The Authors Production Notes

This play is loosely based off an Inuit legend about two bear cubs and a
hungry monster. The legend has been reinterpreted to fit the themes of a much
larger story in Canadian history. This play brings to light the root cause of many
problems Aboriginal people deeply struggle with to this day. It is set in two times. It
flips back and forth from Before and After a particular incident that is never
acted out on the stage. The character of Ruth Fine Feather acts as both an active
participant in the drama and a narrator to recount her memory of the events.
Ideally, the stage will have two levels. The majority of the stage is one level,
but with the exception of a three foot platform stage right (audiences left). This
platform will serve as the childrens treehouse. Skirting the platform are disjointed
old planks of wood. It is evident that they have been thrown together and have all
previously had very different purposes. Facing the audience is a set of stairs
ascending to the platform. On the center of the platform, a shack-like structure has
been constructed. Similarly to the boards on the perimeter of the platform, the
shack is made up of dirty plywood, planks from shipping crates, and even an old
shutter. The side of the structure facing the crowd has no wall which enables the
audience to see into the shack. They are meant to believe that there is a wall there
for purposes that will become evident later on in the drama. On either side of the
structure along the edge of the platform is a railing. This is meant to express the
idea that this treehouse is, in fact, high above the ground. Treehouses usually have
railings for safety.
For the most part, the rest of the stage is quite bare. At stage left, there are a
few pieces of furniture including a table with three chairs set around it, a small cott,
and a floor lamp. The furniture gives off the impression they have come from no
specific era. Down and center stage is left bare so it can be open to interpretation
for various settings of scenes. The backdrop of the stage is a midnight blue curtain
so dark that it is almost black. Sewn into the upper half of the curtain are faint
lights. For the majority of the drama they will be left off, but it will be specified when
they must be on. When the lights are on, they are meant to appear as stars in the
nights sky. To the side of the stage is a screen with a projector. It is there that the
words Before and After will be displayed.
Characters
Ruth Fine Feather
Arthur McGregor
Mother
Grandfather
Indian Agent
Scene I
The stage is left dark with the exception of soft lighting down center stage. The
screen reads After to one side of the stage. RUTH enters and walks to center
stage in the light.
RUTH: My name is Ruth Elizabeth Fine Feather. Ruth after that woman in the Bible,
and Elizabeth after the Queen over there in England. I have never understood why I
was named after either. I never believed a word the nuns told us about the Bible in
school and I know for certain I will never be a queen. What I do know is that I come
from a group of people who have lived on this piece of land for thousands of years

before any nun, priest, or Indian agent ever step foot on its soil. It was long before
they started telling us stories that we knew could never be true. But this story I will
tell you now is no lie. I know cause it is my story. I am not here to tell it to receive
your pity. I dont want it. I dont want any of it. I tell it to you simply because some
things just need to be told truthfully.
Scene II
The home of Arthur and his mother is placed on a small, run-down Ojibwe
reservation in northern Ontario. It is nearing the end of August. The heavy, thick air
fills the home with very little summer breeze to ventilate the humble house. The
bright afternoon sun is high in the sky. The sound of wildlife can be heard faintly as
if a forest is a mere steps outside their door. RUTH and ARTHUR are lounging
around together in the treehouse peering over a book. MOTHER can be found stage
left sweeping the floor. On the screen reads Before. MOTHERs cleaning is
disrupted by a knock on the door.
MOTHER: Come in. The door is unlocked.
GRANDFATHER: Good afternoon (tipping his hat to MOTHER before taking it off and
hanging it on the back of one of the chairs) where are the little ones?
MOTHER: Theyre in that old treehouse. They should be coming down any minute. I
told them you were coming, but Ill call em down cause they probably forgot.
Arthur and Ruth waste so much of their time in that treehouse. I swear sometimes
they forget to come down for supper!
(Calling up to the treehouse) Arthur! Ruth! Come on down now! Gokomis is here!
(ARTHUR and RUTHs ears perk up. They set down their book hurriedly and run
down the steps to stage left. They happily embrace GRANDFATHER and begin to
quickly talk to him at the same time. They chatter on about nothing of significance.
GRANDFATHER looks very pleased to see them and humors their stories.)
GRANDFATHER: (Teasingly) Although I love to hear about that home run you hit last
Friday on the baseball diamond (looking at Arthur) or the new puppy your friend,
Sarah, got for her birthday (looks to Ruth), I cant seem to get a word in between
you two. Dont you want to hear any of my stories? (ARTHUR and RUTH nod their
head.) Good. Then we can settle down.
(GRANDFATHER picks up a chair and sets it down center stage as ARTHUR and
RUTH sit cross-legged on the ground with their backs facing the audience. Space is
left between GRANDFATHERs chair and the children for movement. GRANDFATHER
sits on the chair.)
ARTHUR: O Grandfather, go on and tell us a story now. You know how we love your
stories.
GRANDFATHER: You are an impatient little one, arent you (chuckling)? Have you two
heard the story about the two bear cubs? (RUTH and ARTHUR shake their heads.)
Never? Well, Im surprised. I thought you had heard all of my stories by now. Where

