Mary White (1977) - full transcript

- Hi Mr. Schmidt!

- Afternoon, Mary.

- Be back in
time for dinner, Mom!

Hello, Mrs. Kerr.

- Hello, Mary.

- Hold on, ready?

- Whee!

- Okay Billy,
that's all for today.

- Bye, Mary.

- See you
tomorrow, Billy!

Hi Tom!



- Hello, Mary!

Mary?

Mary!

Oh God, Mary.

- The Associated Press
reports carrying the news

of Mary White's death,
declared that it came

from the result of
a fall from a horse.

How she would've hooted at that.

She never fell from
a horse in her life.

Horses have fallen
on her and with her.

I'm always trying to
hold 'em in my lap,

she used to say, but she
was proud of few things

and one of the most that
you could ride anything

that had four legs and hair.



The last hour of her life
was typical of its happiness.

She came home from a
day's work at school,

topped off by a hard
grind with the copy

on the high school annual

and felt that a ride
would refresh her.

She climbed into her khakis,
chattering to her mother

about the work she was doing
and hurried to get her horse

and be out on the dirt
roads for the country air

and the radiant green
fields of spring.

As she rode through the
town on an easy gallop.

- Hi, Tom!

- She kept
waving at passers by.

She knew everyone in town.

For a decade,

the little figure
in the long pig tail

and the red hair ribbon
had been familiar

on the streets of Emporia

and she got in the
way of speaking

to those who nodded at her.

- Mary!

Mary!

Mary, Mary!

- I know there's no
way to accept the death

of a beloved child,

but the irony of
Mary's accident,

the awful irony of
her being killed

when she was going so slowly.

Year ago, she used to
ride like the wind.

Being the warm
hearted girl she was,

she tried to share her joy
with her friend Selina.

I sometimes thought the prairies
had been made just for her.

- Mary, slow down!

- Come on, Selina!

- Wait!

- Selina, you can do it!

- Mary!

Mary, stop!

Slow down!

Wait for me!

I can't help it, you're scary.

I'm not riding with you anymore.

Don't be mad.

I'm just not as brave as you.

- That's silly.

You're braver.

It takes more courage to
do what you're afraid of

than to do what you enjoy.

- I never thought
of it that way.

Is that why you do
all the things you do?

To prove that you're
brave, I mean.

- I don't know.

It's part of it, I guess

It's just that I
can't stand the sham.

I hate hearing people lie.

- Well, maybe they think
they're tellin' the truth.

- It's like there's
something inside of me

that wants to change
things, fix things,

so that when I die, people
will know I was here.

- They will.

You're William Allen
White's daughter.

- That's what makes it so hard.

Come on, let's go Selina.

I got an idea, come on!

You've got a pretty good seat.

Your only problem is
you're afraid to let go.

- I don't know what
you're talkin' about.

- Okay, I'll show you.

Close your eyes.

- What for?

- Nevermind what
for, just do it.

Now try to imagine that you
and your horse are one person,

that his legs are your legs.

You wouldn't be
afraid to run as fast

as you can on your
own legs, would you?

- No.

- Okay, now imagine
yourself running.

The wind is hitting your face.

You're a giant.

You can cover the
whole earth in one day.

You're free.

Okay, now open your
eyes and let's ride.

Take it easy.

Now, I want you to watch it.

Now squeeze with your knees,
not with the stirrups.

Good, come on!

Okay, now let's ride!

You're doin' great, Selina!

- Mary, you are crazy!

- Some
people in Emporia

who weren't too happy with me

said I spoiled its
small-town flavor

with all my famous visitors,

but they still enjoyed it

when Teddy Roosevelt and
Calvin Coolidge came to call.

This time, my illustrious
guest was Jane Addams,

the founder of Hull House.

Now, Mary couldn't
wait to meet Jane.

And she barely
made it, as usual.

- See, I'm early.

- You certainly don't expect

to meet Miss Addams
looking like that, do you?

- Well, why not?

Of all the people in the world,

Jane Addams is the last
person to care about clothes.

Isn't that right?

- Well, if she doesn't, I do.

- Here she comes.

- Here she comes!

- Here she is!

- I had visited
Jane Addams several times

in Chicago since the
opening of Hull House.

She had worked and dreamed

of a settlement
house for many years,

a place where needy families,
delinquent youngsters,

and the foreign born
could come for help

in dealing with a world that
had dealt harshly with them.

Hull House was that
dream come true.

As she went on to
become president

of the International
Women's Congress,

my admiration for her deepened.

And over the years,
she, Sallie, and I

had become dear friends.

- I don't see her.

- There she is.
- Jane!

- How do you do?

You don't look a day older,

and I swear you
look just as young

as you did when you
opened Hull House.

- Oh, Will, I've
never known you to lie

and don't start now.

It's you who never
looks a day older.

- It's wonderful to see you.

And we look several days older.

Oh Jane, this is
out daughter, Mary.

- You know, Will, she
does look like Peter Pan.

I've been looking forward to
meeting you and your brother.

- Bill's away at Harvard.

If you'll please excuse me,

I just thought of something
I have to do right away.

I'll see you all at home.

- Mary-

- Did I say
something wrong?

- No, it's nothing,
don't worry about it.

- Well, shall we go?

- Did you have a
nice trip, Jane?

- I knew Mary
didn't like Jane Adams saying

she looked like Peter
Pan and it was my fault.

I was the one who always talked
about my daughter that way

and Mary always resented it.

Like all children,

she felt she was grown up
by the time she could walk.

You see Jane,

that's why I particularly wanted
you to come to Emporia now.

This is the real heartland
of the United States.

Not the big cities
filled with those idiots

who've been seeing
Reds under every bed.

- Well, I'm sure
you're right, Will,

but I'm going back to Europe.

I feel more comfortable there.

You seen this?

That is being distributed
by a group called

the Sentinels of the Republic.

- Is that the group
which called you

the most dangerous
woman in America?

- No, that was Mr. R.A. Gum

of the American
Protective League.

The funniest thing
that's happened is

that I've been denounced

by the Daughters of the
American Revolution.

Can you imagine
their embarrassment

when they found out

that I'd been a member
for more than 20 years?

- I don't understand.

Why are they doing this to you?

- I suppose because I
represent change Mary,

and change is very
threatening to people.

- Mrs. White,
supper is ready.

- Thank you, Martha.

- Well, it'll blow over.

We're all a bunch of
hotheads in this country

but our bark is
worse than our bite.

- Well, they may forget
about the colleges

and the intellectuals

but I'm not so sure about
the women's organizations.

- Oh, I
hope you're wrong.

- You've managed to take
a small town newspaper,

through the sheer
brilliance of the editorials

and made yourself a
voice to be reckoned with

right across the country.

Do you think that
could have happened

if you'd been a woman?

- Maybe not.

- That's why I'm
so apprehensive.

The hysteria is even beginning
to affect Hull House.

- You can't let that happen.

There's so much further to go.

There's the double standard.

The terrible clothes
women have to wear.

The way smart women
like you are attacked.

If you had them run
you out of the country-

- Mary, please, Miss
Adams has come here

for a moment of peace.

- That's all right.

You're quite right, Mary.

It's just that when you
fought so many battles,

you tire temporarily.

- But you'll be back?

- I'm afraid I will.

- There's so much I wanna do.

- Well, start.

- Here?

- You've had the
misfortune to be born

into a family of reformers.

You'll find something.

- Would you write something

in my copy of "Twenty
years at Hull House"?

- Certainly.

- It's a little
battered, isn't it?

- There you are.

- To Mary, who will
learn that a journey

of 1000 miles begins with
one step, Jane Addams.

