Brigham Young University
BYU ScholarsArchive
All Theses and Dissertations
1965-08-01
Only There Were Two: An Original Play in Three
Acts
Ronald A. Dalley
Brigham Young University - Provo
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Part of the Mormon Studies Commons, and the Theatre and Performance Studies Commons
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Dalley, Ronald A., "Only There Were Two: An Original Play in Three Acts" (1965). All Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4633.
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ONLY THERE WERE TWO
AN ORIGINAL PLAY
A
IN THREE ACTS
thesis
presented to the
department of dramatic
arts
brigham young university
in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
master of arts
by
ronald A dalley
august 1965
dalley is accepted in its
present form by the department of dramatic arts of brigham
young university as satisfying the thesis requirement for the
degree of master of arts
this thesis
by ronald
A
19
date
vt&
dh
chairman
airman
member
0
ass
A
azz
6
advisory committee
L
advisory committee
advitokycommittee
ci
p
coahir
caa
lir
ma
ma n
C
major department
cairman
hairman
typed by geraldine bartholomew
acknowledgments
1I
wish to extend
my
appreciation to the following
people
to dr charles metten for his insights his encouragements to undertake the subject chosen and his faith in my
creative abilities
to my wife for her patience love encouragement and
hours of work on my behalf
to grant bowler who also gave me encouragement to
write a play concerning the settlement of moapa
moaba valley
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
PREFACE
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ONLY THERE WERE TWO
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PREFACE
the term drama means many different things to many
different people aristotle states that drama is an imitation
of an action
but what aristotle means by imitation leaves
much to be considered consequently his definition is not
entirely clear brecht believes that drama is a special interpre
pretation
tation of life an interpretation whose sole purpose should
2
be to appeal to ones intellectual understanding
this differs
from Arist
aristotles
otles concept that drama should excite pity and fear
marion gallaway maintains that drama is a work of art which
expresses the artists experience of a stimulus to a single
3
invariably each innovation
recipient or to a mass audience
as to what drama is has its followers and admirers certainly
history bears this out but dramatic elements have been
mare theoretical
emphasized and combined so differently as tomake
to make
definition most difficult
because it is puzzling to say what drama is it might
be approached from the opposite side and say what it is not
first it is not a simple narrative an account of a hunting
lAri
poetics trans S Hho butcher from the
daristotle
laristotle
larl
iari
stotle
aristotle
great critics ed
edo james harry smith and edd winfield parks
ede
W
wo W norton & company ince
new york
inc 1951 po 34
2bertolt
Ber
bartolt
brecht the alienation effect actors on
bertolt
toit
tolt
new
york
charoy
chiroy
toby
and
helen
eds
krich
cole
acting
actine
actina
actins
crown publishers 1959
p 282
3marion
amarion gallaway constructing
constructin2 a play new york
prentice hall inc 1950 p 5
such an account will generally lack complication and suspense and end up only as a series of chronological events it is not a mere sketchy
sketch A sketch is seldom
trip for instance
more than a
some
picture
drama must have
type of progressive development
action action with
this
does not mean to
that all action be necessarily external either the
internal or mental struggles of a hamlet or a macbeth illustrate that action of this nature can be more fascinating than
mere physical action
lono drama is not just mere entertainment
act iono
by entertainment it is meant something that holds so
someones
meones
attention agreeably and or amuses them nor can it be said
with george jean nathan that drama is anything that interests
an intelligently emotional group of persons assembled together
4
an
in
illuminated hall
therefore 1I must conclude that drama is so fluid in its
nature that when a person tries to draw a rigid definition
someone comes along and reveals examples that provide exception however a person must work from some kind of definition
tingo characteristiwritings
wri
in order to aid in the processes of writingo
writing
cally then 1I would say that drama is both the selection and
imply
arrangement of incidents and materials from life drawn in an
imaginative sense to create upon the audience a certain response
or effects
effecto
effect further 1I would say that the material is so
arranged as to develop action complication suspense and climax
4 george
the drama as an art european
theories of the drama ed barrett H clark new york crown
publishers 1940 p 503
jean nathan
vi
another aspect of drama which a writer
once again it
should consider and that is its purpose
becomes difficult to pin point a definition which states in
this brings
up
definitions are a means to build foundations it is imperative
that 1I deal with them so putting it as simply as 1I can it
is my judgment that drama is an expression of life by someone
who has a point of view and its purpose is to share that point
of view
would
it
fair then to say that drama
photograph life or just entertain
not be
should
in
than merely
hamlets advice to the players he states
the purpose of playing whose end both at first and
now was and is to hold as twere
itwere the mirror up to
nature to show virtue her own feature scorn her own
image and the very age and body of time his form and
do more
pressure
shakespeare alludes to the ideas that drama mirrors the culture
of its time that we depend upon the dramatist to discover
or to experiment to expose the many human variables that
exist in the real world in other words the artist tries to
5
communicate his experiences to others
thus drama with all its vitality with its ability to
reach deep into the world cf human existence must ultimately
6
deal with the essentials of life
anita block points out an
interesting parallel
in ibsens
A
dolls
house he depicts
dfrancis
5francis
of a theatre princeton
francis fergusson the idea
new jersey
princeton university press 1949 p 4
ganita
world in plays and theatre
nita block the changing
p 7
959
boston little brown and company 11959
vii
nore
as a person who
lb j
finally is
to function as a human
ISI
hewing rather than a doll
M is able to assert herself as an
sho
she
alt the
todayy
todays but amt
at
individual this may not mean very much to us today
imke of the popularity of ehe
imae
ICI
time
che
the play what was the plight of
wass it a disgrace to
vla
womens
womans
comanss individuality could
woman
coula she vote kra
7
hold a job outside the home
ibsens play draws from an aspect
of life that is essential in his time though all good plays
may not have this type of parallel structure certainly some
type of identification will be inherent
ta
t4
gian
glan
As members of the human family we are actors more anan
tnan
tian
tahe
reh a
rih
ke imitate others we act our way through
throu nih
half of the time tale
orr
labyrinth of personal relationships we judge people by our
own direct sense of their motivations while dis
discounting
tila
countin g tyla
discountin
play like politicians
lona bizat
iona
lons they offer
children playlike
rationalizations
lizat ions
ore tend and parents relive their lives in the lives of their
pretend
Q
moment
nelnt v c
nellt
children
in the same sense the stage becomes a mo
bho
stop pretending and evaluate the content a play has fco
to offer
offn
offa
if we share the authors point of view we should perhaps
observe a meaningful experience and be able to relate it tcO
acome critical it ir
ecome
our own lives
is
it is this reason we become
then we see the purpose for attending the theatre
1 ay
nv play
lav
approachle&
i lay
approached the writing of ty
pley
from this premise 1I aporoached
sornee time
1I have been acutely aware for sorconly there were two
tine
tim
that there are vast untapped areas in the struggles of our
off
olf drama
pioneer heritage that lend themselves to great moments or
made
1
e
0
1
71bid
bid
R
pp
ap
78
7 8
ergusson
ccit
gusson
son on
OD
er
fergus
fergusson
it
p
11
vilh
viii
vii
uit
olt
1I
to search these areas to capture the spirit of the
struggle and present it in a dramatic form suitable for the
stage so people may feel and appreciate the richness of what
cormons
Mor mons we are constantly emphasizing the
they gave As mormons
religious aspects of our pioneer heritage sometimes forgetting
and even sometimes deliberately pushing into the background
the fascinating human side of it all subject matter of this
nature would 1I believe help to illuminate understanding and
appreciation of the very human intensively dramatic and often
tragic lives of these people indeed it could make us reach
for a spiritual understanding that would light and nurture the
darkest corners of our souls 1I think william faulkner states
what 1I mean when he said
pn
an
forgotten
the young man or woman writing today has forctoti
problems of the human heart in conflict with ithe p roblems
the
self
his the writers privilege to help
is
it
man endure by lighting his heart by reminding him of
the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion
and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of the
past the poets voice need not be merely the record of
men it can be one of the props the pillars to helphim
him
heip
help
delphim
endure and prevail 9
if this be true then it should become of interest to us all
and where is a better place to stimulate that interest than on
the stage
in 1865 brigham young called a small group of people to
settle a desolate arid region in southern nevada called the
muddy valley
he wanted them to grow cotton to be processed
in a cotton gin that was to be constructed in st george utah
we need
0
william faulkner william Faulk
speech of
ners
faulkners
acceptance upon the award of the nobel prize for literature
new york
spiral press 1951
ix
it
was
all part of
10
30
self sustaining
brigham youngs plans for the
saints to be
this handful of people abandoned half built
sold property or gave
it away and bartered with whatever means they could for
ploughs
plought
hs flour ammunition wheat seed cotton seed and wagons
ploug
to venture forth in a calling that might well take their lives
the journey to the muddy river would be long hot desolate
when they would get there they would be
and treacherous
greeted by swamps what wasnt swampy would generally be
few meadows
akaline if they were fortunate there would be a fewmeadows
11
of rich fertile soil
the swamps would be infested with thousands of
mosquitoes many which carried the dreaded disease malaria
in the summertime it would be so hot that at night many 0off
the saints would wrap themselves in wet sheets or blankets in
12
sleep
to
order
the hot wind coming off the dry mesas would
be a relentless curse filling miles of irrigation canals with
blow sand the water tasted like a straight dose of epsom salts
and caused the same reaction until a person could get used to
homes
it
young orchards and growing crops
13
10james
1james
ajames
ljames
ijames
leithead
kate B carter
west ed
utah pioneers
1945
p
6
muddy mission
heart throbs of the
IV salt lake city
daughters of
illldon
don
ildon
don ashbough nevadas turbulent yesterday
westernlore
los angeles Western
lore press 1963 p 63
12mary
mary V lytle overton nevada interview june
1964
13
13george
george
los angeles
perkins pioneers of the western deseret
p 91
publis
wetzel publishing
bublis hi g company 1947 po
x
30
in the end they would be forced to abandon the settlement and once again start a long hazardous wagon journey
bitterly ironical it would not be the hardships and struggle
caused by the elements that would force them to leave it
would be the nagging persecution brought about by unscrupulous
men a tax war and a boundary survey
but before they would
leave they would more than accomplish their mission they
gr ow wheat
would grow cotton 20000 pounds of it they would grow
they would clear
and alfalfa as well as plant many orchards
and drain acres of swampland and they would endure hordes of
would they
grasshoppers droutha
hs and flash floods all this wouldthey
drouths
drout
conquer only to be forced to leave because of the prejudices
14
man
of
all would abandon the cotton mission except one man
his wife and family it is this man and his family that
become the focal point for the play only there
here were two it
must be remembered though that the play itself is fiction
and only the year the boundary survey the tax rates the
message from brigham young and the mass exodus from the valley
are historically accurate however 1I must say in all fairness
that the idea for the plot of the play springs from a man by
bondeli and his family who did not elect to
the name of daniel bonneli
leave with the saints in 1871 rather than starting all over
again he and his wife voted to remain even though it meant
almost complete isolation
14
14ashbough
ashbough
gp
cit
p
XI
67
from such courage and
will power the theme of a play
began to germinate
it was further given impetus by a desire
to dramatize the political social and moral conflicts that
these things with
heart and inevitably one comes up
such a group of people might encounter
mix
the struggles of the human
with material suitable for drama
1I have always held
but there were also other reasons
in awe the fact that this obscure little group of people
called to the cotton mission illustrated such a remarkable
faith a faith that is so badly needed by the obscure little
groups of the world today perhaps a play written about these
people could help engender a same kind of faith today here
lies a leason for the plays universality in addition to
this the subject is an area close to my own heart my own
experience because it is my home the year 1965 is also the
centennial year since the first mormon settlers came to rest on
the banks of the muddy river A way to help honor that
anniversary would be to dramatize it last of all the
material is there with which to make a good play
certainly in the writing of any play it takes much
preparation from the standpoint of both subject material and
technical understanding and both must be synthesized properly
if the play is to be valid in order to give me a clearer
understanding of the mechanics involved in playwriting 1I had
to do several things first 1I took a course in playwriting
which under the instruction of dr charles metten gave me
the first impression that perhaps 1I should like to write a
xii
led in this course 1I
enrol
enrolled
thesis while 1I was enrot
wrote a one act play and later produced and directed it as a
program for the overton ward
because of the plays success
by the moapa
and impact it was requested hy
moaba stake presidency that
1I present the play for the stake leaders
the thrill of seeing ones own work produced and
accepted by an audience made me realize even more that 1I wanted
to try my hand at playwriting once again only this time a
0 ly there were two is the
longer and more difficult work only
outgrowth of that desire
while delving into the technical theories involved in
constructing a play 1I found that all the authors of the books
which 1I had read dealing with this subject agree at least to
one thing
kenneth
the dramatist is born not made
macgowan puts it this way
play for
my
scores of books and hundreds of articles now attest to the
desire of some writers to teach and other writers to
be taught 15
learn an art that cannot in the broadest sense oe
or learned unless the student has a certain natural gift
however authors are quick to answer that there are certain
ber
b
ingredients in relation to the art of structure that can bes
6
16
macgowan lists
developed within an aspiring playwright
these ingredients as exposition preparation complication
suspense conflict crisis and climax and for the most part
books
ship
shin
15
15kenneth
kenneth macgowan A primer of
new york
doubleday & company
i
16
16william
william
boston
play making
archer playmaking
playwriting dolphin
p 9
1962
inc 1962j
A manual of craftsman
small maynard and company
xiii
1918
p
9
they should appear in that order in the course of the play so
7
17
a
that the plot structure will have cohesive unity
the development of character is enhanced as a result
of a skillful interplay and outgrowth of these structural
techniques though there is more involved in the development
of character eg believability personality and reaction
ip
18
so that characters will inevitably conflict or clash
it is to the reference of this kind of framework that
1I have organized my play but always keeping in mind the words
of brunetiere
there are no rules
there never will be there
are only conventions which are necessarily variable since
the
their only object is to fulfill the essential aim ofvary
dramatic work and the means of accomplishing
this
with the piece the time and the man 19
