Play # 15

BURDEN

__________________________

By Joseph Frost

Originally written for the 2020 "31 Plays in 31 Days" challenge

Contact:
Joseph Frost
710 Newland St
Jackson MS 39211
FrostJosephD@gmail.com
Member, Dramatist's Guild
 A wheat field. On stage. A breeze blows.

THOMAS stands in the field, facing upstage.

He wears all black.

Across the stage comes SARAH, carrying a

basket of laundry. A light sun dress.

SARAH
(sings, a folk hymn)
Carrying the burden
Carrying the burden
Carrying the burden
Is our Savior Lord

Wearying with burden

Wearying with burden
Wearying with burden
but sustained with love

Ferrying the burden

Ferrying the burden
Ferrying the burden
‘Cross the crossing sea

Burying the burden

Burying the burden
Burying the burden
Is our Lord above

Sarah sees Thomas.

SARAH
Thomas.
(beat)
You’ve returned.

THOMAS
I have.

SARAH
You stayed until the end.
 2.

THOMAS
What’s the end?

SARAH
They buried him?

THOMAS
Yes.

SARAH
You saw them cover him with dirt.
(beat)
Did you see it done?
(beat)
Tell me you saw it done.

THOMAS
I saw him in the ground.

A moment.

SARAH
You promised.

THOMAS
I told you I would go to the funeral.
(beat)
I went to the church.

SARAH
The funeral was at the graveyard over the hill.
(beat)
Said they’d only have it at the church if it rained.

THOMAS
I know that now.

SARAH
Long walk.

THOMAS
I know that now, as well.

Sarah sets down the basket.

 3.

SARAH
I told you to visit when you heard he was ill.

THOMAS
I wanted to.
(beat)
I was going to.

SARAH
When?

THOMAS
The next day. The next morning.

SARAH
You hadn’t anything ready.

THOMAS
I did. I didn’t tell you.

SARAH
Thomas.

THOMAS
Ask me why I didn’t stay.

SARAH
Tell me.

THOMAS
Ask.

SARAH
Why didn’t you stay?

Thomas finally turns back to Sarah.

He has bled heavily from his left shoulder.

SARAH
My god, Thomas.

He holds out his right hand to stop her from

approaching him.
 4.

THOMAS
Just... stay back.

SARAH
You’re bleeding.

THOMAS
Happens when you’ve been stabbed.

SARAH
At a funeral?

THOMAS
You know who he was, Sarah.

SARAH
But surely--

THOMAS
You expected decency? Respect? Honor among thieves only counts if you’re still alive.
Once you’re dead...

SARAH
All bets are off.

THOMAS
You do understand.

Thomas chuckles, then coughs.

SARAH
Please let me help you.

He holds up his hand again.

He looks around.

THOMAS
I made it back closer than I thought I would.
(looks at her)
I didn’t expect to see you again.

He coughs hard.
 5.

Sarah holds her hand to her mouth.

SARAH
Thomas, let me get you to the house.

THOMAS
I might have made it further. I stopped for a while back there. I was... digging.

SARAH
No, Thomas.

THOMAS
I want to be here. On our land. About a half mile back at the bend in the stream. I
couldn’t dig as deep as I should, but it’s a good start.

SARAH
Let me try to stitch you up. I can help. I’ve stitched you up before...

THOMAS
I know you want to jump in and help. Trust me, flower. It’s too deep. My arms gone
limp. I just...

SARAH
If you pass out, I’m carrying you back to the house.

THOMAS
No.

SARAH
This is not a question. I’m telling you what I will do.

THOMAS
You can’t lift me.

SARAH
I will drag you through this field, and past the gate. I’ll have Samson to help me drag
you the rest of the way.

THOMAS
You didn’t notice I took Samson this morning.
(beat)
And that he’s not here now.

A light shift.
 6.

Thomas looks up.

THOMAS
I came back...
(cough)
I came back because the storm’s coming.

SARAH
The storm.

THOMAS
They know I live here now.
(beat)
The storm is coming.

SARAH
What are you saying?

THOMAS
You know where the shotgun is. And the shells.

SARAH
Of course.

THOMAS
I showed you blocking the door up with the table.

SARAH
You did.
(beat)
Why are they coming here?
(beat)
Thomas, tell me why they’re coming here.

THOMAS
The rug. Flip up the corner near the fireplace. Put your ear on the floor and knock on the
floor until you hear that it doesn’t ring hollow anymore. Use the iron to pry up that
board.

SARAH
Thomas.
 7.

THOMAS
There’s a journal in there.

SARAH
What’s in the journal?

THOMAS
Directions.

SARAH
Directions to what.

THOMAS
That’s why they’re coming.
(he looks at her longingly)
I’m sorry.

SARAH
Why?

THOMAS
They were never going to find us.
(beat)
They were never going to find it.
(beat)
I didn’t want this.
(beat)
If I’d have been the better man you been making me into, I would’ve been able to walk
away from the funeral without... this... happening.
(beat)
You did all you could.

SARAH
If I hadn’t, you would have killed anyone who put his hands on you.

THOMAS
See? I’m better than I was.
(beat)
And for that, I’m grateful.

A moment.

Thomas turns to leave.

 8.

SARAH
Thomas.
(he stops)
The man who did this... the day he steps on this land... he’ll be in the ground.

THOMAS
Let me tell you, flower. It don’t take much for vengeance to give way to worse things.

SARAH
You changed for me, Thomas. I’ll take the risk, and change for you.

THOMAS
You do... and there’s a chance we’ll be together again. After.

Thomas walks away. As he does...

THOMAS
(singing)
Wearying with burden
Wearying with burden
Wearying with burden
but sustained with love

Sarah drops to her knees.

Distant thunder.

Darkness.

End.