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I HAD KNOWN JIM SLIGHTLY IN HIGH SCHOOL.
JIM WAS THE ONLY PERSON AT THE WAREHOUSE
WITH WHOM I WA
AS SOMEONE WHO COULD REMEMBER HIS FORMER GLORY,
WHO HAD SEEN HIM WIN BASKETBALL GAMES
AND THE SILVER CUP IN DEBATING.
HE KNEW OF MY SECRET PRACTICE OF RETIRING TO A CABINET
TO WORK ON POEMS WHEN BUSINESS WAS SLACK AT THE WAREHOUSE.
HE CALLED ME SHAKESPEARE.
AND WHILE THE OTHER BOYS IN THE WAREHOUSE
REGARDED ME WITH A SUSPICIOUS HOSTILITY,
JIM TOOK A HUMOROUS ATTITUDE TOWARDS ME.
GRADUALLY HIS ATTITUDE AFFECTED THE OTHERS,
AND THEIR HOSTILITY WORE OFF,
AND THEY ALSO BEGAN TO SMILE AT ME,
AS PEOPLE SMILE AT AN ODDLY FASHIONED DOG
WHO TROTS ACROSS THEIR PATH AT SOME DISTANCE.
OOL,
AND I HAD HEARD LAURA SPEAK ADMIRINGLY OF JIM'S VOICE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER JIM REMEMBERED HER OR NOT,
AS JIM HAD BEEN ASTONISHING.
IR
IT WAS NOT AS MY SISTER,
FOR WHEN I ASKED HIM TO DINNER HE GRINNED AND SAID,
I NEVER THOUGHT OF YOU AS HAVING FOLKS."
HE WAS ABOUT TO DISCOVER THAT I DID.
(Thunder rumbling)
Amanda: NOW, HOLD STILL.
Laura: MOTHER, YOU HAVE MADE ME SO NERVOUS.
Amanda: HOW HAVE I MADE YOU NERVOUS?
Laura: BY ALL THIS FUSS.
YOU MAKE IT SEEM SO IMPORTANT.
EVERY TIME I TRY TO DO ANYTHING
THAT IS THE LEAST BIT DIFFERENT FOR YOU,
YOU JUST SEEM TO SET YOURSELF AGAINST IT.
NOW, TURN AROUND.
LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR.
COME ON, LOOK.
OH, NO.
WAIT, WAIT.
I FORGOT SOMETHING.
Amanda: A COUPLE OF LITTLE IMPROVEMENTS.
DECEIVERS."
Laura: MOTHER, I WON'T WEAR THESE.
Amanda: OF COURSE YOU'LL WEAR THEM.
Laura: WELL, WHY SHOULD I?
Amanda: HONEY, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT FLAT-CHESTED.
Laura: WELL, YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE WE'RE SETTING A TRAP.
Amanda: WE ARE SETTING A TRAP.
ALL PRETTY GIRLS ARE A TRAP,
AND ALL MEN EXPECT THEM TO BE.
NOW, COME ON.
TURN AROUND.
NOW, LOOK.
LOOK.
NOW, ISN'T THAT LOVELY?
YOU LOOK JUST LIKE AN ANGEL ON A POSTCARD.
NOW.
YOU RUN N ON OUT,
AND I'M GOING TO DRESS MYSELF ALL UP.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ASTONISHED AT YOUR MOTHER'S APPEARANCE.
Amanda: YOU KNOW,
I FOUND AN OLD DRESS IN A TRUNK.
(Laughing)
I HAD TO DO A LOT TO IT.
YOU KNOW, LAURA,
.
(Thunder rumbling)
OH, MY!
IS THAT THUNDER?
OH, MY LORD.
ALL RIGHT.
MOTHER.RA,
OH, NO.
WAIT.
NOW LOOK.
OH, MOTHER.
HOW LOVELY.
WELL, IT USED TO BE.
IT USED TO BE.
IT HAD A LOT OF FLOWERS ALL OVER IT,
BUT THEY GOT KIND OF TIRED,
SO I HAD TO TAKE THEM ALL OFF.
I LED THE COTILLION IN THIS DRESS
A LONG TIME AGO,
AND I WON THE CAKEWALK AT SUNSET HILL.