in the final analysis the experiences 1I have encountered
rewardingly
dingy somrewar
rewarding
during the composition of this play have been rewardingy
etimes discouraging and often times spiritually uplifting
the
research the preparation and the actual writing certainly
have been a rare educational opportunity an opportunity that
could be granted no other way
before 1I was able to put down a word of dialogue 1I
had to write two complete scenarios for each act
the first
scenario lacked dramatic fire and suspense the character
daniel stark was not interesting enough to hold an audiences
17
17macgowan
macgowan
op
22
ismacgowan
is macgowan
op
get
221
1 Q
cit
cit
pp
ap
49
32
3249
pp
ap
61
62
6162
19
19ferdinand
ferdinand
brunetiere
european theories of the drama
xiv
the law of the drama
op
22
cit
p
406
attention however in the second scenario the play acquired
an interesting tone and the essence of a good conflict was
there this in turn created suspense so that the audience
would worry and care about the central characters
the second
scenario received approval and 1I was able to begin writing
the dialogue the first draft with dialogue had some thrilling
moments but there were still head spots and a few inconsistencies in exposition 1I reworked these 1I also reworked
much of the dialogue of daniel stark to give his character a
greater inner struggle but at the same time a stronger
sensitivity
after 1I had completed the second draft 1I tested the
play structure with samuel Sel
seidens
seldens
dens iron check list of
feldens
structure ie
preparation which is largely exposition
precipetation
precipitation
attack the precipe
tation of conflict
struggle the guts of the play the conflict
turn name for turning point major crisis or climax and
how it all works out
usually
outcome
the ending
very brief
to satisfy
audience
the
that
conflict
is
really won or lost 20
for the most part my play stands up under this check
list but there is one more test it must meet and that is
called the golden check list
it involves three items
theme which must be unified acceptable to the audience
and if conventional supported by dialogue and action
founded on common premises
issue which must be clearl
clear important interesting
drive which is based on the leading characters having a
desire that is clear and strong and that will win
7
20
20macgowan
macgowan
op
cit
eit
elt
sit
pp
ap
xv
153154
sympathy
hold attention
serve as a worthy
dserve
iserve
to
resistance
desires
others
21
heat
that 1I can truly
tell
and generate dramatic
whether or not
my
play completely
1I can partially
meets these requirements remains to be seen
yes 1I think it will but the validity of
evaluate and say yest
that statement can only be measured after the play has been
tested before a live audience with live actors
s-
seiw
eit
selt skit
i
P
154
xvi
ONLY THERE WERE TWO
by
ronald dalley
CAST OF
daniel stark
esther stark
anabelle stark
john stark
vincent miles
israel holt
sarah holt
jake gibson
orson
or son thomas
mort chamberlain
in
chamberla
newton
hall
alma bennett
isaac james
captain monroe
men
and women
characters
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
SETTING
st joe
a small mormon
settlement in the
valley in southern nevada
ACT ONE
late february
1871
early evening
ACT TWO
scene 1I
scene 2
later afternoon
week later evening
one day
one
ACT THREE
one week
later late afternoon
muddy
1-
1
description of setting
settina
daniel starke
is crude
stacke homehewn
starks
stalks
cotton
adobe walls with
wood poles supporting the roof
and windows and doors made
whip sawed timbers
from whipsawed
brought from sheep mountain
seventy miles away the roof
with
is slanted and thatched
for
tules from the swamps appearthe rooms crude
all
ances it has a homey gentle
atmosphere a feeling that
seems to contrast with its
everycramped ackward
aokward
aakward look
thing is clean and arranged
neatly
on one side of the room is the
entrance doorway and on the
opposite side is a doorway to
the bedrooms at the back
wall is a fireplace with a fire
gently flickering to help give
a feeling of warmth and c6zi
ness on the fireplace mantel
rests a violin its glossy
brow ness and delicate curves
browness
browless
an atmosseem out of place in
inan
phere of mud walls like a
man s
sapphire on an old mans
gnarled finger A cot lies
near the entrance and somewhere
near the cot is a bookshelf
containing the works of
oq plato
pla to and
pia
mllton
milton
shakespeare Milt
add
various other literary and
philosophical writers as well
as the scriptures also at
the back is a window covered
with a gray oily cloth or
canvas A large cupboard full
of tins with one or two dishes
occupies a place somewhere
between the fireplace and the
large window A table quite
long sits in the middle of
the room surrounded by crude
chairs A large rocking chair
comfortably lingers against the
wall by the bedroom entrance
1I
2
basket of clothes to be
mended sits by the rocker
above the rocker stands a
rather tall rough box with a
onh
on
wash basin sitting ohn
oft it
tin
on
hang
Wash
hangon
washclothes
clothes and towels changon
pegs by the basin two
woodfox in a
buckets sit by a woodbox
corner of the room pots and
pans of various shapes and
sizes hang on the walls A
dishpan full of water is at
one end of the table
the
effect sought is one of struggle and hardship the curtain
stark
rises to reveal anabelle
putting a few things away
she is eighteen slim pretty
and mature for her age
esther
stark enters from the bedroom
she is middle aged fadingly
pretty but her appearance
somewhat drawn
the rough
has had its
life of the desertcandles
and a
effect several
kerosene lamp light the room
periodically gusts of wind can
be heard outside in a lonesome whining sound
gives
it
one the feeling of isolation
and perhaps desperation
huge shadows are cast on the
walls by the flickering light
from the candles and oil lamps
to enhance the feeling of
loneliness esther moves with
a slow and tired step
the day
she
has been hard for her
slowly arranges one or two
chairs in preparation for
visitors anabelle moves to
the table with a dishcloth and
begins to wipe A gust of
wind is heard
builds and
it
then fades
A
1I
3
ACT ONE
anabelle
stopo
ohm
lately
oh
atop all it ever does latelyis
stop
elyis
is
ohl 1I wish that wind would ostopo
lat
blow blow blowl
blosl A person can get so sick of wind we just
make a little progress when along comes the wind and undoes
everything
she finishes wiping the table
and turns to her mother
one of these
look at the grit and sand on that dishcloth
days were going to wake up and find ourselves covered over
by one big sand dune
her dishpan at the
she goes to herdishpan
end of the table
esther
finishes adjusting chairs and
moves to the bookshelf
1I iheard
aheard
heard john the other day saying a little verse
the wind like fury here doth blow
when we do plant or sow sir
that
we place one foot upon the seed
and hold it till it grow sir
1I dont know where he got it but it names this place
sighing
you complain too much it isnt
you should
jhouldbe
so
be thankful
esther
good for
a
girl
your age to do
she moves wearily to the book
shelf takes the bible goes to
the rocker and sits as though
she has waited all day for
this moment she lets out a
sigh almost of dispain
dispair
di
spair
thankful for what
who were called to
0oh
oh
that
im too
mother
its
anabelle
thankful that 1I am among the choice few
come
here
esther
weary to preach to you now
anabelle
you know what
what 1I mean
church and all
im thankful for theseems
so hopeless
just all this it
you know
1
youre just tired like 1I am
catch you talking this way
4
esther
besides dont let your father
esther opens the bible and
begins to read silently she
rocks gently back and forth
the wind swells again tinkling noises can be heard coming
ingnoises
rna
direction
from Ana
anabelle
belles
belies
beiles
suddenly she stops and listens
to the windo
wind her back to her
mother
anabelle
almost melancholy
you know when the wind blows like this and makes that lonesome sound 1I feel so far far away from everything like 1I
was
all
alone on a
esther stops reading and looks
at hero
her
but
nothingbut
huge flat mesa standing at the edge looking into nothing
a dark sea of emptiness and somewhere out there 1I look for
hope but always 1I see nothing but darknes
darknesss
the wind swells the sound of
blow sand can be heard whipping against the mud walls
then the wind dies into a low
whine
the lonesome sound has
captivated esther now she
she
has stopped rocking
stares out over the audience
esther
strange 1I feel that way sometimes 1I suppose we all get
like everything some
that lonely feeling once inyoua while
real only
were slipping from around
is my
that nothingmove
arms or
t
cant
kind of dream 1I feel so heavy 1I can
legs something 1I dread pulls at me from all directions some
fear some dread happening
her eyes stare vacantly in
front of her anabelle
slowly turns her head and
looks at her mother almost in
a disbelief
she stares a
moment then catches herself
anabelle
mother what are you reading
its
1I
still
iljob
job
5
esther
vacant
on a
anna hangs a di
dischloth
schloth
rom the wall
peg protruding from
esther begins to rock again
pensively
1I dont
need strength and reassurance 1I
doni know why when 1I mormon
or one of the other works
take the bible or book of
1I guess 1
and just open it and begin to read
I trust inspiration to guide me to open to that place 1I need most it always
seems to work
when you mentioned about the wind just now it
brought to mind this feeling ive
lve had lately
anabelle
maybe the muddy valley is getting to you mother
just
ive
seen a side of you vve
dve
ive never quite known before
lve
esther
pretending it isnt there
nonsense
Non
senselI everyone has the right to be depressed a little
once in a while
trying to change the subject
from her
selfe
seife
herselfe
herselle
herself
you asked which section of the bible im reading from
well
job
book
the
of
its
anabelle
yes
you told me
anabelle goes to the clothes
basket by the rocker picks it
up and crosses to the table
she sits and begins to mend
esther
yes
1
1I
did
oh
1I
did
anabelle
read out loud mother maybe 1I can gather some strength too
esther
slowly and deliberately
then should 1I yet have comfort yea 1I would harden myself
in sorrow let him not spare for 1I have not concealed the
one
words of the holy oneo
1
what
is
my
6
strength that 1I should hope
lif
may ilfe
ray
that 1I should prolong my
lifee
Is my strength the strength of stones
brass Is not my help in me and is
me
to
him
and what
or is
wisdom
is
mine end
flesh of
driven quite
my
from
that is afflicted pity should
she is interrupted by what
sounds to be hoof beats outside she and anna both
listen
like
itle3 levi
it
sounds
so meones coming
anabelle
go
out and see
maybe
anabelle rises and moves to
the outside door esther
she steps
looks after here
her
out the door looks a moment
and then returns to her
sewing
we
anabelle
must be hearing things or else
the wind
its
see anyone
levi should be in
relieved
trip
it
ous
when he
st
gets here
from
esther
1I
lil
ill
didnt
george any time V 11 certainly be
1I worry about taking that long
wouldnt be so bad
if the trail werent
so
treacher
anabelle
not like he were alone besides someone needed
mother
to help get the supplies
esther
1I wonder if john brought home those few things
oh supplies
ohr
ohl
op
1I iasked
basked him to get at the co
coop
asked
es to the
crosses
she rises and cross
cupboard
looks for a moment
did you see him bring anything with him when he came in this
its
evening
no
anabelle
but then hes always bringing or taking something so 1I
really cant say
T
1
1I hope
millaid
hasnt mislaid
he
them
7
esther
she moves back to the rocker
were out of supplies
p
clothing tools the whole valleys
out of everything
somewhat frustrated sounding
no bishops chips to get supplies no supplies at the coop
and a son who cant bring something home when 1I1ask
ask him 1I
aask
needed some flouro
be
flour levi better get here soon or well le
eating hay with the animals
she resumes her seat in the
rockero
rockers there is a short
rocker
silence esther begins to
rock again
anabelle
Is there going to be a meeting here this evening
esther
vaguely
yes
what
whatss
1I
it
anabelle
going to be about
esther
attention
not paying too much
something about a boundary survey being taken
grownups talk and doesnt concern you
1I
dont
know why
you ought
pause
im eighteen
anabelle
thats
its mainly
grown up
grownup
isnt it
to tell me more things than you do it wont be too
long before
1I
have to be making decisions on my own
should have some experience shouldnt 1I 1I think you should
more
trust me moree
esther appears not to be
listening rather lost in her
ill
own
thoughts
mothers
mother
she looks
youre not
even
listening to
met
mel
mei
mothero
mithero
at her mother
1I
8
esther
coming out of it
oh
for goodness sake anabelle of course im listening to
you what are you trying to say
anabelle
1I want to know why you wont trust me more with
well with
ruges shoulders
struges
shruges
sh
Ish
with things
looking sideways
trying to be
at her
somewhat
mother
casual
vincent came to see me again yesterday and he said that there
was some talk of folks wanting to leave because of hardships
and indians
Is that what the meetings for
esther
changing subject
1I suppose so
vincent has spent quite a bit of his time over
chasn
here talking to you hasn
it he do you like him
hasnt
anabelle
mother what a question to ask of course 1I like him
esther
how much
how am 1I supposedto
supposed
1I
was
chuckles
just
to answer that
anabelle
esther
wondering
mans voice is heard outside
pohn
john are
almost
shouts
it
you
nqinq an armload of wood
vou bri
bringing
fromm
woodpile
from the woo
lieiI daniel
liel
stark enters from the outside
he takes off his coat and hangs
on a peg near the doorway
it
entrance he is a tall lean
looking man he has iron gray
hair and sharp penetrating
steel blue eyes that give him
a distinguished yet delicate
and refined look
his manner
is calm and commanding he
loves to play classical music
on his violin and he enjoys
studying the good literature
of the world like the violin
A
1
9
1-
on the fireplace mantel
seems out of place
he
he
is
in the bishopfirstandcounselor
county commissioner
ric
of the rio virgin county which
is
is supposedly in utah heamong
strong
one of the
Is the stock and everything
yes
so
far but the night
leaders
the people
esther
all right
isnt
daniel
over yet
esther
what do you mean
daniel
he moves to the
fireplace and
stands with his back toward it
he puts his hands behind him
to warm them
israel holt had one of his cows stolen today that makes
three or four this past week
isnt
there something
we
can do
esther
john enters with a huge armload of wood he partially
stumbles and half runs to the
wood box and throws it down
with a resounding crash john
is thirteen or fourteen
obedient but has his attention
easily diverted sometimes he
has a hard time responding to
his duties he stands by the
wood box puffing and gasping
you
yen
yeh
didnt
for breath
anabelle
have to bring the whole woodpile
gasping
well maybe not
cold wind to get
wood
john
john
but you
dont
have to go out in
that
1I
10
fireplace
beside his father
he moves to the
you get your chores
yes
finished
daniel
john
sir
daniel
then continuing as before the
interruptions
interruption
1I dont know if there is anything we can do
doo 1I suppose just
learn to live with it the indians
indians believe itis rental paya point isnt it
ments for their land
but things
thats
have been so hard on the settlements lately not knowing
whether we are in utah or nevada or Arizo
arizonan
arizonae
arlzo nae supplies and
arizona
people are on edge hungry mostly
equipment running low
and when people are hungry theyre touchy cant blame the
indianso
Indi anso they get hungry just like anyone elseo
indians
else
eise
he turns his back
esther
its
rises
esther
you get the flour and things
john dilyou
didyou
did
asked you
from
the coop like 1I
john
A
look comes over his
and then he casts his
startled
face
eyes to the floor
gosh
apologetically
mom
1I
1I forgot
esther
crossing to him
oh john cant you just be responsible
daniel
turning around
co ops out of supplies
goods the coops
wouldnt have done any good
it
until the group gets back from st george 1I talked with the
bishop about
it
1
11
esther
1I worry about levi being out there in that desert
daniel
they should be here this evening unless something holds them
got
weve
work
up
happen
to
start
hope
that
doesnt
lets
ing and draining some new ground sometime this week if we
expect to get a few more acres of
bf cotton planted this spring
esther
daniel
hesitatingly
heard talk about some of the people want to leave the
ive
settlement sarah holt told me she and her husband might go
back to utah
mail
mall
moves to the wash basin
daniel
pours some water from the
bucket and begins to wash his
hands
Is
it
true
daniel
yes there has been ssome
1I
ome talk
what about the talk
1I were to listen to what
how much though
if
dont know me
1I should think everyone is leaving tomorrow
sarah told
he dips water in his hands and
