THEATER OF THRILLS AND HIGH ADVENTURE!

"Marshall John Stone, Gunman of the West, Returns!"

                                                               by Richard Nathan

Before the lights come up, a voice introduces the story:

                                                            VOICE
                                    The American West was a wild and
                                    dangerous place, which needed wild and
                                    dangerous men to enforce the law... men
                                    like Marshall John Stone, Gunman of the West!!!

Lights come up on the interior of a farmhouse on the plains of the American West.  SARAH JACKSON is sewing.  There is a LOUD KNOCKING from off-stage followed by the voice of MARSHALL JOHN STONE shouting:

                                                            STONE
                                                    (off-stage)
                                    Open the door!  I'm a U.S. Marshall!

Sarah starts to get up, but before she can get to the door, Stone enters with his six gun drawn. 

                                                            SARAH
                                    What are you doing in my house?

                                                            STONE
                                    I'm sorry, Ma'am.  I'm here to arrest George.

                                                            SARAH
                                    My son George?  What's he done?

                                                            STONE
                                    He shot four men down at the saloon.  Two
                                    of 'em died.

                                                            SARAH
                                    Well, they must have started it.

                                                            STONE
                                    They hadn't even drawn their guns.  Where's
                                    George?

                                                            SARAH
                                    Passed out.  You sure it wasn't someone
                                    else?

                                                            STONE
                                    There were a dozen witnesses.

                                                            SARAH
                                    He must have been drunk.  You can't blame a boy
                                    for what he does when he's drunk, Marshall! 
                                    George has always been a good boy, when he's
                                    sober.

                                                            STONE
                                    It's up to the law to decide if he's guilty or not.  It's
                                    my job to take him in.  Where is he?

                                                            SARAH
                                    In there.

Sarah points in one direction off-stage.  The Marshall exists in that director.  Sarah exits in another direction.  A moment later, Stone comes back in, pushing a stumbling, drunken GEORGE JACKSON.  Stone's six gun is back in his holster.  George doesn't have a gun.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Gimme a drink.

                                                            STONE
                                    There's a pot of hot coffee waiting at the jail.

Sarah re-enters, carrying a six gun.  She aims it at Stone's head. 

                                                            SARAH
                                    Let him go, Marshall.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Shoot him, Ma!

                                                            SARAH
                                    He's all I got, Marshall.  I can't let you take
                                    him!  

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Stop talking, Ma!  Shoot him!

                                                            STONE
                                    I've never shot a woman before.  I don't
                                    to start now.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Shoot him!

Stone shoves George into Sarah.  Her guns goes off, hitting George.

                                                            GEORGE
                                    Ma!  You shot me, Ma!

George dies.

                                                            SARAH
                                    This is your fault, Marshall!

                                                            STONE
                                    Put down the gun, Ma'am.

                                                            SARAH
                                    Or what?  You gonna shoot me, Marshall?

She starts to aim the gun at Stone.  Like lightning, he draws his gun and shoots her.  She dies.  Stone looks at the two corpses.

                                                            STONE
                                    I need a drink!

BLACKOUT!

THE END

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© 2005 by Richard Nathan.  All rights reserved

The author grants all internet uses to print these scripts for their own, personal, non-commercial use.  No other use may be made without the author's permission.  Without limiting the foregoing, the plays may not be staged without the author's express  permission.

Send e-mail to the author at Richard-Nathan@att.net.