ACT 4. SCENE I. In Front of Jedediah's House Enter JETHRO, BUTCH, JEDEDIAH, PREACHIN’ BILL, ABNER, BUBBA, DAISY, VIOLET, and Attendants JEDEDIAH Come, Preachin’ Bill, no need to make this here weddin’ a long, drawn out affair. Short and sweet’ll git us to the vittles the quickest. PREACHIN’ BILL You come here this day to marry this here Daisy Hogue? ABNER No. JEDEDIAH To be married to her: Preacher, you come to marry her. PREACHIN’ BILL Miss Daisy, you come here to be a married to Abner? DAISY I do. PREACHIN’ BILL If thar be any man here what knows any reason these two love birds shouldn’t to ought to git hitched, let him speak now or forever hold his piece. ABNER Know you any, DAISY? DAISY None, Abner. Of course not. PREACHIN’ BILL Know you any, Abner? JEDEDIAH I kin surely speak fer the boy, No, Preacher. ABNER Excuse me Preachin’ Bill. Jedediah, do you give me yer daughter’s hand freely with no reservations? JEDEDIAH As freely, son, as God did give her me. ABNER But whut kin I give you back that would be so precious a gift. JETHRO Nothing, if you call that girl precious. ABNER You know what I’ma talkin’ about, Jethro.There, Jedediah, take her back again:I done knowd what this’n is up to, and it ain’t nothin’ precious about it.See how she blushes here, a lookin’ so innocent and sweet.Why anybody with two eyeballs would tell you that she is innocent through and through. But I’ma a tellin’ you all that she ain’t innocent. JEDEDIAH What do you mean, Abner? ABNER Not to be married,Not to tie myself up with some hussy who’s been over the mountain more times that you kin shake a stick at. JEDEDIAH Abner, Abner listen to me. If’n you feel a little guilty cause you done gone too far……. ABNER Not me, Jedediah. Not me. I would never dishonor Daisy or your family in that which a way.I was always a goin’ by the code of the mountains when it comes to courtin’. DAISY And that’s the same way I was with you? ABNER Don’t lie, Daisy! To me, you were like a goddess. You were my dream come true. I ain’t never felt like this fer another woman. DAISY Are you sick? Is something wrong with you? Why are you a sayin’ these thangs? JEDEDIAH Cap’n Jethro, why don’t you say something? JETHRO What should I say, Jedediah?I jus’ came this close to marryin’ my dear friend to a common fluzy! JEDEDIAH Am I in some kinda nightmare? Is everbody here, Crazy? BUTCH I’ll vouch fer the truth in whut they say. BUBBA This sure as heck ain’t no weddin’ day. DAISY That’s fer sure! What’s goin’ on here! ABNER I have to know one thang! Who was that you was with last night after midnight? JEDEDIAH Who was it Daisy? DAISY Daddy! You don’t believe that do ya? You should defend me instead o believin’ whut they’re a sayin’.I wasn’t with nobody at that time. I was fast asleep in my bed! JETHRO Why then, you’re not only a fluzy, but you’re a liar, too. We heard ya’ll say how you done met there a hunert times before. BUTCH My brother speaks the truth, fer sure. JEDEDIAH Daisy, how could you do this to yerself and yer famly? DAISY swoons VIOLET Daisy, are you alright? BUTCH Come, let us go. What you do in the dark, comes out in the light. Exit JETHRO, BUTCH, and ABNER BUBBA How is Miss Daisy? VIOLET Dead, I think. Help, Uncle! Daisy! why, Daisy! Uncle! Bubba! Preachin’ Bill! JEDEDIAH Somebody jus’ shoot me and put me out of my mysery. I ain’t never seen such a thang. VIOLET Hang in there Daisy. I know you is innocent! PREACHIN’ BILL It’ll be alright Daisy. JEDEDIAH Don’t raise yer head around here, Daisy? PREACHIN’ BILL Why not Jedediah? JEDEDIAH Didn’t you hear whut they was a sayin’? Would Abner lie? Would Cap’n Jethro lie. Would the Cap’n’s brother lie. Don’t all the evidence point right aginst her. Daisy, you ain’t the girl I raised from a baby. You ain’t yer momma’s daughter. Wher did I go wrong. How could you do this to us? I never thought I’d see the day when my daughter would be the biggest fluzy on Pine Mountain. BUBBA Jedediah, calm down. For me, I am so shocked I don’t know whut to say. VIOLET All I know is that my cousin has been