(_Interior of the cabin. At the back three steps descend from the
planked door to the dirt floor of the cabin. Windows, curtained,
are on either side of the door. They are so high up that only a
tall man can see out. A wide fireplace made of stone rises from
the floor at the right end of the room. In the left corner of the
cabin, a wide double-deck bunk juts out. Crazy quilts cover both
beds. A few chairs, a rough table (set for breakfast at right of
steps) and utensils for cooking at the fireplace—complete the
furnishings. A fire burns in the fireplace; coffee bubbles on a
little iron stand on the hearth. It is dark and gloomy; no direct
sunlight has ever reached this secret place._
ELLY, _a tall, dark woman of thirty-five, stands tensely by the
corner of the bunk. Her face, even in her excitement, is brooding
and restrained. Her thick black hair, parted in the middle, is
done up in a knob at the back of her head. She is wearing a faded,
predominantly purple, plaid dress—full-sleeved, full-skirted,
pulled in at the waist. After a moment she goes swiftly to the
fireplace, pokes the fire, then goes across to the window nearest
the bunk, and with extraordinary agility and grace steps upon a
chair under the window and looks out. She gets down, goes slowly
toward the fireplace. In the center of the room she halts, wheels
about and faces the door. It opens. A man comes in quickly, and
closes the door as if shutting something out. He turns, facing her
from the top of the steps. He is of medium height, brutal, crafty.
His clothes are nondescript and unclean. His hair slants into his
eyes._)
ELLY
Butch! Thank God! I didn’t see ya— (_She makes a step toward him._)
BUTCH (_quickly_)
Shet up!
ELLY
Butch, w’at is it?
BUTCH (_in a hoarse whisper_)
Shet up, I tell you! Squawkin’ like a hen. You wanta git me killed?
(_In a low voice._) They follered me.
ELLY
Tell me—w’at is it—?
BUTCH
I’ll show ’em! They won’t git me. I’ve got away frum better men ’n
they are. They won’t git me alive—the lousy bums! I’d like to see
’em! They follered me. I been at the Switch. An’ when I started
back I seen three men a-follerin’. They’ll come here. (_He stops
thoughtfully._) They ain’t got nuthin’ on me. They cain’t prove
nuthin’— (_In a hard, matter-of-fact voice._) They don’t _know_ it’s
me done it. They only got somebody’s word. They don’t know it, and
they cain’t prove it. No one saw me—
ELLY (_with foreboding_)
Butch, I knowed this ud come. I knowed it. You’ll git sent up. And it
ain’t right. You ain’t done nuthin’ wrong. It’s jist a law. W’at the
hell’s a law? W’at’s it good fer? Why’n’t it agin the law everwhur
else to sell whiskey? Them men whur they have their corner saloons
all polished up—a-makin’ it criminal to sell a man a drink—w’at’s
right about it? (_With scorn._) Oh, yes! I know. Pertectin’ the
Indians! They don’t want the Indians to git all lit up like _they_ do
all the time—ever day, ever night, regular. (_With disgust._) Hell!
Indians! I ain’t saw two Indians since I come to Indian Territory.
Now they’ll git you. I’ve knowed it. They’ll stick you fer sellin’
the stuff to the poor fools that’s too skeered, and too weak, and too
damn big a cowards to go up to Kansas City or Joplin and bring in
their own whiskey, like a man. They’ll send you to jail—the only man
that’s got guts enough to do it. You’ll git ten year or more. W’at’ll
I git? I’ll git off—that’s w’at I’ll git. I’ll git left here to rot!
BUTCH
Shet up! (_He goes up the steps and listens intently. Then he comes
down._) Let up on yer jail stuff. You’ll have me skeered. And I got
to keep my senses. Listen t’ me. I been follered before. The last
bunch o’ guys laid in wait close to the Holler whur the whiskey’s at.
Did that stop me frum gettin’ the whiskey and gettin’ out with it?
Did that stop me frum sellin’ it regler to Joe Hurd’s Curio Store
at Claremont? I been follered lots o’ times and you know it. I been
follered lots o’ times ’count o’ selling whiskey. It ain’t nuthin’
new to me. But this time I’m follered and it ain’t on the ’count o’
whiskey! They’s sump’n else....
ELLY
Butch! You got to tell me! W’at is it, w’at’ve you done?
BUTCH
Easy, easy!
ELLY
You wuz skeered! I never see you like that before. You’ve done
sump’n. Tell me w’at it is. W’at’ve you done?
BUTCH
Lay off, take it easy....
ELLY
Butch....
BUTCH
Christ’s sake! You’re a mad womern! Keep yer shirt on! Mebbe I ain’t
done _nuthin’_. Mebbe I jist been foolin’ myself. Mebbe—for all I
know, they ain’t nuthin’ to git excited about.
