Joe and Edna

Question 1

Where’s all the furniture, honey?

Answer 1

EDNA: They took it away. No installments paid.

Question 2

JOE: When?

Answer 2

EDNA: Three o’clock.

Question 3

JOE: They can’t do that.

Answer 3

EDNA: Can’t? They did it.

Question 4

JOE: Why, the palookas, we paid three-quarters.

Answer 4

EDNA: The man said read the contract.

Question 5

JOE: We must have signed a phoney. . . .

Answer 5

EDNA: It’s a regular contract and you signed it.

Question 6

JOE: Don’t be so sour, Edna. . . . (Tries to embrace her.)

Answer 6

EDNA: Do it in the movies. Joe - they pay Clark Gable big money for it.

Question 7

JOE: This is a heckuva house to come home to. Take my word!

Answer 7

EDNA: Take MY word! Whose fault is it?

Question 8

JOE: Must you start that stuff again?

Answer 8

EDNA: Maybe you’d like to talk about books?

Question 9

JOE; I’d like to slap you in the mouth!

Answer 9

EDNA: No you won’t.

Question 10

JOE: (sheepishly) Jeez, Edna, you get me sore some time. . . .

Answer 10

EDNA: But just look at me - I’m laughing all over!

Question 11

JOE: Don’t insult me. Can I help it if times are bad? What do you want me to do, jump off a bridge or something?

Answer 11

EDNA: Don’t yell. I just put the kids to bed so they won’t know they missed a meal. If I don’t have Emmy’s shoes soled tomorrow, she can’t go to school. In the meantime let her sleep.The second month’s rent is due tomorrow.

Question 12

JOE: Don’t look at me that way, Edna.

Answer 12

EDNA: I’m looking through you, not at you. . . .Who’s the man in the family, you or me?

Question 13

JOE: Gimme a break too! A coffee is all I got all day. I’m hungry, too, Babe.

Answer 13

EDNA: I’ll open a can of salmon.

Question 14

JOE: Not now. Tell me what to do!

Answer 14

EDNA: I’m not God!

Question 15

JOE: Jeez, I wish I was a kid again and didn’t have to think about the next minute.

Answer 15

EDNA: But you’re not a kid and you do have to think about the next minute. You got two blondie kids sleeping in the next room. They need food and clothes. I’m not mentioning anything else. For five years I laid awake at night listening to my heart pound. For God’s sake, do something, Joe, get wise. Maybe get your buddies together, maybe go on strike for better money. Poppa did it during the war and they won out. I’m turning into a sour old nag.

Question 16

JOE: (defending himself) Strikes don’t work!

Answer 16

EDNA: Who told you?

Question 17

JOE: Besides that means not a nickel a week while we’re out. Then when it’s over they don’t take you
back.

Answer 17

EDNA: Suppose they don’t! What’s to lose?

Question 18

JOE: Well, we’re averaging six-seven dollars a week now.

Answer 18

EDNA: That just pays for the rent.

Question 19

JOE: That is something, Edna.

Answer 19

EDNA: It isn’t. They’ll push you down to three and four a week before you know it. Then you’ll say, “That’s somethin’,” too!

Question 20

JOE: You don’t know a-b-c, Edna.

Answer 20

EDNA: I know this - your boss is making suckers outa you boys every minute. Yes, and suckers out of all the wives and the poor innocent kids who’ll grow up with crooked spines and sick bones.

Question 21

JOE: You know they’re racketeers. The guys at the top would shoot you for a nickel.

Answer 21

EDNA: Why do you stand for that stuff?

Question 22

JOE: Don’t you wanna see me alive?

Answer 22

EDNA: (after a deep pause) No … I don’t think I do, Joe. Not if you can lift a finger to do something about it, and don’t. No, I don’t care.

Question 23

JOE: Honey, you don’t understand what

Answer 23

EDNA: Take your hand away! I got different plans. (Starts to take off her apron.)

Question 24

JOE: Where are you going?

Answer 24

EDNA: Don’t you remember my old boy friend?

Question 25

JOE: Who?

Answer 25

EDNA: Bud Haas. He still has my picture in his watch. He earns a living.

Question 26

JOE: What are you talking about?

Answer 26

EDNA: I seen worse than I’m talking about.

Question 27

JOE: This is what I slaved for!

Answer 27

EDNA: Tell it to your boss!

Question 28

JOE: He don’t care about you or me!

Answer 28

EDNA: That’s what I say.

Question 29

EDNA: That’s what I say.

Answer 29

EDNA: This is the subject, the exact subject! Your boss makes this subject. I never saw him in my life, but he’s putting ideas in my head a mile a minute. He’s giving your kids that fancy disease called the rickets. He’s making a jellyfish outa you and putting wrinkles in my face. This is the subject every inch of the way! He’s throwing me into Bud Haas’ lap.

Question 30

JOE: I’m not so dumb as you think!

Answer 30

EDNA: Okay, but when a man knocks you down you get up and kiss his fist! You gutless piece of baloney.

Question 31

JOE: One man can’t -

Answer 31

EDNA: I don’t say one man! I say a hundred, a thousand, a whole million, I say. But start in your own union. Get those hack boys together! Sweep out those racketeers like a pile of dirt! Stand up like men and fight for the crying kids and wives. Now! I’m tired of slavery and sleepless nights!

Question 32

JOE: (with her) Yes, yes! . . .

Answer 32

EDNA: Yes. Get brass toes on your shoes and know where to kick!

Question 33

JOE: (suddenly jumping up and bear hugging his wife) Listen, Edna, I’m goin’ down to 174th Street to look up Lefty Costello. Lefty was saying the other day . . . (He suddenly stops) How about this Haas guy?

Answer 33

EDNA: Get out of here!