by Dara Harper
With Love,
Thomas Hickey
(Blackout.)
Scene 11
SAM is pacing back and forth in his living room, holding a letter. SAM calls out to the doorway.
SAM: Phoebe! Come here at once!
(PHOEBE enters.)
PHOEBE: Yes, Father.
SAM: Your mother found this letter from Thomas Hickey!
PHOEBE: Father... He’s...
SAM: I thought you were the smartest among my children, but I am so sadly mistaken. With this, your reputation is forever stained! And it doesn’t stop with you! Our family name is at risk! Is this the foolish reason why you declined to marry Jonathan? It was no easy task to find him and now...
PHOEBE: I would have been miserable with Jonathan. Father, you need to understand that I love Thomas. When we're married, you'll see-
(SAM throws the letter on the floor.)
SAM: Marriage is the furthest thing from his intentions! He is exploiting you in the way white men often exploit our women! How naive for you to think otherwise.
PHOEBE: Father, you don't–
SAM: I pray I never see him again, because I will end his life in one blow! What did you do with him?
(SAM grabs her by the arms and looks straight into her eyes.)
SAM: I hope to God that he did not rob you of your purity.
PHOEBE: Please don't think so little of me.
(SAM releases her.)
SAM: When this gossip gets around, no one will want you for a wife.
PHOEBE: I only wish to be with Thomas!
SAM: I never want to hear his name on your lips again. End all correspondence with him!
(PHOEBE begins to cry.)
SAM: This is what must be done for the sake of our family name! I pray you have not ruined us.
(SAM exits.)
PHOEBE: Father, you're wrong about Thomas! He does love me!
(Blackout.)
Scene 12
PHOEBE and THOMAS sit on a blanket in their secret meeting place holding hands.
PHOEBE: Paris... Berlin... Madrid... perhaps London. What do you think of London?
THOMAS: I think Paris suits you.
PHOEBE: Never mind the city, so long as we can be together. Father found the letter you wrote.
THOMAS: Phoebe, you should've been more careful.
PHOEBE: He'll come around... his heart will change... and even if it doesn't, I only want to be with you. But we can't stay here.
THOMAS: Phoebe, your father is so close to General Washington that we have no choice but to leave.
PHOEBE: So let's board a ship tonight.
THOMAS: Yes, Phoebe, but before we go...
(THOMAS whispers something in PHOEBE'S ear and leans in for a kiss.)
(Blackout.)
ACT II
Scene 1
It's late in the evening. The tavern is empty. GUSS is sweeping the floor at the tavern.
(SAM enters.)
SAM: Good evening, Guss.
GUSS: It'd be a better evening if I had me a fine coat like the one you got, Mr. Fraunces.
SAM: You must aspire beyond trivial things like clothes. Set your sights on being a proprietor.
GUSS: Well, I’m saving up to buy me a little plot of land by Trinity Church.
SAM: That will be a fine start for you.
GUSS: All that’s missing is a wife.
SAM: Patience, my good man. It would be a mistake to marry in your current condition. You mustn’t rush, women are quite demanding and expensive.
GUSS: But they sure do a good job of keepin’ the bed warm on a cold night.
SAM: Well said. I need to check the kitchen over before we close. Be sure to wipe down the wine glasses in the cupboard before you leave.
GUSS: Sure thing, Mr. Fraunces.
(SAM exits.)
(GUSS wipes down one of the tables with a rag in his pocket. He begins placing chairs on tables.)
(PHOEBE enters.)
PHOEBE: Father!
GUSS: Good evening, Miss Fraunces... Miss Fraunces?
PHOEBE: Where is my father?
GUSS: He’s in the kitchen.
PHOEBE: Go fetch him for me.
GUSS: What’s that you said?
PHOEBE: Go fetch my father at once! Go quickly!
(GUSS exits.)
(SAM enters.)
SAM: Why in god’s name are you here? A tavern is no place for a lady at this hour!
PHOEBE: Father, I had to come straight away. Thomas asked me to...
SAM: Thomas! You dare to-
PHOEBE: He cared nothing for me... he used me to...
SAM: What did you think would come of your affair? You fell prey to his lies and now he has ruined you. You should have married Jonathan. Now, it's too late.
PHOEBE: Thomas lied to me about everything. He did not dessert the British Army after all. He is acting as their spy and he wants to assassinate General Washington! Thomas asked me to poison him!
