Johnny Belinda Page #4

We will open our services by singing

the first verse of hymn number 73.

I'm requested to publish

the banns of marriage...

between Laughlin McCormick

of Carcadie...

and Stella Maguire, spinster of this parish.

If any of you know

cause or just impediment...

why these two persons should not

be joined together in holy matrimony...

ye are to declare it.

This is the first time of asking.

We will close our services

by singing hymn number 43.

You're the lucky one. Congratulations!

Mr. MacDonald, I'm so happy

to see you at our church again...

and Miss MacDonald.

I didn't know I could be so proud

of my own flesh and blood.

Did you see the way

they all turned and looked at her?

Well, Stella, this is quite a surprise.

Thank you.

Well, good luck to you.

When's the wedding?

You mustn't forget your chores, girl.

Have you lost your mind,

Black MacDonald?

What's the matter now?

She's no mule! She can't stand all that.

What's got into you, woman?

I have to have this mash mixed, haven't I?

She's done it ever since we had pigs.

Well, she won't do it anymore.

Now you leave her to me.

Sit down.

You're as white as a sheet.

I'll get you some water.

- Here.

- What's wrong with her?

She's out of sorts.

The doctor told her to take it easy.

Look, I work from 4:00 in the morning

till dark. Year in, year out.

What she has to do is no hardship.

Belinda's a healthy girl.

She's not.

Now you leave her to me

and to the doctor.

What do you make a mystery of it for?

She's my daughter.

I've a right to know

if there's anything serious.

Belinda's gonna have a... A child.

Oh, no.

- It couldn't be.

- It's true.

That dirty, filthy doctor!

No! No, you're wrong.

Who would it be then?

I don't know.

- Tell me his name.

- Hold your temper.

Hold my temper?

What kind of a father do you think I am?

Listen, child, who was it that hurt you?

How do you expect her to tell you?

She doesn't know

what you're talking about.

Keep out of this.

Show me. Show me the man's name.

Who was it? Who was it that hurt you?

She doesn't know! Leave her be.

Don't be a fool, woman.

She's no babe in arms for all she's deaf.

She's trying to shield the man.

Listen, child, show me.

Show me, I tell you.

Do I have to beat it out of you?

Oh, no. No, don't!

Stop it!

You don't know what you're doing!

- Let go of me! I got to find the man!

- Come to your senses!

Even if she could talk,

she couldn't tell you.

You've no right to go on this way.

- No right? I'm her father.

- Then act like a father!

Leave her be. I couldn't help it.

You're the one person that can give her

what she needs most:

Help, comfort, and understanding.

What are you trying to do,

drive her insane?

- I couldn't help it. Hard to go on...

- Aggie, come on. Take her to her room.

- Have her get some rest.

- Yes.

Now, Mac, you've got to listen to me.

I understand how you feel

and I don't blame you...

but believe me,

it's blotted out of her mind.

The way you forget a nightmare...

because you don't wanna bring back

that terrible fear.

I've seen it in the war.

It's nature throwing up a barrier

to prevent something worse.

I don't know what you're talking about.

- I've got to find the man.

- What good will that do her?

I'll lay what he done

before the men of the village.

We'll show him what justice is.

And even if you do,

how will that help the girl?

Dragging her into a mess of scandal...

when she doesn't even know

what it's all about.

- It'll crucify her. Is that what you want?

- You know it isn't.

What am I going to do? The shame of it.

Mac, you've got to think of her now,

not of yourself and your pride.

There's only one shame,

failing a human being who needs you.

I'm going up and talk to her now.

He didn't mean to hurt you.

He's just... Just very worried.

That's what makes him

seem harsh and unjust sometimes.

He works so hard.

That's why he hasn't been able

to give you more time.

You've been alone so much, Belinda...

but you're not going to be alone anymore.

You're going to be a mother.

Yes, Belinda.

You'll call it Johnny? But Belinda, you...

Well...

if you want it so much,

I guess you'll have a boy.

I'm sorry I couldn't get here any faster.

The horse could hardly break

through the drifts.

I was that worried.

Now, Aggie, I want you to get me

some more hot water, lots of it.

And woolen blankets. All you can find.

Why does it take so long? It's hours.

It's hard to get born and it's hard to die.

Do you have some brandy around?

I guess there's some.

- Aggie, now hold that just like that.

- Yes.

- On the corners.

- Her not making a sound, it's uncanny.

Here, try to drink this.

Got to keep that heart going.

What are you bawling about?

- How is she?

- She's all right.

The baby's here.

It's a boy.

Belinda, here's your boy.

Can he talk?

He certainly can.

That ain't dirt, that's good clean earth.

That won't hurt Johnny none.

I was brought up in a hog wallow.

You can't say I'm peaked.

What's eating you now?

You don't get something for nothing

in this world.

- What's that mean?

- It means no more credit.

We've had bad years before,

he's never stopped our credit.

Why didn't you try to reason with him?

Because nobody would listen to me.

I don't dare show my face in the village.

Everybody treating us like lepers.

Come, Aggie.

It's not like a MacDonald to give up...

because we're having a little hard time.

- We'll manage.

- Manage, is it?

And who's to manage the salt,

and the sugar, and the tea, and the like?

Where are they to come from?

We've managed to get deeper in debt

than anyone in Christendom.

We've managed to shut our eyes

to everything that's happening.

I don't even remember what

the grinding wheel sounds like anymore.

Try managing that!

He won't trust us for one more cent,

Pacquet won't, until that bill's paid.

Them sheets are white as snow.

I bleached them extra special.

The prettiest bride this town's ever seen,

that's what you'll be.

- And who told you about it first?

- You did.

The cards never lie. There he is.

There'll be many a broken heart

come this Friday night.

Hello, Stella. I can drop you off.

No, thanks.

Wait a minute. What's the matter?

Did Mrs. Poggety tell you to keep away

from men with blue eyes?

A grown-up girl about to be married

swallowing that hocus...

Can't you mind your own affairs?

Always being so superior.

Always finding fault with everybody.

You of all people, after what you've done.

- What have I done?

- You know well enough.

A girl who can't defend herself,

who can't even talk. Shaming her.

What do you mean?

Who said it? Locky?

Everybody says it.

The whole village is talking about it.

That's why nobody calls you.

So Locky said it.

I wouldn't have thought

you'd believe that, Stella.

Fog's rolling in.

Can hear the lighthouse

sounding off already.

Won't help the crops any.

The poorer the crops,

the peskier the crows.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes