The Gifts

Based on the life of Norwich Artist Ellis Ruley

By 

Joyce Back

and

Ellen Kellie

The Gifts Copyright 2008

by 

Joyce Back and Ellen Kellie

All Rights Reserved

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Note 1:  The actors playing Buddy Croft and Donald Goley can also portray the murderers in Act 1, Scene 1.  They will be masked.

Note 2:  Ethnicity is an important part of the story.  Ellis, Marion, and Gladys should be played by African-American actors.  Buddy Croft and Willa Croft Ruley should be Caucasian.  Donald Goley and Eva Stone can be any ethnicity.

Cast of Characters:

Ellis Ruley – an artist living and working in Norwich, Connecticut, in the 1950’s; his age will vary from adult to elderly man.  (He also appears as the spirit of the deceased Ellis.) 

Marion Ruley – Ellis’ daughter; her age will vary from teenager to middle-aged woman.

Willa Croft Ruley – Buddy’s sister and Ellis’ wife; her age will vary from young woman to old woman.  (She also appears as the spirit of the deceased Willa.) 

Buddy Croft – Ellis’ neighbor; his age will vary from middle-aged man to                          vigorous old man.

Donald Goley – A police detective, age about 30.

Eva Stone – The curator of an art museum, age about 30.

Gladys Harris – Marion’s daughter; her age is about 23 in the “present,” but in her flashback scene she is about 13. 

Set: All scenes are played in the Ruley home or just outside the home.

Costumes

The “present” is 1952, so the costumes need to reflect the time period. That would mean full, shirtwaist dresses or fitted suits for women and loose trousers and fedora hats for men.  Men should have very short hair, and women should have long hair styled in a bun, shoulder-length hair styled in a flip, or short hair styled in a bubble.

Part of the story takes place in the winter, so all characters should have winter coats.Sound Effects

· Sound of thunder and rain

· A drum playing a marching beat

Prop List

· A stone large enough to be a dangerous weapon, but small enough to be held in a hand

· A KKK “lapel pin” (a metal object about the size of a coin; the audience won’t be able to see it so it doesn’t need to have KKK engraved on it)

· A flashlight

· An armchair

· A straight chair

· One or two small occasional tables

· An old trunk

· An easel

· Three or four pre-stretched art canvases

· A hand-held art palette

· A framed imitation of Ruley’s painting ‘Adam and Eve’

· A blanket or afghan

· A police badge

· A large hammer

· Two aprons

· A newspaper and book or knitting/sewing materials for Act 1, Scene 6 (director’s choice)

· Several containers made of metal and/or glass

· A cart or wagon

· Fifties style purses for Marion, Gladys, and Eva

· A pitcher and drinking glass

· One or two suitcases

· An empty gasoline can

ACT I

Scene 1

The time is “present” (1950’s.)

The sound of a man singing a hymn is heard from offstage. The stage is dark.

Enter Ellis Ruley, made up to be elderly.  He is lighted only faintly, and the rear of the stage cannot be seen.  Ellis stands at stage center and sings his hymn with head bowed, and then he drops to his knees in prayer.

Ellis: Dear Lord, spare my Willa, spare my Willa.

Two men wearing masks run onstage.  They seize Ellis and throw him to the ground.  One of them strikes Ellis’ head with a rock, and then the men run offstage.

Ellis groans and tries to move.  He crawls forward but then collapses.

Enter Marion, dressed and made up as a middle-aged woman.  She is carrying a flashlight.

Marion: Who’s there?  Who’s there?  (to herself)  I hear somebody running.  I’m frightened, I’m frightened.

Looking about, Marion moves fearfully across the stage.  She is a timid, frightened woman, made so by the experiences of her life.

Marion: Daddy, are you out here?

Marion sees Ellis.

Marion: Daddy!  Daddy!

Marion flings herself upon her father’s body and tries to shake him awake.  She sees a small shiny object next to the body.

Marion: (looking at the object)  Oh no, not that, not that.

