1 Tita Anntares Three plays about people who journey through fear and anger to connection as human beings… and others who cannot take that journey. Three plays ................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Bio .................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 First 10 pages of each of these plays (plus cover, synopsis and cover) VEILS OF JUSTICE ........................................................................................................................................... 4 EMBERS OF TENT CITY .............................................................................................................................. 17 SAM’S RABBLE ............................................................................................................................................... 32 T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 2 Three Plays – First 10 pages of each follow Veils of Justice, based on an actual trial and already an award winner (Theater Resources Unlimited’s 2016 TRU Voices and five other strong contest placements for earlier drafts): Can a young Saudi, falsely accused of raping and robbing an American man, get a fair trial in 2010 less than ten years since the September 11 attacks? This Saudi Muslim man’s fate depends on two women -­‐ his Jewish defense lawyer and, unexpectedly, his accuser’s wife – and on the wife’s conservative gay brother. (Cast: 6; Unit Set. Revisions after each of 3 table readings, one with Maryann Plunkett, and a staged reading at Soho Playhouse directed by David Stallings, then another revision. Ready for production.) Embers of Tent City, also based on an actual trial and winner of a 2016 Writers Digest award and based on actual people, events and reconciliations: Emboldened by President Obama’s first Inauguration in 2009, Mac, a WWII veteran decides to shelter families evicted in Memphis as a result of the financial crash in army tents just as he sheltered evicted sharecroppers evicted for registering to vote in 1960… but he starts raising the first tent across from the rundown farmhouse of the sheriff who almost killed him. This battle to the death is interrupted by the sheriff’s granddaughter, arriving hell bent on getting to the first meeting of the Tea Party on February 16 to “Take our country back!?” But when the first tent burns down (red-­‐out between scenes), in the midst of racial rage and economic fear, a reconciliation breaks out, triggering a very American rebellion. (Cast: 7; unit set. Revised after a table reading with actor Arthur French as Mac. Ready for reading and when ready, production.) Sam’s Rabble, tells the story of a rebellion praised in 1787 by Thomas Jefferson – “The Tree of Liberty must from time to time be refreshed with the blood of patriots and tyrants” – a quote printed on Timothy McVeigh’s T-­‐shirt when he bombed Oklahoma: Settlers have circled their covered wagon near a ramshackle tavern on their way West, willing to risk death by arrow rather than stay in their new democracy. The tavern owner’s widow sees a drunk guarding a Native American tied by the neck to a wagon wheel, cajoles him into freeing the captive then realizes he is Captain Daniel Shays who led thousands of armed veterans to hold judges at gunpoint less than five years after celebrating at her tavern victory against the British empire with Sam Adams. Half-­‐mad from the killings she has witnessed, she conjures the growing fear and anger that forced Sam Adams, man of the people, to send the army of the new nation of Massachusetts to shoot or arrest and hang his friend Shays and triggered the uniting of the 13 nation states under one Constitution that did not mention the rights that Sam and Shays fought a war to win… rights that had to be tacked on to the end of the Constitution several years later. Who is the patriot, who the tyrant? (Cast: 10, can be reduced; Unit set as stories are re-­‐enacted around tavern; Needs a reading and development.) T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 3 Bio Tita Anntares has written three plays and two screenplays in the last four years, thanks to a life challenge that forced her to choose between destruction and creativity and good workshops led by playwrights (Arthur Giron, E.S.T.; Jackie Sibblies Drury, NY Theatre Workshop; Rogelio Martinez, Primary Stages ESPA; Winter Miller, The Playwrights Center as well as directors Anne Bogart and Travis Preston, Playwrights Horizons and dramaturges Collette Brooks, Hal Croasmun, Syd Field, Robert McKee, John Truby. The first play, Veils of Justice, was a 2016 winner of Theater Resources Unlimited’s TRU VOICES and earlier drafts placed as Finalist (MT Works), Semi-­‐Finalist (Ashland New Plays and Beverly Hills Theater Club), Winner (WILDsounds), and Honorable Mention (Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation’s contest for plays about actual events and people that position LGBT life positively. Veils and her next plays, Embers of Tent City and Sam’s Rabble are described at www.Anntares.com. She has also written several one-­‐acts and short plays, a book of poems and interactive puppet shows that she created and performed at children’s parties, hospitals, festivals and block fairs. The first 10 pages of each of her three full length plays follow. T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 4 VEILS OF JUSTICE By T. Anntares
Guilty or not, can Mazen, a Saudi youth accused of raping and robbing at knifepoint an American businessman get a fair trial and justice in post 9/11 New York City? This Muslim man’s fate depends on three women -­‐ his Jewish defense lawyer, a prosecutor determined to convict, his accuser’s wife – and the wife’s conservative, gay brother. Some journey through the fear, betrayals and prejudice into profound connection as human beings… some cannot take that journey. Based on actual trial. Original full length play; unproduced, unoptioned and unpublished as of October 2016
Script: pages 4-85; Production Notes, page 86-93
Contact:
Tita Theodora Anntares
[email protected]
646 642 6812
257 West 99 St
NYC 10025
www.anntares.com
© Copyright 2016 ~ Registered with WGA/e
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 5 Synopsis: “VEILS OF JUSTICE” by T. Anntares This psychological crime drama was inspired by an actual incident, after reading
transcripts of the 10-day trial and interviewing all involved (except the judge.) The story
brings to life ordinary people who break through fears and mutual prejudices to take
extraordinary actions for fairness… and some who cannot take that journey.
Guilty or not, can Mazen, a Saudi youth accused of raping and robbing at knifepoint an
American businessman get a fair trial in post 9/11 New York City? This Muslim man’s
fate depends on three women - his Jewish defense lawyer Miriam, his accuser’s wife
Lynn and prosecutor Gerrie who is determined to convict – and on his accuser’s
conservative, gay brother-in-law.
The characters show their sides of this story - fictional but inspired by an actual trial:
•
We see two men meet at a gay club, then see the younger man ringing a bell that
the older man’s estranged wife answers. That night Mazen (“Zen”), a Muslim student
from Afghanistan finds himself in a Rikers cellblock reserved for gang murderers. His
defense lawyer assumes his claims of innocence are a predator’s con game… until
she sees video evidence.
•
“Your husband charges my client with raping and robbing him at knifepoint,”
Miriam tells the accuser’s wife Lynn before asking her to look at evidence. If Lynn
sees no guilt, the defendant will risk a trial less than ten years after 9/11 with a jury of
New Yorkers who will learn the defendant was not only raised Taliban by his mother,
but is the son of a Saudi who fought with bin Laden against Russians in Afghanistan.
•
“My husband would never make up those charges!” When Miriam asks the
accuser’s wife to testify in court that Mazen was not threatening when he rang her
bell, Lynn throws the lawyer out of her apartment. She is sure her husband would
never make up rape and armed robbery… but she calls her conservative gay brother
Chris to help her find out what is happening.
•
“I need to believe you’re guilty!” Chris checks out Mazen in Rikers jail, warning
him that if he picks up a stranger, he has to deal with the consequences… but soon
realizes the charges may be false. He insists his sister Lynn look at evidence,
bringing the defense lawyer with him. Lynn sees no signs of guilt, but refuses to get
involved, afraid of shame to her family and revenge from the defendant’s family.
As the trial nears, the defense lawyer and prosecutor spar over plea deals, the
defendant becomes suicidal, and the accuser’s wife is drinking, terrified and adding
more and more locks to her door… until Chris forces her to choose between protecting
her family and justice for the defendant. Lynn’s request that her husband drop the
charges turns into a fight. We see both sides preparing for the trial and key moments as
well as closing arguments. Doug talks bluntly to the audience while waiting for the
verdict – one that shocks all. Some of the people on this journey break through barriers
of fear, betrayals and prejudice into profound connection as human beings… some
cannot take that journey.
Cast: 3 men, 3 women.
