Little Women Page #5

- What's in the package?

- Slippers. I made them.

- Who for?

- A gentleman.

A gentleman?

What's the matter

with everybody in this family?

This is an old gentleman.

Father? They won't let him

wear those in the Army.

Father isn't old. They're for Mr. Laurence.

He's been so kind

about letting me play on that lovely piano.

In all the weeks I've been going there,

I haven't even seen him.

Say, isn't this Amy's hair ribbon?

- I think she was going to throw it away.

- You think?

You're a trump.

Is your story finished? Can I read it?

Not now. But keep your fingers crossed,

and maybe you'll read it in print.

- What will I tell Laurie?

- Tell him I went up in smoke.

Did you have a bad time?

Not very.

- Well, you got through quickly.

- Yes, thank goodness.

Why'd you go alone?

- Didn't want anyone to know.

- You're the oddest fellow I ever saw.

How many did you have out?

- How many what did I have out?

- Teeth, of course.

Christopher Columbus,

is that what you thought?

- What is it, then?

- A secret.

I thought we weren't having secrets

from each other.

- That's a girl for you.

- Oh, bilge.

- This is different.

- All right. Keep your secret.

I've got one, too.

- Something plummy?

- Something very plummy.

You tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine.

All right. Here. Read for yourself.

"Pay to Josephine March, $1." For what?

Turn it over.

"In full payment for her story entitled,

The Phantom Hand."

What do you think of that?

$1?

It isn't much, perhaps...

but someday I'll get as high as $10.

I just don't understand you.

Cooping yourself up in that garret...

missing a lot of fun with me,

working, and for what?

- For one measly little dollar.

- It isn't the $1.

At least, that's not all of it. It's...

It'll be in print, and I wrote it.

And people will read it.

People I've never even seen.

Well, anyway,

I know where Meg's glove is.

- Is that your secret?

- Wait till you hear where it is.

Well, where is it?

In a certain pocket.

- Whose?

- Brooke's. Isn't that romantic?

No, it's horrid.

- You don't like it?

- It's ridiculous.

Of all the sickly, sentimental rubbish.

I'm disgusted. I wish you hadn't told me.

I'm glad Meg doesn't know about it.

She'd be furious.

She doesn't care about such stuff,

let me tell you.

She's perfectly happy

with the way things are.

You'd better tell Mr. Brooke

to keep away from us...

or I'll let him know what I think of him.

Trying to break up my family.

You'll feel differently

when someone falls in love with you.

On a soft summer day,

with the sun setting through the trees...

and your lover's arms stealing around you.

I'd like to see anyone try it.

Would you?

I'll catch you!

You can't catch me!

Yes, I can!

Let me in! Open the gate! Quick.

I'd have caught you if I hadn't fallen.

You should've seen Laurie when he...

Hello, Miss Jo.

Thank you for the afternoon.

Thank you. Paying visits has never been

quite so much fun before.

I hope we can do it again soon.

Goodbye, Mr. Brooke. Come along.

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Jo.

What are you mad at me for?

I've never been so embarrassed

in all my life.

When are you going to stop

your rude, romping ways?

Not till I'm old and stiff and need a crutch.

Don't try to make me grow up

before my time.

It's hard enough

having you change suddenly.

I haven't changed.

But it's time you had. Look at you!

No hairpins, no combs,

running down a public road.

I wish I was a horse.

- What's the matter?

- Promise me that you'll never leave us.

Promise you'll always be our Beth.

- Beth, hurry up! It's a surprise for you.

- Come on.

Come on. Hurry, in the parlor.

Hurry.

Wait till you see.

For me?

All for you, my precious.

We haven't even opened it. Read it!

You read it. I can't.

"Miss March.

"Dear madam..."

How elegant!

"...I have had many pairs of slippers

in my life...

"but I never had any

that suited me so well as yours.

"I like to pay my debts...

"so I know you will allow

the old gentleman...

"to send you something which once

belonged to the granddaughter he lost.

"With hearty thanks and best wishes...

"I remain your grateful friend

and humble servant.

"James Laurence."

"Humble servant."

Wait till I tell that to the girls at school!

Look at the cunning brackets, and the silk.

Go on, honey, try it.

Let's hear the sound of the baby piano.

I have to go and thank him.

I'll go now.

The piano's turned her head.

She never would've gone

in her right mind.

I came to thank you, sir.

Miss March!

It's one of those telegraph things.

- It's Father.

- Oh, Marmee.

He's in a hospital in Washington.

I must go there at once.

He's in an Army hospital in Washington.

Marmee wants to leave on the 4:00 train.

She's packing,

and she sent me to ask your help.

We need $25 for the fare.

I begged him not to go in the first place.

But nobody listens to me.

Not until they get into trouble.

Then they come.

Aunt March has a large pocketbook.

Aunt March,

what's the use of all that now?

- It's 2:
00, and...

- Just like your father.

Always interrupting. Refusing to listen.

But you will listen this time.

I won't.

I came here because Marmee said

she's not proud to beg for Father.

Well, I am.

I'm too proud to beg for anyone.

I'd rather sweep the streets

than ever come to you again!

Stubborn! Obstinate! Rude!

I wonder what can be keeping Jo.

- Here's some port wine for him.

- Thank you so much.

- Meg, will you put them in the satchel?

- Yes. Here, Amy.

- Your gloves.

- Gently.

- Don't shake them.

- There's Jo.

Where's your bad-tempered daughter?

- I thought she was with you.

- Well she's not.

You will need more than you asked for.

Oh, Auntie.

Thank you.

Are you sure you know how to get there?

You change trains at New York.

- And then...

- You need feel no concern for her, ma'am.

Mr. Brooke will accompany her

on the journey.

Mr. Brooke? There's really no need.

Mr. Laurence has commissions

for me in Washington.

It will give me great pleasure

to be of service to you.

Thank you both.

Well, the carriage is ready.

We'll wait for you outside.

How kind you are.

It's a relief to know that Marmee

has someone to take care of her.

- Thank you, Meg. Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

- Aren't you going to drink this?

- Thank you.

You won't forget the Hummels

while I'm gone, will you?

I promise.

Somebody might remember me

once in a while, too.

I hope everything turns out well,

but I doubt it.

Goodbye, Auntie.

Yes, Miss. I had to get dressed and ride

over here, just because you're stubborn!

Goodbye.

- Hello.

- Where've you been?

What kept you so long? I must say!

Aunt March croaked as she always does,

and I lost my temper.

So I decided to get some money

on my own.

Here, Marmee, this will pay for your fare.

Where did you get it?

I didn't beg, borrow, or steal it.

I only sold what belonged to me.

Your hair.

Your beautiful hair.

Oh, my Jo.

Your beautiful hair. You sold it.

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