Shane : The Play

Act One, Scene One: The Wyoming Prairie

BOB'S VOICE : He rode into our valley in the summer of '89. I was a kid then, barely topping the backboard of father's old chuck wagon.

The curtain opens to BOB,a young boy, sitting on a fence. He is wearing a blue flannel shirt and has messy hair. JOE, his father is behind him in a brown shirt, fixing part of the corral. The scene is a wild western one, set deep in the territory of Wyoming. A small town is painted in the scenery.
   Hoofbeats sound in the distance and a mysterious stranger comes riding on slowly, enters stage left. The stranger is wearing dark trousers, with a dark intricate belt. A coat of the same material hangs by his side. He has a brown shirt and a black hat with a creased crown and wide curling brim.
     He comes galloping closer, his eyes looking alert. He has an easiness about him, but is still alert and ready for anything, this stranger is SHANE. He stops and looks at the water pump by the house*.JOE comes towards BOB. Once JOE stops cue SHANE.   

SHANE : I'd appreciate a chance at the pump for myself and the horse.

      BOB looks surprised and opens his mouth to speak.

Joe :Use all the water you want stranger.

     SHANE dismounts. He leads his horse over to the trough. His horse takes a drink and SHANE washes his hands and face. He then gets back on the horse as if to leave. He stops, turns and smiles.

SHANE:Thank you (he turns again to leave)
JOE:Don't be in such a hurry stranger.

     SHANE and the horse stop and turn. SHANE and JOE look at each other for a moment.

JOE : I said don't be in such a hurry stranger. Food will be on the table soon and you can bunk down here tonight.
SHANE : (nods yes) That's mighty thoughtful of you.(he jumps off his horse and begins to follow JOE )
JOE : My name's Starrett, Joe Starrett. This here, (waves to indicate that he is talking about BOB) is Robert MacPherson Starrett. We call him Bob.
SHANE : Call me Shane.(stops and turns to BOB ) Bob it is. You were watching me for quite a spell coming up the road. I like that. A man who watches what's going on around him will make his mark.

BOB looks proud of himself as he leads SHANE to the barn.

*the house can be painted onto the backdrop or it can be built. The house should be small with a kitchen and two bedrooms. It is painted a faded white, with a chipping green trim. It has a nice wooden porch. It also has wooden shingles, though a few are missing. There is a corral, and a barn. There are some fields with potatoes and corn and alfalfa.