Washington Square Plays

e-Ac

ewis

4, by Emmet Le

o "The Least of These," by Donal Hamilton Ha

rs, under the direction of Holland Hudson, at the Band

der of their appearanc

. Josephin

TRASK.

SOLDIER.

SERGEANT. R

PRIVATE. Sp

s designed b

yers at the Comedy Theatre, New York City, beginning June 5, 191

Beck, opening at the Palace Theatre, New York

SK. Sara

TRASK. Jo

SOLDIER.

ERGEANT. Tho

PRIVATE. Go

the Harvard Dramatic Club, in Mar

K. Christ

RASK. Norm

SOLDIER.

RGEANT. James

ichard

OD CHA

DEUS

Y T

HERN S

HERN S

I

ine between the Southern and Northern states. TI

hole with a door; in front of the door stands a small table. To the left of this table is a kitchen chair. A door leading to the yard is in the centre of the unbroken wall back; to the right of the door, a cupboard, to the le

to another room. In the centre of the kitchen stands a large t

es into the room through the windows, and a candle on table centre. When the

ge, short and thick set, slow in speech and movement, yet in perfect healt

band's, enters from the yard, carrying a pail of water and a lantern. She puts

wood 'nough fer

ired to go out now;

lays the fire

ed saw three Southern trooper

out o' the neighborhood. Whenever I see 'em passin', I have t' steady myself 'gainst somethin' or I'd fal

n't be afraid of

head or tail t' what all this fightin's 'bout. An' I don't care who wins, so l

ardly blame 'em if t

for breakfast, getting knives, forks, spoons, plates, cups, and saucers-two of each-from the cupboard.] We have hard 'nough times t' make thin

he Lord see'd fit t' lay me up, so I'm always ailin'. [Ri

ed an' the rest o' the potatoes sorted. If I could sleep at n

ndles his double-barrelled shot-gun].

ather go without than hear ye fir

the birds. They don't wait fer ye. [Hangs gun on wall, drops

ce t' go t' sister's. I can'

then, 'cause they's fat as they'll ever be, an' there ain't no use

Go o

n one hand, boots in oth

ry not t' sn

anding]. Hit me if I do.

n the threshold. He wears a dirty uniform and has a bloody bandage tied about his head. He is wounded, sick, and exhausted. He stands at the door a moment, listening intently; then hastily crosses to the centre table looking for food. He bumps against the chair and mutters an oath. Finding nothing on the table, he moves toward the cupboard. Suddenly the galloping of horses is heard in the distance. The NORTHERNER starts; then rushes to the window nearer the audience. For a moment the so

you were so darn slow 'bout openin' the door, that we had to

midly]. I ai

ve you been

in't stirred

the rest of y

o foot of stairs, and calls loudly and ex

not lie to me or it

swear I ain'

tairs slowly. She

Say, Mary,

l question her myself. [To MARY.]

es to nod her head slowly.] You didn't take a trip down to the

difficult

soldier who came here a while ago

-no one's

light sign of anger.] He had a bad cut in his forehead,

No one's been near

m, woman. He's a friend of ours. We want to find him, and put

nd needs to go to

He ain

at do you wa

ain't lyin'. I ain

ould 'a' come with

idin' the man? [MARY stands rooted to the spot where she stoppe

all day, an' there couldn't no one come without our

e'll search

ly]. Ye ain

rply]. What's

ne here, an' ye're kee

s is an affair of life an

cubby-hole, and lights the lantern from the candle which h

door are you, by puttin' a table in front of it. You can't fool me. [

bby-hole an' ain't

d emphatically]. I s

d opens the door to the cubby-hole. Anger is seen on MARY'S face. The SERGEANT takes a

're goin' to tear this place to pieces till we fi

e ain't no

w we'll see. Dick, you

nd stands gazing out into the

down in that chair [points to the chair at right of table, and feeling for a sufficiently st

She opens her eyes wide and draws her breath sharply. She opens her mouth as though she would scream, but makes no sound. The NORTHERNER comes slowly and cautiously through the door. (DICK canno

. Wo

thinking that DICK has s

apple for DICK. The SERGEANT and THADDEUS come downstairs. The SERGEANT, seeing that

I tell you I'd do if yo

ear]. Oh, I didn't

Sergeant. I asked he

SERGEANT and THADDEUS move toward the door left. As though in a stupor, MARY starts to follow.] Sit down! [MARY falls into the chair at the right of the centre table. The SERGEANT and THADDEUS go

ve given me, you know what'll happen. There's likely to

g into the ro

RGEANT and says something in a low voice to h

od people, how did

S. What

rn with a saddle on his back. I

[amazed].

