Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Page #4

MILLY:

By all that dirt on your clothes, I'm surprised y'all have a bathtub. Don't you ever use it?

FRANK:

Never needed to.

MILLY:

Well then, from now on, every sunday you'll be havin' baths.

EPHRIAM:

Aw shucks, Milly, do we have to?

MILLY:

If you want dinner, you'll do it.

Milly sits down, staring at the boys and bowing her head. The boys follow suit.

Lord, for what we are about to recieve, make us truly thankful. Amen.

BOYS (reluctantly)

Amen.

The boys begin to politely pass around the plates of food, Milly looks on happily.

MILLY:

You seem like good, handsome boys. How come we've never seen you in town?

CALEB:

Adam likes to go by himself.

MILLY:

Well, surely Adam wants to see you boys with your own brides. Don't you like girls?

GIDEON:

We ain't ever really seen one.

MILLY:

You've never been courtin' before?

The boys shake their heads, Milly sighs.

Well then, I'll have to take you to town sometime. In fact, I have to go after breakfast. Would you boys like to come along?

EPRHIAM:

What'll Adam say?

MILLY:

Adam left a half hour ago, up to the trappin' cabin. Left some furs up there.

BENJAMIN:

Sure, we'll come.

MILLY smiles.

- - -

Scene V

Town. Milly and the boys arrive at the general store. GIDEON and MILLY climb out.

MILLY:

You boys stay here; I'll take Gideon with me. Behave yourselves.

MILLY and GIDEON exit, leaving the rest of the boys in the buggy. RUTH, LIZA and MARTHA enter, chatting amongst themselves.

BENJAMIN:

Hey look, girls! Ephriam, say something smart.

Ephriam jumps out of the cart in front of the girls, who smile politely.

EPRHIAM:

Ain't y'all just the prettiest things this side of the Mississippi.

MARTHA:

Well, I never!

RUTH:

Don't you know how to talk to a lady?

EPHRIAM:

Well, erm...

TOM enters, with SAM. They stand up to EPHRIAM.

TOM:

What's the fuss here?

BENJAMIN jumps out of the buggy, sizing up TOM.

BENJAMIN:

There ain't no fuss. Ephriam just payed the girls a compliment.

TOM:

Oh did he? Well, these girls are spoken for.

BENJAMIN:

Just spoken for doesn't mean taken.

SAM:

Means so down here.

BENJAMIN and EPRHIAM begin to fight with SAM and TOM. The girls shriek and run, the boys start to laugh. MILLY and GIDEON exit the store.

GIDEON:

Check it out!

MILLY:

Stop it, stop it this minute! (to FRANK) Don't just stand there, do something!

FRANK:

What for? There's only three little ones!

MILLY pushes Benjamin and Ephriam away, glaring.

MILLY:

You boys get back in the buggy this instant.

Lights dim as the buggy drives off.

All exit.

- - -

SCENE VI:

Pontipee House, bedroom/parlour split (mostly parlour). Milly and all the boys are sitting in the parlour.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes