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.