LINCOLN: a PIONEER TALE Book by Ken Jones Music by Jamey Strawn Lyrics by Christine Jones

LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE Book by Ken Jones Music by Jamey Strawn Lyrics by Christine Jones

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LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE A musical about the life of young Abe Lincoln

Book by Ken Jones Music by Jamey Strawn Lyrics by Christine Jones

SYNOPSIS: The life of young Abe Lincoln is explored in this exciting musical Lincoln: A Pioneer Tale. The wonder of Abraham Lincoln's early life is brought to the stage, showing young Abe growing into a man in Indiana, and through determination of spirit and a compassion for the people, becoming one of the greatest Presidents in the history of the Unites States. Audiences of all ages will experience and celebrate the life and times of this extraordinary man through song, dance, action and spectacle.

CAST OF CHARACTERS (10 females, 20-22 males, 0-10+ ensemble)

NANCY LINCOLN (f) ...... Abe’s mother, 1784-1818. (44 lines) THOMAS LINCOLN (m) ...... Abe’s father, 1778-1851. (72 lines) YOUNG SARAH LINCOLN (f) ...... Playing ages from 10-15. Abe’s sister, 1807-1828. (6 lines) SARAH LINCOLN (f) ...... Playing the ages from 15- 21. Abe’s sister, 1807-1828. DO NOT (4COPY4 lines) BOY ABE (m) ...... boy playing ages 7-10. (9 lines) YOUNG ABE (m) ...... boy playing the ages 11-15. (65 lines) TEEN ABE (m) ...... young man playing ages 15- 21. (149 lines) PRESIDENT LINCOLN (m) ...... portrayed in the years 1860- 1865. (59 lines) KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 3

DENNIS HANKS (m) ...... Abe’s cousin, 1799-1892. (21 lines) ELIZABETH (BETSY) SPARROW (f) ...... Nancy Lincoln’s Aunt, d. 1818. (7 lines) NANCY BROONER (f) ...... Lincoln’s neighbor, 1782- 1818. (5 lines) SARAH BUSH JOHNSTON (SALLY) (f) .... Abe’s stepmother, 1788-1869. (32 lines) SARAH ELIZABETH (f) ...... Abe’s stepsister, 1807-1864. (Can double as a BLACK JACK GIRL.) (8 lines) MATILDA (f) ...... Abe’s stepsister, 1809 b. (4 lines) JOHN D. JOHNSTON (m) ...... Abe’s stepbrother. (17 lines) AARON GRIGSBY (m) ...... Abe’s brother-in-law, 1801- 1831. (22 lines) ANN ROBY (f) ...... Anna Caroline Roby Gentry, friend and schoolmate, 1810- 1883. (Can double as a BLACK JACK GIRL.) (16 lines) WILLIAM JONES (m) ...... Abe’s friend, 1803-1864. (27 lines) JOHN BALDWIN (m) ...... Blacksmith, Abe’s friend. (7 lines) GIDEON ROMINE (m) ...... Spencer County postmaster, Abe’s friend. (5 lines) ALLEN GENTRY (m) ...... Abe’s companion on the flatboat. (7 lines) TAD LINCOLNDO (m) ...... NOT Abe’sCOPY son, 1853-1871. (14 lines) WILLIE LINCOLN (m) ...... Abe’s son, 1850-1862. (21 lines) MARY TODD LINCOLN (f) ...... Abe’s wife, 1818-1882. (18 lines) DAVID TURNHAM (m) ...... Abe’s friend, 1803-1884. (18 lines) 4 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

JUDGE SAMUEL PATE (m) ...... Judge in River Trial. (Can double as BLACK JACK SHELLAC.) (17 lines) BLACK JACK SHELLAC (m) ...... a comedic snake oil salesman. (Can double as JUDGE SAMUEL PATE.) (15 lines) JOHN T. DILL (m) ...... Plaintiff in River Trial. (Can double as SLAVE MASTER.) (6 lines) SLAVE MASTER (m) ...... A slave master in the New Orleans scene. (Can double as JOHN T. DILL.) (4 lines) LEN DILL (m) ...... Plaintiff in River Trial. (10 lines) MOSES (m) ...... An enslaved person in the New Orleans. (20 lines) NAT GRIGSBY (m) ...... Lincoln’s friend, 1811-1890. (27 lines)

ENSEMBLE: PIONEERS CROWD ON WASHINGTON ST. JUDGE/MINISTER (2 lines) ENSLAVED PEOPLES NEW ORLEANS CROWD (3 lines) BLACK JACK GIRLS (3 lines) HELPER 1 (4 lines) HELPER 2 (4 lines) HELPER 3 (2 lines) UNIONDO GENERAL (1 line)NOT COPY UNION SOLDIERS CONFEDERATE GENERAL CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS BOY DRUMMER (m) SQUIRE HALL (m) KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 5

DURATION: 120 minutes. TIME: 1816-1830 and 1860-1865. SETTING: Various locales including: areas of Indiana, places in Washington, D.C., and battlefields in the U.S.

SETTING

The following suggestions are merely possibilities of how the scenic elements can be achieved.

The majority of the play will occur in three locations on the stage. The stage right area will support the Executive Mansion Cabinet Room, and an Executive Mansion Exterior. The stage left area will support the Lincoln’s cabin, Aaron Grigsby’s cabin (same cabin as Lincoln’s), Little Pigeon Baptist Church, and the gravesites. The center stage area will support the Battlefields, Country Courtroom in Kentucky, the Mississippi River (Flatboat), and New Orleans.

The area upstage of the playing space should be used for battle effects such as explosions and smoke charges, and with the use of hidden lighting instruments, it will also serve as the backdrop for the emotional, patriotic conclusion.

All scenic items and locations should be suggestive and not necessarily fully built. Wooden framing might symbolically represent the church, train depot, and speaker’s platform. The log cabin, Executive Mansion rooms, and blacksmith shop should have realistic trappings and furnishings yet the structures should remain open to the audience. Gravesites should be created using primitive crosses and headstones. The River, New Orleans, WashingtonDO Street, and IndianaNOT fields and clearings COPY should utilize the open space with optional enhancements from projections and multi-media effects.

From the stage ceiling, muslin fabric, aged and weathered, should be printed with fragments of Lincoln’s writings and speeches, and these fabrics should be positioned about the ceiling and set. They could be raised and lowered or removed as his story progresses. Red, White and Blue bunting should appear in the final moments of the play. 6 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

MUSICAL NUMBERS

SONG #1 OVERTURE INSTRUMENTAL

SONG #2 PIONEER SONG PIONEER ENSEMBLE

SONG #3 DON’T LOOK BACK NANCY

SONG #4 CHOPPING WOOD DENNIS, AARON, ALLEN G., MENS ENSEMBLE

SONG #5 COMIN’ HOME MARY TODD, ENSEMBLE

SONG #6 BEFORE AND AFTER NANCY, SARAH, THOMAS, DENNIS, YOUNG ABE

SONG #7 BEFORE AND AFTER (REPRISE) COMPANY

SONG #7A WEDDING MUSIC INSTRUMENTAL

SONG #8 HOPES AND DREAMS TEEN ABE, AARON, SARAH, SALLY, THOMAS, JONES, ENSEMBLE

SONG #9 ENTR’ACTE INSTRUMENTAL

SONG #10 MAKIN’ HISTORY DOJONES, NOTTEEN ABE, ENSEMBLE COPY

SONG #10A AMAZING GRACE COMPANY

SONG #11 HOPES AND DREAMS (REPRISE) COMPANY

SONG #11A FLATBOAT ENTRANCE MUSIC INSTRUMENTAL

KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 7

SONG #12 RIVER FLOWS TEEN ABE, ALLEN, ENSEMBLE

SONG #12A FLATBOAT EXIT MUSIC INSTRUMENTAL

SONG #13 BLACK JACK BLACK JACK, BLACK JACK GIRLS

SONG #13A ROLL JORDAN ROLL SOLOIST

SONG #13B ROLL JORDAN ROLL MOSES, ENSLAVED PEOPLE ENSEMBLE

SONG #14A GETTYSBURG UNDERSCORE INSTRUMENTAL

SONG #14B BATTLE SFX INSTRUMENTAL

SONG #14C TAPS INSTRUMENTAL

SONG #15 FOLLOW THE STAR TEEN ABE

SONG #16 FINALE FULL COMPANY

SONG #17 BOWS INSTRUMENTAL DO NOT COPY 8 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

PREMIERE PRODUCTION

LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE premiered at the Lincoln Amphitheatre in the Lincoln Boyhood State Park, Lincoln City, Indiana.

