All too soon for Annie, the two weeks alone that the family consented to are at an end. To the last minute, she desperately spells words into Helen's hand. Impatiently, her mother calls her to return.
Back at the house, it becomes immediately apparent that Helen wants to revert to her old ways. At the very first meal, she begins by dropping her napkin to the floor, and meeting resistence once again from Annie she progresses all the way up to a full-fledged temper tantrum in which she flings a pitcher of water onto Annie. Outraged, Annie takes her to the well pump to refill the pitcher. As the water runs out of the pitcher, Annie spells W-A-T-E-R over and over.
Suddenly Helen stops, and rising to her feet, speaks her first word in many years.
"Wah--wah." |
