A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Page #13

Sissy!

And a dime for you, my boy.

This is a special occasion.

Thank you.

He don't know

how special it is.

Two diplomas in

the Nolan family

all in one day?

Mama, I've got a nickel

if you want to leave it.

People do.

It's going to be

all right, Francie.

And you know somethin'? These ain't

gonna be the last diplomas, either.

I don't know how

we're gonna work it,

but we're gonna find

some way for you and...

Hi, Neeley.

How are you doing?

Okay. I got out of jail.

Say, wasn't it you

I saw working

behind that bat

the other day?

Why, yeah, but...

Hey, you were

pretty good.

You know what? I'm coming out and

give you some pointers sometime.

Honest?

Sure, I will.

That is, if your ma

don't mind.

Nah, she don't mind.

Ya mean it?

Sure.

Well, I'll see you

on the lot.

Maybe you better

ask your ma, you know.

I don't want to do anything

she wouldn't want me to.

Nah, she won't care.

Maybe you'd better ask her

yourself just to make sure.

I'm Neeley's aunt.

This is his ma.

But that's his sister.

What's your name, big boy?

Herschel Knutsen.

Mr. Knutsen, I'd like

for you to meet my niece,

Miss Francie Nolan.

Pleased to meet you.

Hello.

Nice night if it don't rain.

Sit down, Herschel.

Doing anything tomorrow

afternoon, Miss Nolan?

It's Saturday.

I don't know. Why?

Well, there's a swell picture,

Bill Hart. Maybe you'd like to go.

Who with?

Me.

Oh.

Well, I might be busy.

I'll let you know.

Well, I'll come

around and see.

Hey! I thought we was

gonna play ball tomorrow.

Yeah. Well, we can

do that any time.

Sure.

There's lots of time.

Come on, Hersch.

Well, I'll be seeing you, Miss Nolan.

Him, mushy!

I'm proud of you, chickabiddy.

You handled him fine.

It was the hair

that done it.

Well, I hate to

bust this party up,

but then babies

got to be fed.

Steve will be needin'

a little something, too.

Three hours with

the both of them.

Thirty out of 50.

Keep the change.

Well, thank you.

Why, Katie Nolan!

I don't care.

There's times

when feelin' good

and things like that

is important.

I don't care.

You wanna carry

my flowers, Mama?

He called ya

"Miss Nolan."

You missed it, Steve!

Well, hello, handsome.

I'm beggin' your pardon,

Mrs. Nolan.

I just happened to drop in,

and your brother-in-law here

seemed to be needing a little help.

And the baby didn't seem to mind,

so... I hope I'm not intrudin'.

Well, not at all,

Mr. McShane.

You sit right down. We're

going home. Come along, Steve.

I'll take her,

Mr. McShane.

I'd like it

if you'd leave her.

Her and me has got

to be good friends.

Well, I wish you

didn't have to hurry.

Got to get this

family of mine home.

Steve's got to deliver milk to a lot of

those babies that like that bottled kind.

You don't want to

frown like that, Katie.

The fellas don't go

for that at all.

Goodbye, kids.

So long, Mac.

So long, Mrs. Edwards.

Thank you, Aunt Sissy.

Goodbye, Mac.

Mr. Edwards, goodbye.

Well...

Well, I will take the

baby from you, Mr. McShane.

Mrs. Nolan.

Likely you've been wonderin'

why I came here tonight.

Let your wonderin' be over, because

I came here on a personal matter.

Mama, shall I go and...

No, no, don't be

leaving, children.

My conversation will be concernin'

you as well as your mother.

Mrs. Nolan, I feel that

there's no disrespect

in my speaking

my mind at this time.

And I feel a decent time has elapsed

since the passin' of Mrs.

McShane, God rest her soul.

I didn't know,

Mr. McShane.

I'm sorry.

Well, I said nothin',

Mrs. Nolan,

because it was near the

time of your own bereavement.

And I didn't wish to...

Well, I know that it's

barely six months now

since your own husband, too,

left this world. Rest his soul.

But when you feel a decent

interval has elapsed,

I'm askin' to keep company

with you, Katherine Nolan,

with the object of a weddin'

when a decent time has elapsed.

And for my part,

I'll be glad to keep company

with you, Mr. McShane,

not for the help

you can give us,

because we know

we can manage some way.

But because you're a

good man, Mr. McShane.

And there's

one more thing.

Their father was a fine man, and I'd have

no wish to be tryin' to take his place.

It would be more my intention to be

like a real good friend.

Now, as the eldest,

would you be approvin'?

Yes, Mr. McShane.

I was thinkin' it

wouldn't be right

for me to ask the two

eldest to take my name.

But the little one, the one who

has never looked on her father,

could you be thinkin' of

lettin' me legally adopt her?

If that time comes, the

child shall have your name.

And now I'm wonderin'

if I could smoke my pipe.

You could have smoked

anytime, Mr. McShane.

Well, I didn't want to take any

privileges before I was entitled to 'em.

Help me put her

to bed, Neeley.

Why?

To fix the blankets.

I'll be heatin' up

the coffee now.

Will ya join me in a cup,

Mr. McShane?

Thank you, Katherine.

I will.

Annie Laurie McShane.

Yeah.

She'll never have the hard

times we had, will she?

She'll never have

the fun, either.

We did have fun when we

were young, didn't we?

Yeah.

Remember the olden days

when we collected junk?

Poor Laurie.

Neeley,

look at the tree.

It's growing again,

just like Papa said.

I feel kind of sad, like we're

saying goodbye to something.

Yeah.

Neeley?

Mmm-hmm?

Am I good-looking?

What's eatin' ya?

No, honest, Neeley.

I wanna know.

You'll pass.

You're sweet, Neeley.

Oh, cut the mush.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes