that mrs. Gloria Morgan

Vanderbilt attended constantly by a

nurse in position is on the brink of a

complete nervous breakdown

she has been questioned and crossed

questioned about little thoughtless

actions throughout her widowhood

she's been vilified with the testimony

of discharged servants and now at the

end smiling bravely she faces the final

issue will her child be restored her in

the meantime the little girl who was the

bone of contention remains with her aunt

and her palatial Westberry estate a

member of the household stated the child

had not seemed aware of the recent

proceedings or if she was she did not

appear interested while her fate is

being decided by others a little girl

plays with her toys and puppies her

cheeks glowing with autumn wind her eyes

dancing doctor sir Lawrence told you to

let the child stay in America during the

whole summer of 1932 while you went to

England or Paris are you trying to make

my child out as critically ill she was

not but she wasn't quite well enough to

travel right after the operation in

anyway I was sailing back as soon as I

got my house closed in Paris

oh then you came back then I came back I

went back again in June I was there July

and part of August in France and now

you're going back to 1932 that's what

you asked me don't get me mixed up it's

bad enough to keep my own mind straight

without keeping yours you are not

responsible for my mines mrs. Vanderbilt

thank God for that yes thank God for

that

I am trying to find out how responsible

you were for your child you're not

trying to make me how crazy by any

chance are you and not exactly no I'm

glad to hear it dear Naini

I received your letter and your cable I

am writing this letter in bed to you as

I have a bad throat I hope that you will

excuse my letter dear Naini Tony's

mother is putting me into another room

every week

who's there his mother Oh mrs.

Vanderwaal sister your honor lady Finans

my mother is so bad to me I wish that I

could run away to New York to you I am

very unlucky girl love from Gloria this

is the handwriting of your child

is it not it may be the handwriting of

my child but it was never written by a

child of that age I am a dirty Li her

hand was held or the letters were

dictated to her by someone I am NOT

going to acknowledge that my child wrote

that letter willingly the question is I

don't care what the question is that's

my answer does it occur to you that the

letters complaining about you were

written by a child who might be afraid

of you her letters to me didn't show

that well as she said in her own

testimony the affectionate letters to

you were written because she had to

write them if she was forced to write

letters of affection to me then she

might have been forced to write letters

against me can you imagine any motive

your mother can have except the welfare

of the child to say anything against you

yes I gather I'm sorry to say money why

should money come into any motive on the

part of your mother you better ask mrs.

Whitney that that's where my mother's

getting her money from now are you

charging that mrs. Whitney has been

giving money to your mother yes but can

you imagine any motive your mother can

have had prior to the time that mrs.

Whitney came into this matter in 1932

it's very hard for me to say this but I

must say it against my mother since

you're forcing me to she wants the

guardianship of the child so as she can

get the money from Gloria's trust fund

do you really mean that I certainly do

can you tell this court any motive mrs.

Whitney can have except the welfare of

her brother's child I don't know what

this is Whitney's motives are I've never

known what mrs. Whitney's motives are

mrs. mandible do you believe that's

leaving your child for extended periods

of time as has been established in this

court do you believe that that is taking

care of your child I think it's just as

much taking care of my child is when

mrs. Whitney is never around how does

that compare with your absence as time

and again with a child lying sick no

give me that my job

do you remember being told that before

this court the child was asked would she

go back to her mother and that she

shrank back and tears came out of her

eyes and she said I will not go I am

afraid of my mother yes yes I remember

you trying to do break my heart witness

is excused oh really that's all your

honor that's all your honor we rest

erased that we read both sides rest is

heavy sharp recess

he's coming back here now me

the issue here is the best interest of

the child I cannot approve of the

conduct of the mother and relation to

the child nevertheless their mother is a

young woman I don't think that the child

should altogether be taken from this

woman I would be glad if she would have

the opportunity in the first place to

win back the child's confidence and

affection and in the second place to

show that her future conduct will not be

as a past conduct as bit I think she

should have such access to the child as

will not interfere with the present life

of the child I will give her an

opportunity to win the child back and to

take care of it properly in the future I

intend and some degree now to preserve

for some time life that the child has

now as I construe your honors words it

simply means that she is deprived of the

child that's my instruction of it well

to some extent she certainly is but even

if she were a thousand times more guilty

than she ever has been I still have

enough of the human in me to want to

give her an opportunity for the future

we'll have another little talk you and I

and mr. Smythe you may transcribe from

your notes this statement mr. justice

Carew has decided that the child Gloria

Vanderbilt will not have for the future

the life that it had from the death of

its father until June 1932

but what is this even mean your honor

every word means exactly what it says

nothing boss look what kind of life is

that kid to leave well that will have to

be worked out the mother needs a

guardian almost as much as the child

does my mind is still open on the

settlement when my final decision is

filed it will be a work of supreme

genius and will be recognized as such

when will the decision be filed judge it

will take the usual course governess for

biscuit

and it is further considered ordered

found judge and decreed that he said

writ of habeas corpus be finally

disposed of as follows mrs. Gertrude

Vanderbilt Whitney is granted custody of

said infant shall provide for her a

governess of the Roman Catholic faith

who shall reside with her teacher the

Catechism of the Roman Catholic faith

Nathan she can read at any time I think

we've got the gist okay I see her at all

beginning next month you have her from

10 o'clock Saturday morning till sundown

on Sunday you have a during the mother

July you have her gen o'clock so 6

o'clock on Christmas Day

at least we got rid of the nurse he's

like has a walking papers the judge was

agreeable to that I put everything I had

into this case

do a little Gloria happy at last and so

the matter of Vanderbilt is done the

drama that has so enthralled the nation

for these many months is ended but what

really has been accomplished by all this

scandalous hue and cry of charge and

counter-charge just this the Justice

John Francis Carew the socialites

Solomon has wielded his sword of dubious

justice and his severed perhaps forever

what fragile bonds still remain between

the Liguria and her mother he has taken

the child from her mother and awarded to

the woman whom the mother probably most

attests in the world can either of these

women refrain from trying to influence

the child's mind against the other I

think not and what will that do to the

child Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney may

have won the battle but it is surely a

Pyrrhic victory and his most tragic

casualty is certainly the poor little

rich girl herself Gloria Laura

Vanderbilt

you

I think your honor in all fairness that

no matter what disposition your honor

makes us to these charges the day will

come when this issue must be tried out

between this child and her mother

three years after the trial Justice John

Francis Carew was discovered to be a

patient at the neuropsychiatric Hospital

in Hartford Connecticut an institution

specializing in the treatment of

alcoholism and nervous breakdowns

Nathan Birkin unsuccessfully pursued the

case to the United States Supreme Court

in 1936 he died of a heart attack

never having fully recovered from his

failure to vindicate Gloria Morgan

Vanderbilt eleven years after the trial

little Gloria now 21 years old brought

nurse easlick to live with her in New

York City providing a permanent annual

income in 1942 Gertrude Vanderbilt

Whitney died at 67 years of age leaving

in a state in excess of 80 million

dollars her funeral was attended by

1,200 mourners Laura Kilpatrick Morgan

died in 1956 at age 79 only her two

daughters Gloria and Thelma and one

friend attended the funeral in 1964

Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt died at the age

of 60 her sister Thelma at her bedside

she had never remarried for estrangement

from her daughter persisted throughout

her life with only occasional periods of

strained reconciliation 42 years after

the trial when asked what of all her

possessions she most valued little

Gloria replied the one thing I treasure

most is a small round

friend of my mother and me

when I was an infant

you

you