S

Ful
ltextof"
AugustWi
l
son"
Fences"
"

Seeot
herf
ormat
s

Act1

Act1,
Scene1

ActOneSceneOne

I
tis1957.TROYandBONOentert
hey ar
d,engagedi
nconv
ersat
ion.TROYi
sfi
ft
y-t
hreey
ear
s
ol
dalargemanwitht
hick,
heavyhands;i
tist
his

l
argenesst
hathestr
ivest
ofil
loutandmakeanaccommodat
ionwi
th.Toget
herwi
thhi
s
bl
ackness,hi
slar
genessi
nformshissensi
bil
i
tiesandt
he

choi
ceshehasmadei
nhi
sli
fe.

Ofthetwomen,BONOisobv
iousl
ythef
oll
ower
.Hi
scommit
mentt
othei
rfr
iendshi
poft
hir
ty-
oddyearsi
sroot
edinhi
sadmir
ati
onofTROY'
shonest
y,
capaci
tyf
orhar
dwor
k,andhi
sst
rengt
h,whi
chBONOseekst
oemul
ate.

Iti
sFr
idaynight
,pay
day,andtheonenightoft
heweekt
het
womenengagei
nar
it
ual
oft
alk
anddr
ink.TROYisusual
l
yt hemosttal
kati
veandat

ti
meshecanbecrudeandalmostvulgar
,thoughhei
scapabl
eofr
isi
ngt
opr
ofoundhei
ght
sof
expr
essi
on.Themencarr
ylunchbucketsandwearor

car
rybur
lapapr
onsandar
edr
essedi
ncl
othessui
tabl
etot
hei
rjobsasgar
bagecol
l
ect
ors.

BONOTr
oy,
yououghtt
ost
opt
hatl
yi
ng!

TROYIai
n'
tl
yi
ng!Theni
ggerhadawat
ermel
ont
hisbi
g.

(
Hei
ndi
cat
eswi
thhi
shands.
)

-4.
.

Tal
ki
ngabout..."
Whatwater
melon,
Mr.Rand?
"Il
i
kedt
ofel
lout
!"Whatwat
ermel
on,
Mr.Rand?
".
..Andi
tsi
tti
ngtherebi
gasli
fe.

BONOWhatdi
dMr
.Randsay
?

TROYAin'
tsai
dnothi
ng.Fi
gurei
ftheni
ggert
oodumbt
oknowhecar
ryi
ngawat
ermel
on,
he
wasn'
tgonnagetmuchsenseoutofhi
m.Try
ingt
o

hi
dethatgr
eatbi
gol
dwat
ermel
onunderhi
scoat
.Af
rai
dtol
ett
hewhi
temanseehi
m car
ryi
t
home.
BONOI
'
mli
key
ou.
..Iai
n'
tgotnot
imef
ort
hem ki
ndofpeopl
e.

TROYNowwhathel
ookl
i
keget
ti
ngmadcauseheseet
hemanf
romtheuni
ont
alki
ngt
oMr
.
Rand?

BONOHecometometal
kingabout..."
Maxsongonnagetusf
ir
ed.
"It
oldhi
mtogetawayf
rom
mewit
hthat
.Hewal
kedawayfrom mecall
i
ngyou

at
roubl
emaker
.WhatMr
.Randsay
?

TROYAi
n'
tsai
dnothi
ng.Hetoldmetogodownt
heCommi
ssi
oner
'sof
fi
cenextFr
iday
.They
cal
l
edmedowntheretoseethem.

BONOWell,
aslongasy
ougoty
ourcompl
aintf
il
ed,
theycan'
tfi
rey
ou.That
'swhatoneoft
hem
whi
tef
ell
owstell
me.

TROYIain'
twor
riedaboutt
hem f
iri
ngme.Theygonnaf
ir
emecauseIaskedaquest
ion?That
's
al
lIdi
d.Iwentt
oMr .Randandaskedhi
m,"Why?"

Whyyougotthewhit
emensdri
vingandt
hecolor
edl
i
fti
ng?
"Tol
dhi
m,"
what
'st
hemat
ter
,don'
tI
count
?Youthinkonl
ywhi
tef
ell
owsgotsense

enoughtodri
veatr
uck.Thatai
n'
tnopaperjob!Hel
l,any
bodycandr
iveat
ruck.Howcomey
ou
gotall
whit
esdri
vi
ngandt hecol
oredl
i
fti
ng?Het ol
d
-5-

me"takei
ttot
heuni
on.
"Wel
l
,hel
l
,that
'
swhatIdone!Nowt
heywannacomeupwi
tht
hispack
ofl
i
es.

BONOItoldBrownieift
hemancomeandaskhim anyquest
ions...j
ustt
ell
thet
rut
h!I
tai
n'
t
not
hingbutsomethingt
heydonet
rumpeduponyou

causey
ouf
il
edacompl
aintont
hem.

TROYBrowni
edon'
tunder
standnothi
ng.AllIwantthem t
odoi
schanget
hej
obdescr
ipt
ion.
Giv
eevery
bodyachancet
odr i
vet
hetruck.Brownie

can’
tseet
hat
.Heai
n'
tgott
hatmuchsense.

BONOHowy ouf
igur
ehebemaki
ngoutwi
tht
hatgal
beupatTay
lor
s'al
lthet
ime...t
hat
Al
ber
tagal
?

TROYSameasy
ouandme.Get
ti
ngj
ustasmuchaswei
s.Whi
chi
stosaynot
hing.

BONOI
tis,
huh?If
igur
eyoudoi
ngal
i
ttl
ebet
tert
hanme...andIai
n'
tsay
ingwhatI
'
m doi
ng.

TROYAw,ni
gger
,lookher
e...Iknowyou.I
fyouhadgotany
wher
eneart
hatgal
,twent
ymi
nut
es
l
atery
oubel
ooki
ngt otel
lsomebody.Andthe

f
ir
stoney
ougonnat
ell
...t
haty
ougonnawantt
obr
agt
o..
.isgonnabeme.
BONOIai
n'
tsay
ingt
hat
.Iseewher
eyoubeey
eingher
.

TROYIeyeal
lthewomen.Idon'
tmi
ssnot
hing.Don'
tnev
erl
etnobodyt
ell
youTr
oyMaxson
don'
tey
ethewomen.

BONOYoubeendoi
ngmor
ethaney
eingher
.Youdoneboughtheradr
inkort
wo.

TROYHellyeah,
Iboughtheradri
nk!Whatthatmean?Iboughty
ouone,
too.Whatt
hatmean
causeIbuyheradr
ink?I’
mjustbei
ngpoli
te.

-6"

BONOIt
’sal
ri
ghttobuyheronedr
ink.That
’swhatyoucal
lbei
ngpol
i
te.Butwheny
ouwannabe
buy
ingt
woorthree...t
hat’
swhatyoucalley
eing

her
.

TROYLookher
e,asl
ongasy
ouknownme...y
ouev
erknownmet
ochaseaf
terwomen?

BONOHel
lyeah!LongasIdoneknowny
ou.Youf
orget
ti
ngIknewy
ouwhen.

TROYNaw,
I’
mtal
ki
ngaboutsi
nceIbeenmar
ri
edt
oRose?

BONOOh,
notsi
ncey
oubeenmar
ri
edt
oRose.Now,
that
’st
het
rut
h,t
her
e.Icansayt
hat
.

TROYAl
ri
ghtt
hen!Casecl
osed.
BONOIseey
oubewal
kingupar
oundAl
ber
ta'
shouse.Yousupposedt
obeatTay
lor
s'andy
ou
bewal
ki
ngupar
oundt
here.

TROYWhaty
ouwat
chi
ngwher
eI'
m wal
ki
ngf
or?Iai
n'
twat
chi
ngaf
tery
ou.

BONOIseeny
ouwal
ki
ngar
oundt
her
emor
ethanonce.

TROYHel
l
, youl
i
abletoseemewal
ki
ngany
wher
e!Thatdon'
tmeannot
hingcausey
ouseeme
wal
ki
ngaroundther
e.

BONOWher
eshecomef
rom any
way
?Shej
ustki
ndashoweduponeday
.

TROYTall
ahassee.Youcanlookatherandtel
lsheoneoft
hem Fl
ori
dagal
s.Theygotsomebi
g
heal
thywomendownt here.Gr
owthem ri
ghtup

outthegr
ound.Gotal
i
ttl
ebi
tofI
ndi
ani
nher
.Mostoft
hem ni
gger
sdowni
nFl
ori
dagotsome
I
ndianint
hem.

BONOIdon'
tknowaboutt
hatI
ndi
anpar
t.Butshedamn

~7-

surebi
gandheal
thy
.Womanwearsomebi
gst
ocki
ngs.Gott
hem gr
eatbi
gol
dlegsandhi
psas
wideastheMi
ssi
ssippi
Riv
er.
TROYLegsdon'
tmeannot
hing.Youdon’
tdonot
hingbutpusht
hem outoft
heway
.Butt
hem
hi
pscushi
ontheri
de!

BONOTr
oy,
youai
n'
tgotnosense.

TROYI
t’
sthet
rut
h!Li
key
our
idi
ngonGoody
ear
s!

(
ROSEentersfr
om thehouse.Shei
stenyearsyoungert
hanTROY,
herdev
oti
ont
ohi
m st
ems
f
rom herr
ecogni
ti
onofthepossibi
l
iti
esofherl
i
fe

wi
thouthim:asuccessi
onofabusiv
emenandt hei
rbabies,
ali
feofpar
tyi
ngandr
unni
ngt
he
st
reet
s,theChur
ch,oralonenesswi
thi
tsat
tendantpai
n

andf
rust
rat
ion.Sher
ecognizesTROY'sspi
ri
tasafi
neandi
l
lumi
nat
ingoneandsheei
ther
i
gnor
esorforgi
veshi
sfault
s, onl
ysomeofwhichshe

recognizes.Thoughshedoesn'
tdr
ink,
herpr
esenceisani
ntegr
alpar
toft
heFr
idayni
ghtr
it
ual
s.
Shealternatesbetweent
heporchandtheki
tchen,

wher
esupperpr
epar
ati
onsar
eunderway
.)

ROSEWhaty
oual
louther
eget
ti
ngi
nto?

TROYWhaty
ouwor
ri
edaboutwhatweget
ti
ngi
ntof
or?Thi
sisment
alk,
woman.

ROSEWhatIcar
ewhaty
oual
ltal
ki
ngabout
?Bono,
yougonnast
ayf
orsupper
?

BONONo,
Ithanky
ou,
Rose.ButLuci
l
lesayshecooki
ngupapotofpi
gfeet
.
TROYPigfeet
!Hel
l,
I'
m goi
nghomewithyou!Mightev
enst
ayt
heni
ghti
fyougotsomepi
gfeet
.
Yougotsomethi
nginther
etot
opthem pi
gfeet
,

Rose?

-8"

ROSEI
'
m cooki
ngupsomechi
cken.Igotsomechi
ckenandcol
l
ardgr
eens.

TROYWel
l,goonbacki
nthehouseandletmeandBonof
ini
shwhatwewast
alki
ngabout
.Thi
s
i
smental
k.Igotsomet
alkfory
oulat
er.Youknow

whatki
ndoft
alkImean.Yougoonandpowderi
tup.

ROSETr
oyMaxson,
don'
tyoust
artt
hatnow!

TROY

(
Putshi
sarm ar
oundher.
)Aw,woman...comeher
e.Lookher
e,Bono...whenImett
his
woman..
.Igotoutt
hatpl
ace,
say,
"Hi
tchupmypony,

saddleupmymare...t
here'
sawomanoutther
eformesomewher
e.Il
ookedher
e.Looked
ther
e.SawRoseandlat
chedont
oher.
"Il
atchedonto

herandt
oldher—I'
m gonnat
ell
yout
hetrut
h—Itol
dher
,"Baby
,Idon'
twannamar
ry,
Ijust
wannabeyourman.
"Rosetol
dme...tel
lhi
m what

y
out
oldme,
Rose.
ROSEIt
oldhi
mifhewasn'
tthemar
ryi
ngki
nd,
thenmov
eoutt
hewaysot
hemar
ryi
ngki
ndcoul
d
fi
ndme.

TROYThat'
swhatshet
oldme."Nigger
,youi
nmyway
.Youbl
ocki
ngt
hev
iew!Mov
eoutt
heway
soIcanf
indmeahusband.
"Ithoughti
tovert
wo

ort
hreeday
s.Comeback—

ROSEAi
n'
tnot
woort
hreeday
snot
hing.Youwasbackt
hesameni
ght
.

TROYComeback,
tol
dher..."Okay
,baby.
..butI
'
m gonnabuymeabant
yroost
erandputhi
m
outt
her
eint
hebacky
ard...andwhenheseea

st
rangercome, he'
l
lfl
aphiswingsandcr
ow..."Lookher
e,Bono,
Icoul
dwat
cht
hef
rontdoor
bymy sel
f..
.itwasthatbackdoorIwaswor
ri
ed

about
.

-9"

ROSETr
oy,
yououghtnott
alkl
i
ket
hat
.Tr
oyai
n'
tdoi
ngnot
hingbutt
ell
i
ngal
i
e.

TROYOnl
ythi
ngi
s...whenwef
ir
stgotmar
ri
ed...f
orgett
her
oost
er.
..weai
n'
thadnoy
ard!
BONOIhearyoutel
li
t.MeandLucill
ewasstay
ingdownt
her
eonLoganSt
reet
.Hadt
wor
ooms
wit
htheout
houseintheback.Iai
n'
tmindt
he

out
housenone.Butwhent
hatgoddamnwindblowt
hrought
her
eint
hewi
nter...t
hat
'swhat
I
'mtal
kingabout
!Tothi
sdayIwonderwhyint
hehel
lI

everst
ayeddownthereforsi
xlongyears.Butsee,
Idi
dn'
tknowIcoul
ddonobet
ter
.It
hought
onlywhi
tefol
kshadinsi
detoil
etsandthings.

ROSEThere’
salotofpeopledon’
tknowtheycandonobet
tert
hant
heydoi
ngnow.That
'sj
ust
somet
hingyougottolear
n.Alotoffol
kssti
l
lshopat

Bel
l
a's.

TROYAi
n'
tnot
hingwr
ongwi
thshoppi
ngatBel
l
a's.Shegotf
reshf
ood.

ROSEIain'
tsai
dnothi
ngabouti
fshegotf
reshf
ood.I
'
mtal
ki
ngaboutwhatshechar
ge.She
char
getencentsmorethant
heA&P.

TROYTheA&Pain'
tneverdonenothi
ngforme.Ispendsmymoneywher
eI'
mtr
eat
edr
ight
.Igo
downt
oBell
a,say,
"Ineedaloafofbr
ead,I
'l
lpay

youFr
iday
."Shegi
vei
ttome.Whatsenset
hatmakewhenIgotmoneyt
ogoandspendi
t
somewhereel
seandi
gnor
ethepersonwhodoner
ightby

me?Thatai
n'
ti
ntheBi
ble.

ROSEWeain'
ttal
ki
ngaboutwhat
'
sint
heBi
ble.Whatsensei
tmaket
oshopt
her
ewhenshe
over
char
ge?
TROYYoushopwher
eyouwantt
o.I
'
lldomyshoppi
ngwher
ethepeopl
ebeengoodt
ome.

-10-

ROSEWel
l
,Idon'
tthi
nki
t’
sri
ghtf
orhert
oov
erchar
ge.That
'sal
lIwassay
ing.

BONOLookher
e..
.Igott
ogeton.Luci
l
legoi
ngber
aisi
ngal
lki
ndofhel
l
.

TROYWher
eyougoi
ng,
nigger
?Weai
n'
tfi
nishedt
hispi
nt.Comeher
e,f
ini
sht
hispi
nt.

BONOWel
l
,hel
l
,Iam .
..i
fyouev
ert
urnt
hebot
tl
eloose.

TROY

(Handshi
mthebot
tl
e.)Theonl
ythi
ngIsayaboutt
heA&Pi
sI'
m gl
adCor
ygott
hatj
obdown
ther
e.Hel
phi
mtakecareofhi
sschool
clot
hesand

things.Gabedonemovedoutandt
hingsget
ti
ngt
ightar
oundher
e.Hegott
hatj
ob..
..Hecan
starttolookoutf
orhi
msel
f.

ROSECor
ydonewentandgotr
ecr
uit
edbyacol
l
egef
oot
bal
lteam.

TROYItol
dthatboyaboutthatf
oot
bal
lstuff
.Thewhi
temanai
n'
tgonnal
ethi
m getnowher
e
wit
hthatf
ootbal
l.It
oldhi
m whenhefi
rstcometome
wit
hi t
.Nowy oucomet
ell
i
ngmehedonewentandgotmor
eti
edupi
nit
.Heoughtt
ogoand
getrecrui
tedi
nhowtof
ixcar
sorsomet
hingwher
ehe

canmakeal
i
ving.

ROSEHeain'
ttal
kingaboutmaki
ngnoli
vingplayi
ngfoot
bal
l
.It
’sj
ustsomet
hingt
heboy
sin
school
do.Theygonnasendarecr
uit
erbytotalkto

y
ou.He'
ll
tel
lyouheai
n'
ttal
ki
ngaboutmaki
ngnol
i
vingpl
ayi
ngf
oot
bal
l
.It
'sahonort
obe
r
ecr
uit
ed.

TROYI
tai
n'
tgonnagethi
m nowher
e.Bono'
l
ltel
lyout
hat
.

BONOI
fhebel
i
key
oui
nthespor
ts...he'
sgonnabe

-11-

al
ri
ght
.Ain'
tbutt
womeneverpl
ayedbasebal
lasgoodasy
ou.That
’sBabeRut
handJosh
Gi
bson.Them'st
heonl
ytwomeneverhi
tmorehome

r
unst
hany
ou.

TROYWhati
tev
ergetme?Ai
n'
tgotapott
opi
ssi
norawi
ndowt
othr
owi
toutof
.

ROSETi
meshav echangedsi
nceyouwaspl
ayi
ngbasebal
l
,Tr
oy.Thatwasbef
oret
hewar
.
Ti
meshavechangedalotsi
ncethen.
TROYHowi
nhel
ltheydonechanged?

ROSETheygotl
otsofcol
oredboy
spl
ayi
ngbal
lnow.Basebal
landf
oot
bal
l
.

BONOYour
ightaboutt
hat
,Rose.Ti
meshav
echanged,
Troy
.Youj
ustcomeal
ongt
ooear
ly.

TROYTher
eoughtnotnev
erhav
ebeennotimecal
ledt
ooear
ly!Nowy
out
aket
hatf
ell
ow...
what
'st
hatfel
l
owtheyhadpl
ayi
ngr
ightf
iel
dfort
he

Yankeesbackt
hen?YouknowwhoI
'
mtal
ki
ngabout
,Bono.Usedt
opl
ayr
ightf
iel
dfort
he
Yankees.

ROSESel
ki
rk?

TROYSelki
rk!That
'si
t!Manbatti
ng.
269,under
stand?.
269.Whatki
ndofsenset
hatmake?I
washi
tt
ing.432withthi
rt
y-sev
enhomeruns!Man

bat
ti
ng.269andplay
ingrightf
iel
dfort
heYankees!IsawJoshGi
bson'
sdaught
ery
est
erday
.She
wal
kingaroundwi
thraggedyshoesonherf
eet.

NowIbety
ouSel
ki
rk'
sdaught
erai
n'
twal
ki
ngar
oundwi
thr
aggedyshoesonherf
eet
!Ibety
ou
t
hat
!

ROSETheygotalotofcolor
edbasebal
lpl
ayer
snow.Jacki
eRobi
nsonwast
hef
ir
st.Fol
kshad
towai
tforJacki
eRobinson.

-12-
TROYIdoneseenahundredni
ggerspl
aybasebal
lbet
tert
hanj
acki
eRobi
nson.Hel
l
,Iknow
someteamsJacki
eRobinsoncoul
dn'
tevenmake!

Whatyoutal
kingaboutJacki
eRobinson.Jacki
eRobinsonwasn'
tnobody
.I'
mtal
ki
ngabouti
f
youcoul
dplayball
thentheyoughttohaveletyoupl
ay.

Don'
tcar
ewhatcolory
ouwer e.Comet
ell
i
ngmeIcomeal
ongt
ooear
ly.I
fyoucoul
dpl
ay...
t
hentheyoughtt
ohavelety
oupl ay
.

(TROYt
akesal
ongdr
inkf
rom t
hebot
tl
e.)

ROSEYougonnadr
inky
our
sel
ftodeat
h.Youdon'
tneedt
obedr
inki
ngl
i
ket
hat
.

TROYDeathain'
tnot
hing.Idoneseenhi
m.Donewrassl
edwi
thhi
m.Youcan'
ttel
lmenot
hing
aboutdeat
h.Deat
hain'
tnothingbutaf
astbal
lont
he

out
sidecorner.Andy ouknowwhatI’
ll
dotot
hat!Lookeeher
e,Bono.
..am Il
yi
ng?Yougetone
oft
hem fastball
s,aboutwaisthi
gh,
overt
heout
side

corneroft
hepl
atewhereyoucangett
hemeatoft
hebatoni
t...andgoodgod!Youcanki
ssi
t
goodbye.Now,
am Il
ying?

BONONaw,
yout
ell
i
ngt
het
rut
hther
e.Iseeny
oudoi
t.

TROYI
fI'
mly
ing...t
hat450f
eetwor
thofl
yi
ng!

(
Pause.
)That
'sal
ldeat
hist
ome.Af
ast
bal
lont
heout
sidecor
ner
.
ROSEIdon'
tknowwhyy
ouwantt
ogetont
alki
ngaboutdeat
h.

TROYAin'
tnothi
ngwrongwitht
alki
ngaboutdeath.That
'spar
tofl
i
fe.Ev
ery
bodygonnadi
e.You
gonnadi
e,I
'm gonnadi
e.Bono'
sgonnadie.Hel
l
,

weal
lgonnadi
e.

ROSEButy
ouai
n’
tgott
otal
kabouti
t.Idon’
tli
ket
otal
kabouti
t.

TROYYoutheonebroughti
tup.MeandBonowast
alki
ngaboutbasebal
l...y
out
ell
meI
'
m
gonnadr
inkmysel
f

-13-

todeat
h.Ai
n’
tthatri
ght
,Bono?YouknowIdon’
tdri
nkt
hisbutoneni
ghtoutoft
heweek.That
’s
Fri
dayni
ght
.I'
m gonnadri
nkjustenought
owher
eI

canhandl
eit
.ThenIcut
sitl
oose.Il
eavei
talone.Sodon'
tyouwor
ryaboutmedr
inki
ngmy
sel
f
todeat
h.'
CauseIai
n'
tworri
edaboutDeat
h.Idone

seenhim.Idonewrest
ledwit
hhi
m.Lookhere,Bono.
..Il
ookeduponedayDeat
hwasmar
chi
ng
str
aightatme.Li
keSol
dier
sonParade!TheAr
my

ofDeathwasmar chi
ngst
rai
ghtatme.Themi ddl
eofJul
y,1941.I
tgotr
eal
col
djustl
i
kei
tbe
wint
er.I
tseem l
i
keDeathhimsel
freachedoutand

touchedmeontheshoul
der
.Het
ouchmej
ustl
i
keIt
ouchy
ou.Igotcol
dasi
ceandDeat
h
standi
ngther
egri
nni
ngatme.
ROSETr
oy,
whydon'
tyouhusht
hatt
alk.

TROYIsay...Whatyouwant
,Mr.Death?Youbewant
ingme?Youdonebr
oughty
ourar
myt
o
beget
ti
ngme?Ilookedhi
m deadintheeye.I

wasn'
tfeari
ngnot
hing.Iwasr
eadytotangl
e.Justli
keI'
mreadyt
otangl
enow.TheBi
blesaybe
ev
ervigi
lant
.That
'swhyIdon'
tgetbutsodrunk.Igot

t
okeepwat
ch.

ROSETr
oywasri
ghtdownther
einMer
cyHospi
tal
.Your
ememberhehadpneumoni
a?Lay
ing
ther
ewi
thaf
evert
alki
ngpl
umboutofhi
shead.

TROYDeathst
andingtherest
ari
ngatme...carr
yingt
hatsi
ckl
einhi
shand.Fi
nal
l
yhesay
,"You
wantboundov
erforanothery
ear?"See,
justl
i
ke

that..."Youwantboundov
erforanot
heryear
?"It
oldhi
m,"
Boundov
erhel
l
!Let
'sset
tl
ethi
s
now!"Itseem l
i
kehekindafel
lbackwhenIsai
dthat
,

andal
lthecol
dwentoutofme.Ir
eacheddownandgr
abbed

-14-

t
hatsickl
eandt
hrewitj
ustasfarasIcoul
dthr
owit...andmeandhi
m commencedt
o
wrest
li
ng.Wewrest
ledf
orthr
eeday sandt
hreeni
ght
s.Ican’
t

saywhereIf
oundthest
rengt
hfr
om.Ev er
yti
mei
tseemedl
i
kehewasgonnagett
hebestofme,
I'
dreachwaydowndeepinsi
demysel
fandfi
ndt
he

st
rengt
htodohi
m onebet
ter
.
ROSEEveryt
imeTr
oyt
ell
thatst
oryhef
inddi
ff
erentway
stot
ell
it.Di
ff
erentt
hingst
omakeup
abouti
t.