Marion puts the shiny object in her pocket and collapses in tears on her father’s body.

Scene 2

The set is the inside of the Ruley home.  The set should contain a “wall” on which a painting is hanging, a depiction of Adam and Eve.  There are some pieces of furniture:  an armchair, a few tables, an old trunk, and a straight chair.  On one side of the room an easel is standing.

At rise or lights-up, Don Goley is in the room.  He is dressed in a suit and tie.  He looks at the painting and then sits on the straight chair.

Don rises respectfully as Marion (middle-aged) enters.  At this time of her life, she is no longer the joyous girl she once was.  She is fearful and hesitant.

Don: (in a kind voice)  Marion, I just heard…I came right away.

Marion: My daddy’s gone, Mr. Goley.  My daddy’s gone to heaven.

Don: I’m so sorry for your loss, Marion.

Marion: Thank you.  (crying)

Don: Marion, your stepmother’s still in the hospital, so you were the only person here last night.  Did you hear anything, or see anything?  Anything unusual?

Marion: (looking down and shifting nervously)  No sir.  Nothing.

Don studies her, frowning.

Don: Marion, we’ve been friends for a long time.  Can’t you call me Don?

Marion: No, sir.

Don: (sighs)  Are you sure you didn’t see anyone last night?  If somebody hurt Ellis, you’d need to tell me so I can find him and see that he’s punished.

Marion: (aside)  But then they’d hurt me.  Like they hurt Douglas.

Don: What?  What did you say?

Marion: Nothing.  I didn’t say anything.  And I didn’t see anything.  (starts to cry again)

Don walks about the room, examining the painting and thinking.  He turns to Marion.

Don: Marion, the police that came here last night say Ellis fell down drunk and hit his head.  But he wasn’t a drinking man.

Marion: No sir.

Don looks exasperated.  He studies her, but she refuses to look at him.

Don: Do you think somebody could have pushed him down?

Marion: No sir.  I don’t think anything of the kind.

Don sighs.  He heads for the door.

Don: All right, Marion, have it your way.  But I’m going to find out who did this.

Enter Eva Stone.  Don Goley looks at her in obvious admiration, but she doesn’t notice.

Eva: Marion!  I came as soon as I could!

Eva embraces Marion.  Gradually she notices Don and turns toward him.  He shows his badge and starts to speak, but she interrupts him.

Eva: Ah, a detective.  Here to sweep yet another murder under the rug, no doubt.

Don: Detective Don Goley, ma’am.  I’m not here to sweep anything under the rug, I can assure you.  May I ask what your connection to the Ruley family is?

Eva: I am Eva Stone, the curator of the Slater Museum.  We had the honor of purchasing some of Mr. Ruley’s early paintings.  I consider myself to be Ellis’ friend, and Marion’s also.

Don: A pleasure to meet you, Miss Stone.  I’ve heard of you.  (he hesitates)  Er…I knew the museum had some of Ellis’ paintings, but I never heard Ellis mention you as a friend.

Eva: Ellis Ruley and I had a common interest – art.  I doubt if art is part of your world, Detective Goldie.  (She turns to Marion.)  Are you ready to go, dear?

Marion: I’ll get my coat.  Can you go into the funeral home with me?  It will be so hard…

Eva: Of course…of course.

Don: The name is Goley, ma’am.  Don Goley.  (Don turns to Marion.)  Marion, if you change your mind about talking to me, you know where to find me.  (Marion exits.)  Miss Stone, she said something I didn’t understand.  She said if she talked to me, she’d be hurt, like Douglas.  Do you know what she meant?

Eva: Yes, I do.  Ten years ago, Marion’s husband Douglas was murdered.  Marion found him herself.  His body was protruding from a well, and he had drowned.

Don: Ten years ago…before my time on the force.  Was it an accident?

Eva: An accident!  The opening of the well was eight inches wide!

Don: You obviously think it was homicide…but…could it have been suicide?

Eva: Marion and Ellis both said that Douglas was not the kind of man to kill himself.  He loved his family.  He had a happy nature.

Don: I guess I don’t have to ask if an arrest was made in the case.

Eva: An arrest!  Be serious, detective.  The police concluded that Douglas had fallen into the well…a well with an opening eight inches wide!

Don: Okay, that explains your remark about sweeping things under the rug.  But keep in mind that the police need evidence in order to make an arrest.  If there’s no evidence, their hands are tied.

Eva: Yes, I realize that, but you can’t deny that there’s a reluctance to investigate crimes against black Americans!

Don: I can’t fix what happened ten years ago, but I can assure you that Ellis Ruley’s death will be investigated – fully investigated.

Eva: If you’re sincere about finding Ellis’ murderer, Detective Goldfish, you’ll start talking to Buddy Croft!

Don: That’s Goley, ma’am.  And I’ll take your advice.  (Marion enters.)  I’ll be in touch, Marion.  Nice meeting you, Miss Rock.

Don exits.

Scene 3

Enter Marion, helping Willa, who is walking slowly.

Marion: Here now, Willa, you sit in Daddy’s chair.  It will be like his arms are around you and he’s still here.  (Marion helps Willa into the easy chair.)

Willa: I can’t believe he’s gone…

Marion: I know, I know.  But he’d want you to get well, wouldn’t he?  He’d want you happy and singing again, like in the old days.  Remember the old days, Willa?

Willa: Yes…of course…

Marion: Remember that day in the garden?  I was a tiny little girl so I don’t remember, but you’ve told me the story so many times…

Willa: Oh, Marion, if I close my eyes, I can see him as he was then.  I can see the flowers and birds, and I can feel the warm spring breeze…

Flashback scene is next.  The rear stage darkens, and only stage front is lighted.  Ellis, in his young adult clothes and makeup, enters, carrying an easel and palette.  He sets up the easel and looks around smiling.  Meanwhile Willa is backstage making a quick transformation into her young adult version.

Ellis: (joyfully)  Blessed God, the beauty you have placed upon the earth!

Ellis takes up a brush and begins to sketch out the plan of a painting on the fresh canvas.  He sings a hymn as he works.

Enter Willa in her young adult clothes and makeup.  She walks quietly up to Ellis and puts her hands on his shoulders from behind.  He jumps.

Ellis: Willa!  Are you wanting to scare me to death?  I’m trying to paint.

Willa: Ellis, you paint too much.  You don’t have time for fun anymore.

Ellis: I HAVE to paint.

Willa: Why?

Ellis: I don’t know.  When a picture gets in my brain, I can’t get it out except by painting it.

Willa: Old Mrs. Percy said you have a gift.

Ellis: Did she now?  And what made her say that?

Willa: When she babysat Marion, she saw your pictures hanging on the wall in your house.  She said, ‘that Ellis Ruley has a gift from God.’

Ellis: (thoughtfully)  If I have a gift from God, I better make sure I don’t waste it.

Willa: What do you mean?

Ellis: I’m a religious man, Willa.  It wouldn’t be my way to throw a gift back to God…a gift He thought fit to bestow on me.

Willa: Gifts come in different forms, Ellis.  Maybe there’s another gift you could have, but you just don’t know it.

Ellis: Well, if God wants me to have it, Willa, He’ll show it to me in his own time.

Willa: (changing tactics)  I wish I could see the pictures hanging on the walls in your house, Ellis.

Ellis: Willa, you can’t come in my house.  You’re a white girl, and I’m a black man.  Besides, a lady doesn’t visit a bachelor gentleman in his quarters.

Willa: Oh, don’t be so old-fashioned!  Marion’s home, so we wouldn’t be alone.

Ellis: And what about your brother?  If Buddy knew you were over here, he’d be furious!

Willa: Buddy doesn’t own me!

Ellis: You could have fooled me.  Now get away from me.  Go home.

Willa: Don’t say that to me!

Ellis: Don’t say what to you?

Willa: Don’t tell me to get away from you!  Don’t ever tell me that!

Ellis looks at her and sighs.  He puts his arms around her.

