Parade

, B

LrnRErTo VocAL BooK

D.'

) ),' )'

P &ffi

)

&,pffi

Book by

Alfred tJhry

)1:

M

h";;;;;?;;,;:1"r4rn Co-Conceiaed

and Directed on

Harold should you ftnd if

P"irr"uB

NoT'cE:

Do Nor rF ne-cessqry to mq* cues or orh,

rhis book is renred ror rhe period

/

roadutay by

use o

*ft

blqck leod pen,;,i

,ff1,"::jr*1"","o. , _ ry....s.,r.

tr u rernqins the prope rty o{:

A,lTl A,lUStC ilBRARy

frlusrc

l2I New

m*n" tffinflonAt \,tre*

j4f[

Sheer

Ye{ t{y tOOIg s41.4r*

(2121

-4*"1fls

_

NOT FOR SA.E

3IA INDUSIRHT

PARK ROAD

NEW HARTFOR4

cr a6As7

MusrcAL

NuuBERs

Actl 1. prologue: The OId Red

HiIIs Of Home ...youNc Sorpm& Oro SororcR, ENsEMBLE.........1

Atlanta.. 2a. How Can I Call This Home?................. 3. The picture Show....... 4. Leo at Work/What Am I waiting For?........... 5. Interrogation Sequence............... 6. Craig and Dorsey Underscore 2. The Dream of

...ErvsEMsrr.........5 .....LpO, ENSSMES .........5 ...............FRANKIE, MAny .........2

.Lro, Lucnrr, ENsEr"rBLE.........9

7' Funerar sequence: There Is A Fountain/It Don,t Make sense g. Watson,s

.

_..

..............-1g FRaM
LuIIaby

9. Somethin,

......NEwT LrE.......15

......ToM WarsoN ..--...2A

Ain,t Right

\. -..,, ,: ii.

..Cnarc, ENspumr.......2g

you Don,t Know This Man... ^^:,.,.,.-...::.:...:.-.... 12. The Trial, part I Hammer of

fustice.. 12a. The Trial, part II: Twenty Miles From Marietta....

12b' The Trial' Part III: Frankie's Testimon, 12c' The Triar, part IV- The Factory

..............LucrLL8.....,.3s Warsor,l, ENsEMBLE .......gg .................DoRsEy...-...41

-..-;*^r"rE, MARy, IfarsoN, ENSEMBLE .......41. Girrs/come up To My office Iot_a Srovrn, Esslr, MoNTEEN, LEo.......43

12d. The Trial, part V: Minnie,s Testimony .WarsoN, MrNur .......46 12e. The Trial, parr VI: My Child WilI Forgive Me............. Mns. pnacar .......4g 12f. The Triar, part wr: That's what He said...........................Jru Co*rry, ENSpu*r .. , : 129. The Trial, part VIII: It s Hard

To Speak My Heart.. I2h. The Trial, part IX: Closing Statement and Verdict

t

.Lro .......S2

€

............ENs8Msrr.......53

€ I\^ I: -L' -v -lv-

Iiv

G TE Y

E ts

J

Acr2

3

13. Act Two prelude ................

I

Rumbrin.and a 15. Do It Alone.....

J

Rorin,

14. A

15a' Tea Dance-Part I

3

'16.

Pretty

h,

3 D

\ , ,

..................Lucnre........59

"""'-'.-..-

.................61 ....Govrnuon S1aroN........61.

II............. .................65 16b. Tea Dance-playoff.............. ...............66 77. The G1ory......... ...............Iupcr Roav, Donsey........67 18. This Is Not over yet Lso, Luc[L 8........70 x8a, Factory Girrs Reprise............... ..LEo, LucrLL E, roLA;EsslB, MoNrEEN........z2 18b. Minnie McKnight Reprise ..................: .............fU^m, LEo, Luqur........75 19. Blues: FeeI The Rain Fall... ..............Covrrv, CHaw Gauc........77 20' where l{ill you stand.when The Flood comes?........wArsoN, Donsrv, ENsruBw........g2 21,. ALI the Wasted Time........... .........Lpo, Lucnrs........gg 21a. Abduction & sh'ma ..............Lro ........92 22. Finale ..........Lro, LuctLLE, FnaNKIu, L6a. Tea

J

Music

............................................;fi11I1........1i

Dance-part

Eruse1aur........96

Arurngprx

-v-

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I -< -

3

a {

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I F

l

P

l^ntoe

ACT OHE

Scene { Marietta, Georgia. L862

SOLDIER FAREWELL,

;::NG

"" EVENING. I'LL WRITE EVERY I'VE CARVED OUR NAMES IN TI{E TRUNK OF THIS TREE. FAREIMiLL, MY LILA

_

I MISS YOU ALREADY,

AND DREAM OF THE DAY WHEN I'LL HOLD YOU AGAIN IN A HOME SAFE FROM FEAR, WHEN THE SOUTHLAND IS EREE.

I GO TO FIGHT FOR THESE OLD HILIS BEHIND ME, THESE OLD RED HILTS OFHOME.

I GO TO FIGHTFOR THESE OLD HILLS REMIND ME OFA WAY OF LTFE THAT€ PURE_ OF THE TRUTH THAT MUST ENDURE-

IN ATOWN CALLED MARIETTA TN T}IE OLD RBD HILTS OF HOME. PRAYON THIS DAYASIIOURNEY BEYOND T}IEM, THESE OLD RED HILIS OF HOME: LETALL T}IE BLOOD OF TIft NORTI{ SPILLUPON T}IEM

,TIL

,:

I )

fi{EY'VE PAID FOR WHAT THEY'VE WROUGIfI, TAKEN BACK THE LIES TI{EYVE TAUCHT, AND THERE'S PEACE IN MARIE]ITA AND WE'RE SAFE AGAIN IN GBORGIA IN THE LAND WHERE HONOR LTVES AND BREATHESTTTE

OLD RED HILLS OF HOME!

FAREUTELL, MY

q

)

LILA. FAREWELL...

2

P

tneoe

Peadttree Street. Atlanta, Georgia.

26 APNL,191.3. Confederate Memorial Day.

WE GAVE OUR LWES EOR THE OLD HILIS OF GEORGIA, TTM OLD RED HILIS OF HOME.

a a a a

NOT MUCH SURVIVES OF THE OLD HILIS OF GEORGIA, BI.IT I CLOSE MY EYES AND }IEAR

G

OLD SOLDIER LOOKTIIERE, MY ULA, THEY CALL ME TO TELL IT

THE LIVES THAT WE LED WHEN THE SOUTHLAND WAS EREE.

ALLTHE TREASURES WE HELD DEAR

OLD SOLDIER

TOWNSMEN

:]I,E RUSHING OF TI{E CHATAHOOCHIE THE RUSTLIN' IN THE WIND AND MAMAIN THE KITCHEN SINGIN AND ME AND LILA SWINGIN"IN A TREE OH,I HEAR IT CALLING, CALLING AND I WOULD GLADLY GIVE MY GOOD RIGHT LEG AGAIN!

THE TALLPINESANDT}IE RED CLAY THE BLUE SKIES AND TrrE DOGWOOD TREES

C

C

AMAN CAN GROWHIS COTION AND HIS CROPS! OH,I HEAR IT CALUNG, CALLING STILL

ALL

€

C >

G

AGAIN! GOD BLES9THE SIGHT

€

OF THE OLD HILIS OF GEORGIA,

m V

TTM OLD RED HILIS OF HOME! (KNEEL DOWN TO) PI{AISE THOSE WHO'D

FIGHI

A E V

FOR THE OLD HILLS OF GEORGIA! FOR TI{OSE PROUD AND VALIANT

WE'LL SING "DIXIE" ONCE AGAIN

MEN

_

FOR THE MEN OF MARIETTA FOR THE FATHERS

OFATLANIA

WHO GAVE EVERYTHING FOR GEORGIA

AND THE OLD RED HILIS OF HOME!

(FOR THE BROTHERS OF COBB COUNTY) (FOR TI{E PATRJARCHS)

e e g

s s g \q

I D

P

tneoc

Scene 2 The Bedroom of Leo and Lucille Ftank.

LUCILLE Leo!

LEO What?

LUCILLE Are you goin'to work?

LEO Of course.

LUCILLE Otr- I thought...

LEO What?

LUCILLE Ivell, I was hopirt' we could go and have a picnic in Piedmont Park this aftemoon

LEO What?

LUCILLE Did you forget? Today is Confederate Memorial Day.

LEO Confederate Memorial Day is asinine. Why would anyone want to celebrittt i'-.:i,'E war?

LUCILLE Heavens, Leo! If Georgia is so asinine,.why did you move here

in

the first pXa."e?

LEO You know why. Your uncle offered me a good job. I should have realized it pays so weII because you have to live in Atlanta to do it!

LUCILLE I guess that's what I get for mar{rin'

a Yankee.

LEO You dropped a pin.

LUCILLE Minnie will get it when she deans up. I was iust sure today would be a i:ia'i' u:f.

lr [.

3

4-

Paneor LEO Not for the superintendent.

LUCILLE

I

Superintendenfl Honestly, the way you slave yourself down there, you owned that old pencil factory.

a

person,d think

I

LEO Don't

be such a meshuggenetr!

(

LUCILLE Why do you use words like that?

(

Because they're Jewish words and I,m

LEO ]ewish

(

LUCILLE welt, I am too, but it doesrt't mean I have to speak

a

(

foreign ranguage!

LEO

.

For the life of m", I can't understand how God created you people ]ewish and Southern at the same time!

LUCILLE Well, Confederate Memorial Day is a holiday in tttis part of the world whether you like_it or not- May I plan a picnic for the Fourth of JuIy, or will you be working ther,, too?

LEO Lucille, r^re've gone through all t{ris. I work hard because r am trying to build us up enough of a nest egg so we carL.. well, you know what I meiul_

LUCILLE Procreate. It's not a dirty

i'i]

word

( C

T w

l-eo. It's aII over the Bible. so we can procreate.

LEO

C

LUCILLE

e

be home for dinner.

Are you blushing? I svveax,I think you are!

LEO You dropped another pin.

(

C

e G

C G G t\.

D

) P An,c, o e

) )

Scene 3 Peachtree Sbeet, L1-:30 a.m.

TOWNSPEOPLE

,

EVER MORE LIVES THE DREAMOFATLANTA EVER MORE HER ETERNAL PRIDE!

,

STRONG AND SURE

TI{E DREAM OF ATLANTA WHEN }IER BROTLTERS ARE UNIFIBD! AND THE SOUND OF HER VOICE IS CLEARER :' .. HERP€OPLEAITE -I4{HEN PROUD AND FREE! NOTASTAR TO THE SKY COULD BE NEARER TiTAN MY HEART I9 ATLANIA, TO TI{EE!

l )

TS

'

SLATON

And therefore, r am especially proud to serve as your govemor today. For today rve honor thoqe nho honored us fighting the war some fi.fty years ago. Those who gave Iife and limb for Georgia and suffered unimaginable degradatioru But never defeat The nren of Georgia and the women of Georgia have never been defeated...

LEO I GO TO BEDATNIGI{T

HOPING WHEN I WAKE THIS

MLLALL

BE GONE

LIKE IT WASIUSTADREAM

AND I'LL BE HOME AGAIN, BACK AGAIN IN BROOKLYN. BACK

WIfi{

PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE I DO, AND TALK LIKE I DO, ANDTHINK LIKE I DO, BUTTHEN

TIfi

ST'N RISES IN ATLANTA AGAIN...

5-

-6

P

enaot

(LEo) THESE PEOPLE MAKE ME TENSE.

]-iVE IN FEAR THEY'LL START A CONVERSATION. T}IESE PEOPLE MAKE NO SENSE: THEY TALK A^rD I IUST gtARE AND StruT My MOUTtr. IT'S LIKE A FOREIGN LAND. 1

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND TT{AT BEING SOUIHERN€ NOTIUST BEING IN THE SOUTH. WHEN I LOOK OUT ON ALL THIS, HOW CAN I CALL THIS HOME? TT{ESE MEN BELONG

ASSORTED SPECTATORS LALALA LAIN T}IE LAND

IN ZAOS

CT COTTON

iT,S LIKE THEY NEVER IOINED

CIVILIZATION. 1HE IEWS ARE NOT LrKE IEWS_ r Tr{oucHT THAT IEWS WERE IEWS, BUT

I

WAS WRONG.

I THOUGHT I WOULD BE FINE, BUT FOUR YEARS DOWN TI{E LINE,

WITH EV'RY WORD IT'S VERY CLEAR I DON'T BELONG: I DON'T CUSS, I DON'T DRAWL CANI CALLTHIS HOME?

SO HOI,V

HOME CALIS, AND I'M FREE OF THESOT,THERN BREEZE, EREE OF

(

MAGNOLIA TREES

AND ENDLESS SUNSHINE! EVER MORE

LMS

THE DREAIvI OF ATLANT,A

BTIT NOT MINE!

(

OFATLANIA

NOT MINE

(

AYANKEE WITHA COLLEGE EDUCATION W1HO BY HIS OWN DESIGN IS TRAPPED INSIDE THE

ENSEMBLE EYER MORE LIVES THE DREAM

LAND

WESTAND TOGETHER

INTI{E GREATSTATE OF GEORGIA!

c

THAT TIN{E FORGOTI

I'M TRAPPED INSIDE TI{IS LIFE

c

STRONGANTD

PROUD!

€

Pa. r=eDE (LEo)

)

AND TRAPPED

ENSEMBLE

ENSEMBi_:

BESIDE A WIFE

l^,/HO IVOULD PREFERTHAT I'D SAY

"HO1VDY!", NOT "SHALOM! "

):

WELL, TM SORRY LUCILLE BLTT

);

AND SO

I FEELWHATI

FEEL

TFIIS PLACE IS SURREAL

HOW CAN I CALL THIS HOME?

),

GOD BLESS THE SIGHT OF THE OLD HILI.S OF cBoRGIA! IT{E OLD RED HIL[S OF OI.D RED HILIS OF HOMEI

EVER MORE LIVES THE DREAM OF ATLANTA, EVER MORE HER ETERNAT OLD RED HILLS OF HOME!

FRANKIE Weli, hey stuuhine!

h,{ARY Sunshine? Looks like rain to me.

FIt*+Nrrr Not from here, it don't. |j

Iraa.ny lVhy,Frankie Epps! Quit that, you hear?

I!

ii

FRANKIE lthat? I ain't doin'anything! I,M @NNA Go To THE PICTIJRE sHow T}IERE,SA MovIE TVE GoT TosEE. YOU KNOW THE ONE CALLED 'T}IE SILYER GUNWELL, I BEEN WATCHIN' SI\ICT C"IAPTER THREE! I CAN'T WAIT- ITSAT EIG11X, ANID I WAS WONDERIN,:

pREE...

M.q.ny

i

i

IF yOU,RE

Go oN Go oN, Go oN, Go oN YOU KNOW MY MAM{D NE\rER LE'T ME TILL I TURN SD(TEEN. GO ON, GO ON, GO ON, GO ON, BESIDES, I ONLY GO TO PICTURES THAT

FRANKIE I{hen do you tum

sixteen?

I HAYEN'T SEEN.

P

enaon

MARY T'rvo years from

4

nextJune.

t (

FRANKIE Too bad about

yourMama.

it

MARY Too

badforyou.

(t

FRANKIE I KNOW A SPOT NEAR MCCONNACH'S LOT }YI{EREYOU CAN SEE THE PARADE REAL CLEAR.

(

WANNATAKEALOOK?"THE THIEFANDTHE BRIGADIER"

IGOTABOOKCALLED

I !

I GOT GUM- YOU IVANT SOME?

(

MARY I HAYEN'T C}IEWED GUM FOR A YEAR.

(

FRANKIE GO ON, GO ON, GO ON, GO ON,

I BET YOUR IvIAMIt'D LET ME TAKE YOU TO

.

ltIE

PTCTURE

(

MARY

GO ON GOON,GOON, GO

(

ON,

I GUESS YOU WEREMT REALLY LISTENIN' WHEN I SAID

WI{Y NOT ASK IOLA STOVER? HER TVAMA LEIS HER DO WFIATEVER SHE WANTS.