vigorously washes his face
dreamily
it
john
s
like to live in a place where it
its
it rains once in awhile where the
would be
iwonder
wonder what
cool in the summers and
1I
water tastes like water
daniel
groping for a towel
you know how some people are
theyre not happy unless
out tonight at
theyre brimming over in misery well find
the meeting how some of the people feel As for sister holt
says
1I wouldnt be too concerned with what she sayse
bayse
daniel wipes his face and hands
john
1I
1I heard jake gibson say something about givin it up
up thats all
didnt hear much just givin it upo
1I
12
anabelle
with that kind of information you could spread the best
rumors in the valley
daniel
since the settlement began there has always been one or two
families moving in or out but 1I didnt come here to put in
seven years of the hardest days of my life just to pack up
and leave because things started getting tough we were
called here for a purpose some of the saints are quick to
forget that
esther
she goes to the clothes bas
ket where anabelle is and
starts to sort some clothes
well these last few months have been hardo
bardo
hard if its not the
not the wind
the floods
heat its the wind
windi and if
and if its not that
anso seems to be more
indianso
the Indi
indians
sickness lately people half starved and malnourished no
not so sure 1I blame people for wanting to leave
wonder
im
maybe they have the right idea maybe it wasnt meant to be
its
its
its
settled
john moves to the cot and sits
johnmovesto
daniel takes a dipper and prepares to get a drink out of a
bucket sitting on the flooro
floora
floor
daniel
president young wouldnt have called us to come down here if
he thought it couldnt be done
esther does not reply daniel
dips the water
john
will we ever be called back 1I think someone else ought to
swampso
have the blessing of living in the swamps
anabelle takes a book from the
shelf and moves to left end of
the table opens it and reads
silently looking periodically
to listen
daniel
1I was talking to brother gibson about this problem
1I
hima
hlma 1
him
I thought the valley has prospects of development
come a long way since the first time we rolled a wagon
ohp
thp
waz zeady
ready to admit that
th mesa into the valley he was
told
weve
off
but he
1-
13
the one to help it along
the way with people theyre willing to cash in on
thats
who are we doing this
someone elses
for just
alses struggles
thisfor
ourselves it seems to me the gospel enters in here somewhere
1I told jake he wanted to think long and hard before he
decides to pull up and leave now before 1I get wound up
further ive got to get ready for the meeting
he goes into the bedroom
john rises from the cot and
crosses to his mother
john
can 1I have something to eat before 1I go to bed
esther
there isnt much of anything left to eat 1I have a crust of
wasnt
so sure he wanted to be
will that
bread
anything
iam
lam
im
mom
monio
do you want any
no
do
just hungry
she goes to the cupboard and
gets out a ccrust
rust 0of bread
john
esther
anabelle
anabelle
thanks
you think maybe
well get
grasshoppers
down
john
to cooking lizards and frying
he begins eating
ohi
ohl
oh 1I
why
wincing
dont
did
even mention
we come
you know why
did
no
anabelle
we have
here
john
to
no one had
come
to
iti
ili
ill 1I
hope your bread
john
mom
esther
john
did anyone have to
esther
tastes
good
1I
if
so many
dont like it
14
john
why did they come
like it
didnt
been hard on
esther
just said these last few
johp life
months have
the settlers besides john
stoically
is very often doing things we dont like to do
who
said they
1I
anabelle
appears to me to be going a bit worse
does it have to be
it
than what we dont like by living here
esther
youre not making sense anabelle anyway if you discover
some place where it isnt let me know and
join you
ill
0
munching
reckon youd be dead
1I
1I
try to
dont
1I
weve managed
wonder what
thats
if
it
wouldnt you
esther has moved to the rocker
once again
she has taken
some socks with her and begins
to darn
anabelle
you found
everything the church asks
do you do
we
john
it
esther
quite well so far
john
would be like to be normal
anabelle
laughing
a good question coming from you
think youre normal
you
didnt
esther
that way
it
cities having
mean
1I
john
living where other people
house instead of a mud hut
mean
a
live in the
and living with people lots of people
as an afterthought
who
arent
mormons
cormons
Mormons
esther
living with normal people as you like to call it
tried
1I suppose
indirectly thats why were here
we
she indicates the room
I
15
T
1
john when you get old enough to be on your own you can go
and live with the gentiles but im not so sure that they will
themm
thene
them
let you live with theme
john
why
anabelle
because you are a mormon
does
that
make a
john
difference
esther
cu
perse
shouldnt but it does need 1I remind you of the persecu
perselu
it
gions
fcions
tions we have endured because of our beliefs
bitt
bilt
but
that
not
that long
agop
was a long time ago
you sound as
good
little
but something
A
strange
if thats
how
bad
john
wasnt it
esther
easy
it is
to forget though
anabelle
esther
A lot of
and bad 1I reckon
means more when you have to
that sounds likefather
ilke father
like
now
terrible
memories
suffer for
it
anabelle
anabelle
esther looks at Af
for
tabelle
moment
anabelle glances
away
esther
there is a limit to what a person can take
john
will they ever bother us out here
esther
almost bitter
1I shouldnt think they would
they do
if
to go because
tell you for one thing
the ear
ill
well
this
have no place
is the end of
she catches herself half
embarrassed at what she was
about to say she quickly
a
ilg
11616
1I
glances to see if anabelle is
listening she is
a
john you
flustered
little
questionsl
ask too many questions
anabelle
indicating book
this book states that life is based on strength the strong
do what they can and the weak suffer what they must
are we
weak
entering in time to hear what
anabelle has said
daniel
that depends upon your definition of strong or weak perhaps
what you mean is is it better to be good or to be strong
Is
better to be righteous or have power and revenge over your
it
enemies
really doesnt matter does it because of the
it
way men act they suffer either way you look at it
he
he is holding a dark coat
also has on a vest and tie of
the times
Is my tie straight
esther rises crosses to him
and adjusts the tie
anabelle
cant a person be both good and strong
daniel
yes and when they are there is peace but when they arent
which is most often the case theres misery and suffering
john
1I
wonder
just finishing his bread
if people will ever learn to live together
daniel
putting on his coat
not unless they learn to heed the teachings
teachingsl of christ you
see men are basically discontented with what they have A
man tires of what he has and pines for what he hasnt
he
ridicules what he doesnt understand and he persecutes those
who may believe differently
historyis
historys is a living testimony
history
teotimo ny to
testimo
that
1I
17
daniel goes to his bookshelf
and searches for some papers
he finds them brings them to
the table sits and begins to
therrie
slowly leaf through therrio
them
john
chin in both hands
you know 1I really donl
mucho 1I dont
doni
dontt mind livin here so much
like the heat an the wind but there are times in the evening
when the air smells of damp willows and tama
tamarisks
risks from the
river
bank
if
he breathes in as
smell ito
it
he can
esther
picking up the clothes and
socks and placing them in the
basket
that
makes you
feel all
good
inside doesnt
it
john
dreamily
you can smell the dampness
yes
1I like to sleep outside
Dut side too
of the river and every so often a kind of warm breeze ripples
the cottonwood leaves it makes a slow chattering sound that
top 1I 11 bet the
rooftop
t rain on a roof
lulls me to sleep like soft
sof
stars at night twinkle brighter here in the spring than any
place on earth
ill
1
esther
at the
esther
end of johns speech
moves to the bedroom
door with the basket of clothes
clear the table off john and get ready for bed you too
mee
meetingo
meetings
tingo
ing
inq
Ana
meeting
bellOe people might start coming any minute for the meet
anabelloe
anabelle
john takes a cloth
she exitso
exite
exits
and wipes the table
tabie anabelle
off in the dissits looking
john follows after his
tance johnfollows
mother
daniel continues to
look through his papers
1
18
Ana beile
anabelle
belie
belle
father why does the lord cause suffering
daniel
daniel looks up somewhat
daughters
bewildered by his daughter
ls
question
well 1I uh im not so sure that the lord causes it it
comes back to the same thing weve been discussing
is
it
because of the selfishness and transgressions of men
anabelle
howe
somehowe
to
somehow
th me it just doesnt seem fair some
daniel
what
isnt fair
to suffer
anabelle
in this place
daniel
you are playing a game called trying to crowd god into a
corner with the word justice anabelle
anabelle
maybe 1I am
but all 1I want to know is why we have to be the
ones who are called to
daniel
so 1I believe the word is
reasons
reason
im sure the lord has his reasonso
a
faith
isnt it
anabelle
not very
satisfied with the answer
always the word to use whenever you dont undershe lowers her head
yes
stand
thats
daniel
her a moment
at
ather
you
1
Ah
wish
would try to see more than just
really
amabelle
I
anabelle
abelle
misery here 1I notice lately youre always looking for the
one of these days youll look back on all
bad in everything
this and say to yourself it was hard but im glad 1I was a
part of it
youll
be proud because you helped lay the
foundation you were part of the spirit and movement that
history will be talking about for a long time
he looks
1I
19
he looks into her eyes for a moment
enough questions for tonight besides youll
have to give me
youil
yquil
1
have
chave
you ask somepretty
some pretty tough questions
time to think of answers
warmly
did 1I hear your mother say something about bed
1I wish 1I could
stay
anabelle
and listen 1I should be old enough
daniel
up
laughing
what would there be at a dry old meeting like this one is
go
going
ing to be that would interest a pretty young girl like you
now
see youre proving
me
right already a
he places a hand on her
shoulder
what did 1I say about a person always
have
now
tenderly
light your candle
and
desiring what he cant
off to bed
anabelle
she
oh
rises
all right
replaces the booko
book
see you in the morning
goes to the cupboard and gets
a candle
she lights it and
exits daniel crosses back
to his papers and stands lookchenio
ing down at thenio
them esther
do 1I look
like
presentable
you were in church
enters from the bedroom
daniel turns to her as she
enters and says
daniel
esther
laughe
they laugho
laugh she goes to him
brushes him on the shoulders
picks here and there and then
gives a satisfied nod they
are standing rather close now
1I
where could 1I go
esther
1shopie
ihopie
I hope
smiling
you don
dont
20
daniel gently takes her by the
places
band and placesithe
hand
the other hand
placesithe
on her shoulder
and looks deep
shoul derand
shoulderand
into her eyes there is a
slight pause then he speaks
daniel
than you
to find someone more wonderful thanyous
esther
try
daniel
1I know 1I dont tell you often enough but youll never know
ihnow
iknow
how 1I appreciate your sacrifices for me the family the
church
gazing over her head
hard esther theres times when 1I get terribly dis
courager
cou
couraged
raged especially when 1I see my own flesh and blood having
togo
to go through so much but we just cant quit
talking as if he needs reassurance
she breaks away daniel
remaina
remains
remain center the day has
she
been extremely hard
brushes at her hair and then
pats it with her hand
its
esther
1I guess one might say that living is sacrifice though im not
only the ones who get used
so sure you get used to it
to it that survive maybe anabelle was partly right when she
strong there is no room for
mentioned that life is for the strongo
its
anyone weak here
daniel
he crosses down behind her and
places hands on her shoulders
im afraid this day has been a hard one for you esther you
look tired
true things have worked hardships but well
make
it
its
determined
weve got tol
to
pause
he breaks from her
said earlier that 1I had a talk with jake gibson things
are too many who
lemento there aretoo
settlemento
aretos
settlem6nt
settlement
dont look good for the sett
1I
1
21
gibbons
Gib sons the
are restless about the survey being taken the gibsons
holts the halls all have stated that if the muddy valley is
11
found to be in lincoln county nevada instead of utah they
theyll
pull out 1I think 1I might have convinced jake he stated he
was as unhappy as any other member of
the community but if the
odthe
ofthe
others decide to leave he would have to leave with them 1I
told him not to make any quick decisions until after the
meeting with
the county leaders tonight 1I cant understand
withthe
A man just doesnt walk off and leave seven years of hard
it
apsects
sects
toil without considering all ap
esther
you think theyve been considering it day in and day out
dont
every minute of the time they live here
daniel
but what about the future were always too eager to forget
about that everyone wants to live for the present the
people who do that are the ones who when they get older sit
only 1I had done
only 1I had realized
back and say
dlI if only1
realize
if
too easy to measure out our lives in if
chist
thisl
thist
clauses we have a prophet of god in heavens name lets
bordo
abide by his wordo
word
he pulls himself to his full
height sucks in his breath
and looks out over the
1
its
audience
desperate confidence
besides this valley has potential
1I
feel
it
1I know
iti
it
points
out there is rich spongy earth begging to be plowed and
worked
when a man sees the first small shoots of grain
breaking the brown crust it gives him a feeling a pride
because he creates and nourishes something alonge
along
almost
as if you become a god to see dry barren land change to
soil to see swamps drained of its filth and stench
fertile
and become rich loam to see alkaline ground changed to produce vegetables and alfalfa
to have your sons at your side
bending their backs in the hot sun working with you and
feeling it to pit your wits and stamina against the forces
of nature
he turns to his wife slowly
like what the gospel does to people when theyre worked
something becomes useand treated properly it changes them
ful and beneficial
losing himself
he
its
a
its
1I
yields satisfaction
it
creator thats how it
22
yes
satisfaction
artistic
makes you feel
like a god
a
turns away
t
esther who has intently watched
daniel reveal his feelings
about the settlement suddenly
seems to let down a barrier
she reveals something which
she evidently has been harbor
ing inside of her for some time
she goes to the fireplace and
picks up the violin
ino rushing
viol inq
to her husband she thrusts
the instrument into his hands
and asks in a hurt passionate
he
way
esther
and this what areyou
are you going to do about this something which
freyou
has been more than half your life are you throwing it away
an art too
it needs a creator
daniel very slowly reaches for
the violin extending a delicate hand he gently takes it
es it
press
into his arms and presses
to his breasto
breasts
breast he doesnt
its
say a word
daniel this is where you belong not out here in a
wilderness that means nothing there are people who are
meant for this sort of thing
but not you youre an artist
a musician who could have the world at his feet
foreworn
fore
forelorn
lorn
sometimes 1I hear a cry beckoning for you to return to your
coming
art 1I dream at night that 1I hear comforting music
suddenly 1I know
from your violin
from somewhere
then suddenlyi
calling you and 1I rush about crying yes I yes hell answer
amid youre not
come
1I look for you daniel annd
arid
and
hell
it
there 1I feel alone suddenly the music turns to a long
wailing sob it pleads and pleads in my ears all the time
getting coudere
loudere
louder 1I panic 1I frantically rush everywhere
yow
trying to find you
then 1I see you standing away off in the
distance youre fighting someone or something the wailing
groans of the music turn to loud crashes beating in my ears
crying stumbling 1I franticallytry
frantically try to reach you to help you
1I fail
fall
fali trying to runme in the sharp rocks and each time 1I fall
th
theprocks
rocks laugh at
thbrocks
brocks
she is very tense then after
oh
its
1
a pause
1I
its
a mirage
quietly
like chasing
a rainbow
23
1I
never get any closer
youre
pause
slowly
daniel 1I see a man working furiously to evaluate himself in an
environment that is treating him unjustly for a man to
struggle against that which he doesnt fit is well it just
you
you will dragus
drag us
done
be
cant
will lose daniel and you
cani
go back and do what
down with you
are destined to
do
himself
seif away
self
disaster lies at the feet of a man who tears hita
from his chosen work and forgets who and what he is
lets
who am 1I
daniel
vaguely not knowing what to say
turns his back
esther
he
youre
an
artist
1I
A
musl
musi
musician
