The Children's Hour Page #4

sooner or later.

I couldn't have stood

it much longer.

Here it is. Anyway, one

shouldn't be away too long

from his true profession.

My make-up case. I left it

upstairs. I'll be right back.

- Drive back to the house, John.

- Yes, ma'am.

- I don't have to go back today?

- No.

This week?

No, Mary, you don't

have to go back.

Ever?

Ever.

You're the nicest, sweetest

grandmother in the whole wide world.

John, please stop at

Mrs. Anderson's house.

Catherine, will you

please continue?

Rosalie, will you come

outside with me a moment?

Go ahead, Catherine.

Rosalie, your mother

has sent us a message

that you're to pack a bag and

spend the night at the Tilfords'.

- John will drive you.

- Why?

I'm sure it's nothing to

be upset about, dear.

Your mother's been

away and very likely

just wants to see you as

soon as she gets back.

John's outside. Don't

keep him waiting.

Yes, Miss Dobie.

I'm going to ask it, too. Why?

First Mary doesn't come

back. Now Rosalie?

I don't know. I just don't...

Another car's coming.

Rosalie Wells is here to

spend the night with you.

- What?

- Till her mother comes for her.

- You mean, she's going to sleep here?

- If you don't keep her awake all night.

Why?

How do I know the crazy things

that are going on in this house?

All right, come on in, Rosalie.

- Have you had your bath, dear?

- Yes, ma'am, this morning.

Better have another. I'll be

in later to make up your bed.

And if you need anything,

you just let me know.

Sissy!

But, Mrs. Walton, there must

be a reason. You don't...

- Mrs. Vincent, won't you please tell us...

- Come along, now.

She hung up.

- Did you get Joe?

- No. I tried twice. He's out on a call.

- Miss Janet.

- Are we coming back, Miss Dobie?

I don't know, dear.

All the girls leaving,

it's all so funny.

Come along. Your mother

wants you to hurry.

- Didn't Mrs. Webb leave us a message?

- Yes, ma'am.

She said have Janet's trunk

packed, and I'll pick it up.

- That's all she told you?

- Yes, ma'am, that's all.

Mr. Burton, don't you...

What is happening here?

Has everyone gone insane?

- I'm awfully sorry to leave, Miss Wright.

- Come on, Helen.

- We're sorry, too, Helen.

- Thank you. Good-bye.

Go on out to the car, Helen.

How much do I owe you for

the rest of the term?

We don't want your money, Mr. Burton.

We want to know why all this is happening.

If you don't know, I don't know.

You mean, you're taking your child out

of school and you don't know why?

It'd be better if you

talk to Helen's mother.

Why?

It's not the kind of thing

I want to talk about!

Mr. Burton!

Mr. Burton, you've got to tell us.

What would you say if I told you that

I knew why you were leaving school?

You're always pretending

you know everything.

You and your silly secrets.

Suppose I told someone it all happened

because you told me something.

Me?

I don't know anything to tell you.

That's not what I

told my grandmother.

Why, Mary Tilford.

I didn't tell you anything.

I'm going right down to your grandmother

and tell her I didn't tell you anything...

Whatever it is.

You're just trying

to get me into...

Why don't you go?

Wait a minute. I'll come with you.

- What for?

- I want to tell her all about this.

- What about it?

- Just that you stole it from Helen Burton.

I never did any such

thing. I borrowed it.

And I was going to put it back as

soon as I'd worn it to the movies.

I never meant to keep it.

I was putting it back yesterday

when you made me drop it.

And who do you think

will believe that?

And if I told my grandmother

she'd tell your parents and

everybody at the school

and the police, of course,

that you're a thief!

And you'd be put in a school

for delinquent girls.

Mary, don't tell anybody!

Please, don't tell!

See?

Whatever you ask, I do.

Wild horses couldn't drag

the secret out of me now.

- Thank you, Mary.

- As long as you do what I say.

Want to join my sorority?

Yes, I think so.

Put your hand on your heart,

and take the oath of allegiance.

"I, Rosalie Wells,

"am now a member of

the inner circle."

I, Rosalie Wells,

am now a member of

the inner circle.

"I will never betray

a sister member."

I will never betray

a sister member.

- Hello, Amelia.

- Good evening, Joseph.

How are you?

Tired.

We're getting the results of

the mating season about now.

Did I take you away from a patient?

No. I was just finishing

at the hospital.

I told you that on the phone.

Yes, of course.

How is the hospital?

- How is it getting on?

- Just the same.

Not enough money, badly equipped.

Amelia, you didn't call me here

to talk about the hospital.

What's the matter?

Aren't you feeling well?

If I only knew how to start.

Start at the easiest place.

It's a very hard thing to say.

Hard for you to say to me?

Did you know they dismissed Mrs. Mortar

from the Wright-Dobie school?

They did? Good. It's about time.

Don't you think it odd they

wanted so much to get rid

of that silly, harmless woman?

Lily Mortar is not a harmless woman,

though God knows she's silly enough.

She's a selfish old bore.

If you're feeling sorry for

her, you're wasting your time.

- You didn't call me to talk about that.

- Joe.

No, something else.

You've been engaged to Karen

Wright for a long time, haven't you?

Two years.

She doesn't seem to be

able to make up her mind.

It wasn't that so much

as it was the school.

- It was a tough job getting it on its feet.

- And there's Miss Dobie.

Yes. Anyway, it's all settled.

You can buy the wedding present.

It's official.

Well? No congratulations?

Joseph...

You must not marry Karen.

Why must I...

What are you talking about?

Why must I not marry Karen?

Because there's something

very wrong with Karen.

And there's something

very wrong with you

for thinking you can

talk to me this way.

I know what I'm talking about.

Who's that?

- Mrs. Tilford, is she in?

- I won't have them here.

- What are you talking about?

- I won't have them here!

Then you don't want me here either!

Darling, what is this?

- What did she do it for?

- What are you doing to us?

- I don't think you should have come here.

- What is all this?

- Hasn't she told you?

- Nobody has told me anything.

What's the matter, Karen? Martha?

Did anything happen at the school?

There is no school anymore.

The children have been

taken by their parents.

Why?

We couldn't find out.

Nobody would tell us.

Finally Mr. Burton told us.

- Told you what?

- That...

That Martha and I...

That Martha and I have been lovers.

Mrs. Tilford told them.

- Did you tell them that?

- Yes.

- Are you sick?

- You know I'm not sick.

Then what did you do it for?

Because it's true.

You think it's true, then?

- You crazy, crazy old woman!

- You mean, you did say it?

- You knew what you were saying?

- I don't think you should have come here.

I shall not call you names, and I

won't allow you to call me names.

And I don't want to talk about

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