A Solitary Voice

8/13/2019 A Solitary Voice

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Syno"sisBass Ree#es, the $irst A$rican American %nited States Marshalmst retrie#e his son who is wanted $or mrdering his wi$e

Settings&ellParole O$$ice 'Bench(Marshal)s O$$iceIndian Praying *rondA+andoned a+inSaloon

astBass Ree#es - A$rican American maleBenamin Ree#es - A$rican American malePierce.ric/y.!renny - &hite male

!ommy &hite - &hite male0ngy.*ard - &hite maleBi++s.*illes"ie - &hite male1ati#e 2oe - 1ati#e American male 'light s/inned A$rican American male(Parole ommittee hairman - O$$ stage male #oice3Ism - A$rican American +oy2osia - A$rican American +oyMiranda - A$rican American $emaleVera - A$rican American $emaleMary 4 A$rican American $emale

A Solitary Voice:An Incident in the life of Marshal Bass Reeves

5


3/41

By Michael Oatman

A! O16.S616 O16

7The spotlight comes and reveals Vera and Miranda in a small border town

around dusk. The are gathering laundr38

Vera

I swears it almost li/e still +eing in sla#ery3

Miranda

I)m gessing yo done $orgot den3

Vera

I)m st saying 3 3 3 it)s li/e we wor/ $rom can)t see to can)t see3

Miranda&ell yo /now the way +ac/ to *eorgia i$ yo miss it so3

Vera

&ell yo don)t gotta get crossed moth, old girl3 'Tomm !hite staggers into the scene

and falls to the floor3(

Tommy White

&ater 3 3 3 I need water3 9o ladies got to get me some water3

Miranda

I don)t got to do nothing +t stay +lac/ and 3 3 3 'Tomm !hite pulls his pistol and points

it at the women3( &e)s got a lo#ely well right this way Mister3 '"he sweeps her hand in

the air like a matrie#d seating a couple in a fanc restuarant. $e rushes over to the well

and begins to drink thirstil from it. The women stand and watch him drink% paral&ed.

Miranda begin to back awa% she grabs Vera#s hand3(

Miranda

Vera, c)mon3

Vera

e li/ed to shoot s i$ we mo#e3

Miranda

*irl i$ yo don)t get on away $rom him 3 3 3 c)mon, $o I drags ya3 'Miranda e'its% pulling

Vera along with her3 &e hear the sound of a horse naing. Tomm !hite pulls out his

handkerchief and dabs at the back of his neck. !e hear the sound of a horse trampling

;


4/41

toward the well. The cowbo looks up and reaches for his pistol and draws it and points

it out in the darkness.(

Tommy White

I)ll /ill yo Ree#es 3 3 3 Kill yo dead as yo "lease3 ' !e hear the sound of whistling( I

mean it, I will /ill yo3 'A spotlight comes up as Bass emerges from one of the shadows

with his pistol drawn3(

ass

0ro" that "istola !ommy3 'Tomm !hite turns the pistol toward Bass. Bass shoots

Tomm in the hand. The pistol goes fling and Tomm !hite grabs his hand and bends

over in pain. Bass rushes over and slams the butt of his pistol on the nape of Tomm

!hite#s neck. Tomm !hite falls to the ground moaning in pain.( Roll o#er3 'Tomm

Rolls over and Bass ties his hand behind his back3( !ommy, !ommy, !ommy, yoshold ha#e /nown +etter3 an)t rn $rom a %S marshal, yo)d do +etter to try to rn

$rom the sn3 '!e hear the sound of a horse riding up. Trenn hurriedl enters the

scene3(

Trenny

Bass, yo o/ay3 I heard a shot3

ass

*ot him all cinched " !renny 3 3 3 get him on a horse, he has a date with the dge3 And

wra" something o#er that hole in his hand3 Be st or lc/ that this $ool wold +leed to

death +e$ore we get


5/41

I s)"ose yo wanna here the story> 9eah, most "eo"le do> 9o wanna /now what /ind

o$ man was he> &hat was he li/e> &hat was it li/e growing " with him> m"$3 See

when yo the son o$ a man li/e that "eo"le as/ yo dem ?estions that it wold ta/e yo

a li$e time to really answer, +t they


6/41

en

9essir>

!"ard

&here did yor warden go>

en

I than/ he went down yonder a "iece to $etch a sal#e $or his $oot3 It was chrning "

something "ower$l a$ter that long ride $rom Gea#enworth3

!"ard

e +est hrry, the +oard will +e ready $or ya soon3

en

9essir3 '$e sits down and address the audience3( A hell o$ a thing3 'The lights fade to