Directed by Ken Jones Choreography by Roderick Justice Stage Managed by Michael Hatton Scenic Design by Mark Halpin Costume Design by Jeff Shearer Lighting Design by Terry Powell Sound Design by Kevin Havlin

YOUNG ABE, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Travis Black PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ...... Dean Dorrell MARY TODD LINCOLN, PIONEER ...... Mary Anne Mathews BOY LINCOLN/WILLIE LINCOLN ...... Austin Rawlins SARAH LINCOLN, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Devi Reisenfeld MATILDA, PIONEER GIRL, ENSEMBLE ...... Kara Skorge TOM LINCOLN, UNION OFFICER II ...... Matt Krieg NANCY HANKS, SOLDIER ...... Jasmine Ruckriegel ELIZABETH SPARROW, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Hannah Gregory JOHN D., SOLDIER, ENSEMBLE ...... Cody Dale ANN ROBY, PIONEER, BLACK JACK HELPER, ENSEMBLE ...... Haley Jones ALLEN GENTRY, UNION SOLDIER, ENSEMBLE ...... Ian Taylor JOHN T. DILL, PIONEER, SOLDIER, NAT GRIGSBY . Nathan Tubbs PIONEER, SOLDIER, ENSEMBLE ...... Robert Macke NANCY BROONER, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Erin Ward SARAH BUSH JOHNSTON ...... Carmyn Howe WILLIAM JONES, UNION GENERAL ...... Kieran Cronin PIONEER, ENSLAVED PERSON, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... McKynleigh Abraham AARON GRIGSBY,DO ENSEMBLE, NOT SOLDIER ...... COPY Tyler K Smith PIONEER, ENSLAVED PERSON, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Suzanne Blunk PIONEER, SOLDIER, ENSEMBLE ...... Weston Whitehouse SARAH ELIZABETH, PIONEER, BLACK JACK HELPER ...... Abby Wagner DENNIS HANKS, SOLDIER ...... Wes Carman PIONEER GIRL, ENSEMBLE ...... Sienna Crews YOUNG SARAH LINCOLN, ENSEMBLE, PIONEER ...... Haley Flamion KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 9

TAD LINCOLN, BOY DRUMMER, ENSEMBLE ...... Kyle Burgess PIONEER, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Katy Miller PIONEER, BLACK JACK HELPER, SOLDIER, ENSEMBLE ...... Molly Watson BLACK JACK, PIONEER, SOLDIER, ENSEMBLE ...... Shane Denu PIONEER, JUDGE PATE, SOLDIER ...... Andy Simpson PIONEER, SOLDIER, MOSES ...... Romeo Seay PIONEER, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Mary Kate Vanegas JOHN BALDWIN, ENSEMBLE, CONFED. GENERAL ...... Zak Schneider LEN DILL, PIONEER, SOLDIER, ENSEMBLE ...... Grant Shepard GIDEON ROMINE, PIONEER, UNION GENERAL...... Noah Berry TEEN ABE LINCOLN ...... Spencer Smith PIONEER, ENSEMBLE ...... Laine Putteet PIONEER GIRL, ENSEMBLE, SOLDIER ...... Barbara Moss

CREW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Brandon Moore ASSISTANT STAGE MANGER/RUN CREW: Jade Bruno ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER/RUN CREW: Katy Ward LIGHTING/RUN CREW /SPOT OPERATOR: Rachel Heine WARDROBE: Chloe Hixson LIGHTING CREW/SOUND BOARD OPERATOR: William Koch

DEDICATION

This play is dedicated to all the cast and crew members who, over the years, kept alive the history and memory of Abraham Lincoln. DO NOT COPY Special thanks to Dan and Fr. Jeremy.

10 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

ACT ONE

SONG #1: OVERTURE INSTRUMENTAL

AT START: Music Plays. Slowly, the lights come up to reveal a group of UNION SOLDIERS marching through the thick forest at the back of the stage. The UNION SOLDIERS march across the stage exiting. PRESIDENT LINCOLN enters.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: My childhood’s home I see again And saddened with the view And still as memory crowds my brain, There’s pleasure in it too.

Suddenly, BOY ABE rushes on stage. He is tall for his age with tousled black hair rising high from his head. He carries a stick over one shoulder. BOY ABE looks lively, bright and happy.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: The very spot where grew the bread That formed my bones, I see. How strange, old field, on thee to tread, And feel I’m part of thee

YOUNG SARAH, Abe’s sister, follows, trying to catch her breath. YOUNG SARAH is pretty and spunky.

YOUNG DOSARAH: Hold NOT up, Abraham. COPY BOY ABE: What’s the matter, Sarah? Can’t keep up? YOUNG SARAH: You know I can! BOY ABE: Doesn’t look like it. YOUNG SARAH: Fine, Abraham. We’ll see who can’t keep up! (Takes off running.) BOY ABE: Fine! I guess you needed a head start… but I’m still going to catch you! (Chases YOUNG SARAH offstage.)

KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 11

PRESIDENT LINCOLN exits. PIONEER MEN, WOMEN, and CHILDREN enter the stage from all sides. Each person carries a prop representing the lifestyle of the early 1800’s. They sing to the audience.

SONG #2: PIONEER SONG PIONEER ENSEMBLE

SOLOIST 1: FOLKS HERE ARE HAPPY, IN HIM WE ABIDE.

ALL: OH YES, IN HIM WE ABIDE.

SOLOIST 2: OUR CONCERN IS TO BE ON GOD’S SIDE.

ALL: ALWAYS TO BE ON HIS SIDE.

SOLOIST 3: MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO BE SATISFIED.

ALL: WE ARE, WE’RE SATISFIED.

SOLOIST 4: PIONEER’S SING, AND THE SONG IS OUR GUIDE.

ALL: WE SING. THE SONG IS OUR GUIDE. SO LIFT YOUR VOICES EV’RYONE. WE CAN MAKE A LIFE TOGETHER. MAY HEAVEN HEAR THE PIONEER SONG WE SING. DO NOT COPY WE’LL ALL REJOICE FOR EVERMORE. AND GIVE THANKS FOR LIFE TOGETHER. MAY GOD BLESS THE PIONEERS WHILE WE SING.

2 WOMEN: WE KNOW THAT PRIDE IN OUR PLACE IS ALLOWED.

ALL: OH YES, SOME PRIDE IS ALLOWED.

12 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

3 PIONEERS: LIVE IN YOUR PLACE SO YOUR NEIGHBOR IS PROUD.

ALL: LIVE SO YOUR NEIGHBOR IS PROUD.

1 MAN: SINGING REMINDS US OF ALL THAT WE VOWED.

ALL: REMEMBER WHAT WE VOWED.

1 WOMAN: PIONEER SONG THAT WE’RE SINGING OUT LOUD!

ALL: WE SING. WE’RE SINGING OUT LOUD! WE LIFT OUR VOICES ONE AND ALL AS WE MAKE OUR LIVES TOGETHER. AND HEAVEN HEARS THE PIONEER SONG WE SING. WE’LL ALL REJOICE FOR EVERMORE AND GIVE THANKS FOR LIFE TOGETHER. MAY GOD BLESS THE PIONEERS WHILE WE SING.

GROUP 2: HERE IS THE HOME WHERE FAM’LIES BELONG.

ALL: OH YES, WE ALL BELONG.

GROUP 1: PLANTING OUR FEET HERE, TOGETHER WE’RE STRONG.

ALL: WE’RE HERE. TOGETHER WE’RE STRONG.

1 WOMAN:DO NOT COPY LIFE MAY BE SHORT, BUT OUR FUTURE IS LONG.

ALL: IT IS. OUR FUTURE’S LONG.

1 MAN: LIFT UP YOUR VOICE IN THE PIONEER SONG. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 13

ALL: ALL SING THE PIONEER SONG. SO LIFT YOUR VOICES HEAVENWARD FOR THIS LIFE WE MAKE TOGETHER. FOR GOD WILL HEAR THE PIONEER SONG WE SING.

WE’LL ALL REJOICE FOR EVERMORE AND GIVE THANKS FOR LIFE TOGETHER. MAY GOD BLESS THE PIONEERS AS WE SING! MAY GOD BLESS THE PIONEERS WHILE WE SING!

A lean-to shelter enters stage left. THOMAS LINCOLN, Abe’s father, enters carrying a split rail. NANCY, Abe’s mother, follows with a bucket of water. THOMAS is stout and stern, and NANCY is thin, tall, and beautiful. She sets the bucket down and walks center looking out.

NANCY: Thomas, it looks so… rugged. THOMAS: It is rugged, Nancy. Rugged, wild, free. NANCY: It’s was such a hard trip from Kentucky, and I was hoping… THOMAS: That’s why we’re here. Hoping! Here in Indiana we have the opportunity for “hoping.” Back home there were too many problems. Too many things stood in our way. This will be ours. It will be a chance to own something.

BOY ABE enters followed by YOUNG SARAH.

BOY ABE: Beat you here, Sarah. THOMAS: Nancy, there is so much that we can do here. Trust me. NANCY: I do trust you, Thomas. I always trust you. BOY ABE: Looks like we got plenty of trees to chop down. THOMAS: Plenty of trees to make a nice cabin. NANCY: DO A home. NOT COPY THOMAS: It will be our home. YOUNG SARAH: It’ll be all right, Mama. THOMAS: That’s right, Sarah. It’ll be better than all right. You and Abraham will have plenty of room to play… run wild… grow up. YOUNG SARAH: Abe’s going to need more room than me. THOMAS: There’s water nearby. (Points offstage.) And over there we’ll build a fine cabin. With a big fireplace. YOUNG SARAH: Good, cause I’m tired of being cold. 14 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

BOY ABE: You want me to start cuttin’ down some trees, Pa? THOMAS: Well, let’s take a little time to figure it all out. BOY ABE: Just let me know, and I’ll start swingin’. THOMAS: Thank you, Abraham.

THOMAS crosses to NANCY. He puts his hands on her shoulders.

THOMAS: It’s going to be all we dreamed about. NANCY: A smokehouse? THOMAS: I’ll build one. NANCY: A barn? THOMAS: First thing after we get a roof over our heads. NANCY: You promised me new furniture. THOMAS: A strong bed. New table and chairs. And, one day, how about a cherry wood cupboard? NANCY: I’m beginning to like this Indiana better and better. BOY ABE: You want some wood, Pa? I can chop you down a tree. NANCY: Honestly, Abe, I believe that axe has become an extension of your arm. THOMAS: Well, Son, we do need to get a shelter over our heads. BOY ABE: All right, Pa. THOMAS: Let’s get back to the wagon and get it unloaded. (To NANCY.) We’ll have a lifetime to talk about it.

THOMAS, BOY ABE, and YOUNG SARAH exit. NANCY stays behind. She sits on a tree stump and sings.

SONG #3: DON’T LOOK BACK NANCY DO NOT COPY NANCY: WAGON ROLLS, LEAVING BEHIND A WORLD THAT EMBRACED YOU, THE OLD LIFE WAS FINE. AND YOU DON’T LOOK BACK. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 15

NANCY: (Continued.) BABIES CRY. HUSH, PAPA’S ASLEEP. HE IS DREAMING OF SOMEWHERE AND THE PROMISE HE KEEPS.

