Crest of the Waves - all 8 Bells together

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! ! ! ! ! CREST OF THE WAVES

! ! ! ! ! by ED BALLOU

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2014!! ! ! ! ! Ed Ballou! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! [email protected]! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! !

Copyright Ed Ballou, 2014

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

! ! ! ! ! ! CHARACTERS

CAP - A retired sea captain - around 80, mobile, Italian t-shirt - he pantomimes watering his lawn and plants, turning on the water, coiling and uncoiling his hose, etc.

MR. TILSON - 60‘s, former manager of a shipyard

MRS. TILSON - 60’s, his wife

TEDDY - Cap’s grandson, early 20’s

JIMMY - Cap’s son, about 50, tan face from seafaring, a cap that says “Do Not Disturb”

MADGE - Cap’s daughter, about 50, funny, mobile, but elegant

BILLY - an old retired tugboat captain, 70’s, wears a captain’s cap

RALPH - Cap’s brother, about 80, untucked, unbuttoned, plaid short sleeve shirt

The following three characters can be played by one actor in three different costumes -

all three are Cap’s uncles, wearing Captain’s caps and dressed in turn of the eighteenth

century sailor’s outfits

UNCLE NED

UNCLE TOMMY

UNCLE BEN

MAN - dressed in turn of the last century island farmer garb

BOY - dressed in turn of the last century island garb

OFFICER - Merchant Marine officer

MATE - ship’s mate, OFFSTAGE

TIME: 1970.


! ! ! ! ! ! SET

UPSTAGE is The Porch, with an old concrete walk dividing a tropical front yard in half - crabgrass, small fruit trees, and a palm tree on each side - under one palm tree a small pile of rocks, under the other a sign swinging from a frame saying “Crest of the Waves” - the walk culminates in steps going up to a covered porch with two screen doors right and left - two short lawn chairs next to each other, in the area between the doors. At times The Porch darkens, and behind it The Plot appears, with sea sounds below and cliffs rising above, that disappear into the shadow of a volcanic peak.

STAGE RIGHT is The Railing where scenes at sea take place. It’s several feet long, and stands at different heights, depending on which ship it is the railing. It can be low and wooden, with rope rigging going up to the masts above, as on a sailing ship, or high and steel as on the wheelhouse of a Liberty ship, or low and steel with scuppers, as on a tugboat.

DOWNSTAGE LEFT is The Pulpit, with a coffin in front and a ship’s bell behind - the pews are the theatre audience - there is a suggestion of windows flung open to a blue sky floating over the sounds of the sea.! ! !! ! ! ! !! !! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ONE BELL! ! ! ! ! 1-1-1

AT RISE: Lights rise on TEDDY standing behind The Pulpit, a simple wooden coffin before it. Sunlight streaming in from one side, the SOUNDS of the sea crashing far below on the cliffs. JIMMY, MADGE, MIM, and BILLY are sitting in a pew in front of the coffin - more pews behind are suggested by the audience.

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWe are gathered here on The Rock to honor the life of Cap, a man from the past - born on The Rock at the end of the nineteenth century - his mother born here five years after President Lincoln was shot and six years before Custer’s Last Stand. Cap had to go to sea as a cabin boy on a three-masted schooner. He eventually sailed up to New York as deckhand, where the shipping was better - going through the First World War as a sailor in the Merchant Marine, then marrying and raising three kids, as he rose to Captain on the water. When shipping slowed in the Great Depression, he painted houses and refinished floors by hand. Cap went through the Second World War as a captain of Liberty ships in the convoys - moving to Florida after the war, and continuing to serve as a skipper of freighters until he was forced to retire. By the time of his passing, the big moon under which he stood watch on those old wooden schooners had seen the footprints of man. My grandfather was a simple man - he lived how people here on The Rock lived for the last three centuries - never learned to drive, no phone, taught himself to read and write on the ships. He smoked cigars and pipes, watched only Friday night boxing on his small black and white TV, and listened only to Paul Harvey on his radio. He ate as if he were still on those sailing ships of long ago - slumgullion, johnnybread, and bread pudding for dessert. He drank lemonade with ice cubes from plastic cups, and took slugs of rum from a bottle he kept hidden in a cupboard. Cap had a saying: “If a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right...” - I reckon that’s how he tried to live his life, and this is my eulogy for Cap...! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on The Pulpit, LIGHTS RISE ! ! ! ! ! ! on The Porch. A store-bought placard sign ! ! ! ! ! ! saying “For Rent” hangs below the sign that ! ! ! ! ! ! declares “Crest of The Waves”. Cap stands ! ! ! ! ! ! watering his front lawn. The SOUND of a car ! ! ! ! ! ! pulling up, the engine stays running, car doors ! ! ! ! ! ! slam, a trunk opens and closes, the murmur of ! ! ! ! ! ! a cabbie being paid - ENTER MR. TILSON and ! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON, with suitcases in hand.)

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSON!! ! ! !Hello!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHo...


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-2! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSON! ! ! ! ! ! (Waving a newspaper)Saint Pete Beach, right? - we just flew in from New York - picked up a paper at the airport, and saw your place was for rent - took a cab out here, hoped we’d find something - that was our plan, soon as I retired last week, we closed the apartment and headed down south here for the beaches - we had enough of those cold winters in New York - we want heat! - this your duplex?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLeft side’s for rent... ! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONWho lives in the right side?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI lives there.. out back I got a three-room my daughter, Madge, lives in, and a one-room I got rented to a man named Roy...

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONI’m Irv - my wife, Ruth.. what’s your name?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThey calls me Cap...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWe’re looking to retire down here, to some little beach town - this might be the place...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore, maybe.. New York? - lived up there twenty years - Richmond Hill..! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONWell, I’m from Brooklyn - I was manager of the Brooklyn Shipyard thirty years!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNever put in there...

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONWell, why would you? - it’s just a big yard that repairs ships and such..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !Wal, I was on the water meself fifty years, in and outta shipyards..

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONOh? - a sailor, or mate, on tankers and freighters?


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-3! ! ! ! ! ! CAPStarted off as cabin boy, then sailor, then mate - captain, the last years - Liberty ships, sailed in the convoys...

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONThat was some war - brought us a lot of business, unfortunately, what with those U-boats torpedoing our ships - some right off New York Harbor!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI knows ‘bout that..

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONWell, Cap, could we take a look at the place?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. hundred a month, utilities on you...! ! ! ! ! ! (He leads them up the stairs)

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONCome on, Ruth.. I’m liking the feel of this.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’m liking the heat, Irv..

! ! ! ! ! ! MR. TILSONThat’s good, that’s good! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulls out a cigar) Mind if I smoke in there, Cap?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI smoke, meself - all ahead full on yer cigar, Irv...! ! ! ! ! ! (Mr. Tilson puts his cigar in his mouth, they all ! ! ! ! ! ! go into the left side of the duplex - LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE again on The Porch - CAP is sitting in ! ! ! ! ! ! one of the lawn chairs on the porch, reading a ! ! ! ! ! ! newspaper with his glasses on. The right ! ! ! ! ! ! screen door opens - ENTER MADGE onto the ! ! ! ! ! ! porch, carrying a small placard, and a ! ! ! ! ! ! styrofoam ice chest which she puts down. She ! ! ! ! ! ! goes back to the wall of the duplex behind ! ! ! ! ! ! Cap’s chair, thumbtacks the placard up.)!

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Reading the placard)“The Captain’s Word Is Law”!


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-5! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Reading his newspaper)Goin’ fishin’ this mornin’, Madge?

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Striking a pose)The fish are asking me for an audience!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Reading)Go back ta th garage - take th bamboo pole - just inside th door...

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEThey’re all bamboo poles, Daddy..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTh one with th big reel..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEI’m not catching a whale!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPIt’s good for trollin’.. got heavy sinkers, goes down deep fer th fish..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Picking up the styrofoam ice chest)Fresh fish for dinner!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !I’ll go up ta Winn Dixie, just in case..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGENo need to shop, Daddy.. I’m bringing back.. red snapper - they’re running!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPRunnin’ where?

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE Only The Shadow knows!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI’ll get a ham.. what charter boat you goin’ out on?

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGECaptain Randy’s!


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-6! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCaptain Randy on th Buenavista? - you’ll have ta pilot him outta th harbor..! ! ! ! ! ! (Mimicking - he’s been there before)“Which way do I go, Cap?”! ! ! ! ! ! (Normal voice)“Christ, just foller’ th channel, me boy!”

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEIf I’m not back by dinner, send the dogs out..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Putting up his newspaper, going down the ! ! ! ! ! ! steps to water his lawn)I’ll send yer brother out in his Buick..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! !I’ll be back with an ice chest full of fresh snapper!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Uncoiling the hose, turning it on)Yer th only thing that’s fresh - now get yer pole...! ! ! ! ! ! (He waters)

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Pretending annoyance, tossing her head)Well! - but the Captain’s word is law!! ! ! ! ! ! (MADGE EXITS - the LIGHTS DIM on The ! ! ! ! ! ! Porch, LIGHTS RISE on Teddy at The Podium)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYMy Aunt Madge was a smart woman who would have gone to college in a later decade - instead, she went through stenography school and became a legal secretary - first in Costa Rica, then in Paris working for the OSS, she found herself in San Francisco in the 50’s, living in a Victorian apartment overlooking the Bay, working her way up through the secretarial pool to become personal secretary to a partner in a Sansome Street law firm - finally running his office for him when he became ill - Madge sitting in his big leather chair in his office with the window overlooking the financial district - and upon his death, a gift of cash and his Thunderbird allowing Madge to retire to Florida and rent out the three-room in the back of the duplex, to be near her beloved Daddy during the last years of his life...! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS RISE on the front yard, CAP ! ! ! ! ! ! watering the plants. The steady SOUND of low ! ! ! ! ! ! surf gently washing up on a nearby beach. ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER BILLY up the walk, carrying a bunch of ! ! ! ! ! ! bananas on his head.)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-7! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking over, watering)Lookin’ good, Billy..! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYA present, Cap...! ! ! ! ! ! (Climbs the steps, puts the bananas on a chair)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPBringin’ coal ta’ Newcastle..

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYThese are bananas..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Watering a small tree with big fronds)What’s this?

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking carefully)A banana tree..! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNo, it’s Newcastle n’ it’s fulla coal..

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYBut no bananas..! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPGot a bunch o’ them on me table..! ! ! ! ! ! (Goes back to watering. A pause.)

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY !! ! ! !Would it kill ya ta recognize me for who I am?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYou’re a retired old tugboat captain, walkin’ ‘round with bananas on your head..

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYThey could build a statue of me in New York Harbor, for what I done!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist, even the pigeons wouldn’t sit on it.. what you need a statue for?

! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-8! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYSo people will look up at it, and say, “I remember old Billy, that son of a sea cook! Damn him for dyin’ - wonder what he’s doin’ now?”! ! ! ! ! ! (Laughs)And dead, I’ll be dead! - and who’ll care? - you care, you gonna care, Cap?! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks at CAP watering)You ain’t gonna care - you don’t care about me, now! You don’t! Who am I to you, huh? Nobody - a landlubber cause I never left New York Harbor, never sailed deepwater - you think I’m not a real sailor! You never did, huh, Cap - never!!! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Watering)Billy, you’re three sheets ta th wind..! ! ! ! ! ! (Sprinkles some water his way)

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Moving out of the way)You ever been on a steam tug, haulin’ rope in a freezin’ storm, hands slippin’ on a thick hawser tyin’ our little tug to a big ship like you was master of, a sailor on its deck shoutin’ down, “Pull, tug swabbie, pull, tighten this line, get yer tug pullin’ - pull! - pull us offen this dock afore we ram her - pull, you son of a sea cook!” And we pulled! - waves sloshin’ on deck, old wood hull a-bangin’ against that big iron hull, boiler roarin’, steam engine clankin’, fire belchin’ from the stack - and we pulled that ship off that dock, a big ship like you was captain of - saved their deepwater hides, then pushed ‘em back snug inna berth! And no thanks from those deepwater men up there, not a word! - don’t forget, Cap, I worked my way up from deck just like you! - we both climbed into the wheelhouse and become captain - I was captain of my own damn steam tug in New York Harbor - I was captain!!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Sprinkling water at him)Look out, tug captain - wave’s comin’ aboard!

