Act 2 Scene 4

Question 1

Just a few more!

O,TG!

Answer 1

Oh, thank goodness!

Question 2

I can’t thank you enough for your help with these invitations, Millie.

OC,K,IHTA.

Answer 2

Of course, Kitty, I’m happy to assist.

Question 3

…Bring some vim and vigor in there!

IHTBA. ABWSP.

Answer 3

I’m honored to be asked. And Bob was so proud.

Question 4

… You’ll be the belle and beau of the Summertime Spring Fling!

YVS,K.

Answer 4

You’re very sweet, Kitty.

Question 5

… Was there a league back home in Ohio?

O,Y! MIVAITC. SARC-DG.

Answer 5

Oh, yes! Mother is very active in the community. She’s a real can-do gal.

Question 6

And you take right after her.

Y,IAID.

Answer 6

Yes, it appears I do.

Question 7

… How often does she make it to Washington?

TC?

Answer 7

The calligrapher?

Question 8

You goose! Your mother! Does she get to visit?

STAHALOAY! MATCB,AS..H. N. YKS? TNT.

Answer 8

She takes a holiday at least one a year! Mother adores the cherry blossoms, and she…hm. No. You know something? That’s not true.

Question 9

She doesn’t adore the cherry blossoms?

K? TTI? IDSTMM. WHNCFSY.

Answer 9

Kitty? The truth is? I don’t speak to my mother. We’ve had no contact for six years.

Question 10

Oh, no. Why is that?

BSATP. MWTFMLTIDNW,AITHS. IQBEWWNRAUOT,AWSOG.

Answer 10

Because she’s a terrible person. Mother wanted things for my life that I did not want, and I told her so. It quickly became evident we would never reach an understanding on that, and we said our goodbyes.

Question 11

Oh, Millie.

TTT. IBQSTSITTTA.
BYBNBLTMAIS..IWYTKMALB.

Answer 11

That’s the truth. It’s been quite some time since I’ve told that to anyone. But you’ve been nothing but lovely to me and I suppose… I wanted you to know me a little better.

Question 12

I’m sorry about your mother. Sometimes things just don’t work out.

ISN.

Answer 12

I suppose not.

Question 13

You know, sweetheart, I was the eldest of eleven.

OM.

Answer 13

Oh my.

Question 14

…and life with me, just me, was all he wanted.

TRW,K.

Answer 14

That’s really wonderful, Kitty.

Question 15

… People are all dying to get the dirt on you, but there’s no proper way to inquire.

O,TFAWE.

Answer 15

Oh, they find a way eventually.

Question 16

… Isn’t that lovely?

YII. TY,K.

Answer 16

Yes it is. Thank you, Kitty.

Question 17

Millie! You’re not going to–

N! L,IK!

Answer 17

Normie! Look, it’s Kitty!

Question 18

Millie?

Y,K?

Answer 18

Yes, Kitty?

Question 19

Why is Normie in the closet?

T…AVCQ,K.

Answer 19

That’s…a very complicated question, Kitty.

Question 20

Perhaps I should go.

WYDNTGTTC.

Answer 20

Well you do need to get to the calligrapher.

Question 21

Tell Normie to take a spoonful of Geritol with a shot of vodka, she’ll be right as rain in no time.

WD. T!

Answer 21

Will do. Ta!

Question 22

You two drew the battle lines, we were just responding in kind.

WIGO?

Answer 22

What is going on?

Question 23

… Mister Baxter placed a restriction on the account.

OMG.

Answer 23

Oh my god.

Question 24

… I was so fucking humiliated!

IGMMMTSPC? WTHAYGD?

Answer 24

I’m guessing Mister Martindale made the same phone call? What the hell are you guys doing?

Question 25

I did.

W,TSLAFT! A,J,AE,TMDB!

Answer 25

Well, that sounds like a fair trial! Accuser, judge, and executioner, that’s my darling Bob!

Question 26

You two are out of control!

YNSTBCU!

Answer 26

You’re not supposed to be controlling us!

Question 27

…Do you even care?

OCWC,BYMTBP. ITLT,ITBT. WFN,DTBR,ATIO!

Answer 27

Of course we care, but you’re missing the bigger picture. In the long term, it’s the best thing. We fight now, demand to be recognized, and then it’s over!

Question 28

Can’t control our own money? Yeah, you son of a bitch, we noticed!

YAWM. AV. IYT,PWL.

Answer 28

You’re a white male. A veteran. If you talk, people will listen.

Question 29

… Barbara doesn’t want us to be heroes, she wants us to be martyrs.

YKW? F. YWTSH,YSH. KYM,BOY,IIMYFLM. BWGTTMT,AWGTGPWTTC.

