First Draft Completion Date November 9, 2008 A Solitary Voice: An Incident in the Life of Bass Reeves A Play By Michael

Oatman, MFA Playwright-In-Residence at Karam !heater

Syno"sis Bass Ree#es, the $irst A$rican American %nited States Marshal m st retrie#e his son who is wanted $or m rdering his wi$e Settings &ell Parole O$$ice 'Bench( Marshal)s O$$ice Indian Praying *ro nd A+andoned ,a+in Saloon ,ast Bass Ree#es - A$rican American male Ben-amin Ree#es - A$rican American male Pierce.,ric/y.!renny - &hite male !ommy &hite - &hite male 0 ngy.* ard - &hite male Bi++s.*illes"ie - &hite male 1ati#e 2oe - 1ati#e American male 'light s/inned A$rican American male( Parole ,ommittee ,hairman - O$$ stage male #oice3 Is m - A$rican American +oy 2osia - A$rican American +oy Miranda - A$rican American $emale Vera - A$rican American $emale Mary 4 A$rican American $emale

A Solitary Voice: An Incident in the life of Marshal Bass Reeves 5

By Michael Oatman A,! O16.S,616 O16 7The spotlight comes and reveals Vera and Miranda in a small border town around dusk. The are gathering laundr 38 Vera I swears it almost li/e still +eing in sla#ery3 Miranda I)m g essing 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 mo th, 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 na ing. Tomm !hite pulls out his handkerchief and dabs at the back of his neck. !e hear the sound of a horse trampling ;

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 yo 3 '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 fl ing 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, yo sho ld ha#e /nown +etter3 ,an)t r n $rom a %S marshal, yo )d do +etter to try to r n $rom the s n3 '!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 o r l c/ that this $ool wo ld +leed to death +e$ore we get <em to co rt3 Trenny &ill do Bass3 '!alks over and stands up Tomm !hite3( ,)mon ya, $at head "i/er3 'The two men begin to e'it the stage3( 9o sho ld +e honored yo - st got too/ +y the great Bass Ree#es 3 3 3 something yo can tell yo r /ids a+o t 3 3 3 in twenty years when yo get o t o$ "rison I mean3 ,)mon3 'The two men e'it. Bass stands on the edge of the stage and stares into the audience holding his pistol. $e slides it into his holster. The light slowl fades on Bass. A spotlight comes up on Ben. The spotlight onl reveals Ben#s head and upper shoulders. The rest of the stage is pitched black3 $e is an African American man in his forties.8 en

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 wo ld ta/e yo a li$e time to really answer, + t they <s"ect yo to s? ee@e all that in a thim+le o$ an answer3 Oh, he was great, yo learn to answer3 Oh, yeah, great $ella3 !hat)s what they want to hear3 !hey don)t want the tr th3 !he whole tr th3 !hey don)t want the good with the +ad, the salt with the s gar, the sweet with the +itter3 '$e smiles a painful smile3( B t i$ yo as/ed, I gotta $ig re yo want to /now 3 3 3 I mean really want to /now3 I will tell yo 3 So do ya 3 3 3 do ya want /now 3 3 3 I mean really> ' (ause( O/ay 3 3 3 My $ather is 3 3 3 was, Bass Ree#es3 Born in AB and ;B3 :e was the $irst 1egro Marshal, this side o$ the Mississi""i3 Barrel-chested and "ro d3 A mo ntain o$ a man3 Born in Paris 3 3 3 Paris, !eCas 3 3 3 that is3 Born a sla#e3 :e was owned +y a "olitician3 O r sla#e name mar/s s3 &hen my $ather $inally esca"ed his master he laid him $lat on his +ac/3 :is master name is the only thing he too/ with him3 My $ather $o nd his way north into Indian !erritory3 Fo nd his way to the land o$ the ,ree/, he s"ent many, many years there3 :e wo ld e#en ta/e me +ac/ there as a child3 !eaching me to trac/, h nt, ne#er had not $lare $or it tho gh3 I co ld tell that that disa""ointed3 It was on that r gged $rontier that Bass Ree#es $irst "ic/ed " a "istol3 9o see that)s where the story o$ Bass Ree#es +egan3 *reat trac/er, g nslinger, $eared lawman3 :e was a""ointed in ABDE as a +oni$ide %S Marshal3 &ithin ten years he + rned a trail across the west that made him a legend3 O#er his career he arrested o#er ;,FFF and /illed A=3 I was /nee high to a +ale o$ hay $o I reali@ed who my Pa was3 I /nowed he didn)t wal/ li/e the other colored in town3 I /now he stood a little taller, wal/ed a little straighter then "retty m ch e#ery+ody else3 0idn)t ? ite /now why tho gh3 6#en the white men in town cleared a "ath when Bass Ree#es came +owling thro gh3 :e was a man among men3 And I lo#ed3 'Long pause3( And I hated him3 It was a hell o$ a thing growing " in s ch a long shadow3 Ben-amin Ree#es, the no acco nt son o$ Bass Ree#es3 :ell, o$ a thing3 'A voice can be heard from off stage3( !"ard Boy> 'The light comes up to reveal Ben standing in front of a bench. $e is wearing work house clothes and shackles on his arms. The shackles are the t pe that were worn b men on a chain gang in the )*++s. $is hands are shackled3( E

