Henrietta Lines Part 1

• ACT 1 SCENE 1

  Heaven's up there, they say. "Pearly clouds, pearly gates," they say. They don't know much about astronomy, I say. The science of light on high. Of all that is far - off and lonely and stuck in the deepest dark of space. Dark but for billions and billions of ... exceptions. And I insist on the exceptional. (MARGARET PINCHES) Ow - what are you doing?
• MARGARET. You know church is about to start. You know this and you're avoiding it and you've been caught.

  I haven't been caught, I've been attacked.
• MARGARET: With love.

  With pinches. What kind of world is this.
• MARGARET: You're not wearing your hearing aid. You’re fair game. Church. Now.

  I can't right now.
• MARGARET: Oh yes you can, We'reWaitingI'mFreezingComeIn.

  Margie, I'm sorry but I cannot sit still right now.
• MARGARET: The only thing you have to do in church is sit still. Now tell me what's going on or come inside.

  I've been trying to tell you all week but you're busy and you're barking and-
• MARGARET: I don't bark. I'm running the house, and Daddy's running the church and you-what are you doing? Staying up all night? In the cold? Like a moth?

  What is wrong with you this morning, Miss Jumpy.
• MARGARET: I'm not jumpy-

  I'm not a moth-
• MARGARET: Why are we still outside?!

  Because. They have a job for me at Harvard. At the Observatory. Actual astronomy.
• MARGARET: Since when were you even looking for a job.

  Since they offered. Margie, this is an extraordinary thing. They need mathematicians and they asked me specifically-
• MARGARET: Harvard asked you?

  Yes and please don't hold back your tone of shock.
• MARGARET: This is shocking-I am shocked.

  And I'm... leaving. I'm taking the job and I'm leaving.
• MARGARET: You've always been leaving.

  Next week.
• MARGARET: Next...? Oh Henri. Now wait. We need to discuss this as a family.

  Margie, this could be my best life and it's right in front of me
• MARGARET: And I'm still freezing.

  Margie, talk to me-
• MARGARET: Fine-yes-I know that we were never going to be grow-old-next-to-each-other kind of sisters, and the way you drive me crazy makes that for the best-but-Henrietta this is extreme.

  Exactly. Come with me.
• MARGARET: Oh, Henri, please.

  Both of us. Come on.
• MARGARET: What are you talking about. That’s absurd.

  Only a little! You're the only person who understands me, and you're always up for an adventure, and I do want to get old and scrappy with you.
• MARGARET: I did not say scrappy.

  You should come with me and fire up your heart!
• MARGARET: What are you talking about?

  The edge of the wide world!
• MARGARET: It's Boston.

  A blaze of learning!
• MARGARET: A blaze.

  A blaze! And Radcliffe is nearby and they have a music school.
• MARGARET: Henri. Slow down.

  You don't have to stay here. You can be happy, you can lose yourself-
• MARGARET: Loose my-? No. Stop. Do not start wearing bloomers.

  Margie.
• MARGARET: Wait. There are women these days, and they wear pants, and it's ridiculous. Now I have to play the hymns for the service that started ten minutes ago, and thank you, sister, my fingers are numb.

  I need you to convince Daddy to give me my dowry. I'm serious. Very. Please talk to him.
• MARGARET: Why do I get all the yelling jobs?

  You're so good at it.
• MARGARET: This is your future, Henrietta. You know for certain

  that you'll never marry, you'll never fall in love-people do that.

  Uncoordinated, unplanned emotion-Just the word "spinster;

  Henrietta, please.

  I need to start my life ... with Daddy's money.
• MARGARET: Next the bloomers. Whiskey with suffragettes.

  I'm not a cowboy.
• MARGARET: You know what I'm talking about


  I'm talking about astronomy. You keep talking about terrible pants.
• MARGARET: It starts with pants. It's a changing world. And some things should be sacred. And I'm not saying you shouldn't go-but I worry. It's far away, that place, and it's crowded, and you're still here in my sight and I worry. ·

  I'll be doing math. Don't worry.
• MARGARET: Why not stay here and live with us and...teach?

  No.
• MARGARET: Like every other girl with your temperament.

  I like my temperament and I don't want it stuffed schoolhouse. I have questions. I have fundamental problems with the state of human knowledge! Who are we, why are we - where are we?!
• MARGARET: Wisconsin.

  In the universe.
• MARGARET: Still Wisconsin.

  Margie, I am not just curious I am charged and poised and you know that I'll just get more and more annoying until I go - You know this - You know this.
• MARGARET: One day there will be a word for you. Just-for

  me, for our father, who will only after much snorting approve of

  this-when you go? Take a Bible.

  I think Harvard has those.
• MARGARET: You know what I mean. We look in the same direction-but our understanding is...distinct.

  I love you. It's too cold for God.
• MARGARET: That's why we keep Him inside.

  Margie, come with me.
• MARGARET: I can't.

  Why not?
• MARGARET: Because Father counts on me, and if you leave I can't leave, and I don't want to leave and...Samuel proposed.

  What.
• MARGARET: To marry.

  Who?