“Brilliant crossing of the Delaware. The play is surprisingly well crafted...” Glenne Currie (United Press International) UPI
“(George Washington) cut a dubious figure. He fell into greatness as if it were a chasm and he has suddenly found a parachute. This making of the hero least likely, Miss Sunde has captured in her play. She has also caught the mood of the revolution... She also exposes the remarkable image of a democracy fighting with men who were bound by nothing... ...a nervous amateur ... becomes the legendary figure...” Clive Barnes NEW YORK POST
“...a fascinating study of George Washington and his Continental Army during the last months of 1776. ...fast-moving account...engrossing...vivid. Sunde's epic drama...a work of considerable power and originality.” Emory Lewis THE RECORD
“Sunde's revealing new drama...a very human, sorely beset leader. Washington doesn't sleep here. The fox is very much awake. Not a monument at all, a towering human being.” Joan T Nourse THE CATHOLIC TRANSCRIPT
“With a voice both poetic and theatrical, Karen Sunde’s plays dramatize historical epochs in epic scope, making hers a distinctive, even unique, contemporary American drama, more akin to European than to other American plays. She tackles topics of war and politics to produce usually presentational, often explosive theatre which many would swear could not have been created by a woman. Flesh and blood passions...People achieving greatly, now and then crippled by arrogance and intolerance, suffering mightily, dazzled by possibilities, devastated by disappointments yet continuing and surviving are what she dramatizes No matter how sweeping the setting and cast, she chooses personal canvases upon which to paint her funny, thrilling, searing, moving scenes, which probe the stuff of which our heroes - and by extension we ourselves - are made. In inquiring about our past, Sunde remarks upon our future. That she does so with a sure histrionic sense is a guarantee that her work will endure in the American theatre after our more commercial fare has proven ephemeral.” Excerpt from "SUNDE" entry pp 643-45; CONTEMPORARY DRAMATISTS
TAGS: George Washington, American Revolution, Crossing the Delaware, Hessian, Revolutionary War, King George, Battle of Trenton, Continental Congress, Thomas Paine, 1776, Durham boats, General Charles Lee, Colonel Johann Rahl, Brigadier General William Alexander “Lord” Stirling, Colonel Joseph Reed, Colonel John Glover, Major General John Sullivan,
PRODUCTION HISTORY
The Running Of The Deer (now titled LIBERTY) was first produced by CSC Repertory at the Abbey Theatre, New York City, on February 2, 1978. The production was directed by Christopher Martin.
LIBERTY
(Formerly known as The Running of the Deer)
By Karen Sunde
Smashwords Edition
Copyright Karen Sunde
For all rights to perform this play, apply to:
130 Barrow St.
Suite 412
New York, NY 10014
212-366-1124
OTHER PLAYS AND SCREENPLAYS by Karen Sunde
Production Notes:
The play is written for a bare stage and a flexible company of approximately twelve men and two women. (With doubling. More may be cast.)
The costumes of all are ragged and dirty, but the foot soldiers must be in various states of extreme decay. More than half without shoes, some without pants, some are bound with strips of rags. They’ve never had uniforms.
The time is fall and winter, 1776.
Characters: (Doubles as needed)
WASHINGTON, General George, 44, tall, Virginian, Commander-In-Chief.
GREENE, Major General Nathaniel, 34, big, foundry owner, Quaker from Rhode Island, halts from knee injury, quartermaster.
REED, Colonel Joseph, 35, lawyer, Pennsylvania, adjutant.
GLOVER, Colonel John, 44, small tough—terrier, owner of fishing fleet, Massachusetts.
STIRLING, Brigadier General William Alexander “Lord”, 50, former surveyor-General, claimant to Scottish title, arthritic, alcoholic, New Jersey.
SULLIVAN, Major General John, 36, lawyer, fire-eater, New Hampshire.
LEE, General Charles, 46, tall, thin, exotically ugly, eccentric, English, brilliant military mind, Second-In-Command.
RAHL, Colonel Johann, 45, Hessian Commandant.
MAC, 30’s, floating functionary, but central. Mac is always there. Middle rank officer (In this army, Captain), all-purpose messenger.
BEN, 14, soldier, Connecticut.
TOM, 40’s, soldier, trapper, Maryland.
ADAM, 30’s, soldier, shoemaker, Connecticut.
SARA, 30’s, cook, Adam’s wife, Connecticut.
POLLY, 17, farmer’s daughter, New Jersey.
JAMES, 20’s, soldier, Ben’s brother, Connecticut.
LANDLADY, 40’s, of White’s Inn.
DRAGOON, 40’s, English.
HONEYMAN, 30’s, butcher, spy, New Jersey
MCKONKEY, 50’ s, tavern-keeper, Pennsylvania.
WOMAN, 40’s, farm woman, New Jersey.
GIRL, Teen’s, farm woman’s daughter.
POLERS
SOLDIERS
Distant bombardment as lights fade to black. Quiet. Dawn lights slowly. Two figures are standing still downstage. They listen and survey area, waiting. Onstage is an overturned cart and two stumps that provide permanent seating. Bombardment in distance.
Washington: It’s begun. They’ll be landing.
(The two begin to move center, stop as they hear distant shouts, getting louder, and clanking, clomping of men on the move. The eery, dissonant screaming swells as one man comes running from upstage loaded down with pack, musket, horn. Greene steps to intercept him.)
Greene: Where to, fellow? Enemy’s yonder.
(The man, yelling, dodges past Greene. Three others enter from the same place, screaming and with faces contorted. All the running and struggles in this sequence may be performed in slowed-down motion. Washington confronts the first man— )
Washington: Turn. (The man hesitates) Turn, bastard.
(The man squeals, lets his gear fly off as he dodges past Washington and off downstage.)
Washington: You bloody sons of bitches, turn, damn you.
(Washington steps to center in the midst of the three who are fleeing. Greene moves to stop them, too, but steps back as Washington begins striking with the flat of his sword and then with his whip. More men enter. Fleeing blindly, they scream, stumble over each other, struggle, letting their gear drop along the way. One falls dead in shadow downstage. Washington strikes at them madly.)
Washington: You goddam bastards, you scrawny pinch-assed bastards, turn and fight.
(They one by one break free and run. Washington raises his arms high, then flings them down.)
Washington: Good god, have I got such troops as these!
(Quiet. Then distant fife and drums: “The British Grenadier.” Washingtqn stands alone on stages. Greene has followed the fleeing men a few steps. Fife and drums louder. British soldiers are seen cautiously advancing from upstage. Washington stands motionless, sword and whip drooping. Greene stands. Staring at British, then at Washington. Reed comes running from downstage, rifle in hand, to Greene.)
Reed: What’s he doing? Christ, what’s he doing! Get him.
(Reed kneels, aiming rifle in direction of British. Greene moves to Washington.)
Greene: General. General, come.
(Washington is staring blankly, head lowered. Greene takes hold of him.)
Greene: Come with me. (They move off slowly)
(Reed holds his position until they are clear, then follows. As the British are fading back upstage, one soldier comes back from the direction he fled. He dashes on, still fleeing, but stops, confused.)
(Another soldier, Tom, appears from upstage, stealthily, carrying rifle. He checks all around before advancing into the clearing, then darts to pick up a musket and a pack, looks about again, then moves quickly to the cart.)
Tom: Christ, who are you?
Ben: (Trying to stop sobbing, but shaking too hard) Aaah, aaah...
