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don't
know, Father.

    SAM: Well, please
give it some thought... I do not wish for you to be unhappy.
Goodnight, my dear.

    PHOEBE:
Goodnight.

    (SAM
exits.)

    (Blackout.)

Scene 13

    GUSS stands
reading a letter. The years have been kind to him, he looks about the
same.

    GUSS:
    July 4th, 1789

    Dear Phoebe,

    I finally learned
to read and write! I started off with The Good Book and now I've
worked my way up to Shakespeare.

    I'm living in
Boston and I've got a little tavern of my own. It's not as fancy as
your father's, but it's keeping me busy.

    I married a
lovely woman who reminded me of you, Sarah. We had a daughter, Mary,
she's eleven years old now. Last winter, my wife passed away from
pneumonia. It broke my heart to bury her and it was even harder to
send my daughter to live with my wife's sister.

    I thought about
you, all through the years. That day, at the seaport, I waited for
you until midnight. By now, I'm sure you're married to some lucky
fellow and surrounded by beautiful children.

    Yours sincerely,

    Guss Porter

    PS. I don't know
if Mr. Fraunces ever told you, but I asked for your hand before I
left New York. You are the woman I've always wanted for a wife.

    (Blackout.)

Scene 14

    It's early in
the morning at Guss' Tavern. GUSS is wiping down a table.

    (PHOEBE
enters.)

    PHOEBE: Guss?

    GUSS: My oh my!

    PHOEBE: When I
got your letter, I boarded the first coach to Boston.

    GUSS: Did you
ever get married?

    PHOEBE

    Guss, I came to
be with you, if you will still have me.

    GUSS: Now,
Phoebe, this here tavern is all I got... And I live right upstairs,
it's only three rooms and I ain't got much in the way of furniture...
Are you sure this is good enough for you. I know it ain't nothin'
like what you're used to...

    PHOEBE: This will
do just fine.

    GUSS: Did you
tell Mr. Fraunces?

    PHOEBE: I left
him a note...

    GUSS: I know how
much your family means to you... Phoebe, are you sure you want to
marry me?

    PHOEBE: We'll
make our own family.

    GUSS: Well, let's
find us a church and a priest and make this thing official.

    (PHOEBE
and GUSS kiss.)

    (Blackout.)

Scene 15

    SAM stands
alone reading a letter.

    SAM:
    September 15th, 1790

    Dear Mrs. Phoebe
Porter,

    Although I do not
completely approve of your union with Guss, I pray that you both have
found happiness together. I am especially glad to hear that you are
with child. Your mother and I plan to visit you in Boston next month.

    Love,

    Your father,

    Samuel Fraunces

    (Blackout.)

    WORKS BY DARA
HARPER
    Novels:
Magic In Moon Time
Grits & Grace

Plays:
Passing
Shades Of War

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