Unit Set: Characters tell their sides of the story, with lighting and a prop or piece of furniture to
indicate location; possible projection of news headlines, photos, etc.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 6 Cast (in order of speaking):
CHRIS PAYNE, Lynn’s brother. Civil engineer for NYC government. Comfortable being gay and
in a long-term partnership
MAZEN TAMEDO (“ZEN”), 20s-30s son of a Saudi Arabian father who fought Russians
in Afghanistan and of a Taliban mother. Very slight British/Arabic accent, upper
class, warm if not contradicted. (“MAH-zen TahMEEdoh”)
DOUG WINGATE, financial advisor, father of two college students. Well-educated, formal
but charming; legally separated from his wife but living in half their apartment
LYNN PAYNE WINGATE, Doug’s estranged wife, a school psychologist. Caught
between her commitments to fairness and to protection of her family
MIRIAM JOSEPH, defense attorney – young, modern, level-headed; devoted to the law
and believes in the right to legal counsel for anyone arrested but rarely believes
claims of innocence
GERALDINE [GERRIE] WHITE, dedicated NYC Assistant District Attorney/ Prosecutor –
willing to be aggressive to get criminals off the street and prevent the suffering of
more victims
… and AUDIENCE members, witnessing the story, sometimes as jurors
Time/Place: February 2009 - April 2010, New York City
Act I
Act II
I.1 The Encounter, February 15 2009 I.2 The Story Tellers I.3 Visitor at Daybreak I.4 NYC Engineering Dept I.5 Report I.6 Arrest I.7 Building a Defense I.8 Rape Unit I.9 An Investigator I.10 New Charge I.11 Mobius Stripping I.12 Prison Visit I.13 Plea Deal I.14 ATM Security Videos II.1 In the Box II.2. Encountering Family II.3 A Decision II.4 Locked Up II.5 Suicide Interrupted II.6 Request Denied II.7 Doug Testifies II.8 Lynn Testifies II.9 Outside Courtroom II.11 A Private Moment with Doug II.12 Verdict, April 23 2010 Awards and Placements Winner, Theater Resources Unlimited’s 2016 TRU VOICES New Play Reading Series Staged Reading directed by David Stallings. This script has been revised based on audience responses to a request in the program to email thoughts and suggestions along with a note about experience in theater or other professionals. For overall comments go to www.Anntares.com and click on “Veils of Justice” in the menu. (http://www.Anntares.com/veils-­‐of-­‐justice.html) Placements of earlier drafts: Honorable Mention, Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation’s contest for plays about actual events/people that position LGBT life positively; Semi-­‐Finalist, Ashland New Plays Festival and Beverly Hills Theatre Club; Finalist, MT Works Newborn contest; Winner, WILDsound drama contest; Table reading in the “Argonauts” new plays program of Golden Fleece, Ltd. T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 7 VEILS OF JUSTICE by Tita Anntares. First 10 pages.
Act I. The Incident
Scene 1. The Encounter. February 15 2009. A discrete sign over an elegant door reads, “The Limestone.”
Valentine’s Day party sign. Sounds of men’s voices singing – “My
Funny Valentine” –from a distant piano bar. Spotlight on CHRIS, in
sports jacket and slacks, walks up and starts to open door
cautiously then stops. He is comfortably gay, buttoned-down.
CHRIS PAYNE
[To Audience]
After my sister told me the charges, I checked out this club, The Limestone.
Talked to people who might have seen something.
[Starts to open door, nervous, stops]
Elegant piano bar, clubroom with a fireplace. Even outdoor garden for warmer
weather. But if you go home with a stranger, you take the consequences.
[Again starts to open the door. Again stops]
What’s done is done. But I keep looking in to see if he’s... Hell, they told me he
can’t... I should let it go…
[Blackout.
Spotlight on DOUG, well-dressed businessman, somewhere over 50, alone at a
small table inside the club, with a glass of vodka, cranberry juice bottle nearby.
Candle and red silk rose in vase on table. Briefcase on floor. He’s trying not to
look at a man standing in the darkness who moves sensually closer, into the
light.
When DOUG looks quickly away, the figure in the shadows steps closer and into
the light. He’s MAZEN (“MAHzen”), a young man - could be in his 20s or 30s. He
holds his head high like a prince from the Middle East sizing up a subject. Or
prey. Sweater draped over his shoulders, black T-shirt, tight jeans. When DOUG
looks up again, MAZEN, moving sensually, comes closer to the table. Standing
with his body close to DOUG’s face.
MAZEN (“ZEN”) TAMEDO
Why not join me and my friends in the piano bar?
DOUG WINGATE
It’s late. I was ready to go home…
ZEN
You’ve spent too many evenings alone at this table. I noticed. You’ll enjoy my
friends.
DOUG
Your accent – you’re not a desert sheikh, are you?!
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 8 ZEN
Don’t worry. You can trust me. Just a student from Kuwait. Even went to Eton in
London. My friends? They’re Americans.
DOUG
I’ll buy a round for you and your friends. But I won’t be your Sugar Daddy.
ZEN
[Angry. Abruptly turns to leave]
That’s really insulting!!
DOUG
Don’t be so touchy. Just a clarification.
ZEN
I wasn’t asking you to DOUG
(Seductive)
You know what you were asking for…
ZEN
[Starts walking away, contemptuous, taking the rose in its vase]
You were giving me the eye. Forget it! Get a life! And some real friends. If you
plant thorns, don’t expect roses!
[DOUG reaches his hand out to stop him.]
DOUG
Forgive me. It’s just that ah – such an attractive young man, rarely…
[ZEN sees DOUG’s wedding ring on DOUG’s reached out hand]
ZEN
A wedding ring!... Now I understand… My friends are very discreet.
[Gives rose back to DOUG]
DOUG
Ah – well... Just one drink. But not alone. With your friends!
ZEN
[Speaking with his voice, hips]
Don’t worry. I’m safe. Have you ever been to the Middle East?
[DOUG gets up, lugging his over-stuffed briefcase, with rose]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 9 DOUG
Of course. Even had a sauna at The Corniche – not a corniche on the French
Riviera…
ZEN
I know, “of course.” But I like the Riviera, too. Been to “Le Night Disco”?
DOUG
Whenever I get to Cannes. You’re so young to be a world traveller!
ZEN
I’m very experienced… with havens around the world. But you’re the first
American I’ve met who has, ah, savored The Corniche…
DOUG
I was a liaison between some U.S. clients and a consortium of Middle Eastern
investors in the Emirates. Free weekend.
ZEN
Still a night left in this weekend. Ever need to release the pressure?
DOUG
You have no idea.
ZEN
Believe me, I understand. Some of the men in this club – they need relief from
the stress of always making the decisions, providing... for their employees or
their voters, their own children, current and former wives.
DOUG
Only one wife. But separated. I can finally live free – and private.
ZEN
Here in New York, I am finally free to live. Americans have the courage to let
people be who they are.
DOUG
That’s just our slogan. But when the rubber hits the road? No one’s going to put
their own safety at risk for someone else.
ZEN
I put my safety at risk for anyone I love. Back home, I could lose my head just for
doing something like –
[Moves very close to DOUG]
But I still find people I can trust. People free for whatever arises…
[DOUG brushes the rose over ZEN’s lips]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 10 ZEN, Continued
Soft.
[DOUG gives the rose to ZEN]
DOUG
Too soft. What did you say about thorns? Sometimes thorns wake us to the
ferocity of beauty.
ZEN
I like the silk of this rose. Gentle. But, who knows... I’m learning to fly through
many worlds. If you don't have to run home to a little wife, why still wear the ring?
DOUG
Keeps me safe… One never knows when an Arab sheikh will, ah, pull out his, ah,
dagger.
[They go into the darkness that ZEN came from. Blackout… Piano
hits a flat tone, then minor tones of sounds of Middle Eastern music
- “Habibi” - rise up, reaches a frenzy – suddenly. Silence… ]
Scene 2. The Story Tellers Spotlight on/off each character addressing Audience directly from different
locations. Light first up on CHRIS:
CHRIS PAYNE
This was the last thing I wanted to get involved in, but my sister asked…
LYNN PAYNE WINGATE
My brother was the only person I could ask. My husband raped?! Suffering in
silence. For a year, I knew nothing. He said nothing to me.
DOUG
World financial markets were crashing. So was my life.
ZEN
My life was over. Locked up for fourteen months in jail with gangs and murderers.
Who’s standing between me, a Muslim from the Middle East, and a New York
jury just eight years after the attacks? A woman. Jewish.
[Gestures toward MIRIAM, as his light goes down]
MIRIAM JOSEPH, ESQ
All prisoners claim they’re innocent. Whatever. My job is to get the facts, make
sure the evidence is valid, the conviction is fair and the sentence fits their crime.
GERRIE WHITE, ESQ
I do whatever’s necessary to prosecute criminals, get them off the street.
Murderers, rapists, thieves, nuts – and predators stalking the vulnerable –
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 11 DOUG
Vulnerable…? That sounds so weak. But it was not my fault.
ZEN
Not his fault?? I tried to tell what really happened. But who would believe me?!
[DOUG walks into ZEN’s light to address Audience as ZEN eases
away from him into the darkness]
DOUG
You saw “what really happened”: from the very beginning, he had me in his
sights.
[Blackout. In the darkness, the muffled sound of a doorbell ringing.]
Scene 3. Visitor at Daybreak, February 17 2009 Same song – My Funny Valentine – but radio musak. LYNN’s couch against wall,
near door – muffled sound of doorbell ringing on other side. Couch covered with
Valentine’s cards from her students and one large “Be Mine In 2009!” card.
Doorbell switches to ringing loudly on LYNN’s side of wall. ZEN is outside door.
On her way to the door, LYNN, in bathrobe, stops and speaks to Audience:
LYNN
It was so early in the morning. Some problems with our kids in college?
[Moves on to look through peephole in door]
Who’s there? What is it?
ZEN
Is Mr. Wingate home? I have to return something to Mr. Wingate.
[LYNN opens door. Doesn’t see DOUG peaking out his door in hall]
LYNN
His bell is the other door. Ring that.
ZEN
I did. No answer. This says Wingate, too. Isn’t this the servant’s entrance? I just
want to leave someLYNN
No, damn it! This is my door. If he doesn’t answer, just go away.
[LYNN watches ZEN tosses the silk rose angrily down the hall as
he leaves. To Audience with a shrug]
And he did. Note to me – go back to maiden name.
