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Anything Goes
Siblings Lily and Robert Brewster lived the high life until October 1929 when they suddenly became as poor as church mice. Two years later, rescue comes in the form of Grace and Favor Cottage, which is in fact a huge mansion inherited from an uncle – with the restriction that the mansion, the Duessenberg, and the fortune won't really be theirs until they've lived there for ten years. In this scene, the go with the town reporter, Jack Summer, to see the wreck of the boat where their uncle died.
Lily asked Jack, "Why were you heading for Grace and Favor?"
"I wanted to tell you I've found out that the boat your uncle died in is still at a salvage yard a little out of town."
"Have you seen it?" Robert asked.
"Not yet," Jack replied.
"Could we go look it over?" Robert asked.
"I don't see why not, but I'm not sure it'll tell you anything."
They all piled into the Duesie and Jack directed them to a spot about five miles along a dirt road ran north beside the railroad tracks next to the Hudson River. Just before they reached the salvage yard, they passed the city dump. There were people there, not disposing of trash, but picking through it. A man, a woman and two small children were walking about, bent over and carrying small bags into which they could put anything salvageable. A beat-up truck sat to the far side of the dump. It had a patchwork quilt suspended over the bed and was apparently their home.
Jack had slowed down for the potholes and Lily couldn't tear her eyes from the dreadful sight of a family living at the garbage dump. She'd had vague idea that the worst of the Depression was in the cities. But here, in the country, where life should have been easier, it was just as awful. She watched the little girl, in her tattered dress, bend and pick up what looked like a couple of filthy bread rolls. Lily's stomach turned. If she'd had food along, she'd have flung herself out of the car and given it to them.
Uncle Horatio's boat had pride of place among the battered and rotting rowboats that populated the salvage yard. The boat was much larger than Lily had expected and very handsome. And except for the hole in the hull, it looked to be in good condition. It was resting upright, supported by an arrangement of wooden stilts and scaffolding.
"Why isn't it being repaired?" she asked.
"The keel was damaged," Jack said. "It would have to be completely dismantled to replace it. That would cost more than the boat is worth."
"Here! What are you three doing?" a voice called from a shack. A very dirty, wizened old man emerged. He was wearing hip waders that came clear to his armpits and a hat and plaid shirt that must have been generations old.
"Mr. Bond, I was just showing the Brewsters their uncle's boat," Jack said.
The old man's expression softened. "A real pity. She was a beaut. Forty-five-foot Cris Craft. Solid wood clear through. And fine appointments. Hate to see her like this, but there's nothing to do but strip her for parts. Mr. Horatio loved that boat like some men love a beautiful woman. So, are you Mr. Horatio's kin?"
"Great niece and nephew," Robert said. "Could we climb up there and look it over?"
"It'll just break your heart," Mr. Bond said, "but go ahead. If there's any of his personal stuff in there, I reckon it belongs to you. It's real stable."
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