Best Plays

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In this episode of Best Plays, we delve into the dramatic adaptation of Edith Wharton's novel, "Ethan Frome," brought to life by the talented Geraldine Page, Evelyn Varden, and Carl Weber. The play, adapted by Owen and Donald Davis, explores the harsh winter life of New England farmers, focusing on the tragic story of Ethan Frome, his wife Zenobia, and her cousin Mattie. As the narrative unfolds, we witness the emotional and physical struggles of the characters, set against the backdrop of a cold, unforgiving Massachusetts winter. The tension between duty and desire, love and obligation, is poignantly portrayed, leading to a dramatic and heart-wrenching climax.

Host John Chapman introduces the play, highlighting the impressive Broadway legacy of playwright Owen Davis and the distinguished performances of the original cast. The episode captures the essence of the New England setting and the complex relationships within the Frome household. As the story progresses, listeners are drawn into the intimate and tumultuous world of Ethan Frome, culminating in a tragic decision that changes the lives of the characters forever. Join us for this compelling adaptation that brings Wharton's timeless tale to the radio stage.

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From New York where the American stage begins, NBC presents best plays transcribed with John Jeffman.   Best plays, a series of hour length dramas selected from the outstanding successes of the New York stage.   Now John Chapman, drama critic of the New York Daily News is here to introduce   Geraldine Page and Ethan Frome by Owen and Donald Davis.  

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Mister Chapman. Thank you. And greetings, audience.   One of our two best playwrights of this best play is Owen Davis. The other, his son, Donald.   Somewhere there may have been or may still be a frustrated dramatist who has written more plays than Owen Davis and has stored them in a trunk, but nobody has ever approached Owen's records for plays produced on Broadway.   He can't remember exactly how many, so he puts the number at more than 300.   They have ranged from popular melodramas like her first false step,   shows that were quickly but expertly knocked together for William a Brady and Al Woods to the Pulitzer Prize play Icebound.  

Davis is a New Englander from way back. In fact, way back before the Mayflower, his forebears were on the stern and rockbound coast.   So it was not unnatural for him to see play possibilities in Edith Wharton's fine New England novel Ethan Frome. And with his son, he set to work upon it. The play was one of the most distinguished productions of its season on Broadway, and it enhanced the acting careers of Raymond Massey, Pauline Lord, and Ruth Gordon.   The star of our own performance is Geraldine Page, a young actress of exceptional quality.   She'll be playing the role of Maddie. With her as Ethan Frome will be Kyle Webber. And as Ethan's wife, Zenobia, we are happy to have Evelyn Varden.  

The drama concerns the winter hibernation of New England farmers, and the scene is the Frome farmhouse in the bitter chill of Northern New England.   That is Harmon Gough, pounding on the door of Ethan Frome's little farmhouse.   Harmon has a young man from the city with him, and the two of them are stamping and flailing their arms to keep warm For it is a cold winter night in Starkville, Massachusetts, and there's a bitter chill wind cutting through the various fabric of their clothing.  

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Hey. Yep. Ethan?  

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Hey, yep. This young fella here, Ethan, is a visitor. He's gotta drive over to Corbrane back tonight. Hey, yep. Can you take him, Ethan?  

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Nope.  

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Pay a whole dollar.   Why didn't you get somebody up in the village to do it? Oh, they all said it was too cold, mister Froome.   But Harmon told you that cold or no cold, Ethan Froome would need the dollar. Is that it?   Well, alright.   I'll take you.   Wait there.  

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Cold or no cold, Ethan Frome needs the dollar. And cold or no cold, Ethan Frome does not invite the man into his house.   No outsider is allowed inside   for Ethan has kept to himself ever since one night twenty years ago.   All that most of the people in the village know is that twenty years ago, something terrible, something terrifying happened to Ethan Fone.   Twenty years ago when Ethan was 28 years old,   it started in the kitchen of the same farmhouse.  

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Ethan.  

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Hi. This is Zena.  

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Listen to this from out of the mail order catalog.   Energex   vibrator new type tones up the system   beneficial   in the treatment of all deep seated   complaints.   If my complaints ain't deep seated, I don't know what is.  

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You don't care if your wife's ailing, do you?  

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How much does that thing cost?  

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$22.95.  

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How'd they pay for it?  

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Our cow's bound to starve long before pasturing time. We could sell her and get the Energex vibrator.  

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Are you listening, Ethan?  

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Nope.   Hey.  

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The doctor says I won't live if you don't take better care of me.  

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Missus Frohn, he says you see if Ethan gets you a hired girl.   I don't want you should wear it. A 50 times. I won't have any hired girl here. No, Ethan. Nattie ain't a hired girl. She's my cousin.  

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She's coming all the way up here just to help me in my last sickness.  

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Besides, the poor girl ain't got no place else to go. You you can't turn her out,   Ethan. My own flesh and blood.   And being my cousin, of course, we won't have to pay her wages. Well, I can't do it. And I won't. Well, she's coming just the same, Ethan, and you just got to let her stay.   The doctor says I just got to have somebody here. The doctor She can do the housework without it costing you anything.   Just a spare room and three meals a day. I'll see that's all she gets, Ethan, and I'll see what she earns. Yeah. So won't be no good to us. She's got to be good because she needs this place.   She was working in the shoe mills for a while and she had a job at one of them big department stores down there to Willimantic, but she didn't have much gumption because her health would keep breaking down and she'd keep on getting fired until   now she just can't get a job.  

She needs this place.  

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Sounds promising.  

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Oh, here she is.  

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Come in.   Come in.   Hello.  

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You must be Ethan.  

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Yep.   Got him. You go along home. I'll put up the sorrow.  

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So you're messy. How are you, Zena?   My just look at all them trees and all out there.   My, it's real pleasant.   How'd you say you was feeling, Zena? How do I look like I was feeling? Well, of course, I don't know how you're used to looking, Zena, and from the way you went on about it in your letters. Well, I just don't know what all I expected.   So I guess Shane is bad off as you might be. Oh, look here. I brought you something. I made it myself with molasses candy.  

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Molasses candy.  

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I guess it ain't so very good.  

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Well, Matty Oh, I'm awful glad to see you, Xena. You will have to start right in, Matty. I got that shooting pain so bad. I won't be able to help you much this evening. Oh, I ain't a bit tired. I just wanna look outside once more.   Oh, so nice here. Don't they ever close doors down to the Lomantic?  