Tom: Settle down, boy. Can’t be that bad. Are y’ wounded?
(Ben shakes head “no”. Still smothered noises. Tom sits beside Ben.)
Tom: Well, what y’ bawlin’ fer then? What are y’ doin’ sittin’ here. (Opens pack, rummages, finds peas) Eeeeyi! Some a’ them peas. Want some? Risk breakin’ a tooth. (Eats)
Ben: I got separated... Me n’ Adam was runnin’, then I couldn’t see him. Next I know, I ee my pike over there. (Points) Same’s I dropped. I gotta be lost.
Tom: Yeeah... Y’re so lost y’re about t’ sign up with the bloody-coats. I’ve jest come a-skitterin’ between ‘em. (Cracking his teeth) Christ, they’re hard. Want some? (Ben shakes his head “no”) Better git yer pike. Didn’t y’ have a musket?
Ben: Naw, just the pike from home. Made it m’self outta the yard scythe. Y’ think they’re still comin’ on?
Tom: Yup. Probably. But they seemed t’ be spreadin’ out. We don’t wanta sit here, that’s sure.
Ben: It was just so loud. N’ all of a sudden... Like thunder. I thought m’ head was blown. I jumped for a ditch. All I could think was which part of m’ carcass would be gone first. Then we started runnin’.
Tom: Well, move it some more, soldier. Git yer pike and pick y’self up a musket. They ain’t comin’ back fer ‘em. Then make fer that next cover. (Points at body) I’ll start.
(He moves out carefully, grabs another pack and weapon. Ben runs more quickly, picking up his pike and a musket, reaches cover first, crouches, looks upstage for enemy, looks at mound of cover.)
Ben: (Grunted cry) Aaaaah... God.
Tom: (Coming up to him) Whatsa’ matter now? Can’t you stop...?
Ben: This ain’t no cover, it’s a... Ah... Man. Aaaah (Starts retching)
Tom: Christ. (Looking) His head’s nearly... Christ. Let’s move. C’mon.
(Tom jerks Ben along with him and off downstage. Female voice offstage sings first verse of “Katy Cruel” while in dim light ragged soldiers move on swiftly, stealthily, gathering remainder of scattered weapons, carrying body off.)
Song:
“When I first came to town,
They called me the roving jewel.
Now they’ve changed their tune,
And call me Katy Cruel.
Little lolly day, O the little leo day.”
(Reed and Greene come on together.)
Greene: He’s better then?
Reed: Yes. Mood’s lighter anyway. Can’t say I’m surprised... The idea of making an army out of... (Breaks off) and he never has understood the Yankees.
Greene: (Chuckling. Sitting) First month I was here I couldn’t get one of my Captains to stop shaving his men. Said he was their barber at home. And that was that.
Reed: Lord knows I’m no soldier. But what about all those noisy spouters of death and honor. Look around. You see them now?
Greene: Getting on towards winter, I expect. (Pause) Is Lee up from the Carolinas yet?
Reed: Yes. Sullivan’s to report to him.
Greene: Good. Weird bird. But a sterling soldier. The ranks expect him “as if from heaven” they tell me “with a legion of flaming swordsmen.” (Chuckles. Pause) What about New York? Is he going to let the city go?
Reed: I think so. Congress agreed it would be wise not to get trapped on the peninsula.
Greene: That’s right. It doesn’t... Oh, General, good morning. (Stands)
(Washington has come on. Not quickly.)
Washington: Good morning, General Greene, Joseph. (Looks at papers he holds)
Greene: We were speaking of New York. My opinion is that a general and speedy retreat is absolutely necessary.
Washington: (Pause) Yes.
Greene: And I would burn the city and the suburbs?
Washington: (Pause) Yes.
Greene: Good. There is no reason to leave them a livable scrap. They expect rich winter quarters. We must gut everything.
Reed: “Thee” has come a long way “brother” Nathaniel.
Greene: (Quietly) This is practical. It’s necessary.
Washington: I agree. However, Congress has...resolved...that it should not be destroyed. (Pause) So there is nothing to do but determine when they take possession.
Greene: No. That makes no sense. That’s handing over the second richest city like a... A gift.
Reed: It’s ridiculous. New York is three-quarters Tory as it is.
Washington: I applied to Congress. It was forbidden. Absolutely.
(Silence)
Greene: And Fort Washington?
Washington: They advise holding that...
Greene: I agree.
Washington: ...if possible.
Reed: What’s the point in holding it if we give up the rest of Manhattan?
Greene: Thou dost not see the significance, Joseph, of the combination: Fort Washington on this side, Fort Lee directly across the Hudson. The two combined govern the river.
Reed: The British navy has already sailed between them. Neither the sunken debris, nor cannon fire from both banks was any hindrance.
Greene: (Turning to Washington) Art thou advised of the wholesale mutiny Colonel Hay had on his hands?
Washington: Yes.
Greene: I can report from the Jersey side as well. Morale is scraping bottom. I’m frankly afraid of what another retreat might...
Reed: (Breaking in) To lose those men by foolishly defending an isolated post would be worse than another strain on their morale. There will be time enough to turn and fight when they have reasonable ground to stand on.
Greene: And where will that be? (Pause. There is no answer) Mount Washington is a classic fortress, classic. The rise is 230 feet, sheer cliffs fall both to the Hudson and Harlem rivers with a narrow valley on the land side. What kind of ground dost thou desire?
Reed: And if it’s a siege, what then? (Pause) No bomb-proof trenches, no fuel, latrines primitive. There isn’t even a well in that Fort. And I know your supply boats with flour have already been attacked and taken.
Greene: We hold the entire surrounding area...
Reed: Six regiments of Hessians are perched at Kingsbridge like buzzards.
Greene: (Angry) I cannot conceive that the garrison is in any great danger. The men can be brought off at any time.
(Mac enters, out of breath.)
Mac: Excuse it, Sir.
Washington: Yes, Mac.
Mac: The city, Sir... It’s burning.
(Those seated rise, look at each other. Pause.)
Washington: So. Providence...or some good honest fellow, has done more for us than we were willing to do for ourselves.
Mac: I’d guess... A quarter...is destroyed. Incredible...
Greene: Enough left to supply their purposes. (He turns away)
Mac: A little after midnight, it broke. Wild running and shrieking. Old, sick, children, women... They’d run a ways from the fire, take refuge in other houses, then be driven out again...and again, when the raging flames crept after them, till they’d throw themselves down on the common, exhausted. Despairing. (Pause) The sound of burning and falling houses... Terrifying. I’ve never seen anything so... Tremendous.
(Silence)
Washington: Canotocarius.
Reed: What?
Washington: Canotocarius. Means town-burner. They named me that in my greener days. The Indians. (Pause) No one will ever believe it wasn’t an order.
Reed: It nearly was. (Pause) Was anyone caught?
Mac: Several, yes, and hung by the heels. One stabbed his wife in the arm when she caught him cutting the handles of fire buckets.
Greene: So. There are still some patriots on the island.
Mac: There was one being hanged, though, whose capture was incidental. A Captain Hale.
Washington: (Stonily) Hale...Nathan Hale? That schoolmaster? Odd creature, but so determined. Did he confess?
Mac: Yes, everything. They found drawings on him. Stupid... He just seemed to be wandering.
Washington: We are all amateurs.
Mac: But...he impressed the British.
Washington: Oh?
