The Little Foxes Page #6

to tell you.

I was not asking for your sympathy.

Let's try to get along

a little better than we usually do.

Yes. It's foolish

for us to fight this way.

I didn't mean to be unpleasant.

It was very stupid of me.

I didn't either. I came home

wanting so much not to fight.

Yes, let's try to get along better.

I want to very much.

Can we pay our respects?

Yes, you can pay your respects,

as you say.

So the fugitives

have arrived at last.

Welcome home, Horace.

You had us all mighty worried.

- Hello, Ben, Oscar.

- It sure is good to see you.

- You're looking tip-top. Yes, sir.

- Am I?

Everybody in town's

been asking for you.

But then you only know how folks

really feel through an absence.

- Ain't that true?

- I hope so.

Horace! I just found out

you were back.

You don't look well.

No, you don't.

- What a thing to say.

- Oscar thinks I look tip-top.

What is that costume you have on?

Now that you're home, you'll feel

better. We'll take fine care of you.

I asked what is that strange costume

you're parading around in?

Me? Oh, it's my wrapper.

I was so excited about Horace...

Did you come across the street

dressed that way? My dear Birdie!

Just like old times.

- No fights. This is a holiday.

- I'll go right home.

You'll be running back

across the square like that.

I'm sorry, Oscar.

We've been having

some mighty fine weather.

Yes, sir. You'll enjoy

the good sunshine and fresh air...

I don't like to worry you

when you're tired...

but Ben has some very important

business to talk over with you.

- Tomorrow.

- I'd like to now.

It's very important to me,

very important to all of us.

Important to your beloved daughter.

She'll be a very great heiress.

- Will she? That's nice.

- Please.

You said we'll try

to get along better.

I'll try, I really will,

only please do this for me now.

You'll see what I've done for you

while you've been away.

Ben, tell Horace all about it,

only be quick because he's very tired...

and he must go to bed.

See how I've watched

your interests.

I think that your news

will be better for him...

than all the doctors

and medicine in the world.

I hope so,

but my news can wait.

Horace may not feel

like talking today.

What an old faker you are.

You know it can't wait.

You know the deal

must be closed this week.

You've been as anxious for him

to come home as I've been.

I suppose I have been.

And why not?

Horace has done Hubbard Sons

many a good turn.

Why shouldn't I be anxious

to help him now?

Help him when you need him.

That's what you mean.

What a woman you married, Horace.

Then I'll make it quick.

For 30 years I've cried...

"Bring the cotton mills

to the cotton. "

I'm here to tell you

they're on their way.

- Get...

- Can I get you something?

Water.

I'm sorry. I will.

You must excuse me now.

I'm feeling the trip.

- Would you ask Cal to come help me?

- Yes.

But the deal is coming to a close,

and Ben must move quickly.

- I understand.

- If you could listen a few minutes...

then I'll take care

of everything for you.

- Not today. Some other time.

- This is important to all of us.

Can't you see we've been waiting

for months for you to come home and...

I can see that you did

want me to come home.

We'll just run along home now.

We can talk about this tomorrow.

Come along, Oscar.

I didn't mean

that was the reason why...

I think you did mean it,

and that makes me very sad.

You think maybe he don't want

to go in with us?

It was a mistake

to talk to him today.

He's a sick man,

but he ain't a crazy one.

Suppose he is crazy.

What then?

Then we'll go outside

for the money.

- There's plenty who'll give it.

- They'll want a lot for what they give.

Ones that are rich enough to give

will be smart enough to want.

That means

we'd be working for them.

You don't have to tell me

the things I told you six months ago.

Regina, you're a fool.

Mama told you it's unwise

for a good-looking woman to frown.

I told you softness and a smile

will do more to the hearts of men.

I'll do things in my own way.

I know what I'm doing.

I hope you do.

There is nothing to worry about.

Come along, Oscar.

Oh, Lord

Sound the trump of thejudgment

Hallelujah

White people

may have the pianos...

but the colored folks

have got the voices.

- Weary arms are totin'ol'cotton

- Give me a push.

- Good night. We had a lovely evening.

- Thank you.

- We had such a good time.

- Good night, Sally.

- It's good to see Horace again.

- I'm sorry he had to go up so early.

He has to be careful

till he gets his strength back.

Yes, of course.

Good night.

Good night.

- Tell Horace I'll see him tomorrow.

- Yes, I will. Good night.

I'll be along in a minute.

Leo, take your mama home.

- Can't I wait for you and Uncle Ben?

- No, run along.

- I'll be back.

- Never mind. Go on.

Come along, Mama.

Good night, Aunt Regina.

Didn't you two notice

that the party is over?

- We got a little talking to do.

- Not much, just a simple question.

- Have you got any news for us?

- Not yet, but I've talked to Horace.

I imagined you had, Regina.

I didn't want to hurry him too much.

You saw what happened that first day.

There's got

to be a little hurrying done.

I had a rather urgent letter

from Marshall this morning.

This thing's got to be closed

the end of the week.

That means Oscar's got to leave

for Chicago tomorrow.

It turns out we're in more of a hurry

than you thought we were.

We got to know tonight whether you

and Horace are coming in with us.

That was the time

I was working in the...

- It's time you were coming in.

- Not yet, Mama.

I'm talking to David.

When you've finished your talking,

come straight to bed.

Yes, Mama.

- Good night, David.

- Good night, Mrs. Giddens.

That's the first time I ever heard

your mother tell you to do something...

and you didn't hop to do it.

That's a funny thing to say.

You know, you take one step

and then you take another.

After a while, you find out

you're walking all by yourself.

You don't understand

what I'm talking about, do you?

An awful lot of things

I don't understand lately.

Things that are happening here.

I could explain them to you,

but you wouldn't like me if I did.

You've got to find them out

for yourself.

You'll know tonight.

Let's walk around the square.

Come on.

This cannot wait any longer.

Talk to us about it now.

- I've been patient for days.

- And persistent.

All right.

I understand we're getting

a larger share. Why?

Because I did

a little bargaining for you.

Convinced my brothers they weren't

the only Hubbards with business sense.

Did you have to convince them of that?

How little people know about each other.

You'll know better

about Regina next time, Ben.

Yes.

- Who's getting less?

- Oscar.

Oscar's gotten unselfish.

What's happened to you?

I'll get mine in the end.

He's got his son's future

to think about.

Leo.

Everybody will get theirs.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote