LAURA:
I thought when I grew up I’d wander, wherever the horizon took
me. But when Almanzo – I called him Manly - asked me to ride in
his buggy...
(ALMANZO
helps her into buggy and then climbs up beside her.)
ALMANZO:
Would you like to hold the reins?
LAURA:
Oh, I shouldn’t! The horses look so young and wild.
ALMANZO:
All of them are that way at first. They’re not wild exactly.
They just haven’t decided to behave yet.
LAURA:
But they wouldn’t be as much fun if they behaved.
ALMANZO:
You think so? Here give them a try.
(LAURA
sits and takes reins. The "horses" immediately kick up and
LAURA and ALMANZO are thrown back.)
Hold on now,
keep the reins tight. Don’t let him get the start on you.
LAURA:
Look how the people stare, Manly. (Waving.) Oh, hi, Nellie!
Yes, it’s me, Laura Ingalls! Aren’t these some fine horses?
They’re from Egypt! (To ALMANZO.) Why is it such a sight
to see a woman drive a horses anyway?
ALMANZO:
They just don’t expect it, I guess.
LAURA:
(Waving.) Maybe they should get used to it.
(ALMANZO
takes the reins and stops the horses.)
ALMANZO: Laura.
LAURA: Hmm?
ALMANZO:
Would you like an engagement ring?
LAURA:
What kind of engagement ring?
(ALMANZO
opens a box.)
Pearls!
ALMANZO:
I asked your Pa yesterday. He said it would be all right. If you
should decide to say yes.
LAURA:
He did, did he? I’ll take the ring ... on one condition.
ALMANZO: Oh?
LAURA:
I don’t want the preacher to ask if I’ll obey you. I see
how hard Ma and Pa work together and it seems like they’re
partners. And they should agree on things together. Pa never asks Ma
to obey him.
ALMANZO:
That’s fine with me. I never had a single thought you’d
ever obey me.
LAURA:
And two...
ALMANZO:
Two? You said you had one condition.
LAURA:
Oh, Manly, I know you want to be a farmer, but I have a different
kind of life in mind. A farmer is a slave to the animals, the weather...
ALMANZO: (Crestfallen.)
Laura, I’m a farmer. That’s all I know how to be.
LAURA:
I’ll make a deal with you.
ALMANZO:
A deal?
LAURA:
Three years. I’ll farm with you for three years and if we’re
successful we’ll stay and earn our claim. And if we’re not
– we’ll find another way to live. Agreed?
(She puts
her hand out for a shake. ALMANZO is take aback by the business deal
but finally decides to shake on it.)
ALMANZO: Agreed.
LAURA:
You may kiss me now.
(He is so
shy he barely pecks her cheek. Satisfied with the deal, she takes the
reins and shakes them.)
All right
then! Giddy-up!
Note:
This is a sample from the actual script. To review the entire
play, order the PERUSAL SCRIPT (online instant download).
Commissioned
and originally produced by the professional Repertory Theatre of St.
Louis: Steven Woolf, Artistic Director
