Howie Newsome : ........ keeps scolding me the hull trip.
Good morning, Howie.
Howie Newsome : .... Doc's just coming' down the street.
Is he? Seems like you're late today.
Dr Gibbs : Howie!
Children! Children! Time to get up.
Howie Newsome : Come on, Bessie!
George! Rebecca! (.....action) Everything all right, Frank?
Dr Gibbs : Yes I declare - easy as kittens.
Bacon'll be ready in a minute. Set down and drink your coffee. You can catch a couple hours' sleep this morning, can't you?
Dr Gibbs : ..... Her stummick ain't what it ought to be.
All told, you won't get more'n three hours' sleep. Frank Gibbs, I don't know what's goin' to become of you. I do wish I could get you to go away someplace and take a rest. I think it would do you good.
Mrs Webb : Emily! Time to get up! Wally! Seven o'clock!
I declare, you go to speak to George. Seems like something's come over him lately. He's no help to me at all. I can't even get him to cut me some wood.
Dr Gibbs : Is he sassy to you?
No. He just whines! All he thinks about is that baseball - George! Rebecca! You'll be late for school!
Dr Gibbs : M-m-m
George!
Rebecca : Ma! What dress shall I wear?
Don't make a noise. Your father's been out all night and needs his sleep. I washed and ironed the blue gingham for you special.
Rebecca : Ma, I hate that dress.
Oh, hush-up-with-you..
Rebecca : Every day I go to school dressed like a sick turkey.
Now, Rebecca, you always look very nice.
Rebecca : Mama, George's throwing soap at me.
I'll come up there and slap the both of you, - that's what I'll do.
Wally : I'm bright, too, when I'm looking at my stamp collection.
I'll speak to your father about it when he's rested. Seems to me twenty-five cents a week's enough for a boy your age. I declare I don't know how you spend it all.
George : Aw, Ma - I gotta lotta things to buy.
Strawberry phosphates - that's what you spend it on.
Rebecca : I've been saving it up gradual.
Well, dear, I think it's a good thing to spend some every now and then.
Rebecca : Mama, do you know what I love most in the world - do you? - Money.
Eat your breakfast
Mrs Webb : .... Stand up straight, Emily.
Tell Miss Foster I send her my best congratulations - can you remember that?
Rebecca : Yes, Ma.
You look real nice, Rebecca. Pick up your feet.
All : Good-by
Here, chick, chick, chick. No, go away, you. Go away. Here, chick, chick, chick. What's the matter with you? Fight, fight, fight - that's all you do. Hm...you don't belong to me. Where'd you come from? (continue) Oh, don't be so scared. Nobody's going to
Mrs. Webb : ....Wouldn't be any use.
Have you tried singing over your voice?
Mrs Webb : While I'm resting myself I thought I'd string some of these beans.
Let me help you. Beans have been good this year.
Mrs Webb : ...,but I notice they're able to get 'em down all winter.
Now, Myrtle. I've got to tell you something, because if I don't tell somebody I'll burst.
Mrs Webb : Why Julia Gibbs!
Here, give me some more of those beans. Myrtle, did one of those second-hand furniture men from Boston come to see you last Friday?
Mrs. Webb :No-o
Well , he had called on me. First I thought he was a patient wantin' to see Dr Gibbs. 'N he wormed his way into me parlor, and, Myrtle Webb (stop working) he offered me three hundred and fifty dollars for Grandmother Wentworth's highboy, as I'm sitting he
Mrs Web : Why Julia Gibbs!
He did! That old thing! Why, it was so big I didn't know where to put it and I almost cave it to cousin Hester Wilcox.
Mrs Webb : Well ,you're going to take it, aren't you?
I don't know.
Mrs Webb : You don't know - three hundred and fifty dollars! What's come over you?
Well if I could get the Doctor to take the money and go away someplace on a real trip, I'd sell it like that. (Stop working) - Y'know Myrtle, its been the dream of my life to see Paris, France. (laughs, hand in face) - Oh I don't know. It sounds crazy I s
Mrs Webb : How does the Doctor feel about it?
( continue working) Well, I did beat about the bush a little and said that if I got a legacy - that's the way i put it - i'd make him take me somewhere.