en 9essir> !"ard &here did yo r warden go> en I than/ he went down yonder a "iece to $etch a sal#e $or his $oot3 It was ch rning " something "ower$ l a$ter that long ride $rom Gea#enworth3 !"ard :e +est h rry, 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.S,616 !&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 <ro nd the saloon in + nches 3 3 3 i$ it weren)t $or the $act that I wo ld ca se a riot, I wo ld ro st the whole + nch o$ <em 3 3 3 H

ibbs 3 3 3 Bass 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 Middle o$ the day $or ,hristsa/e3 ibbs 0idn)t /now yo w s gon +e +ac/ so soon3 ass 9eah, I made good time coming +ac/3 'The men in the room stare at Bass and there is an uncomfortable silence3( &hat> ibbs Boys co ld yo eCc se s> 'The men silentl get up and e'it the scene3( 0on)t ? ite /now who to say this, Bass3 ass &hat is it> ibbs &ell 3 3 3 h, when yo was gone 3 3 3 h, I don)t 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 Ain)t li/e yo to slow dance wit me, Bi++s3 !ell me, last time I chec/ed I whaten "artial to " tting on a "etty coat in the morning3 ibbs It)s Benny 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 &hat a+o t Benny> ibbs :e landed smac/ da+ in the middle o$ 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

&hat does it say> &ho)s name is on that warrant> ibbs Benny)s3 ass ,harge> ibbs M rder3 ass M rder> M rder o$ who, that +oy ain)t ne#er had no $ ss or $ight in <em3 Sel$-de$ense> ibbs 1o sir3 &as his wi$e he /ilt3 O"en and sh t really3 1eigh+or lady 3 3 3 that Sh lt@ woman, heard the screams, her and the h s+and r n o#er and there Benny stood o#er the +ody3 Strangled her3 &as re"orted to had said 3 3 3 wait a min te, let me gra+ my s"ectacles 3 3 3 'Reaches into the desk drawer and withdraws his halfed e e frames and puts them on. $e begins to read from the murder warrant3( II)m sorry, I)m sorry, didn)t mean to do it, didn)t mean to h rt her 3 3 3 + t now it don)t mean no ne#er mind3J !hen he r n o$$3 &e gotta +ring him in Bass3 ass I /now it3 ibbs I /now that he)s yo r +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 co rtesy3 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 co ntry I s"ect3 I /now yo and him s"ent some time " there3 ass B

9essir3 ibbs *onna send !renny to +ring <em in3 ass 1o sir3 ibbs Bass I /now that this 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 1o sir3 ibbs Bass 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 Since when do we send !renny to trai"se aro nd Indian co nty> :e don)t /now that land3 'Beat( 1ot li/e me3 ibbs ,)mon Bass 3 3 3 ass &ho)s yo r +est man> ibbs Bass 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 I)m serio s3 &ho)s yo r +est man> ibbs 9o are3 ass And other than a ,ree/, who /nows ,ree/ land +etter than me> ibbs 1o one3 ass 6Cactly3 ibbs &o ldn)t as/ that o$ yo 3 &o ldn)t as/ yo to h nt yo r own 3 3 3 K

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 yo r horse> ibbs I s)"ose3 ass M ch o+liged3 Be +ac/ in a $ew days3 'Bass begins to e'it3( ibbs 9o need +ac/ "> 9o want me to send !renny with yo anyhow> ass 1o sir3 I wo ld +e grate$ l i$ yo let me +ring him in alone3 ibbs Bass3 'Bass turns and faces him3( *o easy, $riend3 *o easy3 ass 9essir3 'Bass e'its the room. The lights fade to black. ( A,! O16.S,616 !: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> AF

ass 9o got law in this here settlement> D"n#y !he law 3 3 3 oh, yes, we)#e got a $ederal marshal wor/s o t o$ this settlement3 *ot a -ail ho se down the way +y the sta+les3 'Beat( Pierce3 Magn s Pierce3 ass I /now the name3 I need him $etched3 D"n#y &ell, yes, sir + t 3 3 3 + t, he don)t, well 3 3 3 well he don)t cotton to 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 1egra> D"n#y 9eah3 ass Fetch him3 D"n#y &e don)t s ally ha#e colored in here3 ass And her> Mary I wor/ here cow+oy3 ass &or/> Mary 9es, wor/3 ass I$ yo say3 Mary I say3 D"n#y 9eah she wor/s here, I meant more in the way o$ c stomers3 &e don)t s ally ser#e colored c s 3 3 3 AA

ass I need my horse tended to and a room to d st 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 wo ld +et that yo got +etter thangs to do other than tro +ling me3 ' "he looks at him and then drops her e es. "he /uickl e'its3( ass 3 3 3 9o r rooms ha#e a wash +asin> D"n#y 9es, sir3 ass And I ta/e it yo ha#e #acancies> D"n#y 9ess m3 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 <em> ass Bass Ree#es3 A5

D"n#y Bass Ree#es3 'The barkeep smiles3( As in the Bass Ree#es o t o$ M s/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 2 st t rned 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 and walks over behind the bar3 A few seconds later a bo comes rushing into the saloon3( Cri$%y &hat is it Mr3 0 ngy, I was - st greasing ya saddle3 D"n#y 0on)t mind that, come here +oy3 '0rick crosses the room over to the bar top3( 0o yo /now who - st rode in here> Cri$%y 0 e tell, Mr3 0 ngy3 D"n#y Bass Ree#es3 Cri$%y Ree#es 3 3 3 Ree#es3 9o mean, the marshal $rom M s/ogee> D"n#y 9es3 Cri$%y :e)s here> D"n#y In the $lesh3 !hat)s his horse tied o t 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 r n across the street and $etch, Pierce3 Cri$%y A;

Pierce don)t s ally ta/e to +eing $etched 3 3 3 s"ecially +y a 3 3 3 D"n#y 3 3 3 !ried to tell that +lac/ de#il - st that3 B t i$ he want <em $etched, then $etched he shall +e3 1ow git3 '0rick e'its the saloon. .ung comes from around the bar and begins to straighten up the chairs. "itting on the top of one of the tables is a half consumed glass of whiske . $e sniffs it and then gulps it down in one drink. $e burps. ( Ahhhhhh 3 3 3 '$e grabs a broom and begins to sweep and starts whistling a sad tune. Bass re,enters the stage3( ass !owels3 D"n#y Sorry, Mr3 Ree#es> ass I need towels, co ldn)t $ind any in my room3 D"n#y Oh3 9eah3 O$ co rse, o$ co rse3 Get me $etch that $or yo , Mr3 Ree#es3 ' .ung goes over to a cabinet on the other side of the room and produces two dark brown towels3( !here yo go, Mr3 Ree#es3 ass M ch o+liged3 'Bass e'its the stage. 0rick barrels in through the saloon doors.( Cri$%y 0 ngy, 0 ngy 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 yo r +arreling, yo ngin)3 ,hrist in hea#en3 A=

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 <em3 D"n#y I don)t thin/ he)s 3 3 3 &ier$e 3 3 3 1ow 0 ngy, 1ow3 D"n#y 9es, sir3 '.ung comes from around the bar and goes to e'it the stage. Before he gets halfwa across the stage we see a flicker in the darkness as a cigar lights up3( ass 1o, need3 I)m already here3 'Bass ambles onto the stage. $e walks up to Marshal (ierce.( Bass Ree#es3 &ier$e Marshal Pierce3 :eard a lot a+o t yo 3 ass !hat right> &ier$e !he man who g nned down Bo+ 0o@ier3 Feat li/e that tends to carry3 ass 2 st carrying o t my -o+3 &ier$e A cold +looded /iller li/e 0o@ier> !hat more than carrying o t yo r -o+3 ass 0o@ier was a coward3 &ier$e

