A Full Length Play
BOSTON'S BROTHERS IN LIBERTY
By G. L. Horton
copyright © 2004
Geralyn Horton
ACT II, SCENE 8
EARLY MORNING
The family is gathered for prayers with the Sons of Liberty supporters.
CALEB is of the fringe, participating, but not approving. REV.
DILLON is preaching.
REV DILLON
"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices? Saith
the Lord. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required
this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations:
the calling of assemblies, away with it: it is iniquity, even
the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my
soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from
before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment;
relieve the oppressed."
Let us sing together the morning hymn.
HYMN
Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run,
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise
to pay the morning sacrifice.
Direct, control, suggest this day
All I design or do or say
That all my powers with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
Lord, I my vows to thee renew:
Disperse my sin as morning dew,
Guard my first springs of thought and will
And with thyself my spirit fill.
REV DILLON
Brothers and sisters, the morning lesson is from Jeremiah. Hear
the word of the Lord, and lay it to your heart to work there for
your soul's good, and for the salvation of the Lord's people.
"Say not, I am young: for thou shalt go to all that I send
thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid
of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the
Lord. Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."
(MARY is overcome by nausea. She pushes her way through to
go outside, but is met at the door by SARAH, who holds a basin
for MARY to be sick in.)
"Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem: and say,
Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenc-ed cities.
Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not. The lion is
come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the gentiles is
on his way. Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves,
sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown
of your glory. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel:
Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all
the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have
hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words."
Brothers and sisters, search your hearts. Let us pray.
SARAH (Overlaps with sermon)
What ails you, child?
MARY
I ate some of the left-over fish chowder this morning. It must
have been spoiled.
SARAH
Spoiled fish?
MARY
What else?
SARAH
Aye, what else, spoiled?
REV
Let us sing now together the Hymn New England's Sons.
New England's Sons and daughters sing
Triumph unto your heavenly King
Who will such great salvation bring
In this our needy hour
Not all created powers can trace
His glories through unbounded space
Nor Seraph's eye behold his face
Nor half describe his power.
Who made our soldiers men of might
And taught their fingers how to fight
And how to aim their shafts aright
In the decisive hour.
Through him we have trod down our foe
Who all around environ'd us so
And sought our fatal overthrow:
Bless the delivering power.
MARY
I need to walk in the air. (MARY exits)
SARAH
Luke?
LUKE
Ma?
SARAH
Run after Mary. Mind where she goes, but don't let her see you.
LUKE
I spy? Shouldn't I be in disguise, at least wear another's cloak
and hat?
SARAH
Run!
(The hymn and sermon are continous, over the scene with Sarah.)
REV
Almighty Lord, hear the prayers of Thy servants. Strengthen our
resolve to walk in the path of the upright. Even as we came to
these shores to found a city of righteousness, so shall we by
Thy grace cast our bonds asunder! Amen.
ALL
Amen.
REV
Address your souls in reverent cheerfulness.
(CALEB calls the Reverend aside, the congregation whispers
and plots during the following speeches.)
CALEB
I like not this talk, Rev. Dillon.
REV
Take it up your argument with God. This is His word I'm preaching.
CALEB
Would Parson Robie agree with ye?
REV
Render unto Caesar, he'd say.
CALEB
And so say I.
REV
Then you will be cast out, friend. This is a time of winnowing.
CALEB
Are you so sure as that?
REV
This day, I am. There are some nights when I wake up sweating,
afeard the way I'm leading my flock is against the Word. Resist
not evil, our Lord said. And much else that Parson Robie can quote
me. He's a learned man, more than I, I do confess it.
CALEB
Then why don't you call these hotheads to peace and their duty
to their King, like he does?
REV
The pilgrim path is hard and thorny. It's my belief that our countrymen
must throw off the crown. They blame their deeds on the constraint
of the King, and say their lawlessness is because they have no
representatives in London to speak their clear will.
CALEB
Tis their excuse.
REV
Aye. But some day they will appear before the Throne, to answer
for their deeds on earth. Here for once the common man has a chance
to speak and do as he thinks best, to set up over him the upright,
and not say, "I obeyed, as I thought was my duty."