TROYIain'
tmakingupnot
hing.I
'
mtell
i
ngy outhef
act
sofwhathappened.Iwr
est
ledwi
thDeat
h
fort
hreedaysandthr
eeni
ghtsandI
'
m standi
ng

her
etot
ell
youabouti
t.

(Pause.
)Al
ri
ght.Att
heendofthethi
rdni
ghtwedoneweakenedeachot
hert
owher
ewecan'
t
hardl
ymove.Deathstoodup,
thr
owedonhisrobe...

hadhi
m awhiterobewi
thahoodonit.Hethr
owedonthatr
obeandwentof
ftol
ookf
orhi
s
si
ckl
e.Say
,"I
'
llbeback.
"Justl
i
kethat
."I'
l
lbeback.
"It
old

hi
m,say,
"Yeah,but...y
ougonnahavet
ofindme!"Iwasn'
tnof
ool
.Iwasn'
tgoi
ngl
ooki
ngf
or
hi
m.Deathai
n'tnothi
ngtopl
aywit
h.AndIknowhe's

gonnagetme.IknowIgottoj
oinhi
sarmy..
.hiscampf
oll
ower
s.Butasl
ongasIkeepmy
str
engt
handseehi m comi
ng.
..asl
ongasIkeepup

myv
igi
l
ance...he'
sgonnahav
etof
ightt
ogetme.Iai
n'
tgoi
ngeasy
.

BONOWel
l
,lookher
e,si
ncey
ougott
okeepupy
ourv
igi
l
ance.
..l
etmehav
ethebot
tl
e.

TROYAwhel
l
,Ishoul
dn'
thav
etol
dyout
hatpar
t.Ishoul
dhav
elef
toutt
hatpar
t.

ROSETr
oybet
alki
ngt
hatst
uffandhal
fthet
imedon'
tev
enknowwhathebet
alki
ngabout
.
-
15-

TROYBonoknowmebet
tert
hant
hat
.

BONOThat
’sri
ght
.Iknowyou.Iknowy
ougotsomeUncl
eRemusi
nyourbl
ood.Yougotmor
e
st
ori
est
hanthedevi
lgotsi
nner
s.

TROYAwhel
l
,Idoneseenhi
mtoo!Donet
alkedwi
tht
hedev
il
.

ROSETr
oy,
don'
tnobodywannabehear
ingal
lthatst
uff
.

(LYONSenter
stheyar
dfr
om thest
reet
.Thir
ty-
fouryear
sol
d,TROY'
ssonbyapr
evi
ous
marri
age,
hesport
saneat
lyt
ri
mmedgoat ee,sportcoat
,

whit
eshirt
,ti
elessandbut
tonedatthecoll
ar.Thoughhef
anci
eshi
msel
famusi
cian,
hei
smor
e
caughtupintherit
ual
sand"idea"ofbei
ngamusi ci
an

thani
ntheact
ualpr
act
iceofthemusi
c.Hehascomet
obor
rowmoneyf
rom TROY,
andwhi
l
e
heknowshewill
besuccessf
ul,
heisuncer
tai
nast
o

whatext
enthi
sli
fest
ylewi
l
lbehel
dupt
oscr
uti
nyandr
idi
cul
e.)

LYONSHey
,Pop.
TROYWhaty
oucome"
Hey
,Poppi
ng"mef
or?

LYONSHowy
oudoi
ng,
Rose?

(
Heki
ssesher
.)Mr
.Bono.Howy
oudoi
ng?

BONOHey
,Ly
ons...howy
oubeen?

TROYHemusthav
ebeendoi
ngal
ri
ght
.Iai
n'
tseenhi
m ar
oundher
elastweek.

ROSETr
oy,
leav
eyourboyal
one.Hecomebyt
oseey
ouandy
ouwannast
artal
lthatnonsense.

~16-

TROYIai
n'
tbot
her
ingLy
ons.

(Of
fer
shimthebot
tl
e.)Her
e..
.gety
ouadr
ink.Wegotanunder
standi
ng.Iknowwhyhecome
bytoseemeandheknowIknow.

LYONSComeon,
Pop.
..Ij
ustst
oppedbyt
osayhi
...seehowy
ouwasdoi
ng.

TROYYouai
n'
tst
oppedbyy
est
erday
.
ROSEYougonnast
ayf
orsupper
,Ly
ons?Igotsomechi
ckencooki
ngi
ntheov
en.

LYONSNo,
Rose...t
hanks.Iwasj
usti
nthenei
ghbor
hoodandt
houghtI
'
dst
opbyf
orami
nut
e.

TROYYouwasinthenei
ghbor
hoodalr
ight
,ni
gger
.Yout
ell
i
ngt
het
rut
hther
e.Youwasi
nthe
nei
ghbor
hoodcausei
t'
smypayday.

LYONSWel
l
,hel
l
,si
ncey
oument
ionedi
t...l
etmehav
etendol
l
ars.

TROYI'l
lbedamned!I
'
lldi
eandgot
ohel
landpl
aybl
ackj
ackwi
tht
hedev
ilbef
oreIgi
vey
out
en
dol
lar
s.

BONOThat
'swhatIwannaknowabout...t
hatdev
ily
oudoneseen.

LYONSWhat...Popdoneseent
hedev
il
?Yout
oomuch,
Pops.

TROYYeah,
Idoneseenhi
m.Tal
kedt
ohi
mtoo!

ROSEYouain'
tseennodev i
l.Idonet
oldy
outhatmanai
n'
thadnot
hingt
odowi
tht
hedev
il
.
Anyt
hingy
oucan'tunder
stand,youwantt
ocalli
tthe

dev
il
.

TROYLookhere,Bono.
..Iwentdownt
oseeHer
tzber
geraboutsomef
urni
tur
e.Gott
hreer
ooms
fort
wo-
ninet
y-ei
ght.
-17-

Thatwhati
tsayontheradi
o."
Thr
eerooms...t
wo-ni
net
y-ei
ght
."Ev
enmadeupal
i
ttl
esong
abouti
t.Godownther
e...mantel
lmeIcan'
tgetno

credi
t.I
'm worki
ngev erydayandcan’
tgetnocredi
t.Whatt
odo?Igotanempt
yhousewi
th
somer aggedyfurni
tureinit
.Cor
yain'
tgotnobed.He's

sl
eepi
ngonapil
eofragsont
hef
loor
.Worki
ngever
ydayandcan'
tgetnocr
edi
t.Comeback
her
e—Rose'
ll
telly
ou—maddert
hanhel
l.Si
tdown..

.t
ryt
ofigur
ewhatI '
m gonnado.Comeaknockont
hedoor
.Ai
n'
tbeenl
i
vingher
ebutt
hreeday
s.
WhoknowI'm her
e?Opent hedoor...dev
il

standi
ngther
ebiggert
hanli
fe.Whit
efel
l
ow..
.gotongoodcl
othesandev
ery
thi
ng.St
andi
ng
therewit
hacli
pboardi
nhishand.Iai
n'
thadt
osay

nothing.Fi
rstwor
dscomeoutofhi
smout hwas..
."Iunder
standy
ouneedsomef
urni
tur
eand
can'tgetnocredi
t.
"Il
i
kedt
ofell
over.Hesay"
I'
ll
give

youal
lthecr
edity
ouwant,buty
ougottopaythei
nter
estoni
t.
"It
oldhi
m,"
Giv
emet
hreer
ooms
wort
handchargewhat
everyouwant
."Nextdaya

t
ruckpul
l
eduphereandt
womenunl oadedt
hem t
hreer
ooms.Manwhatdr
ovet
het
ruckgi
ve
meabook.Saysendt
endol
l
ars,
fir
stofever
ymonthto

theaddr
essinthebookandever
ythingwil
lbeal
ri
ght
.SayifImi
ssapay
mentt
hedev
ilwas
comingbackandit
'l
lbehel
ltopay.Thatwasfi
ft
eenyear
s

ago.Tot
hisday.
..t
hef
ir
stoft
hemont
hIsendmyt
endol
l
ars,
Rose'
l
ltel
lyou.

ROSETr
oyl
yi
ng.

TROYIai
n'
tnev
erseent
hatmansince.Nowy out
ell
mewhoel
set
hatcoul
dhav
ebeenbutt
he
devi
l
?Iai
n'
tsol
dmysoulornot
hingli
kethat
,you
under
stand.Naw,Iwoul
dn'
thavetruckwi
ththedev
ilaboutnot
hingl
i
ket
hat
.Igotmyf
urni
tur
e
andpaysmyt endol
lar
sthefi
rstofthemont
hjustl
ike

cl
ockwor
k.

-18-

BONOHowl
ongy
ousayy
oubeenpay
ingt
hist
endol
l
arsamont
h?

TROYFi
ft
eeny
ear
s!

BONOHel
l
,ai
n’
tyouf
ini
shedpay
ingf
ori
tyet
?Howmucht
hemandonechar
gedy
ou.

TROYAwhel
l
,Idonepai
dfori
t.Idonepai
dfori
ttent
imesov
er!Thef
acti
sI’
m scar
edt
ost
op
payi
ngi
t.

ROSETroyly
ing.Wegott
hatf
urni
tur
efr
om Mr
.Gl
i
ckman.Heai
n’
tpay
ingnot
endol
l
arsamont
h
tonobody
.

TROYAwhel
l
,woman.BonoknowIai
n’
tthatbi
gaf
ool
.

LYONSIwasj
ustget
ti
ngr
eadyt
osay.
..Iknowwher
ether
e’sabr
idgef
orsal
e.

TROYLookher
e,I’
ll
tel
lyout
his.
..i
tdon’
tmatt
ert
omei
fhewast
hedev
il
.Itdon’
tmat
teri
fthe
devi
lgi
vecr
edi
t.Somebodyhasgottogi
vei
t.

ROSEI
toughtt
omat
ter
.Yougoi
ngar
oundt
alki
ngabouthav
ingt
ruckwi
tht
hedev
il...God'
sthe
oney
ougonnahav
etoanswert
o.He'
stheone

gonnabeatt
heJudgment
.

LYONSYeah,well
,l
ookhere,Pop..
.letmehav
ethatt
endol
l
ars.I
’
llgi
vei
tbackt
oyou.Bonni
e
gotaj
obworkingatthehospi
tal
.

TROYWhatIt
elly
ou,Bono?Theonl
yti
meIseet
hisni
ggeri
swhenhewant
ssomet
hing.That
's
theonl
yti
meIseehi
m.

LYONSComeon,Pop,Mr
.Bonodon'
twantt
ohearal
lthat
.Letmehav
ethet
endol
l
ars.It
old
youBonni
ewor
king.

TROYWhatthatmeant
ome?"
Bonni
ewor
king.
"Idon'
tcar
eifshewor
king.Goaskherf
ort
he
tendol
l
arsi
fshe

-19-

wor
king.Tal
ki
ngabout"
Bonni
ewor
king.
"Whyai
n'
tyouwor
king?

LYONSAw, Pop,youknowIcan'
tfi
ndnodecentj
ob.Wher
eam Igonnagetaj
obat
?YouknowI
can'
tgetnojob.

TROYItoldyouIknowsomepeopl
edownther
e.Icangety
ouont
her
ubbi
shi
fyouwantt
o
work.It
oldy
outhatthel
astt
imeyoucamebyhere
aski
ngmef
orsomet
hing.

LYONSNaw,Pop...thanks.Thatai
n'
tforme.Idon'
twannabecar
ryi
ngnobody
'sr
ubbi
sh.I
don’
twannabepunchi
ngnobody '
sti
mecl ock.

TROYWhat'
sthemat t
er,
youtoogoodtocarrypeopl
e'
srubbi
sh?Wher
eyout
hinkt
endol
l
ars
yout
alki
ngaboutcomefrom?I'
mjustsupposedto

haulpeopl
e'
srubbi
shandgi
vemymoneytoy oucausey
out
ool
azyt
owor
k.Yout
ool
azyt
o
workandwannaknowwhyy ouai
n'
tgotwhatIgot
.

ROSEWhathospi
tal
Bonni
ewor
kingat
?Mer
cy?

LYONSShe'
sdownatPassav
antwor
kingi
nthel
aundr
y.

TROYIain’
tgotnot
hingasiti
s.Igi
vey
outhatt
endoll
arsandIgott
oeatbeanst
her
estoft
he
week.Naw...youain'
tget
ti
ngnotendol
l
arshere.

LYONSYouai
n'
tgott
obeeat
ingnobeans.Idon'
tknowwhyy
ouwannasayt
hat
.

TROYIain'
tgotnoextr
amoney .Gabedonemov edov
ert
oMi
ssPear
l'
spay
inghert
her
entand
thi
ngsdonegotti
ghtaroundhere.Ican'
taf
for
dto

begi
vi
ngy
ouev
erypay
day
.

LYONSIain'
taskedy
out
ogi
vemenot
hing.Iaskedy
out
oloanmet
endol
l
ars.Iknowy
ougot
tendol
l
ars.

-20-
TROYYeah,Igoti
t.YouknowwhyIgotit
?CauseIdon'
tthr
owmymoneyawayoutt
her
eint
he
st
reet
s.Youli
vi
ngthefastl
if
e...wannabea

musi
ci
an...runningar
oundint
hem cl
ubsandthi
ngs...t
hen,
youl
ear
ntot
akecar
eofy
our
sel
f.
Youai
n'
tgonnafindmegoingandaski
ngnobody

f
ornot
hing.Idonespentt
oomanyy
ear
swi
thout
.

LYONSYouandmei
stwodi
ff
erentpeopl
e,Pop.

TROYIdonelear
nedmymi st
akeandl
ear
nedtodowhat '
sri
ghtbyi
t.Youst
il
ltr
yingt
oget
somet
hingf
ornothi
ng.Li
fedon'
toweyounot
hing.You

owei
ttoy
our
sel
f.AskBono.He'
l
ltel
lyouI
'
mri
ght
.

LYONSYougotyourwayofdeal
i
ngwi
tht
hewor
ld.
..Igotmi
ne.Theonl
ythi
ngt
hatmat
ter
sto
meisthemusi
c.

TROYYeah,Icanseethat
!Itdon'
tmatterhowy
ougonnaeat...wher
eyournextdol
l
ari
s
comi
ngfrom.Youtell
i
ngthet r
uthther
e.

LYONSIknowIgott
oeat.ButIgott
ol i
vetoo.Ineedsomet
hingt
hatgonnahel
pmet
ogetout
ofthebedi
nthemor
ning.Makemef eell
ikeI

bel
onginthewor
ld.Idon'
tbot
hernobody.Ij
uststaywi
thmymusi
ccauset
hat
'st
heonl
ywayI
canfi
ndtoli
vei
nthewor l
d.Ot
herwi
sethereain'
tno
t
ell
i
ngwhatImightdo.NowIdon’tcomecrit
ici
zi
ngyouandhowy
oul
i
ve.Ij
ustcomebyt
oask
y
ouf ort
endol
l
ars.Idon’
twannahearal
lthatabout

howIl
i
ve.

TROYBoy
,yourmamadi
dahel
lofaj
obr
aisi
ngy
ou.

LYONSYoucan'
tchangeme,Pop.I
'
mt hi
rt
y-f
oury
ear
sol
d.I
fyouwant
edt
ochangeme,
you
shoul
dhav
ebeentherewhenIwasgrowi
ngup.I

comebyt
oseey
ou...

-
21-

askf
ortendol
lar
sandy
ouwantt
otal
kabouthowIwasr
aised.Youdon'
tknownot
hingabout
howIwasrai
sed.

ROSELett
heboyhav
etendol
l
ars,
Troy
.

TROY

(
ToLYONS.
)Whatt
hehel
lyoul
ooki
ngatmef
or?Iai
n'
tgotnot
endol
l
ars.YouknowwhatIdo
wi
thmymoney
.

(
ToROSE.
)Gi
vehi
mtendol
l
arsi
fyouwanthi
mtohav
eit
.
ROSEIwi
l
l.Justassoonasy
out
urni
tloose.

TROY

(Handi
ngROSEthemoney
.)Thereiti
s.Seventy-
sixdol
l
arsandf
ort
y-t
wocent
s.Youseet
his,
Bono?Now,
Iai
n'
tgonnagetbutsixofthatback.

ROSEYououghtt
ost
opt
ell
i
ngt
hatl
i
e.Her
e,Ly
ons.

(
Shehandshi
mthemoney
.)

LYONSThanks,
Rose.Look.
..Igott
orun.
..I
'
llseey
oul
ater
.

TROYWaitaminute.Yougonnasay,"
thanks,Rose"andai
n'
tgonnal
ookt
oseewher
eshegot
thatt
endol
l
arsfr
om?Seehowt heydome, Bono?

LYONSIknowshegoti
tfr
om y
ou,
Pop.Thanks.I
'
llgi
vei
tbackt
oyou.

TROYTher
ehegot
ell
i
nganot
herl
i
e.Ti
meIseet
hatt
endol
l
ars...he'
l
lbeowi
ngmet
hir
tymor
e.

LYONSSeey
ou,
Mr.Bono.

BONOTakecar
e,Ly
ons!

LYONSThanks,
Pop.I
'
llseey
ouagai
n.

(LYONSexi
tst
hey
ard.
)
TROYIdon'
tknowwhyhedon'
tgoandgethi
m adecentj
obandt
akecar
eoft
hatwomanhegot
.

-22-

BONOHe’
l
lbeal
ri
ght
,Tr
oy.Theboyi
sst
il
lyoung.

TROYTheboyi
sthi
rt
y-f
oury
ear
sol
d.

ROSELet
’snotgetof
fint
oal
lthat
.

BONOLookher
e..
.Igott
obegoi
ng.Igott
obeget
ti
ngon.Luci
l
legonnabewai
ti
ng.

TROY

(
Putshisar
m aroundROSE.
)Seet
hiswoman,Bono?Il
ovet
hiswoman.Il
ovet
hiswomanso
muchithur
ts.Il
ovehersomuch.
..Idoner
unoutof

waysofl
ovingher
.SoIgott
ogobackt obasi
cs.Don'
tyoucomebymyhouseMondaymor
ning
t
alki
ngaboutti
metogotowork...'
causeI’
m sti
l
l

gonnabest
roki
ng!

ROSETr
oy!St
opi
tnow!
BONOIain’
tpay
inghi
m nomi
nd,
Rose.Thatai
n'
tnot
hingbutgi
n-t
alk.Goon,
Troy
.I'
l
lseey
ou
Monday
.

TROYDon'
tyoucomebymyhouse,
nigger
!Idonet
oldy
ouwhatI
'
m gonnabedoi
ng.

(
Thel
i
ght
sgodownt
obl
ack.
)

Act1,
Scene2

-23-

ActOneSceneTwo

Theli
ght
scomeuponROSEhangi
ngupcl
othes.Shehumsandsi
ngssof
tl
ytoher
sel
f.I
tist
he
fol
l
owingmor
ning.

ROSE

(
Sings)Jesus,beafenceall
aroundmeeverydayJesus,
Iwanty
out
opr
otectmeasIt
rav
elon
myway .Jesus,beafenceal
laroundmeeveryday
.

(
Troyent
ersf
rom t
hehouse)
ROSE

(
cont
inued)Jesus,
Iwanty
out
opr
otectmeAsIt
rav
elonmyway
.

(ToTROY)’
Mor
ning.Your
eadyf
orbr
eakf
ast
?Icanf
ixi
tsoonasIf
ini
shhangi
ngupt
hese
clot
hes?

TROYIgott
hecof
feeon.That
’l
lbeal
ri
ght
.I'
l
ljustdr
inksomeoft
hatt
hismor
ning.

ROSEThat651hi
tyester
day.That’
sthesecondtimethi
smont
h.Mi
ssPear
lhi
tforadol
l
ar...
seem l
i
kethoset
hatneedtheleastal
waysgetlucky
.

Poorf
olkscan'
tgetnot
hing.

-24-

TROYThem number
sdon'
tknownobody
.Idon'
tknowwhyy
ouf
ool
wit
hthem.YouandLy
ons
bot
h.

ROSEI
t'
ssomet
hingt
odo.

TROYYouai
n'
tdoi
ngnot
hingbutt
hrowi
ngy
ourmoneyaway
.

ROSETr
oy,
youknowIdon'
tpl
ayf
ool
i
shl
y.Ij
ustpl
ayani
ckel
her
eandani
ckel
ther
e.

TROYThat
'st
woni
ckel
syoudonet
hrownaway
.
ROSENowIhitsometi
mes...thatmakesupf
ori
t.I
tal
way
scomesi
nhandywhenIdohi
t.I
don'
theary
oucomplai
ningt
hen.

TROYIai
n'
tcomplai
ningnow.Ij
ustsayi
t'
sfool
ish.Tr
yingt
oguessoutofsi
xhundr
edway
s
whi
chwaythenumbergonnacome.IfIhadal
lthe

moneyni
gger
s,t
heseNegr
oes,
thr
owawayonnumber
sforoneweek—j
ustoneweek—I
'
dbea
r
ichman.

ROSEWell
,youwishi
ngandcalli
ngi
tfool
i
shain'
tgonnast
opf
olksf
rom pl
ayi
ngnumber
s.That
’s
onet
hingf
orsure.Besi
des...somegoodthi
ngs

comef
rom pl
ayi
ngnumber
s.Lookwher
ePopedoneboughthi
mthatr
est
aur
antof
fofnumber
s.

TROYIcan'
tst
andniggersli
ket
hat.Manai
n’
thadt
wodi
mest
orubt
oget
her
.Hewal
ki
ngar
ound
wit
hhi
sshoesall
runov erbummingmoneyfor

ci
gar
ett
es.Al
ri
ght
.Gotl
uckyt
her
eandhi
tthenumber
s...

ROSETr
oy,
Iknowal
labouti
t.

TROYHadgoodsense,
I'
ll
saythatf
orhim.Heain'
tthr
owedhi
smoneyaway
.Iseenni
gger
shi
t
thenumber
sandgothr
oughtwothousanddol
l
ar s

i
nfourday
s.Manbr
oughthi
mthatr
est
aur
antdownt
her
e...f
ixedi
tup
-25-

real
nice...andthendi
dn'
twantnobodytocomeini
t!ANegr
ogoi
nther
eandcan'
tgetnoki
nd
ofservi
ce.Iseenawhit
efel
lowcomeinthereand

orderabowlofst
ew.Popepickedal
lthemeatoutt
hepotf
orhi
m.Manai
n'
thadnot
hingbuta
bowl ofmeat
!Negrocomebehindhi
m andai
n'tgot

nothi
ngbutt
hepot
atoesandcar
rot
s.Tal
ki
ngaboutwhatnumber
sdof
orpeopl
e,y
oupi
ckeda
wrongexampl
e.Ai
n'
tdonenothi
ngbutmakeaworser

f
ool
outofhi
mthanhewasbef
ore.

ROSETr
oy,
yououghtt
ost
opwor
ryi
ngaboutwhathappenedatwor
kyest
erday
.

TROYIain’
tworr
ied.Justt
oldmetobedownthereattheCommi
ssi
oner
'sof
fi
ceonFr
iday
.
Ever
ybodythi
nktheygonnafi
reme.Iai
n'
twor
riedabout

t
hem f
ir
ingme.Youai
n'
tgott
owor
ryaboutt
hat
.

(
Pause.
)Wher
e'sCor
y?Cor
yint
hehouse?

(
Cal
l
s.)Cor
y?

ROSEHegoneout
.

TROYOut ,huh?Hegoneout'
causeheknowIwanthi
mtohel
pmewi
tht
hisf
ence.Iknowhow
heis.Thatboyscar
edofwork.
(
GABRI
ELent
ers.Hecomeshal
fwaydownt
heal
l
eyand,
hear
ingTr
oy'
svoi
ce,
stops.
)

TROY

(
cont
inues)
:Heai
n'
tdoneal
i
ckofwor
kinhi
sli
fe.

ROSEHehadtogotofoot
bal
lpr
act
ice.Coachwant
edt
hem t
ogeti
nal
i
ttl
eext
rapr
act
ice
bef
oret
heseasonst
art
.

TROYIgothi
spr
act
ice...r
unni
ngoutofher
ebef
orehegethi
schor
esdone.

ROSETroy
,whati
swrongwit
hyouthi
smorni
ng?Don'
tnot
hingsetr
ightwi
thy
ou.Goonbacki
n
ther
eandgot
obed..
.getupontheot
hersi
de.

-26-

TROYWhysomet
hinggott
obewr
ongwi
thme?Iai
n'
tsai
dnot
hingwr
ongwi
thme.

ROSEYougotsomet
hingtosayaboutev
ery
thi
ng.Fi
rsti
t'
sthenumber
s...t
heni
t'
sthewayt
he
manrunshi
srest
aur
ant...t
henyoudonegoton

Cory.What
'si
tgonnabenext?Takealookupther
eandseei
ftheweat
hersui
tsy
ou.
..ori
sit
gonnabehowy ougonnaputupthef
encewiththe

cl
otheshangi
ngi
nthey
ard.

