The Bad Seed Page #13

Rhoda.

Rhoda, you're mine...

...and I carried you...

...and I can't let them hurt you.

I can't let them take you away

and shut you up.

They'd stare at you

and make a show of you...

...and nobody can save you from that

unless I save you.

So sleep well...

...and dream well, my only child

and the one I love.

I shall sleep too.

Yes, doctor.

Has she...?

- Has anything changed?

- Her condition is still the same.

- But can't I...?

- Please, colonel...

...everything possible

is being done for Mrs. Penmark.

But it's been two days.

You mustn't go in there.

The doctor will be out soon.

Nothing.

Why did she do it?

Again, that's what I can't understand.

Why did she do such a thing?

She wasn't unhappy when I left.

Maybe a little bit down

about us being separated for a while...

...because we were in love.

Don't you see? She proved that to me.

Christine and I were in love.

And suddenly, she doesn't want

to live anymore.

She did seem a bit upset

over the accident to the Daigle boy.

Yes, but she met that perfectly well.

Oh, no, a thing like that wouldn't

unbalance her to the point of...

Dick. Dick, you must've had a good

heart-to-heart get-together...

...when you were down for your visit.

Did she say anything? Mention anything?

You've got to be frank with me.

Ken, there's nothing I can say

that will help at all.

Monica, you know she was quite

hysterical at the death of Leroy.

And it was that same night it happened?

Yes. We heard the shot and ran down.

She had done it after giving Rhoda

that lethal dose of sleeping pills.

Why, I don't know...

...but she'd obviously planned

that they should go together.

If she doesn't live...

...I don't think I can.

Kenneth, my dear,

you mustn't talk like that.

Even if the worst does happen...

...you still have something

to be grateful for.

You still have Rhoda.

If we hadn't heard the shot

and gotten the doctor quickly...

...Rhoda would be gone.

There she is.

Is Mommy better yet, Daddy?

We're waiting, darling.

Come here, sweetheart.

The same lovely smile.

She'll always live in you.

Oh, I love you, Daddy.

Sorry, colonel, there's nothing really

definite to report. She's still in coma.

I have been successful

with this type of operation...

...but it can go either way.

The brain, I feel, definitely is not

damaged. It's mainly shock and loss of...

We've been all over that.

I really think the best thing you can do

is to go home.

A certain young lady here

looks rather tired.

She's had quite an ordeal herself,

you know.

I really think it would be best.

I won't leave Mrs. Penmark until we know.

Very well.

Let's go home now, Rhoda.

Oh, I forgot my lighter. Be right back.

- Give me a few seconds, doctor?

- Certainly.

- Smoke?

- Thanks.

I meant to ask you,

during my daughter's, uh...

While she's been unconscious,

did she say anything?

Mutter anything at all?

Yes, come to think of it, she did.

For a while there,

she kept muttering something about...

Yes. A bad seed, a bad seed.

Does that give you any clue?

Not particularly.

Oh, yes, she was starting to write a book,

something around the theory...

...let me see, that a child can inherit

criminal tendencies in the blood.

If you'll forgive me,

that's a pretty specious theory.

That's what I told her.

It's a matter of environment, isn't it?

Of course. Now and then,

we get a twisted brain chemistry...

...born to healthy, enlightened parents,

but that's one in a million.

- I was sure of that.

- Great Scott, if we were foolish enough...

...to swallow that other venal belief,

nobody would ever adopt a child...

...or even have children of their own...

...like that sweet little girl

she has, for example.

Thanks. I mean...

...well, thank you very much, doctor.

Good night.

Good night.

There, now.

Daddy, will Mommy get well?

- We just prayed for her, didn't we?

- Yes.

What made me sick

the night Mommy hurt herself?

Oh, uh...

Everybody gets tummy trouble

now and then.

- All ready to turn out the lights now?

- Mm-hm.

What will you give me

for a basket of kisses? Ha, ha.

A basket of kisses?

I'll give you a basket of hugs.

- Good night, my sweetheart.

- Good night, Daddy.

- Daddy? "Hmm?"

Aunt Monica likes me.

Everybody loves you.

She said if she ever died or anything

or went away...

...she'd give me Sweetsie, her lovebird.

That's nice, honey...

...but Aunt Monica isn't going to die

or go away for a long, long time.

- A long time?

- That's right. Go to sleep now.

- Daddy? "Hmm?"

How long do lovebirds live?

- Oh, I don't know.

- As long as people?

No, not that long.

Oh, well. I'll find out for sure tomorrow

when Aunt Monica takes me...

- ...for my sunbath.

- Where is that?

Aunt Monica promised me

she'd take me for a sunbath.

She fixed up a place on the roof.

Way up high where no one can see us.

- Isn't that nice?

- That's wonderful.

- Good night, sweetheart.

- Good night, Daddy.

- Yes?

- Colonel Penmark?

- Yes, doctor.

- I have somebody here...

...who wishes to talk with you.

Can't handle her unless she does.

But don't talk but very little, colonel.

On your honor, now.

Kenneth.

Kenneth, darling.

They said I'm going to be all right.

Christine, dearest, just to hear you,

but don't talk anymore.

Kenneth, I've committed a dreadful...

...dreadful sin.

And I know that I'm going to have

to pay for it in some way, but...

Just to know...

...that I have your forgiveness...

Sweetheart, please don't talk anymore.

Whatever it is, not now.

We'll solve it together.

Oh, Kenneth.

I love you.

I love you.

One moment, please.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

our wonderful cast.

Mr. Gage Clarke as Tasker.

Mr. Jesse White as Emory.

Miss Joan Croyden as Miss Fern.

Mr. Bill Hopper as Kenneth Penmark.

Mr. Paul Fix as Richard Bravo.

Mr. Henry Jones as Leroy.

Miss Evelyn Varden as Monica.

Miss Eileen Heckart as Mrs. Daigle.

Miss Patty McCormack as Rhoda.

And Miss Nancy Kelly

as Christine Penmark.

And as for you...

No! No! Ow! No!

Ow, ow, ow! Aah!

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