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Drying himself off, going down the steps)You wasn’t the only one was captain..

! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY EXITS. CAP continues watering. ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER TEDDY with a suitcase - puts it down)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTeddy.. what you doin’ here? - thought you was in California...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYThings didn’t work out with this girl...!


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-9! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWell, boy, you’re welcome here anytime - your Uncle Jimmy will be glad ta see ya - he just got off his tanker - he’s stoppin’ by this mornin’ - how was th flight?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYCouldn’t afford a plane - took a Greyhound, three long days ride..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Your Uncle Jimmy will wanna take ya down to see your Grandma..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYou still got that ol’ double-ender boat?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThe Little Nick - she’s anchored out in th Pass..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI’d like to go out in her sometime..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore, boy - now stow yer stuff in th front bedroom..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYOkay, Granpot - sure glad I’m here!!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMe too, boy - me too... ! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY EXITS - CAP continues watering - ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER MIM, with peroxide red hair)

! ! ! ! ! ! MIMHi, Cap..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Watering)Ho, Mim..! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIMWas that your grandson I saw come up the driveway?!!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !He’s stayin’ awhile..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIMVacation?


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-10! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist, he can’t afford no vacation, makes no money paintin’ houses in California! - came down on th Greyhound, prob’ly broke - gonna have ta look for work - maybe Jimmy can get him on th sea, I dunno..

! ! ! ! ! ! MIMIf he’s looking for work, I could use the fence painted over at my apartment house - if he wants a job he can walk to, tell him to stop by - you too, Cap - I’ll pour you a stiff rum..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI’ll send him, Mim..! ! ! ! ! ! (Continues watering)! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MIMDon’t forget that rum..! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP continues watering the front yard - the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of cicadas and the low murmur of surf ! ! ! ! ! ! as the LIGHTS DIM - LIGHTS RISE again on ! ! ! ! ! ! The Porch - no one in the lawn chairs - Roy ! ! ! ! ! ! comes up the steps and knocks on Cap’s ! ! ! ! ! ! screen door - TEDDY opens it)

! ! ! ! ! ! ROYOh, hi.. Cap in?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYMy Granpa’s up at Winn Dixie...!

! ! ! ! ! ! ROY! ! ! !So, you’re his grandson..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYeah, I’m Teddy - Roy, right? - renting the one-room?

! ! ! ! ! ! ROYThese last three months - work over in Bermuda, putting in cabinets - I’m gone half the time...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYeah, you from Bermuda?

! ! ! ! ! ! ROYNo, I’m from a little town south of here, Fort Everglades, down in the swamp..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-11! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI’m from California!

! ! ! ! ! ! ROYWhat brought you here, son?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWoman problems.. what brought you here?

! ! ! ! ! ! ROYWell, I wasn’t plannin’ on ever leavin’ my little hometown, was pretty happy there, had me a little job... this was before the war, the second one - then war broke out and a recruiter came down to our town and said his piece, and I believed him and signed up - got trained in Intelligence, sent to the South Pacific - we was plannin’ an attack - I mean, the generals was - of a little island called Guadalcanal, and they needed to know where the enemy had his defenses set up, and so they sent us to reconnoiter the island, us Intelligence men, a few days before the invasion.. they brought us out there at night by submarine, and the sub surfaced and we made our way to the island in boats, real quiet like - boats had electric motors, so the Japanese wouldn’t hear us coming.. we landed quietly on that beach in the dark, and snuck ‘round for hours in the jungle, scoutin’ out the Jap defenses, quiet as church mice.. ‘til a Jap sentry heard us and alerted the others - big fire fight broke out, tracers lightin‘ up the dark, everbody firin’ every which way - there went our element of surprise! - we were lucky to make it back to the boats and get the hell out of there! - at least, most of us - we made it back to the sub and it submerged.. but we got the intelligence they wanted for that assault on Guadalcanal!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYAnd the rest is history..

! ! ! ! ! ! ROYI made it through the war, and after it was over, I went back to my little home town - but I just couldn’t be there no more, after seein’ what I saw.. I got out of there, came up to Tampa Bay, got a job, got married, got unmarried, changed jobs a few times, moved around - and now here I am, still workin‘ for a livin‘, stayin’ here in your Granpot’s little one-room, for who knows how long...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Say, I came here to borrow Cap’s little space heater - nights been getting a little chilly, and Cap told me I could take it..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWell, let me see..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks inside)Here it is.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Gives Roy a small space heater)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-12! ! ! ! ! ! ROYThanks!! ! ! ! ! ! (Starts to EXIT, pauses, turns back)You know what, boy? - that one night on Guadalcanal was about all the excitement I ever had in this life...! ! ! ! ! ! (ROY EXITS, Teddy closes the screen door - ! ! ! ! ! ! the LIGHTS DIM, then the LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! CAP sitting in his lawn chair on the porch, ! ! ! ! ! ! reading his paper - ENTER MADGE up the ! ! ! ! ! ! walk, carrying the styrofoam ice chest - drops it ! ! ! ! ! ! in front of him)

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEEnter the queen, with a mess o’fish - and boy are they heavy!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat you got?! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! !Two rockfish, three mullet, four sunfish - and a giant grouper!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPA giant grouper swallow you whole..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEWell, maybe it’s a tuna..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat about snapper? - hear they’re runnin’..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEI hooked a snapper, but it snapped the line - that’s what they do! - I thought we were having ham for dinner...! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWe are now, less’n you caught somethin’..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Daddy.. I just caught a little angelfish and threw it back - then I fished and fished some more, until.. until.. I broke your big bamboo pole..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWal, Madge, musta’ hooked a awful big fish that time..

! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-13! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Taking the top off the cooler)It was awful big..! ! ! ! ! ! (She lifts a ship’s bell out of the cooler) An awful big bell..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks at it)At th bottom o’ th ocean?

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Holding up the bell)A ship’s bell.. it’s old! - thought you might like it - Captain Randy on the charter boat had a sailor clean off the barnacles - wasn’t that nice?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPAny name on it? - th ship - year she was launched?

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Picking up the bell, reading)“Rebecca Palmer - 1877”...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat?! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Let me see..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulls out his glasses from his pants pocket, ! ! ! ! ! ! puts them on, takes bell, holds it up, looks at ! ! ! ! ! ! the inscription)You was fishin’ where?

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEJust off Egmont Key - Captain Randy made sure we didn’t drift in too close to the rocks..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looking at the bell)The Rebecca Palmer was a square-rigger went down off Egmont Key in a nor’easter - no, a sou’wester - in nineteen-ought-seven..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEWhat’s the difference between a nor’easter and a sou’wester?! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPA nor’easter won’t take no cheek from a sou’wester..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-14! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Handing him the bell) Well, that’s all that remains of the Rebecca Palmer, Daddy..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, holding up bell)Tater owned that ship, was master of her..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEYour Uncle Tater?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPAll hands lost in that sou’wester.. you get cleaned up, n’ I’ll put th ham in th oven.. oh, Madge - I rented the apartment this morning to a couple from New York - the Tilsons...! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP picks up the bell, looks at it - grabs the ! ! ! ! ! ! rope clapper, RINGS the bell once, carries it up ! ! ! ! ! ! the steps, puts it down on a lawn chair, EXITS ! ! ! ! ! ! into his side of the duplex - the SOUND of ! ! ! ! ! ! Jimmy’s Buick pulling up on the shell road - a ! ! ! ! ! ! car door slams - ENTER JIMMY, striding up the ! ! ! ! ! ! walk and quickly climbing the steps)

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhere’s Pop?

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEInside, fixing a ham.. - Teddy’s out here from California - all of a sudden showed up - Daddy wants to know if you can get him on ships - you staying for dinner?

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYGotta night mate in Tampa.. I’ll scout ships for Teddy, but union won’t take any more sailors - all he could ship are non-union tugs..!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MADGECan you get him on one?

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMYI’d rather he sail the big ships..

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE Well, he can start on a small tug - I’ve gotta clean up - I’ve been fishing!

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY! ! ! !What’d you catch?


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-1-15! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE! ! ! ! ! ! (Grandly)A bell!! ! ! ! ! ! (MADGE EXITS around the back - JIMMY ! ! ! ! ! ! goes inside Cap’s side of the duplex - the ! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS DIM on THe Porch)! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! TWO BELLS !! ! ! ! 1-2-1

! ! ! ! ! ! (The distant, periodic SOUND of a foghorn - ! ! ! ! ! ! - CAP sitting in his lawn chair, smoking a pipe ! ! ! ! ! ! - TEDDY ENTERS through the right screen ! ! ! ! ! ! door, stands on the porch)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhat time’s the fight?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPEight o’clock..!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Poking his head back through the screen door, ! ! ! ! ! ! looking up at a clock)Ten minutes..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, gesturing inside)Where’d you get that clock made of driftwood?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYour Uncle Jimmy made it..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Sitting in the other lawn chair)He’s pretty handy with wood..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHow about you?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !Some...! !! ! ! ! ! ! (He smokes, they sit, listening to the foghorn)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHow’s Mim’s fence comin’?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYGot it about scraped down - gonna prime it tomorrow... I can see the Little Nick from Mim’s place, anchored in the Pass - keeps bobbing up and down in the waves, straining against its anchor chain - like it’s trying to bust loose and sail away on it’s own! - I feel like that, Granpot, when I’m painting Mim’s fence...


