With Love (2)
JOSIAH: But....Brother, you know that isn't true! Why are you saying this? (To SARAH, desperately) Miss Sarah, you don't believe him, do you? Please say you don't! I didn't do anything....please.... MARK: (Softly, to JOSIAH) don't worry, kid. Just come with me. Crowd fall silent again as MARK leads JOSIAH off stage. We hear crickets chirping. MARK: You didn't hit him, did you? JOSIAH: Of course I didn't! He's lying....why? MARK: He hates you. For having the strength to leave him. He's not just going to let you walk away, kid....you have to be even stronger if you want to get away from him permanently. JOSIAH: But....everyone thinks I'm disturbed or something and....Miss Sarah will never speak to me again! MARK: I think you'll find she will. SARAH: (Coming up) Josiah! Are you okay? JOSIAH: I....think so. I didn't hit him, Miss Sarah. SARAH: Why would he say that if it wasn't true? Josiah, you can tell me. Whatever you did, I'll still be with you. I'm not going to abandon you, I promise. JOSIAH: That means a lot to me. Really it does, but honestly, I haven't done anything wrong. SARAH: Okay. If you say you haven't, I'm inclined to believe you....you're the most hones guy I ever met. (Hesitantly) Josiah....is there anything I can do to help? LOVE: Josiah, come along. You can stay in my caravan tonight. SARAH: You just tell me if there is, okay? Goodbye, Josiah. JOSIAH: 'Bye....thank you. LOVE: Come on, Josiah, I'm not mad. JOSIAH: I'm coming, Brother. MARK: Are you going to be all right? JOSIAH: Fine. Don't worry. I'll....see you tomorrow. MARK: Just make sure of that. LOVE: Here you are! Well, come along. Don't look so worried, I won't bite you. MARK: The guy's crazy, you just remember that, kid. JOSIAH: I'll be fine. LOVE: Are you going o introduce me to your friend? MARK: Don't bother, kid....we've met, and Brother Love knows it. I'll see you in the morning. Night. SARAH's caravan. She and MARK are sitting together. SARAH: You know why I asked you here? MARK: It's about Josiah, I guess. That poor kid. He doesn't realise just how much Brother Love can hurt him. SARAH: I need to know what's going on. Why would Love accuse Josiah of hitting him? And why is Josiah so scared to leave him? You know why, Mr. Rayner - tell me. MARK: I guess Josiah wouldn't object. I never heard him object to anything. The truth is, Miss....sorry, what's your name? SARAH: Just call me Sarah. MARK: Sarah. The truth is that Brother Love, the so-called ultimate pacifist, beats holy Hell out of his sweet natured Amish assistant whenever he feels like it. And what's more, the guy's a drunk. He treats Josiah like shit, and the kid just doesn't have the strength to get away from him. SARAH: But you did. You were Love's assistant at one time, right? MARK: For about a year, yeah. Until he started the abuse. Then I told him to stick his love for his fellow man up his ass. And I walked out, when to New York, got a job sweeping some miserable department store for six months. The I got myself together a little, and started writing. SARAH: You write novels? Short stories? MARK: Both. I wrote about my own experience, but....I never published. SARAH: Why not? Everyone should know about Love - about what a fraud he is! MARK: Yeah, maybe. But then again....he's brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people. He brings people together, gives them something to believe in. The fact that he's a drunken asshole doesn't detract from what he's given to people. And I didn't want to destroy that....but I couldn't watch him do to that poor kid what he did to me. So I followed them....I followed them all over America, trying to tell Josiah to get away from Love. He never listened. (Pause.) But he might listen to you. SARAH: Why me? MARK: Because he loves you. You know that, and you know you feel the same way. I'm right, aren't I? So, will you try to convince him to get away from Brother Love? Before it's too late? SARAH: Too late? But....surely Love won't actually seriously hurt him? I mean, he couldn't! Josiah is a lot bigger than him....he can defend himself. MARK: He can, but I doubt he would. He's Amish, remember? SARAH: I know that, but if Love is physically hurting him.... MARK: Listen, Sarah: I think that you're the only hope of getting Josiah away from that guy. Trust me on this, okay? SARAH: I'll try, Mark. MARK: Thanks. SARAH: One more thing? There's something I'd like to know. MARK: Sure, yeah. SARAH: Were originally from the same community as Josiah? MARK: Yes. Yes, I was. My name was Abraham. I left the community with Brother Love, and when I got away from