Burley Man
Act II, Scene 2
Midday light. The scene is the same. The painting supplies are unmoved.
At rise, the stage is unchanged but for the natural displacement of items in the course of passionate love‑making. EDWARD and JOANNA are asleep on the couch. EDWARD is missing his shirt and shoes. JOANNA is missing her jeans. The missing clothing is scattered nearby. Also littered about them are several empty beer cans.
The neighborhood dog is heard barking in the distance. After a moment, JESSE approaches the front screen door. His footsteps awaken the lovers. As JESSE rings the doorbell, JOANNA bolts upright. She looks around to see JESSE at the door.
JOANNA
Oh, Mr. Shoemaker. You startled me.
(JOANNA begins to climb into her jeans, then chooses not to. She tosses the jeans out of the way. She stands and moves to center.)
JESSE
(From the doorway.)
Joanna, sorry to bother you, but I wanted to check back with you after that phone call earlier.
JOANNA
Come on in, Mr. Shoemaker. Can I get you a Coke or anythin'?
JESSE
(Coming in.)
No, I won't stay but a moment.
(EDWARD sits up on the sofa.)
Oh, so this is the young man I've heard so much about.
JOANNA
(Leading JESSE down to EDWARD.)
Mr. Shoemaker, this is Eddy Wilkins. Eddy, this is my daddy's lawyer, Mr. Shoemaker.
EDWARD
(Shaking hands.)
How do you do, sir?
JESSE
I'd ask the same of you, but I think I can guess the answer.
JOANNA
Did you catch Brian in time?
JESSE
Yes. Once I arrived at the station, they let me use their phone to track him down. He was hidin' at home.
(JOANNA begins to move around the room in a vain attempt to hide the evidence.)
JOANNA
Please sit down, Mr. Shoemaker. You sure I can't get you somethin'?
JESSE
Well, actually, a Coke don't sound too bad.
(JESSE sits. EDWARD sits. JOANNA goes into the kitchen to get the coke.)
So, Eddy, how long you plannin' on stayin'?
EDWARD
You're suggestin' I move on?
JESSE
There must be some reason Joanna didn't want the police involved in that little ruckus you and Brian had this mornin'. I've heard Brian's side of the story. I know it ain't all true. He wouldn't be alive if everythin' he told me was true. But somethin's goin' on that I don't understand, and that makes me nervous for Joanna. Her daddy and I go way back, you see.
(JOANNA returns with the coke for JESSE. After he takes it, she sits close to EDWARD.)
Thank you, Joanna.
(He takes a drink.)
So, I'm just wonderin' how long you plannin' on stayin' around.
JOANNA
It wasn't his fault, Mr. Shoemaker. Brian barged in here and started hollerin'. Eddy was just protectin' me.
JESSE
I'm not sure you needed protectin'. From Brian or anybody. . . Look, I talked to Brian. He's pickin' up another load tomorrow and then he'll be on the road for 'bout a week. He promised to stay away from you. But my advice is not to go into town together no more. Least ways, not until Brian's gone.
JOANNA
You tell Brian Martin to stay the hell away from me.
JESSE
I don't think that's the problem, Joanna. I think the problem is Mr. Wilkins, here.
JOANNA
What'd you mean?
JESSE
Havin' me go over to the police station this morning averted Brian from makin' a formal complaint. But it also raised the attention of the police. I can't keep 'em from nosin' around. And if Eddy is in a position where their nosin' around might find somethin', then all three of us could be in trouble.
EDWARD
They won't find anythin', Mr. Shoemaker. My record is clean.
JESSE
That's all I wanted to hear.
(He drinks.)
Well, I best be gettin' back to the office.
(He stands, handing the coke to JOANNA.)
Thanks for the coke.
(He starts up to the front door.)
Oh, by the by, Joanna, the insurance company called this morning. They got the death certificate and other paperwork. Everythin' looks okay, so you should have the check in a coupla weeks. Can you hold out that long?
JOANNA
(Standing.)
I should be okay, Mr. Shoemaker. I go back to work on Monday.
JESSE
(Hesitates a moment.)
