This Property Is Condemned Page #4

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"and build a house lined in white satin

for you to rest in between our dancing."

You didn't have to make up

your own bed, Mr Legate.

It's force of habit, Willie.

Besides, I like to.

Well, I gotta finish making up the beds.

Willie's got a crush on you.

- Must be the strawberry ice cream.

- I don't like strawberry.

I know.

Excuse me. I've got a million things to do.

Miss Starr...

...I thought the paperweight

belonged to my room.

It's Papa's room.

She in her room?

I'll take a look if you want me to,

Mr Johnson.

And would you be kind enough

to see that she gets this?

Sure, Mr Johnson.

- Tell her I'm waiting here.

- OK.

- You'll look so pretty. Which ring?

- I don't want either. I'm not going.

- Of course you are!

- Present for Alva from Mr Johnson.

- Let's see what this is.

- Mama, it's for me!

It's exciting.

I told you Mr Johnson would come

across with something good! 24 carats!

That's not what I meant, or what I want.

Willie, run and tell him your sister's

rushing and will be down momentarily.

I am not! Willie, please!

I know you want other things,

nice things. And you'll get them. Stand.

Enriching travel... And your mama's

gonna see that you get them, too.

- Please don't make me go!

- Memphis, New Orleans, New York...

Think of the people you'll meet, the men.

Right now, we gotta think of the practical

aspect, the way things are looking now.

Gotta make use of the things at hand.

And one of the things at hand

is Mr Johnson. Sit down.

All I'm asking is a little bit of niceness

to him for the time being.

- But, Mama...!

- Now, that ain't gonna hurt you... is it?

- Can your sister still be getting dressed?

- Guess so, Mr Johnson.

You'd better go upstairs

and tell her it's getting late.

I just came down

from telling her it was getting late!

Let me by, JJ.

- Here I am!

- You shouldn't have hurried.

- You look just fine.

- Do you mind?

That light attracts all kind of things.

Moths, bugs, bats...

I haven't finished my hair.

Funny about my hair.

I just pile it up

and it all comes crumbling down.

- Willie, why not sing for Mr Johnson?

- I already did.

Besides, I wanna go catch some fireflies.

- Alva, did you like the bracelet?

- Oh, yes. It's just lovely.

It's too lovely for you to give to me.

- Did you get it in New Orleans?

- Marshall Field's in Chicago.

A gift of gold is a gift of seriousness.

A gift of gold is for your wife,

Mr Johnson.

Perhaps I should explain about my wife.

My wife is an invalid.

I see her maybe once in a month. She's

in a nursing home near Baton Rouge.

Mr Johnson, I'd love a Coke with

lots of ice in it. Would you be an angel?

Yeah, sure, Alva, sure.

What did you put in the mailbox?

Something for me?

- Or is it none of my business?

- That's right.

Hey... did you ever see a scarecrow

with red hair?

- No.

- Come on.

I travel a lot, too.

- You didn't lie.

- I don't lie.

What is it?

I don't know. I just... Sometimes

I have trouble catching my breath.

Maybe when God breathed life into all

of us, he didn't breathe enough into me.

Or maybe it's running around in the night

without your shoes.

Oh, the ground is warm. Don't you know

there's a fire in the centre of the earth?

It burns for all eternity.

And up there it's so cold

it's 100,000 degrees below zero.

Look! There's a falling star!

Quick! Make a wish!

- Aren't you gonna ask what I wished?

- They don't come true if you tell.

Did you make a wish?

No.

Bye-bye to a rare chance.

My papa made him. This used to be

his garden. It's a ghost garden now.

- What... what did he do? Just leave?

- He's gone to find a greener pasture.

Mama says it's a laugh, unless they give

land to the man with the reddest hair.

You ever hear from him?

No. He's coming back, though.

'Cause if he loves us,

he surely will come back.

Supposing he doesn't?

He will. He could be on any train,

with the deed to greener pastures.

Is that what you're waiting for, Alva?

Alva.

Owen, do you know that's the first time

you have used my familiar name?

- Here's your Coke!

- Don't let him know where we are!

- Alva!

- Get down, get down!

Your ice is melting!

Alva, where are you?

- Why not tell him to leave you alone?

- Well, Mama says...

- He's a kind man.

- He's an old man.

We'll be late.

He's a very lonely old man whose wife

isn't well. I hate to hurt his feelings.

- It wouldn't be grateful.

- Or good business.

Where are you?

You are in a cruel, teasing mood

and I don't understand.

I'm talking about thanks and niceness,

common politeness.

Common politeness?

That old man, as you call him, happens

to be a gentleman who appreciates me.

Tonight, he gave me a solid gold bracelet

from a very expensive store in Chicago.

What did you give

this kind old man in return?

My company and my kindness!

Those are the bare uninteresting facts.

- It makes him very happy.

- What does it make you?

People thinking I'm beautiful

doesn't mean I'm their property!

If you really thought you were beautiful,

you'd be your own girl.

I am my own girl, Mr Legate.

I don't need some smart Alec

to point out the error of my ways!

I go out with him because I want to

and because he treats me like a lady.

- Because your mama tells you to.

- I enjoy it!

I'm not a cat dreaming I'm a man.

That happens to be the truth!

Then why are you hiding

out here in the dark?

Alva, where are you?

There you are. I thought you'd gone on

without me. The ice has melted.

Thank you, Mr Johnson, and thank you

for the solid gold charm bracelet!

- You're gonna keep it?

- I accept your gift with gratitude.

Where are your shoes? What time

was that reservation for, Mr Johnson?

- They've held the table since seven.

- You hear?

They've held your table since seven.

You've got to get ready!

You two'll have a high old time.

All right, Mama.

We'll all have ourselves a high old time.

I'm not getting dressed and going

to the casino. I've changed my mind.

I'm getting undressed and going to the

railroad hole. Who wants to skinny dip?

- Yeah!

- You're probably not coming, right?

No, thank you.

What's the matter?

Scared to take your clothes off?

Owen! I've been waiting to tell you.

I got it wrong before.

- Alva didn't call you no smart Alec.

- The hell I didn't!

- Alva's going... Let's all go!

- You can never tell what she'll do.

It's a good idea, though, ain't it,

Mr Johnson? Come on!

Last one in is a skinny old maid!

Come on, Alva!

Take your clothes off, Mr Johnson.

Come on in. Nobody's gonna look.

Can't swim.

Wish me a rainbow

Wish me a star

Why aren't you with the rest of them?

I'm right where I wanna be.

Well, let me go.

- I know what you want. I know you.

- I'll scream for Mama!

Go ahead.

What's the matter with you?

You saving up for that spotter?

- What are you talking about?

- Your friend, who's here to lay us all off.

- I don't believe you.

- He's got a pocket full of pink slips.

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