Little women Act 2

(A spring afternoon, teatime. JO sweeps the dining room floor while MEG reads a letter aloud to her.)

MEG. " And this afternoon, he sat up in bed." Marmee says Father is sitting up in bed, Jo.

JO. You're right.

MEG. "-- and I miss you all, but thank God, and John Brooke for his constant assistance." John Brooke...

JO. What do you mean? I've done nothing.

MEG. (Crumples up letter and throws it at JO:) You wrote this and Laurie helped you. How could you be so rude and mean!

JO. We've been gilded angels for more than a month! I've scrubbed, dusted, swept, darned a millions socks and I need a change.

MEG. (Dreamily:) Don't you think he's kind?

BETH. Oh, yes. LAURIE. And when are you going to play for him again? JO. Not today...

MEG. (Shrieks:) Jo!

BETH. Hello, Jo. JO. Oh, I didn't mean to wake up. Feeling any better? She's awake, Meg. (LAURIE appears at the post office. MEG comes into the parlor.)

MEG. (To JO:) Any better? (JO shakes her head.)

BETH. Don't tell her I'm sick. JO. We won't. You're just tired. (JO and BETH exit. LAURIE enters, unnoticed by MEG.)

MEG. (To herself:) Then, afterwards, I may write to Mr. Brooke.

JO. Oh, Meg. Is it my only beauty?

MEG. ...No.

JO. What? Have you really burnt it? (AMY nods.)(Shakes her:) You wicked, wicked little girl! I finished that little book and I can never write it again. And I'll never, never forgive you as long as I live! (JO boxes AMY's ears. MEG and BETH rush to them and separate them.)

MEG. Amy, how could you!

BETH. Yes?

MEG. And then some little elves, all in green...

LAURIE. Yes, I have. JO. Oh, no— Is that it, Bethy? Scarlet fever?

MEG. Aunt March will take Amy.

JO. I'm off to run a war, Beth- if you'd like a visit, I'm in the garret. (BETH sneezes)

MEG. Bless you!

JO. Won't you take a vacation, Meg?

MEG. But it's what I most want to do.

LAURIE. At your service!

MEG. Don't eavesdrop!

BETH. Just listen!

MEG. Go on, Beth!

AUNT MARCH. Margaret? BROOKE. (Corrects himself:) Miss March.

MEG. Good evening, Mr. Brooke.

LAURIE. Are you sick, Beth? BETH. (Gets up. Sits down again.) No. JO. (Feels BETH's forehead:) Maybe you do have a bit of a fever. (HANNAH enters.)

MEG. Hannah?

JO. From Mr. Brooke? (Reads:) "My dearest Margaret, I can no longer restrain my passion and must know my fate before I return. Your parents would consent if they knew we adored one another." LAURIE. Now I'll catch it! Wait and see, Beth. JO. Adored one another? How dare he speak this way!

MEG. He never did, as you well know, But it gets worse. I answered him.

JO. Good.

MEG. He's definitely better.

JO. Why shouldn't he be kind?

MEG. He's done so much for us.

BETH. I- Jo- the Hummels' baby has been sick so Hannah and I took them some porridge. And, well- I feel quite- not quite right. JO. Oh, don't you, dear? Let me look at you. (Places her hand on BETH's forehead.) I don't believe you have a fever.

MEG. Here's a cup of tea. (Pours.) Where's Hannah?

JO. Of course I forgive him. I always do.

MEG. How lovely. Do you think Beth can hear it while she sleeps?

MARMEE. I came the instant I got your telegram. Do you think she's any better, Meg.

MEG. I can't say... Listen to them play. They've been playing all night.

JO. What did you say? You didn't promise anything.

MEG. I said I was too young! What else would you expect me to say! But he didn't know what I was talking about because he never wrote me at all! Look: "Dear Margaret, I never sent you any love letter at all. Someone is playing pranks on you- your sister Jo, perhaps-"

JO. I need a change, I really do. I'm going to the garret to work on my war story.

MEG. I thought you were writing a mystery.

JO. Yes, yes, and he'll come again tomorrow morning. He didn't say much. I thought he'd be pleased that Beth is so peaceful.