ELLY (_suddenly_)
Butch! You got blood on yer coat! (_She stands a moment, terrified._)
You’re hurt! Why’n’t you tell me? Quick, lemme fix it—I didn’t know.
BUTCH
I ain’t hurt.
ELLY
You’re bleedin’.
BUTCH
It ain’t my blood. (ELLY _draws back, her hand at her face,
confused_.) I killed a man.
ELLY (_sickened_)
Oh! (_With terrible conviction._) You’ll hang fer it, Butch Adams!
Why’d you go and do it? Who wuz it?
BUTCH (_begins in a hard voice, but becomes more and more excited_.)
Jim Dory. He told on me fer sellin’ whiskey. He told the federal
officers at Tulsy. I killed him. Stuck a knife in him and turned
it around. That’s why I went out at midnight ... to lay fer him. I
knowed he’d go to the play-party over t’ Binghams. I laid fer him in
the big woods close to the sawmill here. He’d go that a-way home, I
figgered. About three o’clock this mornin’ he come along in a buggy
with one horse to it. I jumped out and grabbed the bridle. He lep’
out on me with a knife. I got a-hold of it. I stuck it through his
ribs and turned it around. Then I got skeered. They might think I
done it ... findin’ him so close t’ here. It wouldn’t do to find him
so close. I picked him up and dumped him in the buggy and give the
horse a crack with a stick. He started off in a run down the road.
But not afore I’d saw Jim kinda raise up one of his hands to his
face! He wuzn’t dead. I hadn’t made shore! He wuzn’t dead, and he’d
tell on me! He’d tell some one ’fore he died, and I’d hang fer it!
I thought mebbe I could ketch up and finish the job. But the horse
run like mad, crashin’ through the bushes but keepin’ purty close to
the road. I run and run after him—almost to the Switch. Then I seen
some one come out of the store whur a light was burnin’, and grab
the horse’s bridle. I seen him take Jim up and carry him in and shet
the door. I run away then. I didn’t know if he wuz dead or not. If
he wuzn’t, he’d tell on me! I wuz crazy—not knowin’ if he wuz dead
or not. I come on to the woods. I couldn’t stand it not knowin’: I
started back. When I got to the edge of the woods I seen three men
comin’ up the road. I knowed one of ’em! It wuz the Shuruff. They
musta wired to Claremont fer him. Jim ’d _told_ on me! Elly! Whut’ll
I do? They’ll git me! (ELLY _goes over to the fireplace, in her
absorbed way, without speaking, and pours some water in a pan_.)
Elly! They’ll be here any minute! Fer God’s sake, say sump’n!
ELLY
Yer breakfast’s ready.
BUTCH
Elly!...
ELLY
Take off yer coat. (_He does, like one in a daze._) Throw it under
the bunk. (_He does so._) Wash yer hands. (_He moves toward the pan
slowly and begins to wash his hands. She has gone to the table with
the coffee pot and poured some coffee. He finishes washing and dries
his hands on a towel._) Set down. (_He moves toward the table._)
BUTCH
But, Elly....
ELLY (_imperiously_)
Set down! And eat yer breakfast,—Mister Murderer! (_He sits._ ELLY
_leans over the table_.) Eat a plenty. Drink—here’s coffee. Salt
pork, gravy, potaters—eat ’em! Enjoy yerself!
BUTCH (_half rising_)
Whut’re you meanin’! I hadn’t oughta done it? Whut’d you want me to
do ... let him git away with it, let that dirty little coward sneak
off to Tulsy and sick the officers onto me like bloodhounds ’n do
nuthin’ about it? That ain’t my way! If some one does me dirt he gets
his, you c’n count on it! I ain’t no Christian: I’m a man!
ELLY (_with infinite scorn_)
_You_—
BUTCH
I’m a man. Let up!
ELLY (_goes away from him. Bitterly._...)
You’re lower’n I thought you wuz. I never thought t’ be livin’ with a
murderer. (_He comes toward her._) Oh, I ain’t so good. I know. You
don’t have t’ tell me. But I never thought t’ come t’ this. I thought
I knowed w’at I uz gettin’ into when I went away with you. I knowed
you uz a bootlegger. I didn’t keer. It’s clean. It’s right. But
killin’ ... I stop at killin’! Why’d you go and do it? Why _did_ you?
Now they’ll come and take you. They’ll take you away from me!
BUTCH
Christ’s sake, shet up! They’d a-took me away fer bootleggin’.
ELLY
No, they wouldn’ta! They couldn’t ’a’ proved it. But now they’ll take
you. They’ll hang you fer murder. (_She clings to him._) No, I won’t
let ’em! They _cain’t_ take you! I love you—I cain’t help it. ’N I
won’t let ’em take you away frum me! I won’t let em! I’ll find a
way! I will! They ain’t proved you done it ... you said no one seen
you....
