Shades of War (5 page)

SAM: I want you
to have all of those things and more, but you must go about it the
right way. One day soon, you will be married, living in a house of
your own and you will think back on this very moment, and you will be
most grateful for the way I looked after you.

(Blackout.)

JONATHAN sits
in a chair, reading a letter.

JONATHAN:

October 15th, 1777

Dear Phoebe,

I know it has
been over a year since I've seen you. I write to you from the
soldier's hospital of Saratoga, New York. The Brits outnumber us by
the thousands, but we have finally defeated them.

Like many of the
men here, I was injured in combat. Despite my condition, I was most
happy to sacrifice for the revolution. After all, it was your father
who encouraged me to enlist.

I was also
humbled by my brush with death. God has spared my life and I feel an
obligation to right my wrongs. I regret being so overbearing the day
we met. I assure you that I am a different man, a better man.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Lewis

(Blackout.)

It's
mid-afternoon inside of a soldier's hospital. JONATHAN sits in a
chair by a lantern. His skin is pale and his there are dark circles
under his eyes. He is shivering underneath a thin blanket. He lets
out a loud cough.

(PHOEBE
enters.)

JONATHAN: I am so
surprised to see your face, Miss Fraunces.

PHOEBE: My dear
Lord... Jonathan...

JONATHAN: Never
mind my condition, tell me all about the happenings in your life.
Tell me about anything not pertaining to the war. Have you a husband?
Children?

PHOEBE: I'm
afraid not.

JONATHAN: What
ever became of that fellow you so loved?

PHOEBE: He was a
causality of the Revolution.

JONATHAN: Sad to
hear. I didn't think you would come...

PHOEBE: I harbor
no bad feelings in my heart for you or anyone else.

JONATHAN: You are
a very noble woman and I'd still be honored to have you as a wife,
but surely you wouldn't want to spend the rest of your days looking
after a crippled. Phoebe, there is a good chance I will never walk
again. I hardly feel like a man anymore.

PHOEBE: Sacrifice
is the truest testament of manhood. I will pray for you, Jonathan.

JONATHAN: Save it
for someone more worthy.

(PHOEBE
kneels down next to JONATHAN and grabs his hand. She begins to
pray.)

PHOEBE: Lord,
watch after your most humble servant, Jonathan Lewis. Bless him with
a renewed passion for living. Show him that with you, no challenge is
insurmountable. Amen.

JONATHAN:
Phoebe...

(JONATHAN
begins to cough.)

(PHOEBE
gives him some water.)

JONATHAN: Thank
you.

PHOEBE: Jonathan,
I will pray for you everyday from now on and I will come visit you
again very soon.

(PHOEBE
stands up to leave.)

JONATHAN: Is
there any chance that one day you would have me for a husband?

(PHOEBE
smiles.)

PHOEBE: Jonathan,
I...

JONATHAN: Don't
say anything further... your smile alone gives me hope.

PHOEBE: Good
evening, Jonathan.

JONATHAN: Please
come back as soon as you can.

(PHOEBE
exits.)

(Blackout.)

SAM stands
alone reading a letter. CLAUDE stands next to him. Both men have aged
thirteen years.

SAM:

May 19th, 1789

Dear Brother,

Washington won
the election easily and he immediately asked me to serve as steward
to the presidential mansion. I am honored to have such a high post;
they treat me as fair as they would any white man. However, it is a
demanding position and I am thinking of selling the tavern. How I
wish I could keep it! There are countless memories in that place.

I got Phoebe
hired on as a maid at Washington’s mansion. She is grateful for the
opportunity. She is quite downhearted since the death of Jonathan
Lewis, a young suitor whom she befriended later in life.

As you know, she
is still single and nearing the end of her childbearing years. I am
reluctant to marry her off because of her behavior years ago with
Thomas. I also came to find out that she corresponded with that
runaway slave I fired. I doubt she is pure and it is best that she
remain alone.

Rose is expecting
her forth child. My grandchildren are quite wonderful! It is also a
blessing that they look more like Rose than Phillip.

I will board a
ship and come visit Saint-Domingue this winter. It’s been far too
long. I will bring that fine scotch you so enjoy, and we will toast
to this old patriot!

Love always,

Your brother,

Samuel Fraunces

(CLAUDE
reads a letter.)

CLAUDE:

August 29th, 1789

Dear Brother,

When you come
visit, there will be no partaking in fine scotch. I hope that you
will devote yourself to the most pressing cause, the freedom of our
people. I pay my taxes faithfully and own several properties and I am
still unable to vote. All over the island, slaves don't have adequate
food or medical care. Yellow fever is taking lives of every shade.

You so selflessly
helped the Americans secure their liberation and now I ask that you
come and help us. We need you.

Sincerely,

Your brother,

Claude Fraunces

PS. As the
revolution continues in France, it will make it easier for us to
defeat them.