black3(

A! O16.S616 !&O

7The scene opens and Bass Reeves% dust and big as life saunters into the

Marshal#s office. $e is wearing riding clothes and chaps and has a weathered

saddle bag over his shoulder. In the room are three well,worn white men who are

dressed in western gear. Bibbs "tands up to greet Bass Reeves38

ass

0amn, roosters 3 3 3 sni$$ing


7/41

ibbs

3 3 3 Bass 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 Middle o$ the day $or hristsa/e3

ibbs

0idn)t /now yo ws gon +e +ac/ so soon3

ass

9eah, I made good time coming +ac/3 'The men in the room stare at Bass and there is

an uncomfortable silence3( &hat>

ibbs

Boys cold yo eCcse s> 'The men silentl get up and e'it the scene3( 0on)t ?ite

/now who to say this, Bass3ass

&hat is it>

ibbs

&ell 3 3 3 h, when yo was gone 3 3 3 h, I don)t 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 Ain)t li/e yo to slow dance wit me, Bi++s3 !ell me, last time I chec/ed I whaten

"artial to "tting on a "etty coat in the morning3

ibbs

It)s Benny 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 &hat a+ot Benny>

ibbs

e landed smac/ da+ in the middle o$ a whole "ec/ o$ tro+le3 'Bibbs hands over a

murder indictment to Bass. Bass does not take the paper. $e looks at Bibbs3(

ass

9o /now good and well3

ibbs

'!ith a look of embarrassment on his face3( 0agna+it, sorry, Bass I $orgot3 'Bibbs (uts

the murder warrant down on the desk3(

ass

D


8/41

&hat does it say> &ho)s name is on that warrant>

ibbs

Benny)s3

ass

harge>

ibbs

Mrder3

ass

Mrder> Mrder o$ who, that +oy ain)t ne#er had no $ss or $ight in

ibbs

1o sir3 &as his wi$e he /ilt3 O"en and sht really3 1eigh+or lady 3 3 3 that Shlt@

woman, heard the screams, her and the hs+and rn o#er and there Benny stood o#er the+ody3 Strangled her3 &as re"orted to had said 3 3 3 wait a minte, let me gra+ my

s"ectacles 3 3 3 'Reaches into the desk drawer and withdraws his halfed ee frames and

puts them on. $e begins to read from the murder warrant3( I)m sorry, I)m sorry, didn)t

mean to do it, didn)t mean to hrt her 3 3 3 +t now it don)t mean no ne#er mind3J !hen

he rn o$$3 &e gotta +ring him in Bass3

ass

I /now it3

ibbs

I /now that he)s yor +oy, +t we got get him +ac/3 &anted to let yo /now +e$ore we

sent someone a$ter him3 &anted to gi#e yo that cortesy3

ass

I a""reciate that3

ass

&hen did this ha""en>

ibbs

9esterday 3 3 3 +een trying to reach yo, sent a ca+le to A+ilene, +t yo had already

s/edaddled3 'Bass sits down in a chair and settles in and begins to thoughtfull reflect

on what he has -ust heard3( Old man *ranger $rom the 6astern s"otted Benny going west

toward Indian contry I s"ect3 I /now yo and him s"ent some time " there3

ass


9/41

9essir3

ibbs

*onna send !renny to +ring


10/41

ass

0on)t ha#e to3 'Bass grabs the murder warrant off the desk and prepares to leave3( My

horse is s"ent and in the sta+le trying to get right3 an I ta/e yor horse>

ibbs

I s)"ose3

ass

Mch o+liged3 Be +ac/ in a $ew days3 'Bass begins to e'it3(

ibbs

9o need +ac/ "> 9o want me to send !renny with yo anyhow>

ass

1o sir3 I wold +e grate$l i$ yo let me +ring him in alone3

ibbsBass3 'Bass turns and faces him3( *o easy, $riend3 *o easy3

ass

9essir3 'Bass e'its the room. The lights fade to black.(

A! O16.S616 !R66

7The lights fade up slowl and we see the inside of a saloon. The saloon is not

polished and as fanc as some of the saloons in the larger cities and settlements

in the west. This saloon is in a small mining settlement on the edge of Indian

countr at the foot of the mountains. The saloon is dust and in ill repair. A set

of creak swinging gates with slats missing adorns the front door of the saloon.

The saloon is empt other than an old fat bartender who is leaning on the bar top

reading a newspaper. A show girl is sitting at the bar. Bass Reeves% a tall% wide

chest man enters the saloon with a saddle bag slung over his shoulder. The tall

man% is light skinned and has a handle bar mustache. The man is clearl tired

and walks with a shuffle. The man bandies up to the bar38

ass

9o got law in this settlement>

D"n#y

'The man puts his paper down and is somewhat startled to see an African American

standing in front of him3( ome again>


11/41

ass

9o got law in this here settlement>

D"n#y

!he law 3 3 3 oh, yes, we)#e got a $ederal marshal wor/s ot o$ this settlement3 *ot a ail

hose down the way +y the sta+les3 'Beat( Pierce3 Magns Pierce3

ass

I /now the name3 I need him $etched3

D"n#y

&ell, yes, sir +t 3 3 3 +t, he don)t, well 3 3 3 well he don)t cotton to 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 1egra>