BUTCH
They got Jim’s word, I tell you....
ELLY (_calmer_)
He’s dead. He cain’t talk now.
BUTCH
Sh—! I heerd sump’n! (_Excitedly—drawing his pistol._) They won’t git
me!...
ELLY
Gimme that gun!
BUTCH
... Not’s long’s I’m alive!
ELLY
Butch! Give it t’ me! I’m all right now. I ain’t never advised you
wrong. I’ll git you outa this! Listen t’ me: you ain’t been outa the
house, y’hear—not since yistiddy. Eat yer breakfast! (_She goes to
the window, steps on the chair, and looks out._) It’s only a man an’
womern....
BUTCH
It’s a _blind_!
ELLY
No, no! (_Coming down._) It’s jist a boy and girl—a couple o’ kids.
BUTCH
Keep ’em out!
ELLY
No! We’ll let ’em _in_! It’s Providence!
BUTCH
It’s a blind, I tell you....
ELLY
It’s luck! It’s our luck. Mebbe we c’n use ’em....
BUTCH
How?
ELLY
Some way. I doan know yit. Gimme the gun. (_He hands it to her,
reluctantly._) Keep yer head. These two’ll come in. They’ll keep you
frum hangin’, Butch Adams! (_She goes swiftly to the bunks, and hides
the pistol under the quilts._ BUTCH _goes back to the table and sits.
There is a moment of intense silence. Then a knock._) Come in!
(LLOYD _and_ BETTY _come in. They look very slight, very delicate,
in this somber place._)
LLOYD (_awkwardly_)
How’d do?
ELLY
Howdy.
LLOYD
You got a fa’r we could git warm at?
ELLY
Over thar.
LLOYD
If it ud bother you— If we’d be in yer way.
ELLY
It won’t bother me. Nuthin’ gits in my way. You’re welcome. Come in,
an’ git warm if you want to. (_They come down the steps slowly._ ELLY
_turns to the window_.) I’ll git you a cheer.
(LLOYD _and_ BETTY _turn, and are about to go to the fireplace
when_ BUTCH _rises from the table where he has been sitting. They
see him for the first time and stop in alarm._)
ELLY (_quickly_)
Butch, bring a cheer up. (_He picks up a chair and sets it in front
of the fireplace._ LLOYD _and_ BETTY _watch him anxiously. He goes
across to the bunks and sits down._ ELLY _crosses over with another
chair._) Here’s another cheer. Set down. (_They go over slowly and
sit._) The fa’r’s goin’ strong. Mebbe you’d like a cup of hot coffee?
LLOYD
Would you, Betty? (_She shakes her head._) No, ma’am. Thank you.
ELLY
I guess you’ve had yer breakfast.
LLOYD
No’m, we ain’t yit. We’re gonna have it ’s soon’s Miss Meredith comes.
ELLY
Who’s Miss Meredith?
LLOYD
Our teacher.
ELLY
Oh! Over t’ the Switch.
LLOYD
Yes’m. It’s a picnic breakfast here in the woods—fer the whole class.
ELLY
Oh! (_After a moment._) You’ve come awful early.
LLOYD
Nobody’s come yit—but us. We come early.
ELLY
How’d you happen to do that?
LLOYD (_hesitating_)
Why, we—we jist thought we’d come early. We drove over from the
Switch. Horse and buggy’s up here a ways—not fur.
ELLY
Oh! (_She looks from one to the other. Then to_ BETTY.) Air you
gittin’ warm, Miss?
BETTY (_gratefully_)
Yes’m. I wuz cold.
LLOYD
She wuz tremblin’.
ELLY
You’d oughta wear more clothes when you go out s’ early.
BETTY
Yes’m.
ELLY
Yer Maw ud oughta told you.
BETTY
Maw’s dead.
ELLY
Yer Paw ud oughta told you, then.
BETTY
He’s asleep. (_The three smile at this._ LLOYD _and_ BETTY _begin to
feel more at ease_.) This is the first time I been out s’ early. I
didn’t know it wuz cold. Now I know. ’Fore it gits sun-up it’s li’ble
to be. Even after sun-up it’s apt to be cold here in the woods, ain’t
it?
BUTCH (_suddenly_)
Elly! Ain’t you got a coat you could let her borry?
ELLY (_surprised_)
Why, yes, I got a coat. (_To_ BETTY.) I’ll lend you one.
BETTY
No’m, you mustn’t. I’m obliged to you, but I doan need it.
ELLY
You shore?
BETTY
Yes’m.
(BUTCH’S _interruption causes a constrained silence_. ELLY _goes
away toward the bunks thoughtfully_. BETTY, _uneasy, looks at_
LLOYD. _Then_ BUTCH _rises, crosses the room, takes the poker and
stirs the fire. He goes back to the little table and sits down._
LLOYD _rises, makes a step toward_ ELLY.)