FRANKIE MARY FRANKIE WELL, MAYBE I

WILL. MARY

r HoPEYou

Do. FRANKIE

goin'?

A

.*.

e

GO ON, ASK IOLASTOVERHER MAlv{A LETS HER SEE WHOEVER SI{E

'NO!'

& q

I WAS HOPIN' I COULD GO WITH YOU.

Where you

SHOW.

WANTS.

I € €

€ aI

MARY To the factory.

I didn't

get my pay this

ryeek.

*# -iqd

a_ )

) ) Peaeoe

FRANKIE

) ) ) ) )

I

7

),

) );

l I

Okuy.

I'll

see you aroturd.

MARY At the picture show.

FRANKIE What?

I thought your Mama nouldn,t let you.

MARY She

will with

Essie and Betty Jean. Just not

with yoq!

FRANKIE Bye Sunshine! (Skat) GO ON, GO ON, GO ON, GO ON... Why, Iola! You goirt' to the pictures tonight?

TOWNSPEOPLE EVER MORE LIVES THE DREAM OF ATLANTA EVER MORE HER ETERNAL PRIDE! STRONG AND SURE IS THE DREAM OF ATLANTA WHEN HER BROTHERS ARE UNIFIED!

Pl.naot

Scene 4 'ii,t' \Jational Pencil Factory.

LEO TWENTY-EIGI{T BOXES OF CAPS AT FOUR DOLLARS THE GROSSTTtrS Is WRONG, THIS IS WRONG,

I CAN FTX THIS-WAIT. NINE MORE BOXES IN BAC& TWENTY-EIGHT MINUS NINE,

AND THEN THIRTY-ONE

GIRT.S

ON THE LINE...

UGHTS UP onLucille, athonu.

LUCILLE

LEO

i:;:. .' .r',:\lD A TIE... TERRIBLY QUIET... QUrTE A WELL_PAID

TIMES SIX OITE EIGHTY-SX...

DIVIDE...

POSnON.

GOD

"GO ON, LUCILLE..."

-

SETr'EN SXTY...

ALLTH-ENOISE,

AND ONYONTIFFYET...

"BRING HIIv{ HIS COFFEI}...

FOUR CENTS A GIRL FOR THE }VEEK... AT TEN CENTS AN HOUR...

STRAIGHT FROM NEW YORK, LUCILLE! ISMT HE SMART, LUCILLE?

(

MAMA, HE'S COMIN'AROUND TODAYMAMA, HE'S AT THE DOOR! MAMA, I DON'T KNOW W}IAT I SHOULD SAY... "WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITIN' FOR, LUCILLE?' WHAT AM I WAITING FOR?

LEO THIS IS WRONG, THIS IS WRONG, IT'S AN EIGHT, NOT A SIX...

LUCILLE HOUSE AND A MAID; TWO SEIS OF

CHINAWISHIN'-

(

EVERYTHING I WAS

(

NEW WINTER COAT REALERMINE COLLAR-

(

ll{HO WOULD HAVE KNOI{N, LUCILLE? MARRIEDSO WELL LUCILLE?

e

e

C

PrrnaOf (LUCTLLE) HOW CAN HE WANT lyIE, SO PLAIN, SO PRII{? HOW CAN HE BE SO SURE? DOMT I }YISH T COULD BE SURE LIKE HIM? LIKE LEO?

LEO YES,

LUCILE, IAM BUILDING A LIFE FOR US...

LUCILLE FOR LEO?

LEO NO, LUCILLE,

WE.

CANNOT HAVE A PICMC...

LUCILLE DIDN'T MY WISHES COME TRUE FOR ME THE DAY HE WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR? ISN'T HEALLTHAT I KNEWHE'D BE? BRILLIANT AND FILLED I{TTH HUMILITY? LOYAL AND STABLE AS ANY TREE? SO WFTY DO I }VAITFORMORE? WHATAMI IVAITING FOR?

LEO TWENTY.THREE CARTONS OF LEADS

ATTWO SIXTYAGROSS THIS IS WRONG, THIS IS WRONG,

I CANFIXTHIS...

MARY Hey.

LEO Yes?

MARY I came for my pay.

LEO Name?

MARY Mary Phagan.

LEO I cion't see it here. Employee number?

^-,(

(

P nneon

72

MARY Five o seven.

LEO ten cents an hour' Ah- Not Fagrn as in Dickens. Phagan as in phalanx. Twelve hours, One dollar and twenty cents. Here you are'

MARY Thankyorl

sir. Mr. Frank?

LEO What is it?

Pdneoe

Scene

a

Irt the dork,

5 the

shr,r sound of an insistentty LouD D^,RBELL.

LIGHTS lLP on tlw Frank residmce.

i, -'

STARNES This the residence of a Leo M. Frank?

il, a

MINNIE

t-

Yessir.

\ ,

Minnie? Is something the matter?

i

Is Mr. Frank at home, ma,am?

LUCILLE IVEY

, )

LUCILLE Yes.

STARNES

)

Could we speak to him, please?

LUCILLE (calling)

)

Leo! Leo! Leo!

STARNES

)

Leo M. Frank?

LBO

I

Yes. What's happened?

). N- starnes, Atlanra porice D"p"'tu

."::ffiX;*cer

rvey.

IVEY We're gonna need you to get on your shoes and come with us, Mr. Frank. OtU God! Has something happened

LEO atthefactory?

IVEY Just

get;'our

I wirl

r-oh

shoes, please.

LEO

God! I t" have my I,II be wirh you genflemen in a minr:ic. soon as I have my-Has there been a "otr!!: fire? TelI mq just ,lU *1, It is a fire, isrt't it?

lrd

i4

PeRapr

LUCILLE L,eo, gentlemen. The coffee is almost ready.

STARNES A tragedy has occu:red. We don't have time for coffee-

LEO Ahagedy? What? Is somebody dead? Is somebody dead?

G

C

c €

G

G

c

C

C

@

*.-€

€ € € €

^^ G

'^-r

E

t^r a\

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P,+naOt

Scene

6

UGHTS UP ONNEV{T LEE,

NEWT LEE I AM TRYIN'TO REMEMBER.. I WAS CHECKIN' ROUN' THE FACI"RY

AND I WENT INTO THE BASEMENI, DOWN THE STAIRS INTO TItr BASEMENT AND I SHINE MY LIGI{T AROUND HERE. INIHE CORI\ERS AI\ID THE CEILING, AND I'M'BOUT TO CHBCK THE WASHROOM IVHEN TH.E LIGHI, M ICNDACATCHES ON THIS PILE OF RAGS IN THE MIDDLE OF T}rE ROOM...

UGHTS W on tlu factory.

LEO

) Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

STARNES

) Do you knovv who this is, Mr. Frank?

LEO

)

Oh God! It's the little girl I paid yesterday. She came up to my office.

IVEY

) Can you give us her name, Sir? D

LEO

I-I-I

carft think! Farrell? No. Oh God! Faley? Phagan! The name is PhaganP-H-A-G-A.N. D

)

STARNES Phagan

NEWT AIN'T SEEN NO PILE O' RAGS THERE BEFORE, I SOIGO OVERAND TKICKTT, AND I SHINE DOWN MY LIGHT AND [.ORD, I

) )

LORDAIN'TNO PILE OF RAGS ATALL...

LEO Will this

be

in the newspapers?

15

7

76 -

Pt,ne,ot %

IVEY

{

Does that bother you, Sir?

well, of course it bothers me! How kiled in our basement? Was she killed

does

LEO it look for the company to have a child

STARNES in the basement, hfr. franka

I rvould assume so,

I-

LEO who did it? Do you know who did ityet?

NEWT THISSMALLIYHITE BODY WITH HER TONGUE STICKIN'OI-IT, THIS PRETTY LITTLE CHILD }VITH HER EYES WIDE OPEN...

oh no. You don't rhink it was my was Nern,t?

*rnr;:"Lan?

Newt? Newt Lee? you think ir

(

NEWT

.

SO I RAN TO THE PHONE AND I CALLED MR. FRANK BUT I?IE PHONE KEI/ RINGIN" SO I CALLEDY,ALLTO HELP IvfE_

€ {

MR. FRANIC HE DIDMT ANSWER... AND THAT'S ALL I CAN REMEMBER.

€# q

LEO oh God! oh my God! you think - you think that s absurd!.Ifs preposterous.I :+!ra ai home all night! I didn't even knor+'this child. I only remerribered her name because she was ir*y of6ce yesterday. How could yo, * Look! Look! No pt "ibty marks on me! Where are the scratches? Whoe are the bruises? Look!

you to write that down- Look at mer what do you

Nothingt I want

see?

TVEY Put your dothes orU Mr. Frank.

Can

No,

Nothing!

{

a

I

LEO I go home now and have m), breaKast?

€

IVEY

G

Si{,I'm'fraid you can't do that

LIGHTS UP onMRS. PHAGAI{ and ?OLICEMEN.

€

c

Panaat 'i

MRS. PHAGAN 'Scuse me. ti

POLICEMAN Yes, ma'am? D

)

MRS. PHAGAN I'm hopin'you can he'p me.

POLICEMAN Yes, ma'am.

),

MRS. PHAGAN )

Well, my daughter didn't come home las, night.

PCLICEMAN Can

)

)

)

I

I have your rurme please, ma'am?

BLACKOUT.

Pl.naon

78

Scene 7 The Atlanta

Municipal Building.

STARNES Well, looky here! If it ain't the star reporter!

IVEY What the hell you doin, Craig?

CRAIG Coverin' the police beat.

STAR}.IES Yeah? Then you better move your sorry ass. The district attorney is fi-""'r,r statement. Looks like you got yourself a story.

,::

CRAIG (on

the

(

job)

Thanks, boys. I'm on it. I'm on it.

'

DORSEY

It is my sad duty to report the murder of a 13-year old child has taken place. Chief of Police Starnes has informed me that he is holding two men for questioning. They are: Ludie Newton Lee-Negro, employed as night watch.nran at the National Pencil Company, where the murder took place; and Leo Max Frankel, Caucasian, fonrrerly of Brooklyn, NewYork, employed as superintendent of same. Make that Frank not Frankel. Rest assured, the killer of this little tv{a4y Phagan $rillnot roam free. Thank you Gentlemen. I am on my r,r,ay to church now, to pray for her soul. I imagine everybody inAtlanta wan.ts to do the same thing-

( € & rii.,l

€ C

e G

G e

G

G

4d

3 D,

Pant,oe

tr

Scene Ito

fr

tq

B

Frank's Cell at Fulton Tower.

LEO

),

lVhat's this?

GUARD )r

1

Your dinner.

LEO

),

You expect me to eat this?

GUARD )r ii

)i

))

t h-huh. LEO I have had nothing i. *y stomach since last night- Not even coffee. For ",'our information, I am under a physician's care. I have an extremely delicate stomacir I am required to eat regular meals at regular times and I do not eat grease. This is all grease. lhke it alvay. Brir,g me €rn apple and some coffee.

GUARD l)

1

1

Llh-huh.

GUARD 2

i;

Got you some company, Leo.

LUCILLE Leo.

LEO

)

What?

LUCILLE How areyou?

LEO HorY do 1,ou think?.

LUCILLE Iwishyou wouldn'tactso ugly to the guard. LEO Ridiculous.

LUCILLE He's only doin'his iob, honey. Fine. He doesrf t matter.

LEO t'll be out of here by tonight.

\

-

20

P.e.neon

LUCILLE WeU, I brought some clean clothes

justin

case.

LEO I won t be needing theru

LUCILLE Better safe than sorry.

LEO safe? You think I'm safe? Are you out of your mind? Do you have eyes in your head? Look at me! I have never committed an illegal act in all life and here I am Iocked ^y jail uP in a house, Lucille! Look where they expect me to go to the toilet! Did you see that plate of. pig fat and corn bread I was supposed to eat? Do you have any idea of what spending the night here would be like?

LUCILLE I

just wanted you to be comfortable. LEO

Well I'm not. I'm not comfortable and I'm not sale and I'm mighfy sorry.

LUCILLE LeoLEO Go on home, Lucille.

QIE calls out) Guard!

(to Lucilte)

I'll

be home by supper time. Let rny wife out.

2,'t

Panaor

Scene A

9

Cemetery in Mtrietta.

MOURNERS THERE IS AFOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD

DRAWN FROM IMMANUEI.'S VEINS FLOOD AND SINNERS PLUNGED BENEATH THAT

ALLTHEIR GUIUTY STAINS: LO6E ALL THEIR GUILTY STAINS,

LOSE

LO6E ALL TFIEIR GTIIUTY STAINS;

AND SINNERS PLUNGED BENEATH THAT FLOOD LOSE ALL THEIR GUIUTY STAINS.

UKAITJ ';' The simple white pine coffin was c;:r'r'i; trvo of Mar5/s cousins and two of her young friends. Several more friends volunteered to serve as pallbearers, but they were deemed too small to shoulder the burden, light as it was, as Mary Phagan, tlt'o months shy of fourteen, was laid to her final rest.

MOURNERS TI{E DYII.TG THiEF REJOICED TO SEE THAT FOUNTAIN IN HIS DAY AND TT:IERE MAY I THOUGH VILE AS HE, WASH ALL MY SINS AWAY

FRANKTE (tohimselfl GOD FORGIVE ME IIIHAT I THINK. GOD FORGIVE ME W}Ir'$ I WISH RIGI{T NOW

CRAIG You must've knownMary pretty rvell'

FRANKIE Yessir,I did.

CRAIG This must be a mighty hard day for you'

FRANKIE DID YOU E\{ER HEAR HER LAUGH?

WHENSHELAUGI#D,YoUSwoREYoU,DNEVERcRYAGAIN. DID YOU E\TERSEE HER SMILE? HER ST{ILE T{AS LIKE A GLASS OF LEN{ONADE.

AND SHE SATD FL'I{NY THINGS,

-

22

P

a.naor

(FRANKTE) AND SHE WORE PRETTY DRESSES,

AND SHE LIKED TO SEE THE PICTURES AT THE V.F.lV. HALL. AND SHE LOVED RIDIN'SWING' ANDSFTE LIKED COTTON CANDY BUT I THINK SHE LIKED THE PICTURES BEST OF ALL... NO, IT DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT SHE WOMT BE AROUND. NO, TT DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME TO PUT HER IN THE COLD AND LO}.IELY GROUND.

AND NO, IT DON'T MAKE SENSE TI{E WAY T}IE WORLD CAN LE"T YOU FALL _ I ST4/EAR M DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME AT ALL.

MOURNERS DEAR DYING LAMB, TT{Y PRECIOUS BLOOD

SHALL NEVER LOSE IT'S POW'R...

CHTLDREN (SOLOS) SHE HAD TWO CROOKED TEETH...

...SHE

I{AD

CUTS ON HER FINGET
SHE WORKED NEXT TO rVE LAST SUMIyIER...

ONCE A I4/EEK WE USED TO PLAY...

...AND SHE KNEW HOW TO READ... ...SHE WOULD SMILE AT THE FOREMAN...

ALL ...AND I CAN'T BELTEVE TFIEYTOOK MY FRIEND AWAY

MOURNERS & CHILDREN

FRANKIE

NO, IT DON'T MAKE SENSE TO ME THAT SHE WILL NOT BE THERE

WHEN SHE LAUGHED, YOU SWORE YOU'D

NO

NEVER CRY AGAIN.

TT

DOMT MAKE SENSE TO ME

MRS. PHAGAN SIIE LOYED WHEN I

fiED

RIBBONS

IN HER HAIR.

ALL AND NO, IT DOMT MAKE SENSE, THE WAY THE SUN CAN STILL BURN DOll'N. NO, TT DOMT MAKE SENSE TO ME...

(

t

t Psntot FRANKIE GOD FORGIVE II,IE WHAT I THAIK.

Tell me, son, got any idea who it was?

CRAIG

FRANKIE GOD FORGIVE lvIE WHAT I WrSH RrGHT NOW.

I DOMT Kr\OW TT{E COWARD,S NAME. I DOMTKNOWT}IE BASTARD'S

BIII

FACE.

I SWEAR RIGTM NOW TO GOD:

HE AIN'T NE'ER

G.NNA crrAwAy LETHIM QUIVER INHIS BOOTS! LETHIM RUN UNTIL HE BLEEDS! I WON'T REST UNTIL i KNOIV

wrr{ *HAT HE D.NE To IvfARy!