[LYNN shuts and locks door, starts to take off robe – startled when
DOUG knocks on door then opens it with his key. In business suit,
tying tie, he enters with stuffed briefcase, stem of the rose sticking
out. He tries to charm – and be charming - throughout.]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 12 LYNN
You were home?! Why didn’t you answer your door?! Some guy – attractive guy you didn’t see him?
[Looks out door]
Weird. He threw… but it’s gone.
[DOUG tries to hide stem of rose]
Oh, you found his rose. Why’d you stick it in your briefDOUG
Garbage! Listen, he’s one of my financial clients. Was. I’m giving him back his
fee. I can show you the receipts. He’s disturbed. Lynn, no matter what, I still care
for your safety. Never open the door to him again!
LYNN
Okay, okay, Doug. But he seemed to know you. And you can’t lose more clients.
DOUG
I’ve been marketing for clients under every rock. Bottom line, it’s only February
and economists are already predicting ’09 will be worse than ’29. But I promiseLYNN
“Bottom line” is you bounced your half the kids’ tuition for February.
[DOUG starts out the door, stops, sweetly contrite]
DOUG
I keep failing you financially. But I try to be a good father, make a good home for
our children. I’m eternally grateful each time you cover forLYNN
Look, I know you’re trying. But the college will bar Mike and Pam from next
semester. I’ve told you before but I really mean it this time - if you keep bouncing
checks, you have to get your own place. Then I can rent your half of this
apartment to pay your half of parenting bills.
DOUG
I didn’t bounce the check. The bank made a numerical error.
LYNN
What error? I called the bank.
DOUG
My business trip to North Dakota last month. I told you, a three-day blizzard. The
car rental company took five hundred dollar tranches out of my bank account
each day of the blizzard.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 13 LYNN
Never heard of a car rental company doing that.
DOUG
Me neither. Probably people just ditch cars in blizzards. I was shocked when my
check bounced. I really didn’t LYNN
My school pays me in a week what you earn a day from one of your financial
clients. It's not fair to make me keep paying your half!
DOUG
I know, I know. But you have a regular paycheck. Look, I’ve got to get to an
important meeting. Promise – financial crash or not, I’ll find new clients.
[DOUG blows a courtly kiss. After his back is turned, LYNN gives
him the finger. Blackout.]
Scene 4. NYC Engineering Dept. Same morning. CHRIS PAYNE in slacks and white button-down shirt is
adding to a large engineering wall chart with intricate flowchart symbols,
lines. DOUG rushes in, dumps heavy stuffed briefcase on floor.
CHRIS
Doug?!
DOUG
So sorry to barge in on you at work like this, Chris.
CHRIS
Is Lynn okay?
DOUG
Your sister’s fine. I just left her. It’s about a friend. I need your advice. For my
friend. Just two minutes.
CHRIS
I’ve got to get all this madness ready for a meeting. But if it’s urgent.
DOUG
I’ve got a meeting too. Real fast: It’s just - this friend of mine, he went to a gay
club over the weekend. He’s a, ah, a career coach. Meets with gay clients there.
Because they feel more comfortable. But some guy from the club followed my
friend home. Then returned two days later and talked to my friend’s wife. The
question is, should my friend get a restraining order? You know, so the guy
doesn’t come back again and tell his wife they met at a gay club?
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 14 CHRIS
Why ask me? I don't even know your friend. Sorry Doug, but I have work toDOUG
But you know the scene, Chris. Clubs – all thatCHRIS
I hate that scene! Pick-ups, AIDs, Lord knows what. Bill and I have dinners at
home. Just together or with friends… Or did. I’ve had it with Bill.
DOUG
After ten years? What happened - a fight?
CHRIS
Worse. Boredom. Same old TV, same old arguments about his mess.
DOUG
Stop! You have a real partner in life. You can’t lose that!
CHRIS
Maybe too late. I’ve been bitching at him. He’s ready to pack up andDOUG
Try to remember what you’ve got!!
CHRIS
You’re more upset than I am!
DOUG
When you came out, who got your parents to come around? Who got them to
understand you and Bill had real love - more than most of their hetero friends?
CHRIS
They understood only because it came from their straight son-in-law. Went deaf
when I tried. But that’s years ago. Maybe time for Bill and me to move on.
DOUG
Do you want to break up?
CHRIS
No.
DOUG
Then fight for your love. A closeness like yours – friends, not just lovers. Do you
know how rare -?
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 15 CHRIS
I thought you and Lynn had that – but, hey, I know my big sister can be a pain.
DOUG
I busted up my marriage. Not Lynn’s fault. I blurted out whatever pissed me off
without thinking. If I’d just counted to ten… What you have with Bill is precious.
Something few people find. Straight, gay, whatever. You can’t throw that away!
CHRIS
Hey, I don’t need preaching. Walk your own talk and patch it up with my sister.
[DOUG shakes his head no, distraught]
Sorry, not my business. But if you get that divorce, I’ll always be your brotherout-law. Sorry but I’ve got to add a hundred more squiggles to this chart.
DOUG
Okay – gotta run too, but my friend – should he call 911?
CHRIS
Most things blow over. But if he’s sure his wife’s in danger, tell him not to call
911. He should go straight downtown to Criminal Court. Cut the red tape and get
an Assistant D.A. to issue a restraining order.
[Blackout]
Scene 5. Report Same day. Evening Lights up on GERRIE sitting at desk. Sign reads
“Assistant District Attorney, Geraldine White.”
DOUG
[To AUDIENCE as he goes to GERRIE’s desk]
Before we got the separation, I could’ve murdered my wife. But that boy,
he showed up at her door, talked to her. I had to protect us.
GERRIE
Stealing cheap watches. Not sure that’s enough for a restraining order. You say
he returned two of the three watches. Can you prove he swiped the sixty bucks?
DOUG
How can I prove someone took cash? You think the thief gave me a receipt?!
Just get me a restraining order.
GERRIE
You say you returned his fee for your financial advice. So he probably won’t
come back. If he does, then DOUG
But he did come back. Talked to my wife! Terrifying!
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 16 GERRIE
Threatened her?
DOUG
She said she was a nervous wreck when he came to her door.
GERRIE
Panic when a stranger comes to the door? That’s every New Yorker. I need solid
reasons for a restraining order.
DOUG
I have the bank receipt. He forced me out of my apartment. To a bank.
GERRIE
Forced you?
DOUG
Of course – you don’t think I’d give him money... Forced me. At knifepoint.
GERRIE
He had a knife?? Why the hell didn’t you tell me that when you came in?! Why
wait two days to report an armed robbery?
DOUG
He could… Because he threatened me. He’s an Arab!
GERRIE
Arab schmarab. Thousands in this city. Sleepers? Who knows, butDOUG
Exactly! Who knows! Said if I reported him, he’d take revenge on my
family! And he lied. Said he was from Kuwait. But he was raised by the
Taliban – his father left Saudi Arabia to fight Russians in Afghanistan.
GERRIE
[Suddenly alert]
Saudi?!... If his father’s Saudi, he’s also… No Saudi convicted in New
York of anything since... Eight years and counting. What a get!
DOUG
What a what?
GERRIE
We’ve got to get that criminal off the streets. Any witnesses? Neighbors on
your floor? Did you yell for help?
End of first 10 pages
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 17 EMBERS OF TENT CITY Two-Act Play by T. Anntares
In brief: Just after Obama’s inauguration in 2009, an aging African-American WWII veteran who
led a voting rights struggle in the 1960s decides to finish his battle with the retired Irish-American
sheriff who almost killed him... but the sheriff's granddaughter interrupts this battle to the death
when she arrives, evicted as a result of the '08 financial crash and hell-bent on getting to the first
meeting of the Tea Party on February 16 to "Take our country back!"... and the two life-long
enemies unexpectedly connect with their common humanity and set off a very American
rebellion.
Registered with WGA/e; © 2016 Contact: Tita Theodora Anntares [email protected] 646 642 6812 257 West 99 St New York, NY 10025 www.anntares.com T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 18 Synopsis: EMBERS OF TENT CITY by Tita Anntares
Prologue: A young white woman locks herself in her home to fight foreclosure and eviction… • Emboldened by Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, Mac, a WWII veteran and voting rights leader from the sixties struggle in Tennessee, decides to harass the retired sheriff, Zeke, who almost killed him. For decades since a beating by a mob hired by sheriff Zeke, Mac has suffered pain, crippled leg, and post-­‐traumatic stress and anger. Mac decides to rebuild Tent City across from the sheriff’s home -­‐ but this time, instead of sheltering African Americans evicted for trying to vote as he did in 1960, he will shelter people evicted from their homes in black neighborhoods of Memphis as a result of scam mortgage loans and the financial crash of September 2008.
• The sheriff’s granddaughter interrupts their battle, arriving hell-­‐bent on getting to the first meeting of the Tea Party on February 16, 2009 to “take our country back!” She is hiding the fact that she too has been evicted from her home in Memphis when her husband lost his job. When an east coast operator arrives to recruit her as a grassroots organizer, Mac enrages the sheriff by comparing his daughter’s willingness to do the recruiter’s bidding to the sheriff’s own servicing of the White Citizens Council and the Klan. Mac raises the first tent.