Mebbe we better go now—
BUTCH (_loudly_)
Set down! (_He begins eating his breakfast._)
ELLY (_quickly_)
He ain’t had his breakfast. Don’t mind him.
LLOYD
We better go.
ELLY
He don’t mean nuthin’.
LLOYD (_uneasy_)
Well, we’ll stay a minute or two. (_He goes back and sits down._)
ELLY (_as if nothing had happened_)
Must be fun to come a-picnickin’ in the woods.
LLOYD
I doan know. I ain’t never been.
ELLY
I ain’t been since I uz yore age. _Why_ ain’t you been?
LLOYD
I’ve always worked, helped my Dad drive cattle—till now. I’m in
school.
ELLY
And ain’t never been to school before?
LLOYD
No, ma’am.
ELLY
And ain’t never went on picnics?
LLOYD
Not till now.
ELLY
I used to go all the time when I uz yore age. In Kansas City. Woods
wuzn’t fur away. Used to go—a whole crowd of us—ever Sunday. Set
on the ground ... real ground, ’stid o’ pavement ... with grass
a-growin’ out of it. First I’d ever saw. We thought it wuz fine.
You’ve missed a lot.
LLOYD
Yes’m. I guess so. But I’ve had fun. I been out with Paw a
lot—drivin’ cattle. He buys ’em up differnt places—Verdigree, Foyil,
Sageeyah, even ’s fur away’s Pryor Crick. Nen we saddle up our
horses’n go out ’n drive ’em in to ship to the market at St. Louis.
ELLY
W’at’s fun about drivin’ cattle? Sounds like work t’ me.
LLOYD
Well, it’s work. And it’s fun, too.
ELLY
In winter, looks like you’d freeze yer ears off....
LLOYD
We don’t drive ’em much in winter.
ELLY
Well, in the summer then, ’n the spring: I doan see w’at’s fun about
the scorchin’ heat ’n the dust ’n the hot wind. I’d wanta be in out
of it. I’d wanta be under a roof whur the sun didn’t hit me....
LLOYD
Sun’s bad. Dust’s bad, too. Wind ain’t so good. But they’s sump’n
else....
ELLY
Yeow? W’at is it?
LLOYD (_going across to her_)
I doan know ... it’s kinda crazy....
ELLY
I had a crazy brother.
LLOYD (_smiling_)
Well, it ain’t as bad as that.
ELLY
My brother wuzn’t bad. Jist wuzn’t right. He used to run out in the
woods here like he uz wild. He lived here with us. He done queer
things.
LLOYD
This is queer too. You’ll laugh. You see, when Paw and me goes out t’
drive cattle, some time or other we pass by the Big Lake.
ELLY (_strangely_)
The Lake?
LLOYD
Yes’m. Sometimes it’s early ... when we first start out frum the
Switch. Sometimes it’s the middle of the day—when we’ve got back frum
Grand River. Sometimes it’s night. But we alwys pass by it—some time
or other.
ELLY
I doan see w’at’s fun about it. I been livin’ here three year. I c’n
see the Lake any time. They’s no fun to that.
LLOYD
I cain’t explain it very well. It’s nice—nice t’ see it. ’N no matter
whur you’re at, whut time o’ day it is, it’s nice to know the Lake’s
thar. ’N it’s nice to know ’at some time mebbe you’ll git a chance to
go out on it. I ain’t never been. I alwys want to. (_Smiling._) Kinda
crazy, ain’t it?
ELLY (_thoughtfully_)
Yes.
LLOYD
I told you it wuz.
ELLY (_slowly_)
You’re not the only one.
LLOYD
The only one whut?
ELLY
Crazy. They’s others. I’ve saw ’em. Do you ever read the newspapers?
LLOYD
Why, no’m—I—
ELLY
Cain’t read?
LLOYD
Well, not much. But I’m gonna learn better.
ELLY
How long you lived at the Switch?
LLOYD
Alwys lived thar.
ELLY
Then you musta heerd of people gettin’ drownded in the Lake?
LLOYD
Yes’m.
ELLY
Crazy. Why’d they go on it?
LLOYD
’Tain’t the Lake’s fault. It’s their’n.
ELLY
Yeow. Fer goin’ out on it.
LLOYD
No. Fer keerlessness. Some of ’em fall in. Some of ’em turn the boat
over. Sometimes the boat leaks....
ELLY
Yeow. But if they didn’t try to go out on the Lake, the boat wouldn’t
leak, the boat wouldn’t turn over, ’n they wouldn’t fall in. It’s
their fault fer goin’!
LLOYD
But people will go out on it. People want to. It ain’t wrong.
