The Actress Page #3

---

cemetery

and was back here

fixing your supper,

what would

the plan be?

Just let me in on it.

Laying out under

them wilted posies,

i might be

kind of curious.

I don't know.

Go on.

Spout it out.

I suppose she could do any

one of a hundred things.

Don't name me a hundred.

Just name me one.

Name me one man,

woman, or child

who would be hard-enough

put to employ her.

Clinton,

you're nervous. L...

don't worry about me.

I'm put away

for the time being.

Let's start with something

that's even colder than

i'll be... fundamentals.

Now, come on.

Be frank.

Can she thread

a needle?

Well, of course.

After all, clinton,

it'd be only normal

for her

to get married.

Did you ever

think of that?

Fred's very sweet

on her.

All right.

Suppose she marries fred.

Now suppose

he's passed on, too,

and laying next to me

up there at fay's.

Now we're both laid.

It's quite a field day

for fay, by the way.

Both of us laying

up there nice and cozy.

What's she

going to do now?

You know, a woman

should be independent,

and one way

to be independent

is learn how to earn

your own keep.

Now, i got one plan,

if i could just swing

the education end,

and that's the boston

physical culture school

for her after she gets

through high school.

Why on earth

the boston physical...

to prepare ruth to go

out and earn her bread

as a physical

instructress.

But it's a very

expensive outfit,

and i don't want

to get her hopes up

until i'm sure i can

see my way clear to.

But her dancing days

have to be over someday.

She can't go

hopscotching around

in cochato hall

forever.

She better

start worrying.

Thank you,

mrs. Hinkelman.

You know what i

was imagining?

You and i

dancing on a stage

and a million people

staring and applauding.

Hooray for us.

Oh, listen. It's mine.

What is?

The music.

The pink lady waltz?

It's what i'm

going to be, fred.

What, a waltzer?

An actress.

No kidding.

You really are?

Shh. But it's a secret

only for you, fred.

I threw caution

to the wind because...

because you

appeal to me.

I do?

Fred, dance this

like we were alone

on a vast, vast stage!

You're full of

the dickens tonight.

fly, fly,

beautiful lady

on light, bright wings

while the rapture

of music

around us swings

15-2, 15-4, 15-6,

and a run of...

Shh, clinton.

They'll hear you.

Hear me what?

Ruth, go see who's

at the door.

If it's anyone, they

can't stay long. It's 9:00.

You say it's 9:
00

because you like

to say 9:
00.

It ain't 9:
00 yet.

Ruth, pull down your skirt.

It shows you lack poise.

Oh, mama, please.

It's just anna witham

and katherine follett.

Oh, hello,

mrs. Jones.

Hello.

Come stand

by the sideboard.

The register will

warm you up.

Don't stand by

the register

if you've got

cold feet.

No, you'll get

chilblains.

If your feet

are cold,

never stand

near a fire.

Stick them

in ice water.

Mr. Jones,

i don't get chilblains.

I stand by the register

all the time.

We have to do latin, mama.

Chilblains

are an awful thing.

I remember

one winter,

we was heading

into halifax.

December, it was.

December takes

a bigger toll

on vessels...

papa, no one's

got chilblains.

No, but they will

have

if they stand

near a register,

get their

feet wet with snow,

and chilblains can

be an awful thing.

Chilblains not only

attacks the feet,

you know.

It sometimes attacks

the nose and

the ears as well.

Awful thing.

I remember one

winter we was headed

through

the northern straits

aboard a vessel

answering to

the new star

of malta.

That was the first

voyage out

i had my spyglass.

You might take a

look at her, girls.

She standing there

on the sideboard.

Come along, girls.

Come along.

Here she is.

Bought her one time

when we was taking on cargo

in liverpool.

Good as she ever was.

Greatest glass

to be had for the money.

Uh-huh.

Lenses ground

by karl rosch in hamburg.

I set great store

by this glass.

Mmm.

If you ever

have occasion...

mama, we got lots

of studying to do.

Go on upstairs,

now.

Don't make the port of

halifax in the wintertime

if you can make other

arrangements, katherine.

Shut the door

after you, now,

so as not

to be disturbing.

Goodness, ruthie,

your father!

Hee hee!

What's the assignment,

katherine?

Didn't you

take it down?

No. I thought you did.

Anna, you never do

anything for yourself.

Oh, there it is!

Oh!

I don't want

papa to hear.

Why not?

He'll kill me.

Why?

Because it cost

35 cents.

When do you think you're

ever going to tell him?

Tell him what?

About going

on the stage.

Why? Wouldn't he

want you to?

Oh, he'd kill her.

Oh, mr. Jones has

a terrible disposition.

to you,

beautiful lady

i raise my eyes

my heart, beautiful lady

to your heart sighs

dream, dream,

dream and forget

care, pain,

useless regret

let the river flow

down to the sea

bright sea,

bring my loved one home to me

true, dear one, true

i'm trying hard to be

but hear me say

it's a very long,

long way

from the banks of the seine

for a girl to go and stay

by the banks

of the saskatchewan

do you have to sing out

your lessons?

You know, education is

denied to most people.

Treat it with some respect.

Given your opportun...

the theatre magazine?

Where did you

get this?

It's nothing.

I just happened...

35 cen...

did you get stung

35 cents for this thing?

No.

Well, it didn't hop out

of the woodwork, did it?

Well, it's katherine's.

I borrowed it.

Oh. Well, stow it away.

Get to work.

Gosh.

Excuse my saying

it was yours.

Oh, you had to.

Oh, that's

all right.

You can't ever tell him

you're going

to be an actress.

Well, i'm practically

an actress already.

What, ruth?

Well, i wasn't going to

tell anyone, but look.

What is it?

A letter

from hazel dawn.

Oh, ruth!

Inviting me

to come and see her

behind the scenes!

Oh, ruth!

I wrote her the night

i got her picture

telling her

how great it was

and how i intend

to become an actress

and could she let me know

how about start going

on the stage myself.

Don't touch it!

I'm going to

get it framed.

Well, hurry!

It's like reading

dreambook magazine.

"Colonial theatre,

boylston street, boston, mass.

March 9.

Dear miss jones... "

no, no, no.

Read it slowly.

All right.

"Colonial theatre,

boylston street, boston, mass.

"March 9.

Dear miss jones. "

Oh!

"Thank you

for your letter.

"I think it is fine

"that you want to be

an actress if you...

"if you want

to be an actress.

"If you come to the matinee

on wednesday,

"perhaps you would

like to come

"to my dressing room

before it

and talk to me"!

Oh!

Oh!

Wait.

I didn't finish!

"Sincerely yours,

hazel dawn. "

Oh!

Oh, she must

be beautiful.

Does it seem as though

a thing like that

could happen

to anyone in wollaston?

Oh, but, ruth,

wednesday's

a school day.

Well,

i'll say i'm sick.

I'll say i have

a headache.

Miss o'neill will never

let you go home for that.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes