The Wedding Night Page #5

- I've got to.

- But you can't even see.

- I've got to see. I must get home.

Well, wait. I'll go with you.

No, no. You mustn't.

You couldn't get back.

(WIND HOWLING)

Manya!

Manya!

- This is ridiculous, Manya.

- But I must get home.

I'm afraid you can't.

Why you not say before where she is?

- And why you let her go? Why?

- She don't ask me.

She say she go. I say, "Better not."

- Maybe you no like.

- You bet I no like.

- Manya?

- No! Me! Fredrik!

I got a message from Manya.

She's caught up there. She can't get home.

She'll get home, all right.

Come, we go get her.

- Better not.

- Better not?

- We go.

- Not me.

Took me an hour to get here on the road

with lights and houses.

You can't see your way up there.

But she can't spend all night at his house.

I don't care what she does.

I'm through with her.

- You mean, you'll not marry with her?

- No.

She only gone to say she don't bring milk.

- Why did she stay so long?

- She take his supper.

He got no cook.

- We his neighbors.

- Yes.

You have a little supper now, Fredrik.

After that, you will feel much better.

- And then we go.

- Not me.

Bring the wine. The good wine.

Listen, you'd better go to bed, young lady.

I'd feel better if I stayed here.

My father might get through.

Now listen,

if we can't get there, he can't get here.

No.

But I'll stay here.

You're going to bed, young lady.

If he's crazy enough to come out tonight,

he deserves to find what he expects.

Now, this is our best front room.

Genuine old caterpillars

and the best bred Connecticut moths.

But no cooking, or gentlemen friends.

And no worrying. Hear that?

Why, I couldn't worry in here.

If anything scares you,

like Sobieski or something,

I'll be just across the hall.

- Good night.

- Good night.

I like my blanket tucked in.

My feet don't like to express themselves.

Me, the big, silent man,

I ought to snatch it right off you.

Please, don't.

- How's the worrying?

- It's improving.

I see. First-class A-1 worrying,

with never a light moment, huh?

You got me doing it.

I wasn't worrying, really. I was thinking.

- Of what?

- Lots of things.

Can't I know?

- Something very silly.

- Tell me.

- Promise you won't laugh?

- Cross my heart.

I was wondering what you were like

when you were a little boy.

Well, I'll tell you.

I wore a wire around my teeth,

a lace collar around my neck

and I snitched.

(GIGGLING)

And I stole quarters.

24 cents out of every quarter my mother

gave me for the collection plate.

What did you do with it?

Well, I bought 24 cents worth of jellybeans

and one penny for the plate.

It was hard work, trying to make

the pennies sound like quarters.

I thought you were like that.

Very happy, and very bad.

I'm not a very happy little boy

now, Manya.

I guess I have my Sobieskis, too.

Life is full of Sobieskis, isn't it?

- And of one kind or another?

- Yes.

You'd better say your prayers

and go to sleep, like a good little girl.

What did you say when you were little,

when you went to bed?

Well, the one I liked best was one

my grandfather taught me.

I tacked it on after the others,

the respectable one.

Please, say it.

"Mathew, Mark, Luke and John,

"bless the bed that I sleep on."

That's sweet.

(BLOWING)

Manya!

Yes?

I'm trying to be chivalrous, but I can't.

I am chivalrous, Manya.

Manya, your father's here.

Good morning, Mr. Novak.

Quite a blizzard, wasn't it?

I hope you didn't lose any sleep

over Manya.

She's quite safe.

She was doing some work for me,

and first thing we knew,

we were snowed in.

Where's Manya?

I'll tell her you're here. Come in.

- Won't you sit down?

- I wait here.

- You shouldn't blame Manya, Mr. Novak.

- Better you don't talk to me.

Well, after all, when you take this attitude

with her, you're making an accusation...

I don't care what you say.

Where's Manya?

I'm here, Father.

- Now, listen here, Mr. Novak...

- I said, you don't talk to me.

- But you can't...

- Please, don't.

I'll put them on.

I tried to fix some breakfast, Manya.

Thank you.

Come, Manya.

(DOOR CLOSING)

You marry Fredrik on Monday.

- And I want no words from you.

- Monday?

I want no words, you hear?

You are lucky to get a husband.

Any other boy would not have you,

after you make a shame of yourself.

Monday, Fredrik, you marry.

I don't love you, Fredrik.

I can't marry you now, or any other time.

I know you're a good girl, Manya.

I told your father so.

- We fixed it all up.

- I can't marry you, I said.

I mean it, Father.

I can't marry him. I don't love him.

You marry Fredrik on Monday.

He's a good boy.

You are lucky he loves you so much.

(GASPING)

He loves me?

He loves the field you gave him,

and the new house to live in,

and a servant to wait on him,

one he won't have to pay,

one he can treat like you've treated

my mother all your life and...

You think you're American girl, huh?

With no respect for your parents?

Well, you are a Polish girl.

You do what your father says.

You'll marry Fredrik on Monday.

(SINGING)

Excuse me, Hezzie, I didn't hear anything.

I supposed you'd gone.

- What time will you want your dinner?

- I don't think I want any.

- Would you deliver a note for me, Hezzie?

- To that girl?

What girl is that?

Well, it's none of my business, but...

(PHONE RINGING)

- Hello?

- DORA:
Hello?

This is Mr. Barrett's residence.

Well, who on earth is this?

This is Hezzie Jones, madam.

I'm very glad to know you, Hezzie.

- But is my husband there?

- Hold the phone.

She's been working for him since Tuesday.

The Polack girl got caught there overnight

and her old man was sore as blazes.

Some say one thing,

and some say another.

Well, well, well, you don't say.

- TONY:
Dora?

- Tony, darling.

Well, where are you? Palm Beach?

Palm Beach?

- I'm at the depot.

- The what?

Never mind.

And when it comes to your Polish girls,

you've nothing on me.

I've been caught here for hours

with Bill Jenkins.

Interesting.

What's more, he gave me

some spareribs and fried cabbage.

And more, he says he'll take me piggyback

to the boarding house.

That's right. After Number 10 comes in.

After Number 10 comes in.

And after that, if the wind dies down,

- in the southwest...

- In the northeast.

The northeast. He'll bring me in his sleigh.

Providing old man Possumbury

can fix the right runner.

If old man somebody

can fix something or other.

Well, that's better than I can offer.

I'm snowed in, too.

With Hezzie? How awful.

Oh, it's not so bad. She sings.

Well, Bill here chews a mean tobacco plug.

I'll try to reach you somehow.

Don't worry. I just wanted to say hello,

and a "very happy Thanksgiving,

sincerely."

That was my idea. The last.

As for, "My work won't let me.

Love, Tony,"

I'll tell you what I think of you

when I see you. Goodbye.

Now, Bill,

I'm ready for that piggyback ride.

(SPITTING)

(BELLS JINGLING)

- Well, Tony?

- Well?

- Still mad?

- I was never mad.

- Haven't you anything to tell me?

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