do I begin? (brief pause) This story I am about to tell you is about a mother bear and
her two cubs. I am sure you have heard many things about mother bears. They are
meant to be honoured and feared. Mother bears are strong and powerful. They have
teeth as sharp as an arrowhead and claws longer than your fingers. You may be
asking yourself what makes them any different than any other bear. Well, let me tell
you. It is their cubs. Mother bears will do anything to protect their young. They will
fight to their very last breath for the slight chance of protection for their cubs. But
remember, a mother bear is only a danger to you if you are danger to her bear cub.
(GRANDFATHER speaks animatedly as he tells the story. RUTH and ARTHUR
listen intently to GRANDFATHER and react appropriately to different parts in the
story.) The story begins with the mother and her cubs fast asleep in their den. The
mother wakes up. She has been asleep for many months and she is very hungry.
She lumbers out of the den and finds a bush of plump, ripe blueberries. Once she
has eaten all she can, the mother bear goes back to sleep next to her two cubs.
Shortly after she has fallen back asleep, her cubs wake up from their deep sleep and
are very hungry, too. They wander out of the den following their mothers tracks in
the snow. They are happily eating all of the blueberries when they hear their mother
crying out. They can tell by her screams she is being attacked. She is killed by a
dreadful beast, a monster! (ARTHUR and RUTH look at each other shocked.) He too
was very hungry, but no amount of blueberries could satisfy his hunger. To this day,
we do not know the monsters name. He eats the mother bear very quickly, but he
is still hungry. He sees the tracks the cubs have left behind and follows them. He
knows that bear cubs are much tastier than a mother bear. The cubs can hear the
monster coming so they flee to Grandmother Porcupine. Little ones, hurry! Go to
old Grandmother Eagle. You will be safe there, says Grandmother Porcupine.
(GRANDFATHER uses various voices when different characters in his story are
speaking.)
Once the cubs leave, the dreadful monster comes out from the bushes. He
asks Grandmother Porcupine, where have the two little bear cubs gone?
I have not seen any bear cubs today. Are you sure they came this way? She
replies.
You cannot fool me old woman! I know they have passed here. Their tracks
lead right to you! The monster shouts. With that, he kills Grandmother Porcupine
and eats her very quickly. (ARTHUR and RUTH look horrified.) He is still not satisfied
so he follows the tracks of the bear cubs. At this point, the cubs have reach
Grandmother Eagle. She tells them, Do not worry. I will fly you over the lake to the
island in its center. You will be safe there while I take care of the monster
The cubs breath a sigh of relief as they reach the island in the center of the
lake. Grandmother Eagle flies back to the mainland. The monster is waiting there for
her. He asks, Dear Grandmother Eagle, fly me to the island in the center of the lake
so that I may catch and eat my dinner.
Of course, replies Grandmother Eagle. She picks up the monster with her
huge talons and they soar high above the lake. The cubs watch as Grandmother
Eagle lets go of the monster. He is very sly though. He did not trust her from the
start. He had been expecting her to let go so as he begins to fall, he yanks her down
with him. They plunge into the water. Grandmother Eagles feathers are to wet and
heavy for her to fly away from the monster. They both drown in the lake. (ARTHUR
and RUTH look disappointed.)
ARTHUR: Well, that was not a very happy story, Gokomis?