CALEB
I can't see that those men we've set up over us ourselves are
of a better sort than the King's.
REV
Then God pity you! Parson Robie, for all his learning, is an idle
son of the English gentry. He has no more idea of righteousness
than a heathen! God never called him to his service: he was preferred
to it, like the customs-man and the king's agents. Scripture is
as sounding brass in such a mouth. But the Almighty touches the
lips of them that seek for justice! Listen Caleb, and look. The
men who will make the laws for us once we are sovereign? They
speak and write with the tongues of prophets!
CALEB
I've heard the word profit more than once.
REV
You are not ready to understand, my friend. Trust me. I have prayed
and searched my conscience on this matter, and the light has been
given to me.
CALEB
My conscience disagrees.
REV
The patriots I speak of are prepared. They will come together
and talk, while men like Matt and his mutton headed sons begin
the fighting. Out of this will come a new way of living on this
earth, a new bond of brotherhood, based on a covenant between
men, like unto the one God made between himself and the Israelites.
But we will not know what we fight for until we've fought for
it. It will grow from our blood, shed for freedom. We will hammer
out principles. We will bring this land to greatness. Carving
it from the flesh of our fathers in England, and paying for in
the blood of our oun children, it must be a work worthy of the
cost.
SGT (from outside)
Open up in the King's name!
CALEB
It is open! Walk in, have a mug of beer, Sgt.
DAN
Have you come for the prayers?
WILLOM
You have need of em!
FEN
As we all have need.
SGT
I've orders to search.
CALEB
Search, then.
SARAH
What is it? What are you searching for?
DAN
Most like, the usual. French brandy.
WILLOM
Or the French Pox.
SGT (to soldiers)
Into the cellar.
JON & SOLDIER
Yes, sir.
CALEB (to JON)
If you're looking for Mary, she ain't here.
SGT
We're looking for guns, guns and powder and shot.
CALEB
Suppose you find ale without looking for it? Sarah!
SGT
Thank'e.
REV
Are ye here on governor's orders?
SGT
Orders is orders.
REV
Godfearing folk all, let them rest undisturbed at prayer.
SGT
Unless "prayer" is a word for treason.
REV
Caleb says you seem a sensible man, Sargeant--
CALEB
With as fine a tenor voice as ever sang "hey down a down".
SGT
I'll tell you straight, Caleb, I wish I could sit and sup your
ale, or join you in a song, these long cold nights. But I don't
drink where there's dark looks for redcoats, or mutters against
our King.
WILLOM
I hear tell there's mutterings in the barracks, too.
DAN (to JON, entering)
Isn't that so?
JON
So there is. A man's hard put for a comfortable place to drink.
SGT
What's down cellar?
SOLDIER
Ale.
DAN
Less now than a minute ago, I'll warrant.
SGT
No guns?
JON (holds up rusty musket)
Only this one.
CALEB
Mine!
JON
If he's a rebel with this, the King can sleep easy.
SARAH
Every man must have a rifle, to shoot meat for the pot.
SGT
How long's it been between squirrels?
CALEB
I'm a man of peace, I like to take my ease. My guests likewise.
SGT
Wisely said. Stay of that mind, and there'll be no trouble.
DAN
Tis a sorry day, when threats and force of arms--
SGT
Just friendly advice, Caleb. You'll all oblige me by writing down
your names and your business, here, in record of this lawful assembly.
REV
Sir!
SGT
If ye've naught to hide--.
DAN
I've naught to hide, but naught to write, neither. We're not all
learned men, like the firebrands who author the broadsides.
SGT
Then make your mark, and let the preacher sign for ye.
REV
Proudly. (he signs for some) My business is the Lord's.
(The rest line up to sign or make their marks. LIGHTS DOWN,
up on outside, apron.)
SCENE 9
MARY
You were following me! What are you about, tagging after me?
LUKE
I'm a spy.
MARY
For what side?
LUKE
I haven't decided.
MARY
Decide quick, for I'll not be teased or peached on.
LUKE
I'm supposed to tell Ma what you're doing. But all you're doing
is walking along in a sharp wind looking sickly. What is it you're
hiding?
