Welcome to the Featured Playwright of July 2023! This month we are delighted to have Andrada Angeleri and her play "When the Dawn was Gray."
Andrada Angileri is a graduate of SUNY Purchase College with a Bachelor's in Theatre/Playwriting, as well as a graduate of Terry Knickerbocker Studio's two-year acting conservatory. Her works have been published in literary magazines (FeelsBlindLiterary '21, Qutub Minar Review '23) and performed at various festivals (POV Fest '21, Warner International Playwright's Festival '22). When she is not focusing on theatre work, she enjoys writing novels, creating worlds on the Sims 4, and watching the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" as many times as humanly possible.
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When The Dawn Was Grey
A short play based on the poem “The Deserter” by Winifred M. Letts
Andrada Angileri
CHARACTERS:
Mother: 40 years old, English
Deserter: 19 years old, English
Soldier: 30-40 years old, English
Gunman: 21 years old, English
TIME:
Late autumn 1915, close to the beginning of winter
PLACE:
Mother’s home, Soldier’s camp
Curtain rises. We see MOTHER sitting at her
kitchen table. She is making a quilt. On one of
the patches we see a rabbit. Mother is quietly
humming a tune to herself. After a moment, she
accidentally pricks herself on her needle. She
brings her finger to her mouth. When she pulls
her hand away, she smiles brightly and laughs.
Mother resumes work on her quilt. Suddenly, a
gust of wind causes the curtains by the kitchen
window to flap wildly. Mother quickly goes to
shut the window, and the flapping ceases. She
straightens out the curtains before walking back
over to the table. She spots a cup on the table. It
was his cup. She gently holds it in her hand and
admires it, as if it were an artifact in a museum.
MOTHER
(aside, reminiscing with the cup in hand)
My son died a hero.
Pause.
My son had been the bravest of us all, willing to put his life at risk in order to protect those who mattered most. I remember sending him off that day. He had first embraced his siblings and made them promise always to be kind and to help out when needed. He then moved on to his father, took his hand in his, shook it with much vigor, and told his father he would make him proud. Lastly, he came to me. It wasn’t until he got to me that I could see the tears in his eyes, tears he had been holding back so courageously. His eyes flashed wildly against the summer sun. I had seen that same look in the eyes of hares being chased.
Pause.
So, I wrapped my arms around him and held him for what I didn’t know would be the last time. He had thrown his arms around me, holding onto me as if his life depended on it. Maybe it did? I told him the things I would say to the hares when I caught them. I said to him, everything would be alright and soon the fear would wash away. He only let go once they started calling for the soldiers. He had almost forgotten that he was one of them. With a deep breath and a quick wipe of the eyes, he pulled himself away, stood up straight, wished us the best, and went on his way.
Silence. Mother places the cup back on the table.
They told me he died when the dawn was grey. My son... My son died a hero that day.
Lights go out on Mother. Lights come up on
SOLDIER and GUNMAN. Soldier is standing
very stoically. His uniform is neat. It should be
neat enough to suggest the question of how he
could keep it so clean with all of the destruction
around him. Gunman is scrawny and little. He is
shaking in the cool autumn air.
The snow might fall soon. It smells like it.
A few feet away from them is DESERTER. He is
on his knees, trembling in fear. He keeps his
head down, unsure of what to say or do.
Gunman can also be seen shivering, but it is not
due to the cold. Gunman’s shivering begins to
agitate Soldier.
SOLDIER
Stop that! You need a steady hand, boy.
GUNMAN
I am trying my best, sir.
SOLDIER
Not good enough.
GUNMAN
Yes, sir.
Soldier turns his attention to Deserter and
smirks. Why not have a little fun with his meal
before he indulges himself?
SOLDIER
(to Deserter)
I knew it would be you.
Pause.
I knew that out of all these men... you would be the one to run.
DESERTER
(exhausted, out of breath)
I wasn’t running-
SOLDIER
Save your words, boy. We don’t know how many of them you have left for this earth.
DESERTER
Sir, please! Let me return. I will stay with you and fight. I know I had a lapse of judgment but I swear to
you that I will...
Gunman is shaking his head at Deserter. Soldier
notices Deserter’s gaze is fixed on Gunman.
Soldier snaps his head towards Gunman,
catching Gunman shaking his head
just before he stops.
Soldier understands
this interaction and smiles
before turning back to face Deserter.
