The Bad Seed Page #3

- Yes, always.

- But no evidence.

- Only that I'd dream about it.

- What kind of dream?

- Oh, Monica, really.

Do I have to tell my dreams too?

It's all so silly,

I haven't even mentioned it to Kenneth.

Say, the gal that really took the prize

was that one you wrote about...

...in that first book of yours.

The one that pulled all those jobs

and they couldn't convict her.

Oh, you mean Bessie. Bessie Denker.

Most amazing woman

in all the annals of homicide.

She was beautiful, she had brains...

...she was ruthless, and she never used

the same poison twice, either.

Her father, for example, died of rabies...

...supposedly contracted from a mad dog.

- It just happened...

- Did you...?

- ...that all his money went to Bessie.

- Did you say Bessie Denker?

Yes.

There. Now we might

have struck something.

Murderess, poisons,

et cetera, ad infinitum.

Oh, Monica, this really is nonsense.

Here, let's clear

some of these things away.

By the way, still planning on hanging

around for a few days' fishing?

I'd sure like to,

but I don't wanna bother you any.

Ha, ha, listen,

any excuse with me for fishing.

We'll get the weather for tomorrow and

if the channel reflects a good deep blue...

... nothing more important

has happened for many years...

...in the field of foreign affairs.

That's international news for the moment.

Now let's look at the weather forecast.

For tomorrow and... Hmm? Hmm?

I interrupt this program to...

I have been asked to announce that one

of the children on the annual picnic...

...of the Fern Country Day School...

...was accidentally drowned

in the bay early this noon.

The name of the victim is being withheld

until the parents are first notified.

More news of this tragic affair

is expected momentarily.

- Monica!

- It was not Rhoda.

Rhoda is too self-reliant a child.

It was some timid, confused youngster

afraid of its own shadow.

- It was certainly not Rhoda.

- Emory, please.

To continue with the weather. Locally...

- What am I standing...?

- Hmm?

Yes. We now have the full story

on the Fern School drowning.

We are now authorized to give you

the name of the victim.

It was 8-year-old Claude Daigle...

...the only child of Mr. and Mrs.

Henry Daigle of 126 Willow Street.

He appears to have fallen

into the water from the abandoned pier...

...on the Fern property.

It is a mystery how the boy

got on the pier...

...for all the children

had been forbidden to play near or on it.

But his body was found off the end

of the landing wedged among the pilings.

The guard who brought up the body applied

artificial respiration, but without result.

There were bruises

on the forehead and hands...

...but it is assumed that these were caused

by the body washing against the pilings.

And now to continue

with the report of local weather.

Scattered showers...

Oh, that poor little boy. That poor child.

They'll send the children

home immediately.

- They must be on their way now.

- I don't know...

I don't know what to say to her.

Rhoda is 8. I remember

I didn't know anything about death...

...or it didn't touch me closely

until I was much older.

A teacher I adored died. My...

My whole world changed and darkened.

Monica, here comes the bus now.

I don't know what to say to her.

Well, this is between you and Rhoda now.

Nobody else can help.

Well, I suppose.

I would come with you, dear...

...but I think mother and child

are better alone at a time like this.

Oh, darling.

Mother, we didn't really have our lunch

because Claude Daigle was drowned.

I know. It was on the radio.

He was drowned, so then they were all

rushing and calling and hurrying...

...to see if they could make him

alive again, but they couldn't.

So then they said the picnic was over

and we had to go home.

Well, I'm glad you're home.

So could I have

a peanut butter sandwich and milk?

Rhoda, did you see him?

Well, yes, of course.

Then they put a blanket over him...

No. Did you see him taken

from the water?

Yes, they laid him out on the lawn

and worked and worked, but it didn't help.

Sweetheart...

...I want you to try to get these pictures

right out of your mind.

Now, I don't want you to be worried

or frightened one little bit.

These things happen to us sometimes,

and when they do, we simply accept them.

Oh, but I thought it was exciting.

Can I have the peanut butter sandwich?

Why, yes, darling.

I'll get it ready for you.

Leroy.

Just doing my baskets, Mrs. Penmark.

Good.

- I thought I'd go out and skate after.

- Very well, dear.

Mighty awful event at the Fern School

this morning, huh, Mrs. Penmark?

- Uh, yes, Leroy. It was very sad.

- They say when they found that little boy...

Yes, Mrs. Penmark.

Now, Rhoda...

...you're behaving very well, dear...

...but still, it's a terrible thing

to see and remember.

I understand how you feel, darling.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I don't feel any way at all.

- Have you been naughty?

- Why, no, Mother.

What will you give me

for a basket of kisses?

I'll give you a basket of hugs.

I wanna finish my sandwich

while I skate, Mother.

Well, then you should.

How come you go skating

and enjoying yourself...

...when your poor little schoolmate's

still damp from drowning in the bay, huh?

It looks to me like you'd be staying home,

crying your eyes out.

Either that or be in church,

burning a candle in a blue cup.

You ask me,

and I say you don't even feel sorry...

...about what happened

to that poor little boy.

Why should I feel sorry?

It was Claude Daigle

who got drowned, not me.

Ain't scared of nothing, huh?

I'll find a way to scare you.

"The knight had not gone

more than a dozen paces..."

...before he saw beside the path...

...a beautiful lady who laid out

a fair damask cloth under an oak...

...and set thereon...

...cakes and dainties and a...

And a flagon with...

"...two silver cups..."

- Mommy.

- What?

Why aren't you reading?

Oh...

I was just thinking, I guess.

About what? The accident?

Mm-hm, partly. And my telephone call.

The circuits were busy.

What are cakes and dainties?

- Oh. They're like little cakes, you know.

- Oh.

"Cakes and dainties,

and a flagon with two silver cups."

'Knight, ' she called. 'Knight, come eat

and drink with me...

...for you are hungry

and thirsty, and I am alone... "'

Did you take your vitamins, dear?

Yes. I took one before.

This is my second.

I was saving them

because I like the juice.

- I'll close my eyes, but I won't be asleep.

- I know.

"And then the knight answered her:"

'I thank you, fair lady,

for I am not only hungry and thirsty...

...but I'm lost within the forest.'

Then he let his palfrey graze nearby...

...and he feasted with the lady,

who gave him loving looks...

...sweeter than the wine from the flagon,

though the wine was sweet and strong.

And in this fashion, the time passed...

...till the light was gone

out of the wood and it was dark.

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