wronged! BUBBA Were you with her last night at that time? VIOLET No, but I almost always am. She hain’t been a sneakin’ off a hunert times with some man. PREACHIN’ BILL Hear me a little;For I have only been silent so long. There is somethin’ that jus’ ain’t right about this whole thang. JEDEDIAH If’n you’ve got an idie, let’s hear it. PREACHIN’ BILL Missy, whut man is it that yer accused o bein’ with last night. DAISY That’s the crazy part. Fer them to accuse me o somethin’ like that, Why I ain’t never been with no man. PREACHIN’ BILL Somehow, there’s somethin’ mighty queer a goin’ on ‘round here. Our boys seems to truly believe what they’re a sayin’. BUBBA Well, two o them is as good as gold, but that Butch, the Capn’s brother is as sorry as they come. Don’t be surprised if’n he’s been up to no good. JEDEDIAH I ain’t got no idea whut the truth is anymore. PREACHIN’ BILL Here’s whut let’s do. Let’s all pretend that this here horrible news, done kilt Miss Daisy. That she died from the grief o the situation. We’ll let it be knowd to everbody. Sooners or later, somethin’ is bound to come out while we try to figger this thang out. But fer right, now, I’m sorry honey, but you jus’ stay well hid, whilest the rest of us find out jus’ whut happened. JEDEDIAH Do you think that might work? PREACHIN’ BILL There will be a little justice, when Abner hears the news that his remarks done doomed Miss Daisy. From there, we’ll hope to flush out some culprit and the truth, I’ma thankin’. BUBBA Jedediah, Preachin’ Bill’s Idie seems to be the onliest one we got. JEDEDIAH I’m in, if’n the rest of yus is. PREACHIN’ BILL Come Miss Daisy. We’ll die, to live another day. Exitall but BUBBA and VIOLET BUBBA I’m a sorry, you’re so upset? VIOLET Yea, I jus’ want to cry a little by myself. BUBBA I don’t like to see you cry, Violet. VIOLET It’s really none o yorn business, Bubba. BUBBA Please believe me when I say that I believe your cousin has been wronged and slandered. VIOLET I would give anythang fer somebody to right this mess. BUBBA Is there somethin’ a friend might do to help? VIOLET There is a way, but no such friend. BUBBA May a man do it? VIOLET It’s a man’s job alright, but not yours. BUBBA I do love nothin’ in the world as well as you: ain’t that strange? VIOLET I would tell you the same thang, but right now I don’t know whut I’ma thankin’ or a sayin’. BUBBA Jimminy Cricket, Violet! You love me too, don’t cha? VIOLET I cain’t believe I’ma bout ta say this! BUBBA Say what, Violet? VIOLET I thank I’m about to say, “I love you.” BUBBA Then do it with all yer heart. VIOLET I love you with so much of my heart that none is left. BUBBA Oh, Violet. I will do anythang fer you. Just say the word. VIOLET Kill Abner. BUBBA Oh, Violet. I cain’t be a killin’ Abner. VIOLET You kill me to deny me. Leave me, now. BUBBA Hold on, sweet Violet. VIOLET I am done, though I am here: there is no love in you: no, I pray you, let me go. BUBBA Violet,-- VIOLET Any friend of my enemy is an enemy of mine. BUBBA Is Abner your enemy? VIOLET He is my enemy and a villain. He has dishonored my cousin on her most happiest day of all. He has slandered her with public accusation. If I were a man, I would surely kill ‘em and then eat his heart in the market place. Yes, I’d say he’s my enemy. Sweet Daisy! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. I will die a woman grieving for her. BUBBA Violet, by this hand I promise, I love you. VIOLET Use it fer my love some other way than swearin’ by it. BUBBA You believe with all yer heart and soul that thar Abner hast done wronged Daisy? VIOLET Yea, as sure as I have a thought or a soul. BUBBA Enough, I am off to challenge Abner. For you and Daisy, I will seek justice. Go, comfort your cousin: I must say she is dead: and so, I’lla be a seein’ you after a whal. Exit
Enter JETHRO, BUTCH, JEDEDIAH, PREACHIN’ BILL, ABNER, BUBBA, DAISY, VIOLET, and Attendants
JEDEDIAH
Come, Preachin’ Bill, no need to make this here weddin’ a long, drawn out affair. Short and sweet’ll git us to the vittles the quickest.
