Little Women Page #7

It wouldn't cost much,

and I'd see and hear new things...

...and get a lot of new ideas for my stories.

I don't doubt it.

Jo, nothing's happened

between you and Laurie?

Don't be surprised, dear.

Mothers have to have sharp eyes...

...especially when their daughters

keep their troubles to themselves.

Oh, Marmee, I'd have told you,

only I thought it would blow over...

...and it seemed kind of wrong

to tell Laurie's poor little secret.

It's only that he's got

a foolish romantic notion in his head...

...and I think if I go away for a time,

he may get over it.

I see.

And how do you feel

about this "foolish romantic notion"?

I love him dearly as I always have.

I feel as though

I've stabbed my dearest friend.

And yet, I don't want to make a mistake.

You're right, Jo. I think it would be

a good idea for both your sakes.

Now, come to bed, dear.

I'll talk to Father about it.

And if he agrees, we'll write to Mrs. Kirke.

- Good night, dear.

- Good night, Marmee.

Now, my dear,

I think I've told you everything...

...and it will be a great load off my mind

knowing the children are safe with you.

I'm very busy so I'll have Mamie

show you to your room.

Mamie!

I've given you a little inside room.

It's all I had...

...but it has a table

and you can use it for your writing.

That's great.

Mamie!

You must come down here some

after dinner and be sociable.

I promised your mother

I wouldn't let you be homesick...

...and I have only the most refined people

in my house.

Mamie!

Here I am, Ms. Kirke.

Mamie, this is Miss Josephine.

Will you take her up to her room

and find the children?

I'll see you later, my dear.

Right this way, please.

Children, children!

They ain't a bad lot but, my stars,

they take a deal of handling.

Jimmy! Kitty!

You heard me.

Come on out, I know where you are.

The bear's going to eat my baby.

Save my poor baby.

My baby! Don't eat my baby!

Professor!

I beg your pardon.

Please. I'm so sorry.

This is Miss Josephine

what's got you in charge now.

- Hello.

- How do you do?

- And this is Professor Bhaer.

- How do you do?

- Come on, let's finish the game.

- I want to play some more.

That is for Miss Josephine to say,

but we've frightened her already.

Oh, no, but I didn't expect to meet

a grizzly bear in the upper hall.

Mamie, wait.

The back is too young

to carry such heavy loads.

Come on, children, let's play soldiers.

Tina, you are the general.

You're the captain. And here, Lieutenant.

Forward march!

He's such a lovely man.

I know he must've been a gentleman

sometime or other...

...but he's as poor as a church mouse now.

What does he do?

He's a professor, see?

He learns them how they talk

in foreign countries.

I don't know what good it does them

when they're living right here.

Good evening, my little friend,

good evening.

Please, don't stop.

It was beautiful.

I've heard you play it often

and wanted to ask you what it was.

I'd so like to send it to my little sister.

Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt.

The words are by Goethe.

Do you speak German?

Then I'd better give it to you in English.

Let's see now.

"Only who knows what longing is

"Can know what I suffer

"Alone and parted far from joy

and gladness

"My senses fail

"A burning fire devours me

"My senses fail

"A burning fire devours me"

I know how he felt.

Tchaikovsky did, also.

That is why he wrote this beautiful,

heartbreaking music.

If only I could write something like that.

Something splendid

that would set other hearts on fire.

That is genius.

Do you wish to write, my little friend?

Yes, that's my longing.

I've sold two stories already

since I've been here.

That is very good.

I'd like to read them. May I?

Would you?

I'd so like to know your opinion.

I would be very happy.

You have the ardent spirit. I like that.

What shall I ask for at the music shop?

I think I'd better write it down for you.

Well, now,

here is a teacher without a pencil.

Let me sew that button for you

before you lose it.

No, I sew on buttons.

Not very well, evidently.

Well.

- Who was Goldilocks, a little girl?

- Yes.

"And she...

"...went into their house...

"...and saw three chairs.

"Three chairs.

"One was the baby one,

one was the daddy one...

"...and one was the mommy one.

"So she sat down in the big one...

"And it was too hard."

Miss Josephine,

you're to go to the parlor right away.

Someone to see you.

- Who is it?

- I can't tell you. It's a surprise.

All right, children, that will be all for today.

Now run along and wash your hands

and faces for tea.

- I'll finish the story tomorrow.

- All right.

- Who is it, Mamie?

- I can't tell you. It's a surprise.

Are these some of your new stories?

Oh, they look...

... creepier than The Duke's Daughter.

Can I read them?

Yes, if you want to.

" The Place of the Coventrys

or The Secret of a Guilty Heart...

"...by Josephine March."

Then it's true.

- Amy!

- Darling!

- Aunt March!

- Josephine.

I'm so glad to see you.

What took you so long to get down?

Tell me everything.

We can't stop now.

We've got to get to the shipping office

before it closes.

Shipping office? Aunt March, Europe?

I'm taking Amy with me.

Well, maybe you can go next time.

Next time?

Tell me, is Meg all right?

And Marmee and Father?

And how's my Beth?

She's better again,

but she isn't rosy as she used to be.

Oh, my poor Beth.

Why doesn't she get strong?

And Laurie?

Didn't you see them when they were here?

He and his grandfather

have been in Europe for weeks.

Laurie in New York?

And didn't come to see me?

I'm sure you can't blame him

after the way you picked up...

...and trotted off without so much

as saying goodbye to any of us.

I think you've treated everybody

shamefully.

Come along, Amy.

Jo, dear, I wish it were you.

I know how you've always longed to go.

No, darling. It's your reward.

You've always done sweet things

to please Aunt March.

Think of all the wonderful things

you are going to see:

The Turners,

the Raphaels and the Leonardos.

You seem to forget

waiting cabs cost money.

That's the trouble with folks

who never had anything.

Easy come, easy go.

We'll be right back, Josephine.

Goodbye, darling.

Miss Josephine?

Yes, Professor Bhaer.

I have read your stories

and I would like to return them to you.

Will you please come in?

Yes, thank you.

Did you like them?

Well, Miss March, I must be honest.

I was disappointed.

Why do you write

such artificial characters...

...such artificial plots, villains,

murderers and such women?

Why don't you write a...

Miss March, please. I am so sorry.

I didn't want to hurt you.

I wanted to help you.

What a blundering fool I am.

It isn't that.

Please, don't pay any attention to me.

Forgive me, please. Come, sit down.

Forgive me.

No, it's just that everything seems

to come at once.

The rest doesn't matter so much.

I can bear that.

But Laurie, I can never get over Laurie.

Rate this script:2.0 / 1 vote