- That's the hard part,
learning to accept that.

I was just like you-

- Sallie, Look.

- Wanted to change
the world overnight.

I suppose I still do,
but it can't be done.

- I'll never be like you.

I have no patience.

When I see stupid people
doing stupid things,

I wanna hit them.

- Jane Addams
represented Mary's
humanitarian side

but no matter how concerned
she was for others,

she never stopped being a
happy, friendly school girl,

sharing her car.

I guess I did do a
lot of protesting

about the benefits of walking,

but I did it mainly
to escape her offers

to drive me in that car.

Her car was her social life.

She never had a party in
all her nearly 17 years.

Wouldn't have one,

but she never drove
a block in her life

that she didn't begin to
fill the car with pickups.

Everybody rode with Mary White,

she liked nothing better
than to fill the car

with long-legged
high school boys

and an occasional girl
and parade the town.

She never had a date
or went to a dance

except once with
her brother Bill

and the boy proposition
didn't interest her.

Yet.

But young people gave
her great pleasure.

- Okay, end of the line.

Everybody out!

- Thanks for the ride, Mary.

- Sure.

- See ya later.

- Bye Mary, thanks.

- Bye.

Tod, that means you too.

- I'm not moving
until you tell me

if you'll go to the
spring dance with me.

- Suit yourself.

- Don't tell me
he's at it again.

Doesn't that dope ever learn?

- What's the matter?

What's the matter, huh?

I bet I could ask any
other girl in this town

and she jump at the chance.

- That's exactly
what's the matter.

- Since when is
it bad to be popular?

- Why is it so important
then that I say yes?

I can think of 10 other girls

that would be walking on
clouds if you asked them.

I'm not even your type.

- Well you're different.

- You bet I'm different.

I'm William Allen
White's daughter.

- And what's that
got to do with it?

- Isn't he
the local celebrity.

Don't I walk in his
reflected glory.

- Well, that's not the reason.

- Oh, well is it my
beautiful golden curls?

- Forget it.

Just forget I even
asked ya, huh?

- Are you crazy?

I wish he'd ask me.

- Just tell him your my
father's illegitimate daughter.

- You better not talk like
that in front of my mother.

She says you're a bad
influence on me as it is.

- Then don't ride with me.

- I didn't say it.

My mother did.

She just can't understand
that you and your family

are different from
the rest of us.

- For once I agree
with your mother.

You really can't
tell the White family

from the rest of the
lunatics around here.

- I'd like to believe you, Mary,

but you don't act
like everybody else.

Everybody else wouldn't
turn down a bid to the prom

by Tod Turner.

- Bother Tod Turner.

I'm sorry.

You wanna go riding
after school?

- If you slow down.

I get scared riding that fast.

Will you?

- Mm-hm.

- Now I don't want
you to get the wrong idea.

She tried to conform.

She did.

But somehow her efforts were
always just slightly askew.

- Selina, Selina, Selina.

- Quiet down.

Now, who can you tell me

what president succeeded
Abraham Lincoln?

Selina.

- Andrew Johnson.

- Correct, good.

And what action was taken
against President Johnson

that has never
been taken before?

Mary.

- The House of
Representatives voted articles

of impeachment against him,

but it was only
because he wanted

to carry out Lincoln's policy

of lenient reconstruction
in the South.

- Oh, that's a very
broad assumption, Mary.

I don't think your book
mentions that connection.

- But it's true.

The Congress didn't care
what the people wanted.

They just cared about
punishing the South.

Look what happened in
Russia, it led to revolution.

- Yes, well,
you may sit down, Mary.

- Jane Addams says if we
don't learn from history-

- I said, you may sit down.

- Same thing's happening here.

There'll be blood
in the streets.

Jane Addams is being persecuted

just for trying to get
women their rights.

- I think we would
prefer to listen

to the wisdom of historians.

Neither you nor Miss Addams
can aspire to that title.

- She's a great woman.

You don't have any right
to make fun of her.

- That will do Mary.

You will leave your seat
and present yourself

to Mr. Andrew's
office for discipline.

You are being insubordinate!

- Why don't you pick up
Jane Addams on the way?

Maybe the two of you can
burn down the school.

- Quiet, quiet!

- It was only

in that last year
that Mary had begun

to express herself with her pen.

She discovered a talent
for pen and ink drawing

and one of her
proudest moments was

when some of her
sketches of school life

were accepted for the annual.

I know I was prejudiced, but
I believe she had talent.

- I don't think her legs
are quite that thin, do you?

- I'm sorry.

- No, it's really quite good.

Although I can't say I
approve of your drawing.

If your pictures
are a liable clue,

I'd say you and Ms.
Peabody have had a run in.

- She said to tell you
I was insubordinate.

- And were you?

- Well, I don't think so,

unless telling the
truth is insubordinate

- One person's truth, can appear
to be another person's lie.

Did you contradict her?

- I just said that president
Johnson was impeached

because the Congress
wanted to punish the South

for the Civil War.

- Well, that's an
interesting theory.

Is that all you said?

- Almost.

I just said that any
unresponsive government

would be responsible for
blood running in the streets.

- And how did you conclude that?

Doesn't sound like your father.

- I wasn't quoting my father.

I wasn't quoting anybody.

- Well I'd be interested
in how life in Emporia

could have led you to
such a dire conclusion.

Is there something going on

that I don't know about?

- You know Mr. Andrews,

Emporia isn't the whole world.

When Jane Addams was here-

- Jane
Addams was here in Emporia?

- Uh-huh.

- I should have
enjoyed meeting her.

I have the most tremendous
respect for her achievements.

- Well, she was only
here for one night.

- Then what was she like?

- She was thrilling.

Absolutely thrilling.

Do you know she's being called
the most dangerous woman

in America now?

Just because she
speaks up for people

who can't speak
up for themselves.

Isn't that disgusting?

- It most certainly is.

You know, I heard her once.

I was in New York on vacation.

I happened to see a notice of
her appearance in the paper.

When she stood on that stage

and described the working
conditions for men and women

who had come here from
Europe full of hope,

only to end up slaving
in sweat shops,

trying to make enough
to pay the rent

on tenement flats
full of roaches.

She took the audience with her.

I was quite carried away.

As a matter of fact, I-

I fear we're digressing.

Impertinence to a teacher
cannot be tolerated.

I hope you understand that.

- Mary, was he very mad?

- No.

- Is he gonna call your father?

- No.

He just told me what he had to.

- Had to?

What do you mean?

- He's really a very nice man

but he's like everybody
else around here.

As soon as he
starts being human,

he remembers who
he's supposed to be.

- What?

- Forget it.

Hi, Ellie.

- Mary, can I talk
to you for a minute?

- Sure.

- After you loaned me
"Twenty Years at Hull House",

I kept trying to imagine what
Jane Addams was really like.

I haven't read the
book 10 or 12 times,

just trying to picture her.

Is she beautiful?

- Yeah, she's really beautiful.

Inside, I mean.

She wrote an
inscription in my book.

I'll show it to you if you like.

- Okay.

- She's the most exciting woman.

She's brave.

She's really brave.

- What are you two girls doing?

You know, you're not allowed

to be in the hall
after the bell.

- Where are you going?

- Come on, we have
to go to class.

- Oh, you go, I've had
enough for one day.

- You mean you're
just gonna walk out?

- This is a public school.

That means it belongs
to the people.

Well, it doesn't.

I can't speak the truth here.

We can't even have a
conversation when we want to.

- I know.

I really wanted to talk to you,

but I'll get in
trouble if I stay.

- Darn it!

Ow, ow, ow!

- Does it hurt much?