• When the tent burns down (lighting effects between two scenes), Mac holds the sheriff at gunpoint, sure he set the fire, but as the sheriff denies any involvement… an unexpected, potentially explosive connection builds between the two life-­‐long enemies in the embers of Tent City. Epilogue: And, instead of rebuilding tents to shelter the evicted, Mac heads to Memphis with an unexpected crew to tear off the wood boarding up foreclosed homes… starting with Luanne’s. Time: February 2009 in Rural Fayette County, Tennessee. One Set: Field and ramshackle farmhouse, separated by a path. Cast: 7 (five men, two women. 3 of the men and 1 of the women are African-­‐American) Note: Can be revised down to 6 actors by “taking out” Abe; One of the black men and two of the white men could get a gender and name change to become women. Fictional but based on actual people and events in TN, SC, AL including apologies by former Klan sympathizer, police chief and other white men in 2009. Winner, Writers Digest 2016 Stage Play Award. Developed in workshops led by playwrights Jackie Sibblies Drury (at NYTW) and Rogelio Martinez (Primary Stages ESPA.) Revised based on unrehearsed table reading with Mac read by Arthur French, recently on Broadway in Trip to Bountiful and an Adelco award winner. T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 19 CAST LIST (7) (in order of appearance) LUANNE MARTIN, ZEKE’s granddaughter, evicted, deserted by her husband after he lost his job. 40s (Irish-­‐
American) TYRONE SHEPARD, young banker who feels guilty for pushing mortgages on black communities. 20-­‐40s (African-­‐American) ABE FRANKFURTER, Young photographer and son of college work-­‐camper in voting rights movement. 20-­‐
30s (German/Jewish-­‐American) MAC (JAMES MCFARLEY), aging WWII vet and former leader of a voting rights movement 70s-­‐80s (African-­‐
American) ZEKE COCKER, retired sheriff who watched doing nothing as thugs he hired almost beat Mac to 60s-­‐70s (Irish-­‐ American) VICTORIA MCFARLEY, MAC’s divorced wife, who negotiated with FBI after Mack was beaten. 60s (African-­‐
American) KEITH GORHAM, young operative from a corporate coalition who is recruiting organizers for Tea Party. 20s-­‐
30s (German-­‐American) (Note: If cast of 6 is max, can take out Abe and add projections) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Time: February, 2009. Place: Field and ramshackle farmhouse separated by a path. Springvale, a small rural area in western Tennessee, near Memphis. Place: One Set. – Stage left, a field with a pile of tent poles and tools, pails, cement supplies. – Stage right, ramshackle farmhouse with a rickety porch, old rocker, a lot of junk, a rifle standing against wall near door to kitchen. – In between the field and house, a path leading upstage to an unseen road. – Available for optional projection: photos of Tent City for people evicted for registering to vote in TN in 1960, home foreclosures after the 2008 financial crash, and statistics. Throughout most scenes, a large army tent is slowly built and erected. Just before the last scene, instead of a blackout, there is a “red out” with lighting as the tent is burned. Last scene: the field, where the tent stood, is burned embers. History to Date: • Placed 6th out of hundreds of scripts in Writers Digest contest for staged plays • Fictional but inspired by actual people and events in TN, SC and AL. See production notes. • Developed and revised in workshops with playwrights Jackie Sibblies Drury (at NY Theatre Workshop) and Rogelio Martinez (at Primary Stages ESPA) • Unrehearsed table reading (in Nov. 2014, followed by significant revisions) with actors Arthur French (Mac), Hamilton Meadows (retired sheriff Zeke), Michael A. Jones (Tyrone, banker) Connie Winston (Mac’s wife Victoria), Eli Gelb (voting rights work camper’s son), Miranda Noelle Wilson (Luanne, Zeke’s granddaughter), John Long (Keith), John Nelson (stage directions) T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 20 Prelude. Morning. January 20, 2009.
Across the stage, like a wooden curtain, a large modern, well kept house in
Memphis with windows boarded up, chain locking door. LUANNE MARTIN, a young
white woman, is leaning out a second floor window, not boarded up. She is in
an overly elegant, sexy nightgown, make up already. Below, TYRONE SHEPARD,
young black businessman with briefcase, at boarded-up, chained door. LUANNE
You get off my property! You know my pa is a sheriff. He can shoot
you dead for trespassing.
TYRONE
I’m just trying to warn you ahead of time, Miss Luanne.
LUANNE
I’m not leaving my home.
TYRONE
In an hour, the sheriff – the Memphis sheriff – will arrive here with
deputies, police. I don’t want to see you forced out by men in guns.
LUANNE
This is my home!
TYRONE
I know. And I’m so sorry. I got the bank to give you an extra month
after the foreclosure. Because we go way back to childhood.
LUANNE
Aw, what – you want me to be grateful? For you throwing me out my
house?!
TYRONE
Not me. My bank.
LUANNE
Yeah – “your” bank. Nobody gave me a scholarship to college. Nobody
helped me get a fancy job.
TYRONE
I just wanted to warn you. Save you the humiliation with your
neighbors watching. But I’ve got to go – promised my wife to take off
work to watch the Inauguration with her.
[Blackout. In the darkness, the wooden screen opens to reveal a field and
farmhouse in rural Tennessee…]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 21 Scene 1. Sunset. Tuesday, February 2, 2009
On porch, ZEKE COCKER, retired sheriff in old jeans, shirt and jacket
against February chill, sits in an old chair, beer in hand, half
asleep, his radio on low, but we hear an upset man’s voice saying:
“Big government taxes us to hand out money for bums to lazy to
work. Anyone can get a job if they really want one. But why
should they work? They can live off welfare! Generation after
generation – they feel they’re entitled to suck off the federal
teat. The new plantation. A plantation owned by the federal
government and funded with our taxes.”
A young man, ABE Frankfurter, hanging onto his video camera, tripod,
rushes down an audience aisle, reaches edge of stage and starts
setting up his camera to film action.
ABE FRANKFURTER
[To Audience]
Here they come. Can you see over me? – Sorry [Crouches down lower]
Better?
[ZEKE looks at ABE startled, then at two men coming down
the path, looks frightened, turns off radio, gets up, grabs
his rifle and slips inside his house. His face and tip of
rifle appear a moment later peering out a window.
TYRONE SHEPARD, the young banker, again in a business suit
that doesn’t fit the rural scene, hurries down the path,
hooks up banner at the entrance to field that reads: “2009
Tent City: Evicted? FREE space: Contact Mr. James McFarley”
JIM McFARLEY (MAC), aging farmer/store owner, follows
TYRONE down the path reluctantly. He’s in overalls with
severe limp. TYRONE notices ABE FRANKFURTER and gestures
for ABE to start recording MAC. ABE braces himself against
the edge of the stage, turns on camera. MAC looks at the
banner, yanks it down.]
MAC
I didn’t say ‘yes’! Leave me outta this cockamamie idea!
TYRONE
You didn’t say ‘no’ either.
[TYRONE hoists banner back up. MAC notices ABE]
MAC
Tyrone, who the hell’s that? You already brought TV people?
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 22 TYRONE
He’s recording the re-building of Tent City. You remember that workcamper that interviewed folks for his book “Our Portion of Hell”?
MAC
Hot dog or hamburger or something?
ABE
Frankfurter. I’m his son, Mr. McFarley. Abe Frankfurter.
MAC
All the way down from New York? Hey – you come over to my store and
tell me how’s your father. Wasting your time here.
[Looks at AUDIENCE]
You brought all those people with you?
ABE
They came to see the rebuilding of Tent City. The tents – and your
name – they’ll bring back the world press. Make people care about the
evictions.
[ZEKE peers out a window at them. Rifle in hand. ABE sees
him and goes back to filming]
MAC
Anyone who remembers me is long gone to his Maker.
TYRONE
We’ll remind them. My bank’s predicting four million or more
foreclosures and evictions of home-owners.
MAC
Shoulda paid their mortgages. Or not bought the house in the first
place.
ZEKE
Atta boy!
[MAC looks toward sound but ZEKE ducks out of sight]
TYRONE
[Talking over ZEKE and not hearing him]
Mac – It’s not the homeowners’ fault! The whole U.S. financial system
crashed in September.
MAC
You’re the banker. You could’ve warned them.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 23 TYRONE
Who forecasted all the banks and mortgages going belly up at the same
time? No one!! I told my clients, “Don’t worry over the small print.
I’ll handle the paper work.”
MAC
So you feel guilty.
TYRONE
No! I promise you - I never added zeroes on their loan applications.
MAC
You telling me something?... Look, folks tell me one thing you never
did: you never forgot your roots. You’ve been giving bank loans to
our people so’s they could buy homes.
[ZEKE is looking out another window, rifle still in hand]
TYRONE
Oh, I remembered my roots all right. I’ve been rooting out any one
with a pulse in Memphis, in black neighborhoods.
MAC
Giving loans to help folks build businesses, own homes…
TYRONE
That’s right - wagging my bank’s loan applications at them, getting
my percent. Now what? Half my clients are getting thrown out their
homes.
MAC
You forgetting what happened on January twentieth? The miracle the
American people gave us? If banks are unfair, our new President Obama
will stop the evictions.
TYRONE
He can’t, Mac.
MAC
Don’t be silly. He’s the president of the United States!
ZEKE
African Muslim from Kenya, Lord help us!