Ellis: I’m sorry…I’m sorry.

Willa: Don’t ever push me away, Ellis.  Please...

Ellis: Willa, we can’t be together.  Your brother…

Willa: Ellis, please…

Ellis: (Ellis takes her by the shoulders and holds her away from him.)  Listen to me, Willa.  If Buddy is looking out a window right now, I’m a dead man.  Is that what you want to happen?  If he knew that we…liked each other…  If he knew, Willa, he’d kill me… or he’d beat you up again, like he did before, and then…then…I’d have to kill HIM!

Willa: Ellis, no, don’t talk like that!

Ellis: I can’t get into fights with white men!  If they don’t kill me, a jury will hang me.  Then what happens to Marion?  Can’t you see the danger?  Can’t you see it?

Willa: (tenderly)  Ellis, I can’t see danger when I’m so blinded by love.  (Ellis abruptly walks away from her.)  We can be together if we’re both brave and stand fast against…Buddy…and…anyone else who…

Ellis: (angrily)  Do you want to live here with me, Willa?  Do you want to marry me?  That’s just fine!  Then every time you walk to the market, someone will spit in the street…someone will call you a name…!  Is that what you want, Willa?

Willa: No!  I don’t want that!  But can I bear it so that we can spend our lives together?  Yes, Ellis!  Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

Ellis: (sinks down to his knees)  Dear Lord, tell me the right thing to do…

Willa: (kneels beside him)  Dear Lord, give us the strength to bear what we must.

They both bow their heads in prayer.  Suddenly there is a crack of thunder, and they look at each other and laugh.  Ellis reaches out and touches her face.

Ellis: Willa, I do love you.  You know that, don’t you?

Willa: I thought I did, but since Buddy got mad that time, you’ve been cold to me.

Ellis: Not because I don’t love you…because I DO love you.

Willa: If you love me, marry me.  I’ll be a good wife and a good mother to Marion.

Ellis: Willa, you’re young, you don’t know how mean people can be.

Willa: Ellis, are you going to throw me back to God?

Ellis: What?

Willa: Maybe I’m a gift that God wants you to have.

Ellis: (laughing)  If so, I wish the lord had wrapped you in a black package!  (Ellis jumps to his feet and pulls Willa up.)  Come on, we’re going to get wet!

Willa: (not laughing)  I can’t change my wrapping, so you’re going to have to marry me as I am.

Ellis takes her in his arms.

Ellis: (tenderly)  For better or worse?  And there’s gonna be a lot of worse.

Willa: For better or worse…(she hesitates)…because together we’re somehow better than each of us is apart.

Ellis: What do you mean?

Willa: I’m not sure…when I’m with you, I feel like I could conquer the world.  But when I’m away from you, I’m just a silly, scared girl.

Ellis: Yeah, I guess I feel the same.  If we’re together, we’re strong…we’re better.

Willa: Together we can face anything.

Ellis drops to his knees and takes her hands in his.

Ellis: Willa Croft, will you be my wife?

Willa: I will.

Ellis rises.  They embrace and then walk hand in hand off-stage.

Scene 4

At rise or lights up, Willa (old) is sitting in Ellis’ chair.  She appears to be asleep.  Marion (middle-aged) enters and walks to Willa.  She adjusts her shawl or blanket and kisses the top of her head.  Marion then steps to stage front as if going outside for a breath of air.  She looks about.

Marion: Are you there, Daddy?  Are you there in your spirit form, hiding behind that old, gnarled cedar tree?  Or floating in that mist over the shed?  Are you there?

Buddy Croft (old) enters.

Buddy: Talkin’ to yourself again?  You’re as crazy as your pa!

Marion shrinks back in terror then tries to run backstage.  Buddy grabs her arm.

Marion: Let me go!

Buddy: I want to see my sister!  (Buddy thrusts Marion aside and approaches Willa’s chair.)  Willa, wake up!  I got a bone to pick with you!

Marion: Leave her alone!

