Teach Me How to Cry - Melinda

Mrs. Grant: Oh, I forgot! We have a visitor!

--Visitor?

Will: Have you? I've only been to one.

After you get used to this town, you might like it more.

Will: Wedding dresses are nice white.

And there was a band playing at her wedding.

Will: Okay. Listen, why won't you dance with me?

Because I don't care about dancing.

Miss Robson: I thought perhaps, dear, you hadn't--really decided--

But I have. I've decided.

Mrs. Grant: I like everything that ever happened.

But I mean really? You wouldn't think about yourself, would you, because you'd be someone else. Either you're--youself--or someone else. That's easy to understand. You have to be somebody!

Mrs. Grant: What does it mean? It's going to rain. You're not to go out in the rain, Melinda! You always go out in the rain! The thing to do when it rains is to close the curtains. Now we can pretend the sun is shining.

But it isn't, it isn'!

Miss Robson: Indeed I don't.

But we decided about the play.

Miss Robson: She's very, very nice, dear.

Did I do anything wrong in school?

Mrs. Grant: We've been having tea together.

Did you sew something nice today, Mother?

Will: No, they're too interesting. He only wrote stuff that was boring. I'm going to be a writer too...my mother's decided. I write poetry. She hates me writing poetry, but she keeps thinking maybe something better will come out of it. It's terrible poetry.

Do you like it here?

Miss Robson: I see!

Dolls don't deserve names.

Miss Robson: Oh. Well....it does seem to have clouded over badly, doesn't it? I suppose--if I don't want to get caught in the rain--

Don't you like rain?

Mrs. Grant: But it's nicer now that we're alone. That's always the best. Now tell me about today, sweetheart.

Everything was fine. The teachers were nice to me, and smiled. And then--after school--I walked home with Polly and the girls. And--we talked, and had a good time.

Mrs. Grant: How was school?

Fine

Mrs. Grant: Then we won't talk about him.

He wasn't paying attention during geometry and Mr. Bremner asked him what he was thinking about. He said, a poem that he was writing. In his head. And then Mr. Bremner said for him to stand up and say it out loud to everybody and get it out of his head so there'd be room for geometry. And so he did. He wasn't afraid or anything. He's terrible.

Polly: Hello, Melinda.

Hello.

Mrs. Grant: It's your teacher, Melinda.

How do you do, Miss Robinson.

Polly: That's nice. Who did you come with?

I came by myself.

Miss Robson: Of course not.

I came straight home--I don't understand--

Mrs. Grant: You could wear the party dress. I made it so carefully for you, and you never did wear it, not even once. Won't you try it on and see how pretty you look?

I couldn't--

Mrs. Grant: You could! I'll help you! I'll get the dress, and help you put it on. You'll see how pretty you look!

I couldn't--please don't--I hate you. I hate you.

Will: Because that's what we do. Do you know how many different places I've lived in? Guess.

I couldn't.

Miss Robson: Melinda--

I didn't know you were coming to see my mother.

Will: Well, I don't like your type of friends!

I don't care whether you do or do not.

Will: Do you want me to go away?

I don't care.

Will: I've noticed you though. You're different from the other girls. Are you going to be in this play they're putting on?

I don't know.

Will: That's a coincidence too. Doesn't he anymore?

I don't know. He went away a long time ago, before I could remember.

Will: That's too bad.

I don't mind. I'm used to it. I wouldn't want a father around. He'd be in the way.

Will: What do you think, Melinda?

I don't see why she should dance with you if she doesn't feel like it.

Will: We're in the same class too.

I know.

Will: Well, if you don't out and out despise me, at least that's something. I'm new here.

I know.

Will: You have a nice park here, though, with cherry blossoms.

I love cherry blossoms.

Mrs. Grant: If you want to make believe, you should be in the play.

I want to be in it!

Mrs. Grant: Close the door, Melinda. You're playing with the doll! Aren't you playing with the doll, Melinda?

I was only showing it to Miss Robson.

Will: Seventeen. A different place for every year of my life.

I'd like that.

Mrs. Grant: Then why don't you be?

I'm afraid.

Mrs. Grant: That looks nice, sweetheart.

I'm going to wear it to the dance. Juliet went to a dance...and she wasn't afraid!

Mrs. Grant: Your teacher said something else. Sweetheart, you're going to be in a play. That will be lovely--

I'm not going to be in it.

Miss Robson: Well, why don't you go with me? And you can wear a party dress if you wants to. I'm sure you have a pretty dress.

I--I have something else I have to do on Friday night. Thank you anyway.

Mrs. Grant: I never had a white dress. I make you white dresses, but I never did have a white dress. I had a blue dress once. There was a band playing.

In the play, I could be Juliet. And I could put her parents on my tree.

Mrs. Grant: She has her best dress on.

It isn't a she. It's only a doll.

Mrs. Grant: You mustn't say that word--ever!

It isn't that I'd hate it--

Mrs. Grant: It would be very nice for you.

It wouldn't! I'd hate it!

Mrs. Grant: Did I show you my sewing? It's a wedding dress for Miss Alison to get married in.

It's nice! Was your wedding dress nice, Mother?

Miss Robson: Melinda, if you will just tell me why you don't want to be in the play, them I'm sure we can have a little talk and straighten it out.

It's on account of my name. I think people would--they'd read the program, and they'd think Juliet shouldn't be played by someone strange called Melinda.

Mrs. Grant: Trees don't have people!

It's only make believe!

Mrs. Grant: No. Because Melinda doesn't --

May I have some tea please, Mother? Would you--would you mind getting me a cup?

Mrs. Grant: Oh, yes.

May I see it? My mother sews--she makes beautiful things. She's very clever.

Will: But she promised.