Joanna, I wonder if I could speak to Eddy for a moment? Just him and me?
JOANNA
Huh? . . . Oh, sure, I don't mind. . . I gotta return a pie plate to Madge next door.
(JOANNA picks up her jeans and quickly pulls them on. Then she starts toward the kitchen.)
JOANNA (Continued)
Uh, just give me a holler when you're done. Okay?
EDWARD
Sure.
(JOANNA grabs plate and goes reluctantly.)
EDWARD
I'll be leavin' soon, sir.
JESSE
That ain't what I meant, son. I've known Joanna Mitchell for a long time. You know she just buried her daddy?
EDWARD
Yes, sir, I know.
JESSE
This is a terribly awkward time for her. I don't know you, so I can't judge. But since she ain't got nobody else to watch out for her, I feel obligated to interfere. You understand?
EDWARD
Mr. Shoemaker, my intentions are honorable. I'm servin' in the Navy, and I'm headin' back down to Pensacola soon.
JESSE
You could be the best thing that's ever happened to Joanna Mitchell. You could be the worst thing that ever came her way. She ain't real close to anybody in town, but a lotta folk care about her. And a lotta folk will keep an eye on her 'cause that's the way they are.
EDWARD
I'm thinkin' about askin' her to marry me, Mr. Shoemaker.
JESSE
(Taken aback.)
She's a might older than you are, son.
EDWARD
I know. But I feel so comfortable with her. I feel like this is my home, that I belong here. I think it was my destiny that brought me to knock on her door. I won't hurt her, I promise you.
JESSE
Alright, son. I think we understand each other. I'd love to hear more about that destiny part, but I gotta get back to the office.
EDWARD
Yes, sir.
JESSE
I see you two have cleaned out all of Charles' junk.
EDWARD
Joanna said somethin' about needin' to find somethin'.
JESSE
Yes, Charles' will. I gotta copy of the will, but the original is probably in one of these boxes. In all the romancin' you two are doin', maybe you can help her find it?
EDWARD
I'll do my best, sir.
JESSE
Good.
(They shake hands again.)
Pleased to meet you, Eddy. Have Joanna give me a call if she needs anythin' else.
(JESSE exits and is seen going off. EDWARD stands a moment, looking out through the windows. After a moment, MADGE enters through the back door and kitchen.)
MADGE
I saw Mr. Shoemaker leavin'.
EDWARD
Yeah.
MADGE
You leavin' too?
EDWARD
You think I should?
MADGE
Son, I sense a tragedy in this house. Maybe it's Mr. Mitchell dying. Maybe it's somethin' to do with you and Joey. But I sense a tragedy in this house.
EDWARD
So you think I should leave.
MADGE
(She bites her tongue.)
Look, Joey sent me over 'cause she didn't want to come over here alone and find you gone. If you're still gonna be here two minutes from now, I'll send her back over.
EDWARD
I'll be here.
MADGE
I'll send her over.
(MADGE starts to leave, but is stopped by EDWARD.)
EDWARD
Madge, can I ask you a question?
MADGE
What kinda question?
EDWARD
I want your opinion on somethin'.
MADGE
Lordie, Lordie, a white boy wants my opinion! You sure you want my opinion?
EDWARD
I'm thinkin' 'bout askin' Joanna to marry me.
MADGE
(Taken aback.)
You're what?!
EDWARD
I'm thinkin' 'bout ‑‑
MADGE
I heard you the first time. . . Son, you just a boy. Joey's a grown woman.
EDWARD
Is age that big a difference?
MADGE
Maybe not to you. Maybe not even to Joey. But the town'll think so.
EDWARD
I'll take her away with me down to Pensacola.
MADGE
You think they're gonna let you in down in Pensacola?
EDWARD
I got friends on the inside. They told me to lay low for a coupla months, then turn myself in. By then, tempers will've calmed down. If I turn myself in I'll just get demoted and maybe have to spend some time in the brig, but I should still be able to get a general discharge.
MADGE
And what do you want Joey to do in Pensacola while you're sitting in jail?
