ACT TWO
A RUMBLIN’ AND A ROLLIN’
RILEY
You hear a rumblin’ and a rollin’?
It’s comin’ down from the North.
It’s comin’ up through the ground,
And it’s a funny ol’ sound,
‘Cause it’s a rumblin’ and a rollin’!
ANGELA
And I bet I know why –
See ’em on the train,
See ’em on the bus –
They never cared much about folks like us!
RILEY
But now they’re gonna pay attention.
Sure they gonna ask, “Why? Why? Why?”
ANGELA
They gonna say, “I don’t know what,
I don’t know how!”
BOTH
Well, they are gonna find out now.
They’re gonna pay attention.
RILEY
They gonna yell, “Set that man free!”
NEWT LEE
Well, they sure ain’t talkin’ ’bout me.
ALL THREE
Now there’s a rumblin’ and a rollin’
Here come the Yankee Brigade!
NEWT LEE
They gonna come through this town –
We better keep our heads down:
RILEY AND NEWT LEE
We better start mumblin’ and shufflin’:
ALL THREE
We better polish our smiles.
CONLEY
Old Black Joe at your service,
Won’t do nothin’ that’ll make you nervous.
Won’t do nothin’ worth a look or a mention
ALL FOUR
And they won’t never pay attention!
CONLEY
They never say, “My! My! My!”
RILEY
They gonna say, “Bring me my boots!”
ANGELA
“Bring me my tea!”
NEWT LEE
I betcha thought the slaves were free:
ANGELA
Mister Frank, good for you.
Lotta folks comin’ to get you through.
Mister Frank, ain’t that grand?
Lotta folks comin’ to take a stand.
Mister Frank, knock on wood.
It ain’t gonna do you no goddamn good!
CONLEY
I can tell you this, as a matter of fact,
That the local hotels wouldn’t be so packed
If a little black girl had gotten attacked.
NEWT LEE, RILEY AND ANGELA
Go on, go on, go on, go on:
RILEY
They’re comin’, they’re comin’ now, yessirree!
NEWT LEE
‘Cause a white man gonna get hung, you see.
CONLEY, RILEY AND NEWT LEE
There’s a black man swingin’ in ev’ry tree
ALL FOUR
But they don’t never pay attention!
ANGELA
Oh, no:
CONLEY
Hell:
ALL FOUR
They never say, “Why? Why? Why?”
RILEY
But if a Yankee boy flies:
CONLEY
Surprise!
ANGELA AND CONLEY
Surprise!
NEWT LEE
Surprise!
ALL FOUR
They gonna pay attention!
They gonna yell “Set that man free!”
CONLEY (singing a snatch of “Camptown Races” as he goes back to his nap)
Dee dee dee dee dee dee dee:
NEWT LEE, RILEY AND ANGELA
Oh, there’ll be a rumblin’ and a rollin’, yeah:
There’ll be a rumblin’ and a rollin’, yeah:
DO IT ALONE
LUCILLE
Do it alone, Leo – do it all by yourself.
You’re the only one who matters after all.
Do it alone, Leo – why should it bother me?
I’m just good for standing in the shadows
And staring at the walls, Leo.
Fight them, strong and proud –
Pray your voice is loud,
Loud enough to make it through that door.
What on earth have I been worried for?
Soon I won’t be worried anymore.
LEO
Lucille, how can you say that?
LUCILLE
No, do it alone, Leo – now there’s the right idea:
Make me feel as useless as you always have.
Do it alone, Leo – what could a woman do?
After all, so many people love you,
They’re dancing in the streets, Leo.
Only you know how
To change the future now –
No one knows the pain you’re going through –
No one else is suffering but you.
I could be a quiet little girl
And cook your little meal,
And swallow all I feel,
And bow to your command;
Or I could start to screa,
Across the whole damned South
And never shut my mouth
Until they understand.
But I can’t do it alone, Leo.
Look at me now, Leo.
I can be more:
I can bring you home, Leo.
We can bring you home, Leo.
I want you to come home.
PRETTY MUSIC
A political tea dance at the Governor’s mansion.
GOVERNOR JOHN SLATON
(dancing with his wife)
Don’t ya think that’s pretty music?
