Episode 222, Scene 7. Dialog between Eli, Rita, and Norman in the General Store. Norman is sweeping as a customer in a white coat is leaving. EC: Thank you. Come back again. C: Thank you, Mr. Carson. Rita enters the store carrying a grocery sack. C: Good afternoon. RJ: Hi. EC: Hello, Mrs. Harrington. What can I do for you? RH: He's not talking to me. He's mad at me for something. Would you ask Norman if he'd like to have a picnic with me on the bandstand, today? NH: Tell her, No thanks. I'm too busy. EC: Well, If I come out to the bandstand as referee, who'll give me half a sandwich? RH: I will. Eli walks over to Norman. EC: Come on. NH: Well, who's going to mind the store? EC: I'm the boss. And this is an order. [Eli, Rita, and Norman walk over to he bandstand. EC: Your corners, children. RJ: Oh, here's a sandwich for Norman. [Rita hands a wrapped sandwich to Eli. Eli tosses it to Norman. The sandwich is wrapped in waxed paper.] RJ: Here's one for you. EC: You know, my friend William Shakespeare said that true love never runs smooth. Norman, you're too old and too sensible to act like this. NH: This isn't any of your business, Mr. Carson. EC: Well, it's Rita's business. And if you haven't got the courage to tell her what it is you're quarrelling about, without getting mad, then I'm going to make you madder. NH: You have. Thanks. EC: And if you can't talk this over reasonably and quietly, and above all honestly ... NH: I get your point. EC: ... then you shouldn't be married. That's all I came to say. RJ: Oh, but I've got some potato salad and deviled-eggs and carrots and olives and pickles and a cupcake. Don't go yet. EC: You two work this out together. Eli leaves. RH: Here's some celery and stuff, if you want it. offering them to Norman. NH: I got in a fight with grandfather. Then Rodney ... RH: Why couldn't you tell me? NH: It was a dumb fight. RH: Was it over me? NH: Who knows what it was over? Grandfather suggested that he would like to give me some money. I said, "No thanks. We'll make it on our own." Then he got rude. And I got ruder. Enter the meddler, Rodney. I don't know who swung first. I always wanted to be independent. Well, I guess I should be overjoyed. RH: And you're miserable? NH: No. I enjoy baiting people until they can't stand it any more. Until they have to kick me out. Then I start feeling sorry for myself. Then I go around looking for other people to fight. The only trouble is, I'm running out of people. I mean that's an odd thing. Just you and me. NH: Do you want off? RJ: No. Norman walks over to Rita. NH: Even if I ... RH: No matter what. NH: You're crazy. RJ: You married me. You're the one who's crazy. NH: I happen to love you. RJ: If it wasn't for me, you'd be in there with Rod. NH: Who needs to be in there? RJ: You'd have a brother and a father and a grandfather. NH: So what? Who needs them? RJ: When we got married, I was going to try and straighten things out between you and everybody. I thought I could, because I wanted to be part of the family, badly enough. All I've done is drive them all away from you. NH: Good riddance. RH: Norm. NH: If they wanted to keep me in the family, they could have. I'm much more responsible now than before we got married. They just don't want me around. I shout a lot. I get into fights. And what really rubs them the wrong way, and I mean, Rod, too, is that I'm getting along. We're getting along without them. That really bothers them. No applause? RH: Maybe I'll go talk to your grandfather. NH: I dare you. [grins.] NH: Well, I'd better get back to work. Thanks for the picnic. And I'm sorry. I mean for being so rotten last night and this morning. RJ: It's okay. Norman kisses Rita, then heads back toward the General Store. Episode 222, scene 7 HOME