TROYYouhi
tthenai
lont
heheadt
hen.
ROSEIknowy ouli
keIknowthebackofmyhand.Gooni
nther
eandgety
ousomecof
fee...
seei
fthatst
raight
enyouup.’
Causeyouai
n'
tri
ght

t
hismor
ning.

(TROYstar
tsint
othehouseandseesGABRI
EL.GABRI
ELst
art
ssi
ngi
ng.TROY'
Sbr
other,
hei
s
seveny
earsyoungert
hanTROY.I
njur
edinWorl
d

WarII
,hehasametalpl
ateinhi
shead.Hecarr
iesanol
dtr
umpett
iedar
oundhi
swai
stand
bel
i
eveswithev
eryf
iberofhi
sbeingt
hatheisthe

ArchangelGabr
iel
.Hecarr
iesachi
ppedbasketwit
hanassor
tmentofdi
scar
dedf
rui
tsand
vegetabl
eshehaspickedupint
hestri
pdist
ri
ctandwhi
ch

heat
tempt
stosel
l
.)

GABRI
EL

(Si
nging.
)Yes,
ma'
am,Igotpl
umsYouaskmehowIsel
lthem Oht
encent
sapi
eceThr
eef
ora
quart
erComeandbuynow’CauseI
’
m her
e

t
odayAndt
omor
rowI
'
llbegone

(
GABRI
ELent
ers.
)Hey
,Rose!

ROSEHowy
oudoi
ng,
Gabe?

-27-

GABRI
ELTher
e’sTr
oy...Hey
,Tr
oy!
TROYHey
,Gabe.

(
Exi
tint
oki
tchen.
)

ROSE

(
ToGABRI
EL.
)Whaty
ougott
her
e?

GABRI
ELYouknowwhatIgot
,Rose.Igotf
rui
tsandv
eget
abl
es.

ROSE

(Looki
ngi
nbasket
.)Wher
e'sal
lthesepl
umsy
out
alki
ngabout
?

GABRI
ELIai
n’
tgotnoplumstoday,Rose.Iwasj
ustsi
ngi
ngt
hat
.Hav
esomet
omor
row.Putme
i
nabigor
derforpl
ums.Haveenoughplums

t
omor
rowf
orSt
.Pet
erandev
ery
body
.

(
TROYr
e-ent
ersf
rom ki
tchen,
crossest
ost
eps.
)

(
ToROSE.
)Tr
oy'
smadatme.

TROYIai
n'
tmadaty
ou.WhatIgott
obemadaty
ouabout
?Youai
n'
tdonenot
hingt
ome.

GABRI
ELIj
ustmov
edov
ert
oMi
ssPear
l’
stokeepoutf
rom i
nyourway
.Iai
n’
tmeannohar
m by
i
t.
TROYWhosai
dany
thi
ngaboutt
hat
?Iai
n'
tsai
dany
thi
ngaboutt
hat
.

GABRI
ELYouai
n’
tmadatme,
isy
ou?

TROYNaw.
..Iai
n’
tmadaty
ou,
Gabe.I
fIwasmadaty
ouI
’
dtel
lyouabouti
t.

GABRI
ELGotmet
wor
ooms.I
nthebasement
.Gotmyowndoort
oo.Wannaseemykey
?

(
Heholdsupakey
.)That
'smyownkey
!Ai
n’
tnobodyel
segotakeyl
i
ket
hat
.That
'smykey
!My
t
worooms!

-28-

TROYWel
l
,that
'sgood,
Gabe.Yougoty
ourownkey...t
hat
'sgood.

ROSEYouhungr
y,Gabe?Iwasj
ustf
ixi
ngt
ocookTr
oyhi
sbr
eakf
ast
.

GABRIELI
'
llt
akesomebi
scui
ts.Yougotsomebiscui
ts?Di
dyouknowwhenIwasi
nheav
en...
ever
ymorni
ngmeandSt.Pet
erwouldsitdown

bythegateandeatsomebigf
atbiscuit
s?Oh,y
eah!Wehadusagoodt
ime.We'
dsi
tther
eand
eatusthem bi
scui
tsandt
henSt.Peterwoul
dgooff

t
osl
eepandt
ell
met
owakehi
m upwheni
t'
sti
met
oopent
hegat
esf
ort
hej
udgment
.
ROSEWel
l
,comeon...I
'
llmakeupabat
chofbi
scui
ts.

(
ROSEexi
tsi
ntot
hehouse.
)

GABRI
ELTr
oy...St.Pet
ergoty
ournameinthebook.Iseeni
t.I
tsay.
..Tr
oyMaxson.Isay.
..I
knowhi
m!HegotthesamenamelikewhatI

got
.That
'smybr
other
!

TROYHowmanyt
imesy
ougonnat
ell
met
hat
,Gabe?

GABRIELAi
n'
tgotmynameinthebook.Don’
thav
etohav
emyname.Idonedi
edandwentt
o
heav
en.Hegotyournamet
hough.Onemorni
ng

St.Pet
erwaslooki
ngathi
sbook...marki
ngi
tupfort
hej
udgment...andhel
etmeseey
our
name.Gotiti
nther
eunderM.GotRose'
sname..
.I

ai
n'
tseeni
tli
keIseenyour
s..
.butIknowi
t'
sint
here.Hegotagr
eatbi
gbook.Gotev
ery
body
's
namewhatwaseverbeenbor
n.That’
swhathet
old

me.ButIseeny
ourname.Seeni
twi
thmyowney
es.

TROYGooni
nthehouset
her
e.Rosegoi
ngt
ofi
xyousomet
hingt
oeat
.

GABRI
ELOh,
Iai
n'
thungr
y.Idonehadbr
eakf
astwi
thAuntJemi
mah.Shecomebyandcooked
meupawhol
e

-29-

messoff
lapj
acks.Rememberhowweusedt
oeatt
hem f
lapj
acks?
TROYGooni
nthehouseandgety
ousomet
hingt
oeatnow.

GABRIELIgott
ogosel
lmypl
ums.Idonesol
dsomet
omat
oes.Gotmet
woquar
ter
s.Wanna
see?

(HeshowsTROYhisquar
ter
s.)I
'
m gonnasav
ethem andbuymeanewhor
nsoSt
.Pet
ercan
hearmewhenit
'st
imetoopenthegates.

(GABRIELst
opssuddenly
.Li
stens.
)Heart
hat
?That
'
sthehel
l
hounds.Igott
ochaset
hem outof
here.Goongetoutofher
e!Getout!

(GABRI
ELexit
ssi
ngi
ng.
)Bet
tergetr
eadyf
ort
hej
udgmentBet
tergetr
eadyf
ort
hej
udgmentMy
Lordi
scomingdown

(
ROSEent
ersf
rom t
hehouse.
)

TROYHegoneof
fsomewher
e.

GABRI
EL

(Off
stage)Bet
tergetr
eadyfort
hej
udgmentBet
tergetr
eadyf
ort
hej
udgmentmor
ningBet
ter
getreadyfort
hejudgmentMyGodiscomi
ngdown

ROSEHeai
n'
teat
ingr
ight
.Mi
ssPear
lsayshecan'
tgethi
mtoeatnot
hing.
TROYWhatyouwantmet
odoaboutit
,Rose?Idonedi
dev
ery
thi
ngIcanf
ort
heman.Ican'
t
makehi
m getwel
l
.Mangothal
fhi
sheadblownaway

...whaty
ouexpect
?

ROSESeem l
i
kesomet
hingoughtt
obedonet
ohel
phi
m.

TROYMandon'
tbot
hernobody
.Hej
ustmi
xedupf
rom

-30-

t
hatmet
alpl
atehegoti
nhi
shead.Ai
n'
tnosensef
orhi
mtogobacki
ntot
hehospi
tal
.

ROSELeasthebeeat
ingr
ight
.Theycanhel
phi
mtakecar
eofhi
msel
f.

TROYDon'
tnobodywannabelockedup,Rose.Whaty
ouwannal
ockhi
m upf
or?Mangoov
er
ther
eandf
ightt
hewar...messin'
aroundwith

them Japs,
gethal
fhi
sheadblownof
f...andt
heygi
vehi
m al
ousyt
hreet
housanddol
l
ars.And
Ihadtoswoopdownont hat
.

ROSEI
syouf
ixi
ngt
ogoi
ntot
hatagai
n?

TROYThat
'st
heonl
ywayIgotar
oofov
ermyhead...causeoft
hatmet
alpl
ate.
ROSEAin'tnosenseyoubl
amingyour
sel
ffornot
hing.Gabewasn'
ti
nnocondi
ti
ont
omanage
thatmoney.Youdonewhatwasri
ghtbyhi
m.Can't

nobodysayyouai
n'tdonewhatwasri
ghtbyhim.Lookhowl
ongy
out
ookcar
eofhi
m ...t
il
lhe
wantedtohavehi
sownpl aceandmovedoverther
e

wi
thMi
ssPear
l.

TROYThatai
n'
twhatI
'm say
ing,woman!I
'
mjustst
ati
ngt
hef
act
s.I
fmybr
otherdi
dn'
thav
ethat
metal
plat
einhi
shead..
.Iwouldn'
thav
eapotto

pi
ssinorawindowt
othr
owi
toutof
.AndI
’
mfi
ft
y-t
hreey
ear
sol
d.Nowseei
fyoucan
under
standt
hat!

(TROYget
supf
rom t
hepor
chandst
art
stoexi
tthey
ard.
)

ROSEWhereyougoingof
fto?Youbeenr
unni
ngoutofher
eev
erySat
urdayf
orweeks.It
hought
youwasgonnaworkonthi
sfence?

TROYI'
m gonnawal
kdownt
oTay
lor
s'.Li
stent
othebal
lgame.I
'
llbebacki
nabi
t.I
'
llwor
koni
t
whenIgetback.

(
Heexi
tst
hey
ard.Thel
i
ght
sgot
obl
ack.
)

Act1,
Scene3
-
31-

ActOneSceneThr
ee

Thelight
scomeupontheyard.I
tisf
ourhour
slat
er.ROSEi
staki
ngdownt
hecl
othesf
rom t
he
l
ine.CORYenter
scar
ryi
nghisfoot
bal
lequi
pment.

ROSEYourdaddyl
i
ket
ohadaf
itwi
thy
our
unni
ngoutofher
ethi
smor
ningwi
thoutdoi
ngy
our
chor
es.

CORYIt
oldy
ouIhadt
ogot
opr
act
ice.

ROSEHesayy
ouwer
esupposedt
ohel
phi
m wi
tht
hisf
ence.

CORYHebeensayi
ngthatt
helastfourorfi
veSat
urday
s,andt
henhedon'
tnev
erdonot
hing,
but
godownt
oTaylor
s'.Di
dyoutel
lhim aboutt
he

r
ecr
uit
er?

ROSEYeah,
Itol
dhi
m.

CORYWhathesay
?
ROSEHeain'
tsai
dnot
hingtoomuch.Yougetint
her
eandgetst
art
edony
ourchor
esbef
orehe
get
sback.Goonandscrubdownt
hem steps

bef
oreheget
sbackher
ehol
l
eri
ngandcar
ryi
ngon.

-32-

CORYI
'
m hungr
y.Whaty
ougott
oeat
,Mama?

ROSEGoonandgetstart
edonyourchor
es.Igotsomemeatl
oafi
nther
e.Goonandmakey
ou
asandwi
ch...anddon'
tl
eavenomessinthere.

(CORYexit
sint
othehouse.ROSEconti
nuestotakedownt
hecl
othes.TROYent
erst
hey
ardand
sneaksupandgrabsherf
rom behi
nd.
)Troy!Go

on,now.Youl
ikedtoscaredmetodeath.Whatwast
hescor
eoft
hegame?Luci
l
lehadmeon
thephoneandIcoul
dn'tkeepupwi
thit
.

TROYWhatIcar
eaboutt
hegame?Comeher
e,woman.

(
Het
ri
est
oki
ssher
.)

ROSEIt
houghtyouwentdownTay
lor
s't
oli
stent
othegame.Goon,
Troy
!Yousupposedt
obe
put
ti
ngupthi
sfence.

TROY

(
Att
empt
ingt
oki
ssheragai
n.)I
'
llputi
tupwhenIf
ini
shwi
thwhati
sathand.
ROSEGoon,
Troy
.Iai
n'
tst
udy
ingy
ou.

TROY

(
Chasi
ngaf
terher
.)I
'
m st
udy
ingy
ou...f
ixi
ngt
odomyhomewor
k!

ROSETr
oy,
youbet
terl
eav
emeal
one.

TROYWher
e'sCor
y?Thatboybr
oughthi
sbut
thomey
et?

ROSEHe'
sint
hehousedoi
nghi
schor
es.

TROY

(
Cal
l
ing.
)Cor
y!Gety
ourbut
touther
e,boy
!

(ROSEexi
tsi
ntothehousewi
tht
helaundry
.TROYgoesovert
othepi
l
eofwood,
picksupa
board,
andst
artssawi
ng.CORYent
ersfrom t
hehouse.
)

-33-

TROYYouj
ustnowcomi
ngi
nher
efr
om l
eav
ingt
hismor
ning?
CORYYeah,
Ihadt
ogot
ofoot
bal
lpr
act
ice.

TROYYeah,
what
?

CORYYessi
r.

TROYIai
n'
tbuttwosecondsoffyounoway.Thegar
bagesi
tt
ingi
nther
eov
erf
lowi
ng...y
ou
ai
n'
tdonenoneofyourchor
es...andyoucomein

her
etal
ki
ngabout"
Yeah.
"

CORYIwasj
ustget
ti
ngr
eadyt
odomychor
esnow,
Pop...

TROYYourfir
stchor
eist
ohelpmewi t
hthi
sfenceonSat
urday
.Ev
ery
thi
ngel
secomeaf
tert
hat
.
Nowgetthatsawandcutthem boar
ds.

(CORYtakest
hesawandbegi
nscut
ti
ngt
heboar
ds.TROYcont
inueswor
king.Ther
eisal
ong
pause.
)

CORYHey
,Pop...whydon'
tyoubuyaTV?

TROYWhatIwantwi
thaTV?WhatIwantoneoft
hem f
or?

CORYEv
ery
bodygotone.Ear
l,BaBr
a...Jesse!
TROYIai
n'
taskedy
ouwhohadone.IsaywhatIwantwi
thone?

CORYSoyoucanwat
chit
.Theygotl
otsoft
hingsonTV.Basebal
lgamesandev
ery
thi
ng.We
coul
dwat
chtheWorl
dSeri
es.

TROYYeah...andhowmucht
hisTVcost
?

CORYIdon'
tknow.Theygott
hem onsal
eforar
oundt
wohundr
eddol
l
ars.

-34-

TROYTwohundr
eddol
l
ars,
huh?

CORYThatai
n'
tthatmuch,
Pop.

TROYNaw, i
t'
sjustt
wohundreddoll
ars.Seet
hatr
oofy
ougotov
ery
ourheadatni
ght
?Letme
tel
lyousomethi
ngaboutt
hatroof
.It
'sbeenovert
en

y
earssincethatr
oofwaslastt
arr
ed.Seenow...t
hesnowcomet
hiswi
nterandsi
tupt
her
eon
t
hatroofli
keiti
s...andi
t’
sgonnaseepinsi
de.It
's

j
ustgonnabeali
tt
lebi
t...ain'
tgonnahar
dlynot
icei
t.Thent
henextt
hingy
ouknow,
it'
sgonna
bel
eakingal
lov
erthehouse.Thenthewoodrot

fr
om al
lthatwaterandy
ougonnaneedawhol
enewr
oof
.Now,
howmuchy
out
hinki
tcostt
o
gett
hatrooftar
red?

CORYIdon'
tknow.
TROYTwohundredandsixt
y-f
ourdol
lars...cashmoney
.Whi
l
eyout
hinki
ngaboutaTV,
Igott
o
bethi
nki
ngaboutt
heroof...andwhateverel
se

gowrongar
oundher
e.Nowi
fyouhadt
wohundr
eddol
l
ars,
whatwoul
dyoudo...f
ixt
her
oofor
buyaTV?

CORYI
'
dbuyaTV.Thenwhent
her
oofst
art
edt
oleak...wheni
tneededf
ixi
ng.
..I
'
dfi
xit
.

TROYWherey
ougonnagett
hemoneyfrom?Youdonespenti
tforaTV.Yougonnasi
tupand
watcht
hewat
err
unall
overyourbr
andnewTV.

CORYAw,
Pop.Yougotmoney
.Iknowy
oudo.

TROYWher
eIgoti
tat
,huh?

CORYYougoti
tint
hebank.

TROYYouwannaseemybankbook?Youwannaseet
hatsev
ent
y-t
hreedol
l
arsandt
went
y-t
wo
cent
sIgotsi
tt
ingupi
nther
e.

-35-
CORYYouai
n'tgott
opayf
ori
tal
latonet
ime.Youcanputadownpay
mentoni
tandcar
ryi
ton
homewit
hyou.

TROYNotme.Iai
n'tgonnaowenobodynothingi
fIcanhel
pit
.Mi
ssapay
mentandt
heycome
andsnat
chi
tri
ghtoutyourhouse.Thenwhatyou

got
?Now, soonasIgettwohundreddol
lar
sclear
,thenI
'
llbuyaTV.Ri
ghtnow,
assoonasIget
twohundr
edandsixty
-fourdol
l
ars,I
'
m gonnahave

t
hisr
ooft
arr
ed.

CORYAw...Pop!

TROYYougoonandgety
out
wohundr
eddol
l
arsandbuyonei
fyawanti
t.Igotbet
tert
hingst
o
dowit
hmymoney.

CORYIcan'
tgetnot
wohundr
eddol
l
ars.Iai
n'
tnev
erseent
wohundr
eddol
l
ars.

TROYI
'
llt
ell
youwhat...y
ougety
ouahundr
eddol
l
arsandI
'
llputt
heot
herhundr
edwi
thi
t.

CORYAl
ri
ght
,I'
m gonnashowy
ou.

TROYYougonnashowmehowy
oucancutt
hem boar
dsr
ightnow.

(CORYbegi
nst
ocutt
heboar
ds.Ther
eisal
ongpause.
)

CORYThePi
rat
eswont
oday
.Thatmakesf
ivei
nar
ow.
TROYIain'
tthi
nki
ngaboutthePi
rates.Gotanal
l-
whi
tet
eam.Gott
hatboy...t
hatPuer
toRi
can
boy...Cl
emente.Don'
tevenhal
f-
playhim.That

boycoul
dbesomet
hingi
ftheygi
vehi
m achance.Pl
ayhi
m onedayandsi
thi
m ont
hebench
thenext
.

CORYHeget
sal
otofchancest
opl
ay.

TROYI
'
mtal
ki
ngaboutpl
ayi
ngr
egul
ar.Pl
ayi
ngev
ery

-36-

daysoy
oucangety
ourt
imi
ng.That
'
swhatI
'
mtal
ki
ngabout
.

CORYTheygotsomewhi
teguy
sont
het
eam t
hatdon'
tpl
ayev
eryday
.Youcan'
tpl
ayev
ery
body
att
hesametime.

TROYIft
heygotawhitef
ell
owsit
ti
ngonthebench...y
oucanbety
ourl
astdol
l
arhecan’
tpl
ay!
Thecol
oredguygott
obetwiceasgoodbef
orehe

getont
heteam.That
’swhyIdon'
twanty
outogetall
tiedupi
nthem spor
ts.Manont
het
eam
andwhati
tgethi
m?Theygotcolor
edonthet
eam and

don'
tuset
hem.Sameasnothav
ingt
hem.Al
lthem t
eamst
hesame.

CORYTheBravesgotHankAar
onandWesCov
ingt
on.HankAar
onhi
ttwohomer
unst
oday
.
Thatmakesf
orty
-thr
ee.
TROYHankAaronai
n'
tnobody.That'
swhaty
ousupposedt
odo.That
’showy
ousupposedt
o
pl
aythegame.Ai
n'
tnot
hingtoit
.It
'sj
ustamatt
erof

t
imi
ng...get
ti
ngt
her
ightf
oll
ow-
thr
ough.Hel
l
,Icanhi
tfor
ty-
thr
eehomer
unsr
ightnow!

CORYNotof
fnomaj
or-
leaguepi
tchi
ng,
youcoul
dn'
t.

TROYWehadbet t
erpit
chingint
heNegr
oleagues.Ihi
tsev
enhomer
unsof
fofSat
chel
Pai
ge.
Youcan'
tgetnobett
erthanthat
!

CORYSandyKouf
ax.He'
sleadi
ngt
hel
eaguei
nst
ri
keout
s.

TROYIai
n’
tthi
nki
ngofnoSandyKouf
ax.

CORYYougotWar
renSpahnandLewBur
det
te.Ibety
oucoul
dn'
thi
tnohomer
unsof
fof
Warr
enSpahn.

TROYI
'
mthr
oughwi
thi
tnow.Yougoonandcutt
hem boar
ds.

-37-

(
Pause.
)Yourmamat
ell
mey
oudonegotr
ecr
uit
edbyacol
l
egef
oot
bal
lteam?I
sthatr
ight
?

CORYYeah.CoachZel
lmansayt
her
ecr
uit
ergonnabecomi
ngbyt
otal
ktoy
ou.Gety
out
osi
gn
theper
missi
onpaper
s.

TROYIthoughtyousupposedtobewor
kingdownt
her
eatt
heA&P.Ai
n'
tyousupposet
obe
worki
ngdownt her
eafterschool
?
CORYMr .St
awicki
sayhegonnahol
dmyj
obf
ormeunt
ilaf
tert
hef
oot
bal
lseason.Sayst
art
ing
nextweekIcanworkweekends.

TROYIt houghtwehadanunder
standi
ngaboutt
hisf
oot
bal
lst
uff
?Yousupposet
okeepupwi
th
yourchoresandhol
dthatj
obdownatt heA&P.

Ain'
tbeenaroundher
ealldayonaSat
urday
.Ai
n'
tnoneofy
ourchor
esdone...andnowy
ou
tel
li
ngmey oudonequity
ourjob.

CORYI
'
m gonnabewor
kingweekends.

TROYYoudamnrightyouar
e!Andai
n'
tnoneedf
ornobodycomi
ngar
oundher
etot
alkt
ome
aboutsi
gni
ngnot
hing.

CORYHey
,Pop...y
oucan'
tdot
hat
.He'
scomi
ngal
lthewayf
rom Nor
thCar
oli
na.

TROYIdon'
tcar
ewherehecomi
ngfr
om.Thewhit
emanai
n'
tgonnal
ety
ougetnowher
ewi
th
thatf
oot
bal
lnoway
.Yougoonandgety
ourbook-

l
earni
ngsoyoucanworkyoursel
fupi
nthatA&Porlear
nhowt
ofi
xcar
sorbui
l
dhousesor
somethi
ng,
getyouat
rade.Thatwayyouhavesomethi
ng

can'
tnobodytakeawayfrom you.Yougoonandl
ear
nhowt
oputy
ourhandst
osomegooduse.
Besi
deshauli
ngpeople'
sgarbage.
-38-

CORYIgetgoodgr
ades,Pop.That
'
swhyther
ecrui
terwant
stot
alkwi
thy
ou.Yougott
okeepup
yourgr
adest
ogetrecr
uit
ed.Thi
swayI
’l
lbegoi
ng

t
ocol
l
ege.I
'
llgetachance...

TROYFi
rsty
ougonnagety
ourbut
tdownt
her
etot
heA&Pandgety
ourj
obback.

CORYMr
.St
awi
cki
doneal
readyhi
redsomebodyel
se'
causeIt
oldhi
m Iwaspl
ayi
ngf
oot
bal
l
.

TROYYouabiggerf
oolt
hanIthought..
.tol
etsomebodyt
akeawayy
ourj
obsoy
oucanpl
ay
somefoot
bal
l
.Whereyougonnagety ourmoneyto

takeoutyourgi
rl
fr
iendandwhat
not
?Whatki
ndoff
ool
i
shnessi
sthatt
oletsomebodyt
ake
awayy ourj
ob?

CORYI
'
m st
il
lgonnabewor
kingweekends.

TROYNaw...naw.Youget
ti
ngy
ourbut
toutofher
eandf
indi
ngy
ouanot
herj
ob.

CORYComeon, Pop!Igott
opracti
ce.Ican'
twor
kaf
terschool
andpl
ayf
oot
bal
ltoo.Thet
eam
needsme.That
'swhatCoachZell
mansay...

TROYIdon'tcar
ewhatnobodyelsesay.I
'
mtheboss...y
ouunder
stand?I
'
mthebossar
ound
her
e.Idotheonlysay
ingwhatcounts.
CORYComeon,
Pop!

TROYIaskedy
ou.
..di
dyouunder
stand?

CORYYeah...

TROYWhat
?!

CORYYessi
r.

TROYYougoondownt
her
etot
hatA&Pandseei
fyoucangety
ourj
obback.I
fyoucan'
tdo
bot
h...t
henyou

-39-

qui
tthef
oot
bal
lteam.You'
vegott
otaket
hecr
ookedswi
tht
hest
rai
ght
s.

CORYYessi
r.

(
Pause.
)CanIasky
ouaquest
ion?

TROYWhatt
hehel
lyouwannaaskme?Mr
.St
awi
cki
theoney
ougott
hequest
ionsf
or.