cianI
clani
daniel
am 1I a husband
am 1I a priesthood holder
A member
A father
of the church AU right suppose 1I were to return to my
music
coming out of it
where would 1I begin
esther
anywhere but here
where you left offi
off
daniel
and what about the church
Is that what the lord needs now
violin players
esther
the church needs everyone all types of professions and skills
daniel
in the future yes but now it needs a chance to stabilize
a wonder it
weve been pushed and shoved until
to roote
root
even exists
were struggling to settle these areas for that
purpose for that reason we were called by president brigham
young to come here and it is here where we can do the most
good
As far as my destiny is concerned im fulfilling that
now
time will testify whether we succeed or fail
he crosses to esther
a small piece of ground that levi and 1I have especially
theres
worked with the intent of letting him have it in a short while
as his to start his own farm when he gets ready to settle down
its
1I
24
you should see how he works extra hard on that ground
he gets
a glint in his eye and 1I can seehim
see him swell up inside he tella
seeham
teila
tells
telis
me his plans the things he intends to do
and then johns
coming along and ana
And
anabelle
belie would their life be any better
beile
belle
following us around while we moved from one place to the next
1I never realized that you felt this way
been that
has
hard esther
youve never acted this
esther
way
it
before
she reaches out takes the
violin from her husband and
places it back on the mantel
then she turns daniel watches
her
hesitantly not too convincing
putting hands to face
sorry daniel yes im tired
1I thought
just
im
that
you desired to continue your music but were afraid to make it
known
perhaps too 1I was thinking maybe hoping because of
the uncertainty that exists in the minds of the others that
well to consider your music if we left
it might be
pause
its
daniel
we can testify of its
churche
joined the church
truthfulness 1I dont know why 1I suppose the situation never
came that it needed telling but before 1I became converted 1I
was searching for something meaningful in the world
1I
thought that music literature the arts would give moe
roe fulfillme
1I received satisfaction butalways
ment
but always something was lacking 1I studied hard and the more 1I studied the more 1I felt a
sense of drowning because 1I could not know that which 1I felt
1I should know
that is the aim of philosophy isnt it to
we
both know why
we
know
im not sure 1I
esther
know what you meano
mean
daniel
you mentioned a few minutes ago that 1I was compelling myself to
an evaluation in surroundings in which 1I did not fit
1I
evaluated all right but it was before any of this 1I was
driven with an intense desire to wholly realize one might
though thats an oversimplifica
of life
call it the mystery oflife
ilfe
ollife
tion of what im trying to say 1I felt that somewhere there
was a reality
an intangible reality a spiritual reality
that should become the dominant part of my existence 1I was
in the process of giving up hope when 1I stumbled across two men
pause
now 1I have achieved that substance
and then you
seemed
it
like a large tree shading a huge rock from which gushed a
3
1I
25
spring of water 1I could rest myself from the oppressive heat
quench my constant thirst from the clear
of a blazing sun and quenchmy
waters of the cool spring 1I wrote a kind of poem 1I never
revealed it to anyone but ive always kept it as a private
dream 0 anyway it might help explain
is heard at the door
the mood suddenly shifts
A
knock
ino
esther breaks in
esther
that must be the brethren arriving
daniel arranges a few chairs
and one or two boxes to make at
it
convenient for the meeting
esther goes to the doore
door
come in
werent expecting to see you
weren
hello sister holt we weren11
brother holt
they shake hands and cross to
daniel who by now is near his
11
wife
bishop
lus
ius
its
so nice
to see you
to esther
1I thought 1I would come
on
are you sister holt
come in
have a seate
seat
how
sarah
an visit with ya while the meetin was
daniel
israel
good
to see
you
bishop
and genter a hand shaking
af
after
greetingssy they begin
eral greeting
looking for seats esther
takes their wraps and daniel
helps them get a seat
esther
ill
take your wraps that cold wind certainly does blow right
through a person doesnt it
sarah
seems colder here this year than other
oh and how it does
dry cold too ever notice how they dry cold
winters
wirters
just chills yag to the bones
its
26
1-
bishop
come
sit
daniel
over beree
heree
here
indicates chair at table
thanks
bishop thomas
brother stark
daniel
indicates chair
brother holt
let
me
stand by the
fire for
a
israel
moment
and warm up a
bit
esther takes wraps to the
bedroom
hows your lower piece coming
brother stark
daniel
moving rightm
righto
right
going to give that piece
looks better every time 1I see it
io
worked harder than 1I have on it
of ground to levio
hes
levi
hes certainly proud of it
morao
more
mora
esther enters once moreo
sarah is seated at the end of
this table bishop thomas sits
right of table and israel
stands with his back to the
fireplaceo
fireplaces
fireplace daniel stands
right and esther moves to his
left
to start clearing and draining
hes eager to start on his own
he can hardly wait
worker that
hesa a great son
for
fora better
lad
we
think so
boy
bishop
dont
you
1I
the lord blessed
groundy
more groundo
ground
suppose a man could ask
when he sent you that
esther
orson thomas is an elderly man
but he moves with strength and
dignity
small man
quick and
holt is a
israelmovement
are
whose
abrupto
abrupt his manner
1I
27
and fidgety
he is
outspoken and perhaps dogmatic
in his views he is edgy about
the prospects of the coming
meeting his wife sarah is a
serious and devoted wife
is nervous
ashes
of the
shes extremely tired
struggled caused by the settlement
ashes
shes prone to exagge-
the tribulations theyve
the men have beards
all
except daniels
daniel
rate
had
your youngest boy feeling
hows youryoungest
fever sarah
after
sarah
a lot better but im tellin
hesanio
inlo
inio
lim
and
he does
to
of
plays
all
much with
is
set
he had
that terrible
it
stare
ya
something
out
burned so
somethin
methin
mostly he never
just sets and stares
the other children
withthe
israel
were mighty fortunate to have that boy with us
it was the administering to him that saved him
sarah
and im not so certain he should a been saved
lelo
inie
and drained all the energy out of lim
lil
lii
ill
tell
if it is
you
gone
bishop
sure hell be good as new for long give him a chance to
im
get his strength back and hell be a scrapping with the rest of
them
sarah
1I just hope youre right bishop 1I just hope youre
youor
yodore right
israel moves to a box seated
by his wife and sits
she
takes out some hand sewing
but a body cant have chills and fever for as long as he did
course 1I got faith in the lord im not a
and survive
sayin 1I dont but when 1I see that child a iayin
layin
labin there
burnin
barnin 1I curse the day 1I ever set foot inside this valley
everything
what with the swamps and mosquitoes infesting
in
infestin
festin
1I dont mind sayin
sayinc
around
sabinc it either
daniel
getting nervous at sarahs
talk breaks in
1I
1I
wonder
28
otherso
whats keeping the otherson
others
pause
israel
think ive about finished clearing and working that three
acres on the north side
bitter
now all 1I have to do is clear the sand out of my irrigation
ditches again and maybe 1I say maybe 1I can get some water to
1I
it
sarah
knitting
piece of ground while you and me is
if water gets to that
some power other than
hav to be cause of somepower
cavoto
alive
havoto
still
yearso
pearso
two years
ourso
ourse
bryin for close to twoyears
ours heaven knows we been a tryin
twobears
A body just cant fight the elements in this here valleyo
valley
vailey
vallebo
israel
to esther
1I guess you know that indians stole another one of my cows
esther
yes daniel told me we surely wish there was something we
itll
could do
aint
have a
sarah
thing that can be done those indians think
they
right to it so they just come and take it if a
warpath
body says or does anything they threaten to go on the warpath
karpath
whats a body goin a do
daniel
nervous
1I probably can get started planting a few more acres as soon
as levi gets back one field is in the boot stage now
sarah
my guess
bothin
wouldnt start plantin nothin
if 1I werebeyouout 1I iwouldnt
marcho
marche
of here fore the end a march
is well
daniel
irritated
youre not me sarahl
sarah
rom
he gets a quick glance from
he quickly moves to
esthere
esther
put a log on the fireplace
there
one
0
youre sure
sure
surd bent
on
israel
settling this place arent
you
daniel
1I
irritated
still
aren1t
arendt
arent you
well
uh
im not
curtly
you should be
cere
so cera
cer
thats
what are you making
what we
29
daniel
israel
daniel
were sent here for isnt it
esther
trying to change the subject
sarah
sarah
fm
im trying to piece a few patches together to see
a
quilt
a goin
A
knock
if
1I
hear at the
is heard
can get
door
daniel moves to answer it
four people enter alma
bennett mort chamberlain
newton hall and jake gibson
the usual greetings and
after
hand shaking they take seats
around or near the table
daniel stands at the right
end of the table and commences
to take charge of the meeting
sarah rises and moves to beside
esther who is sitting in the
rocking chaire
israel helps
chair
move her chair for her
daniel
now that all of the county officials are here we can begin
been a lot of talk about abandonment of
needless to say there0s
theres
the settlement rumors have been flying since the latest flood
washed out west point
brother chamberlain tell us your
feelings and as near as you can the feelings from that community
mort
slowly and deliberately
well put near all of the west point settlers has moved to
belonging
ongins and tools
bei
the lower valley most all of their bel
no
haz
has been washed away quite a bit 0 sickness among em
say the morale was pretty low As
evere
howevere
however
casualties how
far as abandonment
scratches head
id
1I
30
grumblin
not too many said much but theyre a grum
kind a undercrumblin
blin
neath you can feel it theyre being
bein cared for by the
oem
em is gonna
Br
lem
most
joseph
and
thomas
brethern
bretherd
st
sta
of
st
st4
of
ethern
over
ani 1I aint so sure they want to startover
have to start over an
start
tover
star
here but
pause
1I think with a little time an things goin
going right theyll dig
in aafresh
freshshakes head
em though
lem
been washed out at least
cant hardly blame sem
three times in the last six or seven months
8
bishop thomas
gets here from st
sto george most
as the supply train
of them will be able to replace their damaged tools and goods
As soon
israel
thats
pessimistically
peesimistically
if were able to get the things
from
st george
bishop thomas
ignoring israel
be up to us to pitch in an help them get located again
a couple of wagons back up to sheep
weill
wetli
well have tocutsend
weli
weil
some timber and whip
saw it to get them
whipsaw
mountain to
ke three or four
started building another house thatll ta
take
weeks
be too much
wont
take turns housing them so it won
lt
well
of a burden on any one family
itll
sarah
chipping in
theyre welcome enough to stay at our place but heaven knows
ono
one cant hardly feed my own
what theyll be a living
livin on
her voice trails off as she
turns to esther and talks
esther listens politely
daniel
Cc
cutting
utting
in
1I agree with you bishop
will take a concentrated effort
it
on everyones part but weve
welve done it in the past and we can
do it again
brother hall what do you have to say before
the group
newton
things are running quite smooth in st thomas still having
troublekeeping
bin
troubie keeping our ditches cleared of sand but that aint
trouble
aln a
ain
special problem weve been doing that ever since the first
nIt be normal without a little
ditch was dug things would
wouldnt
blow sand to shovel
flood didnt bother us much oh
supplies are running low
washed a little here and there
1I
31
ammunition
flour whatnot if the hoppers will leave our
crops alone in the spring we might make it through in fair
to middlin shape
israel
to convert our produce inta cash right
weve gotta have
place
plate to market anything weye
what about a place
have no
some money sometime
now we
alma
point thaes
thats been bothering a lot of the brethren
daniel
1I should think that would be one of the least of our wor
worriese
riese
worries
worrles
torriese
weve managed so far doing just what weye
weve done 1I was looking
over the records before the meetings
meeting
he picks up some sheets of
paper and holds them out
in the last two years we have managed to produce 20000 pounds
that
of cotton lint and 10000 pounds of grain 1I would say that0s
thats
a remarkable achievement considering the hardships
and to
me
only a sign of the beginning we have some young
orchards growing grain planted A cotton gin is being conneove
george weove
weve shipped some cotton down the
struc ted in st georgee
structed
colorado in exchange for goods it seems the possibilities
there are excellent
this is
a
its
bishop thomas
1I have to agree with brother stark
chave
ihave
up now
ness to give
it would
be pure foolish
amma
atma
atoa
alma
aima
overlooking
overlook ingo though and thats
too
know which state we belong to
the
line
dont
they find us to be in nevada well find ourselves just as
if
bad off as if we were back in jackson county
those lincoln
county
nothing better than to come down
coty
like
officials would
cormons
Mormons
theyve already said theyll
here and soak the damn mormons
require coin the only coin 1I can scrape up is these little
chipse
pieces of worthless lead chips
chiase unless we could market our
product for a fair
he flips coin on the table
one thing were ail
ali
all
theres
we
boundary
0
price were
sunk
daniel
you sound as though were already in lincoln county
1-
just
32
alma
were
think we are and 1I think wetre
kidding ourselves to think otherwise
daniel
are you insinuating we leave if the settlement is in lincoln
county
between you and me
that
im not saying thatd
im not about to give
here
fiery
1I
alma
im trying to look at
up
daniel
that quick
it realistically
brigham young called us
half built homes growing crops sold my
property given up what little 1I had too many times to come
down and be bluffed into moving because we dont happen to
1I know we dont have much here but at least
belong to utah
so
a
a
tough
what
things
have
been
start
little
if
its
they will probably get tougher weve got to expect that
1I
have abandoned
id
rising
israel
say things was a might worse than a little tough
almost sarcastic
besides when president young was here himself he expressed
doubts about the future of the settlement
face it
settlements
ito
angry
were caught in the middle of a three way political tug aawar
awar
and the ones whats goin a come out on the short end is you
lets
and me and
he
all of
points and gestures
us in the valleyo
vailey
valley
vallebo
bishop thomas
brethren 1I see no need to get angry well get nowhere
quarre
quarrelinge
linge
quarreling
israel
heated
still
daniels so all fired to stay he wont face reality its
them people out there gettine
st
gettin sickness from the stenkin
stinkin
inkin
swamp an floods
wearin8
wearins themselves out afore their time
wearin
bryin
tryin to endure a hell
bothin but
inferno that yields nothin
fire
hellfire
miseries and heartache you been mighty lucky daniel none
your family have been sick or had the pack of troubles the
rest of us hade
had
a
1I
33
an electric silence
theres
all eyes focus on daniel a
daniel stands rigid for
moment and then slowly exhales
daniel
calming himself
any man looks for meaning and order no matter where he is
we
we claim to be members of the church of jesus christ
something
claim access to the one and true spiritual reality
that is intensified by our thoughts and actions that is
by our kind of existence
temporal and worldly
vitalized
vitali zed
vitalizer
all
things must subordinate to this idea if we cannot do this
then we cannot claim to have that spiritual knowledge and
person
on
guidance to help us without it we are as any other pers
seeking and suffering we become buffeted by the crowd and
only occasionally catch glimpses if 1I give up then 1I will
have failed the efforts of all the saints who suffered the
long journey to bring to all of us what
wiat we know to be true
1I shudder to think what the future would be
the lord is
1I came here because it was
aware of my suffering and yours
1I dont
maybe now it has come to mean much more
a calling
know but 1I pray to god that 1I might endurco
endure
he stands looking at the
papers in his hand everyone
momento then
momenta
is silent for a moment
bishop thomas clears his
throat and speaks
bishop thomas
nOt
ahhem
achem well lets proceed 1I think that we should
shouldnt
worry too much yet about lincoln county were part of zhe
the
th
rio virgin county until we know for sure we shall continue
as such
mort
that still leaves the problem of selling our
goods
daniel
been wondering what the possibilities would be to sell
