The Corn Is Green Page #10

- It's Morgan Evans.

- What?

Oh, m'am...

I've been dreading this for months.

In a terrible way it's a relief.

Bamboozling me every week

that he was in a gutter.

I can't go on listening.

I can't bear it.

This horrible unnatural happening.

All I know is I have a baby,

kicking healthy and hungry.

And I haven't got a husband to keep it.

So his father's got

to turn into my husband.

It's only fair, ain't it?

I'm afraid, Miss Moffat,

I'm inclined to agree.

- I'll call him.

- There is no need to call him.

Why not?

I am sorry to say that I have a strong

feeling of affection for this young woman

And I am willing to do the

honorable thing

by rehabilitating her in wedlock.

And bestowing on the infant

every advantage

by bringing it up a proper Christian.

- Are you serious?

- I am always serious.

You'd love that, wouldn't you?

Now we're not pretendin'

it's a windfall,

but for a girl who's took

the wrong turnin', it's a present!

And you'd have your own way

in everything, wouldn't she, sir?

- Of course.

- Well, now. Will you?

No.

I'd like to oblige, really,

but I can't.

Besides, my Alf would be furious.

- Your Alf?

- Ever such a nice gentleman.

Sporting, quite a swell.

Owns a racecourse.

You needn't look like that.

I only met him ten weeks ago.

I never heard this kind

of conversation outside a police station.

I shall seek the purity

of the outside air.

I don't suppose you'd care

to make an offer, Squire?

What?

Gross impertinence!

Doesn't this man of yours

want to marry you?

He won't talk of anything else.

But he won't have the baby.

He said of course if the father

had been a pal of his

it might be different.

Now you can understand

that really, can't you?

I suppose Mr. Jones wouldn't

consider the baby without me.

The baby without you?

Your child?

What about your mother love?

I expect you'll think

I'm a very wicked girl.

But you know, I haven't got any.

You're inhuman. That's what you are!

To think that you don't even want it.

You want to make him

marry you on the chance

that he'll become fond enough

of the child to ensure it's future.

Your conscience will be clear

and later you can go off on your own.

- I shouldn't be surprised.

- In the meantime,

it is worthwhile to ruin

the future of the boy.

I know nothing about that, I am sure.

There must be some way out.

God bless us, mam. I got it!

- What?

- Why can't you adopt it?

Don't be ridiculous.

Would that do you, Bessie?

- Well, I never thought...

- Well, would it, though?

Yes, it would.

But what do I know about babies?

I don't even know what they look like.

They're lovely little things.

Now it's all arranged.

Oh, Watty, it would be fantastic.

Oh, do, please.

Don't you see?

It'll put everything to right.

I'd know the baby was safe.

Morgan Evans need never know

anything about it.

And I can marry my friend

and it will all be very beautiful.

It's mad, I tell you.

Besides, he might even

grow up to be quite nice

and turn out like his father.

Now, ma'am, you've been pushin' us

around for three years,

it's our turn to give you a shove!

But, Watty, you're the grandmother.

Surely you...

Oh, no, I couldn't.

I don't bear it no ill will.

But every penny I get

goes to the corpse.

You're the one, really you are.

Bessie Watty...

Do you mean to say that

if I should adopt this child...

Morgan Evans need never know.

- You swear?

- I swear.

Very well, then.

- I give in.

- Oh, that's lovely.

My friend will be pleased.

We'll arrange the details later,

shall we?

My friend gave me this buckle.

Nice ain't it?

He offered me a tiny one. Real.

But I think the false one is prettier.

Don't you?

Are you going to take up

a life of disrepute?

I shouldn't be a bit surprised.

That cold water didn't really

do the trick, did it, mumsy dear?

Goodbye, Miss Schoolteacher.

I only did it to spite you, you know.

You're not fit to touch

the hem of her garment!

Oh, yes I am!

Just because she's read a lot of books.

Books, books, look at them all.

I got more out of life at my age than

she has out o' them all her days.

And I'll get a lot more yet!

What d'you bet me?

Well now, that's settled.

Now a nice cup of tea for everybody.

I'll help you, Watty.

Has she gone?

- Why?

- The Squire has just told me.

Oh, fool! The idiotic fool!

Then it's true.

- He thought I knew.

- There is no need

for you to to upset yourself, my boy.

Miss Moffat is going

to take care of the child.

You are what?

I am going to adopt the child.

What the devil do you take me for...

Morgan, my boy.

We thought it was for the best.

- What would you like to do?

- What would I like to do?

It is not what I would like

but what I am going to do.

I am going to marry her.

I knew this would happen, I knew.

Bessie Watty and I are going

to get married as soon as we can.

And that is final!

Come in.

A telegram!

They sent it from Penlan.

I never seen a telegram before.

Read it, Miss Moffat.

I would like to know for once

what it says in a telegram.

You have won the scholarship, Morgan.

First, Evans,

Second, Fayver-Iles,

Third, Starling.

Congratulations!

Look at me, Morgan.

The first time we are together.

Our hearts are face to face unashamed.

The clock is ticking and

there is no time to lose.

If there was ever anybody

at the crossroads, you are now.

It's no good. I'm going to marry her.

And I am going to speak

to you very simply.

I'm going to ask you to change

suddenly from a boy to a man.

I understand that this

has been a great shock to you.

But I'm going to ask you to throw off

this passionate obstinacy

to do the right thing.

Have you ever asked

Bessie to marry you?

- No, never.

- Have you even told her

- you were in love with her?

- No, never.

That does not alter the fact

that I have a duty to them both.

She has her own plans

and does not want the child.

And if you do marry her,

you know what will happen, don't you?

You'll go back to the mine.

In two years' time

she will have left you both.

You will start drinking again,

only this time you won't stop.

And you will enjoy being this besotted

and uncouth village genius

who once showed such promise.

And it won't be worth it, you know that.

There is a child, living and

breathing on this earth,

and living and breathing because of me.

You merntioned the word

duty just now, didn't you?

Yes, you have a duty.

But it's not to this loose little lady,

or to her offspring either.

You mean duty to you?

No.

A year ago,

I would have said duty to me.

But that night you showed your teeth.

Caught me unawares, and I gave you

the worst possible answer.

I turned sorry for myself and

taunted you with ingratitude.

I was a dope not to realize

that a debt of gratitude

is the most humiliating debt of all.

And that a little show of

affection would have wiped it out.

I offer that affection to you now.

Why are you saying this to me now?

Because, as the moments are passing,

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