LUCY - THE MUSICAL STAGEPLAY WRITTEN BY HISTORY

A STAGE PLAY MUSICAL WRITTEN BY HISTORY

This is a true story set in the late 1800"s in Mariposa County, California. Lucy was an Indian woman who married the wealthy owner of a gold mine. This man later claimed he was never married to Lucy and subsequently one of the biggest court cases at that time took place. The story has more twists and turns than that of a Hollwood made story. Not only was Lucy uneducated, but in those days Indians as well as women had no rights. The historic value of this story includes life in the Mother Lode during the Gold Rush years; the cultural or lack of cultural exchanges between white man and the Indians, Chinese, and Mexicans; the environmental impacts of mining operations; then and today's women's rights issues; as well as the economic rise and fall that came before and after we heard,
"THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THERE HILLS!!"

A STAGE PLAY MUSICAL
WRITTEN BY HISTORY
ADOPTED FOR THE STAGE BY GERHARD SCHULZ
MARIPOSA, CA. 
MUSIC BY GREG ROMERO and FRED CEBALLOS
LYRICS BY 
GERHARD SCHULZ, GREG ROMERO and FRED CEBALLOS
© 1997 All Rights Reserved

SYNOPSIS

CHECK OUT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE FOR CAST OF CHARACTERS, LIST OF SONGS, AND TO HEAR SONGS FROM THE PLAY, AND ALSO CHECK OUT ANOTHER GREAT SITE TO FIND OTHER PLAYS!

Below is a sample of the first 19 pages of the play. For more, you can contact me.

E-mail me at address at bottom of page

Bottom of page

OPENING
(The sound of a large waterfall is heard and a flute
with geese overhead. The INTRO TO ODE TO
YOSEMITE)

CURTAIN RISES:

(Location in the Yosemite valley floor with a painted
valley in the background and in the foreground trees,
pine, bushes, rocks.
From stage left a young Indian woman - about 20
years old is dressed in a traditional deer hide dress
with some beading. She has jet black hair, brown
skin, and also is wearing high moccasin boots. She is
searching. In her hand she holds a bow with an arrow
ready to let fly.  She does not notice the audience.
Carefully she moves like a wolf on the prowl - ready
to strike. Intro to the Ode to Yosemite continues. For
two minutes this young Indian woman(young Lucy) 
moves across the stage. Slowly the light dims. Then
when it is dark the curtain falls. Only the sound of the
waterfall is audible to the audience until the
orchestra starts with LUCY’ SONG. A specially
arranged and written time 5+ minutes so there is time
to change the set for the first scene.  Then silence.) 

Act 1
Scene 1
Time: 1870’s
Local: Hite’s Cove,  Yosemite, South Fork of Merced
River
County of Mariposa, CA

Curtain:
(Inside Miner’s cabin. At stage left on the back wall a
wooden strong box; on it a sitting, sleeping woman. It
is Lucy an Indian women in her twenty’s. Center
stage - table, chairs, two doors leading into other
rooms of the cabin. Pictures on the wall, etc. seated
on the chairs, and on the floor and about are men.
They are miners. All are dressed in 1870’s clothing.
All are sleeping. One by one they will awake, and get
up and stretch themselves, and move into formation
still yawning.)

SONG: 
THE GOLD MINERS’ POLKA 

(It is played like a slow tune gramophone record  at
first, then, while the miners get ready - suddenly the
orchestra starts. The miners will sing like a chorus
the lyrics of the Gold Miners’ Polka. As they come to
the end of the song, one by one they slowly leave the
stage until only one is  left. He realizes he is alone
and when the music has finished, he bows to the
audience a little embarrassed, and leaves the stage
rather quickly whistling the polka tune.) 