PREACHIN’ BILL
You come here this day to marry this here Daisy Hogue?
ABNER
No.
JEDEDIAH
To be married to her: Preacher, you come to marry her.
PREACHIN’ BILL
Miss Daisy, you come here to be a married to Abner?
DAISY
I do.
PREACHIN’ BILL
If thar be any man here what knows any reason these two love birds shouldn’t to ought to git hitched, let him speak now or forever hold his piece.
ABNER
Know you any, DAISY?
DAISY
None, Abner. Of course not.
PREACHIN’ BILL
Know you any, Abner?
JEDEDIAH
I kin surely speak fer the boy, No, Preacher.
ABNER
Excuse me Preachin’ Bill. Jedediah, do you give me yer daughter’s hand freely with no reservations?
JEDEDIAH
As freely, son, as God did give her me.
ABNER
But whut kin I give you back that would be so precious a gift.
JETHRO
Nothing, if you call that girl precious.
ABNER
You know what I’ma talkin’ about, Jethro.There, Jedediah, take her back again:I done knowd what this’n is up to, and it ain’t nothin’ precious about it.See how she blushes here, a lookin’ so innocent and sweet.Why anybody with two eyeballs would tell you that she is innocent through and through. But I’ma a tellin’ you all that she ain’t innocent.
JEDEDIAH
What do you mean, Abner?
ABNER
Not to be married,Not to tie myself up with some hussy who’s been over the mountain more times that you kin shake a stick at.
JEDEDIAH
Abner, Abner listen to me. If’n you feel a little guilty cause you done gone too far…….
ABNER
Not me, Jedediah. Not me. I would never dishonor Daisy or your family in that which a way.I was always a goin’ by the code of the mountains when it comes to courtin’.
DAISY
And that’s the same way I was with you?
ABNER
Don’t lie, Daisy! To me, you were like a goddess. You were my dream come true. I ain’t never felt like this fer another woman.
DAISY
Are you sick? Is something wrong with you? Why are you a sayin’ these thangs?
JEDEDIAH
Cap’n Jethro, why don’t you say something?
JETHRO
What should I say, Jedediah?I jus’ came this close to marryin’ my dear friend to a common fluzy!
JEDEDIAH
Am I in some kinda nightmare? Is everbody here, Crazy?
BUTCH
I’ll vouch fer the truth in whut they say.
BUBBA
This sure as heck ain’t no weddin’ day.
DAISY
That’s fer sure! What’s goin’ on here!
ABNER
I have to know one thang! Who was that you was with last night after midnight?
JEDEDIAH
Who was it Daisy?
DAISY
Daddy! You don’t believe that do ya? You should defend me instead o believin’ whut they’re a sayin’.I wasn’t with nobody at that time. I was fast asleep in my bed!
JETHRO
Why then, you’re not only a fluzy, but you’re a liar, too. We heard ya’ll say how you done met there a hunert times before.
BUTCH
My brother speaks the truth, fer sure.
JEDEDIAH
Daisy, how could you do this to yerself and yer famly?
DAISY swoons
VIOLET
Daisy, are you alright?
BUTCH
Come, let us go. What you do in the dark, comes out in the light.
Exit JETHRO, BUTCH, and ABNER
BUBBA
How is Miss Daisy?
VIOLET
Dead, I think. Help, Uncle! Daisy! why, Daisy! Uncle! Bubba! Preachin’ Bill!
JEDEDIAH
Somebody jus’ shoot me and put me out of my mysery. I ain’t never seen such a thang.
VIOLET
Hang in there Daisy. I know you is innocent!
PREACHIN’ BILL
It’ll be alright Daisy.
JEDEDIAH
Don’t raise yer head around here, Daisy?
PREACHIN’ BILL
Why not Jedediah?
JEDEDIAH
Didn’t you hear whut they was a sayin’? Would Abner lie? Would Cap’n Jethro lie. Would the Cap’n’s brother lie. Don’t all the evidence point right aginst her. Daisy, you ain’t the girl I raised from a baby. You ain’t yer momma’s daughter. Wher did I go wrong. How could you do this to us? I never thought I’d see the day when my daughter would be the biggest fluzy on Pine Mountain.
BUBBA
Jedediah, calm down. For me, I am so shocked I don’t know whut to say.