Mac: They tried to bait him. Refused him a clergyman, refused a bible. He wrote two letters, but they won’t be delivered. But, last words — they give that much even to their axe-murderers; so when they had him blindfolded, on the ladder, noose around his neck, they let him speak. And he said “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”
(Reed and Greene stand silent, but Washington laughs. They look at him.)
Washington: The poor bastard. (Laughs) That’s Addison. It’s from Cato. Act four! I think. “...What pity is it that we can die but once to serve our country.” Only Cato’s not going to die there, he’s pontificating over his son’s body, who really died for loss of love, not country...if they want the truth of it. Christ, the poor bastard. As deluded as the rest of us.
(Pause. Washington looks oddly away from them.)
Mac: May I go then, sir?
Washington: Yes, Mac. You need sleep I expect.
(Mac leaves. Washington still appears distracted.)
Greene: Then about Fort Washington?
Washington: (Pause. Then realizing what has been said— ) I...am inclined to think...it will not be...prudent...to hazard the men and stores.
Reed: I agree.
Washington: But...since you are...on the spot, I will...leave it to you to give...such orders as to...evacuating...as you judge best.
Greene: Thank you.
Washington: You should immediately remove all the stores which are not necessary for your defense.
Greene: Yes, sir. Good morning, General.
(Washington nods. Greene leaves.)
Reed: But that leaves it up to him. He’ll stay there and fight. You can’t...
Washington: (Sharply) Let it go, Joseph. (Pause) It’s the best I can do now.
Reed: Yes, sir. (Turns to go)
Washington: If I were to wish the bitterest curse to an enemy on this side of the grave, I’d put him in my stead with my feelings. I see the impossibility of serving with reputation, and yet I am told that if I quit the command inevitable ruin will follow from the distraction that will ensue. In confidence...I never was in such, an unhappy, divided state since I was born.
Washington: Joseph. (Reed turns back) ...son, I’m sorry. I can’t seem to... (Pause)
Reed: (Gently) I’ll be ready for your correspondence.
(Washington nods. Reed exits. Washington stands alone in single light.)
(Lights change. Washington exits. Wagon is moved upstage, table and chair placed. Lee sits, leg up on table. Lights up. Sullivan enters cautiously, very properly attired. He sees Lee, a slovenly figure devouring a joint. Lee wipes his fingers on his shirt.)
Sullivan: Oh... Beg your pardon. (Starts to leave) Sorry, sir. I’m John Sullivan.
Lee: You didn’t disturb the dogs? (Goes on eating)
Sullivan: Dogs?
Lee: The dogs...out on the stoop. You didn’t rile them?
Sullivan: Oh. No... No, they were quiet when I passed.
Lee: Good. They’ve only just left the table. Ate like popes, the little bastards. (Eats) You’ll be wanting an assignment, I suppose.
Sullivan: Yes, sir, I...
Lee: (Interrupting) How is Howe? (Sniggers) Enjoying the fruits of fair Gotham, now the hungry lion roars, that sort of thing?
Sullivan: I’m afraid...
Lee: Never mind. I know his color. Sit down, will you. Can’t stand twitchers.
Sullivan: (Resolute, not to be bullied anymore, sits) Thank you.
Lee: Too bad about your effort, really. I’ve been preaching peace myself along the way from Carolina.
Sullivan: You, sir?
Lee: Como no! I dropped the word to your...citizens-of-weight, shall we say. Told Congress, in fact, that one or two persons should converse with the Howes about peace terms. But they’re such addle-heads, they stumble with every step. And I don’t mean one or two of the cattle...the whole stable.
Sullivan: They certainly weren’t happy with me, when I came with Howe’s proposal.
Lee: Cattle all. Washington should threaten to resign...menace ‘em with it, if they don’t stop their interference.
Sullivan: I know he’s been hemmed in. They don’t seem to understand the military necessi—
Lee: We should have an army on the Delaware. I roared it in their ears, but...carent auribus.
Sullivan: I can’t see it. Why...?
Lee: It’s as I said when they were constipated over the Declaration: they’d be too timid to take a stand, even if they found their wives in flagrante delicto with General Howe. (Laughs)
Sullivan: But why don’t they listen to you? Your experience...you’ve fought everywhere.
Lee: C’est la vie. Poland... Turkey... Russia...but not necessarily by choice, old man. I finally came back to the great mother. (Spits)
Sullivan: King George..
Lee: Worm. A worm. Promised me advancement. Pah! Here I am, a paltry Lieutenant Colonel on half-pay, the most sniveling...
Sullivan: But Second-in-Command in the American army. We’re honored to have...
Lee: Liberty, liberty’s the cry, dear fellow. Noblest game on earth, couldn’t miss it. Might I but dictate one week... But they’ll never give any man the necessary power. Did none of the Congress ever read the Roman history, I wonder...? (Pause, then rattles off the following catalogue) You...are...a ruthless New Hampshire lawyer cum firebrand patriot; you were delegate to the first and second Congresses where John Adams took you for his own; you outraged your local Tory government by leading raids on the weapon stockpile, but were too popular to be touched; you led a force to Canada where you replaced the dying General Thomas, fought with Arnold, were replaced yourself, returned to Boston and were given command of the forces on Long Island when Greene took sick, were again replaced by that pot-bellied ass Putnam, were captured after a day-long battle on Long Island. (Pause) Anything else?
Sullivan: You amaze me. (Pause) No. You seem to know everything.
Lee: One thing else. You proffered your resignation to Congress after you were replaced in Canada, but Tom Jefferson talked to you and you withdrew it.
Sullivan: True.
Lee: One thing more. Jefferson also advised Congress to accept your resignation. Said your reaction was petty, and you needed your knuckles rapped.
Sullivan: (Stands suddenly) That...I didn’t know.
Lee: And “that” seals you as a man for me: spirited, hard-driving, proud. Entre nous, I’ve never yet had a superior I could respect...not one. All faulty, somehow...inadequate. Washington has held you down, young man.
Sullivan: Yes. It may seem so...
Lee: You’ll not complain so of me. Good night.
Sullivan: Aahm...yes, sir. Shall I...?
Lee: Report in the morning. (Sullivan is leaving) Not before ten.
Sullivan: Yes. Thank you, sir.
Lee: Adieu, adieu. If we meet again, why we shall smile.
(Sullivan nods confused, leaves. Fade to dark. Lee exits. Table, chair removed. BATTLE EXPLODES offstage, distant sound of firing, shouting, music. Two spots will be used, and battle projections on background. Washington stands to watch, perhaps with spy glass. Reed runs up to him.)
Reed: It’s Fort Washington.
(Mac runs on, stations himself center to give reports. Battle noise continues.)
Mac: Artillery fire pouring from every height within range of the Fort. Knyphausen marching from Kingsbridge with his Hessians. British guards joining him to storm the Harlem River. Light infantry move through Mogowan’s Pass to smash the southern outworks. Forty—second Black Watch crossing the Harlem in flatboats. American Colonel at the river is shot, his militia flee their posts. — Hessians led by Colonel Rahl beginning to claw their way up, clinging to bushes and out-jutting rocks. Pennsylvania riflemen firing from above. Three cannon blasting grape and round shot down at them. Still, the Hessians inching their way hand over hand up the sheer cliff, Rahl leading and roaring at them. Nothing stops them, like spiders they climb. Pennsylvania rifle fire dwindling. One after another the long barrels foul. — Americans running for the Fort. The entrance crammed. Some stay outside in a ditch. (Suddenly all noise stops) Quiet now. (Pause) A white flag.
