The Corn Is Green Page #8

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He's sporting, owns a race course.

I only met him 10 weeks ago.

Started serving behind a bar for fun.

I was the picture of health...

...and ever so lucky in the counter

being very high.

Then, when you stepped out

from behind the counter...

...the gentleman changed his mind

about marrying you, that it?

On the contrary, he talks of nothing else.

- Then what is the impediment?

- Oh, "the impediment."

Fancy. The impediment

is he won't have the baby.

So I've got to give up my friend

to marry Morgan.

Unless... You don't suppose Morgan

would consider the kid without me?

The baby, without you?

Your child?

- What about your mother love?

- Do you know I haven't any?

What a vile thing to say.

I didn't want the baby.

Nobody would have.

I was careful so it'd be all right.

Oh, blazes, I want a good time too.

My bit of fun, while I'm still

young enough to enjoy it.

I should have drowned her at birth.

You mean, if you could get rid of the...

I mean, respectably rid of the baby,

you'd be satisfied?

- That's a crude way of putting it.

- Yes, let's be crude.

- Where's Morgan?

- Or let's at least be factual.

- You never did like me, did you?

- No, but that's not the point.

You have a baby, you don't want the baby,

I will take the baby.

- You? Oh, don't make me laugh.

- Oh, ma'am.

Well, why not? I think of all the available

prospects, I'm the logical choice.

- But you don't know anything about babies.

- That doesn't matter.

- I'll bloody well learn. Get the basket.

- You get it.

Very well.

I had no idea he'd be so small.

Looks like a very nice baby.

Are you satisfied, Bessie? Are you?

What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?

- I shall adopt it. Are you satisfied?

- Good for you.

Yes, I suppose I am.

His papers.

Poor kid.

Well, that's that.

- Thank you.

- Don't mention it, I'm sure.

- Go on, then, bad news. Clear out.

- Don't you worry, granny, I'll clear out.

Books, books, look at them all.

I've got more out of life at my age

than she has out with them all her days...

...and I'll get a lot more yet.

You'll never get anything out of life

but a cheap thrill...

...so you'd better hurry.

Thrills wilt with the passage of time.

Au revoir, Miss Paleface.

Well, she's gone.

- And that's all settled then.

- For which we must be truly thankful.

In a manner of speaking.

- Has she gone?

- Why?

- The squire came to see me.

- Oh, that fool. That poor idiotic fool.

She and I... We don't know each other at all.

It was a long time ago.

I never thought again about it.

And neither did she, I know she didn't.

- But we're going to adopt it.

- What?

I am going to adopt it.

What in hell do you take me for?

- Please, let me explain...

- No, I will listen to nothing.

I'm gonna do what any fellow must do,

I'm gonna marry her.

You must try and understand...

Bessie Watty and I are gonna get married

as soon as possible, and that is final.

A telegram.

Open it, please.

You have won a scholarship.

First, Evans, second, Fayver-lles,

third, Starling.

He's won.

- He's won.

- Please, please, everybody outside.

Morgan Evans has won the scholarship.

He's won.

Listen to me, Morgan.

For the first time, we're together.

We're friends in the true sense of the word.

The clock is ticking

and there isn't a minute to lose.

- I'm going to marry her.

- And I am going to talk to you very simply.

I want you to change suddenly

from a boy to a man.

The decision you make now

will affect you the rest of your life.

Think. Think.

And think sensibly.

- Did you ever promise her marriage?

- No, never.

- Did you tell her you were in love with her?

- No, never.

Then your situation now

is the purest accident.

It's happened before,

it will happen again.

Only one thing matters...

...there is a child living and breathing

on this earth...

...and living and breathing

because of me.

- I have a duty.

- Of course you have a duty to the child.

I'm not blind. I know that.

But you have a duty too

to go out into the world...

...and make something of yourself.

Not a duty, Morgan,

to go down the drain.

- But why should you pick up the pieces?

- I'm happy to.

I'm happy to.

We're friends, don't you understand that?

- That is my privilege.

- I cannot let you.

Two wrongs have never made a right.

You...

You have brains.

You have shrewdness,

eloquence, imagination.

And Oxford can give you enough

of the graces.

- For what?

- Maybe to become...

"When you walk in the dark...

...you can touch with your hands

the leaves on the trees."

Remember?

"And underneath,

where the corn is green."

We all walk in the dark, Morgan.

And each of us must

turn on his own light.

Don't...

Don't lock yourself into a situation

which cannot succeed.

It cannot succeed.

Not for you, not for her,

not for your child.

You could be a man

for us to be proud of.

Perhaps I'm mad.

I don't know.

It's up to you.

Is it all right to ring the bell

to say holiday today?

Yes.

Ring the bell, Mr. Jones.

Good for you.

I don't know what to say.

Then don't say anything.

I've been so much time in this room.

And the lessons are over.

I'll be back.

We'll be here.

Thank you.

School tomorrow, same as usual,

Miss Moffat?

School tomorrow, same as usual.

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