MARY
As if you didn't know!
LUKE
Me?
MARY
He told me you've been to see him, more'n once, and he gave you
presents and all.
LUKE
Is that it? Your sweetheart?
MARY
What else could it be?
LUKE
These are mighty times. You might be a king's agent yourself,
passing secrets to your lover.
MARY
Secrets? It's no secret most of the men in this town care less
than a moldy fart for the King. Or his taxes or his tariffs--
.
LUKE
But some care for the soldiers.
MARY
I don't.
LUKE
Just one.
MARY
Aye. Just one.
LUKE
So what shall I tell Ma? That you were out sparkin?
MARY
Tell her-- never mind. I'll tell her myself.
LUKE
But what shall I tell Jonny, then?
MARY
Not a word!
LUKE
He give me a penny to take you a message. What'll you give me?
MARY
A box on the ear!
LUKE
Let go! Ma!
SARAH (comes out of tavern)
Where've you been?
MARY
For a walk in the air, as I told you.
SARAH
Luke?
LUKE
That's all I've seen.
SARAH
Were you to Granny Fen?
MARY
How could I be? She's at prayers.
SARAH
I mean before this.
MARY
No. Why?
SARAH
You needn't lie to me. Luke, go inside. Tell your father and Caleb
I'll be right in.
LUKE
But I want to--
SARAH
Inside and supply my place, else they'll drag me back by the hair!
LUKE
But Ma--
SARAH
Go! (to Mary) So what do you have to say to me?
MARY
Nothing.
SARAH
And you like my own child! I know the signs.
MARY
What?
SARAH
Your womanly courses. When were they last?
MARY
Near three months.
SARAH
What does he say, your fine young soldier?
MARY
He doesn't know.
SARAH
At least you're not an utter fool. Why haven't you been to Granny
Fen?
MARY
Tis only this last week I've been sick--
SARAH
Her ways don't always work, but certain they're worth trying.
MARY
I don't want to be rid of it.
SARAH
For your Jonny to marry you? You should have seen him here, not
one hour ago, him and the king's ruffians rooting through Caleb's
cellar, looking to jail or hang the lot of us!
MARY
What are you talking about?
SARAH
Fool, and three times foolish. Best be rid of all the Britishers.
MARY
Jon's Irish.
SARAH
Worse! With the Pope, and the incense, and the devil knows what
doings behind those walls! He'll never marry out of his religion,
thank God! But Matt will throw you out of the house.
MARY
If he had a house. Ask Caleb if I'm not worth my keep, babe or
no babe.
SARAH
Brave talk. You weren't so pert when we took you in.
MARY
If I were to marry---
SARAH
Fool! (in door) Luke! Come here.I Men like Jonny are light
as feathers, and why not? This weight is not on his belly. Luke,
run to Willom's and tell the Sargeant we must speak with soldier
Jon.
MARY
Don't!
SARAH
Run-- or I'll speak to Matt.
MARY
Not now. This isn't the time.
SARAH
When, then?
MARY
When I'm sure.
SARAH
Best to know now.
MARY
It doesn't matter!
SARAH
It does! There's Jacob Poulter, ready to marry you any time this
past 2 years. But you're too nice for him.
MARY
If it were his, I'd kill myself.
SARAH
Stay here, and face your man, if you dare.
LUKE
Ma!
JON
Ma'am...
SARAH
Go back inside, Luke. Luke! (he goes) tell him.
MARY
Not like this.
SARAH
Twill soon be no secret.
JON
What?
MARY
Sarah says I must tell you I'm carrying your child.
JON
Mother of God!
SARAH
You see? Popery!
MARY
It's my hope you'll see us through.
JON
You know it's not possible.
SARAH
If not you, who?
JON
I'm a soldier--
SARAH
You should have thought of that.
MARY
All your fine talk--
JON
What about yours? You've no mind to marry, you said.
MARY
I meant it. Not for scripture, or money, or to please anybody.
I'd rather be a servant for wages.
JON
Why, then?
MARY
All your love-talk. "Matched like a pair of doves",
you said, never to be parted. Live sung and fine, you said, with
what we each can do and a bit saved. Was it all just bed-talk?
