Brother Orchid Page #7

That still doesn't explain

this milking of yours.

I milked Hildegard for years.

And do as I might, she never yielded

more than 12 quarts a day.

Yet from the first time you milked her,

she gave 16.

Oh, well, it just sums up

to one thing, pal.

I put a little more into my work

and get a little more out.

- We bear wonderful news, Brother Orchid.

- Congratulations.

- What about?

- Thanks to you...

...for the month just ended, Hildegard

has yielded a total of 492 quarts.

It's beyond belief.

Brother Superior asked us

to tell you your reward.

Beginning tomorrow, you're to be given your

own zinnia bed to cultivate all by yourself.

Zinnia bed, huh? That good?

Zinnias earn us most of our money in

the flower market this time of the year.

You will have a grave responsibility.

And I might add that is the highest award

a brotherhood can bestow upon a novice.

No kidding, huh?

Well, say, I sure appreciate that. Heh.

With your permission, we'll go at once and

spread the good tidings to all the brothers.

Yeah. Go ahead, pals.

I wanna be alone, you know.

Getting this honor makes me feel

a little dizzy.

You know, these guys are so swell to me,

Hildegard, I just ain't got the heart.

Beginning right now, I'm only gonna

spike it two quarts instead of three.

It's not so much that they're the best

zinnias we've ever grown...

...but it's the thought that Brother

Orchid has raised them all by himself.

It is remarkable.

Think of him when he arrived,

to realize that after three months...

...he's developed into

one of our best workers.

Yes, he is a changed man.

And his work reflects the change too.

Look.

Look. Aren't they beautiful?

Congratulations. These are lovely.

- Very lovely.

- Yeah, thanks, Brother Superior.

I was telling Brother Superior

how hard you worked.

Yeah, I am kind of tuckered out.

But I don't mind it.

They're very beautiful

but you mustn't work too hard.

I can't help it. You know,

them zinnias are just like my babies.

Would you believe it?

Sometimes in the night...

...I catch myself wanting to get up

and give them a drink.

We're very proud of you.

You're setting us all a splendid example.

Well, thank you, warden.

I mean, Brother Superior.

I guess I am giving you something

to shoot at.

This being Wednesday, tonight after supper,

I will deliver one of my informal talks.

You shall be the subject.

Yeah?

Well, say, that's swell. Heh-heh.

Glad you tipped me off.

Ain't taken a bow in so long.

I'm afraid my back will creak.

- Continue with your work, Brother Orchid.

- Yeah. Thanks.

Hop to it. You got more rows to hoe,

then knock off for the day.

Brother Orchid,

my father says I should ask you...

...when you're gonna pay me

the 50 cents for last month.

Oh.

Tell your old man not to worry.

Maybe tomorrow I'll slip you an IOU.

That'll do you as much good as my check.

Now hop to it, will you?

Ahh.

As is customary, tonight I had planned

one of my informal talks.

My subject was to have been a brother

who has been with us just a few months.

Unfortunately, just before supper,

an incident took place...

...which makes it impossible for me to

deliver the talk I had previously planned.

What I am about to say

pains me very deeply.

We have worked together in harmony

for a long, long time.

But now...

...for the first time

in more than 20 years...

...I find I must publicly

reprimand a member of this order.

- Brother Orchid...

- Huh?

...just before this meal,

Joseph's father came to see me.

He tells me that his son

has been working in your zinnia patch...

...and that you now refuse to pay him.

- Is that true?

- Why, the little muzzler.

Brother, you are not

answering the question.

Has Joseph been doing your work?

Well, no, not exactly.

I did have the kid toss a pail or two

of fertilizer but I couldn't help it.

I'm allergic to it.

There are times, Brother Orchid,

when we appreciate your earthy witticisms.

This is not such a time.

I'm sorry.

The fact remains that you promised

Joseph money...

...and you had no money

with which to pay him.

Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

We have two rules here, my friend:

One, we do not hire others

to do our work.

Two, we do not make promises

we cannot fulfill.

You have hurt and shamed every man

in this room.

Because, being brothers,

we must all share your disgrace.

That is all. Good night.

Here, wait a minute now.

I got something to say too.

You're all making me feel like

I was a heel and I don't like it.

You know, not so long ago, I was out in

the world looking for class and society.

If anybody told me

I'd get myself upset over zinnia...

...gee, I would have thought

they was nuts.

Believe it or not,

I worked hard over them flowers.

And I did all the work myself.

I dug up that patch. I raked it,

planted the seeds, watered them...

...pulled out the weeds.

And when the flowers started to grow...

...gee, I got a kick

like I never had before.

But you can't change a guy overnight.

I'm such a mug

that was taught to look for angles.

Take things easy

and you live a little longer.

So a couple of weeks ago,

I asked this kid to work for me.

And I thought I was being awful smart.

I guess...

I guess I wasn't so smart.

You may all retire.

When the heart speaks, Brother Orchid...

...other hearts must respond.

We're going to forget everything

that happened.

Are we?

Tomorrow morning,

this will be a closed incident.

By the way, how much did you say

you owe the boy?

Fifty cents.

The world moves on.

Twenty years ago, for exactly

the same work, I paid only a quarter.

What's wrong, Brother Orchid?

Are you ill?

No, I'm all right. I'm all right.

"Florence Addams,

popular nightclub owner...

...announced that she would marry

Clarence P. Fletcher...

...wealthy Midwestern rancher,

next week.

Miss Addams was reported to be fiance

of Little John Sarto, gang leader...

...who is believed slain but

whose body has never been discovered. "

Oh, so I'm a dead pigeon, huh?

"'Well, never in my life,'

Miss Addams told reporters...

'... have I been so thrilled and happy. "'

Oh, Brother Superior,

will you do me a favor?

Why, certainly, what is it?

Look, I've always wanted to know

how the selling part is run.

How's about taking me

to the market with you?

Let me see.

Yes, you've been with us long enough.

I think you've earned a trip

to the city. Get in.

Thanks.

You've barely spoken all the way in,

Brother Orchid.

Is the trip thrilling you as much as that?

No, I ain't thrilled.

- Look, I'm getting out here.

- Wait, where...?

I can't tell you. I haven't got time.

I'll meet you here...

...then I'll tip you off to everything.

- But, Brother Orchid, wait.

- Oui, monsieur?

- Oui, yourself. Let me in.

Don't stand there ogling.

Where's your boss?

Madame is at the beauty salon.

Whom shall I say called?

Don't say anybody called. I'm waiting.

- Thank you very much.

- Go on now, beat it.

Hey, what's the matter with you?

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