The Black Orchid Page #3

Have you got to make a song

and dance out of it?

Yes.

Yes, I saved it.

( engine starts )

( phone rings )

GUARD:
I have the keys,

card here. Yes, sir.

That's correct.

Yes, sir.

You don't smoke, do you?

I'm kind of anxious

to see your boy.

Does he look like you?

GUARD:
Mrs. Bianco.

Mrs. Bianco, please.

Yes?

Mr. Harmon wants

to talk with you.

Hey, Rose. Hey, Rose.

I'll wait for you here, huh?

He ran away?

Come and sit down,

Mrs. Bianco.

He ran away or not?

Tell me.

Ralphie didn't run away.

Oh, thank God.

Thank the boy who warned me

in time to stop him.

Warned you what?

Ralphie was all set

to run away last night.

And you take the word

of one of these boys?

One of these boys saved him

from being transferred

to the reform school.

I'm sorry.

It's just that I get so scared.

I understand.

He promised he wouldn't

do it again.

But he can't help himself.

Listen, why don't you

let him come home.

You think he's going to steal

again from those parking meters?

He got the key from his father.

Now the cops have got the key,

and his father's

dead and buried.

And the crowd that Ralphie was

mixed up in, they buried too?

Mrs. Bianco, we're not

protecting society from Ralphie.

We're trying to protect

Ralphie from society.

Where is he now?

Confined to his room.

I can see him?

It isn't permitted, so...

don't get caught.

Oh, Rose,

is something wrong?

You look worried.

I've got to talk

with Ralphie.

Oh, Rose, will you ask Ralphie

if I could meet him some Sunday?

I'd like to very much.

All right.

(children playing

outside)

Yell and get it

over with.

I didn't come to yell.

What did Harmon say?

He covered up for you.

Ralphie, why do you keep

running away?

Where does it get you?

Out.

You got to stop running.

Don't give me advice.

Just get me out of here.

( sobs )

Don't cry. I'm sick

of seeing you cry.

Ma, I'm sorry I said that.

Please, Ma.

All right.

See, I'm not crying.

Ma...

I try and stand it here.

But at nights,

I lie in bed

and I sweat.

And I think about Papa.

Don't think of him.

Forget him.

Maybe I don't want to.

Put him out of your head.

He did you enough harm

while he was alive.

He did me harm?

( children chatter

indistinctly outside )

You know, Mr. Harmon

is really a good man.

I'm beginning to see there are

a few good men in this life.

Just the other night, for instance,

I'm sitting in the

yard making flowers,

and this man starts laughing and--

What man?

Oh, Frank Valente.

The Gallos' friend.

Ralphie, honest,

if there was a law against

making people like you,

this man would be

in the electric chair.

Do you like him?

He's the first person

made me laugh in years.

Coming here on the bus today,

he was--

You took him here?

But, Ralphie,

he's dying to meet you.

And besides, I need you to decide

if I should see him again.

I want you to okay him.

She brings a guy to the state farm

to be okay'd by a juvenile delinquent.

Next Sunday's all right?

It's your funeral.

Take care.

Bye.

Goodbye.

You like the country,

Rose?

It reminds me of home.

Yeah.

Italy.

You don't wanna go back, huh?

To what?

They're all dead over there.

If I liked visiting graves,

I could do it right here.

Yeah.

You know,

I've got a cousin

who just lives

for visiting graves.

Every Sunday,

he's in some cemetery.

One week, a tombstone

fell on him

and broke his collarbone.

That's very funny.

Hey, Rose, when we get home,

why don't you come have supper

with Mary and me, huh?

At my house?

Frank, don't be so quick.

I feel quick.

All right.

Next Sunday,

I'll meet Ralphie,

and you meet Mary.

You sure Ralphie said

it was all right, huh?

Oh, yes, I'm sure.

But do you think Mary--?

Ah, don't worry about Mary.

She's all up in the clouds,

with the wedding and all.

A girl about

to get married,

the world's like

a diamond for her.

Mary, will you listen

to me, please?

But Noble,

why do we have to eat here?

Why can't we all

go down to my place,

and I'll fix

some sandwiches and coffee?

I want egg rolls.

Well, you don't have

to yell.

You know, you're ruining

the whole date for Alma and Joe,

not just us.

Who's ruining?

Noble, don't you want me

to cook for you?

Now, what do you mean, me?

It's not me

you're thinking about.

You're worried

about your father.

So we'll come home starving.

Mary, do me a favor, will you?

Just once today, consider me.

What do you mean,

"just once"?

Mary, I want you to stay here

and have egg rolls with me.

Okay?

Alma? Hey, listen,

I'm going.

I'll call you tomorrow,

okay? So long, Joe.

They're not even

married yet.

And they fight better than

my mother and the old man.

Noble, go after her.

Eh, I'm going home.

Good night, Alma.

I'll see you, Joe.

Friday night, I'm giving her

the wedding shower.

Try to come, huh?

Yeah, sure.

And you want me to get married.

What do you want from me?

(chattering)

Try this side.

This side?

( buzzer rings )

Is that Mary?

No, no. It's okay.

It's only Joanne.

Oh, good.

Oh, hi, Joanne.

She's not here yet.

( chattering indistinctly )

We're both in pink.

Oh, it looks lovely.

Mom, did you remember

to invite Rose?

No, but I do it right now.

Good.

Girls,

coffee's ready.

Rose?

Hey, Rose!

Hey, what?

Come on over here.

I gotta talk to you.

I have to go out.

I can't stop here.

See, I invite you to a party,

and you have to go out.

You didn't invite me to a party.

I'm doing it now.

Alma's giving Mary

the wedding shower tonight.

She told me to invite you.

Who, Mary?

No, Alma.

How could Mary invite you?

It's gotta be a surprise

for the bride.

Well, I can't come.

I've got an appointment.

Tomorrow, go confess

to the priest how you tell lies.

I'm not lying.

Then you'll come?

I told you, I've got a date.

After the date,

you come and have coffee.

You and Frank.

Why didn't you wear a jacket?

I'm not cold.

(rings buzzer)

All right, baby,

have a nice time, huh?

But aren't you

coming in?

No, you tell everybody

hello for me.

You're not playing cards

tonight.

I got something else to do.

Mary, come in.

GIRLS:
Surprise!

(excited chattering)

Hi.

Hey.

Hey.

Gee, you look beautiful.

It's not bad enough I have dates,

it has to be in front of a church.

You know, you're really beautiful.

Hey, Rose.

Yeah?

Let's go to a movie, huh?

But I am in mourning.

Well,

we'll see a sad movie.

And thanks again.

Good night, Ruthie.

Well, did you enjoy the shower?

Oh, it was lovely,

Alm.

And I really was surprised.

Kid, what's the matter?

Nothing.

Oh, look, I know you

since grammar school.

Honey, everything will

be all right with Noble.

I guess it's just nerves,

Alm.

You know, over the wedding

and getting the gown made.

You know, most girls act

like it's going on a picnic

when they get married.

You? You get a nervous breakdown.

Well, wait till you're the bride.

Wait is right.

Especially if it's Joe

I'm waiting for.

I guess Papa

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