SIDE 1

MRS. PAROO

Well, Winthrop, Amaryllis asked you to her party. Are you goin’ or aren’t you?

WINTHROP

No, thank you.

MRS. PAROO

You know the little girl’s name.

WINTHROP

No thank you, Amaryllith.

(AMARYLLIS giggles. WINTHROP bolts out of the room.)

AMARYLLIS

Why does he get so mad at people – just because he lisps.

MARIAN

It’s just that he never talks very much.

AMARYLLIS

Not even to you and your mother?

MARIAN

No dear. We all have to be a little patient.

AMARYLLIS

I’m patient. Even though he doesn’t ever talk to me – but I do to him – every night – I say goodnight to him on the evening star. You have to do it the very second you see it, too, or it doesn’t count. “Goodnight, my Winthrop, goodnight. Sleep tight.”

MARIAN

There, darling, you have lots of time. If not Winthrop, there’ll be someone else.

AMARYLLIS

Never! I’ll end up an old maid like you.

(AMARYLLIS puts her hands over her mouth, catching herself too late.)

MARIAN

For the time being just say goodnight my – someone. You can put the name in when the right someone comes along.

AMARYLLIS

All right. It’s better than nothing.