To MARY.] Come, woman, w

r eyes on the floor]. I don'

direction of the door

t. You two have done enough to justify the har

in the night without our knowin' it. I tell y

es THADDEUS jump. There is a pause, during which MARY seems trying to co

nobody in the ho

. Did you search a

not a trace of hi

e didn't have much of a start of us, and I think he was wounded. A farmer down the road said he heard hoof-beats. The man the other side of y

t. I know that horse looks bad-but as I live I ain't heard a soun

you and your wife over to our army to be shot down like dogs. [MARY shivers.] [S

git ye out of here. 'Tain't no fun fer me to have ye prowlin' all over my house. Ye ain't got no r

ty existence. [In different voice to MARY.] I'll have to ask you to get us something to eat. We're famished. [Wit

he man isn't here. If he were, he couldn't get away while we're in the yard. [To THADDEUS.] Get us a pail t

ain't the h

DDEUS]. Come alo

That's the drin

That's a

lows them in a moment. When she has disappeared, the NORTHERNER drags himself from the cubby

or the man in this speech, nor during the enti

[Falls into chair at left of

in the cubby-hole. [MARY turns quickly to the stove. The NORTHERNER drinks the water; puts dipper on table, then, summoning all hi

ey'll hear you. How are you

id ye come here, a-bringin' me al

rther. My horse and I were both

out ye, 'cept that them men want t' ketch ye. [In a chan

en chasing me all day. [Pulling a bit of crumpled paper from his breast.] They want this paper. If they

riosity]. Was it ye

here and away from those men, and you'll have done more t

Thad's only got this farm. Thad's a

ousand men hang by a thread. I mus

'bout ye, an' I don't kno

Only help

come here in the first place is beyond me-sneakin' round our house, spoilin' our well-ear

usband's compared to thirty thousand! I

on't want

R. What d

. I don't care what happens

s in the yard. They'd shoot me like a d

iosity]. What kind o

r]. O God! If I'd only turned in at the other farm. I might have found people

What ye goin' t'

n't be afraid.

ll 'em in, i

r poor skin and your husband's if you can. Call them in. You can't save yourself. [Laughs hyste

side of centre table fo

u've got to help me whe

. I don't want t' do nothin'. I jest want ye all t' git out a here an' leave me an' Thad t' go t' sleep. Oh, I don't know what t' do. Ye got me in a

re in a minute. You can't give me up. They'll shoot you if you do.

embling terribly. The SERGEANT, D

l for? [No answer.] [Seizi

e dipper off the t

ft of centre table]. Well, don't drop our b

zing at him]. I

n absolutely brutish]. You've had time to cook a dozen meals. You're

didn't d

ve us something fit to eat. Don't try to get rid of

n't you know anything, you brain

THADDEUS sits in chair a

e people's heads. [Takes towel which hangs above t

]. That's one o

Can't

reakfast. That's enough

smaller table, and sits

DICK]. I don't see ho

drove his horse in here, and went o

them into conversation]. Have

rtly]. Fa

Twenty m

. Pe

ong ye been cha

don't want to talk to you. Take hold an

d, some fried eggs, and a

I hope ye'r

ull their chairs to the

any good to be stingy. [Obviously, from now on, ever

t's all

outhful for a chickade

here ai

er on a farm? God

SERGEANT.

e you got

on it. [Throws fork on floor.] I never struck such a place in my life.

s up the fork. Gets another from the

me salt. Don't you know

mistakes the pepper for the s

is food]. I said salt, woman! [

ERNERS like a hunted animal. THADDEUS sits nodding in the corner. The SERGEANT and DICK go on devouring the food. The SERGEANT pours the coffee. Puts his cup to his lips,

fluid trickling on the floor]. Have yo

men turn white. It is like the cry o

an, and ye're drivin' me crazy. [Snatches the gun from the wall, points it at the SERGEANT

S. Mary

ring]. I ain't a hag, I'm a

ears. The NORTHERNER stands on the stairs. MARY continues to pull the trigger of the empty

Go get my

ns to MARY. She gazes at him, but d

r hand, and presses it to his lips; then turns and hurries out of the house. MARY still holds the gun in her hand.

ne]. I'll have to drin

f the NORTHERNER'

rt