All the King's Men Page #3

Willie finishes chewing his food, pats his mouth with a

napkin, and pushes his plate back.

WILLIE:

Now we'll talk.

Camera pulls back to include Jack, Lucy, and Pa, all seated

around the dinner table.

JACK:

You've been talking for a long time,

Mr. Stark.

PAPPY:

Willie's got a lot to say.

LUCY:

You sleepy, Pappy? You want to have

a nap?

PAPPY:

No, I want to hear it.

Lucy gets up and turns on a light in the kitchen.

LUCY:

I'm worried about Tom. It's getting

dark. He should have been home.

WILLIE:

He's a strong boy. Don't worry about

him. He can take care of himself.

JACK:

How old is the boy?

WILLIE:

Fifteen.

JACK:

How long have you been married?

WILLIE:

Nine years.

Willie grins at Jack's look of surprise. Lucy comes back

into the room.

LUCY:

(laughs)

He was a neighbor's boy. They were

poor folks. Both died. I couldn't

have any children, so... He's a good

boy.

WILLIE:

Oh, he's the best. I couldn't love

him any more if he was my own flesh

and blood.

JACK:

(to Lucy)

And now you, Mrs. Stark?

LUCY:

Oh, there isn't very much to tell

about me.

JACK:

How did you meet?

LUCY:

I was teaching school and one day a

pupil walked in. It was Willie. I

couldn't have a grown man in the

class and Willie wanted to learn so

badly... so I married him.

JACK:

Is that the only reason?

LUCY:

(pressing Willie's

arm)

Except that I loved him.

WILLIE:

Get the coffee, Lucy.

She goes back into the kitchen.

JACK:

When did they fire you, Mrs. Stark?

LUCY:

(as she serves the

coffee)

A couple of weeks ago. I'd been

teaching for a long time and nobody

ever said I wasn't all right. But I

don't care. I don't want to teach in

a schoolhouse that they built just

so somebody can steal some money.

And Willie doesn't want to be

Treasurer, either, if he has to

associate with those dishonest people.

WILLIE:

(glumly)

I'm going to run. They can't keep me

from running.

JACK:

If you don't mind the truth, Mr.

Stark, you haven't much of a chance.

WILLIE:

I'm going to run. They're not going

to kick me around like I was dirt.

LUCY:

I don't care if Willie loses... just

so he gets the truth to the people.

Isn't that true, Willie?

Willie is silent. Jack looks at him.

LUCY:

Isn't it, Willie?

WILLIE:

Hmmm?... Yeah, yeah, sure, that's

right.

LUCY:

Well, if you lose you can give a

little more time to studying your

law books.

JACK:

Oh, you studying law too?

WILLIE:

By myself, at night.

PAPPY:

Willie's a smart boy.

WILLIE:

If I ever find the time I'm going to

take a course at the university.

The door opens slowly and Tom comes in from the porch. His

clothes are torn and his face is dirty and bloody. He still

carries some of the handbills. They rise to their feet and

cluster around him.

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