SOLDIER
So... you do admit to running?
Deserter goes to speak but stops himself once he
looks back at Gunman, only for a moment.
Soldier laughs merrily as he adjusts his gloves.
We cannot waste our time on boys like you. We need strong men... men like wild animals with a thirst for blood, particularly German if they can help it. I want wolves, lions, beasts that can rip a man apart with their claws.
Looking Deserter up and down.
You... are no beast, and you have proven that fact. You are no predator.
DESERTER
I may not be a beast, but I can fight! Please!
SOLDIER
If they run once... they will always run again.
DESERTER
I swear to you and to God, I will not run. Let me stay and fight.
SOLDIER
Your number has gone up today.
Pause, inhaling the air.
This glorious dawn! Shame about what’s to happen.
DESERTER
Spare me, please! I beg of you. I made a mistake! I had a moment of weakness, but I promise it will not
happen again.
SOLDIER
Men do not beg. They take what is handed to them and carry on with their day. Boys will shout and shake, crying out for their mother’s help.
Pause.
Where is she now? Where is your poor mother? What would she think if she knew that this was your end? Her son... killed by his fellow man.
DESERTER
What else am I to say to make you change your mind?!
SOLDIER
Nothing. Your time is up, boy.
Soldier walks over to Deserter and grips his
collar. Deserter flinches and shuts his eyes.
Soldier gets into his face, smirking, enjoying
watching Deserter squirm.
Soldier furrows his brow, thinking for a moment.
He smiles and turns his head to look at Gunman.
SOLDIER
(to Gunman)
What’s his name, boy?
GUNMAN
His name?
SOLDIER
Yes. Tell me his name.
GUNMAN
Why?
SOLDIER
You do not ask the questions here. Tell me his name.
GUNMAN
Williams. David Williams, sir.
SOLDIER
Would you say that the two of you are... good friends?
GUNMAN
I...
Soldier chuckles lightly, already knowing the
answer.
SOLDIER
(to Deserter)
David Williams?
Deserter nods his head.
Williams the Deserter. That is what the rest of my men will remember you as.
DESERTER
I did not desert this camp.
SOLDIER
Really? Then what did you do?
DESERTER
If I were a true deserter, I would not be here.
Pause.
I was caught.
SOLDIER
Goes to show that my men are quick to catch their prey.
Soldier looks over at Gunman and nods his
head.
DESERTER
(with throbbing heart and sobbing breath)
Please, do not do this! I can fight! Let me fight! I can become the beast you desire me to be!
SOLDIER
A beast is not something you become, boy.
Gunman walks over to Deserter and kneels
down. We hear Deserter softly pleading with
Gunman to stop.
GUNMAN
(quietly, to Deserter)
It’ll be alright. It’ll be over soon.
DESERTER
You’ll meet me on the other side?
GUNMAN
Some day... but I will.
Gunman knows he has to follow orders no
matter how much this hurts him. Gunman ties
the blindfold around Deserter’s eyes before
stepping back next to Soldier.
SOLDIER
Any last words?
DESERTER
No. I see now that my time has come. I just ask that you make it quick. You can fulfill a dead man’s last
wish... can’t you?
Soldier sighs and looks over at Gunman.
Gunman steps forward as Deserter trembles and
mumbles a prayer to himself. He hears Gunman
loading his pistol.
SOLDIER
(to Gunman, quietly)
Aim for his head. Make it quick.
Gunman’s hands shake as he struggles to load
the pistol.
(a bit louder)
I said make it quick.
GUNMAN
(voice wavering)
Yes, sir.
Gunman loads his pistol and aims it at Deserter.
Gunman tries to steady his hand to aim at
Deserter’s head. Soldier becomes frustrated by
the continued silence.
SOLDIER
For the love of- Give that to me!
Soldier grips Gunman’s pistol. They struggle
with the weapon throughout.
GUNMAN
I’ve got it, sir! I can do it!
SOLDIER
If you had it, the boy would have been dead already!
In the commotion, Deserter attempts to stand.
Just as Deserter raises himself from the ground
slightly, Soldier takes the pistol from Gunman
and aims it at Deserter. Soldier pulls the trigger
as Gunman forces himself to look away.
Deserter lets out a groan, and all is silent again
while the gunsmoke fades in the cool autumn air.