ive
our wheat and grain to the mines in lincoln county
this
if
were possible it would bring more than enough income for our
needs
rubbing beard
a long rugged haul up there
conceding
might be done though
its
alma
1
34
mort
livin in nevada
the way 1I look at it it wouldnt be so bad living
we can hold out until
could sell to em up atheree
theree
if
there
if wecotton
twenty five cents
the
is harvested we can market it for twentyfive
a pound this idd give us enough to restock and resupply for
another years harvest
daniel
besides the church needs the cotton
pessimistic
still
slim on
im gettin mighty
are practically wore out
but
1I
hesitant
israel
clothing and boots
guess 1I can hold out
hates to concede
if the rest
for
im
some
doing what the
rest
does
jake
1I
hand
tools
can
bishop thomas
brother gibson you havent said too much
good
you think
my
what do
as worse off
aint
im like daniel
meo
and some is better off then me
too
to
hate to have to pull up now unless 1I absolutely had tom
as
id
daniel
everyones agreed that well keep trying as long as we can
there are yess and nods of
the heads from the group
well that about concludes the meeting 1I wish we had some
kind of refreshment to offer you
trying to be jovial
1I just received word things aren
arent too plentiful right now
they laugh
jake
laughing
you cn always ask the bishop for a handout with all the
tithin hes received lately
mort
scratching his head
chuckling
yes sir all 1I have to say is were thirty miles to water
1I cant say
a hundred miles to wood and six inches to hell
as lim
im lookin forward to the summer with much enthusiasm a
093
1I
35
israel holt
is heard
knock
A
is standing next to the door
it
into
he opend
olend
vincent whatre you doing here
bursts
daniel
it
on
and vincent miles
the
room
that vincent is
the point of bursting into
tears esther senses something
is wrong his face is grief
stricken she rises and rushes
to him she and daniel arrive
at his side at the same time
what
is
vincent
it
boy
can be seen
bishop
speak up
esther
almost hysterical
whats happened
vincent
his face twistse
twistle
twists
bursting
ohl
oh
starkl
stark
sister
crus hedl
he was crushed
I1
levis
dead
A
wagon
he sobs
overturned
and
he turns his face away from
them
he puts one hand up to
hes
ahls
hls face and stands rigid
hs
his
shoulders heave with sobs
esther stares in shock the
group stands bewildered unable
moveo daniel turns slowly
move
to goveo
to face audience stunned he
moves
like something
3
wooden
bishop
bi shop
he moves
are they bringing
him
to vincent
boy
vincent affirms by nodding his
head
the bishop newton mort
and alma all rush out to see
if they can assist
1I
36
sarah
StC
standing by
anding
oh
my
levi
havent
no
noi I
nol
1
son
dead
we
now
had enough
daniel
whispering
dead I
1
is standing just in front
of the fireplace he turns
his back quickly on the
audience rests his arms on
the mantel of the fireplace
and then puts his head down
esther just stares shocked and
ede everything is
bewilderede
bewildered
bewilder
of
silent except for a gust
wind
then a loud twang from
one of the violin strings is
heard the door opens and
some men slowly carry levis
body in on an improvised
stretcher they rest it on
As the lights
the fcableo
table
tabie
begin to fade mrs stark sinks
to a chair and suddenly sobs
he
out
oh
godl
god I1
esther
she throws her hands to her
face bends her body over to
her knees and cries out loud
the lights fade and the curtain
falls on the end of act one
IIII
ACT 1
111
SCENE 1I
the curtain opens to reveal an
empty stage
is very quiet
it
except for the periodic gusts
of wind that still persist
afternoon however the
stage is still somewhat dim
because the sunlight is par
bially shut out by the canvas
tially
cloth covering the window
the rocking chair is near the
table and a mound of wax that
had once been a candle rests
A gust of wind
on the table
sand whips
blowsand
rises and blow
adodeo anabelle
against the adobeo
adobe
and vincent enter from the
outside vincent is twenty
the same age as levi his
complexion is weather
beaten
weatherbeaten
dry and his lips are chappy
his limbs are lithe and strong
looking anabelle taking off
a bonnet and shawl crosses
near the bedroom entrance
vincent just stands near the
outside entrance every so
often he quietly slaps his hat
against his thigh it is seen
that anabelle has been crying
the feeling is one of muffled
its
grief
excuse
me
sure
go
softly
anabelle
while 1I put these wraps away
vincent
right ahead
she exits to bedroom
vincent
shuffles his feet slightly and
moves a little farther into
the room A slight pause and
entersc
then anabelle re entets
enteric
ZI
1
1
37
anabelle
groping for something to say
1I couldnt stay
1I appreciate you walking me home like this
out there another minute
she turns her head away from
him and bites her lip
vincent
awkwardly
thats all right 1I uh kinda wanted to get away myself
he looks at her for a moment
you all right anabelle
uh
she nods her heade
head face still
turned away from him
groping for something to say
11 be coming along
folks
well 1I guess 1I better go now your folks11
folksll
foik
folk
anac
and
ande
andc
he turns as if to go
anabelle
quickly
sii
sil
sll
oh
dont
go
she moves toward him a few
steps
not yeto
yet 1I couldnot
couldu
couldnOt stand to be in here alone
almost in tears
not with that lonesome sounding wind
not
now
vincent
turning back
tenderly
cept
capt 1I dont know just
sure anything you want anabelle
1I feel
what to say
eel so
anabelle
you dont have to say anything
enough
just being here is enoughs
enouchs
long pause vincent crosses
to a chair and sits holding his
hat in his hands between his
knees
vincent
sympathizing but not wanting to say anything that
would make her cry
11
IT
II
1I
2
38
now what you mean bout bein left alone
kinda
think 1I know
funny sometimes a person likes to be alone dont want
nobody disturbing
chinkin
di
th inkin and then other times he cant
disturbin
his thinkin
sturbin
cause he cant
stand to be without somebody near maybe
stand himself or he needs comfort 1I dont know
1I
its
shakes head
slightly
and
stares
in front of him
god didnt intend man to be left alone thatjs
that s for sure
thats
anabelle
A person could be surrounded by hundreds of people out here
and still feel alone
she shudders
she walks to the table and
picks up the mound of candle
wax holding it in ber
ber hands
her
she runs her fingers over its
tough texture
out candle it burns and burns
and whats left is a piece of
shapeless wax unrecognizable and no longer useful
with a bitter smile
hump
and this candle flickered its last hours while levi
lay on that table cold and deade
dead strange he was like
father he liked it here
pause vincent doesnt know
what to say anabelle con
seems like this burned
all finally
it
burned out
until
its
finues
tinues
remember 1I used to take a candle
girl 1I my
little
hands until my fingers stuck
and let the hot wax drip on
together the little drops would look like blisters on the
skin 1I was fascinated that such a bright light could come
from a little tiny flame and 1I would wonder what it would be
like to be a candle and glow for everybody father would
when 1I was a
study
climb
light
say
1I used to
and read at night he would use a candle
1I would
1I were a candle
upon his lap and say
if
up the whole room for you
he would look at me and
you are my
candle
that would make me the
little
the world
1I was
happiest girl in
bitterly
now were all turned into candles
out like levi
if were not snuffed
waxtI
baxt
this worthless chunk of wax
1
daddys
candle
daddes candie
but not very bright ones
then
well
end up
like
she flings the wax on the
table it bounces and falls
to the floor vincent rises
and moves to her
11
II
1-
3
39
vincent
to console
trying
youa
youre
you3
re just tired worn out from the funeral and all best
thing for you to do is try to rest and forget A person cant
up somebody has to be our kind of candle
give upo
anabelle
shaking head and slowly saying
a chanced
chanceo
chance 1I dont think it ever started and whats
hasnt
it
more 1I dont want it to
not here ever
everl
vincent
youll feel better about it in a few days my father always
used to say that time is the undergrowth of bad memories
Ana
anabelle
beile
belle
belie
pensively
yes thats what 1I want to do forget vincent are folks
talking much about leaving have you heard anything
vincent
well the boundary surveys been completed lorenzo cutler
just rode in with the news this morning
despairingly
were thirty miles inside nevada word has been sent to
county
lincoln countye
countie officials ought to arrive here within a week
tames
to talk about taxeso
takeso 1I know one or two families are going back
taxes
sto george cant say what the whole settlement feels
to st
ste
even my folks have talked some
always talk here and there
ingo 1I understand the nevada legislature requires all
going
about go
tax business to be in coin if thats the case
shakes head
we might as well
anabelle
fearful
will you be leaving with them if they decide to go
vincent
well yeh 1I suppose so 1I hadnt thought too much aboutma
1I thought
no decisions been made one way or othero
other
it
wants to go pretty bad but pa hasnt said too much with
the lincoln county officials comin here in a few days 1I
reckon he wants to wait until after that fore he makes up his
mindo
mind 1I think most of the people are waltin after that
meetin and then decide
anabelle
bitterly
father is so hard and stubborn hell probably never leave
TT
11
II
1
4
40
vincent
say that anabelleo
Anabe
lleo
ileo your fathers a mighty fine man
anabelle
dont
in some ways hes been the backbone of this settlement
anabelle
raising her voice
true isnt it hes not the same anymore hes changed
annd
arid
and
ail
all
ali
ril he ever talks about is the future and and calling anid
rii
its
what brigham young wants a
vincent
defending
youre
being unfair hes a
whats wrong about thate
that
spiritual man devoted to his calling in the church and if
you had been kicked like a dog every place youd tried to
a lot about the
make a home youd talk about the future
future
and a home
anabelle
ua
u1
almost hatef
hated
hateful
1I always thought
thoughtit
though it took people to make a home not burned out
things theres more to consider than just the future
people human beings that have feelings that need
theres
more than a
a
crust of bread a piece of jerky and a
swamps
rom the wind and sand and the swampse
slap in the face from
vincent
this isnt like you anabelle
anabelle
look at mother ashes
shes worked and slaved for what this
she indicates the house
all the reward shell get is an early grave like levi
she breaks down and begins to
cry vincent crosses to her
starts to lay a hand on her
shoulder but then changes his
mindo
mind
vincent
a little angry
you shouldnt place all the blame on your father anabelle
never known anyone quite like him educated plays
ive
the fiddle reads all them books to me hes a great man
and 1I want you to know 1I admire and respect him an awful lot
1I think youre wrong anabelle
pause anabelle has quit crying he starts to turn
tit
11
II
well
1-
5
41
think 1I best
1I
he
about to leave
she senses hes
so she turns quickly grabs his
arm and says in a desperate
tone
if
vincent
Vincentl
leave the valley will you take
vincent
me
with you
taken back
what
will
you
ana
anabelle
belie
beile
belle
you take me with you
well
uh
please
summer
1I
1I
dont
know
pleading
oh youve got to
please vince
oh
ana
anabelle
beile
belie
belle
vincent
anabelle
if 1I have to stay here another
she tugs at his arm the
sounds of horses and a wagon
coming can be heard
but your family and
vincent
into her tear filled
eyes
suddenly overcome with
the compassion and love he
encircles her in his arms and
presses her to him she lays
her head on his chest
we
go
111
1I will take you with me
anna
yes
we611
yes
lii
way possible well
anyway
anywaypossible
weil go as far from here as
weli
if theres any
he looks
oh
away
we
can
theres
sound
a pause and then the
of someone coming can be
heard they spring apart
anabelle attempts to dry her
eyes and smooth her hair
esther enters she is hollow
looking her cheeks are sunk
and her eyes are red and swollen from crying she moves
11
II
6
1
42
like a mechanical thing there
are brief lines across her
forehead she slowly
remove her wraps
well
starts to
vincent
rather awkwardly shuffling his feet
guess
1I
id
better
go now
turns to leave he feels
f
eels
he must say something to
esther
does brother stark need any help putting the
he
stark
sister away
horses
noy
no
nor
ill
trance
ilke
like
trancelike
1I don
so
dontt think soo
esther
I1
go
out and see just the
vincent
same
to the doorway
esthers voice stops him
esther
he moves
vincel
he stops and
yes
vincent
mam
esther
thank you for bringing anabelle home
yes
mam
manic
turns
bowing
his head
we
appreciate
it
vincent
he goes out
anabelle would
you
esther
put these things away please
anabelle silently moves to
take the things As she goes
to the bedroom esther passes
to behind the rocker and
stares down at the table where
levi had lain the night before
1III
11
1
43
7
she picks up the rocker and
to its original posiit
tion then she sits
anabelle returns she goes to
moves
the table
tabie there is a pause
thetable
wind whines and then silence
the
anabelle
would you like me to fetch the bible for you
esther
no
a
get
used
to
to
to
hard
short
just
here
like
sit
id
lying out
he
time ago someones with you and then suddenly he0s
hes
there among the rocks and sand a all the while the wind mocks
you and the rocks laugh at you
anabelle
please
mother
all over now it wont
esther
a cold smile
Is it Is it all over 1I wonder how many
she begins to rock slowly
its
more times
mother
it all
anabelle
its
not good to talk so
over again
its
itll
esther
only get you feeling
my
over
feeling it all overt
overl
like something is twisting inaway
ip it would go
screan
screanip
throat now 1I feel if 1I only could scream
got to talk now some
sometimes
eimes
elmes
limes talking is the best way to
ive
get it out of your system
anabelle
but its like a funeral mother you just get over the grief
n
agaitie
along comes the funeral and starts it up agal
and alongc6mes
again
agai
beginning to break
barbarict
itis
its barbaric
esther
mainly it talks it out of you
what a funeral does mainlye
thats
it cleanses you in the long run it s the best
anabelle
roe it isnt
me
not for moe
esther
every persons different
its
II
TT
11
8
1
AA
44
turning to the door
1I keep half expecting to see levi come through that doorway
it s always about this time that he would come in
its
at this instant daniels form
appears in the door esther
starts at the sight of him
he is dressed the same as at
hasnt john
come
the end of act one he hangs
his hat moves to the fireplace
and stands with his back to it
his grief is deep and solemn
the wind rises
daniel
in yet
anabelle
no
the wind always the wind
desolate hillo
hill
and
esther
my
boy buried on
that
sandy
daniel
all over now does it matter
esther
coldly
no
matterso
terso nothing matters
matters
batterso
doesnt does it sunnothing mat
it
except the wind and the
scorching and blowing killing
so all thats left is decay and death yes
and dying
always death
shuddering
what a dark sick sounding word
daniel
putting it as tenderly as he can
youre sounding melodramatic esther death is only a veil
esther
bitter
yes a black veil
velil
veill
veli
daniel
alii
this kind of conversation doesnt become you at alil
ail
ali
all
esther
resentfully
not worried whether 1I am as becoming
amnot
at a time like this 1I am
as 1I should be
its
a
II
TT
11
sarcastic
Is that whats important
1
9
45
now
daniel is visibly hurt by her
embittered attitude he turns
away and moves toward cot
esther puts a hand to her face a
almost in tears
sorry
forgive me
im
daniel
1I
shouldnt talk this
way
please
daniel
thoughtfully
A death in most
11know
I know how you feel how all of us feelo
feel
togethero
together
families brings them closer toge
thero we seem to be trying to
punish ourselves or each other
anabelle
bursting cant restrain any longer
youaql
youni
youal
the one who should be punished is god and brigham younl
daniel turns astonished and
looks at anabelle his mouth
quivers he just stands looking at her a deep hurt look
on his face
anabelle looks
back for a moment
then she
looks ather
at her mother who
staring straight ahead is
quietly crying with a sudden
realization of what she has
said she turns on her heel
and runs from the room sobbing
daniel turns back slowly
nothing is said for a short
time it is seen that daniel
is wrestling with his thoughts
daniel
1I know what it is you are thinking
why is it everyone is
convinced that each time it gets difficult all he has to do
is leave
move away from
it
ignore
it
esther
there is nothing else that can be done
daniel
but what makes you think it will be any better somewhere
else we must continue to do what needs to be done here
death is a shook
shoo
shock yes it rips at your insides and whenyou
thats
over something else comes along and starts it again
get
there are times
when
11
II
1
10
46
sick of it you would like to vomit the whole mess out of you