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-2! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWal, maybe your Uncle Jimmy can get ya on th sea, boy..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYThink so?! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, TEDDY again gestures inside)And you got a lamp in there, made out of some instrument..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYour Uncle Jimmy made it outta’ me ol’ sextant..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhat’s that?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLines you up with th stars, so’s you can tell where your ship is - then you can chart your course..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYou sailed by the stars?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !Shore, th only way you could sail in th ol’ days..! ! ! ! ! ! (They listen to the foghorn)Fog’s thick on th Gulf..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhere’s the foghorn?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPOn a big (red) buoy, on th channel comin‘ in..!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYou seen it?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPPlenty..! ! ! ! ! ! (They listen to the foghorn)Sounds like th one at The Rock..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYThey had a foghorn on The Rock?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP So th ships wouldn’t wreck on her cliffs.. used to listen ta’ it, when I was a boy..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-3! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY Before you shipped!out?!! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCabin boy, thirty a month - hadta send it all back ta take care o’ me Ma...! ! ! ! ! ! (They listen to the foghorn)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY ! ! ! ! !Why’d you ship out?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMe pappy passed away, while he was farmin’ our plot on The Rock..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHe was a farmer?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHad ta quit th sea. when he got a fire coal in his hand, couldn’t sail no more, had ta take up farmin...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYAnd what did his dad do?!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPSame, went ta sea, like th rest o’ them..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYAnd his granddad?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTa sea - like all them what come before...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYAnd Uncle Jimmy shipped out, too..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPIt’s in our blood, me boy - your blood, too...! ! ! ! ! ! (They listen to the foghorn)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHow far is it to The Rock? - like if we took the Little Nick..!! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !Depends on th wind n’ th currents..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-4! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY A week?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMaybe ten, twelve day (check!) - with th wind at our back n’ currents runnin’ our way..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Think we could take the Little Nick out in the Gulf - just the two of us?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..! ! ! ! ! ! (They listen to the foghorn, the LIGHTS DIM, ! ! ! ! ! ! on The Porch, RISE on CAP and TEDDY ! ! ! ! ! ! sitting on The Railing, holding on to the rigging ! ! ! ! ! ! that goes up to the mast - the gentle rhythmic ! ! ! ! ! ! rocking motion of the ship is suggested by light ! ! ! ! ! ! in the darkness, a thousand stars overhead)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYGee, we sailed out to see the sunset, and now it’s dark and I can’t see land and there’s no wind - now what do we do?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPDrift..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY You mean, drift out to sea? - can’t you call someone on the radio?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPGot no radio..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY ! ! ! ! !No radio, you have no radio?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPBetter ta be out here alone..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWe’re alone, all right - no one knows where we are - we don’t even know where we are!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI know..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-5! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHow can you tell?!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPBy th stars.. see that one up there? - that’s th Big Dipper.. handle points ta th North Star.. there! - that’s north, that’s south, that’s west n’ that’s east, where land is...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYBut we’re drifting away from land!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTide’s pullin’ us in..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhat happens when the tide goes out and there’s still no wind - then what?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI’ll start th engine..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYou got an engine on this, this old..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !.. two-masted sloop, double-ender..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWell, fire it up, Granpot!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPToo noisy..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYGranpot! - we could drift to our deaths on some forgotten shore! - you’ve lived a long life - I’ve just started mine! - I’m not ready to meet my Maker!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTeddy.. when He calls ya - ya better go..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI didn’t know he’d call this soon!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPGrin ‘n bear it, boy... soon’s th wind comes up, we’ll make it back ta th Pass..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-6! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhich direction is that? - all I see is the Gulf!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPDue east a few mile.. see th lights, boy?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhere? - there? - those lights? - that’s the Pass?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYup..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY ! ! ! !Well! .. that’s better.. that’s not so far.. we could almost swim there! - couldn’t we?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNot plannin’ to..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWe’ve drifted that far in towards shore, huh?! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks toward shore)Do you think we can see the lights of the Crest of the Waves, in all those other lights? - did you leave any lights on?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPPorch light, ‘n maybe Madge’s little light is on, out back..! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, the SOUNDS of the sea)

What happened with you n’ the girl?!! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYShe dumped me... you know, Granpot, I can still see her face...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJust stay away from th anchor rope, me boy...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhat?! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap doesn’t answer - Teddy looks around)You know.. this is really not so bad.. here we are, alone in the night - clear water below, clear sky above, a thousand stars - and just the two of us, me and my Grandpa, on a small wooden sloop - why, we could be out in space somewhere, in a spaceship! - you think much about space, Granpot?!

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-7! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !Nope..! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, the SOUNDS of the sea)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYou know.. we don’t really have to go back to the Pass.. we could just keep on sailing - to The Rock! Could the Little Nick sail all the way to The Rock?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore, if we had enough stores..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWell, couldn’t we put into a port and get some? - like Key West! - that’s on the way! - get more stores - and then set sail, again - for The Rock! - which way is Key West, south?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPSouth, southwest.. (check!)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhat do say, Granpot? - what an adventure! - we’ll sail down to The Rock and drop anchor and you could visit, while I explore! - why, those lights over there could be from The Rock! - expect higher, I guess, being there’s cliffs - how high are they?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPFew hundred feet..!! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYAnd then we could see the lights of, of..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLittle villages, five of ‘em..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY ! ! ! !And people from The Rock will crowd the cliffs to see us! - Cap, finally coming back to The Rock in his two-masted schooner, the Little Nick - with grandson Teddy at the helm, sailing her right up to the cliffs! - you dropping the anchor.. !! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPIf I could lift th anchor - that’s your job, Brutus..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYou know, Granpot, I read about The Rock - it’s an extinct volcano poking right up out of the sea..!

! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-8! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCould be..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY.. and nobody was there for thousands of years - just birds and plants and animals - whatever flew or floated up and took hold - hawks, mice, breadfruit trees.. and then the ancient Indians came - lived there for centuries, and disappeared - and then, and then - nobody, until Columbus sailed by The Rock, jotting it down in his log - and then still nobody, until our Dutch people came and settled it three hundred years ago - “them what come before” - the people from The Rock! - you know, Granpot, when we sail up in the Little Nick, it could just as well be the year Sixteen-seventy as Nineteen-seventy - why, we could sail ourselves right back into the past!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Taking a small piece of volcanic rock from ! ! ! ! ! ! his pocket, handing it to TEDDY) !Here boy - a piece of The Rock - I kept it with me all these years - and now I’m passin’ it ta you, ta remind ya of where we come from and who we are...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks up at the sails)Wind’s pickin’ up.. grab th tiller, while I trim th sails - you steer us back into th Pass, boy, steady as she goes - n’ forget about th past...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks far out to sea, sighs, gets up)Aye, aye, Captain...!! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on The Railing, LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on The Porch)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHow old were you, when your dad passed and you shipped out?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThirteen..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI’m twenty-three.. think I’ll ever ship out?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHope so, boy - Bobby n’ Madge got no kids...! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the foghorn)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhy’d you quit the sea?! ! !! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-2-9! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, smokes)We was unloadin’ cargo in Mobile.. I wanted to go up ta your Aunt Madge’s weddin’ in New York.. told th ship’s agent th mate could finish th unloadin’.. he said no, captain hasta’ stay with his ship..! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, smokes)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY ! ! ! ! !Well, did you?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTold th agent ta’ sail th ship up his ass n’ drop both anchors.. went up ta th weddin’, but got blacklisted on th Gulf when I come back down, couldn’t ship no more...! ! ! ! ! ! (Smokes, gets up, RINGS the bell twice)Let’s go in n’ watch th fight, Rufus...! ! ! ! ! ! (They EXIT through the screen door, the! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS DIM on The Porch)

! !

! ! !! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! THREE BELLS ! 1-3-1Cap is sitting on The Porch reading his newspaper. The SOUND of a car pulling up, the engine stays running, the slam of a car door - the murmur of a cabbie being paid - ENTER MRS. TILSON slowly up the walk she stands at the foot of the stairs.

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWell, he’s gone...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Putting down the newspaper)Irv passed?

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI knew when we checked into the hospital it wasn’t going to go well.. it was his heart - all that smoking when he was manager of the shipyard.. I never could get him to stop.. at least I was with him when he passed - he looked at me and all of sudden blood came out his mouth...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPSorry, Mrs. Tilson.. gonna have a funeral?

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONOh, I’ll just have him buried, Cap - no reason to prolong it - he’s gone and that’s it - I’m all alone, now...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWal.. you might as well stay here, for awhile - ya tol me ya got nothin ta go back ta in New York.. stay here at The Crest of the Waves - it’s always warm, ‘n I’ll be creepin’ ‘round th place...! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, then the ! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS RISE again on The Porch - CAP is ! ! ! ! ! ! sitting on in the right-hand lawn chair, with his ! ! ! ! ! ! glasses on, reading a shipping newspaper - ! ! ! ! ! ! the SOUND of low waves - Mrs. Tilson speaks ! ! ! ! ! ! through her screen door.)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONCap...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHo, Mrs. Tlison..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! ! !Want company?


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-2! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, puts down his newspaper)Shore..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (MRS. TILSON comes out her screen door, sits ! ! ! ! ! ! down in the left-hand lawn chair, a pause, they ! ! ! ! ! ! say nothing, just watch the activities at the ! ! ! ! ! ! motel across the street)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLookit’ there, under th Illinois car...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhat?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPA little black cat...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONOhh.. I see it..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCain’t find its way home...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONSaw it this side last week, chasing your lizards (references in play!) into their rock piles..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCat grabs ‘em by th tail, plays with ‘em ‘til it breaks off - n’ inta th rocks they go!.. there’s one...! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling to the lizards)Look out , Rufus - here come th cat! - n’ Brutus - there he goes..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Laughs)Where do you get these names?! ! ! ! ! ! (We hear the SOUND of a car crunching into ! ! ! ! ! ! the shell parking area of the motel across the ! ! ! ! ! ! street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI gotta pie in the oven, Cap...! ! ! ! ! ! CAP ! ! ! ! ! ! (Reading the license plate of the car)New.. York.. Christ, glad I left! - too damn cold..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-3! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONThat’s why we came down... the day he retired, Irv said, “Let’s get out of here, hon - far south as we can! - away from this cold shipyard and its cold ships..” ! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)Weren’t you a sailor on the ships?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist, long time ago.. I became captain...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONOh, that’s where you got your name - Cap...! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)!Well, you can call me Ruth...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Shore, Ruth... there’s that gal goin’ to that feller’s room with a bottle, agin.. probably full ‘o holy water, gonna sprinkle it over him, get him holy...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONCap, you’re terrible! - how’s your grandson doing?! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTeddy? - tol’ me, “Gonna be a millionaire!” - shore, by totin‘ paint pots around.. he’s rich in his mind...!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhy doesn’t he go to sea, like you did?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLike I hadta.. Ma put me on Uncle Ned’s old three-masted schooner - cabin boy on th Maise Hassell, tradin’ with th other islands, sometimes run up ta New York - later became mate, pullin’ watches, steerin’ by th stars, never sleepin’ really.. there was five schooners owned by me five uncles, all brothers - me Pa, n’ me Uncles Ned, Tommy, Ben, n’ Tater - four died at sea, n’ then me Pa...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS.TILSONWhat happened to him? ! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, and LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on The Plot - a boy and a man with a ! ! ! ! ! ! machetes stand on the ground - the SOUND ! ! ! ! ! ! of goats scrambling above them on the cliffs - ! ! ! ! ! ! the SOUND of a small rock, represented by ! ! ! ! ! ! light, bounces past them - they both look up)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-4! ! ! ! ! ! MAN! ! ! ! !Goats..! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BOYHow’d they get up there?

! ! ! ! ! ! MANSome goats got away in the old days, went wild, and now they been livin’ for years up there on the cliffs...! ! ! ! ! ! (He wipes his brow, looks off)That sea is sure sparklin’ down there.. sometimes, I wish I’d never left it..