ELLY
No. ’Tain’t wrong. ’N people will do it. That’s the trouble: they
will do it. ’N do you know who it is does it? D’you know who it is
that’s alwys gettin’ drownded in the Lake? People like you—young
people—like yerselves—picnickin’! My brother—he got drownded out
thar—a month back. We never did find him.
(BUTCH _has risen to put a log on the fire_. BETTY _shrinks away
from him as he goes near her_.)
BUTCH
Warm now?
BETTY
Yes, sir. (LLOYD _goes over quickly, anxiously_.) We better go,
Lloyd. I’m warm. I’m plenty warm.
LLOYD
Well, we’ll go then. (_To_ BUTCH.) Thank you, Mister— Thank you fer
the fa’r. (_He turns toward_ ELLY.) I wuz goin’ t’ ask you if we
could borry yer boat. I doan know now if I want to....
BETTY (_quickly, nervously ... to_ ELLY)
You got a boat, ain’t you?
ELLY
Yes.
BETTY
Let us borry it ... awhile? Please! Let us borry it!
LLOYD (_to_ BETTY)
You still wanta go on the lake?
BETTY
Yes. I do. (_To_ ELLY.) Please. Cain’t we take it fer a while?
ELLY
I doan know—I ain’t so shore....
BUTCH (_suddenly_)
Borry it! Borry it all you want to! Here’s the key. (LLOYD _takes
it_.) Bring it back when you git ready. Oars is over thar by the
door.
LLOYD
Thank you. (_To_ ELLY.) Thanks fer the f’ar. (LLOYD _and_ BETTY _go
toward the steps. He picks up the oars. They go up the steps._ LLOYD
_turns to_ ELLY.) The oars seem to be good. The boat—don’t leak, does
it?
ELLY
No, it don’t leak.
LLOYD (_smiling_)
Well. I’m keerful. Betty’s keerful. We’ll make out all right, I guess!
(_They go out._ ELLY _looks sharply at_ BUTCH. _He turns back to
the table and sits down. She follows him over._)
ELLY (_sharply_)
Why’d you do it?
BUTCH
Do whut?
ELLY
Give ’em the key. Give ’em the oars.
BUTCH
Why, to git rid of ’em. I didn’t want ’em here. It uz you wanted ’em.
ELLY
You’re lyin’. Why’d you do it?
BUTCH
I told you.
ELLY
That wuzn’t it. You got some reason.
BUTCH
You had a reason fer lettin’ ’em come in, too. You said you did,
anyway. Well, what wuz it?
ELLY
I thought we could use ’em....
BUTCH
Use ’em! How could we use ’em?
ELLY
I guess we cain’t....
BUTCH (_scornfully_)
No, ’course not! You never had no idee of it. You wuz jist talkin’....
ELLY
I did have an idee. I thought—when I seen ’em outside ... they might
be a way of throwin’ the blame onto that boy, someway....
BUTCH (_rising—excited_)
Elly! You thought of blamin’ him with....
ELLY
Yes. ’Fore I _seen_ him, I did. After he come in, I knowed we
couldn’t.
BUTCH
Why not?
ELLY
I wouldn’t have the nerve—to try to throw it onto him. Mebbe it ud
work all right, mebbe it could be done. They’s ways of makin’ fools
outa the law.... Oh, I know, I’ve done it many’s the time ... an’ we
could git suspicion on this boy someway. And he’d hang too—innocent
and all! But I cain’t do it, I wouldn’t think of doin’ it....
BUTCH (_harshly_)
Well, why wouldn’t you?
ELLY (_frightened_)
Butch! Fergit I said it, fergit I ever thought of sich a thing.
BUTCH (_grimly_)
I’m glad you thought of it.
ELLY
W’at’d you mean?
BUTCH
I mean—it’s an idee.... I wouldn’t a-thought of it. I c’n see, I
c’n see a way—you’re a smart womern, Elly.... Wait a minute, lemme
think....
ELLY
No! You cain’t do it. W’at’re you thinkin’ of?
BUTCH
Why not? D’you want me to hang?
ELLY
No.
BUTCH
Shet up, then! The officers’ll come here. Whut’ll I tell ’em ...
whut’ll I say—they’ll come in the door—this boy—he’ll be out on the
lake by that time....
ELLY
Butch! Butch!
BUTCH
Shet up!
ELLY
You cain’t plan to do this! I won’t let you git that boy killed. He’s
too young, he’s too sweet-lookin’....
BUTCH
Ha! Ain’t I young? Ain’t I sweet-lookin’? You’ve said so. ’D you mean
it?
ELLY
I come here—and lived with you.
BUTCH
So’d Lilly. So’d Marge. ’N whut’d they do? Lilly on her death bed
a-damnin’ me—I c’n hear her yit. Marge—she tried to give me up to the
law. I fixed her. Hell! They both come here, ’n lived with me. That
don’t prove nuthin’. You got to prove it some other way. You got to
help me....