JON
I meant someday, not now! I've got to serve out my time, and then--
SARAH
Back to your own kind. That's the way of it.
MARY
What kind will it be, the one I'm carrying?
JON
If you follow the drum, how will it live? Camp women do what they
must, earn their bread on their backs.
SARAH
Your mother was no better, and never had a place or a name for
you.
MARY
I've a name, Sarah, a good name-- as yours would be, had you not
shackled yourself to that turkey cock! I'm not begging to change
my name for some rag tag--
JON
Hey-day freedom! Free to do your own will, but make others pay
for it.
SARAH
It's always the woman pays. There's no way to force a man to care
for his child.
JON
Her child: that much is certain.
SARAH
First injury, then insult.
MARY
He knows this for his.
JON
How can I be sure? A girl who is free may have one man or many,
just as she pleases.
MARY
So I may: but I gave you my word what pleased me.
JON
I know what-- it's who I am unsure of.
MARY
That shame's on you, not me.
SARAH
There's shame for both of you.
MARY
I wouldn't marry you, Jonny Cleary, if you were Governor General
and a Lord to boot! You don't deserve a woman like me. Go home
to your mother, and marry a maid who keeps her skirts down and
her eyes rolled up to heaven.
JON
It may be that you are too good for me, Mary Walters. I don't
know. But I do know my regulations. If I'm to offer you something
for its keep, I must be staying out of the guardhouse.
MARY
Keep your filthy lobster money! (exits)
SARAH
Don't stand there like a post-- be off, and don't let me see you
again.
SCENE 10
FEN (sings) LULLABYE
Now sleep, my little child so dear
Rest peacefully anew
Dear God, your guardian will be here,
He'll send his angels too.
That no harm come to you.
For you are sinful, and defiled
By nature and by birth.
But God will make of you His child,
A being new on earth,
Good, pure, and full of worth.
MUSICIAN
What are you about?
FEN
Silence. I deal in silence.
MUSICIAN
Someone has sent for you?
FEN
I help them into the world, I ease them out of it.
MUSICIAN
Isn't the last better left with the pastor?
FEN
We split between us. I lay them out, he prays them up.
MUSICIAN
Life and death.
FEN
A blessing at one time , a curse at another.
MARY
Come in, come in. We must finish the business before the others
are up.
FEN
You drank what I gave you.
MARY
Two hours gone.
FEN
What be the effect of it?
MARY
None, that I can see. Some rumbling in my belly.
SARAH
Have you nothing stronger?
FEN
Aye, but with more risk.
MARY
A second draught--
FEN
How desperate are ye? What seems a curse may prove a blessing.
Your young man.--
MARY
He's not mine! I wouldn't have him.
FEN
Then another.
MARY
Jacob Poulter!
SARAH
If you were willing--
MARY
I have too much pride.
FEN
He's spoke of as a good man.
MARY
Be his good wife?
SARAH
What else is there? To be caught, like my sister?
MARY
Like you, don't you mean? With brats and a master, and never a
moment of your own.
FEN
Tis the way of it.
SARAH
You were a sweet baby. I remember you would pat my hand, whenever
you could catch it, and you called me Sa-sa. You'd crawl toward
sunlight, where ever it was. If we put you down without your wrappings,
you'd set your eye on a patch of sunlight, and crawl right to
it. My sister called you our sunflower.
MARY
I brought her no joy.
SARAH
Ah, but you did. And more to me.
FEN
Sitting in the sun, with your babe on your lap-- there's no fullness
like it, less it be grandchildren.
MARY
Not in these days! When the men are squared off to fight, and
their war-cry is "liberty!" Give me your strongest...
I'll risk what I must.
SARAH
I could not bear it if you died.
MARY
You bore my mother's death, and two of your babes.
SARAH
You are babe and sister to me.
MARY
I risk what I must..
FEN
Have you boiling water?
SARAH
As you said.
FEN
Strip down to your shift and sit in the washtub. Water as hot
as you can stand.
(They prepare the tub)
SARAH
I must go to the well to fetch more.