him I could never face going back. I'll always regret leaving what I had there - my family, my friends....God. I lost my faith....I'd been hurt so much. Does that answer your question? SARAH: I'm sorry. MARK: Thank you. What I want is for Josiah to find a life for himself, not to be in the same mess I was. SARAH: He can stay with me. I'll take care of him, Mark. MARK: I'll be around, but I won't risk talking to Josiah again. And now I guess I should go. SARAH: Goodbye, Mark. Please don't worry about Josiah. MARK: Good luck. See you tomorrow. LOVE's caravan. LOVE: Josiah, I don't want you talking to either Abraham or that girl again. I won't have them influence you. JOSIAH: I won't, brother. I'm sorry. LOVE: My boy. I'm glad you understand. Now....would you pass me that glass, and a bottle? I need a little medicinal whiskey. JOSIAH: Brother Love....I wish you didn't drink so much. LOVE: Now don't annoy me, Josiah. You can be very impertinent sometimes, sweet as you are. Now get me that drink. JOSIAH: No. I'm sorry. And....you can't stop me seeing Sarah, and singing with her. You know I love to sing....it's what I want to do, and I won't let you take that away from me. LOVE: What are you saying? JOSIAH: I'm saying that I want to sing tomorrow with Miss Sarah. You've controlled me for too long, brother - you've never let me have friends, never let me do anything other than work, never even let me sing when I want to. I've had enough. I have to have something other than you in my life. LOVE: I never thought I'd see the day when you turned against me, boy. You are a sinner, and I have forgiven your sins in the past, but I will allow this no longer. You will not sing tomorrow. You will never sing in public again. It is not God's will, boy. JOSIAH: God gave me a gift, brother - surely He wishes me to use it to the best advantage? LOVE: When I found you, I knew that you were good, Josiah. But there is a flaw in you....a flaw which must be vanquished if you are to properly serve God. JOSIAH: With respect you're wrong. You are the one with the flaw....you drink, you curse, you even blaspheme! I've heard you! And yet you call me a sinner? I have never done wrong, brother. I am proud of the way I have led my life. I will sing with Miss Sarah tomorrow. If you try to stop me I'll leave you. LOVE: I own you. I own your life, I own your faith, and I own every frigging thing you do, you little shit. And I say what you do. I will punish you if you disobey me, Josiah. Remember the whipping I gave you before? Remember the depth of those long, bloody scars? Do you remember, Josiah? How much more can you take? JOSIAH: Leave me alone! LOVE: I can hurt you in other ways too. Perhaps your parents would like to hear of how you've been cavorting with that whore, of how you let her lead you astray? Perhaps they would like to know about your filthy lusts, about the time you tried to rape her? Do you think they would? JOSIAH: You bastard! LOVE: I have the power to destroy you, to destroy everything you hold dear. You are mine. Nothing will change that....Josiah! Where are you going? JOSIAH: Away. Away from you....you're insane! Caravan door slams. JOSIAH bangs on the door of SARAH's caravan - she opens it. JOSIAH: Miss Sarah, can I come in? I wouldn't bother you but....but I.... SARAH: What's wrong? You look upset. JOSIAH: I had a sort of argument with Brother Love. He....threatened me. SARAH: Threatened? How? JOSIAH: He does it all the time....says he'll tell my parents about my sins, and I'll be excommunicated. I couldn't bear it, Miss Sarah. I love my family, and I love my home. I want to go back, but Brother Love.... SARAH: Shhhh, calm down. I'll help you, Josiah, I promise. Leave Brother Love. I'll take you home and we can explain what happened to you, tell the police about Love. He physically injured you....you can press charges against him for that. JOSIAH: No. I can't do that to him....he means so much to so many people. SARAH: Fine. But leave him. Your family will understand. JOSIAH: You don't know that. I come from a very....strict....community. They could send me away. You see I....I think I've sinned. SARAH: How? JOSIAH: Because...I've fallen in love with a woman. And....and I've contemplated....fornication, and that's....sinful.... SARAH: That's about the most original seduction I've ever seen. JOSIAH: Oh! I didn't....oh dear, I think....I think I've done it now, haven't I? SARAH: They might beat you with a bible....sorry. JOSIAH: That's okay. Falling in love isn't sinful, is it? SARAH: No. JOSIAH: And....we haven't....done anything. SARAH: Not yet. JOSIAH: But if we did.... SARAH: Let's just.... JOSIAH: Change the subject? SARAH: (Relieved) Yes. Will you be singing tomorrow? JOSIAH: I....yes, yes I will. SARAH: That's wonderful! Now, shall I make you a bed on the couch? And I'll cook us some supper. JOSIAH: Thanks, Miss Sarah. SARAH: Don't thank me, Josiah. I should be thanking you, for what you've given me. I've always been alone....sure, I'd slept with men, but it's never been really a relationship, I've never really loved someone....not like you. But I know that we can't be anything permanent. When you go back to the community I'll just move on. I'm a rolling stone, Josiah, and I never stay anywhere for long. You need someone who'll stay with you, who you can marry, who'll give you children....that isn't me. I just couldn't give up my way of life. But I'll never forget you and there'll never be anyone else. JOSIAH: Sarah.... SARAH: I know that it's a weird time to say all this, but when you go I don't think I'll be able to keep hold of myself. I'll miss you so much, Josiah. JOSIAH: But I could never take the place of your career? SARAH: That sounds so cruel, and it isn't true. If I came with you to Pennsylvania you'd be asking me to give up my life. JOSIAH: But....I haven't asked you to come with me. I was going to. SARAH: I'm sorry. (Pause) I'll get supper. Morning. LOVE's caravan. JOSIAH knocks on the door. JOSIAH: Brother Love? May I come in? LOVE: The door is open. JOSIAH: I'm come for my things. I'm leaving, brother. I'm going home. LOVE: Yes, I thought you might. Is your whore going with you? JOSIAH: Miss Sarah is heading for Georgia. LOVE: So the little slut dumped you, huh? Not a surprise. Why would any woman want you? You have nothing to offer her. JOSIAH: On the contrary. I love her. LOVE: How tragic. And will you be weeping for your lost love when you leave your community a lonely exile? JOSIAH: That won't happen. LOVE: You are still a blind fool. Goodbye, Josiah. Good luck. JOSIAH: What? You're letting me go? LOVE: Yes, why not? There are plenty of little Amish shits around. I'll just find someone else as naive as you. JOSIAH: Goodbye, brother. SARAH: Come on. The van's ready. JOSIAH: I'm coming, Miss Sarah. MARK: They travelled right down to Pennsylvania in that van. It took weeks, but eventually they arrived, and went looking for the community. Sarah agreed to meet Josiah's family and stay for a few days before beginning a tour of the north, starting in New York. Josiah was planning to return to his old life, farming with his brothers. JOEY: What happened when they got there? MARK: Well, I'll tell you. It was fairly late.... SARAH: We're here, Josiah. JOSIAH: Hmm? Oh. I was sleeping, sorry. SARAH: That's okay. I'm surprised you never learned to drive. JOSIAH: I hate cars. Smelly, polluting, ugly things. SARAH: It would've taken you a while to get here by horse. JOSIAH: I guess. I'll bring the luggage - you can stop here. SARAH: Sure. I'll find somewhere to leave the van while you get everything together. JOSIAH: It sure is beautiful down here. I forgotten. Brother Love and I went to a lot of places in the time I was with him. SARAH: I'll leave it here, okay? Let's get that stuff up to the house. JOSIAH: Wait....I should speak to my family first, and the community elders. Come with me. SARAH: Will the van be okay? JOSIAH: Are you kidding? SARAH: (Laughs) I hear you. Let's go. JOSIAH: It's not far. SARAH: Well, I hope your parents don't mind me staying for a while. JOSIAH: I'm sure they won't. SARAH: I guess they....hey, what's that? A welcoming party? JOSIAH: I don't know. They're from my community....there's my brother! And my father! FATHER! It's me, Josiah! Father! ISHMAEL: Is this Miss Sarah, Josiah? JOSIAH: Yes....she's.... REBECCA: I have something for you. JOSIAH: What is it? REBECCA: Some food, clothes. I thought that you might not have much. Brother Love said that you were travelling here by road vehicle. JOSIAH: Thank you, but....when have you seen Brother Love? I've left him, mother. He....we....disagreed. I was hoping that Miss Sarah could stay for a few days until her band arrives. She a singer. ISHMAEL: I'm sorry, Josiah. You and your friend are not welcome here. JOSIAH: What....what are you saying? ISHMAEL: Brother Love told us about this woman and your relationship with her. He told us of how you treated him, and about your alcohol problem. SARAH: He's lying! Josiah hasn't done anything wrong! I'll leave if you want, but don't send him away. He's your son! ISHMAEL: I'm truly sorry. Good luck, Josiah, in whatever you decide to do....it saddens me that we must