The Last Night of Ballyhoo Flashcards
1
Q
Lala
A
how do you like the tree so far, Mama?
2
Q
Where did that star come from?
A
I bought it at Rich’s.
3
Q
Take it down!
A
Why?
4
Q
Take it down this minute!
A
I like it.
5
Q
Jewish Christmas trees don’t have stars.
A
Why not?
6
Q
A star is a symbol of the birth of the Messiah.
A
Oh pooey.
7
Q
If you have a star on the tree, you might as well go back on down to Rich’s and buy a manger scene and stick it in the front yard.
A
I’d like that.
8
Q
Now take down that star.
A
I wish you two could see yourselves.
9
Q
Is my hair funny?
A
Atlanta is the center of the world tonight and you two are going at me over a Christmas tree ornament. We ought to be celebrating.
10
Q
Celebrating what, I’d like to know
A
Mama! Clark Gable is less than five miles from this house right this very second..
11
Q
Drat!
A
Tonight is the most important event in the history of Atlanta.
12
Q
I did something wrong. I’m never going to get this sweater finished in time for Sunny to take back to college!
A
Why certainly not for me?
13
Q
You have other things to think about.
A
What?
14
Q
Ballyhoo.
A
Ballyhoo is ages away.
15
Q
Less than two weeks. And nobody’s asked you.
A
I don’t care!
16
Q
I do.
A
Then get somebody to ask you. And leave me alone
17
Q
Phone Sylvan Weil in Lake Charles. That’s all I ask.
A
Mama
18
Q
well why not
A
girls don’t ask boys to Ballyhoo
19
Q
Call Lake Charles
A
I’ve got to get ready to go
20
Q
where are you going
A
to town
21
Q
town for what
A
the premiere
22
Q
you don’t have a ticket to the premiere
A
I don’t care. I’ll still get to see everything.
23
Q
You mean you’re planning to go down there and stand out in the street
A
yes
24
Q
are you crazy
A
I want to feel the excitement in the crowd. to taste it. to smell it.
25
it's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of - running off downtown by yourself in the dark
you don't understand I have to
26
have to?
yes
27
why?
well I might as well go ahead and tell you the news
28
what news
I'm writing a novel
29
Oh my word
it takes place in Atlanta during the Reconstruction period and the title is though your sins be scarlet
30
well I swan - good for you
anyway, that's why I have to go be at the premiere
31
exactly what is why
well mama! obviously my novel will more than likely be made into a movie. So I need to go and see what all a premiere is like
32
She does not have a point. And I'll thank you to stay out of this. Lala, for the life of me I don't know why you waste your time with all this utter foolishness when you could easily do something so much more constructive.
Like what?
33
Phone that Weil boy in Lake Charles
Mama! Only you could manage to ruin Christmas and Gone with the Wind in one fell swoop
34
I told her "Relax, Ma. Whaddya think, they put conversion powder in the tap water?"
enter
35
Good to see ya
Hey
36
You off somewhere
the world premiere
37
by yourself?
honestly Uncle Adolph, course not! Eugene Selig and Harold Lillienthal both asked me. I couldn't make up my mind which one to pick, so we're all three going together.
38
I see. Well it's too bad Joe didn't know in time. He's a big fan of Gone with the WIND
Really?
39
Your uncle is teasing. Truth is, I haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
I bet you're the only person in this town who can say that.
40
Sounds like you got an exciting evening ahead of you.
yes
41
the premiere and everything
I tell you what. Let's you and I eat here with the folks and then we can go downtown together and see all the celebrities come out when the movie's over
42
I wonder what your two boyfriends would say to that
gene and harold? Fiddle de dee - they can just have a date with each other for all I care
43
Supper's served
I never met a Farkas before
44
Yeah. I seem to be a rare bird down here.
Is that a New York City name?
45
More or less
Oh good - you must know all the smart supper clubs in Manhattan
46
Well, truth is I
What's your favorite
47
never been to one in my life
I need to know. I'll more than likely be going to New York very soon.
48
Stop that!
To meet with publishers about the novel I'm writing.
49
Scene 2
Do you want to hear it?
