The Old Maid Page #4

We must think quickly.

Darling, don't look like that.

You loved someone?

I did. Ever since I was a little girl.

- Then, if he was in love with you, why...?

- You see, he loved someone else.

- You knew that?

- Yes, I knew it.

- I tried to think differently but I knew it.

- Charlotte, how could you?

I loved him.

I'm not pretending it wasn't a sin.

He was lonely and unhappy

before he went away.

- He went away?

- Yes.

- Knowing?

- No, he never knew.

You see, he never came back.

He never will.

Why won't he come back?

Where did he go?

Why won't you tell me who it was?

How can I help you

if you don't trust me?

Oh, Delia, I've told you

all you need to know.

Where did he go?

He went to war?

He was killed at Vicksburg.

Tina. The child said Clementina.

Clem Spender.

You and Clem.

But how could that hurt you?

You threw Clem away.

Clem Spender. You and Clem.

Delia.

You still love him.

You hypocrite.

Our little Charlotte with her good deeds.

Her haven for destitute children.

Twenty children to hide one child.

Yes, his child.

That's what hurt you.

I should never let you know.

I might have known you can't forgive that.

How dare you imply such a thing?

I won't even discuss it.

We must...

We must think of something to do.

You said your first instinct

was to tell Joe the truth.

- You were right. You must tell him.

- Tell him?

What you've told me.

I can't connive a lie, not to Jim's brother.

But you just said yourself, he's a Ralston.

He'd never forgive me. That I'd lose him.

Better lose him than deceive a man

into a marriage.

- A man you don't even love.

- Oh, Delia, listen to me.

I do love Joe.

Not in the way I loved Clem

but differently.

In the way that you love Jim differently.

I'll be a good wife to him.

He'll never be sorry he married me.

- Are you going to tell him?

- But I can't.

- Then I will.

- Delia.

Oh, pardon me. Will you come with me?

We must find Joe.

- Pardon me.

- Sure.

I read it. I don't know how much truth

there was in it.

- They write all sorts of things.

Oh, excuse me.

I must speak with you immediately.

That'll be all.

Excuse me.

Shut the door.

Do you mind?

Not at all.

- What is it, Jim?

- I don't know.

What is it, Delia?

I must tell you about Charlotte

before it's too late.

- What?

- Yes?

Charlotte isn't entering

into this marriage honorably.

- Not honorably?

- Will you explain, Delia?

Yes, I...

Is it about those children?

In a way, yes. She won't give them up.

She just told me.

- She's becoming very attached to them.

Naturally.

Naturally. Especially one of them,

a little girl.

You may have seen her there, a foundling.

Her name is Tina.

I've told Charlotte I'll give her

anything she needs for their support.

- That's very generous but it's not enough.

- No?

No, she's going to give them

her personal care every day herself.

Yes, she told me.

It's a very tender, charming wish.

And I'd let her do it.

I'd put up with the inconvenience...

...but there's a far more serious reason

for opposing her.

- What?

Her health.

Her health?

You mean because she went out West

that time.

Yes. I can speak frankly to you.

You're my brother's wife.

The apprehension

that our relatives have had...

...on the grounds of health.

Charlotte...

- You mean...?

Yes.

Her father was a very young man

when he died of lung fever.

Am I being unreasonable

in asking Charlotte not to go on...

...taking these unnecessary risks?

No, of course you're not.

She won't give them up.

Then I must be the one to give in.

She can do exactly as she wishes

in the matter?

Yes, I'm tired of the argument.

I'm going to tell her.

It's no use, Joe. There's something else.

Delia, what did you come down

into this room to tell me?

Was it about those children?

You said when you came in here that

Charlotte was not marrying me honorably.

- What did you mean?

- She can't marry you.

- She can't marry anyone now.

- Why? Why can't she?

You were talking about her health.

You were right. She is ill.

She's ill now upstairs. She just told me.

Told you what?

She's been coughing again.

That sickness has come back on her.

That's why she can't ever marry anyone.

She's frightened.

She asked me to tell you.

She couldn't bear to tell you herself.

Why wasn't I told at once?

Because you can't tell

those things easily.

I'm not going to give her up, Jim. I can't.

We must take care of her.

Yes, but you can't marry her.

It wouldn't be a marriage.

You'd both be miserable

and you wouldn't dare to have children.

Better face it, Joe.

- Yes.

She's in my room.

Joe?

You'll consider her feelings.

You won't discuss it with her.

Just tell her that she's free

and that you understand.

When Charlotte went West five years ago,

it was because of lung trouble, wasn't it?

Yes.

It was expected she might die

as her father did, wasn't it?

Yes, I thought everyone knew that.

You did, didn't you?

It's in her family, isn't it?

I thought everybody knew that too.

If she were not cured,

what if it should come back?

Isn't Charlotte perfectly well?

Why do you ask me this?

Because I wanna know

whether she should marry or not.

If she began coughing again,

what would you say to that?

It's a very bad sign.

Thank you, doctor.

Will you excuse

Charlotte and me, please?

- Thank you.

My goodness.

Miss Charlotte, it's unlucky

to see the bridegroom before the wedding.

- Dora, go, please.

- Yes, miss.

Charlotte, Delia has told me.

Has she?

My poor Charlotte.

I don't know what to say.

There isn't anything to say.

If there is anything I can do

now or any time...

Charlotte, I release you.

Everything that can be done

is being done.

All we can do is to wait.

Oh, it's Charlotte.

Good evening, Miss Charlotte.

You're a very welcome stranger.

Thank you. How's Jim?

Well, we're at the crisis now.

Concussion, skull fracture. It's bad.

You'd hardly believe

that a big man like Jim...

- His horse stumbles and he's...

- Poor Delia.

Yes, it's very kind of you to come.

She needs someone now.

Naturally, I would come

at a time like this.

- I'll tell Delia you're here.

- Thank you.

- Hello, Joe.

- Hello, Charlotte.

How are you?

Well, right now, of course,

with Jim upstairs...

Yes, you and Jim have always been near

to each other, haven't you?

Yes.

He's strong as an ox.

You can't kill a Ralston.

He'll come through, we hope.

Oh, I hope so.

You've been away, haven't you, Joe?

Yes, I wanted a change.

I took over the bank in Boston.

I read the news

about your being married.

My congratulations.

Thank you, Charlotte.

I hope you'll be happy.

I think we will be.

What about you, Charlotte?

- How are you?

- Very well.

I've been living on in the same old place

since Granny died.

I got your flowers.

I'd like to have come down to see you

but I couldn't get away.

Well, there wouldn't have been

any point.

You see, I...

I did give up the nursery, after all.

Yes, naturally, under the circumstances.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes