Abraham Lincoln: A Play - LightNovelsOnl.com
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_Malins_: In the barn, I believe, sir.
_Grant_: Dennis.
_Dennis (coming from his table_): Yes, sir.
_Grant_: Ask them to bring Scott in here.
DENNIS _goes_.
I want to see Colonel West. Malins, ask Templeman if those figures are ready yet.
_He goes, and_ MALINS _follows.
Lincoln:_ Will you, Hay?
HAY _goes. After a moment, during which_ LINCOLN _takes the book that_ MALINS _has been reading from, and looks into it_, WILLIAM SCOTT _is brought in under guard. He is a boy of twenty_.
_Lincoln (to the_ GUARD): Thank you. Wait outside, will you?
_The_ MEN _salute and withdraw_.
Are you William Scott?
_Scott_: Yes, sir.
_Lincoln_: You know who I am?
_Scott_: Yes, sir.
_Lincoln_: The General tells me you've been court-martialled.
_Scott_: Yes sir.
_Lincoln_: Asleep on guard?
_Scott_: Yes, sir.
_Lincoln_: It's a very serious offence.
_Scott_: I know, sir.
_Lincoln_: What was it?
_Scott (a pause_): I couldn't keep awake, sir.
_Lincoln_: You'd had a long march?
_Scott_: Twenty-three miles, sir.
_Lincoln_: You were doing double guard?
_Scott_: Yes, sir.
_Lincoln_: Who ordered you?
_Scott_: Well, sir, I offered.
_Lincoln_: Why?
_Scott_: Enoch White--he was sick, sir. We come from the same place.
_Lincoln_: Where's that?
_Scott_: Vermont, sir.
_Lincoln_: You live there?
_Scott_: Yes, sir. My ... we've got a farm down there, sir.
_Lincoln_: Who has?
_Scott_: My mother, sir. I've got her photograph, sir.
_He takes it from his pocket_.
_Lincoln (taking it_): Does she know about this?
_Scott_: For G.o.d's sake, don't, sir.
_Lincoln_: There, there, my boy. You're not going to be shot.
_Scott (after a pause_): Not going to be shot, sir.
_Lincoln_: No, no.
_Scott_: Not--going--to--be--shot.
_He breaks down, sobbing_.
_Lincoln (rising and going to him_): There, there. I believe you when you tell me that you couldn't keep awake. I'm going to trust you, and send you back to your regiment.
_He goes back to his seat.
Scott:_ When may I go back, sir?
_Lincoln_: You can go back to-morrow. I expect the fighting will be over, though.
_Scott_: Is it over yet, sir?