Maybe she felt like it then.

Mrs. Grant: I brought the dress, Melinda. It's pretty, like a wedding dress. I like to look at it. It looks clean and good.

Mother, were you ever in a play?

Mrs. Grant: Remember to be good.

Mother. What is good? What does it mean?

Mrs. Grant: You always wear those blouses and skirts to school...And I do. A good mother takes care of her children.

Mother. When Miss Robson was here--before I got home--did anything happen?

Will: On account of my father's buisiness. He's a sort of sailsman. My mother calls him a demonstrator, but he's a salesman.

My father used to go around to different towns selling things too.

Mrs. Grant: But, Melinda. You don't--

My mother puts out an extra cup--that's for me.

Mrs. Grant: Melinda, aren't you going to be in the play?

No! You wouldn't want me to! You'd be lonely.

Will: That you hate it.

No, I didn't mean that! I didn't!

Will: Out here on the terrace?

No, I mean in this town.

Miss Robson: Oh, Melinda--you mustn't worry--

No, I'm not worried.

Will: Okay, that makes us even!...People are always surprised at me, but not as surprised as I am. Would--would you care to dance with me?

No, thank you.

Polly: Oh, that's a shame. You haven't seen that awful Will Henderson around, have you?

No.

Will: I'm not. Do you know why? I'm more the writer type. My grandfather was a writer. Did you ever live in reflected glory?

No. I don't think so. Did he write plays?

Mrs. Grant: You've decided to be in it?

No. Is that what you came to talk about?

Will: I liked the town we were in before better.

Oh.

Mrs. Grant: We had tea, and everything was nice.

Please, I want to know.

Mrs. Grant: What do you talk about?

Polly talks about Bruce. Bruce is the nicest boy in the whole school and everybody likes him, but he likes Polly best. Everybody likes her best.

Miss Robson: Has she gone--

She hasn't gone anywhere. Just away. Have you seen my dolls?

Miss Robson: Good. Which doll is that, dear? What's her name?

She hasn't got a name. She's nobody.

Miss Robson: I'm terribly sorry if I've upset your motherm Melinda.

She isn't upset. My mother likes to go out of the room sometimes.

MISS ROBSON. I know she is, dear.

She shows me when I get home. It's always something wonderful, and I'm proud of her. And then we have tea together, every afternoon, just the two of us.

Miss Robson: Now then--I should say goodbye to your mother.

She's in the hall. Mother!

Mrs. Grant: What people?

The ones in our family. Our--relatives. Polly put on her father--that's the doctor. And her mother. And then her grandparents. What's my grandmother's name? I have to know the name--to put on the tree.

Will: Well, that's a coincidence. Because I don't either.

Then why are you so anxious to dance?

Miss Robson: Well, you see, I didn't have a class last period.

Then you've been here for half an hour.

Mrs. Grant: She's your best friend, isn't she? Isn't she, Melinda?

There's a new boy at school. His name is Will, and he's terrible.

Mrs. Grant: Melinda, please!

There's everything else too. A dance--the dance is on Friday. I'd have to go to it.

Will: Is it haunted?

They say it.

Mrs. Grant: Perhaps I was.

Was it--did you like it?

Mrs. Grant: My wedding dress was--Miss Allison's dress is white.

Was your wedding dress white?

Will: They'd look nice in your hair.

We have four churches.

Will: What would he be in the way of?

Well, my mother--my mother and I have very good times together. We talk about things--like her wedding, for instance. When she and my father were married. She tells me about her dress. It was white.

Will: A band? I've never heard of a thing like a band at a wedding.

Well, there was one at hers. Maybe it was the same band that used to play up on the hill. Where the haunted bandstand is.

Will: Go on, just guess.

Well--six.

Mrs. Grant: My wedding dress?

What was it like?

Will: I think you probably meanth what you said in the first place.

What?

Will: Yeah, I know...sometimes I get the feeling that if we'd only stay in one place for a while, I could figure out a few new things.

Why do you move so much?

Will: No, I don't think so. Because by then we'll probably move.

Why will you move?

Will: Who do they say haunts it?

Why, I don't believe they say. It's got a terrible reputation, and nobody respectable goes there.

Mrs. Grant: I had a visitor today...It was about you. I hope you've been a good girl at school, Melinda.

Yes, I have, Mother.

Miss Robson: Now, Melinda! You know what a good time they have at rehearsals. And there's the dance this Friday night, to begin the Fund Raising. Had you thought about going?

Yes, I thought about it.

Will: No you wouldn't.

Yes, I would. I hate living here!--Oh--I didn't mean I hate it. It's really quite a nice friendly town--and the people are friendly. I really like it here quite a lot.

Miss Robson: Ah! Thank you for the lovely tea, Mrs. Grant. And you'll think over what I said, won't you, dear?

Yes, Miss Robson.

Miss Robson: Heavens, no. I wish you'd think about the dance, dear.

Yes, Miss Robson.

Miss Robson: Melinda...It's only a play, after all, and there's no need to take it very seriously one way or the other. Are you listening, Melinda?

Yes, Miss Robson.

Mrs. Grant: I'm so glad you're home, sweetheart. I was waiting for you.

Yes, mother.

Polly: That dress really looks quite nice on you...honestly it does. Are you having a good time?

Yes, thank you.

Mrs. Grant: You must always be a good girl, Melinda. You'll remember that, won't you?

Yes.

Will: Girls like that, they make me sick. I despise that type of girl. Is she a friend of yours?

Yes.

Will: Okay! You're Melinda Grant, aren't you?

Yes.

Mrs. Grant: Somebody! Of course you have to be somebody.

Yes...today in school we did a drawing. A tree...a family tree. Mine had blossoms on it, and pretty colors. Then we put on the people.