[MAC looks again; again ZEKE ducks in time. TYRONE is too
busy talking]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 24 TYRONE
You’re forgetting Wall Street crashed Main Street in September. Hell,
bankers crashed the whole world economy. Economists day the financial
numbers for two thousand nine will be worse than nineteen twentynine… We’ve got to do something. You led MAC
[Interrupting]
Nothing I can do about it. Been there, done that. Finished with
fixing the world.
[Mocking himself, starts walking away down path]
“You got the vote. Now stop sharecropping. Become independent. Get
real jobs or start your own business. Save and buy your own home so
you can never again be evicted.” They listened. And now those fools –
and their children and their children – they’re getting evicted.
Again. For buying their own homes.
ZEKE
[Now behind porch door, muttering, unseen]
If’n you buy houses you can’t pay for, that’s what you get. Debtors
can’t expect hard-working taxpayers to bail you out and pay your
mortgages for you!
[MAC starts to look for person speaking but sees his wife
VICTORIA coming down the path. She’s in tailored slacks and
jacket, scarf. ZEKE ducks]
MAC
Uh-oh.
VICTORIA
Jim, please tell me you’re not getting involved with this!
MAC
You come all the way out from town to tell me what I can or can’t do?
Thought you said you’re not my wife anymore!
VICTORIA
I don’t want people laughing at you. They’re saying you’re trying to
re-live your glory days.
MAC
What people, Victoria – white people?
VICTORIA
What white person has spoken to me since you started regis-
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 25 MAC
Then who’s got your feathers ruffled?
VICTORIA
Customers at my salon.
[Gives him a bag]
Here – a cassette of the Inauguration speech. Let’s go home and
listen again.
[To TYRONE]
We actually watched it on TV two weeks ago without one fight. Sorry
to take him away, but we’re not spring chickens, you know. It’s your
time now, Tyrone. Please, don’t get him revved up again with your
tents…
MAC
Damn, Victoria, you got no business acting like my wife or my nurse!
I’ll set up tents if I want to.
Mrs. McFarley –
year.
TYRONE
they’re forecasting four million evictions just this
VICTORIA
Who is?
[As ZEKE watches from windows, door… rifle at alert]
TYRONE
[Ignoring her question]
A new Tent City will bring back the TV cameras. Like before. But this
time they’ll show decent families thrown out their homes. Just last
week one of my client’s in Memphis, this family. Show her, Abe.
[ABE stops recording, projects photo of family]
Sheriff’s men boarding up windows. The husband standing there.
Disbelief. Holding up his wife. Her head buried in his shoulder,
already mourning the loss - but gently holding him back. Afraid what
her husband might do.
[Points at the photo]
You see? A neighbor runs between them and the sheriff. Thinks he can
stop the foreclosure. Must’ve happened so fast the family dog got
locked inside, whimpering. Sheriff tells his men to unchain the door.
Just for a minute. Just to let out the dog. No one bailing them out.
The crash wasn’t their fault. Who expected they’d both get laid off
at the same time? Just when banks jacked up mortgage rates?!
VICTORIA
It’s very sad, Tyrone. But there’s nothing we can do about a global
financial crisis.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 26 TYRONE
We can’t just sit back and do nothing. They trusted me – me and my
bank. If bad times hit, banks – my bank - should restructure their
loan. Not throw them out.
VICTORIA
Talk to your bank. Not my husband.
MAC
Victoria, I told him, Obama will fix it.
VICTORIA
I’m sure the president will. Or the courts. What’s clear is rebuilding Tent City won’t help. That was fifty years ago – desperate
tenant farmers thrown out of cabins for trying to vote. Not for
middle-class homeowners whoMAC
Mrs. Department of Justice, here, is right. Set up your own damn
tents, Tyrone. I’m getting out of here.
VICTORIA
[Taking his arm and starting to leave with him]
Thank heavens.
ZEKE
[Stepping into view from doorway]
You can say that again. Thank heavens! All of you, git! No tents near
my property.
MAC
[Looking astounded t ZEKE with rifle]
Is that my sheriff?... Ezekiel Cocker? You sold your family home to
Sheriff Zeke?! Tyrone!! That house was in your
family since Reconstruction – and you sold it to the White Citizens
Council’s attack dog?!
[VICTORIA is trying to guide MAC away]
TYRONE
I kept the fields. Didn’t see the land.
ZEKE
You’re asking for it, old man.
MAC
Times must be hard for you, Sheriff Zeke – ah, “retired” Sheriff
Zeke, thanks to my wife and her federal agents. Oh,
yeah, times must be hard if you got to live in a colored family’s
home.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 27 ZEKE
Never wouldn’t’ve touched it with one of your ten foot poles if the
bank warned me first.
MAC
[His hand out to shake ZEKE’s as he crosses the path onto
ZEKE’s land. Provocatively gracious -]
Good to see you after all these years, Sheriff Zeke.
TYRONE
Mac, come on – let’s go.
ZEKE
I’m warning you people – keep off my property.
[MAC keeps approaching, hand out.]
You watch it or I’ll finish the job.
[ZEKE cocks his gun, raises it toward the sky. VICTORIA and
TYRONE try to pull MAC away, ABE ducks.]
MAC
What’s the matter, sheriff - you scared to aim straight at me? Lost
your manhood? Come on, shoot me or shake hands. A welcome handshake
after all these years, you crossing t’other side of the street in
town.
[ZEKE aims rifle directly at him]
If you don’t pull that trigger now, you and me, we’re gonna be seeing
a lot of each other. Know why? Tyrone and me and his work crew –
we’re going to rebuild Tent City. Just like in nineteen sixty. Build
hundreds of tents for families evicted out their homes, living in
tents. This time right across from your shack. Tents’ll bring back
the TV cameras. And now with the Internet – this new “two thousand
and nine Tent City” will go contagious –
TYRONE
Viral.
MAC
Whatever. Oh yeah, we’ll be seeing each other every day, you and me,
Sheriff Zeke. Two Irish boys, Ezekiel Cocker and James McFarley. You
from your great pa escaping the Irish famine – me from my great ma’s
Irish rapist. She could not escape. Hey, Tyrone. Where’d you store
the tent canvas?
VICTORIA
James! If you fight, you’re going to get yourself killed.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 28 MAC
Gonna drop dead one of these days anyways. Why not have some fun.
ZEKE
Don’t worry, Mrs. McFarley. No fight left in him. Been letting you
and your Feds do his fighting for him since he got whupped years ago.
He done nothing since. Too scairt. He’s dead inside. No fight left in
him.
[MAC is sizing ZEKE up, figuring out what to do about him.
VICTORIA steps between them]
VICTORIA
Because you had him beat up half to death, Sheriff! Ruined his
strength for chopping and selling wood.
ZEKE
Just his excuse for making his missus do his fighting for him.
[MAC, now furious, moves closer towards ZEKE]
ZEKE
Lot of folks sorry those boys only broke your bones. No offense, Mrs.
McFarley, but if he don’t back up, I’ll blow him away. Right here.
Right now.
[Toasts with the beer he’s drinking]
Here’s to a man’s right to defend his castle.
[Fiddles with his rifle]
But come on over, boy, dare you – put one toe on my side of that
path. Heh, heh!
[MAC goes back to field as if ignoring him, putters around
the tent poles, talks to ZEKE with back turned]
MAC
Go on. Shoot. Might as well go out with a bang. Heh.
VICTORIA
Stop it, James. You’d be lucky if you just die.
MAC
[Ignoring her, choosing pole, back still to ZEKE]
Imagine, Mr. Retired Sheriff, Sir: Three hundred families filling
tents right across from your farmhouse… Probably all black families.
Doubt any evicted white families’ll take shelter here.
[ZEKE digs an unopened beer can out of cooler on his porch]
ZEKE
Here’s a hand-out for your bunch of debtors and chiselers.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 29 [Throws can very hard at MAC’s head. MAC ducks – because of
his bad leg, stumbles down. TYRONE and VICTORIA help him
back up. MAC picks up the can, pops it open, toasts and
takes a swig]
MAC
Mighty hospitable of you, Sheriff Zeke. To your health!
VICTORIA
Please, James, just come home – he’ll get you locked up for the rest
of your life.
MAC
Hell, if I want to give Zeke what he wants – he’s been wanting to
finish me off for fifty years. Only reason he hasn’t? Too scared
you’ll sicc your feds on him.
[Suddenly stands very straight, holds up the pole like a
spear, aims at ZEKE]
Come on Sheriff. Fight me like a man. No midnight posse with a lynch
mob circling my home. No driving down night roads looking for African
road-kill. Man to man, spear against rifle.
VICTORIA
Stop talking like a crazy man!
MAC
You stop hocking me, woman.
VICTORIA
I can’t live with the fear again.
ZEKE
Go ahead – fill the field with tents[MAC now threatening to throw the spear]
If one of your smelly squatters so much as lays a foot on my side of
the path, I got a legal right to shoot ‘em. Any of you.
TYRONE
Sheriff, we have a legal right to shelter Americans evicted because
Wall Street gambled with their mortgages. But we’re not here to make
trouble. Just to shelter decent homeless families.
