A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Page #6

France was where we liked the best?

And all the laughing

we used to do there?

You're gonna sit right down and

tell me we really wasn't there?

Well, I guess we was kind of at

that. And you're gonna tell me

I don't know about them

mountain fastnesses of France.

Katie Nolan,

I'm ashamed of you!

Wasn't there nobody in

school but you, Papa?

No, sir.

We had the whole place

to ourselves. Your papa

better quit talking,

or he'll have you believing

you was in France, too.

No, Papa.

Talk some more!

What's this

here stuff?

Caviar. That comes

all the way from Russia.

Them's fish eggs.

Fish eggs!

Yeah. I never could get it

why they like it, myself,

except that it's hard

to get and costs a lot.

And that makes

it good, Papa?

What about the Russians?

It ain't hard for them

to get. Do they like it?

Well, can you tie that? Now,

ain't we got the smartest kids?

Papa, talk some more.

Tell us all about the party

and don't

leave out anything!

That can wait.

Here. How's that?

$3. Them's good wages.

And good tips, too.

Papa, start! Was there

music and did they dance?

Your mother's got

no time for all that.

You could tell me.

You used to.

Well, it was

kind of nice.

Klommer's, their best room, and

all fixed up with white flowers.

There was flowers

on the table,

flowers on the chandelier

and even on the floor.

Here was a great

big horseshoe table

with lots of

people all around.

And right in front,

a great big wedding cake!

It must've been

three feet tall.

Why didn't you

bring home some of that?

Was the bride pretty?

Well, she was maybe

not so young, but...

Sure! She was beautiful

in a blue dress and all.

And she had diamonds on

her fingers and in her ears!

And she glittered sort of.

And when she walked,

her dress swished kinda.

And the champagne

just flowed like water.

The smell of it got all

mixed up with the flowers

and the powder

the ladies wore,

and it made a wonderful,

new perfume

that made you feel good

just to smell it.

Did you sing

for them, Papa?

I was coming to that.

I got three encores

for My Wild Irish Rose,

and everybody

clapped and clapped.

Then I sang Irish Eyes

are Smiling four times!

It must have been

awful nice!

It was all right.

And when it come time

for them to cut the cake,

the band played

Kiss Me Again,

she put her arms around him,

and, boy, did he look scared!

What was he scared of, Papa?

Huh?

You kids ask too many

questions. You heard the story.

Now go on and go to bed.

It must be 3:
00.

I got a bellyache.

Well, lay on

your right side.

Good night, Mom.

Good night, Neeley.

Good night, Francie.

Francie's kinda

mad at me because...

Well, Sissy made a scene

on the street today

and I asked her

to stay away.

Papa, was there

an impresario there?

No, not tonight,

prima donna.

But you got no call

to be mad at your mama.

She's always got a good

reason for what she does.

Good night, Mama.

Good night, Francie.

Johnny, tell me what else

happened at the party.

Well, it was nice,

just like I told you.

Awful nice.

Johnny, do you think...

I mean,

have I changed a lot?

Changed?

Why, she couldn't hold a

candle to you. She ain't so hot.

I just said that for the kids. No, sir.

No. That's not

what I mean.

What I mean is am I

getting hard, you know?

Now, where did you grab

onto an idea like that? Hard?

I don't know.

I don't want to be,

but, well, there's the kids and all,

and I wanna do

what's right for them,

and maybe sometimes I...

Will you stop

talking like that?

Why, you're prettier

than you ever was!

I almost told that to the whole

bunch down at the party tonight.

I almost said,

"You oughta see my bride

"that's waiting home

for me tonight."

And you was waiting, Katie.

That was nice, awful nice.

It was just

like it used to be.

You told about the party

awful nice tonight, Johnny.

I should have waited up

more often, I guess.

It ain't your fault,

working hard like you do.

You know something?

I wish I could have got you the

rest of that set when we was married.

The guy said it came

all the way from Spain.

What else was in

that set, Johnny?

You ain't told me

for a long time.

Two little side combs

and a locket on a chain.

And a bracelet,

you said?

There's no use talking.

Someday I'm gonna

look that guy up

and get you

the rest of that set.

That's nice,

Johnny, but I...

There's no "buts"

about it. I mean it.

Things are gonna be

different around here.

You ain't gonna be workin'

hard like you are now.

I don't mind the work,

Johnny.

No, sir. I ain't gonna stand for it!

Look at them

pretty hands.

They ain't got no business

being in the water all the time.

I'm gonna change a lot

of things around here.

I'm gonna cut out

the drinking, too.

And just to prove it to ya,

here's my tip money.

No, keep your tips, Johnny. Take

all a man's money, it ain't right!

And I'm gonna keep at 'em

down at the union headquarters

to make 'em

get me some jobs.

Yes, sir. Tonight's the

beginning of something new!

You believe me,

don't you, Katie?

Yeah, Johnny.

Yeah, sure, I do!

I'll be singing all over

Brooklyn and maybe Manhattan, too!

"Have you heard Johnny

Nolan sing?" They'll say.

And then

maybe someday...

Johnny, stop it!

Stop it! Stop talking!

We ain't got a chance.

Who are we

trying to kid?

Yeah.

Sure, you're right.

Who am I trying to kid?

I didn't go to

hurt you, Johnny,

but it's the truth,

and I can't change it.

Yeah.

And I can tell you

something else.

All that baloney about

them encores tonight,

that was just because they was

a little drunk and feeling good.

I wasn't so much.

That's right. I'll never

be able to change it.

Sure, you're right.

Who am I trying to kid?

Neeley Nolan,

you stop that!

I don't wanna wear

no old tie. It's...

Mama said!

Hey, fellas, look at me!

I'm Johnny Nolan!

Hey! Look at me!

All right! Now break it up! Break it up!

Run along! Run along!

All of you! Go on.

He's my pop.

All right now, lad.

Where do you live, huh?

I'll take him home!

He's my father!

Wait a minute, honey.

I expect you'd better be running

along to school, hadn't you?

I'll look

after him for you.

Now, don't you worry.

He ain't in any trouble.

I'll take good care of him.

Here, is this the house?

No, the next one,

second floor, back.

And if you talk to him,

he's always all right.

Sure, sure. I know. Now, don't

you fret. You just run along, huh?

All right, lad.

Come on. We'll make it.

Alive, alive-O

Alive, alive-O

Johnny.

I didn't expect to find you here,

ma'am. Is there anything I can do?

He's my husband.

I can take care of him.

It's all right, Johnny. I'll

get you a nice cup of coffee.

A nice cup of coffee.

Well, I just wanted

to say, ma'am,

that the gentleman

wasn't making no trouble.

He just needed

a little help.

Here.

Drink it, Johnny.

Isn't there anything

that I can do?

If you wasn't new on

the beat, Mr. McShane,

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