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Oh, I'm so sorry.   I thought maybe you'd like it open. Before.   Why spring out? It's cold.  

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Now look, Massey, you might as well know right from the start, you come here to work same as a hired girl except, of course, we can't afford to pay you anything. But seeing you're my blood cousin, we'll treat you right as long as you behave yourself.   And, I see that Ethan takes you and fetches you from the church sociables once a month and, of course, you live here and, eat same as us.   Supper ready. Slope you're in a minute, Ethan. I've just been instructing, Matty.  

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Zena, I'm beholden to you and I want you to tell me just everything you want me to do. You might get supper. Oh.   Oh, you got it started already, ain't you?   Sue, ain't it? It looks alright.   I mean, I think the suit's about done alright, ain't it?   It  

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was alright last night.  

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Well, you know how to get it onto a plate, don't you? Well,   I guess so.   Now the dishes.  

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Where are the dishes? Never mind. I'll do it. Oh, no. No. I'll do it. I haven't got it.  

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Yes. I'm not much help. I guess not. Oh, I'll carry him to the table. I ain't up to eating much, but I would like you to bring me something if you don't mind.   Oh, well, I thought you'd be coming to the table, Dean. I'm also time. I ain't up to moving a muscle. Well, here You don't look much like a good worker, Matthew.  

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I'm terrible. Sorry.   I want you to be pleased with me, Dina. You see, I got to stay. I just got  

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to. Well, I don't know.   What do you think, Ethan? She don't look much on housework.  

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Well,   he ain't a freighter anyhow.  

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Oh, thank you, Ethan. It's alright, girl.  

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It's alright.   Let's   see.   Evening, Harmon. Who is it? Why ain't you inside the hawk? I'm just waiting. Another dime, this fella.   Come to every sociable for the past six months. Wait outside till Maddie's through.   Run-in.   Nice and sociable the church give out here. I'll wait here.   Suit yourself. Time to go at home.   Night evening. Night.  

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Ruthie, do you see your father looking for you? Sure. That's why I came out. He makes me sick, always following us around, watching us like a hawk.   It ain't as if we wasn't gonna be married.   Who? Who's that?   It's only Ethan. Hello there, Ethan. Hello, Ethan. Hello, Ruth. Ed, why aren't you dancing, Ethan? Oh, Ethan don't dance. He always waits out here like he wasn't water or something. Don't you, Ethan? Want me to tell Maddie you're here? Nope. I'll wait. She'll be along, Princess. She's dancing with Dennis Edith. She and Dennis seem pretty chook with each other. Ruthie, come on. Your old man will be coming out. Better hurry up if you wanna go home with me instead of him. Alright, man. Oh, you're not Ethan. If you see the old man, don't tell him to see one. Oh, he won't. He knows how it is.  

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Don't you, Ethan?   So long. Alright. Back around.   Hello, Ethan. Dennis.   I was looking for you, Ethan.   I am. I am.   Would you mind if I was to take Matty home?   Yes. I would.   I got the old man's cutter waiting down there.   Thought maybe she could take a little ride.   We won't be long.  

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Nope.  

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I'll see if she gets home safe.   Nope.   Alright.  

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Well, look. Why don't you come along too?   Nope.  

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Hey, Matty. See if you can't make Ethan come along with us for a little ride in the old man's cutter. It's getting kinda late, Matty. You coming with me.   Of course, if you want to stay and go with him, I guess I can't stop you. Come on, Matty. I'll take you home. He's more mine. We're eating?   Yes. I will.   But that hurt.   Oh, come on. He's a fearless sport. Can't you? You was young once yourself.   You go in with him, Matty.  

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I  

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goodbye, Dennis. I hope you have a lovely ride. Well, alright. Maybe next time,  

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Come on, Matty.  

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Night, Dennis.   If I'd known you was gonna be put out about it, I would never say to late Ethan. I ain't put out.  

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Come on, if you're coming. Alright, Ethan.   I guess you got a right to go home with him if you want. That's what makes me so mad. Well, you have. You thinking I wanna be going home with him.  

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Don't you suppose I know what walking two miles through the snow in the stock field and back ain't much fun for you after a day's work around the farm?   And you wouldn't walk it anyways if Edina didn't make you do it.  

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I might.  

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Would you?  

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I don't mind the walk.  

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Don't you, Ethan?  

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No.  

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Lately, I I've been getting so I kinda like it. It. So do I. I like it an awful lot.  

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It's kinda lonesome out to the farm. Don't it, Phil? I think I like getting away a while. It's real nice. Alright, ain't it? Dina ain't a whole lot of company, and she's speeding low. No. She ain't. Not that I blame her. Oh, no, Ethan.  

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Oh, well,  

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it it's a great night out tonight. Alright? Ain't it? Ain't it, Josh?  

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I ain't a mighty cold. Are you even? Me? No.   I was thinking.   It's so pretty up here on the hill.   Them lights down yonder.   I don't know if there'd be any harm in setting a while.  

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Don't know if there would.  

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Here's a nice place. It's fallen through here.  

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This is a nice place.  

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I go coasting down this hill. I know.   You know something, Ethan?  

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What?  

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I ain't never been coasting.   Not once in my life. Oh, well, would you like to go sometime? Oh, would I? You just ask me. Well, we'll go tomorrow night. You know, Ned, Hale, and Rosanna, they went down together. We was all watching and all of a sudden  

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What happened?  

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Well, nothing but almost.   I need you to see why they come just as close to where the right plums that big tree down there getting yourself killed.   That that big black elm down there at the bend. Do you see it over there? Well, Ned, he he ain't so much on steroids.  

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I guess it's I could take you down. Alright?   I guess you wouldn't have to be afraid with me.  

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No.   Don't guess the word.  

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Hey. It's not the stars out tonight. Make that Ain't there, Jeff?  

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Don't it seem like there's most annoying of them? More than that. What do you know? Yeah.  

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See see that one? That big fella there to the right? Oh, yeah. I think they call him Aldebaran   for some such They do. Yeah. And that bright one, That that's   Orion. And that bunch of little ones. No. No. Over there. Oh. You see? Swarming about there. Mhmm. They call them Pleiades.   They do. Well,  

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girl, you know an awful lot. Don't you, Ethan?  