MARY
Will it be painful?
FEN
Cramps and a fever, and a monstrous shitting. You should have
come to me beforehand. Preventing is better than mending.
MARY
Could you prevent?
FEN
Not certain, but most. Dolly Pool and Black Peg have entertained
the soldiers, and half the fishing fleet before them, and neither
has had cause to let out her waistband.
MARY
What about for those who follow the drum?
FEN
Them, too. Wrap your shoulders. No call to die of an ague. You've
lovely skin, soft as a baby's.
MARY
But look at my hands!
FEN
I rub mine with sheep grease. I want softness, so when I touch
for healing I get the most knowledge from it.
MARY
You handle the dead, too, Granny.
FEN
They, too, deserve tender treatment. (SARAH enters) Have
you another kettle hot?
SARAH (brings kettle)
Hot enough?
FEN
Pour it in.
MARY
Ouuu!
(REVEREND DILLON enters.)
REV
What Devil's work is this?
MARY
Go away!
SARAH
You may not come in, sir. My niece is bathing.
REV
Step away, Mistress Caldwell, and you too, Granny Fen. Get you
gone, and give thanks that I don't take word to the magistrate.
MARY
There's no law broke, nor no scripture that says a woman may not
bathe.
REV
Search your heart, Mary Walters, as God does.
MARY
A heart's a foolish thing.
REV
The cold of this night, and the heat of this bath, are as nothing
to the pangs of hell everlasting.
SARAH
This might be a sign, Mary.
MARY
How came you here? Who told you?
REV
When the devil's servant is sent for, to do devil's work...
FEN
Evil tongues, evil tongues.
REV
Our fathers would burn you.
FEN
And burn in hell for it after! The Lord knows hearts, you say.
He knows mine. It's not Granny Fen who's set man against man in
Boston town, or leads them in the psalms of war.
REV
Turn your face against God, and you will meet your reckoning at
last. But turn your face against the Patriots, and your reckoning's
upon you, in tar and feathers--!
FEN
Go home, go home, leave the women along. Tis no concern of yours.
REV
Out, woman, out! Cover yourself! (Attacks, Tries to dump over
the tub)
SARAH
Don't!
MARY
God help us.
REV
Yes, pray. Give thanks to be saved, even from the fault of murder.
Pray with me. Sing.
When the seed of thy word is cast
On such a beaten road
Let not the fruit of all be lost
Nor under foot be trod.
May it be no unattentive heart
When there thy lessons fall.
Let not hell's harpies do their part
To rob me of them all.
SCENE 11
(Outside: Area where the "Massacre" re-enactment
was at the beginning.)
MUSICIAN (to audience)
On February 22nd, one Theophilus Lille, a very inoffensive man
except for his offense of Importation-- protested that he ought
to be at liberty to buy goods from Britain to sell in his North
End shop. He wrote a witty note to the BOSTON NEWSLETTER,
LILLE
It always seemed strange to me that people who contend so much
for Civil and Religious Liberty should be so ready to Deprive
others: should make Laws to which I am sure I never gave my consent.
I own I had rather be a slave under one master, for I know who
he is and I may perhaps be able to please him, than a slave to
a hundred or more who I don't know where to find, nor what they
will expect of me.
MUSICIAN
The whole Street filled with people who would suffer no person
to go to Lille's shop. To defend Lille, came one Ebenezar Richardson,
considered by the radicals-- (noise of an angry crowd)
DAN
The most abandoned wretch in America!
REV
His life would exhibit an atrocious volume.
MUSICIAN
Ebanezer pulled down the sign the mob had planted in front of
Lillie's shop, branding him a traitorous Importer-
EBANEZER
Perjury! Disperse or I'll make a lane through you!
PAT
'Ware! He may have sent for the constables!
EBANEZER
Disperse, ye lawless dogs!
MUSICIAN
In spite of his hot words, Ebanezer retreated to his own house
nearby, and the schoolboys and Patriots followed, showering the
house with fruit peelings and other light missles.
(Boys' voices shouting)
EBENEZAR
Let em come! I'll give the devil a supper of em. Let em come on
me! I'm ready, for I've guns loaded!