SAM: Claude there
is far more to citizenship than voting. Although I have never cast a
ballot, I support candidates with my influence and with generous
donations to their campaigns. I agree that the conditions of the
slaves in Saint-Domingue should be improved but this is not a
pressing concern for me. My dear brother, I hope that your love for
our people does not overpower your sense of self-preservation.

(Blackout.)

It's late at
night at the Fraunces house. It's raining outside. PHOEBE drinks a
glass of wine as she looks out of the window. Thirteen years have
passed and she looks much older. Her hair is streaked with gray and
her eyes look tired.

(SAM
enters.)

SAM: It isn't
becoming for a lady to drink.

PHOEBE: Father,
let me be...

SAM: I hear
reports from the other maids that you are not keeping up with your
work at the mansion. President Washington thinks too fondly of you to
have you fired, but I will do it myself if necessary.

PHOEBE: By all
means, Father, do what you think best.

SAM: I suppose
it's quite natural for this weather to bring one's spirits down...

PHOEBE: Sun or
rain, day or night, I only draw breath. I no longer feel alive.

SAM: On the
contrary, you have much to be grateful for... our family name, a
beautiful home and a job serving the most important man in the
country. You haven't any idea how many women would-

PHOEBE: I am
still alone, Father.

SAM: That is your
doing.

PHOEBE: I agree.
I should have left here and made a life for myself.

SAM: Had you done
that, you would have starved or taken up some awful trade.

PHOEBE: You
cannot be certain of that! Besides, I might have found happiness.

SAM: Well then, I
am surprised that you didn't pursue it.

PHOEBE: My
allegiance to you overpowered my allegiance to myself. And I never
lost faith in your promise... you said you wouldn't let me become an
old maid.

SAM: Phoebe...

PHOEBE: I deserve
to be loved by someone. I deserve a good husband and a life of my
own.

SAM: You must
understand how difficult it was for me as your father... I was
floored by your affair with Thomas and then you-

PHOEBE: I assure
you, it's been far more difficult for me. I wish to God you would
stop judging me and see past my indiscretion, see the woman before
you. I am your daughter.

SAM: Phoebe, I
see my face in yours and that is why I... I reacted the way I did
years ago. And now, I am aware of how this has hurt you and for that,
I am very sorry.

(Beat)

If it pleases
you, I can try and arrange for you to marry someone.

PHOEBE: I don't
know, Father.

SAM: Well, please
give it some thought... I do not wish for you to be unhappy.
Goodnight, my dear.

PHOEBE:
Goodnight.

(SAM
exits.)

(Blackout.)

GUSS stands
reading a letter. The years have been kind to him, he looks about the
same.

GUSS:

July 4th, 1789

Dear Phoebe,

I finally learned
to read and write! I started off with The Good Book and now I've
worked my way up to Shakespeare.

I'm living in
Boston and I've got a little tavern of my own. It's not as fancy as
your father's, but it's keeping me busy.

I married a
lovely woman who reminded me of you, Sarah. We had a daughter, Mary,
she's eleven years old now. Last winter, my wife passed away from
pneumonia. It broke my heart to bury her and it was even harder to
send my daughter to live with my wife's sister.

I thought about
you, all through the years. That day, at the seaport, I waited for
you until midnight. By now, I'm sure you're married to some lucky
fellow and surrounded by beautiful children.

Yours sincerely,

Guss Porter

PS. I don't know
if Mr. Fraunces ever told you, but I asked for your hand before I
left New York. You are the woman I've always wanted for a wife.

(Blackout.)

It's early in
the morning at Guss' Tavern. GUSS is wiping down a table.

(PHOEBE
enters.)

PHOEBE: Guss?

GUSS: My oh my!

PHOEBE: When I
got your letter, I boarded the first coach to Boston.

GUSS: Did you
ever get married?

PHOEBE

Guss, I came to
be with you, if you will still have me.

GUSS: Now,
Phoebe, this here tavern is all I got... And I live right upstairs,
it's only three rooms and I ain't got much in the way of furniture...
Are you sure this is good enough for you. I know it ain't nothin'
like what you're used to...

PHOEBE: This will
do just fine.

GUSS: Did you
tell Mr. Fraunces?

PHOEBE: I left
him a note...

GUSS: I know how
much your family means to you... Phoebe, are you sure you want to
marry me?

PHOEBE: We'll
make our own family.

GUSS: Well, let's
find us a church and a priest and make this thing official.

(PHOEBE
and GUSS kiss.)

(Blackout.)

SAM stands
alone reading a letter.

SAM:

September 15th, 1790

Dear Mrs. Phoebe
Porter,

Although I do not
completely approve of your union with Guss, I pray that you both have
found happiness together. I am especially glad to hear that you are
with child. Your mother and I plan to visit you in Boston next month.

Love,

Your father,

Samuel Fraunces

(Blackout.)