Blossoms in the Dust Page #5

They're from all over Texas.

Mrs. Taylor?

Yes, Your Honor.

This boy's name is Tony. Tony...?

Just Tony, Your Honor.

Oh, I see.

The record shows the mother to have

been of reputable family, Mrs. Bedlow.

The baby has not been

very well looked after.

But, doubtless, under proper conditions...

...sufficient food and care,

he will blossom out into...

I'm sorry, Your Honor, but...

Well, you see, judge, we live among

rather conservative people and...

You insist on legitimacy?

Yes, judge.

You'll have to take

the baby back, Mrs. Taylor.

Yes, Your Honor.

But, judge...

Ho, ho.

Where are you, sweetheart?

- Hello there.

- Hello, darling.

- Got a surprise for you.

- Have you?

Oh, darling, you worked all through

your lunch hour again.

I wasn't hungry. Wait till you see

who's going to spend the night.

Here?

Oh, Sam.

Why, it's Zeke.

I sure is powerfully glad to see you,

Mrs. Gladney.

What do you know,

he's got a job in Fort Worth.

- Who are you going to work for?

- Why, I'm gonna work for y'all.

Now, look here, Zeke, you know

perfectly well we can't afford you.

Well, if you can't afford me for the work,

then I'll just sort of hang around.

And I know that nobody ain't gonna pay

a man nothing for just hanging around.

Except maybe his eating and sleeping.

Oh, but that wouldn't be fair, Zeke.

Fair to you, I mean.

Oh, but you'll be doing me a powerfully

big favor, Mrs. Gladney.

What have you done

since we left Sherman?

Well, I got odd jobs now and again.

But I didn't seem to get up no interest,

Mr. Gladney.

One day, along come a freight train,

and that freight train said to me...

...he said, "Zeke, why don't you catch hold

and come on down to Fort Worth?"

And the first thing you know,

there I was and here I is.

Darling, we can take blankets out of

the spare room and fix him up in the shed.

Well...

- I, uh... I, uh...

- Huh?

Come along.

Well, what does this mean?

Sam, these children were up for adoption

at the court this afternoon.

You didn't neglect to register

and mail those papers?

No, of course not. They went out

on the 2:
10. But, Sam...

...I wish you could see

what goes on in that court.

Children are tagged. Tagged like cattle.

These two were turned down

because they were foundlings.

Judge let me have them. He's given me

two weeks to find them homes.

And Sam, I'm going to do it.

What's the baby's name, Mrs. Gladney?

Just Tony.

Tony.

And it's just two now, Zeke,

but she'll probably wind up with 40.

Well, I knows where I can get

plenty of help.

Shut your mouth, will you?

How you expect these children

are gonna get to sleep?

Is this Mrs. Gladney's establishment?

That's what the sign says.

Mrs. Gladney and her establishment.

You may wait.

- Does you wants to see Mrs. Gladney?

- I do.

Mrs. Gladney ain't here, ma'am.

She out ringing doorbells.

- Ringing?

She's raising money for the children.

But I had an appointment.

Children always come before appointments

with Mrs. Gladney, ma'am.

Just help yourself to a chair, thank you.

Hello, honeybunch. Hello, sweetheart.

Hello. Hello, son.

How do you do, Mrs. Gladney?

Oh, I am sorry to be so late.

I'm back, Tony.

Look at me, Tony.

- Has he been all right, Cleo?

- Right as he ever is. Poor little fella.

Sweetheart.

I'm Mrs. Marcus Gilworth.

I telephoned for this appointment.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Gilworth.

I'll be with you in a moment.

Would you mind counting this, please?

The baby's waiting, Mr. and Mrs. Loring.

- Just a minute.

- Oh, thank you.

Mrs. Gladney.

Mrs. Gladney, look at that.

It say 104.

- Did you wash it in nice hot water?

- Yes.

I thought so.

Everybody tells me always use hot water.

And I uses it and then I gets the devil.

Now, Mrs. Loring, here she is.

Come on, sweetheart.

There. Little Janice.

She's going to grow up to be a tomboy.

Just like you were once upon a time.

Why, Mrs. Gladney, how did you know...?

Oh, I spent months finding out

all about you.

You see, it isn't enough just to give a baby

to people who want a child.

They should love the same things.

They should, as far as possible,

have the same characteristics.

That's why I study the child

and its tendencies...

...and I study the parents and theirs.

Then I try to match them.

That's why I know that this is your baby.

Look at her, Dora.

She's making eyes at me.

Why, Janice Loring, behave yourself.

- Janice Loring. Doesn't that sound great?

- Oh, Ned.

You must get her home before her resting

time. And here's her food formula...

...and instructions for everything.

- Goodbye, darling.

- Bye.

Why, Mrs. Gladney, you're crying.

I work like fury to get them adopted...

...and then cry like a fool when they go.

- I'll write to you every week.

- You will?

Of course.

Goodbye. Take good care of her.

Goodbye, Mrs. Gladney,

and a thousand thanks.

Janice Loring. Gee.

- Well?

- It ain't enough money by about $6.

I'll go out again this afternoon.

If I owned the milk company, Mrs. Gladney,

I'd let you have it for nothing.

- Thank you. I hope you do someday.

- Thanks.

Oh, yes, Mrs. Gilworth.

My husband and I decided to give

the advantage of our home...

...to one of your foundlings,

Mrs. Gladney.

- How nice.

- Course, we wouldn't want one that cries.

I see.

Well, will you step into the office?

Hello.

Oh, Max. I thought you'd never get here.

I'm sorry. I had six maternities

to wind up before I could leave.

I know, I know, Max.

But I've been so worried about Tony.

Here he is.

A redhead, heh?

I've had every specialist in Fort Worth,

and nobody's helped him. Nobody.

- Now, which leg is it?

- The left.

The left.

- What treatment has he had?

- All sorts. I've stopped giving him medicine.

I massage him. I give him sun.

Yeah, that's what he needs.

Especially massage, plenty of it.

There's a new method of massage

underwater. But it takes...

Mrs. Gladney.

When I came here out of the goodness

of my heart, I didn't expect to be insulted.

Oh, Mrs. Gilworth, I am sorry.

But Dr. Breslar has come all the way from

Sherman and he's a very busy pediatrician.

Pedia... Pedia...?

She means a baby doctor.

Yes, I know.

This way, please, Mrs. Gilworth.

I'll be with you soon, doctor.

Oh, doctor. I'm adopting a baby.

Maybe you'd like to help

with your advice.

Come along, doctor.

I want you to see Tony's chart, anyway.

Sit down, Mrs. Gilworth, please.

I'd want to know all about the baby,

its background, parents and so forth.

Oh, yes, indeed. We have to be very

careful about the children...

...and the prospective parents.

- Naturally.

Oh, I suppose you do.

Now, your full name,

Mrs. Gilworth, please.

That's Tony, I'm sorry.

Excuse me, please.

- Will you make this out for me, Max?

- Oh, sure.

Your name?

Gilworth. Mrs. Marcus Gilworth.

- Your husband's occupation?

- He's a member of the board of supervisors.

Two names of people

who would vouch for you.

I said my husband

was a member of the board.

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