(The “line” — soldiers forming a running line or jogging in place that will represent retreat throughout the first act — staggers on, one by one or two, and collapses, exhausted, during the next speeches, until Greene enters. Mac turns in place and stumbles to Washington, gasping.)
Mac: I got through...and back, sir. Too late, sir. They’ve already surrendered...not to be slaughtered, sir. They tried to hold out, ask for time to consider...the terms, sir. But Rahl knew their trick. He wouldn’t wait...till dark, sir. So it’s done.
Washington: How many?
Mac: Fifty-three. Dead, sir.
Washington: And taken?
Mac: Not quite three...thousand. (Exits)
(Greene finishes the procession by entering, head lowered, stands in the midst of the exhausted soldiers on the ground. He looks at Washington, who looks away to Reed.)
Reed: He withdrew none. He sent in more men.
(Greene, Washington and Reed stand, silent.)
Mac: (From off) Cornwallis has landed. The British have landed at Closter. They’re on the march. They’re coming this way to Fort Lee.
(Washington speaks to Greene. Reed will nod at everything, and echo the orders to run, but with gradually less and less force.)
Washington: It’s an hour since they landed.
Greene: Eleven miles to cover. What can we...?
Washington: Move. Leave the Fort.
Greene: It’ll take hours to load, four or five.
Washington: There’s no time. Leave the stores, move the men, now, to the bridge.
Greene: (Giving order) Move. Now. Move as fast as thou canst for Hackensack Bridge.
(Soldiers begin to rouse. Their lines are simultaneous with the officers as they get up in an unwinding circle from places where they’d collapsed, and run in place as a scattered bunch. A couple straggle off to drink and are left behind.)
Tom: What’s that?
Adam: Up and at it. We’re retreatin’ again.
Tom: Now. They said now. Leave everything.
4th Soldier: Hell with that. I’m gettin’ a drink.
Washington: (His cue was Greene’s “Hackensack Bridge.”) Run, run for the bridge. Stop for nothing. Just run.
Greene and Reed: (Beside the line) Run.
Soldiers: (Echoes down the line) Run.
Washington: Faster, run faster!
Greene and Reed: Faster, faster.
Soldiers: (Down the line) Faster, faster!
(Reed drops away from the line as running continues and accousts Mac, who has come running fast around the outside.)
Reed: Fellow, hey. Can you take a message for me? It’s urgent.
Mac: Yessir, all right.
Reed: (Searching himself) Have you got anything to write on? I know I’ve got a pencil...here. (Finds one)
Mac: I’ve got this. (Scrap of brown paper) Not fancy, but...
Reed: (Grabs it, furiously writes) “We are flying before the British. I pray— ” Damn. Broke the pencil. Damn. Listen, take this to General Charles Lee.
(Bridge in sight. Soldiers running at top speed.)
Reed: And tell him... Tell him I beg him to push and join us. Can you do that?
Mac: Yes, sir. Think so. To push and join you.
(First men are across bridge, stumble to a collapse. Others follow, taking positions for camp scene.)
Reed: Yes, yes. And I am Reed. Joseph Reed. Adjutant to...General Washington. Hurry!
(Mac exits. Reed looks at camp. Turns away and exits.)
Ben: Did y’ get a look at his rifle, Adam. It’s one a them long barrels.
Adam: Is it true that’ll nail a deer at one hundred yards?
Tom: Yup. Or a rabbit. Straight as a arrow, too.
Adam: Really. As good as a bow?
Tom: Eeeyup.
Ben: Hell’s sight better n’ these muskets. Y’point at a bird there, n’y’might hit it, or y’might hit the fence post over there. Y’might even hit both of ‘em at once, but there’s no aimin’ in it, none atall.
Adam: What d’you know about it, little Ben, y’haven’t even fired one yet. Didn’t y’ever find none a your company, Tom?
Tom: Nope. General Stirlin’, he finally surrendered...after we’d charged four-five times.
Ben: Your long rifle didn’t help y’outta that.
Tom: Naw. Damn things ain’t worth shit close up. The bloody’s don’t give it a wait while y’set down t’reload. But surrenderin’...I jest couldn’t make that. Them prison ships they got floatin’ in New York harbor, I heard even the rats is dyin’ offa them. Gettin’ dysentary, smallpox, n’starvation right along with us soldiers. I figgered I’d rather die in the open. I run down inta this grove where a lotta Sullivan’s men had got caught — makin’ fer the creek, t’swim it. The Hessians had come in after ‘em, so they’d turned n’offered ta surrender. Some of ‘em was kneelin’ with their hands raised. Them Hessies was stabbin’ ‘em anyway. Right while they was shoutin’ “mercy, surrender.” Guess, they should a shouted in German. I saw one fella skewered right to a tree. (Pause. They are tense, looking at him) I slunk down like dead, till the noise stopped. The fella stuck ta the tree screamed a long time. Then I snuck back through the lines at night.
(Silence)
Adam: That’s a spell ago...Long Island. I heard Stirling’s traded back, along with Sullivan.
Tom: I hope so. But I ain’t seen him. None a’ the others neither.
Ben: They don’t trade back the men.
(A woman has come on, looking around the camp. She carries a bundle.)
Adam: (Rising, joyful) Sara! (She sees them, moves to them) Oh, Sara. (As he embraces her) Where’d y’get to. I been so worried. Is the baby better? Did y’find a doctor? Sara, Sara. (Still embracing her, realizes she is still. Stops. Looks at her. She looks at him steadily.) Where’s the baby, Sara? Where’s Timothy?
Sara: (Pause. Speaks hoarsely. Opens arms to reveal bundle) Brought you shoes. Here. (Adam takes bundle without looking at it)
Ben: Hiiiyah! Good shoes.
Adam: (Pause) Where, Sara?
Sara: Not here...not... (She clutches her breasts, drops to knees, shakes in quiet sobs)
Adam: Oh, god, no. (Shouts) No! (Drops shoes, stoops to hold her, rocks her)
Tom: Damn. That’s luck.
Ben: (Picking up shoes, speaks almost to himself) He didn’t want her t’come at all. But they ain’t got a farm. Got a shop, which ain’t no good without a shoemaker. She coulda run a farm...same’s my sister. But they got a shop, so she come along.
(Sara and Adam get up and walk off, holding each other.)
Ben: While back she dried up...all the runnin’ behind, bad food. So they were always on the hunt for milk. Sure was nice t’see that baby, play with... He took sick bout a week back.
Tom: Time enough. It’ll be all right. Plenty a babies die. (Exits)
Ben: Yeeah...yeeah, I know...be all right. (Exits to catch Tom)
(Reed bursts on. He is sweaty, dirty, out of breath. Lee enters, not expecting Reed. Soldiers bring on table, chair, brandy, glasses.)
Reed: Excuse me, sir.
Lee: ‘od’s life! What...?
Reed: Excuse me. Been all night riding. Joseph Reed, Adjutant to...
Lee: Ahaaa... (Moves to table, sits) The first little bunny.
Reed: Pardon, sir, but I don’t...
Lee: Wait. Stop. (Pause) Breathe before speaking. Improves tone tremendously, breath does. And sit down, for god’s sake. Brandy?
Reed: (Collapsing into a chair) Thank you.