! ! ! ! ! ! BOYDon’t you like farmin’, Pa - ‘n bein’ home with us?!!! ! ! ! ! ! MANIt’s not that, boy.. there’s just somethin’ about bein’ on the sea, sailin’ a good ship with a fair wind and a current runnin’ your way.. smellin’ the salt, the riggin’ creakin’, deck rollin’, watch bell ringin’ - and th sunlight dancin’ off the crest o’ th waves! - and there’s that feelin’, too, boy - o’ bein’ part ‘o them what come before - men from The Rock...! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of hoofs scuttling on the cliffs ! ! ! ! ! ! above, a few rocks bound down, represented ! ! ! ! ! ! by flashes of LIGHT and SOUND)Mind those rocks, boy! - those goats gettin’ frisky up there.. now, let’s get this plot chopped, so’s we can plant... ! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on The Plot and LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on The Porch - CAP and MRS. TILSON ! ! ! ! ! ! watch !across the street)! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPDon’t wanta think ‘bout it no more.. me Pa was th oldest, n’ Uncle Ned were th youngest... I remember one time Uncle Ned sailed down ta Bird Island in nineteen-ought-eight...! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, LIGHTS RISE ! ! ! ! ! ! on UNCLE NED leaning on The Railing, the ! ! ! ! ! ! ropes of the rigging going up off the railing ! ! ! ! ! ! offstage to the masts above - the SOUNDS ! ! ! ! ! ! of an old sailing ship at sea - waves against the ! ! ! ! ! ! hull, the cracking of wind in the sails, the ! ! ! ! ! ! creaking of the rigging)! !! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE NED! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking through his sextant)Fifteen degrees, forty minutes south, sixty three degrees, thirty seven minutes west..! ! ! ! ! ! (Lowers the sextant)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-5! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE NED (Con’t.)We’ll set course for Bird Island, make landfall tonight, and with the moon full, row ashore in the skiff - night’s when them big green sea turtles come ashore and lay eggs - we’ll grab some of their eggs, take ‘em back to the ship, and then tomorrow gather as many bird eggs as we can - put ‘em all in a hold full o’ straw, and raise anchor for The Rock...! ! ! ! ! ! (Puts down sextant, gazes out to sea)Bird Island.. men from The Rock been sailing there two hundred year, just to get them eggs - eat some, make a buck on the others... nothing little island, thousand foot long, fifty wide, twelve high - but when we pull her in sight - clouds of birds rise up in the sky and dozens of turtles swim ‘longside the ship - that’s food and money to us on The Rock!! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Railing, LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! The Porch)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPBird Island, kinda’ low in th water.. men from The Rock set sail with Ned on th Maise Hassell - they was lookin’ ta find some bird n’ turtle eggs ta sell - but met some Venezualans come up from th south, lookin’ for them eggs too, neither knowin t’others was there.. met wit a bang in th middle o’ th night - big fight broke out over them eggs - Uncle Ned got chopped in th head with a hatchet ‘n his sailors carried him back ta th ship - they set sail for The Rock, then ran outta water when a storm pushed ‘em off course - poor Ned didn’t make it - they rang eight bells for him ‘n slid him inta th sea.. they was out five day - people on The Rock waitin’ n’ hopin’, ‘til they spotted sail n’ th Maise Hassell hove to n’ dropped anchor, without her captain...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street) .. same family from last year - them Pennsylvania plates...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS.TILSON! !Which family?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTall guy wit’ glasses, four kids, a dog n’ a little-bitty wife - he keeps comin’ down wit’ ‘em each summer..!! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONThey must love these beaches.. ever go to the beach?!! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist, I was on the water fifty year! - why I wanta’ go ta th beach? ! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThen there’s Uncle Tommy.. went out the aft deck o’ his schooner, th Ina Vanterpool, with his brother Ben at the helm..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-6! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE TOMMY at The Railing, coiling a rope)

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE BEN (Offstage)! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling)Tommy! - drop the aft anchor, soon’s I get the anchorage!

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE TOMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling)OK, Ben!! ! ! ! ! ! (He stands, coiling and uncoiling the anchor ! ! ! ! ! ! rope)She’s gone...! ! ! ! ! ! (Coils and uncoils the ! ! ! ! ! ! rope)Wasn’t I enough?! ! ! ! ! ! (Coils and uncoils the ! ! ! ! ! ! rope)I can still see her face, her long black hair..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks off).. her soft brown eyes...! ! ! ! ! ! (Coils and uncoils the ! ! ! ! ! ! rope)! !! ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE BEN (Offstage)! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling)Tommy! - drop anchor! - we’s driftin’ off the buoy!

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE TOMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling)I’m droppin’ it, Ben!! ! ! ! ! ! (He coils the anchor rope around his neck, ! ! ! ! ! ! goes to The Railing - the LIGHTS DIM - a loud ! ! ! ! ! ! SPLASH. LIGHTS RISE on The Porch.)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTied th anchor rope ‘round his neck, n’ dropped hisself overboard...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! ! !What was that about?! !! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-7! ! ! ! ! ! CAPSome girl... n’ then Ben, Uncle Ben.. he sailed inta harbor on Martinique in th Mona Marie, his big two-master.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE BEN leaning on The Railing)

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE BENWe dropped anchor last night in the harbor here at Saint Pierre - big volcano up behind town - strange lightnin’ flashin’ ‘round its top as we sailed in, red and orange glow.. actin’ up, again, I reckon.. we’ll be in and outta’ harbor quick.. I’ll take the sugarcane that’s on the skiff, row to the wharf and get it sold, row back and we’ll sail down to Barbados, flat as a pancake - check your course or you’ll sail right past her! - buy some rum there for a good price, and then it’s back up the islands! - tradin’ the rum for stuff we need on The Rock... rough life on The Rock, sometimes think about leavin’ it - but where would I go? - another island that got white sandy beaches and big towns, where I don’t know nobody? - no, better to stay safe up the cliffs of The Rock, with people like me and them what come before - not much changes - you either grow somethin‘, or put to sea.. but it’s a paradise on The Rock - and you don’t need to die to get there! - just set your course, put up sail, and her beautiful steep cliffs will rise into view.. there’s some more o’ that strange lightnin’ up top the mountain - better row into Saint-Pierre and unload that sugarcane..! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling OFFSTAGE)Mind the anchor rope, mate - tide’s turning!! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Railing, RISE on The ! ! ! ! ! ! Porch) ! ! ! ! ! ! CAPUncle Ben took th skiff inta harbor ta sell some sugarcane.. while he were on th wharf, volcano blew, n’ a big cloud o’gas n’ lava came down quick over th town - lava killed everyone in town, thousands - ‘cept one guy in jail, thick walls - Uncle Ben jumped in th skiff n’ started rowin’ back ta th ship.. but th lava went right out in th water, caught his skiff n’ burned him up.. ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)Now there’s proof Uncle Tater got lost at sea in th Rebecca Palmer..! ! ! ! ! ! (Gestures to bell)This here’s its’ bell - Madge hooked it charter fishin’, right out there off Egmont Key - now they’s almost all gone, them what come before, men from The Rock...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)Finally I got offa them leaky windjammers - hadta keep puttin inta’ port so they wouldn’t sink under us - Christ! - came up ta New York ta work th steamships.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap grabs the rope clapper of the ship’s bell ! ! ! ! ! ! above his head, RINGS it twice, pauses, ! ! ! ! ! ! RINGS it a third time)

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-8! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhy ring that bell?!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMarks th watch - ever’ half hour, one more bell - eight bells, yer watch is over - in th ol’ days, we also rung eight bells when a dead sailor hadta get slid inta th sea...! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUNDS of low surf on the beach - the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of Jimmy’s Buick pulling up on the ! ! ! ! ! ! shell road, the engine turns off, a car door ! ! ! ! ! ! slams - JIMMY comes up on the porch - he ! ! ! ! ! ! pauses as he sees Mrs. Tilson)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONHello!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Gruffly)Hello.

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThis is my son, Jimmy.. chief mate of a sulfur tanker...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONOh, another sailor!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI’m a Merchant Marine officer..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYour nephew’s in from California, Jimmy...

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONTime for me to get my pie out.. come on in and have some, Cap...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPOkay, Ruth...! ! ! ! ! ! (She gets up and disappears into her side of ! ! ! ! ! ! the duplex)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTeddy’s inside, stowing his gear - maybe ya wanta take him down now, ta see his Grandma...! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap goes into Mrs. Tilson’s side of the ! ! ! ! ! ! duplex - Jimmy stares after him)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-9! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYRuth... ! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER TEDDY from the right side of the ! ! ! ! ! ! duplex)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHi, Unc! - just got in from the Coast! - gonna have to look for work! - you been at sea?

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMYJust got in, boy - from Beaumont on the Marine Duval - I’ll haunt the halls for you, but union’s not accepting applications ‘til shipping picks up..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhat can I do?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY! ! !Get some paint jobs, until something opens up on the sea - but pack some of your gear into your Granpot’s old seabag, in case you have to get underway in a hurry... gotta night mate now, the Louisiana Brimstone, pump sulfur - see you noon tomorrow, then we’ll go down and see your Grandma.. pack that bag, boy!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Saluting)Aye, aye, Uncle Jimmy!! ! ! ! ! ! (He EXITS into the duplex - the LIGHTS DIM ! ! ! ! ! ! on The Porch - the LIGHTS RISE on TEDDY at ! ! ! ! ! ! The Podium)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI always looked up to my Uncle Jimmy. I see him now as a big kid, staring out of a picture of a snowy New York street, in a heavy coat and a hat with flaps, standing tall and protective over his two sisters like a guardian angel. I knew how he graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy at the start of the Second World War, attending a party in his honor, proud and resplendent in his uniform - only to discover forty men from The Rock, also in uniform, all outranking him. And how he and his father, Cap,sailed in the convoys to England in those Liberty ships - his father as captain on one,he as a young deckhand on another - and after the war, Uncle Jimmy sailed as mate on a freighter around the world, with his father as captain - together makingenough money to leave New York and move to Florida, where the weatherwas warm and the land was cheap - buying the “Crest of the Waves” to rent out, and then Uncle Jimmy designing and building another home for the three of them - Cap, Grandma and Jimmy - but after a while, only Grandma and Uncle Jimmy stayed there - Cap moving himself back to the “Crest of The Waves” - and always my Uncle Jimmy sailing away on freighters and tankers, for weeks at a time - a gruff guy driving big


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-3-10! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY (Con’t.)Buicks and devoted to a little bitty dog he would take with him on the ships - working his way up through the decks to be Third Mate, Second Mate, and finally Chief Mate - the guy who actually ran those big sulfur and concrete tankers - he was our hero, Uncle Jimmy...


! ! ! ! ! ! FOUR BELLS ! ! ! ! 1-4-1

! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap watering his lawn - ENTER Teddy from ! ! ! ! ! ! the right side of the duplex)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYUncle Jimmy said he’d drop by, wants some help re-finishing some table he made - I’d rather go to the beach, Grandpa...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYou help yer Uncle, boy - and remember, if a thing’s worth doin’, it’s worth doin’ right..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYIt’s hot.. need some lemonade.. want some?!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHad some..! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY EXITS into the right side of the ! ! ! ! ! ! duplex - CAP continues watering his lawn - ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER BILLY onto the walk, with some ! ! ! ! ! ! oranges)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYCap.. I brought oranges...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Watering a small tree)What’s this?! !! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Peering at it)Looks like a.. orange tree..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLeave ’em on th chair up there..

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Climbs the steps, sits in a chair with the ! ! ! ! ! ! oranges)Cap.. know why I keep comin’ ‘round?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Watering)So you can give me more of what I already got..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-2! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Because.. I’m lonely...! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP keeps watering)Don’t you ever get lonely?! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Watering)Christ, how can I be lonely, with you always comin’ over?! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, they both watch him water)

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY‘Member that biopsy they took?! ! ! ! ! ! (Takes out a cigar, unwraps it - CAP waters)Now I gotta go for an operation..!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat for?! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Lights the cigar)Cancer.

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhere?

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYThroat.! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY smokes - CAP looks over at him)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPSee ya learned yer lesson, Billy..

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLY! ! ! ! ! ! (Blowing out a cloud of smoke)You smoke cigars - and a pipe...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Watering)I prefer me pipe..

! ! ! ! ! ! BILLYLet Billy be a lesson, Cap...


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-3! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY goes down the porch steps, smoking, ! ! ! ! ! ! EXITS - CAP turns off the water, putting the ! ! ! ! ! ! hose down, climbs the steps and EXITS into ! ! ! ! ! ! his side of the duplex - TEDDY comes out with ! ! ! ! ! ! a plastic glass of lemonade and sits down in ! ! ! ! ! ! one of the lawn chairs - the SOUND of the ! ! ! ! ! ! Buick pulling up on the shell road, the engine ! ! ! ! ! ! stops, a door slams - Jimmy strides up the ! ! ! ! ! ! walk and up the porch steps)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHi, Unc!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhere’s Pop?! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYInside...

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhich side? - he’s not in there with Mrs. Tilson, is he?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWhat’s wrong with Mrs. Tilson?

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMYPop spends too much with her!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYMaybe he’s lonely..

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMYThen he should come back down to the house, and live with us!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYAll they do is talk - talk, talk, talk, him and Mrs. Tilson - that’s all..