- Not like when
the doctor set it.

- Here you are.

- No thanks.

Maybe later.

I'm not hungry now.

- Oh, don't put another
record on just yet, Will.

I think we should talk.

- All right.

Floor is yours.

- Mary, I hope you'll understand
what I'm going to say.

I've thought about
it for a long time

and I realized today

I just couldn't let
it go on any longer.

Something has to be done
about your accidents.

- Now, Sallie, come on.

Let's not get carried away.

Practically no one
goes through childhood

without breaking something.

I had two broken
legs before I was 12.

- You never told me that.

How'd you get them?

- I don't want to talk
about your father.

I want to talk about you.

I'm frightened Mary.

Every time you go out
on that horse of yours,

I worry until you get back.

You ride too fast-

- That's silly.

I got hurt today
just standing still.

- No, Mary, you got hurt

because you were cranking
the car too fast.

Now I've heard your brother
warn you about that very thing.

- But mother, please, I-

- I'm sorry, Mary, but I
know what I'm talking about.

And I propose to do
something about it.

Will, I think we
should sell Ginger

and get Mary a slower
mount until she proves

that she's responsible enough

to take care of herself properly

and as for the car-

- No, you can't do that.

That's not fair.

- Yes, we can, Mary.

If you behave like
a child, dear,

you will be treated
like a child.

By the same token, if
you behave like an adult,

you have every right to expect
us to treat you as an adult.

- That that's not fair.

You talk to her.

She won't listen to me.

- No, your mother's right.

Neither of us wants
you to get hurt.

You didn't think she was
right two minutes ago.

- I hadn't really thought
about it two minutes ago.

- You're just saying that

because you think you
have to agree with Mother.

- I'm sorry you feel that
way, Mary, but you're wrong.

I wouldn't do such a thing.

- Yes you would.

You do at all the time.

- That is a very
insulting thing to say

and I'm sure you don't mean it.

- I do mean it.

I don't expect that of you

- At that moment, I
hated being human.

I wanted to be the God
my daughter demanded

and I'm afraid sometimes I
let Sallie bear the brunt.

But first and foremost,

I was a man deeply in
love with his wife.

Look what I found.

- Balad and blue china.

Do you remember the day
you gave that to me?

- Four months from the
day we were married.

- August 27th, 1893, to my girl.

Remember how we sat on the floor

and read it aloud
to one another?

- I certainly do.

You were much better at it.

Now then, if that
egotistical pup

of 27 years ago were to
come knocking at your door,

would you still have him?

- If I were still
the girl I was then.

- What about now?

- Oh, I wouldn't trade him
for the egotistical man

I have now.

- Thank you very much.

- Don't mention it.

- Mary always
looked up to her brother Bill

and she really brightened up

when he unexpectedly came
home from Harvard one day.

- Father?

- Bill, oh, oh,
what a lovely surprise!

For heavens sakes,

why didn't you let us
know that you were coming?

- Well, I got tired of being
good old predictable Bill

so I thought I'd surprise you.

- Bill, Bill!

- Oh, playing hooky.

- Oh, I'm legal.

- What happened to you?

- I'll tell you later.

What's your excuse?

- Oh, well I got lucky
on my midterm schedule.

I took three in a row.

Heard Bucky Newland was
driving as far as Kansas City

and here I am.

- My you look different.

- It's the clothes.

Well, you wouldn't want
me dressing like a hick

and disgracing the
family name would you?

And this may come as
a shock to you, Mary,

but when you get to college,

you're going to have to give
up wearing your uniform.

- Then I'm not going.

- Says you.

You'll probably be the
first one to go boy crazy

and start dressing
like a fashion model.

- Well, I only hope I
live to see that day.

- Then you'll have
to live to be 100.

- Ah, youth, youth.

What are you reading here?

"Twenty Years at Hull House".

Are you trying to
memorize this book?

- Mary, not again.

- When I loaned it to Ellie
Rogers, she read it 12 times.

She told me.

I'm just looking through it
to see if I missed anything.

- Who's Ellie Rogers?

- Nobody you'd remember.

- What does that mean?

- She's colored.

- Now I know I'm home.

- Mrs. White, the iceman
would like a word with you.

- Oh, and I'd like
several with him.

Now you two behave
while I'm gone.

- Don't worry, we'll behave.

Well, now that
women have the vote,

I take it this year's
project is bigotry.

- Just because
you're a college man

doesn't mean you have
to talk down to me.

This town is filled with
self-satisfied bigots

- Mary, don't be
so hard on Emporia.

It's the same everywhere else.

People are slow to change.

- You sound just like father.

He always looks at the other
side, unless it's mine.

- Just wait until you
go away to school.

Then you'll have
some perspective.

- On what?

- Well, on father, on this town

on the crazy life
this family leads.

- Like we're really
not small town people.

- That's right.

It's one of Father's fantasies.

He's just playing Will White,

editor of a small
town newspaper.

So naturally his children
are just small town children.

I mean, after all, doesn't
every small town kid

come home from school

to find Teddy Roosevelt
stopping in for dinner?

- Or Jane Addams waiting to
autograph a book for her.

And of course,
everybody goes to Europe

and has a father
who was there when

they signed the
Treaty of Versailles.

- Of course.

- At least he doesn't
insist you're Peter Pan.

- Well, he'll get over that.

I mean, he'll have to,

when he sees you with four

or five children hanging
onto your skirts,

calling you mama, even
he'll have to give up.

- You're just as bad
as everybody else.

You all assume that all
I wanna do with my life

is get married
and have children.

Well, first of all,

I think we should
straighten up the world

before any more children
are brought into it.

And secondly, I'm not
planning on getting married.

When I find my own road,

I'm gonna travel
it like Jane Adams.

- Good for you.

And in the meantime, can you
get around with that thing?

- Yes, where do you wanna go?

- To the newspaper office.

- Then I'll
see you later.

- Well,
don't you wanna go?

- No.

Father's letting Mother
punish me for breaking my arm.

They're selling my horse,

and they're not letting
me drive the car.

- What do you mean he's
letting mother punish you?

- Well, he could
have stopped her.

He didn't agree with
her, I could tell.

He just thinks that
he has to play father,

the way he plays
William Allen White,

small town philosopher.

- Look, Mary, he's a great
man, but he's not perfect.

Stop pushing him so hard.

- You did to go to Harvard.

- Well, that was different.

- I helped you.

- Those
two, they fought

like all brothers and sisters,

but when one of them decided
to take on the parents,

the other instantly
joined forces.

I have to admit that
what Bill said that night

a year and a half before
he enrolled in Harvard

was a bit of a shock.

- And that's why I don't wanna
go back to Kansas University.

I know it was your
school, Father,

but did you know they
only have two books

in my whole fraternity house?

"Tarzan of the Apes"

and a very well-worn
copy of Krafft-Ebing.

The guy who owns Tarzan and
is trying to trade it off

for a pony translation
of Hannibal in the Alps.

But I wanna go where
people talk things over

and Harvard's the
place for that.

- Aren't you
proud of him, Father?

Harvard's much harder than KU.

- You know, it seems to
me you should get more

than enough talk right
here at this table.

- Well, it's pretty one-sided.

I think a man should
be exposed to more

than one point of view,
don't you, Father?

- Well, you know very well

there's only one way I
can answer that question,

but Bill, Harvard is
not the only repository

of knowledge in the world.

I even managed to dig some
out right here in Kansas.

- But that was before.

The world's changing.

There's so much
more to learn now.

- Sallie, will you fix
my shawl and my slippers?

There's a bit of
a breeze out here.

We have to be careful
with that at my age.