CORYHowcomey
ouai
n’
tnev
erl
i
kedme?
TROYLi
kedyou?Whot
hehel
lsayIgott
oli
key ou?Whatl
awi
sther
esayIgott
oli
key
ou?
Wannast
andupinmyf
aceandaskadamnf ool-
ass

quest
ionl
i
ket
hat
.Tal
ki
ngaboutl
i
kingsomebody
.Comeher
e,boy
,whenIt
alkt
oyou.

(CORYcomesovertowhereTROYisworki
ng.Hestandssl
ouchedov
erandTROYshov
eshi
m
onhi
sshoul
der
.)Str
aight
enup,goddammit
!Iasked

y
ouaquest
ion...whatl
awi
sther
esayIgott
oli
key
ou?

CORYNone.

TROYWel
l
,al
ri
ghtt
hen!Don'
tyoueatev
eryday
?

(
Pause.
)AnswermewhenIt
alkt
oyou!Don'
tyoueatev
eryday
?

CORYYeah.

TROYNi
gger
,asl
ongasy
oui
nmyhouse,
youputt
hatsi
ront
heendofi
twheny
out
alkt
ome!

CORYYes...si
r.
TROYYoueatev
eryday
.

CORYYessi
r!

TROYGotar
oofov
ery
ourhead.

CORYYessi
r!

-40-

TROYGotcl
othesony
ourback.

CORYYessi
r.

TROYWhyy
out
hinkt
hati
s?

CORYCauseofy
ou.

TROYAw,
hel
lIknowi
t'
s'causeofme...butwhydoy
out
hinkt
hati
s?

CORY

(
Hesi
tant
.)Causey
oul
i
keme.

TROYLi
key
ou?Igooutofher
eev
erymor
ning...bustmybut
t...put
ti
ngupwi
tht
hem
cr
acker
sev
eryday...causeIl
i
key
ou?Youaboutt
he

bi
ggestf
ool
Iev
ersaw.

(
Pause.
)It
'
smyjob.I
t'
smyresponsi
bil
i
ty!Youunder
standt
hat
?Amangott
otakecar
eofhi
s
f
amil
y.Youli
vei
nmyhouse...sl
eepyoubehindon

mybedclot
hes...fi
ll
youbel
lyupwi
thmyfood...causey
oumyson.Youmyf
leshandbl
ood.
Not'
causeIli
keyou!Causei
t'
smydutyt
otakecar
e

ofyou.Iowearesponsibi
l
ityt
oyou!Let'
sgett
hisst
rai
ghtr
ighther
e...bef
orei
tgoal
ongany
fur
ther.
..Iai
n'
tgott
olikeyou.Mr.Randdon'
tgi
ve

memymoneycomepay
daycauseheli
kesme.Hegiv
esmecauseheoweme.Idonegi
vey
ou
ev
ery
thi
ngIhadt
ogi
veyou.Igav
eyouyourl
i
fe!Me

andyourmamaworkedthatoutbet
weenus.Andl i
ki
ngy
ourbl
ackasswasn'
tpar
toft
hebar
gai
n.
Don'
tyoutr
yandgothr
oughl i
feworr
yingabouti
f

somebodyli
keyouornot
.Youbestbemaki
ngsur
etheydoi
ngr
ightbyy
ou.Youunder
stand
whatI
'm say
ing,
boy?

CORYYessi
r.

TROYThengett
hehel
loutofmyf
ace,
andgetondownt
othatA&P.

-
41-

(ROSEhasbeenst
andi
ngbehi
ndt
hescr
eendoorf
ormuchoft
hescene.Sheent
ersasCORY
exi
sts.
)

ROSEWhydon'
tyoul
ett
heboygoaheadandpl
ayf
oot
bal
l
,Tr
oy?Ai
n’
tnohar
mint
hat
.He'
sjust
t
ryi
ngt
obel
i
key
ouwi
tht
hespor
ts.

TROYIdon'
twanthimt obeli
keme!Iwanthimtomov
easf
arawayf
rom myl
i
feashecanget
.
Yout
heonlydecentt
hingthatev
erhappenedto

me.Iwi
shhimthat
.ButIdon’
twi
shhi
m athingel
sef
rom myl
i
fe.Ideci
dedsev
ent
eeny
ear
sago
t
hatboywasn'
tget
ti
nginvol
vedi
nnospor
ts.Not

af
terwhatt
heydi
dtomei
nthespor
ts.

ROSETroy,whydon'
tyouadmity
ouadmi
tyouwast
oool
dtopl
ayi
nthemaj
orl
eagues?For
once...whydon'
tyouadmitt
hat?

TROYWhatdoyoumeant oool
d?Don'
tcomet
ell
i
ngmeIwast
oool
d.Ij
ustwasn'
tther
ight
col
or.Hel
l
,I'
mfi
ft
y-t
hreey
earsol
dandcandobet
ter

t
hanSel
ki
rk'
s.269r
ightnow!

ROSEHow'
swasy
ougonnapl
aybal
lwheny
ouwer
eov
erf
ort
y?Somet
imesIcan’
tgetnosense
outofy
ou.

TROYIgotgoodsense,woman.Igotsenseenoughnott
oletmyboygethur
tov
erpl
ayi
ngno
spor
ts.Youbeenmother
ingt
hatboytoomuch.

Wor
ri
edabouti
fpeopl
eli
kehi
m.
ROSEEv
ery
thi
ngt
hatboydo.
..hedof
ory
ou.Hewant
syout
osay"
Goodj
ob,
son.
"That
’sal
l
.

TROYRose,Iain'tgott
imeforthat
.He’
sal
ive.He'
sheal
thy
.He'
sgott
omakehi
sownway
.I
mademine.Ain'tnobodygonnaholdhi
shandwhen

hegetoutt
her
eint
hatwor
ld.

-42-

ROSETimeshavechangedfr
om whenyouwasyoung,
Troy
.Peopl
echange.Thewor
ld'
s
changi
ngar
oundyouandy oucan'
tev
enseeit
.

TROY

(Sl
ow,methodi
cal
.
)Woman. .
.Idot hebestIcando.Icomei
nher
eev
eryFr
iday
.Icar
ryasack
ofpot
atoesandabucketofl
ard.Youalll
ineupat

thedoorwithyourhandsout.Igi
veyouthel
intf
rom mypocket
s.Igi
vey
oumysweatandmy
blood.Iai
n'
tgotnotears.Idonespentt
hem.Wego

upst
air
sint
hatr
oom atni
ght...andIfal
ldownony ouandt
ryt
obl
astahol
eint
ofor
ever
.Iget
upMondaymorni
ng...fi
ndmyl unchonthetabl
e.I

goout
.Makemyway
.Fi
ndmyst
rengt
htocar
rymet
hrought
othenextFr
iday
.

(
Pause.
)That
'sal
lIgot
,Rose.That
'
sal
lIgott
ogi
ve.Ican'
tgi
venot
hingel
se.

(
TROYexi
tsI
ntot
hehouse.Thel
i
ght
sgodownt
obl
ack.
)
-43-

Act1,
Scene4

ActOneSceneFour

I
tisFri
day.Twoweeksl
ater
.CORYst
art
soutoft
hehousewi
thhi
sfoot
bal
lequi
pment
.The
phoneri
ngs.

CORY

(
Cal
l
ing.
)Igoti
t!

(
Heanswersthephoneandstandsi
nthescr
eendoort
alki
ng.
)Hel
l
o?Hey
,Jesse.Naw.
..Iwas
j
ustget
ti
ngreadyt
oleavenow.

ROSE

(
Cal
l
ing.
)Cor
y!

CORYIt ol
dyou,man,
them spi
kesi
sal
ltor
eup.Youcanuset
hem i
fyouwant
,butt
heyai
n’
tno
good.Earl
gotsomespikes.
ROSE

(
Cal
l
ing.
)Cor
y!

CORY

(Cal
l
ingt
oROSE.
)Mam?I
'
mtal
ki
ngt
oJesse.

(I
ntophone.
)Whenshesayt
hat
?

(
Pause.
)Aw,
youl
yi
ng,
man.I
'
m gonnat
ell
hery
ousai
dthat
.

ROSE

(
Cal
l
ing.
)Cor
y,don'
tyougonowher
e!

CORYIgott
ogot
othegame,
Ma!

(
Int
othephone.
)

-44.
.
Yeah,
hey
,look,
I'
ll
tal
ktoy
oul
ater
.Yeah,
I'
ll
meety
ouov
erEar
l'
shouse.Lat
er.By
e,Ma.

(
CORYexi
tst
hehouseandst
art
soutt
hey
ard.
)

ROSECor
y,wher
eyougoi
ngof
fto?Yougott
hatst
uffal
lpul
l
edoutandt
hrownal
lov
ery
our
room.

CORY

(
Int
hey
ard.
)Iwasl
ooki
ngf
ormyspi
kes.Jessewant
edt
obor
rowmyspi
kes.

ROSEGetupt
her
eandgett
hatcl
eanedupbef
orey
ourdaddygetbacki
nher
e.

CORYIgott
ogot
othegame!I
'
llcl
eani
tupwhenIgetback.

(
CORYexi
ts.
)

ROSEThat
'
sal
lheneedt
odoi
sseet
hatr
oom al
lmessedup.

(
ROSEexi
tsi
ntothehouse.TROYandBONOent
ert
hey
ard.TROYi
sdr
essedi
ncl
othesot
her
t
hanhi
sworkclot
hes.
)

BONOHet
oldhi
mthesamet
hinghet
oldy
ou.Takei
ttot
heuni
on.

TROYBrowni
eain'
tgott
hatmuchsense.Manwasn'
tthi
nki
ngaboutnot
hing.Hewai
tunt
ilI
conf
rontt
hem oni
t...t
henhewannacomecryi
ng
seni
ori
ty.

(
Cal
l
s.)Hey
,Rose!

BONOIwi
shIcoul
dhav
eseenMr
.Rand'
sfacewhenhet
oldy
ou.

TROYHecoul
dn'
tgeti
toutofhi
smout
h!Li
kedt
obi
thi
stongue!Whent
heycal
l
edmedown
ther
etot
heCommissi
oner
's

-45-

of
fi
ce.
..het
houghtt
heywasgonnaf
ir
eme.Li
keev
ery
bodyel
se.

BONOIdi
dn'
tthi
nkt
heywasgonnaf
ir
eyou.It
houghtt
heywasgonnaputy
ouont
hewar
ning
paper
.

TROYHey
,Rose!

(
ToBONO.
)Yeah,
Mr.Randl
i
ket
obi
thi
stongue.

(TROYbr
eakst
heseal
ont
hebot
tl
e,t
akesadr
ink,
andhandsi
ttoBONO.
)

BONOIseey
our
unr
ightdownt
oTay
lor
s'andt
oldt
hatAl
ber
tagal
.
TROY

{
Cal
l
ing.
)HeyRose!

{
ToBONO.
)It
oldev
ery
body
.Hey
,Rose!Iwentdownt
her
etocashmycheck.

ROSE

{
Ent
eri
ngfrom t
hehouse.)Hushall
thathol
l
eri
ng,
man!Iknowy
ououther
e.Whatt
heysaydown
t
her
eattheCommissioner'
soff
ice?

TROYYousupposedt
ocomewhenIcal
lyou,
woman.Bono'
l
ltel
lyout
hat
.

{
ToBONO.
)Don'
tLuci
l
lecomewheny
oucal
lher
?

ROSEMan,
hushy
ourmout
h.Iai
n’
tnodog...t
alkabout"
comewheny
oucal
lme.
"

TROY

(
Put
shisarm aroundROSE.
)Youhearthis,
Bono?Ihadmeanol
ddogusedt
ogetuppi
tyl
i
ke
t
hat
.Yousay,"C'
mere,Bl
ue!
"...andhejustlayt
her
e

andl
ookaty
ou.Endupget
ti
ngast
ickandchasi
nghi
m awayt
ryi
ngt
omakehi
m come.

ROSEIai
n’
tst
udy
ingy
ouandy
ourdog.Ir
emembery
ouusedt
osi
ngt
hatol
dsong.

-46-
TROY

(
Hesi
ngs.
)Heari
tri
ng!Heari
tri
ng!Ihadadoghi
snamewasBl
ue.

ROSEDon'
tnobodywannaheary
ousi
ngt
hatol
dsong.

TROY

(
Sings.
)YouknowBl
uewasmi
ght
ytr
ue.

ROSEUsedt
ohav
eCor
yrunni
ngar
oundher
esi
ngi
ngt
hatsong.

BONOHel
l
,Ir
emembert
hatsongmy
sel
f.

TROY

(Si
ngs.
)YouknowBluewasagoodol
ddog.Bluet
reedapossum i
nahol
l
owl
og.Thatwasmy
daddy'
ssong.Mydaddymadeupt
hatsong.

ROSEIdon'
tcar
ewhomadei
tup.Don'
tnobodywannaheary
ousi
ngi
t.

TROY
(
Makesasongl
i
kecal
l
ingadog.
)Comeher
e,woman.

ROSEYoucomeinher
ecarryi
ngon,
Ireckont
heyai
n’
tfi
redy
ou.Whatt
heysaydownt
her
eat
theCommi
ssi
oner'
sof
fice?

TROYLookhere,
Rose..
.Mr.Randcal
l
edmei nt
ohisof
fi
cet
odaywhenIgotbackf
rom t
alki
ng
tot
hem peopl
edownthere.
..i
tcomefrom uptop

...hecal
l
edmei
nandt
oldmet
heywasmaki
ngmeadr
iver
.

ROSETr
oy,
youki
ddi
ng!

TROYNoIai
n'
t.AskBono.

ROSEWel
l
,that
'sgr
eat
,Tr
oy.Nowy
oudon'
thav
etohassl
ethem peopl
enomor
e.

(
LYONSent
ersf
rom t
hest
reet
.)

-47-

TROYAwhell
,Iwasn'
tlookingt
oseey out
oday
.It
houghty
ouwasi
njai
l
.Goti
tal
lov
ert
hef
ront
pageoft
heCouri
eraboutthem r
aidi
ngSef
us'

pl
ace...wher
eyoubehangi
ngoutwi
thal
lthem t
hugs.

LYONSHey ,
Pop...t
hatai
n'
tgotnothi
ngtodowithme.Idon'
tgodownt
her
egambl
i
ng.Igo
downther
etosi
tinwit
htheband.Iai
n'
tgotnot
hing

t
odowi
tht
hegambl
i
ngpar
t.Theygotsomegoodmusi
cdownt
her
e.
TROYTheygotsomer
ogues.
..i
swhatt
heygot
.

LYONSHowy
oubeen,
Mr.Bono?Hi
,Rose.

BONOIseewher
eyoupl
ayi
ngdownatt
heCr
awf
ordGr
il
ltoni
ght
.

ROSEHowcomey ouain'
tbr
oughtBonni
eli
keItol
dyou.Youshoul
dhav
ebr
oughtBonni
ewi
th
you,
sheai
n'
tbeenoverinamonthofSundays.

LYONSIwasj
usti
nthenei
ghbor
hood...t
houghtI
'
dst
opby
.

TROYHer
ehecome...

BONOYourdaddygotapr
omotiononther
ubbish.He'
sgonnabet
hef
ir
stcol
oreddr
iver
.Ai
n'
t
gott
odonothi
ngbutsi
tupther
eandreadthepaper

l
i
ket
hem whi
tef
ell
ows.

LYONSHey
,Pop.
..i
fyouknewhowt
oready
ou'
dbeal
ri
ght
.

BONONaw...naw...y oumeaniftheniggerknewhowt
odr
ivehe’
dbeal
lri
ght
.Beenf
ight
ing
wit
hthem peopl
eaboutdr
ivi
ngandain'
tevengota

l
i
cense.Mr
.Randknowy
ouai
n’
tgotnodr
iver
'sl
i
cense?

TROYDrivi
ngai
n'
tnot
hing.Al
lyoudoi
spoi
ntt
het
ruckwher
eyouwanti
ttogo.Dr
ivi
ngai
n’
t
not
hing.
-48-

BONODoMr .Randknowyouain'tgotnodri
ver
'sl
i
cense?That
'swhatI
'
mtal
ki
ngabout
.Iai
n'
t
askedi
fdr
ivi
ngwaseasy.IaskedifMr.Randknow

y
ouai
n'
tgotnodr
iver
'sl
i
cense.

TROYHeain'tgottoknow.Themanai
n'
tgott
oknowmybusi
ness.Ti
mehef
indout
,Ihav
etwo
ort
hreedr
iver'
sli
censes.

LYONS

(
Goi
ngi
ntohi
spocket
.)Say
,lookher
e,Pop...

TROYIknewitwascoming.Di
dn'
tIt
ell
you,
Bono?Iknowwhatki
ndof"
Lookher
e,Pop"t
hat
was.Theni
ggerf
ixi
ngtoaskmeforsomemoney.I
t'
s

Fr
idaynight
.It'
smypayday.All
them roguesdownt
her
eont
heav
enue.
..t
heonest
hatai
n'
ti
n
j
ail...andLyonsi
shoppinginhisshoestoget

downt
her
ewi
tht
hem

LYONSSee,
Pop.
..i
fyougi
vesomebodyel
seachancet
otal
ksomet
ime,
you'
dseet
hatIwas
f
ixi
ngt
opayy
oubacky
ourt
endol
l
arsl
i
keIt
old

y
ou.Her
e..
.It
oldy
ouI
'
dpayy
ouwhenBonni
egotpai
d.

TROYNaw...y
ougoaheadandkeept
hattendol
l
ars.Puti
tint
hebank.Thenextt
imey
ouf
eel
l
ikey
ouwannacomebyher
eandaskmef or

somet
hing...y
ougoondownt
her
eandgett
hat
.

LYONSHer
e’sy
ourt endol
l
ars,
Pop.It
oldy
ouIdon'
twanty
out
ogi
vemenot
hing.Ij
ustwant
ed
tobor
rowt
endoll
ars.

TROYNaw...y
ougoonandkeept
hatf
ort
henextt
imey
ouwantt
oaskme.

LYONSComeon,
Pop...her
egoy
ourt
endol
l
ars.

ROSEWhydon'
tyougoonandl
ett
heboypayy
ouback,
Troy
?

-49-

LYONSHerey
ougo,
Rose.I
fyoudon’
ttakei
tI'
m gonnahav
etohearabouti
tfort
henextsi
x
months.
(
Hehandshert
hemoney
.)

ROSEYoucanhandy
our
sov
erher
etoo,
Troy
.

TROYYouseet
his,
Bono.Youseehowt
heydome.

BONOYeah,
Luci
l
ledomet
hesameway
.

(
GABRI
ELi
shear
dsi
ngi
ngof
fst
age.Heent
ers.
)

GABRI
ELBett
ergetr
eadyf
ort
heJudgment
!Bet
tergetr
eadyf
or...Hey
!...Hey
!...Ther
e's
Tr
oy'
sboy!

LYONSHowy
oudoi
ng,
Uncl
eGabe?

GABRI
ELLy
ons...TheKi
ngoft
heJungl
e!Rose...hey
,Rose.Gotaf
lowerf
ory
ou.

(
Het
akesar
osef
rom hi
spocket
.)Pi
ckedi
tmy
sel
f.That
’st
hesamer
osel
i
key
oui
s!

ROSEThat
'
sri
ghtni
ceofy
ou,
Gabe.

LYONSWhaty
oubeendoi
ng,
Uncl
eGabe?
GABRI
ELOh,
Ibeenchasi
nghel
l
houndsandwai
ti
ngont
het
imet
otel
lSt
.Pet
ert
oopent
he
gat
es.

LYONSYoubeenchasi
nghell
hounds,
huh?Wel
l...y
oudoi
ngt
her
ightt
hing,
Uncl
eGabe.
Somebodygott
ochasethem.

GABRI
ELOh,yeah..
.Iknowi
t.Thedevil
'
sst
rong.Thedev
ilai
n'
tnopushov
er.Hel
l
hounds
sni
ppi
ngatev
erybody'
sheel
s.ButIgotmyt
rumpet

wai
ti
ngont
hej
udgmentt
ime.

LYONSWai
ti
ngont
heBat
tl
eofAr
mageddon,
huh?

GABRI
ELAin'
tgonnabet
oomuchofabat
tl
ewhenGodgett
owav
ingt
hatJudgmentswor
d.But
t
hepeopl
e'
s

-50-

gonnahav
eahel
lofat
imet
ryi
ngt
ogeti
ntoheav
eni
fthem gat
esai
n'
topen.

LYONS

(
Put
ti
nghi
sar
m ar
oundGABRI
EL.
)Youheart
his,
Pop.Uncl
eGabe,
youal
ri
ght
!

GABRI
EL

(
Laughi
ngwi
thLYONS.
)Ly
ons!Ki
ngoft
heJungl
e.
ROSEYougonnast
ayf
orsupper
,Gabe.Wantmet
ofi
xyouapl
ate?

GABRIELI'
ll
takeasandwi
ch,
Rose.Don'
twantnopl
ate.Justwannaeatwi
thmyhands.I
'
llt
ake
asandwich.

ROSEHowabouty
ou,
Lyons?Youst
ayi
ng?Gotsomeshor
tri
bscooki
ng.

LYONSNaw,
Iwon'
teatnot
hingt
il
laf
terwef
ini
shedpl
ayi
ng.

(
Pause.
)Yououghtt
ocomedownandl
i
stent
omepl
ay,
Pop.

TROYIdon'
tl
iket
hatChi
nesemusi
c.Al
lthatnoi
se.

ROSEGooni
nthehouseandwashup,
Gabe...I
'
llf
ixy
ouasandwi
ch.

GABRI
EL

(
ToLYONS,
asheexi
ts.
)Tr
oy'
smadatme.

LYONSWhaty
oumadatUncl
eGabef
or,
Pop.

ROSEHet
hinksTr
oy'
smadathi
m causehemov
edov
ert
oMi
ssPear
l'
s.
TROYIai
n'
tmadatt
heman.Hecanl
i
vewher
ehewantt
oli
veat
.

LYONSWhathemov
eov
ert
her
efor
?Mi
ssPear
ldon'
tl
ikenobody
.

-51-

ROSEShedon'
tmi
ndhi
m none.Shet
reat
shi
mreal
nice.Shej
ustdon'
tal
l
owal
lthatsi
ngi
ng.

TROYShedon'
tmi
ndt
hatr
enthebepay
ing...t
hat
'
swhatshedon'
tmi
nd.

ROSETr
oy,Iain’
tgoi
ngthr
ought
hatwi
thy
ounomor e.He’
sov
ert
her
ecausehewantt
ohav
e
hi
sownplace.Hecancomeandgoasheplease.

TROYHel
l
,hecoul
dcomeandgoashepl
easeher
e.Iwasn'
tst
oppi
nghi
m.Iai
n'
tputnor
uleson
hi
m.

ROSEI
tai
n'
tthesamet
hing,
Troy
.Andy
ouknowi
t.

(GABRIELcomestothedoor.
)Now,that
'st
helastIwannahearaboutt
hat
.Idon'
twannahear
nothi
ngelseaboutGabeandMissPearl
.Andnext

week...

GABRI
ELI
'
mreadyf
ormysandwi
ch,
Rose.

ROSEAndnextweek...whent
hatrecrui
tercomef
rom t
hatschool
...Iwanty
out
osi
gnt
hat
paperandgoonandl
etCorypl
ayfootbal
l.Then
t
hat
'l
lbet
hel
astIhav
etohearaboutt
hat
.

TROY

(
ToROSEassheexi
tsi
ntot
hehouse.
)Iai
n'
tthi
nki
ngaboutCor
ynot
hing.

LYONSWhat...Cor
ygotr
ecr
uit
ed?Whatschool
hegoi
ngt
o?

TROYThatboywal
ki
ngaroundheresmelli
nghispiss...t
hinki
nghe'
sgr
own.Thi
nki
nghe'
s
gonnadowhathewant
,ir
respect
iveofwhatIsay
.

Lookher
e,Bono..
.Ilef
ttheCommissi
oner'
sof
fi
ceandwentdownt
otheA&P...t
hatboyai
n'
t
worki
ngdownthere.Helyi
ngtome.Tel
li
ngmehe

gothi
sjobback...t
ell
i
ngmehewor
kingweekends...t
ell
i
ngmehewor
kingaf
ter

-52-

school
...Mr
.St
awi
cki
tel
lmeheai
n’
twor
kingdownt
her
eatal
l
!

LYONSCor
yjustgr
owi
ngup.He’
sjustbust
ingatt
heseamst
ryi
ngt
ofi
l
louty
ourshoes.

TROYIdon'tcar
ewhathe'
sdoing.Whenhegettothepoi
ntwher
ehewannadi
sobeyme...
theni
t'
sti
mef orhi
mtomov eon.Bono'
l
ltel
lyouthat
.I
betheai
n'
tnev
erdi
sobey
edhi
sdaddywi
thoutpay
ingt
heconsequences.

BONOIai
n'
tneverhadachance.Mydaddycameont
hrough.
..butIai
n'
tnev
erknewhi
mtosee
hi
m..
.orwhathehadonhismindorwherehe

went.Justmov
ingont
hrough.Sear
chi
ngouttheNewLand.That
'swhatt
heol
dfol
ksusedt
o
cal
li
t.Seeafel
lowmovi
ngaroundfrom pl
acetopl
ace.

