Speaking through the kids

I love this script. The plot seems simple, but there’s a lot going on just below the surface and between the words.

The word hate is used quite a lot in the script (usually from the kids) but the word love is scarcely heard. Pearl and Marty don’t communicate very well and they never say “I love you”. Love is implied more than spoken between them. There are two scenes where the parents are talking to their children, but I think their words are meant for their spouses too.

Marty discovers Pearl’s affair, disavows her and leaves the camp. Later, Pearl is with Danny and says “I love you, darling.” That’s the only time love is clearly stated to anyone. Danny tells Pearl she went away and Pearl says “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.” This is Pearl’s only true apology in the movie. This may be the message to her family that she’s only able to tell Danny.

Danny is bitten by wasps and Marty arrives unexpectedly with calamine lotion. Danny asks Marty if he’s still mad at him and Marty says “I’m not mad at you, Danny. I could never be mad at you. You know that, right?”. Does Pearl hear this and realize that Marty loves her and he will never truly be mad at her?