Lee: (Pouring) Odd communication turned up in my packet... “flying before British I pray.” Scrap of wrapping paper?
Reed: Yes. Sorry, sir...
Lee: As desperate as all that.
Reed: I’m afraid so. We’d just settled into Fort Lee after the battle across the river when word came that...
Lee: Grouse all right?
Reed: What?
Lee: For dinner. Does grouse appeal to you? After righteousness and so forth.
Reed: Oh. Yes. Fine.
Lee: More brandy?
Reed: Thank you. (Pushes his glass forward. He is beginning to relax.)
Lee: That’s it. Blood in the face. Racing pulse. No need for it. Confuses the cerebellum. But...Fort Washington was...unfortunate.
Reed: Disaster. A complete disaster. Besides the men we lost 150 cannon.
Lee: Tch, tch, tch. Should have listened to me.
Reed: 3000 muskets, 400,000 rounds of ammunition...
Lee: Washington. Heaven witness it, my last words to him were “Draw off the garrison or they will be lost.”
Reed: I begged him to get out.
Lee: Sheep in a pen.
Reed: And he knew it himself.
Lee: Catastrophic disaster.
Reed: He just couldn’t...
Lee: What?
Reed: Seem to...gather his strength. (Shakes his head helplessly. Lee fills his glass.) I don’t think he’s recovered from Kips Bay.
Lee: Recovered. The bombardment?
Reed: No...no, it was him. He and Greene had come on our men...all running away. They tried to turn them, get them to stand and fight. He screamed. Thrashed at them wildly. But they still ran, dropping everything — clothes, food, weapons — everything, as precious to us as so many jewels, spread on the field. Then, when they were all gone, he just stood there, still, staring. It was as though they’d taken his will — his spirit — with them, away. The British and Hessians were advancing. He could see them; still he didn’t move. It crossed my mind that he must intend to stand alone, to fight them alone, in the middle of that bare field. They advanced carefully, expecting, I suppose, a trap. I ran up to him, shouting...something... For him to save himself, I guess.
Or maybe I didn’t shout. The enemy was so close. But every nerve I had was screaming, I remember that. He was like stone. A soulless corpse. Greene took hold of him and pulled him away. (Pause) I think he was seeking death. (Silence. Sullivan has entered, a dispatch in hand, and stood in background) You must join him. We need...
Lee: Ah, Sullivan, lad. Here’s an old camp-mate of yours. The first bunny, yes?
(Reed and Sullivan shake hands.)
Reed: I don’t...
Sullivan: The General likes a jest. I’ve told him you’re close to Washington.
Lee: Gave you the adjutantship to get you back, what?
(Both Sullivan and Reed are embarrassed.)
Reed: What’s true in that is that I haven’t a taste for soldiering.
Sullivan: Are they still in retreat?
Reed: Yes. I left them at Brunswick. But Cornwallis was closing at a brisk rate.
Sullivan: (Turning to Lee) I expect we’ll be breaking camp ourselves soon. (Handing dispatch to Lee) We’ve had our second order from Washington.
Lee: (Looking from the dispatch to Reed) Then you...carry no dispatch?
Reed: No. (Pause) I’ve come on my own. Privately.
Lee: (To Sullivan, meaning Reed) Leapt the hutch. (Reads dispatch) Order. What order? We’ve had no order. Read more carefully, my lamb. The art of finesse, Sullivan. Apply yourself to it. Never make an officer while you persist in marking out your universe in blacks and whites. So very crude.... The big farmer is anxious.
Sullivan: He wants you to join him in New Jersey. He urges...
Lee: Aha! There you are. “Urges” is no order. (Hands dispatch back to Sullivan) “Urges” is a request. As between gentlemen, you see...
Sullivan: I see.
Reed: But with so many captured, he needs you and your men now.
Lee: To what end pray? To play at the three-legged race-down-Jersey, dropping as many more by the way. Just how many of those fleabags do you think will stick?
(Pause. Stand off. Lee suddenly falls from his stern contemptuousness to giggling laughter) Ah, but let’s not get ruffled, my chickens. You must allow me, after all, the wisdom of my command.
Reed: I’m sorry, sir. You seem to me our only hope.
Lee: Ah, yes... (To Sullivan) Over the fence and out. Poor little bunny... Yes, well, I do not judge...no, it does not seem to me...in my seasoned opinion, that undue haste is called for. No. My men are exhausted. Supplies low, clothing threadbare. Better to rest us here for a mite, and watch the flow...of things. I am myself, you see, in need of reinforcements. What is today’s word from the groundhog Heath?
Sullivan: He says that you may come when you please, but his troops do not move.
Reed: Heath?
Lee: Yes. How do you like that for rascally insubordination?
Reed: But Heath is covering the northern passes above Manhattan. His post is vital to...
Lee: Yes, well, I think he can spare a few thousand troops to the second-in-command, don’t you? I can’t be expected to venture into Jersey ill-accompanied, n’est pas?
Reed: (Pause) What does Heath say?
Sullivan: That he is in possession of direct orders from Washington to the contrary and will not...
Lee: (Interrupting angrily) We’ll break camp in the morning, Sullivan. Call on that half-baked partridge, and let him brave me beak to beak. (Suddenly cooing, relaxed) Never fear little bunny. We’ll swoop to the rescue in no time at all. Things fall. No need to rush... (Exits)
(Sullivan looks at Reed, pours himself a drink, offers to refill Reed’s)
Sullivan: Adjutant?
Reed: No. No, I’m away again. I have other...business. (Exits)
(Sullivan raises glass as if to Reed, drinks. Lights fade. He exits.)
(As lights come up Tom, Ben and Adam run on, battle-ready, for raid on farmhouse. Tom advances to “door”, shouts, pounds his rifle on stage floor. Ben and Adam cover him.)
Tom: Aw right, ever’body up. You’re not asleep. Ever’body up. The Continental Army’s here. (Sniggers from other two) Door’s broken. Maybe somebody’s got here before us. Goin’ in?
Adam: Careful, Tom.
(Tom moves in carefully. The others crouch, waiting. He reappears.)
Tom: Place is a wreck. Nobody’s here. C’mon. (Ben moves in after Tom)
Ben: (Off. He whoops) Eeeyow!
Adam: (He is searching onstage area) What cha got?
Ben: (Off) A blanket, a blanket!
Tom: (Off) Some corn out here. ‘Ats about all.
Adam: (Rummaging in a pile by the cart) There’s a pile out here. Out here! (Uncovers a foot and leg) What. (Hesitantly reaches for it) Hah. Warm. (Pulls away covering, revealing Polly) Ahaaa. Look what’s here. A real live one.
(Polly scrambles to center stage. Adam laughs and hoots. Others come on boistrously, Tom with sack of corn, Ben with blanket. They hoot when they see Polly.)
Tom: Well, by damn, ain’t that somethin’. Lookit, little Ben. Here’s one for ya.
Ben: Jesus. What’s she doin’ there?
(Laughing, they surround, but do not touch her.)
Polly: (Roughly) Aw right. Go ahead. But don’t hit me. Don’t hurt me. (She lies back, legs spread)
(They stop laughing. Look at each other.)
Tom: Weeell. Can’t say as I remember quite such a in—vi-ta-tion, can you Ben? Your papa know yer out, Missy?
Ben: What’s she doin’? Why’s she doin’ that.
Adam: How old are you, girl?
