Little Women Page #7

but you wouldn't let me.

Now I'm going to make you hear

and give me an answer.

I wanted to save you this, Laurie.

I never wanted you to care for me so.

I tried to keep you from it when I could...

And I only loved you more for it.

I know I'm not good enough for you, Jo...

but if you love me,

you can make me anything you like.

Laurie, I wouldn't change you.

You should marry a lovely,

accomplished girl who adores you.

Someone who would grace

your beautiful home...

and give you the sort of life

you really want.

I wouldn't. I loathe elegant society...

and you hate my scribbling...

and I can't get on without it.

I know we would quarrel.

- No, we wouldn't.

- We always have, you know...

and everything would be horrid.

- Lf we were ever foolish enough to...

- Marry?

No, it wouldn't, Jo. It would be heaven.

Besides, everyone expects it.

Grandfather has his heart set on it.

So don't disappoint us.

I just can't go on without you, Jo.

Laurie, I'm so sorry.

So desperately sorry.

But I can't say I love you when I don't.

Really and truly, Jo?

Really and truly, Laurie.

I don't think I'll ever marry.

Yes, you will.

I know you will.

You'll change. You'll meet

a good-for-nothing, no-account fool...

and fall in love with him

and work, live, and die for him.

I know you will because it's just your way.

And I'll have to stand by and see it.

I'll be hanged if I do!

- Laurie, where are you going?

- To the devil!

Are you very lonely, my Jo?

I think I must be.

You know, Jo...

when you were little girls,

I used to ask myself...

what would become of Meg

and Beth and Amy.

I've worried

about Meg's longing for wealth...

Beth's timidity...

Amy's selfish little ways...

but I never worried about you.

You always seemed so sure of yourself.

But lately, I find myself thinking of you

more than the others.

You often seem sad.

I'm not sad, Marmee, exactly.

I've been thinking.

I'd like to go away someplace.

Amy could take care of Aunt March,

and you'll have Beth...

If I could try my wings, maybe...

If you think so, Jo, perhaps you should go.

I'd go to New York.

I've always wanted to go to New York.

Why, they have the finest libraries

and theaters there.

I could take care of Mrs. Kirke's children

and write in my spare time.

I'll talk it over with Father.

We'll write to Mrs. Kirke.

Might be good for you.

It would.

And Laurie would get over me

while I'm gone...

and when I come back,

we'll be just the same as we used to be.

Of course, my darling.

You run on to bed, now. Goodnight, dear.

Goodnight, Marmee.

Make yourself at home.

I'm on the drive from morning to night...

as you may suppose with such a family.

But I promise you won't get homesick...

and Sophie will show you up

to your room. Sophie!

Your evenings will be free. I fixed

your room as comfortable as possible...

with a nice table for your writing.

There are some very nice people

in my house...

but it's a relief to know

that you'll be with the children.

Now, I must run

and change my cap for tea.

This is Miss Josephine,

the new governess.

Will you take her to her room?

- Thank you, Mrs. Kirke...

- Just make yourself at home, child.

I've never been in New York before.

I've been looking forward to it.

You see, I'm a writer...

and I need the experience.

New impressions.

A writer should meet and study people.

Search their souls,

figure out their problems.

I know I'm going to love New York.

I've always wanted to come here.

The baby!

Save the baby!

I beg your pardon. I'm so sorry.

This is Miss Josephine,

who's got you in charge now.

- Hello.

- Hello.

This is Professor Bhaer.

- How do you do?

- Come on, let's finish the game.

- I want to...

- That's for Miss Josephine to say.

- I'm afraid we have frightened her already.

- No, please go on with your game.

Thank you.

- You've lost a button off your vest.

- Thank you very much. Let's go now.

- I want to be the general.

- Now you'll be the general.

No, I want...

- He's such a lovely man.

- Who is he?

I know he must have been

a real gentleman at one time or another...

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.

But I don't see what good it does them

when they're living right here.

And then Goldilocks did what?

And then Goldilocks saw three chairs.

One was...

A great, huge chair.

And the other was what?

A nice, comfortable, medium-sized chair.

And the third was a little-bitty chair.

That's right. What happened then?

So she sat in the big chair,

and it was too hard.

I'll tell you the rest later.

Can you...

wait?

Yes, Kitty, I can wait.

Goodnight.

Please don't stop.

- It's so beautiful.

- Thank you very much.

What is that song?

I've heard you play it before,

and I'd like to send it to my sister.

It's called Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt.

The words are by Goethe.

Do you understand German?

No, I don't.

Then I will try to say them

for 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."

If only I could write something like that...

Something that would

set other hearts on fire.

You truly like to write, then?

I love it. Writing is my life.

I've scribbled ever since I was a child.

Some of my stories have been published.

I just sold one to The Weekly Volcano.

It's a wonderful one about...

I won't tell you what it is.

But you must read it yourself.

The Weekly Volcano?

You must forgive my ignorance,

but what is that?

Why, it's a magazine.

The story I just sold is the best I've done.

Since we seem to share

a mutual interest...

in writing and music...

would you allow me

to take you to the opera...

or the theater... sometime?

I should love it.

Please don't think me rude...

but if you're not going to sew on

that button, may I do it?

I was going to, but I couldn't find a button.

You put it right there.

- See?

- Thank you.

Sit down, please.

You are very kind.

It was wonderful!

Magnificent! Just like heaven.

- Are you happy, my little friend?

- It was divine.

I don't want to be a writer anymore.

I want to sing.

Thrill millions of people

with my beautiful voice!

Audiences will cheer me,

throw flowers at my feet.

Bravo!

But I wouldn't make up my mind too soon.

After the art museum,

you wanted to be a sculptress.

After the circus, you thought...

the bareback rider was

the most beautiful thing in the world.

I know, but to sing like that...

Nothing could be more wonderful.

- We will wake the house.

- I'm sorry.

There's something inside me tonight

that makes me want to shout.

And what would you shout?

I'd say:

"Look at me, everybody.

"I'm Josephine March and I'm so happy."

Then...

perhaps you haven't missed your home

so much lately...

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