COWARD'S BLOOD

by

DANIEL MUNSON

©2000

SAMPLE PAGES...

. . .

EUGENIA

You've left your regiment.

JOHNNY

Oh, no! No, Ma'am. I'm no soldier. You've got the wrong idea about me, Ma'am.

EUGENIA

Oh, Johnny. You've got the look about you. The look of a boy who's seen too much and who wants to get away. You can shed your grays but I can still see the soldiering days in your eyes.

JOHNNY

No, Ma'...

EUGENIA

The one thing you said true is that you're no soldier. (Johnny reacts defensively.) It's no crime, son! Only the soldiers think that every male has to have the same soldiering constitution. But not every boy can look in to his brother's eyes and run him through with a pig-sticker. Am I right?

JOHNNY

(Ashamed.)

Yes, Ma'am.

EUGENIA

Now, do they know you're gone yet?

JOHNNY

I don't think so. Rightwise, not when I left. Who's to know what's happened since I've took off.

(Eugenia nods.)

EUGENIA

Rose, honey!

(To Johnny.)

You need some shoes.

JOHNNY

(Looking down.)

I hardly even notice anymore.

EUGENIA

I've got a pair that might work for you.

JOHNNY

I'd be obliged, Ma'am.

EUGENIA

They're mighty big shoes you'd be filling. They belonged to my husband.

JOHNNY

I wouldn't want to be putting you out.

EUGENIA

No. You go ahead and be putting them on. We'll see what happens.

(Rose appears in the door.)

ROSE

What is it, Ma? I'm trying to...

(Rose sees Johnny.)

EUGENIA

It's the darndest thing, Rose, honey. Your cousin Johnny dropped in on us, all unannounced. He came by so fast he done lost his shoes.

ROSE

My cousin?

EUGENIA

Johnny. Little Johnny Taylor. 'Course he's grown up some now. Why don't you go and find him a pair of your pa's shoes.

ROSE

Pa's shoes?! Ma...!

EUGENIA

The boy needs shoes, Rose, honey. You want to give him a pair of yourn?

(Rose looks at Johnny and with a nod of her head indicates that he should go on in the house.)

JOHNNY

(To Eugenia)

Thank you, Ma'am.

EUGENIA

It's Eugenia. 'Course you just call me Aunt Ginny. (A beat.) Like always.

(Johnny nods and goes in to the house. Rose stands and watches him for a moment as he goes and then turns to her mother.)

ROSE

Should I be scared of my "cousin"?

EUGENIA

Absolutely. Bringing him in to our home doesn't change anything. But it might save a boy and give him a chance to grow in to a man in a more natural way. Working for it. Not having it thrust on to him.

(A pause.)

ROSE

That's real nice, Ma. But you're wrong. Having him here does change things. It has to.

. . .