Polly: Aren’t you gonna...aren’t you... (Looks at them, then curls into ball as though to hide again.)
Tom: Don’t think so. Thank y’anyway. T’night anyway.
Adam: How old are you?
Polly: Seventeen. (Tries to get past them into the house)
Adam: Ain’t you got any shame. Where’s your folks...? They dead?
Polly: No. Not dead. They’re well.
Adam: Then what in the devil are y’doin’? Where are they. This your house?
Polly: (Sullen. She gives up trying to avoid them) In town. We all went to stay at the Jensen’s after...after the British. But I couldn’t...stay.
Adam: Why?
Polly: My sister...my sister’s only twelve... She’s all right now. Doesn’t really understand what...happened to her. (Pause. She suddenly runs to Adam and grabs him) Can I go with you? Let me go with you.
Adam: What?
Tom: (Moves to release her from Adam) Come on, Missy. We’ll take you to your folks.
Polly: (As soon as he touches her she clings to Tom) Polly. Polly’s my name. I’ll go with you. I’ll be good. Take me.
Tom: (As he tries to stop her clinging) Now, there.
Polly: Don’t...don’t. I can’t go back there. I can’t...
Ben: (Timidly) They beat you?
Polly (Suddenly listless, lets go of Tom, sinks to ground) No. No, they’re good to me. So good. But when they look at me now, they look...I see their...thoughts. I can’t.
Tom: Haven’t you got a young man...Polly?
Polly: (Nods her head “yes”) He’s away. At the war. But it’s spoiled with him too. I know. The way they look.
Tom: We’ll take you home, Polly. (Takes her arm)
Polly: No. (Shouting, twists loose and runs away) No. I’ll follow you.
(She disappears. They look after her and at each other)
Tom: Well. Guess we can’t help that.
(They shoulder blankets, bag of corn. Other soldiers are filtering on, establishing stage as camp area. Polly re-enters and moves among them wonderingly. Mac moves to center with paper to read. He is efficient, breezy.)
Mac: Attention please, attention. (Men gather. Adam is sick. Mac reads— )
“General Howe is offering a free pardon and a secure enjoyment of their liberties and properties to all who will within sixty days renounce the cause of independence, claim the benefits of this offer, and declare their full loyalty to the crown, and their obedience to the law by subscribing a declaration of this submission to the constitutional authority and supremacy of Great Britain.”
(Mixed talk, some jeers. Mac crumples the paper and tosses it. Washington strides on, Greene following. 4th Soldier picks up crumpled paper.)
Greene: Then we can expect Lee before the week is out?
Washington: He writes that he’s received my orders and “shall endeavor to put em in execution”. Hell! “Endeavor.” Damn certain he’s received my orders. What’s in it to endeavor? He calls the order to march and he marches here.
Mac: (Interrupting) The British are moving from Newark. They’ll cross the Raritan soon. Don’t stop to destroy the bridge; we’ll be caught. Just move.
(Line forms. Greene joins it. Men are ragged, dragging, hungry.)
Ben: Hey, where y’goin’?
4th Soldier: (Waving paper) The British promise peace, liberty, and safety. What else do I want? (Leaves)
Ben: Food. That’s what. They ain’t promised that neither.
(Washington calls Glover to him, and Glover joins him. They may be on the march.)
Washington: (Calling) Glover!
Glover: (Coming to him) Yes, sir.
Washington: How are your men doing?
Glover: (Perhaps on the march. They do not look at each other.) All right.
Washington: All right. Good.
Glover: They’re wond’ring why they’re headed this way.
Washington: Oh?
Glover: Yup. This way’s taking em off track from home. Their duty’s up next week.
Washington: (Pause) I see.
(Silence)
Washington: I wanted to thank you for your service at Fort Washington, Glover. (Pause) You know we couldn’t have gotten off even the few we did without it.
Glover: (Grunts)
Washington: There’s more work ahead.
(Glover looks at Washington)
Washington: Know the Delaware, Glover?
Glover: (Looks away. Ironic) Know of it.
Washington: It’ll be coming up before another day’s out. I’ve got to get across it. (Pause) With everyone.
Glover: Nope.
Washington: Why not?
Glover: Two thousand men. No fleet.
Washington: I’ve ordered a collection of...
Glover: River’s swift flowing, winter cold. Take a week. Even with twenty scows.
Washington: I figure we’ll have nine hours with luck.
Glover: Can’t be done.
Washington: (Pause) Have you ever been to Riegelsville, Glover?
Glover: What’s that, Jersey?
Washington: No. Pennsylvania. Mining town. Backwoods. They get up a lot of ore there. Take it down river to Durham. Smelt and cast at Durham. Then it goes on down to Philadelphia. I watched them unloading there, at Philadelphia, when the first Congress was meeting. (Pause) I’d say...those Durham boats must be twenty yards long.
Glover: (Pause. He looks up.) Twenty...yards?
Washington: And three yards across.
Glover: Yards?
Washington: A rough estimate. They’re monsters.
Glover: (Pause) What’ll they hold?
Washington: Oh...fifteen ton...dead weight...before they draw thirty inches.
Glover: (Pause) They might take forty-fifty men at a crack...if...
Washington: I sent a reconnoitering party day before yesterday. They should be able to bring in several dozen.
Glover: (Staring at him) Well?
Washington: They’ll have to be poled, you know. Can your men pole?
Glover: There’s nothin’ done on water my men can’t do.
Washington: Good. Get on ahead. See to it. (Glover moves off)
Mac: (Coming up beside him) General Washington, sir.
Washington: Well, sir.
Mac: Just got word, sir. Howe has joined Cornwallis. They’ve marched out of Brunswick, sir. Coming down hard on Princeton.
Washington; (Roaring) Greene!
Greene: (Coming up) General?
Washington: Take a party to the river, Greene. Thirty miles up and thirty down. Collect all water craft efficient for transporting our men across.
Greene: Yes, sir. And funds?
Washington: Take what’s left of the quarter-master fund. But don’t over-pay.
(Pause. Greene shifts uneasily)
Washington: Goddamit then, don’t pay. But get them.
Greene: Yes, sir. (Begins to leave)
Washington: Greene.
Greene: General.
Washington: Take axes with you.
Greene: Axes?
Washington: Every craft you don’t bring, however small, destroy it. (Greene looks at him) Destroy them. Make kindling piles. Every one of them. (Pause) Get to it.
(Greene exits. During next speeches the “line” gradually slows and stops and settles as though waiting for the next move. Men are exhausted, starving.)
Soldier: (Coming up to Washington) A letter for Adjutant Reed from General Lee.
Washington: Ah, Lee. It may be what I’m waiting for. Wait please. (As he opens it) May have an answer for him. “Your most obliging...” No, this isn’t for m... (Pause. The line has stopped behind him, as he reads— ) “I lament with you that fatal indecision of mind which in war is a much greater disqualification than stupidity, or even want of personal courage.” (Pause) “Eternal defeat and miscarriage must attend the man of the best parts if cursed with indecision.” (There is more of the letter but he stops limply. His hand drops. After a pause he glances at the soldier waiting.) This letter must go on to Adjutant Reed, for whom it is intended. (Refolding it) Nothing to Lee after all. (Handing it to soldier) Joseph Reed, Philadelphia.
Mac: (Announcing) The British are moving out from Princeton, hard towards Trenton. They’ll be here within the hour.