TO THE GOVERNOR'S BALL IN JACKSON.
OH, LAURA.
UR MOTHER.
SHE JUST SASHAYED AROUND THAT BALLROOM JUST LIKE THAT.
I HAD IT ON
THE NIGHT I MET YOUR FATHER.
THE CHANGEESSEE TO THE DEA
HAD WEAKENED MY RESISTANCE.
NOT ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS,
BUT JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE ME RESTLESS AND GIDDY.
OH, IT WAS LOVELY.
INVITATIONS JUST POURED IN FROM ALL OVER.
AND MY MOTHER SAID,
"HONEY, YOU CAN'T GO ANYPLACE.
"YOU'VE GOT A FEVER.
YOU'VE GOT TO STAY IN BED."
AND I SAID I WOULDN'T,
AND I JUST TOOK QUININE,
AND I KEPT ON GOING AND GOING.
DANCES EVERY EVENING,
AND IN THE AFTERNOONS,
LONG DRIVES IN THE COUNTRY.
AND PICNICS.
OH, LAURA.
THAT COUNTRY.
THAT COUNTRY.
SO LOVELY IN MAY,
ALL LACY WITH DOGWOOD
AND SIMPLY FLOODED WITH JONQUILS.
AND MY MOTHER SAID,
"HONEY, YOU CAN'T BRING ANY MORE JONQUILS IN THE HOUSE."
AND I SAID, "I WILL."
AND I JUST KEPT ON BRINGING THEM IN.
ERY T,
"STOP.
I SEE JONQUILS."
I'D MAKE MY GENTLEMEN CALLERS GET OUT OF THE CARRIAGE
AND HELP ME TO GATHER SOME.
GOT.
THEY'D SAY, "LOOK OUT.
"HERE'S COMES THAT GIRL.
"WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND
THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON PICKING JONQUILS."
"HONEY, YOU CAN'T BRING ANY MORE JONQUILS IN THE HOUSE.
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VASES TO HOLD THEM ALL.
I SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
I'LL HOLD SOME MYSELF."
MALARIA, FEVER,
YOUR FATHER
AND JONQUILS.
(Thunder rumbling)
OOH.
OH.
I HOPE THEY GET HERE BEFORE IT STARTS TO RAIN.
I GAVE YOUR BROTHER A LITTLE EXTRA CHANGE
SO HE AND MR. O'CONNOR COULD TAKE THE SERVICE CAR HOME.
Amanda: MM?
Amanda: UH, O'CONNOR.
WHY?
Laura: WHAT IS HIS FIRST NAME?
Amanda: OOH, HONEY, I DON'T REMEMBER.
OH, YES, I DO.
IT WAS JIM.
IS HE THE ONE THAT TOM USED TO GO TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH?
I THINK HE JUST MET HIM AT THE WAREHOUSE.
IN HIGH SCHOOL.
IF THAT IS THE ONE TOM IS BRINGING HOME TO SCHOOL,
YOU WILL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME.
I WON'T COME TO THE TABLE.
NOW, WHAT KIND OF SILLY TALK IS THIS?
IF I EVER LIKED A BOY.
REMEMBER, I SHOWED YOU HIS PICTURE?
Amanda: YOU MEAN THE BOY IN THE YEARBOOK?
Laura: YES, MOTHER.
THAT BOY.
Amanda: OH, LAURA.
WERE YOU IN LOVE WITH THAT BOY?
Laura: I DON'T KNOW, MOTHER.
I JUST KNOW THAT IF IT WAS HIM,
I COULDN'T SIT AT THE TABLE.
Amanda: WELL, IT WON'T BE HIM;
IT'S NOT IN THE LEAST BIT LIKELY.
BUT EVEN IF IT WERE, YOU WILL COME TO THE TABLE.
YOU WILL NOT BE EXCUSED.
(Sighing)
Laura: I WOULD HAVE TO BE, MOTHER.
Amanda: LAURA, I DON'T INTEND TO HUMOUR YOUR SILLINESS.
NOW, I'VE HAD ENOUGH FROM YOU AND YOUR BROTHER.
NOW, YOU JUST COME ON OVER HERE
AND SIT YOURSELF DOWN
NOW, YOUR BROTHER HAS FORGOTTEN HIS KEY,
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LET THEM IN WHEN THEY ARRIVE.