for good no matter where you are something will be tearing
at your ins
ldes
ides
insides
esther
at least if were away from here the spaces between the tearing
will be farther apart I enough to gain strength and try it
1
again
daniel
esther it just gets easier to
thing you know you spend half of your time
first
trying to run away from the fcrutho
tryingto
truth the hardest part is behind
doesnt
it
run the
work
that
way
us
esther
you cant believe that
trying to tell you 1I dont think
im
1I can take any more
morel it
this place just doesnt matter
daniel
esther what are you saying were all in this together and
for the sake of levi and you and the family all of us
hope we finish together because if we dont then all this
lets
starving and struggling and existing will have been like
spilling the last cup of water that we worked so hard to get
dryo
just before the well went bryo
dry
esther
but dont you see we will be sure to spill everything if we
remain here
if we leave we still have a chance
daniel
bewildered at her using his own argument against him
I1
what do you mean
esther
you talk about finishing tog
Ana belleS
together
anabelles
bellel
bellet
beliet at what
etheri
etherl look at anabellel
saidl
she just said
sald she wasnt cursing god daniel it was you she
was aimed to hurt you
meant
ashes
shes filling doup with
it
we dont
bitterness and hate im afraid of what shell
if
young and
do something to help her now
oh cant you
ashes
shes
see were smothering the fire before it gets a chance
daniel
gul
cquietly
gui
etly
quietly
guietly
1I feel that
everything is slipping like a nightmare dur
ing high fever A huge unidentifiable thing is there ready
you want to get away
want
wiant
to encompass you you piant
viant to fight it
from it
but you cant do either
there is a pause
TT
jodl
jldl
aly
softly
tly
sof
rom ito
but you can get away from
it
47
111
47
4.7
1agal
agau
JLJL
1
jo
esther
daniel
stunned like everything is a long way of
offf
turning
can you yes
yes 1I suppose you can maybe youre right
esther maybe we should get away from it before itis too
aute
out
late to put back the pieces before the fire goes oute
and
dis
he stands disheartener
disheartened
heartened
wearyo
weary esthers reaction is
immediate at daniels words
her face flushes with a little
co
color
lor she turns and looks at
him withhope
wit hhope in her eyes
john enters the room
roonie
its
1I
hesitantly
thought maybe
1I
john
we
would need some more
fire
wood
esther
strength in her voice
very thoughtful of you john we always need more
thats
wood to keep the fire going dont we daniel
he looks at his wife and
helooks
significance
of
her
catches
the
yc
renewed
TI
yes
1I
guess we do
trying to be cheerful
john bring me the bible please
0
daniel
esther
he takesthebook
takes the book from the
to his
shelf and gives
mother
shall 1I try
my
it
appears
re
anabelle reappears
method again
quietly
yes please do
anabelle
esther and daniel turn and look
at her
11
II
1
48
esther
feeling better
anabelle
youo
couo
thank you
much
12
esther closes her eyes and
says
lets
try the
new
esther
testament thid
thia time
this
she opens to the book of john
eager to know
what part this time mother
would you read
iii let
ili
ill
1I 111
it
out loud
your father read
it
anabelle
john
esther
she hands the bible to him
he takes it in his hands and
looks at it
daniel
somewhat stunned
still
before the
the 14th chapter of the book of john just
lust
bis
savior is to be betrayed and crucified he says to his
apostles 1 let not your hearts be troubled ye believe in
2
god believe also in me
in my fathers house are many
1I go to
were not so 1I would have told you
mansions
if
it
prepare a place for you
repeats slowly
let ll not your hearts be troubled 1I go to prepare a place for
its
youa
you
oh
11
1
he stops reading and looks up
then almost in agony and in a
manner yet in
praerlike
forceful tones he says
godl
god
now
must 1I give up bowl
nowl
daniel
into a chair all the
family look at him as the
lights fade to end act 11
II
he sinks
scene L
II
ACT 11
scene
2
the curtain opens on scene 2
see a meeting of all the
leaders of the various communities the same ones as before
in the first meeting along with
have been
others benches havebeen
brought in from the outside to
occupyaccommodate
accomodate the people
ing positions where they can
easily be seen by the audience
are the people who gathered in
mee tingo at the
meeting
the firse
first the
group sits daniel
front of
meno one of the
and two other men
men isaac james looks like
the prosperous merchant type
middle aged well dressed and
stalky in build his manner
being rather impressed
is one of
at his own importance especially among the ragged and
of the settlers
tattered dress
the other man is captain
monroe of the united states
cavalry hes gray around the
temples a ruddy complexion and
rather distinguished looking
there is a hubbub of noise
kingo daniel rises and
and talking
tai
tal
thenio
quiets chenio
them
daniel
1if 1
voun attention please well begin the meeting
I may have your
of you know why were herco
there has been a
im sure all oi
here
misunderstanding as to which state we belong to the govern
ment made a survey and its findings put us in the state of
1
N
navada
au
Virgin county of
aul
avada
evada
automatically
nevadah
nevadao
riovirgin
somatically dissolves the Rio
nevada this tomatically
utahc
utahs
utah this makes it mandatory for us to have to abide by the
nevada lawse
rate or
taxrate
laws because we are not aware of the tax
tafrate
schedule in nevada we have with us the chairman of the board
mr
county
isaac james he
of county oje
of
lincoln
officials
ficiala
ficials
statua tory procedures for us in the muddy
will explain the statuatory
so 1I now turn the meeting over to mr james
settlementso
settlements
settlement
james rises takes a few papers
out of the inside pocket of his
coat along with a pair of glasses
As
we
ar
1r
II
TT
11
like
a
politician
isaac
get to business at hand
traveler captain monroe
before
we
50
2
2
let
monroe
accompanied
hes
out according
me
to
make
to the law
me
introduce
fellow
my
partially gets
up and
gives a nod to the group
certain that things are carried
sarcastic
1I notice that you have a very articulate leader of your rio
virgin county in mr stark here
he nods to daniel
next
let
me
a
compliment you on the accomplishments
that
in this little valley 1I traveled through here
and 1I thought then that it was a land only fit
cormons are able
for lizards and mosquitoes but 1I find that mormons
to survive here too
he chuckles at his joke but
no one else makes a sound
the feeling is tense
well ha ha let
iet
letss get down to business
he adjusts his glasses and
looks at the papers
now
aree
let me see oh yes here we are
reading
it is hereby stated that the said tax rate of lincoln county
you have made
some time ago
nevada
shall
be
daniel
really think it wont be necessary for you to
read the legal language of the statute most of these people
probably would understand better if you would just tell them
in ordinary terms what is expected of them
mr
james
1I
james looks out over the group
by peering over his glasses
he acts like hes having fun
isaac
yes im sure they would wouldnt they
he sets the papers
tabie
table
down on
che
the
11
II
2
3
51
gentlemen
the law boils down to exactly this the tax
rate is levied at 2.58
258 mills plus a stamp and license tax
and a four dollar poll tam
tax this tax is to be retroactive
retro active
from 1866
tax transactions must be on a coin bariso
basiso
basis
all
goods will not be acceptable
those failing to comply to
these laws will have their property confiscated
there is a discontinued buzz
from the group
smug
smuggly
snuggly
gly
gentlemen any questions
one more thing
oh
thats
it
1I will assess the value of your property while im here and
tax notices will be posted in various areas to remind you of
your duty
as an afterthought
are the price we must pay to have reasonable
after all taxesgovernment
and sound local
israel holt rises
well
israel
angry
mister youve just given
and pull out
thats
work
me
smacking his lips
too bad sir seems a
but
thats
your right
the excuse 1I needed to pick up
isaac
shame to just leave
ali this
all
ail
bishop orson thomas rises
it
can be seen that he is trying
to control his anger
bishop thomas
james do you officials realize at that tax rate some of
us will be paying taxes higher than the lands actually worth
mr
isaac
that may very well be true but you cant expect any tax
privileges over the rest of the people living in the county
after all that wouldnt be just now would it
bishop thomas
but why wont you accept goods as payment all these people
have for coin is worthless pieces of octagonal shaped lead
ours elves
that we use for bartering and trading purposes among ourselves
a
TT
11
II
2
4
52
isaac
sarcastic
octagonal pieces of lead no that wouldnt
how interesting
good uh we did consider your idea of trading
do you much goodo
goods but we thought that by the time the goods that would
be of any benefit to us arrived they probably would not be in
you see
any shape to use
so
that idea was ruled out
mort
rising
angrily
bothin but
this is nothin
here
a
plot
a conspiracy to drive us out
isaac
you feel that way about it
ity
ito my good
im sorry
the law
assure you it is not a plot
its
man
of
but 1I
bishop thomas
do you realize that you will drive honest hard working
homese
people out of their gomese
homes
james
unconcerned
hard working that may be so but as far as honest and
decent that remains to be seen if you pay your taxes
actually if you people have any feeling for your efforts
and your homes at all youll find some way to pay you
always do
daniel who by now has partially gotten over the shock
che
the tax notice means
of what ehe
jumps to his feet
daniel
angrily
pay I
you dont seem to get the point mr james
dayl
they cant payl
isaac
won3t
wont doesnt it
starkl I cant means 1I wonet
cant I mr stark
daniel is angry now his eyes
flame with righteous indignation hes angry at james
1
1
1
arrogance more than anything
daniel
do you psuedo county politicians have any brains or are they
bigoted egotistical asses like yourself
all bigotedegotistical
11
II
2
5
53
isaac
attitude becoming less calm now
1Iawill
will not stay here and be insulted mr stark
iwill
he moves to pick up his papers
from the table
daniel reaches
over grabs him and whirls
him around
oh
yes you willt
will I
1
me out
outi I
daniel
youre not going
anywhere
until
you hear
1
captain monroe rises now and
takes a step to daniel
captain monroe
vm
not stand
have to adjourn the meeting
im afraid
for any fracas or fuss
daniel
commanding
you keep out of this captain
Nob
nobodyd
nobodys
odys going to start
anything but ive got a thing or two to say to this man and
im going to say it
monroe is taken back by
authority
daniels commanding
he doesnt move any further
herc
furt hero
the people in the meeting rise
begild
and stand looking on be
bewild
wild
ered by daniels indignation
igaac
i9aac
isaac
angry
it seems to me 1I should have something to say
daniel
youve already had your say
my turn now and youre
going to listen
isaac
all right mr stark have your little say if it will make you
feel better
daniel
may not make me feel any better but
singe the hell
it
and arrogance in your consciences
ist voice
A voice from the group
a
ill
ill
1
its
itll
II
TT
11
2
6
54
what conscience
youll
daniel
bishop thomas
not help any by getting upset
at james
hoid
hold
he takes holdom
of daniels
holdof
elbow but daniel immediately
ill
let
yehl
yeh
certainly not
m
im
speak
make
bishop
wed like to hear
jerks it
daniel
away
things any worse will 1I
2nd
and voice
3rd
ard voice
m
im
several of the group now speak
out asking to hear what he has
to say
isaac
arrogance returning
yes
1I would very much like to know what
him speak
let
this mormon sodbuster has to say
eyes are cold and
daniels
hard as he fixes his eyes on
jameso
james james tries to return
the look but is unable to do
soo
so
he looks away As daniel
speaks he doesnt shout but
there is force and dignity
volce
in his voice
daniel
you said that you knew what the valley was like before we
came here
well 1I think you dont remember too well so let
me refresh your memory
when we arrived here in 1865 destitute
greeted us were mosquito infested
and half starved ail
that
ali
all
swamps akaline ground destitute of timber or grass stifling
unbearable heat and hot winds coming off the mesas that
doesnt
sound too bad
does
it
mr
james
he moves
closer
except some of us have been leaving everything behind moving
our families shoved and pushed by people like you for more
than thirty years and 1I f or one am sick 1I said sick mr
seven long years of a literal heil
james of doing it
heii
heli
hall
hell
struggling to exist so we could eke out a living and worship
as we believed sickness and heat exhaustion and tragedies
TTL
C
2
1
7J
ca
c3
rtJ
55
loved ones dead and buried in sandy graves weve expended
the equivalent of one hundred thousand dollars in labor in
construction of dams and irrigation canals
cabalse we have been
canalse
compelled to feed an indian population out numbering our own
weve cleared and planted more than seven hundred acres of
nows we
which two hundred acres are planted in grain right now
have dug more than twenty miles of irrigation canals and when
the wind filled them with sand we dug them again weve
planted orchards and vineyards hauled timbers from sheep
over seventy miles of the
mountain
he roughest country you
ever saw to build decent homes all we want is peace and
the opportunity to do our responsibility to our families and
pennys
penny
church not one single penny8s
worth of help came from any
government
local federal or whatever and you have the
god fearing men
unmitigated gall to face this group of honesty
honest
pay taxes to support good local government
mustpay
and say we must
mr james but you and your
the world is full of parasites
kind are the worst I you know why
because your kind is the
leach you suck the vitality out of everything but you donit
dont
care As soon as you dry up one place youll turn and stick
to another we can endure all the misery that the elements can
give us mr james but your kind of misery is rotten to the
core your kind is insidious and vicious you corrupt anycorel
thing decent
1
viciously
you are the swamp I and the akaliel
akalie and the wasteland of this
adalie
jamest
world mister james
isaac during this speech has
been flushing with anger As
daniel says mr james isaac
reaches over and slaps him
full across the face daniel
1
makes a sudden move toward him
but some men restrain him
this
has gone far enough
captain monroe
he reaches to
take isaac but
isaac stands with a sneer on
his face not moving an inch
isaac
between his teeth
you mormon
you dont stand there and insult mei
you and
me
mel
your cotton and your brigham young and your cause
1I wont
stand for iti
it
with a gesture
youre all a pack of gullible fools do you think you can get
special privileges
privilege
sl we tried to tell you which state you were
in but you wouldnt listen
11
II
56
8
2
sneering
youre
no
you had to go and form your rio virgin county
right mr stark 1I dont care what happens to you go on
care it might make this place
back to utah or rot for all 1I caret
fit for some real settlers
he starts to leave
daniel
during this speech has
regained his composure he
looks strong and confident
his manner is cool and digni-
fied
daniel
jamese
just one more thing mr jamesm
james 1I want you to know that the
likes of you will not bluff me out ofmrhere 1I will never leave
now
james even if 1I go
fight you and your kind
down
As long as 1I have got one ounce of life in me
fight 1I want you to take one good look at this place because
he indicates the house
ill
this
is
ill
my homol
home
homel
isaac
isaac
moves toward
entrancoo
entrance
glad to hear
im
me
1
I see around
you say
that
mr
stark
the outside
judging from what
he looks at the house and then
with a cold sneer he looks at
the other
members
of the group
youll lopel
iose
lose
he and the captain leave
daniel and the group stare
momento then
momenta
after them for a moment
israel holt steps
israel
forward
well brethren 1I dont see any choice but to pull up an leave
do you
what
you mean you want
represents
to
daniel
go now
after
what he said
jake
were fightin8
figh
fightlin
fightin
tin a losin battle brother stark
what he
11
II
A
losing battle
2
9
daniel
weve just started
57
israel
messo
daniel were sick of this whole mess
thats
what men
daniel
thinks
were
mort
cant
bound by
we
meet
their
bowl
nowl
bothin
nothin
you to
like isaac james want
what do we care what he
we cant
cani deal with them
leave
theres
doo
do
but
cant
we
we
can
think
their
laws
demands
7
daniel
we can write letters of petition to the state and federal
government explaining our position and protesting the unfair
restrictions placed
upon us
git help from the
well
weil
weli
jackson county and hauns
yehl
yeh
mill
weve got to try
tryl
israel
government
thats
like
how
well
this is not president youngs
he sent us down cereo
hereo
here
it
was
the lordis
will
lords willi
got back in
git help
daniel
alma
send
