The Golden Boys Page #4

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...warm in the winter.

We wouldn't have

the money to feed her.

Well, you think he'll live?

I can't say.

He's had a stroke of paralysis...

...and there seem to be other

complications as well.

If he regains consciousness,

I shall think he has a chance.

Not a very good one.

I don't think he'll die tonight.

But if he lives, he's going

to need a good nurse...

...and I don't know of one in town.

Neither do we.

Watch that top step now.

Yeah.

There you are.

Dr. Palmer...

I would like you to meet Mrs. Snow.

- Mrs. Snow, this is Dr. Palmer.

- Pleased to meet you.

Captain Perez...

- This is Mrs. Marthy B. Snow...

- Ma'am.

...of Nantucket.

Pleasure is mine. All mine.

Mrs. Snow is sort of a relative...

...so to speak, of Captain Jerry.

And...

...it turns out she has had

considerable nursing skills...

...and she said she is willing

to take care of John...

...until he feels better.

Well, that's... That's wonderful.

That's wonderful.

Captain Bartlett's upstairs?

Shall I go right up?

Oh, yes, ma'am.

You have nursed before,

I believe the captain said?

Yes. Five years with my husband.

He had slow consumption.

And before that, with my mother...

...and my brother and sisters

at one time or another.

I've known considerable

sickness my whole life.

More of that than anything else, I guess.

Now, if you'll go up with me...

...so as to tell me

about the medicine and so on.

Oh, yes, ma'am. This way.

Excuse me, Captain.

She has lost quite a bit of tonnage.

She's also...

I don't know...

...prettied up a bit, wouldn't you say?

You, uh, haven't told me

something, have you?

Jerry, it's safe now.

You can come on out

and show yourself.

Wait a minute. Didn't I tell you fellas...

...that there was a slight case

of misidentity at the station?

It had something to do

with a couple of valises.

- I told you that.

- Told us nothing.

No, I did. Told us nothing.

- Really?

- No.

- I must be getting old.

- She'll do.

If all your relatives are

like that, Captain Burgess...

...well, I'd like to know them.

Anyway, he seems

a little bit better now.

There should be no change for a while.

If there is, send for me, all right?

I'll call in the morning.

- Thank you, Doctor.

- Good night, Captains. Good night.

Good night, Captain Burgess.

Thank you, Doc.

Well, Jerry...

...don't you think it's

about time you went up...

...and introduced yourself

to your future wife?

She's busy up there.

I'm so tuckered out...

...if I have a little nap...

...I'll make a better presentation...

...is what I'm thinking.

Naps are out.

You go upstairs now.

- Come on.

- It's time. It's time.

Oh, no. Come on, Jerry.

Mrs. Snow...

I think you'd better sleep in my bedroom,

long as you're here.

I'll just bunk downstairs

along with my shipmates.

All right.

Perhaps you should introduce me

to Captain Burgess.

I don't think we've ever met,

if we are relations.

Oh, why, of course.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Jerry, this is Mrs. Snow.

I don't know what's gotten into me.

- You're sure pert, ma'am.

- Thank you.

Well, he seems to be doing better...

...so I think you all should go to bed...

...and we can talk tomorrow...

...I mean, today.

I forgot it's next door to daylight already.

Good night.

Jerry's correct, ma'am.

You sure are pretty.

Thank you.

Mrs. Snow.

What's the matter?

Nothing worth gabbing about.

You just look awful upset.

You look awfully down.

Do you want to tell me

what the matter is?

I'm fine, really.

Well, if there's ever anything I can do...

...do you promise that you'll tell me?

You're a sweet man.

Captain Perez.

It's...

Mrs. Snow here is feeling awfully blue.

I just...

I got an idea.

This weekend,

in order to cheer her up...

...we ought to have

some kind of an outing.

Go down and see Luther

and the boys.

A picnic! We'll make it a picnic.

Jumping Jehoshaphat.

What's got into Jerry?

He have an epiphany or something?

Captain Burgess?

He didn't tidy up and fix the table,

if that's what you mean.

Captain Bartlett was...

...seemed to be sleeping

or in a stupor-like...

...and the doctor, when he come,

said that I could.

...leave him for a few minutes

and run downstairs.

A doctor?

He's been here already this morning?

Oh, yes.

He came an hour ago.

Now, if you wouldn't mind going up

and staying with Captain Bartlett...

...while I finish getting breakfast...

...and if you wouldn't mind

going out to the barn...

...and gathering a few eggs,

that would be a help.

I've been up and down the stairs

so many times in the last half hour...

I don't know I'm certain

whether I'm on my head or my heels.

She hugged me.

John, if you can hear me...

...I done what I can...

...but I can't for the love of Pete...

...find that darn coat.

I just hope it's just

some kid that found it...

...and don't put it together with you.

Zeb, ain't this gay?

Eggs boiled to a T.

Not like the ones Jerry made.

Why, you boil them so hard...

...if you threw them, you'd dent the barn.

- She's good.

- Yes.

How's he doing up there... John?

About the same.

Listen we got to talk a little...

...about the arrangements

for this marriage question.

If Jerry here wasn't so pig-headed...

...he'd marry her right away.

Because the way I see it...

...there's going to be a long line

of suitors as soon as word gets out...

...and I am going to be one of them.

Captain Perez,

keep your eye on the business.

Well, you fellas forget.

I've been married twice before...

...and those women were very handsome...

...but the marriages

weren't always so pretty.

So I'm just taking a

little time, that's all.

This...

This Mrs. Snow ain't nobody's fool.

We put out bait

that any sensible person...

...would say would get us

nothing but sculpin...

...and by Almighty,

we got ourselves a halibut.

You know what we can do?

We can explain.

...that Jerry ain't real comfortable...

...with getting married...

even talking about it...

...while Captain Bartlett is upstairs.

...so sick in our house.

And if she's willing...

...we can put it off.

...until he either dies or gets better...

...and we'll pay her to stay on as a nurse.

Pay her?

You pay her or you marry her.

Mr. Hazeltine, I was wondering...

...could you come over to our place

and keep an eye on Captain Bartlett...

...while I attend to some chores?

I'd be happy to.

- Hello.

- Is Captain Hedge in?

No. Captain Hedge is out just now.

Oh, dear.

- I think I will come in and wait.

- Yes, certainly.

- Please do come in.

- Thank you.

Won't you take a chair?

Thank you.

Certainly a pleasant day.

Yes.

Are you Captain Zebulon Hedge?

Yeah.

I'm so glad.

I received your telegraph.

I hurried down on the first train.

I'm Elizabeth Preston...

Captain Bartlett's granddaughter.

You wrote me that he was ill...

...and I felt like I needed to be here

as quickly as possible.

- Elsie.

- Elsie. Yes.

Well, don't that beat all?

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