Jezebel

Julie Marsden:
This is 1852 dumplin', 1852, not the Dark Ages. Girls don't have to simper around in white just because they're not married.

Aunt Belle:
Child, you're out of your mind. You know you can't wear red to the Olympus Ball.

Julie Marsden:
Can't I? I'm goin' to. This is 1852, dumplin'. 1852, not the Dark Ages.

Buck Cantrell:
To the very good health of the future Ms. Dillard.

Julie Marsden:
Buck. Aren't you gonna wish me happiness too?

Buck Cantrell:
What's the use? You won't get it. Marryin' a traitor and goin' up North.

Julie Marsden:
Pres is a banker, not a traitor. I'll thank ya to remember that.

Julie Marsden:
Why do you treat me like a child?

Preston Dillard:
Because you act like one. A spoiled one.

Julie Marsden:
You used to say you liked me like that once. You never wanted me to change. Remember?

Preston Dillard:
You never saw an unmarried girl in anything but white.

Julie Marsden:
Then you're gonna see one tomorrow night.

Julie Marsden:
Well, shall we go, Pres?

Preston Dillard:
Not 'til you're properly dressed.

Julie Marsden:
You're sure it's the dress? It couldn't be that you're afraid, afraid somebody'd insult me and you'd find it necessary to defend me.

Preston Dillard:
How is Miss Julie?

Uncle Cato:
Miss Julie? Why she's just Miss Julie.

Preston Dillard:
Just the same?

Uncle Cato:
Well I reckon princesses, they just naturally grows up to be queens, that's all.

Julie Marsden:
Well say it. What are you thinkin'?

Aunt Belle:
I'm thinkin' of a woman called Jezebel who did evil in the sight of God.

Julie:
Well say it. What are you thinkin'?

Aunt Belle:
I'm thinkin' of a woman called Jezebel who did evil in the sight of God.

Julie:
I'm askin' for the chance to prove I can be brave and strong and unselfish. Help me, Amy. Help me make myself clean again as you are clean. Let me prove myself worthy of the love I bear him.

Gros Bat:
Oh Miss Julie, Miss Julie, Miss Julie ma'am. It's too risky for a white lady, Miss Julie. Me, I kinda mix in with the night. But them sheriff folks ain't foolin'. They're shootin' first and askin' afters.

Julie:
Bat - you hear me, we're goin'.

Aunt Belle:
Julie, child, I'm so sorry.

Julie:
For heaven's sakes, don't be gentle with me now. Do you think I wanna be wept over? I've gotta think, to plan, to fight.

Aunt Belle:
But you can't fight marriage.

Julie:
Marriage, is it. To that washed-out little Yankee. Pres is mine. He's always been mine. And if I can't have him...

Julie:
Your wife?

Amy Bradford Dillard:
And you're, may I say Julie?

Julie:
Pres' wife? You're funnin'.

Preston Dillard:
Hardly.

Julie:
Married? My felicitations, Pres.

Buck Cantrell:
Look here, Miss Julie. You were out here a mighty long time with Pres Dillard.

Julie:
Oh please, Buck. Pres had just been polishin' the brandy and...

Buck Cantrell:
My back teeth. Did he lose his capacity to drink like a gentleman in the North too? What does he think a lady's house is - a riverboat bar? What did he do?

Julie:
Oh Buck. I wouldn't have some silly thing I said be the cause of anything.

Buck Cantrell:
Miss Julie, you won't be the cause of anything. Depend on me.

Julie:
Thank you, Buck.

Julie:
Pres, why did you do it? Why, Pres?

Preston Dillard:
Because I love her.

Julie:
But you had my love.

Preston Dillard:
And lost it.

Julie:
Wasn't that memory more real than anything she had to give to you? Oh, don't be cross with me, Pres, just tell me. You must.

Preston Dillard:
Please don't, Julie.

Julie:
Shall I cry for ya? Nobody ever made me cry but you. And that was only twice. Do you remember?

Preston Dillard:
Yes.

Julie:
How much do you remember?

Preston Dillard:
Everything you ever said or did. But that's passed now, Julie. Done, finished.

Julie:
Amy, of course it's your right to go. You're his wife. But are you fit to go? Lovin' him isn't enough. If you gave him all your strength, would it be enough?

Amy Bradford Dillard:
I'll make him live or die with him.

Julie:
Amy, Amy, do you know the Creole word for fever powder, for food and water? How to talk to a solid, over-worked black boy and make him feel he will help you? Pres's life and yours will hang on things just like that, and you'll both surely die.

Amy Bradford Dillard:
Then it will have to be that way.

Julie:
It's not a question of provin' your love by layin' down your life for Pres. Nothin's so easy. Have you the knowledge and the human strength to fight for his life and for your own as one will have to fight? Amy, it's no longer you or me.

Amy Bradford Dillard:
What do you mean?

Julie:
I'll make him live, I will. Whatever you might do, I can do more, 'cause I know how to fight better than you. Amy, if you knew the horror of that place. It isn't a hospital. It's a desolate island haunted by death. They'll put Pres in an open shed with a hundred others. You must be there with him day and night, watchin' every breath he draws. You must bathe him, keep him clean, give him drugs, fight for his food and water. You must keep the livin' from him and the dead. Be there by him with your body between him and Death.

Julie:
Pres, I can't believe it's you here. I've dreamed about it so long. A lifetime... No, longer than that. I put on this white dress for you. To help me tell ya how humbly I ask you to forgive me.