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMYThat’s enough!! ! ! ! ! ! (Standing up)They got a phone on the corner, told Pop I’d call the power company, see if they got anything for you... ! ! ! ! ! ! (JIMMY EXITS, the car door slams, the engine ! ! ! ! ! ! starts up, the Buick drives off fast - a pause, ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER CAP from his side of the duplex)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-4! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYGranpot.. I think maybe I fixed it up with you and Uncle Jimmy - about Mrs. Tilson!! ! ! ! ! ! (Leans forward, expecting thanks)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Leaning into him)Boy, you keep yer beak out o’ my business!!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, taken aback)Uncle Ralph coming out? ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Here soon, boy..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHow’s his boardinghouse?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMost rooms rented..! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER RALPH with a paper bag)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHi, Uncle Ralph! - I’m down for awhile..!

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE RALPH! ! !Good, boy.. how’s Cali-fornia.. you looking for a job?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYBeen walking all over, even walked all the way downtown - there’s no jobs around, so I’m paintin’ Mim’s fence, just finished for the day..

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE RALPH Keep looking, boy.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Opens bag, takes out a bottle of rum)Cap?!!! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Stops watering)Teddy, get two glasses..! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYYou mean three?! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-5! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTwo..! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY EXITS)Have a seat, Ralph..! ! ! ! ! ! (They both sit, a pause)

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHHow’s his mother?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPOK, doin’ good - she’s been outta th hospital awhile..! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER TEDDY with two glasses)!! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHow come I can’t drink with you guys?

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHYou get a job, you get a drink..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTeddy, run up quick ta th corner store.. get hamburger for slumgullion n’ flour for johnny bread..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYSlumgullion like you used to make? - don’t you need onions and green peppers?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI grows them, me boy! - top o’ my dresser, there’s a twenty - n’ get some eggs n’ sugar fer bread puddin’..!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYOK - be back, Uncle Ralph!

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHOK, boy, I’ll be here..! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY EXITS - we hear the screen door ! ! ! ! ! ! slam. RALPH pours them each a drink - they ! ! ! ! ! ! drink in silence for a minute)

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHAny news?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNot so Jimmy says..!


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-6! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH! ! ! ! Any chance the boy put to sea?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJimmy’s been hauntin’ th halls, but cain’t get Teddy inta’ th union - nobody’s hirin’, don’t need sailors right now..! ! ! ! ! ! (They start drinking)Jimmy’s gone ta phone a guy named Browley, hirin’ agent for some company - askin’ if they got anythin’ - said he’d stop back..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH What company?!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThe power company... Jimmy says they also runs a fleet o’ tugs pushin’ barges o’ fertilizer ta New Orleans - then pulls ‘em back with coal for th power plant..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHPushes or pulls?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJimmy says near shore they pushes ‘em from a notch they tie inta back o’ th barge, then offshore they turns ta pullin’ ‘em wit’ a big hawser.. makes more knots..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHMore knots, more profit..!! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYeah, man..!

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHHow long was it.. from The Rock to New York.. in the old three-masters?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Uncle Ben ran one ‘o his schooners, the Esther Anita, up in nine day..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHRecord?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPFor schooners..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH.. ‘course then came..! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-7! ! ! ! ! ! CAP.. steam, then..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH.. diesel... how many knots those old Liberty ships make?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP‘Bout eleven, if I remember.. mine could hardly make nine.. wonder them planes didn’t sink us, too..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHThe time you got the medal?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShoulda’ got a medal..!

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHWho?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYou..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH! ! !For what?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPBein’ sunk three times outta New York Harbor..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHSubs lined us up against the skyline lights, before the blackouts..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat’d that sailor say, when ya hadta abandon ship th last time?

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH“No room in the lifeboat, Captain!” - I pulled out that pistol..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThat ‘ol Johnson revolver they give us skippers..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH! ! ! ! ! ! (Waving an imaginary pistol) “Mister Johnson says..”


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-8! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (He’s heard it before)“..make room!”! ! ! ! ! ! (They both laugh and drink - the rhythmic ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of cicadas in the heat - then the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of Jimmy’s car pulling into the ! ! ! ! ! ! driveway, the engine turns off and the car door ! ! ! ! ! ! slams - ENTER JIMMY, striding)!! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhere’s the boy?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Up th corner store, gettin’ some grub...!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYHe’ll have to get his gear - Browley at the power company says they need a deckhand on the tug Ruby Hays at Dock Nine this afternoon - steam for New Orleans tomorrow morning...

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHWell, there’s some news - Teddy’s shippin’ out!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPFinally goin’ ta sea - that boy’s got blood from The Rock in him! - but, he’s gotta finish Mim’s fence..

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYGonna take a week - I’ll finish it!! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY appears, with a sack of groceries)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHi, Unc! - any news?

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYYou’re goin’ to sea!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYGoing to sea.. now?

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYYou got a job on an ocean-going tug, pushing fertilizer to New Orleans, and bringing back coal for the power company..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-9! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYFor how long?

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! !Each trip around twelve days - two trips on, one trip off..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYNow what? - I gotta finish that fence!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI got the fence, boy..

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYNever been to sea before...

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPut down those groceries and grab your gear in your Granpot’s old seabag - I’ll drive you down to the docks - turn to, sailor!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY drops the groceries off, EXITS quickly ! ! ! ! ! ! up porch steps and up through screen door ! ! ! ! ! ! into duplex)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking after him)Goin’ ta sea on his first trip!.. I remember mine - cabin boy on th Maise Hassell, watchin’ our little mother wave’n a big sheet from th cliffs.. n’ seein’ The Rock sink back inta th waves.. that was.. nineteen-ought-four - Christ!! ! ! ! ! ! (Drinks)!!! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHYeah, man! - and I followed you, nineteen-ought-five...! ! ! ! ! ! (Drinks - TEDDY appears through the screen ! ! ! ! ! ! door, dragging a heavy seabag down the ! ! ! ! ! ! steps)

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMYLet’s get underway, sailor! ! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY tries to lift the seabag on his ! ! ! ! ! ! shoulder, drops it - UNCLE JIMMY raises it up ! ! ! ! ! ! for him)Stow it in the trunk, boy.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (To CAP)I’ll stop back, after I get him shipshape on the tug..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1-4-10! ! ! ! ! ! CAPRemember, boy..!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY“..if a things worth doing, it’s worth doing right!” - bye, Uncle Ralph - guess I’m going to sea!!!! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHYou’ll be all right - your people are from The Rock - known as the Mariners of the Western World! - see you in a couple of weeks, boy... ! ! ! ! ! ! (TEDDY and UNCLE JIMMY EXIT, the trunk ! ! ! ! ! ! and car doors slam, the car starts up and ! ! ! ! ! ! backs out of the driveway - CAP and RALPH ! ! ! ! ! ! look after them - CAP gets up and RINGS the ! ! ! ! ! ! bell twice, a pause, then RINGS it twice more - ! ! ! ! ! ! the SOUND of cicadas in the heat as the ! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS DIM) ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! INTERMISSION

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! FIVE BELLS!! ! ! 2-1-1

! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS RISE on The Railing, Teddy stands at ! ! ! ! ! ! the black steel gunwale of a tugboat, looking ! ! ! ! ! ! off to sea - the SOUND of powerful tug engines ! ! ! ! ! ! throbbing.)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYHere I am - my first day at sea!.. last night they had me stay up all night, checking the lines tying the tug Ruby Hays to the dock - making sure they weren’t too tight and not too loose - just keeping me busy - they knew I didn’t know anything.. the next morning we chugged slowly down Tampa Bay, pushing this big orange barge called the Wanda Wheellock - I was standing aft on an open steel deck with steel railings, watching the big wake, the seagulls flying above it, darting down to grab the fish raised up.. then we sailed out into the Gulf, the steady roll of swells hissing by - that’s when I got the important job of throwing the garbage overboard - I was holding the can up high, trying to gauge when the waves would stop sluicing down the gangway, so I could toss this garbage - after that, we had to change the tug and barge around, from pushing to pulling - the barge was loose on a slack line for awhile, drifting past us as we get ahead of her to pull - a big operation - didn’t want to lose her! - I was put in charge of a big pot of grease that one of the AB’s - means Able-Bodied Seaman - was smearing on the back gunwale, so the big rope tying the tug to the barge wouldn’t rub on the gunwale and fray - the barge is now bobbing up and down in the waves, a half mile behind - barge looks like an orange ship, with a ship’s bow, but no decks, just a hull - they had me watch this gauge near the aft deck - measures the pull on the rope - if it went above 90,000 pounds, I was to to notify the captain - well, it went to 93, and I told him, and he jumped and ran up to the wheelhouse, slowed the tug down so that big rope wouldn’t part... there’s ten men on this tug.. the captain, two mates - one’s OK, he’s from Tennessee - the other seems to be drunk all the time, he’s from Mississippi - then two ordinary seaman - I’m one, the other guy is always seasick, we never see him, never leaves his bunk.. then there’s the two AB’s, who actually know what to do - one’s a big guy from North Carolina, he’s cool, showed me how to use the washer.. the other guy’s from the Dominican Republic, he’s the lead AB - he’s shorter, but with big powerful shoulders and a big gut - I don’t think he likes me, because I wear the same sunglasses as him.. then there’s two guys down in the engine room - we never see them, except when they come up for meals, wearing big headphone things, that drown out the engine noise from the two big diesels.. then there’s Slim, the cook from lower Virginia - “Mawnin!”, he says, and that’s all I can understand of what he says - tomorrow, I gotta help him take all the food out of the freezer, so he can defrost it - maybe we’ll use hand signals - I can’t understand the captain, either - he’s from another part of North Carolina - “Te-ead, wouldya’ payess th kateshup?” - he asked me that three times, before the big AB from North Carolina told me he wanted the catsup...! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks off) Now, we’re heading into the mouth of the Mississippi, where we’ll go upriver and unload our barge full of fertilizer, then they’ll load the barge back up with coal for the return trip - they said we’ll be on the river five days..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-2! ! ! ! ! ! (Teddy looks off)The waves out there are getting kinda big - maybe twelve, fifteen feet.. but these guys seem to think it’s OK - guess I won’t worry -.Granpot says the Ruby Hays is unsinkable, got a steel hull - hope so, I can’t swim too well... ! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Railing, LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! CAP and MRS. TILSON are sitting in their lawn ! ! ! ! ! ! chairs, looking and watching across the street - ! ! ! ! ! ! the SOUND of steady rain on the roof of The ! ! ! ! ! ! Porch - CAP holds a plastic cup)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI love how it rains down here.. every afternoon, a clear blue sky clouds up and rains - - it rains for an hour, and then the sun comes out and dries it all up, like it never rained at all!! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPDidn’t seen th black cat today, on my way up ta Winn Dixie..! ! ! ! ! ! (He takes a drink)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI saw him yesterday down the street..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)What’s that you drink?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPRum..! ! ! ! ! ! (Drinks)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou get it up at Winn Dixie?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. you can get it anywhere..! ! ! ! ! ! (Drinks)I remember when you couldn’t get it nowhere..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !When?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPProhibition.. couldn’t even get a beer - hadta walk down ta a speakeasy in New York with a bucket - they’d sell you a bucket o’ beer..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-3! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONA real bucket?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPClean one..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhat about rum, could you get that?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPUsed ta run rum..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhat do you mean, run?! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP!Rumrunner.. I knew this feller in New York, who knew a feller, who knew a guy in the Mafia.. they had bought a schooner named the Halcyon.. I didn’t ask no questions - I needed a job, they needed a skipper - we’d raise anchor at night and sail by th stars up th coast ta Canada, pick up a cargo o’ rum, and run back down to New York.. had to watch out we didn’t run into th Dragon’s Teeth..!! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONA dragon at sea?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThat’s what they called a bunch o’ little islands off th coast o’ Maine - th Dragon’s teeth - you could hardly see ‘em, low in th water - didn’t wanta wreck on ‘em. - after we got down to New York, we off-loaded th rum at night, got paid cash, then got off th docks quick... one time I invited th Mafia feller ta dinner - nice guy, he was OK with me - after dinner, my family sittin’ ‘round, he and I havin‘ a rum - he says, “Thanks, that was a real nice dinner.. Cap, you got anybody you want me to rub out?”!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONRub out?!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHe meant, ta shoot... I said no, n’ that was th last I saw o‘ him - job lasted all summer - two trips on, one off - one trip I had off, th Feds caught th other skipper - same run, th Halycon - took him in n’ tied up th ship..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONA rumrunner, huh?