GRANDFATHER: The bear cubs survived.

RUTH: But at the cost of Grandmother Eagles life.
GRANDFATHER: We must all make sacrifices to protect those we love. (Lights fade
out.)
Scene III
The set is empty with dim lighting giving an ominous feel to the stage, but there is
enough to be able to clearly make out the furniture and treehouse. On the screen
reads After. RUTH walks out on stage to the center.
RUTH: On warm summer evenings when the air grew hot and sticky, a peaceful
blanket fell on the land of our reservation. Dusk was a magically time. People would
begin to settle into their homes. In the evening air you could hear the faint music
playing in the house next door, or the wind rustling the old birch trees, or the odd
bark from a neighbours mutt. These evenings brought tranquility to our otherwise
less than peaceful reservation. This eventually came to an end like all decent things
do. With our summer nights, came chaos and destruction. In our beds we did not
hear the soft laughter of the smaller children playing by the pond or the gently
lapping of the waves along the shore. Our nights were filled with the thunder of the
sickening cries as children were uprooted from this land and the rain of the tears
wept for those who were already lost. Those nights were always long. They filled our
heads with dread and fear. Our fear was not misplaced. This wasnt like being afraid
of zombies or the monster hidden under your bed. It was only a matter of time
before the monsters came after us.
Scene IV
Before is written on the screen. The lights sewn into the back curtain are on.
RUTH, ARTHUR, and MOTHER are sitting at the table eating dinner. They are talking
quietly amongst each other when they hear banging at the door.
MOTHER: (To the children) Who could that be at this time of night? (Calling out
towards stage left) Whos there?
OFFICER: (A stern voice from offstage left) Open the door, ma'am.
(All three realize who is at the door. MOTHER is startled and RUTH and ARTHUR
have frightened looks on their faces.)
MOTHER: (Towards stage left) Just a minute, sir. I am in no state to be visited by a
gentleman. (In a hushed voice to the children) Quickly, get up and do as you have
done before. Run up to the treehouse, dont make a sound, and wait up there until I
come to get you two. (Kisses the top of ARTHURs head and waits until the children
are running up the steps before she makes her way to stage left.) Come in (calmly).
INDIAN AGENT: Good evening, maam. Are you Mrs. McGregor? (MOTHER nods her
head.) I assumed as much. Where is your son, Arthur, tonight? You see we have
been going around to all the reservations in the area. I am sure you have heard

about the brand new school in Sault Ste. Marie. We have a very special spot for
Arthur at Shingwauk. (Lighting on stage right begins to fade out until the point
where the audience can no longer see the treehouse or RUTH and ARTHUR inside
it.)
MOTHER: (Calmly) I do not know where Arthur is at this time. I have not seen him all
day. Hes been out with his cousins fishing and such. Hell probably be staying over
at his cousins house. He admires them so. You must know how young boys are. It
cannot be too long ago that you were once one. Do you have any children, sir?
INDIAN AGENT: No. (He looks suspiciously at the table set for three, but chooses to
ignore it.)
MOTHER: Well uh, you have plenty of time for that. No need to rush into anything
you arent ready for is what IINDIAN AGENT: Maam, where is your husband? (He continues to look around the
home.)
MOTHER: (Looking dumbstruck) Ugh (recovering her composure) he passed away
some time ago. Now it is just me and Arthur.
INDIAN AGENT: He must mean an awful lot to you. (Lighting on stage progressively
fades as they talk.)
MOTHER: (INDIAN AGENT guides MOTHER towards the bed) Yes, he is all I have.
(MOTHER sits on the cot while he goes around and stands behind her and the cot.)
INDIAN AGENT: And you would do anything for him?
MOTHER: (With a blank stare free of emotion out to the audience) Of course.
(INDIAN AGENT pulls down on strap of her dress exposing her shoulder. At this point
the only light onstage is coming from the single floor lamp. INDIAN AGENT turns it
off and the stage goes black with the exception of the lights in the curtain.)
Scene V
The screen to the side of the stage reads After. The stage is empty and dark.
There is dim lighting center stage that brightens as RUTH appears from stage right.
RUTH: Arthur and I spent all night out there in that old treehouse. We slept huddled
together in the corner and whispered in each other's ear. We were frightened of
what horrors the morning might bring. To our surprise, we woke to Arthurs mother
gentle nudges to get up. She said very little to us that morning. She instructed us to
climb into her car and we drove 20km to the nearest supermarket where she let us
each pick out a chocolate bar. We swore we would never tell a soul what had
happened the previous night. That had not been the first nor would it be the last
time an Indian agent came knocking on the McGregors door. Each time we would
silently run up to our treehouse and Arthurs mother would be forced to come up
with a new excuse to satisfy the Indian agents hunger.

