Little Women Marmee Lines

My lines: Marmee

SCENE 2: “JO. No, leave that to me! She’s home! She’s home!” (*ENTER) meg: Let me take your cloak!

Glad to find you so merry, my girls!

JO: “sit here.”

It’s not my birthday…

Beth: you'll see! (I hold up letter)

I’ve got a treat for you!

Girls: “A letter!”  Jo: “3 cheers for father” 

“A nice long one. He sends all sorts of loving wishes for Christmas and a special message to you. I'll read that part to you. Here it is ... "Give them all my dear love ...” (mime rest of letter)

FATHER: when I come back to them I may fonder and prouder….

I may be fonder and prouder than ever of my little women. …Now where are my slippers?

Jo: just you wait.

“Wheres Amy?”

Amy: Here I am, Merry christmas marmee.

“Merry Christmas!”

Jo: Now! (presents box) 

Oh! what's all this?

Jo: open this first. You need them.

(SIT DOWN) Slippers! New Slipper!

Jo: First rate army issue!

“Jo, dear, thank you! And from meg?”

Meg: (presents box) Gloves!!

“Lovely! Children how did you manage this? Did you by any chance –”

BETH. (Presents package:) “You know what we did!” ( I open gift)[

You each spent your Christmas dollar on a present for me? From Beth...handkerchiefs!

BETH. I hemmed them myself, but the stitching’s crooked.

“But done with your own two hands. (Dries her eyes.) And from Amy”

AMY: It’s the prettiest one of all –

JO. Oh, really?

“Now, Amy-”

HANNAH: Pudding pudding (offstage)

“We’re coming, Hannah! Thank you, Amy. You’ve been so very generous, all of you. Shall we go to supper”

HANNAH: And we have applesauce, and hot tea, and cream.

“Before we sit down, girls, there’s something weighing on my mind that I must tell you. You know the Hummel family – Mrs. Hummel and her five children, just ‘round the corner? Well, I stopped in to see them on my way home, only to find all six of them and the newborn baby huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire. There doesn’t seem to be any food there, either –”

HANNAH. Oh, Mother March – on Christmas Eve –”

“I know, Hannah – but they have nothing.”

JO. Can you manage it, Beth? 

“I’ll help you.”

JO: “O. Capital, Marmee! Because, you see, if you and little girls take supper to the Hummels, that will leave me and Meg to set up for the play. “

"The play? What play?”

JO. We’re putting on a Christmas play for you, Marmee! 

“And what might the play be about?”

MEG. And we can have biscuits and more tea after the play.

Might there be a hero in the play? Might there be a villain in red boots?

JO: its a new play marmee (EXIT)

SCENE 3: (lights up sitting in chairs waiting for play to start)

“Look- we have box seats”

HANNAH: Isn’t Amy pretty?    (girls backstage)

(loudly) “And Jo is so good in both parts, you hardly know shes the same person.”

HANNAH: Its just a masterpiece! A masterpiece!

JO: You cant. just say your lines. 

“Isn’t it though” 

Hannah: Someones coming to the door.

"(rising/getting up) Who could that be?

Hannah: Sshh, Mother let me go.

“Thank you Hannah" (Sits back down)

JO. What's the matter out there in the audience?

“Sorry, Jo. Please proceed.”

SCENE 4- XMAS PARTY:

Jo: (turns to audience & newcomers)My word! look who's here. (Bows) The end!

“Mr. Laurence, our old friend!” (towards the men)

OLD MR. LAURENCE; ….. Mrs. March, so I wonder if you might permit us to share. (boys come in with baskets of dinner)

“Oh, how splendid of you! Children, this is Mr. Laurence, Father's friend, you know, who lives just across the way and Young Mr. Laurence, I believe-…"

AMY. (Takes Laurie’s basket from JO and unpacks:) Look, Jo. Smoked chicken! Look! Real, actual mincemeat!

“Dear Mr. Laurence! How can I thank you?”

OLD MR. LAURENCE. Well, let me see. As it happens, I like music...

“Beth? Listen to this.”

OLD MR. LAURENCE: I certainly do love music, and sometimes I hear someone in this house play when I sit at my window. Whoever is playing, I do so like to hear her.

“She's a bit bashful.”

AUNT MARCH: I heard you had no presents and so I-I-well. I see. (Views supper.) There is, apparently, no special need. You seem to do quite well on your own. I gather you have no need of help from...relations.

“Aunt March, our kind neighbor, Mr. Laurence – “

OLD MR. LAURENCE. (Offers his arm:) Georgetta, you must sing for your supper! Beth?

(BETH plays. All sing.)

Watchman, tell us of the night,

What its signs of promise are.

Traveler, o'er young mountain's height,

See that glory beaming star.

Watchman, doth its beauteous ray,

Either hope or joy confide?

Traveler, yet, it heralds great,

Promised news of Christmastide.

(END SCENE)

SCENE 6- VANITY FAIR: ( I ENTER SITTING IN MY CHAIR KNITTING) AMY enters “ When is meg coming home”

“You asked me that a half hour ago darling. Do you remember what I said?” 

AMY: “She’s not coming home till tonight”

Thats right

AMY: “It seems like forever”

It’s only a weekend.

JO: ….” look everyone! i finished my book of fairytales”

Why, congratulations, Jo!

MEG:” I was only gone for a day and a night amy”

Home early, Meg?

LAURIE: oh, no. i assure you I’m all admiration

Well, how was the party, Meg? (concerned)

MEG: “I’d rather you didn’t tell laurie…”

JO: “I’d imagine i do”

Of course she won’t tell.

JO: “Well just marry him won’t we and match on to our cooking and sewing and adventure will be finished and liberty will be at an end”

Who on earth are you quoting?

JO: “Jo march” (proud looking at me)

I see. Listen Meg, shall i tell you who you are?

MEG: Please do

You are a fine young girl, and the daughter of a family not rich enough nor inclined to follow fashion. But you’ll be your own woman, soon, and of course you need to satisfy your curiosity about the world.

JO: “Does she have to do it in a low-cut gown? christopher columbus!”

Well, perhaps not, but though I can’t approve of low-cut gowns, i don’t see any serious harm done. And as it happens, Jo, i do have plans for my girls…Would you all like to hear them?

Amy: yes!

MEG: please tell

I want my daughters to be…let me see…accomplished, good… to have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married-

JO: Or to be splendid old maids!

That’s right jo. And either way, to be cherished and admired…to be ready for duty and capable of joy. My dear girls, i am ambitious for you but not to have you make a dash in the world merely by marrying rich men. … Girls shall we see about tea? (EXIT DSR)

SCENE 8: BETH: I’m sorry amy. you don’t look right, yourself

(ENTER) Here’s my Beth, Here’s my Amy…the house seems a bit lonely this afternoon, girls. Shall we have our tea early?

BETH: “I ought just to continue here. I’ve almost got it”

Well in that case, i’ll go into the village on errands.

BETH: “on second thought marmee may i come with you?”

Of course.

AMY: “No, thank you.”

Goodbye, Amy.

ACT II SCENE 1: BETH: “So bright out.”

Yes, Nothing like some bright sun and fresh air. Amy! We’re home! Beth what is it?

BETH: “Marmee! The piano!”

Well, my word

BETH: “Was it brought by fairies? do you think it’s real?”

Why don’t you go and find out?

BETH: “I’m afraid it might vanish”

There’s a note here, Betty. It’s to you.

BETH: “will you open it?”

Well, glory be! It’s yours.

BETH: ”Mine? it’s such a lovely thing to look at, i can hardly believe it will play.”

Go ahead, Bethy. Go ahead!

BETH: Oh! for the little muscuaion, from old mr laurence. He’s like a king! But how can i thank him? I can’t run over to him his house is enormous-

Unless I’m very much mistaken, he’s hovering near the window, hoping to hear you play.

LAURIE: Ahah! grandfather I knew he’d been planning this. I must go congratulate him. 

Let me come with you.

SCENE 2: AMY: “im sorry I was angry and I flung it in and then it was too late- it just- burnt up” 

MARMEE ENTER

MEG: “I wont comfort you Amy”

What’s all this?

AMY: “I threw Jo's book into the fire, and I feel like I murdered something and I know I have, but all I can say is that I'm sorry.”

I see. Well, Amy, you cant just cry “I’m sorry” to save yourself blame.

AMY: But I am sorry i’m truly terribly sorry

Then you’ll have to tell her properly, Amy. I think you know what I mean. 

JO: “I can’t see him. Tell him what happened and that I can’t see anyone.”