MEG. I wish Marmee were with us.

AMY. Don't talk about me like I'm not in the room. Meg-

MEG. I won't comfort you, Amy.

JO. Well, don't you recognize it? LAURIE. (Aside to BETH:) It's mine. I did it! (JO marches into the parlor. MEG follows) Sssh. (Indicates BETH:) Don't worry, Meg, it's not as bad as you think- it's only a prank. JO. Theodore Laurence-

MEG. I'd just like you both to tell me how I'll ever look Mr. Brooke in the face again.

BETH. Oh, no. She'll be straight back home from the doctor's. JO. You do seem a little off, Bethy. Would you like to curl up in my garret bed? I'd love to have you. I can scribble and you can drink tea. BETH. Yes! (JO and BETH ascend stairs.)

MEG. I'm going to write Mother. Any messages?

LAURIE. A-hah. JO. Laurie?

MEG. It's all a mistake! Oh, no! Oh, I'll die of shame. He never sent me any letter. Jo, come here to me this minute!

JO. They always say that, don't they, when a girl's a little homely. Nice hands, nice eyes.

MEG. Jo! You have fine, strong features. And you have... your mind!

LAURIE. Better go answer her. (JO goes to MEG.) The jigs up- we're in for a laugh now. BETH. What did you do? LAURIE. (Strokes BETH's hair:) Sssh. JO. What's wrong, Meg?

MEG. Jo, how could you?

LAURIE. Do you mean Mr. John Brooke, my tutor? Is he the one you're writing to?

MEG. Laurie!

JO. Don't ask me to forgive her. She doesn't deserve it.

MEG. Laurie's come to take you skating, Jo.

JO. I'll never forgive you. AMY. I see.

MEG. Laurie's coming to the door.

MARMEE. At a time like this?

MEG. Laurie's with her, he'll fetch her back.

JO. So do I, but we can't worry her while she's nursing Father. (Music: Piano duet.)

MEG. Listen, Jo. Laurie's joined his grandfather playing. He's trying to beg your pardon.

JO. I hope she can. Scene 7: Valley of Shadow (Late night, MARMEE and MEG in their nightgowns at BETH's bedside. MARMEE sits in a rocking chair. MEG tends BETH.) (Music: Piano duet from far off.)

MEG. Marmee, I'm so glad you're home.

BETH. Oh, Marmee!

MEG. Marmee, Jo and I went off to the theater just as Laurie invited us, you know. And Amy wanted to go, too. We couldn't let her, but Jo was sharp about it - and so Amy has gone and -

BROOKE. Excuse the intrusion-

MEG. Mr. Brooke!

JO. Who?

MEG. Mr. Brooke.

JO. (Enters:) Beth, Meg, have either of you taken my little book? My fairy-tale book that I just finished?

MEG. No, Jo. (To BETH and AMY:) After the prince and princess, the lights come up on a huge mountain-

AMY. Hello, Amy. Hello, Amy. Hello, Amy! Won't anyone say "hello, Amy"?

MEG. Of course, dear, but this is so extraordinary.

MARMEE. You'd think they'd be tired. She seems a bit more peaceful.

MEG. Oh, Marmee- I was so glad when I knew you were coming. I missed you so, I felt sure she'd improve if you simply stepped in the door.

JO. You did?

MEG. Oh, it was a pleasant diversion. Like reading a story.

HANNAH. Why, it's for Beth. Hasn't she told you? She's been exposed to scarlet fever.

MEG. Oh, no! Oh, my heavens!

BETH. Hannah... well, Hannah went back with the doctor to his office.

MEG. Oh? Is Hannah sick?

JO. My glove! I'm warning you, Laurie- don't say another word. LAURIE. No, best not. I believe I'll just slink home. (LAURIE exits. JO and MEG go in to BETH.) JO. I am sorry, Meg, though I had nothing to do with it.

MEG. Serves me right for being easy to fool. I thought those letters were real.

BETH. Amy, you've outdone yourself. MARMEE. Girls? Where's Jo?

MEG. She's rushed out somewhere.