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Oh, what? How'd you ever come to find it all out? I had put near a year in Worcester down there for the technological college. You did? Yeah.   Well But at the time I got acclimated, the old man died and I had to get back and take care of the farm. That was too bad.   And then my mother died.  

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Zena took care of her, didn't she? I  

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Zena was always a great hand for sickness and doctoring.   She come over from the next valley to nurse mother.   That was a long, long winter, that winter.  

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I see.  

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It gets   pretty lonesome sometimes in the winter. Yes, it does. Yes, ma'am.   Yep.   Pretty lonesome.  

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Was that the same winter you got married?  

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Yeah.   Right after the funeral,   Zena was packing to go along back home, but   I got to thinking   if I didn't get somebody around here to talk to, I I'd   so I asked Zena to stay and marry me.   He did.   That's all.   I think   Sometimes I think I might never have done it   if mother died in the spring instead of the winter.  

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So  

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you never got back to the college? No. No. And I wasn't there long enough to learn much to speak of, just enough to get me wondering about things once in a while.  

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Nope.   I get to wondering once in a while myself   about things.   Places.   Nice warm places mostly.   Like take down south.  

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Hey. Ever seen any pictures of them palm trees they have down there? No. Unmighty pretty. Oh, it's just a mess. Well,   for a good while there, I could call up the site of them pictures easy.   But these last couple of windows, the recollection's been getting kinda snowed on that. Oh, my. It must be real nice to travel places. Yeah.  

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I got as far down as Hartford once,   and I didn't get tired traveling at all. I could've just kept right on going and going and going.  

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Glad you didn't.  

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Oh my. No.   I   I like it in your house, Ethan.  

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Yeah.  

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Still, no, I I presume what folks say is only natural.   What does folks say in Ethan? They say that sooner or later you'll be leaving us.  

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Oh, Ethan?   You mean Dina?   You mean I don't suit her?   Oh, even if Dina sends me away, I don't know where I go or what I do.   Well, now she'd only tell me what I don't do right. And you ought to tell me you stopped me from home. You ought to tell me what to do unless you want me to go too. Me want you to go. You ought to tell them. No. No. Don't fret, ma'am. Don't crash. All I was trying to say was folks are saying that sooner or later, you might be wanting to leave us to get married.  

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Marry?  

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Why who'd wanna go and marry me? Well, now folks do marry. Ain't no getting away from that. So if you was to marry some fellow, why, it'd be natural you'd be leaving us. Well, that's a mighty big if.   Matty. Where you going, Matty? Well well, wait up a second.   Oh, say mad.   You  

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you ain't crying. Of course I ain't.  

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Why mad?   Lots of folks that want to marry you. I ain't noticed any great rush so far. Well,   take now.   I would if I could.  

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You would?  

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You? Oh,   yes. That's interesting, ain't it?  

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Or maybe you would, isn't   it? But nobody else.   Anyhow, you couldn't.  

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No. Don't guess I could.   But I I mean,   if I could, I would.   I would, Mandy.   Honest.  

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Look. The house is dark. Funny.  

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She just forgot. Then let me get the key from under the mat here.  

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It's gone. The key's gone. He But Joe has left it before us. Joe has left the light on before too. You're not like a match. Maybe the key's here. No. Ethan has no use to look and I know it ain't here and it's so late. Oh, Ethan, we shouldn't have  

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Shouldn't have what, Matthew?  

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Nina,   what are you doing up?  

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I felt so poorly. I couldn't sleep.   Well, come in.   Come in.   That's if you want to come in, you too.   Getting a bit light headed lately, ain't you, Ethan? Yeah.   This is the third morning you've shaved this week. Oh, yeah.  

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It's awfully peachy.  

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Yes.  

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Mighty sharp this morning.   You know what, Deanie? I'd stay right under them blankets today if I was you. I'll have Maddy fetch the hot water bottle. If I had someone to take care of things proper, maybe I could stay in bed. Well, Maddy will do for you. Alright?  

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Maddy, I have to work twice as hard now as I ever did before.   That's what's Aileen me following her around, showing her, watching over her. Well, now Matt is willing enough. That's one sort of thing. Yeah.  

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Ethan? Come in, Matt.  

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Why, Ethan from do you know it's till 06:00? Earth's been ready for hours.  

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Morning, Dina. Hey, Matt. Fill up that hot water bottle there. Dini's gone and got herself a terrible chill this morning. I got my chill last night getting out of a warm bed going down them dusty stairs to open that door for you two in the middle of the night. Well, I'll fill the bottle. I'll be right back.  

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Yes. That was my fault, Jeannie. I I got Gavin with Ed Barnum about business and first thing you know I was late getting to the sociable to fetch Matty.  

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You're sure that's why you were late? Sure.  

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Well, Gotham's coming and we are loading spooch and stopping the hall over to Andrew Hale's place today. I guess I'm a little late getting started. I guess you're always late now. You shave every morning.  

[00:21:11] Unknown:

Okay. Yasmina, here's the hot water bottle. Give it here. I'll do it myself. Self.  

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I'm terribly  

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sorry about last night. It was just awful late, wasn't it, Jean?   Yes.   Well, it was all my fault every bit. I went and promised Dennis Eddy last night, and he just wouldn't let me go. And poor Ethan there was waiting out in the cold. You're sure that's why you were late? Of course.  

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You hear that, Ethan?  

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I hear.  

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I thought you had to get about your business, Ethan.  

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Yeah. Well, I'll get there. And you see to it that everything gets done, Matty, so Zena can rest easy. She ain't feeling quite up to snuff this morning. I'll get back in time to give you a hand around the house later on. Ethan, you tend to the hall and Matty will see to the housework.  

[00:21:56] Unknown:

You want your breakfast now, Zeena? I got it on the tray here.  

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All that food  

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just going to waste. Oh, you always say that, Zeena. And guess whatever ails you, it ain't your appetite.  

[00:22:09] Unknown:

Messy.  

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Yes, Zina.  

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You've been leading quite a lot of dances with Venice Evie lately, ain't you? Oh, well, I don't know. I guess he dances a lot with most everybody.   His father owns the socks of your grocery. I know.   Dennis is quite a catch for some girl. My, I should say.  

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I wouldn't stand in your way if he was ever to propose to you. Oh my. Why he wouldn't ever do that? He might,   if If he was to give him the chance. Why, Gloria? Whatever put that into your head, Zena? I never thought of him that way at all. I don't like him.  

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Papa can't be choosy, Matthew.  

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Oh, I'm not choosy, Zena. I'm not.   Well, like I was saying to Ethan, only that's why I said, nobody ain't never asked me yet. I said and he said, well, if he wasn't married, he might ask himself.  

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So?   Well, so of course I said,  

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hey. And that don't mean anything, but still in all, I said it's real nice of you to say it and it was too, wasn't it? That's enough.   Well, then what's the matter? Take my tray.   Why are you looking that way, Zena? Take my tray.   Alright. Alright, Zena.   Now get out.  

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Get out.  

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Now, Matt. Matt, stop taking on so. What did Zena say to you?  

[00:23:36] Unknown:

It ain't what she said, Ethan.  

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It oh, I'm so scared. Oh, Matt. I I wouldn't take too much notice. You know how she is these cold mornings. Oh, Ethan.   What she said to you? Nothing. It ain't nothing.   If I was you, I wouldn't pay you. No. Never mind anything, she says. I I guess can't amount to much. Just don't take no notice of it at all. No.  

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Don't take no notice of   of me at all. Athena. Yes. It's me. What you got your coat on for? Where where you going, Zeena? Why ain't you staying in bed? Matty, get out to the barn there and find Jotham right off and tell him I said he should hitch up the sorrow.   You go along, Matthew, and do like I say and don't stand there gazing at Ethan neither.   I don't suppose you've got anything to say against Jotham hitching up the Sorrel even? Jotham's got the Sorrel hooked onto the sledge. You're waiting to haul the spruce on over to Andrew Hale's place. Is that so? Well, I need the Sorrel. I'm catching the train to Bethbridge.  

[00:24:36] Unknown:

Bethbridge?   What did you want to go to Bethbridge for? To see that new doctor. That's what for. But you you can't do that now, Zena. You you know, we just ain't got the money to lay out for any new doctors. You can say that and right this minute I got pains way down to my ankles and shooting back up through me like I was being stabbed. Zena, how are we going to pay the doctor anyway? Well, I got what's left of the car money. It ain't much but it'll have to do, I suppose. That's every cent we got in the world. You can't take that money, Zeena. You you just can't. Why, of course, I can, Ethan.   And now somebody will have to drive me over to the flat. Well, I just ain't got the time. I got to see Andrew Hale and try and get cash enough out of him to buy feed for the stock or all them critters will die on us. I thought Andrew Hale didn't ever pay under three months. Well, he don't, it's the rule. I need it bad. I I just got to get enough of the feed anyhow.  



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Well, Matty,   did you tell Joffam to hitch up? Yes.   Of course, you know Ethan. I'll spend the night without Martha Pierce.   There's only the one crane up from Betsbridge,   so I don't figure I'll be back before tomorrow evening if,   then.   Not that I'll be missed.   I guess that you can get along fine without me. You   and Mattie.  

[00:26:13] Unknown:

In a moment, act two of Ethan Frome, starring Geraldine Page with Evelyn Barton and Carl Weber.   This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.   Now act two of the best plays production of Ethan Frome,   starring Geraldine Page with Evelyn Vaden and Carl Weber.  

[00:27:00] Unknown:

Matt?  

[00:27:01] Unknown:

Yes, Ethan? Ain't that stuff already yet? I'm starving. Well, just a minute, Ethan. What you doing in there, Matt Hing? No. Never you mind.  

[00:27:09] Unknown:

It's Ethan.   Oh, hello, Jasper. That's fine. It's in your way, Mattie.  

[00:27:16] Unknown:

Just saw a bit before I start on down home. Who's that? It's only Jotham.  

[00:27:21] Unknown:

Oh,   hey, Jotham. Did you bring in that thing?  

[00:27:25] Unknown:

Yeah. Ethan, she's sitting by the door there.  

[00:27:29] Unknown:

Is that Jack? Yep. Brought you something mad. Well, what? Missus Andrew Hale. Give it to me.   Here.   Smile.  

[00:27:37] Unknown:

Why, my sake, that's apple cider, ain't it? Thought you might like it. Well,  

[00:27:44] Unknown:

on long now.   It takes   having me snooping around getting under your feet when you get the big supper to handle, ladies.  

[00:27:53] Unknown:

Nothing. Not a bit, Jonathan. You staying alright. Oh oh, yeah. I guess so.  

[00:27:59] Unknown:

They're moving along in a minute.   Sure. Ain't you away here? Catch your desk sitting around with that coat on, Jonathan. Oh oh, yeah.  

[00:28:07] Unknown:

Take it off till I go. Here's the supper. Bye out. Oh oh, yeah. I guess so.  

[00:28:14] Unknown:

They're moving along in a  

[00:28:16] Unknown:

minute. You just dig right in, Jonathan,  

[00:28:19] Unknown:

and you too, Ethan. Yeah. He's asking me to stay for supper. Well, I fixed everything special. Oh, yes. Well,  

[00:28:27] Unknown:

long as you're sure that I'm wanted.  

[00:28:30] Unknown:

No. I don't want to wear up my welcome.  

[00:28:34] Unknown:

Pickles? Yep.  

[00:28:36] Unknown:

Pickles, Jut'em? Yeah. Don't mind if I do.   Say,   Where'd you get that there pickle dish, Mandy? Oh, up there in the cupboard. Never seen it before. Ain't never been used before. Oh,  

[00:28:48] Unknown:

don't Gina like pickles?  

[00:28:53] Unknown:

Well, I do.  

[00:28:59] Unknown:

Happy. Say, this is a fine meal.   This is just the most fun I   I ever had at meal time.  

[00:29:20] Unknown:

Need some help with them dishes, Matty? No. Thank you, Ethan. I can manage.  

[00:29:26] Unknown:

That was a mighty fine supper, Mat. Oh, guess it wasn't so much.  

[00:29:31] Unknown:

I could do even better than that another time.  

[00:29:35] Unknown:

Funny the way Jotham kept hanging around waiting to be invited.  

[00:29:41] Unknown:

Funny the way he left soon his supper was over.  

[00:29:46] Unknown:

See, ma'am.   It's snowing.  

[00:29:50] Unknown:

Oh,  

[00:29:52] Unknown:

suppose it'll interfere with Zena getting back tomorrow?  

[00:29:56] Unknown:

Never can tell this time of year.   Say, ain't this the night we was going coast?  