Mrs. Webb : M-m-m...what did he say?
You know how he is. I haven't heard a serious word out of him since I've known him. No, he said, it might make him discontented with Grover's Corners to go traipsin' about Europe; better let well enough alone, he says. Every two years he makes a trip to t
Mrs Webb : ........, only Dr. Gibbs being one of the greatest experts in the country just makes him despair.
It's a fact! Dr. Gibbs is never so happy as he's at Antietam of Gettysburg. The times I've walked over those hills, Myrtle, stopped at every bush and pacing it all out, like we were going to buy it.
Mrs Webb : .... that's how I got to see the Atlantic Ocean, y'know.
Oh, I'm sorry I mentioned it. Only it seems to me that once in your life before you die you ought to see the country where they don't talk in English and don't even want to.
(After choir practice) Mrs Webb : I'll tell Mr Webb ; I know he'll want to put it in the paper.
My, it's late!
Mrs Soames : Good night, Irma,
Real nice choir practice, wa'n't it? Myrtle Webb! Look at the moon, will you! Tsk-Tsk-Tsk. Potato weather, for sure.
Mrs Soames : Naturally I didn't want to say a word about it in front of those others. but now that we're alone - really, its the worst scandal that ever was in this town!
What?
Mrs Soames : Simon Stimson!
Now, Louella!
Mrs Soames : ....You know he was drunk tonight.
Now, Louella! We all know about Mr. Stimson, and we all know about the troubles he's been through, and Dr. Ferguson knows too, and if Dr Ferguson keeps him on there in his job the only thing the rest of us can do is just not to notice it.
Mrs Webb : ......... Good night, Louella.
Can you get home safe Louella?
Mrs Soames : You'd think we'd been to a dance the way the tenfold carry on.
(Arrive home. Passes through trellis into the kitchen. George snaps off light.) Well, we had a real good time.
Dr Gibbs : You're late enough.
Why, Frank, it ain't any later 'n usual.
Dr Gibbs : And you stopping at the corner to gossip with a lot of hens.
Now, Frank, don't be grouchy. Come on and smell the heliotrope in the moonlight. (Walk outside arm in arm) Isn't that wonderful? (Stop and look) What did you do all the time I was away?
Dr : Oh, I read - as usual. What were the girls gossiping about tonight?
Well, believe me, Frank -there is something to gossip about.
Dr : Hmm! Simon Stinson far gone, was he?
Worst I've ever seen him. How'll that end, Frank? Dr Ferguson can't forgive him forever.
Dr : ..... Come. get in.
No, not yet.....Frank, I'm worried about you.
Dr : what are you worried about?
I think it's my duty to make plans for you to get a real rest and change. And if I get that legacy, well, I'm going to insist on it.
Dr : Now, Julia, there's no sense in going over that again.
Frank, you're just unreasonable!
Dr : (pushes her inside) ...... (MRS GIBBS picks something up off the floor and winds it up).... I reckon you'll have your wood chopped for a while anyway. No, no start getting upstairs.
Oh, dear. There's always so many things to pick up, seems like. You know, Frank, Mrs Fairchild always locks her front door every night. (go upstairs) (end)
(Cooking french toast now) (Three years later) Howie Newsome : ....Think maybe it'll clear up for good.
(Meet him by trellis) Good morning, Howie. Do you think it's going to rain again?
Howie : ... I think maybe it'll clear up.
Certainly hope it will.
Howie : How much did you want today?
I'm going to have a houseful of relations, Howie. Looks to me like I'll need three-a-milk and two-a-cream.
Howie : ....Mrs Gibbs, Know they will.
(calling after him) Thanks a lot, Howie. Tell your wife I hope she gets there to the wedding!
(Mrs Gibbs on verge of tears) Dr : Well , Ma, the day has come. You're losin' one of your chicks.
Frank Gibbs, don't you say another word. I feel like crying every minute. Sit down and drink your coffee.
Dr : ..... "I do" in the mirror, but it don't sound convincing to me.
I declare, Frank, I don't know how he'll get along. I've arranged his clothes and seen to it he's put warm things on - Frank! They're too young. Emily won't think of such things. He'll catch his death of cold within a week.
Dr : I was remembering my wedding morning, Julia.
