Imitation of Life Page #8

that it doesn't.

Don't be silly.

There's no reason.

Come sit down

a minute.

How much

have you missed me?

Lots, of course.

But not as much as I might have

if Stephen hadn't taken your place.

Oh, so I've been supplanted, have I?

But you have got on well?

Oh, have we!

We've dined out every night

and danced,

seen three plays

and two picture galleries

and the Bronx Park Zoo.

Well!

Your ichthyologist is grand.

I think we ought

to keep him in the family.

He thinks you're beautiful.

He said so.

Did he?

Mm-hmm.

He thinks I'm nice too.

Mother, why do I have

to go back to school?

What's this?

Well, after all...

Too much vacation.

You don't want me to turn out

to be a stuffy intellectual, do you?

[Laughing]

I have no very serious fears

about that, my sweet. No.

After all, what's the good of

algebra and all that stuff to a girl?

This sounds very

suspicious to me.

You sure you haven't some

handsome football captain in hiding?

No, he isn't

a football captain.

But there is someone!

I'll have

to look into that.

Right now I want a tub.

I'm so sticky after

my night on the train.

Right, darling.

And I'm going out.

Where?

Just out.

Oh, out! I see.

Out's a big place.

Be back in an hour or two.

See that you are.

I've just begun to talk to you.

[Phone Ringing]

[Ringing]

Hello.

Hello, Stephen.

This is Bea.

Oh, hello, Bea!

I'm so glad you're back.

When can I come over?

I'm just getting

into the tub.

Give me half an hour.

Jessie tells me

you've played the beau

in grand style.

She's a most appealing little person,

half child and half woman.

I've had

a delightful time.

Hurry with that bath, will you?

I'll be waiting for you.

Good-bye, dear.

[Doorbell Buzzing]

Hello.

Well, if it isn't

the night prowler herself.

I didn't think you'd get up

at all today.

Wasn't it too dreadful,

getting home in broad daylight

like that?

I never enjoyed anything

so much in my life.

No repentance?

Not now.

I'll probably have plenty

of repenting to do

when Mother finds out.

She got home an hour ago.

Yes, I know. I've just been

talking to her on the phone.

I'm going over there

as soon as I get through

fixing Horace.

Oh.

Want to come along

and have a look at Horace?

I thought Horace was

a new species,

but he's turned out to be

just an ordinary crab.

Stephen, I've just told Mother

I don't want to go back to school.

No? Why not?

I want to stay here.

Stephen,

what do you think of me?

I think you're just about

the nicest child

I've ever known.

Now, don't you begin

that child stuff!

At 37, anything under 20

seems a babe in arms.

I think 37 is the ideal age.

Don't you believe it.

It's a dreadful age.

Well, I like it.

You know,

I think I like the ones

with the big claw best.

Mmm, the bachelors.

Poor lonely hearts.

Why don't you put

a lady crab in with them?

They'd tear each other

to pieces over her.

How romantic!

For the winner.

He becomes

a married crab?

For the time being

at least.

Divorce is common?

Statistics show

about the same percentage

as in the United States.

You're a nut.

Excuse me.

When I marry,

I'm never going to be divorced.

How do you know?

Just that...

when a girl like me falls

in love, it's forever,

forever and ever.

What makes you so sure?

Because I am in love.

You are?

Well, don't you think

you might've told me?

Is he handsome?

Stephen, it's you.

I love you.

Jessie, my dear...

It's true!

I do love you!

Do you think it's fair

to make sport

of your elders?

I'm not!

I'm serious, Stephen,

terribly serious.

Oh, no, you're not.

You're just a baby.

Oh.

Stephen, we did have fun

together, didn't we?

I thought so.

Grand fun.

That night we rode on

the ferry to Staten Island,

on the top deck

under the stars.

And last night,

in the open barouche,

driving up Fifth Avenue.

That was fun, wasn't it?

For you, I mean.

You bet it was.

No, it wasn't!

You were just putting

yourself out to be nice

to a child!

A perfectly silly child!

Jessie.!

Hello, dear.

You didn't stay long,

did you?

No, l...

I'm just going down

to see Delilah.

Jarvis.

How do you do, sir?

Oh, Stephen!

I'm so glad to see you!

It's great

to have you back again.

Jessie just came in

ahead of you, or have

you two come in together?

I stopped in at Stephen's

apartment. I wanted to see

how Eph and Maggie were.

Eph and Maggie?

Who in the world

are they?

They're two of the crabs.

Oh, now, don't tell me

you've named them!

Oh, yes,

they all have names.

One's Elmer.

And one's named Fanny.

You didn't know

I was getting to be quite

an ichthyologist myself.

[Bea]

That's splendid.

Mrs. Pullman,

can you come right away?

It's Delilah.

Oh, yes.

Excuse me.

Better now?

Yes'm, Miss Bea.

I just somehow...

give out all of a sudden.

'Tain't nothin'.

You go upstairs.

Mary here,

she'll do for me fine.

I'm going to stay right here

until you're feeling better.

Delilah, if there's

anything you want...

Thank you, Miss Bea.

There is somethin'.

I want me a good funeral.

What?

Delilah, what are you

talking about?

You're going to be

all right.

No, Miss Bea.

I'm all through now.

But that's all right.

I ain't a-worryin' much.

If the Lord is ready,

'tain't for me to hesitate.

Oh, no.

Delilah, I just couldn't do

without you.

None of us could.

That's awful sweet of you

to say, Miss Bea.

I appreciate it.

But about my funeral.

All right,

what about it?

I'll promise you

the finest funeral in the world,

only you must get well first.

Yes'm.

I paid my dues regular

in all my lodges.

And I'm a church member

in good standin'.

And I do want

a long procession.

I hope all the lodges

turn out in full.

And I hope it don't rain.

I want to go meet my maker

with plenty of bands playin'.

I want to ride up to heaven...

in a white velvet hearse.

Silk velvet.

Purple satin

inside the casket.

I wants them colored folks' eyes

to bulge out.

And another thing.

I want horses

to the hearse.

I don't like the smell

of gasoline.

Delilah, you'll have

everything you want,

but not for years

and years to come.

Oh, you.

You and your processions.

Let me tell you

some good news.

What, Miss Bea?

I'm going

to be married.

Why, Miss Bea!

You see why

you've got to get well

just as quickly as you can?

Married!

The rabbit's foot did do

some good after all,

didn't it?

[Jarvis]

This way, Doctor, please.

Here's the doctor

to see you.

Good evening,

Mrs. Pullman.

Good evening, Doctor.

Well, how's the famous

Aunt Delilah?

Doctor, this big mountain

lying here thinks

she isn't going to get well.

[Doctor]

We'll have to get her

out of that notion.

Better get her undressed.

[Bea] I'll see you

before you leave.

Very good.

[Stephen]Jessie.

[Jessie]

Why didn't you tell me?

[Stephen]

Because your mother asked me

not to until...

[Jessie]

Until I knew you better,

and learned to like you.

[Jessie Crying]

Well, I did, didn't I?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes