Act 1

Question 1

Henry: “She didn’t want anybody up there but Jane and Hannah.”
Ella: “But we’re her own children.”
(Jane Enters)

Answer 1

(Jane enters) I’m out to the drugstore. To get something for her.

Question 2

Ella: “You ought to be.”
Henry: “If there’s any gratitude in the world.”

Answer 2

Yes. (Jane leaves)

Question 3

Henry: “…leavin’ Ben out, of course. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”
(Jane Enters)

Answer 3

(Jane enter) I met Judge Bradford on the way.

Question 4

Ella: “In the midst of life we are in death.”
Henry: “It’s our duty to hope so long as we can.”
Judge: “Yes, of course.”

Answer 4

I’ll take this right up. (Jane leaves)

Question 5

Ella: “She’d cut him off, she said, the last time he disgraced us, and she’s a woman of her word.”
(Jane enters)
Judge: “Well Jane?”

Answer 5

No change. It’s…It’s pitiful, to see her like that.

Question 6

(Loud door slam!)
Ella: “Someone’s here.”
Henry: “Who’s that out there? Who is it?”

Answer 6

I’m glad you’ve come, Ben.

Question 7

Jane: “I’m glad you’ve come, Ben.”
Ben: “You are?”

Answer 7

Yes. Your mother is awful sick.

Question 8

Jane: “Your mother is awful sick.”
Ben: “She’s alive?”

Answer 8

Yes.

Question 9

Ben: “She sent me word, to Bangor.”
Ella: “How’d you know where he was?”

Answer 9

I knew.

Question 10

Ella: “Do mother tell you to…?”
Ben: “Of course she did!”

Answer 10

No, she didn’t.

Question 11

Henry: “You sent your own money?”

Answer 11

Yes. As he said it wasn’t much, but I didn’t have much.

Question 12

Jane: “…I didn’t have much.”
Ben: “Why’d you do it?”

Answer 12

I knew she was going to die; twice I asked her if she wanted to see you, and she said no–

Question 13

Henry: “And yet you sent for him?”
Jane: “Yes.”
Henry: “Why?”

Answer 13

He was the one she really wanted. I thought she’d die happier seeing him.

Question 14

Ella: “You took a lot on yourself, didn’t you?”

Answer 14

Yes. She’s been a lonely old woman. I hated to think of her there, in the churchyard, hungry for him.

Question 15

Jane: “…hungry for him.”
Ben: “I’ll go to her.”

Answer 15

It’s too late. She wouldn’t know you.

Question 16

Henry: “…No, the Jordans won’t ever be the same.”
Judge: “Will you let me help you, Jane?”

Answer 16

Hannah and I can attend to everything. Henry! You might come over for a minute this evening and we can talk things over. I’ll make the bed up in your old room, Ben, if you want to stay.

Question 17

Ella: “You tell her now or I will.”

Answer 17

Tell me what?

Question 18

Henry: “…and we’d be willing to help you till you found a place somewheres.”

Answer 18

You can’t help me, any of you. Of course now she’s dead, I’ll go. I’ll be glad to go.

Question 19

Jane: “I’ll be glad to go.”
Ella: “Glad!”

Answer 19

I hate you, the whole raft of you! I’ll be glad to get away from you . She was the only one of you worth loving, and she didn’t want it!

Question 20

Judge: “Yes, everything–your mother’s whole estate.”

Answer 20

That can’t be, Judge, you must be wrong. It’s a mistake.

Question 21

Judge: “…It’s been over a year since the Grand Jury indicted you for arson.”
Ben: “You mean you’ll give me up?”

Answer 21

You won’t do that, Judge; you’re here as her friend.

Question 22

Judge: “No, but if it’s known he’s here, I couldn’t save him. And it’s bound to be known.”

Answer 22

Were you careful coming?

Question 23

Ben: “…All I know is one thing,–when they put her into her grave, her sons and daughter are goin’ to be standing there, like the Jordans always do.”

Answer 23

Hannah will have your room ready by now. There are some clean shirts and things that were your father’s; I’ll bring them to you.

Question 24

Ben: “Can I go up there, just a minute?”

Answer 24

To your mother?

Question 25

Jane: “To your mother?”
Ben: “Yes.”

Answer 25

If you want to.

Question 26

Jane: “If you want to.”
Ben: “I do.”

Answer 26

Yes, you can go.

Question 27

Judge: “She was a grim old woman Jane.”

Answer 27

I think I could have loved her, but she didn’t want it.

Question 28

Judge: “And yet she left you everything.”

Answer 28

I don’t understand.

Question 29

Judge: “There was more kindness in her heart than most people gave her credit for.”

Answer 29

It’s been a hard week, Judge.

Question 30

Hannah: “He’s armed. Says Ben better not be foolish!”

Answer 30

He’ll go with Mr. Jay. He won’t resist.

Question 31

Ben: “I thought I’d get to go to her funeral anyway, before they got to me.”

Answer 31

I’m a rich woman, you said just now. Could I give bail for him?

Question 32

Ben: “You’re going to hear a lot about how much folks love you, but you ain’t goin’ to hear it from me!”

Answer 32

Why did you come here, Ben? When I wrote you she was dying.

Question 33

Ben: “Why did I come?”

Answer 33

Was it because you loved her? Because you wanted to ask her to forgive you before she died? Or was it because you wanted to get something for yourself?

Question 34

Ben: “How does a feller know why he does what he does?”

Answer 34

I’m just curious. You’ve got so much contempt for the rest, i was just wondering? You were wild, Ben, and hard, but you were honest. What brought you here?

Question 35

Jane: “What brought you here?”
Ben: “The money.”

Answer 35

I thought so. Then when you saw her you were sorry, but even then the money was in your mind. Well, it’s mine now. And you’ve got to take your choice. You can do what I tell you, or you’ll go with Mr. Jay.

Question 36

Ben: “No, wait. What is it you want?”

Answer 36

I want you to do as I say.

Question 37

Jane: “I want you to do as I say.”
Ben: “I’ll do it.”

Answer 37

I thought so. Can you fix the bond up here?

Question 38

Judge: “I’ll need a warrant from Jim.”

Answer 38

First, he’s got to swear, before you, to my conditions.

Question 39

Ben: “What conditions?”

Answer 39

When will his trial be, Judge?

Question 40

Judge: “Not before the spring term, I should think. Say early April?”

Answer 40

You’ll stay here till then, Ben; you won’t leave town! You’ll work the farm, there’s plenty to be done.

Question 41

Ben: “I don’t know how to work a farm.”

Answer 41

I do. You’ll just do what I tell you.

Question 42

Ben: “Be your servant? That’s what you mean, ain’t it?”

Answer 42

I’ve been that here for eight years.

Question 43

Ben: “And now it’s your turn to get square on a Jordan!”

Answer 43

You’ll work for once, and work every day! The first day you don’t I’ll surrender you to the Judge and he’ll jail you. The rest of the Jordans will live as I tell them to live, or for the first time in any of their lives, they’ll live on what they earn. Don’t forget, Ben, that right now I’m the head of the family.