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-4! ! ! ! ! ! CAPAfter that, hadta ta work for th WPA, during th Depression - they’d march us inta Central Park, make us dig a big hole - at three o’clock, make us fill it back in - end o’ th week, pay us our checks - that government had no more sense than a billiegoat - there’s that black cat again.. ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONProbably after your lizards..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNever catch ‘em - they got them tails..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !You’ve got them tales - tall ones...! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP gets up, goes to the bell, ! ! ! ! ! ! RINGS it five times)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONMust you strike that bell?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPOl’ ships had a hourglass - every half-hour, you turned it over - n’ then you rang th watch bell ..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONIf it’s an hourglass, why not turn it over every hour?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPOnly half hour o’ sand..! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONThat makes no sense...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)Don’t you have another daughter?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHolly, in California - Teddy’s mother..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONHow’s she doing?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWal.. all right, I guess... she goes in ‘n outta th hospital...


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-5! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !Poor dear! - some medical thing?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWal.. it’s her head.. she hears things ‘n such.. right now, she’s outta th hospital...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)There go that couple, headin back ta New York..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWas that Mafia guy from New York?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. that’s where them Sicilians are from..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI thought they were from Sicily..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. but some landed in New York n’ stuck there..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONLike you people from The Rock..!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThere’s th little black cat - scratched up, but alive..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !Those Sicilians looked scary.. didn’t they all carry tommy guns?! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMaybe some...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONDid that Mafia guy carry a tommy gun?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPDidn’t ask...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)One time I was in a convoy, during the second war, bringin’ supplies to th Russkies when they fought th Germans - we had ta go down this river in th north o’ Russia.. I was captain o’ th lead ship, ‘cause we hadta navigate th river n’ I was th only one with a pilot’s license from my sailin’ days.. we steamed down, snow stacked up high on both banks, ice floes thick on th river.. when we got downriver n’ docked, th lead dockworker came aboard - a woman - all th Russkie men was fightin‘ th Germans - she signed for


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-6! ! ! ! ! ! CAP (Con’t.)th unloadin’, neither of us understandin’ a word o’ th other - ‘til she brought out a bottle o’ Russkie vodka n’ we had some shots.. that’s when we started ta understood each other..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONRussian vodka - isn’t that strong?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHo! - one shot n’ I thought I owned all o’ Russia! ! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! CAP standing at The Railing, looking off)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Start unloadin’! - Mate, who’s that on th bank?

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (OFFSTAGE)Looks like.. German POW’s, Cap’n - bein’ guarded by Russian soldiers with tommyguns...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Calls offstage)Keep a weather eye out, Mate, we don’t want no trouble.. ‘n get a sailor ta toss th trash overboard..

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (OFFSTAGE)It’s ice to the bank, Cap’n..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist, it can’t sit on th ship, Mate!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (OFFSTAGE)Ay, ay, Cap’n.. sailor, toss that garbage overboard!! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUNDS of garbage cans being emptied ! ! ! ! ! ! onto ice)

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (OFFSTAGE)Cap’n.. some o’them POW’s are runnin’ out on the ice, headin’ for the garbage...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking through binoculars, calling O.S.)I sees ‘em, Mate..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-7! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (OFFSTAGE)Cap’n, they’s eatin’ th garbage!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling offstage)Let ‘em, Mate - it’s food to ‘em..! ! ! ! ! ! (The sudden SOUND of tommy guns firing, ! ! ! ! ! ! cries and moans from below The Railing - CAP ! ! ! ! ! ! stares down - the firing stops)

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (OFFSTAGE)Russians shot ‘em all, Cap’n!! ! ! ! ! ! (Moans from below The Railing)They’s some still alive! - request permission to take ‘em aboard ship!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks down - calls offstage)Leave ‘em, Mate - it ain’t our fight...! !! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (OFFSTAGE)! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Aye, aye, Cap’n...! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP looks down, slowly turns away from The ! ! ! ! ! ! Railing, LIGHTS DIM on The Railing, LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on The Porch)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWe finished unloadin’, n’ sailed back up that Russkie river, bound fer New York.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou could have taken them off the ice...! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap says nothing - the SOUND of Jimmy’s ! ! ! ! ! ! Buick driving up on shell road - Mrs. Tilson gets ! ! ! ! ! ! up hurriedly)!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWant more pie, Cap?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore...! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-8! ! ! ! ! ! (They both EXIT into her side of the duplex, the ! ! ! ! ! ! Buick’s engine stops, a car door slams, JIMMY ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTERS quickly up the stairs - starts to pull ! ! ! ! ! ! open Cap’s screen door - ENTER CAP from ! ! ! ! ! ! Mrs. Tilson’s side of the duplex) TOO QUICK!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pausing)What were you in there for?! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShe’s me renter, me boy...

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pausing)Pop..! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPYeah, man..

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI was with Mom down at the house..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist..! ! ! ! ! ! (Mimicking)“He’s at th duplex getting drunk.. never sees me no more..”

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY She started going on about Mrs. Tilson..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Leave Mrs. Tilson out o’ this..

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhenever I drive up, I see you and Mrs. Tilson sitting close together on the porch...!! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWe’re just talkin’..!! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPop - you’re married!

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-9! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWe lives apart..

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI knew she was going to be trouble, when Mr. Tilson passed..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI said, leave Mrs.Tilson out o’ this!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYYou should have put her out, when he died!!! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShe had nobody n’ nowhere to go!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYShe could of gone back to New York!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShe wanted ta stay right here!!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! !You spend too much time with her!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShe’s me friend!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPop, she’s going to have to go! !! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShe ain’t a’goin’ nowhere..

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI pay half the mortgage on this place! - you’ll have to come back and live with me and Mom!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLive with that ol’ billie goat? - boy, you crazy as a bedbug..!! !! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPop.. I’m evicting you!

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-10! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Getting up)Yer a horse’s ass...! ! ! ! ! ! (Jimmy stares at him, turns and clambers down ! ! ! ! ! ! the steps, EXITS striding down the walk, the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of the Buick starting up and driving ! ! ! ! ! ! away - CAP slowly sits down in his lawn chair - ! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON comes out, sits down next to ! ! ! ! ! ! him - they watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONTeddy said you got a medal in the war.. he showed me an old newspaper clipping his mother had given him.. what was it for?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNothin’ much..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONThe clipping had a picture of some big muckety-muck in the Merchant Marine pinning a medal on you..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWe was inna convoy, but they kept us three ships apart from th rest, spread us out..! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on the porch, RISE on CAP ! ! ! ! ! ! at The Railing, looking at the sky through ! ! ! ! ! ! binoculars - the buzzing SOUNDS of propellor ! ! ! ! ! ! planes approaching)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHere they come.. looks like.. German divebombers.. three Stukas.. one for each ship..! ! ! ! ! ! (Lowers the binoculars)We’s carryin’ aviation gas - n’ now them Germans gonna try n’ make us pay for it..! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUNDS of the screaming dives of two ! ! ! ! ! ! dive bombers nearby - CAP quickly raises the ! ! ! ! ! ! binoculars to his eyes, a pause, and two ! ! ! ! ! ! muffled explosions)

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)!! ! !Cap’n, two of the planes have bombed the other two ships! - they’re afire! - request permission to change course for rescue!

! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-11! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Calling O.S., looking through binoculars)Stay th course! - I see th ships.. they’s explodin’! - all hands lost, Mate! - n’ one o’ them Stukas is comin’ for us! ! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of a diving plane)Mate - hard right rudder! - bearin’ three o’clock - all ahead full! ! ! ! ! ! ! (The screaming SOUND of the dive bomber) ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)Gunners, get your bearings on him - make ready to fire - fire at will!! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of anti-aircraft guns firing - a ! ! ! ! ! ! splash in the ocean - a muffled explosion)

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)Cap’n - bomb missed, fell on the port side - but here he comes back again!! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the plane circling around)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPTAINLeft hard rudder! - bearin’ nine o’clock - stop engine!

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)Gunners, get your bearings - fire at will!! ! ! ! ! ! (The screaming SOUND of the dive! ! ! ! ! ! bomber, the SOUND of the anti-aircraft guns ! ! ! ! ! ! - a muffled explosion)

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)!! ! !Bomb dropped in front of us, Cap’n!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPFull reverse - hard a-lee!! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the plane circling around)

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)Gunners, get your bearings - fire at will!! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of the anti-aircraft guns - ! ! ! ! ! ! OFFSTAGE, the loud steel SOUND of the ! ! ! ! ! ! bomb clanging into the ship)

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)Cap’n - we took a hit in the forward hold - but the bomb didn’t go off!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist! - gunners, pour fire on that plane!! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-1-12! ! ! ! ! ! (The anti-aircraft guns fire intensely - the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of the plane slowly droning away and ! ! ! ! ! ! ending - all is quiet, but sea SOUNDS)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPStop the engine! - dead rudder! - Mate! - tell th crew hunker down! - ten minutes, take a sailor forward, n’ report back th status o’ our new cargo!

! ! ! ! ! ! MATE (O.S.)Aye, aye, Captain!! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Landing, RISE on The ! ! ! ! ! ! Porch - they watch across the street)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !What happened with the bomb?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWe sailed three days slow with it in th hold, ‘til we eased inta dock at Tripoli - th ordnance fellers came ‘n took it out - I took my crew to a bar, got ‘em good n’ drunk, tha’s all..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWell, I didn’t know you had gotten a medal..! ! ! ! ! ! (MRS. TILSON gets up, EXITS into her side of ! ! ! ! ! ! the duplex - CAP gets up, goes down the ! ! ! ! ! ! steps, turns on the hose, starts watering the ! ! ! ! ! ! lawn - the LIGHTS DIM on The Porch)! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-1! ! ! ! ! ! SIX BELLS

At Rise: CAP is watering his plants in the front of The Porch. ENTER BILLY, with bandages around his neck. He holds up a breadfruit for CAP to see.