Now don't start that, Frank Gibbs.
Dr : ...There I was in Congregational Church marryin' a total stranger.
And how do you think I felt! (serves toast) - Frank weddings are perfectly awful things. Farces - that's what they are! (Serves toast) Here, I've made something for you.
Dr : Why, Julia Hersey - French Toast!
(pleased) 'Taint hard to make and I had to do something.
Dr : How'd you sleep last night, Julia?
Well ,I heard a lot of the hours struck off.
Dr : ..... The reaction of father and son is the darnedest, awkwardest-
Well, mother and daughters no picnic, let me tell you.
Dr : .....Everybody has a right to their own troubles.
Yes...people are meant to go through life two by two. 'Tain't natural to be lonesome.
Dr : Julie, do you know one of the things I was scared of when I married you?
Oh, go along with you!
Dr : ..... Well you and I been conversing for twenty years now without any noticeable barren spells.
Well - good weather, bad weather - 'tain't very choice, but I always find something to say. Did you hear Rebecca stirring around upstairs?
Dr : .... - I got the impression she's crying
Lord's sakes! - This has got to stop - Rebecca! Rebecca! Come and get your breakfast.
George : Good morning, everybody. Only five more hours to live.
George Gibbs, where are you going?
George : Just stepping across the grass to see my girl.
Now, George! You put on your overshoes. It's raining torrents. You don't go out of this house without you're prepared for it.
George : Aw, ma. It's just a step.
George! You'll catch your death of cold and cough all through the service.
Dr : George, do as your mother tells you!
From tomorrow on you can kill yourself in all weathers, but while you're in my house you'll live wisely, thank you. - Maybe Mrs. Webb isn't used to callers at seven in the morning. (George rises) Here - take a cup of coffee first.
(WEDDING) Stage manager : ... We're more civilized now, - so they say. (......she leaves her seat and comes down the aisle quickly to him.)
George! George! What's the matteR?
G : Ma, I don't want to grow old. Why's everybody pushing me so?
Why George...you wanted it.
G : No, Ma, listen to me -
No, no, George, - you're a man now.
G : Listen, Ma - for the last time I ask you..All I want to do is to be a fella -
George! If anyone should hear you! Now stop. Why, I'm ashamed of you!
G : What? Where's Emily?
(relieved) George! You gave me such a turn.
G : Cheer up, Ma. I'm getting married.
Let me catch my breath a minute.
(HEAVEN) Joe : ...And today's another pretty bad blow for him, too.
That's my sister Carey's boy, Sam...Sam Craig.
Simon : I'm always uncomfortable when they're around.
Simon.
Emily : Hello, Mother Gibbs
Emily.
Emily : Hello. It's raining.
Yes...They'll be gone soon, dear. Just rest yourself.
Emily : ......We bought that out of the money you left us.
I did?
E : ....Why, it was over three hundred and fifty dollars.
Yes, yes, Emily.
E : ..... Live people don't understand, do they?
No, dear - not very much.
E : .... How long does it...?
Sh! dear. Just wait and be patient.
E : I know - Look, they're finished. They're going.
Sh-
E : ...and for a minute I was there, and my baby was on my lap plain as day.
Yes, of course you can.
E : I can go back there and live all those days over again...why not?
All I can say is, Emily, don't.
Stage Manager : Yes, some have tried - but they soon come back here.
Don't do it Emily.
E : But is that- painful? Why?
That's not the only reason why you shouldn't do it, Emily. When you've been here longer you'll see our life here is to forget all that, and think only of whats ahead, and be ready for what's ahead. When you've been here longer you'll understand.
E : I'll choose a happy day, anyway
No! - At least, choose an unimportant day. Choose the least important day in your life. It will be important enough.
Emily : I'm ready to go back.
Were you happy?
E : ...That's all human beings are! Just blind people.
Look, it's clearing up. The stars are coming out.
Simon : ... Ignorance and blindness.
Simon Stimson, that ain't the whole truth and you know it. Emily, look at that star. I forget its name.
E: Mother Gibbs , it's George.
Sh, dea. Just rest yourself.
E: Mother Gibbs?
Yes, Emily?
E: They don't understand, do they?
No, dear. They don't understand.