Washington: (Roars) Form for crossing. Glover!
Glover: (Coming up) All ready. Move ‘em down to load.
Mac: Move down the bank. Single file. Step smart.
(Soldiers move as at river’s edge, down the bank and eventually off. They are dragging, dulled.)
Ben: Where, now? I can’t. Too hungry. Where we goin’?
Tom: (Supporting Adam who is too weak to walk) Follow the man ahead. Straight for that water. C’mon Adam, easy. We’ll get y’bedded down soon.
Adam: (Mumbling) Have y’seen Sara? She mustn’t know. Mustn’t get this...fever...
Tom: She’ll be back with the women. Here we go. Christ, what I wouldn’t do for a hunk a bread, even wormy bread. Watch it, Ben.
(Loading commands come simultaneously with dialogue from off (downstage): “All right. Easy down. Step in, move forward, fill from the center, keep low.” (As soon as first soldiers are off, singing begins off and continues under scene. Men’s voices. Third verse and chorus of “Katy Cruel.”)
Singing:
“Through the woods I’ll go,
Through the bog and mire,
Straightway down the road,
Till I come to my heart’s desire.
Little lolly day, o the little leo day.
O that I were where I would be,
Then would I be where I am not,
But I am where I must be,
Where I would be, I cannot.
Little lolly day, o the little leo day.”
Ben: Lookit that. It’s movin’ too fast...I’ll get sick.
Tom: C’mon, move it, baby boy.
Ben: My god, lookit them boats.
Tom: Big bastards, ain’t they. C’mon little Ben. (Passing him) Stay here’n the Hessy’s’ll eat fried Yankee tail t’night. (They exit downstage)
(More commands from off as lights darken, maybe fog.) “Polers ready. Push off. Steady. Keep low.” (Silence.)
(Washington enters bare stage and looks out over river. Silence. Soldiers reappear and drag themselves up bank as Stirling comes on quickly and plays scene with Washington. He speaks with a fine Scottish brogue)
(First comes Tom, nearly dragging Adam, who is delirious. Tom looks warily around. They are hideous, frightening. Eyes bulge bright from ragged, filthy faces. Clothes are worn to nothing except for Adam’s shoes. They are conscious not of pain or even really of their exhaustion, only of the compulsion to sleep and the devil hunger. When Tom and Adam have gained the ridge, Adam mumbling incoherently, Ben comes up behind by himself.)
Stirling: Howe in sight, sir. Coming on with about eight thousand.
Washington: Where?
Stirling: Into Trenton. On our heels.
Washington: By God! Are we all across?
Stirling: The last of our lads were about to embark when they were sighted.
(They walk upstage, waiting, during next scene.)
Ben: Oh god...now... (Falls, stretched, to ground downstage)
Tom: (Looking at him) Not here... Too...wet. (Adam is sagging onto the ground. Tom lets him down, downstage center)
Adam: I’ll stay...be better...morning. (Shouts) Tell. (Mumbles) Don’t tell. Don’t take me...there.
Tom: Ben, get up. It’s too wet...too cold here. Got to...have fire, food...
Adam: Sleep. Just sleep...
(Tom tries to drag Adam to his feet. Hasn’t strength himself. Sits looking at Ben and Adam.)
Tom: Food... (Mouth moves. Starts scraping about him.)
Adam: Hot. It’s burning so... (Screams, but faintly) Sara. (Sings) Sara...
(Tom attacks Adam and searches him. Adam mumbles.)
Adam: That’s very good...tulips...blooming, nice baby... Red, yellow, pink, pink...pink.
Tom: (Finishing search) Nothing. (Sits dazed)
(Greene and Glover stride on together. Table and chair are brought on by soldiers.)
Washington: (Starting) Glover. All across?
Glover: All across.
Washington: Thank god. Stirling reports that Howe is moving into Trenton.
Glover: Yup. Could hear the bagpipes squallin’ two hills n’eighty rods of water away. Nasty, whinin’.
Stirling: Now y’mustna be objectin’ t’ the sound, laddy, tis sweet enow in its time n’ place.
Glover: It’s a foul squawk if ever I heard n’.
Washington: Eight thousand more. And how many are we — filthy, dripping... (Pause) Stirling. (Sinks into chair. Speaks quietly, deliberately) I want you to ride up river to Coryell’s ferry. Choose a ferryman you think you can trust and take a guard to be sure you can. Have them take you across. (Pause) Then. You’ve got all of New Jersey. I want you to find Lee. (Others look at him and then each other) And I don’t know where the hell to tell you to look. My last communication was from near Morristown, and he was thinking he might attack new Brunswick. Find him and put yourself in his service. (Stirling starts forward) Put yourself in his service. You know our situation here. The two of you are to confer and decide how to proceed against the enemy in Jersey. I will await communication from you, and dispose my troops here accordingly. (Pause. Stirling gazes at him, the other two avoid looking) Go now. Pick up five days rations. And go.
(Stirling comes to attention, salutes, and exits. Silence.)
Washington: Well, Nathaniel, how many do you think we’ve got left?
Greene: There’s no knowing, now, until we take a count.
(Mac enters)
Washington: Yes, Mac.
Mac: Excuse it, sir. Adjutant Reed has been sighted.
Washington: (Pause) Thank you. (Mac exits) Glover. Take a party twenty miles up and down. Secure every man with a boat. Bring them in. Secure their boats too. (Pause) I’ll issue camp orders at ten. That’s all.
(Glover and Greene exit. Washington collapses forward onto table, head in arms. Silence. Tom takes blanket off himself and covers Adam. Reed enters. Washington sits up, goes to Reed.)
Washington: Joey, Joey. You’re in time for the Christmas ball. We’re going to hold it out there on the common. How did you find Philadelphia? Out-cheers New York at this point in the game, I expect. A drink? (Pouring)
Reed: (Pause) Thank you. (Pause) I have...dispatches for you from Congress.
Washington: Good. (They drink) Last word before taking flight, eh. What would you say is the panic level there? (Reed is looking at him) How is your dear wife. (Pause) I’ve...been...put to without you here. Afraid you’ll find your department an undisciplined mess. What do you think...?
Reed: General. (Pause) About Lee?
Washington: Yes. Guess what that pop’n’jay says now. He thinks he’ll hang back and harass their rear at Morristown. Hah. And me sitting here with thirteen and a half pox-ridden water rats to hold their front.
Reed: I want to talk to you about the letter.
Washington: No need, no need. It’s past.
Reed: But I want you to know...
Washington: I understand. Quite right, in fact, I agree with the both of you. Now if I... (Reed turns away) ...can just get the rascal to trot his three thousand well-scrubbed lads over here.
Reed: (Back still turned) Order him. (Pause) There’s your release. (Pulling out dispatch and coming to give it to him) Order him.
Washington: (Looks at Reed. Reads dispatch quickly under his breath) “Until the Congress shall otherwise order, General Washington shall be possessed of full power to order and direct all thing relative to the department and the operations of war.” (Pause) Full power.
Reed: Yes. Will you order him?
Washington: (Pause. Sits) I’ve sent Stirling to find Lee. The two of them will work out a plan of attack.
Reed: That puts Lee in command. The bulk of the troops under him.
Washington: He is best suited.
Reed: He is assassinating you.
Washington: If he is the better tactician, he must direct now. We haven’t an inch left for error. If he wins...