D"n#y9eah3

ass

Fetch him3

D"n#y

&e don)t sally ha#e colored in here3

ass

And her>

Mary

I wor/ here cow+oy3

ass

&or/>

Mary

9es, wor/3

ass

I$ yo say3

Mary

I say3

D"n#y

9eah she wor/s here, I meant more in the way o$ cstomers3 &e don)t sally ser#e

colored cs 3 3 3


12/41

ass

I need my horse tended to and a room to dst o$$ in and wash "3

Mary

I starting to thin/ this +oy I dea$ '(ronounced with a long e. ef3(

ass

Boy yo say>

Mary

1ow yo loo/ here 3 3 3 'Bass turns and looks at her with a crushing glare stops her mid

sentence3(

ass

I wold +et that yo got +etter thangs to do other than tro+ling me3 '"he looks at him

and then drops her ees. "he /uickl e'its3(ass

3 3 3 9or rooms ha#e a wash +asin>

D"n#y

9es, sir3

ass

And I ta/e it yo ha#e #acancies>

D"n#y

9essm3

ass

*ood I)ll ta/e one3

D"n#y

Mister 3 3 3

ass

I will ta/e one3

D"n#y

O/ay 3 3 3 Rooms are a ?arter a night3 And a dime $or s""er3 And $i$ty cent $or the

horse 'Bass reaches into his inner pocket and produces three oversi&ed /uarter and

drops them on the bar top3( And h, who shall I tell the Marshal calling $or

ass

Bass Ree#es3

5


13/41

D"n#y

Bass Ree#es3 'The barkeep smiles3( As in the Bass Ree#es ot o$ Ms/ogee> !he

Marshal> !he man that /illed Bo+ 0o@ier3 'Bass gives the barkeep a hard stare and

does not respond3(

ass

My room3

D"n#y

%mm, down the hall there3 First room on the right3 2st trned the sheets and "t a $resh

+asin o$ water in there, Mr3 %mm, Ree#es3 'Bass nods and e'its the stage. The barkeep

/uickl rushes over to the swinging gates of the entrance and leans out of the door

through the swinging gates.( ric/y3 3 3 ric/y, come here and I mean right ?ic/3 ome

on +oy, "t that saddle down and get in here3 'The bartender leans back in the gate andwalks over behind the bar3 A few seconds later a bo comes rushing into the saloon3(

Cri$%y

&hat is it Mr3 0ngy, I was st greasing ya saddle3

D"n#y

0on)t mind that, come here +oy3 '0rick crosses the room over to the bar top3( 0o yo

/now who st rode in here>

Cri$%y

0e tell, Mr3 0ngy3

D"n#y

Bass Ree#es3

Cri$%y

Ree#es 3 3 3 Ree#es3 9o mean, the marshal $rom Ms/ogee>

D"n#y

9es3

Cri$%y

e)s here>

D"n#y

In the $lesh3 !hat)s his horse tied ot there to the "ost3 I need yo to ta/e it down to the

sta+le and ha#e it heeled then I need yo to rn across the street and $etch, Pierce3

Cri$%y

;


14/41

Pierce don)t sally ta/e to +eing $etched 3 3 3 s"ecially +y a 3 3 3

D"n#y

3 3 3 !ried to tell that +lac/ de#il st that3 Bt i$ he want ass

I need towels, coldn)t $ind any in my room3

D"n#y

Oh3 9eah3 O$ corse, o$ corse3 Get me $etch that $or yo, Mr3 Ree#es3 'ung goes

over to a cabinet on the other side of the room and produces two dark brown towels3(

!here yo go, Mr3 Ree#es3

ass

Mch o+liged3 'Bass e'its the stage. 0rick barrels in through the saloon doors.(

Cri$%y

0ngy, 0ngy 3 3 3 Pierce is on his way3

D"n#y

And the horse>

Cri$%y

anded it o#er to Po/ey, he st too/ that +east o#er to +e watered and heeled3

D"n#y

*ood, good3 1ow go $inish those saddles3

Cri$%y

&ill do3 '$e goes to e'it out of the saloon doors and crashes into Marshal (ierce3(

&ier$e

&atch were yor +arreling, yongin)3 hrist in hea#en3

=


15/41

D"n#y

Marshal Pierce, Marshal Piece 3 3 3we ha#e 3 3 3

&ier$e

I /now, I /now, ric/y told me3 !hat +lac/ Marshal is in town, I /now3 &here is he>

