The Miracle Worker by William Gibson Read Free Book Online Page A

rises.)
    I’ll get you another plate.
    ANNIE [ GRIPPING HELEN ]: I have a plate, thank you.
    KATE [ CALLING ]: Viney! I’m afraid what Captain Keller says is only too true, she’ll persist in this until she gets her own way.
    KELLER [ AT THE DOOR ]: Viney, bring Miss Sullivan another plate—
    ANNIE [ STONILY ]: I have a plate, nothing’s wrong with the plate, I intend to keep it.
    (Silence for a moment, except for HELEN’S noises as she struggles to get loose; the KELLERS are a bit nonplussed, and ANNIE is too darkly intent on HELEN’S manners to have any thoughts now of her own.)
    JAMES: Ha. You see why they took Vicksburg?
    KELLER [ UNCERTAINLY ]: Miss Sullivan. One plate or another is hardly a matter to struggle with a deprived child about.
    ANNIE: Oh, I’d sooner have a more—
    ( HELEN begins to kick, ANNIE moves her ankles to the opposite side of the chair.)
    â€”heroic issue myself, I—
    KELLER: No, I really must insist you—
    ( HELEN bangs her toe on the chair and sinks to the floor, crying with rage and feigned injury; ANNIE keeps hold of her wrists, gazing down, while KATE rises.)
    Now she’s hurt herself.
    ANNIE [ GRIMLY ]: No, she hasn’t.
    KELLER: Will you please let her hands go?
    KATE: Miss Annie, you don’t know the child well enough yet, she’ll keep—
    ANNIE: I know an ordinary tantrum well enough, when I see one, and a badly spoiled child—
    JAMES: Hear, hear.
    KELLER [ VERY ANNOYED ]: Miss Sullivan! You would have more understanding of your pupil if you had some pity in you. Now kindly do as I—
    ANNIE: Pity?
    (She releases HELEN to turn equally annoyed on KELLER across the table; instantly HELEN scrambles up and dives at ANNIE’S plate. This time ANNIE intercepts her by pouncing on her wrists like a hawk, and her temper boils.)
    For this tyrant ? The whole house turns on her whims, is there anything she wants she doesn’t get? I’ll tell you what I pity, that the sun won’t rise and set for her all her life, and every day you’re telling her it will, what good will your pity do her when you’re under the strawberries, Captain Keller?
    KELLER [ OUTRAGED ]: Kate, for the love of heaven will you—
    KATE: Miss Annie, please, I don’t think it serves to lose our—
    ANNIE: It does you good, that’s all. It’s less trouble to feel sorry for her than to teach her anything better, isn’t it?
    KELLER: I fail to see where you have taught her anything yet, Miss Sullivan!
    ANNIE: I’ll begin this minute, if you’ll leave the room, Captain Keller!
    KELLER [ ASTONISHED ]: Leave the—
    ANNIE: Everyone, please.
    (She struggles with HELEN, while KELLER endeavors to control his voice.)
    KELLER: Miss Sullivan, you are here only as a paid teacher. Nothing more, and not to lecture—
    ANNIE: I can’t unteach her six years of pity if you can’t stand up to one tantrum! Old Stonewall, indeed. Mrs. Keller, you promised me help.
    KATE: Indeed I did, we truly want to—
    ANNIE: Then leave me alone with her. Now!
    KELLER [ IN A WRATH ]: Katie, will you come outside with me? At once, please.
    (He marches to the front door. KATE and JAMES follow him. Simultaneously ANNIE releases HELEN’S wrists, and the child again sinks to the floor, kicking and crying her weird noises; ANNIE steps over her to meet VINEY coming in the rear doorway with biscuits and a clean plate, surprised at the general commotion.)
    VINEY: Heaven sakes—
    ANNIE: Out, please.
    (She backs VINEY out with one hand, closes the door on her astonished mouth, locks it, and removes the key. KELLER meanwhile snatches his hat from a rack, and KATE follows him down the porch steps. JAMES lingers in the doorway to address ANNIE across the room with a bow.)
    JAMES: If it takes all summer, general.
    ( ANNIE comes over to his door in turn, removing her glasses grimly; as KELLER outside begins speaking, ANNIE closes the door on