BUT YOU DON’T LOOK BACK. DON’T TURN AWAY FROM TOMORROW’S HORIZON THAT’S CALLING TODAY.

DON’T LOOK BACK. YOU’RE MOVING ON… ON TO INDIANA, AND IT’S CALLING YOU HOME, TODAY.

HE BELIEVES THE WEST WILL PROVIDE. YOU’LL STAY WITH HIM FOREVER WHILE YOU’RE CRYING INSIDE. BUT YOU DON’T LOOK BACK. YOU’RE MOVING ON… ON TO INDIANA, AND IT’S CALLING YOU HOME, TODAY.

BOW YOUR HEAD, COURAGE IS NEAR. FOR, AS LONG AS HE’S WITH YOU, THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR. SO YOU DON’T LOOK BACK… YOU WON’T LOOK BACK… I WILL NEVER LOOK BACK.

NANCY finishes the song and exits after her family. PRESIDENT LINCOLN appears stage right sitting. His sons, TAD and WILLIE, both youngDO boys, are withNOT him. COPY

TAD: Was your mother tall like you, Papa? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Well, Tad, I can’t rightly tell you if she was or was not. My memories of my mother have faded over time. WILLIE: Was she nice? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Now, that I do remember! She was the kindest woman around. TAD: I wish we could have met her. 16 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: I often wish that myself. She was a special woman. She always taught me to respect others and to remember my place in life. She once told me that a truly tall man always walks with his eyes to the ground. WILLIE: I think I would have liked her a whole lot. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: And, Willie, I know she would have loved you and Tad. TAD: And Robert? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: (Jokingly.) Well, let me think on that one… of course, she would have. She was so gentle and kind. I often say that all I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN, TAD, and WILLIE move off right, while the cabin moves on left. The cabin is built of stacked logs. This structure should have one side that is open to the audience revealing the simple interior: fireplace, table and chairs, a bed. There is also an open loft nestled beneath the wooden shingled roof. Inside the cabin YOUNG ABE, SARAH, and their mother, NANCY are seated near the fire. NANCY BROONER and ELIZABETH SPARROW are snapping beans. SARAH is reading to them from the Bible.

SARAH: (Reading.) “And he knew their thoughts, and said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand". BROONER: Beautiful job with the reading, Sarah. SARAH: Thank you, Mrs. Brooner. YOUNG ABE: Mama, will I ever learn to read as well as Sarah? NANCY: Just keep working at it. ELIZABETH S.: Well, Abraham, seems to me like you have a fine teacherDO right here in NOTyour sister. COPY YOUNG ABE: Yes, ma’am, Aunt Betsy. SARAH: Teaching him is like trying to wrestle with a polecat. He grabs hold of you and won’t let go. ELIZABETH S.: That’s just because young Abraham is hungry for learning. BROONER: Learning doesn’t come easy out here. ELIZABETH S.: How’s their schooling? KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 17

NANCY: Not much. Andrew Crawford is holding some regular classes. We try to pay him with whatever we can grow, but we barely have enough for ourselves. Tom’s offered to make him any furniture he might need. BROONER: Don’t you worry. Abe and Sarah will keep learning. Teacher or no teacher. They’ve got those kind of minds. SARAH: Thank you, Mrs. Brooner. ELIZABETH S.: We just became Spencer County. It will take a while for folks to decide if we need a permanent school. SARAH: I bet you could teach folks how to read, Aunt Betsy. ELIZABETH S.: Elizabeth Sparrow… “Teacher.” I do like the sound of that, but I don’t know if I would have the patience. Learning becomes more of a chore when you get to be older. YOUNG ABE: Why? ELIZABETH S.: I don’t know. It just does. YOUNG ABE: Seems like it would be easier to learn, because you’ve got a grown up head with more room for stuff. SARAH: It doesn’t work like that, silly. NANCY: Sarah, don’t call your brother silly. SARAH: Well, he is! The size of your head doesn’t have anything to do with how smart you are! Not one single thing! YOUNG ABE: Why not? SARAH: It just doesn’t! YOUNG ABE: There must be some reason. NANCY: Abraham, honestly. You need a reason for everything. YOUNG ABE: I figure if God went to the trouble of making reasons, then learning them is the least we can do. NANCY: There is a truth in that. SARAH: Abe, if you keep thinking so hard… your head is going to fall rightDO off your shoulders NOT and roll clean COPY away. YOUNG ABE: Why would it do that? SARAH: Be quiet! Stop asking me questions!!

SARAH sits down near YOUNG ABE and she gives him a nice punch on the shoulder.

YOUNG ABE: Mama, how many words do you think are in the Bible? NANCY: I don’t know, Abe. I imagine thousands. 18 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

YOUNG ABE: That’s a lot of words. SARAH: Oh, no, Mama, he’s thinking again. YOUNG ABE: I wasn’t thinking. I was just wondering. Just seems like all those words are put together so well. NANCY: Well that is true, Son. YOUNG ABE: Who put them together? SARAH: Mama, make him stop. BROONER: Sarah, the boy wants to know. SARAH: He wants to know everything! All the time! Abe, can’t you just listen without talking? YOUNG ABE: Sure I can. SARAH: Then do it. YOUNG ABE: I will. SARAH: You’re talking. YOUNG ABE: No more. I promise. SARAH: His mouth just keeps throwing those words out! YOUNG ABE: I’ll be quiet. SARAH: And, he’s still going. NANCY: Both of you… quiet. Your Aunt Elizabeth and Mrs. Brooner do not want to hear you two go on and on all day. (To SARAH.) Now, Sarah, go back to the Bible.

SARAH starts to thumb through the pages, but before she can find her spot, YOUNG ABE recites the passage.

SARAH: (To YOUNG ABE.) You’ve made me forget where I was…? YOUNG ABE: “…and He said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” BROONER:DO Now, Abraham NOT Lincoln, how doCOPY you do that? YOUNG ABE: It doesn’t go into my head very easy like, but once it’s there, it’s right hard to get rid of it. SARAH: Just like it’s hard to get rid of you! NANCY: All right. That’s enough for today! I think we need to find your father. (Stands and begins to put the Bible away.) YOUNG ABE: Sarah, do you really want to get rid of me? SARAH: What do you think? YOUNG ABE: Well, you say it all the time. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 19

SARAH: That’s because you’re irritating. NANCY: Sarah! SARAH: But you’re my brother. And as far as brothers go, I guess I don’t hate you too much. (Hugs YOUNG ABE.) YOUNG ABE: You know that you love me! SARAH: Well, I got some “brotherly love” to use up… and you’re the only brother I have. YOUNG ABE: I love you, too. SARAH: Are we done?

SARAH and YOUNG ABE stop hugging.

SARAH: Because I’ll race you, Abe. YOUNG ABE: All right.

SARAH and YOUNG ABE run from the house and dart offstage. The cabin rotates around slowly showing the exterior.

ELIZABETH S.: Well, Nancy, you have your hands full with those two!

SHIFT TO 1861. PRESIDENT LINCOLN walks stage right to meet his sons TAD and WILLIE who run on playfully.

WILLIE: Father! TAD: Papa! PRESIDENT LINCOLN: There are my boys!

PRESIDENT LINCOLN lifts WILLIE high above his head. DO NOT COPY TAD: When you were a boy did you get to play? WILLIE: No, Willie. He had to do chores all the time! Didn’t you, Papa? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Well, we did have a day full of chores. Chopping wood. Carrying water to the house. Working in the fields. Taking care of the animals. WILLIE: Too many chores for me! 20 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Times were often rough for the pioneers. Many a night passed with a cold hearth and an empty belly. TAD: Really? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Only the sounds of the wild too close for comfort. WILLIE: And, what about your father? TAD: Was he always hugging… like you do us? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Not exactly. My father’s life was hard. Our family was too familiar with disappointment. WILLIE: But he was a good father? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: He was hard and strong, but a good man. WILLIE: Were you poor? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: When it came to money, we had to work hard for it. But we were not poor when it came to hope.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN, TAD, and WILLIE exit. YOUNG ABE and NAT GRIGSBY are revealed downstage left working busily with their axes breaking wood into kindling. There is a pile of wood next to them. YOUNG ABE is looking at the axe.

YOUNG ABE: Nat, why do you think this axe falls? NAT: What are you talkin’ about, Abe? YOUNG ABE: Why does the weight of something make it fall? NAT: Because it’s heavy? YOUNG ABE: But what makes it fall in the first place? There must be some force? NAT: Things fall. It’s just the way it is. YOUNG ABE: There must be some reason. NAT: I don’t know, Abe! All I know is that everything that goes up, soonerDO or later, falls NOTback to the Earth. COPY YOUNG ABE: All right, Grigsby. What about birds? NAT: Well… YOUNG ABE: And the clouds? NAT: All right… YOUNG ABE: And the sun and the moon. NAT: The sun and the moon are a part of Heaven, and Heaven doesn’t fall. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 21

YOUNG ABE: Except when it rains. My pa says it all the time… “Looks like the Heavens are falling down on us.” NAT: C’mon, Abe. That’s just an expression. YOUNG ABE: So it’s really not the truth? NAT: You’re making my head hurt! YOUNG ABE: So is that a lie? NAT: No, Abe! Rain can fall from the Heavens! YOUNG ABE: But not the moon? Or the sun? Or the clouds? NAT: No! no! No! You know, Abe. Sometimes you make me feel pretty dumb. YOUNG ABE: Well, Nat, maybe you need think a little more. Don’t roll over like a ‘possum when you get asked questions. NAT: Don’t call me a ‘possum! YOUNG ABE: Well… NAT: I don’t want to be a ‘possum… you long armed monkey! YOUNG ABE: What?! NAT: That’s right. With your long arms and legs… I called you monkey. (Pause.) And now I’m going to run a way!