AE

Man with a g n in his hand is a man with a g n 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+o t it, + t no, I)m not here $or that3 &ier$e 1o3 !hen why did yo call $or me> ass ,o rtesy3 &ier$e :ow so> ass I intend to ser#e a warrant in yo r territory, tho ght that it wo ldn)t +e right not let yo /now I was wor/ing in this area3 I)#e heard a+o t the wor/ yo )#e done here3 ,an)t +e an easy thing to wor/ the edge o$ the Indian territory3 &ier$e I hear tale yo /now something a+o t that> 'Bass smiles3( ass 9eah, I /now my way <ro nd the ,ree/ land3 &ier$e !hat where yo ser#ing the warrant> ass 9eah3 &ier$e 9o /now we)#e had some nrest " that way lately3 0amned ,ree/s +een all head "3 Might r n into some tro +le3 ass Been r nning into tro +le my whole li$e3 2 st gotta ta/e as it comes, I s)"ose3 &ier$e AH

Me and my de" ty co ld ride along and gi#e yo a hand3 ass &hite $ace on ,ree/ land most li/e to t rn " more tro +le than it)s worth3 I)m +etter o$$ riding lone shot, + t I)m m ch o+liged $or the o$$er3 &ier$e 9o /now, those damned engines still tal/ <+o t Bright 1ace3 ass Been a while since I +een called that3 &ier$e I$ yo +elie#e the stories yo se to h nt <em down where they li#e and loc/ <em "3 ass 1e#er " t m ch stoc/ in tales3 &ier$e Is it tr e yo li#e among <em> ass It is3 &ier$e It)s certainly none o$ my a$$air, + t I can)t hel" + t to as/ how a 1ig 3 3 3 :ow a colored end " <ro nd a + nch o$ sa#ages> ass I only share s ch tales with men I /now $ar +etter then I /now yo , Marshal Pierce3 &ier$e :ey, no need to get cross, +oy3 ass &asn)t cross at all <till yo mistoo/ me $or a +oy3 &ier$e Goo/ 3 3 3 ass 9o loo/ Marshal3 'Begins to stare intentl at (ierce. There is an awkward silence3( Goo/ close and good3 9o see any +oy ro nd here Marshal> &ier$e AD Knew the trails as good as they did3

S)"ose I don)t3 ass S)"ose I don)t either3 &ier$e Still ain)t tole me how yo end " in engine territory3 ass 'Long% long% long pause3( <!ween li#ing li/e a sa#age and li#ing as a sla#e3 I)ll ta/e li#ing li/e a sa#age3 &ier$e Fair eno gh3 'Beat( So who yo ser#ing this writ on> 'Long (ause( ass Ree#es3 Ben-amin Ree#es3 &ier$e 'Laughs( Any relation> ass '$e stands up3( :e)s my son3 '(ierce stops laughing3( &ier$e &hat)s the writ $or> ass M rder3 &ier$e M rder> ass Killed his wi$e3 &ier$e I)m sorry3 ass 9eah3 'Bass begin to e'its the saloon doors3( &ier$e *ood l c/, 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( AB

D"n#y !hat)s the $irst 1egra I e#er seen yo ta/e acco nt o$ 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.S,616 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+o t the chains3 *ot yo tr ssed " li/e a !han/sgi#ing t r/ey3 AK

en !hat)s o/ay3 I nderstand3 Been in "rison long eno gh to nderstand that reg lations is reg lations3 !illespie 9eah3 And sore $eet is sore $eet3 &hy *od saw good to saddle me with these cr sty dogs I will ne#er /now3 '$e sits down on the bench3( en 9o $ind a sal#e $or those $eet o$ yo rs> !illespie 1o, sir3 I didn)t3 en !hat ride didn)t hel" none neither3 !illespie 1o, it did not3 Sometime I thin/ the cr elest 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 wo ldn)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 $or s3 '(ause( 9o ner#o s> en 0one had the ner#es clear +eat o t o$ me3 !illespie I s)"ose so3 '(ause( ,iders is most li/e to +e the to ghest one3 en