Laura: OH, NO, MOTHER, PLEASE.
YOU ANSWER THE DOOR.
Amanda: BUT I HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED
THE MAYONNAISE D DRESSING FOR THE SALMON.
LaurANSWER IT.
DON'T MAKE ME DO IT.
HONEY, PLEASE, BE REASONABLE.
WHAT IS ALL THIS FUSS ABOUT?
HE'S JUST ONE GENTLEMAN CALLER, DARLING, THAT'S ALL.
JUST ONE.
(Doorbell ringing)
(Gasping)
MOTHER.
MOTHER.
Amanda: LAURA, HONEY!
.
Laura: MOTHER, YOU--
YOU ANSWER THE DOOR.
Amanda: WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU, YOU SILLY THING?
Laura: MOTHER, PLEASE, YOU ANSWER IT.
PLEASE.
Amanda: WHY HAVE YOU TAKEN THIS MOMENT TO LOSE YOUR MIND?
NOW, GO TO THE DOOR.
Laura: I CAN'T.
Y CAN?
Laura: I'M SICK.
Amanda: YOU'RE SICK?
AM I SICK?
YOU AND YOUR BROTHER HAVE ME PUZZLED TO DEATH.
YOU COULD NEVER ACT LIKE NORMAL CHILDREN.
WILL YOU GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON
(Doorbell ringing)
LAURA, GO TO THE DOOR!
LAURA WINGFIELD,
YOU MARCH STRAIGHT TO THAT DOOR.
(Kno)
Laura: YES, MOTHER.
Amanda: HONEY,
I HAVE TO PUT COURAGE IN YOU FOR LIVING.
Tom: LAURA,
THIS IS JIM.
JIM, THIS IS MY SISTER, LAURA.
I DIDN'T KNOW SHAKESPEARE HAD A SISTER.
HOW ARE YOU, LAURA?
Laura: HOW DO YOU DO?
Jim O'Connor: WELL, I'M OKAY.
OLD, LAU.
Laura: YES, WELL,
I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE VICTROLA AND--
Jim: OH.
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC ON IT.
YOU OUGHT TO PUT A LITTLE HOT SWING ON TO WARM YOU UP.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
Tom: WITH LAURA?
LAURA'S TERRIBLY SHY.
Jim: SHY, HUH?
YOU KNOW, IT IS UNUSUAL TO MEET A SHY GIRL NOWADAYS.
(Clearing throat)
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU EVER TOLD ME YOU HAD A SISTER.
Tom: NOW YOU KNOW.
I HAVE ONE.
HERE'S THE POST DISPATCH.
YOU WANT A PIECE OF IT?
Jim: YEAH.
Tom: WHAT PIECE?
COMICS?
Jim: COMICS?
SPORTS.
OH, WELL.
Tom: MM-HMM.
Tom: OUT ON THE TERRACE TO SMOKE.
SHAKESPEARE.
I'M GOING TO SELL YOU A BILL OF GOODS.
COURSE I'M TAKING.
A COURSE IN PUBLIC SPEAKING.
YOU KNOW,
YOU AND ME, WE'RE NOT THE WAREHOUSE TYPE.
Tom: THANKS.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
BUT WHAT HAS PUBLIC SPEAKING GOT TO DO WITH IT?
IT FITS YOU FOR EXECUTIVE POSITIONS.
IN WHAT RESPECT?
IN ALL RESPECTS.
ASK YOURSELF,
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE GUYS IN THE OFFICE DOWN FRONT?
BRAINS? NO.
ABILITY?
.
THEN WHAT?
WELL, PRIMARILY, SHAKESPEARE,
IT AMOUNTS TO JUST ONE SINGLE THING.
WHAT IS THAT SINGLE THING?
THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SQUARE UP TO SOMEBODY
AND HOLD YOUR OWN ON ANY SOCIAL LEVEL.
Amanda: TOM?
YES, MOTHER?
Amanda: IS THAT YOU AND MR. O'CONNOR?
Tom: YES, MOTHER.
Amanda: YOU ALL MAKE YOURSELVES COMFORTABLE.
Tom: YES, MOTHER.
E'D LIKE
TO WASH HIS HANDS.
Jim: