Marmees Act 1 lines (Updated)

First card is the line prior to Marmees, (discription) [action] *expression*

(S1) (Lighting cue)

“Beth! Beth! Beth!"”

“Don’t laugh! Act like it’s all right! Just keep going! Beth- your line!”

[Marmee applauds] “Brava! Brava! Merry Christmas, girls!”

[the girls shriek and crowd Marmee]

“I’m so glad to see you so happy. Jo, you look tired - were you up again all night writing? Amy, come kiss me! How are my girls?”

“What is it?”

“Not far from here lives a poor young woman, Mrs. Hummel. Her five children are in one bed to keep from freezing, and there is nothing to eat. My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?”

“Is this where you say that Father would want us to?”

“Yes.”

(S2) “What are they doing?”

“I’m back! we brought food and blankets and sweaters. And we brought some medicine. These are my girls!”

“We’ve brought you Christmas breakfast Mrs. Hummel.”

“Amy, bring the poor girl a blanket.”

“But i thought he was a mean old man!”

“That’s so generous of him.”

“Jenny Snow says that Mr. Laurence disowned his son after he went off with an Italian woman, and now his grandson is an orphan and he spends all of his time in that house locked up with his tutor.”

“He is a very kind man who lost his little girl when she was only a child, and now his son as well.”

“But doesn’t Laurie just seem so romantic? He’s half Italian”

“I am not responsible for this feast, but i have got a surprise.”

“When will he come home?”

“He will stay and do his work faithflly as long as he can, and we won’t ask for him back a minte sooner than he can be spared.” [reading] “Give them all my dear love and a kiss. Tell them i think of them by day, pray for them by night and find my best comfort in their affection at all times. War is a terrible thing but knowing my girls are safe brings me happiness that i could scarcely live without. Be strong my loves.”

(S6) [Jo and meg enter]

“Goodness gracious, what have you done!”

“There was an incident.”

“Oh Meg - You’ll kill yourself for fashion one of these days. Girls! Bring some ice. Come in come in! Apologies for the chaos: I enjoy baking in the middle of the night! Don’t mind the clutter, Mr. Laurence, we don’t.”

“Laurie, please.”

“You must be part of the girls’ theatricals!”

“Hello”

“They could se an extra player, although you’ll have to fight Jo for the male roles or play a girl. Here, have a scone. Laurie, how are your ankles? Do you need some ice?”

“No, thank you, ma’am.”

“Oh, just call me Mother, or Marmee. Everyone does.”

(s7) “I’m not scared of anyone! He looks stern, but my grandfather was much mroe handsom.”

“Jo! We do not compare grandfathers!

“There. That should set the wound to right.”

“You are not to attend that school any more.”

“Good, that man has to always been an idiot.”

“Jo will teach you.”

“I wish all the girls would leave his horrible school and that he would die.”

“You did wrong, Amy, and here will be consequences. Thank you so much for taking care of Amy. My girls do have do have a way of getting into mischief.”

“So do i!”

“Then you should run over and we’ll take care of you.”

“I would also be happy to share my knowledge of Latin with any of you.”

[pause] “We must be going. Girls?”

(s9) “I don’t care.”

“What happened?”

“That’s not the point.”

“Amy, make it right.”

“I’m sorry, Jo.”

“Amy…”

“I am the most sorry for it now. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Forgive her. Help each other, and begin again tomorrow.”

(S10) [curtain is closed and marmee enters to sit with Jo]

“Amy’s asleep".”

“If she had died it would’ve been my fault.”

“She will be fine, the doctor said he didn’t even think she’d catch cold.”

“Whar is wrong with me? I’ve made so many resolutions and written sad notes and cried over my sins but it doesn’t seem to help. When i get in a passion i get so savage, I could hurt anyone and enjoy it.”

“You remind me of myself.””

“But you’re never angry.”

“I’m angry nearly every day of my life.””

“You are?”

“I’m not patient by nature, but with nearly forty year of effort I have learned to not let it get the better of me.”

“I’ll do the same , then.”

“I hope you’ll do a great deal better than me. There are some natures too noble to curb, too lofty to bend.”