..womantowoman...call
editsearchi
ngouttheNewLand.Ican'
tsayi
fheev
erf
oundi
t.I
comealong,
didn'
twantnoki
ds.Didn'
tknowifIwas

gonnabei
noneplacel
ongenoughtofixonthem r
ightast
hei
rdaddy
.If
igur
edIwasgoi
ng
sear
chi
ngtoo.Asi
ttur
nedoutIbeenhookedupwith

Luci
l
lenearaboutasl
ongasy
ourdaddybeenwi
thRose.Goi
ngonsi
xteeny
ear
s.

TROYSometimesIwishIhadn'
tknownmydaddy.Heai
n'
tcar
ednot
hingaboutnoki
ds.Aki
dto
hi
m wasn'
tnothi
ng.Al
lhewantedwasfory
outo

l
earnhowt
owalksohecouldstar
tyoutoworki
ng.Wheni
tcomet
imef
oreat
ing.
..heat
efi
rst
.
I
fther
ewasany
thi
nglef
tover,
that'
swhatyougot.

Manwoul
dsi
tdownandeatt
wochi
ckensandgi
vey
out
hewi
ng.

LYONSYououghttost
opthat,Pop.Ev
ery
bodyfeedt
hei
rki
ds.Nomat
terhowhar
dti
mesi
s...
ever
ybodycar
eaboutt
hei
rkids.Makesuret
hey

hav
esomet
hingt
oeat
.

-53-
TROYTheonl
ythi
ngmydaddycaredaboutwasgett
ingt
hem bal
esofcot
toni
ntoMr
.Lubi
n.
That
'st
heonl
ythi
ngt
hatmatt
eredtohim.Someti
mes

Iusedtowonderwhyhewasliv
ing.Wonderwhythedev
ilhadn'
tcomeandgothi
m."
Gett
hem
balesofcot
toni
ntoMr.Lubi
n"andfindoutheowe

hi
m money...

LYONSHeshouldhav
ejustwentonandl
eftwhenhesawhecoul
dn'
tgetnowher
e.That
’swhatI
woul
dhavedone.

TROYHowhegonnaleav
ewit
helevenki
ds?Andwher
ehegonnago?Heai
n'
tknewhowt
odo
not
hingbutf
arm.No,
hewast
rappedandIthi
nkhe

knewi
t.ButI
'l
lsayt
hisf
orhim..
.hefeltaresponsi
bil
i
tyt
owar
dus.May
beheai
n'
ttr
eat
edust
he
wayIf
eltheshoul
dhave..
.butwi
thoutthat

r
esponsi
bil
i
tyhecoul
dhav
ewal
kedof
fandl
eftus...madehi
sownway
.

BONOAl otofthem di
d.Backi
nthosedayswhatyout
alki
ngabout...t
heywal
koutt
hei
rfr
ont
doorandjustt
akeondownoner oadoranot
herand

keeponwal
ki
ng.

LYONSTher
eyougo!That
'
swhatI
'
mtal
ki
ngabout
.

BONOJustkeeponwal
ki
ngti
l
lyoucometosomet
hingel
se.Ai
n'
tyounev
erhear
dofnobody
hav
ingt
hewalki
ngbl
ues?Wel
l,t
hat
'
swhatyoucal
li
t
wheny
ouj
ustt
akeof
fli
ket
hat
.

TROYMydaddyain’
thadt
hem wal
ki
ngblues!Whaty
out
alki
ngabout
?Hest
ayedr
ightt
her
e
wit
hhi
sfami
ly.Buthewasj
ustasevi
lashecoul
dbe.

Mymamacoul dn'
tst
andhim.Couldn'
tst
andt
hatevil
ness.Sher
unof
fwhenIwasaboutei
ght
.
Shesneakedof
fonenightaf
terhehadgonet
osleep.

Toldmeshewascomingbackforme.Iai
n'
tneverseenhernomor
e.Al
lhi
swomenr
unof
fand
l
efthi
m.Hewasn'
tgoodfornobody.Whenmyturn

comet
oheadout
,Iwasf
our
teenandgot

-54-

tosni
ff
ingar
oundJoeCanewel
l'
sdaughter
.Hadusanol
dmul
ewecal
l
edGr
eyboy
.Mydaddy
sentmeouttodosomeplowi
ngandItiedupGrey
boy

andwenttofool
ingar
oundwithJoeCanewell
'
sdaught
er.Wedonef
oundusani
cel
i
ttl
espot
,
gotr
ealcozywit
heachother
.Sheaboutthi
rt
eenand

wedonefiguredwewasgrownany
way. .
.sowedownt
her
eenj
oyi
ngour
sel
ves...ai
n'
tthi
nki
ng
aboutnot
hing.Wedi
dn'
tknowGreyboyhadgot

l
ooseandwander
edbacktothehouseandmydaddywasl
ooki
ngf
orme.Wedownt
her
ebyt
he
cr
eekenj
oyi
ngoursel
veswhenmydaddycomeup

onus.Sur
pri
sedus.Hehadt
hem l
eat
herst
rapsof
fthemul
eandcommencedt
owhuppi
ngme
l
iket
herewasnotomorr
ow.Ij
umpedup,madand

embarr
assed.Iwasscar
edofmydaddy
.Whenhecommencedt
owhuppi
ngonme...qui
te
nat
ural
l
yIruntogetoutoft
heway.

(
Pause.
)NowIthoughthewasmadcauseIai
n'
tdonemywor
k.ButIseewher
ehewaschasi
ng
meoffsohecoul
dhavethegal
forhi
mself
.WhenI

seewhatthemat t
erofi
twas,
Ilostal
lfearofmydaddy
.Ri
ghtt
her
eiswher
eIbecomeaman.
..
atfour
teenyear
sofage.
(Pause.)Nowitwasmyt ur
ntor
unhim of
f.Ipi
ckedupt
hem samer
einst
hathehadusedonme.
Ipickedupthem r
einsandcommencedto

whuppi
ngonhi
m.Thegalj
umpedupandrunoff...andwhenmydaddyt
urnedt
ofaceme,
I
coul
dseewhyt
hedevi
lhadnev
ercometogethim ...

causehewasthedevi
lhi
mself
.Idon'
tknowwhathappened.WhenIwokeup,
Iwasl
ayi
ngr
ight
ther
ebythecr
eek,andBl
ue...thi
sol
ddogwehad

...waslicki
ngmyface.IthoughtIwasbli
nd.Icoul
dn'
tseenot
hing.Bot
hmyey
eswer
eswol
l
en
shut.Il
ayedther
eandcried.Idi
dn'tknowwhatI

wasgonnado.Theonl
ythi
ngIknewwast
het
imehadcomef
ormet
oleav
emy

-55-

daddy'
shouse.Andri
ghtther
etheworl
dsuddenl
ygotbi
g.Andi
twasal
ongt
imebef
oreIcoul
d
cuti
tdowntowher eIcoul
dhandl
eit
.Partoft
hat

cutti
ngdownwaswhenIgottothepl
acewher
eIcoul
dfeel
him ki
cki
ngi
nmybl
oodandknew
thattheonl
ythi
ngt
hatsepar
ateduswast
hematt
erof

af
ewy
ear
s.

(
GABRI
ELent
ersf
rom t
hehousewi
thasandwi
ch.
)

LYONSWhaty
ougott
her
e,Uncl
eGabe?

GABRI
ELGotmeaham sandwi
ch.Rosegav
emeaham sandwi
ch.
TROYIdon'
tknowwhathappenedt
ohi
m.Idonel
ostt
ouchwi
thev
ery
bodyexceptGabr
iel
.ButI
hopehe'
sdead.Ihopehef
oundsomepeace.

LYONSThat
'saheav
yst
ory
,Pop.Idi
dn'
tknowy
oul
efthomewheny
ouwasf
our
teen.

TROYAnddi dn'
tknownothi
ng.Theonlypar
toft
hewor
ldIknewwast
hef
ort
y-t
woacr
esofMr
.
Lubi
n'
sland.That'
sal
lIknewaboutli
fe.

LYONSFour
teen'
ski
nday
oungt
obeoutony
ourown.

(
Phoneri
ngs.
)Idon'
tev
ent
hinkIwasr
eadyt
obeoutonmyownatf
our
teen.Idon'
tknowwhatI
woul
dhavedone.

TROYIgotupfr
om thecr
eekandwalkedondowntoMobi
l
e.Iwast
hroughwi
thf
armi
ng.
Fi
gur
edIcoulddobett
eri
ntheci
ty.SoIwal
kedthet
wo

hundr
edmi
l
est
oMobi
l
e.

LYONSWaitami
nute...youai
n’
twalkednot
wohundr
edmi
l
es,
Pop.Ai
n'
tnobodygonnawal
k
notwohundr
edmi
les.Youtal
ki
ngaboutsome

wal
ki
ngt
her
e.

-56-
BONOThat
’st
heonl
ywayy
ougotany
wher
ebacki
nthem day
s.

LYONSShhh.Damni
fIwoul
dn'
thav
ehi
tchedar
idewi
thsomebody
!

TROYWhoy ougonnahi
tchi
twi
th?Theyai
n'
thadnocar
sandt
hingsl
i
ket
heygotnow.We
tal
ki
ngabout1918.

ROSE

(
Ent
eri
ng.
)Whaty
oual
louther
eget
ti
ngi
nto?

TROY

(
ToROSE.
)I'
mtel
l
ingLy
onshowgoodhegoti
t.Hedon'
tknownot
hingaboutt
hisI
'
mtal
ki
ng.

ROSELy
ons,
thatwasBonni
eont
hephone.Shesayy
ousupposedt
opi
ckherup.

LYONSYeah,
okay
,Rose.
TROYIwal
kedondownt
oMobi l
eandhi t
chedupwi
thsomeoft
hem f
ell
owst
hatwasheadi
ng
thi
sway
.Gotupher
eandfoundout...notonl
y

couldn'
tyougetajob...y
oucouldn'
tfi
ndnoplacetol
i
ve.It
houghtIwasi
nfr
eedom.Shhh.
Coloredfol
ksl
ivi
ngdownt her
eontheri
ver
banksin

whateverki
ndofshel
tert
heycoul
df i
ndfort
hemsel
ves.Ri
ghtdownt
her
eundert
heBr
adySt
reet
Br
idge.Livi
ngi
nshacksmadeofsticksand

tar
paper
.Messedaroundther
eandwentfrom badt
owor
se.St
art
edst
eal
i
ng.Fi
rsti
twasf
ood.
ThenIfi
gur
ed,hel
l
,ifIst
ealmoneyIcanbuyme

somefood.Buymesomeshoestoo!Onet
hingl
edtoanot
her
.Mety
ourmama.Iwasy
oungand
anxi
oustobeaman.Metyourmamaandhady ou.

WhatIdothatf
or?NowIgott
oworr
yaboutfeedi
ngyouandher
.Gott
ost
eal
thr
eet
imesas
much.Wentoutonedayl
ooki
ngf
orsomebodytorob..

.that
’swhatIwas,
ar obber
.I'
l
ltel
lyouthetr
uth.I
'
m ashamedofi
ttoday
.Buti
t'
sthet
rut
h.Went
torobthi
sfel
low...pull
edoutmyknife...andhe

pul
l
edoutagun.Shot

-57-

meinthechest
.Itf
eltj
ustl
i
kesomebodyhadtakenahotbr
andi
ngi
ronandl
aidi
tonme.When
heshotmeIjumpedathim wi
thmykni
fe.Theytol
d

meIkil
l
edhi
m andtheyputmeinthepenit
ent
iar
yandlockedmeupf
orf
if
teeny
ear
s.That
’s
wher
eImetBono.That
'swher
eIlearnedhowtoplay

basebal
l
.Gotoutt
hatpl
aceandyourmamahadtakeny
ouandwentont
omakel
i
fewi
thoutme.
Fi
fteenyear
swasalongti
meforhert
owai
t.But

thatf
if
teenyear
scuredmeofthatrobbi
ngst
uff.Rose'
l
ltel
lyou.SheaskedmewhenImetheri
f
Ihadgottenal
lthatf
ool
i
shnessoutofmysystem.

AndItoldher
,"Baby
,it
'sy
ouandbasebal
lall
whatcountwi
thme.
"Youhearme,
Bono?Imeant
i
ttoo.Shesay,"Whi
chonecomesfi
rst
?"Itol
dher
,

"
Baby
,ai
n'
tnodoubti
t'
sbasebal
l.
..buty
oust
ickandgetol
dwi
thmeandwe'
l
lbot
hout
li
vet
his
basebal
l
."Am Ir
ight
,Rose?Andi
t'
str
ue.

ROSEMan,hushyourmouth.Youai
n'
tsai
dnosucht
hing.Tal
ki
ngabout
,"Baby
,youknowy
ou'
l
l
al
waysbenumberonewithme."That
'swhaty
ou

wast
alki
ng.

TROYYouheart
hat
,Bono.That
'
swhyIl
oveher
.

BONORose'
l
lkeepy
oust
rai
ght
.Yougetof
fthet
rack,
she'
l
lst
rai
ght
eny
ouup.

ROSELy
ons,
youbet
tergetonupandgetBonni
e.Shewai
ti
ngony
ou.

LYONS

(
Get
supt
ogo.
)Hey
,Pop,
whydon'
tyoucomeondownt
otheGr
il
landhearmepl
ay?

TROYIai
n'
tgoi
ngdownt
her
e.I
'
mtoool
dtobesi
tt
ingar
oundi
nthem cl
ubs.

BONOYougott
obegoodt
opl
aydownatt
heGr
il
l.

-58-
LYONSComeon,
Pop...

TROYIgott
ogetupi
nthemor
ning.

LYONSYouai
n'
tgott
ost
ayl
ong.

TROYNaw,
I'
m gonnagetmysupperandgoont
obed.

LYONSWel
l
,Igott
ogo.I
'
llseey
ouagai
n.

TROYDon'
tyoucomear
oundmyhouseonmypay
day
.

ROSEPickupt
hephoneandletsomebodyknowy
oucomi
ng.Andbr
ingBonni
ewi
thy
ou.You
knowI
'm al
waysgl
adtoseeher.

LYONSYeah,I
'
lldot
hat
,Rose.Yout
akecar
enow.Seey
ou,
Pop.Seey
ou,
Mr.Bono.Seey
ou,
Uncl
eGabe.

GABRI
ELLy
ons!Ki
ngoft
heJungl
e!

(LYONSexi
ts.
)

TROYIssupperr
eady
,woman?Meandy
ougotsomebusi
nesst
otakecar
eof
.I'
m gonnat
eari
t
uptoo.

ROSETr
oy,
Idonet
oldy
ounow!
TROY

(
Putshi
sarm ar
oundBONO.)Awhell
,woman...t
hisi
sBono.Bonol
i
kef
ami
l
y.Idoneknown
t
hisni
ggersi
nce...howl
ongIdoneknowyou?

BONOI
t’
sbeenal
ongt
ime.

TROYIdoneknownt
hisni
ggersi
nceSki
ppywasapup.Meandhi
m donebeent
hroughsome
ti
mes.

BONOYousur
eri
ghtaboutt
hat
.

TROYHell
,Idoneknowhi
mlongert
hanIknowy
ou.Andwest
il
lst
andi
ngshoul
dert
oshoul
der
.
Hey,
lookher
e,Bono..
.amancan'
taskf
orno

mor
ethant
hat
.

(
Dri
nkst
ohi
m.)Il
ovey
ou,
nigger
.

-59-

BONOHell,
Ilovey
out
oo...butIgott
ogethomeseemywoman.Yougoty
our
sinhand.Igot
togogetmine.
(BONOstar
tst
oexi
tasCORYent
erst
hey
ard,
dressedi
nhi
sfoot
bal
luni
for
m.Hegi
vesTROYa
hard,
uncompromi
singl
ook.
)

CORYWhaty
oudot
hatf
or,
Pop?

(
Het
hrowshi
shel
metdowni
nthedi
rect
ionofTROY.
)

ROSEWhat
’st
hemat
ter
?Cor
y...what
'
sthemat
ter
?

CORYPapadonewentupt
otheschool
andtol
dCoachZel
l
manIcan'
tpl
ayf
oot
bal
lnomor
e.
Woul
dn'
tevenl
etmeplayt
hegame.Toldhi
mtotel
l

t
her
ecr
uit
ernott
ocome.

ROSETr
oy...

TROYWhaty
ouTr
oyi
ngmef
or.Yeah,
Idi
dit
.Andt
heboyknowwhyIdi
dit
.

CORYWhyy
ouwannadot
hatt
ome?Thatwast
heonechanceIhad.

ROSEAi
n’
tnot
hingwr
ongwi
thCor
ypl
ayi
ngf
oot
bal
l
,Tr
oy.

TROYTheboyli
edt
ome.Itol
dtheniggerifhewannapl
ayf
oot
bal
l.
..t
okeepuphi
schor
esand
hol
ddownthatj
obatt
heA&P.Thatwast he

condi
ti
ons.St
oppeddownt
her
etoseeMr
.St
awi
cki
...
CORYIcan'
tworkaf
terschool
dur
ingt
hefootbal
lseason,Pop!It
ri
edt
otel
lyout
hatMr
.
St
awicki
'
sholdi
ngmyjobforme.Youdon'
tneverwantto

l
i
stent
onobody
.Andt
heny
ouwannagoanddot
hist
ome!

TROYIai
n’
tdonenot
hingt
oyou.Youdonei
ttoy
our
sel
f.

-60-

CORYJustcausey
oudi
dn'
thav
eachance!Youj
ustscar
edI
'
m gonnabebet
tert
hany
ou,
that
's
al
l.

TROYComeher
e.

ROSETr
oy...

(
CORYr
eluct
ant
lycr
ossesov
ert
oTROY.
)

TROYAl
ri
ght
!See.Youdonemadeami
stake.
CORYIdi
dn'
tev
endonot
hing!

TROYI'
m gonnatel
lyouwhatyourmist
akewas.See...y
ouswungatt
hebal
landdi
dn'
thi
tit
.
That
'sst
ri
keone.See,youi
nthebatt
er'
sboxnow.

Youswungandy
oumi
ssed.That
'
sst
ri
keone.Don’
tyoust
ri
keout
!

(Li
ght
sfadet
obl
ack.
)

Act2

Act2,
Scene1

ActTwoSceneOne

Thefol
lowi
ngmor
ning.CORYisatthet
reehi
tti
ngthebal
lwi
tht
hebat
.Het
ri
est
omi
micTROY,
buthi
sswingi
sawkward,l
esssur
e.ROSEenters

f
rom t
hehouse.

ROSECor
y,Iwanty
out
ohel
pmewi
tht
hiscupboar
d.

CORYIai
n'
tqui
tt
ingt
het
eam.Idon'
tcar
ewhatPoppasay
.

ROSEI’
l
ltal
ktohi
m whenheget
sback.Hehadtogoseeabouty
ourUncl
eGabe.Thepol
i
ce
donear
rest
edhi
m.Sayhewasdist
urbi
ngthepeace.

He’
l
lbebackdi
rect
ly.Comeoni
nher
eandhel
pmecl
eanoutt
het
opoft
hiscupboar
d.
(
CORYexit
sint
ot hehouse.ROSEseesTROYandBONOcomi
ngdownt
heal
l
ey.
)Tr
oy...what
t
heysaydownthere?

TROYAin'
tsai
dnot
hing.Igi
vet
hem f
if
tydol
l
arsandt
heyl
ethi
m go.I
'
llt
alkt
oyouabouti
t.
Wher
e'sCory?

ROSEHe'
sint
her
ehel
pingmecl
eanoutt
hesecupboar
ds.

TROYTel
lhi
mtogethi
sbut
touther
e.

(TROYandBONOgoov
ert
othepi
l
eofwood.BONOpi
cksupt
hesawandbegi
nssawi
ng.
)

-62-

TROY

(ToBONO.)Al
ltheywanti
sthemoney.Thatmakessi
xorsev
ent
imesIdonewentdownt
her
e
andgothi
m.Seemecomi ngtheyst
ickout

t
hei
rhands.

BONOYeah.Iknowwhaty
oumean.That
'
sal
ltheycar
eabout...t
hatmoney
.Theydon'
tcar
e
aboutwhat
'
sright
.

(Pause.)Ni
gger,
whyyougottogoandgetsomehar
dwood?Youai
n'
tdoi
ngnot
hingbut
buil
dingali
ttl
eoldf
ence.Gety
ousomesoftpi
newood.

That
’sal
lyouneed.

TROYIknowwhatI
'
m doi
ng.Thi
sisout
sidewood.Youputpi
newoodi
nsi
det
hehouse.Pi
ne
woodi
sinsi
dewood.Thi
sher
eisout
sidewood.Now

y
out
ell
mewher
ethef
encei
sgonnabe?

BONOYoudon’tneedt
hiswood.Youcanputi
tupwi
thpi
newoodandi
t'
l
lst
andasl
ongasy
ou
gonnabeher
elooki
ngatit
.

TROYHowyouknowhowlongI
'
m gonnabeher
e,ni
gger
?Hel
l
,Imi
ghtj
ustl
i
vef
orev
er.Li
ve
l
ongert
hanol
dmanHorsel
y.

BONOThat
'swhatMageeusedt
osay
.

TROYMagee'
sadamnf ool
.Nowy
out
ell
mewhoy
ouev
erhear
dofgonnapul
lthei
rownt
eet
h
wit
hapai
rofrust
ypl
i
ers.

BONOTheoldfol
ks..
.mygranddaddyusedt
opul
lhi
steet
hwi
thpl
i
ers.Theyai
n'
thadno
dent
ist
sfort
hecol
oredf
olksbackthen.

TROYGetcleanpli
ers!Youunder
stand?Cleanpl
i
ers!St
eri
l
izet
hem!Besi
desweai
n'
tl
iv
ingback
then.Al
lMageehadt odowaswalkov ert
oDoc

Gol
dbl
ums.

-63-
BONOIseewher
eyouandt
hatTal
l
ahasseegal
...t
hatAl
ber
ta.
..Iseewher
eyoual
ldonegot
ti
ght
.

TROYWhaty
oumean"
gott
ight
"?

BONOIseewher
eyoubel
aughi
ngandj
oki
ngwi
thheral
lthet
ime.

TROYIl
aughsandj
okeswi
thal
loft
hem,
Bono.Youknowme.

BONOThatai
n'
ttheki
ndofl
aughi
ngandj
oki
ngI
'
mtal
ki
ngabout
.

(CORYent
ersf
rom t
hehouse.
)

CORYHowy
oudoi
ng,
Mr.Bono?

TROYCory?Gett
hatsawfrom Bonoandcutsomewood.Het
alki
ngaboutt
hewood'
stoohar
d
tocut
.St
andbackther
e,Ji
m,andl ett
haty
oung

boyshowy
ouhowi
t’
sdone.

BONOHe’
ssur
ewel
comet
oit
.

(CORYtakest
hesawandbeginst
ocutthewood.
)Whew-
e-e!Lookatt
hat
.Bi
gol
dst
rongboy
.
Lookl
i
keJoeLouis.Hel
l
,mustbeget
ti
ngoldt
heway

I
'
m wat
chi
ngt
hatboywhi
pthr
ought
hatwood.
CORYIdon'
tseewhyMamawantaf
encear
oundt
hey
ardnoway
s.

TROYDamni
fIknowei
ther
.Whatt
hehel
lshekeepi
ngoutwi
thi
t?Sheai
n'
tgotnot
hingnobody
want
.

BONOSomepeopl ebui
l
dfencest
okeeppeopl
eout...andot
herpeopl
ebui
l
dfencest
okeep
peopl
ein.Rosewant
stohol
dontoyoual
l.She

l
ovesy
ou.

TROYHel
l
,ni
gger
,Idon'
tneednobodyt
otel
lmemy

-64-

wi
fel
ovesme,
Cor
y..
.gooni
nthehouseandseei
fyoucanf
indt
hatot
hersaw.

CORYWher
e'si
tat
?

TROYIsai
dfi
ndi
t!Lookf
ori
tti
l
lyouf
indi
t!
(CORYexi
tsi
ntot
hehouse.
)What
'st
hatsupposedt
omean?Wannakeepusi
n?

BONOTroy.
..Idoneknownyouseem l
ikedamnnearmywhol
eli
fe.YouandRosebot
h.Idone
knowbot
hofy oual
lforal
ongti
me.Iremember

whenyoumetRose.Whenyouwashit
ti
ngthem basebal
loutt
hepar
k.Al
otoft
hem ol
dgal
s
wasaf
tery
outhen.Youhadthepi
ckofthel
it
ter
.When

youpi
ckedRose,Iwashappyfory
ou.Thatwast
hef
ir
stt
imeIknewy
ouhadanysense.Isai
d..
.
MymanTr oyknowswhathe'sdoi
ng..
.I'
m

gonnafol
l
owthi
snigger.
..hemighttakemesomewhere.Ibeenf
oll
owi
ngy
out
oo.Idone
l
earnedawhol
eheapofthingsaboutli
fewat
chi
ngyou.I

donelearnedhowt otel
lwher
etheshi
tli
es.Howt
otel
li
tfr
om t
heal
fal
fa.Youdonel
ear
nedme
alotofthings.Youshowedmehowt onotmaket
he

samemi
stakes.
..t
otakel
i
feasi
tcomesal
ongandkeepput
ti
ngonef
ooti
nfr
ontoft
heot
her
.