5F

I heard he don)t m ch cotton to coloreds3 !hin/ we <+o t low as a yard dog3 It sometime $eel that the whole world s"ins aro nd that #ery notion3 ' 3illespie looks over at Ben3( &ell, not the whole world3 'Both men smile3( !illespie Indeed in my eC"erience, when yo get to /now a $ella there as so many +etter reasons to hate <em +esides his s/in color3 &ell, it don)t matter e#en a hard ass li/e ,ider gotta see that man sitting in $ront o$ him ain)t the man that came into "rison3 6#en a $ool can)t +e all the way +lind 3 3 3 least I ho"e3 '$e begins to run his big toe through his boot3( en Really /ic/ing " is it> !illespie Something $ierce3 en I a""reciate yo +eing here $or me warden3 :a#ing yo here is the neCt +est thing to ha#ing my "a here with me3 !illespie I didn)t /now the man, + t I thin/ that i$ yo r "a was still ali#e he wo ld +e #ery "ro d o$ the man yo )#e +ecome3 en 9a thin/> !illespie I do3 'Long pause3( en I thin/ heard one o$ the g ards say that there was a chemist sho" down +y the sta+les3 Ran +y a ,hinaman, he might ha#e a sal#e, something to least smooth the edges o$$3 !illespie A chemist sho" yo say> 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 5A

en Sta+les a+o t three, $o r min tes away3 &e sho ld3 !illespie 9o /now that might +e a notion3 '$e stands up3( I will +e +ac/ in two sha/es3 '$e pats Ben on the shoulder and limps off. A red spotlight shines on stage. Bass Reeves. A tall imposing figure dressed in western% cowbo gear steps onto the empt red spotlight 3( ass Seems li/e a good man3 en :e is Pa3 ass 1e#er get sed to seeing my +oy in shac/les3 en '"aid /uickl 3( 9o " t <em there, Pa 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 I don)t recollect /illing yo r wi$e 3 3 3 en I)m sorry 3 3 3 I 3 3 3 I didn)t mean to 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 9o +een eating> en &hat> ass 6ating, yo +een eating> en 9eah, I g ess3 ass 9o - st loo/ a "o nd 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

en I)m s r#i#ing3 ,an)t as/ more than that3 ass 0oing yo r time clean 3 3 3 witho t tro +le or com"laint> en Gi/e yo ta ght me3 ass 9es-sir-re3 ass I s)"ose3 en I miss yo , yo old gr $$ +astard3 ass *otta admit, I)#e was "artial to seeing yo r $ace as well3 en !hose men in there are a+o t 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 s re3 ass Is that what yo thin/> en I don)t /now 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 that I wo ld /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 str ggle3 en 5;

9o always told me that3 didn)t /now what it ? ite meant when I was a yo nger man3 *ot gray at the tem"les now3 Finally I /now what yo was trying to teach me3 ass 9o not the yo ng +oy I se to /now3 en 9eah, got /ilt o$$ a long time ago3 ass *ood3 9o r +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 reg lar $ol/s now> ass 9o done yo r time> en 9es3 ass 9o done it clean> en 9es3 ass !hen who am I to say otherwise> en 9o mean that> ass I)m Bass Ree#es, I)#e meant e#ery word that I d n s"o/e3 '$e gets up3( 1o matter what ha""en in there with them $ellers, - st always remem+er to +e yo r 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 yo r 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=

2 st "racticing my s"eech to the +oard3 !illespie :ey, Ben, ain)t no se in rehearsing3 2 st let it come $rom heart3 !here)ll +e "lenty im"ressed +lee#e me3 en From yo r li"s to *od)s ear3 'Lights fade to black3(

A,! !&O.S,616 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 m ch se $or a /ni$e, with the other man)s t gging on a "istola3 I +lee#e yo w s 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

