Seven Guitars

Act One

The play begins in the backyard of a house. Vera, Louise, Canewell, Hedley and Red Carter are all sitting around in their Sunday best, having just come from the funeral of Floyd ‘Schoolboy’ Barton. Louise starts singing a song to try to raise everyone’s spirits, and Red Carter joins in. Vera asks everyone if they saw the angels at the cemetery. Red Carter and Louise are skeptical, but Canewell says he saw them too and begins describing them. Vera says that there were six of them that came down out of the sky. When Red and Louise try to dismiss them, Hedley says he saw them too. They begin talking about the fragility of life and wondering if Floyd knew he was going to die. Louise and Vera become emotional and Vera goes into the house. Red and Canewell toast to Floyd.

We then flashback to Floyd and Vera dancing in the same backyard several weeks earlier. Floyd is singing to his new hit record “That’s All Right” and trying to seduce Vera, but Vera pushes him away. Floyd asks