SAM: What?
PHOEBE: That's his mission... to kill General Washington. He only got close to me so that I could help him. Father...
SAM: How weak of him to ask this of you! Cowards like that do not deserve life. I will alert General Washington and we will deal with this spineless rogue. But we must have proof! Phoebe, you have to go back to Thomas, tell him that you will aide in his scheme.
PHOEBE: But Father, I thought you didn’t want me to be seen with him because of appearances.
SAM: There’s no hope for saving your reputation, but you can at least do this deed for the good of the Revolution.
PHOEBE: I can’t go back to him... I am too heartbroken to be in his presence again.
SAM: You will and you must.
PHOEBE: No! Do you value the war over me?
SAM: You lost your value when you started an affair with that damned rogue. Now go to him at once!
(PHOEBE exits.)
(Blackout.)
Scene 2
PHOEBE stands alone reading a letter.
PHOEBE:
Father,
I am writing this letter because I do not wish to be in your presence. I pray your sacrifice for the Revolution is worth the loss of my love.
Thomas' plan is as follows:
1.) He has arranged to be one of Washington's body guards this weekend.
2.) He asked me to work in the kitchen and prepare the general's main course.
3.) The first two courses are to be served along a generous amount of wine.
4.) He provided me with the poison to add to the main course, cured ham with peas and rice.
5.) I will personally bring the plate to General Washington and alert him of the poison by whispering in his ear.
Everything is in place for Saturday evening.
Your daughter,
Phoebe
(Blackout.)
Scene 3
SAM stands alone reading a letter.
SAM:
June 30th, 1776
Dear Brother,
Life’s surprises never cease to amaze me. My Phoebe showed great courage in exposing a spy British who attempted to poison General Washington. When she warned him, Washington threw his food out of the window where chickens were feeding. Those poor birds feel dead instantly!
The rogue confessed to the assassination plot, and he was hanged two days ago. Hell is too good a place for such a man.
Now, I am prospering from the scandal that could have destroyed our family. Since Phoebe saved Washington’s life, she is regarded as a heroine. Tonight, I am hosting a grand celebration at the tavern! I will open my best bottles of wine and champagne. Wish you were here to share a toast.
In high spirits,
Your brother,
Samuel Fraunces
(Blackout.)
Scene 4
It's very dark at the Fraunces house, in the early hours of the morning. SAM is heard offstage singing loudly in French. GUSS enters, supporting a drunken SAM.
&nbs
p; GUSS helps SAM to the rocking chair. SAM almost falls and GUSS catches him. SAM'S powdered wig comes off in the process. His kinky hair is exposed. SAM runs his fingers over his hair.
SAM: Now you see what I’ve been hiding.
(SAM touches GUSS’ hair.)
SAM: A curse for all sons from the Dark Continent!
(GUSS picks up the wig.)
GUSS: Mr. Fraunces, do you want me to put back...
(SAM snatches the wig out of GUSS’ hand and tosses it across the floor.)
SAM: Never mind it! Guss, go to the cellar there and get me some Bordeaux... I'm in terrible need of another drink...
GUSS: Mr. Fraunces, I think you've had...
SAM: Go, young lad! Get my wine!
(GUSS hesitantly exits to the kitchen.)
(SAM starts to close his eyes and humming the French song to himself.)
(A glass smashes to the ground and breaks offstage.)
GUSS (O.S.): I’m so sorry, Mr. Fraunces. I’m gonna clean it up, sir.
(SAM is continues to hum, drunk and oblivious.)
(PHOEBE enters holding a candle.)
PHOEBE: Father!
(PHOEBE puts the candle down and rushes to his side.)
PHOEBE: Dear God!
(SAM mumbles something.)
(PHOEBE tries to help him to sit upright. SAM continues to slouch in the rocking chair.)
PHOEBE: Father, perhaps I should go and make you some coffee...
SAM: Not coffee, my dear. Wine is what this old man needs.
(GUSS enters with a glass of wine.)
PHOEBE: You cannot give that to him!
GUSS: Ma’am, he asked me...
SAM: Don't worry, dear... we're not drunk.
GUSS: He might've taken too hard to the spirits, but I'm not drunk.
(SAM reaches out for the wine with both hands.)
SAM: Hand it over, young lad.
(GUSS attempts to hand the glass to SAM but PHOEBE intervenes and snatches it away.)