HANNAH. Have you put Beth to bed? Here's the medicine the doctor gave me.

MEG. She's upstairs with Jo in the garret. Who's the medicine for, Hannah? Are you ill?

JO. (To BETH:) Would you like me to read to you? BETH. I wish I could see Amy.

MEG. So do I, but if she comes to the house, it'll be too tempting and she'll have to come in. So we'll have to be content with letters.

JO. (Takes note from MEG:) Let me see the handwriting. Look it matches.

MEG. So?

MARMEE. Yes, dear Mr. Laurence, send Mr. Brooke with me, and you stay here. I'll feel so much safer knowing you're just across the way to keep an eye on my girls. OLD MR. LAURENCE. So be it.

MEG. Thank you, Mr. Brooke.

(LAURIE enters with mail.) LAURIE. Letters! One for you and one for you and one for me and- (To MEG:) -three for you.

MEG. Thank you. (MEG goes to the dining room with her letters.)

JO. Right!

MEG. Thanks ever so much, Laurie! Goodbye

JO. Yes. And?

MEG. That's all.

AMY. (Uncertain:) You know how mean she was!

MEG. That's no excuse! She can be sorry for being mean, but you can't bring her book back.

JO. Brilliant!

MEG. The costumes!

JO. Good.

MEG. The danger's almost past, she says. Stop sweeping that floor and have a cup of tea, Jo. You've swept that floor twice today already.

JO. The chores really are all done, aren't they?

MEG. Very much so.

JO. You've dumped my drawers out, haven't you?

MEG. Well, first the prince and princess come on in satin robes.

BETH. I'll play again in a little while. I can't bear to go on just now. I'm still getting used to the idea. Won't you tell us about the theater? We're dying to know!

MEG. Well, it was called The Hall of the Mountain King

JO. What else do I have?

MEG. Well, you have... nice hands. Lovely eyes.

LAURIE. (Seriously:) I would never trifle with your affections. JO. Cupid! LAURIE. I didn't make the entire thing up. There is the glove.

MEG. What glove?

JO. Regret it? No, never. I was wild to do something for Father. BETH. You feel like a Labrador puppy.

MEG. What heroism!

MARMEE. (Opens the telegram, reads.) Father is very sick at the front. I must go to him at once. JO. Oh, no! BETH. Father!

MEG. What shall we do?

MARMEE. I hoped so, too, Meg. I'd like us to think my love was that powerful. I wish your father were with us. He wanted so much to come home with me.

MEG. When will he be well enough to travel?

JO. I liked the explosion and the fire effect!

MEG. Why, Beth!

LAURIE. Well, then, pardon me. When you finish your letters, you can leave them on the table. I'll take them to town when I go.

MEG. Why, thank you.

(AMY enters from school.) HANNAH. You've had it, haven't you Meg?

MEG. Yes, a mild case, and so has Jo. But not Amy- oh, here's Amy. Amy you won't like this- but we have to get you out of the house- (JO and LAURIE descend from the garret with BETH.) Jo, keep Beth there a moment. We just want to get Amy out of the house.

LAURIE. Meg, I wrote both letters myself. And I intercepted your answer. Jo didn't hear a whisper. And Brooke doesn't know a thing about it.

MEG. Yes, but now you'll go and tell him and have the best laugh yet.

JO. Pleasant?!

MEG. Yes, compared to sickness and being lonesome for Mother. (Feels BETH's forehead.) Did the doctor see Beth today?

LAURIE. Weren't you talking to me?

MEG. You know I wasn't!

JO. I finished that. At the moment, I prefer soldiers. Battle plans. Armaments. Strategies. (BETH enters from outdoors.) Hello, Beth!

MEG. You look tired, Bethy. Where've you been all afternoon?

AMY. Oh, no! Please don't send me away. BETH. Oh, Amy, I'm sorry. She is pernickety. But you manage her very well. AMY. ...Yes, I understand her.

MEG. You must go right now, Amy.

BETH. You won't be here and you are always here and we- I will miss you.

MEG. You mustn't give us a thought, Marmee. We'll carry on.

LAURIE. Not at all. Where's Jo?

MEG. in the garret for a change.