D"n#y

In the +ac/ $reshening "3

&ier$e

&ell go get


16/41

Man with a gn in his hand is a man with a gn in his hand, don)t care what his

re"tation3 A coward can /ill yo ?ic/ as a /iller3

ass

Sometimes ?ic/er3 '(ause(

&ier$e

9o trac/ing the men $rom that +an/ car mess " the rail $rom here3

ass

eard a+ot it, +t no, I)m not here $or that3

&ier$e

1o3 !hen why did yo call $or me>

ass

ortesy3&ier$e

ow so>

ass

I intend to ser#e a warrant in yor territory, thoght that it woldn)t +e right not let yo

/now I was wor/ing in this area3 I)#e heard a+ot the wor/ yo)#e done here3 an)t +e

an easy thing to wor/ the edge o$ the Indian territory3

&ier$e

I hear tale yo /now something a+ot that> 'Bass smiles3(

ass

9eah, I /now my way

ass

9eah3

&ier$e

9o /now we)#e had some nrest " that way lately3 0amned ree/s +een all head "3

Might rn into some tro+le3

ass

Been rnning into tro+le my whole li$e3 2st gotta ta/e as it comes, I s)"ose3

&ier$e

H


17/41

Me and my de"ty cold ride along and gi#e yo a hand3

ass

&hite $ace on ree/ land most li/e to trn " more tro+le than it)s worth3 I)m +etter

o$$ riding lone shot, +t I)m mch o+liged $or the o$$er3

&ier$e

9o /now, those damned engines still tal/


18/41

S)"ose I don)t3

ass

S)"ose I don)t either3

&ier$e

Still ain)t tole me how yo end " in engine territory3

ass

'Long% long% long pause3(

li#ing li/e a sa#age3

&ier$e

Fair enogh3 'Beat( So who yo ser#ing this writ on> 'Long (ause(

ass

Ree#es3 Benamin Ree#es3&ier$e

'Laughs( Any relation>

ass

'$e stands up3( e)s my son3 '(ierce stops laughing3(

&ier$e

&hat)s the writ $or>

ass

Mrder3

&ier$e

Mrder>

ass

Killed his wi$e3

&ier$e

I)m sorry3

ass

9eah3 'Bass begin to e'its the saloon doors3(

&ier$e

*ood lc/, Ree#es3 '2ust as Bass is passing through the saloon doors. $e stops and

turns and then tips his hat. $e then e'its through the saloon doors. Marshal (ierce

walks over to the bar top where ung is cleaning off the bar with a rag3(


19/41

D"n#y

!hat)s the $irst 1egra I e#er seen yo ta/e accont o$ Marshal> '(ause(

&ier$e

First 1egra I e#er saw wearing that +adge3 1ow, gi#e me a whis/ey and water3 !he

good st$$ and not that watered ri#er +ottom yo ser#e to dri$ters3 'The scene fades to

black as the ne't scene fades up3(

A! O16.S616 FO%R

7The spotlight comes up to reveal Ben sitting on a wooden bench. A white man

enters from behind the man sitting on the bench38

!illespie

Sorry a+ot the chains3 *ot yo trssed " li/e a !han/sgi#ing tr/ey3


20/41

en

!hat)s o/ay3 I nderstand3 Been in "rison long enogh to nderstand that reglations is

reglations3

!illespie

9eah3 And sore $eet is sore $eet3 &hy *od saw good to saddle me with these crsty

dogs I will ne#er /now3 '$e sits down on the bench3(

en

9o $ind a sal#e $or those $eet o$ yors>

!illespie

1o, sir3 I didn)t3

en

!hat ride didn)t hel" none neither3!illespie

1o, it did not3 Sometime I thin/ the crelest thing the lord "laced on this "lanet was a

horse3

en

I)m sorry $or that warden3

!illespie

Aw, don)t mean nothing3 9o /now I woldn)t ha#e missed this $or nothing3 Sore $eet

+e damned3

en

!han/ yo, sir3

en

o"e$lly it won)t +e long now3

!illespie

I "ee/ed inside I thin/ dare almost ready $or s3 '(ause( 9o ner#os>

en

0one had the ner#es clear +eat ot o$ me3

!illespie

I s)"ose so3 '(ause( iders is most li/e to +e the toghest one3

en

5


21/41

I heard he don)t mch cotton to coloreds3 !hin/ we

en

I)d go $etch $or yo mysel$ warden +t as yo see I)m somewhat indis"osed at the

moment3 '$e holds up his shackles3(

!illespie

9o thin/ we got time3

5


22/41

en

Sta+les a+ot three, $or mintes away3 &e shold3

!illespie

9o /now that might +e a notion3 '$e stands up3( I will +e +ac/ in two sha/es3 '$e

pats Ben on the shoulder and limps off. A red spotlight shines on stage. Bass Reeves. A

tall imposing figure dressed in western% cowbo gear steps onto the empt red spotlight3(