(
Pause.
)Roseagoodwoman,
Troy
.

TROYHell
,ni
gger
,Iknowsheagoodwoman.Ibeenmar
ri
edt
oherf
orei
ght
eeny
ear
s.Whaty
ou
gotony
ourmind,Bono?

BONOIjustsaysheagoodwoman.Justl
i
keIsayany
thi
ng.Iai
n'
tgott
ohav
enot
hingonmy
mind.

TROYYoujustgonnasaysheagoodwomanandl
eav
eithangi
ngoutt
her
eli
ket
hat
?Whyy
ou
tel
l
ingmesheagoodwoman?

-65-
BONOShel
ovesy
ou,
Troy
.Rosel
ovesy
ou.

TROYYousayi
ngIdon'
tmeasur
eup.That'
swhaty
out
ryi
ngt
osay
.Idon'
tmeasur
eupcauseI
'
m
seei
ngt
hisot
hergal
.Iknowwhaty
outryi
ngto

say
.

BONOIknowwhatRosemeanst
oyou,
Troy
.I'
mjustt
ryi
ngt
osayIdon'
twantt
oseey
oumess
up.

TROYYeah,
Iappr
eci
atet
hat
,Bono.I
fyouwasmessi
ngar
oundonLuci
l
leI
'
dbet
ell
i
ngy
out
he
samet
hing.

BONOWel
l
,that
'sal
lIgott
osay
.Ij
ustsayt
hatbecauseIl
ovey
oubot
h.

TROYHel l
,youknowme. .
.Iwasn'
toutther
elooki
ngf
ornot
hing.Youcan'
tfi
ndabet
terwoman
thanRose.Iknowthat
.Butseemsli
kethis

womanjustst
uckontomewher eIcan'tshakeherl
oose.Idonewr
est
ledwi
thi
t,t
ri
edt
othr
ow
herof
fme...butshejustst
uckontighter.Nowshe’
s

st
uckonf
orgood.

BONOYou'
sincont
rol
...t
hat
'swhaty
out
ell
meal
lthet
ime.Your
esponsi
blef
orwhaty
oudo.

TROYIai
n’
tducki
ngt
her
esponsi
bil
i
tyofi
t.Asl
ongasi
tset
sri
ghti
nmyhear
t...t
henI
'
m okay
.
Causet
hat
'sal
lIl
i
stent
o.I
t’
ll
tel
lmer
ightf
rom

wr
ongever
yti
me.AndIain'
ttal
ki
ngaboutdoingRosenobadt
urn.Il
oveRose.Shedonecar
ri
ed
mealongway
sandIlov
eandr espectherf
orthat
.

BONOIknowyoudo.That
'swhyIdon'
twantt
oseey
ouhur
ther
.Butwhaty
ougonnadowhen
shef
indout
?Whatyougotthen?I
fyoutr
yand

j
uggl
ebot
hoft
hem ...soonerorl
atery
ougonnadr
oponeoft
hem.That
'scommonsense.

TROYYeah,
Ihearwhaty
ousay
ing,
Bono.Ibeent
ryi
ngt
ofi
gur
eawayt
owor
kitout
.

-66-

BONOWorkitoutri
ght,
Troy
.Idon’
twantt
obeget
ti
ngal
lupbet
weeny
ouandRose'
sbusi
ness
..
.butwor
kitsoitcomeoutri
ght
.

TROYAwhel l,Igetal
lupbet
weenyouandLuci
l
le'
sbusi
ness.Wheny
ougonnagett
hatwoman
thatr
efr
iger
atorshebeenwanti
ng?Don'
ttel
lme

youain'
tgotnomoneynow.Iknowwhoy ourbankeri
s.Mel
l
ondon'
tneedt
hatmoneybadas
Luci
l
lewantthatr
efr
iger
ator
.I'
l
ltel
lyout
hat.

BONOTellyouwhatI
'
lldo...wheny
ouf
ini
shbui
l
dingt
hisf
encef
orRose...I
'
llbuyLuci
l
let
hat
ref
ri
ger
ator
.
TROYYoudonest
ucky
ourf
ooti
nyourmout
hnow!

(TROYgrabsupaboar
dandbegi
nst
osaw.BONOst
art
stowal
koutt
hey
ard.
)Hey
,ni
gger...
wherey
ougoing?

BONOI'
m goinghome.Iknowyoudon'
texpectmetohel
pyounow.I
'
m pr
otect
ingmymoney
.I
wannaseeyouputthatf
enceupbyyour
self
.That
'
s

whatIwantt
osee.You'
l
lbeher
eanot
hersi
xmont
hswi
thoutme.

TROYNi
gger
,youai
n'
tri
ght
.

BONOWheni
tcomest
omymoney.
..I
'
mri
ghtasf
ir
ewor
ksont
heFour
thofJul
y.

TROYAl
ri
ght
,wegonnaseenow.Youbet
tergetouty
ourbankbook.

(
BONOexi
ts,
andTROYcont
inuest
owor
k.ROSEent
ersf
rom t
hehouse.
)

ROSEWhatt
heysaydownt
her
e?What
'shappeni
ngwi
thGabe?

TROYIwentdownt
her
eandgothi
m out
.Costmef
if
tydol
l
ars.Sayhewasdi
stur
bingt
hepeace.
Judgesetupa

-67-
hear
ingf
orhi
mint
hreeweeks.Sayt
oshowcausewhyheshoul
dn'
tber
e-commi
tt
ed.

ROSEWhatwashedoi
ngt
hatcauset
hem t
oar
resthi
m?

TROYSomekidswasteasi
nghim andherunthem of
fhome.Sayhewashowl
i
ngandcar
ryi
ng
on.Somef
olksseenhi
m andcal
ledthepol
ice.

That
’sal
li
twas.

ROSEWel
l
,what
’sy
ousay
?What
’dy
out
ell
thej
udge?

TROYToldhimI'
dlookaft
erhi
m.Itdi
dn'
tmakenosenset
orecommi
ttheman.Hest
uckouthi
s
bi
ggreasypal
m andtol
dmet ogi
vehimfi
ft
ydol
lar
s

andt
akehi
m onhome.

ROSEWher
e’sheatnow?Wher
e'dhegoof
fto?

TROYHe'
sgoneonabouthi
sbusi
ness.Hedon'
tneednobodyt
ohol
dhi
shand.

ROSEWel l
,Idon'
tknow.Seem l
i
kethatwouldbet
hebestpl
acef
orhi
mift
heydi
dputhi
mint
o
thehospi
tal
.Iknowwhatyou'
regonnasay.But

t
hat
’swhatIt
hinkwoul
dbebest
.
TROYThemandonehadhi sli
ferui
nedfight
ingf
orwhat
?Andt
heywannat
akeandl
ockhi
m up.
Lethi
m bef
ree.Hedon'
tbothernobody
.

ROSEWell
,ev
erybodygott
hei
rownwayofl
ookingati
tIguess.Comeonandgety
ourl
unch.I
gotabowl
ofli
mabeansandsomecornbr
eadinthe

ov
en.Comeongetsomet
hingt
oeat
.Ai
n'
tnosensey
ouf
ret
ti
ngov
erGabe.

(
ROSEt
urnst
ogoi
ntot
hehouse.
)

TROYRose.
..gotsomet
hingt
otel
lyou.

ROSEWel
l
,comeon...wai
tti
l
lIgett
hisf
oodont
het
abl
e.

-68-

TROYRose!

(
Shest
opsandt
urnsar
ound.
)Idon'
tknowhowt
osayt
his.

(
Pause.
)Ican'
texpl
aini
tnone.I
tjustsor
tofgr
owsonyout
il
li
tget
soutofhand.I
tst
art
sout
l
i
kealit
tl
ebush...andthenextt
hinkyouknowit
’sa
whol
efor
est
.

ROSETr
oy...whati
syout
alki
ngabout
?

TROYI '
mtal
king,
woman,l
etmet al
k.I
'
mtr
yingt
ofi
ndawayt
otel
lyou.
..I
'
m gonnabeadaddy
.
I
'm gonnabesomebody
'sdaddy
.

ROSETr
oy...y
ou'
renott
ell
i
ngmet
his?You'
regonnabe...what
?

TROYRose...now...see...

ROSEYout
ell
i
ngmey
ougonnabesomebody
'sdaddy
?Yout
ell
i
ngy
ourwi
fet
his?

(
GABRI
ELent
ersf
rom t
hest
reet
.Hecar
ri
esar
osei
nhi
shand.
)

GABRI
ELHey
,Tr
oy!Hey
,Rose!

ROSEIhav
etowai
tei
ght
eeny
ear
stohearsomet
hingl
i
ket
his.

GABRI
ELHey
,Rose.
..Igotaf
lowerf
ory
ou.

(
Hehandsi
ttoher
.)That
'sar
ose.Samer
osel
i
key
oui
s.

ROSEThanks,
Gabe.

GABRI
ELTr
oy,
youai
n'
tmadatmei
syou?Them badmenscomeandputmeaway
.Youai
n'
t
madatmei
syou?
TROYNaw,
Gabe,
Iai
n'
tmadaty
ou.

-69-

ROSEEi
ght
eeny
ear
sandy
ouwannacomewi
tht
his.

GABRI
EL

(
Takesaquar
teroutofhi
spocket
.)SeewhatIgot
?Gotabr
andnewquar
ter
.

TROYRose...i
t'
sjust...

ROSEAi
n'
tnot
hingy
oucansay
,Tr
oy.Ai
n'
tnowayofexpl
aini
ngt
hat
.

GABRIELFel
lowthatgi
vemet
hisquar
terhadawhol
emessoft
hem.I
'
m gonnakeept
his
quar
tert
il
li
tstopshini
ng.

ROSEGabe,
gooni
nthehouset
her
e.Igotsomewat
ermel
oni
nthef
ri
gidai
re.Goonandgety
ou
api
ece.

GABRI
ELSay,Rose...youknowIwaschasi
nghel
l
-houndsandt
hem badmenscomeandget
meandtakemeaway .Troyhel
pedme.Hecome
downt
her
eandt
oldt
hem t
heybet
terl
etmegobef
orehebeatt
hem up.Yeah,
hedi
d!

ROSEYougoonandgety
ouapi
eceofwat
ermel
on,
Gabe.Them badmensi
sgonenow.

GABRI
ELOkay
,Rose...gonnagetmesomewat
ermel
on.Theki
ndwi
tht
hest
ri
pesoni
t.

(GABRI
ELexi
tsi
ntot
hehouse.
)

ROSEWhy ,
Troy?Why ?Afteral
ltheseyearst
ocomedr
aggi
ngt
hisi
ntomenow.I
tdon'
tmake
nosenseatyourage.Icouldhaveexpectedt
his

t
enorf
if
teeny
ear
sago,
butnotnow.

TROYAgeai
n'
tgotnot
hingt
odowi
thi
t,Rose.

ROSEIdonet
ri
edtobeever
ythi
ngawi
feshoul
dbe.Ev
ery
thi
ngawi
fecoul
dbe.Beenmar
ri
ed
ei
ght
eenyear
sandIgott
oliv
etoseet
hedayyou

t
ell
mey
oubeenseei
nganot
herwomananddonef
ather
edachi
l
dbyher
.

-70-

AndyouknowIain'
tneverwantednohalfnot
hingi
nmyfami
l
y.Mywhol
efami
l
yishal
f.
Ever
ybodygotdi
ff
erentf
ather
sandmot hers.
..mytwo

si
ster
sandmybrot
her.Can'
thardl
ytel
lwho’
swho.Can'
tnev
ersi
tdownandt
alkaboutPapa
andMama.I
t’
syourpapaandy ourmamaandmypapa
andmymama...

TROYRose...st
opi
tnow.

ROSEIai
n’tnev
erwant
edthatfornoneofmychi
l
dren.Andnowy
ouwannadr
agy
ourbehi
ndi
n
her
eandtellmesomet
hingl
ikethi
s.

TROYYououghtt
oknow.I
t’
sti
mef
ory
out
oknow.

ROSEWel
l
,Idon'
twantt
oknow,
goddamni
t!

TROYIcan'
tj
ustmakei
tgoaway
.It
'sdonenow.Ican'
twi
sht
heci
rcumst
anceoft
het
hingaway
.

ROSEAndy
oudon'
twanttoei
ther.May
beyouwantt
owi
shmeandmyboyaway
.May
bet
hat
’s
whaty
ouwant
?Well
,youcan'
twishusaway.I
’
ve

gotei
ght
eenyear
sofmyl
i
fei
nvest
edi
nyou.Yououghtt
ohav
est
ayedupst
air
sinmybedwher
e
youbel
ong.

TROYRose...nowlist
entome.
..wecangetahandl
eont
hist
hing.Wecant
alkt
hisout...
cometoanunderst
anding.
ROSEAll
ofasuddenit
's"
we.
"Wherewas"we"atwheny
ouwasdownt
her
erol
l
ingar
oundwi
th
somegodfor
sakenwoman?"
We"shoul
dhave

cometoanunderst
andi
ngbefor
ey oust
art
edmakingadamnf
ool
ofy
our
sel
f.You'
readayl
ate
andadol
larshor
twhenitcomestoanunderst
andi
ng

wi
thme.

TROYI
t’
sjust...Shegi
vesmeadi
ff
erenti
dea.
..adi
ff
erentunder
standi
ngaboutmy
sel
f.Ican
st
epoutofthi
s

-71-

houseandgetawayfr
om thepressur
esandpr
obl
ems. .
.beadi
ff
erentman.Iai
n'
tgott
o
wonderhowI'
m gonnapaythebil
lsorgett
her
ooff
ixed.I

canj
ustbeapar
tofmy
sel
fthatIai
n'
tnev
erbeen.

ROSEWhatIwantt
oknow.
..i
sdoy
oupl
ant
ocont
inueseei
ngher
.That
'sal
lyoucansayt
ome.

TROYIcansi
tupinherhouseandlaugh.Doyouunder
standwhatI
'
m say
ing.Icanl
aughout
l
oud...andi
tfeel
sgood.I
treachesal
ltheway

downt
othebot
tom ofmyshoes.

(
Pause.
)Rose,
Ican'
tgi
vet
hatup.
ROSEMay
bey
ououghtt
ogoonandst
aydownt
her
ewi
thher...i
fsheabet
terwomant
han
me.

TROYItai
n'
taboutnobodybei
ngabett
erwomanornot
hing.Rose,
youai
n’
tthebl
ame.Aman
coul
dn'
taskf
ornowomant obeabet
terwi
fet
han

you'
vebeen.I’
mr esponsi
blefori
t.Idonel
ockedmy
sel
fint
oapat
ter
ntr
yingt
otakecar
eofy
ou
all
thatIf
orgotaboutmy sel
f.

ROSEWhatt
hehel
lwasIt
her
efor
?Thatwasmyj
ob,
notsomebodyel
se'
s.

TROYRose,
Idonetr
iedallmyl
i
f etol
iv
edecent.
..t
oli
veacl
ean...har
d...usef
ull
i
fe.It
ri
edt
o
beagoodhusbandt
oy ou.I
neverywayIknew

how.MaybeIcomei
ntot
heworldbackwar
ds,
Idon'
tknow.But...y
oubor
nwi
tht
wost
ri
keson
youbef
oreyoucometot
hepl
ate.Yougott
oguardi
t

cl
osel
y...al
wayslookingfort
hecurve-
ball
onthei
nsi
decor
ner
.Youcan'
taf
for
dtol
etnoneget
pasty
ou.Youcan’
taffordacallst
ri
ke.I
fyougoi
ng

down...y
ougoingdownswingi
ng.Every
thi
ngli
nedupagai
nsty
ou.Whaty
ougonnado.I
fool
edt
hem,Rose.Ibunt
ed.WhenIfoundyouandCor
y

anda

-72-

hal
fwaydecentj
ob.
..Iwassafe.Couldn'
tnot
hingt
ouchme.Iwasn'
tgonnast
ri
keoutnomor
e.I
wasn'
tgoi
ngbacktothepeni
tenti
ary.Iwasn'
t
gonnalayinthestreet
swit
habottleofwi
ne.Iwassaf
e.Ihadmeaf
ami
l
y.Aj
ob.Iwasn'
tgonna
getthatl
aststr
ike.Iwasonfi
rstl
ookingf
oroneof

t
hem boy
stoknockmei
n.Togetmehome.

ROSEYoushoul
dhav
est
ayedi
nmybed,
Troy
.

TROYThenwhenIsawt hatgal
...shefir
medupmybackbone.AndIgott
othi
nki
ngt
hati
fI
tr
ied.
..Ij
ustmi
ghtbeabletost
ealsecond.Doy
ou

under
standaf
terei
ght
eeny
ear
sIwant
edt
ost
eal
second.

ROSEYoushoul
dhav
ehel
dmet
ight
.Youshoul
dhav
egr
abbedmeandhel
don.

TROYIst
oodonf
ir
stbasef
orei
ght
eeny
ear
sandIt
hought...wel
l
,goddamni
t..
.goonf
ori
t!

ROSEWe'r
enottal
ki
ngaboutbaseball
!We'
ret
alki
ngabouty
ougoi
ngof
ftol
ayi
nbedwi
th
anot
herwoman...andt
henbringithomet
ome.That's

whatwe'
ret
alki
ngabout
.Weai
n'
ttal
ki
ngaboutnobasebal
l
.

TROYRose,
you'
renotl
ist
eni
ngtome.I'
mtryi
ngt
hebestIcant
oexpl
aini
ttoy
ou.I
t'
snoteasy
formet
oadmitt
hatIbeenst
andingi
nthesame

pl
acef
orei
ght
eeny
ear
s.
ROSEIbeenst
andi
ngwit
hyou!Ibeenr
ightherewit
hyou,
Troy
.Igotal
i
fet
oo.Igav
eei
ght
een
year
sofmyli
fetost
andi
nthesamespotwi t
hy ou.

Don'
tyout
hinkIeverwant
edothert
hings?Don'
tyout
hinkIhaddr
eamsandhopes?Whatabout
myli
fe?Whataboutme.Don'
tyouthi
nkitever

cr
ossedmymi
ndt
owantt
oknowot
hermen?ThatIwant
edt
olayupsomewher
eandf
orget

-73-

aboutmyresponsi
bil
i
ties?ThatIwant
edsomeonet omakemel
aughsoIcoul
dfeel
good?You
nottheonl
yonewho'sgotwant sandneeds.ButI

heldontoyou,
Troy.It
ookallmyfeel
i
ngs,mywantsandneeds,
mydr
eams...andIbur
ied
them i
nsi
deyou.Ipl
antedaseedandwatchedand

pr
ayedoveri
t.Ipl
antedmy
sel
finsi
deyouandwait
edtobloom.Andi
tdi
dn'
ttakemeno
ei
ghteeny
earstofi
ndoutt
hesoilwashar
dandrockyandit

wasn'
tnev
ergonnabloom.ButIhel
dontoyou,Tr
oy.Ihel
dyout
ight
er.Youwasmyhusband.I
owedyouever
ythi
ngIhad.Ever
ypartofmeIcoul
d

fi
ndtogiveyou.Andupst
air
si nt
hatroom ...wi
tht
hedar
knessf
all
i
ngi
nonme.
..Igav
e
ever
ythi
ngIhadtotryanderasethedoubtthaty
ouwasn'
t

t
hef
inestmani
ntheworl
d.Andwherev
eryouwasgoi
ng.
..Iwant
edt
obet
her
ewi
thy
ou.Cause
y
ouwasmyhusband.Causet
hat
'stheonl
ywayI

wasgonnasurvi
veasyourwife.Youal
waystal
kingaboutwhaty
ougi
ve...andwhaty
oudon'
t
hav
etogive.Butyout
aketoo.Youtake...and

don'
tev
enknownobody
'sgi
vi
ng!

(
ROSEt
urnst
oexi
tint
othehouse;
TROYgr
absherar
m.)
TROYYousayIt
akeanddon'
tgi
ve!

ROSETr
oy!You'
rehur
ti
ngme!

TROYYousayIt
akeanddon'
tgi
ve.

ROSETr
oy...y
ou'
rehur
ti
ngmyar
m!Letgo!

TROYIdonegi
vey
ouev
ery
thi
ngIgot
.Don'
tyout
ell
thatl
i
eonme.

ROSETr
oy!

TROYDon'
tyout
ell
thatl
i
eonme!

(CORYent
ersf
rom t
hehouse.
)

-74-

CORYMama!

ROSETr
oy.You'
rehur
ti
ngme.

TROYDon'
tyout
ell
meaboutnot
aki
ngandgi
vi
ng.

(CORYcomesupbehi
ndTROYandgrabshi
m.TROY,sur
pri
sed,
ist
hrownof
fbal
ancej
ustas
CORYthrowsagl
anci
ngbl
owthatcat
cheshi
m ont
he
chestandknockshi
m down.TROYi
sst
unned,
asi
sCORY.
)

ROSETr
oy.Tr
oy.No!

(
TROYget
stohi
sfeetandst
art
satCORY.
)Tr
oy.
..no.Pl
ease!Tr
oy!

(
ROSEpul
l
sonTROYt
ohol
dhi
m back.TROYst
opshi
msel
f.
)

TROY

(ToCORY.
)Alr
ight.That'
sstr
iketwo.Youst
ayawayf
rom ar
oundme,
boy
.Don'
tyoust
ri
keout
.
Youli
vi
ngwit
haf ullcount
.Don'tyoust
ri
keout
.

(
TROYexi
tsoutt
hey
ardast
hel
i
ght
sgodown.
)

Act2,
Scene2

-75-

ActTwoSceneTwo

I
tissi
xmonthslat
er,ear
lyaf
ter
noon.TROYent
ersf
rom t
hehouseandst
art
stoexi
tthey
ard.
ROSEent
ersfr
om thehouse.
ROSETr
oy,
Iwantt
otal
ktoy
ou.

TROYAll
ofasudden,
afteral
lthi
sti
me,youwanttot
alkt
ome,
huh?Youai
n'
twant
edt
otal
kto
meformont
hs.Youai
n'twantedtot
alkt
omel ast

ni
ght
.Youai
n'
twant
ednopar
tofmet
hen.Whaty
ouwannat
alkt
omeaboutnow?

ROSETomor
row'
sFr
iday
.

TROYIknowwhatdaytomorr
owis.Youthi
nkIdon'
tknowt
omor
row'
sFr
iday
?Mywhol
eli
feI
ai
n'
tdonenot
hingbutl
ooktoseeFri
daycomingand

y
ougott
otel
lmei
t'
sFr
iday
.

ROSEIwantt
oknowi
fyou'
recomi
nghome.

TROYIal
way
scomehome,
Rose.Youknowt
hat
.Ther
eai
n'
tnev
erbeenani
ghtIai
n'
tcome
home.

ROSEThatai
n'
twhatImean...andy
ouknowi
t.Iwantt
oknowi
fyou'
recomi
ngst
rai
ghthome
af
terwor
k.

-76-
TROYIfigur
eI'
dcashmycheck...hangoutatTay
lor
s'wi
tht
heboy
s...may
bepl
ayagameof
checker
s...

ROSETr
oy,Ican'
tli
vel
iket
his.Iwon’tl
iv
eli
kethis.Youl
i
vin'
onbor
rowedt
imewi
thme.I
t'
sbeen
goi
ngonsi
xmont hsnowyouai n'
tbeencoming

home.

TROYIbeher
eev
eryni
ght
.Ev
eryni
ghtoft
hey
ear
.That
'
s365day
s.

ROSEIwanty
out
ocomehomet
omor
rowaf
terwor
k.

TROYRose.
..Idon'
tmessupmypay.Youknowt
hatnow.It
akemypayandIgi
vei
ttoy
ou.I
don'
thav
enomoneybutwhatyougi
vemeback.I

j
ustwantt
ohav
eal
i
ttl
eti
met
omy
sel
f..
.al
i
ttl
eti
met
oenj
oyl
i
fe.

ROSEWhataboutme?When'
smyt
imet
oenj
oyl
i
fe?

TROYIdon'
tknowwhatt
otel
lyou,
Rose.I
'
m doi
ngt
hebestIcan.

ROSEYouain'
tbeenhomefrom workbutt
imeenought
ochangey
ourcl
othesandr
unout...
andyouwannacall
thatt
hebestyoucando?

TROYI'
m goi
ngovert
othehospi
tal
toseeAlber
ta.Shewenti
ntot
hehospi
tal
thi
saf
ter
noon.
Lookl
i
keshemighthavet
hebabyearl
y.Iwon'
tbe

gonel
ong.

ROSEWel
l
,yououghtt
oknow.Theywentov
ert
oMi
ssPear
l'
sandgotGabet
oday
.Shesai
dyou
t
oldt
hem t
ogoaheadandl
ockhi
m up.

TROYIain'
tsaidnosucht
hing.Whoev
ert
oldy
out
hati
stel
l
ingal
i
e.Pear
lai
n'
tdoi
ngnot
hingbut
tel
l
ingabigfatl
ie.