[00:30:02] Unknown:

Yes. But   maybe it's too dark out. Yep.  

[00:30:13] Unknown:

Mighty peaceful tonight. Ain't it, Matty?  

[00:30:17] Unknown:

Ain't it so?  

[00:30:20] Unknown:

Hurry up, miss Edna.  

[00:30:22] Unknown:

Soon as I put the dishes up.  

[00:30:25] Unknown:

I guess I'll pull my boots off. Oh, no. Let me do it, boy. No, ma'am.   You   you let me do for myself.  

[00:30:34] Unknown:

Oh, I'm sorry. And   I didn't mean  

[00:30:39] Unknown:

Matt.  

[00:30:40] Unknown:

It's alright.  

[00:30:41] Unknown:

Matt.   Matt, that was real nice of you.   And I I didn't mean to complain. I   I guess I just ain't used   to anyone doing for me. And,   look, Matt, I'll give you a hint there. No. No. You said, Ethan. You just said, and I'll be through in a minute. No. No. No. Here. I'll just Oh,  

[00:31:07] Unknown:

Ethan. Hey. It's all right, man. It's broke. It's her pickle dish. It's all the pieces. Oh, Ethan, while she stay You couldn't help it. She never meant it was to be used even now ever. And I had to reach it down from the top shelf there, and she wanna know why I did it.   Oh, Ethan, what can I say? Don't you say anything, Matt. I'll get another one just like it over to Starkville tomorrow. Oh, you can't. I know you can't. Nothing like it.   I think it come from Zena's aunt, that one that married the minister all the way down to Philadelphia.   Oh, Ethan, she hates me so,   and she told me never to even touch anything of hers.  

She hates me, Ethan, and I'm scared of her. No. No. No. No. Don't fret.  

[00:31:50] Unknown:

I'll pick up the   pieces.   Now the chair.   Matt, was it here? Right in the middle of this top shelf. Oh, what good is that gonna do, Ethan? I've arranged it. I'm making it look like it was alright. Oh.   Yeah.   Well, that don't look so bad, now does it?   What?   Look, Matt.   From here, that ain't half bad. And I I I'll get some grue at the widow homens tomorrow and and stick them pieces together so   light as not, she'd never take notice till spring cleaning time. Oh, Ethan. She don't never miss a thing. Well,   no.   No. She don't miss much. That's a fact.  

[00:32:33] Unknown:

Still and all, it don't look half bad from here, Ethan. And   being as she won't be back till tomorrow,   I guess there ain't no use worrying tonight.  

[00:32:43] Unknown:

No.   I guess there ain't.  

[00:32:46] Unknown:

Alright, Ethan.   Let's don't think about it anymore.  

[00:32:51] Unknown:

I've been looking forward a lot.   All day, I've been   I had been thinking about a thing, but this evening.  

[00:33:00] Unknown:

Me neither, Ethan.   I've been most of the day fixing up my one and only.  

[00:33:05] Unknown:

That dress,  

[00:33:07] Unknown:

it's pretty. Oh, them do dobs is all coming off.   I what I'd ever do if they did.   Oh, now that dish don't look so bad now, does it, Ethan?   I mean, considering.   Oh,   Ethan,   why did she say to you up there this morning before I come up? Oh, no. He wasn't going to talk about it.  

[00:33:31] Unknown:

Well She'll be back here at this time tomorrow,   rocking away,   creaking,   and whining.  

[00:33:38] Unknown:

Ethan, I promise.   I ain't going to even think about it once more tonight. I wish that morning train be buried in 50 feet of snow. Oh, Ethan, that's awful.   It ain't right you should talk like that.   Still and all,   I bet some of them drifts over there to the flats is 50 feet easy.   Oh, now ain't it funny, Ethan, how all the things you ain't supposed to talk about is way by far the most fascinating.  

[00:34:07] Unknown:

Seems so.   My.  

[00:34:12] Unknown:

Still snowing, ain't it?  

[00:34:14] Unknown:

Are you?  

[00:34:16] Unknown:

Oh my.   Ethan.   Mhmm. You know what?   It's almost 09:00.  

[00:34:24] Unknown:

Oh, no.   No, madam. It's eight.   Can't be already. Look.  

[00:34:30] Unknown:

Oh my. Don't it just go to show?   Other time flies.  

[00:34:35] Unknown:

You ain't going to bed, man.  

[00:34:37] Unknown:

Where am I?  

[00:34:40] Unknown:

I guess it's time alright.   Of course, I ain't a night sleepy.   Are you?  

[00:34:48] Unknown:

No.  

[00:34:51] Unknown:

Still,   suppose I ought to be going up now.  

[00:34:55] Unknown:

Don't go, mad.   Don't go right away.  

[00:35:00] Unknown:

No.   I won't go right away, Ethan.   So nice and warm down here.   I guess I ain't hankering to go right up anyway.  

[00:35:12] Unknown:

Mary.  

[00:35:15] Unknown:

What was you gonna say, Ethan?  

[00:35:18] Unknown:

Meddy.  

[00:35:20] Unknown:

Ethan.  

[00:35:22] Unknown:

What, Ethan?  

[00:35:26] Unknown:

Good  

[00:35:34] Unknown:

night,  

[00:35:52] Unknown:

Matt. Hello, Matt. Hello, Ethan.   Supper ready? Most.  

[00:35:56] Unknown:

Oh, Ethan. Did you get the glutamate in the pickle dish? Here it is. Oh, Ethan. I'm awful glad you didn't go and forget how they just died.   Are you sure we can fix it alright so as it won't show? I'm sure going to dry, man. Well, let's fix it right off, Ethan, before supper. As soon as I wash it. We'll lay out an old piece of newspaper on the table and fix it on that, and then we'll have supper. Hi, Ethan. Oh, yeah.  

[00:36:19] Unknown:

Here's   here's something I brought you, Matt.   Open it   up.  

[00:36:27] Unknown:

Oh.  

[00:36:29] Unknown:

Oh, Ethan.  

[00:36:31] Unknown:

It's for pins.  

[00:36:33] Unknown:

It's beautiful, Ethan.   Nobody ever give me a present before.  

[00:36:40] Unknown:

I've sent it over to the widow Homans place when I was buying the glue,   and and I told missus Homans she could wrap it right up and put it on the bill with the rest of it.  