LUKE
Come out, you damn son of a bitch!
DAN
I'll have your liver out!
PAT
Keep one eye out for riflery.
DAN
Liver and lights!
REV
Show em the people's will, but do no harm--!
LUKE (throws stone)
Make it hot for us, will you?
MUSICIAN (to REV)
They've broken his windows! Look: the very leading and frames
have given way.
REV
Calm yourself friend. The town will pay for it.
MUSICIAN
His wife has been hit!
REV
A salutary lesson in citizenship.
DAN
He deserved to be hanged years ago.
EBEN (with musket)
Go off, damn you, off! (fires)
(Screams, shouts, crowd noise: He's killed him! Get him! Hang
him! Running, confusion)
MUSICIAN
The musket was loaded with swanshot-- pea sized pellets. One slug
went through Sailor Patterson's trousers, two hit the 19 year
old son of John Gore, wounding two fingers of his right hand and
lodging in his thigh. Eleven slugs ended up in the chest and abdomen
of the eleven year old schoolboy, Christopher Seider, caught just
as he was stooping to pick up a stone.
(A church bell begins to toll. CHORUS OF MOURNERS begin the
HYMN behind MUSICIAN's speech, but by the last verse LUKE is singing
alone, marching in a heroic pantomime.)
MUSICIAN
The outraged mob made a human ram to batter down Ebenizer's door,
dragging him out with a noose around his neck. The crowd didn't
hang him then and there, though, but hauled him off to jail, secure
that a jury would be sure to convict him and hang him with the
blessing of the law. On Monday, February 26th, Sam Adams staged
young Seider's funeral.
HYMN
Why should vain mortals tremble at the sight of
Death and destruction in the field of battle?
Where blood and carnage clothe the ground in crimson
Sounding with death-groans?
Now Mars, I dare thee, clad in smokey pillars
Bursting from bomb-shells, roaring from the cannon,
Rattling in grapeshot, like a storm of hailstones,
Torturing aether!
While all their hearts quick palpitate for havoc
Let slip your bloodhounds, named the British lions,
Dauntless as death stares, nimble as the whirlwind,
Dreadful as demons.
MUSICIAN
Between 400 and 500 Schoolboys preceded the bier, which bore Latin
inscriptions appropriate to murdered innocence. 6 youths carried
the coffin, followed by family and friends and 2000 mourners,
to his resting place in the Old Granery Burial Ground.
Life, for my country and the cause of freedom
Is but a trifle for a worm to part with:
And if preserve-ed in so great a contest
Life is redouble-ed.
(LUKE strikes an heroic pose)
MARK
You're a fearsome soldier, you are!
LUKE
Better'n you! Where were you last night when we ran the tithe
men through the streets, and set up a great roaring bonfire! Oh,
they were quaking in their boots, the king's thieves, and Billy
be Damned to them!
(sings)
O, Billy broke locks, and Billy broke bolts,
And Billy broke all that he came nigh!
PAT
You're a brave lad: you and the other 150 against 2!
LUKE
Behind those 2 is the force of the British army! They'll make
us slaves if we don't show them that this is our land, and our
law's not the king's writ, but what we agree to!
MARK
"We" is it, now? I thought you ready to take the king's
shilling and be a bloody back yourself, ready to shake a bayonet
at your countrymen.
LUKE
A soldier's a fine thing.
MARK
Is he, now?
LUKE
Wouldn't you be a soldier, to fight the French, or the savages?
MARK
They're the savages!
LUKE
They're brave and fiull of honor, like Sir Hector of Troy!
MARK
Of Troy, no less! And where might that be?
LUKE
Somewhere. Across the sea from the Greeks.
PAT
Greeks!
LUKE
They were before the Romans, but even nobler. Their Demos is a
Republic.
MARK
I smell Latin School! You think yourself one of them, because
you join the young popinjays in their larks?
LUKE
No. But I would I could be one of them.
MARK
Beware Latin, boy. 'Tis the Pope's tongue.
PAT
If wishes were horses, would you be scholar or soldier?
LUKE
Both! Fine deeds, but also fine speeches.