(PHOEBE exits to the kitchen with the wine glass.)
(SAM tries to get up but almost falls in the process.)
SAM: Curses!
(GUSS helps SAM back into the rocking chair.)
GUSS: Now, Mr. Fraunces, I hope you ain’t mad at me, your daughter got a strong way about her...
(SAM looks at him for a moment and then starts singing in French again.)
(PHOEBE enters with a cup of coffee.)
PHOEBE: Drink this.
(SAM takes the cup, looks inside and frowns. He puts the cup down on the floor and starts to mumble to himself.)
PHOEBE: Heavens, I am so embarrassed for my father.
GUSS: He was just celebrating how you saved General Washington's life. That's really something.
PHOEBE: I was only doing what was right. That's no cause to celebrate.
GUSS: Did you see the hangin'? It was thousands of people out there watching Thomas die...
PHOEBE: I could never watch something like that.
GUSS: Musta broke his wife's heart...
PHOEBE: He was married?
GUSS: Yeah, I forget her name. She lived back in London, all I know is he loved her strong. He was just fixin' to send for her before all of this happened.
PHOEBE: Oh God.
GUSS: I know Mr. Fraunces is awful proud of you. All night, at the party, he had this great big smile when he say the name “Phoebe.”
PHOEBE: Well, at least I gave him something to be proud of.
GUSS: You sure is lucky to have such good kinfolk and all. I never known what it’s like to have a family myself.
PHOEBE: None at all?
GUSS: They sold my mama away when I was real young and I never even seen my father.
PHOEBE: Any brothers or sisters?
GUSS: Yeah but... I ran away from Master Porter’s plantation when I was fourteen. I guess they still live there.
PHOEBE: How did you manage to escape?
GUSS: I made friends with this cabin boy and he helped me stole away on a ship bound for Boston. When we got to Massachusetts, I thought them bounty hunters would be waiting for me at the pier with rifles, but I was surprised to see something else... snow! And as cold as I was, I ain’t never been so happy. Boston sure looked like heaven to me.
SAM: Heaven...
GUSS: I better help get Mr. Fraunces to bed. Where’s his room?
PHOEBE: It’s best that he sleep down here. Mother will not want to be near him in this state.
GUSS: Well, Miss Fraunces, I best get goin’ then.
PHOEBE: It’s quite alright if you call me Phoebe.
GUSS: I was gonna keep it to myself, but... you sure got some beautiful eyes, Phoebe.
PHOEBE: Thank you.
GUSS: And you talk real pretty too, educated like...
PHOEBE: Are you literate, Guss?
GUSS: I’m workin’ on it.
PHOEBE: I’m a volunteer teacher at the church on Tuesday nights...
GUSS: That’s good to know... I just might come to one of them classes. I’m sure you could teach me a whole lot of things.
PHOEBE: I hope you do come.
(Pause)
I’m sorry if I was rude to you the other day...
GUSS: I didn’t take it to heart none. Well, goodnight or should I say good morning.
PHOEBE: Same to you.
(GUSS exits.)
(She looks at SAM for a moment who is sound asleep.)
PHOEBE: I wish I could take back everything with Thomas. Why did you have to be right about him. And Father, I still love you. I have no choice but to love you.
(She covers him with a blanket and blows out the candle.)
(Blackout.)
Scene 5
PHOEBE teaches GUSS to read the Bible in the living room. GUSS struggles with the pronunciation of certain words. PHOEBE helps him with his diction as they read a verse.
GUSS: Can’t wait ‘til the day I can read the Bible. I wanna understand God for myself.
PHOEBE: Just keep coming to my classes and you will.
GUSS: Been thinkin’, I might write me a book one day too.
PHOEBE: The story of your life?
GUSS: Might not be about me... Could be the story of a beautiful woman, who’s real smart and got the sweetest voice.
GUSS: And got everything it takes to make a man happy for the rest of his life. Phoebe, I know I don’t have a lot offer a woman like you, but I...
PHOEBE: Guss, you don't understand everything about me...
GUSS: I'll leave that to God. All I'm really trying to say is that...
PHOEBE: I must tell you goodnight. Guss.
GUSS: I know.
PHOEBE: I’m glad you made it today.
GUSS: Not nearly as glad as I was. If you want, I can put these on the shelf for you.
PHOEBE: It’s no bother.
(GUSS hands her the books.)
PHOEBE: I hope to see you next Tuesday.