HE'S BLTRNING IN THE RAGIN'FIRES OF HELL FOREVERIVTOREI

MOURNERS

FRANKIE

THERE IS A FOLTNTAINFILLED I4'TTH BLOOD

DRAWN FROI\,[ IMtvtu\NUEUS VEINS...

GOD FORGryE ME WFIAT I THINK

AND SINNERS PLTINGED BENEATH THAT FLOOD LOSE ALL TFIEIR GUILTY STAINS.

GOD FORGIVE ME WTIAT I WISH RIGHT NOW...

I4/ATSON SLEER SLEER LITTLE ANGEL.

r{EAvEN IlNLogKs rls.DooR SLEEP, SLEEB' LITTLE ANGEL. NEVER YOU FEA& I WILL BEHERE, KEEPING YOU SAEE AND PURE.

-

24

Penaor Scene

1O

The Gwernor,s Manston.

:rT"*

DORSEY withyou. you could pass for eighteen years

Miss sarly, bein' first lady agrees

SALLY Hugh Dorsey, sincere as ever.

DORSEY Yes ma'am,

I surely anr

SALLY You never ctnnge, do you?

DOITSEY

Not if I can help it

SLATON

Are y.ou sweet talkin, my wife again, Dorsey?

DORSEY Absolutely

(

SALLY

(

\A'Iill you gentlemen excuse me?

SLATON

(

UgIy business, Flughie, murder of the Iittle girl.

DORSEY

(

Sure is, Jack I rrlean Governor Slaton

Know who they're gorura blame?

SLATON DORSEY

Certainly not you, Govemor

( (

SLATON

,?ffi;:*rffiffJ"rJ#d

everybody etse hordin, pubric office. you.d better get

DORSEY

C

(

We're holdin' two suspects over yonder at the Fulton Tower.

Good. Convict one of ,enr

SLATON

€

e

4!

PtnA,oa DORSEY ['ll get you rvhat you want. Y'all have a nice da1' not"

WATSON SLEER SLEEP, LITTLE ANGEL, FEAR NOT TI{E SOUND OF DRUMS.

NEVER YOU CRY. JUSTTCE rS NrGH.

SOON ARMAGEDDON COMES.

ru"U.

1

e PARADE

26

e

Scene .-',.'

F

ul ton

G

Coun$ Jail.

DORSEY Well, hey, Newt! How you feelin'this morning?

NEWT LEE All right, thank ya. Sulu DORSEY Did they give you your coffee yet? well, hell's bells! Take mine. I b'lieve you have somettrin' to say to me, Newt. It was an accident, wadn't it? It was really her fault' She looked right at you and she smiled. You were standin' so dose and she smelled

all-a

red-blooded man and so am I and so is key and we all lcrow what it feelslike to be right up next to a sweet-smellin' grl, near enough to feel that hot breath on your faceso sweet. You are a man, Nervt, after

3

C

C

c

C

NEWT LEE I am the resurrection and the llfe he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me.-.

DORSEY I beert there, Newt. It's part of bein' a man. You had to touch heq didn't you? You had to smell that skin. I know. I understand. You could tell how much she wanted it. You can tell me, Newt! You helped her slide down her drawers!-.. Ah, let him goHangin' another nigra ain't enough this time. We gotta do better G€t him out of

C

C

C €

here!

It vvas Leo Frank murdered that little girl.!

rvEY You strre about

that? DORSEY

Jesus

Cfuist

on a stick! Of course,

f'm sure.

ITS IN HIS HAND6: SEE HOW HE RI.'BS'EM BOTH TOGETI{ER LIKE HE'S TRYIN'TO GET'EM CLEAN? ITS IN HIS EYES: I4'ONDER WTry HE STARESAT TrIE FLOOR AND WON'T LOOK YOU STRAIGTTTIN THE FACE?

C .I5 a

C

rb lG

fiIv^I.-r --\z

PaReor

'

(DoRSEY)

SOMETHIN' AIN'T

RIGFTT.

T

CAN TELL, SOMETHIN'AIN'T RIGHT.

T

CAN SEE IT

L\ HTS EYES, BOYS. IVEY

But lve got no evidence.

DORSEY YOU WANT EVIDENCE?

.

LOOKATTHOSE CLOTHESAND THAT BIG FANCY TALK! YOU I{ANT EVIDENCE? LOOK AT HIM SWEATIN' FROM EVERY PORE! CAN'T YOU SEE HIMIUST STANDIN'THERE

WATCHIN'THAT LITTLE GIRL BLEED? rIE SMELTS OF IT. HE STINKS OF IT.

WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?

IVEY An eyewitness wouldn't be bad.

DORSEY That's right. So get the hell outta here and go find one!

-

28

P.a,nton

Scene 12 'l lte

Atlanta Georgian.

CRAIG BIG NEWS! MY SAVIOR HAS ARRIVED!

MY INTUMON'S NEVER BEEN SO STRONG! BIG NEWS! MY CAREER HAS BEEN REYIVED-

ALL I NEEDED WAS ASNIPPY, PISSY YANKEEALLALONG! TAKE THIS SUPERSTMOUS CITY, ADD ONE LITILE ]EW FROM EI{CCKLYN PLUS A COLLEGE EDUCATION AND A MOUSY LITILE WiFE, AND BiG NEWS! REAL BIG NEWS! THAT POOR SUCKER SAVED MY LIFE!

GIVE'IM FANGS, GIYE'IM HORNS, GIVE'IM SCALY HAIRY PALMS! HAYE'IM DROOLIN' OUT THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH! SO

HE'S A MASTER OF DISGUISE! CHECK THEM BUG-OI.E CREEPYEYES!

.

SURE, THAT FELLA'S HERE TO RAPE THE l4iHOLE DAMNED SOUTH! TI{ETLL BE BANGIN' DOYfN MY DOOR,

YELLIN'"MORE, CRAIG! MORE!" " CALL FOR IUSTICE

oyvE

!"

NEED IUSTICE|"

"BEATTI{E BASTARD!" "KILLTHE BIJMI' BIG NEWS! REAL BIG NEWS!

MY SAYIOR HAS FINALLY COME!

UGHTS l-lP on the FuttonTouter.

GUARD Your lanyer's here, Leo.

LEO Mr. Rosser.

ROSSER Mornin', Leo.

LEO Did you arrange it? Am I going home now?

ta I^ IA A E a!

E

Panaor ROSSER No. Leo. You're not'

LEO best to get me out? Why? Are you doing your

ROSSER

Leo"'

LEo

Are you absolutely sure? tlave you thought of everything? ROSSER that's fine rn'ith me. you want to find another rawyer, my friend,

LEO nightmare to be over' I just want this ridiculous

ROSSER Oi course. You seen the PaPers?

LEO

)

of

I,m in jait, remember. course I haven,t seen the PaPers.

ROSSER

D

Im'fraid you got a lot to answer for' LEO

) What?

)

ROSSER ever going to get d'nywhere' You can't tell me lies if we're

LEO

) I've never told You a lie!

ROSSER

) You familiar with aJames Gantt?

LEO

) He was mYbookkeePer'

) )

D

D

ROSSER

Day around twelve noon' of your office on Memorial He says he saw you come out tails all hangin' out' sweatin' like a pig rvith a shirt

30

Panapr LEO Gantt hates me because I was about to fue him and he knew it. He,d say anything !-(,i i)ack at me.

i,:

ROSSER ItWr.at about Lena

For; age77?

LEO Who?

ROSSER Senior at Girls' HiglL Says you approached her in Pied.mont park on Easter Sunday and asked her to have a drink with you.

(

LEO

{

f lyas at home all day! I can prove it. ROSSER

(

LEO

(

ROSSER

(

KnrrHr a Mrs. Nina Formby?

No. Runs a cat house on Decatur Street. Says you,re a regular customer.

LEO

6

t

That's a lie.

.

ROSSER

Says you come by at least twice a week and you like 'em young and.

i.

t

right off the far:n.

LEO How could

she say that?

A

EN

q

I don,t l.erow this woman-

ROSSER she also sa)'s you asked her once That is vile! I never in my

if she could introduce you to some young boys. LEO

life-Oh my God! ROSSER

Did you do that?

LEO FIow dare you ask me that? I won t even dignifl, such a question with an ansever.

ROSSER

( ( { f;

Ycru need

€

Phagan.

^ E

to come down off your high horse, [,eo, and you need to do it right now. word came down this morning that you have been indicted for the m,rodJ of Mary

IA 6a

E

Peneot, LEO Indicted? Does that me;ln there's going to be a trial?

ROSSER Oh.ves. If I knorn, Hugh Dorsey; he's gonna run a regular shon'boat in that courtroom. EIe's famous for it. Be prepared. LEO I am innocent.

ROSSER Dorsey's got nothin' but circurrstantial evidence no matter how big a show he puts on- You're golng to lvalk out of there a free man.

LEO Am I?

ROSSER Count on it.

UGHTS UP on CI?"3,IG,

CRAIG ACCORDING TO REPORTS OBTAINED EXCLUSryELY BYTI{IS REPORTER, PROSECUTOR DORSEY HAS THE VILLAIN

INHIS SIGIITS.

A HIGHLY.RANKING UNNAMED SOURCE IN THIS INVFSTIGATION TELT.S ME LEO FRANK'S TI{E ONLY LIKELY CULPRTT IN THIS CASE.

ANYONE I{ITH ANY INFORMATTON ON THE SUSPECT, LEO FRANK, SHOULD CONTACTTHIS REPORTER CAREOF THE ATLANTAGEORGIAN.

MAN I I SAW THIS UTTLE

KID-

SAID "LOOK WHA:T LEO DID!" AND THEN SHE RUN AND HID...

CRAIG GO ON GO

ON @ ON

GO ON NOW!

PRETTY GIRL (ESSTE) HE SAT DOWN NEXT TO MEHIS ITAND I/\IENT ON lvflr

KNEE-

IHADTOSHAKETTFREE!

CRAIG GO ON cO ON, GO ON, GO ON NOW!

32

P

MAN r SAY IT IDN'T FAIR!

axtor-

II

WOMAN HE LIKES 'EM YOUNG AND SMA:LI.-

_ - -.:.i 1.vil:\N,S AIvIILLIONAIRE! : : BOOKS, I SWEAR

cOT NEKKID PICTURES ALL

€

ON-NOW!

MAN II

MAN I

WOMAN

PRETTY GIRL

BROTHER SAYS HE KNOWS WHEREVER KNOCKED UP LEO GOES SOME STUDENT SO HE CARRIES MIARY,S CLOTHES! I:[E PAID TO MAKE I KNOW IT, YES, HERGO . I KNOW iT, YES, I SEEN IT, YES! I KNOW IT, YXS, I SEEN IT, YES! I SEEN IT YES! I KNOW IT, YES, I KNOW TT, YES, I SEEN IT, YES! I SEEN IT, YES! I KNOW IT, YES, I KNOW M, YES, I SEEN IT, YES! I SEEN IT. I KNOW IT, YES, ISEEN r{ YES! KNOW

lvrY

ON TOP OF ALL O'

THAT, RIGHT THERE, WHERE YOU IUST SAT I SAW HIM EAT A CAT! I KNOW TT, YES, t SEEN II, YES!, I KNOW IT, YES, I SEEN IT, YES! I KNOW IT, YES, t SEEN IT, YES! I KNOW IT. YES. I...

HE FOLLOIAIED ME LASTWEEK.

HE LIKED i\{Y DP.ESS, THAT FREAK FROMI'ELDA JANE'S BOUTIQUE

I KNOW IX, YES, I SEEN IT, YES! I SEEN T[, YES!

I KNOW TI: YES, I SEEN IT, YES! IKNOWTT.

€

C C G

A

DOWN AND IT COVERS TFIE TOWN LIKE

MOLASSES ORMTID!

LOOK! FOR US DRUNKEN OU BI'IUS, OPPORTUMTY COMES IN

lE S

G

GO ON GO ON, GO ON, CO ONI

rr

e

I KNOW IT, YEg

CRAIG

LOOK! yOU JUST SCRTBBLE

€

G

I{E HAS A KID, YOU

e

PINNED TO HIS OFFICE WALL!

CRAIG GO ON, GO

€

ffii

€

A

MAGICALFLOODT LOOK! YOU MIGHT NEVER BE SURE IF YOUR MOTIVES ARE PURE, BUT

G

YOUR PROFITSARE CLEAR! LOOK! YOU WERE DOWN AND DEPRESSED, NOW YOU'RE RIDIN' CREST OF THE SCOOP OFTHEYEAR!

UGHTS UP onHughDorxy's ofie.

TIfi

C C

DORSEY Jim Conley, )'ouriob here at the factory is sweepetr ftat riSht?

c ffi

re

G

c

Paneor CONLEY I prefer "cleaning supervisor" if vou don't mind'

DORSEY Cleaningsupervisor,then.Nowtellme,Jim'didyounoticeanythingunusualabout IvIr. Frank?

CONLEY He done himsel.f like this all the time'

DORSEY Unh hunh. AnYt6ir.t

"tt",

CONLEY

Wel[, let me think..-

DORSEY Didyoueverseehimbringanyofthefactoqygirlsintohisprivateoffice?

CONLEY Gir1s in his office?

DORSEY ]im, I got

a piece of paper here says

you spent a little bit of time on the chain gang'

CONTEY That right?

DORSEY Twice, according to this. Drunk and d'isorderly behavior'

CONLEY Well,

And.

I tend to over
and disappeared.

CONLEY Well, you know, my terut rvas iust about up'

DORSEY Really?

I think

that makes yott' you had a fev,, more months to selve. You know what

dorftyou?

CONLEY Ludsy.

DORSEY we do about that? I was going to say an escaped convicL Now' what should

P enao

34

C

n

CONLEY

=

Wtrat was that you asked me about Mr. Frank?

CRAIG & ENSEMBLE I

REPORTERS (ENSEMBLE

II ECHOING)

(

ACCORDIN'TO REPORTS OBTAI\IED EX-

EXTRA! EXTRA! LEO FRANK INDICTED!

CLUSIVELY BY THIS REPORTER,

TRIAL SET FOR A MONTH FROM NOW!

MR. LEO FRANK HAS BEEN INDICTED ON

PROSECUTOR DORSEY WILL

TI{E CHARGE OF MURDER!

C

PROSECUTOR DORSEY STATES TFIE

TRYTHE CASE HII.,{SEI.F, HE SAYS! LUTFIER ROiSER WILL REPRESENT

TRTAL WILL BEGIN IN THE

MR. FRANK IN THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE!

C

ATLANTA COUNTY COURTHOUSE ONLY ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!

DORSEY PROMISES SURPRISE WITNESSES

AND A QUICK FINISH!

Mi
MRS. FRANK, THE SUSPECT'S WIFE,

IJ,AS STILL i.iOT SPOKEi.I TO REFORTERS!

HAS SfiLLNOTSPOKEN TO REPORTERS! WHAT'S THE WORD FROM MRS. FRAl,rii'i

6

W}IATS THE WORD FROM MRS. FRANK? MI{S. FRANK! MRS. FRANK! MRS. FRANK!MRS. ERANK!

€

WHAT'S TFIE WORD FROM MRS. FRANK? WHAT'S THE WORD FROM MRS. FRANK? MRS. FRANK! MRg FRANK!

MI{S. FRANK! MRS. FRANK! MI€. FRANK! MI{S. FRANK!

C

€

C € € 6:l

ce#

€

C C G

G €

G

G

PARADE

Scene 13 Outside Fulton Towen

LUCILLE [.et me alone! Please! Let me alone!

CRAIG Let,s leave the lady alone! I hope there isn't much damage, ma'am. No. Don',t be ahaid. I iust came back to helP-

LUCILLE I have nothing to say.

CRATG Watermelon picklesl That's one of my mama's specialties. And deviled eggs! You'rc

good cook

LUCILLE Not really.

CRATG Oh yes! This nose knows all.

