Mourning Becomes Electra Page #2

How about this mysterious clipper Captain

who's been calling on you?

Do you think I care anything

about that...

I only meant folks say he's courting

you and...

I hate the sight of him.

I was afraid that...

Well, never mind, I...

Who is he, anyway?

Well, I... don't know very

much about him, really.

Mother met him at Grandfather's

in New York.

He did tell a lot of stories.

I didn't pay attention.

He went to sea as a boy

and he was in California for the Gold Rush.

He sailed all over the world.

He lived on a South Sea island once.

So he says.

Sounds romantic.

That's his trade.

Being romantic.

Peter...

Did you say anything to Mother

about me?

What didn't he tell me, Vinnie?

He only told me he hadn't seen

you for ages, my dear.

Vinnie's not herself today, Peter.

But don't take it too hard.

It's me she's angry at, not you.

Well, I guess I'd better run along.

Come back tomorrow.

She'll be running to you

if you don't.

Goodbye, Vinnie.

Goodbye, Peter.

Goodbye, Mrs Mannon.

Goodbye, Peter.

Now I know why you've been

avoiding me all day.

A guilty conscience.

You don't deny you lied to me about

visiting Hazel, do you?

No.

Well, I have no doubts

you'll tell me where you were.

I intend to.

How was Grandfather Hamil?

Much better now.

He seems to have been sick so much

this past year.

He'll soon be doing the rounds

with his patients again.

He sends you his love.

Oh, by the way.

I happened to meet

Captain Brant on the street in New York.

He said he was coming up here today

to take over his ship and asked

if he might drop in to see you.

Doesn't that please you, Vinnie?

Is that why you picked the flowers?

Because Captain Brant is coming.

Haven't you heard the news?

It means that Father will be coming

home soon.

I haven't heard the fort

firing any canons.

You will.

I'm sure I hope so as much as you.

You can't say that.

You will not take that tone with me,

please.

I've got to have a talk with you,

Mother. Before long.

Whenever you wish.

You always make such a mystery

of things, Vinnie.

What are you driving at, Seth?

Ain't you noticed this fellow Brant

reminds you of someone?

Your Pa, ain't it, Vinnie?

Father?

Yes, he does.

That must be why I felt...

Yeah.

He's like Orin, too.

He's like all the Mannons I've

ever knowed.

And more specially he calls to mind

your grandpa's brother, David.

Oh, I know his name ain't never been

allowed to be spoken

among the Mannons since the day

he left,

but you've likely listened to gossip,

ain't ya?

There was a nurse girl working

in the house.

David had to marry her.

She was going to have a baby.

And your grandpa threw 'em both out.

Tore the house down and built

this one.

What's that whole scandal got to do

with Captain Brant?

Ain't it funny that no one ever heard

tell of David or his wife after they left?

Your Grandpa had it out with me one time

that she'd had the baby.

It was a boy.

He was cussing it.

Now it's about her baby

I've been thinking.

No, I can't believe it, no...

No, hear, here's another funny thing.

His name, Brant.

Sounds made up to me.

Sounds like it was a short for

something else.

Remember what that nurse gal's

name was?

T'was Marie Brantme.

Brantme...

Oh, don't be stupid, Seth.

His name would be Mannon

and he'd be more than proud of it.

He'd have good reasons not to use

the name Mannon

when he come calling here,

wouldn't he?

That would be too horrible, I...

All I'm driving at, Vinnie...

is that you ought for your Pa's sake

to make certain.

How?

Catch him off guard.

Give it to him good and strong.

See if he don't give himself away,

maybe.

Looks like him coming up the drive now.

There's something about his walk

that brings back David Mannon, too.

If I didn't know it was him

I'd think it was David's ghost

coming home.

Use your head, Vinnie, now...

Captain Brant.

Oh.

Good afternoon.

Hope you don't mind my walking in on

you without ceremony.

Your mother told me...

She had to go out for a while.

I'm in luck then.

I haven't had a chance to be alone

with you, Lavinia

since that night we went walking

in the moonlight, do you remember?

What do you think of the news

of Lee's surrendering, Captain?

You're very formal today, Lavinia.

We expect my father home

very soon now.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you.

Yes, you must be very happy

at the thought

of seeing your father again.

I love Father better than anyone

in the world.

I suppose that's the usual way of it...

the daughter feels closer to her father

and a son to his mother.

I should think you'd be

a born exception to the rule.

Why?

You're so like your mother

in some ways.

Both of you call to mind

someone who is very dear to me.

You'll think it's strange

when I tell you.

It was my mother.

I'm not a bit like Mother.

Everyone knows I take after Father.

You're very puzzling today,

Miss Lavinia.

You'll excuse me if I come out

with it bluntly

but what are you holding against me?

Maybe I'm only flattering myself,

but I thought you liked me.

Have you forgotten that night

walking along the shore?

Did Mother tell you you could kiss me?

Come now, you don't really mean

I should have asked her, do you?

I wasn't brought up that strictly.

Anyway, I didn't.

And it wasn't less sweet for that.

I'm afraid I gabbed too much

that night talking about ships.

But you certainly seemed interested

when I told you

about those islands in the South Seas

where I was shipwrecked.

I remember your admiration for

the native women.

You said the'd found the secret of happiness

because they'd never heard...

that love can be sin.

Ay, they live in as near the god

in a paradise before sin was discovered

as you'll find on this earth.

The blessed isles...

where one can forget all Man's

dirty dreams of greed and power...

and dirty dreams of love.

Whenever I remember those islands now

I'll always think of you, Lavinia.

As you walked beside me that night

with the moonlight in your eyes...

Don't touch me, you liar, you...

Lavinia!

Quit lying.

What else should I expect

from the son of a common nurse girl?

Belay that!

No Mannon can insult her

while I'm alive!

So it's true. You are her son.

And what if I am? My only shame

is my dirty Mannon blood.

You're too good for the son

of a servant, eh?

By heavens, you were glad enough

that night.

I was only leading you on

to find out things.

Oh, no you weren't.

I know how your father stuffed you

with these lies about my mother.

Do you want to know the truth?

So you're a coward, are you?

Like all the Mannons...

when it comes to facing the truth

about themselves.

I bet he never told you that your

grandfather, Abe Mannon,

loved my mother.

That's a lie.

It was his jealous revenge that made him

disown my father

and cheat him out of his right

to a share of the business.

He didn't cheat him,

he bought him out.

Forced him to sell for next to nothing,

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