Little Women - Jo Act 2

Marmee: ...he'll understand. Get some fresh air. Don't think about it--just go.

All right.

Marmee: What's happened?

Amy! She was following us and fell through the ice and Laurie pulled her out and--

Hannah: Go on to your dear husband. I'll be mother.

And I shall be--man of the house!

Laurie: Not a word.

And you won't tease me in private?

Laurie: I thought you'd be pleased.

At the thought of someone coming to take Meg away?

Amy: A prince and princess, elves, and what else?

Beth, Meg, have either of you taken my little book? My fairy tale book that I just finished?

Laurie: It was brilliant, wasn't it?

Brilliant!

Marmee: ...I've had a hard time of it, Jo, and shed bitter tears over my failures.

But you have some secret.

Meg: Laurie's coming to the door.

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

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

Don't follow me in unless you want to take the blame.

Laurie: What? Where are you going?

Don't follow me. I have to go alone. Have you never heard of self-sufficiency?

Scene 4 - Brooke: ...but I'm to deliver this telegram - Marmee: Dear God!

Father!?

Meg: I thought you were writing a mystery.

Finished that. At the moment, I prefer soldiers. Battle plans. Armaments. Strategies. Hello, Beth!

Meg: Thanks ever so much, Laurie!

Good-bye!

Meg: He's definitely better.

Good.

Scene 5 - Meg: ...Marmee says Father is sitting up in bed, Jo.

Good.

Amy: ...Won't anyone say "hello, Amy"? - Meg: Of course, dear, but this is so extraordinary.

Hello, Amy.

Laurie: Oh, Jo, how wonderful!

Hush! It won't come to anything. He didn't say when he'd give his answer.

Amy: ...water was cold as Antarctica - Aunt March: Really. Cold as Antarctica!

I believe she's recovered.

Meg: Laurie's come to take you skating, Jo.

I can't see him. Tell him what happened and that I can't see anyone.

Laurie: You can't tell--you promised!

I didn't promise.

Aunt March: ...No, I thought not. Nothing set aside for a rainy day.

I have to--I have to go and--get something. Don't let Marmee depart until I'm back.

Meg: The costumes!

I liked the explosion and the fire effect!

Meg: Very much so.

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

Laurie: What, don't you like it?

I think it's Horrid! Meg!

Laurie: You'll feel better when someone comes for you.

I'd like to see anyone try!

Amy: Yes. Please forgive me, Jo. I'm very, very sorry.

I'll never forgive you.

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

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

Laurie: Scribbling, are you? Having fun?

I'm on holiday--self-proclaimed. Fun forever and no grubbing--at least 'til tomorrow. By the way, I saw you in town today.

Laurie: I know where Meg's glove is.

In her drawer.

Laurie: ...I'll tell you my secret if you'll tell me yours.

Is it a good one?

Laurie: She held on tight--

Is she really all right?

Laurie: ...Brooke said he'd return it to Meg, but he never has.

Is the glove plain or lace?

Amy: I'd sooner let them cut off my head.

It didn't hurt, Amy. And my head feels very free.

Amy: ...I was angry and I flung it in, and then it was too late--it just--it burnt up.

It doesn't matter if she's sorry!

Laurie: Lace.

It's not Meg's glove, it's mine--and it's spoiled--it's got a big splotch of lemonade--

Meg: And then some little elves, all in green...

It's not the drawers, not my hairbrush. nothings wrong with my clothes. You didn't go up to the garret did you Amy?

Scene 3 - Hannah: Is that out Beth? - Amy: Did you see that?

Knock me over with a feather!

Marmee: ...In fact, she wants out of bed already.

Laurie did it all. I skated far ahead though I knew she was behind us and if she did die, it would be my fault! It's my dreadful temper!

Beth: Father! - Meg: What shall we do?

Let me see. How shall we afford it?

Laurie: Are you sick, Beth? - Beth: No.

Maybe you do have a bit of a fever.

Scene 2 - Lights up

Mother! Mother! Meg!

Laurie: ..I've got to see the reaction. Amy, at least, is sure to faint.

No one's going to care, once they get used to it.

Laurie: ...he's got it in his pocket, everywhere he goes. Isn't it romantic?

No!

Laurie: ...We'll see it in print and won't we be proud of our author!

Now, what's your secret?

Amy: We will, we will!

Oh, Meg. Is it my only beauty?

Beth: ...And, well--I feel quite--not quite right.

Oh, don't you, dear? Let me look at you. I don't believe you have a fever.

Marmee: Father is very sick at the front. I must go to him at once.

Oh, no!

