ANDY: Point is, we saw all kinda faces c...
Overview
- Female: 2
- Male: 5
Context
At this point in the story, the Scottsboro Boys have been in prison for five years as appeals to their convictions for gang rape while riding a freight train (despite medical evidence that no rape, nor even sexual activity, occurred during that time period) are slogging their way up through the judicial system to the U.S. Supreme Court, then back for re-trials, re-convictions, re-appeals…during which time the original lawyers on both sides and leaders of groups rallying for their release have
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ANDY: Point is, we saw all kinda faces come and go. Even the prosecutor – who get elected lieutenant governor but still keep on the case! – even he, one day, up and died. Six years in, seem like all the faces had changed.
LEROY: 'Cept ours.
CLARENCE: Got that right.
ANDY: No, actually, yours too, little brother! And Eugene's! The two of you sproutin' mustaches. Turnin' into men!
OLEN: That be the thing in prison. Some of life stops and some of life don't. Make it hard to keep your footin'.
(CLARENCE, CHARLIE and ANDY concur.)
HAYWOOD: Okay, Willie, I think that sets things up. Go ahead and read your letter. Nice and loud.
WILLIE: (steps forward, reads) Dear Miss Damon...
EUGENE: You so full of shit, Haywood.
HAYWOOD: (a moment, then:) Say what?
EUGENE: You heard me. You are so full of shit. What're you, the daddy here?
(From the others, quietly: "Uh-oh." etc.)
HAYWOOD: You got somethin' on your mind, Eugene?
EUGENE: What I got on my mind ain't none of your damn business. (Indicating the audience.) And it certainly ain't none of theirs!
HAYWOOD: Well now, if you don't want to participate in this, Eugene, I don't see anyone sayin' you have to.
EUGENE: 'Cept the State of Alabama.
(The others snort and chuckle. "He right about that." "Got you there, Haywood." etc.)
HAYWOOD: (holds a moment, then to the audience:) See, folks, like any family, we have our ups and downs. Gettin' along some days, and some days not. And – probably like your family, too – there always be one, usually in their teens, wishin' they wasn't related.
EUGENE: Where you gettin' this family shit? I got a family.
HAYWOOD: We a family, Eugene. Whether you like it or not.
EUGENE: You wish. Don't forget, I knew you in Chattanooga. (to audience) Haywood just wantin' us to be a family on accounta he afraid of bein' free. 'Cuz then what he do? Then who he be? Just another nigger. And not a very talented one at that! Bein' a Scottsboro Boy the best thing that ever happen to Haywood! Like gettin' selected into some club! Walkin' and talkin' with the whites...
ANDY: Okay, Eugene. You made the point.
CLARENCE: He gonna get you later, you don't hush.
(HAYWOOD, through this, has said nothing. He is poker faced.)
EUGENE: (glances at HAYWOOD, then to audience, defiantly) Bein' a Scottsboro Boy the best thing that ever happen to Haywood. But not me.
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