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for yoa,Ir|'liz Frank da/. - about your husband comin' oo1 s/ry

All

these stories

LUCILLE YOU DON'T KNOW TFIIS MAN. YOU DON'T KNOW ATTtrNG. YOU COIUE HERE WITHTHESE HORRIFYING STORIES, THESE CONTET\trTIBLE CONCETTS,

AND YOU THII\.{K Y.oU UNDEITSTAND HOI{ A I{AN'S HEART BEATS AND YOU DOMT IqVOW A THING. YOU DON,T KNOI^/ THIS MAN. YOU DOMT EVEN TRY.

WHEN A MAN WRITES HIS MOTHER EVERY SUNDAY, PAYS HIS BILTS BEFORE T}IEY'RE DUE, WORKS SO HARD TO FEED HIS FAIUILYTHERE'S YOUR MT'RDERER FOR

YOU-

AND YOUSTAND HERE SPITIING WORDS THAT YOU KNOW AREN'T TRUE,

a

"wm ( 36

P .a,n,+ o

(

t

(

(LUCTLLE) THEN YOU DON'T KIIOW THIS MAN.

(

I DOMT THiNK YOU COULD. YOU DON'T HAVE TFIE RIGHT TO KNOW

(

A MAN THAT WISE AND GOOD_

HE ISA DECENT MAN! HE IS AN HONEST MAN!

(

AND YOU DON'T KNOW... AND YOU NEVER WILL. NOT FROM ME, NOT FROM ANYONE WHO KNOWS TtrM_ NOT A MORSEL NOT A CRUMB, NOT A CLUE.

( (

CRAIG You're say'in'he's deertt.you're sayin'he's honest, but Ma'am you're not sayi:r' hds innocent

(

LUCILLE T

(

HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAYTO YOU.

( ( € € ( C

C

( € € € €

Penaac

Scene 14

A Visitor's lloont in Fulton lail. LEO

D.rg

Did. you pay the bitl to Jacobs

Store this month?

L(ICILLE It

jr6t

came yesterday.

LEO flre don't

r,r,ant people

thinking r+.e can t pay our bills.

LUCILLE I'll tend

to

it this evening.

LEO I don't know rvhy they [r'on't let rne have mI checkbook!

LUCILLE It must be against the lar,*'.

LEO Ridiculous! What kind of sense does that make?

LUCILLE I told you I'll tend to the billthis evening.

LEO Don't forget.

LUCILLE I put a jar of watermelon pidcles

in with your dinner. LEO

And did the life insurance bill come? It should,ve bynow. .

wel7, pay it the second it comes.

r'm

.

LUCILTE

LEO sure the/re just

Iooking for a chance to drop us.

LUCILLE Leo,

f'm thinking of going to visit Aunt Miriam in Savannatu

LEO Isee. When?

LUCILLE I'm not sure. A week or tn'o.

38

7

Ptneon

14re11,

just

be back rvhen the

LEO

€

LUCILLE

e

LEO

C

LUCILLE

C

trial starts.

That's why I'm going, Leo.

What?

The trial.

I-I

don't think I can stand it.

€

LEO well you have to stand itl Hov' will it look if you run out of town?

G

LUCILLE I don't want ev. elybody staring at rne r,'hql they say all those alvful tFrings about you in the courtroorn-

€

LEO That's absurd, Lucille. It's all just a btrnch of lies and nonsense. Anyway, they'Il be staring at.me, not you.

LUCTLLE And the mother of that poor little girl! I don t want to see her!

LEO I don't Iike the way you're taLking.

LUCILLE I'm just telling you how I feel, Leo.

€ €

e €

LEO You have to be there!

LUCILLE

fll

be here

tomorow vyith your dinner.

LEO

e

LUCILLE

c

LEO

e

Lucille!

What is it?

You have to be there! UGHTS DOWN,

€

@

e G

e

Pan,a, D =-

-3

Scene {5 Scene Ou tside Ful ton C-ounty Cour tlCIuse.

WATS AI\f* ll/HO'S CONNA STOP THE RISE\T, R_E_\IER? WHO'LL STOP THE LIES FROI\4 E TOLD? WHO 14TLL FIGHT FOR THE PEO*EII\EG WHO'S GONNA SWING THE

LI..q

' .: IArHO'S GONNA BE TFIE LAST WHCTLL KEEP TFIE PAST

JE:HHff,H,

Gf..

FR.,I\^

j.xffi);'ff:

PE .E.RGIA? r{A*oot {ME-R'oF oF

WHO WILLSTAND WITI{ TI{E

wHo,s coNNAswrNG T,,E

FUsTrcE?

MY CHILDREN WANT TO KNO\AT! MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN CR).D\I, FOR A SAVIOR wHo I,fILL RISE IAT t*tr^I TIlrc LANDT Nrry pEopLE r^rANT To KNow, TI{EYASK\,I8, "WHERE'S THE |171ZT 'hI T'a IAKEA srAND, AND RAISE HIs HAND?.

so!

CROI^I.D wt{o! r{rHo.s cor.Na siJrrs

ffi AH.

DF={rc?

CROWD wHo!

WATS(}I\I pUppErS STr
W}{O'S GONNA CUT THE

wHo!

WATSOI\I WHO WILL RESTORE IHIS ANGEL.S FIONC)R? WHO'S GONNA SI4ING _

40 -

P,a,xepe

{

CROWD GONNASWING GONNA SWING THAT HAMMER?

WATSON LEo

THE HAMMER OF IUSTICEI is brought into the courtroom GUAKDS.

W

( RossER

joins him.

ROSSER

Q

LEO

€

ROSSER

€

Moming Leo. you lookfine. Do I? Rememi:er all Dorsey has is circumstantial evidence. Bu& up. Where's ;rour better half?

€

LEO I wish I lrrew.

€

WATSON & CROWD THO'S GONNASTOP OUR BORDERS LEAKIN,? WHO'S GONNA KEEP THE REFUSE OL'T?

€

WHO'S GONNA SOOTHE OUR BABIES SHRIEKIN'? IVHO'S GONNA SWING THAT HAMMER?

e

WHO'S GONNA ETGI{T TI{E VILE VILLAIN?

G

WHO WILL DEFY THE GRAVEST DOUBT?

wHo,s co\INA grop

e .6,

TF{E IEI{I FROM KILLTN'?

WHO'S GONNA SWING TETAT I{AMMER?

IUDGE ROAN

&

AII rise.

WATSON TIfiPE9PLE HAyEARIGHT A RIGHT TO BE DEEENDED

CROWD

FROM TI{E INSULIS OFTI{E BEASTS WHO'VE

THE PEQPLE HAVE ARIGTTI, A RTGHT TO BE DEFENDED

G G

RAPED AND LIEDI.

BUT WHO IATILLSHINE THB

AND

GTVE US BACK OUR

LIGI{T

DIGNIry AND

PRIDE?

WHO,S GONNA SWING THAT.HAMMFIR

G

OF ruSTICE? 4i.'r*

IUDGE ROAN Bow your heads, please. I call upon the tord to bless this Court proceeding bless all those rsho are inrrclved and keep us in y,our $,ays. Amen.

@

#

c @

I

Peneoe CROWD Amen.

IUDGE ROAN Get on with it, Mr. Dorsey

DORSEY Your Ffono4 Gentlemen of the Jury, and good people of Georgia: THERE IS A FARMHOUSE IN A.{ARIETTA,

KINDA BAT:TERED AND FORLORN. AND IN T}IAT FARMHOUSE, FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, A GIRL NAMED MARY TAS BORN. AND SHE WOULD DANCE IN FIELDS OF CO: TON, SHE HAD A TREE WHERE SHE COULD PLAY BLTT IATHEN

ItrR DADDY

DIED T!T'O YEARS AGO,

MARY AND HERMAMAMOVED AIVAY IT,S ONLY TWENTY MILES FROM MARTETTA

TO A FACT'RY IN THE CENTER OF THIS TOT{N,

AND TTVENTY MILES IryAS ALL

TT TOOK

TO STRIKE THAT SWEET GIRLDOWN. PEOPLE OF ATTSNTA FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM TO TFIEIR GRAVES,

AND NOW THETR CITY IS A FACT'RY

AND TI{EIR CHILDRENARE TI5 SLAVES. PEOPLE OF ATLANIA SWING THEIR CITY GAIES WIDE, AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE WROUGHTT

DORSEY So, Frankie, you say you rode

downtown with Mary on the English Avenue

streetcar?

FRANKIE Yessir.

Mornin'of the Memorial Day Parade. DORSEY

And can you teII us what happeted?

E

( P eaaoe

42

FRANKIE \A'ell, she r,vanted to go to the picture show real bad and I promised .,. irarnds. But first she lvas goin' to the factory to pick up her pay.

I'd take her after

-I (

DORSEY

(

And did she get off?

FRANKIE

(

No, sir. Not right then.

DORSEY

(

TelI us what happened, Frankie.

FRANKIE

(

WelL she got up to go and she looked funny. And I said-Somethin'wrong' Mary? TTAD\/

ltld^\

r

6

Mr. Frarik.

FRANKIE

€

Mr- Frank what?

MARY

€

Looks at me.

FRANKIE Looks at ystrT Everybody looks at you.

G

MARY Not like Mr,

Frank.

€ FRANKIE q*

What does he do?

MARY

€

HE CALIS MY NAME, I TURN MY HEAD HE GOT NO WORDS TO SAY. HIS EYESGEf, BIG,

MYFACE GETS RED,

AND I WANT TO RUN AWAY AND I{E LOOKS... AND I WAIT... ANDHESMILES...

FRANKIE Youfuter

tuLl

€ € ( €

onhim-

€ € €

Panaor MARY Tell rvho? He's the boss.

FRANKIE He do the other girls that w,av?

MARY I guess. Some of 'em.

FRANKIE What say I come over there and break his face?

MARY Go on. You'll miss the parade.

I'll

see

you over to the picture shov,,r

FRANKIE Well, at least let me come with yeq to get your pay.

MARY Save me a seat!

FRANKIE And that was the last time I ever san'her. I wish I had come over there and broke your damn face!

WATSON WHO'S GONNA STOP THE BLOOD FROIvI SPILLIN'?

DORSEY (ro ROSSER)

Your rvitness.

ROSSER Nothing at this time, Your Honor.

WHO'S

WATSON GONNA SAVE fi{E PEOPLE OF GEORGIA?

WATSON & ENSEMBLE WHO,S GONNAS:WING TI# I{AMMER OFIUSfiCE?

DORSEY IoIa Stover,

rrill you

describe

for the court Mr. Leo Frank's mardtl:i i!,

€

e

Penapr

44

IOLA STOVER HE'LL CALL MY NAME.

€

I'LLTURN VTYHEAD. HE GOT NO WORDS TO SAY.

G llrE

HIS EYES GET BIG, MY FACE CETS RED.

AND I WANT TO RUN AWAY.

C GIRLS

TOLA

HE'LL CALL MY NAME

I'LLFEEL HIS BREATH BACK OF MY NECK HIS HAND AGAINST MY CHAIR I'LLPUNCH THE CLOCK PICK IIP MY CHECK, IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S ALWAYS THERE

I,LLTURN IVfY HEAD I{E GOT NO WORDS TO SAY HIS EYES GET BIG,

G G

MY FACE GETS RED,

AND I WANT TO RUN AWAY.

MONTEEN

IOLA, ESSIE

I'M IN THE LOUNGE, ITURN AROUND,

I'M IN THE HALL AND THEN HE'S THERE, HE PASSES MUCH TOO CLOSE.

HE PASSES MUCH TOO CLOSE

G

€ €

I EAT MY LUNCH,

I CHANGE MY CLOTHES, PUT UP MY HAIR.

I HEAR ASOUND,

ALL THREE GIRLS AND SOMEHOW,I'M SURE HE KNOWS_ AND I TURN

q € IE

€

AND HE SI\/IILEg AND HE SAYS:

,,fj

LEO W}ry DON'TCFIA COME UP TO MY OFFICE? GOTACOUPLE O'THINCS YOU MIGI{T LIKE TO SEE. WFTY DONTCFIACOME UP TO MY OFETCE. ABOUT TWGFIFTEEN 'TIL A QUARTER TO THREE? IF YOU COULD MAYBE SIAIING BY, HONEY

WELL, YOU KNOW

MD

BE OKAYWTTH ME

IF YOU CAME,IF YOU CAME, IF YOU CAME, IF YOU CAME TO MY OFETCE.

WIflT DON'TCHACOME UP TO VfY OFFICE? I GOTABOTTLE O'WINE AND THE CORK AIN'T POFPED! W}rY DON'TCHA COME UP TO IUY OFFICE,

q €

Panaoe

(LEo) IVHERE IT'S NICE AND COOL IVHEN THE BLINDS AIiE DROPPTD? TF YOU COULD MAYBE SI^ING BY HONEY WE'LL PRETEND THAT BAD OL'CLOCK HAS STOPPED lF YOU CAIvtD IF YOU CAME, rF yOU CAME,

IF YOU CAME TO MY OFFICE?

TKNOWTHIS NEW DANCE TI.TATTHEY'RE DOIN'IN MANHATTAN.

rLL GET YOU DANCIN' LIKE YOU NEVER DONE BEFORE! AND TLL GIVE YOU THINGS THAT T}IEY SET\[ ME FRoIv{ MANHAT"TAN, AND IF YOU LIKE, WELL, I GOT IvfORE-

I{ELL, I GOT MORE! COME ON AND COME UP TO MY OFFICE, I GOT A FINE FRIED CHICKEN AND BISCUTIS FOR TWO! COME ON AND COME UP TO MY OFFICE, WE GOT LOTS OF THINGS TT{AT NTE BOTFI CAN DO! JUST TAKE A BREAKAND SWING BY HONEY_ NO ONE HAS TO KNOW BUT ME AND YOU THAT ),OU CAME, THAT YOU CAME, THAT YoU CAIvIE, TFIAT YoU CAME, WHEN YOU CAME, WHEN YOU CAME, WHEN YOU CAME, WHEN YOU CAME, IF YOU CAME,IF YOU CAME,IF YOU CAME, TTYOU CAME, SO COME ONI COf\dE ON! COME ON! COME ONt COME ON!

WI{Y DONTCHA COME UPAND COME ON AND COME UP TO MY... WI{Y DONTCHA COME UPAND COME ONAND COME UPTO MY".. .WHY DONTCHACOME I.rPAI.ID COIi,fE ON AND COME UP? .COME

ONANb COME UP?

COME ONAND COME UP? COME ONAND COME UP? CON4E

UPAND

Crf,T,TE

ON...

GIRLS HE Cd,LIS

T,flT

NAME

ITURNMYI{EAD HE GOT NO WORDS TO SAY... HIS EYES GEf, BIG,

MYFACEGETSRED,

d 46

PeRe

DE

G *-

(GTRLS) AND I IVANT TO RUNA\4'AY.

AND HE LOOKS, AND I WAII,

IOLA

e e

e

AND... I{E SMILES. LEO protests fo ROSSER.

LEO Somebody told them to say all that! They were coached. They were coached!

C

WATSON THE CHILDREN SPEAK THE TRI.ITH! TFIE CHILDREN CALL FOR VENGEANCE FOR THE INNOCENCE WE NEVER CAN REPLACE!

MINNIE My name is Minola McKnight.

WATSON THE CHILDREN SPEAK THE TRLITH! THE SODOMITE

TS

LAUGHIN'IN YOUR FACE:..

MINNIE

G G

e & di*--

I been lookirf after Miss Lucille and her husband since they married. Been ihree years las'November

@

DORSEY Good. Now, Minnie, were you at work on April 26th? MemorialDay?

& &

MII\iNIE Yassuh.

DORSEY And n'hat transpired - happened that day?

MINNTE MISTUH FRANK HE COME HOME FOR HIS DINNER AT ONE. He come runnirt' ru and he look funny

DORSEY Funny in what way?