Buddy: Shut up!  (He shakes Willa’s shoulder, and she opens her eyes.)  You think I don’t know what you been doing, Willa?  Keep it up and you’ll be as dead as your husband!

Enter Don Goley.

Don: What’s going on here?

Buddy: Nothin’ that concerns you.  (to Willa)  Did you hear what I said, Willa?  Don’t you forget my words!

Buddy exits.

Don: Willa, are you okay?

Willa: Yes…

Don: Marion?

Marion: I’m okay, it was nothing.

Marion straightens Willa’s blanket, and Willa appears to go back to sleep.

Don: Marion, talk to me.  What’s eating Buddy?

Marion: Before Willa got sick, she spent a lot of time poking around in the town records because she wanted to find out where the real property line was between our house and Buddy’s.  You see, Buddy built a fence between his land and ours about ten years after Daddy married Willa, but it’s not on the property line.

Don: So he usurped some of Ellis’ land.  That doesn’t surprise me.

Marion: Willa went to see a lawyer.  She had some money that her ma left her, and she said she was going to use it to pay the lawyer to get the land back and make Buddy put the fence on the real property line.

Don: Did Ellis try to stop Buddy from building the fence at the time?

Marion: He tried, but we wouldn’t let him.

Don: We?

Marion: Willa and me.  (slowly and thoughtfully, walking away from Don as she speaks)  But…I don’t know now…maybe we were wrong.  Maybe we were just cowards…

Flashback scene is next.  The rear stage darkens, and only stage front is lighted.  Willa and Marion hurry backstage to change dress and makeup; Willa into young adult, and Marion into teenager.

Buddy Croft (middle-aged) enters, carrying a large hammer.  He walks back and forth as if assessing a property line.

Ellis, in his middle-aged persona, enters.

Ellis: What’s up, Buddy?  What are you doing walking around in Willa’s flower garden?

Buddy: I’m fixin’ to build me a fence.  A good, high fence so I don’t have to look at my sister and her “family.”

Ellis: Croft, unless you want that hammer shoved down your throat, get off my property.

Buddy: Your property?  We’ll see about that.  My boys will be here tomorrow to put up the fence, and if you git in the way, they’ll throw you in that well.

Ellis: You can’t build a fence here!  The property line is way yonder on the other side of the creek!

Buddy: Who’s gonna stop me, Ellis?  You?  (He laughs.)

Ellis: You’re trying to steal my land!  I’m gonna give you the thrashing you deserve!

Buddy: Come on!

Enter Marion and Willa, running.

Marion: Daddy, no!

Willa: Ellis, don’t fight!

Marion and Willa seize Ellis’ arms and drag him back.

Willa: (to Buddy)  Get out of here!  Leave us alone!

Buddy: Sure, no problem.  But you better dig up them pretty flowers, sister, ‘cause the fence is going right through there!

Buddy exits.

Ellis: Why did you hold me back?  I got a right to defend my property!

Willa: Ellis, no, that’s not the way to fight Buddy!  You’ll go to prison, that’s all it will accomplish.

Ellis: I can’t let him put a fence on my land, woman!

Willa: Let him put his fence up, Ellis!  The land records won’t change, but we’ll have a nice solid fence between us and him!

Ellis: Sure, with my land on HIS side of the fence!

Marion: Daddy, what difference does the land make?  It’s shady land.  We can’t even grow turnips on it.  Our vegetable garden is on the other side, so it doesn’t matter.

Ellis: (starting to calm down)  It’s not the land, Marion.  It’s not the land; it’s my pride.

Willa: A man’s pride can get him killed, Ellis.

Ellis: Yeah, especially a black man’s pride!

Ellis exits.  Marion and Willa look sadly after him, then Willa puts her arm around Marion and they exit.

Scene 5

Present time (1950’s).  At rise or lights-up, Don Goley is on stage.  He walks slowly and thoughtfully toward stage front, as if leaving the Ruley home.  Eva Stone enters from stage right or left.  She nearly reaches him before he sees her.

Eva: Good morning, Detective Goldfish.

