Part I — Scene 1 Flashcards
WINEMILLER. Mother, hush! I believe they wanted to hear you sing again, Alma.
Open my bag, Father. My fingers have frozen stiff! I don’t know what came over me—absolute panic! Never, never again, it isn’t worth it—the tortures that I go through!
WINEMILLER. (Anxiously.) You’re having one of your nervous attacks?
My heart’s beating so! It seemed to be in my throat the whole time I was singing! Was it noticeable, Father?
WINEMILLER. You sang extremely well, Alma. But you know how I feel
about this; it was contrary to my wishes and I cannot imagine why
you wanted to do it, especially since it seemed to upset you so.
I don’t see how anyone could object to my singing at a patriotic occasion. If I had just sung well! But I barely got through it. At one point I thought that I wouldn’t. The words flew out of my mind. Did you notice the pause?
WINEMILLER. No.
Blind panic! They really never came back, but I went on singing—I think I must have been improvising the lyric! Is there a handkerchief in it?
WINEMILLER. Shh, Mother!
Circulation is slowly coming back…
WINEMILLER. Sit back quietly and take a deep breath, Alma.
Yes, my handkerchief—now…
WINEMILLER. Mother, there isn’t any ice-cream man.
No, there isn’t any ice-cream man, Mother. But on the way home Mr. Doremus and I will stop by the drug store and pick up a pint of ice cream.
WINEMILLER. Are you intending to stay here?
Until the concert is over. I promised Roger I’d wait for him.
WINEMILLER. I suppose you have noticed who is by the fountain?
Shhh!
WINEMILLER. Hadn’t you better wait on a different bench?
This is where Roger will meet me.
MRS. WINEMILLER. Strawberry, Alma. Chocolate, chocolate and strawberry mixed! Not vanilla!
Yes, yes, Mother— vanilla…
JOHN. Hey! Hey, you! Are you all right?
I can’t seem to— catch my breath! Who threw it?
JOHN. Some little rascal.
Where?
JOHN. He ran away quick when I hollered!
There ought to be an ordinance passed in this town forbidding firecrackers.
JOHN. Dad and I treated fifteen kids for burns the last couple of days. I think you need a little restorative, don’t you? Here!
What is it?
JOHN. Applejack brandy.
No, thank you.
JOHN. Liquid dynamite.
I’m sure. You’re—home for the summer? Summer is not the pleasantest time of year to renew an acquaintance with Glorious Hill—is it? The Gulf wind has failed us this year, disappointed us dreadfully this summer. We used to be able to rely on the Gulf wind to cool the nights off for us, but this season has been an exceptional season.
JOHN. Are you—disturbed about something?
That firecracker was a shock.
JOHN. You should be over that shock by now.
I don’t get over shocks quickly.
JOHN. I see you don’t.
You’re planning to stay here and take over some of your father’s medical practice?
JOHN. I haven’t made up my mind about anything yet.
I hope so. We all hope so. Your father’s so proud of you and so pleased over your accomplishments. Last time I went in the office, you should have heard him singing your praises. Telling me how you’d graduated Magna cum Laude from Johns Hopkins. That’s in Boston, isn’t it?
JOHN. No, Baltimore.
Oh, Baltimore! Baltimore, Maryland. Such a beautiful combination of names! And I have been told that Johns Hopkins is the finest medical college in the world—practically.
ALMA. And I have been told that Johns Hopkins is the finest medical college in the world—practically. (JOHN tries to interrupt, but she goes on.)
It must be a great satisfaction, it must be a real thrill to you, to be standing on the threshold of a career in such a noble profession as I think medicine is. And I seriously believe it is something to which some people are divinely appointed, just appointed by God!
ALMA. And I seriously believe it is something to which some people are divinely appointed, just appointed by God! (JOHN crosses R., below bench, to up R.)
There is so much suffering in the world it actually makes one sick to think about it, and most
of us are so helpless to relieve it, but a physician! Oh, my!
ALMA. There is so much suffering in the world it actually makes one sick to think about it, and most
of us are so helpless to relieve it, but a physician! Oh, my! (JOHN
turns up to drink at fountain, ALMA follows, to his R.)
With his magnificent gifts and training what a joy it must be to know that he is equipped and appointed to bring relief to all of this fearful
suffering—and fear!
ALMA. With his magnificent gifts and training what a joy it must be to know that he is equipped and appointed to bring relief to all of this fearful suffering—and fear! (JOHN tries to speak.)
And it’s an expanding profession— it’s a profession that is continually widening its horizons. So many diseases have already
come under scientific control, but the commencement is just—beginning. I mean there is so much more that is yet to be done, such as mental afflictions to be brought under control… And with your father’s example to inspire you! Oh, my!
JOHN. I didn’t know you had so many ideas about the medical profession.
Well, I am a great admirer of your father, as well as a patient. It’s such a comfort knowing that he’s right next door, within arm’s reach as it were!
JOHN. Why? Do you have fits?
Fits? Why, no, but I do have attacks!— of nervous heart trouble. Which can be so alarming that I run straight to your father!
JOHN. At two or three in the morning?
Yes, as late as that, even… occasionally. He’s very patient with me.
JOHN. But does you no good?
He always reassures me.
JOHN. Temporarily?
Yes…
JOHN. Don’t you want more than that?
What?
JOHN. It’s none of my business.
What were you going to say?
JOHN. You’re Dad’s patient. But I have an idea…
Please go on! Now you have to go on! You can’t leave me up in the air! What were you going to tell me?
JOHN. Only that I suspect you need something more than a little temporary reassurance.
WHY? Why? You think it’s more serious than———?
JOHN. You’re swallowing air.
I’m what?
JOHN. You’re swallowing air, Miss Alma.
I’m swallowing air?
JOHN. Yes, you swallow air when you laugh or talk. It’s a little trick that hysterical women get into.
Ha-ha!…
