We had 5 options for a project to do on this book. I chose the option of making my own up. And that was writing a play. The deadline for the ENTIRE book is December 20th.
So... I hope you will all read it and such. I'm going to Contact Gregory Smith, director of the Childrens Theather, who helped me in seventh grade, and hopefully gat a part in some type of acting thing... so, everybody who likes plays, please read this. Don't correct grammar, most of the grammar is slangy, and yeah... please, bear with me. If you read the book, don't comment on how I should add more in... I'd have to edit all the scence I have so far.
This scene is short. It's Jefferson's Trial.
Act 1, Scene 1
[Grant]
[Narrative]
Pacing across the stage while speaking]
I was not there, yet I was there. I did not go to the trial, I did not hear the verdict, and because I knew all the time what it would be. I sat behind my aunt and Jefferson’s godmother, Miss Emma, while they sat beside each another. His godmother didn’t get up to get water or go to the bathroom down in the basement. She just stared at him and his lawyer, and when they left to await the jurors’ verdict her eyes remained in that direction. She heard nothing said in the room by anybody. Oh, yes, she did hear one word… hog.
[Pause]
A white man had been killed during a robbery. Two of the robbers had been killed as the well, and one captured, and he too would have to die. Brother and Bear, the two men, offered Jefferson a ride and asked if he had any money once he got in. Jefferson replied he hadn’t a solitary dime. They drove into the store of Alcee Groupé, the old storekeeper who was sitting on a stool behind the counter. Alcee spoke to Jefferson and kept an eye on Brother and Bear. When the two walked up with a bottle of Apple White Groupé asked if they had any money and when the two didn’t have enough Groupé told them to leave. Bear began to approach him, drunk. Groupé drew up a revolver from the register and started to shoot. Then it was silent and the only one left standing was Jefferson. Jefferson began to tell Groupé that he didn’t shoot anybody but he was talking to a dead man. He drew up a bottle of whiskey and drank to forget. Then he looked around, the store was empty except for the three dead men. Jefferson remembered he hadn’t a solitary dime and what good was money to a dead man? He stuffed his pockets full of the money and the whiskey bottle then he walked out of that store. That’s his story.
[Defense Attorney]
Gentlemen of the jury, look at this—this – this boy.
[Points to Jefferson and turns back to jury.]
I almost said man, but I can’t say man. Sure, he’s reached the age of twenty-one, when we, civilized men, consider the male species has reached manhood, but would you cal this—this—this a man?
[Points to Jefferson again and paces over to the jury and back while speaking.]
I--I would call it a boy and a fool. A fool doesn’t know what is right or wrong and does what others tell him to... A man with the littlest intelligence would have seen that those racketeers meant no good, but not a fool. A fool got into that automobile. A fool rode to the grocery store. A fool stood by and watched this happen without having enough sense to run. Gentlemen of the jury look at him- look at this. Do you see a man sitting here, I ask and implore you, and do you see a man sitting here? Look at the shape of his skull, his face that’s flat like the palm of my hand, those eyes. Do you see a modicum of intelligence? Do you think he could plan a murder; a robbery could plan—could plan—could plan anything? A cornered animal strikes out of fear, a trait inherited from his ancestors in the deepest jungle of blackest Africa and strike he can, but to plan? No, gentlemen, this skull here holds no plans, just made to act on command. A thing to hold the handle of a plow, a thing to load your bales of cotton, a thing to dig your ditches, chop your wood, poll your corn. That is what you see here, but nothing of planning capability. Ask him to name the months, if Christmas comes before or after Fourth of July. Mention the names of Keats, Byron, Scott, and see if he will recognize them. Ask him to describe a rose, quote one passage from the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. Gentlemen of the jury, this man planned a robbery? Oh, pardon me, I didn’t mean to insult your intelligence by saying ‘man’ – please forgive me for this error. Gentlemen of the jury, look back to that second row. Please look and I want all of you honorable men to look back there in the second row. Those people are everything to him, his mama, grandmother, and godmother. Look at her, gentlemen, look at her well, take him away from her and she has no reason to live.
[Walks over to juror’s bench and clings onto railing with hands.]
Gentlemen of the jury be merciful, for God’s sake, be merciful. He is innocent against all charges brought against him. But let us say he wasn’t innocent. What justice would there be to take this life? Justice, gentlemen? Why, I would just as soon put a hoof in the electric chair as this. I thank you, gentlemen, from the bottom of my heart for your patience. I have no more to say except this: we must live with our own conscience, each and every one of us.
[Grant]
Guilty; he was guilty of robbery and murder in the first degree. The judge praised the twelve white men for reaching a quick and just verdict. Today was Friday. He would pass sentence on Monday. Me, my aunt, and Miss Emma returned to the same seats we occupied on Friday. The judge told Jefferson that he was found guilty of the accused crimes, and had to be punished for the pay he played in this horrible crime.
[Pause]
Death by electrocution.
