Mourning Becomes Electra Page #3

you mean.

My father was a coward

like all the Mannons.

He took to drink.

One night night he came home crazy drunk

and hit my mother in the face.

It made me blind mad and I struck him

with a poker and cut his head.

I told you I don't want to hear.

For days afterwards

he sat and stared at nothing.

One night he went out and

didn't come back.

Next morning they found him hanging

in a barn.

It was the only decent thing

he ever did.

My mother blamed me for it

and I ran away to sea.

Forgot I had a mother,

except that I took part of her name.

I wouldn't wear the name of Mannon.

When I came back to New York

I found her dying

of sickness and starvation.

She'd sunk her last shred of pride

and written to your father for a loan.

He never even answered.

He could have saved her

and he let her die.

He's as guilty of murder as anyone

he ever sent

to the rope when he was a judge.

You dare say that about Father.

If he were here he'd...

I'd tell him what I tell you now.

That I swore on my mother's body

to revenge her death on him.

I suppose you boast you've done it now

in the vilest, most cowardly way

like a son of a servant you are.

Belay, I told you, with that kind of talk.

So my mother is your only means of

revenge on Father, is that it?

I... I don't know what you mean of it.

You soon will.

And so will she.

Lavinia.

You wait here until I call you.

Really, this unconfirmed report

must have turned your head.

Sending Annie

to say I must see you immediately.

Did she tell you I was resting?

You better sit down, Mother.

More mystery?

Perhaps you'd better begin by telling me

where you were while I was away.

You've admitted you lied.

Yes.

Where were you.

In New York.

I followed you.

I saw you meet Brant.

Well, I told you I ran into him

by accident.

You went to his room.

He asked me to meet a friend of his.

A lady.

I saw you with him alone.

He said he had to talk to me

about you.

He wanted my help to approach

your father.

How can you lie like that?

How can you be so depraved as to try

to use me hide your vile guilt?

Vinnie!

Stop lying.

I saw you in his arms.

You're evil and shameless.

Even if you are my mother, I say t.

I knew you hated me, Vinnie,

but not so bitterly as that.

Very well, I love Adam Brant.

Oh, how you say that.

Without any shame.

How can you do this to Father?

You would understand

if you were the wife of a man you hated.

Stop talking like that before him.

I won't listen.

You will listen.

I'm talking to you as a woman now.

Not as a mother to daughter.

That relationship has no meaning

between us now.

You've called me vile and shameless.

Well, I want you to know

that's what I felt about myself

for over 20 years

every time I was in his arms.

Stop telling me such things.

I loved him once before I married him.

But marriage soon turned my love

into disgust.

So I was born of your disgust.

I always guessed that, Mother.

Ever since I was little, when I'd run

to you with love

and you'd always push me away.

I hate you. It's only right that

I should hate you.

Oh, I tried to love you.

I told myself it wasn't human

not to love my own child,

born of my body

but I never could make myself feel

you were born of anybody but his.

You were always my wedding night

to me...

in my honeymoon.

You loved Orin.

Why didn't you hate him, too.

Because by then I had forced myself

to become resigned

in order to live.

And while I was carrying him

your father was with the army in Mexico.

I could forget him.

When Orin was born...

he seemed to be my own child.

Only mine.

And I loved him for that.

I loved him until he let you and your

father nag him into this war.

It was his duty as a Mannon to go.

Well, I hope you realize I never would

have fallen in love with Adam

if I'd had Orin with me.

When he'd gone,

there was nothing left but hate

and a desire to be revenged.

And a longing for love.

Then I met Adam. I saw he loved me...

He doesn't love you.

You're only his revenge on Father.

Do you know who he really is?

He's the son of that common nurse girl

Grandfather put out of our house.

So you found that out?

Were you hoping it would be a crushing

surprise to me?

I've known it all along.

I suppose that gave you all the more satisfaction

to add that disgrace.

Will you kindly come to the point

and tell me what you intend doing?

I suppose you'll hardly let your father

get in the door before you tell him.

Not unless you force me to.

You know Father would disown you publicly

no matter what the scandal cost him.

Oh, I'd like to see you punished.

So please understand this isn't

for your sake. It's for Father's.

He hasn't been well

and I'm not going to have him hurt.

I know better than to expect any

generosity on my account.

Come to the point.

I won't tell him provided you give up Brant

and never see him again.

What a fraud you are, Vinnie.

I'm not denying you want to save

your father's pride.

And I know how anxious you are

to keep the family from more scandal.

But that's not your real reason

for sparing me.

It is.

You love Adam Brant.

You wanted him for yourself.

That's a lie.

Now you know you can't have him,

you're determined to take him from me.

Don't be ridiculous.

Because of your father,

I'd have to go away with Adam...

He'd still be mine

You can't bear that thought

even at the price of my disgrace.

Stop it.

Oh, I've watched you ever since

you were little,

trying to do exactly what you're trying

to do now.

You've always schemed to steal

my place with your father and Orin.

It's you who stole all love from me

from the time I was born.

Are you going to do what I told you

or not?

What if I refuse?

Suppose I go off openly with Adam?

Where will you and your father

and the family be after that scandal?

You'd be disgraced more.

I'd have the man I love.

Not for long.

Father would get your lover blacklisted

and he'd lose his ship and never get another.

And Father won't divorce you, never.

You'd be an anchor around Brant's neck.

He'd grow to hate the sight of you.

Don't forget your age.

He'll still be in his prime

when you're an old ugly woman.

You devil, you mean...

I wouldn't call names if I were you.

I'm a fool to let you make me lose

my temper.

But you want my answer,

don't you?

Well, I agree to do as you say.

You promise not to see Brant again?

Yes.

You'll have to tell him yourself

you're through with him.

Yes, when he comes.

He's waiting outside.

Shall I call him in?

You seem to take giving him up

pretty easily.

You think I'll ever give you the satisfaction

of seeing me grieve?

Oh, no, Vinnie.

You'll never have a chance to gloat.

I know you're thinking already how

you can fool me and break your promise.

But you'd better not try it.

I'll be watching you every minute

and I won't be the only one.

I wrote to Father and Orin.

About Adam?

Only enough so they'll be suspicious

and watch you.

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