(Gramophone record)
(spoken)“Time to wake up to another day
To make money to earn pay
Drinking and dancing all night long
Back to the mines but one more song

(orchestra starts)
(sing)What could be better than working for Hite
Next thing you know we'll have to work all
night
We dig and toil the dust fills the air
Miner's lung we'll get but we don't care
'Cause this is the life as we know it
Nothing would be right if nothing's left
And nothing would be left if nothing's right
So we dance the Gold Miners Polka all night

We get dirty we're tired and sore
But every morning we go back for more
Might not be perfect it don't mean a thing
If when we're done we can't sing
That this is the life as we know it
Nothing would be right if nothing's left
And nothing would be left if nothing's right
So we dance the Gold Miners Polka all night

Work could be worse if under the sun
When we get hot enough we use our guns 
No double crossing no back stabbers please
Just need our whiskey and something to
squeeze
Work hard all day play harder at night
Us guys just wanna have fun

Between you and me I think he's lost his mind
All things Hite says and does doesn't seem to
kind
What he does to Lucy runs her in the ground
Treats her like she's nothing from lost and
found
This is the life as we know it
Nothing would be would be right if nothing's
left
And nothing would be left if nothing's right 
So we danced the Gold Miners Polka all night
Yeah nothing would be left if nothing's right
So we danced the Gold Miners Polka all night
Yeah nothing would be left if nothing's right
So we danced the Gold Miners Polka all
night”


(While the miner exits, and the applause has ended,
life comes into the seated woman. She gets up and
puts her rifle away - as suddenly outside, one can
hear a shot being fired and an other one. Shocked,
Lucy grabs her rifle pointing it to stage right(left) but
silence - for a few seconds. She shakes her head and
tries to put rifle on the cabin table now fully awaken.)


SONG: 
WHAT YOU MEAN TO ME

(Like dreaming - LUCY’S SOLO  She’s walking
toward one of the doors, turns to the audience.) 	

Lucy:
“What do you want from me and what do I
have to be
Before you see what’s inside my heart and
what you mean to me
I can not go on this way waiting every day
My love is tall as the mountain and deep as the
deepest sea

Is my body all you want
Is there nothing more to see
There’s so much more that I’m looking for
I want you to want all of me
I want you to want all of me

You’re the one I see in my dreams 
I hear your voice in the wind
but your love of money doesn’t interest me
I want you to love all of me
I want you to love all of me”

Lucy: 
“Why do I have to sit on a wooden crate filled with
gold, which is not mine?
		
(The bedroom door opens - Mr. Hite the owner of
Hite’s Cove enters the stage - just getting his jacket
on. Lucy silently helps him. Hite is about 45 years
old, tall and handsome. A shot rings out and
ricochets. Lucy jumps in front of him. Mr. Hite is not
a brave man when it comes to guns. Hite is holding
on to Lucy who tries to protect him.)

Hite: 
“That’s all right Lucy, yes that’s all right. Those
imprudent men out there better be sober soon. They
have to go to work”

(He steps aside to get back to his bedroom and turns
his head.)

Hite
(in doorway) : 
“ Lucy, are you coming?”

Lucy:
 “ No , Hite, not feel good now.”

Hite:
 “Sorry  to hear that” 
(offstage)

Lucy:
 “ Me too Hite.”

(Hite enters stage then turns back to the table and
looks concerned at Lucy for a moment then he lays
his hands gently on  her shiny black hair.)

Hite: 
“ Did I ever tell you, I am very fond of you?”

(Lucy is surprised. She sits down on a chair. She does
not believe what Hite just said.)

Lucy:
 “ Is that all...Hite?”

Hite:
 “No.... why don’t you come with me into my
bedroom.. and stay a while...”

Lucy: 
“ I stay too long already Hite. No more stay
bedroom-no more. Going into mine-no more sitting on
box filled with gold all night, no more Hite.”

(Lucy gets up from the chair, walks over to the wood
stove to put another log into it. She bends down so
Hite can see what he likes to see.)

Hite:
 “My goodness Lucy you are getting more beautiful
with every day.”

Lucy:
 “Been here long time Hite, you see now?”

(She straightens herself out. Hite gets closer to her
then...a  knock at the door. Lucy is on the way to the
door before Hite can touch her. Lucy opens the door.)

Mine foreman 
(off stage) :
 “ Good morning Lucy, is Mr. Hite up yet?”

Hite:
  “Yes Frank I am up, come in.”

(Frank, a middle aged mine foreman comes in
holding his hat in his hand, turning it nervously)

Frank:
 “I am sure Mr. Hite you would want to know there
was another shooting in store again sir.”