Answer 29

You know what? Fine. You want to stay home, you stay home. Keep your money, both of you, if it makes you feel like men. But we’re going to the meeting tonight, and we’re going public when the time comes.

Question 30

… I have to protect myself. And Jim.

Y,PJ. SPPDWYP,OSHBH.

Answer 30

Yes, protect Jimmy. Since Paul Patridge didn’t want your protection, or Sam Hudson before him.

Question 31

… He didn’t even date before he met us.

YJAPOBP. HDWTSFBHWBICA.

Answer 31

You’re just another part of Bob’s plan. He doesn’t want to step forward because he wouldn’t be in control anymore.

Question 32

I think they’re beginning to.

TFOUCSDAIOHTMSYAPATSA,AWMO.

Answer 32

The four of us can sit down and iron out how to make sure you’re as protected as the situation allows, after we move out.

Question 33

Norma! I’ll give you a baby.

TL,J. TRL.

Answer 33

That’s low, Jimmy. That’s really low.

Question 34

Norma, men have been using motherhood to ensnare women since the dawn of time.

SWFFT. SNAF.

Answer 34

She won’t fall for this. She’s not a fool.

Question 35

… Tha bastard child of an unknown father and a lesbian divorcee.

J,SYFM,YBC.

Answer 35

Jimmy, shut your fucking mouth, you’re being cruel.

Question 36

I’m sorry. We’re staying.

OCWA.

Answer 36

Of course we are.

Question 37

Millie? (throw open door, run into hall)

B! W!

Answer 37

Barbara! Wait!

Question 38

Millie, what are you doing?

IS.

Answer 38

I’m sorry.

Question 39

Yes?

IWTGWY.

Answer 39

I want to go with you.

Question 40

Do you?

IM,NWY. BWY.

Answer 40

I mean, not with you. But with you.

Question 41

Millie?

B,WYJWOF,BDL,P?

Answer 41

Barbara, will you just wait out front, but don’t leave, please?

Question 42

Millie, what are you doing?

J,IKYSBYLBMTYS,AYA. N,TB,IYD,NM,AIKJMTHFYIETKYH,B..IJIEFM. INETKMH.

Answer 42

Jimmy, I know you’re staying because you love Bob more than you should, and you’re afraid. Norma, the baby, it’s your dream, not mine, and I know Jimmy making that happen for you is enough to keep you here, but…it just isn’t enough for me. It’s not enough to keep me here.

Question 43

But I thought… Aren’t I enough?

N. IWY,IWIC..IAC. AC. ILY,BIDWTAHRWWS. IWARL.

Answer 43

No. I want you, I wish I could… It’s a compromise. A concession. I love you, but I don’t want the adjoining hotel rooms when we’re sixty. I want a real life.

Question 44

It won’t always be like this. Things will change.

Y,TW. IWTBPOTC. YRTB. ATW,BILY,AIWYTHAHL. BIISH,IISIT,IGUTBTLSBB. ICDT.

Answer 44

Yes, they will. I want to be part of the change. You’ll reap the benefits. And that’s wonderful, because I love you, and I want you to have a happy life. But if I stay here, if I stay in this, it’s giving up the belief that life should be better. I can’t do that.

Question 45

Millie. Don’t. Please?

YS. OD. WTAB. AYR,IDIBILY. YDLJS. YRTBTSTTRW. BYLM.

Answer 45

You’ll see. One day. When things are better. And you remember, I did it because I love you. You do like Jimmy said. You raise that baby to see things the right way. Because you love me.

Question 46

Mildred, what should I–

TPITTMSMIO. WAWASWGA,TIMUWAOSAAFAD. STJDWO.

Answer 46

Tell people I’m tending to my sick mother in Ohio. Wait a while and say we grew apart, that I met up with an old sweetheart and asked for a divorce. Sometimes things just don’t work out.

Question 47

Your clothes, your things–

DAYW. ILTLW.
TLSPUOW,ROS. BPHS.

TSIIMRVCIALBOTJ. J,YWHBTILFATY. IBLOYTSYWFS-C,BWYBNSYSKT. ITTI.

Answer 47

Do as you wish. I’ll learn to live without.
The laundry service picks up on Wednesday, returns on Saturday. Bob prefers heavy starch. The secret ingredient in my red velvet cake is a little bit of tomato juice. Jimmy, your waistline has been two inches larger for about three years. I’ve been letting out your trousers so you wouldn’t feel self-conscious, but when you buy new suits you should know that. I think that’s it.

Question 48

You’re taking out photographs?

IBTID. IWHT. (gives photo) H. GL. ILY.

Answer 48

It’s better I do. I won’t hide them.
(Give photo)
Here. Good luck. I love you.