Beginning part for R&J
I know, it's a cliffhanger! But my mind just stopped working, so I decided to post what I have. It isn't much and I think it sucks, but you be the judge of that. Anyhow, it is the beginning of the story. The "servant's fight" scene that opens the play.
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It was going to be another hot day in Philadelphia. The warmth of the early morning already confirmed it. The Second Continental Congress was to begin soon. A strange feeling filled the air, a feeling that no one understood. It was as if a certain doom was near, a time of pain and sadness. Many, however, ignored this warning that loomed heavily in the air. They went on as they did everyday, and for the members of Congress, that meant walking to Independence Hall and being forced to face one another in the heat of the morning. Without a doubt, tempers were going to flare.
Richard Henry Lee and Colonel Thomas McKean walked together that morning. Laughing and talking with perky cheerfulness that seemed to only brighten the morning.
“But the quarrel is between our masters and us; their men.” said McKean, chuckling slightly.
“Ah, ‘tis all one.” said Lee with a big toothy grin. McKean suddenly stopped in his tracks and caught Lee quickly by the arm. Both men had stopped laughing, and their eyes filled with hate.
“Here come two of Dickinson’s men!” McKean whispered urgently. Charles Thompson and George Read walked towards the two, with the same cheerfulness the two others had shown earlier. McKean and Lee hurried into the Hall quickly.
“Quarrel, I will back thee.” said Lee. McKean grinned and nodded his head in agreement.
“Right. Fail me not.” Read and Thompson walked through the entrance to the Hall and towards the room were Congress met. McKean brought his thumb up to his mouth and spat at it just as the two other men came to the door. Thompson and Read paused for a moment before turning to face McKean and Lee.
“Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?” asked Thompson quietly.
“I do bite my thumb, sir.” said McKean and Lee burst out laughing. Thompson smirked and shook his head.
“Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?”
“No, sir. I do not bite my thumb at you, sir.” Thompson nodded his head and continued to walk into the room. “But I bite my thumb, sir.” McKean continued as he and Lee followed Thompson.
“Do you quarrel, sir?” asked Lee. By this time many other delegates were beginning to show up. They all became entranced by the discussion in the center of the room.
“Quarrel, sir? No, sir.” said Thompson who continued to walk on. This wasn’t good enough for the other two. Lee stuck his cane in the path of Read who tripped over it and hit his head on the table. Thompson dropped his papers on the floor, and took up his cane.
“Draw! Draw if you be men!” He shouted. Lee attacked him with his cane, a blow that Thompson quickly blocked. The men tossed blow after blow, dodging and blocking with speed and agility. They continued to beat one another as they were cheered on by their blood thirsty companions. Their faces were soon bruised and cut, each bleeding heavily. Their coats, breeches and shirts were torn and blood stained. Thompson struck Lee in the stomach and took a bone shattering blow on the cheek. Lee scratched Thompson on the face, drawing blood.
“Part fools! Put up your canes. You know not what you do!” said Judge James Wilson as he raced into the room coming between the two. He beat down their canes with his own glancing from one to the other.
“What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Wilson! Look upon thy death.” Everyone stepped aside as raven haired and piercing blue-eyed John Adams entered the room. Adams was a lawyer from Boston. He was also the leader of those in Congress who were for independence. He smirked at Wilson, his eyes glinting dangerously.
“I do but keep the peace. Put up thy cane, or manage it to part these men with me.” replied Wilson. Adams eyes darkened more.
“What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell and thee. Have at thee, coward!” Adams lunged and struck Wilson in the head. Wilson continued to fight in self defense, hitting Adams with strong, painful blows. However, Adams came back with far harder and more smashing blows. Now every delegate joined in the brawl, fighting someone from the opposing side. Those who were for independence vs. those who were against it. They beat one another with the viciousness of wild predators. Blood spattered all over the room and the delegates. Cries of pain rang through out the room. The brawl quickly became a violent battle.
John Hancock, president of Congress, entered the room with speed. The sight of all the blood and pain made him squirm.
“Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace, profaners of this neighbor-stained steel- on pain of torture, from those bloody hands throw your mistempered weapons to the ground and hear the sentence of your moved president.” Everyone stopped and stared at Hancock who blazed with fury. “Many brawls have thrice disturbed the quiet of our Congress. If ever you disturb the Congress again, your place in the Congress shall pay the forfeit of the peace. For this time all the rest depart away. Once more, on pain of losing your place, all men depart.” Hancock turned and left the building as all the delegates went to help injured members of their side out and take them somewhere to be cleaned up and cared for.
Those who were against independence went to John Dickinson’s house and knocked on the door.