" Cody""s old, hawkish mother or Ma (Margaret Wycherly, who also played a different kind of ""mother figure"" inSergeant York (1941)) is stirring stew on the stove, and Cody""s voluptuous blonde wife Verna Jarrett (Virginia Mayo) is asleep in an adjoining back bedroom.With a naturalistic acting style, Marlon Brando portrayed Terry Malloy, an inarticulate, struggling, brutish hero and small-time, washed-up ex-boxer who took a regrettable fall in the ring.Anna, who had lent the book to Tuptim, called it "all about the evils of slavery in America." The King agreed: "Slavery very bad thing." Anna praised President Lincoln for the Civil War fought to end slavery: "Mr.Lincoln is fighting a war, even now, to set the slaves free." The King and Anna entered into an argument about the war""s winning strategy, as the King offered an incredulous proposal to send elephants o America to ensure victory:King: Shall Mr.Yes, the Chair of the Committee on Superman is soft on security." While watching the proceedings on TV, Bruce asked his financial assistant if former Wayne Financial employee Wallace Keefe, a double amputee, was receiving his monthly Victims"" Fund checks.