Kings Row Page #3

but I'm lonesome, too,

and I haven't any Poppy Ross.

And people are talking

and Papa and Mama hear them...

What's that?

Quick. Go out the back way.

I think it's time

we looked the old mossbacks in the eye.

Drake, you're all worked up.

Maybe if you come out and cool off...

Is this your doing, Louise?

No, it's mine, Dr. Gordon.

I want to speak to you.

I've nothing to say or listen to.

Then I'd like to talk to you, Mrs. Gordon.

Drake McHugh, it's a mercy

your dear Aunt Mamie isn't alive

to see you these days.

- She was a righteous, God-fearing woman.

- Oh, can it.

- Well, I guess it's up to you, Louise.

- What do you mean, Drake?

I won't get the money

my Aunt Mamie left me for two years,

but until then

we can make out together somehow.

That settles that. Let's go.

Wait a minute, Drake. I...

Just because I'm out in the open

about things!

- Just because I don't sneak around.

- Now, be reasonable, Drake.

I'll show them. I'll get my horse and buggy

and drive by the Gordons every day

with Poppy Ross. I don't care.

I'll even have her right to my house

if I want to.

Say, I wonder why I never thought of that.

It is awfully hard

for a girl to stand up against her family.

All right, I know. I'm always wrong.

I always have been

ever since I can remember.

Hello, Cassandra. It's me, Parris.

I didn't want to scare you.

Why, hello.

- Come in.

- I was on my way home

when I remembered

I left my notebooks today.

Oh...

Come on in.

I guess you know where they are.

Yes. The doctor always leaves them

in the same drawer.

Sit down?

I'd like to.

Is your father in?

He's gone to St. Louis. The 6:00 train.

He'll be back Tuesday.

- Do you have to go?

- No.

- May I stay a while?

- Over here by me.

I...

Do you know, Cassie, I haven't seen you

to talk to you, really, in a long time.

Yes, I know.

All the time I've been coming

to study with your father

- I'd been hoping I'd see you.

- It'll probably be the only time.

Oh, why?

I can't see anyone, ever.

Don't you know that?

- Your father won't let you?

- I said I can't see anyone.

You don't have to ask questions

to understand that, do you?

Well, I don't know. I want to ask you why,

if you don't want to tell me,

- if you don't want to see me...

- Oh, don't get your feelings hurt, Parris.

Just let's talk.

All right, Cassie.

- What can we talk about?

- Oh, anything.

Tell me what you do all the time.

I just read and study and practice,

that's all.

- Do you still study music?

- Yes.

Well, I just read and study,

so I guess you're ahead of me.

I never see people.

I just read books.

Why'd your father take you out of school

when you were such a little girl?

Was it because...

If you want to know,

why don't you ask him?

Always, after that, I kept remembering.

Little things.

How you'd trot along the road with me

home from school.

The way you had of tilting your head

when you'd look up.

The color that the sun made your hair

when you said, "I like to be your girl.

"I guess you're my sweetheart, too."

That's the way I thought of you

most of the time.

Then sometimes I'd remember

you were growing up, too.

Why, you were 16, now 18.

Then I'd wonder what you were doing,

right then, at that moment.

Were you sewing

or studying your lessons or crying or

could you be laughing?

Could you be laughing

when I was thinking so hard about you

- and feeling so terrible?

- Children can be so silly.

Oh, no. No, I don't mean that, Parris.

You were always the nicest.

Oh, just talk about something else,

will you?

You are pretty, Cassie.

Really you are.

You're prettier than you ever have been,

and you always have been

the prettiest girl in town.

Don't!

Oh, I'm sorry.

- Cassie.

- Parris.

- Hey, who's out there?

- It's me, Drake. Parris.

Well, for Pete's sake, what're you doing

around here this time of night?

- Let me in, quick.

- Be right down, kid.

- What's up?

- Nothing.

I just came by. Just took the chance.

- Drake, can I stay here with you tonight?

- Say, are you crazy, you galoot?

No, I don't guess I am.

Hey, something's happened

and you'd better tell me what it is.

Why, I just want to stay here.

I'll telephone at home in the morning

- and say I stayed here with you all night.

- All right, all right.

But I just want to make sure

you're not in any trouble, kid.

- You better tell me where you've been.

- I'd rather not, Drake.

For Pete's sake, you!

What's funny?

And I've been saying I'd take you around

and show you the ropes!

Well, for Pete's sake!

Come on, get that wet coat off!

I'll fix you a cup of coffee.

It won't take a minute.

No, no, thanks. I don't want any.

Well, all right then.

Come on up and get these wet clothes off.

Say, I'll have to take care of you now.

Come on, pile into bed.

Of course, you'll have to bunk with me.

I hope you won't mind, Mr. Mitchell.

It's just as I say, madam.

All the time he comes in, then he goes out.

He wanders all over the place,

absentminded and just looks at things.

- Maybe there is a girl.

- It's something more than a girl, madam.

He's in love with here, with this place.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Madam, I've watched him grow

every day of his life.

I feel, in here,

sometimes just what he feels.

It's this, I think he feels change.

I think he's afraid something is to happen

and he doesn't understand.

- Anna, you haven't told him.

- No, madam.

He mustn't know, Anna.

Oh, no, madam, when I think...

Don't cry, Anna, for me.

It will be worse for him.

My troubles are almost over

and his are just beginning.

Growing up is so difficult, Anna.

The disappointments and the heartbreaks.

The frightening problems.

The meannesses

and the cruelties of the world.

How often I have wished

that his mother be lived,

or his father.

Or that I were his mother.

It isn't fair that a young boy

should be brought up by an old woman

who will leave him

when he needs her most.

What's going to happen to him?

- Parris is a good boy, madam.

- I hope so.

I've done my best

to make him into a gentleman.

And my best to provide for his future.

For the rest,

everything must be pleasant for him

until he goes away.

I will try to live until then.

- Digging in?

- Oh, hello, Drake.

Something like that, I guess.

What are you doing way out here?

Oh, got a note from your sweetheart.

Cupid's messenger, that's me.

Thanks.

What's the matter?

Something gone wrong

between you and old Cass?

Something's going to happen, Drake.

Something bad, I don't know what.

It's just a feeling I've had lately.

Something I can't stop happening,

that maybe I'm even responsible for

in some way.

She wants to see me

at your house again tonight.

Well, don't you want to?

I wouldn't say this to anyone else, Drake.

Ever since we were kids,

there's been no one but her.

Gee, I had no idea.

Well, then everything

ought to be hunky-dory.

Oh, I get it. Her old man.

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