Act 2 (Jane&Judge Scene)

Question 1

(Knock at door, right after Ben leaves the sewing scene.)

Answer 1

Oh, it’s you Judge! Come in.

Question 2

Judge: “I thought I’d stop on my way home and see how you were getting on, Jane.”

Answer 2

I’ll take your coat.

Question 3

Jane: “I’ll take your coat.”
Judge: “I’ll just put it here. Have you time to sit down a minute?”

Answer 3

Of course.

Question 4

Judge: “That isn’t a smile on your lips, is it, Jane?”

Answer 4

Maybe…

Question 5

Jane: “Maybe…”
Judge: “I’m glad I came!”

Answer 5

It’s my birthday.

Question 6

Judge: “Why, Jane! Many happy returns!”

Answer 6

Many happy returns, that’s a lot to ask for.

Question 7

Judge: “You’re about twenty-two, or twenty-three, aren’t you?”

Answer 7

Twenty-three.

Question 8

Judge: “Time enough ahead of you. (Box) Hello! What’s all that?”

Answer 8

My birthday present.

Question 9

Jane: “My birthday present.”
Judge: “Who gave it to you?”

Answer 9

I did.

Question 10

Jane: “I did.”
Judge: “Good! It’s about time you started to blossom out.”

Answer 10

I ordered a lot of things from Boston; they’ll be here tomorrow.

Question 11

Judge: “I suppose that one’s a dress?”

Answer 11

Yes.

Question 12

Judge: “light blue, isn’t it?”

Answer 12

Just sort of blue, with lace on it.

Question 13

Judge: “Oh, you’re going to wear it, I suppose, in honor of your birthday?”

Answer 13

Tonight? Oh, no, soon maybe, but not tonight.

Question 14

Jane: “Soon, maybe, but not tonight.”
Judge: “How soon?”

Answer 14

Jane: “Soon as I dare to; not just yet.”

Question 15

Judge: “You have plenty of money; you ought to have every comfort in the world, and some of the luxuries.”

Answer 15

Judge, I want you to do something for me.

Question 16

Jane: “Judge, I want you to do something for me.”
Judge: “And of course, I’ll do it.”

Answer 16

I want you to get Ben clear. I want you to fix it so he won’t go to State’s Prison.

Question 17

Jane: “I want you to fix it so he won’t go to State’s Prison.”
Judge: “But if he’s guilty, Jane?”

Answer 17

I want you to go to old Mr. Kimbal for me and offer to pay him for that barn of his that Ben burned down. Then I want you to fix it so he won’t push the case, so Ben gets clear.

Question 18

Judge: “Do you know what you’re asking of me?”

Answer 18

To get Ben clear.

Question 19

Jane: “To get Ben clear.”
Judge: “To compound a felony.”

Answer 19

Those are just words, Judge, and words don’t matter much to me. I might say I wasn’t asking you to compound a felony. I was asking you to save a sinner, but those would be just words too. There’s nobody else; you’ve got to help me.

Question 20

Jane: “There’s nobody else; you’ve got to help me.”
Judge: “I’ve always thought a lot could be done for Ben, by a good lawyer.”

Answer 20

It doesn’t matter how, so long as it’s done.

Question 21

Judge: “He was drinking, with a crowd of young men; the two Kimbal boys jumped on him and beat him up rather badly. That’s about all we know, aside from the fact that Ben was drunk, and that that night the Kimbals’ barn was set on fire.”

Answer 21

Just so long as you can get him off, Judge.

Question 22

Judge: “I think a case of assault could be made against the Kimbal boys, and I think it would stand.

Answer 22

What of it?

Question 23

Judge: “It is quite possible. that the old man, if he knew that action was to be taken against his sons, and if he could be tactfully assured of payment for his barn, say by Ben, in a year’s time, might be persuaded to petition to have indictment against Ben withdrawn. In that event, I think the chances would be very much in Ben’s favor.”

Answer 23

I don’t care what names you call it, so long as it’s done. Will you fix it?

Question 24

Jane: “Will you fix it?”
Judge: “Well, it’s not exactly a proper preceding for a Judge of the Circuit Court.”`

Answer 24

I knew you’d do it.

Question 25

Jane: “I knew you’d do it.”
Judge: “Yes, and I think you know why, didn’t you?”

Answer 25

Ever since she’s died, you’ve helped me with everything. Before she died you were just as good to me, and nobody else was.

Question 26

Judge: “I am glad you said that, because it clears me from the charge of being what poor Ben calls “one of the crow buzzards,” and I don’t want you to think I’m that.”

Answer 26

No, you’re not that.

Question 27

Judge: “I love you, Jane.”

Answer 27

No.

Question 28

Judge: “Yes, I’ve done that for a long while. Don’t you think you could get used to the thought of being my wife?”

Answer 28

No?

Question 29

Judge: “I think I could make you happy.”

Answer 29

No.

Question 30

Judge: “I’m afraid being happy is something you don’t know very much about.”

Answer 30

No!

Question 31

Judge: “It isn’t a thing that I am going to hurry you over, my dear, but neither is it a thing that I am going to give up hoping for.”

Answer 31

When you told me, that day, that Mrs. Jordan had left me all her money, I couldn’t understand. Then, afterwards, you gave me the letter she left for me. I want you to read it.

Question 32

Judge: “ What has her letter to do with us?”

Answer 32

Maybe, reading it, you’ll get to know something you’ve got a right to know, better than I could tell it to you.

Question 33

Jane: “…something you’ve got a right to know, better than I could tell it to you.”
Judge: “Very well.”

Answer 33

It’s here. She was a cold woman, Judge. She never let me get close to her, although I tried. She didn’t love me. I was as sure of it then as I am now. Read it.

Question 34

(After note)
Judge: “Is the damnable thing she says there true?”

Answer 34

Yes, Judge.

Question 35

Judge: “And you’re going to do this thing for her?”

Answer 35

No, for him.

Question 36

Jane: “No, for him.”
Judge: “He isn’t worth it.”

Answer 36

I guess you don’t understand.

Question 37

Jane: “I guess you don’t understand.”
Judge: “No.”

Answer 37

You can’t go like that, angry. You have to pay a price for being a good man, Judge. I need your help.

Question 38

Judge: “You mean HE needs my help?”

Answer 38

Yes, and you’ll have to give it to him, if what you said a little while ago was true.

Question 39

Judge: “It WAS true, Jane. I’ll help him.”

Answer 39

I’ve an errand at the store. I’ll go with you.

Question 40

Jane: “I’ve an errand at the store. I’ll go with you.”
Judge: “Is it anything I could have sent up for you?”

Answer 40

I guess not. You see, I’ve got to match a color.

Question 41

Judge: “Another new dress?”

Answer 41

Just a ribbon, for my hair.

Question 42

Judge: “I didn’t know women still wore ribbons in their hair.”

Answer 42

It seems they do. In France.