Long Day's Journey Into Night Page #4

- Yes. Yes, of course, I know that.

But listen, Mama. I want you to promise me that

e-even if it should turn out to be something worse.

- You know I'll soon be all right again anyway.

- No! No!

- And you won't worry yourself sick about it and you'll keep on taking care of yourself.

- No! No! I won't listen when you're so silly.

There's absolutly no reason to talk as if you expected something dreadful.

Of course I promise you. I give you my sacred word of honor.

But I suppose you're remembering... I've promised before.

I've no word of honor

- No.

- I'm not blaming you dear. How can you help it? How can any of us forget?

- That's what makes it so... hard for all of us we can't... forget.

. Stop it Mama!

Alright dear. I didn't mean to be so gloomy.

Don't mind me. Here, let me feel your head.

- Well! It's nice and cool, you certainly haven't any fever now.

- Forget me, it's you.

But I... I'm quite alright dear except I... I naturally feel...

tired and nervous this morning after such a bad night

I... I really... ought to go upstairs... and lie down until lunch time and take a nap

What are you gonna do? Read? Here?

It's be much better for you if you... went out in the... fresh air, sunshine.

Don't get overheated remember, be sure and wear a hat.

Or are you afraid to trust me alone?

Can't you stop talking like that?

I think you ought to take a nap.

I'll go out and help Jamie bear up.

I love to lie in the shade and watch him work.

- It'll be lunch time soon, will I call your father and Mr. Jamie or will you?

- You do it.

- Oh and you'd better call my mother too.

- What for? She's always on time without any calling.

- God bless her she has some consideration for the help.

- She's taking a nap.

She wasn't asleep when I finished my work upstairs a while back.

She was lying down in the spare room with her eyes wide open.

She had a terrible headache, she said.

Oh well then... just call my father.

No wonder my feets kill me each night. Mr Tyrone! Mr. Jamie! It's time!

Sneaking one? Cut out the bluff kid,

you're a rottener actor than I am.

Grabbing while the going was good.

- Why don't you sneak one while you got a chance?

- Yeah I was thinking of that little thing.

Hey! The old man was out there talking to old Captain Turner.

Yup, he's still at it.

- You don't think taht'll fool him do ya?

- Well... maybe not... but he can't prove it.

God! I hope he doesn't forget lunch listening to himself talk. I'm hungry.

That's what I hate working out down at the front.

He puts on an act for every damn fool that comes along.

You're in luck to be hungry.

The way I feel I don't care if I ever eat again.

Look kid... you know I never lectured you but Doc. Hardy

was right when he told you to cut out the red eye.

Well I'm going to after the--after he hands me the bad news this afternoon,

a few before then won't make any difference.

Jamie... what do you think it is?

How the hell would I know? I'm no doc.

Where's Mama?

Upstairs.

- When did she go up?

Oh about the time you started working on the hedge I guess.

She said she was going to take a nap.

- You didn't tell me.

- Why should I? What about it?

- She was tired out, she didn't get much sleep last night.

- Yeah I know she didn't.

Damn foghorn kept me awake too.

She's... been upstairs alone all morning... you haven't seen her?

No, I was reading. I wanted to give her a chance to sleep.

' she coming down to lunch?

- Of course.

- No! No "Of course" about it.

She might not want any lunch or she might start having her meals alone upstairs.

- Cut out the...

- Well it's happened hasn't it?

- Can't you think of...

You're all wrong to suspect anything.

Cathleen saw her not long ago, Mama didn't tell her she wouldn't be down for lunch.

- Then she wasn't taking a nap.

- No, not right then but she was lying down, Cathleen said.

- In the spare room?

- Yes! For pete's sake what of it?

- You damn fool! Why did you leave her alone so long? Why didn't you stick around?

- Because she accused me and you and Papa of spying on her all the time and not trusting her.

She made me feel ashamed. I know how rotten it must be for her.

- And she promised on her sacred word of honor.

- Well you ought to know that doesn't mean...

- It does this time.

- That's what we though the other times.

Aww look kid I know you think I'm a cynical bastard but remember

I've seen more of this game than you have.

You never knew what was really wrong until you were in prep school.

Papa and I kept it from you.

I was wise ten years or more before we had to tell you.

I know this game backward and I've been thinking all morning of the way

she acted last night when she thought we were asleep.

I haven't been able to think of anything else and now you

tell me she got you to leave her alone upstairs all morning.

Alright kid. Don't start a battle with me.

I hope as much as you do I'm crazy.

You know I've been happy as hell because I'd really begun to believe that this time...

She's coming downstairs you win on that one

I guess I was a damn suspicious louse.

Damn it I wish I'd grabbed another drink

You mustn't cough like that it's bad for your throat.

You don't want to get a sore throat on top of your cold do you?

But I seem always to be picking on you telling you "don't do this",

"don't do that" forgive me dear it's just that I want to take care of you.

Oh I know that.

What about you, do you feel rested?

Ever so much better. I've been lying down ever since you went out

it's what I needed after such a restless night, I don't feel nervous now.

- That's fine.

- Good heavens how down in the mouth you look you look Jamie. What's the matter now?

- Nothing.

I'd forgotten, you've been working on the front hedge

that always account for your sinking into the dumps, doesn't it?

If you wanna think so Mama.

Well that's the effect it always has isn't it?

What a big baby you are.

Isn't he Edmund?

He's certainly a fool to care what anyone thinks.

Yes.

The only way is to make yourself not care.

Where's your father?

- I heard Cathleen call him.

- She's down there now, interrupting the famous beautiful voice.

She should have more respect.

It's you who should have more respect.

You, who thanks to him have never had to work hard in your life.

Remember, your... father is geting old Jamie.

You really... ought to show more consideration.

I'm hungry, I wish that old man would get a move on.

It's a rotten trick the way he keeps meals waiting

and then beefs because they're spoiled.

Very trying Jamie. You don't know how trying,

you dont have to keep up the house with summer servants

who don't care because... because they know it isn't a permanent position.

Your father won't even pay the wages the best summer help ask

so every year I have stupid lazy greenhorns to deal with.

- But you've heard me say this a thousand times.

- What makes you ramble on like that Mama?

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