THE SCARLET LETTER (excerpt) by Kate Hamill

The Scarlet Letter __________________________

A full-length play

By Kate Hamill

Copyright Kate Hamill, 2017

Kate Hamill 607-351-7766 www. kate-hamill.com katehamill@gmail.com

Represented by: Beth Blickers APA 135 W. 50th St., 17th fl. New York NY 10020 212.621.3098 Bblickers@apa-agency.com

SCENE 5

* A clearing, outside of Hester’s small cottage.

Four years later. Hester still wears the great scarlet A. She has a bundle of fabric in her arms maybe it even comes out of the bundle that use to contain the baby.

HESTER

Pearl? Pearl?!!

You are supposed to be looking at your prayer book!!!

A wild, impish little laugh - almost nasty. (at the end of her rope) Pearl!!!

A rustle. Hester plays along.

Oh no, I have lost her. Woe is me, living alone in a cottage in the cold dark woods, for the rest of my days, like the witch in the story.

Another evil-sounding little giggle.

Too bad. I was going to boil some acorns, and give any children around the tops to play with. (no response) And then I was going to sing songs with them (A derogatory noise).

And then I was going to give those children some big slices of cornbread. (a rustle) Slathered with honey - (another rustle) lots and lots of honey PEARL I AM THE CHILDREN! Pearl pops out of the wilderness. She’s about 4 years old. Hair going every which way, covered with twigs and dirt - clad only in her shift. She’s waving a big nasty stick.

HESTER But you are not my Pearl.

PEARL Yes! HESTER No, for my little Pearl was clean when I last saw her, and clothed.

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*

2.

PEARL (using a monster voice) I AM YOUR LITTLE PEARL! HESTER Do not use that terrible voice, you know I do not like it.

PEARL (monster voice) I like it.

Hester takes hold of her and begins to re-dress her; the bundle she was holding is Pearl’s dress.

Pearl does not like it, but submits.

HESTER You cannot run about in your shift.

PEARL Why HESTER (struggling to get her clothed and human again) Because it is not - decent PEARL Why HESTER Because God says only animals may be naked without shame.

PEARL Then I will be an animal. (she growls and snarls) HESTER Pearl! (Pearl howls) Pick up your feet. (she stomps; Hester sighs in irritation) You must be a little more obedient! Listen, and learn!

PEARL Why HESTER Because you do not yet know the ways of the world.

PEARL I know EVER-Y-THING.

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3.

Hester stops a moment, seriously, then looks at her, shakes it off, holds her face.

HESTER Strange child.

Pearl, for a moment, stands still and smiles - she reaches for the letter on Hester’s chest. Hester pulls away.

PEARL Mother - I want a red letter for my chest.

HESTER (horrified) No, you don’t.

PEARL May I have one when I am grown?!

HESTER (trying to laugh) No. PEARL Why do you wear it?

HESTER for - for the gold thread, silly.

Beat.

PEARL Nooo.

The sound of a broken stick - something is coming through the woods. They both notice it.

PEARL A beast is coming, mother. (she snarls and growls) Run away before it gobbles you up!

HESTER Pearl!

PEARL It is hungry, (using her monster voice) it is hungry!

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4.

HESTER Pearl, do not tear your dress!

Using her animal snarls and growls, she runs away. Goody Hibbins emerges. She is profoundly unhappy.

HIBBINS Mistress Prynne.

HESTER Goody Hibbins! - what brings you all the way out to my cottage?

Goodie Hibbins holds out a little white dress.

Hester reaches for it - Hibbins snatches away her hands so they will not touch. The gown flutters to the ground.

HESTER The christening gown? - were you not satisfied with the work?

HIBBINS Vanity is a sin, Mistress Prynne.

HESTER What?

HIBBINS You have excellent skill with your needle, is that what you want to hear? Every piece you embroider is a work of art - most of all that. (she points at the A on Hester’s chest) Crimson thread and gold embroidery, to more effectively flaunt your wares.

Beat.

HESTER What is the matter with the christening gown?

HIBBINS - I have no need of it.

HESTER No need of it?

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5.

HIBBINS This one followed all the rest.

I want my money back.

HESTER My daughter and I live on what I earn, Goody Hibbins. Your money is already spent.

HIBBINS Scratch a whore, and find a thief!

I ought to have you hauled up before my husband!

Hester is really, really trying not to kill her.

HESTER Perhaps you could lay the gown by, for the future. Many women suffer losses, and go on to have healthy babes.

HIBBINS Master Chillingworth said I cannot bring a living child into the world. I was foolish to hope again, and you were wicked to take my money! You knew how it was like to end. I deserve some satisfaction!!

HESTER I cannot give you such.

Beat.

