Laurie confessing to Jo

Jo: I don’t know how I’ll survive this Holiday. Meg is married, Amy is off to Paris and now because you’re
a graduate, you’re off on a long holiday.

Laurie: You don’t have to stay here jo.

Jo: (looks up to Laurie) No, Teddy. Please don’t!

Laurie: I will and you must hear me. It’s no use jo, we’ve got to have it out, and the sooner the better for
us.

Jo: No, teddy. Please. No.

Laurie: I’ve loved you ever since I’ve known you, Jo, I couldn’t help it, you’ve been so good to me. I’ve
tried to show it, but you wouldn’t let me. Now I’m going to make you hear, and give me an answer, for I
can’t go on so any longer

Jo: I don’t. I never wanted to make you care for me so, and I went away to keep you from it if I could.

Laurie: I thought so. It was like you, but it was no use. I only loved you all the more, and I worked hard to
please you, and I gave up billiards and everything you didn't like, and its fine and I’m happy I did, and I
waited and never complained, for I……. I hoped you'd love me, though I'm not half good enough.

Jo: No, no. You, you are, you're a great deal too good for me, and I'm so grateful to you, and so proud
and fond of you, I don't know why I can't love you as you want me to. I've tried, but I can't change the
feeling, and it would be a lie to say I do when I don't.

Laurie: Do you truly jo?

Jo: Teddy……..

*It's not up to you

It's not up to me

When everyone tells us what we can be

How can we rewrite the stars?

Say that the world can be ours

Tonight*

Jo: Teddy, I'm sorry, so desperately sorry, I could kill myself if it would do any good! I wish you wouldn't
take it so hard, I can't help it. You know it's impossible for people to make themselves love other people
if they don't.

Laurie: I can’t love anyone else jo. I only love you.

Jo: Teddy, it would be a disaster if we married. We’d be miserable.

Laurie: We can Jo! We can! I’d be a perfect saint!!

Jo: I can’t! I’ve tried and failed. I can’t risk our happiness. We never agree and we never shall, and so
we’ll stay as good friends all our lives.

Laurie: Then why is everybody expecting this then? Why did your family and my grandpa expect this
then? Why are you saying this, Jo? Say yes. Let’s be happy together.

Jo: I can't say 'yes' truly, so I won't say it at all. You'll see that I'm right, by–and–by, and you’ll thank me
for it.

Laurie: I’d rather hang myself than realize what you’ve said jo. I’d rather be dead.

Jo: Teddy, listen. You'll get over this after a while, and find some lovely accomplished girl, who will adore
you

Laurie: I love you jo

Jo: And make a fine mistress for your fine house. I shouldn't.

Laurie: I love you, jo

Jo: I'm homely and I’m awkward and I’m odd and you'd be ashamed of me,

Laurie: I love you, jo

Jo: and we should quarrel––we can't help it even now, you see––and I shouldn't like elegant society and
you would, and you'd hate my scribbling, and I couldn't get on without it, and we should be unhappy,
and wish we hadn't done it, and everything would be horrid!

Laurie: Is there anything more?

Jo: Nothing, no more. Except that I……… Teddy I don't believe I shall ever marry. I'm happy as I am, and
love my liberty too well to be in a hurry to give it up for any mortal man.

Laurie: I think you’re wrong about that jo. I think you will marry and you will find someone who you’ll
love. You’ll love him tremendously that you would live and die for them, that’s your will and it’s your
way. And I shall stand by and see it. (Laurie leaves)

Jo: *But you'll find the real thing instead

She'll patch up your tapestry that I shred

And hold your hand while dancing

Never leave you standing

Crestfallen on the landing

With champagne problems*