Reed: If he wins, the cause loses. (Pause) Why doesn’t he join you. (Pause) Don’t you know what he intends?
Washington: Lee’s experience and skill...
Reed: Yes, fine, skill is one thing, but treachery another. Lee may win a battle, may even be able to take back New Jersey, but he will certainly crucify you in the process and put himself in your place. And one treachery will lead to another. You may sometimes waver, but your submission of military force to the civil will has never, God knows, been in question...
Washington: (Interrupts him laughing ironically, gradually stops) No. No question about my submissiveness. Damn my blessed submissiveness. My angelic willingness to court and heed the council of everybody — anybody else. (Pause) My saintly submissiveness is nothing but gut-sucking cowardice.
Reed: General...
Washington: I’m afraid to act. Afraid to make a single puking decision. And my particular, my personal, my precious fear of decisions has driven and beaten and shamed us from Long Island, out of New York, all down the length of New Jersey and across this Delaware River on whose bank we stand poised: a naked, rot-eaten corpse — ready to yield the path to the city that pretended for one silly half year to be a capital, just as we have pretended to be an army. (Pause) Of course. I know Lee’s after my neck. And I know his ideas on armies versus governments are as filthy as his linen, but I also know he’s a soldier who isn’t ashamed and isn’t afraid to act and I think I can damn well put my neck on the block to get us that. (Punch gone, his eyes shift away from Reed. Reed doesn’t move in the pause.)
Reed: There’s more.
Washington: (Pause. Looks at Reed. Looks away.) Yes. There’s more. My willingness to be destroyed by him is a bit too sick to be saintly, isn’t it? (Laughs shortly) Yes...there’s more. He...hangs there, Joey. Hangs there, for all the world like an evil demon, like my personal evil demon. And I can’t shake him. Because it’s not even his fault. It’s me. (Pause. Washington gets up, moves about, begins talking without looking at Reed, who is motionless.) Do you know much about The Seven Years’ War, Joey?
Reed: I was a child. My father...
Washington: No, but haven’t you heard stories?
Reed: Stories?
Washington: Gossip. About me?
Reed: (Pause) I don’t know...maybe. Some vague things...
Washington: I started it, Joey. The war. Me.
Reed: What?
Washington: (Halting, painfully) No exaggeration. I started it. And I had no orders. (Pause) I attacked without orders. Attacked mercilessly, ignored their...protests...in French. (Pause) Diplomats. They were diplomats. Come to work out an agreement. And I was an...assassin. (Pause) Heard that, haven’t you. Assassin. Propagandists had a heyday. And there was more, still more juice... (Laughs. Speaks quickly now) At the next encounter they could have wiped us out. Entirely. I’d built a puny structure in a clearing — so pitiful the Indians named it “that little thing” and immediately deserted. I named it Fort Necessity. As it turned out we could be hit at every spot in it. And were. Fort Necessity was a mass of blood and writhing bodies within twenty minutes of attack. Yet it was them, the French, who asked for a truce. I couldn’t understand it. They sent a paper of articles; Van Braum translated, I signed it, and we dragged our wounded away unimpeded: crushed, defeated, but not slaughtered. Except me. They’d slaughtered me altogether and I was still too ass before eyeball to know it...until...they published our little truce. Precisely translated, it declared to the world that the French, of course, wanted to exist peacefully and only needed reparation for the late acts of assassination perpetrated by Colonel Washington — which they now deemed, in defeating Colonel Washington, they had. And it was signed. By me. (Silence)
Reed: They’d tricked you then.
Washington: Yes. I thought I’d lost a battle. I didn’t know I’d lost my...reputation... entirely. Entirely. And with it the honor of the English cause. (Pause) Ass-headed punk. Reckless, gross stupidity. Going to be a famous warrior. (Pause) Lee knows. He was there, later, with Braddock. He’s waiting to see me fry myself again. He’s the clever soldier and I’m the stupid farmer. I can’t face him down, Joey. I was that dishonored brat and I’ve got this crazy fear that...if I challenge him now, I’ll be there again. Shamed, exposed, ridiculed. (Pause) I’m afraid of humiliation, Joey.
Reed: (Pause) It’s not rational.
Washington: Of course not. It’s a demon in my mind; if it were rational...well, then, maybe I could...
Reed: If you understand it, you can handle it. General, we need...
Washington: (Interrupting) You are...of a new mind then.
Reed: Yes. And you please must let me explain about the let—
Washington: How thoughtless of me. You’ll be wanting to settle yourself here. I think... the gold room should suit you. Splendid tapestries.
Reed: I have my tent in tow, sir.
Washington: Fortunate. You can see the scramble we’re in. Must have abandoned three hundred tents in the run to cross the Hackensack.
Reed: Yes. (Pause) I’ll get to it then. (Exits)
Washington: Fine, son. You’ll join us at supper. They tell me there may be...(Realizes Reed is gone) ...a bone for the soup.
(Washington alone. Sara appears, stumbling, searching among the sleeping soldiers.)
Sara: Tom...it’s Tom, it’s Tom.
Tom: (Struggling weakly) Leave me be. Haven’t got any...no food...anywhere...
Sara: Tom. Wake up. Where is he? Where’s... (She sees Adam, cries out as she goes for him) No! (Her cry rouses Tom)
Tom: No, Sara.
Sara: (Falls on Adam) Oh, Adam, Adam.
Tom: (Moving to pull her off) Sara, y’mustn’t. (She fights him) Sara, he’s got pox.
Sara: (She stops struggling, is still; then begins moaning) No...no...
(Tom pulls Sara away. She is limp. He cradles her. Mac enters.)
Washington: (Looking up slowly) Yes, Mac.
Mac: Excuse it, sir. Thought this might be important. A fellow rode in from Easton, up river. He says it’s freezing up there. He says if this weather holds, they expect it’ll freeze clear across the river. In a week, he says, it’ll be able to hold a man and wagon.
Washington: Thank you, Mac. You did right...it’s important.
Mac: Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. (Exits)
(Tom and Sara slide to sleep holding each other. Single light on Washington. Silence.)
Washington: Oh, Sally...Sally, Sally, is England so close. (Pause) Simple, let life be simple. It’s too heavy. God...help me.
(Light slowly goes to black as female voice offstage sings second verse of “Katy Cruel.”)
Singing:
“I know who I love,
And I know who does love me.
I know where I’m goin’,
And I know who’ll go with me.
Little lolly day, o the little leo day.”
END OF ACT I
Lee, erotically plying a not unwilling Landlady on a bed downstage. He is only partially dressed. Table and chair are as Washington left them. A bench, seating for two, has been added upstage of the table. Sullivan enters. Landlady sees him first, has some sense of composing herself; may pull dress down or blouse up. She has difficulty un-rousing Lee.
Landlady: General...here’s somebody.
Lee: What. (Looks up) Hell’s fire, damnation skewer you end to end with a red-hot prong. Don’t you ever sleep, Sullivan, the innocent sleep.
Sullivan: Very well, thank you. Though we’re not so obligingly quartered. Compliments, Madame.
(She tries to gather herself to a curtsey, busies about the room.)
Lee: Yes. Succulent bit, the Aurora of the golden orbs. Show the gentleman your orbs, Mistress White. Dangle them on him the way you did for me, (Laughs, then suddenly sour. Also hung over) What d’you want? It’s barely dawn. (Landlady exits)
Sullivan: When I left camp it was ten.
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(Pages 1-47 show above.)