Beth: ...Laurie, have you had scarlet fever? - Laurie: Yes, I have.

Oh, no--is that it, Bethy? Scarlet fever?

Marmee: Oh, my dear Jo! I hope you won't regret this.

Regret it? No, never. I was wild to do something for Father.

Laurie: Good! See you in a bit, Jo? Skating?

Right!

Laurie: ...send letters through our post office-- Amy: Good-bye, Beth! - Beth: Good-bye, Amy.

Scarlet fever, Beth?

Laurie: And I saw you. What were you up to?

Secret.

Laurie: She'll be fine, I think. Let's get her straight to bed.

She fell through the ice.

Amy: You don't own the house. Other people live here.

She wouldn't dare!

Amy: Don't carry me, I can stand. I'm sorry Jo, I wanted to tell you--

Shh, Amy. I'm sorry, too.

Marmee: ...Have you done something rash? What's happened to your hair?

Sold it, for twenty-five dollars! You'll need medicines and food and blankets and who knows? You'll have expenses.

Laurie: What? Is she back at her scribbling? Good!

Sshh! Beth's not feeling well.

Beth: What is it? What's the matter, Jo?

Sshh. Laurie, keep your secrets to yourself! How do you feel, Bethy?

Laurie: I'm still so happy for you! I simply can't wait to read all your stories!

Ssshhh! Now, your secret. Play fair, Teddy, or you'l never get anything out of me again.

Laurie: Oh, isn't it! All about people you know, and such fun.

Tell!

Amy: No, I don't.

That's a lie!

Meg: That's all.

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

Meg: Well, you have... nice hands. Lovely eyes.

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

Amy: You cut off your hair? You sold your hair?

To the wigmaker down the street. They cut it. Snip, snip, and it was gone. You aren't angry with me?

Beth: Don' tell her I'm sick.

We won't. You're just tired.

Marmee: Thank you, dear Jo, for your sacrifice. Girls? You'll be well? You'll be good to each other?

We'll be gilded angels.

Meg: ...John Brooke for his constant assistance." John Brooke...

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

Meg: Why, Beth!

Well, my word! Just look!

Laurie: ...be so stuffy as to preach against billiards.

Well--I don't like to see you wasting your cleverness on something as empty as billiards.

Laurie: Thank you! Tell me your secret.

Well... You know the mystery story I just finished? I left it with the editor of the paper.

Scene 1 - Beth: I must find a way to thank him.

What a treat! Teddy, you're a trump!

Meg: ...No.

What else do I have?

Hannah: I've got your medicine, dear.

What is it, everyone?

Marmee: ...Well, perhaps one, but it's a mystery.

What?

Amy: It's there.

What? Have you really burnt it? 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!

Laurie: Oh, I wouldn't say that.

Who's asking anyone? Marmee, we have to get you to the train.

Meg: Don't you think he's kind?

Who?

Amy: I don't know where it is, because it isn't anywhere.

Why not?

Meg: Mr. Brooke.

Why shouldn't he be kind?

Meg: I'm going to write mother. Any messages?

Won't you take a vacation, Meg?

Marmee: Oh, do I?

Yes, you do.

Laurie: I never tease.

Yes, you do. You get everything you want out of people.

Meg: He's done so much for us.

Yes. And?

Marmee: ...I am angry nearly every day of my life.

You are, aren't you. You really are. When you fold your lips tight together--

Beth: Oh, no. She'll be straight home from the doctor's.

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.

Marmee: ...I'll tell you what I understand--I understand you, my darling.

You do, don't you.

Marmee: I know, dear, I know.

You don't know. You can't guess how bad it is. I'm afraid I'll do something horrible someday and spoil my life and everyone will shun me.

Amy: I don't know where it is. Anymore.

You know something about it!

Amy: No, I haven't

You know where it is, then?

Marmee: ...And when I contemplate that, it makes it easier to forgive.

You mean grace.

Marmee: ...and I find I must allow them. But often I don't understand.

You understand one thing. That it's better not to explode.

Laurie: I've got a secret, myself.

You weren't playing billiards, were you?

Laurie: You first.

You won't repeat it to anyone.

Meg: ...You've swept that floor twice today already.

You're right.

Amy: ...You think you know everything. You think you run the world.

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

Meg: ...After the prince and princess, the lights come up on a huge mountain--

You've got it, haven't you?

Meg: ...called The Hall of the Mountain King - Amy: We know what it was called.

You've one something Amy. I can see it in your face.

Marmee: ...temper is the worst in the world, but mine used to be just like it.

Yours, Mother? Why, you are never angry.