ELLY
I’ve helped you—bendin’ over yer f’ar, cookin’ yer victuals, washin’
yer clothes, makin’ the beds you’ve slep’ in. I’ve helped you ...
livin’ in this damp cellar like a mole with no sunshine a-comin’ in
and no moonlight ever. I’ve tended you when you uz sick, I’ve lied
fer you, I’ve buried myself away frum all the decent folks I ever
knowed—here in these dark woods fer three year. Why’d I do it? Why
_did_ I? It’s proof you want, is it? Then look at me, Butch Adams!
_I’m_ proof! Look at me! I uz young when I come here with you three
year ago. I uz young—like that little girl that uz here jist now. I
wuzn’t as purty as her, but I uz young like her. Look at me now!
BUTCH
You’re talkin’. You’re puttin’ words together. Whut good are they
to me? They won’t save my neck frum hangin’. You got to help me. If
you got to talk, tell me whut to do. The Shuruff’ll be comin’ here.
Whut’ll I say to him? They ain’t nuthin’ to say to him, unless you
help me. I got a plan—
ELLY
Not that boy!
BUTCH
You got to help me. They don’t keer who they hang in this country.
One man’s as good as another fer hangin’. _They_ don’t keer. But _I_
do! I keer fer hangin’. It’s got to be some one else.
ELLY
Not that boy!
BUTCH
That _boy_! It’s got to be him! It’s got to be him killed Jim Dory—
ELLY
They’ll never b’lieve he done it.
BUTCH
They’ll believe it—
ELLY
Jim Dory must’a’ told ’em ’fore he died who done it—
BUTCH
That don’t prove it. My word’s as good as his. Jim might’a’ made a
mistake; in the dark woods he couldn’t see so well ... not even if it
ud been daylight. Mebbe—some one else done it—
ELLY
Not that boy!
BUTCH
That boy, I tell you!
ELLY
No, Butch, no!
BUTCH
Shet up!
ELLY
I cain’t let you. You doan know w’at you’re doin....
BUTCH
Doin’? I’m savin’ my neck, that’s whut I’m doin’!
ELLY
You’re losin’ it. If you git that boy hung, you’re hangin’ yerself!
BUTCH
You’d tell on me! Damn you, I’d oughta kill you!
ELLY
Kill me then! Coward! Don’t you know if I done w’at’s right, I’d tell
on you now? I’d give you up to the law fer the brute you are, an’ let
you hang as you’d oughta hang! Why don’t I? (_Bitterly._) Yes, why
don’t I? ’Cause I’m a fool, that’s why! I’m like all the women in the
world that’s ever lived: I ain’t good, I ain’t decent, I ain’t even
honest except to one man! I hate you!
BUTCH
Oh, you do, eh? Well, whut is it you mean, then? If I get that boy
hung, how’ll that be hangin’ myself?
ELLY
Wuzn’t you ever young?
BUTCH
Whut’s that got to do with it?
ELLY (_pleading_)
Wuzn’t you ever jist startin’ life? Wuzn’t you ever innocent and
good, and wantin’ to go out into the world and expectin’ it to be
kind to you?...
BUTCH
No!
[Illustration: STELLA ADLER AS “ELLY”]
ELLY (_softly_)
Then you won’t understand. This boy is that a-way. You cain’t kill a
thing like that. If you killed him, you’d be killin’ w’at uz good in
you once ... if they uz ever anything....
BUTCH
You’re preachin’. Let up! Whut’d you think this is? It’s got to be
the way I say, Elly. If I wanna save my neck, I got to throw the
blame on some one else....
ELLY (_triumphantly_)
Not that boy! I’ll tell you _another_ reason why! If you’d a-looked
at him, you’d know the reason yerself! Anybody, even the Shuruff
a-lookin’ at him would know that that boy couldn’t do nuthin’ wrong,
he couldn’t kill a man....
BUTCH
Elly!
ELLY
He couldn’t even hurt any one’s feelin’s! And _besides_,—his story’s
as good as yourn. They’d know w’at he said wuz the truth! You got
to try some other plan, Butch. You got to try to get away. You got
to sneak out in the woods an’ hide a day or two. I’ll take you grub
t’ eat some way. Then when things blows over more we’ll light out
fer Texas till they fergit all about us. You could hide close to
the old sawmill some’er’s. They’d never think o’ lookin’ there fer
you—so near—so near whur Jim—Hurry up, now! (_She crosses and gets
his gun._) You ain’t got much time. Take yer gun. Don’t use it unless
you have to—promise me! I want you to be safe. (_She offers him the
gun._)
BUTCH (_thoughtfully_)
No. Put the gun back....
ELLY
Butch!