VIOLET
All I know is that my cousin has been wronged!
BUBBA
Were you with her last night at that time?
VIOLET
No, but I almost always am. She hain’t been a sneakin’ off a hunert times with some man.
PREACHIN’ BILL
Hear me a little;For I have only been silent so long. There is somethin’ that jus’ ain’t right about this whole thang.
JEDEDIAH
If’n you’ve got an idie, let’s hear it.
PREACHIN’ BILL
Missy, whut man is it that yer accused o bein’ with last night.
DAISY
That’s the crazy part. Fer them to accuse me o somethin’ like that, Why I ain’t never been with no man.
PREACHIN’ BILL
Somehow, there’s somethin’ mighty queer a goin’ on ‘round here. Our boys seems to truly believe what they’re a sayin’.
BUBBA
Well, two o them is as good as gold, but that Butch, the Capn’s brother is as sorry as they come. Don’t be surprised if’n he’s been up to no good.
JEDEDIAH
I ain’t got no idea whut the truth is anymore.
PREACHIN’ BILL
Here’s whut let’s do. Let’s all pretend that this here horrible news, done kilt Miss Daisy. That she died from the grief o the situation. We’ll let it be knowd to everbody. Sooners or later, somethin’ is bound to come out while we try to figger this thang out. But fer right, now, I’m sorry honey, but you jus’ stay well hid, whilest the rest of us find out jus’ whut happened.
JEDEDIAH
Do you think that might work?
PREACHIN’ BILL
There will be a little justice, when Abner hears the news that his remarks done doomed Miss Daisy. From there, we’ll hope to flush out some culprit and the truth, I’ma thankin’.
BUBBA
Jedediah, Preachin’ Bill’s Idie seems to be the onliest one we got.
JEDEDIAH
I’m in, if’n the rest of yus is.
PREACHIN’ BILL
Come Miss Daisy. We’ll die, to live another day.
Exitall but BUBBA and VIOLET
BUBBA
I’m a sorry, you’re so upset?
VIOLET
Yea, I jus’ want to cry a little by myself.
BUBBA
I don’t like to see you cry, Violet.
VIOLET
It’s really none o yorn business, Bubba.
BUBBA
Please believe me when I say that I believe your cousin has been wronged and slandered.
VIOLET
I would give anythang fer somebody to right this mess.
BUBBA
Is there somethin’ a friend might do to help?
VIOLET
There is a way, but no such friend.
BUBBA
May a man do it?
VIOLET
It’s a man’s job alright, but not yours.
BUBBA
I do love nothin’ in the world as well as you: ain’t that strange?
VIOLET
I would tell you the same thang, but right now I don’t know whut I’ma thankin’ or a sayin’.
BUBBA
Jimminy Cricket, Violet! You love me too, don’t cha?
VIOLET
I cain’t believe I’ma bout ta say this!
BUBBA
Say what, Violet?
VIOLET
I thank I’m about to say, “I love you.”
BUBBA
Then do it with all yer heart.
VIOLET
I love you with so much of my heart that none is left.
BUBBA
Oh, Violet. I will do anythang fer you. Just say the word.
VIOLET
Kill Abner.
BUBBA
Oh, Violet. I cain’t be a killin’ Abner.
VIOLET
You kill me to deny me. Leave me, now.
BUBBA
Hold on, sweet Violet.
VIOLET
I am done, though I am here: there is no love in you: no, I pray you, let me go.
BUBBA
Violet,--
VIOLET
Any friend of my enemy is an enemy of mine.
BUBBA
Is Abner your enemy?
VIOLET
He is my enemy and a villain. He has dishonored my cousin on her most happiest day of all. He has slandered her with public accusation. If I were a man, I would surely kill ‘em and then eat his heart in the market place. Yes, I’d say he’s my enemy. Sweet Daisy! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. I will die a woman grieving for her.
BUBBA
Violet, by this hand I promise, I love you.
VIOLET
Use it fer my love some other way than swearin’ by it.
BUBBA
You believe with all yer heart and soul that thar Abner hast done wronged Daisy?
VIOLET
Yea, as sure as I have a thought or a soul.
BUBBA
Enough, I am off to challenge Abner. For you and Daisy, I will seek justice. Go, comfort your cousin: I must say she is dead: and so, I’lla be a seein’ you after a whal.
Exit