part this way. You are my son....I love you, but I cannot allow you to remain here. Goodbye, and may God forgive you. SARAH: Wait! Please, just listen to us.... JOSIAH: It won't help, Miss Sarah. Let's go. SARAH: But....this is your home! JOSIAH: Not any more. SARAH: But....where will we go? JOSIAH: I think that Brother Love would have me back....but I'm not going. Let him find some other poor fool to be his servant. There's only one place to go from here, Miss Sarah. SARAH: Where? JOSIAH: New York. Where Mr. Rayner lives. He'll put us up for awhile, I know he would. SARAH: Fine, but what are you going to do? JOSIAH: Let's wait until we get there, huh? SARAH: I'll get the van. I hope you're prepared for the drive. JOSIAH: I've been travelling for some time, you know. SARAH: Then let's go. Van radio plays "Everybody's Talkin'". SARAH: These little roads seem to go on forever. When the Hell do we get to a freeway? JOSIAH: I have no idea. Maybe we should stop for a rest - there has to be rooms, or something. Or maybe someone'll let us stay for the night. SARAH: No harm in asking, I guess. There's s little farmhouse just up there - shall we try it? If I drive for much longer I'm gonna fall asleep at the wheel. JOSIAH: You park, I'll ask. SARAH: Right. We'll leave the stuff in the van, get a meal and some sleep, and be on our way. Do you have any money, by the way? I'm not sure I have enough for rent and everything. I didn't bring a lot with me. JOSIAH: I've got a little. Anyway, surely they won't charge us much....oh, hi, sir. We....we're not trespassing, we just wondered if....maybe you'd let us sleep here tonight. We're going to New York city. FARMER: Really? Well, you look decent folk. Me and my wife usually let campers and such stay over for a night or two this time of year. We have a bedroom free - twenty dollars, including your breakfast. JOSIAH: That'd be great. Thanks so much. SARAH: Can I leave our van here? FARMER: Sure, miss. No problem. Just take out what you want and leave the rest - it'll be safe out here. SARAH: Thank you. MARK: (Narrating) Since there was only one room free, they had to sleep together. I guess that was pretty awkward....I figure Josiah, being Josiah, probably slept on the floor or something. Anyway, that night the situation got a little worse.... SARAH: Oh, God, it's nine thirty! Hey, Josiah, you awake? Josiah? JOSIAH: Good morning, Miss Sarah. Sleep well? SARAH: Sure....how long have you been up? JOSIAH: Since seven. I slept in. Breakfast's ready if you want it. SARAH: Do I ever! What is it? JOSIAH: Well, I had toast and a glass of water, but I think they do coffee and bacon. SARAH: You're telling me you guys can't even drink coffee? JOSIAH: Old habits die hard, I guess. SARAH: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of yesterday. How're you doing? JOSIAH: Fine. Better than I thought. Oh, excuse me a second - Mr. Weybridge wants something. What is it, sir? FARMER: There's someone here to see the two of you. An old friend. JOSIAH: (To SARAH) Who could that be? Maybe Mr. Rayner? He's always tracked me down so far. SARAH: It could be my guitarist but she wouldn't know where I was. Besides, the band won't be in New York for another few days. You just go see, and I'll get dressed. JOSIAH: Right - won't be long. I'll tell Mrs.Weybridge to get the coffee ready. SARAH: Thanks. JOSIAH: Who did he say he was, Mr. Weybridge? FARMER: He didn't. Looked kinda familiar, though - I figure I've seen him before. Oldish guy, greying hair. There he is, right now. I'll just leave you guys to it. JOSIAH: (Pause) Oh, Lord. What are you doing here? LOVE: Not even a hug for an old mentor, Josiah? JOSIAH: How did you know? LOVE: I went back to your community to see if you'd arrived. You see, I figured they'd send you off, though I begged and pleaded with them to forgive your sins. I had to tell them, boy, for my own peace of mind . I couldn't have you deceiving those good people. Anyway, you had to be somewhere, so I figure you'd probably head for New York with your ladyfriend. So I asked around, and here you are! Now, be sensible, boy, and come back with me. I'll take care of you. JOSIAH: Don't come near me, you creep! Don't dare! I don't want to work with you anymore, why won't you listen? It's over. I'm going to New York and I'm never coming near you again. LOVE: Don't be rash, boy. There's nothing for you in the city. You'd never get a job. All you're good for is making hay and selling corn. But with me you have a future....stop lying to yourself. You're a good boy for all your failings. Come home. JOSIAH: I don't have a