NAT runs off. THOMAS enters from the field.

THOMAS: Abraham, did you get that wood cut? YOUNG ABE: Yes, Pa. THOMAS: Well, let’s stack it up. YOUNG ABE: Hey, Pa. THOMAS: Yes, Abraham. YOUNG ABE: Have you ever been in a fight? THOMAS: No. Can’t say that I have. YOUNG ABE: Would you fight someone if you had to? THOMAS:DO Well, I don’t NOT think that’s going toCOPY happen. There aren’t that many folks around here to fight with. YOUNG ABE: If you knew of a fella, that was making fun of you. What would you do? THOMAS: I don’t know of any fella. YOUNG ABE: Just say you did. What would you do? THOMAS: I’d most likely get mad. YOUNG ABE: Would you hit him? 22 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

THOMAS: No, Abraham. It’s not right to hit a man just for talking bad about you. YOUNG ABE: What if he said you were “ugly”? THOMAS: Well, I’d congratulate him on his keen eyesight. YOUNG ABE: What if he said you were an overgrown monkey? THOMAS: I’d have to say that I never have seen a monkey, and maybe he could come up with an animal I knew a little better. YOUNG ABE: So, you wouldn’t kick him none? THOMAS: No, Son. I wouldn’t kick him. YOUNG ABE: I see. THOMAS: Son, who’s been calling you names? YOUNG ABE: Nathaniel Grigsby. THOMAS: What did he say? YOUNG ABE: He said that my arms and my legs are too long for my body. THOMAS: And what did you do? YOUNG ABE: Nothing. (Beat.) Yet. THOMAS: Well, Son, first off, Nat Grigsby is two years younger than you. He doesn’t know anything about what he’s saying. Secondly, you’re his friend. YOUNG ABE: Used to be. THOMAS: And come tomorrow, he will be again. Remember that the good book says, “Love thy neighbor.” YOUNG ABE: What about the chapter that says “an eye for an eye?” THOMAS: Abraham, I don’t want to hear anymore about it. YOUNG ABE: Yes, Pa. THOMAS: Now, I need to get this wood back to the cabin, and then we have to attend the crops.

THOMASDO turns to leave. NOT DENNIS HANKS COPY, Young Abe’s cousin, enters.

DENNIS: Howdy, Uncle Thomas. THOMAS: Hello, Dennis. DENNIS: I finished feeding the animals, so I thought I’d come out here and help you with the firewood. THOMAS: Abraham’s doing a fine job on the wood. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 23

DENNIS: Uh-oh. If we’re depending on Abraham for firewood, then we’re going to be mighty cold tonight! YOUNG ABE: That’s not true! I can cut, chop, and split wood faster than any one in Indiana! DENNIS: Don’t get so riled up, Abe! You know I’m just fooling with you. THOMAS: Once you two finish arguing… why don’t you finish up. I’m heading back to the cabin. YOUNG ABE: All right, Pa. DENNIS: We’ll be up soon, Uncle Thomas.

THOMAS exits.

DENNIS: Well, Abraham, you need to finish up that wood. YOUNG ABE: Aren’t you going to help me? DENNIS: What’s the point? You’re doing such a good job without me? And besides that your poor, tired cousin’s plumb worn out from all the chores. YOUNG ABE: Dennis, you got the easy chores. This was the hard one.

DENNIS puts his arm around ABE's shoulders and leads him downstage. AARON, ALLEN G. and the MEN'S ENSMBLE wander onstage.

SONG #4: CHOPPING WOOD DENNIS, AARON, ALLEN G., MENS ENSEMBLE

DENNIS: THERE DOARE CHORES TO DONOT FROM EARLY DAWN TILL NIGHTCOPY. AND THE NAGGING WHEN THOSE CHORES AIN’T DONE JUST RIGHT. I GOT ONE PLACE I GO WITH THE ONLY “BOSS” I KNOW….

ALL hold up axes.

IF I WANNA CHOP ‘EM ALL, WELL HECK I MIGHT! 24 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

DENNIS: (Continued.) SEEMS LIKE GIRLS SHOULD LIKE A SIMPLE “HOW-DEE-DO?” ‘CEPT YOU TRY IT AND SHE ROLLS HER EYES AT YOU. THEN SHE GIGGLES WITH HER FRIENDS, YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS, AND THERE’S ONLY ONE THING LEFT FOR ME TO DO.

MENS ENSEMBLE: I’M ROLLIN’ UP MY SLEEVES, I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD. PICKING UP MY AXE, I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD. SWEATIN’, SWEARIN’, OLD SHIRT TEARIN’, SPLITTIN’, BREAKIN’, MUSCLE ACHIN’. NOW THERE’S NO STOPPIN’ ME… I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD.

AARON and DENNIS: I JUST SUFFERED THRU ANOTHER DAY AT SCHOOL. TEACHER BROKE MY BACK FOR BREAKIN’ EVERY RULE. ALL I WANT IS SOME FRESH AIR, WITH A TREE OR TEN TO SPARE. YA’LL STAND BACK NOW WHILE I USE MY CHOPPIN’ TOOL!

MENS ENSEMBLE: I’M ROLLIN’ UP MY SLEEVES, I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD. PICKING UP MY AXE, I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD. SWEATIN’, SWEARIN’, OLD SHIRT TEARIN’. SPLITTIN’, BREAKIN’, MUSCLE ACHIN’. NOW THERE’S NO STOPPIN’ ME… I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD.

Dance break.

MENS ENSEMBLE: ROLLIN’ UP MY SLEEVES, I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD. PICKING UP MY AXE, I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD. SWEATIN’, SWEARIN’, OLD SHIRT TEARIN’. PLITTINDO BREAKIN MUSCLE NOT ACHIN COPY S ’, ’, ’. NOW THERE’S NO STOPPIN’ ME… I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD.

ALLEN G. and MENS ENSEMBLE: WISH THAT LIFE WAS MORE LIKE CHOPPIN’ DOWN A TREE. AND THAT THINGS WORKED OUT THE WAY THEY’RE S’POSED TO BE. BUT AT LEAST I FOUND A WAY TO SURVIVE ANOTHER DAY. WHEN I’M FEELIN’ BAD, IT’S CHOPPIN’ WOOD FOR ME!

KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 25

ALL: IT FEELS GOOD, CHOPPIN’ WOOD. ‘ROUND THESE PARTS IT’S UNDERSTOOD. NOW THERE’S NO STOPPIN’ ME… I’M CHOPPIN’ WOOD!

YOUNG ABE, DENNIS and MENS ENSEMBLE exit. It is now 1860, and the locale is a street in Washington, D.C. Suddenly, from every direction MEN and WOMEN appear strolling across the stage arm in arm. They are dressed in 19th Century early Victorian costumes. WILLIE and TAD run through the CROWD on Washington Street. They bump into people.

WILLIE: Sorry. Tad look out where you’re going.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN appears with his wife, MARY TODD. She is snuggled next to PRESIDENT LINCOLN, their arms intertwined. A UNION SOLDIER rushes in and hands PRESIDENT LINCOLN a message. UNION SOLDIER salutes and exits. PRESIDENT LINCOLN reads the telegram.

MARY TODD: What is it, Husband? What has happened? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: A southern army has fired on Fort Sumter. MARY TODD:DO Then it hasNOT begun? COPY PRESIDENT LINCOLN: It surely has. And I am afraid that it will continue for quite a while. MARY TODD: But you knew it would come to this. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: I knew it would, but I still hoped it wouldn’t. MARY TODD: No one wants a war. But if it takes a war to keep it together, then so be it. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: You have a point, Mary. A very logical and strong point. I just hope that I have not led this country to ruin. 26 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

MARY TODD: You have not. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me. MARY TODD: And the actions you have taken have been for the good of this nation. You have been in the right all along. From the day you first debated with my old friend Stephen Douglas to the day you were sworn in as President. You, Husband, have been in the right. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Let us have faith that right makes might. MARY TODD: I have no doubt of that. And soon everyone will know what I know… that Abraham Lincoln is an honest, good man, who wants nothing more than to hold this Union together. And, Husband, they will join you. You mark my words… they will join you. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: I hope you are right, Mary. If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the Union this voyage… nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another. MARY TODD: Now you must find the courage to lead us. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Like I found the courage to ask you to dance that first time so long ago. MARY TODD: (Laughing.) It may have taken courage for you to ask me to dance, but you did no leading that night. I had to lead all the way. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Do you remember when I asked you to dance? I said, “Mary Todd, I would like to dance with you in the worst way.” MARY TODD: And you did. In the worst way.

MARY TODD and PRESIDENT LINCOLN laugh. DO NOT COPY MARY TODD: Husband, what will you do now? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: I do the very best I know how––the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference. MARY TODD: I do worry about you, Mr. Lincoln. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: And I know you do, Mrs. Lincoln. I know. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 27

SONG #5: COMIN’ HOME MARY TODD, ENSEMBLE

MARY TODD: (Spoken.) And we will only hope that our boys will all return home now that this terrible war has begun. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: (Spoken.) I wish that every boy would return home unharmed, but alas I know that it not to be.

ENSEMBLE enters dressed in Civil War uniforms.

MARY TODD: SWEET THOUGHTS TO CARRY WITH YOU. GENTLE MEMORIES OF HOME. MY HOPES, MY PRAYERS TO KEEP YOU ALWAYS SAFE WHERE E’RE YOU ROAM.

GOD GO WITH THEE, PROTECT THEE. I PRAY YOU’LL BE HOME SOON. I PRAY YOU’LL BE COMIN’ HOME TO ME. COMIN’ HOME… COMIN’ HOME TO ME.

UNION SOLDIERS march onto stage.

MEN: I’LL BE COMIN’ HOME. I’LL BE COMIN’ HOME. SO WAIT FOR ME FOREVER IF FOREVER’S WHAT IT TAKES.