G @

G

s An E \,

e ^A)

P.anaor

MINNIE RED' AND HIS FACE TURNIN' HIS EYES POPPIN' OUT

ANDHE]UMPUPANDLEAVE,FoREIPUTHISDESSERToNTHETABLE. favorite' Coconut cake, too - his

LUCILLE

not true' Minnie! No! That's not brre' That's

JUDGE ROAN

courtroom' Order! Order in the

Anything

DORSEY

that day? else strike you as peculiar

ROSSER

witness' Objection. Leadin' the Obiection

JUDGE ROAN

sustained' DORSE,

ordinary occur? Anything else out.of the

MINNIE

MORNiN I SEE MISS LUCTLLE' IVELL, THEN TI{E NEXT REST' AIN'T HAD AMINL]TE O' SHE LOOK LTKE SHE ON THE FLOO& FRANKMADE HER SLEEP SHE SAYS THAT MISTUH

ANDTHATSHEAIN'TALLOWEDII'ITI{EBEDAI\ryI\dORE"'

LEO That isn,t hor't'it haPPened'

ROSSER Shtu I'11tate care of

it' DORgEY

ThankYou, Minnie' That'lIbe

all LEO

Shr*"i

Shame on Yor'I'

Mnnie! ROSSER

Hush uP Leol

kt

me handle this!

stand MRS. PHAGAI'I on tlu

DORSEY N{rs.Phagan,canyoudesoibefortrs,pleasema,am,theouffityourdaughieri.,

*o* a tlwnhst Memorial

DaY?

48

P

txeot

MRS. PHAGAN v' essir

.

.

I can. It was her Easter Sunday ouffit- the little lavender cotton pongee dres:,: I , z:!'. +hite stockings and her party shoes.

DORSEY Would these be the clothes?

MRS. PHAGAN MY CHILD WILL FORGIVE ME FOR RAIShI'EMR POO&

AND FOR TAKIN' I{ER OUT OF THE SCHOOL. MY CHILD WILLFORGIVE ME FOR NOT DOIN'MORE TO PROTECT HER FROM MEN WHO ARE CRUEL,

AND MY CHILD W]LL FORGIVE ME FOR CLOSIN'MY EYES TO THE DANGERS OF GROWING TOO FAST. MY CHILD WILL FORGIVE ME 1VITH TEARS INHER EYES WHEN }VE'RE REUMTED AT LAST. MY CHILD WILL BE SAFE IN THEARIV(S OF THE LORD, AND AS PURE AS THE DAY OF HBR BIRTTT MY CHILD WILLBE COZTED AND BLESSEDANDADORED AS SHE NEVER COULD BE HERE ON EARTH.

€

AND MY CHILD I4{ILL BE WATCHIN' ME, GTVIN'MEFAITI{ IN AzuTURE THAT'S GOLDEN AND NEW.

(

MY MARY WILL TEACH ME TO OPEN MY HEART,

€

ANDSO I FORGTVE YOU,

C

IEW.

DORSEY I call |im Conley!

€

G

G

G

lEffii-TrrEFE

n U

t

PrlnaPr

?:;:.-

i}

CONLEY HE TOU ME TO I{ATCH THE DOO&

D

"WATCH THE DOOR" _THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

)

SAID_I SHOULD MAKE NO ONE CAME AND INTERRUPTED. WELL I'D SAY ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH,

)

uIlM, YOU WATCH THE DOOR HE'D TELL I'tfI,, COMIN'" I GOT A LADY COMIN" I GOT A LADY

THAT'S WHAT

D

s )

TTE

SURE

LIKE I SAID, ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH,

TI#RE,D BE A LADY CO-I\dE TO CALL AND HE'D SAY "IIM, YOU WATCH THE DOOR," THATS WHAT HE SAID. And once, I remember it was two ladies. Another time, there was a black gentleman, I believe he said he wad from Chicago...

ROSSER

F

Objection!

IUDGE.ROAN

)

Mr. Dorseli witl you instruct your witness to answer only the questions put to him?

DORSEY

),

Iim, do you understand the man?

CONLEY

)

$

Yessir.

DORSEY All right, then- jim, will you tell us about the mornirf of ApriJ26?

CONLEY The day of the parade. HE TOT ME TO I^/ATCH THE DOOR

"WATCH THE DOOR," THATNS WHAT HE SAID. THAT"S WHAT I:rE SAID-"I @T A GIRL, SHE"LL BE COMIN' UP TO SEE ME,

2

SHE€ AVERY PRETTY GML" HE SAID-'DON'T LET ME CA]TCH YOU LOOKIN'AT MISS MARY PERKINS."

THATS WHAT HE CALLED I{E& I THINK,

) ) )

"MSS MARY PERKINS." SO WHEN THIS I{ARY.CAME TO CALL

50

Pa.naor

(coNLEY) I KEP MY EYES DOWN TO TI{E FLOOR MR. FRANK SAID NOT TO LOOK

,CAUSE

THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

lvelt next thing, Mr. Frank is yellin'somethin',

so I run upstairs, and I open the door; and lvIr. Frank looks up. HE SAID, "WE WERE PLAYIN'A GAME! PLAYIN'A GAME!- THAT'S W}IAIT HE SAID_ T}IAT'S WHAT HE SAID, AND LITTLE MARY'S KINDA CRUMPLED TN TFM CORNER. HE SAID "YOU DON'T LINDERSTAND_ SHE DIDN'T WANT TO PLAY THE GAME, AND SO I I4TENT AND }IIT HER_ YOU SEE, I HAD TO HITHERFIE TOU ME I SHOTILD GO AND LOOK,

HE SAID SHE'SACTIN'LIKE STIE'S SICK

AND I SAID, "LAYID, THAT CHIL'IS DEAD!" TIIATS WHAT I SAID!

.

CONLEY

CROWD

AND HE SAID "NO! NO! IT AIN'T r\fY FAULiT TIIAT GIRL IS DEAD!" HE SAID "NO! NO!" THAT'S WHAT HE SAID. HE SAID,

"NO!NO!'

rHAT'S WHATHE SAID!

AND HIS EYES WERE }VILD AND HIS FACE WAS RED, HE SAID, "NO!"

NO! THAT'S WHAT HE SAID!

HE SAID, "GOTTA GET HER OUT_ LET,S CETHER

NO!

e

T}IAT'S WHAT HE SAIq THAT'S WHAT lfi, WHAT HE SAID, THATS,

I

TFIAT'S WHATHESAID...

€

OUI!- THATS WHATHESAID.

AND SO I FOUND ME THIS

fr NO!

OL GL]NNY

SACK AND WRAPPED 'ER.

HI:- SAID, "YOU'RE A GOOD BOy

IIM i KNOW YOU hTON'T TELLNO ONE NOTHIM . JJERE'S A HUNDRED DOLLARS!'

THATS IAII{ATHESAID!

€ F}, :#" : n6al

I

Pnneoe

r D

(coNLEY)

(cRovvD) AHUNDRED DOLLARS

I GOT A HUNDRED DOLLARS

A HUNDRED DOLLAI$

D

AND SO I PLTT HER ON MY BACK WE TOOK THE ELEVATOR DOIYN. FIE SAID, "fUS'THROW HER ON THE GROLTIND!" THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.

D

TFIAT'S WHAT HE SAID. YES, HE SAID

"NO!"

NO!

)

"NO!"

NO!

I

7m-rth

"THERE AIN'T NO REASON I SHOULD HANG!" /rtt^r/

J

.rl.tr

D

"T}IERE AIN'T NO REASON I SHOULD HANG_ YOU GOTMONEYIN YOUR POCKETAND THERE'S

DAIU,

rr\J:

t\ul

"NO!"

NO!

PLENTY MORE

)

I GOT WEALTI{Y FRIENDS AN' FAM'LY AND A I{TFE WHO'S DUMB

)

O'THAT-

AN'FAT_

I GOT RICH FOLKS OUT IN BROOKLYN IF I NEED SOMEWHERES TO GO

)

AND THESE STUPID REDNECKS NEVER GONNA trC\iOW!"

LTANG'IM!

"NO!"

D

\

a D

-tT AINT MY FAULT THAT GIRL IS DEAD!" HESAID, "NO!" "NO!". THAT;S WHAT rrE SAID!

HANG'IM! HANG THE IEW! FIANG'IM! HANG'IM! MAKE'IM PAY!

.||:moah flD.)fUU,

rt -rBTUtl lYal u&l

,tttn,t, rl\ia

D

"NO!" AN' HIS

D

HE SAID, "NO!" THATS WHA:IHE SAID.

NOW! EYES WERE WILD

AND HIS FACE WAS RED

DORSEY D

D

E

Iim.

52

P

t xeoe

IUDGE ROAN As vou are rvell aware, the laws of the state of Georgia do not allow the defendant in .' ' , ': ' .ii:1 trial to testify in his onrn behalf, but said defendant is allowed to rnllre a braicment. Does your dient r+'ish to make such a statement at this time?

ROSSER He does not your honor.

LEO Yes, sir.

I do-

ROSSER Leo.-.

LEO ITS HARD TO SPEAK MY HEARI. I'M NOT A MAN WHO BARES ETIS SOUL. I LETTHE MOMENTPASSME BY_ I STAY WHERE I AM iN CONTROL. I HIDE BEHIND MY WORK, SAFE AND SURE OF WHAT TO SAY.. I KNOW I MUST SEEM }IARD, I KNOW I MUST SEEM COLD. I NEVER TOUCHED T}IAT GIRLYOU THINK I'D HURTA CHILD YET?

rD HARDLYSEEN HER

FACE BEFORE_

I SWEAR-I SWORE WE'D BARELY MET. THESE PEOPLE TRY TO SCARE YOU

WITI{ THINGS I'VE NEVER SAID. I KNOW IT MAKES NO SENSE. I S$TEAR I DON'T KNOWI4IHY...

AM-YOU CAN'T BELIEYE I'D LIEYOU CAMT BzuEVE I'D DO THESE DEEDS_ YOU SEE MEAS I

A UTTLE MAN }VHCTS SCARED AND BLIND, TOO LOST TO FIND THE WORDS HE NEEDS. T

NEVER TOUCHED THAT

CHILD-

GOD_I NEVER RAISED MY HAND! I STAND BEFORE YOU NOlII...

Pa,nA,or

(LEo) INCREDIBLY

)

AFR{D.

I PRAYYOU UNDERSTAND.

DORSEY

ENSEMBLE

This angel met her end on the concrete floor of the sweatshop nhere she toiled away her childhood fastening erasers

pencil caps for ten pennies an hour. She died a noble death without a splotch or blemish upon her your lfonor, I've done my duty. I have no apologies to make. There will be but one verdict: GUILTYI GUILTYIGUILTY! to

GOD BLESS THIS DAY IN THE OLD HILIS OFCEORCIA, THE OLD RED HILLS OF HOME.

ALL SINNERS PAY IN THE OLD HILT.S OFGEORGIA. LET US FIMSH WHATS BEGUN

AND LETIESUS'WILL BE DONEI

IUDGE ROAN Gentlemen of the Jury have I'ou reached a yerdict?

FOREMAN Yes we have, Your FIonor.

How sayyou?

IUDGE ROAN FOREMAN

Guilty. Guilty.

G"ilty.

IUROR

ruRoR JUROR

GuiIty. GoiIty.

IUROR

IUDGE ROAN It-is hereby adjudged and ordeled that on the twenty eighth day of lvfay, in the year of our lord nineteen htrndred and fourteery Leo Max Frank shall be hanged uy ir,u neck until he is dead and may God have merc), on his soul.

CLIRTXIN.

54 -

Pl.naoe ACT TWO -:i++:re 1. The Gooetnor's Mansion.

SALLY Did you get any sleep at all last night,

Jack?

SLATON Not much.

SALLY

fm

black and blue from all your thrashin, around.

(

SLATON Sorry, sweetheart.

(

SALLY It's this Frank thing, isn't it?

(

SLATON seems like the whole rvorld rvants to stick their nose in our business.

(

SALLY Maybe I better sleep in the guest room for a while.

(

SLATON I wouldn't want you to do that, Miss Sally.

€

RILEY YOU HEAR ARU}dBLIN'AND AROLLN{'?

I]"S COMIN' DOWN FROM THE NORTH. IT,S COMIN' T.IP THROUGH THE GROUND AND IT'S A FUN}ry OU SOUND, ,CAUSE

€ {

IT,S A RUMBLIN' AND A ROLLIN'!

ANGELA AND I BET T KNOW

€

WHY-

SEE'EMON THE TRAIN, SEE'EM ON TI{E BUS_

€

THEY NEVER CARED MUCH ABOUT FOLKS LIKE US!

€ €

G

Panaor RILEY BUT NOW TTIEY'RE GONNA PAY ATTENTION. SURE THEY

GONNAASK W}TY? WHY?

ANGELA

B

THEY GONNASAY'I DON'T KNOW TVHAI, I DON'T KNOIT' HO!V!-

BOTH

D

WELL, THEY'RE GONNA FIND OUT NOW. THEY'RE GONNA PAY ATTENTION.

D

RILEY THEY'RE GONNAYELL,'SET THAT MAN FREE!' WELL, THEY SURE AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT ME.

D

BOTH

) ) ) ) I

V\THY?

NOW THERE'S A RUMBLIN'AND A ROLLIN' HERE COMES THE YANKEE BRIGADE! .

ANGELA THEY GONNA COME THROUGH THIS TOI4T{_ BET]ER KEEPOUR HEADS DOWN_

I,T'E

RILEY WE BETTER START MUMBLIN' AND A-SHUFFLIN'

BOTH WE BETTER POLISH OURSMILES.

RILEY

I

OL" BLACKJOEAI YOUR SERVICE, I

WON'T DO NOTHIN' THAT,LL MAKE YOU NERVOUS. WON'T DO NOTHIN'I4IORTH A LOOK OR A MENTION

BOTH AND THEY WON'T NEVER PAY ATTENIION!

i:tsy'tt

NEVER

ANGELA sAy ,My, My, Myr RILEY

THEY GONNASAY 'BRING ME MY BOOTS!-

ANGELA -BRING ME MY

TEA!' RILEY

I BETCHATHOUGHTTI{E SLA\'ES WERE FREE...

P

aPeot'

ANGELA FRANK GOOD FOR YOU. LOTTA FOLKS COMIN' TO GET YOU THROUGII MISTER FRANK AIN'T THAT GRAND? LOTTA FOLKS COMIN' TO TAKE A STAND. I\,{ISTER

MISTER FRANK KNOCK ON WOOD,

AINT GONNA DO YOU NO GODDAMN GOOD!

RILEY I CAN TELL YOU THIS, AS A MATTER OF FACI' TI-I/T THE LOCAL HOTELS WOULDN'T BE SO PACKED IFA UTTLE BLACK GIRL HAD GOTTENATTACKED'

ANGELA GO ON, GO ON, GO ON, GO ON...

RILEY THEY COMIN" TI{EY COMIN' NOW, YESSIRREE! ,CAUSE A WHITE

MAN GONNA

GET HT.ING, YOU SEE.

BOTH THERE'S A BLACK MAN SWINGIN' IN EV'RY TREE

BUT THEY DON'T NEVER PAYATTENTION!

ANGELA oH, NO...

BOTH THEY NEVER SAY "WI{Y? WI{Y? W}TY?"

RILEi BUT IF A YANKEE BOY FLIES... or rDrrlz'tctl l\E!. dvlu

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

BOTH THEY GONNA PAY ATTENTION! TTIEY GONNA YELL'SET THAT MAN FREE!"

ANGELA DE DE DE DE DE DE DE

DEDE, DE DE DE DE DE DE DE DE DE

DE DE DE DE DE

:l

E D

P

tnaon

[-

BOTH OH, THERE,LL BE A RUIvTBLIN, AND A ROLLIN,, YEAH...

D

YEAH, THER'LLBE A RUMBLIN'AND A ROLLIN" YEAH...

TI{ERE'LL BEA RUMBLIN'AND A ROLLIN" YEAH... THERE'S GONNA BE A RUMBLIN'AND A ROLLIN'

D

THERE'LL BE A RUMBLIN'AND A ROLLIN" YEAH...

E

LIGHTS UP onko's ell.

LUCILLE D

Thank 1'oq, Mr. Tumer.

GUARD D

lVelcome, Ma'am-

LUCILLE

)

Hey, honey.

LEO

)

(still atriting) Hey, honel'. You're late.

)

LUCILLE I lcrorv.

)

LEO I lvas a little r+.orried. Where were you?

)

LUCILLE I had

a terrible time getting;' through the parade.

)

LEO Parade?

I

LUCILLE Don't you remember? I(s Memorial Day ug"i".

I

LEO My favorite holiday.

LUCILLE lust think! A whole year!

LEO Seems like fifty.

