Part 2 (1/2)

THE PLAY

ACT I

SCENE I

_Scene: Alexandria, Va., the garden in front of the Lees' home in the spring of 1819._

Characters

Robert Lee, aged 12 Bud, his chum, aged 11 Slats, a friend, aged 12 Fat, another friend, aged 13

(_Enter ROBERT and BUD. BUD has a fis.h.i.+ng rod. ROBERT is carrying his school books. SLATS follows tossing a ball in the air and catching it.

FAT trails along last, as usual._)

BUD--An say, Rob, get your pole and come on fis.h.i.+ng. They say they're biting great. Have you asked your mother if you could go?

ROBERT--No, I haven't.

SLATS--Well what do you think she is, a mind reader or something?

FAT--No, probably he thinks if he waits long enough, somebody will ask her for him.

BUD--Don't judge everybody by yourself. Rob always does everything for himself and a lot of things for other people, and you know it, unless your head's too fat.

SLATS--Well, aren't you going to ask her Rob?

ROBERT--No, I told you before, I couldn't go fis.h.i.+ng.

FAT--Well, how do you know you can't if you haven't even asked? Talk about my head being fat!

BUD--You better be careful what you say to Rob. He could trim the life out of you, and you know it.

ROBERT--I don't see what you boys are making all this fuss about. I just can't go fis.h.i.+ng, that's all. You fellows go ahead and have a good time and tomorrow tell me all about that biggest fish that got away.

BUD--Don't you want to go, Rob?

ROBERT--Of course I want to go, but I simply can't this afternoon, that's all.

BUD--Aw what's the secret, Rob? Aren't you and I pardners?

ROBERT--There isn't any secret, Bud. I'm just going to take mother out to ride just as I always do.

SLATS--Well say, can't she stay home just for once?

ROBERT--She does stay home all the time except when I take her out to ride. Now be careful, or she might hear you, and not want me to take her out.