ROSESheai
n'
thadt
otel
lme.Ir
eadi
tont
hepaper
s.

TROYIai
n’
ttol
dthem not
hingoft
heki
nd.

ROSEIsawi
tri
ghtt
her
eont
hepaper
s.

-77-

TROYWhati
tsay
,huh?

ROSEI
tsai
dyout
oldt
hem t
otakehi
m.

TROYThentheyscr
ewedthatup,
justt
hewayt
heyscr
ewupev
ery
thi
ng.Iai
n'
twor
ri
edabout
whatt
heygotonthepaper
.

ROSESayt
hegov
ernmentsendpar
tofhi
scheckt
othehospi
tal
andt
heot
herpar
ttoy
ou.
TROYIain'
tgotnot
hingt
odowi
tht
hati
fthat
'
sthewayi
twor
ks.Iai
n'
tmadeupt
her
ulesabout
howitwork.

ROSEYoudi dGabej
ustl
ikeyoudidCor
y.Youwoul
dn'
tsi
gnt
hepaperf
orCor
y..
.buty
ousi
gned
forGabe.Yousi
gnedt
hatpaper.

(
Thet
elephonei
shear
dri
ngi
ngi
nsi
det
hehouse.
)

TROYIt ol
dy ouIai
n'tsi
gnednot
hing,
woman!Theonl
ythi
ngIsi
gnedwast
her
eleasef
orm.Hel
l
,
Ican'
tread,Idon'
tknowwhattheyhadont
hat

paper
!Iai
n'
tsi
gnednot
hingaboutsendi
ngGabeaway
.

ROSEIsai
dsendhi
mtot
hehospi
tal...y
ousaidl
ethi
m bef
ree...nowy
oudonewentdown
ther
eandsi
gnedhi
mtot
hehospi
tal
forhalfhi
s

money
.Youwentbackony
our
sel
f,Tr
oy.Yougonnahav
etoanswerf
ort
hat
.

TROYSeenow...youbeenov ert
heret
alki
ngtoMi
ssPear
l.Shedonegotmadcausesheai
n'
t
get
ti
ngGabe'
srentmoney.That'
sall
iti
s.She'
s

l
i
abl
etosayany
thi
ng.

ROSETr
oy,
Iseenwher
eyousi
gnedt
hepaper
.

TROYYouai
n'
tseennot
hingIsi
gned.Whatshedoi
nggotpaper
sonmybr
otherany
way
?Mi
ss
Pear
ltel
l
ingabi
gfatl
i
e.AndI
'
m gonnat
ell
her

abouti
ttoo!Youai
n'
t

-78-

seennot
hingIsi
gned.Say...y
ouai
n'
tseennot
hingIsi
gned.

(
ROSEexi
tsi
ntot
hehouset
oanswert
het
elephone.Pr
esent
lysher
etur
ns)
.

ROSETr
oy...t
hatwast
hehospi
tal
.Al
ber
tahadt
hebaby
.

TROYWhatshehav
e?Whati
sit
?

ROSEI
t'
sagi
rl
.

TROYIbet
tergetondownt
othehospi
tal
toseeher
.

ROSETr
oy...

TROYRose.
..Igott
ogoseehernow.That
’sonl
yri
ght...what
’st
hemat
ter.
..t
hebaby
'sal
ri
ght
,
ai
n'
ti
t?

ROSEAl
ber
tadi
edhav
ingt
hebaby
.

TROYDi
ed...y
ousayshe'
sdead?Al
ber
ta'
sdead?
ROSETheysai
dtheydoneal
ltheycoul
d.Theycoul
dn'
tdonot
hingf
orher
.

TROYThebaby
?How'
sthebaby
?

ROSETheysayi
t'
sheal
thy
.Iwonderwho'
sgonnabur
yher
.

TROYShehadf
ami
l
y,Rose.Shewasn'
tl
iv
ingi
nthewor
ldbyher
sel
f.

ROSEIknowshewasn'
tl
iv
ingi
nthewor
ldbyher
sel
f.

TROYNextt
hingy
ougonnawantt
oknowi
fshehadanyi
nsur
ance.

ROSETr
oy,
youai
n'
tgott
otal
kli
ket
hat
.

TROYThat
'st
hef
ir
stt
hingt
hatj
umpedouty
ourmout
h.

-79-

"
Who'
sgonnabur
yher
?"Li
keI
'
mfi
xi
ngt
otakeont
hatt
askf
ormy
sel
f.

ROSEIam y
ourwi
fe.Don'
tpushmeaway
.

TROYIain'
tpushi
ngnobodyaway
.Justgi
vemesomespace.That
'sal
l
.Justgi
vemesome
room t
obreat
he.
(
ROSEexi
tsi
ntot
hehouse.TROYwal
ksaboutt
hey
ard.
)

TROY

(
Withaqui
etr
agethatt
hreat
enstoconsumehi
m.)Alr
ight.
..Mr
.Deat
h.Seenow.
..I
'
m gonna
t
ell
youwhatI
'
m gonnado.I'
m gonnat
akeandbui
ld

meafencearoundt
hisy
ard.See?I
'm gonnabui
l
dmeaf
encear
oundwhatbel
ongst
ome.And
t
henIwantyoutost
ayontheothersi
de.See?You

st
ayovert
her
euntil
you'
rereadyforme.Theny oucomeon.Br
ingy
ourar
my.Br
ingy
oursi
ckl
e.
Br
ingy
ourwrest
li
ngclot
hes.Iai
n'
tgonnafalldown

onmyvigi
l
ancet
histi
me.Youai
n'
tgonnasneakuponmenomor
e.Wheny
our
eadyf
orme...
whent
hetopofyourl
i
stsayTr
oyMaxson...that
'
s

whenyoucomear
oundher
e.Youcomeupandknockont
hef
rontdoor
.Ai
n'
tnobodyel
segot
not
hingt
odowit
hthi
s.Thi
sisbet
weenyouandme.

Mantoman.Youst
ayontheothersi
deofthatfenceunt
ily
our
eadyf
orme.Theny
oucomeup
andknockont
hefr
ontdoor
.Anyti
mey ouwant.I'
l
lbe

r
eadyf
ory
ou.

(
Thel
i
ght
sgodownt
obl
ack.
)

-80-

Act2,
Scene3

ActTwoSceneThr
ee
Theli
ght
scomeupontheporch.I
tisl
ateeveningt
hreeday
slat
er.ROSEsi
tsl
i
steni
ngt
othe
bal
lgamewai
ti
ngforTROY.Thefi
naloutofthegame

i
smadeandROSEswi t
chesof
fther
adio.TROYenter
sthey
ardcar
ryi
ngani
nfantwr
appedi
n
bl
anket
s.Hest
andsbackfr
om t
hehouseandcall
s.

(ROSEenter
sandstandsontheporch.Ther
eisal
ong,
awkwar
dsi
l
ence,
thewei
ghtofwhi
ch
growsheavi
erwi
theachpassingsecond.
)

TROYRose. .
.I'
m standi
ngher
ewithmydaught
eri
nmyar
ms.Sheai
n'
tbutaweebi
tt
iel
i
ttl
eol
d
thi
ng.Shedon'tknownothi
ngaboutgr
ownups'

busi
ness.Shei
nnocent...andsheai
n'
tgotnomama.

ROSEWhaty
out
ell
i
ngmef
or,
Troy
?

(
Shet
urnsandexi
tsi
ntot
hehouse.
)

TROYWel
l.
..Iguesswe'
l
ljustsi
touther
eont
hepor
ch.

{Hesit
sdownont hepor
ch.Ther
eisanawkwar
dindel
i
cat
enessaboutt
hewayhehandl
est
he
baby.Hisl
argeness

~8i
-
engul
fsandseemstoswal
lowIt
.Hespeaksloudenoughf
orROSEt
ohear
.)Aman'
sgott
odo
what'
sri
ghtforhi
m.Iai
n'
tsor
ryfornot
hingIdone.I
t

f
eltr
ighti
nmyhear
t.

{Tot
hebaby.
)Whatyousmil
i
ngat?Yourdaddy'
sabigman.Gott
hesegr
eatbi
gol
dhands.But
someti
meshe'
sscar
ed.Andri
ghtnowyourdaddy'
s

scar
edcausewesi
tt
ingouthereandai
n'
tgotnohome.Oh,
Ibeenhomel
essbef
ore.Iai
n'
thad
noli
tt
lebabywi
thme.ButIbeenhomel
ess.Youj
ust

beoutonther
oadbyy
ourl
onesomeandy
ouseeoneoft
hem t
rai
nscomi
ngandy
ouj
ustki
nda
gol
ikethi
s...

{
Hesi
ngsasalul
l
aby.
)Please,
Mr .Engi
neerletamanr
idet
hel
i
nePl
ease,
Mr.Engi
neerl
eta
manr
idet
hel
ineIai
n'
tgotnoticketpl
easeletmeri
de

t
hebl
i
nds

{
ROSEenter
sf r
om thehouse.TROYheari
ngherstepsbehi
ndhi
m,st
andsandf
acesher
.)She'
s
mydaught
er,Rose.Myownf l
eshandblood.Ican'
t

denyhernomor
ethanIcandenyt
hem boy
s.

(Pause.
)Youandthem boysismyfamil
y.Youandt
hem andt
hischi
l
disal
lIgoti
nthewor
ld.So
IguesswhatI
'm say
ingis...I'
dappr
eci
ateiti
f

y
ou'
dhel
pmet
akecar
eofher
.

ROSEOkay ,Tr
oy...you'r
eri
ght.I
'
lltakecareofyourbabyf
ory
ou...cause...l
i
key
ousay...
she'
sinnocent...andyoucan'
tvi
sitthesinsof

t
hef
atherupont
hechi
l
d.Amot
her
lesschi
l
dhasgotahar
dti
me.

(
Shetakest
hebabyf
rom hi
m.)Fr
om r
ightnow...t
hischi
l
dgotamot
her
.Buty
ouawomanl
ess
man.
(
ROSEt
urnsandexi
tsi
ntot
hehousewi
tht
hebaby
.Li
ght
sgodownt
obl
ack.
)

Act2,
Scene4

-82-

ActTwoSceneFour

I
tist
womont
hsl
ater
.LYONSent
ersf
rom t
hest
reet
.Heknocksont
hedoorandcal
l
s

LYONSHey
,Rose!

(
Pause.
)Rose!

ROSE

(
From i
nsi
det
hehouse.
)St
opt
haty
ell
i
ng.YougonnawakeupRay
nel
l
.Ij
ustgothert
osl
eep.

LYONSIj
ustst
oppedbyt
opayPapat
hist
went
ydol
l
arsIowehi
m.Wher
e'sPapaat
?

ROSEHeshoul
dbeher
einami
nut
e.I
'
m get
ti
ngr
eadyt
ogodownt
othechur
ch.Si
tdownand
wai
tonhi
m.

LYONSIgott
ogopi
ckupBonni
eov
erhermot
her
'shouse.

ROSEWel
l
,si
titdownt
her
eont
het
abl
e.He'
l
lgeti
t.

LYONS

(
Ent
erst
hehouseandset
sthemoneyont
het
abl
e.)Tel
lPapaIsai
dthanks.I
'
llseey
ouagai
n.

ROSEAl
ri
ght
,Ly
ons.We'
l
lseey
ou.

(
LYONSst
art
stoexi
tasCORYent
ers)

CORYHey
,Ly
ons.

-83-

LYONSWhat'
shappeni
ng,Cory.Sayman,I'
m sor
ryImi
ssedy
ourgr
aduat
ion.YouknowIhada
gi
gandcoul
dn'
tgetaway.Otherwise,
Iwoul
d

hav
ebeent
her
e,man.Sowhaty
oudoi
ng?
CORYI
'
mtr
yingt
ofi
ndaj
ob.

LYONSYeahIknowhowt
hatgo,
man.I
t'
sroughouther
e.Jobsar
escar
ce.

CORYYeah,
Iknow.

LYONSLookher
e,Igottorun.Tal
ktoPapa..
.heknowsomepeopl
e.He’
l
lbeabl
etohel
pget
youaj
ob.Tal
ktohim ...seewhathesay.

CORYYeah...al
ri
ght
,Ly
ons.

LYONSYout
akecar
e.I
'
llt
alkt
oyousoon.We'
l
lfi
ndsomet
imet
otal
k.

(LYONSexi
tstheyar
d.CORYwandersovert
othetr
ee,
picksupt
hebatandassumesabat
ti
ng
st
ance.Hest
udiesanimagi
nar
ypi
tcherandswi
ngs.

Dissat
isf
iedwit
hther
esul
t,hetr
iesagai
n.TROYent
ers.Theyey
eeachot
herf
orabeat
.CORY
putsthebatdownandexi
tsthey
ard.TROYstar
ts

i
ntot
hehouseasROSEexi
tswi
thRAYNELL.Shei
scar
ryi
ngacake.
)

TROYI
'
m comi
ngi
nandev
ery
body
'sgoi
ngout
.

ROSEI'
mtakingt
hiscakedowntothechurchfort
hebakesal
e.Ly
onswasbyt
oseey
ou.He
st
oppedbytopayyouyourtwent
ydoll
ars.I
t'
slayi
ngi
n
t
her
eont
het
abl
e.

TROY

(
Goi
ngi
ntohi
spocket
.)Wel
l...her
egot
hismoney
.

ROSEPuti
tint
her
eont
het
abl
e,Tr
oy.I
'
llgeti
t.

-84-

TROYWhatt
imey
oucomi
ngback?

ROSEAi
n'
tnousei
nyoust
udy
ingme.I
tdon'
tmat
terwhatt
imeIcomeback.

TROYIj
ustaskedy
ouaquest
ion,
woman.What
’st
hemat
ter...can’
tIasky
ouaquest
ion?

ROSETroy
,Idon'
twantt
ogointoi
t.Yourdinner
'si
nther
eont
hest
ove.Al
lyougott
odoi
sheat
i
tup.Anddon'
tyoubeeat
ingt
herestofthem

cakesi
nther
e.I
'
m comi
ngbackf
ort
hem.Wehav
ingabakesal
eatt
hechur
cht
omor
row.

(ROSEexi
tstheyar
d.TROYsi
tsdownont
hest
eps,
takesapi
ntbot
tl
efr
om hi
spocket
,opensi
t
anddri
nks.Hebegi
nstosi
ng.
)
TROYHearitr
ing!Heari
tri
ng!Hadanol
ddoghisnamewasBl
ueYouknowBl
uewasmi
ght
y
tr
ueYouknowBl ueasagoodolddogBl
uetr
eesa

possum i
nahol
l
owl
ogYouknowf
rom t
hathewasagoodol
ddog

(
BONOent
erst
hey
ard.
)

BONOHey
,Tr
oy.

TROYHey
,what
'shappeni
ng,
Bono?

BONOIj
ustt
houghtI
'
dst
opbyt
oseey
ou.

TROYWhatyoust
opbyandseemef or
?Youai
n'
tst
oppedbyi
namont
hofSunday
s.Hel
l
,I
mustoweyoumoneyorsomet
hing.

BONOSincey
ougotyourpr
omoti
onIcan'
tkeepupwi
thy
ou.Usedt
oseey
ouev
ery
day
.NowI
don'
tev
enknowwhatrout
eyouworki
ng.

-85-

TROYTheykeepswi
tchi
ngmear
ound.Gotmeouti
nGr
eent
reenow...haul
i
ngwhi
tef
olks'
gar
bage.
BONOGreent
ree,
huh?Youlucky
,atl
eastyouai
n'
tgott
obel
i
fti
ngt
hem bar
rel
s.Damni
fthey
ai
n'
tget
ti
ngheavi
er.I
'
m gonnaputi
nmyt woyears

andcal
li
tqui
ts.

TROYI
'
mthi
nki
ngaboutr
eti
ri
ngmy
sel
f.

BONOYougoti
teasy
.Youcandr
ivef
oranot
herf
ivey
ear
s.

TROYItai
n'tt
hesame,Bono.I
tain'tl
i
keworki
ngt
hebackoft
het
ruck.Ai
n’
tgotnobodyt
otal
k
to...f
eel
li
key ouwor
kingbyyoursel
f.Naw,I
'
m

t
hinki
ngaboutr
eti
ri
ng.How'
sLuci
l
le?

BONOSheal
ri
ght
.Herart
hri
ti
sgett
oact
inguponhersomet
ime.SawRoseonmywayi
n.She
goi
ngdownt
othechur
ch,huh?

TROYYeah, shet
ookupgoi
ngdownt
her
e.Al
lthem pr
eacher
slooki
ngf
orsomebodyt
ofat
ten
thei
rpocket
s.

(
Pause.
)Gotsomegi
nher
e.

BONONaw,
thanks.Ij
ustst
oppedbyt
osayhel
l
o.

TROYHel
l
, ni
gger...y
oucant
akeadr
ink.Iai
n'
tnev
erknowny
out
osaynot
oadr
ink.Youai
n'
t
gott
oworktomorrow.

BONOIjustst
oppedby.I
'
mfi
xi
ngt
ogoov
ert
oSki
nner
's.Wegotusadomi
nogamegoi
ngov
er
hi
shouseeveryFr
iday
.
TROYNi
gger
,youcan’
tpl
aynodomi
noes.Iusedt
owhupy
ouf
ourgamesoutoff
ive.

BONOWel
l
,thatl
ear
nedme.I
'
m get
ti
ngbet
ter
.

-86-

TROYYeah?Wel
l
,that
'sal
ri
ght
.

BONOLookher
e..
.Igott
obeget
ti
ngon.St
opbysomet
ime,
huh?

TROYYeah,
I'
ll
dot
hat
,Bono.Luci
l
let
oldRosey
ouboughtheranewr
efr
iger
ator
.

BONOYeah,
Roset
oldLuci
l
ley
ouhadf
inal
l
ybui
l
tyourf
ence.
..soIf
igur
edwe'
dcal
li
tev
en.

TROYIknewy
ouwoul
d.

BONOYeah...okay
.I'
l
lbet
alki
ngt
oyou.

TROYYeah,
takecar
e,Bono.Goodt
oseey
ou.I
'
m gonnast
opov
er.

BONOYeah.Okay
,Tr
oy.
(
BONOexi
ts.TROYdr
inksf
rom t
hebot
tl
e.)

TROYOldBl
uediedandIdi
ghisgr
aveLethim downwi
thagol
denchai
nEv
eryni
ghtwhenIhear
ol
dBluebar
kIknowBluetr
eedapossum i
n

Noah'
sAr
k.Heari
tri
ng!Heari
tri
ng!

(CORYenter
stheyar
d.Theyey
eeachot
herf
orabeat
.TROYi
ssi
tt
ingi
nthemi
ddl
eoft
hest
eps.
CORYwalksover
.)

CORYIgott
ogetby
.

TROYSaywhat
?What
'sy
ousay
?

CORYYoui
nmyway
.Igott
ogetby
.

TROYYougottogetbywher
e?Thi
sismyhouse.Boughtandpai
dfor
.Inf
ull
.Tookmef
if
teen
year
s.Andi
fyouwannagoinmyhouseandI
'
m

si
tt
ingont
hest
eps...y
ousayexcuseme.Li
key
ourmamat
aughty
ou.

-87-

CORYComeon,
Pop.
..Igott
ogetby
.

(CORYst
art
stomaneuv
erhi
swaypastTROY.TROYgr
abshi
slegandshov
eshi
m back.
)
TROYYouj
ustgonnawal
kov
ert
opofme?

CORYIl
i
veher
etoo!

TROY

(
Adv
anci
ngt
owar
dhi
m.)Youj
ustgonnawal
kov
ert
opofmei
nmyownhouse?

CORYIai
n'
tscar
edofy
ou.

TROYIai
n’
taskedi
fyouwasscaredofme.Iaskedy
oui
fyouwasf
ixi
ngt
owal
kov
ert
opofme
i
nmyownhouse?That’
sthequesti
on.Youai
n'
t

gonnasayexcuseme?Youj
ustgonnawal
kov
ert
opofme?

CORYI
fyouwannaputi
tli
ket
hat
.

TROYHowel
seam Igonnaputi
t?

CORYIwaswal ki
ngbyyout
ogoint
othehousecausey
ousi
tt
ingont
hest
epsdr
unk,
singi
ngt
o
your
sel
f.Youcanputi
tli
ket
hat
.
TROYWi
thoutsay
ingexcuseme?
??

(CORYdoesn'
trespond.
)Iaskedy
ouaquest
ion.Wi
thoutsay
ingexcuseme?
??

CORYIai
n'
tgott
osayexcusemet
oyou.Youdon'
tcountar
oundher
enomor
e.

TROYOh,Isee.
..Idon'
tcountar
oundher
enomor
e.Youai
n'
tgott
osayexcusemet
oyour
daddy
.Al
lofasuddeny oudonegotsogr
ownt
hat

yourdaddydon'
tcountar
oundherenomore...Ar
oundher
einhi
sownhouseandy
ardt
hathe
donepaidforwi
ththesweatofhi
sbrow.Youdone

gotsogr
ownt
owher
eyougonnat
akeov
er.Yougonnat
akeov
ermyhouse.I
sthatr
ight
?

-88-

Yougonnawearmypants.Yougonnagoi
nther
eandst
ret
choutonmybed.Youai
n'
tgott
osay
excusemecauseIdon'
tcountar
oundher
eno

mor
e.I
sthatr
ight
?

CORYThat
'sr
ight
.Youal
way
stal
ki
ngt
hisdumbst
uff
.Now,
whydon'
tyouj
ustgetoutmyway
.

TROYIguessyougotsomeplacet
osleepandsomet
hingt
oputi
nyourbel
l
y.Yougott
hat
,huh?
Yougott
hat?That
’swhatyouneed.Yougott
hat,
huh?

CORYYoudon'
tknowwhatIgot
.Youai
n’
tgott
owor
ryaboutwhatIgot
.

TROYYour i
ght!Youonehundredpercentright
!Idonespentt
hel
astsev
ent
eeny
ear
swor
ryi
ng
aboutwhatyougot.Nowit
’syourtur
n, see?I'
ll
tel
l

youwhattodo.Yougr
own. .
.wedoneest
abli
shedthat
.Youaman.Now,
let
'sseey
ouactl
i
ke
one.Tur
nyourbehi
ndaroundandwal
koutthi
sy ar
d.

Andwhenyougetoutt
her
eint
heal
ley...y
oucanf
orgetaboutt
hishouse.See?Causet
hisi
s
myhouse.Yougoonandbeamanandgetyour

ownhouse.Youcanfor
getaboutt
his.'
Causet
hisi
smi
ne.Yougoonandgety
our
scauseI
'
m
thr
oughwit
hdoingfory
ou.

CORYYout
alki
ngaboutwhaty
oudi
dforme...what
'dy
ouev
ergi
veme?

TROYThem feetandbones!Thatpumpi
nghear
t,ni
gger
!Igi
vey
oumor
ethanany
bodyel
sei
s
evergonnagi
veyou.

CORYYouain'
tnevergavemenothing!Youain'
tnev
erdonenot
hingbuthol
dmeback.Af
rai
dI
wasgonnabebett
erthanyou.Al
lyouev erdi
dwas

tr
yandmakemescaredofyou.Iusedt
otr
embl
eev
eryt
imey
oucal
l
edmyname.Ev
eryt
imeI
hear
dyourf
oot
stepsi
nthe

-89-
house.Wonderi
ngallt
heti
me...what'
sPapagonnasayi
fIdot
his?...What
'shegonnasayi
fI
dothat?...What'
sPapagonnasayi
fItur
nonthe

r
adi
o?AndMama,
too...shet
ri
es.
..butshe’
sscar
edofy
ou.

TROYYoul
eav
eyourmamaoutoft
his.Sheai
n'
tgotnot
hingt
odowi
tht
his.

CORYIdon'
tknowhowshest
andy
ou...af
terwhaty
oudi
dtoher
.

TROYIt
oldy
out
oleav
eyourmamaoutoft
his!

(
Headv
ancest
owar
dCORY.
)

CORYWhatyougonnado...gi
vemeawhuppi
ng?Youcan'
twhupmenomor
e.You'
ret
oool
d.
Youj
ustanol
dman.

TROY

(
Shov
eshi
m onhi
sshoul
der
.)Ni
gger
!That
'
swhaty
ouar
e.Youj
ustanot
herni
ggeront
hest
reet
t
ome!
CORYYoucr
azy
!Youknowt
hat
?

TROYGoonnow!Yougott
hedev
ili
nyou.Getonawayf
rom me!

CORYYouj
ustacr
azyol
dman...t
alki
ngaboutIgott
hedev
ili
nme.

TROYYeah,I
’
m cr
azy!I
fyoudon'
tgetont
heothersi
deoft
haty
ard.
..I
'
m gonnashowy
ouhow
cr
azyIam!Goon...gett
hehell
outofmyyar
d.

CORYItai
n'
tyoury
ard.Yout
ookUncl
eGabe'
smoneyhegotf
rom t
hear
myt
obuyt
hishouse
andt
henyouputhim out
.

TROY

(TROYadv
ancesonCORY.
)Gety
ourbl
ackassoutofmyy
ard!

(TROY'
sadv
ancebacksCORYupagai
nstt
het
ree.CORYgr
absupt
hebat
.)