- Look, now, we don't
mean it that way.

- Oh, don't you?

Sometimes watching a child
grow up fills a man with pride.

And there are other times
when it can be quite painful.

I found that out
for the first time

when the author J.M.
Barrie visited us.

- Even your American air
smells young and aggressive.

It's very stimulating.

- Well, I suppose it's all
in what you get used to.

I was never so
stimulated in my life

as when Mrs. White and
I visited you in London.

It was partly you, of course,

but the rest was the
air, full of history.

- Oh good, let's
put the plates down

right here, Bill, please.

I hope everyone's hungry.

It looks like Martha thought
she was cooking for an army.

Mary, food's ready!

Food's ready!

Will, Sir James, food's ready.

- You've done such marvelous
work, but of all your plays,

I like "Peter Pan" the best.

Doesn't she remind you of Peter.

- A bit.

I must say, I'm surprised
at your preference.

I wrote "Peter Pan"
for children, you know?

- Ah, but there's
so much more in it.

The wonderful knowledge

that a world full of
people who never grow up

would be a world full
of innocence and joy.

- I'm immensely flattered.

I didn't know all
that was there.

But if it is, it's
purely an accident.

I don't subscribe to
that sentiment, really.

No, I'm more inclined to believe

that most of the
trouble in the world

can be laid squarely
at the feet of people

who never grow up.

- I quite agree.

- I think you're pulling my leg.

- No, indeed, I'm not.

No, I'm not a romantic at all.

I simply use a romantic
style to express my feelings.

- Of all your plays.

my favorite play is
"What Every Woman Knows".

- Indeed.

I would've thought it was a
bit sophisticated for you.

- Don't underestimate
her, Sir James.

Lately, she's been telling me

which books she thinks
I'll understand.

- Only after she
consults with me.

- So I take it you don't
share your father's enthusiasm

for "Peter Pan".

- It's a lovely
play for children.

- There, you see what I mean?

I can just hear
Peter saying that.

He always took
himself so seriously.

- So does Charles Evans Hughes.

- No politics here.

- Now, Bill.

- Do I detect a
mutiny in the ranks?

- I wouldn't call it a mutiny.

Maybe just a touch
of insubordination.

- Aye, quite right too.

Every young man is duty bound
to disagree with his father.

You see, I'm a realist at heart.

Truth is what is.

- I can't believe you mean that.

Truth is what should be.

- See what I mean?

That's why he thinks
I'm Peter Pan,

because he wants me to be.

- Now, Mary.

- I think that courage is one

of the most heroic of emotions.

Takes great courage to
think for one's self.

I must congratulate
you, both of you,

on the way you've
raised your children

- Why thank you, Sir James.

Unfortunately, the results
can be painful sometimes.

- Yes, somehow a
parent always thinks

that an independent child
will end up agreeing

with the very great
wisdom of the parent.

- Well, don't despair,
Father, may happen yet.

- I'll never think
truth is what should be

- There she was again,
my Mary, the realist.

Jane went off to Europe,

but her spirit stayed behind.

She put a burr under
Mary's saddle all right.

Mary was itching to
take that first step.

And she did.

And she took it right here
with the Pastor John Rice.

He never knew what hit him.

- Here we are, Mary.

Ladies, Mary has
decided to switch

from our missionary group
to your committee this year.

Mrs. Pettigrew, have
you got a job for her?

- Well, that's sweet
of you, my dear,

but between us, we've pretty
much got the menu covered.

The old people out at the home
like their Christmas dinner

to be the same every year.

- I don't wanna cook.

I'm sure you're all much
better at that than I am.

- Well, perhaps you might
organize the delivery

of the food on Christmas Day?

Would you like to do that?

- Surely, alone?

- Well, naturally we'd
get some strong young men

to help you.

I'm sure if you're
anything like my daughter,

you'd like that.

- Why don't we all go?

- Well, that's hardly necessary,

there won't be
that much to carry.

- No, no, why don't we all go?

Why doesn't each person

on this committee take
the food she's made

and stay and eat
Christmas dinner

with the people at the home?

- It isn't done that way.

Now if you'd like to-

- Well, just because
it hasn't been done,

doesn't mean it can't.

It's nice of all of
you to do that cooking,

but it's so cold, impersonal.

I'll bet the people at the
home would like to see you

as well as your baskets of food.

It's unchristian.

- The day William Allen White
shows up at the county home,

I'll be there too.

- Now, ladies, Mary,

just isn't familiar
with our procedures.

-
Well I never!

Really!

- Mary!

Mary, wait.

- You think I'm wrong too?

- I respect your motives,
but I don't agree

with your methods.

Giving can't be ordered.

It must come from the heart.

- That sounds like one of
my father's editorials.

He writes and you preach.

I joined the church
to get something done.

- Now, the women's committee
is getting something done.

Now the fact that they're
not doing it the way

you would like them to doesn't
make their contribution less.

- In other words, you're
not going to help me.

- I have a whole
congregation to consider.

You're not the only one.

- No wonder my father
doesn't go to church.

- Now, slow down.

Now a minute ago, you were
lumping the two of us together.

Now it's you and him against me.

Mary, I know you want to help.

We all do, each in our own way.

Sometimes that way takes
a long time to find.

Have a little patience.

- No.

I'm sorry, but I'll
find my own way.

Without the Women's Committee

- You're thinking she was a
pretty fresh kid, aren't ya?

Well, she was.

But it came out of a real love

for people who never
seem to get a break.

I can remember feeling pretty
much the same way at her age

and I wouldn't be a bit
surprised if you did too.

I guess the Lord had it
figured out pretty well.

If kids knew how tough it is
to change the smallest thing,

they'd never have
the heart to think

they could change the world.

She really upset
the pastor though.

- Morning, Sam.

Morning, Al.

- Put it on the desk, go away.

- That's not the warmest
welcome I've ever had.

- I'm sorry.

Come on in.

Sit down.

I gotta warn you.

This is not a day to preach
brotherly love to me.

I'm not even sure I like you.

You ever have a day when you'd
rather kick your fellow man

than help him?

- Answering as a
clergyman, never.

As a fellow human
being, occasionally.

- You know, don't
you that Joe Indicart

and that rag tag of Ku Klux
Klan idiots he consorts with

are planning a parade
down the main street

of town night after next?

- I thought we'd seen the
last of that nonsense.

- No sirree.

They're coming,
complete with signs,

burning crosses, and
white nightgowns.

That piece of paper I threw
away was my fifth attempt

at an editorial trying to show
'em up as the asses they are.

- Will, I want to talk
to you about Mary.

- Well, good.

That's bound to be a
more pleasant subject.

- Usually I'd agree with
you, but not this time.

I'm feeling very
human about her.

As a matter of fact,

I'd like to put her across
my knee and spank her.

- Well, John, you'd better
go back to being a clergyman.

If you tried to spank her,
she'd probably hit you back.

- I'm serious, Will,
I'm very angry with her.

- Made you feel guilty, did she?

- She told you about it.

- No, but when she said she

was joining the
Christmas Committee,

I figured it was bound to
happen sooner or later.

I'm glad she's doing
it to you for a change.

- Will, Will, she's got
me talking to myself.

Do you think maybe I don't
see the forest for the trees?

- John, Mary's gifted.

She has the
intelligence of a woman

and the heart of a child.

That's a real Peter Pan.

Unfortunately for
us, we've grown up.

Now John, don't
take it to heart.

There's not a person

in this world can live up
to Mary's expectations.

- I guess you're right, Will.

I just wanted to talk it over.

Thank you.

- Okay, see you later.

I finally got that
Klan editorial written

but it didn't mean much.

