Shades of War Read Online Free

think of you
always, even at the oddest of times. I picture your face and long to
kiss you and be near you.

    You would be
happy to know that the man father chose for me ended all
correspondence with me. I am entirely available for you, my love. I
want nothing more than to be your wife.

    Forever yours,

    Phoebe Fraunces

    (Blackout.)

Scene 10
     
    THOMAS stands
alone reading a letter.

    THOMAS:
    June 5th, 1776

    My Dearest
Phoebe,

    I am so very glad
that you chose me. I must admit the thought of you marrying another
man was too to bear. We won't have to hide our love for much longer.
This will soon pass and we will be together.

    With Love,

    Thomas Hickey

    (Blackout.)

Scene 11

    SAM is pacing
back and forth in his living room, holding a letter. SAM calls out to
the doorway.

    SAM: Phoebe! Come
here at once!

    (PHOEBE
enters.)

    PHOEBE: Yes,
Father.

    SAM: Your mother
found this letter from Thomas Hickey!

    PHOEBE: Father...
He’s...

    SAM: I thought
you were the smartest among my children, but I am so sadly mistaken.
With this, your reputation is forever stained! And it doesn’t stop
with you! Our family name is at risk! Is this the foolish reason why
you declined to marry Jonathan? It was no easy task to find him and
now...

    PHOEBE: I would
have been miserable with Jonathan. Father, you need to understand
that I love Thomas. When we're married, you'll see-

    (SAM
throws the letter on the floor.)

    SAM: Marriage is
the furthest thing from his intentions! He is exploiting you in the
way white men often exploit our women! How naive for you to think
otherwise.

    PHOEBE: Father,
you don't–

    SAM: I pray I
never see him again, because I will end his life in one blow! What
did you do with him?

    (SAM
grabs her by the arms and looks straight into her eyes.)

    SAM: I hope to
God that he did not rob you of your purity.

    PHOEBE: Please
don't think so little of me.

    (SAM
releases her.)

    SAM: When this
gossip gets around, no one will want you for a wife.

    PHOEBE: I only
wish to be with Thomas!

    SAM: I never want
to hear his name on your lips again. End all correspondence with him!

    (PHOEBE
begins to cry.)

    SAM: This is what
must be done for the sake of our family name! I pray you have not
ruined us.

    (SAM
exits.)

    PHOEBE: Father,
you're wrong about Thomas! He does love me!

    (Blackout.)

Scene 12

    PHOEBE and
THOMAS sit on a blanket in their secret meeting place holding hands.

    PHOEBE: Paris...
Berlin... Madrid... perhaps London. What do you think of London?

    THOMAS: I think
Paris suits you.

    PHOEBE: Never
mind the city, so long as we can be together. Father found the letter
you wrote.

    THOMAS: Phoebe,
you should've been more careful.

    PHOEBE: He'll
come around... his heart will change... and even if it doesn't, I
only want to be with you. But we can't stay here.

    THOMAS: Phoebe,
your father is so close to General Washington that we have no choice
but to leave.

    PHOEBE: So let's
board a ship tonight.

    THOMAS: Yes,
Phoebe, but before we go...

    (THOMAS
whispers something in PHOEBE'S ear and leans in for a kiss.)

    (Blackout.)

ACT II
Scene 1

    It's late in
the evening. The tavern is empty. GUSS is sweeping the floor at the
tavern.

    (SAM
enters.)

    SAM: Good
evening, Guss.

    GUSS: It'd be a
better evening if I had me a fine coat like the one you got, Mr.
Fraunces.

    SAM: You must
aspire beyond trivial things like clothes. Set your sights on being a
proprietor.

    GUSS: Well, I’m
saving up to buy me a little plot of land by Trinity Church.

    SAM: That will be
a fine start for you.

    GUSS: All that’s
missing is a wife.

    SAM: Patience, my
good man. It would be a mistake to marry in your current condition.
You mustn’t rush, women are quite demanding and expensive.

    GUSS: But they
sure do a good job of keepin’ the bed warm on a cold night.

    SAM: Well said. I
need to check the kitchen over before we close. Be sure to wipe down
the wine glasses in the cupboard before you leave.

    GUSS: Sure thing,
Mr.