9ess m3 Native 'oe Met my wi$e3 ass !oo/ her $or yo r da ghter3 '4ative 2oe smiles3( &as s)"ecting to see S e3 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 ,o ldn)t go +ac/ to slee"ing on gro nd, ca ght that $e#er mysel$3 ' Beat( Fe#er or no, yo done scro nged a nice s"read, yo ng wi$e and all3 Native 'oe She told yo I was o t here3 ass 1aw3 She)s a good little girl, as tight-li""ed as yo "lease3 Pretended she co ldn)t s"ea/ no 6nglish3 I /nowed she as lying, ain)t no gal co ld li#e wit yo and not s"ea/ no 6nglish3 B t 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 9ess m3 9o li/e the s n, yo don)t change3 Gi/e to set the cloc/ +y ya3 Native 'oe And so the +lac/ death has ret rned to tro +le the land3 5H

ass Gand was tro +led a s"ell $or I got here3 I - st tried to s r#i#e wit the world that was ga#e to me3 Native 'oe I s ""ose those are +oots that co ld $it s all3 ass 9ess m3 Native 'oe So what is it that +rings yo this way> ass Only things that +rings me anywhere3 Native 'oe : nting3 ass 9ess m3 Native 'oe : nting a man I s ""ose 3 3 3 yo do not loo/ as tho gh yo ha#e a h nger $or + $$alo hyde3 ass B $$alo done long since gone3 Native 'oe And with them went many things3 ass 9ess m3 Native 'oe I am a$raid there are no more red s/ins that wo ld matter to the white man to h nt3 Only woman, slow $oots and hang s/ins li/e me3 9o made s re o$ 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 m rder warrant3 0one ha led +lac/ white and red all the same 3 3 3 + t I ain)t h nting engine 3 3 3 + t I <s"ect yo /now that3 5D

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 B t it ain)t the white man)s law I need to /now3 Native 'oe !hen what> ass Most "eo"le thin/ that Indian co ntry is this wide +ig old s"ace where a man co ld - 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 st m+le into a cow town and get lost amongst the cow "o/es and tin horns3 B t o t here, ain)t li/e that3 See them white $ol/s, they don)t /now what I /now, what yo /now3 'Beat( Indian co ntry co ld $it on the head o$ a "in3 <,a se o t here, e#erything has a "lace and s"ace is as wide as the s/y and as narrow as a man)s nose3 A man can)t trai"se thro gh here witho t +eing seen and heard3 ,an)t cam" sose no one can see3 S"ecially wit engines st m+ling aro nd3 Native 'oe I can)t hel" yo 3 ass &on)t 2oe, won)t 3 3 3 ain)t li/e yo to miC " the two3 Native 'oe It m st +e a tiring thing3 ass :ow)s that> Native 'oe &or/ing so hard, so hard to "lease them3 !hey will ne#er lo#e yo , Bass no matter how m ch yo h nt $or them3 ass Ain)t loo/ing $or lo#e 2oe 3 3 3 - st a man3 Native 'oe 2 st a man3 ass &here is he 2oe> 5B

Native 'oe 2 st a man3 ass &here is he> Native 'oe &here is yo r so l> 0o yo /now> 0id yo e#er /now> ass Ain)t loo/ing $or a "riest, neither3 2 st a man3 Native 'oe I am not sto""ing yo $rom loo/ing, not sto""ing yo on yo r ? est to ser#e yo r masters3 ass Been a while since I claimed a master, 2oe3 &here is he> Native 'oe I don)t claim a master now, white or otherwise3 ass &here is he> '4ative 2oe looks awa 3( ass Are yo going to ma/e me s"ea/ the words3 9o gonna ma/e me remind yo > Native 'oe 9o do not ha#e to remind me o$ 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 yo r li$e, the li$e o$ yo r $amily, and li$e o$ all the generations that grow $rom <em3 9o owe me this 2oe3 O t here $air trade d n always stood $or something3 Native 'oe :e is my s"irit al son3 ass And I /now it3 And I /nowed he)d come here to hide3 &here else co ld he go3 Native 'oe I made an oath, to yo , to the s"irits3 Made it here, nder s/y, on the land3 ass 5K

9ess m3 Native 'oe :e is my s"irit al 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 m st do this thing> ass I 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 s re I always +een there to do that3 B t I am going to +e there now3 I /now yo , 2oe3 9o ain)t one to stand <tween a $ather and son3 &here is he> '4ative 2oe sighs deepl 3( 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 ;F

I will tell yo 3 3 3 I do not tell yo to re"ay a $a#or 3 3 3 I do this 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 &here is he 3 3 3 Native 'oe 3 3 3 I do this +eca se he is yo r son3 ass &here> Native 'oe :e is " ri#er3 ass %" ri#er3 Native 'oe 9es3 A+o t a mile "ast the old gathering station3 ass !hat old a+andoned army "ost> Native 'oe 9es3 A mile downstream is a miners shed on the north side o$ 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 wo ld +e coming3 ass !hat right> Native 'oe 9es3 ass And he didn)t + dge3 ;A