Don: Hello, Miss Rock.

Don and  Eva look at each other and laugh.

Eva: I guess I deserved that epithet.

Don: Yep, you did.

Eva: You’ve been calling on Marion?  How is Willa doing?

Don: She seems pretty weak.  Her hot-tempered brother was here creating trouble.

Eva: Ah, yes, the charming Buddy Croft.  Did you find out where he was the night Ellis died?

Don: Sure.  He was with five cronies, who will all swear on the Bible he didn’t leave the poker game ‘til 3 a.m.

Eva: Of course.

Don: Hey, Miss ROCK, do you want to have a cup of coffee?  I want to talk about the research Willa was doing before she had her heart attack.

Eva: (looking at her watch)  I don’t have time today…but perhaps another time.

Don: (hesitantly)  Well…actually…we could make it dinner instead of coffee…if you’re free Saturday evening.

Eva: Dinner?  Are you asking me for a date, Detective Goldenrod?

Don: I suppose I am, Miss Gravel.

Eva: Very kind of you, Detective Golly.  But I have doubts as to our suitability as dinner companions.  What on earth would we talk about?

Don: Well, Miss Brick, I could sit quietly while you talked in 75-cent words.  I might learn something…and I could bring a dictionary with me.

Eva: I suppose you find me a snob, Detective Goliath.

Don: No indeed, Miss Boulder.  You’re smart and educated.  And me…well, I’m a cop.  I guess I have a few rough edges that might not sit right with a refined lady like you.

Eva: Be that as it may, I suppose I’d better say yes to a date before we run out of epithets, Detective Goldbrick.

Don: Good.  I wouldn’t want you to run out of epi…whatevers…Miss Slate.

Eva: (laughing)  Call me Eva!

Don: Call me Detective Goliath.  I like that one the best.

Eva: What time will you call for me Saturday?  What should I wear?

Don: I’ll pick you up at seven.  Wear something spiffy because we’re going to the poshest spot in town!

Eva: Joe’s Hamburger Heaven?

Don: (laughing)  Sure, if you want.  But I was thinking of the Norwich Inn.

Eva: The poshest spot in town, indeed!  I have a new dress that will be perfect.  But…isn’t the Norwich Inn rather expensive for a police detective?

Don: Let me worry about that.  I wouldn’t take a fantastic woman like you to any place but the best.

Eva: (coyly)  You flatter me.

Don: No, I just speak the truth.

They gaze at each other.

Gladys enters carrying a suitcase and dressed for traveling.  She is a friendly, confident young woman.

Gladys: Good morning.

Don: Good morning.

Eva: Good morning.  Oh!  It’s Gladys!  I didn’t recognize you!

Don: Gladys!  I haven’t seen you for years!  Look at you!  You’re all grown up!

Gladys: I’m so glad to see you both!  My mother’s letters are always full of news about you, Miss Stone.

Eva: Please, call me Eva.

Gladys: Alright…Eva.  Did my mother tell you that I began my first teaching job in the fall?

Eva: She certainly did.  Congratulations.

Don: Congratulations, Gladys.

Gladys: Thank you, Detective Goley.

Don: Don.

Gladys: Okay…Don.  But it seems strange to call my grandfather’s friends by their first names.  (remembering why she has come to town)  Poor grandfather...

Don: We’re very sorry for your loss, Gladys.

Eva: Indeed.  Your grandfather’s death was a tragedy.  I believe his best artistic work was still to come, and now…he is gone.

Gladys: Yes…it seems strange to think that I’ll never talk to him again.  He was so kind and understanding.

Don: You were the light of his life, Gladys.

Gladys: Thank you, Don.  And now, I have to get going because my mother will be expecting me, but I hope to see both of you again while I’m here.

Don: Gladys, wait.  Before you go, can you tell me what you remember about your father’s death?

Gladys is obviously distressed by the question.

Eva: Don, maybe this isn’t the right time.

Gladys: No…it’s…it’s okay.  But why do you want to know about my dad’s death?