I’LL BE COMIN’ HOME. I’LL BE COMIN’ HOME DO NOT COPY WOMEN: SWEET THOUGHTS TO CARRY WITH YOU.

MEN: I’LL BE COMIN’ HOME.

WOMEN: GENTLE MEMORIES OF HOME. 28 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

MEN: (Simultaneously with WOMEN.) SO WAIT FOR ME FOREVER IF FOREVER’S WHAT IT TAKES. SO PROMISE ME THAT WE WILL BE TOGETHER FOR ALWAYS I’M, I’M COMIN’ HOME.

WOMEN: (Simultaneously with MEN.) I PRAY YOU’LL COME HOME TO ME I PRAY, I PRAY.

SOLDIER 1: AFTER I COME HOME I WILL MAKE MY GIRL MY BRIDE.

SOLDIER 2: AFTER WE COME HOME, WE WILL MOURN THE MEN WHO DIED.

SOLDIER 3: AFTER I COME HOME KNOW THAT I’LL BE HOME FOR GOOD.

MEN: COMIN’ HOME, COMIN’ HOME!

WOMEN: (Simultaneously with MEN.) SWEET THOUGHTS TO CARRY WITH YOU. GENTLE MEMORIES OF HOME. MY HOPES, MY PRAYERS TO KEEP YOU ALWAYS SAFE WHERE E’RE YOU ROAM. GOD GO WITH THEE, PROTECT THEE. I PRAY YOU’LL BE HOME SOON. I PRAY YOU’LL BE COMIN’ HOME TO ME. COMIN’ HOME, COMIN’ HOME TO ME. DO NOT COPY MEN: (Simultaneously with WOMEN.) I’LL BE COMIN’ HOME. I’LL BE COMIN’ HOME. SO WAIT FOR ME FOREVER IF FOREVER’S WHAT IT TAKES. I’M COMIN’ HOME! I’M COMIN’ HOME. I’M COMIN’ HOME. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 29

MEN: (Continued. Simultaneously with WOMEN.) AND HOME I’LL BE FOREVER AND TOGETHER WE WILL BE. I AM COMIN’ HOME.

ENSEMBLE exits. Lights shift and the cabin appears stage left. It moves into place downstage. NANCY LINCOLN sits in the rocking chair dying of milk sickness. THOMAS LINCOLN is sitting with her. SARAH, YOUNG ABE, and DENNIS HANKS are sitting outside the door.

NANCY: Thomas. THOMAS: Nancy, what can I do for you? NANCY: Nothing, Tom. Nothing. THOMAS: I feel so helpless. NANCY: It’s not your fault, Tom. It’s just my time to go. THOMAS: Don’t say that, Nancy. Don’t say that. NANCY: I don’t want you to get this sickness. THOMAS: Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine. NANCY: You’re a good man, Tom Lincoln. You work so hard, and I have never seen a man more dedicated. THOMAS: I may be dedicated to farming, but I am not good at it. NANCY: But you’re a fine carpenter. These hands were meant for building and carving not for planting. THOMAS: Don’t try to talk right now.

Lights down on NANCY and THOMAS. WILLIE appears with PRESIDENT LINCOLN stage right.

WILLIE: Papa, what happened to your mother? PRESIDENTDO LINCOLN: NOT My mother… well, COPY she got sick. Very sick. WILLIE: No doctor could have helped her? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: No one could help her back then. We didn’t even know what was making her sick. WILLIE: What made her sick? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: It was such a simple thing. It came from the milk. WILLIE: Drinking milk? 30 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: There was a plant called White Snakeroot. It grew wild, and somehow when the cows ate that plant it poisoned their milk. WILLIE: But, Father, you didn’t drink the milk? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: We all drank the milk. I remember my Aunt Elizabeth and my Uncle Thomas Sparrow passed away. Then there was poor Nancy Brooner. They all got the milk sickness, and somehow it got to my mother. She was a delicate woman.

Back to the cabin with NANCY and THOMAS.

NANCY: Our Sarah… she’s turning into quite the lovely girl! THOMAS: She’s going to be a beautiful young woman one day. NANCY: And Abe… THOMAS: I’m not sure if that child is boy or wildcat. He’d stay outdoors all day long and into the night, if I’d let him. NANCY: But most boys are sneaking off to do some mischief while Abraham is hiding out to read those books. THOMAS: He does love to read books. (Pause.) You know, Nancy. I actually think that you’re looking better today. NANCY: Thomas Lincoln! You have never lied to me in these many years, so there is no need to start now. (Trying to stand.) I want to see the children. THOMAS: Abraham, Sarah, Dennis!

YOUNG ABE, SARAH, and DENNIS enter the cabin.

NANCY: Children, I am not long for this world. SARAH: Don’t say that, Mama. (Falls to her knees beside the bed.) NANCY: DO It’s the truth. NOTAnd I have always beenCOPY honest with you. And one thing I want of you is that you are always honest with each other. DENNIS: We will be, Aunt Nancy. NANCY: Dennis, you’re a young man, now. I need you to watch over Sarah and Abraham. DENNIS: I will. I promise. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 31

NANCY: You’re a big brother to Abraham, and I want you to make sure that he grows up to be a strong man. A man that no one will take advantage of. Promise me? DENNIS: I promise. NANCY: Sarah and Abraham. YOUNG ABE and SARAH: Yes, Mama? NANCY: I want you both to be good and kind to your father. YOUNG ABE: I will, Mama. SARAH: Always. NANCY: I want you to be good to one another. YOUNG ABE: I’ll take care of Sarah. SARAH: I don’t need any taking care of, Abraham. YOUNG ABE: Well, I’m going to do it for you anyway. NANCY: And, children, I want you both to be good to the world. I want you to live just as I taught you. SARAH: Love your fellow man. YOUNG ABE: All men. NANCY: I want you to be reverent. Do you understand? SARAH: Yes, Mama. NANCY: Abraham? YOUNG ABE: I will. I promise, Mama.

SONG #6: BEFORE AND AFTER NANCY, SARAH, THOMAS, DENNIS, YOUNG ABE

NANCY: BEFORE THE TURNS OUR LIVES HAVE TAKEN, TURNS THAT BROUGHT US HERE TO STAY. BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW WHAT LOVE MEANT…

SARAH: DO NOT COPY WE HEARD THE MUSIC START TO PLAY. BEFORE THE SEASONS AND THE SUNSETS.

NANCY: WITH THE DAUGHTERS AND THE SONS.

THOMAS, DENNIS, and YOUNG ABE: BEFORE THE FUTURE BROKE ITS PROMISE 32 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

ALL: OUR SONG WAS WRITTEN FOR US TO SING AS ONE.

SARAH: BEFORE AND AFTER LOVE WILL LINGER. WE REMAIN AS WE BEGAN.

NANCY: AFTER THIS WORLD IS BUT A MEM’RY, WE’LL HEAR OUR MUSIC PLAYING THEN.

NANCY and SARAH: AND SOMEDAY WE WILL SING AGAIN. TOGETHER WE, WE WILL SING AGAIN.

THOMAS and NANCY: THERE WAS YOU, THERE WAS ME. HUMBLE WORDS, A SIMPLE MELODY. TWO HEARTS HEARD THE SAME SONG. TWO HEARTS JOINED ETERNALLY.

ALL: BEFORE AND AFTER LOVE WILL LINGER. WE REMAIN AS WE BEGAN. AFTER THIS WORLD IS BUT A MEM’RY, WE’LL HEAR OUR MUSIC PLAYING THEN.

SARAH: AND SOMEDAY WE WILL SING AGAIN. TOGETHER WE, WE WILLDO SING, NOT COPY WE WILL SING AGAIN!

SARAH: Mama, you know I love you! NANCY: Forever… and always.

THOMAS leads the children back to the door. YOUNG ABE rushes to the bedside and hugs NANCY.

KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 33

YOUNG ABE: Don’t go, Mama. I don’t want you to go.

THOMAS pulls YOUNG ABE away.

THOMAS: I think your mother needs to rest.

DENNIS leads YOUNG ABE and SARAH outside the cabin.

NANCY: Thomas! THOMAS: I’m here, Nancy. NANCY: I am so scared. THOMAS: It’s time to rest. You deserve a good rest. NANCY: I am tired. THOMAS: Just close your eyes. It’ll be all right. NANCY: Thomas… thank you for giving me all that we had. THOMAS: Like I always said, “I got the prettiest girl in all of Kentucky.”

NANCY breathes her last.

THOMAS: Nancy. Nancy?

Lights down on the cabin. YOUNG ABE enters and sits downstage left. He is whittling pegs for his mother’s coffin. DENNIS, THOMAS, WILLIAM JONES, and AARON GRIGSBY carry out the simple wooden coffin. The COMPANY sings. During the reprise, YOUNG ABE carries his wooden peg to THOMAS. THOMAS takes the peg and with a wooden mallet gently hammers the peg into the lid of NANCY’s coffin. SARAH enters carrying a handpicked bouquet of flowers. SeveralDO PIONEERS NOT enter and lift COPYthe coffin. They carry the coffin downstage toward the audience before turning and moving slowly upstage. THOMAS, DENNIS, YOUNG ABE, and SARAH follow behind. 34 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

SONG #7: BEFORE AND AFTER (REPRISE) COMPANY

COMPANY: BEFORE THE SEASONS AND THE SUNSETS. WITH THE DAUGHTERS AND THE SONS. BEFORE THE FUTURE BROKE ITS PROMISE OUR SONG WAS WRITTEN FOR US TO SING AS ONE.

BEFORE AND AFTER LOVE WILL LINGER. WE REMAIN AS WE BEGAN. AFTER THIS WORLD IS BUT A MEM’RY, WE’LL HEAR OUR MUSIC PLAYING THEN. AND SOMEDAY WE WILL SING AGAIN. TOGETHER WE, WILL SING AGAIN.

