The Miracle Worker Page #2

- Nothing I say is right. | - Why say anything?

All the trouble I went to | and that's how I look?

Oh, no, not the drawers.

All right, Miss O'Sullivan, let's begin.

With doll.

D...

O...

L...

L.

Doll.

You spell pretty well.

Finding out if she's ticklish? She is.

- What is it, a game? | - An alphabet.

Alphabet?

For the deaf.

- How bright she is. | - You think she knows what she's doing?

She's a monkey. She imitates everything.

Yes, she's a bright little monkey, all right.

She wants her doll back.

- When she spells it. | - She doesn't know the thing has a name.

Of course not. Who expects her to now? | All I want is her fingers to learn the letters.

Won't mean anything to her.

She doesn't like that alphabet. | You invent it yourself?

Spanish monks under a vow of silence - | which I wish you'd take.

Yes... Yes!

C...

A...

K...

E.

Yes.

You do as my fingers do. | Never mind what it means.

Now...

D...

O...

L...

L.

Think it over.

L.

Imitate now. Understand later. | End of the first lesson.

Ow!

Oh, you little wretch. | Nobody's taught you any manners.

Helen? Helen!

Helen! Helen, let me out...

Don't worry, they'll find you. | You're not lost.

Only out of place.

And toothless!

- Where's Miss Sullivan? | - Locked in her room.

Locked in her...?

- Helen locked her in and took the key. | - And you sit here and say nothing?

Everyone's been telling me | not to say anything.

- Viney, look out front for Helen. | - She's out by the pump!

I'll look.

- Miss Sullivan. | - Yes, Captain Keller.

Is there no key on your side?

If there were a key, I wouldn't be in here. | Helen took it.

The only thing on my side is me.

Not in the house ten minutes. | I don't see how you managed it.

And even I'm not on my side.

- Viney! | - Yes, sir, Captain Keller?

Put that meat back in the oven!

- She has no key. | - Nonsense. You searched in her pockets?

- Yes. She doesn't have it. | - Katie, she must have the key.

- Take that ladder back! | - Certainly.

- She could have hidden it. | - Where?

Anywhere. Under a stone...

I can't plough up the entire grounds | to find a missin' key.

Jimmy! Bring me a ladder!

Certainly.

What's the baby doing up?

Captain woke her, Miss Kate. | All that hollerin'.

Get back to your work!

- Miss Sullivan! | - Yes, Captain Keller?

- Come onto the roof. | - You have a ladder. How thoughtful.

Come down, Miss Sullivan.

- I don't see how I can. | - I'll carry you.

- It's very chivalrous, but... | - Miss Sullivan, follow instructions.

I will not have you also | tumblin' out of our windows.

I hope this is not what we may expect in | simplifyin' the work of looking after Helen.

Captain Keller, I'm able to go down | a ladder under my own steam.

Miss Sullivan, I doubt it.

Simply hold onto my neck.

My neck, Miss Sullivan!

- I'm sorry to inconvenience you. | - No inconvenience.

Other than taking that door down and | replacing the lock, if we can't find the key.

- I'll look everywhere. | - Thank you.

Do not look in any rooms | that can be locked.

There!

Go, go! What are you looking at? | Nothing for you to look at.

Now...

Would it be possible for us | to have dinner like other people?

- Miss Sullivan! | - Viney, I'll put the baby to sleep.

Oh... Might as well leave the I-a-d-d-e-r.

You devil.

Oh, you think I'm so easily gotten rid of?

You've got a thing or two to learn first.

I've got nothing else to do,

- and nowhere to go. | - Miss Sullivan!

Discipline her

without breaking...

Ink.

Ink.

It has a name.

Down, under, up. | And be careful of the needle.

Right. You keep out of the ink and | perhaps I can keep out of the soup.

All right, all right. Let's try temperance.

Bad...

girl.

Good...

girl.

Yes.

Very good girl.

- What are you saying to her? | - I was just making conversation.

Saying it was a sewing card.

Does that mean that to her?

Oh, no. She won't know what spelling is | till she knows what a word is.

The Cap'n says it's like | spellin' to a fence post.

Does he, now?

- Is it? | - No.

It's how I watch you talk to the baby.

- The baby? | - Any baby.

It's gibberish. Grown-up gibberish. | Baby-talk gibberish.

Do they understand | one word of it to start?

Somehow they begin to if they hear it. | I'm letting Helen hear it.

Other children are not... impaired.

Oh, there's nothing impaired in that head. | It works like a mousetrap.

And... when will she learn?

Maybe after a million words.

Perhaps you'd like to read Dr Howe | on the question of words.

I should like also | to learn those... letters, Miss Annie.

I'll teach them to you tomorrow morning.

That makes only half a million each.

- It's her bedtime. | - Yes.

Ow!

I'm sorry.

Why does she get a reward | for stabbing me?

There are so many times | she simply cannot be compelled.

Yes.

I'm the same way myself.

Good night.

Shouldn't we give | the devil his due, Father?

We lost the South two years earlier | when he outthought us behind Vicksburg.

Outthought is a peculiar word | for a butcher.

- Harness-maker, wasn't he? | - I said butcher.

His strength as a soldier was numbers. | He led them to slaughter like sheep.

- But even if he was a butcher... | - And a drunk, half the war.

Agreed, Father. | If his own people said he was...

What is it you find to admire | in such a man, Jimmy?

- The drunkenness or the butchery? | - Neither, Father. Only that he beat us.

- He didn't. | - Are you saying we won the war, sir?

He didn't beat us at Vicksburg. | We lost it by stupidity vergin' on treason.

We lost it because Grant was | one thing no Yankee general was before...

Drunk? I doubt it.

- Obstinate. | - Obstinate?

None of 'em compare with old Stonewall. | If he was there we'd still have Vicksburg.

The butcher wouldn't give up. | He tried four ways...

If we'd had | a Southerner in command

instead of a half-breed Yankee traitor | like Pemberton... What's the matter?

Miss Annie, she's accustomed | to helping herself from our plates.

- I'm not accustomed to it. | - Of course not. Viney!

- Jimmy, give her something. | - Her table manners are her best.

Let her this time. It's the only way | we get any adult conversation.

- I'll get another plate. | - I have one, thank you.

Viney! What Cap'n Keller says is only | too true. She'll persist in this till...

- I have a plate. I intend to keep it. | - You see why they took Vicksburg?

A plate is no matter | to struggle with a deprived child about.

- I'd sooner have a more heroic issue. | - I really must insist...

- She's hurt herself. | - She hasn't.

- Will you please let her hands go? | - You don't know her well enough...

I know a tantrum when I see one | and a badly spoiled child.

Hear, hear.

You'd have more understanding | if you had some pity.

Pity? For this tyrant? | The whole house turns on her whims.

Is there anything she doesn't get?

What I pity is that the sun won't rise and | set for her, and you're telling her it will.

What good will your pity do | when you're gone?

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