home. Not with my family and certainly not with you. Stay away form us, brother. I could call the police if I wanted to. LOVE: And they'd arrest me for taking an interest in the future of a young man? I'm not breaking the law, Josiah. Now, are you coming back with me or not? JOSIAH: No. You have nothing left to threaten me with, and you'll never make me work for you again. Leave. LOVE: Still naive. Well, fine, I'll leave you alone if that's what you want. JOSIAH: Just go away. LOVE: I'm going. Just want a word with the farm owner first. JOSIAH: Fine. Then please, leave us alone. We aren't doing you any harm. MARK: (Narrating) It was never Love's intention to leave - not until he had finished up a little business.... LOVE: Miss Sarah? Can I have a word? SARAH: Brother Love? LOVE: Yep, sure is ma'am. I just want a little word with you. SARAH: I have nothing to say to you and I don't care what you want. Get away from us. You'll never get Josiah to come back to you. LOVE: On the contrary, ma'am, he's come to his senses. We'll be travelling south as soon as he's ready - I'm here to collect his things. SARAH: (Opens door) What? LOVE: Just pass out his bag, dear. SARAH: I don't believe you. LOVE: Now why not? You could ask him yourself, but I'm afraid he wouldn't want to talk to you. You see, when I explained why I told his community about you two, he understood the sin he had committed, and has decided to reform. So he doesn't want anything more to do with you. Sorry, darlin', but that' the way it is. SARAH: Get out. LOVE: I'm going. I guess Josiah can do without his stuff - not much of it anyway, really. Well, so long....you little blaspheming slut. JOSIAH: (Shouts) Brother? Where are you? LOVE: I'll see you around, dear. Bye. JOSIAH: What have you said? LOVE: Oh, nothing. I've just been talking to your lay. My, she's pretty. JOSIAH: If you've hurt Miss Sarah.... LOVE: You'll beat me to death with a sheaf of corn. JOSIAH: Get away! Miss Sarah.... SARAH: Come in, Josiah. LOVE laughs softly. JOSIAH: What has he said to you? SARAH: He told me. JOSIAH: Told you what? SARAH: About you going back with him. JOSIAH: You believed him? SARAH: I don't know....he sounded so convincing.... JOSIAH: He's lying, Miss Sarah. SARAH: Why would he? JOSIAH: Please, whatever he said....it isn't true. SARAH: I believe you. JOSIAH: What did he say? SARAH: It doesn't matter. JOSIAH: I want to know, Miss Sarah. SARAH: He told me you were going back with him. JOSIAH: There's something else. SARAH: No. JOSIAH: There is. SARAH: It isn't important. Honestly....he....he just called me a slut. It doesn't matter. JOSIAH: He said that? To you? SARAH: Josiah, please....where are you going? JOSIAH: To talk to Brother Love. SARAH: But.... JOSIAH:: Wait here. I won't be long. SARAH: Josiah.... MARK: (Narrating) Sarah followed him. When she got to the caravan, the door was wide open....and Brother Love was inside, lying on the bed, with Josiah standing over him. He was dead. JOEY: What!? MARK: Sarah was in shock. Mrs. Weybridge called the cops, and they arrested Josiah on suspicion of murder. JOEY: Did he....did he kill Brother Love? MARK: It sure looked like he did. They took the body away to do an autopsy, find out what killed him. Meanwhile Josiah was held in custody. JOEY: Then what happened? MARK: The results of the autopsy came through after a couple of weeks. Sarah stayed, and visited Josiah every day. Then the cops came in, told him he was free to go. JOEY: He hadn't done it? MARK: No - turned out Love died from liver poisoning. Josiah was pretty damn relieved. JOEY: So what did Josiah do? Did he try to go home again? MARK: Oh, no. He found himself a job right here in New York, something he was really good at. JOEY: What? MARK: I think I'll let you see for yourself. I got a couple tickets for the outdoor concert tonight. Want to go? JOEY: Sure! MARK: Then get your coat. Starts in half an hour. Concert. Background bustle, crowd chatter. MARK: Well....this is your first concert, Joe. What do you think? JOEY: Neat....but what's it got to do with Josiah and Sarah? MARK: Ask him. Enter Josiah and Sarah. JOSIAH: Hi, Joey. Nice to finally meet you. JOEY: Wow! Uh....likewise, Mr. Josiah. JOSIAH: You have a good son, Abraham. MARK: Guess I do. Now....haven't you and your lady wife got something to do....? SARAH: You're right, we'd better get ready. See you later....we'll have a drink, okay? MARK: Great. JOSIAH: Enjoy the show, guys. Country music begins playing in the background, getting louder. JOSIAH and SARAH begin to sing together.
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