Song ends. PRESIDENT LINCOLN enters with TAD and WILLIE.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Well, after my mother died we were lost. My father continued to work at farming to keep us fed. Dennis was still living in the cabin. Up there in the loft with me. Many a night went by when the two of us stared up through the cracks in the ceiling looking at the stars and wonderin’. Wonderin’ where our lives were going to take us. (Sits.) WILLIE: Tell us about how the horse kicked you! TAD and WILLIE: “And knocked some sense into you!” PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Well, you seem to know the stories better than I do. TAD: I love the kick in the head! PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Fine. Well, that same year I went to Noah Gordon’s Horse Mill, and after hitching up his horse, I shouted… TAD andDO WILLIE: “Getty NOT up!” COPY PRESIDENT LINCOLN: And, just about that time that old horse did what every member of the United States Senate wants to do… it kicked back and hit me square in my head. WILLIE: “That old horse darn near killed Abraham Lincoln!” KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 35

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: (Smiling.) Now there are times in history when accidents can make a big difference in the outcome. This is one of those times. Can you imagine what would’ve happened had that horse kicked a little harder and my head would have been a bit softer? TAD: I wouldn’t be here! WILLIE: And me neither! TAD: And Robert? Would Robert be here? WILLIE: Of course, not, Tad! PRESIDENT LINCOLN: And the American people would never have heard of old Abe Lincoln! TAD: Papa, I sure am glad that you have a hard head! PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Me too. One needs a thick skull to survive in Washington, D.C. WILLIE: What happened next? PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Oh, yes…. Well, my father knew he had to do something to help our situation at home. So he packed up and left for Kentucky… to find a wife for himself and someone who could be a mother to his kids. (Pause.) He found the perfect woman. Sarah Bush Johnston.

SALLY enters down stage left near the cabin.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: Now, Sally, as she was called, had lost her husband years before, and she had been left to take care of her three children, Elizabeth, John D., and Matilda.

ELIZABETH, JOHN D., and MATILDA run onstage.

PRESIDENTDO LINCOLN: NOT So she and my fatherCOPY were married, and he brought them back to Indiana. Sally went to work cleaning that cabin… and cleaning Sarah and me. She turned out to be… as I always say… ‘a good and kind mother’. (Pause.) Times had just gotten a little better for the Lincoln family. SALLY: (Calling.) Abraham! (Calling.) Abraham Lincoln! Where have you gone?

TEEN ABE runs onstage and meets SALLY. 36 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

SALLY: Abraham, John D. needs you and your smarts to help him with his learning. TEEN ABE: All right, Mother.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN, TAD, and WILLIE exit. The cabin moves into place. The children are spread out all around the room. JOHN D., MATILDA, ELIZABETH, SARAH, and TEEN ABE. SALLY, Abe’s stepmother, is in the corner snapping beans. The year is 1822. TEEN ABE is now 13 years old, but he looks years older. TEEN ABE is sits at the small crowded table working on math. JOHN D. is standing beside TEEN ABE staring at the paper.

TEEN ABE: Now you carry that number up to here… (Working in the sum book.) and then you add those numbers together. JOHN D.: You’re a lot better at ciphering than I am. MATILDA: Anybody would be better than you, John D. JOHN D.: Be quiet, Matilda. What do you know? MATILDA: Well, for one thing… I know how to add. TEEN ABE: It’s not hard, John D. Practice. That’s all you need. ELIZABETH: No one practices as much as you, Abe. TEEN ABE: I like numbers. ELIZABETH: Oh, we know, Abe. You’ve written them on about everything we own. MATILDA: I found words written all over the barn door. JOHN D.: So did Pa and he wasn’t happy about it. TEEN ABE: All right. So I like writing… MATILDA: And reading stories… SARAH: And telling us over and over about the stories… JOHN D.:DO …and history NOT and geography. COPY SALLY: All right, children, we get the idea. Abraham has a curious mind. It wouldn’t hurt any of you to work a little harder on schooling. JOHN D.: I’d rather be wrestlin’. TEEN ABE: Oh, you would?! ELIZABETH: Oh, no Mother, here they go again! SALLY: Take it outside, boys!

KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 37

TEEN ABE jumps up and grabs JOHN D. in a wrestling hold. TEEN ABE carries the boy right out the door and pins him to the ground in front of the cabin.

TEEN ABE: I thought you said you liked wrestling? JOHN D.: Against anyone else!

AARON GRIGSBY, DENNIS HANKS, DAVID TURNHAM, and NAT GRIGSBY walk up to the cabin.

DAVID: Finally, Abe has found someone he can take down.

TEEN ABE lets JOHN D. up from the ground.

TEEN ABE: David Turnham… are you challenging me? DAVID: Now you know I’m smarter than that. I might be older, but I surely know who’s stronger. DENNIS: I’ll take up that challenge. TEEN ABE: Really? DAVID: Oh my… DENNIS: Now, cousin, you know how this will turn out. After all who taught you all your moves? TEEN ABE: I’m a little bit bigger now. DENNIS: Bigger doesn’t haven’t anything to do with it! Why I’d bet even Nat Grigsby could take you on…? NAT: Don’t get me into this! I’m on Abe’s side. (Crosses to the other side.) JOHN D.: Do it, Abe. Show Cousin Dennis how strong you are. DENNIS: (Playfully steps forward.) Yeah, Abe, show me. AARON:DO I don’t know ifNOT that’s a good idea, COPYDennis. DAVID: I can assure you it is not a good idea!

SARAH, Abe’s sister, steps from the cabin.

SARAH: Why ‘hello’ Aaron Grigsby. AARON: Hello, Sarah. You look mighty pretty today. JOHN D.: Who does? Sarah? Are you feeling well? SARAH: All right, John D. 38 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

TEEN ABE: Yeah, Grigsby, are you sure you’re talking about my sister? Pretty isn’t what comes to my mind. SARAH: Abraham! TEEN ABE: Uh-oh, I’m in trouble… she’s calling me Abraham.

Soon, ELIZABETH, Abe’s stepsister, steps from the cabin.

ELIZABETH: Don’t you mind them, Aaron. If you want to call Sarah pretty, than you go right ahead. SARAH: Thank you, Elizabeth. DENNIS: Howdy, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH: Hello, Dennis. TEEN ABE: What about our wrestling match? DENNIS: In a minute, Abe. ELIZABETH: Don’t you have anything nice to say about how I look, Dennis Hanks? DENNIS: You look very pretty. JOHN D.: That’s original. DENNIS: Be quiet, John D. TEEN ABE: Are we wrestling or not? SARAH: Well, Abe, maybe these boys are here to see us. Have you thought of that? AARON: Actually, Sarah, we were coming to get, Abe. We were going to cut up some wood and put it down by the river for the steamboat captains. DAVID: They’ll take the wood and leave us a pouch with some money. ELIZABETH: That’s why you’re here? To see, Abe? AARON: To help us make some money... SARAH: DO That’s just great. NOT COPY TEEN ABE: Why do you need me? AARON: ‘Cause you can split wood faster than all of us put together. JOHN D.: That’s the truth. DENNIS: What do you say, Abe? DAVID: I’ll sweeten the deal. I’ve got another book for you to read! TEEN ABE: I cut a whole pile of wood this morning. Go ahead and take it with you. It’s over there behind the shed. AARON: Really? KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 39

TEEN ABE: I want to stay here and finish my sums. DENNIS: Thanks, cousin.

AARON, DENNIS, DAVID, NAT, and JOHN D. start to exit.

DENNIS: Goodbye, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH: Goodbye, Dennis.

SARAH runs after them.

SARAH: Aaron Grigsby!

AARON stops.

SARAH: What do you mean leaving here without saying goodbye? NAT: You’re in trouble now, Aaron! AARON: I didn’t mean any harm. SARAH: First, you come by here looking for my brother and not me, and then you run off without saying goodbye! AARON: Sarah, I came by to get Abe to help us make money… NAT: (Whispering.) So I could… AARON: So I could… NAT: Buy you that ribbon… AARON: ––buy you that ribbon for your hair. DAVID: (To NAT.) Nice job. NAT: Thanks. AARON: The one you were looking at when you were at Gentry and Romine’s store. SARAH: I see. Well, I accept that reason. You can go now. AARON:DO Goodbye, Sarah. NOT COPY SARAH: Goodbye, Aaron.

AARON, DENNIS, DAVID, NAT, and JOHN D have exited completely. SARAH and ELIZABETH exit together stage left laughing with each other. TEEN ABE steps back into the cabin. SALLY watches him for a moment.

SALLY: You didn’t want to go off with those boys, Abe? 40 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

TEEN ABE: No, Mother. I need to finish working on these problems. SALLY: You’re working all the time. You’ve almost marked up everything in this house with your ciphers.

THOMAS enters.

THOMAS: Sally. Abraham. TEEN ABE: Hi, Pa. SALLY: You look tired, Tom. THOMAS: I want to clear another field. TEEN ABE: I’ll help you, Pa. THOMAS: Well, I was hoping you would have come out there. That’s why I came looking for you. TEEN ABE: I was just reading and then I started working on these sums. THOMAS: Just reading. How many times do I hear that? TEEN ABE: I got up early and finished all my chores. THOMAS: And I found one of your books lying in the field. TEEN ABE: I was trying to dig out that old stump for you. THOMAS: With a book? TEEN ABE: Well, no. I was digging it out, but then I took a little break… and I started to read a bit. THOMAS: Boy, what do you think all that reading is going to do for you? Books about George Washington and Robinson Crusoe? Books aren’t going to make you a living. Books aren’t going to put food on your table. SALLY: Tom! THOMAS: No, Sally. He needs to work. TEEN ABE: I work hard! THOMAS:DO Not hard enough. NOT COPY TEEN ABE: Tell me what you want done, and I’ll do it. Clear another field? Chop more wood? THOMAS: Abraham! TEEN ABE: Nothing but chores. THOMAS: Don’t take that tone of voice with me, boy! Or you’re going to find yourself lying in the dirt! TEEN ABE: I’m not a boy anymore!

KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 41

THOMAS rushes towards TEEN ABE, but SALLY jumps in between the two.

SALLY: No, Tom! THOMAS: I will not have him talk to me like he did! TEEN ABE: You don’t like it when I speak for myself! SALLY: Abraham! TEEN ABE: I didn’t do anything wrong. THOMAS: You will show some respect! SALLY: Abraham… answer your father.

Silence.

TEEN ABE: Yes, Father. SALLY: Now, Thomas, Abe works harder than any boy I know! THOMAS: But he is no longer a boy. That is what he said. He’s a young man, and he needs to face up to that. TEEN ABE: All right, Father. I will do chores day and night, if you ask me. But these books are more than just paper. I know that doesn’t mean much to you, but it does to me! Great people put words on paper! And one day I’m going to use these words to make my mark in the world.

TEEN ABE runs from the house. THOMAS and SALLY sit for a moment.

SALLY: Abraham is the best boy I ever saw or expect to see. I think it’s time you faced up to that fact, Tom Lincoln.

THOMASDO and SALLY exitNOT left. A single light COPY illuminates PRESIDENT LINCOLN who is above the stage. It is as though he is floating in the darkness. PRESIDENT LINCOLN reads from a yellowed sheet of paper the opening words of his poem. 42 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: O Memory! thou midway world 'Twixt earth and paradise, Where things decayed and loved ones lost In dreamy shadows rise,

And, freed from all that's earthly vile, Seem hallowed, pure, and bright, Like scenes in some enchanted isle All bathed in liquid light.

Lights out on PRESIDENT LINCOLN. TEEN ABE with ANN ROBY run onstage.

ANN: C’mon, Abe. Let’s sit by the lake.

TEEN ABE reluctantly agrees but does not sit.

ANN: (Yells.) SIT!!!

TEEN ABE does what he is told. They sit in the moonlight on the edge of the lake.

ANN: So, Abraham, how do you feel about your sister getting married? TEEN ABE: It was bound to happen sooner or later. ANN: I think being married would be wonderful. Like Heaven. TEEN ABE: Seems to me that marriage is neither heaven nor hell, it is simply purgatory. ANN: TDOhat is most unromantic NOT thing I have COPY ever heard. TEEN ABE: Really? Because I probably have a few more things to say that are even less romantic than that. ANN: Abe Lincoln, why are you being this way? TEEN ABE: I don’t know, Kate Roby. ANN: Are you afraid you’re going to lose your sister when she gets married? TEEN ABE: No, Kate, I am not afraid to lose my sister! ANN: Then what is it? KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 43

TEEN ABE: Well, I suppose… oh all right, I don’t want to lose my sister! We have been through a lot together. She took care of me when we came from Kentucky, and when our mother died…. And she taught me how to read and write. She always made sure that my father didn’t get too angry with me. In some ways she’s my best friend!

ANN smiles.

TEEN ABE: Why are you smiling like that? ANN: Because I think it’s sweet how much you love your sister. TEEN ABE: Who said “love”? ANN: You just did, Abe. Everything you said about Sarah shows how much you love her. There’s nothing to be ashamed of for loving your sister. TEEN ABE: Well, that’s why I want her to be happy. ANN: And that’s why Abraham, you have to let her go. (Pause.) Just like one day she’ll have to let you go… when you decide to get married…

ANN and TEEN ABE stare at each other for an uncomfortable moment. TEEN ABE jumps up.

TEEN ABE: I’d better get going. ANN: What’s the matter? TEEN ABE: Nothing. Don’t want to be late for the wedding. ANN: When I said one day you’d get married… you didn’t think I was talking about you and I? That’s foolish.

TEEN ABEDO is silent. NOT COPY

ANN: Is that what you thought? Say something! TEEN ABE: It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. ANN: I don’t even know what that means… but that does it! I cannot believe that you are so conceited that you think that I would marry you! (Storms off.) TEEN ABE: I never said a word! 44 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

ANN: You didn’t have to…! (Exits.) TEEN ABE: (As he exits.) A girl is the only thing I am afraid of… that I know will not hurt me!

SONG #7A: WEDDING MUSIC INSTRUMENTAL

Lights up on the wedding of AARON and SARAH. PIONEER FAMILY and PIONEER FRIENDS are in attendance and are gathered outside.

JUDGE/MINISTER: Forasmuch as Sarah Lincoln and Aaron Grigsby have consented together in Holy matrimony, and have witnessed the same before God and this company of witnesses, and there to have given their pledge, each to the other; by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

AARON takes SARAH’S hand.

JUDGE/MINISTER: You may now kiss your bride.

AARON leans in and kisses SARAH. The PIONEER CROWD cheers and begins to dance. TEEN ABE begins to sing and everyone soon joins him.

SONG #8: HOPES AND DREAMS TEEN ABE, AARON, SARAH, SALLY, THOMAS, JONES, ENSEMBLE

TEEN ABE: WHEN IDO CAME TO INDIANA , NOT COPY DIDN’T HAVE A LOT TO SPARE. HAD THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK AND A SACK FULL OF HOPES AND DREAMS.

AARON and SARAH: LEARNED TO GROW IN INDIANA. LEARNED TO TAKE WHAT’S MINE AND SHARE. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 45

ALL: WITH HIS NOSE IN A BOOK HE WAS LOOKIN’ FOR HOPES AND DREAMS.

HOPES AND DREAMS, INDIANA, HOPES AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE. WITH HIS NOSE IN A BOOK HE WAS LOOKING FOR HOPES AND DREAMS.

HOPES AND DREAMS, INDIANA, HOPES AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE! WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE, HE IS CHASIN’ HIS HOPES AND DREAMS!

TEEN ABE: SPEND MY DAYS IN INDIANA GROWING UP AND TAKING CARE. GOT A GLEAM IN MY EYE, GONNA TRY FOR MY HOPES AND DREAMS.

LIVIN’S SWEET IN INDIANA, AND EXCITING IF YOU DARE. WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE I’M CHASIN’ MY HOPES AND DREAMS!

ALL: YES, SIR! HOPES AND DREAMS, INDIANA, HOPES AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE. WITH HIS NOSE IN A BOOK HE WAS LOOKIN’ FOR HOPES AND DREAMS.

HOPES AND DREAMS, INDIANA, HOPES AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE! WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE, HE IS CHASIN’ HIS HOPES AND DREAMS! DO NOT COPY A FUTURE BRIGHT AND OPEN TO ALL OF YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS, ABE. A FUTURE BRIGHT AND OPEN TO ALL YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS.

3 WOMEN: WITH A FRIEND OR TWO TO GROW WITH YOU.

SALLY: A FAM’LY WHO WILL STAND BY YOU. 46 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

THOMAS: A CABIN STRONG TO SHELTER YOU.

JONES: A MENTOR WITH ADVICE FOR YOU.

1 MAN: A PLACE CALLED INDIANA!

ALL: INDIANA! YES, SIR! HOPES AND DREAMS, INDIANA, HOPES AND DREAMS DO COME TRUE. WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE HE IS CHASIN’ HIS HOPES AND DREAMS!

HOPES AND DREAMS, INDIANA. HOPES AND DREAMS, INDIANA. DO COME TRUE! WOO-HOO!

Music swells as the lights fade to black.

END OF ACT ONE

DO NOT COPY KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 47

ACT TWO

SONG #9: ENTR’ACTE INSTRUMENTAL

AT START: Lights fade to darkness. Music plays. The main scene down center is TEEN ABE and his stepmother, SALLY. Outside the cabin TEEN ABE is reading, “The Life of Washington” by Weems, by the light of a small candle. Across the stage, up right, PRESIDENT LINCOLN is reading in the dark by the light of a small candle. DAVID TURNHAM is sitting with TEEN ABE.

TEEN ABE: “Of the same noble spirit was Washington. Often was he called to obey men greatly his inferior, and to execute orders which he entirely disapproved. But he was never known to falter. Sensible of the infinite importance if union and order to the good of his country.” DAVID: No doubt that George Washington was an amazing man. TEEN ABE: The best there was. DAVID: You know my father served under George Washington. Fought for him at Yorktown! TEEN ABE: I wish I could have been there. DAVID: How many times have you read that book? TEEN ABE: Seems like a hundred. It’s almost worn out. DAVID: I brought you another one. TEEN ABE: What is it, David? DAVID: “The Revised Laws of Indiana.” TEEN ABE: But you need that book. You’re the one who wants to be a judge. DAVID: DOI can get my handsNOT on other books. COPY And besides that it has a copy of the United States Constitution printed right inside. TEEN ABE: Well, Mr. Turnham, you do me a great honor. DAVID: Mr. Lincoln, the honor is all mine.

SALLY enters with a lantern.

SALLY: I knew I’d find you out here. TEEN ABE: I just needed some fresh air. 48 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

SALLY: And a book. TEEN ABE: Yes. And a book. DAVID: Hello, Miss Sally. SALLY: David, I hope you’re well. TEEN ABE: He just gave me another book, Mother! SALLY: Oh, Lordie! You’ll be off reading a new book. I’ll never see you again.

Pause.

DAVID: Well, I best be off. Goodbye, Ms. Sally. Abe. SALLY: Take care, David. TEEN ABE: Thank you again, David.

DAVID exits.