LUCILLE I knon'. I brought you The Official State of Georgia Legislative Law Et. ier; l,-',.i-,...1 7907.1908...

-

58

P

eneoe

LEO Good. Thank you.

LUCILLE I couldn't cook this moming-

LEO Something the matter with the stove?

LUCILLE No. I lvas busy.

LEO Doing what?

LUCILLE I had an appointment with that Mr. Craig.

LEO You were talking to a reporter?

LUCTLLE Yes.

LEO I thought we decided you rvouldn't do that.

LUCILLE You decided it, Leo. I didn't. And anyway, Mr. Craig turns out to have a very sympathetic ear.

LEO Oh, God! What did you say?

LUCILLE

we[

he asked me how you are and r said 6ne, and, in fact, very hopeful because you were busl'writing up a documented statement that proves all the evidence Sren againstyou atthe trial wasfalse.

LEO

I

You shouldn't have told him that!Now evetyone will know!

LUCILLE Were you

(

plarning to keep it a secret?

LEO

(

I was planning to release it when I'mfinished writing it. Don't talk to any more

reporters.

(

LUCILLE I can help you, Leo. Atl the appeals you and the larvyers filed have been derued

(

II (

Panapr (LUCTLLE)

D

They're gonna hang you in six weeks unless rve do everything that's in our po\,vers to do.

LEO

))

I knorv you mean well, honey. I really do. And I appreciate it.

LUCILLE D

But keep my srupid mouth shut.

Of course, Leo. You're righr Uke you always are. DO IT ALONE, IEO-DO rr ALL BY YOURSELF. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO I{ATTERS AFTER ALL. DO IT ALONE, LEO_WHY SHOULD IT BOTHER ME? I'M IUST GOOD FOR STANDING IN THE SHADOWS ANDSTARING ATT}IE WALIs, LEO. FIGHT THEM, STRONG AND PROUD_ PRAY YOUR VOICE IS LOUD, LOUD ENOUGH TO MAKE TT THROUGH THAT DOOR. WHAT ON EARTH HAVE I BEEN WORRIED FOR? SOON I WON'T BE WORRIED ANYI{ORE.

LEO Why are you doing this?

LUCILLE NO, DO IT ALONE, LEO_NOW THERE'S THE RIGHT IDEIS: MAKE ME EEEL AS USELESS AS YOU ALWAYS HAVE. DO IT ALONE, LEO-WHAT COULD A WOMAN DO?

AFTERALL, SO MANY PEOPLE L9YE YOU, T}:[EY,RE DANCING IN TFIE STREETS, LEO.

Uf{Lr rLrU 111\(JYY

flLrYY

TO CHANGE THE FUTURE

NOIry-

NO ONE KNOWS TI{E PAIN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH_ NO ONEELSE ISSUFFERING BUTYOU. I COULD

BE

A QUIET UTTLE GIRL

AND COOKYOUR LITTT.E MEAL AND SWALLOW ALL I FEEL, AND BOW TO YOUR COMMAND; OR I COULD START TO SCREAM

60

P

enenx

(LUCTLLE) ACROSS THE }4IHOLE DAMNED SOUTH

AND NEVER SHUT MY MOUTH UNTILTHEY UNDERSTAND.

I CAN'T DO ITALONE LEO. LOOK AT ME NOW LEO. I CAN BE MORE... I CAN BRING YOU HOME, LEO. BUT

WE CAN BRING YOU HOME, LEO.

I WANT YOU TO COiVE HOME.

€

e

P.e.*.toe

Scene 2 The Ballroom

in the Cznter of tlv Goaernar's Mansiott.

SLATON @ancingwith afirty young gtrl) DON'T YA THINK TI{AT'S PRETTY MUSIC? THOSE FELLASSURE CAN PLAY.

THAT BEAT WAS REALLY MADE FOR DANCIN"

THATS PRETI.Y MUSIC. I COULD DANCE THE MGI{T AWAY. LISTEN HOW THAT SONG'S SO SWEET AND TRUE, BUT TRUTH TO TELL, NOT HALF AS SWEET AS YOU. YES, iVIA,AM,

(Now dmcingwith a shy girl) DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S PREI"TY MUSIC? LOOK NOW YOU'RE DOIN'FINE. OH, YES, YOU LIKE IT ITTHENYOU'RE DANCIN" YOU C3'N FEEL THAT PRETTY MUSIC rUST KEEP YOUR HAND IN MINB. THERE YOUARE, RELA& YOU qAN'T.GO WRONG.

I KNEW YOU HAD IT IN YOUALLALONG.

WATSON Afternooru Mr Dorsey. I'm Tom Watson

DORSEY Of course. Good to see you.

WATSON I support your policies one hundred percent,

DORSEY I appreciate that, sir.

WATSON I hope you've read my piece extolling your virtues.

HE hanils Dorxy a paper and quotes from maflory ashe reails.

OL

fr P r^nao

62

C

r

(wATSoN)

r

,' Ilugh Dorsey was not fooled by the slippery Jery's oily demeanor. He took one ,,.x at Leo Frartk's brlAr,g satyr eyes and protruding sersual lips and nailed hirn for the pervert sodomite he is.

€ €

DORSEY (VVanting to get mlay)

C

I{ell, ttrat's *ighry interesting.

WATSON And next week I'm rvriting one entitled Jesus Was Not

a

]ew.' I'il mail it to you.

C

DORSEY Please do. You'll have to excuse me now, sir, because I need

to-

G

WATSON

a !

DORSEY

t

WATSON

I

I don't think you understand" sir. Understand? You are the savior of the SoutHand. We are gonna make you Governor of Georgia.

DORSEY

€

Mr. \&'atson, Georgia already has a Governor.

SLATON (Nout dancingwith a girlwho's

c

tefifed)

DON'TYOU THINK TI{AT'S PRETTY MUSIC? THIS SONG SURE MAKES YOU SMILE.

EF:

B

SHAMEYOU DON'T VISTT HERE MORE OTTEN. TAKE A BREATH, ITS PRETTY JUST U

MUSIC-

€

TEI\I FOR A WHILE_.

IF YOTJP.FEET WOI.J,TFOLLOW YOUR, COMMANDS_.

IUST PUTYOURSELF IN GOV',NOR SLATON',S HANDS.

'

Q,{oat dancing with an roerzealotts young

thing)

NOWNOWIMY, MY! THATS QUITE AN INTRODUCTION IF I DO SAY. LOOKOT.ITT TOO HIGH! T'D BEST TO

HOLD TTGFIT OR YOU'LL FLY

e E € €

AIATAYI

I LTKE A GIRL I4IHO'S BOLD,

G

IUST KEEP IT ALL CONTROLLED. GOOD LORD, I'M GETTIN' OLD

€

JUST DANCIN'I{TIHYOU

€ €

D

\ ))

Ptntot D

(sLATON) .TO

)

THAT PRETTY I{USIC

TODAY.

DORSEY Lovelv party, Miss Sally

SALLY glad you're enjoying

So

it DORSEY

Looks like you,re a regular d.ancin, fool, Governor.

SALLY That's not the term l,d pick.

DORSEY Myapologies, Ma,am

SLATON See

you're chattirf up your buddy Tom Watsoru Hughie.

DORSEY FIe's

not my friend. you,re the one invited him here, Jack.

SLATON Lotta mail comin, in about the Frank case. people aren t so happy.

DORSEY I get it too. fews lettin, off steam.

SLATON

Not justJeu's- Alderma+ Ma;'ors, Governor of Maine, Gorrernor of minois, cor,e:*ur of Oregorg Thomas Edison, HenryFord.

DORSEY Yankees.Iewish money in back of

I doubt if lerlrish money

tq SLATON

is in back of HerqyFord.

DORSEY May I have another dance,

M{

arrr?

SALLY No si4 you maynol

P ARADE

64

STATON ' dancing with Salty) THATS IT! THAT'S RIGHT! I FO(AID MYSELF A PARTNER AND AIN'T SHE SWEET! THAT'S IT! THAT'S RIGHT! T

FOTIND ME A GIRL WHO CAN KEEP TTM BEAT!

MY STEPS AND YOURS AGREE; NTHATMORE COULD HEAVEN BE?

MY DEA& I GUARANTEE AT oUR FEET! 14|HEN YoU,RE DANCIN, wTil{ ME, ALLTHE woRLD,S

.

DOMTCHA STOP THAT PRETTY MUSIC! SURE MAKES ME FEEI, ALWE! TF I CAN DANCE WITH YOU TODAY SO

WE'LL SHOW THESE OTHER FOLKS TFIE WAY! THOSE GIRIS ARE FINE,IT,S TRTIE, BUT I'M A LUCKY GUY'CAUSE I CAN DANCE WITH YOU, SO TURN THAT

LUCILLE is the next in

sLAroN

ANKLE AND LET THE MUSIC PLAY!

line-

deposits satty. He offers his

arn

to Lucille, and they start to dance-

Hello.

LUCILLE HelIo.

SLATON Do we know eadr other; ma'am?

LUCILLE No.

SLATON How do you do? MY name is Jack Slatoru

LUCILLE Myname is LuciIIe Franlc

SLATON Well hey, Miss Frank. Or is it lrztrs? Couldrft possibly be. You look far too young to be married

LUCILLE It is Mrs. Mrs. Frank Mrs. Leo Frank. I have to talk to you, Governor:

)

li

PeRepr S

LATON

i see- well, Mrs. Frank, as you can see, Miss sally and I are entertaininS; guests nour and I can hardly...

jurt

MRS. StAfON cues otchestr.a

LUCILLE I have to talk to you.

SLATON I can imagine how difficult all this must be for you, Miz Frank.

LUCILLE Thank you.

SLATON And I surely do lvish it lay within my power to relieve some of y6ur.anguis}u but, as you must realize

-

LUCILLE It does.

SLATON I beg your pardon?

LUCILLE It does Iie withinyour

por4'er. you,re the Governor!

SLATON weII, my goodness! Listen to that! surely you dort't plan on lettin, a perfectly good one-step go by the waysids.

LUCILLE I didn'tcome here to dance,

Srr,

SLATON I lrrow, but the music is so

LUCTLLE

No! No more dancing! youhave to reopertthe case!

SLATON You'll have to exc{rse me no!r'. Hey, Roy! Helen! Hory're the plans for that hospital u,ingcomin'?

MIDDLE-AGED MAN Real

good thanlc to yolr.

Ptxaoe

66

WIFE And e/r)'body in Valdosta says hey'

SLATON I'm mighty glad to hear that, because \raldosta

is-

LUCILLE You're a smart man. You're hained as a lawyer.

SLATON Miz Frank! Please!Valdosta's always been like

a second home to me-

LUCILLE Don't you have at least one small question about the way my husband's frial nas conducted?

SLATON Your husband was tried and found guilty by a jury of his peers , Md good enoughfor me.

LUCILLE Then you are either a fool or a coward.

arr:.,

and that's

) )

Peneor

Scene 4 DORSEY A IUDGE ROAN Fishing on thc ludge's estate.

IUDGE ROAN

Damnl Not one nibble. The1, rvere bitin, good l,esterday

DORSEY You sayin' it's me, Judge?

ROAN WelI,

it sure as shit ain t me, Hughie DORSEY

Could be just a slow day for trout

ROAN Jack Slaton's been callin . Got a bug up his ass about Leo Frank

.

DORSEY

That's rnhy;'ou called me out here?

ROAN If he opens aII this up again...

DORSEY l{ho's gonna stop him?

ROAN SUN ON YOUR BACK. NECK ruRNIN'PINK. I4'ORLD MOVIN'SLOI4" SO YOU KNOW WI{AT YOU THINK. NOTHIN' BUT LINES AND A BAITHOOK TO TROUBLE

T}IE I4IATER.

DORSEY Maybe I should payfack a

visit

ROAN CHANGE ISN'T BAD BUT CHANGE SHOULD

@

StOYr.

ONE CHANGE ABO\'E CAN SHIFT TEN THINGS BELOI{.

KNOW WHEN

TCI STOP

Wf

Panaor (RoAN) OR YOU FIND YOIIRSELF CHOPPIN'

DOWN OLD TREES THATSTILLGROIT" TFTE OLD WAYS WE

ALL KNOW.

THE OLD RULES, THE OLD DAYS, THE GLORY. THESE OLD EYES CAN STILLSEE. THESE OLD FIANDS REMIND ME _

THE OLD LIFE, TFIE OLD TIMES. THE GLORY...

Know rvhat the boys at the Capitol City Club been talkin' about?

DORSEY 'Fraid the Capitol City Club's a little out of my league Judge-

ROAN They're talking about who to back in the race for Govemor-

DORSEY I see.

ROAN Just talk so far. But how the Frank business plays itself out...

DOREEY And if )ack Slaton runs true to fonn.

ROAN WHEN YOU STEP INTO A NESTOF HORNETS, SOMEONE'S GONNA GET STUNG. BETTER TO LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE. IF YOU STANDIN' THERE ATOP THE LADDER,

HANGIN'ON THE TOP RUNG, YOU I,^,'O}{'T EVER FEELTHE RI\IEI{S FORCE. BUT THE PEOPLE DOWN BELOW

TURNIN' OF THE TIDE. THEY WANT SOMEONE IN COMMAND SENSE THE

WHO'S T.INTQUELY QUALTFIED TO DEFEND THEIYI. PROTECT THEM, RESTORE THEIR RESPECTAND THEIR PRIDE!

DORSEY

5\ €

COUNTER THE SLACK TEMPER THE SPEED

€ td

IE ^&

E

P

ln,l. o t

ROAN FOLLOIY THE CURRENTS AND IVATCH T\THERE THEY LEZ\D

BOTH CATCH WHAT IS IvIISSIN, AND LEARN HOW TO LISTEN TO OLD SOUI.S TFIAT STILL CRY

OLD BLOOD TI{ATWON'T DRY.

ROAN THEOLD FIGHT, THEOLD SCORE, THE NEW CHANCE TO FTGHT FOR

BOTH THEGLORY! THE GLORY! THEGLORY!

DORSEY SUN ONYOUR BACK

NECK TURNIN' PINK. I4/ORLD MOVIN' SLOI'f SO YOU

KNOI{ W}IA'T YOU THINK...

(

PARADE

70

{

-E

Scene 5 ; iilton

{

Tower.

GUARD

(

Hello. Evenin', ma'am" What? No, ma'arr1you know I can't do that. WeLl, aII right. .l):cs, ma'am. Yes I surely will

'

HEhangs up theplane atd speak to LEO.

{

Hey Leo. Leo. Leo.

LEO

(

GUARD

e

LEo

(

r?^h'GUARD

(

Wltat is it? What's the matter? Message ftom your rt"ife.

$ . ,il Oh God! What happened? iiL.

l':.

I

-i

,

'I *t

Stie says to tell you that you know r+'ho is going to re-examine you know vt'hat.

LEO

t

GUARD

(

Say that again

You know who is going to re-examine you knorv what.

LEO

e

Oh my Lord! Oh my Lord! Thank you! Thank you! You know urho you know who

lsr

GUARD Can'i say i


LEO Then you dort't know whatyou know what is.

''$

Id (

GUARD No.

( LEO

Cjt,

*y

sneet Lucille! How did you ever manage it?

(b GUARD) You dodtlrton, what

any of thismeans!

G

't

€

(

t

A

U

B

Panaoe

(LEo) IT I\,IEAI\S CANCELALL YOUR PARTIES.

D

FORGET YOUR BIG PARADE.

GUARD Settle down.

LEO IT MEANS TFIE CROWDS WILL NOT BE CHEERING, SO DESPITE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING, YOU CAN LAY DOWN YOUR SPADE.

GUARD Leo, hush up!

LEO IT MEANS MY MOTHER CAN STOP CRYING, N,fY

RABBTS ETILOGY CANWAIT.

IT MEANS THAT DORSEY CAN STOP BEAMING, AND MY COUSIN CAN STOP DREAMING

t;

OF HIS PORTION OF MY ESTATE.

GUARD It's past midnight!

LEO IT MEANS, NO! THIS ISN'T OVER! NO, THE DATE'SNOTSET! NO, I WOMT WAKE T'P TOMORROW DROWNING IN MY SWEAT! IT MEANS I'VE GOT THE GREATEST PARTNER ANYMAN CAN GET! ITMEANS TLLNEVER EVER EVER UNDERA9TiMATE TTIAT WOMAN, ,CAUSE TIIIS IsNOTOYER YET! TELL MY UNCLE NOT TO IryORRY!

