Summer and Smoke Page #6

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all hearts are open,

To whom no secrets are..."

Tell your father to quit it.

I don't want that worn-out

magic he's spouting.

That mumbo jumbo

won't cure peritonitis.

You'll have to

go up and see him.

He doesn't want me.

This happened because

of his devotion to you.

It happened because

some meddlesome fool.

Called him back here last night.

Who was it did that?

I did.

You?

I called him when I learned.

What you were planning to do.

I told him to come.

You brought him

back here to be shot?

Put the blame on your weakness.

My weakness?

Sometimes a tragedy.

Will make a weak person strong.

More platitudes.

You white-blooded spinster.

You so-right people.

Pious, pompous mumblers,

Preachers

and preachers' daughters.

All muffled up

in worn-out magic.

Call me anything, but

don't let your father.

Hear your drunken shouting.

Come here.

Look at something.

I've seen that.

You talk about weakness.

You think you're stuffed

with rose leaves?

Look at it! It may help you!

How can you behave this way.

With your father dying?

Be quiet!

You could feel some shame.

Quiet!

Now, listen to

the anatomy lecture.

This is the brain...

Which is hungry for truth.

And doesn't get much.

But keeps on feeling hungry.

This middle is the belly,

Which is hungry for food.

And here, hungry for love.

Because it is

sometimes lonesome.

I've fed all three,

As much of all three

as I wanted or could.

You've fed none! Nothing!

Well, maybe your belly a little,

But love or truth...

Nothing but

hand-me-down notions,

Attitudes, poses!

You can go now.

The anatomy lecture's over.

So that is your high

conception of human desires?

What you have here is not

the anatomy of a beast,

But a man,

And I reject your opinion

of what love is.

And the truth you believe

the brain to be seeking.

There's something

not on that chart.

The part that Alma's

Spanish for?

Yes... the soul.

It's not on the anatomy chart,

But it's there just the same.

It's somewhere not seen,

but there,

And it is that that I

loved you with, John.

Yes. Did love you with, John.

Did nearly die of

when you hurt me.

I'm glad you ran away from me.

That night at the casino.

What?

If I'd have made love to you,

I'd have felt guilty...

Guilty of desecration.

Yes. Isn't that funny?

I'm more afraid of your soul.

Than you're afraid of my body.

Alma.

Dr. John is asking for you.

He'd like you to sing for him.

Go and sing to him, Miss Alma.

Every time

I feel the spirit

Moving in my heart

I will pray

Every time

I feel the spirit

Moving in my heart

I will pray

All around me

Looked so fine

Asked the Lord

If all was mine

Every time

I feel the spirit

Moving in my heart

I will pray

Every time

I feel the spirit

Moving in my heart

I will p-pray.

Dad?

Dad?

You are my seed...

My posterity...

All that I leave on this earth.

Damn you.

Dad, don't.

Let no man curse his posterity.

Yes.

Son... uh...

Dad?

He's dead.

Dead of good works.

Dead of a meddling

telephone call.

Dead by the hand of

a hysterical old maid.

Terrified of

the animal in herself.

Unable to bear

the animal in others.

He's dead.

[Door slams]

Hello, Miss Alma.

Mama says I can start

singing lessons again.

Oh, I've... I've

discontinued teaching, dear.

Oh.

You see, I haven't

been very well.

Suppose I return next week?

Oh, I don't think so.

All right, Miss Alma,

But get well soon, hear?

Alma, why don't you get dressed?

It hurts me to see you

sitting around like this.

Day in, day out like an invalid.

There's nothing wrong with you.

You may have had

a disappointment,

But don't act as if the

world had come to an end.

Well, I made the beds,

washed the breakfast dishes.

I phoned the market,

sent the laundry out,

Peeled the potatoes,

shelled the peas...

And set the table for lunch.

What more do you want?

Either get dressed

or stay in your room.

At night you get dressed, yes.

Last night, I heard

you slipping out.

At 2:
00 in the morning.

That wasn't the first time.

I don't sleep well.

I have to walk

before I'm able to sleep.

What will I tell people

who ask about you?

Tell them that I have changed.

And you're waiting

to see in what way.

Are you going to stay

like this indefinitely?

No, not indefinitely,

But you may wish that I had.

Frank, you'll be

leaving us soon.

That's right, doctor.

Hello.

Hello, Mrs. Anderson.

How do you feel?

Fine.

I'm still here.

I'm glad.

You're over the crisis.

You're going to be well.

Ahh.

Mother, I thought it was agreed.

That you weren't

going to leave this house.

Without letting us know

where you were going.

They met him with a band.

The mayor made a long speech.

Everybody cheered.

He's on his way home now.

Who? Whom do you mean?

The boy next door.

The one you

always used to spy on.

Is that true, Father?

Haven't you looked at the paper?

Oh, no. No. Not lately.

These people are

like grasshoppers.

Just as liable to jump

one way as another.

He finished the work

his father started,

Stamped out the fever,

gotten all the glory.

That's how it is in this world.

Years of devotion

overlooked, forgotten.

[Cheering]

[Band playing]

Alma's in love.

Alma's in love.

[Knock on door]

Hello, Dr. Johnny.

Well, Nellie Ewell.

High heels, feathers, and paint.

Paint? That's excitement.

Over what?

Everything. You. Didn't

you see me in the square?

I waved my arm off.

I'm home from school now.

I finished it, you know.

Well, well.

Here's that nasty book

you gave me.

When I was pretending

ignorance of such things.

Pretending?

A girl past 17 can be

just so sheltered,

Even with a mother like mine.

I am sorry we never

had that talk, though.

I'm sorry, too.

I might have learned something.

Want a peppermint?

Hmm?

They make your mouth sweet.

Oh.

I always take one when

I hope to be kissed.

Why, I might

take you up on that.

Scared?

Did they teach you

such tricks at school?

No. Elegant education

frowns on love.

Love?

You're using a long word.

It's not a long word.

Only four letters.

I don't even have to look it up.

Yes. Well,

run along now, Nellie,

Before we both get into trouble.

I'm not afraid.

Well, I am. Run

along now, Nellie.

Oh, all right.

I'm going... but I'll be back.

[Door closes]

[Rings doorbell]

Hello, Reverend.

What do you want?

I've come to pay my

respects to Miss Alma.

My daughter's indisposed.

Uh, perhaps I can

come back later.

Alma's not at home

to you, Buchanan.

Not now and at no future date.

We had harsh words

before I left.

I've come back to tell her.

That something important

she said is true,

That she's right.

I'll convey that to her.

I'd like to tell her myself.

Good day, sir.

Father.

Was that John's voice?

That was John's voice.

What did he want?

He wanted to tell me he was back.

And was setting up practice

if we need a doctor.

Did he ask about me?

No.

We're certainly having

a cold Christmas season.

Cold but wonderful.

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