MARK
There's fine speech aplenty at the Sons of Liberty. But you'd
rather tag along with Lobster Jonny.
LUKE
No more. I hate him.
MARK
There's a change!
LUKE
I'd like to slit his belly and feed his guts to the carp in the
harbor!
PAT
For Mary Walters?
LUKE
He broke her heart.
MARK
More than that, I suspect.
LUKE
You hate him, too.
MARK
I hate all the bloody backs.
LUKE
Let's go get 'em.
PAT
Where?
LUKE
Sentry box down by the State House?
MARK
Sounds like good sport.
LUKE
Snowballs and dog turds and all the curses we can think of.
PAT
Were this Ireland, now, they'd answer with grapeshot soon enough.
MARK
Schoolboys.
LUKE
Jonny Red 'll raise up his gun, but you know he can not shoot
or he'll hang for it.
MARK
That'll be small comfort to our mother if he puts ball through
one of us.
LUKE
Come along. I would it were Jon Cleary... I'd wash his face with
dog piss.
BOY
Luke! Where've you been?
MARK
We've got better to do than bear-bait rascal backs.
BOY
What could be better? It's famous! One of the Negroes, monstrous
big fellow, he called the soldier like a hog.
LUKE
And the soldier daren't answer!
PAT
You hope.
BOY
Then Justice Hill came by and shouted: "You black rascal,
what have you to do with white people's quarrels?
PAT
What said he to that?
BOY
"I suppose I may look on", he said! (All laugh.)
LUKE
Come on Mark. Let's go.
BOY
Have you got fruit parings? Garbage?
LUKE
I'll use snowballs. I'm a deadeye with snowballs.
MARK
And with rocks.
BOY
Put the rocks inside the snowballs. The mutton-heads won't duck,
then.
(A church bell tolls.)
PAT
Is that fire?
MARK
Riot! The signal!
PAT
Damn-- I left my cutlass at home.
LUKE
Take rocks.
PAT
I've seen riots in Ireland. I've no mind to face hot lead with
rocks.
BOY
They dare not fire.
PAT
They did in Ireland.
MARK
Then have your revenge.
BOY
Get the lousey backs! (run off. LUKE pauses to pick up rocks.
JON enters)
JON
Damn you for a rascal! What business have you out of doors.
LUKE
Lobster son of a bitch!
(to Sentry post, King St massacre site.)
MAN
Kill him! Kill him!
WOMAN
Fire!
MARK
Shoot, damn you! You dare not!
SENTRY
Main guard! Main Guard!
BOY
Knock him down!
SENTRY
Keep back or I'll fire!
WOMAN
Fire!
MAN
Fire and you'll die for it! Hang like Ebenizer Richardson, soldier-boy!
WOMAN
Fire!
SENTRY
Damn you. Turn out! Main guard, turn out!
MARK
Town born, turn out! Town born! (sees MATT) Da? Where're
you going?
MATT
To the fire.
MARK
There is no fire. Just us and the soldiers.
MATT
Damn and I'm glad of it. I'll knock some bloody heads.
CAPTAIN
Disperse! Disperse! Go to your homes!
MATT
Cowardly rascals! Fire and be damned!
REV
Sir, I hope you do not mean to order the troops to fire on the
inhabitants.
CAPTAIN
By no means-- I have strict orders--
MATT
Take that, you! (clubs soldier, who falls, discharging his
gun)
MAN
Fire!
SOLDIER
Fire, damn you, fire!
PAT
I'm hit.
MATT
Are you wounded?
PAT
Yes, yes. Through my...
MATT
They're firing plain powder. You're only frighted.
MARK
Da!
MATT (searching)
Mark?
LUKE
It's Mark. I think he's killed.
SCENE 12
(Original Prologue tableau, with Patriotic chorus.)
HYMN
Let tryants shake their iron rod
And slavery clank her galling chains.
We fear them not: we trust in God;
New England's God forever reigns.
The foe comes on with haughty stride
Our troops advance with martial noise:
Their veterans flee before our youth,
And generals yield to beardless boys.
What grateful offerings shall we bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud hallelujahs let us sing,
And praise His name on every chord.
