Imitation of Life Page #7

I'm going to forget

about the office

whileJessie's in town.

We'll give her one round

of gaiety:
Dinners,

theaters, restaurants.

You'll help me,

won't you?

Of course I will.

Ichthyologist.

Ichthyologist.

Ichthyologist.

L-C-H...

Ichthyologist.

Ichthyologist.

"One who makes

a study of... fish."

Fish?

Here's your tea,

darling.

No, thanks.

I really don't care for any.

No? Well, I'm gonna

swallow mine

and go freshen up a bit.

Not even one of these?

No, thank you.

Mr. Archer and I are going to

give you a whirl to take the taste

of school out of your mouth.

I'm going to play hooky

from the office too.

That'll be grand!

Mr. Archer's idea.

He says he'll be proud

to take us about.

I will, indeed.

We're going to have

a marvelous time.

You and Stephen can plan

what plays you'd like to see

while I'm dressing.

Well, have you any suggestions

about plays?

Do you know what's on?

I'm afraid I don't.

I'll have to look over

the list.

But I'm very much interested

in ichthyology.

Are you?

That's very flattering.

Take, for instance,

the habits

of the sea mew.

Is the sea mew the same family...

I'm afraid

you have me stumped there.

You see, my subject is fish.

The sea mew is a bird.

Oh.

But that's a perfectly

natural mistake.

The sea mew ought to be a fish.

[Laughing]

I'm caught, aren't I?

The very first crack.

It takes a bit of doing

to tell the birds

from the fish.

I suppose

I'd better confess.

Oh, do.

I was bluffing. I didn't

know what ichthyology meant

until I looked it up.

But I read so fast,

I couldn't remember.

A better way for you to learn

about ichthyology would be

to see my private aquarium.

Could I? I'd love to.

When may I come?

Would tomorrow

be too soon?

Tomorrow would be perfect.

[Knocking At Door]

Come in.

Hello, Delilah.

Excuse me, Miss Bea.

I hope I ain't bothering ya.

What is it?

I'm in trouble again.

Peola. She's left the school.

Oh, Delilah!

I'm sure it's not as bad

as you think.

But it's four days now

since she left the school,

and she ain't come home.

We'll go down there.

We won't leave a stone unturned

until we find her.

Mother.!

Darling, I'm so sorry.

I've got to go away

for a few days.

Delilah has had

some bad news.

Peola's disappeared from

the school, so I've got

to go down there with her.

What do you suppose...

We don't know

anything more, darling.

I'm sorry. Anything I can do?

Yes. Will you take

care ofJessie?

I'll do my best.

There's Delilah now.

Poor Delilah.

I'll go speak to her.

Yes, do.

I'm awfully sorry, Delilah.

I know everything's

going to be all right.

[Delilah]

If anything happens

to that child,

I just get sick

all over.

I hate to run away,

but if you could have seen

Delilah's face...

I understand.

I'll say good-bye here.

Good-bye, darling.

Telegraph me often.

Yes, I will, darling.

I wish I could go with you.

I wish you could too,

but there's Jessie.

I know. By the time

you get back, Jessie and I

will be great friends.

I'm sure you will.

[Train Whistle Blowing]

Good evening, madam.

Good evening, sir.

Two, please.

Certainly.

This way, please.

This must be

the place.

There she is,

Miss Bea!

Yes.

How do you like

your new job?

Very much, thank you.

[Cash Register Bell Rings]

Thank you.

Give me one of those.

Yes.

What can I do

for you?

Peola.

We've been looking

everywhere for you.

Are you talking to me?

There must be some mistake.

My name isn't Peola.

There ain't no mistake.

Why have you got this job?

You don't have to work.

I'll give you everything you want.

What are you talking about?

I'm sure you've got me confused

with someone else.

Why, Peola child!

I'm your mammy!

Why, that's ridiculous!

I never saw you before in my life!

[Man]

What's the meaning

of this?

This woman doesn't know

what she's talking about.

Do I look like

her daughter?

Do I look like

I could be her daughter?

Why, she must be crazy!

[Bea] Peola.!

How can you talk

to your mother that way?

Come on, Delilah.

Come on.

Brace up, Delilah.

Everything will turn out

all right.

We'll find her again.

Yes'm.

Miss Bea, there she is!

She's back.

Peola's come home.

She's back home. My baby!

[Door Opens, Closes]

[Footsteps]

Baby!

My little lamb.

Oh.

Peola, you're back.!

Yes, Mother.

And I want to tell you

how sorry I am

for what I did to you.

Oh, that's all right.

Come, come, baby,

and sit down.

It don't feel like

you're really here

standin' so far off.

Mother, I've done everything

you wanted me to.

I went to that school

and tried to be happy there

to please you.

But I couldn't bear it.

I couldn't.!

I had to get away.!

I understand, baby.

We're gonna forget

all about it now.

It's all right.

But it isn't all right.

[Peola]

I want to talk to you.

I'll go upstairs, Delilah.

[Delilah] No, Miss Bea.

You stay, please.

I want you to hear too.

What's my little baby

got on her mind?

I want to go away.

Go away?

Go where, Peola?

I mean...

by that I mean

I want to go away.

And you mustn't see me

or own me...

or claim me

or anything.

I mean, even if you

passed me on the street,

you'll have to pass me by.

No, Peola!

I know it's terrible of me,

Miss Bea.

But you don't know

what it is to look white

and be black.

You don't know.

I can't go on this way

any longer.

I can't give up my baby.

I bore ya.

I nursed ya.

I love ya. I love ya more

than you can guess.

You can't ask your mammy

to do this!

You've got to promise me,

Mother.

I'm your mammy, child!

I ain't no white mother!

It's too much to ask of me.

I ain't got the spiritual

strength to meet it.

I can't hang on no cross!

I ain't got the strength.

You can't ask me

to unborn my own child.

I'm sorry, Mother.

I know it's asking a lot,

but I've got to live

my own life.

Good-bye.

Peola, how can you hurt

your mother so?

How can you make her suffer

this way?

I'm sorry, Miss Bea,

but I can't help it!

[Delilah Sobbing]

Don't cry, Delilah.

Don't cry.

She'll come back to you.

Give her a little time.

A few hard knocks,

and she'll come running

back to her mother.

That's what mothers

are for!

She'll remember

that you're here to turn to.

No, Miss Bea.

I've lost my baby.

She won't ever come back.

Of course she will!

I'm going to getJulie

to fix you a cup of tea.

And I'll be down again

in a few minutes.

Thank you, Miss Bea.

I'll be all right.

Mother.!

Hello.

Darling, you're back!

Yes, darling.

We came in downstairs.

Peola's here, you know.

Yes, I saw her.

I've missed you so.

You've been gone

such a long time.

Mmm. Five days.

It was only supposed

to be two.

What's the matter?

You look troubled.

I am troubled.

I've just seen

such a tragedy.

Poor Delilah!

What did Peola do?

She's gone.

She's gone away.

Disowned her mother.

Oh, how dreadful!

Darling, if ever anything

should ever come between us,

it would kill me.

Nothing can, Mother.

We must see

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