Born Yesterday Page #4

There's somethin' I want,

I ask.

If he don't act friendly...

I don't act friendly.

So, as long as I know how to get

what I want, that's all I wanna know.

- As long as you know what you want.

- Sure.

- What?

- As long as you know what you want.

- Are you tryin' to mix me up?

- Well, no.

- I'll tell you what I would like.

- Yes?

- I'd like to learn how to talk good.

- All right.

- Is it hard to learn?

- I don't think so.

What do I have to do?

Well, I might give you

a few books to start with...

and every now and then I'll correct you,

if you don't mind.

- Go ahead.

- Well, that is, when I know.

I don't talk so good myself.

- You'll do.

- Good.

I never say "ain't."

Did you notice that?

- Oh, I do.

- I'll correct you, then.

Do that.

Since I was very small,

I never say it.

We had this teacher,

she used to slug you if you did it.

- Did what?

- Said "ain't."

So I got out of the habit.

- You think it was worth the slugging?

- Oh, not hard.

There's too much slugging.

I don't believe in it.

- I don't believe in it either.

- Good.

- I learn pretty fast, don't I?

- You're great, Miss Dawn.

Billie.

- Sort of an odd name, isn't it?

- Half the kids I know are named it.

- Anyway, it isn't my real name.

- Oh? What is?

Holy cats. Emma.

What's the matter?

Do I look like an Emma?

You don't look like a Billie either.

- What do I look like?

- To me?

Yeah, you.

You look like a lovely girl.

Oh.

Let me ask you.

Are you one of these talkers...

or would you be interested

in a little action?

What?

I got a yen for you right off.

Well, do you get many?

- Now and then.

- What do you do about them?

- Stick around, you'll find out.

- All right, I will.

If you want a tip, I'll tell you.

Sweet-talk me. I like it.

Like that "lovely girl" line.

Don't worry about him.

He don't see a thing.

He's too dizzy

from bein' a big man.

Well, this is gonna be

a little different than I thought.

- Do you mind?

- No.

It's only fair.

We'll educate each other.

Yeah.

- Now, about those books...

- Yes.

I'll look around my place. If there's

anything interesting, I'll drop it by.

All right.

You can drop it by,

even if it's not so interesting.

You two gonna get together?

I think we're all set.

Great. Appreciate it.

So do I.

I guess I'll be going.

So tong, kid!

So tong, kid.

Gin!

Forty-one.

- Forty-one?

- Forty-one.

If you pay attention,

that Verrall guy can do you some good.

All right.

You're in the big league now,

and I want you should watch your step.

All right.

You gotta learn to fit in.

Can't have you around if you don't,

and that's no bull.

Have to be careful

of what you do and what you say.

Three.

Twenty-eight.

- Twenty-eight?

- Twenty-eight!

You could use a little education

yourself, if you ask me.

- Who asked ya?

- Nobody.

So shut up!

- Can't I talk?

- Go on, play your cards.

It's a free country.

That's what you think.

Baby

Do you mind?

Gin.

Thirty-four.

- Thirty-four?

- Thirty-four!

- Schneider!

- Where do you get that?

Fifty-five dollars and sixty cents.

All right, that's enough.

- Pay me now.

- What's the matter? Don't you trust me?

Sore loser.

Shut up!

Fifty-five dollars and sixty cents.

Thanks.

You gonna play like that

all night?

What?

Hurt your eyes.

Gee, I like to see you

lookin' swell

Baby

Diamond bracelets

Woolworth doesnt sell

I tried your suite.

No answer.

Yeah, I know.

I'm not in.

- Morning papers.

- Oh.

You could've saved yourself the trouble.

I don't read papers.

Never?

Once in a while the back part.

The funnies.

I think you should. The front part.

The not-so-funnies.

- Why?

- Well, because it's interesting.

- Not to me.

- How do you know if you never read it?

If you're gonna turn out to be a pest,

we can call the whole thing off now.

- Sorry.

- Oh.

I look at the paper sometimes,

but I just never understand it...

so what's the sense?

I tell you what.

Read these, and anything you don't

understand just make a circle around it.

Then tomorrow I'll explain

whatever I can.

- All right?

- All right.

And I thought

you might like these.

I'll try.

Look, just start reading.

If you don't like it, stop.

Start something else.

There's only one thing:

My eyesight isn't so hot.

- Why don't you wear glasses?

- Glasses?

- Sure. Why not?

- 'Cause they're terrible.

Of course,

they're not so bad on men.

- Good night, Billie.

- Good night.

Is Miss Dawn around?

- Have you seen Miss Dawn?

- In her room.

- Hello!

- Yes?

- Ready to start.

- Come on up!

Been reading, huh?

That's good.

Yeah.

- Sit down.

- Thanks.

- Did you have your breakfast yet?

- And lunch.

Oh.

There's a few things here.

Which?

Read it out.

You want me to read?

Billie, I feel that things

are complicated enough without...

complicating them further.

I oughta take this pencil

and make a circle around you.

- Here are a few places you oughta see.

- A few?

Let's start with the Capitol.

I'll tell you all I know about it.

Then we'll join one of the tours.

Senate's in session today.

We might be able to take that in.

But first let's go to the rotunda.

It's famous for...

Come on.

You'll find it interesting.

Im comin'.

Is now before the Congress.

On the walls of this rotunda...

are eight historical paintings...

which immediately catches

the eye of the stranger.

Starting with the landing of

the Pilgrims over the east door...

four Revolutionary War paintings...

depicting the start

and the finish of that war...

and its two greatest battles.

The east wall contains paintings

which pre-date the Revolutionary Period.

Around the circular room are

statues of Washington, Jefferson...

the spirit of George Washington.

Washington is the figure

with the purple robe across his legs.

The figures around him

represent liberty and victory...

and the 13 original states.

Brumidi did most of that work

while lying on his hack...

on a scaffold

built from the floor to the dome...

a distance of 180 feet

and three inches.

How could anybody

paint upside-down like that?

Give me one of those.

- Hello.

- How are ya?

Come here.

I wanna show you something.

There's the Constitution...

the Declaration of Independence...

and... Come here.

And the Bill of Rights.

- Know how old these rights are?

- Oh, about 180 years.

Who told you?

- What else do you know about 'em?

- What else?

For instance, this whole country is

founded on these three pieces of paper.

This whole country?

"The right of the people...

to keep and hear arms...

shall not be 'infringed."'

Infringed.

Good thing it's covered with glass.

I'd be makin' circles all over it.

How about some ice-cream?

Anything but tutti-frutti!

- How's chocolate?

- Fine.

- I like you better with them on.

- What?

Your glasses!

Thanks. You know,

chocolates the most popular.

I read that.

It's interesting how many interesting

things a person could learn...

if they read.

I don't suppose you got a chance

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