["1 - 6", "Mrs. Sawters", "Ever what?", "Bina", "(Bursting out)", "They's jist too much to do around here for Paw! Why,\nwith all us kids' Cherokee allotments, and what land you\nand Paw own, this farm's might' nigh half a section. It's\njist too much!", "Mrs. Sawters", "(With easy jocularity)", "I never heard any part-Indians complain before about being\ngiven too much land.", "Bina", "Well, I wish the old government would jist take part of\nit back. Or I wish to goodness Clabe had his belly full\nof the navy by this time and would come on home and pitch\nin and help <u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp

1 - 7

Bina

You *know* he didn't have to!

Julie

(Smiling)

Do I? It must be wonderful to read people's minds - to
be able to tell them what they know and what they don't know.

(She goes toward the stairs)

Bina

(Controlling her annoyance)

What you been doin' upstairs in your room so long?

Julie

Primping.

Bina

Primping! I don't see why. Just because Gard and Opal are
comin' to six o'clock dinner! The Dunhams ain't nobody to
primp for.

Julie

I'm not primping for the Dunhams.

Bina

Who then?

Julie

(Cool and precise)

Mysself.

(She disappears up the stairs)

Mrs. Sawters

(Slapping her thigh appreciatively)

I'll bet she is, too!

Bina

Maw, you don't reckon she's sweet on Gard Dunham, do you?

Mrs. Sawters

Sweet on a married man?

Bina

Oh no, she wouldn't be, him married and all.

Mrs. Sawters

Wouldn't she, child?

Bina

Naw. But *he* could be sweet on *her* - like he used to be
'fore he married Opal.

1 - 8

Mrs. Sawters

He could be, yes. That's possible.

Bina

Oh, he was sparkin' her all right, all right. I heared him. He said she was the only woman for him, and how she stirred him all up and tied him in hard knots and - What'd he mean by that?

Mrs. Sawters

I wouldn't care to speculate.

Bina

I guess he didn't mean a thing, for right after that he up and married Opal 'fore you could say "Jack Robbison". The whole thing jist puzzles me.

Mrs. Sawters

I expect it does - and I expect it always will. You're a sweet child, Bina - your own mother admits it - but -

Bina

I ain't bright, is that it?

Mrs. Sawters

Oh, you're bright enough - in your own way. But why don't you stick to what's easy - and keep the wrinkles out of your forehead? What _are_ you scowling for, anyway?

Bina

Got up on the wrong side of the bed, I guess.

(Quietly, but with a rush of uncontrolled feeling)

Maw, if I was to leave here and go off someferes - what would you do?

Mrs. Sawters

Go? Where?

Bina

Oh, Claremore, Chelsea, Tahlequah - anywhere. I know I'm ignorant, and you're ashamed of me, and I ain't never had a feller, and I look like sump'n drug out from under a rock and - !

Mrs. Sawters

Bina! For heaven's sake.

Bina

Won't you let me get up and get out of here? Get educated, see things. I don't want to be a disgrace to you all my life!

1 - 9

Mrs. Sawters

Why Bina, I thought you liked it here, your own home, your
family. I thought you never wanted to leave. You could have,
you know. Gone to the Seminary when Julie did. We couldn't
make you.

Bina

Oh, I don't know what's come over me! Shakin' aigers or
sump'n.

Mrs. Sawters

(Gently)

Lonesome?

Bina

No, not lonesome. Afraid.

Mrs. Sawters

Of what?

Bina

It don't make sense, it's jist crazy, it's -

Mrs. Sawters

It certainly is. Here, get hold of yourself. Would you want
someone to see you like that? Julie'll be coming downstairs
again any minute.

(That will bring her to her senses -
and Mrs. Sawters knows it. It does.)

Bina

I'm all right.

Mrs. Sawters

You act plumb hysterical. I always thought you were the one
I could count on.

Bina

You can count on me, Maw. Sure you can. A minute ago I didn't know how I could last out the summer. I could a-died dead and been happy. Stuck in my coffin with forget-me-nots in my hair. Lawsee! I better see to things in the kitchen.

Mrs. Sawters

It's a good idea.

Bina

Drat the time! It oughta be basted - and here I set!

(At a noise at the front door)

There must be Paw.

1 - 10

Mrs. Sawters

I didn't hear him drive up.

Bina

I hope he remembered to get the sugar. Paw! For the cake
icin'.

(She sticks her head round into the hall)

Did you get the sugar?

Mr. Sawter's Voice

In the kitchen. A hundred pounds. That do you?

(He can be heard coming along the hall)

Bina

(Flying toward the dining room)

That oughta be enough.

(She snickers)

For a little bitty cake.

(She hurries out)

(Mr. Sawters comes in, a Tulsa paper several days old under his arm, and makes for his accustomed chair. He is a big man, once gusty and powerful. But the years are getting him down and he is a little bewildered by the change. He is abstracted now, brooding on something.)

Mrs. Sawters

What's new at the Switch, Dave?

Mr. Sawters

Nuthin' much. Oh yes. They're puttin' on another train on the KIXXEX Frisco. Comes in at three in the mornin'.

Mrs. Sawters

That's two trains a day now. Must be a boom on.

Mr. Sawters

Country's openin' up fast. Gonna join the Union, they say.

Paper says.

Mrs. Sawters

That'll just ruin everything.

Mr. Sawters

No, I don't reckon it'll do that. It's bound to come. Lots of people rootin' for it. Jine up the two territories together is the idy. Only trouble is what to call it - Indianokla or Indiahoma. Regular knock-down drag-out about it. WXXYY

Mrs. Sawters