[TYRONE wrests the pole away from MAC. As he speaks, MAC
moves closer, steps back, moves closer, teasing ZEKE with a
cat and mouse dance, ZEKE becoming more and more angry]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 30 MAC
I gotta finish what we started. You remember how the news media love
to see po’ colored folks sheltering in tents? This time when the news
people come, I’m gonna get on TV and what I’m gonna ask, is: “Did
America suddenly get –“ How many evictions coming this year, Tyrone?
TYRONE
About four million by the end of two thousand nine. More in twenty
ten.
MAC
So I’ll ask, “Did we suddenly get four million mortgage cheaters?
No! Families being evicted because the banks gambled with people’s
savings and the whole American economy crashed… That’s what Tyrone,
our banker, says. Why? People losing their jobs just when the banks
are raising rates sky-high …
VICTORIA
James! You’re ranting sound like a crazy man!
MAC
[Looks to TYRONE for reassurance. Gets thumbs up]
When the tv cameras come back, I’ll tell them “We won our right to
vote. Now we gotta vote for politicians who will bail out people not
just banks?!”
ZEKE
Communist!!!
[ZEKE furiously SHOOTS rifle – but into the air. He has learned
his limits.
VICTORIA
Do something, Tyrone - he’s going to get killed!
[MAC, smiling, amused, casually takes a seat on a stump.
His calmness infuriates ZEKE who goes into his kitchen,
slamming the porch door behind him. MAC takes the tape and
tape recorder out, puts the batteries in. TYRONE tries to
pull MAC up. Can’t. Goes to help VICTORIA, runs back to
MAC, back to VICTORIA, finally gestures to VICTORIA in
despair, what should he do?]
VICTORIA
Fine! Get yourself killed! Tyrone, help me get home!
[TYRONE chooses the damsel in distress. He hurries along
the path upstage towards the unseen road, with VICTORIA.
MAC turns tape on, full blast:]
OBAMA’S VOICE (from First Inauguration)
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 31 “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear,
unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come
to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises,
the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have
strangled our politics.”
[ZEKE enraged, charges out door, back onto porch, plunks
down on old chair and turns up his radio full blast. The
battle of the speeches:]
OBAMA’S VOICE
TALK SHOW HOST VOICE
“We remain a young nation.
“Who will protect the small
But in the words of
business owner now?
Scripture, the time
Democrats will hand out
has come to set aside
benefits to buy votes but what about
childish things. The time
homeland security? Who’s
has come to reaffirm our
going to stop the
enduring spirit; to choose
I-ranians from building a
our better history; to
nuke. Don’t we wish the
carryforward that precious gift, hand on the Bible at last week’s
that noble idea passed on
Inauguration was Senator McClain’s so we
from generation to
could bomb terrorists
generation- the God-given
– not Barack Hussein
promise that all are equal, all are
Obama
free,
who wants to
and all deserve a
negotiate with Muslims who
chance to pursue their
attacked us because they
full measure of happiness.”
hate our values!”
[Blackout. ABE quickly projects lots of photos of
foreclosed, boarded up houses across America from October
2008-2009]
Scene 2. That night. In the darkness, Sound of TV basketball game comes softly from
inside ZEKE’s house. MAC is arranging tent poles by lantern light
then sits on a log, sharpening the point of one of the poles with
his knife. Sound of a long distance bus coming to a stop for a
minute at the end of the path on the unseen road, then moving on.
ZEKE turns on porch light, looks curiously towards sound of bus,
shrugs, goes back inside. A young woman comes rushing down the path,
looking behind her with terror. She is ZEKE’s granddaughter LUANNE,
too much make-up, over-done hairdo, overdressed in city clothes,
pearls. When she sees MAC she’s too frightened to speak, just gasps,
then LUANNE
No, please!! Spare me –
[Lying]
I have children!
END OF First 10 pages
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 32 Sam’s Rabble Two-Act Play by T. Anntares
-----------
The story of the actual rebellion that today's Tea Party refers to when they quote Thomas
Jefferson in 1787 about Shay's Rebellion: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time
with the blood of patriots and tyrants." (That quote was also on Timothy McVeigh's t-shirt when
he was arrested for bombing the government building in Oklahoma.)
Contact: Tita Anntares [email protected] 257 West 99 St, NYC 10025 646 642 6812 www.Anntares.com © 2016, Registered with WGA/e T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 33 Sam’s Rabble – by Jesse and the Settlers (by T. Anntares) Synopsis A worn but seductive tavern owner’s widow, Jessica Havens, has seen many
armed men pass through her ramshackle tavern, charging off to kill for some
reason or another. Now in 1792, as settlers gather for the night before moving
west into Indian Country, Mrs. Havens and the settlers re-enact the story of a
drunken settler who guards a Native American tied by the neck to the wheel of a
covered wagon. Their story, in brief:
A rebellion –
Less than five years after the American War of Independence, Captain Daniel
Shays leads indebted veterans and farmers to rise up in arms to close the courts
of their new democratically elected nation of Massachusetts and save their
neighbors from being thrown into debtors prison.
Democracy in crisis –
Their insurrection triggers calls for an American monarchy to control the mobs…
galvanizes the empires of Europe to reclaim their colonies and stop the idea of
democracy from spreading across the Atlantic… drives their hero and mentor,
"man of the people" Sam Adams, to send out the army of Massachusetts to
shoot or arrest and hang… and frightens all 13 nations into uniting under one
constitution that did not dare mention the liberties they had all fought a war to win
(rights tacked on at the back much later.)
Hanging the Traitor –
As Sam Adams demands that Shays hang for treason against the democracy
they had both risked their lives together to build, they careen into a higher test of
loyalty that transforms each man’s colliding search for justice.
Unit Set A ramshackle tavern and wagon. Actors put up painted canvas and props to
change tavern to different locations.
Option: White canvas gives a sense of covered wagons circled for the night all
around the sides and back of audience areas.
Time/Place Mrs. Havens tells the story in 1792 from her tavern in Sparta, New York about
events during the years just after the end of the American Revolution from 1781
until the suppression of Shays’ rebellion, 1788.
Production Note As audience members arrive, there can be actual photos or slides showing today’s members of the Tea Party and Second Amendment Rights groups carrying signs with Thomas Jefferson’s 1787 comment on Shays Rebellion (made from the distance and comfort of France): “The tree of liberty from time to time must be refreshed with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 34 SAM’S RABBLE -­‐ Cast Mrs. Havens conjurs a story enacted by settlers gathered around a campfire for the night before
their covered wagon train moves into Indian Country.10 (7 men, 3 women)
The settlers take several roles, putting on a few selected costumes from a trunk for their
characters and bringing out a few props - unless produced by a community or university theater
group with volunteer actors. Then no doubling but all are settlers in prologue and epilogue. Ages
do not matter unless shown.
MRS. HAVENS
Worn-down but voluptuous, seductive tavern owner’s widow. Also plays
RUTH OTIS, formal, conservative widow of James Otis Esq
DANIEL SHAYS
In Prologue a settler who is Captain Daniel Shays, moving West. He keeps
his character throughout the story. Easy-going, loyal to friends
SAM ADAMS
In Prologue, just one of the settlers, but during main part of story, this settler
only plays Sam Adams, delegate to Continental Congress and new leader
of nation of Massachusetts
OTIS TWO
Native American - in Prologue unnamed, then throughout the story, adopted
son of James Otis
The Settlers (4 men, 2 women):
SETTLER 1:
MOSES SASH (African-American farmer/veteran);
COLONEL MIDDLETON (African American officer/tailor)
SETTLER 2:
JOB SHATTUCK (veteran, farmer);
EBENEEZER (ALEXANDER) MACKINTOSH (veteran, leader of Boston’s South
End mob)
SETTLER 3:
JOHN HANCOCK (a new leader of nation of Massachusetts, 50s);
COLONEL SOLOMON BUSH (officer, 40s)
SETTLER 4:
HENRY SWIFT (veteran, young leader of Boston’s North End mob);
AMOS SINGLETARRY (elderly farmer)
SETTLER 5:
MATTIE (washerwoman, campfollower and Swift’s woman, multi-racial);
MARGARET MOSSEY SASH (farmer, wife of SASH, multi- racial)
SETTLER 6:
BETSY ADAMS - Fiery, political wife of Sam Adams (Also plays Native American
Wife in Prologue and Epilogue, mostly hidden by blanket);
ABBY GILBERT SHAYS – farming wife of Daniel Shays
See Production Notes for resources with information about these actual people.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 35 Prologue. Moving West Expanse of early evening blue sky to the west, distant mountains to the
east.
Outside of a ramshackle tavern, with sign painted and repainted to read:
“Havens Inn, Sparta, Colony Nation State of New York.”
A calendar on the tavern reads 1792. Small gravestone off to side.
Near the tavern, a covered wagon. A bloodied Native American man in deerskin
(OTIS TWO) is tied by the neck to one of the wheels. At the back of the wagon,
raggedy flag with coiled rattlesnake, tail in 13 pieces, and words “Don’t Tread on
Me.”
Guarding him is a drunk (DANIEL SHAYS) in a dirty Continental Army Captain’s
jacket, crouched by wagon wheel, drinking from bottle of rum, a knife in the other
hand.
