The Miracle Worker: Act 2
Is it?
Does he now
We rode her out in the country for two hours.
Does she know where she is
Folded her napkin. My Helen, folded her napkin.
Don't be long Miss Annie, Dinner will be write away
Captain
Don't, Don't
But after a child hears so many words, Miss Annie, a million.
H0, there's nothing impaired in that head, it works like a mouse-trap.
Oh my dear
where they kept the bodies til they could dig
Viney! I'm afraid what Captain Keller said is only too true. She'll persist in this until she gets her own way.
I have a plate, thankyou
The Captain says it's like spelling to the fence post.
I like to hear myself talk
Miss Annie, before you came we spoke of putting her in an ayslum
I might as well..
She folded her napkin. She learns, she learns, did you know she began talking when she was sixth months old? She could say water. Not really, "wah, wah". Wahwah, but she meant water. She new what is meant and only sixth months old. I never saw a child so bright or outgoing. It's still in her, somewhere, isn't it? You should have seen her before her illness, such a good tempered child.
I think everybody else here does
Perhaps you do
I treat him as hard as this girl does Helen.
I can't
I want you to give her a notice
But does that mean that to her.
I was just making conversation. Saying it was a sewing card.
Is that all
If she doesn't know, Well?
What do you wish me to do
If you see any point or purpose to her staying on here longer, it's more than..
Miss Annie, I, please be good to her. These two weeks, please be good to her.
In two weeks
Captain
Katie
No
Katie, I will not have it. Now you did not see when that girl after supper tonight went to look for Helen
Captain, I am proud of you
Katie, don't mind what he...
Miss Annie, please, I don't think it serves us to lose our
Katie, for the love of heaven will you
Yet you keep spelling to her, why?
No she doesn't know what she's spelling till she knows what a word it.
Miss Annie
No, I have no conditions, Captain Keller
For what?
No, I mean day and night. She has to depend on me.
Mildred
No, it's how I watch you talk to Mildred.
What, Miss Annie
There isn't
For how long
Til she learns to depend on and listen to me.
Please? Like a lost lamb in the parable, I love her all the more
Us!
What are you saying to her
Very good girl
Miss Annie, I am not agreed. I think you underestimate Helen.
Well if we all agree it's hopeless, the next question is what
Well it's more than you did, Captain
What in heavens name is so extraordinary about folding a napkin
And then will she learn?
What she has to learn first is that things have names.
Miss Annie, you see, she's accustomed to helping herself from our plates to anything she likes.
What's the matter there
Not ineffectual. Helen did fold her napkin
What?
Where would you take Helen
Yes
I, Captain
You can inform her so from me
This child never gives me a minutes worry.
You give me her, Miss Katie, I'll sneak her back in her crib
What did she spell
(Helen spells to Annie)
Do you like the child? How empty the house is tonight.
But he has to learn some respect.
You could have a servant here
Do you
That's her sign for me.
For all she knows, she could be in another town
I visited there. I can't tell you what I saw, people like animals with rats in the halls and.. What else are we to do if you give up.
For mental defectives
For letting this girl have what she needs.
For what?
She folded her napkin, Captain
From the moment she stepped off the train she's been nothing but a burden, incompetent, impertinent, ineffectual, immodest..
You said it was hopeless
Give up?
Hm
I came for money
I'll tell Captain you called
I can't wait out here a minute longer Katie, why this could go on all afternoon.
You run along Martha
I didn't get them breakfast dishes outa there yet
Other children are not, impaired
I'm letting Helen hear it
To his face? Or will you take it, Jimmie? As a flag?
I've been saying it for years
I should like to learn those letters Miss Annie
Maybe after a million and one words
Indeed I did, we truly want to
Mrs. Keller you promised me help
Give her something Jimmie, to quiet her
No of course not Viney
I don't know
Now, how does Miss Sullivan to teach a deaf-blind pupil who won't let her even touch her.
What happened
Oh yes, that ones an angel. There's no question about that.
Folded, her napkin
She folded her napkin
Miss Annie, put with it and with us
She's changed
It's her bedtime, I'm sorry Miss Annie
That makes only half a million each.
Captain
That's all
Well, we catch our flies with honey, I'm afraid. We haven't the heart for much else and so many times she simply cannot be compelled.
Why does she get a reward? For stabbing me
Where will you be Captain, while I'm making it quite..
Will you make that quite clear
Miss Annie, you don't know the child well enough yet, she'll keep-
Will you please let go of her hands
But if she runs from you, to us
You won't use your chances and you won't let me.