Those fellas sure can play.
This beat was really made for dancin’.
Yes, ma’am, that’s pretty music.
I could dance the night away.
You can hear that song’s so sweet and true,
But truth to tell, not half as sweet as you.
(changes partners, dances with a contributor’s wife, who is nervous and a little stiff)
Don’t you think that’s pretty music?
This song sure makes you smile.
Shame you don’t visit here more often.
Yes, ma’am that’s pretty music –
Just listen for a while –
If your feet don’t follow your commands,
Just put yourself in ol’ Jack Slaton’s hands.
(His next partner is quite a dancer)
That’s it! That’s right!
I found myself a partner who knows my style!
That’s it! That’s right!
A beautiful lady to dance awhile!
Seems you know what I need,
I’ll even take your lead –
We’re dancin’, yes indeed!
We’re so light on our feet, we could dance for miles!
So don’tcha stop that pretty music!
Sure makes me feel alive!
If I can dance with your today,
Who cares what all those folks will say?
Your husband’s fine, it’s true,
But I’m the lucky guy who gets to dance with you,
So turn an ankle and let the music play!
(His next partner is Lucille)
LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR
JUDGE ROAN
I have heard them in the streets, Gov’nor.
“Justice! We have justice!”
Through these old and tired walls.
Calling through the autumn night
That still more blood must flow
And I declared it so.
And maybe I was wrong.
Maybe what was “obvious” then
Would not have been for long,
But I would not delay.
And maybe I was right –
Maybe I’m afraid that in a
Higher Judge’s sight,
I won’t know what to say:
So before I leave this world behind,
I have to speak my mind.
With hatred in the air,
How is any man to know
What is or isn’t fair?
I left it up to Fate.
It now may be too late:
They’ll be caling out to you, Gov’nor.
You will know what’s right to do.
THIS IS NOT OVER YET
LEO
Oh, my sweet Lucille! How did you ever manage it?
(to the guard:) You don’t know what any of this means?
It means cancel all your parties.
Forget your big parade.
It means the crowd will not be cheering,
So despite what you’ve been hearing,
You can lay down your spade.
It means my mother can stop crying,
My rabbi’s eulogy can wait.
It means that Dorsey can stop beaming,
And my cousin can stop dreaming
Of his portion of my estate.
It means, No! This isn’t over!
No, the date’s not set!
No, I won’t wake up tomorrow
Drowning in my sweat!
It means I’ve got the greatest partner
Any man can get!
It means I’ll never ever ever
Underestimate that woman,
‘Cause this is not over yet!
Tell my uncle not to worry!
Tell the Reaper not to hurry!
Make the hangman stop his drumming
‘Cause I’m coming into town to win the day!
Somehow I haven’t, with my scheming,
Screwed things up beyond redeeming,
And we’re finally on our way!
And no, this isn’t over!
Hell, it’s just begun!
Hail the Resurrection of
The South’s lest fav’rite son!
It means I took a vow for better:
And two is better than one!
It means the journey ahead may get shorter;
I might reach the end of my rope;
But suddenly, loud as a mortar,
|There is hope!|Finally, hope!|And no, this isn’t over!|No, we aren’t through!|No, there’s still a million things|That you and I can do!|And I would never have believed it:
|The things I see in you!
LUCILLE
|Yes, Leo, there is hope!|No, this isn’t over!|We are fin’lly on our way!|I will speak for you, Leo:|The things I see in you!
LEO
It means a man who isn’t guilty
Doesn’t have to walk the plank!
It means the gallows still are vacant
And we’ve got my wife to thank!
It means
LEO AND LUCILLE
You shouldn’t underestimate
Lucille and Leo Frank
‘Cause this is not over yet!
BLUES: FEEL THE RAIN FALL
CONLEY (& Chain Gang)
Hey yeah: (Yeah:)
Hey yeah: (Hey yeah:)
I hear the thunder rollin’ (Yeah:)
It’s behind that wall (Yeah:)
We’re gonna roll like thunder
I’m gonna taste the mornin’
And feel the rain fall (Feel the rain fall:)
Hey yeah: (Yeah:)
Hey yeah: (Yeah:)
I’m gonna rise like sunshine (Yeah:)
If I see her turn (Yeah:)
I’m gonna rise like sunshine,
I’m gonna set down on her,
And feel the sun burn: (Feel the sun burn:)
Hey yeah: (Yeah:)
Hey yeah: (Yeah:)
GUARD
Hey Jim! Got you a visitor, Boy.