[00:36:49] Unknown:

Oh, my.   My, it's pretty, ain't it?   I'm most obliged   to eat.  

[00:36:56] Unknown:

Well,   looks like we might have one more evening.  

[00:37:02] Unknown:

Oh, Nathan.  

[00:37:04] Unknown:

He's in Venus' tummy. Oh oh, no. Well, look, look out the window. Oh, well, now don't don't flat me. Peace in the blue. Here. Here. Here. Hold on. Hide. Ashamed to explain to you. Do what? Do what? Do what? She ever find Donna, don't let her go. Put down in the night and fix it so she'll never know the difference. It'll be like noon, man. Just like noon.  

[00:37:22] Unknown:

Just set my bag down here and drop them. Yes, sir. Yeah.  

[00:37:27] Unknown:

Well, Zena,   you're home.   Jonathan, might as well stay for a bite of supper.  

[00:37:33] Unknown:

Obliged, Jason, butter.   Run along down home.  

[00:37:42] Unknown:

Supper's ready,  

[00:37:44] Unknown:

Zena. Well, I ain't.   Well, I mean, if you I'm going to my room, and I ain't coming down. I'm sorry, Zena. If you ain't well, I'll bring you out the bike. I'm going, and you stay right here.   But, Ethan, you come with me.   I've got something   to tell you.  

[00:38:22] Unknown:

Well, Zita?  

[00:38:25] Unknown:

Sit down, Ethan.   I'm a great deal sicker   than you think.  

[00:38:32] Unknown:

Oh, no. I I hope that's not so, Zena. Well, it is so. I got  

[00:38:37] Unknown:

complications.   You you know what that means. Complications   is nearly always fatal.   So it's no time to set yourself against me.  

[00:38:47] Unknown:

I don't aim to set myself against Josina.  

[00:38:50] Unknown:

See that you don't.  

[00:38:52] Unknown:

Is that what the new doctor told you? That's what he did.   Well, what did he say you should do?  

[00:39:00] Unknown:

First off, he says I oughtn't to do a single thing round the house.   That is unless you want, I should die.   Of course I don't want, you should die. He wants I should have a hired girl.  

[00:39:14] Unknown:

Oh, he does, Hey.  

[00:39:16] Unknown:

I,   got aunt Martha Pierce to find me one right off. Xena,  

[00:39:22] Unknown:

seems to me you're daft on having yourself a regular Hyatt girl. I told you don't you never say that to me again.  

[00:39:33] Unknown:

I don't want you should set yourself against me, Ethan.   Everybody down to Betsbridge said I was awful lucky to get a girl to come away out here and I agreed to give her a dollar extra   just to make sure.   She'll be over on the Betsbridge  

[00:39:51] Unknown:

local tomorrow. You had a right to tell me if he was going to go and hire a girl. You had a right to talk to me about it first. How could I tell you before I started? How'd I know what doctor Buck was doing to say? Did doctor Buck say how I was to pay her wages? No. He didn't. Well, I can't.   You'll have to send that to a new girl right back where she's coming from. No. No. I paid the girl half a month in advance out of the car money and give her a dollar extra like I said. Well, you get that money back from her and send her back in just as soon as she comes. I can't afford it.  

[00:40:24] Unknown:

Oh, I guess we'll make out all right.   There'll be Matty's board less anyhow.  

[00:40:31] Unknown:

What?  

[00:40:32] Unknown:

Why Ethan   Frome, you didn't suppose I wanted you should keep two hired girls, did you?   No wonder you were so upset about the expense. Matty Silver ain't a hired girl. She's your own blood relation. No. She's nothing to me.   The new girl will be over from Bettsbridge tomorrow, Ethan, and I presume she'll have to have somewhere to sleep. So,   Matty has to leave this house   tomorrow afternoon.  

[00:41:21] Unknown:

Hello, Matty?  

[00:41:23] Unknown:

Oh, Ethan. I thought I wasn't ever gonna see you again. Why,   Matt? Now what did they ever make you go and think that? Well, you wasn't there for breakfast, and I was scared. And then when Jocelyn come and told me you said you was going to town and we wasn't to wait dinner for you, you. Oh, Ethan, I thought for sure I'd have to leave without seeing you. Oh, no, man. Oh, Ethan, you must be just froze and starved.  

[00:41:46] Unknown:

You was down here all night, wasn't you? Yeah. Yeah. All night and all day, I I've been figuring and planning and   and trying and striving.   Maybe things will be straightening out.   She  

[00:42:00] Unknown:

said any more. She ain't said anything at all.   I ain't so much as seen her. She's upstairs there and ain't been out of her room all day. Matty? Yes. She is.  

[00:42:09] Unknown:

Matty?  

[00:42:10] Unknown:

Yes, Tina?  

[00:42:11] Unknown:

There's quite a few things you want to do, you know, and you ain't got a lot of time. Oh, what did she want to do? My room ain't been touched yet. Do it right away, Zeena. See what you do. And, Matty, there's   a Hockerbuck  

[00:42:23] Unknown:

Howell missing. There is? Well, what do you know?   Well, I ain't used any but the torn one you give me when it come. Well, it's missing just the  

[00:42:32] Unknown:

same. See it to find it before you leave.  

[00:42:35] Unknown:

I'll find it. Alright, Xena?  

[00:42:41] Unknown:

I'd hate to see that girl run off with one of my best towels. Xena,  

[00:42:45] Unknown:

Maddie's always done her level best for you, and you know it. Well, it ain't enough.  

[00:42:50] Unknown:

Xena. What?  

[00:42:51] Unknown:

Listen to me. I'm listening.   It just   ain't no use, Xena.   For seven years now, I had done all I could for you, and it just ain't no use.   And I want you to listen to me now.   Lena,   I can't go on.   I had never had a chance here.   I mean, like now, take the opportunities there is out there in the West.   I want you to listen to me now.   If ever I could get out there,   I'd be sure of picking up work.   Why, I might be able to make as much of my life as the next fella.   I want a chance to make a fresh start. I I want to get away and go out West and make a fresh start, Zena.   What did I do? I'll give you the farm and the mill, Zena,   for your   own. I'll make them right over to you.  



[00:43:48] Unknown:

What did I do with them?  

[00:43:50] Unknown:

Well, if you couldn't get somebody like now Jotham, he's a good man, or somebody to run them and make them pay, you could sell them and keep the money.   Who do I sell them to?  