50
Uh sure
From where she sat atop the weathered buckboard wagon, Ropa Ragsdale could see the charred and twisted remains of her beloved plantation
51
good. real good.
at first I had old family home, but I think beloved plantation has more charm don't you think? I think I have it
52
what
Habersham Hall - isn't that beautiful? Habersham hall
53
Uh huh. After your street here.
I wasn't thinking of it that way but yes - of course! This is just about the best address in Atlanta. Did you know that?
54
Not really
You have only to look at the mailboxes up and down this street and you;ll see half the membership of the Junior League.
55
Huh
I'll have you know we are the only Jews on Habersham Road except for one house way on the other side of Paces Ferry where it gets tacky.
56
Um you think your uncle is ok
of course. He's just having what we all call his pre snooze snooze. He does this all the time
57
She's away at school
Wellesley
58
Really?
she got the brains, I got the moxie
59
Oh. a little bird tells me you went to college too
what
60
college
college? Who told you about that?
61
Lala attended the University of Michigan for a short time, but she missed all the social goings on her so much that home she came.
Yes. Home I came.
62
I'll be home for Pesach though
Pesach
63
Yes ma'am March or April
good - then you'll be here for Ballyhoo
64
What's ballyhoo
What's ballyhoo? Why Joe! What a question! But of course you are a Yankee
65
the young people come from all over the south
savannah and chattanooga and charleston
66
I got it, like a convention
Oh no
67
not at all like a convention. No name tags, or talks or business meeints of an kind
hay rides and weenie roasts and parties, and the last night a dance
68
Now why would he care about a stupid thing like that
Oh I think he might care a little. Am i right Joe?
69
Well yeah it's very interesting
specially if you're planning on going this year
70
going? Oh say it must be getting late. I got a train to catch at six thirty in the morning, so I better call it a night.
but
71
Well now, never you mind
mind? Mind what? I believe I'll go on up to my room and see what's on the radio. Stop looking at me.
72
Exactly the same as it was the other time
Mama how can you say that
73
oh I'm sorry. did Scarlett and Rhett do something different this time? I must've missed it
that's not the point. Nobody can take in a masterpiece in one viewing. I came away with so much more tonight. I could watch it a thousand times.
74
for lala
would you relax mama? You know Peachy's coming to Atlanta
75
I saw the lights on
Well Well! Look what the cat drug in
76
Oh he's fine
Upton who?
77
I see you got home in one piece
| Yes
How come y'all know each other
78
Uncle Adolph got Mr. Farkas to make sure I didn't fall off the train
What?
79
Not bad
seen Gone with the Wind yet Joe
80
no not yet
It's a dream! Isn't it a dream Mama?
81
I'll do it Auntie
You don't know how to fix coffee
82
Yes I do. I make it in the dorm all the time
I can imagine what that must taste like. I'll do it Uncle Adolph.
83
Ballyhoo. We made a deal remember?
The dang coffee pot boiled over so it's going to be awhile.
84
It's ok. I really oughta go home and get some sleep.
You two made a deal.
85
I love it!
Well!
86
What
he just barged in here in the middle of the night and made me go to all that trouble in the kitchen for nothing.
87
The coffee and cake was Uncle Adolph's idea
Anybody brought up right would have known not to accept
88
I offered to fix it
that's not the point
89
oh what is the point
he's a very aggressive person
90
Fine. Whatever you say
And I certainly wouldn't be seen at Ballyhoo with him
91
Luckily that's a decision you won't have to make. Lala why do you care so much about ballyhoo
you care just as much as I do
92
I do not. I think Ballyhoo is a joke
then why are you going
93
you want me to stay home?
Yes. You say you don't care about it. Stay home
94
I will
good
95
fine. No I want to go
I knew it! Hypocrite
96
You are the biggest wet blanket in the world No wonder nobody wants to take you to ballyhoo
yes somebody does
97
oh really
yes really and he happens to be a member of one of the finest families in the south
98
who is he
you'll see - you'll see what happens when you come crawling to Ballyhoo with a pushy New Yorker trying to such up to his boss and I sweep in with someone who belongs there. When I sweep in on the arm of a Louisiana Weil
99
Good to see ya (Peachy)
Well goodness me. They seem to be lettin all kinds of trash into decent people's homes these days
100
hey lala
hey? That's what they feed the horses
101
she always this sassy?