-90-

CORYIai
n'
tgoi
ngnowher
e!Comeon...putmeout
!Iai
n'
tscar
edofy
ou.

TROYThat
’smybat
!

CORYComeon!

TROYPutmybatdown!
CORYComeon,
putmeout
.

(CORYswi
ngsatTROY,
whobacksacr
osst
hey
ard.
)What
'st
hemat
ter
?Yousobad.
..putme
out!

(
TROYadv
ancest
owar
dCORY.
)

CORY

(
Backi
ngup.
)Comeon!Comeon!

TROYYou'r
egonnahav
etousei
t!Youwannadr
awt
hatbatbackonme...y
ou'
regonnahav
e
tousei
t.

CORYComeon!...Comeon!

(CORYswi
ngst
hebatatTROYasecondt
ime.Hemi
sses.TROYcont
inuest
oadv
ancet
owar
d
him.
)

TROYYou'
regonnahav
etoki
l
lme!Youwannadr
awt
hatbatbackonme.You'
regonnahav
eto
ki
ll
me.

(CORY,backedupagai
nstthet
ree,
cangonof
art
her
.TROYt
aunt
shi
m.Hest
icksouthi
shead
andoff
ershim atar
get
.)Comeon!Comeon!

(
CORYi
sunabl
etoswi
ngt
hebat
.TROYgr
absi
t.
)

TROYThenI
'
llshowy
ou.
(CORYandTROYstr
uggl
eov ert
hebat.Thestr
uggl
eisfi
erceandf
ull
yengaged.TROY
ul
ti
matel
yist
hest
ronger
,andtakest
hebatfrom CORYand

st
andsov
erhi
mreadyt
oswi
ng.Hest
opshi
msel
f.
)

-91-

Goonandgetawayf
rom ar
oundmyhouse.

(
CORY,
stungbyhi
sdef
eat
,pi
ckshi
msel
fup,
wal
kssl
owl
youtoft
hey
ardandupt
heal
l
ey.
)

CORYTel
lMamaI
'
llbebackf
ormyt
hings.

TROYThey
’l
lbeont
heot
hersi
deoft
hatf
ence.

(
CORYexi
ts.
)

TROYIcan'
ttast
enot
hing.Hel
l
ulj
ah!Ican'
ttast
enot
hingnomor
e.

(TROYassumesabat
ti
ngpostur
eandbegi
nst
otauntDeat
h,t
hef
ast
bal
li
ntheout
sidecor
ner
.)
Comeon!It’
sbet
weenyouandmenow!Comeon!

Any
timey
ouwant
!Comeon!Iber
eadyf
ory
ou.
..butIai
n’
tgonnabeeasy
.

(
Thel
i
ght
sgodownont
hescene.
)
-92-

Act2,
Scene5

ActTwoSceneFi
ve

Theti
mei
s1965.Thelight
scomeupi
ntheyar
d.I
tist
hemor
ningofTROY'
sfuner
al.Af
uner
al
pl
aquewi
thal
ighthangsbesi
det
hedoor
.Ther
eisa

smal
lgar
denpl
otofft
othesi
de.Therei
snoi
seandact
ivi
tyi
nthehouseasROSE,
LYONSand
BONOhavegat
her
ed.Thedooropensand

RAYNELL,sevenyear
sol
d,ent
ersdr
essedi
naflannel
night
gown.Shecr
ossest
othegar
den
andpokesaroundwit
hasti
ck.ROSEcal
lsf
rom t
he

house.

ROSEFt
aynel
l
!

MAXSONMam?

ROSEWhaty
oudoi
ngoutt
her
e?

MAXSONNot
hing.
(
ROSEcomest
othedoor
.)

ROSEGi
rl
,geti
nher
eandgetdr
essed.Whaty
oudoi
ng?

MAXSONSeei
ngi
fmygar
dengr
owed.

ROSEIt
oldy
oui
tai
n'
tgonnagr
owov
erni
ght
.Yougott
owai
t.

MAXSONI
tdon'
tl
ookl
i
kei
tnev
ergonnagr
ow.Dag!

-93-

ROSEIt
oldy
ouawat
chedpotnev
erboi
l
s.Geti
nher
eandgetdr
essed.

MAXSONThi
sai
n'
tev
ennopot
,Mama.

ROSEYouj
usthav
et ogiv
ei tachance.I
t'
llgr
ow.Nowy
oucomeonanddowhatIt
oldy
ou.We
gott
obeget
ti
ngready.Thisain'
tnomorningtobe

pl
ayi
ngar
ound.Youhearme?
MAXSONYes,
mam.

(
ROSEexit
sint
othehouse.RAYNELLcont
inuest
opokeathergar
denwi
thast
ick.CORYent
ers.
Hei
sdressedi
naMar i
necorpor
al'
suni
for
m, and

carr
iesaduff
elbag.Hi
spost
urei
sthatofami
l
itar
yman,
andhi
sspeechhasacl
i
pped
ster
nness.
)

CORY

(
ToRAYNELL.
)Hi
.

(
Pause.
)Ibety
ournamei
sRay
nel
l
.

MAXSONUhhuh.

CORYI
syourmamahome?

(
RAYNELLr
unsupont
hepor
chandcal
l
sthr
ought
hescr
eendoor
.)

MAXSONMama...t
her
e'ssomemanouther
e.Mama?

(
ROSEcomest
othedoor
.)

ROSECor
y?Lor
dhav
emer
cy!Lookher
e,y
oual
l
!
(ROSEandCORYembr aceinat
ear
ful
reuni
onasBONOandLYONSent
erf
rom t
hehouse
dressedi
nfuner
alcl
othes.
)

BONOAw,
lookaher
e...

ROSEDonegotal
lgr
ownup!

-94-

CORYDon'
tcr
y,Mama.Whaty
oucr
yingabout
?

ROSEI
'
mjustsogl
ady
oumadei
t.

CORYHeyLy
ons.Howy
oudoi
ng,
Mr.Bono.

(
LYONSgoest
oembr
aceCORY.
)

LYONSLookaty
ou,
man.Lookaty
ou.Don'
thel
ookgood,
Rose.Gott
hem Cor
por
alst
ri
pes.

ROSEWhatt
ooky
ousol
ong.

CORYYouknowhowt heMar
inesar
e,Mama.Theygott
ogetal
lthei
rpaper
wor
kst
rai
ghtbef
ore
theyl
ety
oudoanyt
hing.
ROSEWel l
,I
'm sur
egladyoumadeit.TheyletLyonscome.YourUncl
eGabe'
sst
il
li
nthe
hospi
tal
.Theydon’tknowift
heygonnalethim outornot
.

Ij
ustt
alkedt
othem al
i
ttl
ewhi
l
eago.

LYONSACor
por
ali
ntheUni
tedSt
atesMar
ines.

BONOYourdaddyknewy
ouhadi
tiny
ou.Heusedt
otel
lmeal
lthet
ime.

LYONSDon'
thel
ookgood,
Mr.Bono?

BONOYeah,
her
emi
ndmeofTr
oywhenIf
ir
stmethi
m.

(Pause.
)Say
, Rose,
Lucil
l
e'sdownatthechur
chwi
tht
hechoi
r.I
'
m gonnagodownandgett
he
pall
bear
ersl
inedup.I'
l
lbebacktogetyouall
.

ROSEThanks,
Jim.

CORYSeey
ou,
Mr.Bono.

LYONS

(Wit
hhisarm ar
oundRAYNELL.
)Cor
y...l
ookatRay
nel
l
.Ai
n'
tshepr
eci
ous?Shegonnabr
eaka
whol
elotofhear
ts.

-95-
ROSERay
nel
l
,comeandsayhel
l
otoy
ourbr
other
.Thi
sisy
ourbr
other
,Cor
y.Your
emember
Cor
y.

MAXSONNo,
Mam.

CORYShedon'
trememberme,
Mama.

ROSEWel
l
,wet
alkabouty
ou.Shehear
dust
alkabouty
ou.

(
ToRAYNELL.
)Thi
sisy
ourbr
other
,Cor
y.Comeonandsayhel
l
o.

MAXSONHi
.

CORYHi
.Soy
ou'
reRay
nel
l
.Mamat
oldmeal
otabouty
ou.

ROSEYoual
lcomeoni
ntot
hehouseandl
etmef
ixy
ousomebr
eakf
ast
.Keepupy
ourst
rengt
h.

CORYIai
n'
thungr
y,Mama.

LYONSYoucanf
ixmesomet
hing,
Rose.I
'
llbei
nther
einami
nut
e.

ROSECor
y,y
ousur
eyoudon'
twantnot
hing.Iknowt
heyai
n’
tfeedi
ngy
our
ight
.

CORYNo,
Mama...t
hanks.Idon’
tfeel
li
keeat
ing.I
'
llgetsomet
hingl
ater
.

ROSERay
nel
l.
..getonupst
air
sandgett
hatdr
essonl
i
keIt
oldy
ou.
(
ROSEandRAYNELLexi
tint
othehouse.
)

LYONSSo.
..Iheary
out
hinki
ngaboutget
ti
ngmar
ri
ed.

CORYYeah,
Idonef
oundt
her
ightone,
Lyons.I
t'
saboutt
ime.

LYONSMeandBonni
ebeenspl
i
tupaboutf
oury
ear
snow.Aboutt
het
imePapar
eti
red.Iguess
shej
ustgot

-96-

t
ir
edofal
lthem changesIwasput
ti
nghert
hrough.

(
Pause.
)Ial
way sknewyouwasgonnamakesomethi
ngouty
our
sel
f.Yourheadwasal
way
sin
t
heri
ghtdi
rect
ion.So...y
ougonnastayi
n...make

i
tacar
eer.
..puti
nyourt
went
yyear
s?

CORYIdon’
tknow.Igotsi
xal
ready
,It
hinkt
hat
'
senough.

LYONSSt i
ckwit
hUncl
eSam andr
eti
reear
ly.Ai
n'
tnot
hingouther
e.IguessRoset
oldy
ouwhat
happenedwit
hme.Theygotmedownthe
wor
khouse.It
houghtIwasbei
ngsl
i
ckcashi
ngot
herpeopl
e'
schecks.

CORYHowmucht
imey
oudoi
ng?

LYONSTheygiv
emethreeyear
s.Igott
hatbeatnow.Iai
n’
tgotbutni
nemor
emont
hs.I
tai
n’
tso
bad.Youl
ear
ntodeal
withi
tli
keanythi
ngel
se.

Yougottotakethecr
ookedswiththestr
aight
s.That
’swhatPapausedt
osay
.Heusedt
osay
thatwhenhestr
uckout.Iseenhi
m str
ikeoutthr
ee

t
imesinarow...andthenextt
imeuphehi tt
heballovert
hegr
andst
and.Ri
ghtoutt
her
ein
HomesteadFi
eld.Hewasn'
tsat
isf
iedhi
tt
ingintheseat
s

.
..hewantt
ohiti
toverevery
thi
ng!Aft
erthegamehehadt
wohundr
edpeopl
est
andi
ngar
ound
wait
ingt
oshakehishand.Yougottotaket
he

cr
ookedswi
tht
hest
rai
ght
s.Yeah,
Papawassomet
hingel
se.

CORYYoust
il
lpl
ayi
ng?

LYONSCory...youknowI'
m gonnadothat
.Ther
e'ssomef
ell
owsdownt
her
ewegotusaband
..
.wegonnatryandstayt
ogetherwhenweget

out...butyeah,
I'
m st
il
lpl
ayi
ng.I
tst
il
lhel
psmet ogetoutofbedi
nthemor
ning.Asl
ongasi
t
dothatI'
m gonnaberi
ghtt
herepl
ayi
ngandtr
yingto

makesomesenseoutofi
t.

-97-
ROSE

(
Cat
li
ng.
)Ly
ons,
Igott
heseeggsi
nthepan.

LYONSLetmegoonandgett
heseeggs,
man.Getr
eadyt
ogobur
yPapa.

(
Pause.
)Howy
oudoi
ng?Youdoi
ngal
ri
ght
?

(CORYnods.LYONSt
oucheshim ont
heshoul
derandtheyshar
eamomentofsi
l
entgr
ief
.
LYONSexit
sintot
hehouse.CORYwander
saboutthe

y
ard.RAYNELLent
ers.
)

MAXSONHi
.

CORYHi
.

MAXSONDi
dyouusedt
osl
eepi
nmyr
oom?

CORYYeah...t
hatusedt
obemyr
oom.
MAXSONThat
'swhatPapacal
li
t"Cor
y'
sroom.
"Itgoty
ourf
oot
bal
li
nthecl
oset
.

(
ROSEcomest
othedoor
.)

ROSERay
nel
l
,geti
nther
eandgett
hem goodshoeson.

MAXSONMama,
can'
tIweart
hese.Them ot
heronehur
tmyf
eet
.

ROSEWel
l
,theyj
ustgonnahavetohur
tyourf
eetf
orawhi
l
e.Youai
n'
tsai
dtheyhur
tyourf
eet
wheny
ouwentdowntothestoreandgott
hem.

MAXSONTheydi
dn'
thur
tthen.Myf
eetdonegotbi
gger
.

ROSEDon'
tyougi
vemenobackt
alknow.Yougeti
nther
eandgett
hem shoeson.

(
RAYNELLexi
tsint
othehouse.
)Ain'
ttoomuchchanged.Hest
il
lgott
hatpi
eceofr
agt
iedt
o
t
hatt
ree.Hewasouther
eswingingt
hatbat
.Iwasjust

r
eadyt
ogobacki
nthehouse.Heswungt
hatbatand

-98-

batandthenhejustfel
lover
.Seem l
i
keheswungitandst
oodt
her
ewi
tht
hisgr
inonhi
sface...
andthenhejustfel
lover
.Theycar
ri
edhim ondown

t
othehospi
tal
,butIknewt
her
ewasn'
tnoneed...whydon'
tyoucomeoni
nthehouse?
CORYMama. .
.Igotsomet
hingtot
ellyou.Idon’
tknowhowt
otel
lyout
his.
..butI
’
vegott
otel
l
you.
..I
'
m notgoi
ngtoPapa'
sfuner
al.

ROSEBoy,
hushy ourmouth.That'
syourdaddyyoutal
ki
ngabout
.Idon'
twantheart
hatki
ndof
tal
kthi
smorni
ng.Idoneraisedyoutocomet ot
his?

Youst
andi
ngt
her
eal
lheal
thyandgr
ownt
alki
ngabouty
ouai
n'
tgoi
ngt
oyourdaddy
'sf
uner
al?

CORYMama...l
i
sten...

ROSEIdon'
twantt
oheari
t,Cor
y.Youj
ustgett
hatt
houghtoutofy
ourhead.

CORYIcan'
tdr
agPapawi
thmeev
ery
wher
eIgo.I
'
vegott
osaynot
ohi
m.Onet
imei
nmyl
i
fe
I
'v
egottosayno.

ROSEDon'tnobodyhavetoli
stentonot
hingl
ikethat
.Iknowy
ouandy
ourdaddyai
n’
tseeney
e
toey
e,butIain'
tgott
olist
entothatki
ndoftalkt
his

morni
ng.Whateverwasbetweenyouandyourdaddy.
..t
het
imehascomet
oputi
tasi
de.Just
t
akeitandseti
tov ert
her
eont heshel
fandf
orget

abouti
t.Disrespecti
ngyourdaddyain'
tgonnamakey ouaman,
Cor
y.Yougott
ofi
ndawayt
o
cometot hatony ourown.Notgoingtoyourdaddy
's

f
uner
alai
n'
tgonnamakey
ouaman.
CORYThewhol
eti
meIwasgrowingup...l
i
vingi
nhi
shouse...Papawasl
i
keashadowt
hat
fol
l
owedyouev
ery
wher
e.I
tweighedonyouand

sunki
ntoy
ourf
lesh.

-99-

Itwoul
dwraparoundyouandl ayther
eunti
lyoucoul
dn'
ttel
lwhi
chonewasy
ouany
mor
e.That
shadowdi
gginginyourf
lesh.Tryi
ngtocrawli
n.

Tryi
ngtol
i
vethroughyou.Ev
erywher
eIlooked,Tr
oyMaxsonwasst
ari
ngbackatme...hi
ding
undert
hebed..
.inthecl
oset.I
'
mjustsayi
ngI'v
e

gott
ofi
ndawayt
ogetr
idoft
hatshadow,
Mama.

ROSEYouj
ustl
i
kehi
m.Yougothi
miny
ougood.

CORYDon'
ttel
lmet
hat
,Mama.

ROSEYouTr
oyMaxsonal
lov
eragai
n.

CORYIdon'
twantt
obeTr
oyMaxson.Iwantt
obeme.
ROSEYoucan'tbenobodybutwhoy
ouare,Cory.Thatshadowwasn'
tnot
hingbuty
ougr
owi
ng
i
ntoyour
sel
f.Youeit
hergottogr
owint
oitorcutit

downtofi
tyou.Butthat'
sallyougottomakeli
fewi
th.That
'sal
lyougott
omeasur
eyour
sel
f
agai
nstt
hatworldoutthere.Yourdaddywant
edyouto

beevery
thi
nghewasn'
t...andatthesametimehetr
iedt
omakey
oui
ntoev
ery
thi
nghewas.I
don'
tknowifhewasri
ghtorwrong..
.butIdoknow

hemeantt
odomor egoodthanhemeantt
odoharm.Hewasn'
tal
way
sri
ght
.Somet
imeswhen
het
ouchedhebr
uised.Andsomet
imeswhenhet
ook

meinhi
sar
mshecut.WhenIf
ir
stmety ourdaddyIt
hought...Her
eisamanIcanl
aydown
wi
thandmakeababy
.That
'
sthefi
rstt
hingIthought

whenIseenhi
m.Iwasthir
tyyear
sol
dandhaddoneseenmyshar
eofmen.Butwhenhewal
ked
uptomeandsaid,
"Icandanceawal
tzt
hat
'l
lmake

youdizzy,
"It
hought
,RoseLee,hereisamant hatyoucanopeny
our
sel
fupt
oandbef
il
ledt
o
burst
ing.Her
eisamant hatcanfi
l
l al
lthem empty

spacesy
oubeentippi
ngar
oundt
heedgesof
.Oneoft
hem empt
yspaceswasbei
ng
somebody'
smother.

-100-

Imarri
edyourdaddyandsett
leddownt
ocookinghi
ssupperandkeepi
ngcl
eansheet
sont
he
bed.Whenyourdaddywalkedthr
ought
hehousehe

wassobighefi
ll
edi
tup.Thatwasmyf i
rstmi
stake.Nott
omakehi
mleav
esomer
oom f
orme.
Formyparti
nthematt
er.Butatt
hatt
imeIwanted

that
.Iwantedahouset
hatIcoul
dsingin.Andthat
'
swhaty
ourdaddygav
eme.Idi
dn'
tknowt
o
keepuphisstr
engt
hIhadtogiveupli
tt
lepiecesof

mine.Idi
dthat
.It
ookonhisli
feasmi
neandmi xedupt
hepi
ecessot
haty
oucoul
dn'
thar
dlyt
ell
whichwaswhichany
more.Itwasmychoi
ce.I
twas

myli
feandIdi
dn'
thavetol
ivei
tli
ket
hat.Butt
hat
'swhatl
i
feof
fer
edmei
nthewayofbei
nga
womanandItooki
t.Igr
abbedhol
dofitwit
hboth

hands.BythetimeRaynel
lcamei
ntot
hehouse,meandy
ourdaddyhaddonel
ostt
ouchwi
th
oneanother.Idi
dn'
twanttomakemyblessi
ngof
fof

nobody
'smi
sfor
tune..butIt
ookont
oRay
nel
ll
ikeshewasal
lthem babi
esIhadwant
edand
nev
erhad.

(Thephoneri
ngs.)Li
keI’
dbeenblessedtor
eli
veapar
tofmyl
i
fe.Andi
ftheLor
dseef
itt
okeep
upmyst r
ength.
..I’
m gonnadoherjustl
i
keyour

daddydi
dyou.
..I
’
m gonnagi
vehert
hebestofwhat
'
sinme.

MAXSON

(Ent
eri
ng,
sti
l
lwi
thherol
dshoes.
)Mama...Rev
erendTol
l
ivi
eront
hephone.

(
ROSEexi
tsi
ntot
hehouse.
)

MAXSONHi
.

CORYHi
.

MAXSONYoui
ntheAr
myort
heMar
ines?

CORYMar
ines.

-101-
MAXSONPapasai
ditwast
heAr
my.Di
dyouknowBl
ue?

CORYBl
ue?Who'
sBl
ue?

MAXSONPapasdogwhathesi
ngaboutal
lthet
ime.

CORY

(
Singi
ng.
)Heari
tri
ng!Heari
tri
ng!Ihadadoghi
snamewasBl
ueYouknowBl
uewasmi
ght
y
t
rueYouknowBluewasagoodolddogBluetr
eeda

possum i
nahol
l
owl
ogYouknowf
rom t
hathewasagoodol
ddog.Heari
tri
ng!Heari
tri
ng!

(
RAYNELLj
oinsi
nsi
ngi
ng.
)

CORYANDRAYNELLBl uetr
eedapossum outonal
i
mbBl
uel
ookedatmeandIl
ookedathi
m
Grabbedt
hatpossum andputhi
mina

sackBl
uestayedt
her
etil
lIcamebackOldBl
ue'
sfeet
swasbi
gandr
oundNev
eral
l
oweda
possum t
otoucht
heground.Ol
dBluedi
edandIdughis

gr
aveIdughi
sgr
avewit
hasil
verspadeLethi
m downwi
thagol
denchai
nAndev
eryni
ghtIcal
l
hi
snameGoonBlue,
yougooddogy ouGoonBlue,
y
ougooddogy
ou

MAXSONBl
uel
aiddownanddi
edl
i
keamanBl
uel
aiddownanddi
ed...

BOTHBluelai
ddownanddi
edlikeamanNowhe'
str
eei
ngpossumsi
nthePr
omi
sedLandI
'
m
gonnat
ell
youthi
stol
etyouknowBlue'
sgone

wher
ethegooddogsgoWhenIhearol
dBl
uebar
k

-102-

WhenIhearol
dBl
uebar
kBl
uet
reedapossum i
nNoah'
sAr
kBl
uet
reedapossum i
nNoah'
sAr
k.

(
ROSEcomest
othescr
eendoor
.)

ROSECor
y,wegonnaber
eadyt
ogoi
nami
nut
e.

CORY

(ToRAYNELL.
)Yougooni
nthehouseandchanget
hem shoesl
i
keMamat
oldy
ousowecan
gotoPapa'
sfuner
al.

MAXSONOkay
,I'
l
lbeback.
(RAYNELLexit
si nt
othehouse.CORYget
supandcr
ossesov
ert
othet
ree.ROSEst
andsi
nthe
screendoorwatchi
nghim.GABRIELent
ersf
rom

t
heal
l
ey.
)

GABRI
EL

(
Cal
l
ing.
)Hey
,Rose!

ROSEGabe?

GABRI
ELI
'
m her
e,Rose.HeyRose,
I'
m her
e!

(
ROSEent
ersf
rom t
hehouse.
)

ROSELor
d...Lookher
e,Ly
ons!

LYONSSee,
Itol
dyou,
Rose.
..It
oldy
out
hey
'dl
ethi
m come.

CORYHowy
oudoi
ng,
Uncl
eGabe?

LYONSHowy
oudoi
ng,
Uncl
eGabe?
GABRI
ELHey,Rose.I
t'
sti
me.It
'sti
metotel
lSt
.Pet
ert
oopent
hegat
es.Tr
oy,
your
eady
?You
r
eady,
Troy
.I'
m gonnatel
lSt
.Petert
oopenthe

gat
es.Yougetr
eadynow.

(Gabr
iel
,wi
thgr
eatfanf
are,
braceshi
mselft
oblow.Thet
rumpeti
swi
thoutamout
hpi
ece.He
putst
heendofiti
ntohi
smout handblowswit
hgreat

f
orce,
li
keaman

-103-

whohasbeenwai
ti
ngsometwenty-
oddyearsf
ort
hissi
ngl
emoment
.Nosoundcomesoutof
t
hetr
umpet.Hebr
aceshi
mselfandblowsagai
nwit
h

thesamer
esult
.Athi
rdt
imeheblows.Ther
eisaweightofi
mpossi
bledescr
ipt
iont
hatf
all
s
awayandl
eaveshi
m bar
eandexposedtoafri
ght
ful

r
eal
i
zati
on.I
tisatr
aumathatasaneandnor
malmi
ndwoul
dbeunabl
etowi
thst
and.Hebegi
ns
t
odance.Asl
ow,str
angedance,
eer
ieandl
if
e-

gi
ving.Adanceofat
avist
icsi
gnat
ureandri
tual
.LYONSat
tempt
stoembr
acehi
m.GABRI
EL
pushesLYONSaway .Hebeginst
ohowl i
nwhatisan

at
temptatsong,orper
hapsasongt
urni
ngbacki
ntoi
tsel
finanat
temptatspeech.Hef
ini
shes
hi
sdanceandthegatesofheav
enst
andopenas

wi
deasGod'
scl
oset
.)That
'st
hewayt
hatgo!

(
BLACKOUT.
)

ENDOFPLAY.