If Mary had let me
in on her plans,

I wouldn't have had
to bother with it.

- It's okay,
King, easy, easy boy.

Sh, sh.

It's okay, King, easy, easy boy.

Stay!

- Citizens of Emporia,

and by that, I mean the
white Christians among you.

The day of reckoning is at hand.

How long must the pure among us-

- Don't, stay still.

- Allow ourselves to be
dragged into the slime

by the unclean, the Niggers,
the Jews, the radicals

that pollute our
clean American air.

I tell you now!

Get away, get away, dog.

Get outta here, dog.

Get outta here, King.

Get outta here, boy.

Get away, dog, get away.

- Hey Joe,
it's your own dog!

- What's the matter, Joe?

Don't even King know he's
supposed to be afraid of ya?

You got a great
cast out there, Joe.

- Get outta here, King.

King, King, get outta here.

- Don't be mad,
Papa, I'll get him.

Come back King!

- Get away from me, King.

- Papa, I'm
sorry, I'm sorry, Papa.

He didn't mean it, Papa.

- King, King, get away.

- I'll get him, Papa.

- Get away

- Come back,
King, come back, boy!

- I'll whup your
backside, Billy.

I told you to keep
that damn dog at home.

Citizens of Emporia,
citizens, come back here!

Come on back here,
you listen to me.

Listen to what I've
got to say to you.

Listen to me!

Don't go away, I've got
somethin' to say to you.

You come back here
and listen to me.

Listen to me, I've got
something to say to you!

- Good morning, dear.

- Here she comes.

The slayer of dragons.

- Ta-da!

Morning.

- Good morning, Mary.

Your father was just giving
me an eye-witness report

of what happened at
the parade last night.

It must've been very funny.

- Then why aren't you laughing?

- It's probably because I'm
not a very good reporter.

- Oh, stop fishing
for compliments, Will.

- Oh, the sage of Emporia would
never stoop to such depths.

- That'll be enough of that.

More respect please.

- Mary, do you
remember the night

when you convinced us you
were responsible enough

to drive the car?

- It was a pretty good piece
of salesmanship, wasn't it?

- Well, growing up brings
more than privileges.

It also brings obligations.

Now that prank last night,

no matter how we
feel about the Klan,

was not very responsible.

- Oh, now come on, Sallie.

You should have been there.

It was the prank of the century.

Well, gotta get to my study.

Come along, Sallie, we've
got a lot of proofing to do.

- I'll be right there dear.

You know Mary, you
can't have it both ways.

If you want your father and
me to take you seriously,

you're going to have to give up

some of the freedoms
of childhood.

- Well then I guess I don't
understand the difference.

- Sallie?

- Later, dear.

He's calling me.

Coming, Will!

- Last summer when
Bill came home for vacation

we were all together again.

But even then Mary
refused to be anything

but the free spirit she was.

- Now, don't forget.

She'll try and put you off

by being as tomboyish
as possible.

Just ignore it.

- I hope you know
I wouldn't do this

for anyone else but you.

- Hey, pal.

Here we go.

- Bill, oh, Bill!

- Mother.

- Bill, you're early!

How lovely.

- This is my friend,
Richard Sloan.

- How do you do, Mrs. White?

- We're so pleased
that you can come.

- Thank you.

- For heavens sakes,
come inside, both of you.

Well you both must be parched.

How 'bout some lemonade?

- Oh, you have just been
offered nectar of the gods.

Say yes.

- Oh, for heaven's sakes, Bill.

It's only lemonade.

- Now when you make it.

- You better not walk around
town dressed like that

otherwise somebody's
gonna see you

and put you in an envelope

and mail you back to
the Harvard Lampoon.

- See what I mean?

- You must be Bill's sister.

I'd know you anywhere.

- How?

- Mary, this is Richard Sloan,

my roommate at Harvard.

- How do you do?

- Hello?

- Oh, you're
going riding?

- Yes, would you like to come?

- Well, how about it, Dick?

- Fine.

- We can borrow a horse for you.

He's gentle or do you ride
horses at Harvard, Mr. Sloan?

- Mary, Mr. Richard
Sloan III's family

have been raising horses

since they arrived
on the Mayflower.

- Well, the only
thing I like better

than mother's lemonade
is a good ride.

And I'd like to see
Mr. Sloan handle one

of our Kansas horses.

- Well, it would be my
pleasure, Miss White.

- Okay, Mr. Sloan,
you know the course.

You have to touch base
at the amphitheater,

down by the river,
go through the creek,

over to the clump of
bushes over there,

then through the arbor
and we finish here.

You ready?

- Yep.

- Okay, go!

- You're crazy!

- Well, better luck
next time, Miss White.

- And there will be a
next time, Mr. Sloan.

- All right.

- Bill chose his
friends very well.

Finally, even Mary
had to admit that.

♪ God rest ye merry gentlemen ♪

♪ Let nothing you dismay ♪

♪ Remember Christ our savior ♪

♪ Was born on Christmas day ♪

♪ To save us all
from Satan's power ♪

♪ When we had gone astray ♪

♪ Oh tidings of
comfort and joy ♪

♪ Comfort and joy ♪

♪ Oh tidings of
comfort and joy ♪

- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, everybody.

- What is this?

John.
- It's for John.

- Nice to see you.
- Oh, thank you.

- Happy Christmas.

- Merry Christmas, John.

- Thank you, Merry Christmas.

- Merry Christmas, John.

- Merry Christmas, Martha.
- Thank you, Martha.

- Thank you, Bill.

- I'm leaving.
- Well, where are you going?

- Oh, Mary's volunteered
to deliver Christmas dinner

to the county home.

- Oh, good, who's
gonna help you?

- Pastor Rice said he'd
round up some strong boys.

- Well, I'm a strong boy.

Why there are even
those who would say

I'm the equal of
two strong boys.

- I don't think it's
your cup of tea.

- Oh, well, I'd be
interested in hearing

what you think my
cup of tea might be.

- Country club dances,
regattas, things like that.

- Oh, Mary!

- No it's all right, Mrs. White.

I know that your daughter
thinks I'm a lightweight.

- Well, aren't you?

- Why don't you try me and see?

- Okay, get your
coat and let's go.

- Goodbye everyone.

- Bye, thank you Bill!

- Drive carefully.

- Thank you, Mary.

- We will.

- Take care, you two!

I think maybe Mary's
met her match.

- It
does, doesn't it?

Merry Christmas.

- I like your young man, dear.

Has lovely manners.

Is he a local boy?

I've been out here so long,

I've lost touch with the town.

- He's not my young man.

He's a friend of my brother
Bill's from Harvard.

- Ooh, I haven't
been here that long.

The way he's looking at you.

- How long have you been here?

- Long enough to learn
to mind her own business.

- Don't mind him.

He only talks about once a year
and we're all very grateful.

- I just read a wonderful book.

Would you like to read it?

- No.

- How about painting?

Have you ever tried watercolors?

- No.

- What do you like to do?

- I like to eat Christmas dinner

with company of my own choosin'.

- I'm sorry.

- Mary.

- I was only trying to help.

- And you are helping, dear.

Don't let a crotchety
old man spoil your day.

Everyone else is having
a wonderful time.

- That was some experience.

You should be very
proud of yourself.

Come on now.

You're not gonna let that old
buzzard get to you, are ya?

- He was right.

- What do you mean?

- I just, I waltzed in there
like the Queen of England

scattering largess
to the peasants.

I invaded his privacy.

- Mary, you can't bleed
for the whole world.

He was just one of the people
who doesn't want you to try.

- Wasn't it awful?

Do you know what I wanted to do?