Hite:
 “Yes I heard the shots frank. What is it this time?
Fatal?”

Frank: 
“I’m afraid so sir.”

Hite: 
“What was it this time all about?”

Frank: 
“Money, sir, money. Like most of the time, money.” 
(Hite nods his head.)

SONG :
 EVIL MONEY 

Hite:
“Not another day goes by when I stop and
wonder why
It could be the death of us all
It seems I try to count the cost and even when
it is all lost
The smallest to the mighty take the fall

Money evil money
You tie a noose around our souls
Money won't let go

Works you to get pockets filled to see you
dead to see you've killed
It will be the only friend you need
Leaves quicker than it took to get you'll get
hurt but you can bet
Like fire it burns longer than it feeds

Money evil money
You make us friends you make us foes
Money won't let go
It won't let go 
It won't let go
Money evil evil money
Lead me not where I know 
Money”

Hite:
 “You may as well tell me the whole story.”

Lucy:
 “ I am go my room- not want to listen!”
(Hite nods his head. Lucy exits.)

Frank: 
“Blagg and Coulter Mr. Hite.” 

(Frank is so nervous to speak to the big boss,  he
drops his hat and picks off floor) 

Frank:
“Sorry, as I said  Mr. Hite, Blagg and Coulter had
difficulty to settle a money matter with John Hamilton
and the former person. A fight was the consequence.
Hamilton threw several beer tumblers at Bragg.....”

(Lucy emerges from her room passing both men
toward the stove and the coffee pot. She fills two cups
with coffee while the two men watch her.)

Frank:
 “ And Blagg struck him on the head a number of
times with his six shooter.”

(Lucy returns.)

Lucy:
 “Here Mr. Frank, you need a drink.”

Frank:
 “Don’t you have something stronger Lucy?”

Lucy:
 “No, you not need strong drink.”
(She hands him a tin cup.) 

Frank smiles:
“Anyway thank you ma’am, I can use your coffee.”
(He takes a sip and his face tells how it tastes)

Frank continues:
 “ The latter then walked to the door when Coulter
followed him out and shot him through the arm. Blagg
returned the fire, the ball must have entered Coulter’s
chest near the nipples and came out at back. The latter
was mortally wounded and died in the dirt.” (Frank
takes another sip from his cup)

Hite:
 “ Get some men, take the body and bury him on the
hill. Then tell  Colonel Brown to send the former’s
wages to his kin folks, wherever that may be.”

Frank:
 “Yes sir, and Mrs. Hite I thank you for your warm
coffee. I appreciate it ma’am.”
(Frank gets up and leaves the stage.)

Hite:
 “What some men do for 70 dollars a month...They kill
each other-I will never understand that!”

(Suddenly another shot echoes through Hite’s Cove.
Lucy jumps to protect Hite. She stands in front of
him. He gently moves her side so that he can get up
from the table.)

Hite:
 “I am going to Mrs. White’s to have breakfast now.”

Lucy:
“ No Hite, they maybe shoot you”

Hite:
“They wouldn’t dare Lucy.”

(He leaves the stage . Lucy is going into the other
room which should be her bedroom. She returns with
her burden basket filled with her private things. A
knock at the door again. Lucy gets a hold of her rifle
and points it toward the cabin door) 

Lucy:
“If you bad man come in, I have rifle and know how
to use it.”

(voice from off stage) : 
“And if I good man?”

(Lucy recognizes her women friend Dulce. She smiles) 

Lucy:
“You no good man-no bad man, you no man. Come in
friend.”

(Dulce is an Indian woman about the same age a
Lucy. She is wearing a cotton beaded dress, with
earrings etc.)

Lucy: 
“What doing here so early, Dulce?”

Dulce:
 “Just visiting you. Not seen you that much anymore.
Mostly sleeping when I get here, no?”

Lucy: 
“Yes sleeping on wooden box filled with gold. Many
nights now. I am tired today, so tired.”

Dulce: 
“Again?”

Lucy: 
“Again yes. Wells Fargo driver not coming yesterday,
no not coming. I am sitting on box ‘til they come for
pick up.”
(Dulce nods)

Dulce:
 “My eyes are tired working on dress many nights and
all day so I come to see you Lucy, to talk much.”
(Lucy gets a chair for Dulce to sit down at the table.)