EDWARD
It won't be forever. I'll get out, and we can be together for real then.
MADGE
(She recognizes that he's not listening.)
Look, she's gonna be scared I been over here too long. I'm gonna go get her.
EDWARD
Madge, you didn't answer my question.
MADGE
(Going.)
Oh, yes, I did.
(She's gone. EDWARD moves to locate his shirt. He is putting it on when JOANNA enters through the back door and kitchen. MADGE has told her nothing except that EDWARD is still there. She has a frightened look on her face, and moves timidly.)
EDWARD
Joanna, I've come to a decision.
JOANNA
Oh, god ‑‑
EDWARD
No! Now just sit down and let me talk.
JOANNA
Please, don't ‑‑
EDWARD
Joanna, this is important. Please, don't be afraid. Just listen.
JOANNA
(She pulls herself together and sits down, wiping away an errant tear as she does so.)
Alright. Talk.
EDWARD
You already figured out that I'm AWOL.
JOANNA
Yes.
EDWARD
Well, my buddies at the base down in Pensacola told me to lay low for a coupla months and then turn myself in. I'll get busted down a rank, take a pay cut, and end up in the brig for a coupla months. Then, after I serve my time, I'll probably get a general discharge.
JOANNA
You could stay here ‑‑
EDWARD
No. Joanna, I got this temper problem. I hurt a seaman when I went AWOL. I gotta pay for my crime.
JOANNA
But it weren't your fault. You just go crazy. You can't be blamed for what you do when you go crazy. They got a law, it weren't your fault.
EDWARD
I got mad one day in the mess hall. I got real mad one day in the mess hall, and the next thing I remember I was walkin' through the bus terminal in Pensacola. I called one of my buddies on base. He told me an MP tried to stop me as I was leavin' the base. I put the MP in the hospital. I nearly killed him.
JOANNA
But it weren't your fault.
EDWARD
I owe it to the MP to turn myself in.
JOANNA
No ‑‑
EDWARD
Joanna, here's my plan. I need to wait another week or so before I turn myself in. I ain't been over to Burleigh since I joined the Navy, and I know they've been contacted that I'm AWOL. I'm plannin' to go home and see my parents for a day or two and then headin' back to Pensacola. I'll be in the brig maybe six months or more, and I want you to marry me when I get out.
JOANNA
(Pause.)
You what?
EDWARD
I want you to marry me when I get out of the Navy.
JOANNA
Oh, god.
(She jumps into his arms.)
Oh, god, I love you, I love you, I love you.
(Then she abruptly pushes away.)
No, I can't. I can't.
(She is nearly hysterical.)
Oh, god, what've I done.
EDWARD
(He takes her firmly in his arms.)
What is it? What's wrong?
JOANNA
I love you, Eddy, I love you, don't ever forget that, I love you. Oh, god. No. Why? Why? It can't be wrong, it can't be wrong.
EDWARD
What's wrong? Joanna?
JOANNA
I'll make it work. I won't be bad anymore. I'll do the right thing. Ooh! I don't know what is the right thing. I love you, Eddy. It can't be wrong, it can't be. It feels too good.
EDWARD
Joanna, you're scarin' me. What's wrong?
JOANNA
God's gonna punish me, I know he is, Madge told me he would. He's gonna punish me.
EDWARD
Joanna!
(He shakes her.)
JOANNA
(Pulling herself together.)
What?
EDWARD
What's wrong?
JOANNA
Wrong?
EDWARD
I love you. I want you to marry me.
JOANNA
I can't.
EDWARD
Yes, you can. Whatever's wrong, I'll make it right. I love you, Joanna. I will make it right.
JOANNA
I love you, Eddy.
EDWARD
Then place your hand on my heart, . . .
(He lifts her hand and places it against his chest.)
. . . and tell me you'll marry me.
JOANNA
(She holds her hand against his chest for a long moment as she is held in his gaze.)
I'll marry you.
EDWARD
'Till death do us part.
JOANNA
'Till death do us part.
(EDWARD pulls her in against him, and they kiss passionately.)
(BLACKOUT)
END OF SCENE 2