(RUTH exits the stage and the lights fade out. When the lights come back up,
MOTHER is making up the cot. ARTHUR enters stage left with a fishing pole hanging
over his shoulder. The lights in the curtain are no longer on.)
ARTHUR: Have you seen Ruth around, mother? I have been looking for her all over. I
wanted us to go fishing today. John caught a big trout off of Old Myers dock.
MOTHER: (Looking down) No, I havent seen her today, Arthur.
ARTHUR: I havent a clue where that girl could be! I checked her house, the baseball
diamond, the pond, and even, Grandfathers.
MOTHER: (Solemnly) I need to tell you something that is going to be hard to hear.
(She sits down on the cot.) Come sit down. (She pats the space beside her. ARTHUR
sits down next to her and she wraps her arm around him. He leans into her
embrace.)
ARTHUR: Whats the matter?
MOTHER: Well, ugh you seeARTHUR: (Angrily) Whats the matter? Where is Ruth? (He begins to pull away.)
MOTHER: (Tenderly) Sweetheart (She attempts to bring him in closer, but he pulls
away to stand up.)
ARTHUR: Tell me now! Where is she?
MOTHER: O sweetheart, shes gone. I heard from Gloria this morning. The Indian
agent was at the Fine Feathers house last night.
ARTHUR: What do you mean shes gone? She cant be! Youre lying! They arent
supposed to take either of us! She cant be gone! I should have been there! I should
have been with her! (ARTHUR paces around angrily talking more to himself than his
mother. He volume increases each sentence he speaks. MOTHER watches helplessly
to the side. ARTHUR collapses to his knees center stage sobbing.) I should have
been there I should have been there Now she is all alone I am alone
(RUTH enters from stage right and watches from the side. MOTHER kneels down
and wraps her arms around ARTHUR. Lighting fades with the exception of dim light
around RUTH.)
RUTH: It is very strange. The Indian agent never visited Arthur or his mother again.
(RUTH exits and stage blacks out.)
Scene VI

Before is written on the screen. The lights sewn in the back curtain are on. RUTH
and ARTHUR are present onstage sitting on the platform with their legs dangling
over the edge.
RUTH: There are so many beautiful stars out tonight.
ARTHUR: Yeah, do you remember the story Gokomis told us about that constellation
over there (points it out to RUTH and she shakes her head). I guess we'll just have
to get him tell it to us again. (They laugh together. RUTH puts her head on
ARTHURs shoulder. He looks mildly surprised, but does not appear to mind.)
RUTH: You have to promise me something, Arthur.
ARTHUR: What is it?
RUTH: (She turns to look him in the eye.) You have to promise youll never leave
me.
ARTHUR: Of course I will never leave you. Dont say such stupid stuff.
RUTH: I promise to never leave you either just so you know.
ARTHUR: Thank God! Now I can finally sleep soundly. It will be a constant
reassurance. (Smiling, RUTH shoves him to the side. The lights fade to black.)