Native 'oe !he son is the $ather, Bass3 !he son is the $ather3 ass 9ess m3 'Tips his hat3( !ill neCt, 2oe, till neCt3 'Bass e'its3(

A,! !&O.S,616 !&O ;5

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 $or the record3 'Gong Pa se( !he a""licant 3 3 3 +oy that)s yo 3 en Oh, yessir 3 3 3 yessir3 My h 3 3 3 name is 3 3 3 h, Ben 3 33 Ben-amin Ree#es3 &arole Committee Chairman I hear tell that yo ha#e a re"resentati#e that has come to deli#er a statement in de$ense o$ yo r "etition3 en Sir> &arole Committee Chairman Some+ody d n come to s"ea/ " $or ya3 en 9essir, yessir3 &arole Committee Chairman Alright show him in3 '3illespie enters3( !illespie :owdy, :o+son *illes"ie de" ty warden o$ &oodha#en Prison here to s"ea/ on +ehal$ o$ the "etitioners re? est $or early release3 &arole Committee Chairman !he "anel welcomes Mr3 *illes"ie to o r $air town3 :ow was yo r tri"> !illespie 9o wanna /now tr ly> &arole Committee Chairman 1ot really 3 3 3 !illespie 3 3 3 ,a se i$ yo do I ha#e a + nion the si@e o$ melon on my +ig toe and 3 3 3 &arole Committee Chairman ;;

'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 B t 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 $o nd many men I co ld do it $or3 B t this here +oy3 :e deser#es 3 3 3 no, he)s earned a second +ite at the a""le3 !his here +oy is going to waste +ehind +ars3 Far as I can tell, ain)t a hint o$ #iolence in the man3 And as we all /now, d e to the circ mstances o$ his m rder that there ain)t a man ali#e that ain)t wal/ed in those shoes3 It was more or less an accident <tween Ben and the misses3 &arole Committee Chairman &e are tal/ing a+o t m rder Mr3 *illes"ie3 !illespie And I /now it, sir3 B t let)s +e honest here3 &hat man in this room hasn)t had to Iset things rightJ on the home $ront3 2 st in Ben)s case it got o t o$ hand is all3 :e)s sorry, +lee#e yo me3 :e)s sorry3 B t I s)"ose that)s all I ha#e to say 3 3 3 this hear + nion is starting to wa/e " I than/3 &arole Committee Chairman !han/ yo , 0e" ty &arden *illes"ie3 &arole Committee Chairman Prisoner Ree#es wo ld yo li/e to ma/e statement to this here +ody3 A+o t yo r crimes, a+o t i$ yo $eel some /inda re-morse3 en I don)t /now i$ I can add anything more than what the warden said other than, I am sorry $or what I did3 1e#er in the world meant to h rt my wi$e, let alone /ill her3 I reli#e that moment e#ery day and I wish to *od e#eryday that I co ld ta/e it +ac/3 Ma/e her li#e again, ma/e her +e o$ this world again3 B t I can)t3 All I can do is "ray to *od and +e the +est I can till the neCt day roll aro nd3 !han/ ya sir, than/ ya /indly $or listening3 &arole Committee Chairman

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9essir3 So let)s +egin re#iewing yo r case Mr3 Ree#es 9o committed yo r crime on the night o$3 3 3 'The lights fade to black3(

A,! !&O.S,616 !: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

*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 g n3 '5eeps the rifle trained on Bass3( ass And I said I ain)t li/e to go3 en Pa3 '$e puts the gun back on his lap3( ass 9e"3 en !hey sent yo 3 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 $iC this mess is yo 3 en By gi#ing " my li$e3 ass By coming +ac/3 en And dancing at the end o$ the noose3 ass 9o don)t /now that3 en ;H