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat you got there, Billy?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY says nothing, gives him the breadfruit)Looks like.. a breadfruit... wal, this time you got it right - I ain’t got a breadfruit tree...! ! ! ! ! ! (Stares at the breadfruit, then looks up at Billy)What’s th matter, cat got yer tongue?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY gestures at the bandages around! ! ! ! ! ! his neck, struggles to speak, but no sound ! ! ! ! ! ! comes out. CAP looks at him, then back at the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit)Wal, a breadfruit’s not good for much, Billy, not much taste.. we used ta grow it on The Rock - we’d eat anythin’ really, on The Rock.. th ‘ole Rock... ! ! ! ! ! ! (He looks down at the breadfruit in his hands).. I remember a rock, a rock from me past...! ! ! ! ! ! (He looks up at BILLY)Billy.. they take somethin’ out?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY nods “Yes”)! ! ! ! Cain’t talk? ! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY shakes his head “No”)Wal, Billy... I want ya ta know.. whatever words have come down between us, whatever we thought o’ each other.. I just want ya ta know.. we’ll always be friends.. tha’s what’s important.. we don’t need no words...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks at BILLY, holds up breadfruit)Nice present...! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY shakes his head yes, gestures toward ! ! ! ! ! ! the sea - makes motions)Oh.. for Teddy?! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY nods yes - CAP holds the breadfruit ! ! ! ! ! ! up in his hands)Shore, I’ll give it to him, soon’s he steps ashore..! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY nods, slowly starts to EXIT)Cap’n Billy...! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY stops, turns back)You’s a tough SOB...! ! ! ! ! ! (BILLY smiles, points back at CAP, gestures ! ! ! ! ! ! “You, too..”, EXITS. MRS. TILSON ENTERS ! ! ! ! ! ! from her side of the duplex - CAP stops ! ! ! ! ! ! watering, walks up the steps carrying the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit.)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-2! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhat’s that?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Breadfruit - Billy give it to me for Teddy..! ! ! ! ! ! (Sits down in his chair with it)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI ran into Billy at Winn Dixie, but he said nothing.. what did I do?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNothin’ - he got no voice left..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONOh, the bandages..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCancer..!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Well, that’s too bad.. he must feel all trapped inside..!!! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI haven’t been well, myself - been getting dizzy...! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street, CAP turns the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit in his hands)What are you going to do with that?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCook it..! ! ! ! ! ! (Turning the breadfruit over and over in his ! ! ! ! ! ! hands)Breadfruit’s not good for much, not much taste.. we used ta grow it on The Rock.. th ‘ole Rock..! ! ! ! ! ! (Turns the breadfruit over)I remember a rock.. a rock th size of this breadfruit...! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, RISE on The ! ! ! ! ! ! Plot - the SOUND of more hoofs scuttling on ! ! ! ! ! ! the cliffs above, a few more rocks bounce ! ! ! ! ! ! down, !represented by flashes of light and ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND - MAN and BOY look up the cliffs)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-3! ! ! ! ! ! MANGo to the pack and fetch us some water, boy - then gather up the brush - we gotta’ get this choppin’ finished..

! ! ! ! ! ! BOYOK, Pa...! ! ! ! ! ! (He goes to the side to a pack, opens it - the ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUNDS of more hoofs scuttling and more ! ! ! ! ! ! rocks bouncing - the SOUNDS intensify, as ! ! ! ! ! ! more and more rocks come bounding down - ! ! ! ! ! ! the BOY looks up, as the MAN looks up at the ! ! ! ! ! ! cliffs, machete raised - then starts to jump and ! ! ! ! ! ! dodge the flashes of rocks - suddenly one flash ! ! ! ! ! ! of a rock strikes the man in the temple - he ! ! ! ! ! ! drops the machete and collapses)

! ! ! ! ! ! BOYPa!! ! ! ! ! ! (He runs to him, kneels down by him)Pa?! ! ! ! ! (The MAN motions to him, and the BOY raises ! ! ! ! ! ! his head off the ground)

! ! ! ! ! ! MAN! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking into the BOY’S eyes)Take care ‘o yer Ma...! ! ! ! ! ! (His head slumps to the side)

! ! ! ! ! ! BOYPa!! ! ! ! ! ! (He picks up a rock the size of a breadfruit ! ! ! ! ! ! lying by the man - looks at it, then throws it ! ! ! ! ! ! down, runs off shouting)Help me, help! - Pa’s been hurt!! ! ! ! ! ! (LIGHTS DIM on The Plot, RISE on! ! ! ! ! ! The Porch - CAP is still looking down at the ! ! ! ! ! ! breadfruit)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! ! ! ! ! (Looking over at him)What, Cap?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPGuess Pa’s watch was over..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-4! ! ! ! ! ! (Gets up with the breadfruit, goes over to the ! ! ! ! ! ! bell, grabs the rope clapper of the bell, RINGS ! ! ! ! ! ! bell twice, pauses, then RINGS it twice more, ! ! ! ! ! ! pauses, a final two RINGS, releases clapper)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’m still not feeling well.. think I need to lie down, Cap...!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !Okay, Ruth.. call me, if ya need me...! ! ! ! ! ! (She gets up, EXITS into her side. CAP sits ! ! ! ! ! ! down in his chair, holding the breadfruit ! ! ! ! ! ! - CAP stares far into the past - the LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! DIM on The Porch, then the LIGHTS RISE ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on CAP sitting on The Porch with his ! ! ! ! ! ! glasses on, reading his paper - MRS. TILSON ! ! ! ! ! ! speaks through her screen door)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONHi, Cap...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHo..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON Want company?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. you feelin’ better, Ruth?

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONA little...! ! ! ! ! ! (She come out and sits down - they watch ! ! ! ! ! ! across the street)! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThere go th two of ‘em, agin’ - that girl and her guy - down ta Davey Jones Locker, the bar at th Pass..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONHow do you know where they go?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPI seen ‘em..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-5! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou go to Davey Jones Locker?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! !Used ta.. th owner was a friend o’ mine..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONUsed to? - then how.. never mind - what was your friend’s name?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPDavey Jones..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’ve heard that name before - is this one of your stories? - why’d you stop going?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMim told me he died..!! ! !! `! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONSeems I saw you heading over to Mim’s place this afternoon..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJust for a drink..!!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONA drink..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShe’s me friend..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !You got a lot of friends..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONWhat did Davey Jones die of?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPLiver..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONCancer?


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-6! ! ! ! ! ! CAPFailed ’im..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONMust have been a drinker..!! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWasn’t much..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou drink a bit..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShot o’rum, now ‘n then..!!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !You and your brother, Ralph..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. we likes a nip when we gets together..

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONSeems the two of you try to drink the whole world up, sometimes..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThere’s that black cat, again - here, Blackie, Blackie, Blackie!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI try not to drink - I want to live a long time..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore..! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’m afraid of dying.. you afraid of dying, Cap?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Almost died last winter.. from p-no-mia.. was lyin’ in me bed with a fever.. felt myself goin’, n’ a long tunnel opened up ‘afore me, with a bright light at th end.. ! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-7! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONYou don’t seem to have died..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPHadta.. get up n’ take a leak - that sorta.. broke th fever..!! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSON! ! !I thought you were going to say, “Divine intervention..”, or something..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPCoulda’ been... there go th black cat, on a mission!

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONProbably to see his girlfriend for a drink..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMaybe... !! ! ! ! ! ! (They watch across the street)

! ! ! ! ! ! MRS. TILSONI’m really not feeling well, Cap...! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (A pause, she gets up, EXITS into her side of! ! ! ! ! ! of the duplex, leaving Cap in his lawn chair - ! ! ! ! ! ! the LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, then the! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS RISE again on The Porch - the lawn ! ! ! ! ! ! chairs are empty - the SOUND of JIMMY’s ! ! ! ! ! ! Buick pulling up - the engine turns off and a car ! ! ! ! ! ! door slams - ENTER JIMMY, striding up the ! ! ! ! ! ! walk and running up the steps - pulls open right ! ! ! ! ! ! screen door, calls inside) ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPop.. Pop!! ! ! ! ! ! (No answer - he goes inside, comes out, ! ! ! ! ! ! stands on The Porch - the left screen door ! ! ! ! ! ! opens - CAP comes out)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJimmy!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhat you in there for?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMrs. Tilson!


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-8! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI’ve heard enough of Mrs. Tilson - listen, Pop - that souwester’ off Mexico has taken a turn for the worse - turned east, right across Teddy’s course comin’ home - he’s in for some heavy weather, but..!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Interrupting)Jimmy! - I found Mrs. Tilson on the floor - she musta’ fell! ! ! ! ! ! ! (JIMMY pauses, then strides to the left screen ! ! ! ! ! ! door, flings it open, goes inside - CAP leans ! ! ! ! ! ! against the door - JIMMY comes back out)

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYShe might of had a stroke - where’s a phone? - she’s got no phone in there, and you don’t have one!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThere’s a phone on the corner! - run, boy, call an ambulance - I’ll go in and stay with Mrs. Tilson - hurry!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYShe’s not breathing, Pop - got no pulse!

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPMaybe we can bring her back - sit her up inna chair ‘til they come!

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYPop, she’s cold!! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP pauses)Could have been dead hours...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I’ll call the coroner..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks off to sea, listens to the SOUND ! ! ! ! ! ! of the low breakers, turns back to Jimmy) You happy now, Jimmy?! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (JIMMY pauses, goes down the stairs and ! ! ! ! ! ! EXITS quickly. CAP slowly sits down in a lawn ! ! ! ! ! ! chair, stares - the LIGHTS DIM on The Porch ! ! ! ! ! ! as the storm is howling with the SOUND of A ! ! ! ! ! ! wind and rain on the roof, the SOUND of ! ! ! ! ! ! breakers on the beach - LIGHTS RISE on ! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY standing at The Railing - he is wearing ! ! ! ! ! ! a watchman’s cap and a yellow slicker - it’s


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-2-9! ! ! ! ! ! daylight, but dark - the SOUNDS of breakers ! ! ! ! ! ! and the powerful throb of tugboat engines)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWe’re about to leave the river and sail back to Tampa.. there’s breakers ahead, crashing right into the mouth of the Mississippi - the captain said the Ruby Hays got orders to sail out into the Gulf, but a storm has turned our way... I guess the power company needs their coal - there’s always five of us tugs and barges keeping them supplied, just so they can keep the lights on in Tampa...! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks off)Here we go, right into that first breaker! - this doesn’t look good.. and we’re not heading west to California - we’re going east, away from my girl! ! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looking ahead - the SOUND of ! ! ! ! ! ! crashing breakers)This could get rough...! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! SEVEN BELLS! ! ! ! 2-3-1

AT RISE: Cap and Ralph are sitting on The Porch in the lawn chairs.! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPJimmy says Leverock’s is open for lunch - we’ll go there once Jimmy gets here with Teddy...

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHHow much time we got for lunch?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP‘Bout four hours..

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH Isn’t that a short turn-around for that tug?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPAfter lunch, Jimmy will take us down ta th docks, we’ll take Teddy back ta th tug, so’s he can ship ta New Orleans - he’s becoming a man from The Rock, that Teddy...! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of Jimmy’s Buick pulling up on ! ! ! ! ! ! the shell road - the engine stops, car doors ! ! ! ! ! ! slam, the SOUND of a trunk opening)

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Offstage, gruffly)Get your gear...! ! ! ! ! ! (The trunk lid slams, ENTER JIMMY, set jaw, ! ! ! ! ! ! and TEDDY, carrying the old sea bag slung ! ! ! ! ! ! over his shoulder)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPBoy, whatcha got the sea bag fer? - yer shippin agin ‘n just a few hours!

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHWe’re going to take you to lunch at Leverock’s, and then back down to the docks - hope to get aboard your tug and take a look-see - before you cast off, again!! ! ! ! ! ! (Jimmy says nothing, goes into the right side of ! ! ! ! ! ! the duplex - Teddy drops sea bag at their feet)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks off to sea)I quit the tug. ! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap and Ralph say nothing)


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-3-2! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY (Con’t.)I was okay sailing to New Orleans, ‘cause I was somehow heading back to my girl - but after we were on the river five days and started back to Tampa, I felt I was going in the wrong direction, away from her.. I just couldn’t take it, made up my mind to fly back to her, soon as we docked and got paid - I went and told the Captain I wanted off the Ruby Hays when we docked...! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap and Ralph say nothing, a pause)

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPH! ! ! ! ! ! (Finally)Quit the sea? - you quit, Teddy, quit?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Finally)Boy, you crazy as a bedbug...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)I know.. the sea’s in your blood.. but love is in my blood!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHYou’ll see what love gets you, boy...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPChrist!! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER MADGE from the right side of the ! ! ! ! ! ! duplex)

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEYour Uncle Jimmy told me you quit.. you let him down, Teddy - he’s really disappointed in you...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI’m sorry, I’m sorry! ! ! ! ! ! ! (ENTER JIMMY from the right side of the ! ! ! ! ! ! duplex)

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYNo lunch at Leverock’s.. when you flying out?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI can’t book a flight until I get paid...