Don: There could be a connection between his death and your grandfather’s.

Eva: Gladys, your mother does not believe that your father fell into that well…and neither do I.

Don: Anything you can remember about that night might help me put the pieces together.

Gladys: (shivers)  It was a terrible scene…when we found him…

Flashback is next.  The stage darkens, and everyone exits.  When the lights come up, Marion (middle-aged) is pacing back and forth in the Ruley living room.  Gladys (wearing a braided wig and “young” clothes) enters.

Gladys: Mom, what’s wrong?

Marion: Your father should have been home by now.

Gladys: Mom, you know he stops and plays cards sometimes…

Marion: Yes, I know that.  Even though I pray to God every night for him to give up the gambling.

Gladys: I hear footsteps.  Maybe he’s coming now.

Marion: Come on!  Let’s go help him.  If he’s got liquor in him, he might fall on the path.

They hurry “outside.”  They move about the stage looking for Mr. Harris.

Gladys: Daddy!  Daddy!

Marion: Douglas!  Douglas, where are you?

Gladys: I hear a noise!  Over here!

The women run to one side of the stage, but Marion (afraid of what she might see) pushes Gladys behind her.

Marion: (as if seeing something a distance away)  Douglas!

The women scream and cry and fall into each other’s arms.

Scene 6

Present time (1950’s).  At rise or lights up, Marion (middle-aged) and Gladys are on stage.  They are dressed for Ellis’ funeral.  Willa (old) is on stage also, dozing in a chair.  Enter Don and Eva.

Eva: Marion, the hearse will be here soon.  Is Willa well enough…?

Marion: It will be hard for her.

Marion lightly shakes Willa’s shoulder.

Marion: Willa…can you hear me?

Gladys: It’s time to go, grandma.

Willa: Where?  Where are we going?  Where’s Ellis?

Marion: Willa…dear Willa…try to remember…he’s gone, he’s gone.

Willa: No, not gone.  I see him sometimes.  He watches over me…he’s here with me.

Gladys: Yes, sweetheart, his spirit is here with you.

Marion: Come, Willa, the funeral is this morning.

Willa: No…I won’t watch them bury Ellis…no.

Don: Marion, I can stay with her.  Eva can go with you and Gladys.

Eva: I think that would be best, Marion.

Marion nods.  She adjusts Willa’s blanket and kisses her.

Don: There’s the hearse.  Go ahead.  I’ll stay right here with her.

Marion, Gladys, and Eva exit.

Don paces a bit as if thinking and then pulls a chair close to Willa.

Don: Willa…

Willa: Yes…

Don: Willa, can you talk for a minute?  If you’re too tired, just say so.

Willa: I can talk.  Just didn’t want to see Ellis put in that cold ground.  (She weeps.)

Don: (gently)  Willa, who would want to hurt Ellis?  I know he and your brother hated each other, but they were neighbors for a long time, so why would Buddy hurt Ellis now?

Willa: Klan…

Don: Clan?  What clan?

Willa: Ku Klux Klan.  That Klan.

Don: The KKK is in Norwich?  I haven’t heard anything about that.

Willa: They been here a long time.  They want to take any property owned by black folks away from them.

Don: How do you know about this?

Willa: Buddy’s in the Klan.  Way back when he built that fence, he told me that the Klan’s 10-year plan was to take all property from black folks.  The Klan got a lawyer figuring out the property lines and finding ways to steal people’s land.

Don: So that’s why you were researching the property lines for this place.

Willa: Yes…for Marion.  I’ll be gone soon, and this house and land will belong to her.  But…that’s not why the Klan wanted Ellis dead…

Don: What do you mean?

Willa: Just before I got sick…about a month ago…Ellis did something...he stood up to them…in his own way.

Don: What did he do?

Willa: Get me a glass of water and sit down here.  I’ll tell you all about it.

Don gets Willa a glass of water and helps her take a few sips.  Then he pulls up a chair.

Willa: He was brave, Don, so brave…

Curtain.  End of Act 1.

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