BUTCH
You tuck it away frum me once....
ELLY (_frightened_)
You’re not gonna give yerself up? Butch, no! You’ll be hung!
BUTCH
You said they’d never b’lieve that boy done it, eh?
ELLY
Yes. They won’t. They’ll know he couldn’t.
BUTCH
An’ they’ll b’lieve him, eh? His story’ll be better’n mine, eh?
ELLY
They’ll know it’s the truth.
BUTCH
I b’lieve you.
ELLY
Then why don’t you go—before the Shuruff comes?...
BUTCH
I ain’t goin’!
ELLY
You ain’t givin’ yerself up? Butch, you mustn’t! It’s wrong of
me to say it. You’ve broke the laws, you’ve sold whiskey, you’ve
killed a man—you’d oughta suffer fer it. But you mustn’t! You got to
go—quick—they’s time! I’ll leave you grub ever’ day by the foot-log
that’s been washed up by the Crick. I’ll keep a lookout. When it’s
safe—
BUTCH
I ain’t goin’. I ain’t gonna give myself up, neither. I got a plan.
(_Fiercely._) An’ if you try to bungle it, if you try t’ put yer nose
in, or even open yer mouth, I’ll kill you, d’ you hear! You know I
will, too!
ELLY
W’at’re you gonna do?
BUTCH
Put that gun back. Put it back, I say!
(_She crosses reluctantly, and is putting the gun back in the bunk.
The door is kicked open, viciously. Three men with pistols in their
hands eye them from the high threshold. It is the_ SHERIFF _and his
deputies_.)
SHERIFF (_nervously_)
Two of ’em. Keep yer eye on the womern, Plank. (_To_ BUTCH.) Put
’em up! (_The men come down into the room. The_ SHERIFF _is a
florid-faced man, with a long mustache_.) Search him, Joe. (JOE
_comes over, makes a quick search of_ BUTCH, _and finds nothing_.) No
gun, eh? Make shore, Joe. We doan wanna take no chances.
JOE
They ain’t none, Shuruff.
SHERIFF
All right. Keep yer gun on him. (_To_ BUTCH.) Guess you know whut we
want you fer, Adams. Yer name’s Adams, ain’t it?
JOE
_Butch_ Adams, Shuruff.
SHERIFF
You’ve killed a man.
BUTCH
I doan know whut you’re talkin’ about. Come bustin’ into my house
this a-way. Whut right’ve you got?
SHERIFF
Dry up.
BUTCH
You got a warrant?
SHERIFF
Warrant, hell!
BUTCH
You got no right here. I oughta shoot you down.
SHERIFF (_laughs shortly_)
Shoot! Whut’ll you shoot with? Strikes me as funny you got no
shootin’ iron on you an’ you jist murderin’ a man in cold blood—
BUTCH
I never! I doan know whut you’re talkin’ about—
SHERIFF
We won’t argy with you.
BUTCH
Show me yer warrant.
SHERIFF
They ain’t no warrant.
BUTCH
I’ll have the law on you.
SHERIFF
_I’m_ the law! Le’s go. ’S funny about you havin’ no gun—I doan
understand it—
PLANK (_suddenly—to_ ELLY)
Stand whur you air. Git away from that bunk. Lemme see whut you’re
a-doin’— (_He turns back the cover and finds the pistol._) So that’s
whut you’re up to, eh?
SHERIFF
Whut is it, Plank?
PLANK
She uz reachin’ fer a gun. I thought they uz sump’n funny when we
come in. She seemed t’ be a-bendin’ over like she uz huntin’ sump’n—
SHERIFF (_taking the pistol_)
So that’s it? (_To_ BUTCH.) Didn’t have time t’ git hold of it, did
you? ’S lucky we kicked the door open—
ELLY
He didn’t do it.
BUTCH
I ain’t been outa the house—
ELLY
Don’t you take him! He ain’t done nuthin’!
BUTCH
I ain’t done nuthin’. (_Significantly._) If Jim Dory said my name—
SHERIFF
Jim Dory, eh? Who said anything about Jim Dory? I guess you’ve told
on yerself!
BUTCH
I never!
SHERIFF
You’ve fixed yerself now! Look around, Joe. I’ll watch him. They
oughta be evidence, too.
(JOE _begins his search of the room, over by the bunks. He crosses
to the fireplace._)
JOE
Don’t see nuthin’.
BUTCH
You won’t find nuthin’—
JOE
Here’s a pan! Bloody water, Shuruff!
SHERIFF
Le’s see it—
JOE (_bringing it over_)
He washed his hands.
SHERIFF
You got ’em bloody, did you—puttin’ Jim back in the buggy? Oh, he
told. He had time to git out a word or two afore he died. Well, we
got evidence. We got you now whur we want you—
BUTCH (_slowly_)
Shuruff—I’ll tell you—
SHERIFF
It’s time you told me.