ass

Seems li/e a good man3

en

e is Pa3

ass

1e#er get sed to seeing my +oy in shac/les3en

'"aid /uickl3( 9o "t

en

&hat>

ass

6ating, yo +een eating>

en

9eah, I gess3

ass

9o st loo/ a "ond or two shy o$ what I remem+er, is all3

en

Prison $ood ain)t $it $or a dog3

ass

I s)"ose3 'Long pause( ow ha#e yo +een>

55


23/41

en

I)m sr#i#ing3 an)t as/ more than that3

ass

0oing yor time clean 3 3 3 withot tro+le or com"laint>

en

Gi/e yo taght me3

ass

9es-sir-re3

ass

I s)"ose3

en

I miss yo, yo old gr$$ +astard3ass

*otta admit, I)#e was "artial to seeing yor $ace as well3

en

!hose men in there are a+ot to decide my $ate3

ass

9eah3

en

I s)"ose I)m glad that yo)re not on that +oard, I)d li/e to s"end the rest o$ my li$e in

these chains $or sre3

ass

Is that what yo thin/>

en

I don)t /now 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 that I wold /ee" yo in those chains $ore#er3

en

I don)t want to $ight3

ass

Men li/e s got to $ight3 For s li$e is strggle3

en

5;


24/41

9o always told me that3 didn)t /now what it ?ite meant when I was a yonger man3

*ot gray at the tem"les now3 Finally I /now what yo was trying to teach me3

ass

9o not the yong +oy I se to /now3

en

9eah, got /ilt o$$ a long time ago3

ass

*ood3 9or +etter $or it3 !his world can)t +are a +oy in a man)s +ody3

en

9o thin/ I)m worthy to lea#e, to li#e 3 3 3 amongst reglar $ol/s now>

ass

9o done yor time>en

9es3

ass

9o done it clean>

en

9es3

ass

!hen who am I to say otherwise>

en

9o mean that>

ass

I)m Bass Ree#es, I)#e meant e#ery word that I dn s"o/e3 '$e gets up3( 1o matter what

ha""en in there with them $ellers, st always remem+er to +e yor own men3 I /now it

ain)t easy3 And I /now that I e#en cast shadows $rom the gra#e 3 3 3 +t don)t let it deter3

Be the man yo want to +e 3 3 3 li#e the li$e "artial to yor own tem"erament and lea#e

me where I lay3 '$e e'its the stage and the spotlight goes awa% -ust as 3illespie enters

again3(

!illespie

&ho yo a++ering with, Ben>

en

5=


25/41

2st "racticing my s"eech to the +oard3

!illespie

ey, Ben, ain)t no se in rehearsing3 2st let it come $rom heart3 !here)ll +e "lenty

im"ressed +lee#e me3

en

From yor li"s to *od)s ear3 'Lights fade to black3(

A! !&O.S616 O16

7The scene opens and it is night time. A horse is tied nearb and 4ative 2oe is

sitting in front of a roaring fire singing an Indian song. $e has a knife and is

carving a piece of wood. Bass Reeves enters the scene and 4ative 2oe is startled

and /uickl puts the piece of wood down and points his knife defensivel toward

the darkness38

ass

A +ody ain)t got mch se $or a /ni$e, with the other man)s tgging on a "istola3 I

+lee#e yo ws the one that learned me that3 '4ative 2oe rela'es and puts his knife awa.

$e throws his boots onto the ground.( 9o learned me that too3

Native 'oe

Bass3

ass

*etting so$t, old man3 Ain)t right $or no Indian to slee" in a +ed3

Native 'oe

9o +een to my ca+in3

ass

5E


26/41

9essm3

Native 'oe

Met my wi$e3

ass

!oo/ her $or yor daghter3 '4ative 2oe smiles3( &as s)"ecting to see Se3

Native 'oe

9ellow $e#er too/ her nearly siC winters ago3

ass

Gi/ed her3

Native 'oe

So did e#eryone3

ass&hen did yo "art $rom the wi/i"3

Native 'oe

A$ter li#ing on the white man)s reser#ation, slee"ing in his +ed 3 3 3 it was li/e catching a

terri+le $e#er3

ass

oldn)t go +ac/ to slee"ing on grond, caght that $e#er mysel$3 'Beat( Fe#er or no,

yo done scronged a nice s"read, yong wi$e and all3

Native 'oe

She told yo I was ot here3

ass

1aw3 She)s a good little girl, as tight-li""ed as yo "lease3 Pretended she coldn)t s"ea/

no 6nglish3 I /nowed she as lying, ain)t no gal cold li#e wit yo and not s"ea/ no