Go with Laurie, dear. Tell him yourself, he’ll understand. Get some fresh air. Don’t think about it- just go. 

AMY: “I shall go, too.”

Amy, do you really wish to make things worse?

AMY: “No, I want her to see me. I am not invisible. I want to ask her again”

Well, give Laurie a moment to cheer her up, first. 

AMY: “No! I'm going now!”

Amy-

SCENE 6: JO: “ Is she really all right?”

Yes, dear, she is. In fact, she wants out of bed already.

JO: “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! “

I know, dear, I know.

JO: 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.

Jo, dear, listen. You think your temper is the worst in the world, but mine used to be just like it. 

JO: Yours, Mother? Why, you are never angry.

I’ve been trying to cure it for 40 years and have only nearly succeeded in controlling it. I am angry nearly every day of my life.

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

Oh, do I? 

Jo: “Yes you do”

Well, i’ve had a hard time of it Jo, and shed bitter tears over my failures. 

JO: “But you have some secret.”

I don’t think I do. Well, perhaps one, but it’s a mystery.

JO: “What?”

Just that. It’s a mystery- what makes people do as they do: myself, sometimes so bitter and at other times, able to control my temper. And when I contemplate that, it makes it easier to forgive. 

JO: “you mean grace”

Yes! And I mean life itself - its mysterious what makes people do things that annoy, petty things, sometimes terrible things that shouldn’t be allowed and I find I must allow them. But often I don’t understand. 

JO: “You understand one thing. That it's better not to explode.”

Yes! Usually so. Ill tell you what I understand… I understand you, my darling. 

JO: “You do, don’t you.”

Did you notice, by chance, the bit of warmth in the breeze this afternoon? It must be almost spring. Here’s Amy, now.

mid Scene 3 : … AUNT MARCH “Well that was forward. I heard the littlest girl had an accident? fell through the ice?

She’s all right. 

SCENE 4: MR BROOKE: “excuse the intrusion…” MEG: “Mr. Brooke!”

Mr. Brooke! I knew someone was missing, now we are all together! 

MR BROOKE: "I do hate to interrupt the revelry, but I'm to deliver this telegram.” (I take the telegram)

Dear God!

JO: “father!”

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

JO: let me see, how shall we afford it?

Shh, Jo! Be calm, girls, and let me think.

MR BROOKE: “Sir if I may be excused from my duties, let me go instead.”

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.

BETH: Amy, you've outdone yourself.

Girls? Where’s Jo?

MEG: '“She rushed out somewhere.”

At a time like this?

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

Very well. Help me get a few more things, and then we’ll hold a family council. 

JO: “And I shall be- (Unveils her head.) man of the house!”

Oh dear. Have you done something rash? What’s happened to your hair?

JO: “Sold it, for twenty-five dollars! (Hands money to MARMEE.) You'll need medicines and food and blankets and who knows? You'll have expenses.”

Oh, my dear Jo! I hope you wont regret this. 

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

No, dear

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

Thank you, dear Jo, for your sacrifice. Girls? … You’ll be well? You’ll be good to each other?

END OF 7: JO: they lived Beth..(hug) (ENTER BARGING THRU DOOR)

Cricket, Marmee’s here!

BETH: “Marmee!”

Jo, fetch a basin with vinegar water and rags. Meg, my kit. Must draw the fever down from her head. It’s all right. It's all right now. That’s my love. 

SCENE 8: MEG: I missed you so Marmee, I felt sure she'd improve if you simply stepped in the door.

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

JO: Let me, Meg. You rest awhile... I'd do anything, anything to make her well.

So would we all, Jo. But it’s out of our hands. 

SCENE 11: FATHER: “I hear your quiet a fellow…” (I OPEN DOOR)

Girls! There’s someone here to see you. Meg? Amy? Jo?

AUNT MARCH: “Dear brother!” JO: “Yes, we are.”

At long last, all together.

AUNT MARCH: (Aside to MARMEE:) I hear the oldest girl is getting married.

Why, yes, she has accepted this fine young man. 

AUNT MARCH: I don't imagine she has much to wear. I'd like to provide the trousseau. Not to choose any of it or in any way interfere, in fact, I'd like to do it quite privately, between us two. I wouldn't want her to feel beholden.

How really, very kind of you!

FATHER: I don't know. She knows her own mind.

Look at the carolers outside! Come everyone….Shall we sing?