BUTCH
I’ll tell you who done it. My brother—he done it.
ELLY
Butch!
BUTCH
He’s crazy. He runs wild here in the woods. He ain’t right—
SHERIFF (_sarcastically_)
Whut’s this?
BUTCH
He lives with us—my brother— You must’a’ heerd of him.
PLANK
I’ve heerd of a crazy boy here in the woods, Shuruff. But that don’t
prove nuthin’. You hear funny stories about these woods here—
BUTCH
Ask Elly!
SHERIFF
’S this crazy boy live here with you?
ELLY (_after a moment_)
Yes.
SHERIFF
’N’ sleeps here?
ELLY
Yes. Sleeps thar. (_She points to the top bunk._)
SHERIFF (_to_ BUTCH)
He’s yer brother, eh?
BUTCH
Yes. Name’s Adams—too, like mine. I’ll tell you. I cain’t pertect
him. I tried. He went out las’ night. I didn’t know why. He goes
out—roams in the woods—all the time. Lately, he’s got to mumblin’
sump’n—like this: “Woods is too full—woods is too full. People.” I’ve
heerd him, ask Elly.
ELLY
Oh, he did—he said that—“People. Too many people. They’s room in the
lake—they’s room thar—they’s room in the lake. It’s big. It’s deep.”
Oh— (_Buries her face in her hands._)
BUTCH
She liked him. He _uz my brother_. Las’ night he went out. He come
in this mornin’ early. It uz him—it uz _him_ killed Jim Dory. He
told me. Met him in the woods—stuck a knife in him. He washed his
hands—they uz blood on ’em. He throwed his coat under the bunk—they
uz blood on it. He went out again.
SHERIFF (_excitedly_)
Whur is he? Whur’d he go to?
BUTCH
Don’t ask me—
SHERIFF
Tell me—quick, whur is he?
ELLY (_in anguish_)
In the lake—that’s whur he’s at.
SHERIFF
In the lake?
ELLY
Drownded.
BUTCH
No—no! No, he ain’t, Shuruff. He’s _on_ the lake.
ELLY (_agonized_)
Butch!
BUTCH
In a boat.
SHERIFF
We’ll git him. He won’t git away!
BUTCH
You won’t git him—not alive, you won’t. You’ll have t’ be keerful if
you even go near him—he’s got a gun!
SHERIFF
We’ll git him!
BUTCH
He’s crazy. He’ll shoot.
SHERIFF
We’ll shoot _first_!
ELLY
Shuruff! No, no! Don’t do it. Don’t listen t’ him.
BUTCH
Be keerful, Shuruff—
SHERIFF
I ain’t skeered of him—
BUTCH
They’s a girl with him—
SHERIFF
A girl—?
BUTCH
He run onto her som’er’s. Mebbe here in the woods. I doan know whur
she come frum—_a young, purty girl_. (_Meaningly._) He’s got her with
him—out on the lake.
SHERIFF
The bastard!
BUTCH
Be keerful. Don’t shoot _her_, Shuruff.
SHERIFF
Whur’s they a boat?
BUTCH
They ain’t but one. He’s in it—him and the girl.
SHERIFF
We’ll get him frum the bank, then. Joe, you stay here. Watch the
cabin—outside. Don’t let these two get outa yer sight. Plank, you
come with me.
(_The three men go up the steps._ JOE _and_ PLANK _go out_.)
ELLY
Shuruff, you mustn’t do it—they’s a reason—you mustn’t. I’ll tell you—
BUTCH (_quickly_)
He’s my brother, Shuruff. I don’t keer. He’s done wrong. Shoot him
down.
SHERIFF
You’re damn right I will. Like a dog! (_He goes out._)
ELLY (_agonized_)
W’at made you?
BUTCH
You told me yerself—
ELLY
No—
BUTCH
That about yer brother—that put me wise. No one knows he’s been
drownded.
ELLY
Why’d you do it? You could’ve said he got drownded this mornin’.
They’d a-b’lieved it. Why’d you say he wuz on the lake?
BUTCH
I got reasons.
ELLY
W’at air they?
BUTCH (_evilly_)
You musta noticed, Elly—a girl wuz here with that boy. They’d come
here together—
ELLY
W’at of it?
BUTCH
The horse and buggy’s up here a ways. She’s young, she’s purty— They
drove here together. She’ll need some one to drive her home—through
the woods—
ELLY
Ugh! You beast!
BUTCH
(_He goes toward the steps._) Mebbe I am one. Mebbe I am a beast. And
this place we’re livin’ in—whut’s it? It’s the woods, Elly. It’s the
dark woods. (_He goes up the steps._)
ELLY
Butch! (_She hurries after him._)
_Curtain_
PART TWO
THE LAKE