I wanted to hit him.

- I know.

When you came back
with more stuffing,

I was afraid you might
pour it on his head.

Mary, if it's all right
with Bill and your parents,

I'd like to come back
here for spring vacation.

How would you feel about that?

- I think it's wonderful.

Bill's very fond of you.

- What about you?

Are you ready to stop
calling me Richard Sloan III?

- I'm ready for that, but...

- You're not ready to say,
please come back Richard

because I want you to?

- Is it important that I do?

- It is, to me.

- Okay.

Please come back, Richard,
because I want you to.

- Mary was very much
like her mother,

neither of them knew or
wanted to know how to flirt.

When I met Sallie, she liked
me and she let me know it.

And Mary was the same way,

whether it was Richard Sloan III

or Tom Knight, the
gazette carrier.

- Come on Tom,
just give 'em to me now.

- I could take them out to
your desk for you, you know?

- If you don't stop
treating me like this, I'll-

- You'll what?

- I don't know.

You just make me
feel so helpless.

- Well, that's all the thanks
I get for being considerate.

After all, you're
used to riding,

not walking to school.

- A little exercise
never hurt anybody.

Besides, they're letting me
have the car back next week.

- What about Ginger?

- Uh-uh, still off limits.

My father says he'll let me know

when they think I can be
trusted to ride again.

Oh, I have to talk to someone.

I'll see you later, okay?

Ellie, hold on.

Wait a minute.

I've been thinking about you.

We never got a chance
to finish our talk.

- I know.

Maybe we can meet
later in the yard.

- Oh bother.

Come on in here for a second.

We can decide where to meet.

- Mary, Mary.
- Come on, come on.

- Maybe they should put
white only on the door.

- Mary-

- Be careful.

They might put no
idiots allowed.

Then where would you two go?

- You
think you so smart.

- What's wrong with you?

They insulted you.

- Forget it, I'm
not wanted in here.

- Who said?

- It's an unwritten rule.

- I never heard of it.

- Did you ever see a
colored girl in here?

- I never noticed.

I don't pay much attention
to things like that.

- Well, most people do.

Mary, I've got to go to class.

- But Ellie-

- We'll talk about
it later, okay?

- And I don't remember
a single article

or editorial about it.

How could you let it go by?

- Hi
Mr. White, hi, Mary

- Mary, I am just as
outraged as you are

by senseless cruelty but
segregation is not something

that started this morning
in the girls' lounge.

And it's gonna take a lot more
than an editorial to stop it.

- Well, okay.

But somebody has to
take the first step.

Why wasn't it you?

- I can't answer that question.

- Well, that isn't
gonna help Ellie very much.

- Well, we
all do the best we can.

- I think we can do better.

The undersigned believes
that segregation of any kind

at Emporia High
School is contrary

to the principles on which
this country was founded.

As taxpayers, we demand
equal access to facilities

for all students, regardless
of race, creed, or religion.

Well, what do you think?

- Well, it's a fine idea, dear,

but who do you
think will sign it?

- You and Father and
the men at the paper

and Pastor Rice and-

- Well, you can count
on us and probably Rice

but don't be so sure
about my employees.

They don't all think like I do.

- But they have to sign.

Everybody should.

- Mary, I don't hold with making
a man's private convictions

a consideration for employment.

- I know how you feel, dear.

I used to feel the same
way growing up in Kentucky.

Come to think of it, I still do.

Or I would, if your father
hadn't taught me the art

of the possible.

- What's that?

- That's reaching for the moon

when you know you can't get it

and then settling
for a piece of it

which is more than you
had when you started.

- But that's not good enough.

- It may have to be.

- You put me in a very
difficult position, Mary.

Why, you know I agree with you,

but this sorta decision
isn't up to me.

It's up to the school board.

- But you're the principal.

- I'm their employee.

- Well, does that mean that
you can't even sign it?

It's really watered
down, you know?

The first petition I drew up
asked for complete integration.

- What made you
change your mind?

- I haven't, not really, but,

well, Jane Addams
talked about a journey

of 1000 miles
starting with one step

and my parents talked about
the art of the possible.

And I don't know,

I guess I'm just trying to
believe that they're right.

- Well, my heart's with you.

I wish you luck.

- I'd rather have
your signature.

- I know.

But I can't.

You made your compromise

and I have to make mine.

- But-

- I'm sorry.

I know when Will
White's daughter

has a chance to think it
over, she'll understand.

- I hope I
never understand.

- Did he sign?
- No.

- I knew he wouldn't.

Maybe we should forget
the whole thing.

- No!

- Give it to me.

I'll take it on my paper route.

Maybe I can get some signatures.

- That's a good idea.

Don't worry, Ellie, between
us, we'll find a way.

- I really wish you'd forget it.

- What's the matter with you?

This is for you.

All of this, don't you care?

- I shoulda
known better.

- What are you talking about?

- If you really wanna
help, then leave us alone.

- Oh, sure, that's a big help.

Look, I won't stop.

I can't!

Just thinking about
stopping hurts too much.

- Hurts?

What do you know about hurt,

living up there
in that big house

with everything you want
and your daddy so famous?

You ain't even like
other folks in this town.

You don't even know your place.

If you did, you wouldn't let
me talk to you like this.

You will have nothing
to be afraid of.

You're William Allen
White's daughter

- Jim, take that up to Wally.

Let him have a look
at it, will you?

Harlow, will you excuse us?

- Sure, Mr. White.

- I hate this town.

I hate everybody in it.

- I have days like that myself.

- Don't make
jokes, I'm serious.

- I know you are.

I'm serious too when
I feel like that.

- Will you stop patronizing me?

What do you know
about how I feel?

- Why don't you tell me?

- You built a wall
around us in this town.

Nobody even trusts us.

Ellie said that I
couldn't understand pain

because I was William
Allen White's daughter.

Well, I'm sick and tired

of being William Allen
White's daughter.

I'm me!

- You didn't say
a word all through dinner.

Between your silence and
Mary's, I've got heartburn.

- Take some bicarbonate.

- I did.

It didn't help.

- Try hot water.

- I don't need
medical advice, Will.

I need to know what
this is all about.

First Mary leaves the
table without even a word.

And she rides off on a horse
she's forbidden to ride

and now you sit
here like a Sphinx.

What's going on?

- Mary came by the office today

to tell me she was tired
of being my daughter.

- Will, I'm sure she
didn't mean that.

I think she did.

I know she did.

- Well, you surprise
me, Will White.

You're the one who's
always telling me not

to forget my growing up.

That it'll help me understand
our children better.

Didn't you ever say
anything in anger

that might've hurt your father?

- Many times.

- Well, that didn't mean
you didn't love him, did it?

- I'm not talking
about love, Sallie.

I'm talking about like.

Mary doesn't like me

and tonight I don't like her.

- Thank heavens she's
back in one piece.

- Mind if I talk to her alone?

- Are you sure you want to?

- Better use part of
that towel on yourself.

- I'm okay.

- Don't ever run out
again like that, Mary,

I don't like it.

Did you hear what I said?

- Yes.

- You're angry at
me, aren't you?

Well, that's all right

'cause I'm angry at you too

and I don't like
the way it feels.

Now, what are we
gonna do about it?

- It's just that I can't
do anything, right.

- Well, I wish I could tell
you that you're not gonna feel

like this again, but
it wouldn't be true.

I don't want any
lies between us.

And when you told me you were
tired of being my daughter,

Mary, that hurt like the devil,

but at least it was honest.

- I didn't mean it.

I just meant that-

- Wait now.

At that moment, I think you did.

- I guess you're right.