6nglish3 Bt she a wi$e so I let her ha#e her silence3 Remem+ered where yo li/e to

con#erse wit s"irits3

Native 'oe

Remem+ered3 A$ter all these years3

ass

9essm3 9o li/e the sn, yo don)t change3 Gi/e to set the cloc/ +y ya3

Native 'oe

And so the +lac/ death has retrned to tro+le the land3

5H


27/41

ass

Gand was tro+led a s"ell $or I got here3 I st tried to sr#i#e wit the world that was

ga#e to me3

Native 'oe

I s""ose those are +oots that cold $it s all3

ass

9essm3

Native 'oe

So what is it that +rings yo this way>

ass

Only things that +rings me anywhere3

Native 'oenting3

ass

9essm3

Native 'oe

nting a man I s""ose 3 3 3 yo do not loo/ as thogh yo ha#e a hnger $or +$$alo

hyde3

ass

B$$alo done long since gone3

Native 'oe

And with them went many things3

ass

9essm3

Native 'oe

I am a$raid there are no more red s/ins that wold matter to the white man to hnt3 Only

woman, slow $oots and hang s/ins li/e me3 9o made sre o$ that3 9o were the last

sight that many a Indian seen +e$ore +eing ta/en $rom this great land and loc/ed in the

white man)s cages3

Bass

1e#er made me no ne#er mind what color was on a mrder warrant3 0one haled +lac/

white and red all the same 3 3 3 +t I ain)t hnting engine 3 3 3 +t I


28/41

Native 'oe

I am an old Indian now 3 3 3 the white man)s law does not concern me3

ass

And I /now it3 1e#er did3 Bt it ain)t the white man)s law I need to /now3

Native 'oe

!hen what>

ass

Most "eo"le thin/ that Indian contry is this wide +ig old s"ace where a man cold st

lose hissel$3 !hey thin/ the whole world li/e the little "iece they ha""en to +e standing

on3 9o /now, how a man can s stm+le into a cow town and get lost amongst the

cow "o/es and tin horns3 Bt ot here, ain)t li/e that3 See them white $ol/s, they don)t

/now what I /now, what yo /now3 'Beat( Indian contry cold $it on the head o$ a"in3


29/41

Native 'oe

2st a man3

ass

&here is he>

Native 'oe

&here is yor sol> 0o yo /now> 0id yo e#er /now>

ass

Ain)t loo/ing $or a "riest, neither3 2st a man3

Native 'oe

I am not sto""ing yo $rom loo/ing, not sto""ing yo on yor ?est to ser#e yor

masters3

assBeen a while since I claimed a master, 2oe3 &here is he>

Native 'oe

I don)t claim a master now, white or otherwise3

ass

&here is he> '4ative 2oe looks awa3(

ass

Are yo going to ma/e me s"ea/ the words3 9o gonna ma/e me remind yo>

Native 'oe

9o do not ha#e to remind me o$ anything3

ass

0on)t I 3 3 3 do I ha#e to say it, do I ha#e to say the words3 9o owe me 3 3 3 yo owe

yor li$e, the li$e o$ yor $amily, and li$e o$ all the generations that grow $rom


30/41

9essm3

Native 'oe

e is my s"irital son, Bass3

ass

I don)t ma/e no claim to the s"irits3 I ma/e my claim in +lood3 e)s my son 3 3 3

Native 'oe

3 3 3 a son yo intend to deli#er to the white man)s law 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 that is $or me to say3 It is $or me3 &here is he> '4ative 2oe stands up3(

Native 'oe

And yo mst do this thing>

assI do, 2oe, I do3 Gaw gotta +e $or e#ery+ody3 I gotta hel" him 3 3 3

Native 'oe

3 3 3 el" him to wal/ in chains>

ass

el" him to +e a man3 1ot sre I always +een there to do that3 Bt I am going to +e

there now3 I /now yo, 2oe3 9o ain)t one to stand '4ative 2oe sighs deepl3(

Native 'oe

0o not ma/e me do this thing3

ass

!ell me 3 3 3 tell me now3

Native 'oe

!his is a 3 3 3

ass

!ell me3

Native 'oe

9es3

ass

9es3

Native 'oe

;


31/41

I will tell yo 3 3 3 I do not tell yo to re"ay a $a#or 3 3 3 I do this 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 &here is he 3 3 3

Native 'oe

3 3 3 I do this +ecase he is yor son3

ass

&here>

Native 'oe

e is " ri#er3

ass

%" ri#er3

Native 'oe9es3 A+ot a mile "ast the old gathering station3

ass

!hat old a+andoned army "ost>

Native 'oe

9es3 A mile downstream is a miners shed on the north side o$ the ri#er3 e is there3

ass

O+liged3 'Bass bends down and grabs his boots and boots them on. $e stands up and

begins to e'it3(

Native 'oe

9o are not going to wait $or day+rea/3

ass

1o sir3

Native 'oe

I told him to lea#e here3 I told him yo wold +e coming3

ass

!hat right>

Native 'oe

9es3

ass

And he didn)t +dge3

;


