The Miracle Worker Read Online Free PDF Page B

bloody, her face disgusted with herself. She addresses the mirror, with some irony.)
    ANNIE: Don’t worry. They’ll find you, you’re not lost. Only out of place.
    (But she coughs, spits something into her palm, and stares at it, outraged.)
    And toothless.
    (She winces.)
    Oo! It hurts.
    (She pours some water into the basin, dips the handkerchief, and presses it to her mouth. Standing there, bent over the basin in pain—with the rest of the set dim and unreal, and the lights upon her taking on the subtle color of the past—she hears again, as do we, the faraway voices, and slowly she lifts her head to them; the boy’s voice is the same, the others are cracked old crones in a nightmare, and perhaps we see their shadows.)
    BOY’S VOICE: It hurts. Annie, it hurts.
    FIRST CRONE’S VOICE: Keep that brat shut up, can’t you, girlie, how’s a body to get any sleep in this damn ward?
    BOY’S VOICE: It hurts. It hurts.
    SECOND CRONE’S VOICE: Shut up, you!
    BOY’S VOICE: Annie, when are we goin’ home? You promised!
    ANNIE: Jimmie—
    BOY’S VOICE: Forever and ever, you said forever—
    ( ANNIE drops the handkerchief, averts to the window, and is arrested there by the next cry.)
    Annie? Annie, you there? Annie! It hurts!
    THIRD CRONE’S VOICE: Grab him, he’s fallin’!
    BOY’S VOICE: Annie!
    DOCTOR’S VOICE [ A PAUSE, SLOWLY ]: Little girl. Little girl, I must tell you your brother will be going on a—
    (But ANNIE claps her hands to her ears, to shut this out, there is instant silence.
    As the lights bring the other areas in again, JAMES goes to the steps to listen for any sound from upstairs. KELLER re-entering from left crossestoward the house; he passes HELEN en route to her retreat under the pump. KATE re-enters the rear door of the family room, with flowers for the table.)
    KATE: Supper is ready, Jimmie, will you call your father?
    JAMES: Certainly.
    (But he calls up the stairs, for ANNIE’S benefit:)
    Father! Supper!
    KELLER [ AT THE DOOR ]: No need to shout, I’ve been cooling my heels for an hour. Sit down.
    JAMES: Certainly.
    KELLER: Viney!
    ( VINEY backs in with a roast, while they get settled around the table.)
    VINEY: Yes, Cap’n, right here.
    KATE: Mildred went directly to sleep, Viney?
    VINEY: Oh yes, that babe’s a angel.
    KATE: And Helen had a good supper?
    VINEY [ VAGUELY ]: I dunno, Miss Kate, somehow she didn’t have much of a appetite tonight—
    KATE [ A BIT GUILTY ]: Oh. Dear.
    KELLER [ HASTILY ]: Well, now. Couldn’t say the same for my part, I’m famished. Katie, your plate.
    KATE [ LOOKING ]: But where is Miss Annie?
    (A silence.)
    JAMES [ PLEASANTLY ]: In her room.
    KELLER: In her room? Doesn’t she know hot food must be eaten hot? Go bring her down at once, Jimmie.
    JAMES [ RISES ]: Certainly. I’ll get a ladder.
    KELLER [ STARES ]: What?
    JAMES: I’ll need a ladder. Shouldn’t take me long.
    KATE [ STARES ]: What shouldn’t take you—
    KELLER: Jimmie, do as I say! Go upstairs at once and tell Miss Sullivan supper is getting cold—
    JAMES: She’s locked in her room.
    KELLER: Locked in her—
    KATE: What on earth are you—
    JAMES: Helen locked her in and made off with the key.
    KATE [ RISING ]: And you sit here and say nothing?
    JAMES: Well, everyone’s been telling me not to say anything.
    (He goes serenely out and across the yard, whistling. KELLER thrusting up from his chair makes for the stairs.)
    KATE: Viney, look out in back for Helen. See if she has that key.
    VINEY: Yes, Miss Kate.
    ( VINEY goes out the rear door.)
    KELLER [ CALLING DOWN ]: She’s out by the pump!
    ( KATE goes out on the porch after HELEN, while KELLER knocks on ANNIE’S door, then rattles the knob, imperiously.)
    Miss Sullivan! Are you in there?
    ANNIE: Oh, I’m in here, all right.
    KELLER: Is there no key on your side?
    ANNIE [ WITH SOME ASPERITY ]: Well, if