Johnny Belinda Page #3

while I'm gone, leave me be.

It's a good job you're going.

We'll have peace around here

for a couple of days.

It's like a miracle.

- Would she be saying "father"?

- Yes, she did.

It's the first time she ever called me that.

Daughter, my daughter.

What do they want?

What's going on here, McCormick?

Where's my flour?

McQuiggens wants theirs, too.

It's all done.

We'd better load it

before we get too dizzy from dancing.

It's there on the racks. Load it and get out.

Here it is, boys. Get to it!

All these are mine.

Put them on the bottom.

Yes, Lock.

- Afraid you'll crack a fingernail?

- Flour don't go good on my suit.

This floor's slick as a whistle.

Hey, Hector, come on. Give us a tune.

Hi, Stella, you're looking very handsome.

You like to dance.

Why don't you come with us?

- Yes.

- It'll be fun. Basket supper.

I'd love to. Unfortunately,

I have a previous engagement.

Two measles cases five miles apart.

Hey, the Dummy's dancing.

- Her name's Belinda.

- She looks kind of cute fixed up that way.

You keep away from that Dummy.

Keep away... The Dummy and me?

I saw you taking in her legs.

Jealous of a dimwit.

I'm plum ashamed of you, woman!

One thing, she'd never tell on you.

- But keep away from her or I'll be able...

- Well, I guess that's all.

What are we waiting for?

I want some cider. Come on, hurry up.

Locky!

- What's the damage, Mac?

- You know what it is.

Locky, come on.

Everybody, sing. Everybody, sing now.

Didn't have time to finish them.

I can't do 10 things at once.

It's not my fault if my sister got sick.

Well, I'll only be gone a few days.

You can manage.

- Aggie!

- I'm coming.

Well, goodbye, Belinda.

Sometimes a body'd almost think

you understood.

You'll miss the train.

Besides, I don't want to leave Belinda

alone too long.

Nobody would bother stealing her.

There's Mrs. Johnny John-John

just back from hospital.

She looks right spry for a woman

who's just had her arteries cut out.

Not her arteries, Mrs. Lutz.

Get off my feet. You're drunk.

Mrs. Moore is her own worst enemy.

Not while I'm alive, she isn't.

Hello, Dummy.

Look what I brought you.

Want to dance?

First time a man kissed you, wasn't it?

Don't be scared, Dummy.

Your heart's pounding.

I caught a sea gull once,

it had the same scared look.

Hello, Mac.

Glad you're here. You've been missed.

Well, I'm sorry. I was busy with my call.

I've been worried about the girl.

There's something wrong.

- Why?

- You can see for yourself.

All right.

Hello, Aggie. You get back all right?

Wouldn't be here if I hadn't, would I?

- Is your sister better?

- Yes.

- Did she have a good doctor?

- Didn't have any. Doesn't believe in them.

Well, that's the right attitude

as long as one can afford it.

How's Belinda?

Getting peevisher by the day.

- Where is she?

- Around here somewhere.

Belinda. How are you?

Are you cross with me

for not coming to see you?

Well, you see, I couldn't.

Many men and women

suddenly decided to be sick...

at the same time.

Would you like to study your lesson now?

All right, no lesson.

Belinda, if you could only hear me.

You think I don't know what it means

being lonely like you are?

I've been lonely myself,

even when I was a child.

Already then I wanted to be a doctor.

I thought that helping others

might help me. It did somehow.

Then all those other things happened.

The war and all that came after.

Made me lose faith in everything.

In myself, too.

Belinda.

Belinda, you must help me.

I need you.

Yes. I need you.

If you only knew what it meant

seeing you smile for the first time.

Bringing happiness, if it's only

to one single human being, is...

Belinda, don't let me think

I've failed again.

You'll help me.

Mac. Mac, come here.

Mac, Belinda's great trouble

is nothing more than loneliness.

And she's got to have a chance.

Now, there's a doctor in Stepney,

I met him at McGill.

A brilliant diagnostician.

I don't know exactly what good

it would do...

but I'd like to take Belinda to him.

Belinda...

how would you like to go with me

to see a town?

T-O-W-N.

A big town.

You've done such wonders

with her yourself.

Why does she have to go see that fellow?

Because, Mac, I don't know enough

and I think he does.

Doctor like that costs money.

Don't worry about that. I'm going to write

and ask him for an interview.

I'm sure he'll do it.

I'm going to write him tonight.

No, Belinda, not women. Men.

Do you see any hope, Doctor?

Aye, that's why we keep on practicing,

Robert.

I understand your concern,

but she needn't worry.

The one fact I'm sure of

is there's no otosclerosis...

so as you know, it can't be hereditary.

There's no possibility the expected child

could inherit it.

Clinically, the birth of the child

could make all the difference...

if my theory is correct.

I cannot say for certain, nobody can.

But what you've accomplished

is remarkable.

I'd hardly say that.

I just tried a few things I knew.

You've always been an idealist

from way back.

Yeah, that's what makes good doctors,

Robert.

Keep in communication with me.

I'll be interested in following

the case with you.

- I'd be very grateful.

- Goodbye, lad.

Dr. Gray said it wasn't possible

to determine her condition...

after only one examination.

He said she was very healthy,

very intelligent.

And that he wanted to see her again.

Fine. Now maybe she'll have a chance.

She's worn out.

She slept nearly the whole way home.

Belinda, why don't you go upstairs to bed?

Good night, daughter.

She looks so grand in that dress.

Beats me why I never noticed it before.

Do you think I could take her to church

come Sunday?

She's only been there the once,

when she was a child.

Of course, why not?

Right now, how about taking the cows

to the barn?

I'm forgetting everything.

You're not very fond of Belinda, are you?

I've always been civil to her.

She's my brother's daughter.

You should see to it that she doesn't

have to carry those heavy sacks.

She's not too strong.

Doctor, you'll be doing

my brother and me a favor...

if you'll stop putting

those grand ideas into her head.

There were no complaints until you came.

She did her work like the rest of us...

like we all have to do if we want

to keep a roof over our heads.

I have to tell you, Aggie,

you're the only woman she knows...

and she'll be in need

of your sympathy and help.

- My help?

- Belinda's going to have a child.

Oh, no. No, it's not true.

There isn't any doubt.

When her father finds out, he'll kill her.

That's why I told you.

She doesn't know.

Doesn't even realize it herself yet.

- But he must find out.

- I'll tell him, at the right moment.

Oh, it's...

Do you have any idea who the man was?

No.

Don't let anything happen to her.

I've been pretty brusque with her.

You're making up for it now.

We MacDonalds, we're high-tempered.

We fight amongst ourselves...

but let trouble come from outside...

and we'll stick together.

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