32/41

Native 'oe

!he son is the $ather, Bass3 !he son is the $ather3

ass

9essm3 'Tips his hat3( !ill neCt, 2oe, till neCt3 'Bass e'its3(

A! !&O.S616 !&O

;5


33/41

7The scene opens and the stage is dark. !e hear a heav male voice in the

darkness. Begin to speak38

Male Voice

'"ound of a gavel pounding on a wood desk3( ear ye, hear ye, this here +ody $or the

re#iew o$ correctional "arole is o$$icially in session3 'The light comes up and in the

beam of a spotlight is Ben3( &ill the a""licant "lease state his name $or the record3

'Gong Pase( !he a""licant 3 3 3 +oy that)s yo3

en

Oh, yessir 3 3 3 yessir3 My h 3 3 3 name is 3 3 3 h, Ben 3 33 Benamin Ree#es3

&arole Committee Chairman

I hear tell that yo ha#e a re"resentati#e that has come to deli#er a statement in de$ense

o$ yor "etition3en

Sir>


Some+ody dn come to s"ea/ " $or ya3

en

9essir, yessir3


Alright show him in3 '3illespie enters3(

!illespie

owdy, o+son *illes"ie de"ty warden o$ &oodha#en Prison here to s"ea/ on +ehal$

o$ the "etitioners re?est $or early release3


!he "anel welcomes Mr3 *illes"ie to or $air town3 ow was yor tri">

!illespie

9o wanna /now trly>


1ot really 3 3 3

!illespie

3 3 3 ase i$ yo do I ha#e a +nion the si@e o$ melon on my +ig toe and 3 3 3


;;


34/41

'0lears his throat3( 3 3 3 Sorry to hear, +t +ac/ to the matter at hand3 9o ha#e some

testimony to render on +ehal$ o$ this +oy3

!illespie

9essir3 I /nowed what he done was dead on wrong3 an)t nothing ndo what)s +een

done3 Bt this +oy right here is the model o$ what reha+ilitation is s""ose to +e3 Since

day one he)s "rett ne)er wor/ed his tail o$$, ne#er com"lained and ne#er had no wheres

near an incident3 1eedless to say that)s not what yo might call common3 0on)t do

many o$ these hear testimonials, ne#er $ond many men I cold do it $or3 Bt this here

+oy3 e deser#es 3 3 3 no, he)s earned a second +ite at the a""le3 !his here +oy is going

to waste +ehind +ars3 Far as I can tell, ain)t a hint o$ #iolence in the man3 And as we all

/now, de to the circmstances o$ his mrder that there ain)t a man ali#e that ain)t

wal/ed in those shoes3 It was more or less an accident


35/41

9essir3 So let)s +egin re#iewing yor case Mr3 Ree#es 9o committed yor crime on

the night o$3 3 3 'The lights fade to black3(

A! !&O.S616 !R66

7Ben is sitting in a rocking chair and is sound asleep with a shot gun draped over

his lap. $e wakes as he hears a horse ride up. 1rom outside the door we can

hear a rider unhitch and dismount. $e turns the gun toward the door. !e heat a

slow% stead knock38

en

;E


36/41

*o away 3 3 3 I ain)t3

ass

I)m coming in3

en

1o, go away

ass

I)m not li/e to do that3 'Bass enters3(

en

I said I ha#e gn3 '5eeps the rifle trained on Bass3(

ass

And I said I ain)t li/e to go3

enPa3 '$e puts the gun back on his lap3(

ass

9e"3

en

!hey sent yo3

ass

9o)re my son3 0idn)t ha#e to +e sent3

en

9o can)t $iC this one $or me3

ass

And I /now it3 Only one who can $iC this mess is yo3

en

By gi#ing " my li$e3

ass

By coming +ac/3

en

And dancing at the end o$ the noose3

ass

9o don)t /now that3

en

;H


37/41

&e +oth /now that3 I /ilt her, "a3 I /ilt dead3 I /illed my wi$e, my lo#e, sn$$ed li/e a

cam"$ire3 0ate can)t +e made right3

ass

Ain)t nothing can)t +e made right3 &asn)t no cold-+looded mrder3 *rowed ot o$ that

"assion that a man got $or a woman3 2dge might st nderstand that3 Bt all and all it

don)t really matter, yo got to come +ac/3 *ot to $ace the law3 *ot to stand there and

wal/ it li/e a man, no matter the cost3

en

2st go in and let mysel$ +e dged> 1o, sir3 1egra don)t stand a hinaman)s chance3

ass

!aint tre3

enI did li/e yo told me3 2st li/e yo told me, "a3

ass

Gi/e I told yo>

en

I caght her ste""ing ot on me again3

ass

!hat girl was ne#er tre3

en

Ain)t the time $or that 3 3 3

ass

3 3 3 !ime

en

3 3 3 !ime to tell me that I trned le$t when I was +est to go right3

ass

2st saying, Benny 3 3 3 don)t /now that its $air to crse a sna/e $or rattling its tail is all3

en

9o were right, that what yo wanna hear, "a>

ass

Alls I e#er wanted to do is ha#e yo listen to common sense3

en

;D


38/41

I listen3 Ben listening since I was a yongin, sometimes $eels li/e alls I do is listen3

