the miracle worker act 2

I don't know

keller- katie, I did not bring you all the way out here to the garden house to be frivolous. now, how does miss sullivan propose to teach a deaf blind pupil who won't even let her touch her?

no

keller- katie, I will not have it! now you did not see when that girl after supper tonight went to look for helen in her room-

give her something Jimmie, to quiet her

keller- no of course not. viney!

where will you be, captain, while I am making it quite-

keller- she's a hireling! now I want it clear, unless there's an apology and complete change of manner she goes back on the next train! will you make that quite clear?

I captian?

keller- this girl this cub of a girl presumes! I tell you, I'm of half a mind to ship her back to Boston before the week is out. you can inform her so from me!

please? like the lost lamb in the parable, I love her all the more

keller- us!

well, it's more than you did captain

keller- what in heaven's name is so extraordinary about folding a napkin?

captain, I am proud of you

keller- what! one thing that girl's secret in not, she doesn't fire one shot and disappear. katie. don't mind what he-

miss annie. you see, she's accustomed to helping herself from our plates to anything she-

keller- what's the matter there?

not ineffectual. helen did fold her napkin

keller- what?

perhaps you do

keller- why can't my son be? he can't bear me, you'd think I treat him as hard as this girl does helen-

miss annie, you don't know the child well enough yet, she'll keep-

keller- will you please let her hands go?

captain

keller- yes I- well, come in

she folded her napkin, captain

keller- from the moment she stepped off the train she's been nothing but a burden, incompetent, impertinent, ineffectual, immodest-

what do you wish me to do?

keller- if you can see any point or purpose to her staying on here longer, its more than-

miss annie, please, I don't think it serves to lose our-

keller- kate, for the love of heaven will you-

folded her naptkin. my helen folded her napkin

viney- don't be long, miss annie. dinner be ready right away

what happened?

viney- oh yes, this one's the angel of the family, no question bout that

you run along, martha

viney- what am I gone do, miss kate? it's noontime, dinner's coming, I didn't get them breakfast dishes out of there yet

this child never gives me a minute's worry

viney- you give me her, miss kate, I'll sneak her back to her crib

you can't think as little of love as you said. or you wouldn't stay

annie- two weeks. for only one miracle? I'll get her to tolerate me

what are you saying to her?

annie- very good girl

miss annie. I am not agreed. I think perhaps you- underestimate helen

annie- well, if we all agree it's hopeless, the next question is what-

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

annie- why does she get a reward? for stabbing me?

where would you take helen?

annie- yes

I'll tell the captain you called

aunt ev- I can't wait out here a minute longer, kate, why this could go on all afternoon, too

for letting this girl have what she needs

keller- for what?

oh my dear-

annie- ...the first year we had eighty. seventy died. the room jimmy and I played in was the deadhouse, where they kept the bodies until they could dig-

indeed I did, we truly want to-

annie- I can't un teach her six years of pity if you can't stand up to one tantrum. old stonewall, indeed. mrs keller, you promised me help

hm?

annie- I didn't come here for love. I came for money!

what did she spell?

annie- I guess no mother's ever minded enough to count

viney! I'm afraid what captain keller says is only too true, she'll persist in this until she gets her own way

annie- I have a plate, thank you

miss annie, I- please be good to her. these two weeks, try to be very good to her-

annie- I know. In two weeks

the captain says it's like spelling to a fence post

annie- I like to hear myself talk

she did fold her napkin. she learns, she learns, do you know she began talking when she was six months old? she could only say water. not really, wahwah, wahwah, but she meant water, she knew what it meant, and only six 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-

annie- I think everybody else here does

we can let percy sleep here, I think, captain?

annie- I'll have enough work without looking after a servant! but that boy percy could sleep here, run errands-

miss annie, before you came we spoke of putting her in an asylum

annie- all of you here are so sorry for her you've kept her- like a pet, why, even a dog you housebreak. no wonder she won't let me come near her. it's useless for me to try to teach her language or anything else here. I might as well-

captain? do you think that walnut bedstead in the barn would be too-

annie- and some old furniture all our own-

other children are not- impaired

annie- any baby. gibberish, rown up gibberish, baby talk gibberish, do they understand one word of it to start? somehow they begin to. if they hear it, I'm letting Helen hear it

is that all?

annie- can't have everything, how would this garden house do? furnish it, bring helen here after a long ride so she won't recognize it, and you can see her everyday. if she doesn't know. well?

you could have a servant here-

annie- do you?

it is?

annie- does he now?

we rode her out in the country for two hours

annie- does she know where she is?

you said it was hopeless

annie- give up?

but after a child hears how many words, miss annie, a million?

annie- ho, there's nothing impaired in that head, it works like a mousetrap

it's her bedtime. I'm sorry miss annie

annie- i'll teach you tomorrow morning. that makes only half a million each

I should like to learn those letters, miss annie

annie- maybe after a million and one words

for what?

annie- no I mean day and night. she has to be dependent on me

yet you keep spelling to her. why?

annie- no no, she won't know what spelling is till she knows what a word is

miss annie.

annie- no, I have no conditions captain keller

mildred

annie- no, it's how I watch you talk to mildred

and when will she learn?

annie- no, it's only a finger game to her, mrs keller. what she has to learn first is that things have names.

but if she runs from you- to us-

annie- not anyone who loves her, you have so many feelings they fall over each other like feet, you won't use your chances and you won't let me

but does that- mean that to her?

annie- oh I was just making conversation. saying it was a sewing card

folded her napkin?

annie- she ate from her own plate. she ate with a spoon. herself. and she folded her napkin

miss annie, put up with it. and with us

annie- she's changed

captain. with your permission

annie- that's all

what, miss annie?

annie- there isn't

for how long?

annie- till she learns to depend on and listen to me

to his face? or will you take it, jimmie? as a flag?

james- I thought what she said was exceptionally intelligent. I've been saying it for years

captain

james- don't- don't-

I can't

keller- I want you to give her notice

do you like the child? how empty the house is, tonight

keller- but he has to learn some respect!

that's her sign for me

keller- 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?

keller- for mental defectives

two weeks? miss annie, can you accomplish anything in two weeks?

keller- for two weeks. I'll give you two weeks in this place and it will be a miracle if you get the child to tolerate you