HIBBINS - I am not proud like you, Hester Prynne. I am a goodly woman and I admit my faults. I know I was tempting God to buy this thing - so you take it back.

Take it! I do not WANT it!

Hibbins sits and is close to tears. Hester touches her hand.

HESTER Let me get you some water.

Goody Hibbins looks at her hand, then jerks it back, and waves her off. Hester goes and gets her water.

Hibbins sits, for a moment, crying - and then:

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6.

PEARL Why are you crying?

Pearl emerges, quite dirty. She’s torn her dress.

HIBBINS (initially startled, then amused) Who are you?

PEARL I am the children. Why are you crying?

HIBBINS I am crying - for God’s judgement upon my sins.

PEARL That’s a stupid reason.

HIBBINS Do you never repent your sins, child?

PEARL No, for I have none. And if I did then I would laugh.

She demonstrates with her crazy little laugh.

HIBBINS We are all sinful beings.

PEARL I am not a Bean. I am a little Pearl.

HIBBINS How beautiful you are, Pearl.

Come closer, now.

PEARL No. HIBBINS Come. (Hibbins moves towards her) PEARL If you touch me, I will fly away.

HIBBINS Fly? Like an angel?

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7.

PEARL Like a monster! I will have bat wings! And I will swoop and claw and bite at you!

HIBBINS - you do not know what you are saying.

PEARL I know everything.

HIBBINS Vanity is wicked. Your mother ought to teach you better, but then she is proud in her sin.

PEARL I am too!

HIBBINS What?

PEARL I am proud! Look at me, look at me! (a little song:) I love sin! I love sin! I love HIBBINS Hush! Where do you learn such things?

PEARL I listen, and I learn. I’m Pearl and I know everything.

HIBBINS Does your mother teach you to speak so? (she grabs Pearl and gets in her space, seriously ) Does she meet with others who talk like this? Does a dark man with a book ever meet with her, and write down names in blood?

Pearl’s head dips - Hibbins cries out, hurt: PEARL I told you I would bite. Now I will fly!

She bounces off through the undergrowth, laughing that cackling little laugh. Hibbins stares off after her. Hester re-enters with a cup of water; Hibbins spins around. Her hand is bleeding.

HESTER Goody Hibbins?

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*

8.

HIBBINS Keep the money. I don’t want anything you have touched.

Did you curse that gown? Did you put the Eye on me?

HESTER What?

HIBBINS The men may not see beyond your charms, Mistress Prynne, but - you will not witch us all.

HESTER “Witch?!”

Still holding her bleeding hand, Hibbins exits.

HESTER Pearl!

Pearl crashes out of the undergrowth, still smiling. If possible, she is even dirtier than before.

HESTER What did you say to Goody Hibbins?

PEARL Mother - (happily) I have torn my dress.

HESTER Never mind. It doesn’t matter. (she hugs her, desperately) Pearl, as before, reaches to the shining scarlet letter. Hester pulls her hand away.

It doesn’t matter.

SCENE 6 The bells ring - much as they did at the beginning of the play. Hester hears them, alarmed - and taking a moment to quickly spit-wipe some dirt off of Pearl. They walk to the governor’s house.

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9.

PEARL Why did we come to town?

HESTER For an errand, Pearl. Pick up your feet.

PEARL What errand?

HESTER I don’t know - we were ordered to the governor’s hall. Maybe he needs a new ruff. His servants always came before, but perhaps - perhaps PEARL What?

HESTER Perhaps he needs something - special.

PEARL I do not like town.

HESTER Maybe you could make some little friends! Children live here, you know.

PEARL I do not like the children. (roaring) I AM THE CHILDREN. HESTER Hush!

PEARL (making a plan, happy) If I see them in their black and white clothes, I will throw stones at them. (she mimes it) Hester knocks on the great door to the house.

HESTER You will not!

Now, Pearl, if you behave before the governor - I will give you PEARL What?

HESTER Anything you wish!

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10.

PEARL A letter like yours!

HESTER Pearl, no PEARL But I want it I WANT IT I WANT /HESTER - / someone is coming!!! (desperately) - Pearl, just promise to be good!

PEARL (monster voice) For. A. Let-ter.

The door swings open. A servant stands there.

HESTER I was - summoned.

* The servant stands there, unmoving, looking her up and down; then stumps off. The governor’s residence is a cold, cold, dark, damp place.

Chilly, chilly, chilly.

PEARL

It stinks, here.

HESTER Shh. This is one of the oldest buildings in Boston, Pearl.

When the people landed here, first they built the church. Then, somewhere to put the guns.

Then - a place to make the law.

PEARL What is The Law? GOODY HIBBINS You raise your child in ignorance, Hester Prynne.

She’s appeared from nowhere. Pearl yelps and hides in her mother’s skirts.

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