Little Women Page #9

JO:

(cries)

PROFESSOR:

What? Oh, Miss March, please. I'm so sorry now. Oh, I didn't want

to hurt you. I, I wanted to help you. What a blundering fool I_c

JO:

No, it isn't that. Oh, please don't pay any attention to me,

please.

PROFESSOR:

Oh. Forgive me. Now. Please come, sit down. What?. Forgive me.

JO:

Oh, no, no. It is just that everything seems to come at once. Oh,

the rest doesn't matter so much. I can bear that. But Laurie, I

can never get over Laurie.

PROFESSOR:

Oh, herr Laurie. Your friend? Something has happened to him?

JO:

Yes.

PROFESSOR:

Oh.

JO:

Oh, no, no, no. Something's happened to me. He came to New York

and he didn't even come to see me.

PROFESSOR:

What a fool he must be!

JO:

Oh, no. No, it's my fault. But I thought that_cOh, why does it

matter what I thought? I made a mess of it as I do of everything.

But I have tried. And when I think of Aunt March taking Amy to

Europe, when she always promised she'd take me. Not that I

begrudge Amy the trip, but_c. Well, I suppose that's just what

I'm just doing.

PROFESSOR:

Oh, that trip to Europe. That's you so looked forward to. That is

too bad. That is a cruel disappointment, I know. And on top of

it, that stupid professor comes blundering and makes things

worse.

JO:

Oh, no, no. No, if I can't stand the truth, I'm worth anything.

Oh, I didn't think those stories were so very good. But you see,

well, the Duke's Daughter paid the butcher's bill and the Curse

of the Coventries was the blessing of the Marches, because it

sent Marmee and Beth to the seashore.

PROFESSOR:

Yes, that's what I have thought. And then, I had said to myself.

I, I maybe have no_c no right to speak. But then again, I said to

myself I maybe have no right to be silent. For Miss March, you

have talent.

JO:

No. Do you really think so?

PROFESSOR:

Otherwise, I could not say it. And you know it. Und I say to you.

Sweep mud on the street first before you are false to that

talent. Say to yourself, "I will never write one single line

which I have not heard in my own heart." Say to yourself, "While

I am young, I will write these simple beautiful things that I

understand now, and, and maybe later, when I'm a little bit

older, and I have, have felt life more, then I will write about

these poor wretches, but I will make them live and, and breathe

like my Shakespeare did." Will you do that, my little friend?

JO:

Oh, yes. I'll try, but I don't think I'll ever be a Shakespeare.

Do you?

PROFESSOR:

But you can be a Josephine March. And I assure you that is

plenty.

JO:

Ah.

PROFESSOR:

Oh, and now don't be disappointed about that trip. No. Here.

JO:

Oh, peppermint. Good.

PROFESSOR:

Those of us who have been all over the old world can find many

things here in the new that are beautiful and young if_cMiss

March, it would give me a great pleasure if I could show you some

of these things while you are here if you would care to have so.

And_c

JO:

Oh, thank you.

PROFESSOR:

Well, then you are not angry with the blundering professor who

takes the wrong times for his lectures.

JO:

How could I be?

PROFESSOR:

Auf Wiedersehen, my little friend.

(After the Opera) **

(01:
37:50) **

PROFESSOR:

Did you really like it?

JO:

I've never had so much fun.

PROFESSOR:

I'm so happy, my little friend.

JO:

She was divine. I don't want to be a writer any more. I want to

be a wonderful singer. And thrill thousands of people so that

they cheer and throw flowers at me. Like that.

PROFESSOR:

Oh, Bravo, bravo. But I wouldn't make up my mind so soon. Because

at the art museum you wanted to be a sculptor, and at the circus

you thought the bareback rider was the most beautiful thing in

the world.

JO:

I know but to sing like that. (sings) Oh, I forgot. Oh, there's

something inside me tonight that makes me want to shout.

PROFESSOR:

And what would you shout?

JO:

I'd say, "Look at me, world. I'm Jo March, and I'm so happy." Oh.

PROFESSOR:

My little friend so happy. Then you haven't missed much lately

your home and your old friends?

JO:

But you, you're responsible for that. Oh, but maybe they haven't

missed me so much, either. They're so busy with Meg and those

blessed babies.

PROFESSOR:

Yes, yes. How are those remarkable twins.

JO:

Wonderful. Meg is so proud of them. La, la, la_c

PROFESSOR:

Have you heard from Europe?

JO:

Yes. Nearly every boat brings a letter from Amy. La, la, la_c

PROFESSOR:

And your friend? Her Laurie, have you heard from him?

JO:

Only through Amy. They met at Vichy and had a wonderful time

together.

PROFESSOR:

Miss March, I am going to ask a favor of you. Could you give me

the address of your father? I wish to write him and ask him

something.

JO:

Why, yes. He'd , he'd be so happy to hear from you. They almost

know you. I've told them all about you and they always ask after

you in their letters.

PROFESSOR:

Oh, really?

JO:

Yes. Now I'll show you.

PROFESSOR:

This is so nice. Not, I hope.

JO:

It's Beth. She's_c Oh, I, I must go at once.

PROFESSOR:

Oh, my friend, can I do something for you? I am, I am sure there

is something I can do.

JO:

No, there's, there's nothing. Thank you.

(At home) **

(01:
41:11) **

BETH:

Oh, Jo, to think you're home. If Amy were here, we'd all be

together.

JO:

She'll be home in the spring, darling. And I'm going to have you

all well and rosy by then.

BETH:

Oh, poor Jo. You mustn't be afraid. Doesn't that sound funny, me

saying that to you, when you've always said it to me. Ah, you've

always reminded me of a sea gull, Jo. Strong and wild, and fond

of the wind and storm, dreaming of flying far out to sea. And

Mother always said that I was like a little cricket, chirping

contentedly on the hearth, never able to bear the thought of

leaving home. But now, it's different. I, I can't express it very

well. I shouldn't try to. Anyone but you. Because I, I can't

speak out to anyone but my Jo. But I'm not afraid any more. I'm

learning that I don't lose you. That you'll be more to me than

ever. And nothing can part us. Though it seems to. Oh, Jo, I

think I'll be homesick for you_ceven in heaven.

(by Beth's bed) **

BETH:

Little love.

(Everyone around Beth's bed.) **

MEG:

I'm afraid they're tiring you.

BETH:

Oh, no.

MEG:

But it's time for my little regiment to take its nap.

BETH:

They're sweet. I think I can sleep now. Oh, look, Jo. My birds.

They got back in time.

JO:

Bethy, Bethy. Mother!

MRS. MARCH

Bethy.

MR. MARCH

My daughter.

MRS. MARCH

Bethy, Bethy.

JO:

No, no. Marmee. No. We mustn't cry. We must be glad she's well at

last. No, Marmee, don't cry.

(In Europe) **

(01:
45:32) **

AMY:

If only there were another boat leaving sooner.

AUNT MARCH:

Now, my dear, you've been so brave. You must be patient. We're

going back on the very first boat. I still think you should obey

your mother and stay.

AMY:

I know, but I'm sick for home, Aunt March. I hate all this now.

If it weren't for this, I'd have been there at least to say good

bye. Laurie, Laurie. Oh, I knew you'd come.

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