Reading, Writing, Pondering: Big Life Themes, Literature, Contemporary/Historical Issues |
Act One Scene Two from my Obax and the Night-Riders ACT ONE, SCENE TWO (November 27, 1864. Nighttime. Lantern light. A Civil War Encampment. On a slight sloping rise, men in gray are camped. A few tents. Most of the soldiers lie wrapped in bedrolls, others walk about or crouch by fireside.) (Interior of largest tent. A folding table, a cot, three lanterns, two folding chairs. Maps cover table. Two lanterns on table, one on ground near cot. Outside, sounds of men settling down, feet shuffling, pots and pans clanking, cookfire flames hissing. Horses neigh softly, harness clanks occasionally. Someone sighs loudly.) (Two men stand on opposite sides of the map table, both in gray officer's uniform. One is a CONFEDERATE MAJOR, one is a CONFEDERATE CAPTAIN.) (THE CAPTAIN stands on far side of table, closer to rear tent wall. Tall, slender, blond- haired,but with dark eyes. Deep-voiced. in late twenties'. Freshly- shaven. Uniform is wrinkled but clean. Wearing forage cap. Has Robert Redford's height and appeal to women, but Ryan O'Neal's features and demeanor. Clearly he has just returned from a mission away, bearing dispatches, which he now hands to THE MAJOR.) THE MAJOR is shorter, stockier, with dark beard and sideburns, thinning black hair that is long, onto the collar of his dingy, grimy, unwashed uniform. His broad- brimmed gray felt hat is tilted back off his forehead, showing greasy strands of thinning black hair. Resembles in features and height a Southern version of British actor Oliver Reed. THE MAJOR appears to be a military man who has seen action, whereas across from him, THE CAPTAIN seems a dandy, a dilettante playing at an officer's role. THE MAJOR frowns down at maps on the table, while THE CAPTAIN smartly slaps stack of dispatches into his right hand. THE MAJOR points at one spot on map with left index finger and bends closer to view it, hiding his expression.) THE MAJOR: The men aren't ready for this, Judson. It's too soon after losing Atlanta-too soon. They're tired, they're weak, and what's worse, they're dispirited. (Downcast look settles over his features. He now looks much older than his fifty years. His discouragement is plain in both his expression and his mien, and in his speech.) THE MAJOR: We are all dispirited, Judson. (His voice trails off with the last two words to silence pregnant with unspoken meaning.) THE MAJOR: Judson-you left here early morning of the 23rd. Tonight's November 27. Son, I only sent you to Savannah to Major General Bradd's aide. (Suddenly raises head and stares up at THE CAPTAIN, piercingly, eyes snapping. He is willing to extend the benefit of the doubt, but is not very trustful that it will be possible.) THE CAPTAIN: Well. I took a little side trip and got some inside information. Went to Black-Moor Plantation, seen a fortune-teller. (Straightens, raps gloves in one hand against the palm of the other hand. Watches THE MAJOR closely.) Yanks be here before dawn, I bet you. Early. You're right, we won't be ready. THE MAJOR: No-they don't know this territory like we do. I think it will be daylight, maybe even not till noon. After all, we don't know how close they are, do we? Ain't sent out riders to find out. Afraid the men are better off not knowing how soon they're going to die. (Drops dispatches, clamps both hands over eyes. One sob is heard, a second stifled.) THE CAPTAIN: (Views THE MAJOR now with grave alarm. Looks down at the map, over to the dropped dispatches, back to THE MAJOR'S face, still covered by his hands.) Sir! I spoke to that Conjure-woman I told you about-Obax. That's where I went, why it took me longer. That old girl used to be a slave at Tallamassee. Remember? She sees things-sees the future. Everybody at Millsboro swears by her! My old GrandMammy knew Obax when she worked at Owans Plantation down by Ellabell, where my GranMammy was born. That was, oh roun' '95 or so, long time back. That Obax, she's an OLD woman. Was old when GranMammy was a child. But she KNOWS! She sure does Know-she told my Sister Ellajean when she'd marry and who, and sure 'nough that came true! (THE CAPTAIN is so enraptured by now with his tales about OBAX that he has forgotten the news he intended to impart: of OBAX'S predictions on the upcoming battle, the Battle of Buck Head Creek.) (THE MAJOR drops his hands from his face, and stares again at the spot on the map he had been viewing earlier. Once again, his left index finger traces a railroad line, then a creek. The creek runs west to east just below the slight rise on which the CONFEDERATE detachment is encamped. Their orders are to protect the railroad, a major supply line to Augusta, but THE MAJOR instead fears an all-out rout by superior numbers of UNION forces.) (THE MAJOR has become very peaked and looks quite ill. He is almost swaying on his feet. He appears like a man who himself has just had a terrible vision.) (Sounds of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” heard quietly in the background, sung in an aged, cracked, Negro voice: I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on. I have read a fiery Gospel writ in burnished rows of steel; “As ye deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal”; His Truth is marching on! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His TRUTH is marching on.) THE MAJOR: (THE MAJOR speaks while still tracing the railroad line and the creek across the map, moving his index finger up toward the ridge on which they are currently encamped.) (Whispers.) And what did this conjure-woman tell you, Judson? This-OBAX. What did she say about tomorrow's battle? THE CAPTAIN: (For the first time, looks disconcerted and ill at ease. Stutters briefly. Leans against rickety table, then quickly straightens.) Er-er-that is-er-well, she said she saw a fierce battle, Sir. THE MAJOR: (Raises his eyes to THE CAPTAIN. Although his eyes are blue, suddenly they look like empty windows into nighttime.) What did she say, Captain? I need to know it- all. Tell me. THE CAPTAIN: (Gazes down at table again. Lowers voice to a near- whisper.) She said it would be deadly. Many would die on this ridge; said the blood would run like rivers down the slope and into Briar Creek. Few would live and those that could would run. END OF ACT ONE, SCENE TWO (Lights out.) |