The Actress Page #9

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go back there, she...

well, she done

what she done.

Gee, papa.

Your poor

mother.

Clinton, you

never told me.

No. Now you know why i never

see none of my folks

and i don't

want to talk about them.

I'll be bitter about them

if i live to be 100.

They was awful people.

Till the day i die,

i'll be bitter about them!

So when the time comes

for my daughter

to go out in the world,

i'd like to kind of grease

the way for her...

about $50 worth.

Oh, papa!

The only thing,

i don't know

where in the name

of fried parsnips

this money's

going to come from.

You'll get it,

clinton.

Just you believe

you will.

Of course there's

always my bonus,

due the first week

in july. That's $100.

We could maybe carve

out half of that...

that is, of course,

if they'll

advance it to me.

Do you know

what $50 means

to your father

and i, ruth?

In my whole life,

i've never seen

$50 altogether,

not even once.

Oh, mama.

But money

isn't everything.

All we really need

is faith.

Well, you and ruth grapple

with the faith end,

and i'll tackle

old w. k. Cottington.

Faith is a great thing,

all right,

but i never been

in no situation yet

where having a little money

made things any worse.

Be careful.

Don't hurt yourself.

See you later,

katherine.

All right. Come on.

Hey, you look like

some kind of a suffragette

or something,

hauling trunks around. Here.

Thanks.

What's the address of

this three arts club?

340 west 85th street,

new york city.

My room is number 61.

It's reserved

beginning today.

In new york city,

there's a room

waiting for me

to just unlock the door

and walk in.

I didn't ask anyone

else to class day.

If you liked me

enough, you'd stay.

I could if i let me,

but i can't let me.

Aren't you ever going to

get interested in a fella?

Not unless they live

in new york city

or just outside.

But how could

you help it?

Because i'm never again

going to let myself.

You see, fred,

because if i did,

then i myself might not

want to be an actress.

That's why,

excepting games of

post office, of course,

i'll never kiss anybody,

but if i do, it'll

either be post office

or the fella has to live

in new york city.

Or just outside.

Well,

i'll write you.

All right.

I'll think about you

class day.

I'll write you

how it comes out.

Fine.

And you can

write me anytime.

All right.

Well... good-bye.

Oh, dear.

Good-byes are sad.

Maybe she won't

stay forever, fred.

People change

their minds.

Oh, mama.

Oh, i know

you're different.

I was just saying

to fred about people.

Couldn't you at least let me

run you over to the station?

No, fred. No.

It would only

make it worse.

Good-bye.

Oh, dear.

He's such a nice boy.

With any encouragement

at all, he...

where do you

suppose papa is?

He'll be here,

so you go upstairs

and start getting ready.

Punk,

what on earth makes you enjoy

eating boston fern?

Clinton,

where have you been?

Ruth's up

getting dressed.

Tell her to heave to.

What?

Tell her to never mind

getting dressed.

She's got to

get dressed

if she's going

to new york city,

doesn't she?

No, she don't.

Will you please tell me

why she doesn't?

Because she ain't going.

Tell her she better hyper

down to the railroad station

and get the money

back on the ticket.

Clinton!

What on earth do you

mean ruth isn't going?

I can't afford to send her.

That's what i mean.

Can't afford to send

nobody to be an actress,

because at the moment

i haven't got a job.

How could this happen to us?

I launched out against

old cottington

about his

lollygagging bonus.

Oh, dear.

Oh, dear.

And he says to me, kind

of real snippy-like,

he says, "just how

do you propose

to remedy

this situation?"

I said, "just give me

what's due me.

"Don't do me

no lollygagging favors.

"Instead of handing me

100 simoleons

at the end

of the fiscal year,

"give it to me

in the form

of a $2.00 weekly

increase.

"Then it's mine,

and i know i got it,

and we can stop all

this worry and palaver. "

You mean he went

and fired you

just because you asked for

something you were entitled to?

I didn't give him time

to fire me.

I fired myself.

He says, "you mean

you don't wish

to continue as you have

the last 24 years?"

I said, "that's right,"

and he said...

i was a little

surprised myself.

Couldn't you just been

a little more tactful?

Let him be tactful

for once!

Ruth's $50!

Well,

can't afford it now.

She'll have to go

some other time.

Clinton, I...

well, i can't

stretch the money

if i haven't got the money

to stretch, can i?

Maybe...

Mama! Mama, where are you?

Look at me!

I'm practically

an actress already.

Child...

oh, mama, don't

be sad. Be proud!

Clinton, wouldn't

you just let me

go and sew

for people?

I could make

more than $50!

Papa,

what's the matter?

You can't go,

so hyper out of them duds

and stow your gear.

Can't go?

Not today.

But why can't i?

Because i haven't got

the dough-re-mi.

But you said

you could give it to me.

Yes, but now i say

i can't give it to you.

Get down to

the railroad station,

get your money back

before it's too late.

I will not take

my ticket back!

You said i could

be an actress,

and i'm going!

You haven't got any money.

You can't...

i can so!

I won't need any money.

You paid my room

at the three arts club

with two weeks' advance,

and i'll go like

i said i would go.

L... i got to!

If i don't go today,

then i'll bet

i'll never go,

and if i let

one thing stop me,

it'll be another

and another and another,

and i'll never,

never, nev...

papa, you...

you gave me your word.

Ruth, papa had it out

with mr. Cottington.

He lost his position.

Papa,

how can that be?

Couldn't kowtow no longer

for what is mine by rights.

Couldn't bend

the knee no lower.

I don't know what i've done

with my handkerchief.

Ruth, get me a doily.

Fanny may jackson

embroidered me that.

I never like to use it.

Use it, mama.

It ain't nothing

to the ones i'm

going to buy you.

I got $2.40 of my money

and my railroad ticket,

so i'll just

get a job sooner

so's i can look

after you and mama.

Oh, clinton,

she can't go be

an actress on $2.40.

I can so! Where's

my box of lunch?

Clinton,

would you let me

give her

my engagement ring?

Do let me, please.

I gave you that

to keep.

She could get

some money for it.

Mama, you mean

go in a pawn shop?

I'd rather be dead.

If you're going to

be an actress,

you'll be in and out of

a pawn shop all your life.

I'll go see every

single manager in new york city.

I'll go see them beginning

at 6:
00 in the morning.

You got plenty

of sand.

I'll say that

for you.

I got anything

i want to have,

but i won't have

anything at all

if trouble makes me

go and give up.

Why, to actresses,

it's even a help.

I bet i'd even learn

to welcome trouble.

I bet i could

actually enjoy it.

Now, hold on.

There ain't no call

to render a solo

on the beauties

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