is in st george letos
lets
ing our situation and ask him what he feels
brigham young
we
daniel
problem
a message explainwould be best
oure
ours
its ourso
israel
daniel
bishop thomas who has been
standing off a bit and listening to the group comes
forwards
forward
bishop thomas
yes the lord Is will
1I think it would be wise to ask
president young daniel
danielo
but
daniel
there are cries of approval
from the group
II
TT
11
10
2
58
people realize what youre doing
seven years of bloodand
and sweat and toil
blood
bloodand
you
do you
it
weve done
before
we
cn
alma
do
it
all
will be leaving
for nothing
again
daniel
going to come a time when you wont have a utah to
there is we
run to
have felt the brunt of mobs and men like mr james
too often we have now settled a land nobody wants and still
they pursue us they will always pursue us there will
always be the isaac jameses
within the nature of men
we cannot flee each time it confronts us
jsg nor can we turn to
auto
the brigham youngs to bail us outo
out we must face it ourselves
its
gsg
bishop thomas
to the group
1I think brother stark has adequately expressed the trutho
truth
there are
murmurs from
general group
right but
the
israel
have to think
still
to a vote those who
of our families
1I suggest we bring it
want to stay
move to where brother stark is and those who wish to leave
move over here to this side
he moves to the side of the
he may be
we
room
Is that agreeable to everyone
yes
not caring
gnats
biats
oiats
tnats
good
all right all
really
there is
a pause
bishop thomas
daniel
daniel
israel
those that want to leave
a moments pause then
slowly one by one the group
israel is
sifts over to where
until daniel is on one side of
the room and bishop thomas is
there is
thomat
in the middle bishop thomas
hesitates for a moment andgroup
then slowly moves to the
that wants to go daniel
looking at them shakes his
head in disbelief as the lights
fade on the end of act 11
II
111
III
lii
ili
ACT
early in the afternoon
since the
is a week or so james
it
and
meeting with isaac
captain monroe we see
anabelle lingering near the
window
she appears listless
every so often
and restless
she peers out the window
esther is busying herself at
the table we see her mood is
once again despondent
the
wind has stopped
esther
anabelle youve been watching out that window for the past
twenty or thirty minutes are you expecting someone
anabelle
no
1I
moving away
was
just
everyone but us
ust
everyone
esther
yes
when
is leaving today arent they
do you know
anabelle
esther
togethero
As soon as they can get the wagon group toge
together
thero it may
morn ingo
be this afternoon or early in the morning
there is a pause anabelle
once again looks out the windows
esther watches her out
of the corner of her eye
anabelle
why cant we go with the rest of them
esther
ask your father that question when is he coming over
anabelle
who
thats
innocently
vincent
who
youre looking for
esther
isnt it
ill
lil
lii
innocently
mother please 1I
isnt it
well
1I
1I
nervously
2
60
anabelle
esther
anabelle turns
anabelle
away
suppose so
esther
you wouldnt peer out that window every two
1I thought so
minutes just to view the mesas
john enters from the outside
he is feeling despondent too
he crosses to the cot and sits
all
john
my
left to
iong wholl there be
long
friends will be leaving afore longo
have fun with
eagerly
did you see vincentanywhere
vincent anywhere
anabelle
john
to load some wagons latt
last 1I saw golly
to ride horses with or hike up to the caves with
halpin
helpin
he was haipin
no one
esther
d up
trying to hoid
hold
hol
hoi
with levi gone youll be kept plenty busy helping your father
john
almost sulkily
goins
goin a be awful lonesome gosh
still
em
lem
goin with iem
he gets a bucket and goes out
its
1I
wish
we
were
anabelle
oh mother why wont father understand
him
whats got into hinio
oncee
ancee
it seemed he had made up his mind to leave once
esther
a coldness almost bitterness in her tone
that meeting
she stares coldly in front of
her
ill
lii
ili
111
III
all
you
you
you
3
61
mee tingo
meetings
meeting
because of that meetingo
anabelle
cant live here alone youll die all of youl
esther turns and looks at
anabelle
esther
youcre
you6re
boucre part of it too arent
what do you mean you
anabelle turns away
anabelle
quickly
yes
dian
of course 1I didn
didntt mean it the way it sounded
esther
you might as well tell me
you wouldnt lie to me would you
anabelle
anabelle
trying not to understand
tell you what
esther
what you and vincent have planned
stoically
are you going to run away with him you wouldnt survive in
the deseret you know
anabelle
giving in
gothere
not run away mothere
mother
quietly
he
he was going to come over and ask you and father if he
hinie
could take me with hinio
him
esther
you mean you will go with the others
1I see
anabelle
yes
we want to get married in st george
esther
what do you suppose your father will say
anabelle
determinedly
doesnt really matter to me 1I was scared at first but
it
now 1I dont care because nobody is going to stop me
I
1
lii
ill
no
will stop
nobody
didnt
come
to
me
4
62
esther
1I feel a little hurt that
you
you
sooner though
anabelle
because of everything thats
mithero
mother maybe les
im sorry mothero
ies
its
been going on 1I didnt want to add any more
esther
you would have to add it some time
anabelle
1I couldnt survive
1I couldnt stay here another summer
1I just couldnt
1I feel bad about leaving you
mother
it
wouldnt have to be this way if fatherwould
father would only
esther
yes
9
1I
know
she turns and looks
anabelle
abelle
Axi
aal
aai
its
at
going to be even more lonesome around here without you
anabelle runs to her mother and
puts her arms around her by
the time she reaches her she
is crying
1I
love you mother and
your patience your love
oh
ill
anabelle
miss you too
your
talks
esther
she pats anabelle tenderly on
the back slowly breaking
away and dabbing at the tears
now
strange
and then
lose two of my children all within a period of two
A family is the most precious of all things to you
au
weeks
0u
you coddle and care for your children with all the passion
and love thats in your heartp
and yet you know that someday
hearte
heart
you
they will grow up and leaveyou
leave
leaveyou
it seems sort of cruel in
1I
a way
ill
never leave you mother
anabelle
not really
esther
know
sometimes 1I think you have more faith than 1I have
Ana
anabelle
belie even if you think god should be punished
belle
beile
1I
ill
lii
ili
111
III
1I
yes
well
let
me
63
anabelle
eyes downcast
didn
dian
didntt mean that
1I
5
I
you know 1I dian
didn
didntt
1
esther
help you pack a few things
she starts to
bedl
bedto the bedi
room
A knock is heard at
the door anabelle moves to
answer
ill
get
come
in bishop
1I
ite
it
anabelle
it
or son thomas enters
bishop orson
he appears somewhat excited
have something
brother stark
what
go
is
bishop thomas
that 1I think will
be good news
to you and
esther
it
bishop thomas
weve received word from brigham young hes granted us per
leavel
mission to leave
before 1I wasnt so sure it was right to
leave but with situations as they are now and president
youngs permission 1I think
one only sensible thing we
its
can do
ohl
ohi
oh
how
esther
wonder
wonderful
full
fuli
bishop thomas
said because of high tax rates isolation from market and
the desolate country it all combines to render any further
continuance of the muddy mission impractical
esther
trying to restrain her exuberance
oh im sure that it will make a difference with daniel
he
thank you so much
bishop
doingo
well 1I must be goingo
going
eo
goodbyeo
goodbyes
goodbye
Goodby
ive
bishop thomas
got a lot of packing to do
he goes out
lii
ill
TTT
6
64
esther
she puts a hand to her heart
its
if
as
a huge weight were
lifted
e
from here
anabelle
excitedly
oh yes
yesl
beslI do you think it will make a difference with father
esther
yes im sure it will
erases all obligation to the
this news
saints of the muddy mission go tell john to find his father
and have him come to the houseo
housdo
house
excited
ohy this is the best news 1I could have receivedo
an
do
aitos
ob
received
itos
receive
pray erso
prayerso
answer to my prayers
auto
esther
anabelle goes outo
out preparaimmediately begins
tions for packing she pulls
a large trunk from underneath
the cot she goes to the
bedroom and comes out with a
small chest and puts it on
the table she begins to
take things out of the cupboard when daniel enters from
the outside a
daniel
hanging up his hato
hat
what are you doing esther what is this chest for
esther
with a happy smile on her face
brought news that came from
just
daniel bishop thomas justbrought
brigham young
he said because of high tax rates isolation
we may abandon the
from market and the desolate country
obliga tedo
obligated
settlement leave we no longer have to feel obligatedo
now
we
means
can
wonder
wonderful
with the rest
leave
fuli
full
it
it
isnt
of the saintso
saintlo
saints
she goes to the door and calls
johno
she crosses back
for john
to the cupboard and takes a
few more things down
anabelle enters
1
its
HI
65
7
anabelle
1I just talked to vince and he said he would
minutes and help us load up
in a few
come back
esther
anabelle get our clothes and put them in the trunk
you
couo
will youo
anabelle moves for the bedroom
booro
dooro
door daniel during all this
activity has stood in stunned
silence
daniel
esther 1I
goode
good
he makes a move toward her
daniel can you
lift
that trunk
esther will you stop
esther
up on
the table for
daniel
a minute and
listen to
me
please
me
esther busily taking things
down
esther
laughing
weve got a lot of packing to do the others had such a head
scarz
uso well have to move if we are ready in time to
scart
start on us
cart
leave with them
esther
will
you
distent
listenl
listent
daniel
he takes her by
the shoulders
esther looks
silence
esther
in stunned
were not going
were
were not going
thats
what 1I saldo
saido
said
sald
up
daniel
were not going
esther
but what about brigham youngs permission daniel
right we dont have to stay anymore if
all righto
its
want
to
we
he says
dont
tyt
TTT
HI
that has nothing to
do
with
it
upset
has everything to do with it
it
to go along with you but this
making sense at all
1I
why
im
esther
daniel 1I have been willing
1I
youre not
just cant
president youngs answer would be before they
it
didnt
your
daniel
daniel
knew what
sent
66
8
tell
you
wife
it
wouldnt have
it
mee
does to me
brigham young
me
made
or talk
esther
it
over with
after all
me
daniel
any difference
esther
wouldnt say
daniel
we must
remain here
esther
right he realizes we have fulfilled our obligation
thats
our mission and now
time to go home
anabelle enters carrying an
armload of clothes
daniel
this is our home why cant people understand that
anabelle
whats the matter mother
esther
angrily
your father teila
teiva
tel3s
telas
telis me were not going
tells
anabelle
its
were not
oh
no
notI
nol
1
wha
exclaiming
father you cant
youre doing
mean
that
do you
realize what
daniel
why
getting angry
is it everyone questions or doubts
me
why
cant
you
feel
ili
ill
lii
111
III
it
as 1I feel
just
its
now
youre not
why
the
you
cant
spectrum
9
67
see the whole of it
of the whole thing
right
itis
its
not
esther
concerned with my
im
family and their feelings A family thats suffered for seven
so sick
long years in this land A land whose soul is sick
that it infects those who try to change it
making sense
hurt
are
you implying
now
how
daniel
that im sick
esther
course not
of you
forget
feel
you understand that
no
going to him trying to reason
nowo
now
howo
but you wonder why we cant feel what you
why cant
we have feelings too daniel
daniel
1I suffered every moment you
dont you think 1 1I do havent
have
of our
havent I felt the same grief over the loss you
son
have
havent 1I struggled against the same things
esther
1I
1I thought you did
im not so sure now
daniel
you re not so sure I
youre
esther
youve become so obsessed with this this idea as if you
had no eeling
feeling for us your family
pleading
daniel for the love of heaven give it up let it go
cant you see weve suffered enough already
anabelle
her I
father be reasonable listen to herl
daniel
losing patience
youre
getting to sound like israel holto
suffer
suffero
holt
hoit
siffero
suffer
youre as much possessed with what we have had
bad to endure as 1I
am supposedly obsessed with the idea of stayingo
ingo
stay
inge
staying
esther
angrily
I
1
1
1
how
can you say
that
1I
lii
ill
10-
68
daniel
1I dont
pain and suffering and death are terrible things
why were here isnt it
deny thato
chato
thats
thatgod butwhose
law it is that he who learns must suffer
and even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by
drop upon the heart and in our own despite against our will
comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of god
and that
ironically was written by a pagan
esther
1I have no tolerance for your intellectualism now
this isnt
a plaything
human lives and feelings
this is real
youre toying witho
aitho
with itis no time for philosophizing or
moralizing
moral izing or whatever
daniel
isnt it think what youre doing
esther
1I want to be with my friends
1I have
where
im so tired
cool where a person can survive
daniel
what about me would you rather be there than with me
esther
oh daniel
dont say that dont make me choose lets go
with the rest please please
daniel moves away we can see
going on
there is a struggle
inside him pause
daniel
calming himself
almost forlorn
lalmost
how long esther how long will it continue
moving and
settling moving and settling being pushed and harrassed
harrasser
harrassed
weve started over so many times
by men like isaac james
what do we have to show for it
esther
we have the churcho
charcho
church isnt that what is important
daniel
we wont have it if we continue to let ourselves be pushed
like this the line has to be drawn somewhere
esther
going now will not make that much difference
its
its
its
lii
ill
11
69
daniel
truth is like a rope with many strands or threads esther
somewhere along the threads a man finds a particular one that
given to him to keep to trust to
belongs to him
roan is assigned the responsibility of
man
guide him and every moan
finding his strand and then when you put all the little
strands together you have the rope
esther
are you certain that our strand is not binding us holding us
its
back
daniel
not heeding remarks
we found the rope
you and 1I
1I felt we had found our
thread too but now youre asking me to sever it to weaken
the rope
esther
president young has given his permission to
what do you mean
were
re not breaking anything
leave we
daniel
what else could he say
do we have to be commanded in all
things by someone presiding over us if we do that doesnt
speak very highly of our own right to guidance by the spirit
the best interest for
im trying to tell you that 1I feel that
wecre
us and the church is to stay here
were
decre staying
emphatic
gc
regardless of what the others do were stayingc
staying
stayin
there is a knock at the door
john answers it vincent
enters
vincent
weve about finished packing over our way so 1I thought 1I would
come over and give you a hand brother stark
a
he immediately senses something
is
wrong
0
daniel
1I appreciate it vince but we wont be going
vince
surprised
you wont be going
but the letter from president 1I thought
that
daniel
no vincent to me everything is the
would make a difference
same as when isaac james stepped out of this house
HI
12
70
vincent
1I dont mean to sound disrespectful
brother stark but what
about your family arent you asking for more trouble by
staying here alone
daniel
not any more than you people will be getting into on your way
george that journey i s trouble too
back to sto
stc georgeo
st
anabelle
but at least well be tog
together
ethert
etherl
daniel
flaring
anabelle 1I have had just about all 1I can take of your caustic
little
tongue I
thats
anabelle
back
bristling right
you wont have to listen to
good father
daniel
1
me
any morel
more
morei
what do you mean
quietly
ashes
shes going with the group
since vincents entrance
movedo
moved she just
esther has not moledo
stares in ffront
ronz of her
esther
with vincent
daniel
talking about
esther
calm
still
she and vincent want to get married in st george
daniel
married what is this why havent 1I been told about this
what
what are you
before
1I
in
just learned about it myself
but
esther
a few minutes before you came
daniel
ili
lii
ill
lil
111
III
7.3
73
71
13
esther
turning on him
were lucky they didnt run offc
use and
at least she told us
offa
off
youre not doing anything to stop them lets not ruin her
life
vincent
im sorry brother stark im sorry it has to turn out this
way
anabelle
things are packed in a trunk in the bedroom
vince my
you get them
john
could you help us
would
outo
they go auto
out
esther
1I Is your pride daniel
your stubborn pride
breaking
its
us wearing us downo
doino those two will need help to get started
down
daniel
turning
they could stay here with us
esther
you cant be serious I 1I didnt realize how far this thing has
its
1
obsessed you
you
daniel
all
because of
of you go around thinking im some kind
what 1I know to be right
