Shades of War (3 page)

I will be in New
York on business next week and I look forward to finalizing the
details of our wedding.

Most
respectfully,

Jonathan Lewis

PS. I kindly
request that you update your will so that I inherit Phoebe's
properties and estates. This is a most important matter.

(Blackout.)

It's late
afternoon at the Fraunces house. SAM sips a cup of tea as he sits in
the rocking chair. PHOEBE is on the bench, fidgeting with her
powdered wig.

SAM: Stop that at
once and put it on.

(PHOEBE
puts her wig on.)

PHOEBE: Father,
what time is he coming?

SAM: I’m
expecting him soon. You will be very pleased when you meet Jonathan.

PHOEBE: Father...
I just wish I could have a man of my own choosing.

SAM: Trust that
Jonathan is far better than anyone you choose for yourself.

(Someone
knocks on the door.)

SAM: In a few
moments, you will be face to face with your future.

(SAM
smiles and goes to answer the door.)

(JONATHAN
enters wearing a nice suit.)

JONATHAN: Good to
see you, sir.

(JONATHAN
and SAM shake hands near the doorway.)

SAM: But of
course. I trust that your business affairs went well today.

JONATHAN: Indeed.
This is a city of commerce, and the deal I struck today will make
profits for years to come.

SAM: Very well,
son. Do come and meet your wife-to-be.

(SAM and
JONATHAN walk over to PHOEBE.)

(JONATHAN
kneels and kisses PHOEBE'S hand.)

JONATHAN: I swear
on all that is pure that you are the loveliest creature these eyes
have ever known.

PHOEBE: Pleased
to make your acquaintance.

(JONATHAN sits
down next to her on the bench, smiling even harder as he gets a
closer look at PHOEBE.)

SAM: I will go
and make some more tea.

(SAM
exits.)

JONATHAN: I had
several women to choose from, but I am so very glad that I chose you,
Phoebe Fraunces.

PHOEBE: And why
is that?

JONATHAN: Your
father's legacy in the New World sets a new precedent for all people
of color! He is one of the richest men in the city! With his blood in
your veins, you are my ideal wife.

PHOEBE: I see.

JONATHAN: Have
you ever been to Philadelphia?

PHOEBE: I
haven't.

JONATHAN: You
will like living there. It is very much like New York, just with
fewer people.

(JONATHAN
takes PHOEBE'S hand and holds it against his. He studies their
complexions for a moment.)

JONATHAN:
Somewhere in between...

PHOEBE: What are
you talking about?

JONATHAN: Our
children... they will be a shade between yours and mine.

(PHOEBE pulls
her hand away.)

PHOEBE: Jonathan,
I’m sure you will make a fine husband, but I cannot marry you. My
heart is not free.

JONATHAN: You’re
engaged to someone else?

PHOEBE: I will be
soon...

JONATHAN: But
your father told me-

PHOEBE: He knows
nothing of the man I’m in love with.

JONATHAN: I ask
you to please forget this other fellow and be my wife. With the
wealth of our families, you and I could prosper together.

PHOEBE: I’m
sorry, Jonathan. I cannot change my heart.

JONATHAN: Phoebe,
it's all been decided. Mr. Fraunces promised that you would be my
wife.

PHOEBE: I am not
a possession!

JONATHAN: There
is little difference between a woman and a possession.

PHOEBE: I belong
to God and God alone.

JONATHAN: You
father told me that you were strong willed, but this is far more than
I expected. When we are married, I will not allow you to speak to me
in this manner.

PHOEBE: The man I
love listens to me. He has a gentle heart and has no concern for my
lineage. And he will give me a life of happiness that you never
could.

JONATHAN: So you
will defy your father and marry him?

PHOEBE: I must
live my own life!

JONATHAN: You are
quite mad... Phoebe, there are many women who wish to wed me and this
is your chance. Although I could force you, I will not. Just look in
my eyes and tell me you have no desire to be my wife, and I will
leave you be.

PHOEBE: Jonathan,
I am in love with someone else and I could never marry you.

JONATHAN: Very
well, you will live with your mistake for the rest of your days.

(SAM
enters holding two teacups.)

SAM: This is my
finest tea, imported from India. I hope you enjoy it.

(SAM
hands one cup to JONATHAN and the other to PHOEBE.)

(SAM sits
down in the rocking chair.)

SAM:

(To
JONATHAN)

Will your father
mind if we have it here instead of Philadelphia? I could host a grand
reception at the tavern.

JONATHAN:
Whatever you think is best.

(SAM
picks up his teacup off of the coffee table and makes a toast.)

SAM

(To
PHOEBE)

What a joyous day
it will be when you are Mrs. Jonathan Lewis!

(Blackout.)

Scene 9

PHOEBE stands
alone reading a letter.

PHOEBE:

June 4th, 1776

My Sweet Thomas,

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

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

Forever yours,

Phoebe Fraunces

(Blackout.)

THOMAS stands
alone reading a letter.

THOMAS:

June 5th, 1776

My Dearest
Phoebe,

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

With Love,

Thomas Hickey

(Blackout.)

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

SAM: Phoebe! Come
here at once!

(PHOEBE
enters.)

PHOEBE: Yes,
Father.

SAM: Your mother
found this letter from Thomas Hickey!

PHOEBE: Father...
He’s...

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

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

(SAM
throws the letter on the floor.)

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

PHOEBE: Father,
you don't–

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

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

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

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

(SAM
releases her.)

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

PHOEBE: I only
wish to be with Thomas!

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

(PHOEBE
begins to cry.)

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

(SAM
exits.)

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

(Blackout.)

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

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

THOMAS: I think
Paris suits you.

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

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

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

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

PHOEBE: So let's
board a ship tonight.

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

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

(Blackout.)

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

(SAM
enters.)

SAM: Good
evening, Guss.

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

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

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

SAM: That will be
a fine start for you.

GUSS: All that’s
missing is a wife.

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

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

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

GUSS: Sure thing,
Mr. Fraunces.

(SAM
exits.)

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

(PHOEBE
enters.)

PHOEBE: Father!

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

PHOEBE: Where is
my father?

GUSS: He’s in
the kitchen.

PHOEBE: Go fetch
him for me.

GUSS: What’s
that you said?

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

(GUSS
exits.)

(SAM
enters.)

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

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

SAM: Thomas! You
dare to-

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

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

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

SAM: What?

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

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

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

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

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

SAM: You will and
you must.

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

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

(PHOEBE
exits.)

(Blackout.)

PHOEBE stands
alone reading a letter.

PHOEBE:

Father,

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

Thomas' plan is
as follows:

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

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

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

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

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

Everything is in
place for Saturday evening.

Your daughter,

Phoebe

(Blackout.)

SAM stands
alone reading a letter.

SAM:

June 30th, 1776

Dear Brother,

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

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

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

In high spirits,

Your brother,

Samuel Fraunces

(Blackout.)

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