TELLTI{E REAPER NOT TCIHURRY! MAKE TI{E HANGMAN STOP HIS DRUMMING

,CAUSE

TM COMING INTO TOWN TO WIN THE DAY!

SOMEHOW I HAVEN'[, WIfiT MYSCHEMING, SCREWED TI{INGS UP BEYOND REDEEMING,

AND lfE'RE FINALLY ON OUR WAY!

72

P.a,neoe

(LEo) A"ND NO, T}IIS ISN'T OVER!

HELL, IT'STUST BEGUN!

HAIL T}IE RESURRECTTON OF THE SO[M{,S LEAST FAV'RITE SON! IT MEANS I MADE A VOW FOR BEITER: TWO IS BETTER THAN

or\E!

IT MEANS THE IOURNEY AI{EAD MAY GET SHORTER; I MIGHT REACH THE END OF MY ROPE;

BUT SUDDENLY LOT.rD AS A MORIAR; THERE IS HOPE!

LEO FINALLY HOPE! AND NO, THIS ISMT O\4ER! NO, lVEAREWTTI{ROUGH! NO, THERE'S STILL A MILLION

.

LUCILLE YES, LEO, THERE IS HOPE!

NO, THIS ISN'T OYERI WE ARE FIN'LLY ON OUR

THINGS

THAT YOUAND I CAN DO! AND I }VOULD NEYER I{A\18 BELIEVED IT: THE THINGS I SEE IN YOU! IT N{EANS A MAN I4EIO

ISN'T GUILTY

DO&SN'T

HAVE TO I4'ALK THE PLANK! ITMEANS THE GALLOWS STILLARE VACANT AND WE'VE GOT MY WIFE TO THANK! IT MEANS YOU SHOULDMT I'NDERTSffMATE LUCILLEAND LEOTRANK

,CAUSE

I^/AY!

I WLLSPEAKFOR YOU, LEO THE THINGS I SEE IN YOU!

ra

YOU SHOULDN'T UNDERESTIMATE

LUCILLE AND LEO FRAIVK rrrrs rS NOT OVER YET!

THIS IS NOT OVER YET!

,CAUSE

€

LUCILLE YOUSEE? YOUSEE?

C

LEO YES, I SEE...

e

LEO DEA& IT'S I4TONDERFUL.... USTEN NOt{ USTEN, LUCILLE....

LUCILLE

YES,

SEE HOW I DID WHAT

rTslusr

I PROMISED?

LrKE r sArD TO YOU YES,I'M LISTENING...

HIM TO TALK IO THOSE FACTORY GIRIS Iitr\.KE SURE HE GETS THE TRUil{... T.LLL

(e&oing) TALK TO THOSE FACTORY CIRI. , MAKE SURE HE GETS Tii: : i.:,-

C @

G

e &

s 0 P,antor.

Scene D

',-.-

6

The National pencil CompanySLATON interntpts.

D'

IOLA

ti

HE'D CALL MY NAME, I'D TURN MY HEAD,

)

HE GOT NO WORDS TO SA)'. HIS EYES'D GET BIG,

.

MYFACE CETRED,

I I

AND I'D }VANT TO RT.Ar AWA)'.

IOLA I'D

MONTEEN 6r ESSIE

FEEL HIS BREATH

HE'D CALL MY NAME I'D TURN MY HEAD

BACK OF MY NECK D

]lisI.IAND AGAINST

Justa mornent |ust made you feel

a rnomenthere. *"r:oto* ne uncomrortaute. get this seaight' You're sayin'Iv{r.

IOLA

Ohyessir.AlI thetime. AII the time? What does thatmean?

SLATON

Whery for irntance?

li*H,"J#HTTfj:Hff" Withoutknocking? Yes sir,

rhere's no door to that radies

Thatright,Iola?

LucrLLE

"#*,

me and Mar;,. uas in the

SLATON

IOLA

,."*-rl::ffi SLATON

Go see for yourserf.

ra

dies

Frank

74 -

Penaor ,.+%

IOLA

I reckon.

MARY No! It's true! I swear! Lonnie Mann is sweet on Monteen!

LEO Is somebody in there?

MARY Yessir. Me and Iola.

Your break was over ten minutes

LEo

ago. MARY

IoIa took sick. She looks all

I'm

a

LEO

i

IOLA

{

LEO

(

right to me.

little bette novr,.

Then go back to work, prease. N{r. Montag doesn t pay you to darvdre awa)a the day.

Did he touch you? Not exactly.

SLATON

c

IOLA

G !

LUCILLE

G

SLATON

€

SLATON

a E

Then he didn't touch you.

Did he touch any of you?

He ever touch any of you? The truthI see- Nowyou all testified that Mr. Frank kied to get you to come to his office. Who did that happen to?

-

well Hattie Hoover

MONTEEN said that corinthia wirson tord her that..

SLATON He asked this Corinthia

llilson to his office? ESSIE

C tu

G

Yes sir.

€

C G

Ptnanx

/

@

D D E D E

LUCILLE Then rvhy didn't she testify?

IOLA She rvouldn't.

SLATON tVhy not?

ESSIE She said

itnever happened.

MONTEEN Arrd Mr. Dorsey said it didn,t matter anywaylong as we...

SLATON As iong as'you what?

IOLA AII told the same thing.

D

ESSIE The truth.

D E

SLATON But you just said the truth was that Mr. Frank never asked any of you to come to his office- Did NIr. Dorsey coach you on rvhat to say? you ur.,,, more from these young

"""d

ladies, Miz Frank?

D

LUCILLE I don't think

so.

l)

SLATON I

I don't think so either:

LUCILLE LEO,IT'SJUST LIKE YOU SAID...

LEO DARLING, IT,S WONDERFUL...

LUCILLE LEO,

T

STILL CAN'T BELIEVE...

/b

P z.xao

t

LEO Yl,.-S.

LUCILLE

r\ND I KNOW II, BUT

HURRY THE GOV'NOR VVILL NOT BE IN OFFICE FOREVER... -ii:i tlv,

\'VE BOTH HAVE TO

irii\jD OUT WHY MINNIE TOLD ALL THOSE LIES MAKE SURE SHE TELIS THE TRLTTH!

LEO, WE'RE DOING IT-

LOOK I AM HURRYING! I WASN'T BORN YESTERDAY! MINNIE TOLD ALL THOSE... LBO,I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE iT...

I KNOW... HURRY! I KNOW! MAKE SURE SHE TELIS THE TRUTH...

UGHTS UP onMinnie McKnight.

I done totd

the truth. Mr. Frank,

n"

r"r[:::roll

so I go yonder in the bedroom and I see a pillow and sheets on the flooi"r,o"", just like I said in the courthouse.

LUCILLE That's not all you said, Minnie?

MINNIE I AIN'T SAID NONE BUT THE GOD'S HONEST TRUTH.

LUCILLE You said I told you Mr. Frank made me sleqr on the floor.

SLATON You're not gonna get in any more trouble, Minnie. Jqst telr us what happened.

MINNIE THE MEN TAKE ME DOWN TO THE JAILHOUSE AND THEN MR. DORSEY KEEPS ASKIN' ME OVER AND OVER.

HE I{RITE SUMPIN' DOWN AND HE TELIS ME TO SIGN IT, AND WHAT ET.SE WAS I S'POSED TO DO, MIZ LUCILLE?

SLATON Thankyoq Minnie.

MINNIE I'M SORRY I DONE IT, BUT W}IAT EISE WAS I YPOSED TO DO? LIGHTS rise on LEO andLUClLLE.

D

D

Pant,oe

LUCILLE NO, THIS ISN'T OVER!

NO, THIS TSN'TOVER!

i'rtJl i&HILE I HAVE

IT'S EXACTLY IAI}IAT I HOPED...

YOU.

NOT WHILE EV'RY DREAN,I WE HAD IS SOMEHO}V COMING TRUE!

I CAN SPEAK FOR YOU,

I MEAN M'S PASTALL COMPREHENDING

LEO!

LOOK WHAT YOU CAN DO!

LOOK WHAT I CAN DOI

I

GOD,

WAS SUCH A SruPID FOOL

TO THINK I'D DO ITALL WITHOUT YOU, BUTTHIS IS NOT OVER...

CONLEY & CHAIN GANG (offstase)

HUNH! HUNH! HUNH! HUNH!

YEAH... HEY YEAH..

(YEAH...) (HEY YEAH...)

LIGHTS .W on SLATON and LUCILLE.

LUCILLE Surely 1,ou have enough proof by now.

SLATON Miz Frank r can't make a decision as irrrportant as this one just because you want rne to. I need more.

LUCILLE WelL

fmgoingwithyou.

SLATON No, Ma'a.trt, you are not

LUCILLE I insist

SLATON This is no place to take a lad1,. Not even 1'ou, But

coward.

fU hy not to behave Iike a fooi or a

id

P

-

t neoe

Scene 7 -,,

i,,,,' Georgia Roadside.

coNLEY (& CHAIN GANG)

YEAH... HEY YEAH...

(YEAH-..)

(IfiY

ROLLIM rTS BEHIND TIIAT WALL I HEAR THE THUNDER

YEAH...)

(YEAH...) (YEAH...)

WE GONNA ROLL LIKE THUNDER

rM GONNA

TASTE THE MORNIN'

AND FEELTHE RAIN FALL

(FEEL THE RArN FALL...)

YEAH...

crEAH-..)

HEY YEAH...

(YEAH...)

I'M GONNA RISE LIKE SUNSHINE

(YEAH...)

IF I SEE HER TURN

(YEAH...)

I'M GONNA RISE LIKE SUNSHINE, I,M GONNA SET DOWN ON HE& AND FEELTHESUN BURN...

(FEEL THE SUN BURN...)

(YEAH...) (rrEvYEAH...)

YEAH...

HEYYEAH....

GUARD HeyJim, got you a visitor,

1

BoY.

CONLEY Female?

GUARD

2

You vvish.

CONLEY You lorow it.

SLATON Hello,Iim.

CONLEY You who I think you are?

SLATON Guess so.

@

s

Pxneor All right,

CONLEY then.

SLATON Coupla questions for you.

t

CONLEY You want some water? Bring the Guv,nor some water.

) )

SLATON

No thank ysu. We

CONLEY fixin'to talk,bout that mess with Mr. Frank.

SLATON L',

Yes.

);

I'm already doin, a year as an accessory What more y'allwant?

t:

A little of your time.

F

CONLEY

lllhat

a.re

SLATON

you girls Iooking at?

GUARD 2 CONLEY

YEAH...

CHAIN GANG MEN YEAH...

,ffilgot

a

lirtle something to sav.

,;:JH:

mistake up there on rhe wibress

SLATON

That so?

** ,:1:::

I said I found towar& Hunrer street

ffi:

*:;illi.ead towards Arabama sheer and :g* rhatLs wrong. she u/as layin, rhe orher way

YEAH...

CITAIN G4.NG MEN YEAH...

SLATON

And that nas in the workrrcom_on the second floor?

8A

P,a.na.ne

;

CONLEY '.'iiiing else was just like I said it at the courthouse.

SLATON I,Vell, then

I'm

a

little confused-

CONLEY

I

SLATON

{

Why's that?

well,lvhen they found the body in the basement, Coroner's Report says there lvas sawdust in the mouth and the lrog".

(

CONLEY

(

YEA}T..

CHAIN GANG II{EN (

YEAH...

SLATON

(

Got anY idea u,hat that means?

CONLEY (

YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH...

CHAIN GANG MEN

i

YEAH...

SLATON

I

I

Means she had to be breathin' in the basement, because there isn't any sawdust on the second floor. Means she was alive when you carried her into thE br,::ez.nent.

A

t

CONLEY Ttren she musta come back to life'cause she nas dead as last Christrnas Eve when Mr. F'rank showed me thebody.

(

GONNA ROLL LIKE THUNDER...

SLATON

(

Coroner's Report raises questions about your story, would.n't you say?

CONLEY

(

That Coroner-he the one that's blind?

SLATON

{

That's right.

CONLEY Mm. Plenty o'lint on the second floor. Migtt not a been sawdust in that litile girl,s mouth-coulda been lint and hon'd he)r,nov, the difretence? ) guar bttand salvdust feel the same to a blind man.

{ { t (

B

t

P

txeo

e

SLATON He's got forty-five years of experience.

,

CONLEY That so? You can qy and Prove that in court, I imagine' YOU EVER BEEN ON TrrE CHAIN GANG. GOV'NOR?

)

SLATON

)

Not yeL

CONLEY

)

YOU EVER BREAK THESE ROCKS ON THE CHAIN GANG? GET YOURSELF THINKIN" G[TV'NOR

-

)

HOW YOU WANNA HAVE A GOOD TIME! YEAH...

CHAIN GANG MEN YEAH...

SLATON I'mthrough with hirL

CONLEY NOW MR. FRANK HE HAD A GOOD TIME! MAN KNOWS HOW TO HAVE A GOOD TIME! YEAH!

CHAIN GANG YEAH!

coNLEY & (CHAIN GANG MEN)

yEAH!

flEAH|

I GETATIIGH FEVER! rvHEN I HEAR HER CALL!

gEAH...)

sHE GONNA COOL MY FEVERI GONNATAKE THAT WOMAN!

(yE}}I.-;

(YEAH...) (YEAH...)

(YEAH...) wE GONNARIDE LIKE LIGI{TNIN', nrE GoNNA ROLL, ROLL ROLL LIKE THUNDER GEELTHE RAII'{ FP.I.I . i AND FEELTTTE RAIN FALL... YEAH...

(yEAH...)

HEY YEAH...

Grar YEAH...)

82

Ptnene

Scene 8 lhe Gooemor's Msnsion.

SALLY You ready, Govemor?

SLATON As

I'll

ever be-

SALLY Then let's go.

SLATON Turns out you married

a jackass,

Miss Sally.

SALLY Is that supposed to be ne'rrs to me?

SLATON All

those fine plans. senator and Mrs. slaton. Maybe president and Mrs. slaton. Looks like fm fixin' to lose us all that-

I

SALLY

(

I'll

tell you what.I'd a whole Iot rather be rrrife to a fine ex-governor than fust Iady to a chicken. WeIl

{

SLATON Is that so?

{

SALLY Yes

it is.

#

SLATON

E

SALLY

€

SLATON

6E

I think you're as big a jackass as I arru

Wdd really better go. Yes

ma'am.

€ SLATON I have an announcement to make: I€o Frank is no longer a prisoner in the Fulton Tor+'er. At five o'clock this morning, he lvas removed to another prison location, rvhich will not be disclosed at this time.

G & e$

€ @

Panaoe

83

WATSON }V[L

YOU \4IALK TVII}I YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH?

SLATON Two thousand years ago, another governor washed his hands and furned a Jew over to a mob. Ever since then, that governor's name has been a curse.

WATSON OR MOVEASIDE WHENTHEY'RE PASSIM YOU BY?

SLATON If today anotherJew went to his grave because I failed to do my duty, I would all my life find his blood on my hands.

I^/ATSON WILL YOU RUN WHEN THE FIRES ARE FANNED?

SLATON I have reviewed all the evidence in the case of the State of Georgia against Leo Frank, and I have decided to commute his sentence from the death penalty to imprisonment for life.

WATSON AND 1YHERE WILLYOU STAND IM{ENTFTE FLOOD COMES?

SLATON All I wish now is that the people of Georgia withhold judgment until

they have given calm and careful consideration to the statement I have prepared on the case.

WATSON

SLATON

WILL YOU RIDE BY THE SIDE OF GOD OR WILL YOU HIDE IN THE SOIL AND TFIE SOD? WILL YOU FIGHT FOR THE SOUL OF YOUR LAND? WELL, WHERE WILLYOU SIAND WEIEN TIIE FLOOD COMES? WHERE IVILLYOU STAND IryHEN TrIE FLOOD COMES?

(simultaneously)

f am sure that my action has been ti-re right one, the just one and the one all ' patriotic Georgians will agree with. Of course I care for the public approbation, but should I have failed to commute Frank I would have been guilty, as I see it, of murder.