what 1I feel
of a monster
no it has to be pride or selfish
nessl esther what kind of
selfishness
man do you think 1I am
havent tried
esther
confused
its
now
as if youre a stranger
used to know you daniel
somewhere a gap has opened up between us and im scared
ohl
oh
neither of us will be able to close it ohi
leave
too late
before
1I
lets
its
you
what do you mean
frighten
daniel
daniel
me
moves
to esther
with that kind of talk
taik I
1
esther
im trying to say im not big enough to stay here 1I cant
anymore
morel
take it any
getting hysterical
the thoughts of facing all this alone and now without
anabelle
its
so
lonely
the wind
1I
cant
stand
it
lii
ili
TIT
111
III
ca
c& & m
its
my nightmarel
nightmares
nightmarel
daniel
sharpl I
the rocks are so sharp
1
ld
id
.14
14
T
79
72
c
&
lingo
fallings
falling
fai
fal
im fallingo
oh
god
mes
met
help meg
daniel takes her by the
shoulders and begins to shake
her
go
got
go
got
1I cant
levi
let me goi
levil levil
let me goi
daniel
he slaps her
stop it
estherl get hold of yourself
esthers
esther
estherl
she sinks into a chair sobbing
quietly to herself daniel is
kneeling at her side ana
belle enters followed by
vincent and john carrying a
box or trunko
trunk
anabelle
mother whats the matter
daniel
trying to be calm
hesitates
ashes
shes upset over your leaving and our staying
1I
rises
and moves away
vincent and john set the
he
moving to
are
mother
yes
you
trunk
john
his mother
all right
regaining her composure
down
esther
youo
rights thank you
couo
im all right
she tries to force a smile as
she pats john on the arm
what does
why
why
ana
anabelle
belie
belle
to daniel
it
take to get through to you
why does
it
have
daniel
to be like this
lii
ill
15
73
anabelle
angry
because you are too blind to see you act as if our lives
were something to experiment with
or some kind of sport I
daniel
sport
0 god
no more
pleasel
cleasel
like a thousand
needles pricking
raising his hands to the side of his face
bracing
bra in I
at my braing
vincent
trying to avoid a scene
anna wedd
outc
wed best take this on gutc
out can you help me john
they take the trunk and move
toward the door
esther
calmly
when youve finished there come back and you can carry mine
will you vincent
vincent
surprised
are you going
daniel
shocked
carry yours
what
1
its
1
anabelle
you must get away from beree
heree
here
esther
going to her
yes yes
oh mother
ohff
you go with
vincent and then
come back
ill
lii
be ready for you
anabelle gives a quick glance
at her father who has turned
away bewildered
she then
moves to vincent and john
they exito
edito
esther rises
exit
goes to the trunk john pulled
from under the cot and takes
a small chest type box out of
it
are
you going
youve
to help
turning
me
made up your mind
daniel
then to leave
with the others
ill
lii
iii
111
yes
up
coldly
im going
16
74
esther
with or without you daniele
danielo
daniel
my
minds
made
holding box in her arms
daniel
were always struggling for what we cant have arent we
why does it look better somewhere else
always choices to
make
esther
choices
she sets chest down
daniel
yes we want happiness or satisfaction or something
looking always looking now you want to leave with or
without me 1I want you need you and yet 1I want to stay
must stay
it all
vicious somehow
esther
1I
1I never win when we
any more about it
dont want tometalk youre
coming with me
talk just tell
if
daniel
As simple as that
esther
yes
as simple as thate
thata
that
she picks up chest once again
and starts for the bedroom
start with some things in the bedroom
daniel intercepts her near the
seems so
ill
fireplace
esther put that
box down
daniel
and listen to
me
he tries to take
from her but she
lve
ive
listened
enought
enoughl
the chest
resists
e
esther
he continues to try to take
the box she hangs on tightly
ili
ill
lii
111
III
will
not
no
nol
you put
let
go
this
of
down
itt
it
for a min
17-
75
daniel
esther
1I
she gives an emphatic jerk and
at the same time daniel
relaxes his grip the box
flies from esthers hands and
smashes against the violin
above the fireplace
falls
it
to the floor along with the
box with a resounding crash
both momentarily stare at what
has happened then daniel
reaches down and gingerly
upe
scoops it upo
up he fondles it
for a moment esther turns
tears filling her eyes
daniel
slowly
the destructions almost complete isnt it my son dead
your leaving and now even
a daughter that despises me
my violino
about all 1I have left are my books
violinbuilding
on a sandy slope
the faster 1I dig the
im digging a hole
faster the sand pours down from the top to fill it up A
hole a hole in a sand dune
he turns to esther
he shouts as if he is talking to some invisible thing
in the room
digging on sandy slopesl you
and whats more were all
all
we
know what
live esther
this
ilfe
life
all about thi
thlslife
s
life
twi
thl
esther
almost shouting
no more daniel
go
oh god in heaven please no more
madl
mad
hysterically pleading
why does everything have to be so difficult
daniel ignores her
daniel
yes
now 1I know
knowl I
he flings the broken violin to
the floor
its
lii
ill
1
lii
ili
111
III
it
what it is
isi the
lsi
remember job
1I know
what
18
76
its
an endurance test estherl thats
one who endures he comes out on top
is
isi
lsi
X
esther
oh
not quite knowing what she is saying
yes
yes thats what it is I
thas
1
daniel
shouting to that invisible thing again
I
you take my books toot
why donot
too theyre all 1I have leftt
left
dont
1I donot
donit
dont care because 1I know
he goes to his bookshelf and
sharts pawing and throwing his
books until they all lie
around his feet in a heap all
the while he shouts
you cant fool me any longer
now
1I remember
what is it nowt
petero theres the prophet joseph too
job and christ and peter
who died
and all those saints who suffered to come across
they endur
endured
edl they stood and took it
ite
esther
coming to her senses
she rushes to daniels side
now
daniel daniel stop iu
itt you must stop it nowt
daniel steps out from among
booksh
the heap of bookso
books he ignores
esthers pleas
daniel
shouts defiantly
and
endures
endurel
take it 1I swear before men
last
1I will to have the
and angels that it shall not cut me down
courage to face my kind of worlds
world
she goes to him and falling
on her knees tugs at his arm
esther
a forlorn kind of pleading
please please oh how many times must 1I say that words
word
everything chimes in my ears like sound struck from some
brazen pot that goes ringing on and on and on stop it for
me daniel
place a hand on itt
iti
it I
1
lii
lil
ill
lil
lii
ill
ill
1
ill
lii
place a
19
staring in front
of him
you cant
hand on it
canti
77
daniel
no one can
1I
no one
onelI
1
esther
mourna
mournfully
mournf
uily
ully
continue to flail and kick and fight it lim
im
leaving
lea
leaving
iea ving daniel you can
cantt stop me
daniel moves away from esther
now who is still on her kn
ees
knees
he has a calmness a tranquility about him that is
electrifying his face almost
seems to glow
why must we
1
daniel you
you endure
thats what
1I
cant
esther thats the keyl
it takes to endure
esther
helplessly
you have to
great if
we
t
I
we don
dont
1
only fight
it
when
daniel
must endure toge
togethero
together
thero the sacrifice is too
esther
1I dont understando
under stando 1I never seem to understand
understands
understand
daniel
pause thoughtful
remember when 1I mentioned to you about a kind of poem 1I wrote
so 1I now feel even
feelingso
feeling
that in some measure expressed my feelings
more the significance of what it means
meanso
measso
esther
oh
yes
tell
me
1I
need something
never understood why
so obvious
so simple
1I
an eager tone in her voice
tired sounding but with
daniel
1I used the images 1I did
so
clear
now
it all is
he begins to recite quietly
but with deep emotion
the lambent rays streaked above the
brown and rust
rustsfcained
stained mesa
pigments of red glowed and hung everywhereo
everywheres
everywhere
1I thought 1I could see myself
suddenly all slipped into darkness and silence
ill
lii
111
III
20
78
night things chirped around me and
from somewhere came the babbling
of dead leaves
1I wondered where 1
I was
the learned mans voice drummed on about
huge galaxies and numberless stars and billions
of years
1I gazed at the streaming heavens slowly
spinning through eternity
1I looked to see if 1I were there
muffled voices hissed and murmured
someones
So
meones feet shuffled
and man created god in his own image they said
some words checkered across my mind
1
I am alpha and omega
1I tried to see what it was
then two came and talked with me
1I beheld a vineyard and leaves of gold and a tree of life
they counseled me they said things
1I saw anotherangel
another angel and blood and he is risen
1I thought 1I could see something
seemed white all white
it
spired shafts pierced the morning skies
skles
its voice
of rushing waters echoed the words
the
this is life eternal that they might know
hands descended upon my head
A tiny spark kindled at the pit of my bosom
daniel builds with an exultant
power here
1I could see it now
only there were two
two
that were
one
voice whispered god created the heavens and the earth
but you belong to each other forever and ever
1I could see now
1I understood
face is radiant at
esthers
the end of daniels poem
tears of joy stream down her
face he turns and looks into
her eyes and very softly and
tenderly says
A
do you see why
it
daniel
has to be both of us
together
ill
lii
111
III
79
21
she moves into his arms
yes
yes
matter does
oh
1I
do
it all this is
live life as if
were everything
we
why
how
esther
is
beautiful it all isi
lsi
nothing
it doesnt
daniel
were nothing
it
that way we endure
couldnt 1I see or understand
and look upon
it
as
if it
esther
daniel
line upon line precept upon precept didnt the lord tell
111
ulo
the prophet joseph uio
lil test you in a crucible of fire
lii
esther
1I cant express the joy that has filled my heart
in the background is heard
playing softly the pioneer
III
ill
song
daniel
he looks down
welcome home
my
dear
at esther
welcome homes
home
ter a
af
after
raises his
head and looks off into the
distance the music swells
slightly and a chorus begins
moment he
to sing the words to the
pioneer song
1I see before me a beautiful valley nestled among the quiet
mesas of the desert zun
ground worked and tilled by
fertile
an industrious people lush green fields
the humid odor
of alfalfa spears of grain nodding their heads in the warm
spring evenings 1I see beautiful chapels and schools 1I see
peace and love but most of all 1I see a people who are proud
of a heritage that belongs to us
usl
aslI their challenge will be
different from ours but it will be just as dusty just as
they will also have to
troublesome and just as lonesome
learn to endure
the music swells all the
lights have dimmed out except
the spot on daniel and esther
center stage they both stand
in each others
other s arms now the
1
111
III
ili
ill
lii
22
80
audience can distinguish easily
the words of the pioneer song
this scene is held for a
minute or so and then the spot
fades slowly the music is
heard even though
still
black on stage the music
fades and the curtain closes
its
bibliography
archer william
boston
books
boors
books
play making A manual of craftsmanship
playmaking
Crafts mansh
craftsmansh
smail
small maynard and company 1918
poetics from the great critics translated by
ii butcher
H
haryy smith and edd
harfy
edited by james harry
W
W
new york
60
norton &
winfield parks 28
2860
company inc
1951
ashbough donald
Yest tEgay los angeles
nevadas turbulent yesterday
Western
westernlore
lore press 1963
block anita
the changing world in plays and theatre
aristotleS
boston
little
brown
and company
1939
brecht Ber
the alienation effect actors on acting
bartolt
bertolt
tolt by toby
281 284
283
edited
cole and helen krich chinoy 281284
new york
crown publishers 1959
brunetiere ferdinand
the law of the drama european
theories of the drama edited by barrett H clark
new york
crown publishers 1940
401 408
401408
fergusson francis the idea of a theatre princeton
new jersey
princeton university press 1949
gallaway marian constructing
Construct lna
ina a play new york prentice
hall inc 1950
muddy mission
leithead james
heart throbs of the west
12
vol IV edited by kate B carter 6612
salt lake city daughters of utah pioneers 1943
macgowan kenneth
primer of playwriting
dolphin books
new
myers
york
doubleday
henry alonzo
&
company
romero and
juliet
inc
1962
and midsummer
nights
aspects of the drama edited by barnet
dream
47
brown and
boston
berman and burto 35
3547
company 1962
little
the drama as an art european theories
edited by barrett H clark new york
crown publighersi
publishers 1940
an introduction to dramatic theory
nicoll allardyce
new york
f9
31
1931
Bre
nods
Brenta
ntanos
nols fa
brentanols
brentanos
nathan
george jean
of the drama
82
perkins
george
pioneers of the western desert
wetzel publishing company 1947
wilder thronton
the drama
boston
los angeles
thoughts on playwriting aspects of
11
edited by barnet berman and burto 1111
some
little
brown
and company
1962
other sources
speech of acceptance
faulkner william
william Faulk
ners
faulkners
upon the award of the nobel prize for literature
new york
spiral press 1951
lytle
mary vVo
interview
overton nevada june
30
1962
ONLY THERE WERE TWO
AN ORIGINAL PLAY
IN THREE ACTS
an abstract
of a thesis submitted to the
department of dramatic arts
brigham young university
in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
master of arts
by
ronald A dalley
august 1965
ABSTRACT
only there were two a full length three act play is
written as a reminder to us all of the faith and endurance of
1I have endeavored to capture
a handful of mormon settlers
the dramatic spirit of a man who would not let bigotry and
prejudice
Pre iudice run him from his home
dre
the setting of the play is a small mormon settlement
in the muddy valley in southern nevada the time is late
february 1871 act one is early evening act two scene one
is one day later afternoon act two scene two is one week
later evening and act three is a week later late afternoon
the first part of the thesis is concerned with the
theory of drama the purpose of drama the subject area of the
play itself a few insights in relation to structural theory
and my general efforts as a writer
in the first act the audience learns of some of the
trials and conflicts which nature has imposed upon the
settlers the beginnings of a conflict start to materialize
between daniel stark and his wife esther we learn that
anabelle daniels daughter is beginning to acquire an
embittered attitude toward the settlement this is also a
source of conflict As the act develops daniels strong
faith in the settlement becomes apparent while other members
think the hardships are more than they can endure consequent
quently
ly the others feel they should leavec
leave another conflict
arises here at the end of the act daniels son levi is
2
killed in
the curtain closes leaving the
audience worried about the effect this will have upon daniel
and his wife and the conflict that has already risen between
a wagon accident
them
introduces vincent miles Ana
anabelles
belles
boyfriend anabelle further reveals a bitter attitude toward
her father she asks vincent to take her away from the
valley if he leaves vincent agrees the conflict between
esther and daniel is heightened daniel is confronted with
an inner struggle
him his wife blames
hima
his daughter dislikes him7
it on the hard life of the settlement and wants to leave
finally after struggling with the idea of leaving daniel
reluctantly consents
act two scene two shows a meeting with a lincoln
county official who has come to talk about taxes the
character of the official is revealed to be unscrupulous and
bigoted he seems to be deliberately forcing the settlers to
leave this causes daniel to change his mind about leaving
he vows never to leave
the other saints who expressed doubt
everyone decides to leave
about leaving before take a vote
except daniel the act ends leaving this crisis in the minds
of the audience
act three reveals that anabelle is going away with
vincent brigham young sends a message stating that the
saints in the muddy settlement may leave when esther hears
edo she tells danielo
this she is overjoyed
overjoy
daniel he still refuses
to leave the conflict begins to reach its climax esther
act
two scene one
3
says she will leave daniel
daniel first tries to reason with
her and then he pleads with her she wont listen he
reveals to her
a poem he had
written years
ago
the
poem
illustrates all that hangs on their marriage what life means
for them in the eternities to come why it is important they
should remain together the spirit of what daniel is fighting
for the real significance of things is communicated to esther
she then knows she has to stay with her husband no matter
what the consequences
daniel prophecies of the future of the
settlement and the play ends on
ona
odaa note of affirmation
approved
clcct&
ah
chairman
airman
member
L
f
atl
A 1acl
tel
advisory committee
cdmmittee
ibry committee
c6rmitte
Adv lory
advisory
tqzzt
chairman major department