MRS. HAVENS, a worn but voluptuous woman stands in doorway of tavern,
watching the two men. She’s in widow’s black, but wears apron made of colorful,
faded patches of silk and velvet.
A campfire downstage close to audience has a large cooking pot. SETTLERS
ladle vegetable stew for their wooden bowls, sit to left and right, as if audience in
front of campfire is part of their circle.
MRS. HAVENS
For years, I been keeping the watch here. Travellers come through my tavern
charging off to kill for one reason or t’other. So I give ‘em some vittels and extra
rum. And they give me their stories. Come morning, they move on. I seen British
colonists charging off to kill French and Indians. Patriots charging off to kill the
British and their Indians…. Somebody’s got to remember why they left when they
come home… If they come home at all. My mister… Most of these settlers, they
was soldiers… Never thought they’d come back from fighting the royal army.
[OTIS TWO struggles to free himself triggering the wagon wheels to
turn and tighten the rope around his neck, pulling him down.]
SHAYS lunges to stop the wheel from strangling the Indian, then
settles back down with his bottle and knife.
DANIEL SHAYS
Simmer down, there, you dumb shavage. You’ll get myshelf killed!
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 36 [MRS. HAVENS starts moving towards SHAYS,
sensuously stalking him. In the distance, unseen by
others, the NATIVE AMERICAN WIFE, covered in shawl
except her eyes, watches.]
OTIS TWO (Settler 1)
[Educated speech. No accent]
You’re going to kill me anyway. Just get it over with!
SHAYS
Jush tryin’ to get to the Ohio Valley. Alive. Without you warning your tribe and [Gestures a scalping.]
OTIS TWO
Never!! I won’t hurt you. I told you, I’m the adopted son of James –
SHAYS
[Drunkenly trying to puzzle out what he heard]
Redskins slaughtered our men for King George! No son of Jemmy Otis wouldMRS. HAVENS
[Moving between SHAYS and OTIS TWO]
That Indian ain’t going to hurt you.
[Putting hand on SHAYS’ arm holding knife]
Came over the border here, couple years back when you Massachusetts men
was shooting each other. Lives off in the woods. Never see him, ‘cept when I lay
out my pies. I figure he got his woman and little ones hid somewheres.
[Pushes SHAYS’ hand gently down so knife points to
ground]
Meat ‘n kidney pies. Onliest ones he snatches.
[Noticing that SHAYS is staring at her breasts, leans
closer to give a better look]
That’s right, you just settle down and enjoy the scenery. But let him go.
SHAYS
Can’t. I’m shtanding guard.
MRS. HAVENS
You can’t hardly stand yourself, but I know who you are. Drunk or not, these
settlers’ll do whatever you tell em.
SHAYS
This apron – My head’s spinning [Almost unconsciously, as if in trance, SHAYS runs his
fingers gently over satin and velvet patches on MRS.
HAVENS’ apron, over her breasts]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 37 MRS. HAVENS
[Amused]
Real soft, ain’t they?
[SHAYS draws back abruptly, embarrassed]
Them patches, I mean. Fine satin, silk and velvet - all the way from France.
[SHAYS reaches towards patches again with longing but
doesn’t dare touch]
MRS. HAVENS
Don’t worry, honey. You can’t hurt ‘em by touching ‘em.
[Her guttural laugh. She puts his hand back on the
apron’s patches, closer to her cleavage.]
MRS. HAVENS
Ain’t had much touching. Not since my good husband – agh! From a shawl –
these patches - back when the commotions wasSHAYS
Don’t confound me, woman! My head’s aching and I don’t need no tavern wench
talking about patches from my Abby’s gown!
MRS. HAVENS
Stop your foolishness about some fancy gown out here in the backwoods! I made
this apron from a shawl. A farming woman gave it to me when she come over the
border here, escaping Sam Adams and his army of Massachusetts. You know
how to command armies, too, don’t ya? Tell them settlers you’re gonna let this
Indian go free! Then…
[She leans even closer, sniffs his bottle]
…come on inside… into my, uh… tavern and, ah… taste something better’n this
foul smelling rot-gut you’re guzzlin’!
[SHAYS sniffs his bottle too, then takes considered swig,
fumbles to loosen rope around OTIS TWO’s neck]
SHAYS
Leastwise, I don’t wanna shrangle you.
MRS. HAVENS
[To SHAYS secretively]
That’s right. Besides, you got enough blood on your hands, don’t you, “General”
Shays? Did you reckon I forgot you?
SHAYS
I ain’t no general!
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 38 MRS. HAVENS
Ah… yeah, ‘scuse me. Never call the rebel leader a “General.” Pisses him off.
So, “Captain” Shays, why can’t let one straggly Indian go? You know your folks
are going for the kill. Just figuring out when…
SHAYS
These settlers are good people. Just wanna live free. They ain’t gonna kill him.
MRS. HAVENS
[Laughing – with a touch of madness]
Oh, no. Like you was just protecting your neighbors? Plenty folk got killed from
your protecting ‘em! Stupid people calling General Shays a “peace-able man!”
SHAYS
I was. But no General. Just a Captain.
MRS. HAVENS
[Mocking]
Call yourself what you want. Fact is, led thousands of armed rebels against your
own new democratical government.
SHAYS
Leave me be, woman! I got my own troubles.
MRS. HAVENS
[With a mock salute, walking back to tavern]
Bet you do, General, Sir! And I hate to think what troubles this Indian’s woman
will have, left all alone with her little ones in the woods... You got any family left?
[A moment. Settlers keep eating, tending pot of stew at
the campfire, not noticing. MRS. HAVENS looks back at
SHAYS as she goes back toward the tavern.
SHAYS looks at his captive, then shakily wobbles closer
to him. Suddenly SHAYS raises his knife and OTIS TWO
steals himself for the blow. MRS. HAVENS cups her
mouth in horror. WIFE OF OTIS TWO covers her eyes.
Quickly SHAYS slashes the rope that binds OTIS TWO
to the wagon wheel. OTIS TWO crouches, stunned,
afraid of a trap. His WIFE watching from a distance
forgets herself and stands, still wrapped in shawl, but no
one notices except SHAYS]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 39 SHAYS
Hanging ‘round so we can drag you ‘cross Indian Country to bell our bitter wife?
Uh, bill our better… ah, bid a better life?
[OTIS TWO runs off fast. NATIVE AMERICAN WIFE,
who has watched from a distance, covered mostly in her
blanket, runs off after him. SHAYS, wavering, prepares to
block any pursuers but for a moment no one notices,
except MRS. HAVENS who just smiles warmly at
SHAYS, stroking her apron where SHAYS had touched
the patches.
Suddenly SETTLERS notice the escape, grab rifles,
shouts of “Redskin’s escaping!”…”Get him!” chase after
him, firing their rifles, as MRS. HAVENS shouts]
MRS. HAVENS
Yeah, kill! Kill!! Heh-heh!! Kill for your lives!!!... Go on! Shoot off your guns!
Stampede your horses and oxen out back! Damned fools!!
[JOB SHATTUCK, leg crippled, using his rifle as crutch, stops as he
passes SHAYS]
JOB SHATTUCK (Settler 2)
Captain Shays! Why’d you let him go?!... We sacrificed too much, Sir.
You know that more’n me, Sir. He’ll warn his tribe – cut off our only
chance to get to Indian Country and start fresh. Virgin farmland on the
Ohio. Last chance to live our dreams before we die. That Indian will SHAYS
You shtill got dreams, Job Shattuck?
[As SHATTUCK limps after other Settlers, SHAYS grabs
at him, trying to stop him, misses, falls down]
No more… No more dreamers… Dreamers turning into our own nightmares...
MRS. HAVENS
You was our nightmare, General Shays. Sam Adams should’ve hanged you,
along with the others!
SHAYS
Oh Lord…!
[Doubles over on his knees, shoulders heaving. Alone
with SHAYS, MRS. HAVENS moves near him then paces
back and forth, rhythmically, sensuously stroking her
belly as if pregnant]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 40 MRS. HAVENS
[Dreamily, strangely seductive]
The killing – I can feel it stirring again. Feel it coming back.
[Notices SHAYS is heaving, wretching. Kneels down near
him, puts a hand on his shoulder, in a distant way.
Almost in a trance]
Look at yourself – down on your knees, throwing up your guts. But right after we
won our Independence? Before… You know who was the biggest dreamer of
them all?
[Caressing the back of his head, laughing quietly to herself]
I remember you, Daniel Shays. Stopping by my tavern for celebration drinks. You
and your men so proud you brought King George, Parliament and the whole
British Empire down to their knees. Oh, boy. Gotta clean you up.
[Starts cleaning him up with a rag, wetting it with his rum, washes
his face]
My good husband didn’t want to kill a living soul. Don’t know if it was Redcoats
inside the tavern and Patriots outside, or t’other way round. Don’t matter who
shot him. He come from slopping the pigs out back and – God’s blood! Did my
poor husband die so’s we could live in a mob-o-cracy?!
[She goes to campfire. Stirs pot angrily]
SHAYS
No! Not a mob. Veterans… decent family men… shaving democraty.
MRS. HAVENS
[To audience members as if settlers gathered around campfire]
This sorry drunk here – can you believe he scared all thirteen nations into uniting
under only one Constitution that don’t say one word about the liberties we fought
the British Empire to win. They was too scared of this fellow and his insurgents.