CRAIG Qre to comment,I\rfr. Dorsey? DORSEY I was not a part of the Governor's decisiory Mr. watson I'm as surprised as yon

q {

Ptna,on

84

---__-{ SLATON

WATSON & ENSEMBLE .. ..I .1 .,,I)[-I BEG FOR TFTE JEW'S REWARD

(simultaneously)

, , , ,iLK WrrH US AT THE SIDE OF TI{E LORD? pUT YOUR SOUL IN THE DEWrS HAND? r,{.,TLL, n+IERE WILLYOU STAND WHEN THE i:LOOD COivlES?

I can plow and hoe and live in obscurity if necessary, but I could not afford not to cosunute him. And I believe the people will realize thai"'

WATSON WHERE WILL YOU STAND?

SLATON This was my only course.

WATSON WHERE WILL YOU STAND?

SLATON -a

iri;;iili case of duty as I saw iL

WATSON & ENSEMBLE 1VHERE WILL YOU STAND?

DORSEY Wi:th you, Mr. t'Vatson I'll be proud to stand u'ith you'

WATSON God bless the next Governor of Georgia!

DORSEY YES, I SEE THROUGH THE FOG

AND DUST'

LETTHE MOB DONTHATEVERTHEY MUST. SLATON IUMPS AT THE JEW'S COMMAND_ SO

DORSEY & WATSON

€

6

(

WELL, WHERE WILLYOU STAND WHEN THE FLOOD COMES?

WATSON WHERE

€

\4IILLYOU TAND?

DORSEY & WATSON I\TfIEREIA'ILLYOU STAND?

ALL

€ (

SEE THE BLOODAS A CITY GRIEVES! SEE THE STAIN THAT THE ]EW.MONEY LEAVES!

TRATTORS WON'T KEEP THE MOBS AT BAY!

SOMEONE'S GONNAPAYWHEN THE FLOOD COMES!

(

rz

w; Pan,tae

m, Fr-€\,

wj)

WATSON & DORSEY

MARY MARY THE ANGEL CHILD-

STILL YOUR NAME AND YOUR SOUL ARE DEFILED. THANK GOD YOU CAN'T FIEAR THE THINGS THEY

DORSEY

gD)

BUT SOMEONE'S GONNA PAY!

DORSEY & WATSON

qD)

SOMEONE'S GONNA PAY!

at)

SOMEONE'S GONNA PAYI GEORGIA, I-IOME

D,

ALL OF T}IE STRONG AND

SURE, FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR TIIE LAND OF THE PURE! TEACH TI{E TRAITOR TO R[rNAyr,Ay!

s-)

D,

il) ))

n

GEORCIA, HOME OF

T}I! STRONG AND SURE, FIGHI LIKE HELL FOR THE LAND OF THE PUREI TEACH TT{E TRAITOR TO RLAIAWAY! GEORGIA, HoI\dE oF THE S: FrcHr LrKE rrELL roR TEACH TEIE TRAITOR TO RUN AWAY

rH;|ffi"#Hr"h,

SOMEONE'S GOI-IAPAYI SOMEONE'S GOTTA PAY' SOIV{EONE,S

GOITAPAy!

SOMEONE'S GOTTA PAYI

D BLACKOU;o:oNE'S

DORSEY & WATSON coTrA pAy wr{EN THE

FLooD cor.lEs!

SAY-

- 86

Plnaoe

Scene ko's

g

Cell.

tEO

Lucillet Hey!

llxt u*adr. peav/ rr
the trainstation

"iaae

oh,'sall

right,Ireck, cn. Donfcha

*EAVY think, Leo?

LEO

I reckon. That a new outfit?

LUCITLE

Yes.

Ifs very becoming.

LEO

ThankIou, kind sir.

LUCILLE

WelI, this sure is a on this

PEAVY

nr

*;-r,*,.'llffii],Tl;uiiffrll:i.",*"ed LUCILTE

You don,tsay.

I4ish my nife,d do aII that for Your wife geb to

"n*ua

i.,

ear

i#ff]I"tJrT

You're a wondex, Lucille.

AmI? you !x1su, you are. !l.'hat's that?

nothin' rike it since r been

me.

PEAVY

4

LUCTLLE you

e{ry

day' This rvill be the first meal Leo and I have

(

LEO

fiV

LUCILLE

C

LEO

.A ($

LUCILLE

(G

r&

G @

Panaoe LEO

Nothing.

LUCILLE

That's not nothing.

b

tEO

Welf it,s all better now.

LUCILLE

D

Is that why they wouldn,t let me visit the last trvo lveeks?

D

Had fumin theinfirmary.

D

What happened?

PEAVY

LUCILLE LEO

I had a little accident-

D

*u'vfoor

)

B,rv Creen come athim

t J"lil:"

Yes' ma'am' Teeniney bit deepe4

)

nurse:jf

'

(sotto

almostc6rnnrar^r-completely

ooce)

#

LUCILLE

ivlyGod! Leo!

Im fine. rt's

u,ith arazo.

LUCILLE

otu nol

)

roonr

'st

r-r healedl

we,d a rosr him for sure.

LEo

How didyou get the warden to let us do this? I got his daughrer

a

job in Atlan*"

Did you bribe him, too?

Notyet Ohmy!trdrpeavy! Yassum?

LE

_"rj"rl king atJacob,s Drug LEO

LUCITLE PEAVY

Storc.

Ptntor

88

LUCILLE you do me a favor? My neighbor lady irsisted on stickin' this in the lunch ,'-",:
PEAVY I

s'pose

I mightcould.

LUCILLE Well tharik you so much.

PEAVY Glad ta be of help, Ma'aru

LEO What is all this?.

LUCTLLE Oh, just a little picnic out in the countrv.

LEO The country?

. of

LUCILLE

course. rsn't this the softest patch of grass you ever sau,? And see those flowers

all over the meadow? I wonder what they are.

LEO I think they're called Black-Eyed Susans.

LUCILLE Black-Eyed Susans, of course.

LEO T1ric ic arrr r^razfrfi-- aLi-^ uuq.

LUCILLE Naturally. This is a momentous occasion.

LEO Yes. Yes

it is.

LUCILLE I've never seen'you with a sun tan.

LEO well, I'm a fa::n boy norv. Probably the onlyJervish farm boy in the south.

#l Panaoc *g

p, f,D

LUCILLE

It's very becoming.

LEO

Thank you.

LUCILLE

D) ,)

You can plant us a vegetable garden when you come home.

LEo

okatr

LUCILLE

) D)

You are coming home, Leo. It,s onJy a matter of time now.

LEo

welt-

LUCILLE D;

)i )i

X,,j[il5.f"T11?i;As

soon as the tuss dies dorvry you'rr be pardoned

LEO I WILL NEYER TAIDERSTAND IVHATr DrD TO DESERVE YOq, OR HOW TO BE THE MAN THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE. I U4LLNEVER UNDERSTAND IF I LI\TE A THOUSAND LIFE*ffMES I4{HYYOU DID TI{E THINGS YOU DID FOR ME. IUST LOOKAT YOU_ HOW COULD I NOT BE IN LOVE WITH YOU? WHAT KINE OF FOOL COULD HA\{E TAKEN YOU FOR GRANTED FORSO LONG?

ALLTHE WASTED TTME ALL THE MILUON HOURS, PIUSHING YOUAIryAY BUILDING UPMY WALL; ALL THE DAYS GONE BY TO GLARE, TO POLTf, TO PUSHYOU OUX, AND I NEVER KNEW ANYTI{ING AT ALL... I NEVER KNEW ANYTHING AT ALL.

-

90

PaRanr LUCILLE I WILL NEVER LINDERSTAND

i.r()w ALLTHX IVORLD MISJLTDGED yOU WHEN I FIAVE ALWAYS KNOWN . HOW LUCKY I MUST BE. I WITLNEVER UNDERSTAND HOW I KEPT FROM GOINC CRAZY JUST WAITING THERE TILL YOU CAME HOME TO ME. NOW LOOK AT ME NOW THAT YOU'RE FINALLY HERE WTTH ME_ NOWTI{AT I KNOW I WAS RIGHT TO WAIT

AND EVERYONE EI.SE WAS SO WRONG FOR SO LONG...

ALLTHE WASTED

TITITE

LEO ALLTHE }VASTED TIME...

LUCILLE ALL TTM MILLION HOURS. YEARS ON TOP OF YEARS STILL TOO PROUD TO CRAI4IL_ ALL THE DAYS GONE BY TO FEEL THAT I DON'T SATISFY AND I NEVER KNEW ANTTHING AT ALL

(

I NEVER KNEI4T AATYTHING AT ALL...

LEO

G

LUCILLE

d &-',

ALL THE WASTED TIME

ALLTHE WASTED TIME...

LEO

€

ALL THE MILLION HOURS.

BOTH

{

LEA\{ES TOO HIGH TO TOUCH,

ROOTSTOO STRONG TO FALL.

C

ALL THE DAYS GONE BY TO NEVERSHOT{I LOVED YOUSO

AND INEVER KNETAIANYTIITNG AT ALL.

C G €

G

&

ilr s":

Penaot LEO I NEVER KNEIV ANYTHING

f,:

AT ALL...

PEAVY Got to go, Ma'am. Gettin'dark.

I I ) )

),i ),,

l:

::

;

LUCILLE AII right, Mr. Peavy. I'll be right out. LEO So how do n'e bribe the warden to let us do this again?

LUCILLE We vvon't have to, Silly. you,Il be home. L^trtJ

I love you.

LUCILLE I Iove you, too. See you Sunday.

LEO See

you Sunday.

Panaor

Scene i..:'

:r

1O

that night.

LEO

q

MAN 1 (A CITIZEN)

e

What is it? You're comin'with us, Mr. Frank

C

LEO What? What? Let me put on my Pants!

MAN

C

1

You don'tneed no pants r,r'here you're goin'.

€

OLD SOLDIER NIr. Ftank, do you understand why we've brought you here? Mr. Frank?

€

STARNES Anslver him.

e

LEO I understand.

( STARNES

Good.

Ctin'

Iight-let's hurry.

q OLD SOLDIER

We are

fixin' to carry out the sentence rendered uPon you by the State of Georgia. Do C

you have anything to say?

LEO -What i've aiw-ays said-

€

I am irulocent.

FRANKIE Now that's

a damn lie!

OLD SOLDIER Easy,

Friend.It's almost over.

LEO

What is it?

( (

]ust a mornent.

MAN

I

1 {

(

I

Pentor STARNES

l'

Jesus! llme's a lvastin'here!

OLD SOLDIER What is it, Mr. Frank?

,)) ,

t )

l7

LEO I'm not wearing-I have on no-I'[ be exposed when you put me up there- please. Can I be covered?

OLD SOLDIER Get that croaker sack yonder.

MAN

1

I sure wish we didn'thave to do this-

IVEY Maybe if he confesses we could-you lcrow-just take him on back to prison.

FRANKIE

)

No!

)

I{e're here to carry out the law.

)

That's rvhat I'm saf in' if he'd a' confessed. it in the courtroom and said he lvas sorry and all, I b'lieve he'd a got himself a life sentence.

OLD SOLDTER IVEY

)i

MAN

1

I p"leve he woulda.

D

STARNES Buncha pansies!

FRANKIE

),,

]esus!

IVEY

),'

),

l4te'Il drive you back to that fa::m. Iooked like a nice place. And you can live out your days.

MAN )r

LEO

I

I am sorry.

IVEY ))

l)

l;

1

You only got to say you done iL Say you,re sorry.

You see? You see?

94

P

enaot

LEO It's

a tragedy that lovely

little girl had to die.

MAN

1

And you wish you hadn't done it, doncha?

LEO

I'm afraid I've had to give up wishing.

OLD SOLDIER /ust tell us, Sir. That's all we ask.

LEO

All ri8ht. I will. I believe God has a plan in atl this. And I believe He

chose rne for a

reason- So all this time I've considered and I've pondered anc{ I've prayed but for the life of me I can't seem to come up with what that reason is. I do lnow ttris, though. I haven't gone ttnough the last two years just to stand here now and tell 1,ou a bal-d faced lie. That is not part of God's plan for me.

IVEY He didn't do it!

I

STARNES

(

Shut up.

OLD SOLDIER

4

I\lr. Frank, for the last time, did you kiII Maryphagan?

E

LEO

(

I did not

STARNES

kt's

G

get this over.

q

OLD SOLDIER Make sure it's tight. we dort't want him to suffer any more than he has to.

(

Wait!

4 \

jrro

STARNES

(

]ezus! Nowwhat?

OLD SOLDIER What is it, Mr. Frank?

€ LEO

I ryant my wedding ring to go to my wife.

G

OLD SOLDIER Anyt6ir.,

else, ilrft. Frank?

C

C G

Ptnt.oe LEO SH'MA YISRAEL, ADONAI ELOHEINU, D)

ADONAI EHCHAD. BARUCH SHEYI\{ K VOD MALCHUSO UOLAM VA-ED'

FRANKIE

D

Mary! This is for You! BLACKOUT.

) i)

I

)

95

96

P.eneot

Scene 11 The Frank House. Weelcs

later.

There is the sound of aDOORBELL.

MINNIE

Miz Lucille.

CRAIG

Hello Miz Frank. The story is ove4,I&. Craig.

LUCILLE CRAIG

I know. I'm back covering the police beat. Why have you come?

LUCILLE CRAIG

Frere' Man brought this to the office. I4buldrt't tell me his name. said to get

I heard you're moving up North. No. I'mnot leaving home.

it to ys11"

I

CRAIG

(

LUCILLE

r B

But after atl this"'

t1::^:,r1ro,'*ffi

erectecr rhe new Governor... welr r

guess folks;.ustfigured you,ve t ua uUor.rienough.

I'm a Georgia girl. I u,ill always be. UGHTS tlp on LEO antt MARy. Huy.

(

LUCILLE

( MARY

C

LEO

F

CRAIG

C

Yes?

WelL I'm sorq,, ma'am-

foo,, fo, your

loss.

G w

G

G a

s) c)

Pa,aaoe

MARY

D,

Di

I came for my

pa1,.

LEO Name?

MARY MaryPhagan.

D)

LUCILLE You'd better hurrl'.

D)

D Dr j!

CRAIG why?

LUCILLE It's Memorial Day. Don't you have a parade to cover?

LEO Employee number?

)

MARY Five-o-seven.

)

LUCILLE LEO, OH, LEO.

)

I KNOW HE'LLPROTECT YOU

)

AND DON,T BE AFRAID; I' LL BE FINE HERE YOU'LL SEE. -

LEO

)

One dollar and twenty cents. Here 1'ou are.

LUCILLE

)

FAREWELL MY LEO-

),

YOU'RE RIGHT HERE BESIDE ME YOU'RE HERE BY TI.IE DOOR

AND YOU'RE HOLDING MY ARM AND YOU'RE STROKTNG MY HAIR AND YOU'RE FINALLY...

li

MARY

I

Ivtx. Frank?

LEO lVhat is it?

LUCILLE ...FREE.

98

P

a,xaoe

MARY Ilappy Memorial

Da1,.

FRANKIE I GO TO FIGHT FOR THESE OLD I{IL6 THESE OLD RED

BEHIND ME

HILIS OFHOME

I GO TO FIGHT FOR THESE OLD HILTS REMIND ME OF A WAY OF LTFE THAT'SPURE, OF TTIE TRUTH THAT WILL ENDURE

IN THE CITY OFATLAIVIA IN THE OLD RED HILIS OF HOME!

ENSEMBLE GOD BLESS TLIE SIGI{T OF THE OLD HILTS OF GEORGIA THE OLD RED HrLrS OF HOME (KNEEL DOWN TO)

.

PRAISE THOSE WHCTD FIGFTT FOR TI{E OLD HILI.S OF GEORGIA FOR THOSE PROUDAND VALIANT MEN,

WE'LL SING "DIXIE" ONCE AGAIN FOR THE MEN OF MARIETTA FOR THE FATHERS OF

ATLANIA.

(FOR THE BROTHERS OT COBB COUNTY) (FOR THE PATRIARCHS)

WHO GAVE EV'RYTHING FOR GEORGIA AND THE OLD RED HILIS OF

HOME!

CURTAIN

€

€ C

C

€

e

a