SLATON
Hello, Jim.
CONLEY
You who I think you are?
SLATON
Coupla questions for you.
CONLEY
You want some water?
(to the guard) Bring the Guv’nor some water.
SLATON
No, thank you.
CONLEY
We fixin’ to talk ’bout that mess with Mr. Frank.
SLATON
Yes.
CONLEY (to the chain gang)
Yeah:
CHAIN GANG (never looking at him)
Yeah:
SLATON
When they found the body in the basement,
Coroner’s Report says there was sawdust in the mouth and lungs.
CONLEY (to the chain gang)
Hey yeah:
CHAIN GANG
Yeah:
SLATON
Got any idea what that means?
CONLEY (looking right at him with crazy eyes)
Yeah yeah yeah yeah:
CHAIN GANG
Yeah:
SLATON
Means she had to be breathin’ in the basement, because there isn’t any sawdust on the second floor. Means she was alive when you carried her into the basement.
CONLEY
Then she musta come back to life, ’cause she was dead as last Christmas Eve when Mr. Frank showed me the body.
(turning to the chain gang)
We’re gonna roll like thunder:
SLATON
Coroner’s Report raises some questions about your story, wouldn’t you say?
CONLEY
That so? You can try and prove that in court, I imagine.
You ever been on the chain gang, Gov’nor?
SLATON
Not yet.
CONLEY
You ever break these rocks on the chain gang?
Get yourself thinkin’ Guv’nor –
Who you wanna have a good time!
Hey yeah:
CHAIN GANG
Yeah:
CONLEY
Now Mr. Frank he had a good time!
Man knows how to have a good time!
CONLEY (& Chain Gang)
Hey yeah! (Hey yeah!)
Hey yeah! (Yeah!)
I get a high fever! (Yeah:)
When I hear her call! (Yeah:)
She gonna cool my fever – (Yeah:)
I gonna take that woman! (Yeah:)
We gonna ride like lightnin’
We gonna roll, roll, roll like thunder
And feel the rain fall: (Feel the rain fall:)
Hey yeah: (Yeah:)
Hey yeah: (Yeah:)
WHERE WILL YOU STAND WHEN THE FLOOD COMES?
SLATON
I have an announcement to make: Leo Frank is no longer a prisoner in the Fulton Tower. At five o’clock this morning, he was removed to another prison location, which will not be disclosed at this time.
WATSON
Will you walk with your head held high?
Or move aside when they’re passin’ you by?
Will you run when the fires are fanned?
And where will you stand when the flood comes?
Will you ride by the side of God
Or will you hide in the soil and the sod?
Will you fight for the soul of your land?
Well, where will you stand when the flood comes?
Where will you stand when the flood comes?
SLATON (overlapping)
Two thousand years ago, another governor washed his hands and turned a Jew over to a mob. Ever since then, that governor’s name has been a curse. If, today, another Jew went to his grave because I failed to do my duty, I would all my life find his blood on my hands. I have reviewed all the evidence in the case of the State of Georgia against Leo Frank and I have decided to commute his sentence from the death penalty to imprisonment for life. All I wish now is that the people of Georgia withhold judgement until they have given calm and careful consideration to the statement I have prepared on the case.
CRAIG
Mr. Dorsey, you care to comment?
DORSEY
I was not a part of the Governor’s decision, Mr. Craig. I’m as surprised as you are.
WATSON & ENSEMBLE
Will you beg for the Jew’s reward
Or walk with us at the side of the Lord?
Put your soul in the Devil’s hand?
Well, where will you stand when the flood comes?
WATSON (to DORSEY)
Where will you stand?
Where will you stand?
WATSON & ENSEMBLE
Where will you stand?
DORSEY
With you, Mr. Watson. I’ll be proud to stand with you.
WATSON
God bless the next Governor of Georgia!
