The Little Foxes Page #10

I wasn't gonna get.

Everybody was so busy at home,

and so little place for what I wanted.

Then Papa died and left Ben

and Oscar all the money.

- So you married me.

- Yes.

I thought you'd get the world for me.

You were a small-town clerk then.

You haven't changed.

- And that wasn't what you wanted.

- No, it wasn't.

It wasn't what I wanted.

But it didn't take me long

to find out my mistake.

Then it was just as if

I couldn't stand the sight of you.

I couldn't bear

to have you touch me.

I thought you were

such a soft, weak fool.

You were so kind and understanding

when I didn't want you near me.

The lies and excuses

I used to make to you.

And you believed them.

That was when I began

to despise you.

Why didn't you leave me?

Where was I to go?

What money did I have?

I didn't think about it much.

If I had, I'd have known

you'd die before I did.

But I couldn't have guessed you'd get

heart trouble so early, so bad.

I'm lucky.

I've always been lucky.

I'll be lucky again.

The other bottle. Please.

Upstairs in my room

in the drawer.

Upstairs, quick.

Addie, quick.

Addie, Cal, come here!

My goodness,

what's the matter?

Get his legs, Belle.

His special medicine!

I'll get it!

Cal, bring him

in this room here.

Lay him down flat.

I'll take off his shoes.

- Go get Dr. Sloan. Hurry.

- Yes, ma'am.

Here.

I'll get some ice.

Hold his mouth.

- What's wrong?

- Now, don't you fret, honey.

Papa!

Aunt Regina!

I just heard about Uncle Horace.

How is he?

- Dr. Sloan's in there now.

- Is there anything I can do?

You can keep quiet,

that's what you can do.

- Dr. Sloan.

- Zan, I'm gonna tell you the truth.

It's just a matter

of a little while.

Yes, Doctor.

We just heard down at the store.

How is he now?

I don't know. Dr. Sloan's with him.

They don't want you to do anything.

- Is it a bad attack?

- Addie didn't say.

- I wonder if we should go up?

- I think we better wait here.

Did you talk to Sloan?

Leo, is that Horace's

deposit box?

Why...

How can it be?

If it is, what's it doing here?

- You said you saw Manders put it away.

- I did see him put it away. I was there.

Stop jabbering and tell me

is that the same box?

Of course it's the same box,

but how did it get here?

- That means he knows.

- Put that down. Are you gonna eat it?

- I'll take it back to the bank.

- Don't touch it again, you fool.

I'm a fool? Didn't I tell you

he'd sent for Judge Fowler?

And didn't you have me

take a warm bath?

Yes, I am a fool.

I do all the dirty work.

- I'm remembering that.

- What do you mean?

Shut him up

or I'll show you what I mean.

- But, Papa...

- Shut up.

Listen to me.

Maybe he's told Regina.

- Maybe...

- Yes, maybe, and maybe he hasn't.

They weren't on such pretty terms.

If she don't know about it,

it may work out all right.

If she does know, you're to say

he lent you the bonds.

Lent me the bonds?

Who's gonna believe that?

- Nobody.

- Why should I say he lent them to me?

Why not to you?

Why not to Uncle Ben?

Because he didn't lend them to me.

Remember that.

But...

How is he?

- He's unconscious.

- Is there anything we can do?

He's come through these attacks before.

He'll come through this one.

We haven't seen each other

since the day of our fight.

Remember how we used to fight

when we were kids?

Trouble brings us together.

Does Sloan want another doctor?

We could drive over

for Dr. Morris.

Thank you, but...

- You don't feel well.

- No, I don't.

Horace told me about the bonds

this afternoon.

- The bonds? What do you mean?

- What bonds?

Horace's Union Pacific bonds?

Yes.

What about them?

What could he say?

He said Leo had stolen them

and given them to you.

- That's ridiculous!

- I don't know what you're talking about.

Isn't it enough that he stole them?

Do I have to listen to this too?

- I didn't steal anything.

- Ben, please ask them to stop this.

Aren't we starting

at the wrong end?

What did Horace tell you?

He told me that Leo

had stolen the bonds.

I didn't...

Then he said he was going to pretend

he had lent them to you...

as a present from me

to my brothers.

He said there was nothing I could do

about it because as long as he lived...

he would insist

he had lent them to you.

I told you he lent them.

I could've told you.

He said he was leaving the rest

of the money to Alexandra.

So I'm very badly off, you see.

Now, you mustn't feel that way.

It can all be explained.

It can all be adjusted.

Things aren't as bad as you seem...

So you at least are willing

to admit the bonds were stolen.

I admit no such thing.

It's possible Horace made up

that part about stealing to tease you...

or perhaps to punish you.

It's not a pleasant story.

I feel bad.

Now you shall have the bonds

safely back.

- That was the understanding.

- Yes.

I'm glad to hear that.

I had greater hopes.

Remember the night

we made all the wishes?

Now you mustn't talk that way.

That's foolish.

I think we ought

to drive over for Morris.

Two doctors are better than one.

Don't think I'm dismissing

this other business. I'm not.

We'll have it all out

on a more appropriate day.

I don't think

you'd better go yet.

- Come back and sit down.

- We'll be right back.

I have something more to say.

I've told you before:

You'll get further with a smile.

I'm a soft man

for a woman's smile.

I'm smiling, Ben.

I'm smiling because

you are perfectly safe...

while Horace lives

to say he lent you the bonds.

But Dr. Sloan doesn't think

Horace is gonna live.

And if he doesn't,

I want 75 percent of the business...

in exchange for the bonds.

Greedy.

What a greedy girl you are.

You want so much of everything.

Get those bays hitched up.

I'll drive over there myself.

I'll have that doctor here

in no time.

Regina, you tell Sloan

that we're bringing Dr. Morris.

Yes, Ben, I'll tell him.

Make some fresh coffee.

You run over to Mrs. Sloan's

and get another hypodermic needle.

He's just the same.

Zan's all right.

She's being fine.

I told her you was here, and she said

for you to go home and get your supper.

Go on now. You don't sit still good.

Lots of people don't.

All right.

I'll be back later.

- Can I go with you, Uncle Ben?

- You stay right here.

You drive to Dr. Morris'

in Centerville as fast as you can.

Leo, did you speak to the doctor?

What did he say?

Why's everybody getting so excited?

Uncle Horace isn't all that sick.

He's had these attacks before.

He'll get over it.

- I just asked what the doctor said.

- What do you care? What's it to you?

Why are you here anyway?

Showing off your grief?

I happen to like Mr. Horace.

Good night.

Yes, you happen to like him, and he

happens to have a rich daughter...

so you happen

to be hanging around.

I'd like to stay here

for a little while. Alone, please.

Please, Mama.

How is he, Regina?

He's dead.

You look tired.

Why don't you go and rest now?

Yes, I am tired.

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