MUSICIAN
Four dead on the ground, and Patrick Carr dying.
FEN
When I looked back, I didn't think they were hurt. I thought they'd
fled, and left their greatcoats behind them.
SCENE 13
SARAH
Bring them in.
FEN
He's alive, but I think not for long.
PAT
God help me.
SERENA
Mother! Our Mark is killed.
SARAH
We'll wash him.
FEN
Deal with the living.
SARAH
Mark was never first!
PAT
Your son was shot because no one believed they would shoot.
FEN
Hush, don't talk.
PAT
Even after I was wounded, they believed they were safe. I told
them, don't to be so bold---
SARAH
They'll rue these murders! Fight till every British soldier is
dead or shipped to England.
MARY
That won't bring Mark back.
SARAH
He's well out of it.
FEN
In war, them that die first have the peacefullest rest.
MARY
Should I wish that for me?
FEN
Lie down, Mary. Spare yourself and the babe you're carrying.
SARAH
Pray it's never born, than into this.
PAT
We brought it on ourselves. I'd seen soldiers mobbed, bur never
so sore as this.
FEN
Rest, don't try to talk.
REV
If he has aught that's heavy on his conscience...
PAT
If to be a fool...
SARAH
Is to be a patriot, 'tis no crime!
SERENA
Poor soul. Are you in much pain?
SARAH
You'll be avenged. You and my son.
PAT
Do nought for my sake. Poor bastard, I forgive him that shot me.
FEN
The soldiers were much abused.
PAT
Past bearing.
SARAH
You were not armed! You're citizens assembled.
PAT
To tear the redcoats apart with their bare hands, had not sticks
and stones been so handy. No, the lad that did my business was
sure in fear of his life. I cannot blame him. He has a life the
same as me, and would be as sorry to lose it.
(MATT enters, joyfully, thinking all his family safe.)
MATT
Wife! Call the others, we'll give thanks. This night's work has
rid us of the yoke. Tis what we've worked for... they've killed
unarmed civilians! The Captain and his 8 troops are all under
arrest, and will be sentenced sure. By May the whole garrison
will be cleared out, and the town and our livings free again,
thank God.
FEN
Men lie dead, Matt Caldwell. Mark the cost.
SARAH
Mark the cost.
MATT
Cheap at 4 lives.
SARAH
Our Mark! Cheap? Do you call that cheap? God forgive us.
(Mourning tableau, CHORUS.)
Hail happy place where freedom stands
And liberty erects its throne.
Where fraud , and cruel slavery's bands,
And tyranny are never known.
Where none each other's peace annoys,
Where conscience never is oppressed:
Where each free liberty enjoys--
This is the land which God hath blessed.
MUSICIAN
The days following were another riot... a quiet one, of propaganda.
The Tories saw the hand of Sam Adams, setting a match to the bonfire
of Rebellion. The radicals collected testimony to prove that the
soldiers had plotted a massacre. A NARRATIVE detailing this plot
was sent to England. But the Crown's version, titled A FAIR ACCOUNT
OF THE LATE DISTURBANCES at BOSTON arrived first. In due time,
the Boston garrison was removed... for a while. And the soldiers'
trial, in which John Adams was counsel for Captain Preston's defense,
moved slowly and surely to a verdict of acquittal-- based on English
law. But the most vivid and lasting testament, the one that forms
the idea of the massacre that American schoolchildren had lodged
in their heads... before history went out of fashion... is Paul
Revere's engraving, and the Ballad along with it.
SONG-- Ballad of the Boston Massacre
"Unhappy Boston! See thy sons deplore
Thy hallowed Walks besmeared with guiltless gore
While faithless Preston and his savage bands
With murderous rancor stretch their bloody hands,
Like fierce barbarians grinning o're their prey,
Approve the carnage and enjoy the Day.
"If scalding drops from rage, from anguish wrung,
If speechless sorrow, laboring for a tongue
Or if a weeping world can aught appease
The plaintive ghosts of victims such as these:
The Patriot's copious tears for each are shed.
A glorious tribute which embalms the Dead."
THE END
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