Shades of War Read Online Free Page A

Fraunces.

    (SAM
exits.)

    (GUSS
wipes down one of the tables with a rag in his pocket. He begins
placing chairs on tables.)

    (PHOEBE
enters.)

    PHOEBE: Father!

    GUSS: Good
evening, Miss Fraunces... Miss Fraunces?

    PHOEBE: Where is
my father?

    GUSS: He’s in
the kitchen.

    PHOEBE: Go fetch
him for me.

    GUSS: What’s
that you said?

    PHOEBE: Go fetch
my father at once! Go quickly!

    (GUSS
exits.)

    (SAM
enters.)

    SAM: Why in god’s
name are you here? A tavern is no place for a lady at this hour!

    PHOEBE: Father, I
had to come straight away. Thomas asked me to...

    SAM: Thomas! You
dare to-

    PHOEBE: He cared
nothing for me... he used me to...

    SAM: What did you
think would come of your affair? You fell prey to his lies and now he
has ruined you. You should have married Jonathan. Now, it's too late.

    PHOEBE: Thomas
lied to me about everything. He did not dessert the British Army
after all. He is acting as their spy and he wants to assassinate
General Washington! Thomas asked me to poison him!

    SAM: What?

    PHOEBE: That's
his mission... to kill General Washington. He only got close to me so
that I could help him. Father...

    SAM: How weak of
him to ask this of you! Cowards like that do not deserve life. I will
alert General Washington and we will deal with this spineless rogue.
But we must have proof! Phoebe, you have to go back to Thomas, tell
him that you will aide in his scheme.

    PHOEBE: But
Father, I thought you didn’t want me to be seen with him because of
appearances.

    SAM: There’s no
hope for saving your reputation, but you can at least do this deed
for the good of the Revolution.

    PHOEBE: I can’t
go back to him... I am too heartbroken to be in his presence again.

    SAM: You will and
you must.

    PHOEBE: No! Do
you value the war over me?

    SAM: You lost
your value when you started an affair with that damned rogue. Now go
to him at once!

    (PHOEBE
exits.)

    (Blackout.)

Scene 2

    PHOEBE stands
alone reading a letter.

    PHOEBE:
    Father,

    I am writing this
letter because I do not wish to be in your presence. I pray your
sacrifice for the Revolution is worth the loss of my love.

    Thomas' plan is
as follows:

    1.) He has
arranged to be one of Washington's body guards this weekend.

    2.) He asked me
to work in the kitchen and prepare the general's main course.

    3.) The first two
courses are to be served along a generous amount of wine.

    4.) He provided
me with the poison to add to the main course, cured ham with peas and
rice.

    5.) I will
personally bring the plate to General Washington and alert him of the
poison by whispering in his ear.

    Everything is in
place for Saturday evening.

    Your daughter,

    Phoebe

    (Blackout.)

Scene 3

    SAM stands
alone reading a letter.

    SAM:
    June 30th, 1776

    Dear Brother,

    Life’s
surprises never cease to amaze me. My Phoebe showed great courage in
exposing a spy British who attempted to poison General Washington.
When she warned him, Washington threw his food out of the window
where chickens were feeding. Those poor birds feel dead instantly!

    The rogue
confessed to the assassination plot, and he was hanged two days ago.
Hell is too good a place for such a man.

    Now, I am
prospering from the scandal that could have destroyed our family.
Since Phoebe saved Washington’s life, she is regarded as a heroine.
Tonight, I am hosting a grand celebration at the tavern! I will open
my best bottles of wine and champagne. Wish you were here to share a
toast.

    In high spirits,

    Your brother,

    Samuel Fraunces

    (Blackout.)

Scene 4

    It's very dark
at the Fraunces house, in the early hours of the morning. SAM is
heard offstage singing loudly in French. GUSS enters, supporting a
drunken SAM.

    GUSS helps SAM
to the rocking chair. SAM almost falls and GUSS catches him. SAM'S
powdered wig comes off in the process. His kinky hair is exposed. SAM
runs his fingers over his hair.

    SAM: Now you see
what I’ve been hiding.

    (SAM
touches GUSS’ hair.)

    SAM: A curse for
all