PLAY #26

FOREST OF SHACKLES
Written by
Joseph Frost

Draft
8/29/17

written as part of the 2017 31 Plays in 31 Days challenge

FrostJosephD@gmail.com
Member, Dramatists Guild of America
 An abstract forest.

Leaves hang.

Streaks of sunset.

A man in shackles is led in by two other men.

The man in shackles has been beaten.

They stop beneath the single branch.

William takes out a rope.

Daniel holds the man in shackles.

WILLIAM
Hold him.

DANIEL
I am.

WILLIAM
This wont take long.

DANIEL
I dont want to do this.

WILLIAM
You volunteered to come along.

DANIEL
I didnt know this is what was happening.

WILLIAM
You know what he did.

DANIEL
I dont.

WILLIAM
You were there.
 2.

DANIEL
I was there when he was accused. I dont know what he did.

WILLIAM
You calling me a liar?

DANIEL
I only say I dont know.

WILLIAM
Ill say one thing and one thing only. That will never happen again.
(to the Man in Shackles)
Never. You hear me?

DANIEL
You saw it happen.

WILLIAM
I was told.

DANIEL
Youre going to do this and you dont know for sure.

WILLIAM
I know for sure.

DANIEL
You didnt see it.

WILLIAM
Neither did you. And youre here.

DANIEL
I came along to let him go.

William steps up to Daniel.

WILLIAM
You cant stop this from happening.

A long moment.

William backs up and throws the rope up over the branch.

WILLIAM (CONTD)
If you arent gonna help, you can just go.
 3.

DANIEL
Im not going anywhere.

WILLIAM
Then step back.

William takes a step in close to Daniel.

Daniel does not move.

William grabs the Man in Shackles and pulls him away;

toward the rope.

DANIEL
Dont.

William stares down Daniel.

WILLIAM
Thats what I thought. All you got is begging.
(beat)
This man is guilty. And Im about to pass sentence.

William stands the Man upright.

The Man in Shackles headbutts William.

The Man kicks William several times.

WILLIAM (CONTD)
Dont just stand there!

Daniel steps in, and grabs the Man in Shackles by the

hands.

The Man looks at Daniel.

Daniel releases the Man from the shackles.

The Man stares at Daniel.

The Man reaches to Daniels belt and takes his knife.

The Man stabs William. Several times.

William dies.
 4.

The Man stands and stares at Daniel.

Daniel stares back.

DANIEL
Youre free to go. I wont say a thing.

The Man steps toward Daniel with the knife.

Daniel recoils.

The Man turns the knife, and hands it to Daniel, handle

first.

Daniel looks at it. Reaches for it.

The Man tosses it to the ground.

Daniel reaches down for it.

The Man knees Daniel in the face.

Daniel drops.

The Man grabs the rope, picks up Daniel, and puts

Daniels neck in the rope, then ties his hands with the
shackles.

The Man picks up the knife, and steps away from Daniel.

The man stabs the knife into the ground, out of the reach
of Daniel.

The Man exits.

William lays dead.

Daniel struggles with the rope around his neck.

Lights down.

End.