It's just that I can't
even remember a time

when you and mother weren't
all excited about some cause.

I'd hear you down in the living
room after I'd gone to bed,

you'd be planning
some big editorial

that would right a wrong

or point out to people
how blind they were being.

And all I ever wanted
to do was help.

To do what you do.

And every time I try, I get
it all mixed up somehow.

- Oh sweetheart, I'm afraid,

you're just gonna have to settle

for being a little
less than perfect.

- I thought that's what
you expected of me.

Everybody else does.

- I doubt that.

I think the only one expects
you to be perfect is you.

Well, if that's what
you thought I wanted

then I don't blame you for being
tired of being my daughter.

Matter of fact, I know
just how you feel.

- How could you?

- Because sometimes
I get very tired

of being William Allen White.

I forget, you see?

And I expect him
to be perfect too.

- But you were never like me.

You didn't start out by wanting
to make something better

and end up by just
making it worse.

- Oh my.

Boy, I'd hate to have to
tell you how many times

I've done just that

and I might even be
doing it right now,

but I have to take that chance.

You see, Mary, that's
what it's all about,

being willing to take a chance.

You do it.

And I hope you never stop.

- Do you really mean that?

- Lord have mercy on my soul.

Yes, I really mean that.

- I'd rather be your daughter
than the Queen of England.

- Now I feel good.

Got my Peter Pan back.

- When graduation day
comes along in a few weeks,

Mary's chair will be empty.

She was all ready though.

She even had her dress.

Sallie and I figured it had
to be pretty important to her

for her to be willing
to go shopping for it.

Usually she had to be
dragged into a store,

kicking and screaming.

- Oh Mother, we
weren't going that fast.

- Good afternoon, Sallie.

How are you Mary?

Getting excited
about graduation?

- Nervous is more like it.

- We're just starting to shop
for her graduation dress.

- I bought Jessie's last week.

Isn't it a nuisance
having to go all the way

to Topeka to shop?

- Why, Jessie has
such a nice figure.

I'm surprised you
couldn't find something

to fit her right here.

- Not as long as
that's in the window.

Hasn't Mr. White instructed you
to stay out of these stores?

- Certainly not.

Why should he?

- I imagine he has more
important things on his mind.

Good thing you ran into us.

We're all-

What's that we're doing?

- Boycotting.
- Boycotting all the merchants

who support the strike.

- Why?

- Because our husbands
said we should.

- I don't understand.

Neither of your husbands
works for railroad management.

- My Charles says the Bolsheviks

are stirring up
the laboring men.

They don't really want
to strike, you know?

They're being forced to
by the union agitators.

- Well, I think I'd
rather take my chance

with the Bolsheviks than
with the roads to Topeka.

Come along, Mary.

- Coming, mother.

- Good day, ladies.

- Good afternoon.

Why I imagine you've
suffered a considerable drop

in business due to the strike,
haven't you Mr. Bonner?

- Oh, well, I never wanted
to get mixed up in this

in the first place.

I just didn't want to
lose my working trade.

Anyway, the governor's
just passed the law.

He's put out an injunction
prohibiting those placards.

Oh, it's sure a relief to me.

Well, come for your
graduation dress, have ya?

- Well, what were the
shop men striking for?

- Oh, the freedom to
choose their union.

I wanna support them

but I can't afford to have
it cost me my business.

How does that one
strike you, Mrs. White?

- Oh, that's rather pretty.

What do you think Mary?

- You mean to say that
just to sell a few dresses,

you're willing to let all
those families starve?

- I've got a family to feed too.

- Mary, please.

Let's get back to our business.

- Good afternoon Miss Butler.

Will.
- Hello, Sarah.

- Good, you came exactly
the right minute.

Just getting ready to go home.

- Oh, Mary drove me downtown.

- Uh-oh.

Well, I'll probably walk.

I need the exercise.

Ben.
- Daddy.

- Will you put this up
in our window please?

- Oh, you're too late, Will,

the governor just
obtained an injunction

forbidding the
posting of that sign.

- I know it.

That's why I'm gonna
put up a bigger one,

make sure everybody can see it.

- When they come to arrest you,

should I tell them
they'll find you at home?

- Yes, indeed.

- Arrest, Will, they
wouldn't do that, would they?

- No, I'm afraid not.

They know that's exactly
what I want them to do.

I want this to be a test case.

They know darn well it'll
never stand up in court.

Clear infringement
of civil liberties.

- If the governor ignores you,

why don't we all
drive down to Topeka

and march up and down in front
of the Capitol with a sign.

- That wouldn't be breaking law.

The injunction
prohibits the sign

from being placed
in shop windows.

- It's not fair.

That skinflint Bonner's
gonna get away with it.

Why don't we boycott him
for taking the sign down?

- Because that's an infringement
of his civil liberty.

- He doesn't
deserve to have any.

- Mary, if civil liberties
were only available

to those people we approved of,

we'd all be at the mercy of
every crackpot that comes along.

- Then why aren't you
fighting for Ellie?

- I am.

You know, I wrote that
article on segregation.

- I am not talking
about writing.

I'm talking about doing.

- Well, Mary, when you
get to be a little older-

- If getting older means
putting words before actions,

I hope I die young.

I'm sorry.

- I love your spirit,
you know that?

I hope you keep
it all your life.

- Will, she's serious.

- Of course she is.

That's what makes her Mary

I had written a novel called
"In the Heart of a Fool".

And I was quite flattered
when an offer was made

by the infant film industry

to make it into
a motion picture.

And when the filming was done,
I was invited to New York

to view the results.

Well, Sallie and I agreed

that Mary and I needed
some time alone together

so I invited her to come along.

Well, our trip was a lark

from the minute we
pulled out of here.

Trains have always fascinated me

and Mary shared that feeling.

She was so excited.

So alive, so eager to
drink in new experiences.

And so iconoclastic.

- You really can't get the
full effect without the music.

When it shows in the theater,

the piano player
will be pounding out

the "Stars and Stripes Forever".

Yes, well that oughta
help quite a lot.

- You really shouldn't
take the money for this.

They haven't used
your story at all.

- Well, what do you think?

- Well, Mr. Stoner,
I'm afraid that-

- Look, Mr. White,
you're a great writer.

Maybe the greatest, but the
printed page is not the screen.

- But what we just saw
had no relation to-

- You're being too
literal, little lady.

See what goes up on the screen
is the director's vision

of what the story is all about.

- Well, if that's his
vision of my father's book,

he needs glasses.

- That will do.

My goodness.

Time flies when you
are enjoying yourself.

Mr. Stoner, you're just
going to have to excuse us.

We were late for an appointment.

Come along, Mary.

- For an appetizer, may
I suggest the escargot?

- No, I don't think so.

- Oh, I'd love some.

- The last time you
were served escargot,

you just stared at them.

- I was only 10 years old then.

- One order of escargot.

- Very good, sir.

- Thank you.

- I could have ordered
for myself, you know?

- I'm sorry.

Would you rather
have something else?

- No.

- Miss White, may I
please have this dance?

- Certainly, Mr. White.

- Now, if I step on your
foot, just pinch me.

That's what your
mother always does.

What did you really think
of the motion picture,

or shouldn't I ask?

- Well, it was-

- It was an experience.

- Yeah, it certainly was.

It was awful.

- Mary, I wish you'd
stop beating around
the bush like that.

- And now
by popular request...

- Are they good?

- Delicious.

- Well, when you finish those,

I can order you some
more if you like.

- Daddy, I-

- Yes, Mary?

- I think you should sue them,
the motion picture people.

- Well now, wait a minute.

I thought they
showed great taste.