DORSEY
Yes, I see through the fog and dust,
So let the mob do whatever they must.
Slaton jumps at the Jew’s command:
DORSEY & WATSON
Well, where will you stand when the flood comes?
Where will you stand?
ALL
Where will you stand?
CRAIG
And the news spread like wildfire. An angry crowd marched north on Peachtree Street toward the Governor’s Mansion, yelling, “Hang the Yankee-lover!”
ALL
See them laugh when an Angel dies!
See them tell all their Jew-loving lies!
But they’ll run on the Judgement Day!
Someone’s gonna pay when the flood comes!
See the blood as a city grieves!
See the stain that the Jew-money leaves!
Traitors won’t keep the mobs at bay!
Someone’s gonna pay when the flood comes!
CRAIG
Windows were smashed in Jewish stores. Jacob Seligman, a clothier, was beaten and left for dead.
MRS. PHAGAN
|Mary, Mary, the angel child
|My child:
WATSON
|Mary, Mary the angel child
|Still your name and your soul are defiled.
Thank God you can’t hear the things they say
But someone’s gonna pay!
DORSEY & WATSON
Someone’s gonna pay!
ALL
Someone’s gonna pay!
Georgia, home of the strong and sure,
Fight like hell for the land of the pure!
Teach the traitor to run away!
Georgia, home of the strong and sure,
Fight like hell for the land of the pure!
Teach the traitor to run away!
Georgia, home of the strong and sure,
Fight like hell for the land of the pure!
Teach the traitor to run away!
Someone’s gotta pay!
Someone’s gotta pay when the flood comes!
ALL THE WASTED TIME
LEO
I will never understand
What I did to deserve you,
Or how to be the man
That I’m supposed to be.
I will never understand
If I live a thousand lifetimes
Why you did the things you did for me.
Just look at you –
How could I not be in love with you?
What kind of fool could have taken you
For granted for so long?
All the wasted time,
All the million hours,
Pushing you away,
Building up my wall;
All the days gone by
To glare, to pout, to push you out,
And I never knew anything at all:
I never knew anything at all.
LUCILLE
I will never understand
How all the world misjudged you
When I have always known
How lucky I must be.
I will never understand
How I kept from going crazy
Just waiting there till you came home to me.
Now look at me
Now that you’re finally here with me –
Now that I know I was right to wait
And everyone else was so wrong
For so long:
All the wasted time:
LEO
All the wasted time:
LUCILLE
All the million hours.
Years on top of years
Still too proud to crawl –
All the days gone by
To feel that I don’t satisfy
And I never knew anything at all
I never knew anything at all:
LEO
All the wasted time:
LUCILLE
All the wasted time:
LEO
All the million hours.
BOTH
Leaves too high to touch,
Roots too strong to fall.
All the days gone by
To never show I loved you so
And I never knew anything at all.
LEO
I never knew anything
At all:
SH’MA
LEO (with the noose around his neck)
Sh’ma Yisroel, Adonai elohainu,
Adonai echod.
Baruch sheym k’vod malchuso l’olam va-ed:
(The table is kicked out from under him and he is hanged.)
FINALE
LUCILLE (at home)
Leo, oh Leo
I know he’ll protect you
And don’t be afraid;
I’ll be fine here – you’ll see.
Farewell, my Leo –
You’re right here beside me
You’re here by the door
And you’re holding my arm
And you’re stroking my hair
And you’re finally:
MARY
Mr. Frank?
LEO
What is it?
LUCILLE
:free.
MARY
Happy Memorial Day.
(The 1915 parade begins to pass by upstage)
FRANKIE
I go to fight for these old hills behind me,
The old red hills of home.
I go to fight for these hills that remind me
Of a way of life that’s pure,
Of the truth that will endure
In the city of Atlanta,
In the old red hills of home!
ENSEMBLE
God bless the sight of the old hills of Georgia,
The old red hills of home.
Praise those who’d fight for the old hills of Georgia
For those proud and valiant men,
We’ll sing “Dixie” once again
For the men of Marietta:
For the brothers of Cobb County:
For the fathers of Atlanta:
For the patriarchs:
Who gave ev’rything for Georgia
And the old red hills of home!