!


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-3-3! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Pulling out a roll of bills from his pocket, ! ! ! ! ! ! peeling off some, gruffly)That’s enough for your flight - pay me back when you get to California and get a job - if you get a job...! ! ! ! ! ! (Gives cash to Teddy)Take your gear out of your Granpot’s sea bag, and stow it back in your suitcase - I’m taking you to the airport...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYNow?

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYYou book a flight to California, and if you have to wait, you can wait alone -pack your suitcase, boy..! ! ! ! ! ! (Teddy pauses, then nods, picks up the sea ! ! ! ! ! ! bag, EXITS into the right side of the duplex. A ! ! ! ! ! ! pause. The low SOUND of the distant surf.)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHWell, that’s it, then...! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore, no more to it...

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHThe end of the sea-farin’ life...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP.. he were th last blood o’ th men from The Rock...

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHIt was all about that girl...! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY

Some silly little girl! - I’ll be out in the car...! ! ! ! ! ! (JIMMY goes down the steps, EXITS)

! ! ! ! ! ! RALPHI need a shot of rum.. how about you, Cap?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNot right now, Ralph..


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-3-4! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEI could use a shot.... ! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE and Ralph EXIT into the duplex. Cap ! ! ! ! ! ! slowly sits down in his lawn chair, looks off - ! ! ! ! ! ! ENTER TEDDY from the duplex, suitcase in ! ! ! ! ! ! hand - he pauses by Cap, looks down at him.)

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYWell.. I’ll see you, Granpot - guess everybody’s mad at me...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Teddy... it’s not too late, me boy.. I was readin’ th shippin’ news this mornin’ - th T.E. Mitchell departs Dock Seven at eleven Thursday night, bound for Buenos Aires - big ship, I know th captain - he shipped twenty year ago with me, as third mate - might need a deckhand, I could give him th word..! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks over at TEDDY - TEDDY says nothing)You can take me old greatcoat, th one I used ta wear on th bridge in them convoys.. like the ones yer uncles n’ them wore, on all those bridges of all them ships, of all them what come before.. you ship out again, Teddy, n’ you’ll be good as any man from The Rock...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Granpot..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWhat, boy?

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYThe whole time I was out on the sea, I was thinkin’ .. that I needed to get back to my girl..! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Boy, you go home now, n’ th girl will be gone n’ th sea’ll be gone n’ you’ll be paintin’ houses th rest o’ your life - no kinda life - I done it! - it’s a life on th sea you want, boy!

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Granpot.. when you left The Rock, did you chart your own course through your life?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)Wal, shore, I hadta chart my course - who else? - I was on me own...! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-3-5! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY ! ! ! !You charted a life on the sea - and you sailed that course.. that’s also the course you charted for me, as if I was following your North Star.. but, maybe I’m meant to follow a different star, Granpot..

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks off towards the sea, listens to ! ! ! ! ! ! its SOUNDS)Wal, boy.. you go back ta California, then.. but be sure n’ take care o’ your Ma...

! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI will...! ! ! ! ! ! (Reaches into his pocket, pulls out the piece of ! ! ! ! ! ! The Rock)Here.. I don’t deserve this...! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (CAP looks down at the piece of The Rock in ! ! ! ! ! ! his hand)No, you keep ahold o’ this piece o’ The Rock - just remember where it come from, boy, where we come from...! ! ! ! ! ! (Hands the rock back to Teddy - Teddy ! ! ! ! ! ! squeezes it, then goes down the porch steps ! ! ! ! ! ! with the rock in his hand, EXITS - the Buick’s ! ! ! ! ! ! engine starts up, and the SOUND of car’s tires ! ! ! ! ! ! crunching the shell road as it drives off - Cap ! ! ! ! ! ! looks out to sea - LIGHTS DIM on The Porch) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! EIGHT BELLS! ! ! ! 2-4-1

! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS RISE on The Porch - only one ! ! ! ! ! ! lawn chair - Cap is sitting in it, staring off and ! ! ! ! ! ! listening to the SOUNDS of the sea - ENTER ! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE from around the back of the duplex ! ! ! ! ! ! - she runs up the steps)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! MADGEDaddy! - I went to ask Roy could he make me some new cabinets - I knocked and knocked and called his name, then looked through the screen door when he didn’t answer - he was lying on his bed, not moving - you better see if something’s wrong!! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap gets up and goes around back, EXITS, as ! ! ! ! ! ! Madge sits down in the lawn chair, agitated, ! ! ! ! ! ! looks out to sea, listening to the low surf ! ! ! ! ! ! coming in and out - Cap comes back, ENTERS ! ! ! ! ! ! with the little space heater, comes up the porch ! ! ! ! ! ! steps, puts the heater down)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWal, Madge.. reckon Roy won’t need th heater no more...! ! ! ! ! ! (Madge gets up, goes down the steps, EXITS - ! ! ! ! ! ! Cap sits down in the lawn chair, looks out to ! ! ! ! ! ! sea - the SOUND of the Buick pulling into the ! ! ! ! ! ! sand driveway, a car door opens and closes ! ! ! ! ! ! and UNCLE JIMMY, in khakis and an officer’s ! ! ! ! ! ! cap, swings up the steps, stands next to CAP)

! ! ! ! ! ! UNCLE JIMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Running his hand threw his hair)Whewww!.. what a job, night matin’ - rained all night from the storm! - and then the sulfur line got stopped, and the tower called the Coast Guard out - just a block in the line, I said to them - got a sailor to clear it...! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks at CAP)! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAPIt’s eight bells for Roy, Jimmy - he’s stiff as a board...

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses)

I’ll go up and call the coroner.. and Pop.. I want you to know.. I’m sorry about Mrs. Tilson...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPWal, Jimmy - Roy was me renter - but Ruth was me best friend...


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-4-2! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks off, listens to the sea)You still own that plot of land on The Rock, where your Dad passed?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPShore.. me Ma left it ta me...

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYWhen’s the last time you were down on The Rock?

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNineteen-ought-four, when I went ta sea..

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYSeventy years and you haven’t been back.. how about you and me and Madge take a flight down - we could stay at that little place cousin Ainsley runs - give you a chance to see The Rock, again - we’ll hike over to the plot, under those cliffs...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPNot sure I wants ta see th plot, again, Jimmy.. it’s below them cliffs where them rocks come down on me Pappy...

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYYou’d be going back to your Pop...

! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, stares out to sea)Wal.. maybe we should go down ta The Rock...

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYI’ll tell Madge...! ! ! ! ! ! (Clambers down the steps, strides off around ! ! ! ! ! ! the corner of the duplex, EXITS. The LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! DIM on The Porch, LIGHTS RISE on The Plot - ! ! ! ! ! ! large rocks are strewn around - ENTER CAP, ! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY and MADGE - they wander through the ! ! ! ! ! ! rocks, saying nothing - CAP looks down, picks ! ! ! ! ! ! up a rock the size of a breadfruit with a dull red ! ! ! ! ! ! stain on it - he looks down at it, then stares up ! ! ! ! ! ! at the cliffs.)

! ! ! ! ! ! CAPThem goats started it all.. here come them rocks n’ there went me Pappy.. n’ there I went, sailin’ away from me Ma, off ta sea.. it were them goats started me on my voyage...


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-4-3! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of goats above)

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMYHey! - there’s still goats up there, after all these years!! ! ! ! ! ! (They all look up - we hear the soft bounding of ! ! ! ! ! ! a rock coming down the cliffs in the form of a ! ! ! ! ! ! bouncing ball of light - it comes to rest across ! ! ! ! ! ! from them, among the other rocks on The Plot)

! ! ! ! ! ! MADGE Maybe it’s a sign, Daddy...! ! ! ! ! ! (Cap looks at the rock, picks it up, looks down ! ! ! ! ! ! at it, then looks up at the cliffs - the scuttling ! ! ! ! ! ! SOUND of the goats above)

! ! ! ! ! ! JIMMY! ! ! ! ! ! (Pauses, looks around)Tell you what, Pop.. I’ll get a house built for you on this plot - hire some of our cousins to build it cheap - even terrace a garden - you can plant your crops - maybe even a breadfruit tree!! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! CAP! ! ! ! ! ! (Looks up at the cliffs again, turns and looks ! ! ! ! ! ! out to sea, listens to the waves crashing below ! ! ! ! ! ! against the cliffs)Wal, shore.. that’d be all right.. rent out both sides o’ th duplex, ‘n live down here near him... he’s down there, Jimmy, at th graveyard by th bend in th old stone road.. n’ when it’s eight bells fer me, Jimmy, plant me with me Pappy, ‘n them what come before...! ! ! ! ! ! (The SOUND of goats scuttling above on the ! ! ! ! ! ! cliffs - Cap looks up, as the LIGHTS DIM on ! ! ! ! ! ! The Plot, LIGHTS RISE on The Pulpit - Teddy ! ! ! ! ! ! stands at it)! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDYI went back to California and the girl was gone and the sea was gone and I painted houses for way too long.. but finally I made a place for myself in the world - not an exciting life, not the life of the ships - but I did chart my own course and followed my own star.. still, I would come back to Florida, and later here to The Rock - visit my old Granpot during his remaining years - he never changed, but he never did try to get me on the sea, again - maybe he knew the seafaring life of “them who come before”, men from The Rock, would finally end with the retirement of his own son, Jimmy... I’ve always wondered what my life would have been, if I had stayed on the sea - what voyages, what ports, what adventures!... I guess I’ll never know... ! ! ! !


! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 2-4-4! ! ! ! ! ! (The LIGHTS DIM on The Pulpit, LIGHTS ! ! ! ! ! ! RISE on The Porch - empty, with just one lawn ! ! ! ! ! ! chair - a pause, and Jimmy ENTERS out Cap’s ! ! ! ! ! ! side of the duplex with a sign in his hand - he ! ! ! ! ! ! looks down at the empty lawn chair for a ! ! ! ! ! ! moment, then grabs it with one hand, swings it ! ! ! ! ! ! into the duplex, locks the door, slowly closes ! ! ! ! ! ! the screen door, turns and looks out to sea - ! ! ! ! ! ! we hear the SOUND of low surf - he slowly ! ! ! ! ! ! goes down the steps, pauses and looks at the ! ! ! ! ! ! “Crest of the Waves sign in front, attaches a ! ! ! ! ! ! “For Sale” sign to it, strides OFFSTAGE, EXITS ! ! ! ! ! ! - we hear a car door slam, then the SOUND of ! ! ! ! ! ! the Buick starting up and crunching away on ! ! ! ! ! ! the shell road, leaving only the SOUNDS of the ! ! ! ! ! ! low breakers hissing onto the nearby beach. ! ! ! ! ! ! The LIGHTS DIM on The Porch, LIGHTS RISE ! ! ! ! ! ! on The Pulpit. Teddy looks down at the coffin)

! ! ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! TEDDY ! ! ! ! !After a few years on The Rock, Cap passed back into his own century.. and now here he lies.. in the last port on his last voyage, smelling the sea, hearing the gulls, and hearing the crashing of waves against the cliffs of his beloved Rock.. ride easy now at anchor, Cap, for your watch is over...! ! ! ! ! ! (Goes to the bell of the Rebecca Palmer! ! ! ! ! ! RINGS it twice, pauses, RINGS it twice more, ! ! ! ! ! ! pauses then two more RINGS, pauses, then a ! ! ! ! ! ! final two RINGS that echo away as the ! ! ! ! ! ! LIGHTS DIM on The Pulpit, leaving a light on ! ! ! ! ! ! the coffin, which fades to black)

! ! ! ! ! ! CURTAIN! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

! ! ! ! !


Documents

Crest of the Waves - all 8 Bells together