Seems li/e I don)t do nothing else3 &hen I $ond ot a+ot that +artender $ella she was

rnning arond with, I coldn)t $ace yo again3 Gi/e the last time I caght, when yo

$ond ot that I didn)t raise a hand to her, that wasn)t strong li/e yo3 1ot a man li/e

yo3

ass

I didn)t tell yo to raise a hand to that girl3

en

0idn)t ha#e to3 A +oo/ $ll words li#es in those dar/ eyes o$ yors3 I swear it $or a $act

yo can gi#e s"eech with a glance3 So I tried to do li/e yo wold do, tried to +e a man3

And I raised my hand to her 3 3 3

ass3 3 3 And it got ot o$ hand3

ass

I didn)t tell yo to /ill her3

en

I didn)t mean to, it st ha""ened3 2st li/e that3 2st wanted to +e the man yo are "a3

!hat)s it3 So I gra++ed her and started to s?ee@e and s?ee@e, neCt thing I /nowed, she

was on the grond 3 3 3 and she wasn)t +reathing, nor mo#ing3 Killed her "a, I /illed her

dead3

ass

'Long pause3( 9o ha#e to go in, ain)t no choice in the matter3 9o can)t li#e ot here,

yo can)t rn yo whole li$e, gi#e me the gn3

en

I can)t

ass

!hat right>

en

an)t let mysel$ +e "t in no cage3

ass

Get)s got nothing to do with it3

en

;


39/41

*on ma/e me go>

ass

*ot my +lood in yor #eins, yo /now the answer3

en

And i$ I re$se>

ass

'Bass takes a long pause3( I can still remem+er, ya /now3

en

Remem+er>

ass

&hen yo was /nee high to nothing3

enGong time ago3

ass

1ot so long3

en

Gong enogh3

ass

Gi/e to thin/ that I taght yo a $ew thangs +ac/ then3

en

A thang or two I gess3

ass

!aght yo to +e a man all those years ago3 !o stand " $or what yo ws3 and me the

gn son3

en

0on)t /now that I)m strong enogh to deal with this3

en

I)m scared3

ass

And I /now it3 'Beat( and me the gn3 'Long% long pause3(

en

0on)t matter really, ain)t got no +llets in it3 'Ben slings the gun over at Bass# feet3(

;


40/41

ass

Shold ha#e /nowed3 9o ws ne#er "artial to no ri$le or "istola3 'Ben gets up and

wanders to the front of the stage3(

en

1o sir3 1e#er +een "artial to mch3 '$e stands up and wanders out to the audience3( I

am st tired o$ +eing scared3 !ired o$ waiting $or my li$e to +egin3 2st tired o$ +e tired

I s"ose3 'Long pause3( &hat)s gonna ha""en to me, "a> &here do I go $rom here>

'The lights fade down and a spotlight slowl fades up on Ben3(

ass

1ow yo ha#e to man3 9o ha#e to 3 3 3

&arole Commitee Chairman

3 3 3 Stand ", Mr3 Ree#es 'The light goes black on stage with onl Ben illuminated3(0es"ite the heinos natre o$ yor crime, it is the nanimos decision o$ this +ody that

de to "risonerLs eCem"lary record, letters o$ s""ort +y se#eral mem+ers o$ the

commnity and the testimony gi#en +y 0e"ty &arden *illes"ie, that they "risoner +e

granted limited release and acce"tance into the "rogram o$ "arole3 '!e hear the sound of

a gavel3( &e stand adorned3 'Ben falls to his knees and begins to weep. The stands up

and removes a barber smock from his back pocket and puts it on. $e turns and

addresses the audience.(

en

A$ter that I ne#er so mch as littered on the street3 Mo#e to the town o$ %shnga and

+ecame a +ar+er3 In $act one o$ the most sccess$l 1egro +ar+ers this side o$ the

Mississi""i3 1e#er $orgot thogh3 1e#er $orgot what I did3 1e#er $orgot whose name I

carry3 'An etherial spotlight comes up behind Ben to reveal Bass reeves. Ben walks over

to a door and opens it3( !wo /ids rn in

'osia

ey, Mr3 Ree#es '"aid as the kid runs b Ben3(

en

All right yongsters slow it down, the scissors ain)t li/e to go /now where3 2osia yo

ho" " there in the chair $irst, yo /now yor st$$ is t$$ as +$$alo hyde3 I)ll getch ot

da way $irst3 Ism got dat good hair, nice and $ine we)ll get to him last I s)"ose3

'osia

=


41/41

A Solitary Voice

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Transcript of A Solitary Voice