Lucy: 
“ Sit down fast mouth.” 
(both laugh)
 “Coffee?”

Dulce:
 “ Yes.”
(A sudden knock on the door-Lucy blows out the
lamp....darkness. A knock again....)

Lucy: 
“Who come in...Who’s there?”

W.F. man:
 “ Wells Fargo pick up ma’am.”

Lucy:
 “You late, not come yesterday. Me tell Wells Fargo
office.”

W.F. man: 
“Why don’t you open the door first ma’am?”

(Lucy gets her rife and opens the door.)

W.F. man: 
“Very sorry ma’am.”

(Hite is behind the W.F. man, he passes him in the
door.)

Hite: 
“You must be new?” 

W.F. man:
 “Not really sir,  I never came up here before, but I
work mostly in the Mariposa office.”

Hite:
 “What happened to Bill?”

W.F. man:
 “Oh he broke his leg-had a bad run day before
yesterday sir.”

Hite:
 “Sorry to hear that.”

W.F. man:
 “He is getting better soon, I hope.”

Hite:
 “ Do you know me?”

W.F. man: 
“Well not really but I was told you would be here or
your wife. Mr. Hite?”

Hite: 
“Yes that is right.”

W.F. man:
 “As I said, you Mr. Hite would be here or the Mrs.
(pointing at Lucy who still holds her rifle) 
Do you know how to handle that thing?”

Lucy:
 “Not very good. When I pull here, 
(pointing at trigger) 
I always kill someone.” 

W.F. man:
 “That’s good enough for me. But let me tell you, in
the war...”

Hite interrupts:
(pointing at the box)
 “Why don’t you get a move on. Take the strong box
and be on your way. Tell your story in Mariposa.”

W.F. man: 
“Yes sir.” 
(He walks across the stage and takes the box and
begins to exit.) 

W.F. man: 
“Thank you Mr. Hite, and you ma’am too, see you
tonight again, I hope.”

Hite: 
“Lucy, I’m going back to Mrs. White’s  to finish my
breakfast. You want to join me?”

Lucy:
 “No Hite, no time, I am leaving.”

Hite:
(surprised)
 “Oh? Where you leaving to?”

Lucy:
 “Not know yet Hite.”

Hite: 
“You leaving but you don’t know where to? Well,
when you find out where you leaving to,  let me
know.”
 (he laughs)

Lucy:
 “Why Hite?”

Hite: 
“So long you as you are back by nightfall. You know
we have to clean up the mine shaft tonight.”

Lucy: 
“I don’t know Hite.”

Hite: 
“Let me finish my breakfast at Mrs. White’s first, then
we talk about it.” 
(he leaves stage)

Lucy:
(to herself) 
“Many times have to talk about already. No more
talk.”

Dulce:
(who was only a bystander so far) 
 “What talk Lucy?”

Lucy:
 “I not know what talk, maybe cleaning up mine.”

Dulce:
 “Ahhh, that talk. Work talk. Is that the only reason?”

Lucy:
 “No.”

Dulce:
 “Where you are leaving to?”

Lucy: 
“Snyder Mill, have friend there.”

Dulce: 
“That far! Why don’t you go to Mono lake?”

Lucy:
 “Mono lake! No that is too far. He not send man after
me to Mono lake.”
Dulce: 
“You may find another man on the way Lucy.”

Lucy: 
“Don’t want another man. I love this one. Oh do I
love him.”


Dulce:
 “How much?”
	
SONG: 
WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH MEN?

Lucy:
"What's the matter with men today?
They always seem to have something to say.
If they'd just listen things would be better.
What's the matter with men today?

What's the matter with men today?
It's hard to see how they find their own way.
I wish they'd notice how we make them better.
What's the matter with men today?

He's my love my foolish love.
When will he ever see?
That all I do is all for him because I really
care.

It must be true our hearts are not two.
We're one it's meant to be.
I know it's hard to show his love, but in his
heart I know it's there.

What's the matter with men today?
They always seem to have something to say.
If they'd just listen things would be better.
What's the matter with men today?

