ACT 1 SCENE 1

(EXT) Morning 2nd Day, outside schoolroom

(Dan, Nat, Emil, and others are talking on their way to the schoolroom.)

DAN: (To Nat) Nick asked me to help him with the fence in the far pasture today.

NAT: Really? That sounds great.

EMIL: Yeah, he asked me too.

DAN: I love working with Nick.

EMIL: And I love listening to the stories he tells. He's sure had some adventures hasn't he?

NAT: He hasn't told us a story in a long time.

DAN: Maybe we can get him to tell us more about Ben today.

EMIL: Or about his trip to see him.

NAT: I don't think that's such a good idea. Dan, you said you heard him in the kitchen with Mrs. Jo when he got back last night and he didn't seem too happy.

(Franz rings bell.)

EMIL: We better get inside.

(They all go inside the schoolroom.)

END OF SCENE

ACT 1 SCENE 2

(EXT) Same time Morning 2nd Day, outside Plumfield

(We see the Sheriff and a deputy driving a wagon up the road toward Plumfield. Two other deputies are on horseback.)

END OF SCENE

ACT 1 SCENE 3

(EXT) Continuous Morning 2nd Day, Inside school room

(The kids are all in their seats as Franz enters.)

FRANZ: Good morning.

DAN: (Whispering to Nat.)

FRANZ: Excuse me, Dan.

DAN: Sorry Franz.

FRANZ: I want to go over the parts of a book report and what I expect to see. I hope all of you are well on your way to finishing your reports. The reports on "Oliver Twist" are due in two days.

(Some kids nod their heads in agreement, others look around to see if anyone else is not well on their way to finishing.)

FRANZ: Who remembers what the first part of the report should be called? (Several children raise their hands.) Bess?

BESS: The introduction.

(They are all distracted by voices outside.)

FRANZ: That's right, and what does it do, Emil?

EMIL: Introduces the characters.

FRANZ: And what else, Nan?

NAN: Tells the author.

FRANZ: That's right. Dan, what else?

DAN: It gives a basic idea of the story.

(They hear the voices again.)

END OF SCENE

ACT 1 SCENE 4

(INT) Same time (Morning 2nd day) Plumfield parlor

(Jo, Asia & the Sheriff are standing. The Sheriff has his coat on having recently arrived.)

JO: That's terrible. I cannot believe that Thomas Ryan is dead.

ASIA: How could anyone beat him like that? It's not human.

SHERIFF: Well, that's why I'm here…(reaction Jo and Asia.)… Do you know where I can find Mr. Riley? He was seen with Reverend Ryan last night. I'd like to ask him some questions. (Reaction Jo and Asia. They are both remembering how angry he was about Ryan's visit when he left last night. They look at each other.)

JO: (Nervous) I haven't seen him yet this morning.

ASIA: He didn't come for breakfast.

(Door opens. Deputy #1 looks in)

DEPUTY #1: Excuse me Sheriff. We got him. (They all move towards the door.)

END OF SCENE

ACT 1 SCENE 5

(INT) (Continuous) Morning 1st day Inside schoolroom

FRANZ: Very good. Looks like we all understand the introduction. Now lets move on to the next part. (Hands are raised again) Nat?

NAT: Next you have to analyze the story, the characters and the plot. You have to explain why the characters did what they did and why they made the choices they made.

FRANZ: I sure hope that all of you do as well on your reports as you are doing on explaining them. I'm glad you understand all that's involved. Now who can tell me what comes next?

(The door opens and a deputy comes in.)

DEPUTY #2: Excuse me. I'm looking for Mr. Riley.

(Reaction kids.)

DEPUTY #3: (OC) We got him.

(Deputy turns and hurries outside. Franz tries to stop kids but they all follow.)

END OF SCENE

ACT 1 SCENE 6

(EXT) (Continuous) Morning 2nd day outside Plumfield)

(We see 2 deputies roughly leading Nick to the Sheriff's wagon. Jo, Asia and the Sheriff are outside now and all meet at the wagon. The kids are running over chattering about the excitement. The Sheriff and deputies surround Nick as they fire questions at him.)

NICK: Hey. Easy. I told ya I didn't do nothin' to 'im. We just talked.

SHERIFF: And we need to talk to you. So you were with Reverend Ryan last night in town?

NICK: We talked, yeah.

SHERIFF: What happened to your hands? (We see the back of Nick's hands are cut and bruised.)

NICK: After puttin' my horse away last night, I…

SHERIFF: (Interrupting) Likely story. We have witnesses that say you were arguing with him in the street.

NICK: Yeah, I was, but I didn't…

DEPUTY #1: And a few people say they saw you riding out of town real fast. Like you were running from something.

(He pushes Nick against the wagon and pulls his arm behind his back.)

NAT: Nick! (He moves forward but Franz stops him.)

NICK: I wasn't runnin' then and I ain't runnin' now. Take it easy.

SHERIFF: Better put these on him. (Hands deputy handcuffs.)

(Kids look at Jo, scared. Rob buries his head in her skirt.)

JO: Is that necessary?

SHERIFF: It's a serious crime, Mrs. Bhaer.

(Deputy cuffs Nick's hands behind his back.)

NAT: He told you he didn't do it.

SHERIFF: Let's go.

(Nick looks at Jo as they lead him away.)

FRANZ: All right everybody. Back to school.

KIDS: (Mumbling and complaining)

(The wagon drives away with Nick, the Sheriff and a deputy. The other deputies leave on horseback and Jo rushes to the barn for her horse.)

END OF SCENE

ACT 1 SCENE 7

(EXT Town) Morning 2nd day in town

(Sheriff and deputies leading Nick across street to jail. Hands still cuffed behind his back. Crowd is yelling and jeering. Jo and Laurie come up the street. Men begin throwing rocks and one hits Nick below his left eye, causing him to stagger and his face to bleed. Crowd laughs.)

(INT Sheriff's office) (Continuous)

(Nick, Sheriff and Deputy #1 move into Sheriff's office with Jo and Laurie right behind. The Sheriff leads Nick to a chair and sits him down. Nick is trying to clear his head. Laurie moves aside with the Sheriff.)

JO: The whole town is furious. (Nick is still handcuffed so she takes her handkerchief and starts to clean the blood from his face.)

NICK: I noticed. (He winces as she touches the cut.)

JO: (She pulls her hand away and stops while she speaks.) Nick, you were so angry when you left last night. And your hands…

NICK: Jo, I didn't do it.

(Jo looks at him but does not speak)

NICK: (Beat) Looks like I won't be able to start buildin' that fence today. (Winces again as she begins cleaning again.) I know ya wanted it done.

JO: Don't worry about that now, Nick. (Beat.) I'll wire Ben when I leave here.

NICK: No. Don't. (Pain filling his eyes.) He don't care Jo.

JO: He's your brother, Nick. He should know. (Still cleaning the cut on his face, she looks up as Laurie comes over.)

LAURIE: Ooh. That looks bad. We should get Dr. Pierce.

NICK: I'm alright. What'd the Sheriff say?

LAURIE: You're being charged with murder. (Reaction Nick)

JO: (Beat) Laurie, what should we do?

LAURIE: I don't know. I'll wire Edward. (He leaves and the Sheriff comes over.)

NICK: You do believe me Jo, don't you?

(Again Jo doesn't answer.)

SHERIFF: (Pulling Nick up.) Come on. In here. (He leads Nick into jail cell, removes the handcuffs and closes door. Nick and Jo look at each other and then she turns her back and walks away leaving Nick there alone.)

END OF ACT 1