Mr. Stoner called me the
greatest writer in the world.

And I'm gonna put that
on my list right under

the Sage of Emporia.

- Have
you finished, miss?

- Yes.

That's another one for me.

- I concede, you're
too good for me.

You coming down with a cold?

- Let's play another game.

I'll let you beat me.

- Wouldn't much pleasure
out of that, would I?

- Well, I seem to remember
you used to let me beat you.

- Yes, well, that's different.

You were a little girl.

You knew what I was
throwing the game?

- Oh, not at first but

when I got to be about 12-

- Oh, come on.

I didn't do it that long, did I?

- And for all I know, you
may still be doing it.

Either that or you're
a rotten player.

- No, my mind wasn't on it.

I was starting to compose
a letter to Will Hayes.

- The postmaster general?

- He's the one that got me
into this motion picture deal.

It's all he ever talks about it.

He thinks they're
the coming things.

- What are you gonna say?

- I don't know, got some ideas

and get home, I'll talk
'em over with your mother,

sort them out.

What was that for?

- It's like I'm not even here.

- What are you talking about?

- I saw that awful picture
show with you, not Mother.

Why do you have to wait
till you can talk to her?

- Well, it's the
way I always do it.

You know, I share all my
work with your mother.

It has nothing to do with you

- But I want it to.

- Mary, there are some things
that just have to wait.

- What, 'til I'm older.

Is that what you're gonna say?

How much older do
I have to be, 100?

I have a brain.

I have opinions.

I may not be a woman yet,
but I'm not a child either.

I can't wait for you to see that

because you never will.

- Mary, it just seems
that way to you.

I remember when
I was growing up-

- When Mother was my age,

she was teaching school.

You were working
at the newspaper.

You didn't consider yourself
a child then, did you?

- Mary, your mother was
forced to miss her childhood.

I don't want you to miss yours,

now thank goodness
you don't have to.

- Daddy, if that's all you're
worried about, please don't.

I had a wonderful childhood,

the best any girl could ever
want, but it's over now.

Can't you see that?

Can't you look at me for
once and really see that?

- All right, what do you
think I should say to him?

- Well, first of all,
the audience isn't
made up of morons.

If people pay to be entertained,

they should get what
they've paid for.

Real entertainment
shouldn't glaze your eyes.

It should stimulate your mind.

- Maybe I can rephrase that.

- What's wrong with it?

- Nothing.

Go on, what else?

- Tell them that if they
think enough of a book

to pay good money for it,

they should respect
the author's thoughts.

Writers think up the
stories, for heaven's sake.

Not only that, how do they know

that the audience won't like-

- Just wait, now, let's go
back to your first thought.

- Don't be so gentlemanly.

You said you hated
the picture show.

Now you're writing that
you're disappointed with it.

- You're right.

We'll call a spade a spade

and let the devil
take the hindmost.

- Thank you.

- From the time Mary and
I got back from New York,

the current of my public life
nearly swept away all memory

of those few minutes when
my daughter and I knew

and respected each
other as people.

Miss White.

Can you buy me a soda?

- My pleasure.

- Get my hat.

I'll stand behind
this editorial.

- Of course
you will, dear.

- Damn La Follette.

It's bad enough we didn't
join the League of Nations.

Now, if we don't
get a World Court,

we're in for 100 years of war.

Children of this country deserve
a better legacy than that.

- Speaking of children,

what's happening
between you and Mary?

- There's no end to the idiocy

of some of the politicians
in this country.

It's a good thing
we're a strong people

because we have to either
survive some of our leaders.

What about Mary?

- Well, when the two of you
came back from New York,

I noticed a great
difference in her.

- I'm glad.

Sallie, what am I gonna
do about La Follette?

- When you calm down,
Will, you'll know.

- Sallie was right as usual.

I decided to go to Washington
and debate La Follette.

I left on a warm spring day.

- I wish I
were going with you.

- Not this time.

This trip is no
place for a lady.

I anticipate some
strong language.

- Well, Will, now you're a
much more effective speaker

when you don't get excited.

- All right, alright.

- Mary,
where are you going?

- I forgot
something in the car.

- I've been thinking about her.

When I get back,

I'm gonna try to treat her
as if she weren't a child.

Matter of fact, I'm gonna
get behind that drive of hers

to get the lounge for
those colored girls.

- Oh, Will, I'm so glad.

I'll tell her.

- No, don't.

I don't think words
are gonna be enough.

I'm gonna have to prove them.

- Just to remind you.

- That is first rate.

You have the makings of a
fine political cartoonist.

Sallie.

Now, don't you ride Ginger
too fast when I'm gone.

- But what about the-

- Letting your
ride faster again?

Well, maybe when I get
back, we'll talk about it.

- Oh no we won't.

I just can't stand the strain.

Now every time you
ride fast, Mary,

I expect to hear that
you've been thrown.

- I've never been thrown
from a horse in my life.

- That was a close call.

I couldn't go anywhere
without my talisman, could I?

Well, I'm off.

- All aboard!

- Hurry back, will you?
- I will, I will.

Bye.

- I love you.

- All aboard!

- That was the last
picture I had of Mary.

When I came home, she was dead.

Her funeral yesterday at
the congregational church

was as she would have wished it,

no singing, no flowers,

save for a big
bunch of red roses

from her brother Bill's
Harvard class men.

Heavens how proud
that would've made her

and the red roses from
the gazette for us

in vases at her head and feet.

A short poem.

Paul's beautiful essay on love,

from the 13th chapter
of 1 Corinthians.

Some remarks about
her democratic spirit

from her friend John H.J.
Rice, pastor and police judge,

which she would have
deprecated if she could.

A prayer sent down for her
by her friend, Carl Nowell,

and opening the service ,
the slow poignant movement

from Beethoven's "Moonlight
Sonata", which she loved.

Then the Lord's Prayer by her
friends in the high school.

That was all.

- Mary was the embodiment
of those things

that in the lives of young
people are essential.

She was the outstanding champion

of the down and out
and the pure of heart.

Her emotions and her
instincts led her

into a finer region
of human living.

She always stood for
things that were worthwhile

and gave herself,
unafraid, to the person

or the cause that needed
and deserved a friend.

It is such personalities
will stand in the breach

when the right
things are in danger,

and who become the law, the
life that has no law in itself.

And so we shall
remember Mary White

a democrat, unafraid
with a great heart,

and a strong, clean mind
and a dominating will.

We will miss you, Mary.

And now Mary's classmate
from Emporia High School

will deliver the Lord's Prayer.

- Our Father
who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,

thy will be done on
Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those
who trespass against us

and lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the
kingdom and the power

and the glory forever.

Amen.

- Your mother's waiting for me,

but there was something I
wanted to tell you alone.

I know in my heart that you
would've made a fine woman.

A woman that both of us
could love and respect.

I want you to know that.

But I want you to understand
that if I write about you

as my Peter Pan,

my free spirit
that'll never grow up,

that's who you were to me.

And now that's how
you will always be.

Good night, Mary.

Sleep well.

Finished it.

- The Associated Press
reports carrying the news

of Mary White's death, declare
that it came as the result

of a fall from a horse.

How she would have
hooted at that.

She never fell from
a horse in her life.

Horses have fallen
on her and with her.

I'm always trying to
hold them in my lap,

she used to say.

She was proud of a few things

and one was that she
could ride anything

that had four legs and hair.

- A rift in the
clouds on a gray day threw

a shaft of sunlight
upon her coffin

as her nervous, energetic
little body sank

to its last sleep.

But the soul of her,

the glowing, gorgeous,
fervent soul of her surely

was flaming and eager
joy upon some other dawn.