What's the matter with men today?
It's hard to see how they find their own way.
I wish they'd notice how we make them better.
What's the matter with men today?

Love I'm in I need more of him.
How can I make him see?
There comes a time when I must find, if my
love is in vain.

Hard it be but I know I must leave.
He will come to know, what he must do to
show and prove to me he really cares.

What's the matter with men today?
They always seem to have something to say.
If they'd just listen things would be better.
What's the matter with men today?

What's the matter with men today?
It's hard to see how they find their own way.
I wish they'd notice how we make them better.
What's the matter with 
What's the matter with men today?
What's the matter with men?"

Lucy :
(stretching out her arms)
“That much, and more.”

Dulce: 
“Lucy, you are in trouble loving him that much. What
are you going to do if he does not love you Lucy?”

Lucy:
 “I don’t know. But Dulce, he must love me. Maybe a
little bit? Maybe?”

Dulce:
 “You are crazy like a horse. Right now Lucy, are you
sure? He may not send someone after you. What
then?”

Lucy: 
“Nothing then Dulce. Man must have woman, woman
must have man. I must pack my teikele(basket) and
start walking. Watu(sun) will come up soon.”

Dulce:
 “Huh, I must go on too. Will visit you at Snyders
Mill.”

Lucy: 
“You do that. I like to see you my
otci-nti-aiyu-ntoiya(friend).”

Dulce:
 (lifting her burden basket on to her back)
 “We will meet again.”

Lucy:
 “Huh, yes my friend.”

(Dulce leaves. Lucy is all alone with her burden
basket on her back)

Lucy:
 “Goodbye Mr. Hite, 
(talking to empty cabin) 
I must go now.”

(Hite returns suddenly before Lucy can get out. She is
trapped)


Hite :
(surprised)  
“Where you think you’re going?”

Lucy:
(turning her head toward him)
“I leaving-you not talking nice to me-like you talk to
white women-I Indian woman not talk to me like
that-Hite I am same as white woman-better you
talk-but you not marry me-so I go away-marry me I
come back.....”

(Lucy leaves stage)

Hite:
 “But Lucy, you just can’t leave me like that....”

Lucy: 
“Try me Hite.... Try me.”

	
CURTAIN

CAST OF CHARACTERS

LUCY
JOHN HITE
DULCE
FRANK 
WELL FARGO MAN
WILCOX
BILL STANLEY
DEPUTY CHOISSER
MRS. KRAMER
MARY KRAMER
CHARLOTTE KRAMER
PARTY ANNOUNCER
MRS. WHITE
MIMI
RANDOLPH
GREGORY
LUCRECIA
LUCRECIA’S DAUGHTER(CHILD)
LUCRECIA’S SON(CHILD)
TOMMY GIBBS
MR. PATTERSON
MR. FOOTE
JUDGE JONES
COURT CLERK CORCORAN
FRANCISCO
MR. HANLON
WOMAN REPORTER
MRS. GRISWOLD
DR. ALBERTS
PAPER GIRL OR BOY
VARIOUS OTHERS: MINERS, WOMEN, WOMEN PARTY DANCERS
OTHER VOICES OFFSTAGE: SPIRIT VOICE

LIST OF SONGS

ODE TO YOSEMITE(FLUTE INTRO.)
LUCY’S SONG
GOLD MINER’S POLKA
WHAT YOU MEAN
EVIL MONEY
WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH MEN?
WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH WOMEN?
FOR LACK OF SOMETHING BETTER
HAPPY
HONKY TONK GIRLS
GOLD MINERS WALTZ
GOLD MINER’S MARRIAGE 
SO MANY WORDS 
WATERMELON SONG
ORDER IN THE COURT
MOONLIGHT IN HORNITOS
NO MORE TOMMORROW
MEET ME IN MARIPOSA

Listen to some of the songs!
You must have RealAudio to listen to these files. Download it! It's free!

CHECK THIS SITE OUT!

Playwrights on the Web - an international database of playwrights and their websites

_{BACK TO PEOPLEMAN PRODUCTIONS}

E-Mail us for any questions or to receive the rest of the play or sheet music for the play. We welcome any comments!: info@peopleman.com
URL:http://www.peopleman.com