Scream, Pretty Peggy

It's $1.65 an hour.

No, that's not what I had in mind.

How about, um

campus gas station, pumping gas, $2 an hour.

Haven't you got anything else?

I mean, man, pumping gas, it's anti-environmental.

Well, there's a construction job just outside town.

They need casual labor.

- What are they building? - Tract houses.

No, I don't think so.

Well, that's about all I've got right now.

I'd have to wear a hard hat.

It would go just fine with your soft head.

The housekeeping job, I want it.

What housekeeping job?

Oh, don't tell me it's gone, I'm gonna die.

I just heard about it, or I would've been here much sooner.

Elliott, light housekeeping, two hours a day,

no cooking, own transport.

Seventy-five cents an hour.

- Ha! - I'll take it!

You'll work for 75 cents an hour?

Listen, I'm not wearing a hard hat or screwing up the environment,

so what are you complaining about?

The minimum wage in this state is $1.65 an hour.

Listen, I'll tell you what, you keep turning down jobs at $1.65 an hour

and I'll take one at .75, and let's just see who makes the most money, okay?

When can I start?

- They'll want to interview you first. - Okay, when?

- Anytime. - I'm on my way.

- Wait a minute, you don't know where it is. - Yes, I do, thank you very much, bye-bye!

Yes?

Good morning.

I'd like to see Mr. Elliott, please.

I am Mrs. Elliott.

Mrs. Jeffrey Elliott?

Jeffrey is my son.

- What is it? - Oh.

Well, it's about the housekeeping job.

Yes.

The housekeeping job you advertised at the college.

- We did? - Yes, ma'am.

Light housekeeping, two hours a day, no cooking, own transport.

There must be some mistake.

- Who is it, Mother? - We do not need a...

It's all right, Jeffrey, I'll take care of it.

I'm sorry, you've come out here for nothing.

- Yes, what is it? - She's from the college.

She says you advertised for a housekeeper.

Oh, I did, come in.

- Jeffrey, we do not need... - Mother!

Mother, I'll handle it.

Come on in.

Well, I'd just about given up on anyone answering that ad.

It's been three weeks.

It's the money.

Nobody works for 75 cents an hour anymore.

Then why are you here?

I need the job,

and I have a fairly heavy schedule,

so a couple of hours a day would suit me just fine.

I don't mind the cooking either.

- No cooking is required. - Oh, yeah, I know that,

but I don't mind, I really like to cook.

That won't be necessary, just light housekeeping.

Yes, see, my mother is...

Well, she's not completely well.

The house is really too much for her.

Boy, I can see that.

I mean, I never even saw a house like this before.

- Is it just you and your mother? - Yes, just the two of us.

That's good.

Well, back there is where we eat,

and the kitchen is back through that door,

and the study is here.

Oh, this is really great.

And the bedrooms are upstairs.

Oh, what about that place over there above the garage?

- Do I clean that too? - No, no, no.

You won't have any reason to go in there.

- I take care of that myself. - Okay.

When do I start?

Tomorrow?

What about today? There's plenty of work to do.

- If you like. - Should I start in the kitchen?

- That's a good place. - Okay, sure.

Oh, um, one more thing.

Nobody works for 75 cents an hour anymore.

Well, how would a dollar and a quarter be?

How would $1.65 be?

All right, you have your $1.65.

Look, if there's anything you need, you better ask me.

My mother is inclined to forget things.

I'll be in my studio, which is around the side.

- I'm a sculptor. - I know, I think you're terrific.

Oh, wow, I'm surprised you've even heard of me.

Most people haven't.

I saw an exhibition that you had in New York three years ago.

I never forgot it.

You know, I think that that was one of the things that inspired me to study art.

- You're an artist? - Well, I'm learning to be one.

Yeah, I know, that's silly, you either are or you aren't.

- And which are you? - Oh, I'm not sure yet.

You see, I'm a fourth-year art student, and I transferred out here

because I wasn't getting anyplace where I was,

and your art department is supposed to be one of the best in the country.

- Is it? - I don't know that yet either.

I've only been here two weeks.

Well, I hope everything turns out the way you want it to.

Thank you.

That's Jennifer.

She's very beautiful, isn't she?

Yes, yes, she is.

Who is she?

I mean, is she your son's girlfriend?

Oh, no.

No, no, that's Jeffrey's sister.

That picture was taken some years ago, of course.

Oh, this house was so much happier

before she left us.

Where is she now?

She went to Europe, I think, yes.

Yes, Europe.

You shouldn't have taken this job.

Why not? It's exactly what I want.

There must be better jobs in town.

You could work in a shop or a bookstore.

And the trip out here, it's such a long way to come.

I have my bicycle, I don't mind.

Oh, and it's such a big house!

There's no problem, really.

Can I bring you anything when I come from town tomorrow?

No, nothing.

Well, then, I'll see you tomorrow morning.

Night.

Mr. Elliott?

Mr. Elliott?

Hi.

Am I disturbing you?

No, not really.

I thought you might like some coffee and stuff.

Oh, why, I'd like that very much.

Here, let me move this off for you.

Um, cream and sugar?

- No, just black. - Okay.

- Isn't it quitting time? - Yeah, but it's okay.

Today's Saturday.

No classes.

Thank you.

Would you like some pie?

Yeah, fine, thanks.

Thank you.

How is it?

It's good!

- It's good. - You don't have to say that.

- You're not gonna hurt my feelings. - No, no, really, it's very good.

What is it?

It's carrots and nuts and raisins, very nutritious.

I'm sure of it.

BOY

this place is terrific.

May I... may I look?

Yeah, sure, go ahead.

It's... it's just terrific.

Oh!

That has... that has such power.

Are you studying sculpture in school?

Yes.

Well, show me your work sometime.

- Really? You'd really look at it? - Really.

I mean, you'd give me an honest opinion?

Maybe you'd better not look at it.

I mean, I'm really not sure if that's what I really want to do yet.

Well, what do you really want to do?

I'm not really sure yet.

I know that I want to create something beautiful,

and that I want people to look at it and feel good,

and that I want them to say, "Peggy Johns created that."

What if they look at it and feel good and they don't even know who created it?

That would be fine too.

Would it?

No.

Would you like some more pie?

No, I haven't even finished this.

Hey...

That's your sister, isn't it?

Yes, that's Jennifer.

Your mother told me about her yesterday.

How long has she been gone now?

Three months.

She was in Europe, your mother said.

- Florence. - Florence.

What a wonderful place.

Yeah.

Jennifer and I went to Florence together once.

Rome too.

Paris, Marrakesh.

We used to travel everywhere together.

Is she married now?

I don't know.