- 34 - Littic Wom jo Meg, we were about to join the ladies in the salon - MEG I'd be delighted, Mr. Brooke. Excuse us, Jo. (SHE goes off with Mr. Brooke) jo Did you see that? He just ~ (SHE turns and sees Laurie beaming at her) What is it with you and that smile? LAURIE You make me beam. jo Well, you look ridiculous. LAURIE You're looking, very fetching tonight. jo (Mocking with her fan, as a belle) Fetching, really! LAURIE So tell me, when you're not attending balls, what do you do? jo T write blood and guts stories. I make extraordinary plans. I'm going to Europe. I'm going to meet famous writers and revolutionaries. So what about you? What do you do? Marmee said you're all alone in the world. No mother or father. That must be awful for you. LAURIE It's not awful. I've got a cranky old grandfather. And I've gota cat. And I've got ~ jo What? LAURIE Well, I was hoping to say youLitric Women — 35 jo (laughs) Me? You don’t have me. LAURIE U KNOW I HAVE NO RIGHT BUT SOMRTIMES LATE AT NIGHT I WATCH YOU IN THAT ATTIC, PACING BACK AND FORTH LIKE A MANIAC! I'VE NEVER MET A GIRL LIKE YOU, ANYONE AT ALL LIKE YOU. THIS IS VERY NICE. SUCH A LOVELY PARTY. ‘THE MUSIC SOUNDS SO THRILLING IT MAKES A PERSON FEEL LIKE DANCING, I'm very good. I won a medal for dancing at school. ° Idon’t dance. Besides I've got a patch on ie back of my dress. LAURIE A patch? Let me see. jo (tying to avoid his look) No, no - LAURIE (seeing the patch) Tike it! That patch could start a whole new fashion. You dance-with me tonight and I guarantee by next spring every gir! in Concord will be wearing a patch on her dress. WE COULD DO A HUNDRED THINGS, DO ANYTHING YOU PLEASE WE COULD FLY ON GOLDEN WINGS ACKOSS THE SEVEN SEAS. ULL BET WE COULD GET A CAMEL THROUGH A NEEDLE IF YOU'LL TAKE A CHANCE ON ME. jo You are a lunatic!36 - Lirree Women LAURIE WE COULD CATCH A THOUSAND STARS. AND STAND THEM ON A PIN. WE COULD LEAP FROM HERE TO MARS. AND MAKE THE. PLANETS SPIN. IF YOU WANT TO DO ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE EVER DREAMED OF: COME ON, TAKE A CHANCE ON ME. WE COULD BE SUCH FRIENDS. FRIENDS ARE NEVER LONELY. ALLI KNOW IS BOOKS. BOOKS ARE SOLITARY. BUT I SEE YOU EVERY DAY, HOW YOU LIVE IN YOUR OWN Way, AND YOU MAKE ME WANT TO DARE TO TAKE A CHANCE ON YOU. jo Allright. We could box if you like. LAURIE You box? Jo (Tucking. the hem of her dress into her belt) Ready? LAURIE I should warn you, I won a medal for boxing at school. (HE takes a boxing pose. THEY move about. JO feigns having broken a nail, but when HE moves to her, SHE quickly pommels hin with a punch to the solar plexus and a chop on the back. HE falls) jo (celebrating) So that’s how you win medals? LAURIE ‘You cheat! (SHE begins to chase him) WE COULD LIVE A MILLION DREAMS, BUT ONLY IF WE DARE, -You win! WE COULD GO TO SUCH EXTREMES.Litree Women -37 = (LAURIE) THERE'S SO MUCH WE COULD SHARE. WE'LL CIRCLE THE WORLD DOING ALL WE'VE EVER DREAMED OF ~ AND WE'LL LIVE IN OUR OWN WAY AND ['LLSEE YOU EVERY DAY. WE'LL BE THE BEST OF FRIENDS WHEN YOU TAKE A CHANCE ON ME! So what d’you say? Try me. jo I challenge you to a skating race tomorrow at the pond! Come on! (SHE rusts off) LAURIE WE'LL CIRCLE THE WORLD DOING ALL WE'VE EVER DREAMED OF CAUSE YOU'LL TAKE A CHANCE, YES, YOU'LL TAKE A CHANCE, FINALLY TAKE A CHANCE ON ME! (The scene segues back to THE MARCH PARLOR: #3, where MR. BROOKE is 1g MEG onto the sofa) BETH Marmee! They're home! MARMEE (Rushing in) Meg! . MR. BROOKE Excuse me = Mrs. March. John Brooke, Laurie’s tutor. We were dancing and - The ankle may be sprained. (HE quickly looks at Meg - smiles) Thank you. (HE quickly looks at the oth Goodnight! (HE rushes of Goodnight!