[00:44:02] Unknown:

Well And how do I eat till I did sell them?  

[00:44:05] Unknown:

Look, Zina. I'll I'll raise some money for you.   Someway, I'll I'll I'll borrow something somehow   to take Andrew. Hey. At least he owes me something on the spruce. He might pay up a little. You seed him yesterday. What did he say then? Well, he he give me the feed. Alright. Yeah. But not the money.   No. But   if I was to tell him we need it bad, right off for the doctor, if I was to put it up to him like that, well, he's a kind man and a good friend, and he might  

[00:44:33] Unknown:

pay maybe a little cash. Do you suppose Andrew Hay would ever help you run off and desert your poor sick wife who ain't hardly able to stand up?   Andrew   Hay, a man who's a deacon in the church and I don't know what all.   Now would he do a thing like that? Would he, Ethan Frohn?  

[00:44:54] Unknown:

No. No, Dina.   I don't suppose he would.  

[00:45:00] Unknown:

Hello, Ethan.   Dina? Hello, Jotham. Mackey ready? Mackey?   What you calling, Tina? Come down here. Bring your satchel. I got the trunk loaded on. Fine. There's no need of waiting anymore.   Matty?  

[00:45:15] Unknown:

Here I am, Tina. Good.  

[00:45:17] Unknown:

I'm still worrying about that hook them up towel.   I found it right off. I thought you would if you was a mind to.   Well, Matty?   Well?   Not ready, Matty.  

[00:45:32] Unknown:

Well,   I guess so, Jotham.   Is it time?  

[00:45:37] Unknown:

Should I go now? That's all all hitched and waiting. You can go along home now, Jotham. I'm going to drive over myself. I want you should stay here this afternoon, Ethan. Jotham can drive Mattie over. I'm going to drive her over myself. I want you should stay here. It don't make a big difference to me one way or another. You can go along, Jotham. I'll drive her over. You can wait in the barn, Jotham. Mattie be right out. Well, I'm obliged to you, Zena.  

[00:46:04] Unknown:

I'll just wait and see   whichever   it is.   Be real interesting   to know.  

[00:46:14] Unknown:

I told you I don't want you should set yourself against me today, Ethan.   I want you should stay here this afternoon. Don't trouble about it. It ain't trouble.  

[00:46:25] Unknown:

I guess it's little enough. I'm I'm driving you over as far as the flats, Matty.   And there ain't no one going to stop me.  

[00:46:35] Unknown:

My my heart.   First, that pie of yours like to knock me down, Matt. And now   Ethan   setting himself against me and getting me all riled inside. I   can't breathe.  

[00:46:53] Unknown:

I can't breathe. I got you something, Zena? No.  

[00:46:57] Unknown:

I'll be alright. Give me that chair. Here you are.   Just stand up on it and get my stomach powder. No. No. The the the cupboard's too high for you. I couldn't manage. I should have tried that stomach powder last night when I said I would. I shouldn't never have tried to stand out against a half bear like I   my   pickled   dish.   I want to know who done this.   I want to know who done this.   I want to know who broke Miss McGoldy   Aunt to Laura Maple's best pickle dish.  

[00:47:51] Unknown:

I I put it up there on purpose and   and we was married and  

[00:47:56] Unknown:

they've been down once since. Not once except and only come spring cleaning time, and I lifted it down myself each year with my own two hands so it should never get broke.  

[00:48:13] Unknown:

I wanna know who could have done it. I done it. No. He didn't, Zena. Maddie. It ain't Ethan's fault, Zena. I got it down from the top shelf, and I'm the only one to blame for its getting broke.  

[00:48:24] Unknown:

I don't see why you done it.   I don't see how anybody could have done a mean thing like that.   I wanted to make the table look pretty. If I'd only listened to what folks is saying, you'd have gone long before now, and this would never, never have happened.   You're a no good girl, Matty Silver, and I've always known it.   I was warned against you when I took you in here out of the kindness of my heart.   I tried to keep my nice things where you couldn't get at him.   And now you went and broke the one thing I cared for most of all.  

[00:49:25] Unknown:

I like it up here on this show with you, Ethan.  

[00:49:29] Unknown:

Me too.  

[00:49:31] Unknown:

What time is it, Ethan?  

[00:49:33] Unknown:

I don't know.  

[00:49:35] Unknown:

We ought to go.  

[00:49:37] Unknown:

I feel dizzy, Matt.   Like I'd stopped in at the saloon down at Starkfield for a drink to warm me up.   We mustn't stay here any longer, Ethan. I just wondered we should stand here a minute, Matty.   Remember   being here the other night?  

[00:49:55] Unknown:

Seems like it was years ago, don't it?  

[00:49:58] Unknown:

Mat,   well, you   what did you do?  

[00:50:03] Unknown:

Oh, well,  

[00:50:05] Unknown:

maybe I'll get a place in the mill.  

[00:50:07] Unknown:

No. You can't.   And if you did, steady standing and heavy lifting nearly done you before.  

[00:50:14] Unknown:

Well, I'm a whole lot stronger than I was, though.  

[00:50:17] Unknown:

Now you're just going to go and throw away all the good being here, don't you?   Ain't there any of your father's folks that help you? There ain't any of them I'd ask.   Matt,   you know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you or for good? I know.   Matt,   if I   could've gone somewhere with you,  

[00:50:43] Unknown:

would you have gone with me? Oh, Ethan. Ethan, what's the use? Tell me, Matt.  

[00:50:48] Unknown:

Tell me.  

[00:50:50] Unknown:

I used to think of it sometimes.  

[00:50:53] Unknown:

Summer nights when the moon was shining in my window so bright I couldn't sleep. As long ago as that?  

[00:51:00] Unknown:

Yes, Ethan. How mad. I'm tied hand and foot.   There just ain't anything that I can do. You can write to me sometimes. What good will I do?   I'm gonna do for you, care for you, like you need.   I wanna put out my hand and touch you.   I wanna be there if you're sick and when you're lonesome.  

[00:51:20] Unknown:

Oh, you mustn't think but what I'll be alright,   Lisa?   Oh, I wish I was dead.   I wished I was. Matt, don't hate it. Why shouldn't I say it when it's true and I ain't ashamed? I've been thinking it all night and all day.   Mad. So  

[00:51:37] Unknown:

I wanna be dead. Now you be quiet, Mad. And don't you even think it. Nobody.   Nobody been good to me but you. Don't go and say that neither because I I can't so much as lift my head for you. Well, it's true all the same.  