Me? You ought to hear some of the things Peachy comes out with! He's downright terrible!q
101
Don't give it a second thought.
Would you really? I mean, die?
102
What do you think?
Why did you say that?
103
Just came out of my mouth. I know. I'm terrible.
You really are
104
My sophomore roommate really did
did what
105
have a nut allergy. and somebody put peanut butter in a chocolate cake and didn't tell him
what happened?
106
he died right at the dinner table
oh no! really?
107
what do you think?
go home. Go home right this minute
108
i can't
why
109
I have to tell you something. That's why I came over
Tell me what?
110
I can't take you to Ballyhoo tomorrow night
what?
111
I can't take you to Ballyhoo
Why
112
i have to take somebody else
who
113
my cousin Sally Myers - from Columbus
oh. Are you making this up peachy
114
I wish I was. I feel terrible. But there's nothing I can do. They're forcing me
Forcing you?
115
Dad, Uncle Ike, all of them. Sally doesn't know anybody in Atlanta and she's dying to go
can't somebody else take her?
116
there aren't any other single men in my family. Mother said she was sure you'd understand
did she?
117
I guess it won't be so bad. Sally's a nifty little dancer
good
118
You do understand, don't you?
I guess.
119
Good girl. You all right?
Of course, I'm fine
120
Listen I hate to do this, but I have to ask you something, ok? I don't know anybody else to ask
all right
121
should I buy her a white orchid or a purple orchid
what color is her dress
122
how should i know
then I guess white
123
white thanks
unless she's wearing black, then purple
124
oh I'm pretty sure she won't be wearing black
WHy
125
she's nine years old
what
126
i swear my cousin Sally is nine years old
Your family is making you take a nine year old to Ballyhoo
127
What do you think?
I - I
128
HA HA
You're terrible
129
Be ready at nine tomorrow night
nine
130
because I'll be here at ten. What color are you wearing?
not black
131
then I'll be sure to get purple
you're terrible
132
Sylvan I was wondering if I could offer you a piece of - Well where is he
He's gone
133
oh no what happened
nothing. It's all right. He's taking me to Ballyhoo
134
Prepare yourself bud
enter
135
Why sylvan, you are a devil
I told you Mama
136
I picked you a poesy
oh oh look two two white orchids
137
have fun y'all
See you there
138
I forgot Dorothy says hey
Dorothy who?
139
From Louisville, lovely people
I can't place her. What was her name before
140
Beats me. Says she was in your dorm at Michigan
Dorothy Wolf? Dotty Wolf from Shaker Heights?
141
She's fine. She'll be right out. Go on. GO on now
I'm not going
142
Of course you are
You don't understand Mama! Dotty Wolf rushed sigma delta tau with me and she got in
143
that was years ago, maybe she's forgotten about it
no she hasn't
144
how do you know that
I know Dotty. Mama I won't go to Ballyhoo and have people laugh at me
145
If they're going to laugh at you, they'll do it whether you go or not. Now you get yourself up and go on out to that car
I can't
146
You have to
no
147
Well I guess you're right. Dotty Wolf probably does remember and she probably will tell. And everybody you know will be saying "Lala Levy didn't get into Sigma Delta Tau at Michigan. What an awful pill she is
Mama
148
Act 2 Scene 5
Come on
149
Not a chance
and you behave yourself
150
Why whatever can you mean
Patsy Wait! You won't believe what just happened
151
Thanks for nothing
Mama mama
152
Lala what is it
mama oh mama
153
Lala what happened? Was it that Wolf girl from Michigan
No Dotty didn't say a word
154
THen what is it
Peachy asked me to marry him
155
Thank the Lord Oh sugar Are you sure?
What do you mean am I sure of course I'm sure. She doesn't believe me.
156
We've been talking about it since Thanksgiving
We have?
157
And Daddy said well at least we know what we're getting here, all the way back on both sides, and Mother said you can have her if you want I guess. She was ready to get Grandma Zacharias's engagement ring from the safety deposit box for me to bring to Atlanta, but I said let's wait awhile just in case somebody better turns up at Ballyhoo
Isn't he awful
158
he certainly is
tell him peachy
159
what
this is the best part
160
Who do I say SHabbat SHalom after
Peachy