&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"$ire3 0ate can)t +e made right3 ass Ain)t nothing can)t +e made right3 &asn)t no cold-+looded m rder3 *rowed o t o$ that "assion that a man got $or a woman3 2 dge might - st nderstand that3 B t all and all it don)t really matter, yo got to come +ac/3 *ot to $ace the law3 *ot to stand there and wal/ it li/e a man, no matter the cost3 en 2 st go in and let mysel$ +e - dged> 1o, sir3 1egra don)t stand a ,hinaman)s chance3 ass !aint tr e3 en I did li/e yo told me3 2 st li/e yo told me, "a3 ass Gi/e I told yo > en I ca ght her ste""ing o t on me again3 ass !hat girl was ne#er tr e3 en Ain)t the time $or that 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 !ime en 3 3 3 !ime to tell me that I t rned le$t when I was +est to go right3 ass 2 st saying, Benny 3 3 3 don)t /now that its $air to c rse 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

I listen3 Ben listening since I was a yo ngin, sometimes $eels li/e alls I do is listen3 Seems li/e I don)t do nothing else3 &hen I $o nd o t a+o t that +artender $ella she was r nning aro nd with, I co ldn)t $ace yo again3 Gi/e the last time I ca ght, when yo $o nd o t that I didn)t raise a hand to her, that wasn)t strong li/e yo 3 1ot a man li/e yo 3 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$ yo rs3 I swear it $or a $act yo can gi#e s"eech with a glance3 So I tried to do li/e yo wo ld do, tried to +e a man3 And I raised my hand to her 3 3 3 ass 3 3 3 And it got o t o$ hand3 ass I didn)t tell yo to /ill her3 en I didn)t mean to, it - st ha""ened3 2 st li/e that3 2 st 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 gro nd 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 o t here, yo can)t r n yo whole li$e, gi#e me the g n3 en I can)t ass !hat right> en ,an)t let mysel$ +e " t in no cage3 ass Get)s got nothing to do with it3 en ;B

*on ma/e me go> ass *ot my +lood in yo r #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 en Gong time ago3 ass 1ot so long3 en Gong eno gh3 ass Gi/e to thin/ that I ta ght yo a $ew thangs +ac/ then3 en A thang or two I g ess3 ass !a ght yo to +e a man all those years ago3 !o stand " $or what yo w s3 :and me the g n son3 en 0on)t /now that I)m strong eno gh to deal with this3 en I)m scared3 ass And I /now it3 'Beat( :and me the g n3 'Long% long pause3( en 0on)t matter really, ain)t got no + llets in it3 'Ben slings the gun over at Bass# feet 3( ;K

ass Sho ld ha#e /nowed3 9o w s ne#er "artial to no ri$le or "istola3 ' Ben gets up and wanders to the front of the stage3( en 1o sir3 1e#er +een "artial to m ch3 '$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 2 st tired o$ +e tired I s"ose3 'Long pause3( &hat)s gonna ha""en to me, "a> &here do I go $rom here> 'The lights fade down and a spotlight slowl fades up on Ben 3( ass 1ow yo ha#e to man3 9o ha#e to 3 3 3 &arole Commitee Chairman 3 3 3 Stand ", Mr3 Ree#es 'The light goes black on stage with onl Ben illuminated3( 0es"ite the heino s nat re o$ yo r crime, it is the nanimo s decision o$ this +ody that d e to "risonerLs eCem"lary record, letters o$ s ""ort +y se#eral mem+ers o$ the comm nity 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 ad-o rned3 '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 m ch as littered on the street3 Mo#e to the town o$ %sh nga and +ecame a +ar+er3 In $act one o$ the most s ccess$ l 1egro +ar+ers this side o$ the Mississi""i3 1e#er $orgot tho gh3 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 r n in 'osia :ey, Mr3 Ree#es '"aid as the kid runs b Ben3( en All right yo ngsters slow it down, the scissors ain)t li/e to go /now where3 2osia yo ho" " there in the chair $irst, yo /now yo r st $$ is t $$ as + $$alo hyde3 I)ll getch o t da way $irst3 Is m got dat good hair, nice and $ine we)ll get to him last I s)"ose3 'osia =F

9es sir Mr3 Ree#es3 en &hy yessir, that)s the way the story ended $or me3 All and all, I s)"ose with the mista/es I made a +ody co ldn)t hardly com"lain with the +lessings that done +e +estowed "on3 9o all go on home now3 And don)t $orget3 :airc ts is two $or ? arter on Fridays, tell a $riend3 '$e ambles over to chair where the kid is sitting and throws a drape around his neck. Music begins to pla . And lights fade to black3( FI13

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