[00:51:55] Unknown:

Look, Nat.  

[00:51:57] Unknown:

Look. This slab someone left.   We was going coasting here tonight. Remember?  

[00:52:04] Unknown:

Yes.  

[00:52:05] Unknown:

I'd even took you coasting. And you've been wanting to go all winter.  

[00:52:09] Unknown:

Well,   of course, it wasn't often we got the chance.  

[00:52:14] Unknown:

You know what?   We're going down  

[00:52:17] Unknown:

now. Oh, no, Ethan.   We can't.  

[00:52:20] Unknown:

We can't. Yes. We can too.   I guess we can do that. Alright? Well, I don't wanna go, Ethan.  

[00:52:27] Unknown:

And anyhow, the new girl will be waiting in the station. Her train gets in more an hour before mine, and she'll be waiting. I can't let you go now. I can't.   I've got to go. I'm not going to leave you. If I miss my train, Roe, I go. Well, you go with me, Ketchit.  

[00:52:44] Unknown:

And what's the use of either of us going any place now without the other one?  

[00:52:50] Unknown:

Ethan.  

[00:52:53] Unknown:

Ethan, we're going.  

[00:52:55] Unknown:

But where?  

[00:52:57] Unknown:

Man?  

[00:52:59] Unknown:

I want you to take me down with you.  

[00:53:02] Unknown:

Down where?  

[00:53:03] Unknown:

Down the hill, right off.   What? On the sled.   Down that hill so we'll never, never come up again. Never. What what do you mean? Right into that big elm down there.   Oh, you could do it. You could, Ethan, so we'd never have to leave each other anymore. What are you saying? What are you saying? Oh, Matt, go ahead. Ethan, where will I go if I leave you? I don't know how I get along alone. You said so yourself. You said I could never do it, and I don't want to. And there'll be that strange girl in the house, and she'll sleep in my bed where I used to lie nights and listen to hear you come up the stairs. I can't go back there. I can go back to that place. Oh, hurry then. Hurry. Let's go now.   Come on. Come on. Get on the sled here. Yes.  



[00:53:47] Unknown:

Yes, Maddie.   We're going down first together. Yes. Holding each other tight. Yes. I wanna feel you holding me. It's gonna hurt.   Don't be scared, mate. It ain't going to hurt. It ain't going to hurt at all.   We're going to fetch that elm so hard we won't feel anything at all except in only each other.   Ready?  

[00:54:09] Unknown:

Ready, Ethan.   Matt.  

[00:54:13] Unknown:

Hold  

[00:54:14] Unknown:

me tight, Ethan.   I  

[00:54:39] Unknown:

That was twenty years ago.   Twenty years ago, Ethan Frome said goodbye to the world and to his wife and lay down beside Maddie and pushed the sled over the crest of the hill toward that big elm at the bottom.   Twenty years ago and still, Ethan lives in the same little farmhouse outside Starkville, and people are not allowed in.   Outside Starkfield,   and people are not allowed in.   Ethan has changed here.   There are scars on his face. His hand is paralyzed. He limps.   He's returning now from driving the stranger to Corbury and for $1.  

[00:55:13] Unknown:

Low, Zena.  

[00:55:15] Unknown:

Did you get that dollar,   Ethan?  

[00:55:18] Unknown:

It's what I went for, ain't it?  

[00:55:21] Unknown:

Well, a dollar's a dollar, Ethan.   There ain't a whole lot for driving all the way over to Cobry and back this weather.  

[00:55:28] Unknown:

Another dollar will come handy, won't he?  

[00:55:32] Unknown:

Zena.   Zena.  

[00:55:38] Unknown:

I'm coming.   Don't you fret.   I'm coming.   How do you wheel me into the kitchen, Zeena?   Alright, Matty.   I wanna get warm.   Alright,   Mattie.   Oh,   Zeeny.  

[00:56:01] Unknown:

You bumped my wheelchair  

[00:56:03] Unknown:

and you hurt. You did that a purpose. No. Now you don't see that, Matthew.  

[00:56:11] Unknown:

You can't see that when I've been doing what I can for you for twenty years. Well, I wish you hadn't.  

[00:56:19] Unknown:

Wish you'd let me die.  

[00:56:22] Unknown:

Oh, why didn't you let me die that night to carry the sun in here?  

[00:56:32] Unknown:

It's warmer in here. I'm cold.  

[00:56:35] Unknown:

Here. I'll tuck your blanket in. No. Don't you touch me.  

[00:56:41] Unknown:

Zane, you do it.   He's a clumsy. He always hurts me.   Shh. You're worse than a baby, Matt. Well, I can't stand having him touch   me. Oh, ain't you never gonna die, Ethan, Froam?  

[00:57:02] Unknown:

Froams are tough, I guess.   Doctor was saying to me only the other day,   phromes says   you'll likely touch a hundred.  

[00:57:37] Unknown:

You have just heard the best plays production of Ethan Frome by Owen and Donald Davis, starring Geraldine Page with Evelyn Varden and Carl Weber.   Here again is your host,   drama critic John Chapman.  

[00:57:51] Unknown:

This to me has been an absorbing and moving story. A good book, a good play, and I feel some good performances.   Our thanks to miss Paige, miss Varden, mister Weber, and their fellow players for bringing it to us.   Next week, we shall offer another drama of considerable distinction.   It is Robert e Sherwood's play about the Arizona Desert, the petrified forest.   Experienced play goers will remember that in this work, the late Leslie Howard gave one of the best performances of his notable career, playing Allen Square, a philosophical   desert wanderer.  

The star of next week's performance will be another English actor of remarkable quality,   Cyril Rashard.   This is Chapman saying goodbye until next week.  

[00:58:37] Unknown:

Ethan Frome was transcribed in the Dacto Pro radio by Robert Cinedella.   Heard in the cast were Louis van Rutten as Hermann Gao,   Arthur Maitland as Jotham, Lawson Zerbe as Dennis, Bill Lipton as Ned, and Jane Webb as Root.   Best plays is an NBC production supervised by William Welch and directed by Edward King.   Fred Collins speaking.  

[00:59:29] Unknown:

Tonight, hear confession   on NBC.