[To SHAYS]
All ‘cause of you: leading armed mobs to shoot up your government when you
don’t get what you want.
SHAYS
No. No!!.
[Rushes in front of MRS. HAVENS and the campfire to address
audience as gathered settlers]
Never… Not the first shot. We closed courts peaceful.
MRS. HAVENS
[To audience]
Yeah, at gunpoint. Every time they closed a court, thousands more Americans
started calling for… – agh! We’ll show you.
[Calling to SETTLERS gathered around her campfire]
Hey! You from Massachusetts! Before these settlers head out for Indian Country,
they gotta know what happened [MORE]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 41 MRS. HAVENS, Continued
[SETTLERS nod agreement and start getting up. To audience]
You’re gonna be risking your lives for a better life. But watch out - when General
Shays here sobers up, he’ll be preaching violence again. You gotta choose the
vote, not violence.
SHAYS
[Trying to push MRS. HAVENS out of the way]
No, the people was shtopping the violence, notMRS. HAVENS
[To audience]
Thousands of veterans and farmers aiming guns on our judges of our courts of
law at justice - that ain’t violence?! You’ll see!
SHAYS
We wasn’t no mob – when we come back from the war, even had Sam Adams
celebrating right here in this tavern with us. Show ‘em that!
[MRS. HAVENS shrugs, why not, and changes the calendar on her
tavern to 1781. She sees SWIFT, MACKINTOSH, SASH AND
MAGGIE taking costumes and props for next two scenes from
trunks on and near the wagon. Gestures for them for them to follow
SHAYS into tavern. They take the canvas covering off the wagon.
As if conjuring, she holds up a lantern and lights fade to blackout,
except for small area around the lantern’s light.]
ACT I Scene I.1 Sighting Friends Lantern light creates a small spot-lit area. SAMUEL ADAMS rushes into the light.
He’s in a dark red patched suit, no wig, looking through a spyglass. He’s followed
quickly by LIEUTENANT COLONEL SOLOMON BUSH in a Revolutionary War
Continental army officer’s jacket, limp from wounded leg. He’s waving a wine
bottle and steps between SAM and whatever he is looking at through the
spyglass.
SAM ADAMS
[Trying to give spyglass to BUSH]
Look: See the flag? I’m sure that’s Henry Swift’s wagon – he survived the war!!
LT. COL. SOLOMON BUSH
[Taking his arm to turn him back]
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 42 No, please, Mr. Adams. Let’s go back to the carriage. We must keep moving to
reach Stockbridge tonight so we get you home to Boston in time forSAM
[Sidestepping BUSH]
Colonel! I’m sure my friends are in that tavern over there!
LT. COL. BUSH
Stop! Swift’s wagon will be full of his men. Whichever ones survived.
SAM
I’m sure they made it through the war. Swift and Mackintosh – their men were the
best street fighters in Boston.
LT. COL. BUSH
If you meet them in that tavern, you’ll end up returning home at the head of the
mobs of Boston!
SAM
“Mobs?!” No – Sons of Liberty! The men in that tavern risked their lives for our
liberty! They should meet you, Colonel – your gun-running helped keep them
alive!!
LT. COL. BUSH
I beg of you, Mr. Adams. Before your cousin John left for London, he asked me
to make sure you return home from Philadelphia as a respected future leader,
not... Here – the bottle of Madeira Mr. Jefferson gave you – we can enjoy it on
the ride.
SAM
[Pushing bottle away and runs off]
Come on! I’d be proud to ride home at the head of the mobs of liberty!
[BUSH chases after him. We hear his voice as he runs in the
darkness]
LT. COL. BUSH’S VOICE (In dark)
Mr. Adams! Do you want to lead a new democracy? Or prove the Order of the
Cincinatti right –? Just what the Order of the Cincinatti wants – Scare merchants
in Massachusetts into thinking you are still backed by the mobs- they’ll know
you’ll get the most votes. They won’t want an elected government at all...
Scene I.2 Victorious Soldiers MRS. HAVENS swings her lantern to lighten up the tavern and wagon outside.
Bawdy drinking songs from within tavern – “Here’s to the Maiden of Bashful
Fifteen – Now to the widow of fifty…”
(http://www.americanrevolution.org/songs/songs-drinking/ds48.php.)
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 43 SAM rushes toward the tavern, chased by LT. COLONEL SOLOMON BUSH,
waving a bottle of wine, still trying to reason with SAM.
COL. BUSH
…They’ll join the calls of the Order of the Cincinnati for giving estates in the West
to military officers and the creation of a landed aristocracy. You can kiss the
dream of electing our own leaders good-bye. Unless, you reassure the men who
can help repay the war debt. Please – don’t go in there!
[As diplomatically as possible, BUSH blocks SAM’s path to tavern]
SAM
I’ve been locked up in that carriage for days since Philadelphia. I need to
breathe! My friends will be fresh air.
LT. COL. BUSH
Men of wealth will not trust your new government if they see you back with the
mobs. And if they don’t trust, they won’t pay off the war debt.
SAM
We’ve won our liberty. My job is done.
He rushes over to the wagon, touches the flag.
You see? It is Swift’s wagon.
[Calling toward tavern]
Henry Swift?!
[SWIFT comes to window, wearing worn Continental Army private’s
jacket. He beckons for SHAYS to join him first in tavern window
then in doorway. SHAYS, now sober, standing straight in his
Continental Army Captain’s jacket – less soiled than in Prologue,
although some blood stains. Buckled onto his waist, a sword with
the fleur de lis on its handle its blade chopped off and jagged.
BUSH rushes to block SAM so he can’t see his friends in window]
LT. COL. BUSH
Please – let’s take this bottle back to the carriage. You must finish writing the
Constitution for the new nation of Massachusetts. Your cousin wants you to
arrive home with a finished Constitution –
SAM
With property qualifications for voting! And a separate Senate of wealthy men of
commerce LT. COL. BUSH
Your cousin explained why that’s essential for-
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 44 SAM
Ben Franklin isn’t putting any of that into the Constitution for your nation of
Pennsylvania. Why force that on mine?!
LT. COL. BUSH
Because your nation’s men of wealth are demanding you repay your huge war
debt or they won’t pay taxes. In Pennsylvania, most of our creditors are Quakers
and my people. We understand we need time. Some are even forgiving our
debts. But in Massachusetts [SAM tries to push past, but BUSH blocks him again. SAM takes
the bottle]
BUSH
Good! Let’s go back to the carriage.
SAM
And what do I tell the soldiers in that tavern? “Thank you for risking your lives so
each man can vote for his leaders, but so sorry. Men of commerce are a bit
afraid of you, so:
[Raises bottle over wagon]
To make sure merchants help repay our war debts, we will set up a house of
Lords and[Smashes bottle over wagon]
- smash your dreams of a world where the privileged few will no longer rule the
millions?!”
HENRY SWIFT
[Running out of tavern]
Sam Adams? What are you doing messing up my wagon!
SAM
Henry Swift!
[SAM and SWIFT embrace, give a complex secret Sons of Liberty
handshake. SHAYS watches.]
You survived!
SWIFT
Bad ones always do.
SAM
Good to see you made it through alive, Henry! Ah, Lieutenant-Colonel Solomon
Bush was in the British dungeon with him. This is Henry Swift, ah, from Boston.
[SWIFT salutes. BUSH takes his helmet off, revealing a yarmulke]
Henry, the Lieutenant-Colonel supplied the Continental army with most of our
guns and ammunition. Until he was wounded and captured.
T. Anntares ~ [email protected] ~ Anntares.com ~ 646 642 6812 ~ 257 W 99 St, NYC 10025 45 SWIFT
Our weapons came from the Dutch, not Hebrews.
BUSH
The Dutch only shipped them to one of their islands in the Caribbean. You think
your guns floated all by themselves to the Continent – for our army?
SAM
Solomon got all the Hebrews on that island to unload Dutch ships and pack the
weapons into a fleet of sloops. Under the command of Lieutenant Bush, the
sloops sped past the British warships before they could fire a shot.
LT-COL BUSH
Until the Royal Navy slaughtered every Jewish man, woman and child on the
island of St. Eustacious.
SWIFT
[Ashamed, starts cleaning up glass shards]
I’m sorry, Sir.
LT-COL BUSH
[Irritated at SWIFT]
I’ll wait until you are ready to join us back in the carriage.
SAM
[Trying to explain SWIFT to BUSH]
He – ah... Henry Swift helped us organize the people of Boston against the
British before the war –
[BUSH, nods, not falling for the excuse. SHAYS now approaches
SAM, slowly, respectfully]
SHAYS
Mr. Adams – before you go, come inside for a round with us. My troops, the ones
from the countryside, they’d be so honored to meet you, Sir.
SHAYS
Mr. Adams – before you go, come inside for a round with us. My troops, the ones
from the countryside, they’d be so honored to meet you, Sir.
[BUSH, gives up, goes to wait a distance away. Busies himself by
taking charcoal to cross out the road sign’s “Colony”, write “Nation”]
SAM
Daniel Shays!
[Sees insignia]
Captain Shays!
END OF FIRST 10 PAGES
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