Act 2 (Before Int.)

Question 1

(Start of Act 2, Jane enters)

Answer 1

Are those towels finished?

Question 2

Jane: “…towels finished?”
Ella: “Some is! Maybe I’d done all of ‘em if I’d been a centipede.”

Answer 2

Hannah, run out to the barn and tell Ben we’ve got to have a path cleared under the clothes-lines.

Question 3

Jane: “…path cleared under the clothes-lines.”
Hannah: “Alright.” (walks away)

Answer 3

You’re going to wash tomorrow, tell him. I’ll expect a good wide path.

Question 4

Ella, making the towels: “I must say you keep Ben right at it, don’t you?”

Answer 4

Yes. (Taking the last towel.) I’ll come back for more.

Question 5

Henry: “It ain’t going to help me none with the bank, a brother of mine being in jail.”
Ben: “So they’re laughing at me, are they? Damn them.
(Jane entering)
Nettie: “She’s coming!”

Answer 5

I sent for you, Ben.

Question 6

Jane: “I sent for you, Ben.”
Ben: “I won’t budge.”

Answer 6

Must we go through all this again?

Question 7

Jane: “Must we go through all this again?”
Ben: “I ain’t going to move out of this chair today. You do what you damned please.”

Answer 7

I am sorry, but you must.

Question 8

Ben: “Send for Jim Jay, have me locked up, do as you please. Oh, I’ve said it before but this time I mean it.”

Answer 8

And you won’t come?

Question 9

Ben: “Send for Jim Jay…”
Jane: “And you won’t come?”
Ben: “No.”

Answer 9

Then I’ll do the best I can alone.

Question 10

Jane: “Then I’ll do the best I can alone.” (grabs btl)
Ben: “What do you want of that?”

Answer 10

It’s one of the horses. I don’t know what’s the matter with her. She’s down in her stall, just breathing. She won’t pay any attention to me.

Question 11

Jane: “…won’t pay any attention to me.”
Ben: “Old Nellie?”

Answer 11

Yes.

Question 12

Henry: “What’s Ben know about horses?”

Answer 12

A lot.

Question 13

Henry: “What’s Ben know about horses?”
Jane: “A lot.”
Henry: “I didn’t know that.”

Answer 13

Neither did Ben six weeks ago. (Jane exits)

Question 14

Nettie: “She made him go! It would’t surprise me a mite if she pushed that old horse over herself.”

Answer 14

He wouldn’t let me in the barn. Well– we have quite a family gathering here this afternoon. I am wondering if there is any special reason for it?

Question 15

Jane: “…special reason for it?”
Henry: “I wanted to talk with you for just a minute Jane.”

Answer 15

Anybody else?

Question 16

Jane: “Anybody else?”
Ella: “I do.”
Nettie: “So do I.”

Answer 16

I’ve a lot to do; suppose I answer you all at once. I’m sorry, but I won’t lend you any money.

Question 17

Henry: “Of course, I didn’t think they’d call that note of mine; it’s only five hundred, and you could just endorse it.”

Answer 17

No!

Question 18

Emma: “No money!?”
Henry: “I bet you’re worth as much today as you was the day mother died.”

Answer 18

To a penny. I’ve lived, and run this house, and half supported all of you on what I’ve made the place earn. Yesterday I spent the first dollar that I didn’t have to spend. I mean, on myself. But that’s no business of yours. I am worth just as much as the day I took the property, and I’m not going to run behind, so you see, after all, I may as well be a Jordan myself.

Question 19

Jane: “…I may as well be a Jordan myself.”
Henry: “Well, Jane, I don’t know as it’s any use trying to get you to change your mind?”

Answer 19

I’m sorry.

Question 20

Henry: “I don’t know what I’m going to do about that note. I suppose I’ll find some way out of it.”

Answer 20

I hope so.

Question 21

Ella: “Poor Henry! Of course I suppose you’re right not to lend it to him. But I don’t know if I could do it, but I’m sensitive.”

Answer 21

Perhaps it’s harder to say no than you think.

Question 22

Nettie: “After that, I’m going to stay and help Aunt Ella. I was wondering if you’d be here all afternoon?”

Answer 22

Yes.

Question 23

Hannah: “Every time I listen to that girl I get fur on my tongue.”

Answer 23

Fur?

Question 24

Hannah: “Like when my bowels move. There’s two things I can’t abide, her and cucumbers.” (She goes to leave)

Answer 24

Hannah!

Question 25

Jane: “Hannah!”
Hannah: “Well?”

Answer 25

We are going to have a rather special supper tonight.

Question 26

Jane: “We are going to have a rather special supper tonight.”
Hannah: “We are?”

Answer 26

Yes. That’s why I had you roast that turkey yesterday.

Question 27

Jane: “Yes. That’s why I had you roast that turkey yesterday.”
Hannah: “That’s for Sunday!”

Answer 27

No, it’s for tonight.

Question 28

Hannah: “That’s for Sunday.”
Jane: “No, it’s for tonight.”
Hannah: “Why is it?”

Answer 28

It’s my birthday.

Question 29

Jane: “It’s my birthday.”
Hannah: “I didn’t know that.”

Answer 29

No, it isn’t exactly a national holiday, but we’ll have the turkey, and I’ll get some preserves up, and I want you to bake a cake, a round one. We’ll have some candles on it. I got some at the store this morning.

Question 30

Hannah: “Candles?!”

Answer 30

Yes.

Question 31

Hannah: “Who’s going to be at this party?”

Answer 31

Why, just, ourselves.

Question 32

Hannah: “Just you and Mr. Ben and Miss Ella?”

Answer 32

Yes.