They watch as Deserter takes a few steps
backward and rips the blindfold of of his face.
Deserter’s eyes are no longer wild with fear. His
breaths are not labored and no longer filled with
sobs. Deserter had been shot in the heart.
Gunman slowly turns around and meets the eyes
of Deserter before Deserter falls to the ground,
dead. As Gunman moves to exit, Soldier kicks
the back of Gunman’s legs, causing him to fall to
his knees. Soldier then stands in front of him,
and Gunman’s body freezes as he keeps his eyes
on the ground.
SOLDIER
You said you were good friends with him?
GUNMAN
I... Yes, sir.
SOLDIER
You talk to him?
GUNMAN
About what, sir?
SOLDIER
Your life? His life?
GUNMAN
Yes, sir.
SOLDIER
What do you know about him?
GUNMAN
He told me he had a sweetheart back home waiting for him. They... they were going to be married.
SOLDIER
Pity. Poor girl’s waiting on a dead man.
Pause. Aims pistol directly at Gunman’s forehead.
Was this your idea?
GUNMAN
(looking up at Soldier)
What?
SOLDIER
You said you talk to him. You know things about him, intimate things.
Pause.
Was it your idea for him to desert this camp?
GUNMAN
No, sir! It wasn’t!
SOLDIER
Whose idea was it, then?
GUNMAN
None of ours, sir! We tried to talk him out of it. We told him what would happen if he was caught. He
said... he said he didn’t care about the consequences, because no matter what happened, he would just
try to keep on running.
SOLDIER
(aside)
Mmm, they will always keep running.
Soldier lowers his pistol, and Gunman lets out a
breath, his body relaxing completely.
(to Gunman)
Write to his family. I am sure you know where they are. Tell them how their son has made a mockery of
their name. Before that...
Soldier looks over at Deserter and scoffs.
Pick up the body and bury it in the trenches.
Soldier moves to exit but stops. He turns back
around to face Gunman.
I hope you learned a lesson today.
Soldier exits.
Gunman takes a moment before looking over at
Deserter. Deserter lies dead on the ground.
Suddenly, snow begins to fall only around
Deserter. The sun finally rises. We see the beauty
of the field shining through. If only he had been
able to enjoy it. Gunman looks towards the
rising sun and smiles brightly.
Mother walks onto the stage carrying the
finished quilt. She smiles as she walks over to
Deserter and kneels beside his body, looking
over him. Gunman takes out a piece of paper
and pencil from his jacket and begins writing on
the paper.
Mother lays the quilt over Deserter’s body and
runs her hand over his chest, soothing what
looks like a sleeping boy.
MOTHER
My son died a hero when the dawn was grey.
Pause.
He had thrown his arms around me, holding onto me as if his life depended on it. Maybe it did?
Silence.
They told me he died when the dawn was grey. My son...
Gunman kneels beside Deserter’s body and
places his hand on Deserter’s chest. Mother
looks up at Gunman and smiles.
I’ve been waiting for you to come and visit us.
GUNMAN
I know.
Pause.
I’m sorry.
MOTHER
I made you a gift.
Mother gestures to the quilt.
I was making it for him, but... it deserves a home.
Pause.
Who better to have it than my son’s protector?
GUNMAN
Pardon?
MOTHER
He often wrote to us about you. He called you his protector.
Pause.
Thank you for being by his side for as long as you could.
Silence.
Mother takes the quilt of of Deserter’s body. She
does not see the body, but Gunman reacts. He is
reliving that fateful day.
Mother hands Gunman the quilt. Gunman is
hesitant at first but takes the quilt in hand.
My son has made his family proud. I can still remember your writing. When the dawn was grey...
MOTHER GUNMAN
My son died a hero that day. Your son died a hero that day.
MOTHER
Take good care of that quilt... as if your life depends on it.
GUNMAN
I promise you I will.
Pause.
I shall cherish this quilt and care for it until the end of my days.
Mother nods her head and exits the stage.
Gunman holds the quilt close to his chest as he
looks down at Deserter’s body.
We are left with the image of Gunman, bowing
his head and holding onto the quilt as Deserter
lies on the cold, firm ground. Suddenly, the snow
ceases to fall. It is silent. No winter wind
blowing by. No morning birds singing their
songs. All is silent.
Curtain.
End of Play.
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Thanks for reading this month's Featured Writer! Come back next month for more works from talented writers.
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