SALLY: You know that makes me happy to see you reading all the time. TEEN ABE: I know. I’ll always be so thankful for how you brought so much to our lives… especially reading. SALLY: I want all my children to have a chance at a good life. TEEN ABE: I know, Mother. SALLY: (Changing the subject.) Well, it’s a beautiful night. Full moon. Nice breeze. TEEN ABE: The best time. SALLY: I suppose you’re getting to be too big for the attic? TEEN ABE: It isn’t so bad. SALLY: Except that you’re growing like a weed. That space must be closing in on you some. TEEN ABE:DO It might beNOT getting a little tight. COPY SALLY: One day, Abraham, I am quite sure that you’ll have yourself a nice, big house. With plenty of room to stretch out those long legs of yours. TEEN ABE: If that were to happen, you can live there… if you’d like. SALLY: And what about your father? (Pause.) Maybe one day you’ll change your mind.

TEEN ABE does not respond. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 49

SALLY: Well, if you keep reading all those books, I know for a fact that you’ll do well in this world.

WILLIAM JONES enters carrying a lantern.

JONES: I saw the light through the woods, and I said to myself “that’s got to be Lincoln reading his books again.” SALLY: William. JONES: Ms. Sally. TEEN ABE: Mr. Jones SALLY: William, can I get you something to eat? Some coffee? JONES: No, thank you, Sally. Rachel just fixed me a pot of stew, and I think I nearly ate myself to death. SALLY: Well, if you change your mind… (Moving toward the cabin.) Abraham, keep an eye out for your father. He should be getting back from visiting your sister. TEEN ABE: All right, Mother.

SALLY enters the cabin.

JONES: So, Abraham, what are you studying this time? TEEN ABE: “The Life of George Washington.” JONES: And, what do you think about his life? TEEN ABE: I think that George Washington was a great man. JONES: What makes you say that? TEEN ABE: George Washington was so passionate about our freedom… our nation. JONES: I suppose that’s because Mr. Washington fought so hard to have aDO national union. NOT COPY TEEN ABE: But, how did George Washington know what was the right thing to do? That’s what I don’t understand? JONES: I don’t think he did, Abe. I bet you he made some mistakes. TEEN ABE: I would be afraid of making mistakes. 50 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

JONES: If you were so afraid of making a mistake, you’d never try your hand at anything. George Washington made mistakes, but he learned from his mistakes. During the Revolutionary War he lost battle after battle, but he won the war. Why? He learned from his mistakes. That’s what made him a great man. TEEN ABE: I want to be like that. JONES: Nothing is stopping Abe Lincoln, but Abe Lincoln. TEEN ABE: And Father. JONES: Now, that just isn’t so. Don’t go blaming others… take on the challenge. Your father may not see the value in the books you read or the mathematical figuring you’re always doing, but he’s doing the best he can in raising you. No one will block your path, unless you let them.

JONES and TEEN ABE sit in silence for a moment.

TEEN ABE: Mr. Jones. JONES: What is it? TEEN ABE: I don’t know how to make myselfCOPY remembered. JONES: Now, what do you mean by that, Abe? TEEN ABE: The time was just right for George Washington and Ben Franklin and John Adams. They were there when the country was forming. I feel like I want a place in history. JONES: Well, the way I see it. Every day history is being made. Every day, Abraham.NOT TEEN ABE: But what can I do to make my mark?

SONG #10: MAKIN’ HISTORY JONES, TEEN ABE, ENSEMBLE DO JONES tries to teach TEEN ABE a valuable lesson through his song. During the opening verse of the song the PIONEER NEIGHBORS hear the singing and drift onstage carrying lanterns. They will soon join in the fun.

KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 51

JONES: THERE WAS A BOY NAMED WASHINGTON, A ONCE UPON A TIME. HE WAS JUST A GEORGE, SMALL AND YOUNG, ‘FORE HE FOUGHT THOSE BRITISH SONS-A-GUNS. WHAT MADE HE A MAN TO BE? A MAN WHO ALTERED HISTORY? I WASN’T THERE, BUT SEEMS TO ME, HE CHOPPED A TREE, AND ON BENDED KNEE, SWORE HE’D BE A MAN OF HONESTY. A MAN OF HONESTY.

THEN GEORGE WAS MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN,’ SOME HISTORY. THAT’S WHEN OUR FUTURE PRESIDENT WAS TAKIN’ OUR LIBERTY. AND WHETHER OR NOT HE CHOPPED THAT TREE, HE FOUNDED A NATION FOR YOU AND ME! (Spoken.) HE MADE HISTORY AND YOUNG GEORGE WASHINGTON, HE MADE HISTORY.

JONES: BEN FRANKLIN WAS A FELLOW GLUM, A SITTIN’ IN THE DARK. HE WAS ALL ALONE, JUST BEFORE COPY HE SAW THE LIGHT FOR EVERMORE.

TEEN ABE: WHAT MADE HE A MAN TO BE? A MAN WHO BRIGHTENED HISTORY?

JONES (ENSEMBLE): I WASN’T THERE, I THINK I’MNOT RIGHT. HE FLEW A KITE IN LIGHT’NING BRIGHT. HE DISCOVERED ELECTRICITY! ELECTRICITY! (ELECTRICITY!)

ENSEMBLE: THEN BDOEN WAS MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN’ SOME HISTORY. A KITE WAS FLYIN’, FLYIN’ HIGH, MAKIN’ ELECTRICITY. HE FACED THE STORM CREATIVELY. HE CHANGED THE WORLD FOR YOU AND ME! AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, HE MADE HISTORY! 52 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

JONES: THEN THERE’S THE TALE OF JEFFERSON, WHO WROTE WHAT HE BELIEVED. HE WAS JUST A TOM, IN A STATE, ‘FORE HE SIGNED THE DECLARATION GREAT!

TEEN ABE: WHAT MADE HE A MAN TO BE? A MAN WHO SCRIBBLED HISTORY?

JONES (ENSEMBLE): I WASN’T THERE, BUT UNDERSTAND, WITH PEN IN HAND HE WROTE A PLAN. HOW TO GOVERN INDEPENDENTLY. GOVERN INDEPENDENTLY. (GOVERN INDEPENDENTLY.)

ENSEMBLE: THEN TOM WAS MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN’ HISTORY. A FOUNDING FATHER OF OUR LAND, FULL OF INTEGRITY. WHEN HE DECLARED POETIC’LLY, HE SIGNED THE DEAL FOR YOU AND ME! AND SO, TOM JEFFERSON HE MADE HISTORY! COPY

ALL: SO IF YOU FEEL IT’S ALL BEEN DONE, WITH NOTHING LEFT FOR YOU. YOU ARE JUST AN ABE, TALL AND PLAIN, WHO DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO TRY AGAIN.

TEEN ABE: NOT SO WHAT MAKES ME A MAN TO BE? A MAN WHO CHANGES HISTORY?

ALL: WELL I DON’T KNOW AND NO ONE CAN. DO TEEN ABE: IF I CAN BE A HISTORIC MAN?

JONES: SON, YOU’LL BE A MAN OF HISTORY,

TEEN ABE and JONES: A MAN OF HISTORY! KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 53

ALL: AND YOU’LL(I’LL) BE MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN’, MAKIN’ SOME HISTORY. YOU NEVER KNOW, YOUNG ABRAHAM, WHO YOU WILL GROW TO BE. AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE LIKE THE REST, IT’S UP TO YOU TO TRY YOUR BEST. AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN WILL MAKE HISTORY!

TEEN ABE: I WILL, YOU’LL SEE!

ALL: THEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN WILL MAKE HISTORY!

Song ends. The PIONEER NEIGHBORS grab their lanterns and exit laughing.

JONES: You keep reading and learning. You’ll figure it all out. I have confidence in you, Abraham. You’ll be remembered. (Pointing to the candle.) You may go blind reading with that tiny candle, but you’ll be remembered. (Starts to leave.) I best be getting back to my house while I still got the moonlight.COPY Don’t stay out here all night. You’ll get a chill.

JONES exits. TEEN ABE sits quietly for a moment. Lights fade on TEEN ABE. A GROUP ENSLAVED PEOPLE enter singing.

SONG 10A: AMAZING GRACE COMPANY NOT

COMPANY: (Sung acapella.) AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND. THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME.... I ONCE WASDO LOST BUT NOW AM FOUND, WAS BLIND, BUT NOW, I SEE.

‘TWAS GRACE THAT TAUGHT MY HEART TO FAR. AND GRACE, MY FEARS RELIEVED. HOW PRECIOUS DID THAT GRACE APPEAR, THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED. 54 LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

The scene has shifted to 1828, and SARAH, Abe’s sister, is lying in the bed of the cabin. Her husband AARON GRIGSBY is at her side. Stage left in a small pool of light, TEEN ABE is seen sitting on a stump reading. JOHN D. runs up to TEEN ABE. JOHN D. is out of breath.

JOHN D.: Abe! Abe!!! TEEN ABE: What’s the matter, John D.? JOHN D.: It’s… it’s… TEEN ABE: C’mon, catch your breath. JOHN D.: It’s Sarah. It’s your sister. TEEN ABE: My sister? What happened? JOHN D.: It’s the baby… TEEN ABE: It’s time?! (Starts to run off.) JOHN D.: Abe, wait.

TEEN ABE stops and turns.

TEEN ABE: I want to go see her… and theCOPY baby. JOHN D.: Things happened. Something went wrong. TEEN ABE: What are you saying, John D.? JOHN D.: Abe, they were trying to find you. TEEN ABE: (Running offstage.) Sarah!

Focus shifts to PRESIDENTNOT LINCOLN. PRESIDENT LINCOLN and TAD are sitting on the edge of WILLIE’s empty bed.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN: In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes DOthem unaware . The older have learned to ever expect it. TAD: Father, I can’t believe that Willie is gone. PRESIDENT LINCOLN: I know, Son. He was such a good boy. My dear, dear Willie. KEN JONES, JAMEY STRAWN, CHRISTINE JONES 55

Thank you for reading this free excerpt from:

LINCOLN: A PIONEER TALE

Book by Ken Jones Music by Jamey Strawn Lyrics by Christine Jones

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