The Snake Pit

Do you know

where you are, Mrs. Cunningham?

Where is he?

As if he were crouching behind me.

- Why am I afraid to look at him?

- You know, don't you, Mrs. Cunningham?

In New York, of course.

I used to live in Evanston, Illinois.

That's where I was born.

It's right near Chicago.

Did you sleep well

last night, Mrs. Cunningham?

- How are you today?

- Very well, thank you.

Who is he and why all those questions?

As if he were testing me.

- Do you hear voices?

- Think I'm deaf? I hear yours.

It's hard to keep on being civil

when they ask you such naive questions.

But who's that?

And what's happened to him?

You suspect him of anything.

He's clever,

but he can't fool me with his magic.

It's an old trick,

changing into a girl.

Oh, no. She can't be he.

She doesn't ask questions.

Pardon me, but you look pale.

Have you been job hunting?

- Virginia, don't be silly.

- You know my name?

You must have seen it on my bag.

I don't know where it is.

I was going to get some groceries

and go back to the apartment.

Oh, could you tell me how to get to...

What are you talking about?

How to get to where?

Where? What's the name of the street?

It's the sun.

It's too warm.

I'm worried about you, Virginia. I wasn't

gonna tell you this, but I'm going to one.

Maybe I'll be leaving from there.

Before long, I'll be on my own...

wondering where the next meal's

coming from.

- Look, how would you like to...

- All right, ladies.

- Let's go.

- What's the matter?

- Please. You don't wanna make trouble.

- What is it? A fire? A riot?

- Shh.

- All right, ladies. Fall in. Fall in.

- You heard me. I said fall in.

- Fall in? Fall in what?

- No talking, ladies.

- You see?

- Why do we have to stand with all of them?

- Come on, ladies.

Let's go.

Oh, I see. It's a zoo, a tour.

I don't like a zoo, do you?

I don't like the smell, and I'm sorry

for the animals, locked up in cages.

Don't talk now.

You know it's against the rules.

- Enjoy the sun, Virginia?

- Yes, thank you.

People are friendly

in New York, or maybe just fresh.

I've never seen her before, and she calls me

Virginia. What am I supposed to say? Hi, kiddo?

Come on. Step along.

- Ruth, Minna, where are you going?

- Okay, Jean. They're all in.

Ward 3-A, step out.

No talking, ladies.

Mary, get up.

You know better than that. Come on.

Ward 3-A,

we haven't got all day.

- Where are we going?

- Keep in line, ladies.

- Why do we have to keep in line?

I don't like regimentation.

- Please, Virginia.

- Doing all right, Lucille?

- Yes, thank you.

I may have to

make a speech against it.

- Against what?

- Regimentation, of course.

But l... I can't make a speech

without writing it first.

Now, now. Don't run, ladies.

- And no pushing.

- Quit pushing.! Somebody's pushing.!

- Come on.! Open the door.!

- Quiet. No talking.

- The way they treat us,

you'd think we were criminals.

- That's right.

- Criminals?

- Come on. Take over here,

will you? Let's go.

- Criminals?

- Come on, Virginia.

A prison?

That's it.

A prison. I should've known it.

- How did I get here?

- What's wrong, honey?

- Let me go. Let me go!

- Virginia, Miss Hart will hear you.

I won't stay here. I won't stay in this place

another minute. I wanna get out!

- What's the trouble?

- Nothing, Miss Hart. It's that

Virginia feels a little faint.

She got a little too much sun, I think.

She'll be all right.

Hello, Mrs. Cunningham. Miss Hart, we'd like

to speak to Mrs. Cunningham for a minute.

- Yes, Doctor. Go ahead, Grace.

- I'm sorry.

Would you like

to sit down?

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